A Good Argument as to Why Mike Shanahan Should Evaluate his Coaches and Play Calling, Not His Players.

[MrJL]

We appear more likely to use proven wideouts, in this example, Morgan and Briscoe as running backs, than as wideouts. Is Moss 10 yards deep next?

Really, you can't make this stuff up. Seeing Morgan lined up 10 yards behind the center so often, does anyone expect him to make a play from back there? He may be our overall best WR right now, not a threat to catch a pass at all.

Sure Hank has his catches but is hesitant and unassertive, a big kid, still finding his feet. Robinson needs another year and is coming off a concussion. Moss is winding down and is not the force he once was.

But its also how we use those 3 - poorly. Moss should be headed deep much more after slimming down - we need a deep threat found and quick. The 8 yd slant to Robinson into the FS is not his game, he needs space. Hank appears in his comfort zone, so... maybe its actually best to keep using him as we do.

Whats next, a triple I formation with all our wideouts behind RG in pistol? By the time they get to the LOS, there will be a shoulder in 3s gut.

I think the point is to create mismatches. A CB isn't going to be able to shift over to them by running them out of the backfield. Still not sure it's a good idea, but who knows

[KDawg]

I think the point is to create mismatches. A CB isn't going to be able to shift over to them by running them out of the backfield. Still not sure it's a good idea, but who knows

That would be the idea. But, there's a reason fast, small tailbacks don't really do that much damage in the NFL. They generally can't/won't run between the tackles. So you can easily defend the perimeter by shifting a few guys and there's no where for the fast/quick guy to go. There are exceptions to that rule, but Brandon Banks is not one of them

---------- Post added November-7th-2012 at 07:51 AM ----------

Misleading though. Rodgers was 14/30 (under 50% completion rate) and if not for that 72 yard pass his stats would have been pretty dismal, as is 218 yards is just average output. What happened was their run game stepped up, so let's not act like their pass offense went off without their top two targets.

It didn't go "off" but it was certainly effective when it had to be. And I think your choice of word (dismal) is a little bit dramatic. Those numbers are okay. Slightly lower comp. % than you'd like, decent passing yards (which you later chose the word average, which is far more accurate than dismal )

But the pass offense doesn't have to go "off" without two targets, but it needs to be effective. And it was.

[Mursilis]

So you get to see the entire play unfold, while I get to see whoever has the ball at the time. You hit the nail on the head when you said I was at the game Sunday and the first pass of the entire game that had any air under it, came with 3:40 left in the game.

My non-scientific observation was that there was no time for the deep-passing plays to develop, because RG3 was getting pressured too quickly. Wasn't he sacked 4 times? And I really don't remember the Panthers blitzing all that much - it just seemed like they were regularly getting strong pressure on RG3 only using their front 4.

[wrecker]

Until we get a quality right tackle, center, nose tackle and pass rusher we will continue to lose in the trenches and lose games.

[PortisBetts]

Wasn't it Morgan who was catching everything thrown to him in the 1st half? Finally a receiver that caught an attitude, and nobody put that fire out but us. Again by not even letting him near the end zone. This is enough to take even the hungriest fans hopes and to look forward to the offseason.I sure hope to see Garcon and Merriweather after the Bye, it's worth a shot at turning this around,

Unfortunately, all signs are pointing to the season being over for Garcon.

[RG3forPrez]

I think people need to sit back and realize what any other team would look like if they lost their top two pass catchers. That is a huge blow. Would Green Bay and New England still function? Certainly, but not nearly as well. Other teams like the Bengals and Lions would be absolutely crippled. Injuries have decimated our season. Our offense would look sharper, but don't even get started on defense. Our defense would probably look competent if we had all our starters reasonably healthy. I don't think any other team has sustained worse injuries than us. It always seems like we have bad luck with injuries though.

Green Bay has lost their 2 top pass catchers....Jennings and Nelson. And they scored 31 Sunday.And they have lost their tight end as well, and their 2 best defensive players (Woodson and Matthews ) yet their defense has still played solid. Pittsburgh has lost every RB they have had (at some point in the season every one of them missed games) , their 2 best def players yet they still beat the World Champs at their place. That being said, I do think injuries for this team hurt way more than others because of our depth. But whose fault is that?

[random]

Green Bay has lost their 2 top pass catchers....Jennings and Nelson. And they scored 31 Sunday.And they have lost their tight end as well, and their 2 best defensive players (Woodson and Matthews ) yet their defense has still played solid. Pittsburgh has lost every RB they have had (at some point in the season every one of them missed games) , their 2 best def players yet they still beat the World Champs at their place. That being said, I do think injuries for this team hurt way more than others because of our depth. But whose fault is that?

