Can we stop pretending now?

[BatteredFanSyndrome]

7 minutes ago, TD_washingtonredskins said:

 

You said it yourself, they aren't stonewalling anyone...so it would be a safe assumption that longer fields work for them. It would also stand to reason that being out there fewer times is good. So, if the 33 yard, 5:00 drive that results in a punt and pinning the opponent at the 13 becomes a 1:10 three-and-out, it could make things tougher on the defense over the course of the final six games. 

No doubt.  

 

But are the shorter fields a credit to primarily Alex or the fact that we’ve actually had some success utilizing the run to move the chains, and Tress Way/special teams finally playing really good football?

 

 

[Mr. Sinister]

On 11/18/2018 at 7:35 PM, redskin12 said:

I agree with this. The skins will finish around where they usually do. 8-8 I really think the cowgirls blow us out on Thanksgiving. They just beat the Falcons in Atlanta, and the Falcons beat the hell out of us a couple of weeks ago at home. This is a different Dallas team.

 

Look, I'm usually seen as the guy who never has any nice things to say about the team. Regardless of the looming disaster on the horizon for the Redskins 2018 NFL season, Even I they can definitely  win this game at least, because weird ass **** happens when these teams play each other.

 

Like when oh, Colt McCoy beat the invincible, inconceivable, improbable 2014 Dallas Cowboys (the team that would surely shroud the football world in darkness) on MNF. And we were AWFUL that year. Meanwhile, a weird catch rule probably kept Dallas out of the SB (pretty sure they beat the Seahawks in Seattle that year in the regular season).

 

Stranger things have already happened.

[Koolblue13]

Just now, BatteredFanSyndrome said:

Seems a lot of folks on the defense disagree.

What do you mean?

[TD_washingtonredskins]

2 minutes ago, BatteredFanSyndrome said:

No doubt.  

 

But are the shorter fields a credit to primarily Alex or the fact that we’ve actually had some success utilizing the run to move the chains, and Tress Way/special teams finally playing really good football?

 

 

I'm not pretending to know...I'm just saying that less TOP and shorter fields for the defense are a POSSIBLE bi-product of being more aggressive on offense. 

[BatteredFanSyndrome]

Just now, Koolblue13 said:

What do you mean?

A lot of quotes out there referring to Colts ability and desire to let it rip being what the team needs.

Just now, TD_washingtonredskins said:

I'm not pretending to know...I'm just saying that less TOP and shorter fields for the defense are a POSSIBLE bi-product of being more aggressive on offense. 

 

Definitely true.  I certainly won’t be shocked if it happens.  I’m actually more concerned Jay gets excited with his new toy and forgets about running the ball.  I think he’s smarter than that but you never know.

[Mr. Sinister]

41 minutes ago, BatteredFanSyndrome said:

A lot of quotes out there referring to Colts ability and desire to let it rip being what the team needs

 

I'm also prepared to live with the cons of that, which is more turnovers. If you're gonna die, die spectacularly 🤘

[Renegade7]

33 minutes ago, Mr. Sinister said:

 

I'm also prepared to live with the cons of that, which is more turnovers. If you're gonna die, die spectacularly 🤘

Unleash the Dragon? 

[Mr. Sinister]

3 minutes ago, Renegade7 said:

Unleash the Dragon? 

 

We laugh, but the story of the Filthy One makes for an epic sports comedy and an invaluable life lesson. Sometimes you just gotta let go and say "**** it, I'm going deep" and let the chips fall where they may

 

No ragrets

[bird_1972]

1 hour ago, BatteredFanSyndrome said:

Definitely true.  I certainly won’t be shocked if it happens.  I’m actually more concerned Jay gets excited with his new toy and forgets about running the ball.  I think he’s smarter than that but you never know.

 

Ummm ... I wouldn't count on that. Gruden isn't exactly the Rhodes scholar of NFL coaching or anything.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

11 minutes ago, bird_1972 said:

 

Ummm ... I wouldn't count on that. Gruden isn't exactly the Rhodes scholar of NFL coaching or anything.

 

Probably true, but I think some of us outsiders don't give these guys enough credit. More often than not, they aren't just meatheads who coach on emotion. These guys pull together gameplans week after week based on upcoming opponent weaknesses, varying team health, etc. I think they are capable of not getting overly excited and "forgetting" to run the ball because they have so many fun plays they want to call. 

