Braves On Warpath Posted September 16, 2001 Share Posted September 16, 2001 Monday night at Lambeau field. A healthy Favre at the helm and two quality Running backs. Maybe the skins could take on Wisconsin. But the Packers? This could get ugly. Don't forget we just got the snot kicked out of us against a 1-15 team. I would be surprised if all of San Diego's wins combined this season would add up to or exceed the same 27 points they beat us by on opening day. Are we in for a double diget pounding? Are you STILL ready for some football? This team looks like it needs more than a week off. It needs a whole season off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indyskinsfan Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 Who would have ever thought that football would be Off Topic Well for one, wouldn't you pound the ball up the middle of the D-Line, considering how well Tomlinson did for San Diego? Catch to this is, The D-Line's work together while not being in an actual game may be beneficial, since the blunders are dealt with there in practice. It may not make sense, but then again Bruce should be 100% now and Lang has shown that he can hang for now. He may get reduced to fodder by the end of the game, but Jones will be backing up Mitchell in the middle, so that is a BIG plus. Big Daddy may have a fire under his but* and a staunch warning of produce a monster game or else. The Pack can double team Big Daddy, but the pass will not be effective against the Skins starting CB's but will against Safeties. CB's proved that last game that they are indeed equal, if not better in defending against it. Favre must have shifts, audibles (twice each play), and RB checkdowns from the backfield. Look for Arrington and Coleman to reduce his time to look. Levins will be a plus,if he can get by Barber, I don't think he will. Favre's scrambles will put him dire situations, but if he is well protected like Flutie was most of the time, his TE challenge to Shade will produce at least 2 touches, short and long. If it gets real ugly, with Lyle out of place, the weakside's abscence of help would mean Favre will keep the Skins D on the field for longer periods of time and eventual big plays when needed. Safeties have to "hit", and the DT's and DE's must keep Favre's lanes clogged to bat down balls. If they don't they can watch the Pack do it to George and Banks. No one QB in the NFL can hurt you from HIS position in so many ways, than Favre. Warner it's his timing, quick release and touch, Culpepper adequate pass with stong rush, ,Brooks it's his sense of the rush, fearlessness and uncanny accuracy, Collins is his determination and trust of his players, and Manning it's a command of respect, strategy and reads. Favre has all of this. Add it with an attitude of a "I'm not afraid of the rush" and wham! What makes this a healthy return to pro football is: Traditionally these teams have had some "memorable" games, including the incredible 48-47 score on Monday Night years ago. (I actually forgot who won???) It is a historic a game since we are now at war. It is on a "natural" surface. Both team's history is traced to the Lombardi Trophy and the man himself! Both have coaches with something to prove this year, Marty of course has a bit more time Both are looking to improve on last year's performance and at least get more than a whiff at the playoffs (the Pack seems to be a good top 6 team right now). Both have a veteran QB that have guns for arms. Favre doesn't have to prove his, George is not asked to often use his, so it's a ball control game (Advantage Favre-who has patience, respect, and balls). Least turnovers too. Both defenses show that overall they are capable of putting the clamps on a team (let's just hope the Skins offense doesn't tire the dawgs out too early with 3 and out, like last game). Monday Night is the perfect setting for the Packers to beat the Skins, since they have struggled in Night games. Is it because last year they were used to going to bed early? Naaa. Packers 34 Skins 24 - A tough loss and the score won't tell how the game was played. Big plays by Favre and the defense keep them ahead from late in the second quarter on. Skins show up too late offensively, but the offense finally drives the Packers nuts in the final 10 minutes with a 17 point barage and we discover we now have a machine. A certain player breaks out of a slump and gives the Pack all they can handle! ------------------ <IMG SRC="http://home.earthlink.net/~wahoofamily/flag.gif" border=0> [ by indyskinsfan on September 17, 2001.] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 With my mental state the way it is right now, a trouncing of the Skins could put me over the edge. Sure glad we don't play tonight, I could use another week to get back into the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kleese Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 Do we have a prayer? I'd like to think so. I would have preffered to have a "W" under our belt heading into this one, but then again, an "L" could have been pretty crushing. Maybe it's a good thing the Arizona game got pushed back or cancelled. I think the key this week is to show VAST improvement over week 1-- shouldn't be too hard. I want to compete in this game from beginning to end. I want to eliminate the mistakes, etc... If we do that and we come out 0-2, then so be it. Without a doubt, I think the Chiefs game in two weeks will be