This team is ranked ahead of both green bay and the steelers in total offense http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...2&d-447263-n=1
and have done it with a below average pass blocking line and recieving core. Expecting a team to keep up this offensive pace consistently with all the top recievers gone and a defense that puts the team in bad positions is to much to ask of any offense. Also the skins would have beat the world champs if it wasnt for a blown coverage at the end of the game.

[Bishop Hammer]

I do wonder how much better it would have been this year if they hadn't lost 18M of cap space the day before free agency.

The cap penalty will hinder the team a great deal but I think the Skins can overcome this problem. They always been close or over the salary cap and mangaed to get under it. Don't get me wrong I wished Wash hadn't got hit with the penalty but I don't think it'll be as handcuffing as we all thought.

[Skins Wingman]

our plays are way too predictable. everybody knows when moss is lined up in the slot hes gonna run a 5 yard cross or square route. they need to send him deep more. he caught the potential winning td against the giants running straight down the field. he caught the 77 yd td from cousins against atlanta. i think moss still has it and is still our guy. he needs to be out on the field more and running deeper routes.

[Voice_of_Reason]

The cap penalty will hinder the team a great deal but I think the Skins can overcome this problem. They always been close or over the salary cap and mangaed to get under it. Don't get me wrong I wished Wash hadn't got hit with the penalty but I don't think it'll be as handcuffing as we all thought.

I might contend that only 1 of our secondary players currently on te roster would actually be on the team if there hadn't been a cap penalty.

And I think that is a huge effect.

[skinfan2k]

100% agree. MS needs to limit the number of read-option and have RG3 run a NFL offense with multiple reads. We need to make RG3 into a pocket passer first and not rely on gimmick and deception.

[Mahons21]

100% agree. MS needs to limit the number of read-option and have RG3 run a NFL offense with multiple reads. We need to make RG3 into a pocket passer first and not rely on gimmick and deception.

I couldn't disagree more.
Mike Shannahan is doing a wonderful job in putting Robert in situations he's comfortable in. The Redskins don't currently possess the offensive line nor receivers necessary to have a successful passing attack, no point in throwing Griffin into that situation. The risk of failure/lost confidence is too high.
MS should continue to develop Griffin as he has been, and as he becomes more comfortable with the speed of the NFL/reading defenses/acquire better pieces to surround him with, then you can incorporate more of a pocket-passing offense.

[Wyvern]

I agree with Mahon21's comments. I now think that Hankerson is not completely back from his hip injury, Moss is not so dangerous a deep threat, and Morgan/Robinson/Briscoe -- they need to get their heads into the game and figure out how to catch and hang on to passes coming their way. That's assuming that Griffin survives all the pummeling he'd get, especially relying on Polumbus for pass protection.

I do believe the Skins have gotten too predictable, mainly because the most reliable pass receiver is a slow-lumbering TE. Frankly, at this point -- Shanahan might want to consider more quasi 2-TE sets, since the most reliable receivers might be Cooley and Paulsen. Heck, that might help the running game, and Griffin's scrambles.

[MustangSteve]

Unfortunately, all signs are pointing to the season being over for Garcon.

They sure don't make them like they use too, they use to play on broken bones.

---------- Post added November-9th-2012 at 10:30 PM ----------

The cap penalty will hinder the team a great deal but I think the Skins can overcome this problem. They always been close or over the salary cap and mangaed to get under it. Don't get me wrong I wished Wash hadn't got hit with the penalty but I don't think it'll be as handcuffing as we all thought.

Your right Bishop, because the cap has never been a problem to us and never will be because Dan knows how to contract his players where the money shows more for bonus then for contract. That's just 1 benefit of having not only a rich owner, but a rich Lawyer as well.

We will finish building this team, they are no where near as terrible as people think! Their just young, new and learning a system. Of course they are having growing pains, all new teams do. They are just starting to form, or as some call it, growing together and building that continuity that brings wins and causes the ball to bounce our way.

Even growing up and growing together, this team has put the fear of God into some teams and their fans. Just wait until we are finished building and just starting to hit our prime. This is going to be fun! Not sure if Haslett will get to coach it or watch us in Super Bowls from tv, either way I don't really care. He has truly earned a spot on the bleachers. He was given a top 10 defense and immediately breaks it! Sounds like a spoiled brat with a new toy.

[ciresolstice]

The coaches have to adapt the playcalling/scheme to the personnel they have...With the injuries sustained and the obvious drop off in talent, the same design/plays cant be run. Simplify, go with what works and utilize what you have. Don't be stubborn. Can't keep going the way it's going or doing what you've been doing since the injuries or you'll keep getting what you have ie steelers and carolina games.