rskinsfan10
10-27-2007, 12:30 AM
KS- It appears that Joe Gibbs is handling Jason Campbell with kid gloves. Are we as fans reading too much into that, or is perception reality in this case?
DW- You know, last week's gameplan I really believed was restricted because Joe didn't know what offensive linemen he was going to have. Two of his starters didn't practice the entire week, so he really didn't know until game time who he had. I think that they planned for the worst. Then with guys in the game like Todd Wade, he didn't know how long he would be able to last. I don't think that they counted on him playing the whole game. Then they had the backup center Pucillo, who restricted their ability to run shotgun. I just think that they never made the adjustments to the fact that the guys were playing. When it came down to it, they were really only down one guy. When they got up 21-3, I think that they really didn't expect the Cardinals to score. That 4th and 1 conversion was big, along with the two personal foul penalties. That would have been a punt, but they wind up getting a score. It really kind of sneaked up on them, and I don't think that they had a plan for it.
KS- Opposing defenses appear to be gearing up to play the run against us. I suppose that would come from the fact that we seem to let everyone know that is what we plan to do. Should there be more passing on first down to counter this?
DW- If I'm New England, I would put eight in the box and I would force them to throw. If you go back to the Green Bay game, they had a great plan for opening things up. The guys just dropped every damn pass that they threw. Against Detroit, they had the shotgun direct snap to Portis, and they were taking some shots. Randle El had a hell of a game before he pulled the hammy. They either get a guy hurt, or they have guys that don't produce. Sellers, Cooley and Santana all dropped crucial 3rd down passes that would have kept drives alive. I think they have a chance against the Patriots in that I haven't really seen them stopped. I've seen them stop themselves more often then not.
KS- Do you get the feeling that this ongoing situation with Brandon Lloyd has become personal?
DW- Oh absolutely. Absolutely it's personal, and both of them are at fault. I think that Lloyd is at fault and that the team is at fault. It's really a shame because nobody wins, and because they have no value on money. I mean, they don't mind giving a guy $10mil for nothing. Just look at Archuleta. That's the shame of the whole thing. I think that Brandon Lloyd could still be productive for them, but he's going to have to do it against the Patriots. He's got to break out in the next couple of weeks, or they are going to break him off.
KS- How do you attempt to justify to your fan base the fact that you are constantly bringing WRs, the McCardells, the Reche Caldwells, and then you have healthy guy on your bench that you paid $10mil as you mentioned, and you don't play the guy? I mean really, how do you sell this to your fan base?
DW- They don't have an explanation. They will tell you that because they have played so poorly in the second half, that they have missed opportunities, but I'd like to see him get in the ballgame at the start with them running three WRs. I really think that the key to success for Washington is to start off at three wide, and even run the ball with three WRs. I think that they need to spread people out. They run too much two TE, when these toss plays to Portis just aren't gaining a lot of yards. They just aren't working. I agree with Portis when he says they have a lot of talent, but what they don't get is a lot of results.
KS- Gibbs seemed to make some interesting comments this week when he mentioned being conservative in regards to the defense playing well.
DW- That was because of the injuries. The defense has been playing well, and they don't want to take chances in the passing game. I don't agree with that because that would be something that you would do if your QB was a liability. Their QB is the most productive player on their entire offense. So, once the rest of the team catches up with Jason, they have the chance to become an elite unit.
KS- Chris Cooley has really had some stretches where you wouldn't know that he was on the field. Why not use Yoder more on the line for pass protection and send Cooley out on more routes?
DW- Well, I think the difference between Saunder's gameplan and Gibbs' gameplan is that Gibbs really believes in the H-Back, and that Saunders doesn't. So he has to play more of the conventional TE position ala Tony Gonzalez. The Chiefs offensive line was the strength of the team. I really believe that if Jansen and Thomas were there, this offense would be a lot more wide open. They worked with those guys all throughout the OTAs and camp, and now it really starts all over in regards to finding out what Pucillo's strengths are, what Fabini's strengths are, and what Wade's strengths are. That does take a while. It takes about 3-4 games to figure that out. The injuries hurt the process, but I think Sunday if they can get Rabach healthy enough to play to his standard, I think you will see a lot more done offensively.