the key to our season. If we can win that one (regardless of what we do Monday) I think we'll be in a pretty good position. We may lose to the Giants the following week, but then we have Dallas and Carolina, and will have a real good chance to be 3-3. At that point, all kinks should be ironed out and we may actually find ourselves in a bit of a race. One thing Marty MUST show me right now is the ability to motivate this team and eliminate the errors that have plagued us for years-- that has little to do with talent. I want to see a crisply played football game-- if they overpower us, then I can live with that. As for the game itself, we SHOULD be able to move the ball. I really think the parts are there for a good O-line and I know that we can run the ball if we get into the right kinds of situations. Green Bay has a solid D, but nothing more--not as good as SD. I fear Favre, but remember, our strength is our CB's-- their WR's shouldn't be getting open very often. I think we are as equipped as any team to stop him. I see a loss, but hopefully a close one. Hopefully, the team will gain confidence from this game. But I will not give up on Marty...not for awhile yet. This is the kind of game that a well coached team can win...the Packers are tough, but they have holes that can be exploited. The good news is that the Eagles and Giants also both sit at 0-1--both with fairly tough road games ahead. As a matter of fact, their schedules get tougher, while ours gets easier. All I want is for the games against the Giants and Eagles to mean something--if we lose, we lose, but I want to go into those games with hope-- I don't just want to be a punching bag for those two warming up for each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 If we don't get solid play from the Guards then we don't have easy games. Coleman's health by next monday will be interesting will he give us the push off the snap to give S Davis some room to run and will Coach Marty have Davis using supeer velcro gloves. The time off may benefit us to clear our heads and knowing we are obvious underdogs in this game should give us a nothing to lose attitude. ------------------ Take a sip of the Marty Kool Aid and Believe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 supposedly that "attitude" and "no defeat, play for 60 minutes" mentality was going to be a by product of bonding during training camp. instead the team came out in the opener flat and seemingly without much energy. in fact that is just how the team looked in the 4 preseason games. yes, Favre and George are both veteran quarterbacks. But Favre is a leader and his record at home does not give one confidence unless you come in with a team that is physically stronger and deeper to compensate for his Lambeau heroics. Right now, the Redskins are not a physically superior team. Actually, they don't look much like a team at all. Jeff George is a wounded duck. His greatest asset has been his athletic arrogance in scaring defenses with placement of the deep ball, and now that his confidence in his arm is suspect it appears he has gone into a shell. Good quarterbacks in this situation adapt and adjust to what they are capable of doing and concentrate on starting to get into a rhythm. They also use their LEADERSHIP skills to keep the confidence and trust of teammates. Jeff George without his arm at 100% and with confidence in it is useless. He is like a tennis player that has a bum shoulder and has depended on his 125 mph serve to get him through. He should have been developing a return game and some better ground strokes along the way to vary his game. Obviously, Jeff George never did that. And now the team is suffering for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennesseeCarl Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 While it has all the earmarks of a massacre, I think we can hang in the game if we can get Stephen Davis established running the ball. I'd remove him after his first fumble and give Ki-Jana a look. When you pay a RB commensurate with the best RBs in the game, you expect to get the performance that goes with it. I'm really losing patience with Redskins who can't hold on to the ball. Our secondary may pick Farve off a few times (he does have a tendency to sail 'em). But watch out for Ahman Green. I don't relish the idea of him slashing through our defensive front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shamaran Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 Well, it doesn't look good for the 'Skins. Not only does the schedule look bleak, now without the added two wildcard teams, they really must know, with only one game played, their season is essentially over. Unless they get a bunch of good luck, it's probably goin to be an easy thing for them to phone in the rest of the year. They have a lot of practice at doing that anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kleese Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 My fears have been confirmed...we're the NFC Bengals. Fans already saying we should phone it in after one game. Pay no mind to our new coaching staff, etc... Can't say I blame em'..we look horrible--why? I don't know. It's quite possible we're just losers. Our fans have been packing it in week 1 now for 7 years, and bad habits are hard to break. If the Redskins are going to break out of their annual rut, their going to have to do it without the benefit of fan support-- most of whom pretty much abandoned ship long ago. Move us to Ohio and slap some stripes on our helmets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsThug Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 Let's see how we do against the Cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 Of course we've got a chance. How many peeps said that the Panthers vs. the Vikes would go the other way? EVERYBODY! 