AsthmaField said:
Anyway, here is what the opposing coach or scout said about the Commanders and their offseason:
"The Commanders are the Commanders. They make a big splash every year. They go out and throw money around and throw it at the wrong players. They come in and have to fight to get to 8-8. They really weren't a playoff team. [Adam] Archuleta is just a guy. Brandon Lloyd is just a guy, not a difference-maker. Defensively, Gregg Williams is a magician. He's done more with less than any defensive coordinator in the league. They'll be good defensively, but offensively I think they'll go backwards because [Mark] Brunell is a year older. Al Saunders will put in a complete new offense and, if you look where it's been installed at new places, it takes two years for it to fire up. The first year he was in Kansas City, they were 6-10. It's a very complicated offense and different from anything Joe Gibbs is used to. I don't think they'll win eight games."
In another spot, the rival coach or scout wonders how Brunell will do with Saunders offense... how quickly he'll pick it up. He says:
"The key is how quickly he grasps the offense. It's a complicated offense, all [about] speed cuts. He does have some wide receivers who fit. [Santana] Moss fits. [Brandon] Lloyd will fit. [Chris] Cooley doesn't fit. There's no such thing as an H-back. [Clinton] Portis fits. Brunell is going to have to know where to go with the ball and get it out of his hands. Jason Campbell can't play in this offense right away. He could play in the old [Joe] Gibbs offense. This offense is a timing offense. If a receiver isn't exactly where he's supposed to be, it's going to be an interception. If the ball isn't out on time, it's not going to be a completion. No route adjustments, no audible system."
To bring the subject thread back from a bash fest, let's summarize the points made in the article:
1. A team that had spotty performances when Brunell wasn't on the top of his game but was rarely out of any game (if any) due to a good defense.
2. A new (or changed) offensive scheme is going to be put in place this year with uncertain consequences.
3. The off season additions will not make a huge impact.
4. If Brunell gets hurt, Campbell will not be able to pick up the slack.
Many have said that the Commanders will go as Brunell goes. That isn't news and how would the Cowboys do if Bledsoe went down? The 'not a playoff team' comment seems like a cheap shot because they did indeed go to the playoffs. The offense did not perform very well once there.
I'm not convinced the Commanders will totally throw out a scheme that brought them 11-5 last year. Their offense faded in the playoffs but was respectable to good in the regular season. I would expect some changes to try and take advantage of their new personnel but nothing wholesale.
I'm not sure the new players need to make a big impact for the skins to be successful. The skins were a good team last year and they should be a bit better this year if Brunell plays as well as he did last season. Their defense will keep them in games..the offense needs to be just good enough to win. New year...same formula.
The skins and Cowboys were close statistically last year. The skins were slightly better (offense and defense) and the head-to-head results were enough to carry the day.
I believe the injuries the Cowboys suffered overall had more impact than those the skins suffered. It is fair to say that the game early in the season had nothing to do with injuries. The Commanders were better than the Cowboys when it counted pure and simple.
Most on this board would say that the offseason additions the Cowboys made were better than those the skins made. I'm sure the skins fans try to put up a brave front on this subject, but the addition of TO by the Cowboys brings a bit of a queasy feeling if they are honest about it. I expect close games but the edge to go to the Cowboys. We'll see.
