Not Every Loss Has a Goat or Should Make Your Blood Boil

[SJValleySkinz]

So should every pass play been replaced with a run? No guarantee that would have worked. The run game was stonewalled in the 2nd half, 80+ of Morris's yards were in the 1st half.

Teams usually don't have a high # of run attempts unless they're leading late in the game and are just running out the clock. We were in a competitive game and had to maintain a diverse run/play selection to try to keep the ball moving.

Yes, every pass play should have been replaced by a run. Exactly what I meant.

There's actually a middle ground between every pass being replaced by a run and only giving it to the RB 18 times when he's avareging over 5 yards a carry.

[kleese]

Yup--that's absolutely correct. We're all giving him wide berth because let's face it--many of us can't stomach the consequences of Shanny's hiring and his master plan not working and at least restoring us to contender status. But, the fact remains that there are Sunday's like yesterday, where this team still insists on finding every possible way to lose a game instead of finding ways to win. It's tough to understand how this can still be the case three years into his tenure. It's tough to rationalize Danny Smith remaining as a coach on this team given our special team lapses year after year. It's even more difficult to understand why we are incapable of finding a reliable placekicker. Every other team in the league seems to have the little details like this ironed out.

I'm not sold on Shanny or his son (especially his son) at all. But, what choice do we really have at this point other than to hope for the best? Unfortunately, a season's worth of consecutive home losses coupled with a bad injury to our franchise QB have made me feel worse about this team than I have in some time--and that's saying something.

I like Kyle... A lot actually. I think he is smart and creative. At the end of last year our offense was moving the ball very well against quality opponents despite being without Trent and Davis and starting Rex each week. This year I think he has done a very nice job maximizing RG3 and adapting his play calling for the situation. I do think he over corrected a tad last week and went a bit too conservative. Agree the the third and 6 goal before we missed the FG was a poor one. But overall, I'm a fan of Kyle and the way he runs an offense.

My goal for this year was to separate ourselves from the bottom feeders. I wanted to compete with teams that are on a level above us (which we've done) and I wanted to win more than we lose against teams near our level. If we beat Minnesota Sunday we are on track. If we lose, I wouldn't blame anyone for feelings pangs of the "same ole same ole" mantra.

[skinsmania123]

What bothers me about this team is what has bothered me for years. Let me try to explain. For the first 4 games we have had what seemed liked a high octane Offense scoring and a Defense giving up a ridiculous amount of yardage and points, which they have never done over the past couple seasons. Despite the ridiculous amount of points we put up in two of the games we lost them. .

Now in this game we score zippo in the first half with our high octane Offense, yet we are doing great in the running game, but there is no variety in plays, no throws down the field to give a semblance of mixing it up, we can't covert third downs and our Defense plays lights out yet fold at the end of the game. Now had our Offense scored a decent amount of points, against a Falcons Defense that is good, not great, we would have won. And I am talking scoring in the first half. Having momentum. Not putting RG3 in a position to "make something happen". The Offensive playcalling was bad. We have a QB that can throw accurately at long distance but we did not take any shots.

Now the intangible, which is hard to describe, is this sort of clear mental let down that seems to happen with our team. I mean did the Atlanta Falcons suddenly become good against the run, or did Morris lose a bit mentally when RB3 went out? Because he slowed up. And you can't put it all on Cousins because when he threw that great strike to Moss (who is not used enough by the way by RG3), we went up by 3. The D could not hold up to help the Rookie out and there is Cousins trying to make something happen just like RG3 tried to do when he suffered the concussion, only he gets INT's.

I am writing a lot to say there is a mental problem with this team that you cannot teach. If many players had the mindset, of whatever it is, Eli Manning has, we would be clearly 4-1, IMO.



It is just how the Skins roll as a team it seems.

[the1toask]

" our Defense plays lights out yet fold at the end of the game".. this seems to be a problem this team has had for years. Not sure if it is fatigue or something else, but I get nervous every time we have a slim lead and the other team has the ball near the end of a game.

[skins4eva]

I like Kyle... A lot actually. I think he is smart and creative. At the end of last year our offense was moving the ball very well against quality opponents despite being without Trent and Davis and starting Rex each week. This year I think he has done a very nice job maximizing RG3 and adapting his play calling for the situation. I do think he over corrected a tad last week and went a bit too conservative. Agree the the third and 6 goal before we missed the FG was a poor one. But overall, I'm a fan of Kyle and the way he runs an offense.

My goal for this year was to separate ourselves from the bottom feeders. I wanted to compete with teams that are on a level above us (which we've done) and I wanted to win more than we lose against teams near our level. If we beat Minnesota Sunday we are on track. If we lose, I wouldn't blame anyone for feelings pangs of the "same ole same ole" mantra.