[bird_1972]

5 minutes ago, TD_washingtonredskins said:

 

Probably true, but I think some of us outsiders don't give these guys enough credit. More often than not, they aren't just meatheads who coach on emotion. These guys pull together gameplans week after week based on upcoming opponent weaknesses, varying team health, etc. I think they are capable of not getting overly excited and "forgetting" to run the ball because they have so many fun plays they want to call. 

 

I hope you're right. Gruden has an opportunity to show he can coach this year.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

1 minute ago, bird_1972 said:

 

I hope you're right. Gruden has an opportunity to show he can coach this year.

 

I think he's proven he is a viable head coach. If he can take this division over the next 2-3 weeks, then I think he's proven he's taken the next step. 

[Morneblade]

11 hours ago, Skinsinparadise said:

 

I suspect he will be better than Alex (if he learns to curtail his turnover gene) and especially if Thompson gets back.  IMO one thing that I'd never guess from Alex who is known for check downs is how slow the check downs happen in real time -- the throw to Peterson in the NO is the most obvious case in point.  And I put Thompson's injury in NO on Alex too -- he hesitates and the ball floats to receivers.  Colt floats his ball too but he doesn't hesitate the same way so I think he's going to help get YAC by having guys catch the ball in stride and it will be more difficult for defenders to hammer the guys catching the ball. 

 

I think he'll be better, because I think it's obvious that Alex was having more trouble with the offense than anyone expected.

 

Quote

Sean McVay who some worship here as a coaching god apparently told Peter Schraeger from NFL AM that he thinks the world of Colt as a player.  We've heard it to death that Jay thinks highly of Colt.  I recall even arguing with a WP reporter (Master -- forgot his last name) on twitter who claims Colt is the new and improved player and not who we've seen in the past based on what he's seen in practice.  Me being skeptical.  Not that I am sold now but I think the bar is set low.

 

I dunno, that sounds like a pretty good source.Sean doesn't have to say anything nice about Colt at this point. Not that he is going to bad mouth him, but I doesn't have any reason to be over the top.

 

Quote

I am not a big Colt guy, never was.  But I've been underwhelmed by Alex.   And I don't buy for a second that the coaches and players were loving his play this year just because he avoided turnovers.  Finlay among others flat have said the coaches like Alex the person but are unimpressed this year with Alex the player.  Reading some of the comments from players, you get a little sense that they think Colt is an upgrade.  My gut is he will be an upgrade too --not that I am high on him but I think the bar is set low here.

 

Part of the reason why I was boldened in recent weeks to debate Alex's performance is 4 different beat guys more or less suggested don't buy the PR rhetoric from Jay about Alex's play - because privately he and other coaches have been underwhelmed and disappointed.   So I think oddly Colt gives them an opportunity to showcase that Alex was the issue as opposed to the offense-weapons.

 

Personally I think Alex AND the weapons are both the problem.  But I did see what Cooley liked to say when he did film review, receivers were getting open frequently but Alex wasn't seeing them or throwing accurately enough.  I posted a whole bunch of those clips to showcase weeks back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 hours ago, Koolblue13 said:

Our offense has been great for our defense. 

We did that wrong

 

Our offense has not been great for our defense. A great offense, like the Chiefs, Rams, or Saints would be great for our defense. Our Defense has been helpful to our offense, which has been very underwhelming.

 

12 hours ago, skins island connection said:

 

 The part in bold is the exact claim of why Smith wasn't doing good.

I'm sure colt is going to make some mistakes, but he will also give receivers a chance for those 50/50 balls. One thing, we will see if Doctson is the WR we hoped he would be by battling for those throws.

McCoy will go as far as Gruden's game planning/playcalling takes him. I'm sure Gruden has already told him to protect himself first, which is a no-brainer, but Colt has the aggressiveness that Smith didn't, and that's the quality this team will need to win, especially if we get into the playoffs.

 

Preaching to the choir here. I think the Offense, specifically the passing game will look much more like it has the last few years, where it was the strength of the team.

[Koolblue13]

Our offense plays ball control, keeps the defense rested, doesn't turn it over and expose the defense. You think any player on a defense that allowed over 50 points is feeling proud of themselves? 

[Cooleyfan1993]

6 minutes ago, Koolblue13 said:

Our offense plays ball control, keeps the defense rested, doesn't turn it over and expose the defense. You think any player on a defense that allowed over 50 points is feeling proud of themselves? 

