resurrectionsong

September 28, 2004

Why Did Washington Lose Last Night?

The Redskins lost in a horrible performance to a Dallas Cowboys team that played well in starts and fits, but certainly wasn't consistent. Why did the Redskins lose?

Bad play.
Bad play calling.
Bad officiating.

If Coles wasn't dropping passes, then Mark Brunnel was burying them into the dirt yards away from his receiver. Or the pocket was collapsing and he was being sacked. Or the defense wasn't even showing up on the field on a late, fourth quarter drive that gave the Cowboys their final points.

When the players were looking good, Gibbs wasn't. With Clinton Portis (who had a solid game running the ball with a handful of receptions to make me miss him more) in the backfield, the game tight, and momentum on his side, the Skins looked like they were in a good position at the beginning of the fourth quarter to make a run for the lead. But running is precisely what they didn't do.

Instead, a tired-looking Brunell passed on three straight downs for three straight incompletions. With that much time on the clock and a runner averaging just a tick over four yards per carry, that's pretty questionable play calling.

When the Skins players and coaching staff was getting it right, though, the refs were there to make it all moot. An early turnover on a kickoff would have changed the complexion of the game if the refs hadn't blown the call. A late, obvious, and crucial pass interference call in the end zone would have changed the outcome of the game if the refs hadn't closed their eyes.

The Skins lost because they deserved to lose, but they fought like hell and almost overcame themselves to win this one. The skins are a good quarterback and solid play-calling away from being a pretty decent team--at least when matched up against teams like the Cowboys.

Take that for what it's worth.

(PS--The Portis-Bailey trade continues to look bad. Although Bailey has played extremely well for the Broncos, Quentin Griffin continues to be marginal or worse. He's a nice runner who can really make things happen in the open field, but the Broncos are missing having someone who can make things happen at a crowded line of scrimmage; Portis is the real thing and Griffin is just a good player who probably shouldn't be the featured back.)

Posted by zombyboy at September 28, 2004 10:57 AM

Comments

Zomby, I'm dissapointed.

The kickoff call was completely right. He was down on the ground, in the fetal position, crying because he didn't want to go back to the sideline and face Parcells. The second any part of a Redskin touches him the ball is dead. Bouncing his body off the ground and coughing up the ball does not a fumble make.

The pass intereference call was bad. At the very least it should have been offsetting fouls. They were both pawing at each other like a couple of hopped up 15 year olds on a first date. The non-call on the Cowboys in the second half was bad, but the lack of a call on the push off on the last play of the game was also obvious.

That doesn't even begin to count Portis being knocked to the ground and getting up and running 12 more yards on a crucial third down play.

The zebras had a horrible game, and the guys advising Parcells and Gibbs on when to challenge should be summarily executed.

The important thing is the Skins lost..again. And I slept like a baby.

Posted by: Zygote at September 28, 2004 06:10 PM