Larry Gude
Strung Out
...perusing the team as it stands today we obviously have all the flashy new talent, the loss of Bailey, the first round pick coming up and the biggee, the return of Joe Gibbs.
One thing struck me hard: For the first time in 5 years I pretty much know who everyone is on the heart of the team...the offensive line.
This means several things:
#1. Bugal and Gibbs LIKE them.
#2. If they like them then certainly that is the final indictment on Spurrier because the line struggled, including past pro bowlers Samuels and Janses, at everything, run, pass, screens, tieing their shoes.
#3. Continuity. Every Sunday when we see a team we haven't seen in awhile run the ball well one thing is in common...the line has been together for a couple years.
For casual fans the reason why that is so important is because the offense starts every play and it is that instant of initiation when the ball is snapped where, if even an average talent line is acting in unison using effective schemes, the advantage is gained and a hole for a running back is created or a pocket is set for the quarterback to throw in rythm. It may be a split second difference from a line that hasn't spent enough time together but it is enough.
As we've covered before, the Skins were truly only a few plays per game away from the playoffs last year. Spurrier, or any losing pro coach, aren't suddenly ignorant or can't coach. It's just illustrative how fine a line it is, when the pressure is on and you HAVE to make a play, where the little things make all the difference and what you are trying to do holds up one more time than the other guys.
The line may be the biggest thing going for us in a year when a bunch of things are going well.
On another note, anyone hear Gibbs and Springs press conference? Springs sounded like a little kid who'd just won a free Toys R Us binge and Joe sounded about the same, maybe funnier.
Our head coach laughs like a total goober. It's hilarious. Can anyone remember him guffawing like this back in the day? And our new corner doesn't have that dire, Dr. Dre tough guy front. They are just genuinely having fun.
One thing struck me hard: For the first time in 5 years I pretty much know who everyone is on the heart of the team...the offensive line.
This means several things:
#1. Bugal and Gibbs LIKE them.
#2. If they like them then certainly that is the final indictment on Spurrier because the line struggled, including past pro bowlers Samuels and Janses, at everything, run, pass, screens, tieing their shoes.
#3. Continuity. Every Sunday when we see a team we haven't seen in awhile run the ball well one thing is in common...the line has been together for a couple years.
For casual fans the reason why that is so important is because the offense starts every play and it is that instant of initiation when the ball is snapped where, if even an average talent line is acting in unison using effective schemes, the advantage is gained and a hole for a running back is created or a pocket is set for the quarterback to throw in rythm. It may be a split second difference from a line that hasn't spent enough time together but it is enough.
As we've covered before, the Skins were truly only a few plays per game away from the playoffs last year. Spurrier, or any losing pro coach, aren't suddenly ignorant or can't coach. It's just illustrative how fine a line it is, when the pressure is on and you HAVE to make a play, where the little things make all the difference and what you are trying to do holds up one more time than the other guys.
The line may be the biggest thing going for us in a year when a bunch of things are going well.
On another note, anyone hear Gibbs and Springs press conference? Springs sounded like a little kid who'd just won a free Toys R Us binge and Joe sounded about the same, maybe funnier.
Our head coach laughs like a total goober. It's hilarious. Can anyone remember him guffawing like this back in the day? And our new corner doesn't have that dire, Dr. Dre tough guy front. They are just genuinely having fun.
Makes Otter and I 
and giggle ourselves.