Positives From Today

[JoeDaSchmoe]

- Rock Cartwright. The guy flat-out gets the job done. Once again he got the crucial yards when they were needed. If we don't use him much more often as our starting TB next week, I'll self-destruct.

- DMC. What a player this guy's turning into. He can make all the tough grabs, has great hands, and somehow manages to get that big body of his down the field for some deep plays. That touchdown catch was a thing of beauty.

- Adjustments. After an absolutely disgusting offensive display in the first half, Spurrier and Jackson tweaked a few things and came out looking much better for the final two quarters.

- The heart's back. After a few weeks of a bit of defeatism, the Skins respond with last week's incredible game and a comeback push today after going down in the second half to a team that had pretty much manhandled them for the first two quarters.

- Better blitz pickup. Most of the hits Ramsey absorbed today was because the line couldn't get it done against Carolina's front four, not because of blitzes the Panthers threw at us.

- David Terrell. Save this post right now, because it's historic. I never, ever thought I'd say this. David Terrell is becoming a playmaker out there. He does a much, much better job as nickel back than safety.

Feel free to throw in your own in an attempt to lighten the blow of the loss.

[warpath]

I agree with you about Terrell, he totally sucks at saftey but he's not bad as a 3rd db wonder why he was converted in the 1st place. He's been stepping up on coverage and in special team plus he's not getting burnt for long TDs every game like he did at saftey.

[NCskinsfanatic]

Hey Joe now I agree completely with you on this thread and that's why I'm saying we're not going to the playoffs but we can build our team for next year with more of the kind of effort displayed today.I really think Rocks fumble early allowed Trung to get the time he did.Terrell is better than bauman as the 3rd corner IMO.And i havent been a Terrell fan all the back to Marty's tenure.I just wish Fiore was healthy under this play calling scheme.i truly believe if healthy he could help out.But the line did ok against a great d line.DMC was big,and we made very good adjustments at the half.Also i noticed good push in the second half, once up the middle on the long pass #24 forgot to turn around for.Theres hope,they played pretty well against the run iverall as well.

[RichardBradley]

I am sorry to bust your bubble but this is not a team with no heart... On the 4th down play every single defender was sitting on the bench because they had no faith in the coaching staff and in the offense...


We did finally learn to cover the bootleg

[JoeDaSchmoe]

And the reverse. There's a positive I forgot. The defense played with a very high level of discipline today.

I dunno, personally I saw some heart out there still.

[rhyno]

one more positive, no penalties!

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Wow, that's true. Didn't even think about that.

[warpath]

we did have that one holding call on Dockery that was declined but a excellent game as far as penalties go.

[PennSkinsFan]

Joe-----I am puzzled. Rock a positive? He only had nine carries cause of hirrbile play calling. He never had a chance to be positive.

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Rock's a positive because, yet again, he made the most out of the meager amount opportunities he got. It wasn't his fault that he didn't see much PT.

[Patrick]

I'm sorry, but when you fumble on the 0.1 yard line for what should have been a TD, that sets the tone for the day when you lose - More negitives than positives today for me.

[BigCountry]

Defense played disciplined???!!!!! In what game man? They allowed 430 yards of offense to Carolina... Rock's fumble was another big reason why we lossed.

[RedskinsDave]

Rock fumbles on a would be TD. That could've flat out cost us the game.

[JoeDaSchmoe]

BC, the defense gave up big yards, but it had nothing to do with discipline. For once, we stayed at home on reverses and bootlegs. It was incredible to watch. It's a bad sign if I say that it's incredible to see our defense stay at home. I should never, ever have to say that.

[PennSkinsFan]

Reflection yesterday and actually the last two weeks, I the Forum Pessimist, do see some light at the end of the tunnel. Here are positives to build on.

1. Patrick Ramsey is making mistakes, in the beginning of the season we all knew he would, but they hard to swallow right now. BUT, Ramsey is learning, Spurrier has stuck with him, and this will be a big time benefit for 2004.

2. We have a good receiving corp in Coles, Gardner, Jacobs, PJ,a nd McCants

3. OLine is starting to play a little better. Carolina has a tough defense and they will get to your QB a few times, but overall, Ramsey did have good time to throw.

4. Defense is creating opportunities with turnovers


What I see need to improve in 2004 and changes that I THINK will occur:

1. George Edwards will be the scapegoat and be axed for a more experienced DC.

2. We need a RB. We need a bruiser that will put fear in other teams with the blitz. Right now we have running backs that defenses simply don't respect. I woudl have loved to have seen the difference this season is Betts did not get injured. Would he have put up big numbers? Would he have won the starting job weeks ago? I think we under-estimate the loss of Betts.

3. We may see a Rod Gardner trade. Redskins can expend with gardner and go into 2004 still solid with Coles, McCants, PJ,a nd Jacobs. Gardner could get us a nice draft pick or a DE or DT.

4. A totally revamped defensive line with all the throwaway we have now, GONE. Smith willretire. Upshaw will stay. Wynn will belet go for cap purpioses. Holsey, Chase, Haley...who really cares. Dalton may hang on. Russell? Who knows? Haven't seen much at all?

5. We need another CB to fill in depth with Bauman. We have been hurt this season with Bauman's injury. Jimoh does nto cut it.

6. Samuels? Somethign needs to give here for the amount of money he is getting.



DRAFT PRIORITIES: DT, DE, RB, OT

In essence, the past two weeks have given me hoep that we really are bnot that far off aqnd that Steve Spurrier DOPES, yes you read that correctly, DOES, deserve an additional season. We are playing better, we are playing well, we just need to beef up in certain areas.

[hail2skins]

Originally posted by rhyno
one more positive, no penalties!

This is what I was going to point out as well. That was huge and Ramsey audibled quite a bit.