DW- You know, last week's gameplan I really believed was restricted because Joe didn't know what offensive linemen he was going to have. Two of his starters didn't practice the entire week, so he really didn't know until game time who he had. I think that they planned for the worst. Then with guys in the game like Todd Wade, he didn't know how long he would be able to last. I don't think that they counted on him playing the whole game. Then they had the backup center Pucillo, who restricted their ability to run shotgun. I just think that they never made the adjustments to the fact that the guys were playing. When it came down to it, they were really only down one guy. When they got up 21-3, I think that they really didn't expect the Cardinals to score. That 4th and 1 conversion was big, along with the two personal foul penalties. That would have been a punt, but they wind up getting a score. It really kind of sneaked up on them, and I don't think that they had a plan for it.
KS- Opposing defenses appear to be gearing up to play the run against us. I suppose that would come from the fact that we seem to let everyone know that is what we plan to do. Should there be more passing on first down to counter this?
DW- If I'm New England, I would put eight in the box and I would force them to throw. If you go back to the Green Bay game, they had a great plan for opening things up. The guys just dropped every damn pass that they threw. Against Detroit, they had the shotgun direct snap to Portis, and they were taking some shots. Randle El had a hell of a game before he pulled the hammy. They either get a guy hurt, or they have guys that don't produce. Sellers, Cooley and Santana all dropped crucial 3rd down passes that would have kept drives alive. I think they have a chance against the Patriots in that I haven't really seen them stopped. I've seen them stop themselves more often then not.
KS- Do you get the feeling that this ongoing situation with Brandon Lloyd has become personal?
DW- Oh absolutely. Absolutely it's personal, and both of them are at fault. I think that Lloyd is at fault and that the team is at fault. It's really a shame because nobody wins, and because they have no value on money. I mean, they don't mind giving a guy $10mil for nothing. Just look at Archuleta. That's the shame of the whole thing. I think that Brandon Lloyd could still be productive for them, but he's going to have to do it against the Patriots. He's got to break out in the next couple of weeks, or they are going to break him off.
KS- How do you attempt to justify to your fan base the fact that you are constantly bringing WRs, the McCardells, the Reche Caldwells, and then you have healthy guy on your bench that you paid $10mil as you mentioned, and you don't play the guy? I mean really, how do you sell this to your fan base?
DW- They don't have an explanation. They will tell you that because they have played so poorly in the second half, that they have missed opportunities, but I'd like to see him get in the ballgame at the start with them running three WRs. I really think that the key to success for Washington is to start off at three wide, and even run the ball with three WRs. I think that they need to spread people out. They run too much two TE, when these toss plays to Portis just aren't gaining a lot of yards. They just aren't working. I agree with Portis when he says they have a lot of talent, but what they don't get is a lot of results.
KS- Gibbs seemed to make some interesting comments this week when he mentioned being conservative in regards to the defense playing well.
DW- That was because of the injuries. The defense has been playing well, and they don't want to take chances in the passing game. I don't agree with that because that would be something that you would do if your QB was a liability. Their QB is the most productive player on their entire offense. So, once the rest of the team catches up with Jason, they have the chance to become an elite unit.
KS- Chris Cooley has really had some stretches where you wouldn't know that he was on the field. Why not use Yoder more on the line for pass protection and send Cooley out on more routes?
DW- Well, I think the difference between Saunder's gameplan and Gibbs' gameplan is that Gibbs really believes in the H-Back, and that Saunders doesn't. So he has to play more of the conventional TE position ala Tony Gonzalez. The Chiefs offensive line was the strength of the team. I really believe that if Jansen and Thomas were there, this offense would be a lot more wide open. They worked with those guys all throughout the OTAs and camp, and now it really starts all over in regards to finding out what Pucillo's strengths are, what Fabini's strengths are, and what Wade's strengths are. That does take a while. It takes about 3-4 games to figure that out. The injuries hurt the process, but I think Sunday if they can get Rabach healthy enough to play to his standard, I think you will see a lot more done offensively.