Gibbs Defends His Calls Vs. Eagles

Gibbs was unflinching in his defense of the draw play as well, although Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson commented after the game that he expected it. Gibbs allowed quarterback Jason Campbell to decide at the line whether to run the draw or pass. He praised Campbell for opting for the draw play, although Portis fell three yards short of the goal line. Gibbs also had a terse assessment of Johnson's comment: "Normally they do [know what play is coming] after it's over with. . . . They're always pretty sharp on that."

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Early in Gibbs's second tenure, issues with play-calling and time management were chalked up to his lengthy retirement and the natural kinks of a new coaching staff.

When Gibbs brought in associate head coach Al Saunders to call plays in 2006 it was supposed to help streamline the operation, leaving the head coach to focus on crucial decisions such as when to use timeouts, kick field goals or go for two-point conversions. Yet the problems persist.

In their first meeting with Philadelphia, trailing 6-3 late in the first half, there was puzzlement on the sideline about whether Gibbs would opt for a field goal on second down from the 11, with the unit finally scrambling to the field. Eagles Coach Andy Reid called time out, and with the chance to rethink, Gibbs opted to go for it, resulting in a touchdown pass for a 10-6 lead the Redskins never surrendered.

Against the Giants in September, Gibbs was asked about calling for a spike on first down at the 1, to allow run personnel to get on the field, then opting for a pass play on second down after New York called a timeout. The pass was incomplete and Washington lost the game.

There was also confusion in the fourth quarter at Green Bay as to whether Gibbs would call for a long field goal trailing by three with seven minutes to play. After using their second timeout, the Redskins called for a fourthdown pass to reserve tailback Ladell Betts on a route not intended to cross the first-down marker, Betts said. It was stopped, and they lost 17-14.

Several veterans said they have learned to brace for confusion on the sideline in crucial situations, and doubt it will change nearly four years into the regime.

"It's frustrating, but it's not anything new to us," one said. "We look at it like it's something we have to overcome."

Another veteran said that players talk among themselves about the coaching decisions, but that he did not sense the players would begin turning on Gibbs, who has praised their effort each week. Tackle Chris Samuels, a Redskin since 2000, said the players have more than their own share of problems to overcome, rather than worrying about coaching decisions.

"I just take care of my business, I don't question what the coach calls," Samuels said. "He gets paid a lot of money to do his job."