tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post3838135925333847588..comments2024-03-15T10:49:18.666-04:00Comments on The Om Field: What Went Wrong: The Experts Weigh InMark "Om" Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977539052121255474noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-50814583728361945332009-01-03T22:55:00.000-05:002009-01-03T22:55:00.000-05:00#1 reason on offense - play calling/poor coachingT...#1 reason on offense - play calling/poor coaching<BR/><BR/>The line play was poor at times, but effective play calling could have mitigated the poor protection and disarmed some of the better pass rushes they faced. Zorn could have moved the pocket around more(roll outs, etc.), perfected screen plays, gone no huddle a few times each game, made gadget plays a staple (Wildcat anyone?), gotten the running backs involved in the passing game, used a multi-back system like most of the best running teams do (Ravens, Giants, Titans), so everything isn't riding on any single player (Portis), better utilized the tight ends, gotten the rookies involved early and often (seemingly every other team found a way to coach up the rooks). <BR/><BR/>The receivers aren't great and they're small, but the Chiefs had one of the best offenses in the league a few years back, and their top receivers were Priest Holmes and Tony Gonzalez. And we once had a receiving corps nicknamed "The Smurfs".<BR/><BR/>Zorn was an abject failure as a play caller. With basically the same personnel as last year, he failed to outscore even the 0-16 Lions. If the players weren't suited to the West Coast Offense or the O line started to break down, then adjustments should have been made. The offense didn't need to be world class... just equal to or better than last year's production. Last year, everyone was calling for Saunder's head. If Zorn was just the Offensive Coordinator, everyone would be calling for his as well. <BR/><BR/>#1 Reason on Defense - Lack of big plays<BR/><BR/>Hall is the only one who can catch. "Brick Hand Syndrome" has been a problem with the Redskin's defense for years, so I blame the coaches. The Patriots had issues with line backers dropping passes, so they instituted a drill where, at the end of every practice, a coach would drill passes at their faces from 5 yards away. They learned to catch in a hurry.<BR/><BR/>As for sacks, the play from the DEs was atrocious, but the linebackers failed miserably as well. 3 of the 4 league leaders in sacks are linebackers. In my opinion, Blache should have been more willing to blitz cornerbacks and safeties. With the secondary being our strength, why not? As it was, Blache's defensive scheme was designed to 1) stop the run and 2) prevent big plays. Can't really argue with their results. Holding every opponenent in every meaningful game to 25 points or less was impressive. <BR/><BR/>In short, Improve the O line, innovate on offense, use Portis, Betts and Cartwright like the Ravens use their backs and get Thomas, Kelly and Davis on the field. <BR/><BR/>As for Defense, acquire a stud Defensive Tackle who can move the line (the DEs will play better), teach the secondary to catch (try hypnosis if necessary) and get better linebacker play by whatever means available.<BR/><BR/>The Skins aren't that far off. If they had just taken care of business against the Rams, Bengals and 49ers, they'd be playing this weekend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-67041913411385722702009-01-03T22:38:00.000-05:002009-01-03T22:38:00.000-05:00Vinny has always had "unusually strong resistance"...Vinny has always had "unusually strong resistance" (for lack of a more inappropriate term about where his head is at) to drafting OL in the first two rounds. I have lost all hope that he ever will. Do you have any insight as to why he feels that way? Do you have any inside information that make you feel Vinny might actually draft 2 or more OL this year in the first two rounds?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-41025676502904993682009-01-03T13:44:00.000-05:002009-01-03T13:44:00.000-05:00Tangler,Thanks for the considered reply. The OL's ...Tangler,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the considered reply. The OL's struggles were certainly a key factor--arguably THE key factor, as covered in the "Breaking Down the Lines" piece a couple weeks back. But I'm not willing to put the blame squarely on their shoulders.<BR/><BR/>Early in the year, when the passing game was threatening defenses downfield, the OL wasn't being asked to clear out 7, 8 or 9 nine guys in the box for Portis to run. Or being asked to block seven guys coming after the QB on every obvious passing down.