The Silence of the Hams

Washington Redskins:

The Silence of the Hams

by John S. Pappas – Capital News Services

Published 12/25/05

Where have all the commentators critical of Washington Redskins’ Coach Joe Gibbs gone? Where are the writers who said that Gibbs was away from the game too long? Has anyone heard from the experts who said he had gotten too old? Where can we find the pundits who said that as great as he once was, the game had passed him by?

We haven’t seen them around lately.

Since his return, Joe Gibbs has had to endure one losing season and more criticism than he may have expected given a replica of his head sits in Canton. Lately however, mum has been the word on Gibbs’ ability to be successful in the NFL.

With nine victories this year already – three against division leaders - Joe Gibbs and the Redskins’ coaching staff have proven that they still know how to be successful in the league. The Redskins have ensured their first winning season since 1999, a 4-1 division record, and a 9-2 conference record going into the Philadelphia game Sunday - with a playoff birth if they win.

In pre-season we were told to expect anywhere from a 4-12 Redskins record by some, to 5-11 and 6-10 by others. Instead what we are seeing after Sunday’s victory against the Giants is the hottest team in the NFC. The Redskins are currently 9-6 with one more game to play in the season. If they win Sunday at Philly, they will be in the postseason for the first time in 6 years and only the second since Gibbs’ retired in 1991. They have won four straight games, with two wins coming on the road. The defense is again championship-caliber, and with 70 points scored against two good defenses the last two games the offense is on track.

The Redskins’ recent success has come on the heels of three successive loses and an eight game record of 2-6 following a 3-0 start. Five weeks ago the team was 5-6 and on no-one’s playoff radar. However, in a situation where past, non-Gibbs Redskins’ teams would have lost faith – this team did not. Where other teams would have begun to implode and assign blame– this team stayed together. Now the Redskins’ own the 6th NFC playoff seed currently and with a Redskins win and Giants loss Sunday could win the division.

This turnaround is a testament of Gibbs’ ability to lead men. It is also an indication of Gibbs’ ability to prepare a team to play when it most matters in December – where his record is 56-18.

Another area of stiff criticism towards Gibbs’ has been in the area of player and personnel management. Personnel moves under Gibbs have been repeatedly questioned and criticized. However, under Gibbs’ personnel management deserves more praise than protest.

Gibbs acquired the following players – Mark Brunell, Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, Sean Taylor, Randy Thomas, Marcus Washington, Shawn Springs, Carlos Rogers, and Casey Rabach. He re-acquired Mike Sellers and James Thrash.

Brunell has experienced a resurgence that no-one (except Gibbs) said was possible. Portis has 1404 yards rushing so far this year and is 29 yards shy of breaking the all-time single-season record for a Redskins running back. Moss has 80 catches for 1400 yards, 9 TDs, and is 36 yards short of Bobby Mitchell’s all-time Redskins’ receiving record. Chris Cooley has 69 catches, 7 TDs, and has already broken the all time receiving record for a Redskins’ tight end. Thomas was experiencing a pro bowl-caliber season until cut short due to injury. Springs has been stalwart. Rogers is showing real promise in his rookie year - looking more like Darrell Green than a first-year player. Rabach has been a definite upgrade at center. Washington is a pro bowl alternate, as is Sean Taylor – who receivers are becoming afraid to catch a pass near. Sellers has been a weapon in scoring, receiving, blocking, and special teams, and Thrash has been solid on teams and as a third receiver when healthy.

In contrast, since Gibbs’ return one would be hard-pressed to identify an all-out personnel bust.

Gibbs returned amidst much fanfare and expectation. When the team failed to win immediately questions and criticism began. With the poor play of Mark Brunell and Gibbs' reticence to bench him - the writers and experts began to make the assertion that Gibbs no longer understood the game. They said that the game had passed him by, or that it had changed too much because of faster defenses and free-agency.

With Gibbs’ first season since returning ending with a losing record, these assertions became the template for use when writing about Gibbs – and this resulted in dour predictions for the Redskins’ 2005 fate.

Gibbs however had different ideas about his ability and that of his team. The players responded to his vision and 16 weeks into the 2005 season the Redskins have gone far in putting the ghosts of seasons-past to rest. They have produced their first winning record of the century. They are making a bonafide run at the post season. They are blowing up teams thought to be better just a few weeks ago.

While Gibbs is too polite to point out what the team has accomplished compared to what was predicted – it should be noted that this season and the Redskins’ performance of late leaves no doubt that Joe Gibbs can still coach in this league.

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