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http://tsn.sportingnews.com/voices/paul_attner/20030522.html

by Paul Attner

All systems go for the real Spurrier

May 22, 2003

For those of us who are convinced Steve Spurrier is a gifted coach, it is simply best to consider his first season with the Redskins as a misprint on an otherwise sparkling resume.

Everyone is allowed a stumble, and that is what Spurrier did in 2002. If the 7-9 result can be viewed as a learning process, then at least he received ample education. The Redskins probably weren't good enough to make the playoffs anyway, and they certainly didn't get much help from a coaching staff that was uncertain about the starting quarterback, the starting running back and the elusive concept of proper pass protection.

Now owner Daniel Snyder, after a couple of years of wallet hibernation, has resumed his rapid spending. But instead of buying veteran players with star power, as he did as a rookie, he now is concentrating on athletes with a greater upside.

Still, money is money, and Snyder and his $25 million coach are keenly giddy about their team's postseason possibilities. Which means the coach I envisioned when Spurrier jumped to the NFL needs to show up on the sideline this fall.

It is one thing to lack talent; it is another to be devastated by sacks, turnovers, clock management problems and indecisive personnel judgments.

What Spurrier is saying now is that Patrick Ramsey, and not any of his former Gators, is a playoff quarterback. And that Trung Canidate, maybe, is more suited for his offense than Stephen Davis. And that receiver Laveranues Coles is the playmaking receiver he was lacking, and that an upgraded offensive line no longer will be an embarrassing sieve.

The offensive deficits have been addressed and, except at running back, improved. So this season is about coaching them properly -- "coaching them up" in Spurrier speak. That means better execution and better care of the ball and better production from the quarterback. It means translating what a coaching staff has learned about the NFL -- about its quickness and intensity and consistency and toughness -- into improvement on game day.

If he is as good as I believe, happiness soon will return to RedskinWorld. Success certainly will carry his shoe treads. His is a quarterback-driven offense and if Ramsey succeeds, his coach will be properly credited with his development.

Of course, if Ramsey stumbles . . . nah, won't happen. Spurrier is too good a coach.

Senior writer Paul Attner covers the NFL for Sporting News. Email him at attner@sportingnews.com.

HTTR,

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Sounds good to me. And about that comment that all positions on the offense have been upgraded except for rb, i think we'll get a significant amount of production from Betts, Trung, and Morton this year than last year. Teams will be playing the pass more than they were last year and that should open up some holes

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All the media looks at us losing davis as losing a top 5 rb....which might be true but for this offense its like having Warrick Dunn in a power running game......just doesn't fit the talent.....so they should take our new speed guys in this system into consideration.

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