<BR/><BR/>Zorn, Campbell and the receivers all contributed to the ineptness of the downfield passing game in my opinion, when they were unable to adjust to what defenses did to slow down Moss early and find another downfield alternative. <BR/><BR/>I strongly believe it's all inter-related, to a degree I think most fans and observers tend to overlook. If it was as easy to field a consistent winner in the NFL as identifying just one particular problem area and fixing it, no one would ever start 6-2 and finish 2-6 again. :)<BR/><BR/>End of the day, yes, I agree with you 100% that addressing the OL (and DL) has to be this franchise's Mission One this offseason, and probably the next one as well. They dropped the ball big time in that regard in my opinion, and have no choice.Mark "Om" Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10977539052121255474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-6111391846427362492009-01-03T13:08:00.000-05:002009-01-03T13:08:00.000-05:00I understand that if you called out a single compo...I understand that if you called out a single component to be faulty in this blog that you would likely get reamed in the comments section no matter what you said. With that in mind, this is a nice, reflective entry that opens the forum for discussion.<BR/><BR/>However, I lean in the direction of specific blame. It is very clear in my mind that the root of the offensive issues are a result of the OL ineptness. <BR/><BR/>JC looked great when he had a little extra time to survey and was making better decisions than we've ever seen... even strongly scrambling very successfully in clutch moments.<BR/><BR/>CP ran like a champ when he had even the slimmest of holes as always. -- When there was no hole... splat.<BR/><BR/>Santana was burning fools on the deep route, like usual, when the play had enough time to formulate. His speed was very apparent during his punt returning opportunities. -- We saw his frustration in Cinci with the uncharacteristic "shoe shining" incident.<BR/><BR/>Zorn was more impressive than I ever could have hoped for. I loved his play calling (except for the excessive use of Sellers near the end which was exciting, but felt doomed, and was).<BR/><BR/>I don't really understand why the OL was so solid and then just seemed to break down mid season (before injury put the nail in the coffin). Age? Overconfidence/complacency? <BR/><BR/>All I do know is that I want to see some personnel coming in to the OL in the off season.<BR/><BR/>-TANGLERTANGLERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07201586001960252230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-87983317176885553902009-01-03T10:11:00.000-05:002009-01-03T10:11:00.000-05:00Well said - good analysis to 2008. Best line: Zorn...Well said - good analysis to 2008. Best line: Zorn, Blache, etal are the ones to know and they ain't talkin'<BR/><BR/>Eight months is a long time to figure out the probs and corrective actions......and for the office water cooler advisorsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-5945056345244912922009-01-02T11:46:00.000-05:002009-01-02T11:46:00.000-05:00"could it be we lost our best player to a murder R..."could it be we lost our best player to a murder RIP 21" - Anonymous<BR/><BR/>I'd say there's little doubt ST was the best athlete the Redskins put on the field. Maybe the best in the league. And he was on his way to becoming a great *player* as well. <BR/><BR/>It's impossible to assess the impact his loss had on the team in '08 and will have for the next decade. As it turns out, they were incredibly lucky to have been able to get a LaRon Landry to step in. No one may ever have ST's physical gifts at that position again, but LL has proven to be a fine player in his own right. Enough so I'm comfortable saying safety was probably not high on the list of problem areas in 2008.<BR/><BR/>*<BR/><BR/>"Why so long?" - Anonymous<BR/><BR/>They used to accuse Mozart of using too many notes, you know. His answer? "I used just as many as I needed. Not one more, not one less."<BR/><BR/>So there.Mark "Om" Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10977539052121255474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-5823322536485603992009-01-02T10:37:00.000-05:002009-01-02T10:37:00.000-05:00why so long?why so long?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-86273541811059798402009-01-02T04:29:00.000-05:002009-01-02T04:29:00.000-05:00it was Colonel Burgundy-Gold in the Owner's Box wi...it was Colonel Burgundy-Gold in the Owner's Box with the Checkbook.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-28008933552026933662009-01-02T00:04:00.000-05:002009-01-02T00:04:00.000-05:00Could it be that while our OLINE started the seaso...Could it be that while our OLINE started the season good, that there AGE caught up with them in the second half of the season contributing to all of the above problems with our offense, I BELIEVE THIS to be the case, and our defense did a HELL of a job when you take a look at how long THEY LIVED ON THE FEILD..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-61139721504347257862009-01-01T20:48:00.000-05:002009-01-01T20:48:00.000-05:00Good assessment. I wish it made me feel better.Good assessment. I wish it made me feel better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-22133280423094806932009-01-01T19:17:00.000-05:002009-01-01T19:17:00.000-05:00could it be we lost our best player to a murder ...could it be we lost our best player to a murder RIP 21Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-80416906592073925012009-01-01T19:09:00.000-05:002009-01-01T19:09:00.000-05:00Amen, enough saidWhere to buy the lottery ticket?Amen, enough said<BR/>Where to buy the lottery ticket?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3845486561905685878.post-67015772145658463442009-01-01T15:55:00.000-05:002009-01-01T15:55:00.000-05:00very good sirvery good sirAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com