Check Down Charlie

[S197]

I think it's clear this offense misses Simpson, I don't anyone is making that argument nor does any other receiver have his particular skillset. That being said, an offense should never revolve around one person (perhaps QB being the sole exception). If you look at today's skill players, it could easily be argued that the Redskins had less weapons than the Vikings. Alfred Morris is no Adrian Peterson and I don't think anyone in the world takes Santana Moss over Percy Harvin. Simpson being out is negated by Garcon. Washington outplayed the Vikings, it's really that simple. Lack of personnel is not a good excuse.

[thatguy]

Only reason that I excluded Aroma (kind of) is because I don't know what he does well. He has maybe 1 catch (with either major or minimal impact) then fades back into nothing. He isn't consistent enough to really say what he excels at. I know he is fast, has decent height and decent hands but even with that he doesn't produce.

He's NEVER been a big production receiver. His value comes as a possession receiver and as a blocker. He has his place in the offense, but if we had the personnel, he'd be a spot down further on the depth chart.

[thatguy]

I think it's clear this offense misses Simpson, I don't anyone is making that argument nor does any other receiver have his particular skillset. That being said, an offense should never revolve around one person (perhaps QB being the sole exception). If you look at today's skill players, it could easily be argued that the Redskins had less weapons than the Vikings. Alfred Morris is no Adrian Peterson and I don't think anyone in the world takes Santana Moss over Percy Harvin. Simpson being out is negated by Garcon. Washington outplayed the Vikings, it's really that simple. Lack of personnel is not a good excuse.

But if you think about it like that, Simpson, Harvin, and Rudolph are all excellent complements to one another. Simpson gives you the deep game you need, Harvin gives you versatility, and Rudolph gives you the power receiving that you have to have with a young QB. If one of those is gone and there's little depth (like there is now), then you have issues. Sure it shouldn't revolve around 1 player...but it kind of has to when the receivers beyond the 2nd spot on the depth chart aren't good enough to pick up the team in a tight spot. Just how it goes. We need another deep-threat receiver, and we'll be good to go!

[mosscarter]

i think someone pointed out the 3 consecutive field goals and i agree, we cannot score touchdowns early in the game. musgrave doesn't even allow ponder to throw into the end zone when they get down in the red zone. his 352 yards and two tds were misleading, because most of that all came in the second half. with the exception of the sf game, i think all of ponder's passing td's came in the second half of games when they were trying to come from way behind. that tells me either one of two things-the offensive coordinator is to blame, or maybe ponder isn't quite progressing like people think. i can't remember how many games this year that he has looked utterly horrible through 3 quarters, and then had huge 4th quarters.

[FailedtoOpen]

i can't remember how many games this year that he has looked utterly horrible through 3 quarters, and then had huge 4th quarters.

I'm pretty sure Cutler and Ponder are either #1 and #2 or #2 and #3 in 4th quarter Passer Rating.

[Demi]

that tells me either one of two things-the offensive coordinator is to blame, or maybe ponder isn't quite progressing like people think.

Defenses are also playing soft and giving up those underneath throws. Look at today he probably got 80+ yards against that soft defense they were playing for the last few drives.

And he isn't progressing like people think he's still staring guys down, running too soon, throw horribly inaccurate passes to wide open receivers. Musgrave is doing everything in his power to make the offense work with a QB who can't throw accurately past 10 yards on a regular basis.

[Arma]

Lets say your right; Ponder sucks and can only throw checkdowns. Who in the world could we replace him with if we wanted to anyway? We all know Webb isn't the longterm answer...

[S197]

But if you think about it like that, Simpson, Harvin, and Rudolph are all excellent complements to one another. Simpson gives you the deep game you need, Harvin gives you versatility, and Rudolph gives you the power receiving that you have to have with a young QB. If one of those is gone and there's little depth (like there is now), then you have issues. Sure it shouldn't revolve around 1 player...but it kind of has to when the receivers beyond the 2nd spot on the depth chart aren't good enough to pick up the team in a tight spot. Just how it goes. We need another deep-threat receiver, and we'll be good to go!

No argument there. I'd love to have a Megatron, Fitz, AJ Green etc. to stretch the field but the reality is you play with what you have and today the Redskins had less than the Vikings in terms of skill players. The main difference was RG3 played lights out and unfortunately Ponder did not. Other than the QB, was there any other skill area that you would say the Redskins had the advantage? Not at safety with Madieu back there. Not at LB with Orakpo out. Not at D-line compared to JA/KWill/Robison. I didn't think their O-line was particularly better nor was Davis better than Rudolph. Across the board, the Vikings had the weapons to win this game, they just lacked the execution and discipline to do so.

[mosscarter]

ponder has been horrible in the red zone in the first half of almost every game this season, that is what scares me. in time, maybe he can develop a sufficient deep ball but he doesn't seem to have any killer instinct. i don't remember one time this year, early in a game, in which he dropped back and drilled a receiver for 6 points.

[joe h]

This team has always, and will always suck at developing QBs.

And every time we have tried, we have been mediocre or awful. Let the other teams waste time and deal with the losses from having an inexperienced qb. Then we can pick them up, because their contracts are ridiculous, and march into the nfc championship game. All we have to worry about is having fast receivers, solid line, and a defense that is slightly better than what Dennis Green always gave us.

It worked with Cunningham, George, and Farve. It is when we got into the mindset of developing qbs is when we crumbled and had to start the rebuilding process all over. You can get maybe 5 years of top production out of a receiver before they start slowing down, or go prima donna. You cannot waste those years with a developing qb. Harvin is most likely gone after this year, that means we have to find two A+ rated receivers, or TE, in the next 4 to 5 years, and have a deep threat QB to throw them the ball, if we want to start thinking about the NFC championship.

Mcnabb didn't work because our brain dead gm cut our starting LT, and the the only receiver on the team was Harvin.

[FailedtoOpen]

CDC may suck but his team is 4-2. His level of suckiness isn't dictated by one game, and his squad overall is winning and playing competitive football. Whether you attribute that to team the team as a whole is fine, but if you attribute wins to the team then you need to use that same logic for loses.

Whether you believe Ponder is a good QB is up to you, but you can't deny the success the team has had. If you want to point quality of opponents as the reason for this success then go analyze the Texans via that same manner and tell me what conclusion you end up with for them.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Lets say your right; Ponder sucks and can only throw checkdowns. Who in the world could we replace him with if we wanted to anyway? We all know Webb isn't the longterm answer...

The front office starts right NOW looking for a replacement. And they do what the Skins did for RG3, sell your soul for a QB, not a RB. This is a rebuilding year. Next year will be too. And for the love of god, dont let Spielman have much input. Ponder is going to go down as his biggest mistake, like Childress and Tjoke.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Say whatever you want about Ponder and today he was below average at best. But the lack of down field passing aint his fault that's on Musgrave for not calling it enough and on the WRs for not getting open when he does.

Seriously? You going to call deep pass plays with Ponder? No OC in their right mind would, even if we had Moss in his prime. Why are you so high on Ponder after a year and a half? And please, ask me why im so down on him.

[Cliff]

I think what I disliked most about Ponders play was him letting RG3 run wild on the defense.

[BGM]

This team has always, and will always suck at developing QBs.

Huh? What? Fran Tarkenton, Tommy Kramer, Wade Wilson...

And, like it or not, Daunte Culpepper had an MVP season that was upstaged by a historic season by Peyton Manning.

I know recent history has been remarkably poor, but this team HAS had plenty of success with QBs.