Doc Answers Your Questions!

[rskinsfan10]

Thanks in large part to the suggestion made by tbfoster, I presented the questions that you all wanted presented to Doc this week. If I didn't get around to asking your question during this session, don't sweat it. I plan to allow members to present their questions again throughout the rest of the season.

KS- Chris Cooley was able to pretty much to do whatever he wanted in the first half against the Packers, but he seemingly disappeared after halftime. From your vantage point, was that a direct result of the Packers keying in on him?

DW- I would like to think that the Packers took him away. That was their number one objective defensively, to take Cooley away. They did a horrible job in the first half, but I think they kind of got it together in the second half.

KS- Gibbs and this coaching staff are garnering the reputation within much of the fan base as being incompetent when it comes to timeouts and clock management. You played for Gibbs. This just doesn't seem to be the same Joe Gibbs to me. What do you think?

DW- Well, he's sharing responsibility with Al Saunders. So it's not the same guy, and it surely isn't the same system. People shouldn't compare the two because they clearly aren't the same. I think they are trying to work their way through this new arrangement, and it's showing in this area.

KS- One of the things from the first Gibbs era that we haven't seen in his return is the positive adjustments made at halftime. No lead seems to be safe for us to maintain in the second half. What appears to be the reason why we can't close out the deal in the end?

DW- In Gibbs I, we threw the ball extremely well. This group hasn't been able to throw the ball well consistently. Last week, it was function of drops. Had they caught those balls, it would have been a tremendous game plan. It would have been right on point, but since they didn't, it was very difficult to access it. So, we are looking at a plan that failed simply because they didn't execute. I don't think that it was a bad plan, I just think that they simply failed to execute.

KS- To follow up on that, I guess you are saying that you find the execution to be lacking more then the play calling or time management at this point?

DW- In this particular game. I mean, time management has always been a problem for them because they never have one guy running the system. Al Saunders can't get a feel for the entire game because he's not in control the entire game. I think that is very difficult for him. It feels like Al wants to do things to please Joe instead of doing things he's accustomed to doing. Time management has been a problem because you have two or three guys making decisions, and you don't have time for that. Al will never be able to get a feel for the game as long as Joe is involved. Joe should either run it all, or let Al run it all. It appears as though that's not going to happen. The good news is that Jason Campbell has been able to overcome both of them so far. If his WRs would just catch the ball, they would have a really potent offense. Clinton is getting in better condition, and the better he gets in condition the better he will run.

KS- Going back to Portis for a bit, their are reports that he is out of shape and seemingly unfocused. You have a pretty good pulse on this team. Any truth to that?

DW- I think he's focused, he's just not in game shape. He's not used to having his body limit his performance. So he's going through recovering from injury, not taking a great attitude towards training. Really, his best runs were against Green Bay. He started to find a groove. The fumbling is just a function of him not being in game shape. Once he gets in game shape and gets himself really ready to play, things will change. The best thing that can happen for him is for them to leave him in the game and don't allow him to come out. Make him push himself through that threshold that's he's accustomed to in the past. He almost relies too much on Betts right now, who is just strangled to death right now. It's very little that he can do with these limited carries. One of them needs to get 25 carries.

KS- You and I have had many conversations in the past where it was mentioned that no one is safe when their cap number starts to get high. Are we getting close to the point where we may need to start wondering if Portis' days are numbered?

DW- Well, when it comes to finances it's obvious that's just the way the Skins do business now, but I think with Clinton we are a long way away from that. If Clinton runs for 150yds on Sunday or they go out and beat New England later, then he's fine. He's just got to get it done. If he goes out and helps them get wins against the likes of the Patriots and the Cowboys, then he's okay. If not, he's done. There is no need to deal with the aggravation of that if he's not productive.

[rskinsfan10]

KS- Do you get the feeling that this team plays down to competition that they appear to superior to when the game is over?

DW- If they catch five of the balls the balls they dropped, if Taylor catches two of the three interceptions that he dropped, then the game is a rout. I mean, they just screwed up. It had nothing to do with coaching, it had nothing to do with effort. The effort was there, they were in position to do it. This was just pilot error, and it was all on the players.