Both defenses made turnovers to get the hall back for their offenses though last night (if that’s what you’re referring to). And there were 21 combined defensive points last night. It was just a very high scoring game from two completely unstoppable offenses. 

[Burger35]

On 11/4/2018 at 4:25 PM, Warhead36 said:

Clearly we matchup poorly against explosive passing teams. Thankfully there don't appear to be that many left on our schedule. We aren't a bad team, I think we're decent to pretty good, but as I figured going in we just don't match up well with the Falcons. I'm not gonna go crazy.

Reason I believe this was the case is when we were down we could never get a play to get back in...  not killing Alex but he was methodical he’s great when you are up...  but if your down by 10 the team is done...  very sad.

[TheShredder]

Since McCoy knows the offense so well, I'd say that it's opportunity to run the offense faster.  That's what the Rams do.  Same pre-snap look into completely different plays without a huddle or a quick huddle.  Rogers does this to perfection.  I think there's a point in the game plan where this is an advantage.  Like getting up early in the game.  Also translates to better 2 minute when you need it. 

[Skinsinparadise]

If Colt can move the ball and isn't a turnover disaster, I think the defense will more than embrace the change.  Listening to Sweainger he seemed pumped that its Colt now.   D. Hall thinks Colt will be an improvement and that Alex wasn't playing well.  I think the Alex doesn't turn the ball over was way overplayed because it ignores that we have a turnover playing making defense with an offense who doesn't capitalize on it. 

 

How many times did the defense just hand the ball to the offense with great field position and the offense did zilch with it.  I was behind the sidelines in the Tampa game and I could see a couple of defenders shake their heads after Stroman gave the offense the ball on the 11 and they did squat with it.  We got the ball once on the 30s right before halftime and went backward and got no points.  The offense couldn't be more pathetic post the defense making turnovers so for me it made the Alex not turning the ball over drill a wash.

 

Alex was 24th in the league in QBR which is the best metric to gauge QBs typically because it factors context, that sounds about right.  We had one of the worst passing offenses in the league.  

 

People were hanging on the less reliable QB rating for awhile but his numbers stink on that too. His completion rate, just about everything stinks.   Some say Alex doesn't do stats but does this really conflict at all with the eye test?  I don't think I've seen more painful QB play since the 2014 version of RG3.

 

I was getting a bit stronger criticizing Alex in recent weeks (even though his play slightly improved) mainly because I was wondering hey maybe there is something to the people defending him, is there something I am missing?  But then I kept hearing from Keim, Finlay and Hoffman that the coaches were really frustrated and disappointed by Alex's play.  To quote Finlay, he said yesterday the coaches "were pulling their hair out about Alex's play" and he said don't listen to their rhetoric publicly that's not what they were saying privately.   Keim said on Finlay's podcasts, he got texts from multiple plays saying they are excited that Colt now is the QB.  I am not saying that Colt is the answer, got no idea, but I think the bar is set low.

 

27th in points.  A team that can't even average 20 points per game.  That's some pressure on the defense, too.  Swearinger talked about it once on his 106.7 appearances -- sort of saying with bravado a good defense should be able to carry a team. 

 

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?statisticCategory=PASSING

 

