Gibbs Usually Knows the QBs

[bulldog]

the aching, broken down, injured Mark Brunell that showed up last year seemed to make a liar of Joe Gibbs, a coach that always seemed able to judge who his starting quarterback should be.

but it may very well be those hamstring and rib injuries that made last year such an anomaly in Gibbs' coaching career.

think about it.

when Joey T got hurt in 1985 Gibbs turned to Schroeder who got the team to 10-6 from 5-5. In the 1986 offseason, Gibbs convinced Theismann he was prepared to move on with Schroeder and Theismann was given his release. After flirting with the Raiders for awhile, Theismann retired.

again, in 1987 Gibbs was at a crossroads with Schroeder who had regressed from the 4,100 yard passer in 1986 to be a shell-shocked qb in 1987 that threw interceptions and who didn't seem to want to stand in the pocket and deliver the ball. Gibbs went with Doug Williams at the end of the year on a feeling and Williams took the team to the Super Bowl.

In 1988, Schroeder was traded to the Raiders for Jim Lachey.

the transition to Mark Rypien took 2 full seasons to bring to effect with the 1990 playoff berth at 10-6 and victory over the Eagles in the first round.

again, Gibbs had to decide whether to go with Rypien or what appeared to be the more talented Stan Humphries. He chose Rypien and won another Super Bowl.

Humphries who was out of shape earlier in his career and didn't spend the offseason in Washington was traded to San Diego.

In each case the Redskins 'won' in those transitions, long-term.

Perhaps we are seeing that happening again?