Playing up or playing down?

[Dolla Bill]

This year, the one thing I have noticed are the skins playing up to a good/strong opponent (Dallas, GB, NYG [I use that one lightly]), and then playing down to the weaker ones (NYJ, Miami, Philly). It doesn't make sense. The only game in which they were never in, was the Patriots game, and I really want that killer mentality instilled into this team.

My problem is, why? Why do we always play to the level of our opponent, instead of just playing solid, and consistent ball across the board. Have others playing up to our level instead of having to play down to theirs. Does anyone else see this?

[tbfoster1]

This year, the one thing I have noticed are the skins playing up to a good/strong opponent (Dallas, GB, NYG [I use that one lightly]), and then playing down to the weaker ones (NYJ, Miami, Philly). It doesn't make sense. The only game in which they were never in, was the Patriots game, and I really want that killer mentality instilled into this team.

My problem is, why? Why do we always play to the level of our opponent, instead of just playing solid, and consistent ball across the board. Have others playing up to our level instead of having to play down to theirs. Does anyone else see this?


If you ask me, this has has been going on for more than a year

[JoeJacksonTaylor28]

If you ask me, this has has been going on for more than a year
Yes.

This has become some kind of Redskins' football label.

[Biggie]

I don't think it's necessarily a matter of us not executing to the level that we would against a good team. For example, at least parts of the team played well in the Jets, Philly, and Miami games. However, I think the mentality of playing those close games every week that Gibbs is so fond of, and usually gets, usually results in the score being much closer than it need be, which usually means we lose.

[skinfanjon]

I don't think it's necessarily a matter of us not executing to the level that we would against a good team. For example, at least parts of the team played well in the Jets, Philly, and Miami games. However, I think the mentality of playing those close games every week that Gibbs is so fond of, and usually gets, usually results in the score being much closer than it need be, which usually means we lose.

Exactly. We tighten up against those teams because Gibbs believes that we are the better team, and as long as the better team doesn't make critical mistakes then they will win. Its a crappy philosophy, because it lends itself to nail-biters when they could win by 10 or 14 points. If you expect close games, you gameplan for close games, and the game usually goes accordingly.

[MONK_in_HOF]

If you ask me, this has has been going on for more than a year

No doubt about that.

[Dolla Bill]

If you ask me, this has has been going on for more than a year

Its more agonizing this year around though, and much more prevalent.

[JsMaViSd]

Its more agonizing this year around though, and much more prevalent.

thats because this year we know our team should be better than what our record is..

i think this second half of football will change, and i see us beating Tampa Bay by more than 10 points..

[give_portis_the_rock]

thats because this year we know our team should be better than what our record is..

i think this second half of football will change, and i see us beating Tampa Bay by more than 10 points..

New solution: Root for the opposing team in the first half.
We trailed the Jets at the half and we won that game. But in 4 of our 5 losses we have led going into the half.

[Brit'Skin]

Yes.

This has become some kind of Redskins' football label.

Yeah and it should come with some sort of warning for your heart.

[Keino]

I still take them one at a time, but I look at our remaining opponents:

@ Tampa
Bills
Bears
@NYG
@ Minnesota
Dallas


I don't see 5 wins based on what I have seen so far this season. I'm not confident going into Tampa where we have lost in each of the last 2 seasons. They have a good QB and a speedy WR.

[SkinsfaninNJ]

I still take them one at a time, but I look at our remaining opponents:

@ Tampa
Bills
Bears
@NYG
@ Minnesota
Dallas


I don't see 5 wins based on what I have seen so far this season. I'm not confident going into Tampa where we have lost in each of the last 2 seasons. They have a good QB and a speedy WR.

Every one of those games are winnable or loseable. We shall see.

[openallnight]

Every one of those games are winnable or loseable. We shall see.
Hey up here every week is a dog fight.

[MONK_in_HOF]

I still take them one at a time, but I look at our remaining opponents:

@ Tampa
Bills
Bears
@NYG
@ Minnesota
Dallas


I don't see 5 wins based on what I have seen so far this season. I'm not confident going into Tampa where we have lost in each of the last 2 seasons. They have a good QB and a speedy WR.

I don't either. I see 3-3. Unless the Offense completely catches fire, and S. Taylor and Randy Thomas recover remarkably fast I don't see us pulling 5 off. But I also gave us no chance at all to play with Dallas and we did, so who knows.

[Charlz]

If you ask me, this has has been going on for more than a year


Agreed.

[Meatsnack]

This has a been a Washington signature since post Gibbs I. We haven't had the kind of disciplined, consistent coaching and player management that you need to be the kind of team that plays with robot-like efficiency game in and out.

Norv was a joke at this and we choked away game after game to teams that we should have killed. Marty started to reverse this trend because, for all his faults, every one knew it was "The Schottenheimer Way" (all 12 of them) or no way. Then it all started again with the Th'ole Ball Coach and no GM (which Stevie specifically asked for as part of his deal) and now Gibbs II in which Joe is a Kinder and Gentler coach with Abbott and Costello in the FO.

Players need to play in a bit of fear. Gibbs I players will tell you flat out, he would tell them they were playing for their jobs if they were loafing and lost a game. The current FO strategy of high-priced FA's rules out that little bit of motivation because the cap repercussions of cutting guys who need to go are too far-reaching - see: Lloyd, Brandon. Do you think there is a single player in NE who doesn't beleive that BB would cut them in a second if they started big-timing it? Does anyone remember Jimmy Johnson cutting guys for farting on the team bus?

In the current administration, guys who, I believe, Gibbs would jettison if he could stay because of FO mismanagement. Others who need to go, imo, Gibbs will not cut because he identifies with his players in a way he never did as a younger man.

Playing down to competition is a sure sign of a loafing team, one that doesn't give full effort every week. This has been true for 16 season in DC.