Minnesota looks like a team that has already surpassed us. Their win against a stacked San Fran team was impressive. I think this is a game we need to win. Have to know whether RGIII will be playing to determine whether we have a realistic shot.

[Murphs56]

this is a good post. i'd love to see RG3 recover and have a bounce back win over the Vikings this week. 3-3 with a wide open division this year. Anything could happen

Agreed. The NFC East is very inconsistent this year. Every week, someone looks great, someone looks bad and then it changes. The Redskin are in just as good position as anyone else to win it. All the schedules are brutal. I expect the winner to be 9-7.

[thesubmittedone]

Just when I think you couldn't make a thread that's any more dumber, kleese.....



You make this one and totally redeem yourself!

[skinfan2k]

Thing is before the game starts we all know this team isn't ready to compete with the big boys and this isn't likely a winning season. But when the game starts, my blood boils thinking the redskins can win every game!

[USS Redskins]

Close but no cigar... this has happened to the Skins more often than not the last few years.I have heard over and over this team is so close - only losing by 3, 7, 10 etc... but the key word is Loss. They just cant seem to pull out games.

It's getting really old. Like 20 years old. I wasnt as upset about yesterday as I usually am b/c I know (and love) this team and its just the way they are and probably will be for the foreseable future.

The single most frustrating stat I have seen: Shanny is 4-22 at FedEx. He should be fired for that stat alone if the losses keep up this year.

[DCsportsfan53]

If they wanted to control the clock Morris should have had more carries. Consequently they were far from controlung the clock

They had less success in the second half and the bottom line is they didn't run enough plays because they didn't convert 3rd downs...several of which were 3rd and 2 or less Morris runs that didn't make it, btw. They ran 48 plays, 21 rushes, 27 drop backs (3 sacks) for a 44/56 run/pass ratio. And that's given that the last few drives they were throwing the ball almost exclusively and trying to tie the game. I agree completely, kleese. Unfortunately, if there's anyone to pin the game on it's RG3. Had he not been so cavalier and gotten himself knocked out of the game we had a great opportunity to win and trust me, I'm not holding it against him.

[SHADES]

from my perspective, I have to agree we have to be happy with the way they are playing collectively. One MNOR exception the FG kicker *****.
That being said I still find, as a waaay way back skins fan reason to be frustrated. We could be, and with a break here or there very well be 4 and 1 right now.
We should be 4-1.. we had St louis beat, and we should have won yesterday... Coulda shoulda woulda I know I know.. but many teams have won games less deserving in this short season.
Indy yesterday comes to mind. Seattle / GB too.

The larger problem being, especially if RG is on hold, is the remaining schedule. Dallas isnt playing well but they will still play us Dallas / Skins tough so Id say that was a split at best. Philly 2, Giants 2, Pittsburg, Baltimore, Minnesota, I mean whos making these schedules.. the football Gods have not smiled on us with Minnesota being top teir all of a sudden.... What I'm saying is 10-6 might not get in this year.. which means 9 out of the next 11 to be 11-5...... I cant see it.

lets collectively hold our breath on RGIII and cling to 10-6 getting a spot.... I dont want to mail it in in week 6, sorry.

[DM72]

Close but no cigar... this has happened to the Skins more often than not the last few years.I have heard over and over this team is so close - only losing by 3, 7, 10 etc... but the key word is Loss. They just cant seem to pull out games.

It's getting really old. Like 20 years old. I wasnt as upset about yesterday as I usually am b/c I know (and love) this team and its just the way they are and probably will be for the foreseable future.

The single most frustrating stat I have seen: Shanny is 4-22 at FedEx. He should be fired for that stat alone if the losses keep up this year.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I'm with ya. I'm tired of being sooooo close to winning games every year.

[konga2145]

Just hope when RG111 gets back he isn't afraid . Agood lick can put fear in some people without him even realizing it. We won't really know till 1st time he ia under pressure again.

[ciresolstice]

RG3 getting hit and going out of the game was obviously a tough blow literally...Hope he'll be ok for the next game..just ok period. He needed to head for the sidelines on that one, nothing was there. Cundiff missing from 31 smh. The bend but don't break D was working. Needed more from the O. give the Falcons credit they are a really good team.

With our secondary I didn't see the game going the way it did at all, hung in there. It always sucks to lose regardless of the expectations or match ups. The game was more frustrating to me than naming goats or blood boiling. Sure we want more, but this team has a little ways to go yet to be on par with some of these other teams in the league we see. The loosing streak at home hurts.

[2STaylor1]

the D played better but it only showed on the scoreboard. ATL DOMINATED T.O.P and offense plays. while i may be trying to make excuses, our offense just couldnt get in a rhythm, and that kills any offense.