Angus
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Commanders question: Can Gibbs clean up the mess?
June 7, 2007
Joe Gibbs has a pretty impressive team that could have a key addition soon. Unfortunately for Commanders fans, we're talking about his drivers in NASCAR's Nextel Cup series, which includes Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin and may soon feature Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Gibbs' football team in Washington has some engine problems, however. It got revved up enough for a playoff berth in his second year back from retirement, but it plummeted back to 5-11 last season as one of the NFC's bottom four teams.
But what are the chances Gibbs creates another quick turnaround in one of the NFL's toughest divisions? Slim to none.
There are just too many questions on both sides of the ball, even considering Gibbs' track record on the sidelines. While the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants are all flawed teams, not one of those '06 playoff teams has weaknesses quite at the Commanders' level.
Offensively, there's a lack of pop and identity. Third-year quarterback Jason Campbell has promise as a passer and a leader, but his reliable options are limited to wide receiver Santana Moss and tight end Chris Cooley. The team's strength is in the running game with Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts, but if the passing game can't stretch the field, the rushing attack's effectiveness will be limited.
Still, when you consider the team has a solid offensive line and a savvy play-caller in Al Saunders, there's a chance for real improvement, assuming Campbell builds on his '06 experience and Portis stays healthy.
Defense, however, is the hard one to figure out. That's where the Cowboys and the Eagles have an edge with personnel and coaching, and the Giants are trying to rise up with an aggressive scheme that better fits their players. The Commanders have an array of talented individuals and a coordinator known for his own aggressive style in Gregg Williams, yet the chemistry wasn't there last season. Neither was much else.
The defense was dead last in the NFL in takeaways with only 12. Not unrelated is the fact it also was dead last in the NFL in sacks with only 19. In addition, the Commanders were 27th against the run, 27th in points allowed and 31st in total defense. All and all, the fundamental play was horrendous.
Can Andre Carter stop underachieving at end? Are tackles Cornelius Griffin and Kedric Golston adequate gap-cloggers? Does former Bill London Fletcher-Baker have enough left to be a run-stopping, tackling machine in the middle? Do cornerbacks Shawn Springs, Carlos Rogers and Fred Smoot really scare any wide receivers? Can Sean Taylor become more of a steady free safety than a flashy one? How many rookie mistakes will strong safety LaRon Landry make?
When a defense was so bad at rushing the passer, positioning itself against ball carriers, making tackles and making plays on the ball and needs to turn around and answer this many questions, don't expect too much from it. Williams has been a good play-caller, but he's not a miracle worker.
So Gibbs already needs to deal with an offense led by a young quarterback and a defense trying to piece itself together into respectability. If that wasn't enough, he also needs to deal with an overzealous owner in Daniel Snyder. In addition, there has been overspending on overrated free agents and limited draft picks with which to build a solid team for the long haul.
Why should Gibbs put up with the headache beyond this season? His Commanders' coaching legacy will still throw back to the three Super Bowls he won, and as a successful car owner, is rumored to be landing NASCAR's most popular driver next season. At this point, cleaning up one team to make room for Dale Jr. is a much easier task than getting his other team back to a playoff level.
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=218832
June 7, 2007
Joe Gibbs has a pretty impressive team that could have a key addition soon. Unfortunately for Commanders fans, we're talking about his drivers in NASCAR's Nextel Cup series, which includes Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin and may soon feature Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Gibbs' football team in Washington has some engine problems, however. It got revved up enough for a playoff berth in his second year back from retirement, but it plummeted back to 5-11 last season as one of the NFC's bottom four teams.
But what are the chances Gibbs creates another quick turnaround in one of the NFL's toughest divisions? Slim to none.
There are just too many questions on both sides of the ball, even considering Gibbs' track record on the sidelines. While the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants are all flawed teams, not one of those '06 playoff teams has weaknesses quite at the Commanders' level.
Offensively, there's a lack of pop and identity. Third-year quarterback Jason Campbell has promise as a passer and a leader, but his reliable options are limited to wide receiver Santana Moss and tight end Chris Cooley. The team's strength is in the running game with Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts, but if the passing game can't stretch the field, the rushing attack's effectiveness will be limited.
Still, when you consider the team has a solid offensive line and a savvy play-caller in Al Saunders, there's a chance for real improvement, assuming Campbell builds on his '06 experience and Portis stays healthy.
Defense, however, is the hard one to figure out. That's where the Cowboys and the Eagles have an edge with personnel and coaching, and the Giants are trying to rise up with an aggressive scheme that better fits their players. The Commanders have an array of talented individuals and a coordinator known for his own aggressive style in Gregg Williams, yet the chemistry wasn't there last season. Neither was much else.
The defense was dead last in the NFL in takeaways with only 12. Not unrelated is the fact it also was dead last in the NFL in sacks with only 19. In addition, the Commanders were 27th against the run, 27th in points allowed and 31st in total defense. All and all, the fundamental play was horrendous.
Can Andre Carter stop underachieving at end? Are tackles Cornelius Griffin and Kedric Golston adequate gap-cloggers? Does former Bill London Fletcher-Baker have enough left to be a run-stopping, tackling machine in the middle? Do cornerbacks Shawn Springs, Carlos Rogers and Fred Smoot really scare any wide receivers? Can Sean Taylor become more of a steady free safety than a flashy one? How many rookie mistakes will strong safety LaRon Landry make?
When a defense was so bad at rushing the passer, positioning itself against ball carriers, making tackles and making plays on the ball and needs to turn around and answer this many questions, don't expect too much from it. Williams has been a good play-caller, but he's not a miracle worker.
So Gibbs already needs to deal with an offense led by a young quarterback and a defense trying to piece itself together into respectability. If that wasn't enough, he also needs to deal with an overzealous owner in Daniel Snyder. In addition, there has been overspending on overrated free agents and limited draft picks with which to build a solid team for the long haul.
Why should Gibbs put up with the headache beyond this season? His Commanders' coaching legacy will still throw back to the three Super Bowls he won, and as a successful car owner, is rumored to be landing NASCAR's most popular driver next season. At this point, cleaning up one team to make room for Dale Jr. is a much easier task than getting his other team back to a playoff level.
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=218832
