The Slant (or Post, depending) is a nice play, I’ll grant you, as is the power sweep. But they aren’t the best offensive plays in football. I will educate you.

The best running play in football is a power running in between the tackles. Do that effectively, and you own the game. If you can’t do that, all the sweeps in the world won’t work. In the Skins system this is “40 gut” or “50 gut”. But the real reason that a verticle running game is so great is that it sets up the best play in football…

The play action pass. When it works, this is great. Witness the Panthers first play from scrimmage last night. Fake the hand off to Stephen Davis, and then go long. The Pack’s linebackers all bit, and that left Muhammed wide open for a 20 yard gain, and got the Panthers away from the endzone. Yes, some QB’s can’t pull it off, but those who can benefit tremendously.Granted, the play action pass is only effective if used sparingly. Most teams overuse it today, and it loses it’s effectiveness. The Pack are quite good at this.

Go figure, though, that ML’s favorite plays (and terminology) are conservative and 40 years old.

As for last nights game, why the hell did the Panters give up on running Stephen Davis? this lost them the game. It lost them the SuperBowl too. Reminiscent of the Titans against the Rams. The Titans didn’t run Eddie George, and this neutralized their ability to move the ball, control the clock and win the game.

And as for 8-9 wins for the Skins, that would be a downer. If Parcells could take the bunch of losers in Dallas to a 10 win season last year, 10 wins is the bar that Gibbs has in front of him. Coupled with what appears to be an easy schedule, 10 wins is achievable. The Division is probably out of reach because the Eagles are the team to beat in the NFC. The Eagles will have home field advantage in the NFC, and the road to the SuperBowl unfortunately goes through Philly. But the Skins have a shot as a Wild Card, and a 10 win season.

UPDATE FROM YOUR MAXIMUM LEADER: Winning 10 games will be hard for the Skins. Your Maximum Leader isn’t convinced hey have the lineup needed to be serious contenders for the playoffs. And Philly and Dallas are in the same Division. When El Grande Ahi took the Cowboys to 10 wins they didn’t have as much competition as will the Skins. Your Maximum Leader is still thinking 8-9 wins. But if he remembers a conversation with the Minister of Agriculture; the Smallholder thought that 10 wins were possible.