Passing

Rk	Player	Team	Pos	Comp	Att	Pct	Att/G	Yds	Avg	Yds/G	TD	Int	1st	1st%	Lng	20+	40+	Sck	Rate
1	Patrick Mahomes	KC	QB	264	391	67.5	35.5	3,628	9.3	329.8	37	10	168	43.0	75T	58	12	20	117.9
2	Jared Goff	LA	QB	258	381	67.7	34.6	3,547	9.3	322.5	26	6	172	45.1	70T	57	9	24	113.5
3	Matt Ryan	ATL	QB	275	387	71.1	38.7	3,306	8.5	330.6	22	4	156	40.3	75T	41	6	27	111.5
4	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	QB	271	416	65.1	41.6	3,202	7.7	320.2	23	10	152	36.5	78T	37	11	14	96.9
5	Aaron Rodgers	GB	QB	238	385	61.8	38.5	3,073	8.0	307.3	19	1	132	34.3	75T	39	14	30	102.2
6	Drew Brees	NO	QB	257	334	76.9	33.4	2,964	8.9	296.4	25	1	147	44.0	72T	44	5	9	126.9
7	Kirk Cousins	MIN	QB	289	409	70.7	40.9	2,947	7.2	294.7	19	7	153	37.4	75T	30	3	26	99.3
8	Philip Rivers	LAC	QB	211	315	67.0	31.5	2,860	9.1	286.0	23	6	131	41.6	75T	46	9	15	112.1
9	Eli Manning	NYG	QB	251	364	69.0	36.4	2,796	7.7	279.6	13	6	128	35.2	58	36	8	36	96.6
10	Andrew Luck	IND	QB	269	400	67.3	40.0	2,769	6.9	276.9	29	9	143	35.8	68T	28	4	10	101.8
11	Tom Brady	NE	QB	242	371	65.2	37.1	2,748	7.4	274.8	17	7	131	35.3	55T	32	6	16	94.7
12	Derek Carr	OAK	QB	247	350	70.6	35.0	2,633	7.5	263.3	12	8	124	35.4	66	37	4	32	94.1
13	Case Keenum	DEN	QB	229	362	63.3	36.2	2,605	7.2	260.5	11	10	112	30.9	64T	39	10	24	83.4
13	Matthew Stafford	DET	QB	244	368	66.3	36.8	2,605	7.1	260.5	17	8	136	37.0	67	29	3	30	93.2
15	Deshaun Watson	HOU	QB	201	309	65.0	30.9	2,597	8.4	259.7	18	9	123	39.8	73T	31	4	33	98.6
16	Mitchell Trubisky	CHI	QB	210	321	65.4	32.1	2,469	7.7	246.9	20	9	115	35.8	70T	34	8	19	97.7
17	Andy Dalton	CIN	QB	216	348	62.1	34.8	2,466	7.1	246.6	20	10	126	36.2	49	38	1	21	90.5
18	Joe Flacco	BAL	QB	232	379	61.2	42.1	2,465	6.5	273.9	12	6	122	32.2	71	29	4	16	84.2
19	Blake Bortles	JAX	QB	211	346	61.0	34.6	2,445	7.1	244.5	12	8	116	33.5	80T	33	3	24	84.3
20	Cam Newton	CAR	QB	225	329	68.4	32.9	2,443	7.4	244.3	20	6	131	39.8	82	31	2	20	102.7
21	Ryan Fitzpatrick	TB	QB	164	246	66.7	30.8	2,366	9.6	295.8	17	12	113	45.9	75T	37	8	14	100.4
22	Carson Wentz	PHI	QB	210	302	69.5	37.8	2,304	7.6	288.0	15	6	118	39.1	58	27	4	26	100.1
23	Russell Wilson	SEA	QB	184	278	66.2	27.8	2,192	7.9	219.2	23	5	98	35.3	66	29	8	32	110.2
24	Alex Smith	WAS	QB	205	328	62.5	32.8	2,180	6.6	218.0	10	5	106	32.3	52	28	4	22	85.

[Mr. Sinister]

Nah, good defense can't carry a bad offense. Not even sure great defense can either. Not anymore. Used to be that great D and SP teams could do it for a lot of franchises, but now that they destroyed the Return Man, you can't do that either. This defense certainly isn't good enough to get the job done.

[glongest]

On 11/18/2018 at 4:59 PM, desertbeagle85 said:

Pretty sure this plays out with a 6-5 tie with Dallas after next week. Dallas will probably win the division, but who cares. I mean I hate Dallas but we aren't going to do anything in the playoffs if we make it and either are they. I'd rather take the better draft pick and they don't have one. Copper had what 3 catches today. That team is ran as poor as ours. Enjoy the division title it won't get you anything other than a playoff exit. 

 

I agree.  Who would have thunk it two weeks ago as bad as the Cowboys were playing that by Thanksgiving they would be tied for the division.  But it looks like that is exactly what is going to happen.  I do agree they are not going anywhere but if they do win the division it will mean we will be sitting at home for the playoffs, AGAIN.

The defense on this team are the pretenders.  They pretended they were going to be good and then they took it back.  They suck.  Two first round picks in consecutive years and they still suck.  

[Skinsinparadise]

The Redskins can't run the ball anymore and they can't stop the run. Until that changes, it's going to be tough for them to win enough games to earn a playoff berth. That was evident after the 31-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys that leaves the teams tied in the division. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 121 yards. But it was also the big busted plays in the secondary, more so from missed tackles than just bad coverage. That led to touchdown passes of 40 and 90 yards. The Redskins' offense didn't receive a boost from Colt McCoy, who threw three interceptions and running back Adrian Peterson managed just 35 yards on 12 carries. The Redskins just make too many mistakes for a team with little margin for error.

