Games decided by a TD or less really become a coin flip

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

We've yet to win a game by more than 8 points (Detroit) and we've only lost one game by more than 8 points. When you play a bunch of 17-14 games, I think you are going to see yourself losing as many as you win. Really good teams blow people out on occasion.

You can have a discussion about how you can win with the Titans formula. But the Titans have won by more than a TD in 5 of their 9 wins. They have been giving themselves a margin for error, which we have not had.

I really don't see a big difference between losing tonight and winning againgst Cleveland. If Bennet doesn't make an awesome catch tonight, we might win the game. If someone makes a mistake in the Cleveland game, maybe we lose.

The downward slope on the offense is a concern, and I think it's because we don't have any gamebreakers in the passing game.

But I suspect the rest of the season will be like this. Nailbiters in the 20-17 range.

You can go 10-6 in that type of season, but I'm not sure it's a formula that lets you win 4 straight in January, which is what we are going to have to do if we get that far.

[killerbee99]

We've yet to win a game by more than 8 points (Detroit) and we've only lost one game by more than 8 points. When you play a bunch of 17-14 games' date=' I think you are going to see yourself losing as many as you win. Really good teams blow people out on occasion.

You can have a discussion about how you can win with the Titans formula. But the Titans have won by more than a TD in 5 of their 9 wins. They have been giving themselves a margin for error, which we have not had.

I really don't see a big difference between losing tonight and winning againgst Cleveland. If Bennet doesn't make an awesome catch tonight, we might win the game. If someone makes a mistake in the Cleveland game, maybe we lose.

The downward slope on the offense is a concern, and I think it's because we don't have any gamebreakers in the passing game.

But I suspect the rest of the season will be like this. Nailbiters in the 20-17 range.

You can go 10-6 in that type of season, but I'm not sure it's a formula that lets you win 4 straight in January, which is what we are going to have to do if we get that far.[/quote']

The Titans actually have a defense.

[hail2skins]

The Titans actually have a defense.

And we don't?

[DarrellsMyHero28]

And we don't?

We do, but theirs is much better.

[skinsfan1523]

We have a defense too. They can't be forced to play lights out every week though.

[Hunter_R]

And we don't?

Theirs is better, but I agree with what you're saying.

What he should have said was, "The Titans actually have an average offense."

[spjunkies]

The funny thing is I can realistically see the Titans being bounced from the playoffs the first time they play in the paloffs.

[illone]

The Skins are a mediocre football team, and it all starts up front. The defense, despite a lack of pass rush is able to overcome that inability with guys on the backend who can actually cover more times than not. You can't rely on that as much as Gibbs did, though, and it appears Zorn would like to attack more but he doesnt have the horses to get it done right now.

The Skins will win 9-10 games this year and possiby squeak into the playoffs, but they will be one and done and hopefully Vinny gets Zorn some guys up front who can block people in next years draft. Such a shame to see all these quality skill players who I really believe the team can win with. Campbell certainly isn't a bum and Portis is a beast, but those guys can only do so much when the big boys up front get pushed around.

[TheLongshot]

As for coin flips, as the Eagles what they think about close games. 0-3-1 now in close games. In that respect, we are doing much better.

The Skins are a mediocre football team, and it all starts up front. The defense, despite a lack of pass rush is able to overcome that inability with guys on the backend who can actually cover more times than not. You can't rely on that as much as Gibbs did, though, and it appears Zorn would like to attack more but he doesnt have the horses to get it done right now.

The Skins will win 9-10 games this year and possiby squeak into the playoffs, but they will be one and done and hopefully Vinny gets Zorn some guys up front who can block people in next years draft. Such a shame to see all these quality skill players who I really believe the team can win with. Campbell certainly isn't a bum and Portis is a beast, but those guys can only do so much when the big boys up front get pushed around.

Well, some problems were known and the team couldn't do much about them. I expect next year the focus is finding a replacement for Rabach. To me, he's the real weak link in our line right now. He can't seem to handle anyone one-on-one.

They also knew they needed help at DT, but couldn't find anyone there that could greatly improve our team. It hasn't helped that Montgomery has backslid a bit from last year.

To be honest, tho, I think before the season people would have been happy with a 9-10 win season and another playoff appearance.

[illone]

Well, some problems were known and the team couldn't do much about them. I expect next year the focus is finding a replacement for Rabach. To me, he's the real weak link in our line right now. He can't seem to handle anyone one-on-one.

They also knew they needed help at DT, but couldn't find anyone there that could greatly improve our team. It hasn't helped that Montgomery has backslid a bit from last year.

To be honest, tho, I think before the season people would have been happy with a 9-10 win season and another playoff appearance.

Monty is a beast when healthy. I still see DT as a need because Griffin will need to be replaced but the Skins have modest depth when you consider Monty, and Golston are capable. Not sure what the team should do with Jason Taylor. I'm up in the air on that one, but regardless it's not like he's a long term answer. Carter is capable, he just needs some help on the other side.

Jansen is pretty much a joke in pass pro, and it's hard watching Rabach play football. Hopefully the team has something in Heyer and Rinehardt because there is very little quality depth on the line and that'll need to be addressed with more than one draft pick in April.

I agree about a 9-10 win season. Pretty sure I'm on record as saying the Skins would win 8 games this year so anything beyond that is certainly nice, but I think most of us raised our expectations after the fast start and the oline played above their talent level for a few games.

[TheLongshot]

Monty is a beast when healthy. I still see DT as a need because Griffin will need to be replaced but the Skins have modest depth when you consider Monty, and Golston are capable. Not sure what the team should do with Jason Taylor. I'm up in the air on that one, but regardless it's not like he's a long term answer. Carter is capable, he just needs some help on the other side.

I think I agree with the FO assessment that the main problem with the pass rush isn't the ends but getting push up the middle. What can your ends do if the QB can just step up out of the pressure?

Jansen is pretty much a joke in pass pro, and it's hard watching Rabach play football. Hopefully the team has something in Heyer and Rinehardt because there is very little quality depth on the line and that'll need to be addressed with more than one draft pick in April.

Actually, I think the depth is fine as far as reserves go. We have guys who can step in and do a pretty decent job in spot duty. I think Heyer gets a lot of crap for being in his second year. The kid has been moved all over the place and has done a reasonably good job when he has been in there.

I don't know how multiple picks can really help much, tho. There are only so many spots on the team, and Samuels and Thomas are going nowhere. It is possible that Rinehart and Heyer could start next year. You also don't really want too much inexperience in your backups, because those are the guys who need to come in and protect the franchise. To be honest, I see other weaknesses that need to be addressed, which are DT and LB. Fortunately, there are less needs because of this year's draft. While many haven't contributed much, they probably will in the near future.

I agree about a 9-10 win season. Pretty sure I'm on record as saying the Skins would win 8 games this year so anything beyond that is certainly nice, but I think most of us raised our expectations after the fast start and the oline played above their talent level for a few games.

I think it did catch a lot of people by surprise, but I would have thought by now they would have realized that we weren't THAT good.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I think I agree with the FO assessment that the main problem with the pass rush isn't the ends but getting push up the middle. What can your ends do if the QB can just step up out of the pressure?

I think our line is a bad combination at the minute. We have two pure speed rushers at the ends which means they run themselves up field. And we have two DTs who don't get much push on pass rushes. These leads to huge alleys for a QB to step into.