Poll: Which has contributed the most to the Washington Redskins 3-6 record? Injuries, Lack of Quality Depth, or Coaching?

[FrFan]

1) injuries 2) roster depth 3) coaching staff
I voted injuries but in reality it's a combination of the 3 above.

[skins island connection]

I went with coaching.
The actual word 'coach' describes the ability of his job to 'teach' players, which I am mostly reflecting on the defensive side. Everyone knows Haslett's days are numbered, even he knows it, and this one is on Mike for hiring him to begin with. The 4-3 was fine before he messed it up because of his 'wants'; now we're on track for a record we don't want a part of.
Now, I have to give Mike credit where its due; removing AH cancer was needed, and he did bring in a few good players, I would have to say better than Zornie could have done.

But it boils down to players' ability to fit into a scheme, and this is where it falls apart for me. Many of us were not thrilled with LL's play, but right now we'd give anything to have him back, especially after seeing how poorly Mayday Williams has played. Injuries do play a part, but coaching plugs in players when 1 is injured, and not much drop off; see Pittsburgh's defense, and signing players to 40+ million dollar contracts who were 3rd best on their previous teams doesn't give the needed cap room any wiggle room.
We switch back to the 4-3, get a few receivers who WANT to play, and a new DC, and things will be better.

SIC

[SWFLSkins]

Toughest poll of my entire life.

Not mine, easiest. Coaching plain and simple. The Coach said before the season that this is the most depth he has had since he has been here. Those are his words, not mine. Injuries suck, poor evaluation sucks more. The Coach also hired the defensive coaches and manages the offense. The timing of some plays is suspect at best, while the offense has proven to be good, the clock management, the lack of intensity- Yesterdays must win, and that is what you muster?

Team looked flat and unprepared at home against a 1-6 team. The suckage does not stop there, the keeping of Banks, the kicker rotation prior to and during the season, keeping of Danny Smith, and the overrated WR core that he hand picked. Moss the lone leftover being the best on the team exposes a weakness of not being able to adjust to one injury and then developing what you have. The RB's other than the gem he seems to have put too much time into are non-existent.

Yes this morning I awoke not angry but faced with reality, our Coach is not who I thought he was. I hope he proves me wrong but up until today he didn't have to do that, I believed in him and his abilities, now I question them.

[Old Bay]

Injuries have been a problem for sure. I think (again, think) that our depth is a little better this year. Having good players means a lot, but coaching can and should mask some of those deficiencies.

I think coaching has been a big problem though. Haslett's defense is the main culprit. Everything I've read about him being predictable and that the various units in defense aren't even being used to compliment one another is sickening. Danny Smith's continued special teams gaffs, though we do finally seem to have a kicker. Also, though the playcalling on offense has been quite good for most of the year it seems like it gets weird and conservative at odd times. Like yesterday with the 4th and goal sweep. Also, time management still seems to be an issue with this team.

[S.T.real,lights,out]

Coaching and lack of depth, which go hand in hand..

[Wyvern]

I voted injuries. Brown, Helu, Davis, Garcon, Sundberg, Carriker, Orakpo, Nield, Fletcher, Bernstine, Merriweather, Rocca and others.

Injuries do reveal the lack of quality depth -- but this is a team in transition, with cap contraints, and working out from under contraints of old contracts, dead money, etc. It's gotten deeper, but not deep enough. And how many other teams have loads of starter quality depth sitting on the bench?

As for coaching? There are a few coaches I think who could be "upgraded" -- but I'm not certain yet that all of these particular coaches should bear the full brunt of how well their players perform. Core to competing in the NFL is that each week, players (rookies or vets) have to show the the league that they belong at this level. And in those critical individual situations when a player is called upon to execute his role -- it's not about his hype, his play-schemes, or even his coaching -- it's whether the player gets it done. We've had a lot players fail to deliver at crunch-time and make the plays that would make their coaches look like winners.

This is a team with a lot of new parts -- some are going to show they can't be relied upon. Some are going to show they are ready to step up and fill that starter's role. Some are going to be quality depth -- waiting for their opportunity to start.

[first time long time]

This team drives me crazy. When the defense plays half decent the offense struggles but when the offense is clicking the D gives up 30. I see a team with no heart and that is undisciplined so I went with coaching. Watching other teams on the Redzone channel shows me how bad this team is. Kyle needs to throw that college playbook out the window and play NFL football.