2 weeks is a lot of time and who knows what will happen? If the question was "Is it likely we'll lose?" then yes....it is likely BASED on what we've seen so far. What we see in a full week from tonight might be something different. You people who are saying the season is already over suck! The Steelers got shut out in week 1 of the 2000 season, they came back to beat the Ravens later in the season and finished 9-7....with that waste of space Kordell still running the show. If that can happen, we can do it also. ------------------ <IMG SRC="http://www.conservativesiteconstructionkit.com/images/flag/misc/states2.gif" border=0> <IMG SRC="http://www.conservativesiteconstructionkit.com/images/flag/flag009.gif" border=0> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 the difference is that the Steelers have a system that has been in place awhile, at least on defense, and a head coach that has 53 players that are all HIS, Cowher doesn't have any inherited problems to deal with our sour personalities that he is paying megabucks to. The Steelers are kidding themselves if they think they are in contention in the AFC. There are 2 or 3 better teams in their own division. That said, the Redskins and Steelers have some things in common: 1. Unstable quarterbacks who continue to disappoint. Stewart and George are not the long-term answer on their respective teams. 2. Underachieving, expensive lead receivers. Westbrook and Plaxico Burress were high picks and guys making good money and they fail to impress given chance after chance. 3. Without the threat of the pass, the backs Bettis and Davis are less effective and neither has the breakdown speed at their sizes to single-handedly make plays the way a Barry Sanders or Marshall Faulk has done it. 4. Offensive lines decimated by injuries and turnover. The Steelers have lost too many linemen to count over the past 5 years in free agency. There is a starting offensive line out there of ex-Steelers that would make most teams proud. Brendan Stai. Leon Searcy. John Jackson....etc............ The Redskins likewise lost one of their only offensive leaders in Tre Johnson and have replaced him with faceless players such as Matt Campbell and Ben Coleman. Now, to be fair I thought Coleman's was a good signing at the time, because I thought he was healthy. Evidently, somebody missed something along the way. A guy doesn't participate in two practices and then suffer chronic pain in BOTH knees. Coleman's injuries to me are a symptom of wear and tear over 9 years in the NFL and IMHO he probably should not have been passed on his physical. With the others, the Redskins wasted 5 months working with Moore, Fletcher and now it seems Campbell. It's funny, I am no OL expert, but I have seen how very good line coaches such as Jim Hanifan and Joe Bugel handle their talent and help the HC evaluate it. I find it inconceivable that the Redskins could go all that time with these players pencilled in as contributors and then find in TWO preseason games that neither Moore or Fletcher was even a BACKUP caliber NFL player? Come on. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark to quote Shakespeare. Of the top 4 guards the Skins went into camp with Moore, Fletcher, Campbell and Coleman NONE were starting on opening day. In fact, TWO were cut at the end of camp and another Campbell with 8 years of NFL experience couldn't beat out 22 year old rookie David Brandt that was projected originally to be a center in the NFL. That is saying a lot about where Campbell is right now in his career. On the positive side, it may say something about where Brandt is as well. Some major mistakes were made here in preparing for Year 1. There have been positives as well and we have mentioned those perhaps ad nauseum in the preseason: the drafting of Smoot and Gardner. The play of KiJana Carter. The good showing of first year qb Sage Rosenfels in the preseason, giving us a glimpse of a player with some poor mechanics but a strong arm and good athletic ability. To me the mistakes have been mostly in overrating the talent left over from the Norv/Vinny era and giving those player perhaps TOO MUCH time to play themselves out of roster spots. I can't believe that Moore and Fletcher looked great in the offseason and then were just horrid once camp started. I can't believe Husak was a viable #2 in the minicamps and in training camp and then was completely in over his head once the games began, even against questionable opponents. In fact John Clayton mentioned how slowly practices were moving with Husak as the #1 and how he lacked accuracy on the bread and butter intermediate routes. I still remain faithful that with a 4 year contract in hand that Marty will over time get the players he needs to run his system effectively. But as GM he has made some mistakes out of the gate which I am sure he has learned from. In free agency, I think it is important to look at where a player has come from, in terms of WHY a guy has been released. In the case of Matt Campbell, you are talking