 

John Keim, ESPN Staff Writer3h ago

[Skinsinparadise]

Showing early-season improvement is one thing. Dominating when it matters is another. Over the past four games, the defense is allowing 429 yards per game. Dallas gained 404 on Thursday. In the first seven games, Washington gave up just 322 yards per game. Lay it out, and it’s easy to see why a 5-2 team has slipped to 6-5.

 

There are some talent issues. An overall lack of ideal speed is hurting the defense now that teams aren’t as willing to go right at the Washington defensive line and get pummeled. This is a defense that pays for nearly all of its mistakes because it doesn’t have many speed demons flying around and covering flaws. But there are also fundamental problems, such as tackling and taking the proper angles.

 

It’s the little things that bother you the most. At this point in the season, plays such as Cooper’s 90-yarder can’t happen. They just can’t. And it’s sickening to watch three straight drives in which Cooper scored from 40 yards out and then 90 and then Prescott, who also threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, turned into Houdini on a touchdown run that should have been a sack or, at worst, a stop.

 

This from a defense that wants to be respected? That preaches after every victory that things are different? That wants to lead a team to the postseason?

Asked how disappointed he was in the defensive performance, Coach Jay Gruden said: “Very, very. Very, very, very.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/how-concerning-is-redskins-recent-defensive-play-very-very-very-very-very/2018/11/22/aeb4f26a-ee98-11e8-8679-934a2b33be52_story.html?utm_term=.c63d7524163f

[Cooleyfan1993]

Yeah I’m about ready to stop pretending now. This team sucks. I have ZERO confidence in Jay Gruden getting this team ready for MNF in Philly, even though we’ll most likely have ANOTHER chance to get a division lead growing again. Dallas will be 6-6 after losing to New Orleans next week, and then we’ll have a chance to be 1.5 games up on them, and what will we do with that opportunity? Nothing. NOTHING. Why? Cause **** us, we can’t have nice things.

 

if we somehow beat Philly on MNF, ill do backflips AND have it filmed!!! 

 

This crap team has broken me, officially. Sorry. 

[BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93]

Mother**** Josh Norman 

 

he’s the poster boy for wanting credit for accomplishing nothing 

 

can’t wait until he’s gone and he can have a fanbase that’ll kiss his ass even tho he couldn’t cover Josh ****ing Doctson at this point in his career 

[RWJ]

3 hours ago, Skinsinparadise said:

Showing early-season improvement is one thing. Dominating when it matters is another. Over the past four games, the defense is allowing 429 yards per game. Dallas gained 404 on Thursday. In the first seven games, Washington gave up just 322 yards per game. Lay it out, and it’s easy to see why a 5-2 team has slipped to 6-5.

 

There are some talent issues. An overall lack of ideal speed is hurting the defense now that teams aren’t as willing to go right at the Washington defensive line and get pummeled. This is a defense that pays for nearly all of its mistakes because it doesn’t have many speed demons flying around and covering flaws. But there are also fundamental problems, such as tackling and taking the proper angles.

 

It’s the little things that bother you the most. At this point in the season, plays such as Cooper’s 90-yarder can’t happen. They just can’t. And it’s sickening to watch three straight drives in which Cooper scored from 40 yards out and then 90 and then Prescott, who also threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, turned into Houdini on a touchdown run that should have been a sack or, at worst, a stop.

 

This from a defense that wants to be respected? That preaches after every victory that things are different? That wants to lead a team to the postseason?

Asked how disappointed he was in the defensive performance, Coach Jay Gruden said: “Very, very. Very, very, very.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/how-concerning-is-redskins-recent-defensive-play-very-very-very-very-very/2018/11/22/aeb4f26a-ee98-11e8-8679-934a2b33be52_story.html?utm_term=.c63d7524163f

Likewise, I as a fan along with many others are "Very, very.  Very, very, very" disappointed in the OF in all aspects in their game.  Granted a 2nd string QB that has been in Gruden's system for enough years to know how to run it to an OL that needs to revamp/depth at OG/C and depth at OT.  Needing a starting WR or two and first and foremost a QB that is capable of making all the throws.  Defense has had some good games but when the Offense isn't putting out week to week it affects the Defense.  IMO, clean out the likes of Allen, Gruden and put Kyle Smith in charge as GM and let him select a new HC, possibly John DeFilippo.