rskinsfan10
12-29-2007, 06:03 PM
TT21- You and I both admittedly had our doubts in regards to whether or not this team could mount a legitimate push for a playoff berth a few weeks back, yet here they are on the verge of doing just that. What are your thoughts on what we've seen over the last three weeks?
DW- It's been remarkable that they have been able to execute the game plan, and they have made plays. All the playmakers are now making plays. For Todd Collins, it's just been the greatest thing. His operation has been nearly flawless, but he also has a full compliment of skilled people who are not only practicing now, but they are executing now and making big plays. They are playing their best football now at the right time.
TT21- Are you noticing anything different in Joe Gibbs over the last three weeks compared to when the team seemed to be stuck in a funk?
DW- Well, I think the biggest problem they had was not having their skilled people in top football condition and not practicing. If you have your top WR with a heel problem, Randle El with a hamstring, Mongoose Washington had the elbow problem, you lose the right side of your line, Clinton Portis not getting into game shape until week 5 or 6, they just didn't have enough to get it done. So much of Joe's success to me lies in how well they practice. I just think that he gets more out of his practices then most other coaches do with their teams because I don't think that other teams practice as hard as they practice. When you try to break in a new QB as they were doing, it's imperative that young man gets a good look, and he never did. It will pale in comparison now with Jason, but is remarkable that he progressed as much as he did not having his WRs to practice with. Todd just flat out has this system down. We heard so much about it, but we just never had a chance to see it. Now you see what Al Saunders was referencing to when he said the guy can play. I think that knowing it is one thing, but getting it done is another thing, and he's getting it done.
TT21- As you know, Jason was never placed on IR and there is talk that he could be ready to play soon if the playoffs are reached. Who do play if this is indeed the case?
DW- Number one, he's not going to be able to play next week. That's just fantasy. If he's having a hard time getting in and out of his car now, then he's not going to be ready in a week. I'm sure that this town would love a controversy, but there is no controversy because they are winning right now and I wouldn't change anything that they are doing under any circumstances. If they beat Dallas and move on, you don't change anything. As they say, if it ain't broke, then don't fix it. So what Jason has to hope to do is get healthy and if they need him to come in and play to be able to play, but I don't see any reason or need for him playing. You don't make a change just for the sake of changing. Todd has done nothing wrong. He's done his job, which is to come in and play at a high level and help this team win. You jeopardize a young man's career by pushing him back in there early without him being 100%, and even if he's healthy he has to get back into the flow of the game. Unless he was able to practice like Superman, I just don't see it happening.
TT21- Give us your thoughts on what the defense was able to accomplish against the Vikings, especially in shutting down Adrian Peterson and the NFL's best rushing offense.
DW- I thought that the first half was brilliant. I thought Washington outcoached Minnesota miserably. In the second half, Minnesota got their head out of the sand and stopped trying to bully Washington. You can't bully bullies. That's the one thing that Washington has and has always had as a trademark under Joe Gibbs. They are going to run the ball, and they are going to be able to stop you from running. Then it's can you make plays. Minnesota doesn't have the personnel to beat you but one way, and when they took away the muscle side of their line by moving Daniels over on Mount McKinney, they neutralized them. Adrian Peterson has been neutralized before. They weren't the first team to stop him. He has gotten a lot of his yards in bunches. Dallas stopped him. That's why I felt so confident going in because it's not like he did it every week. Now, when he's on he's tough, but he's he's not always on, and their QB is limited. In the second half they started to stretch the defense, but then it was too late.
DW- It's been remarkable that they have been able to execute the game plan, and they have made plays. All the playmakers are now making plays. For Todd Collins, it's just been the greatest thing. His operation has been nearly flawless, but he also has a full compliment of skilled people who are not only practicing now, but they are executing now and making big plays. They are playing their best football now at the right time.
TT21- Are you noticing anything different in Joe Gibbs over the last three weeks compared to when the team seemed to be stuck in a funk?
DW- Well, I think the biggest problem they had was not having their skilled people in top football condition and not practicing. If you have your top WR with a heel problem, Randle El with a hamstring, Mongoose Washington had the elbow problem, you lose the right side of your line, Clinton Portis not getting into game shape until week 5 or 6, they just didn't have enough to get it done. So much of Joe's success to me lies in how well they practice. I just think that he gets more out of his practices then most other coaches do with their teams because I don't think that other teams practice as hard as they practice. When you try to break in a new QB as they were doing, it's imperative that young man gets a good look, and he never did. It will pale in comparison now with Jason, but is remarkable that he progressed as much as he did not having his WRs to practice with. Todd just flat out has this system down. We heard so much about it, but we just never had a chance to see it. Now you see what Al Saunders was referencing to when he said the guy can play. I think that knowing it is one thing, but getting it done is another thing, and he's getting it done.
TT21- As you know, Jason was never placed on IR and there is talk that he could be ready to play soon if the playoffs are reached. Who do play if this is indeed the case?
DW- Number one, he's not going to be able to play next week. That's just fantasy. If he's having a hard time getting in and out of his car now, then he's not going to be ready in a week. I'm sure that this town would love a controversy, but there is no controversy because they are winning right now and I wouldn't change anything that they are doing under any circumstances. If they beat Dallas and move on, you don't change anything. As they say, if it ain't broke, then don't fix it. So what Jason has to hope to do is get healthy and if they need him to come in and play to be able to play, but I don't see any reason or need for him playing. You don't make a change just for the sake of changing. Todd has done nothing wrong. He's done his job, which is to come in and play at a high level and help this team win. You jeopardize a young man's career by pushing him back in there early without him being 100%, and even if he's healthy he has to get back into the flow of the game. Unless he was able to practice like Superman, I just don't see it happening.
TT21- Give us your thoughts on what the defense was able to accomplish against the Vikings, especially in shutting down Adrian Peterson and the NFL's best rushing offense.
DW- I thought that the first half was brilliant. I thought Washington outcoached Minnesota miserably. In the second half, Minnesota got their head out of the sand and stopped trying to bully Washington. You can't bully bullies. That's the one thing that Washington has and has always had as a trademark under Joe Gibbs. They are going to run the ball, and they are going to be able to stop you from running. Then it's can you make plays. Minnesota doesn't have the personnel to beat you but one way, and when they took away the muscle side of their line by moving Daniels over on Mount McKinney, they neutralized them. Adrian Peterson has been neutralized before. They weren't the first team to stop him. He has gotten a lot of his yards in bunches. Dallas stopped him. That's why I felt so confident going in because it's not like he did it every week. Now, when he's on he's tough, but he's he's not always on, and their QB is limited. In the second half they started to stretch the defense, but then it was too late.