Brunell4MVP
Footballguy
1. Penalties improved significantly. The box score will show 8 last week and 7 this week, but the penalties weren't in that many key situations, were for far less yards, and last week a bunch were turned down.This one is on the coach. And I've been a defender, but this team lacks discipline and Gruden overthinks the play calling.
Penalties: 11 for 88 yards is too many for this team to overcome. 4th most in league. And they also had 3 more declined. Teams that play the way the Redskins do cannot have that many mistakes.
Play calling:
First half Morris carries: 17
Second half Morris carries: 8
So when it mattered, your decision as a coach was to do less of what was working? I guess it's because he has has a great set of WRs? Um, nope. I guess it's because he has Aaron Rodgers playing QB? Um, nope. I guess it's because it's smart to have Chris Thompson come in on third down? Um, nope.
What the $%#$ is Gruden thinking? I suspect he's looking a chart telling him Morris should only get 20-25 carries per game. Or maybe that it's 1st and 20 and he can only throw the ball. Or that the other team is stacking the box. He needs to shelve that crap. The run is working. Pound it, pound it, pound it. And if you lose doing what you are best at, so be it. But don't lose trying to do what you are bad at. If I were Morris I'd be pissed. Shanny nor Gibbs would have ever, ever abandoned the run yesterday. And if the other team stacked the box they'd just bring in more blockers. Gruden crapped on himself.
To see how it is supposed to be done, look at how MIA went after Amerson 7 straight throws. Their coach sees the weakness and exploits it. Our coach sees their weakness all first half, and for whatever reason decides there are better ways to play the game.
Special teams: Forget the punt return for a second. Can someone go find a kicker that can get the kick off beyond the goal line? You've got awful coverage combined with a kicker that averages 67 yards? 25 NFL kickers can put it out of the end zone. Ours can barely reach the goal line. There's no way you need an 8th LB on the team more than you need to kick the ball out of the end zone to avoid needing coverage at all.
Gruden better get his act together, or he's not going to make it through November.
The players didn't look that bad to me. But the coaching did.
2. Play calling. They continued to run the ball in the second half even when the D stacked the box. Brought in extra TEs too. Almost the same number of rushes in the second half as the first half from what I could tell.
3. Kickoffs fixed. I think this was a hugely underlooked problem they had. Really helps the D when the other teams starts at the 20 yard line.
Good work all around.
Side note that I feel for Alfred Morris. He's a true Redskin and hasn't been paid anywhere close to his production in his rookie contract. Jones seems to be pushing him into the #2, albeit it will be RBBC so either could have big games. I hope they can work out a long term deal that works for both sides, and given what I've seen from McCloughan he will try to keep him. Jones and Morris pounding the ball down other teams throats for the next 3-5 years sounds really good to me.
I'm glad the 'Skins aren't that desperate for a QB.