[wysknz1]

Lots of key injuries, but I also think defenses now have tape on the offense and know what to do. Coaching needs to be less predictable. They've figured how how to defense RGIII and he isn't as effective now. He could be with the right coaching.

[bedlamVR]

I think injuries are a major issue and you can see it with Garcon Missing and Davis is we have a definate drop down in terms of team spead . I saw a couple of plays yesterday and it looked like RGIII was waiting for the reciever to get open, particulary Paulsen, who seemed to be crawling along, it just did not seem to be a crisp and fast as it was with Davis in there .

The other worrying thing is players - not half assing in but they don't look as if they are having fun out there - like they are getting beaten down by the daily grind - this looked to be affecting the LBs particulary badly - I am kind of used to them - even the back ups running around making plays - it might be because Fletcher and Riley are nursing injuries but thier zip is gone - they seem flat footed and then Kerrigan - who looked very athletic in coverage is just not making an impact without Orakpo out there .

Overall the team looked tierd . On defense this is understandable on the line and in the secondary because we cannot get the substitutions in there and we cannot spell the guys who need a play or two out . (not everyone is Ryan Kerrigan). - Injuries ave not just taken out starters but depleated depth too . I have to wonder also about the RB - Morris is a beast but with first Hightower unable to come back from injury, then Helu not being able to play and Royster has been horribly ineffective (though banged up) in the running game there is no real change of pace and there is no way you can lean on a RB to take the load Morris is in his rookie year and still expect him to be healthy...


I also worry and I always have worried about the heart of Shanahans teams and Mike Shanahan himself - i did when he was in Denver (if they were not above .500 by mid season they were out of it) . Maybe it is time for someone to step up from the players - I don't know if anyone caught the comment last week when he was talking about him expecting at this point in the season the vertrans would be taking over but there was an element of dispair - The players need to take responsibility - and motivation cannot be all down to the players .

One thing i loved about Gibbs teams is he had his vocal leaders on the team - You look at the vetrans right now and London is one (but I am not sure he wanted to come back but the sunday itch was getting to him) and maybe Rex but those are the only follow me leaders I can see . RGIII can be as enthusiastic as he wants to be but he is a rookie and that is all anyone will think when he tries to lift the team - "this is the pro's kid - what do you know" ... The only other guy I could see stepping up was Orakopo - but maybe this team has got too young too fast and there is no real pecking order ...

Maybe the solution would be to bring back Gibbs as an non executive VP - his pep talk seems to have perked up the Cowboys .

[stevemcqueen1]

I think injuries have been a big factor, but I also think this team wasn't talented enough to play much better than we have so far, pre-injury. There are a lack of playmakers and we only had about 6 or 7 upper level starters, one of which is a rookie QB. Three of those starters have gone down (Fred, Orakpo, & Garcon) and missed the majority of the year between them.

[illone]

How is Indy 5-3 with a less talented roster?

Good coaching and a team that is playing for something.

What are the Skins really playing for? Shanny? Snyder? I don't think the Skins have the proper leadership in the Front Office. Bruce seems like a legit GM, but he doesn't even have the proper control, he's nothing more than a figurehead without a pen since Shanny has control of the personnel decisions.

[Gart Monk]

This team isn't going anywhere until they learn how to sign productive FAs

[The Trashman]

I think lack of quality depth has really taken a toll on the 'Skins this year. All the other issues factor in but the quality of the players and backups have not lived up to their billing.

[Morneblade]

How is Indy 5-3 with a less talented roster?

Good coaching and a team that is playing for something.

Yep, this. It's the coaching. Haslett needs to be fired because he is a crappy DC. Banks needs to be cut (and that is on coaching because they have kept him....and played him). Kyle needs to start throwing vertical and stop the gimicky crap and NEVER run a sweep on 3rd and short in the redzone. Playcalling is a problem. Penalties (we're last in the league) is a problem and that is on coaching as well. I was so pissed off yesterday watching all the coaching elements(or lack of ) that were killing us.

[cphil006]

I think lack of quality depth has really taken a toll on the 'Skins this year. All the other issues factor in but the quality of the players and backups have not lived up to their billing.

We have terrible safeties and our projected starters are injured (Merriweather) and suspended (Tenard Jackson). The weakes link in this group is the secondary.

Our playcalling was awful... the fact that we ahve RG3 can disguise it only for so long. He's able to turn chicken crap into chicken salad... but sometimes he runs out of chicken and all we have left is the crappy play-calling showing it's ugly head.