about a guy off a line that gave up 69 sacks last season and was completely revamped in the offseason by management. In the case of Michael Bankston, another player we brought in for a shorter time, he was a starter on one of the poorer defensive teams in the NFL at a position the team made their #1 priority in the offseason in the draft. Sometimes, teams give up on players because of money or fit problems and you can get a productive guy for a good price. But on the other side of the coin, often when you take a guy from a struggling line or offensive/defensive unit you are inheriting a player that has either lost some speed/quickness due to age/injury or simply can't play at the NFL level if a rookie or younger vet. In any case, you can't bring those players in and project them as either starters (Campbell) or potential top backups off the bench (Bankston) and expect to field a team that is truly going to be in contention that season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 every year it seems the Steelers have a new Off Coord and a new QB coach. Kordell has the legs Jeffy doesn't and Jeffy has the arm Kordell doesn't. I'd take Davis over Bettis right now. I just think that last season they started very weak with like 3 loses in a row and still finised with 9 wins. That's the example I'm going after. that a team with someone like Shar Pordanish playing for them can get 9 wins. ------------------ <IMG SRC="http://www.conservativesiteconstructionkit.com/images/flag/misc/states2.gif" border=0> <IMG SRC="http://www.conservativesiteconstructionkit.com/images/flag/flag009.gif" border=0> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RySkins Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 I think we've got a chance. There is no way our offense can be as bad as it looked against the Chargers. Hopefully it will get in gear and allow us to stay in the game. Davis usually responds pretty well to lackluster games and the Packers are not what I would consider to be an impenatrable force on defense. When the Packers have the ball, Ahman Green scares me some, as he could have a huge game against us. Dorsey Levens doesn't put an ounce of fear in my eyes...I would love to see him take carries away from Green. Favre is always dangerous of course, but I am very confident that our corners can clamp down any receiving corps in the league. Special teams are an uncertainty. I've grown used to holding my breath on every kickoff, punt, and field goal attempt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 Favre is a lot like John Elway. He has a strong arm and is mobile. That results in plays breaking down and receivers getting open even when the opposition has good corners like the Redskins do. Our safeties and coverage linebackers right now are a distinct achilles heel on the defense. Backs and tight ends regularly beat our man coverages and find spots in the zone schemes because our guys are often late to a spot or in the wrong alignment. Terrell, Shade and Arrington in coverage scares me. Both Packers backs can catch the football and Favre has shown that even with average receivers like Bill Schroeder he can still mount the semblance of a good passing offense. I truly think that if we went with Banks at quarterback this team would respond better. And it's not because Banks is the long-term answer either. It is because RIGHT NOW Banks has more confidence in his ability to get the job done and at this level you can't succeed without it, the talent is just too evenly spread around the league. Banks also seemed to come in with a chip on his shoulder over his release in Dallas and the way it was handled and I think that is something we can harness to get the best out of him this season. Certainly, Banks is throwing the ball with more authority right now and is more mobile as well. He is probably more coachable, although that is conjecture on my part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 The keys to this game will be special teams and field position. We can't let Green Bay start at midfield or better the way the Chargers constantly did and we can't get way behind early. The other best chance to win would be to prevent Favre from playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 Speaking of field position, did you get a good look at Rodney Williams punting for the Giants on the Monday Night game? 90 yards, 68 yards.....I think the guy averaged 56 yards on the night. Redskins special teams? How about adding these players to the unit? Brian Mitchell, Rodney Williams, Chris Thomas, Twan Russell, Joe Nedney, etc................ all player the Redskins either had or guys that were available for the taking and we passed........... and now they are standout special teamers elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 This is not a game I had on my win ledger at the start of the season, though, I'm still picking the Skins, because, I'm funny that way . Sure, we can win. But, the team has to evolve a great deal from the San Diego game. A week off will help us, but, not probably as much as three more weeks of games will. I think the biggest thing against us is that this will be a HUGE home field advantage during normal times for the Packers, and now, with the attack, it will be a very loud crowd and inspiration night for that. Yes, we do have a chance to win if we establish a running game and get George more confident with what he's got to do