KS- Keenan McCardell has been very impressive so far. Do you think that he has worked his way up to being the third WR on the depth chart?

DW- I think that he has proven that he can get the job done, but this team is never going to be at its best until Brandon Lloyd is given the opportunity. He has to make himself available. It's a two-sided coin. I think that if Lloyd can just get going, they have a chance to be really good offensively.

KS- What is your take on Santana removing himself from the game and ensuing controversy following it?

DW- Well, he wasn't playing up to his standards. I think that he thought the injuries were a factor, and he was just searching for answers. I trust him. It's no different then a .300 hitter that goes 0-5 in a ballgame. That basically what he did, because he is a .300 hitter. I expect him to bounce back. If this happened two or three games in a row, then we would have a problem, but I don't think that's the case. He's got credit in my bank as far as I'm concerned for beating Dallas. He's alright with me, he just has to redeem himself over the next couple of weeks.

KS- Do you have the feeling that the seeming uncertainty of the direction of the front office with Snyder, Cerrato and Gibbs has translated into the sporadic play that we see on the field?

DW- No, I don't. Those three will always be what they are, but that triangle had nothing to do with dropped passes and missed assignments. That had nothing to do with it whatsoever. I mean, I don't like the way that they function, but that had nothing to do with the loss in Green Bay.

KS- Back when you played, you guys were lauded for your intelligence. We hear Gibbs these days making reference to current players being "super smart". In comparing the two, do you get the feeling that these guys are as smart on the field as you guys were back in the day?

DW- These guys are bright, and these guys work hard. These guys have done everything but win. We were super desperate, and these guys may not ever be as desperate as we were. That's just economics. In terms of effort, I think that they give great effort. I think that they are well prepared and well coached. I think you have to break them down into three parts. The defense is coached totally different then the offense. The defense is highly productive, they are challenged and there is very little room for BS on their side of the ball. The special teams is productive with the kicking and the punting. Rock Cartwright is playing his butt off. The coverage team is doing well. The offense is an enigma. It has so many people speaking for it. It doesn't have one voice, and that's a problem. What it does have is a very talented QB. Despite all of the other confusion, this young man is getting better and better every week. That's why they have a chance to be really good. Despite what's going on with the team, Jason Campbell may be talented enough to overcome it if his teammates would just help him out.

KS- Can you see this team being close to being able to play consistent football week in and week out?

DW- I think that if this team wins two of their next three ball games, it's going to be right where it needs to be. They are capable of being 5-0, but they are also capable of being 0-5. That's the thing about this team. They are going to have to prove themselves every game until it's leadership really takes over. I don't expect this team to be where it will eventually be after five weeks of play. They have a long way to go. I mean, this organization has been through a lot. All the different coaches, the different personnel, it's just a lot to overcome. I just think that it has a lot of promise, but only their performance during the games will tell. I feel good about them going forward because the defense is playing well, teams is playing well, and the offense has had some nice moments. The offense just hasn't been consistent. You have a lot of guys playing really good football. Sellers, Campbell, Randle El, Kendall, Cooley, Samuels, Rabach. I mean, you can't ask for more then what those guys have given you. Wade and Fabini have done a good job. It's a lot of positives. They just have to get the WRs and the passing game going to where there are no mistakes, or where they limit their mistakes.

KS- Speaking of the offensive line, how does Joe Bugel seem to make due with whomever is put in front of him to coach and get maximum effort from these guys?

DW- He's a great communicator and a great teacher. He has talent to work with. He has one rookie. Everyone else has played and started in this league. He's just the right guy to have to guide them properly.

KS- You mentioned earlier the Al Saunders aspect in regards to the two Gibbs eras. What else is different from now and the first time around?

DW- I think his past staff had more influence. I think that Joe pretty much has a dictatorship now with the offense. I think that past staff with Don Breaux and those guys had a little more influence. Right now, there are too many cooks in the kitchen. He needs to let Al Saunders sink or survive on his own. Al is not a rookie coordinator. I think the players would respect him more and he would get more out of them if they knew that he was truly in charge.

