How do you Tackle this problem?

[Brokenstriker]

Jansen and Samuels ...

The pillars of Hercules? Ahhh ... no. Maybe they were once, but not this season. What do you do when your building block tackles are letting defensive ends and linebackers destroy your starting QB? Is this a trend or just a coincidence? Is it possible that our first two opponents just happen to be overloaded with Pro-Bowl candidates? I don't think so. How long does the club pay top-tier salaries to Tackles who can't seem to protect the QB when the short and long range plan is to lead with the pass? How long does the Skins community extend the benefit of the doubt to two established and well-liked players who are clearly slipping? Samuels started slipping last year, and so did Jansen if not as noticably. We can't wait too long beause the odds favor the defense over the course of the season. The Skins have 2 TE neither a noted blocker, 2 tailbacks neither a noted blocker, and 1 and only 1 QB who knows more than 25% of the playbook. Someone needs to find out what the hell is wrong with Jansen and Samuels and fix it ... and they need to do it fast ... because there are some geniune Pro-Bowl defenses in the immediate future ...

lets just be thankful the shoulder Ramsey sprained was his left

[IowaSkinsFan]

Well said and I could not agree more.

[RichardBradley]

Helton must go. He is as bad as Stock.. That being said Samules started off badly last year.. What scares me is that Jansen has to face old gap tooth next week and we all know how Strahan kills Jansen

[camasterton]

We have not seen the best Defensive lines yet. Tampa Bay, Carolina, New England, Miami, NYG, N.O. those are sack machine lines and now Buffalo and Seattle look improved. I'm scared for Patrick. He's on schedule for 80 sacks! The defenses coming could put him over a 100! Our offensive linemen false started, held, allowed six sacks and a ton of hits on the QB. How in the hell did we win this game?

[RichardBradley]

Ramsey is a tough S.O.B. but no one can put up with that all season

[hail2skins]

I agree but several of the sacks yesterday were attributed to the RB's not be able to block as well. We'll definately have to keep a TE or RB in to assist Jansen with Strahan or Ramsey will get killed. I do agree that Helton is not a good line coach either.

[Patrick]

I don't think Jansen is really having that much of a problem. He looks alot better than Samuels. AND Samuels IS having problems. His weight is down, his foot work is terrible, and his confidense looks destroyed. I don't know - maybe there was alot more to that injury last year than we know about. Someone (like his line coach) needs to light a fire under his ass OR we won't have to worry about resigning him when the time comes.

[SkinsKY]

I love Chris Samuels and it hurts to see him perform this way. I think he will pick up the slack. I think there must be something endemic to the blocking schemes that Helton uses because it's always the same types of things that beat our O-Line. I think our boys are smar enough so that they can at least stop a rush from the outside some times. Sadly I agree that if Samuels doesn't improve, the choice will become clear on who not to re-sign.

[Spence]

Betts missed a blitz that led to a sack. Bryan Johnson missed a blitz that led to a sack. One guy came in unblocked and unaccounted for. [That one is on the coaching staff or Ramsey himself. It is their job to adjust to an impending blitz and call a new protection scheme.] It's not as simple as knocking the offensive line. And look at how the Skins are running the ball this year. I think Jansen and Samuels are fine. We need to teach our backs to pick up the blitz now and then. Ramsey has to learn to recognize the blitz better. He's only started seven games so it is not surprising he misses some of those calls.

[PennSkinsFan]

Actually I agree with Sepnce after looking at some of these blitzes. The Lineman actually blocked well. They held most fo their guys, with a mistake here or there. It is the blitz guys that are comign in at will. Short screens, Jacobs quick slashes can help this. BUT, Betts, Cartwright, canidate, and Johnson NEED to block better period. Either that or put a damn TE back in the backfield LOL.

[Spence]

The #1 rule in the NFL is: Do what works until it doesn't work anymore. That means we're going to see lots of blitzes until we figure out how to stop it. So we better figure out how to stop it before the grounds crew is scooping up Ramsey's lungs from the 50-yard line.

[AGibbsGirl]

This is an excellent thread!

With only 1 backup QB
I agree this is our number 1 problem
With too many penalties being #2
Everyone's got our number now...come from the left or blitz up the middle.

What will they do to fix this?

[Patrick]

I disagree Spence - Samuel is not holding his blocks long enough. Actually, he's not dominating/controling like he was last year in the beginning of the season.
I also agree wiith you - Our backs are not picking up the blitz.
One other thing - Patrick has to stop with the seven step drop back. I think this is ONE of the reasons Samuels is having a problem. That was one thing that SonnyJ picked up on early in the game yesterday.

[Redbeard]

Originally posted by camasterton
We have not seen the best Defensive lines yet. Tampa Bay, Carolina, New England, Miami, NYG, N.O. those are sack machine lines and now Buffalo and Seattle look improved. I'm scared for Patrick. He's on schedule for 80 sacks! The defenses coming could put him over a 100! Our offensive linemen false started, held, allowed six sacks and a ton of hits on the QB. How in the hell did we win this game?

Oh is that the truth! And there will be no second chances to win the game with the Giants & the last two Superbowl Campions.

We give up the ball twice in our own territory against those guys, the game will be beyond saving.

How do we stop the sacks for turnovers in our own territory? Especially with the better defensive lines coming up? I say it's time to "Run & Gun". It's time to see how much Canidate & Betts got with the Giants

[SkinsKY]

I think everyone who will be picking up the edge blitz needs to block better. whether it's communication or not, something needs to be done.

[rskinsfan10]

Originally posted by RichardBradley
Helton must go. He is as bad as Stock.. That being said Samules started off badly last year.. What scares me is that Jansen has to face old gap tooth next week and we all know how Strahan kills Jansen

When did Strahan start killing Jansen?

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Don't panic just yet. Give the line some time to gel. The same thing happened in New York last year.

[NamVet4]

Agreed - Cartwright, Johnson, Betts and Canidate HAVE got to improve on picking up the blocks.
Good blocking backs are mandatory!
Coach has to run blitz drills this week - watch the "cowpukes" and "gints" tonite - we will get a clue what is coming our way
Samuels is below par right now.. but I sense he will get better. Jansen - no problem .