to help the team win. It's about as bad a welcome back game as possible though. ------------------ Doom is in the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 We absolutely have a prayer in this game ... provided it's the Redskins against the Packers and not the Redskins against the Redskins and the Packers. We can win if we: - Have no more than one turnover - Give up no scores or short fields due to special teams - Don't give Favre a month and a half to pass - Keep Green under 80 yards I wouldn't bet on us ... but we do have a prayer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markrc99 Posted September 17, 2001 Share Posted September 17, 2001 now that i've offended just' bout everybody, and those i haven't offended probably think i'm a communist....i'm ready for some football!.. i agree with dave about the OGs having to play well..we should be able to run the ball a little better vs GB..but no way do they let stephen davis beat them..george can't be looking to air it out every time and not check down when that's what's there! ahman green broke a couple runs last week..he finishes well and breaks tackles,mostly due to effort..he just stays with it,uses leverage & keeps his feet moving..shifty & sets his blocks..5 yrs ago,dorsey levens was a major stallion back..i think we'd better watch out for that bubba franks too..not to mention brett favre..fahgeddabowdit this is a very key game for the skins,IMO..usually the bigest adjustments that are made are between the 1st & 2nd gm..and we've had 2 weeks..win or lose,if the team plays like it did in SD on a monday night,we're in trouble..and our offensive scheme needs to get up to speed! hail the skins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sisko Posted September 18, 2001 Share Posted September 18, 2001 Unfortunately, I think a prayer is all we got against Green Bay. That and the fact that they seem to play poorly on Mon. nights. Only problem is, we haven't exactly been invincible on Monday nights as well. By the way Indy, we lost that 48-47 game with GB. It was our only loss(except for the Super Bowl debacle)in a 15-1 season as I remember it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted September 18, 2001 Share Posted September 18, 2001 14-2. we lost to Dallas 31-30 in the opener after holding a 23-3 lead at halftime. we were 3 points away from an undefeated season in 1983 heading into the playoffs. the defensive backfield cost us in the NFC Championship game and Super Bowl. Tony Peters had been arrested for cocaine possession in preseason, Joe Lavender had retired and Jeris White held out in a contract dispute and then retired as well. We were left with Anthony Washington starting at one corner and rookie Darrell Green at the other. At safety we had Curtis Jordan and Mark Murphy, who were VERY slow afoot. People don't realize how big the loss of Peters was. He was a 1982 Pro Bowl selection and one of the better safeties in the NFL for a stretch of years from 1978-83 with the Browns and then the Skins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Om Posted September 18, 2001 Share Posted September 18, 2001 Ah yes, the "Pearl Harbor Crew," as I believe the ‘83 secondary was called. Agreed that the change in personnel from ‘82 may have cost us a chance at being remembered as one of the great teams of all time. Imagine ... champions in ‘82, followed by a perfect (or close to it) season and a repeat in ‘83 (with a record-setting offense to boot). We don't lose our secondary, it very well might well have been. Used to moan about that with my buds back in the day ... seems like a long time ago. Interesting that in ‘91, we once again came ever-so-close to running the table. Take away the awful loss at RFK to the hail-Mary-chucking, onsides-kick-trying, caution-to-the-winds-playing Cowboys, in a game which we would likely have won had we realized we were in a game in the 3rd quarter rather than the 4th; and an ugly, season-ending, don't-get-anyone-hurt exercise against the Eagles in Philly, where they STILL needed a last second FG to beat us ... and we just mighta been drinking a certain exceedingly rare vintage of the bubbly: Chateaux Miami, 1972. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Dollar Posted September 18, 2001 Share Posted September 18, 2001 Well hello all. Nice to get back to some football talk isn't it? Well I can tell you that all us Tampa fans are seriously pulling for you guys to go over there and pull out a win. Green bay is tough at home but the Lions game was not a good measure IMO since the Lions are in turmoil with the WCO, Batch, New Coach etc. It's not like you don't have a prayer, but as others said mistake free football will be the Skins key to a victory, Favre is as dangerous as ever. Good Luck ------------------ Rising from the Depths of 0-26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted September 18, 2001 Share Posted September 18, 2001 A prayer? yes....but they are the best team in the NFC Central so it will take like said before, Mistake free from us (or big mistakes from them), some players to finally step up, good good coaching. ------------------ <IMG SRC="http://www.conservativesiteconstructionkit.com/images/flag/misc/states2.gif" border=0> <IMG SRC="http://www.conservativesiteconstructionkit.com/images/flag/flag009.gif" border=0> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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