[SpicyMcHaggis]

Al will never be able to get a feel for the game as long as Joe is involved. Joe should either run it all, or let Al run it all. It appears as though that's not going to happen. The good news is that Jason Campbell has been able to overcome both of them so far.


DW- I think he's focused, he's just not in game shape.

So he's going through recovering from injury, not taking a great attitude towards training.
Those two quotes are the most troubling to me.
If a guy that knows more football than all of us here combined says that instead of Gibbs and Saunders helping JC develop, the situation is that JC is having to overcome both of them so far, then that tells me that there is something seriously wrong with the current state of the offense, or at least its current arrangement.

As for Portis, he's not in game shape. Wow. Week 7 is today and our star RB is not in game shape (because he is not taking a great attitude towards training). I really hope this is not true. But if it is...wow.

[Hr fan]

There was a thread called too many cooks. Doc agrees, and in that exact simile. Saunders should be the OC or Joe, but not both. I agree with Doc that the problems (clock management, lousy 1/2 time adjustments, etc.) are well identified but Gibbs is willing to live with them rather than trust his OC. The only thing that surprises me is that he went and got Saunders in the first place. If Saunders has a streak of Joe Torre in him he will not be here next year.

[SkinsKY]

DW- Well, he's sharing responsibility with Al Saunders. So it's not the same guy, and it surely isn't the same system. People shouldn't compare the two because they clearly aren't the same. I think they are trying to work their way through this new arrangement, and it's showing in this area.[/B]

Clock mismanagement, isn't a new issue for Gibbs 2.0. It definitely predates Saunders' arrival, so it can't just be the nature of the Gibbs/Saunders arrangement. There's a common denominator in there.

I also agree with Spicy that those comments on Campbell and Portis are very telling. It means the system's not working. Two professionals shouldn't take this long to figure each other out unless there's a constant power struggle, which may be. Plus, I didn't like the way they handled Portis before this year, and I like it even less now.

[SpicyMcHaggis]

Clock mismanagement, isn't a new issue for Gibbs 2.0. It definitely predates Saunders' arrival, so it can't just be the nature of the Gibbs/Saunders arrangement. There's a common denominator in there.

I also agree with Spicy that those comments on Campbell and Portis are very telling. It means the system's not working. Two professionals shouldn't take this long to figure each other out unless there's a constant power struggle, which may be. Plus, I didn't like the way they handled Portis before this year, and I like it even less now.
Good point.

And one more thing. Mistakes like not calling a TO before the two minute warning can't be the result of the Gibbs/Saunders arrangement. They had a full 30 seconds to make a decision that even a brain trust made up of two 10 year old boys could make in 10 seconds.

[shally]

Those two quotes are the most troubling to me.
If a guy that knows more football than all of us here combined says that instead of Gibbs and Saunders helping JC develop, the situation is that JC is having to overcome both of them so far, then that tells me that there is something seriously wrong with the current state of the offense, or at least its current arrangement.

As for Portis, he's not in game shape. Wow. Week 7 is today and our star RB is not in game shape (because he is not taking a great attitude towards training). I really hope this is not true. But if it is...wow.

totally agree.. this team will not prosper with a divided chain of command on offense. win or lose, GW speaks for the defense. not so on offense, apparently. they are paying AS 2 million per year to run the offense, let him do it his way or fire him. walk the left side of the road, or the right side of the road-- everybody knows what happens if you walk down the middle of the road

second, for what portis is getting paid he should be in game shape. he is not. it is a product of injuries plus his own attitude towards conditioning.
he needs to re commit to his body in the coming off season. too late to do anything about it now. but they should use him until his tongue hangs out.
this 1A and 1B is just not working

[RedskinRyan]

my favorite parts reading, were discussing the time management and clinton portis. i agree with his take on CP.

[Fathead]

I'm bumping this so I don't have to see "let's talk playoffs" in the forum listing.