Noah Brindise

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The Washington Redskins
With Noah Brindise
Assistant Quarterbacks Coach
Friday, Jan. 3, 2003; 3 p.m. ET

The Redskins season may be over, but questions remain. Should Ramsey be the starting quarterback next year? How did it feel to finally beat the Cowboys? Can anyone replace Darrell Green? What changes can we expect in the off season?

Noah Brindise, a quarterback coach for the Washington Redskins, was online one last time to take your questions and comments on the team, their season and the final game against Dallas.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Noah Brindise: Hey everyone. Happy New Year! I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. This will be my last chat this season so don't hold back!

Washington, D.C.: Noah, has a decision been made to go with Patrick as the starter next year?

Noah Brindise: Patrick will go into camp as our starter and we expect him to be our starter when the season opens.

Kingstowne, Va.: Hey Noah, I recognized you on the sidelines this past weekend from your photo on this chat. Nice job finally beating the Cowgirls! I remember the last time it happened: October 1997, the first-ever MNF game broadcast from what is now FedEx Field. Our seats were awful. Anyway. Are you going to go after Peerless Price to get Patrick a speedster? Who else? Are you gonna keep Wuerrful as a backup and let Shane Matthews go? Playoffs in 2003!

Noah Brindise: It was very nice to end the season with a win over Dallas. Even though we played poorly, winning beats losing any day. As far as free agents, we will just have to wait and see how our salary cap looks and evaluate our needs. Obviously Peerless Price will be a prime target for alot of teams and he has alot of big play ability, something we need.

Virginia Beach, Va.: Although dropped passes and lack of speed amoung the current corp of 'Skins receivers gets most of the commentary, my impression of Patrick Ramsey is that he is not a particularly accurate quarterback. He misses a lot of throws. Can this be corrected? If not, we need to look elsewhere for next year.

Noah Brindise: Patrick does need to get better as far as being an accurate passer. Very true. He does tend to miss some throws from time to time but he also can hit some that others can't. Accuracy is definately something that can be improved and we plan on doing that this offseason.

Washington, D.C.: How do you feel about Marvin Lewis getting a shot as a head coach in the NFL?

Noah Brindise: Marvin deserves to be a head coach in the NFL. He is good enough, and his track record speaks for itself.

Columbia, Md.: I really enjoyed seeing the ol' Emory and Henry formation pulled out this year. I was wondering, with a year under thier belt and with a more stable QB situation, will the Redskins pull more from the Spurrier's ol' bag of tricks next year? Maybe sneak on a QB in formation for a double pass ala Wuerffel/Kresser at UF?

Noah Brindise: There are alot of gimmick plays that you hesitate to try with a young QB. Having said that, NFL defenses tend to react quite a bit faster then the defenses in the SEC did! It is always fun to try a wrinkle here and there, but you can't make a living on them.

Arlington, Va.: I've enjoyed watching Chad Pennington because of the poise and on-field leadership he exhibits. It seems to come naturally to him. Do you see that potential poise and leadership in Patrick Ramsey? Is he still a few years away from assuming a leadership role on this team?

Noah Brindise: I think Patrick has already assumed that type of role. it is natural to him and I think you will see him really step to the forefront of this team next season. He has been so much fun to coach!

Silver Spring, Md.: Tre Johnson was back to dominating opponents by the end of the season. I'd like to see the big guy back next season (in better shape).

Noah Brindise: Tre played very well for us and was a huge acquisition for us. He knows that he needs to shed some pounds so he can dominate entire games instead of 35-40 plays. I certainly hope he is back.

Arlington, Va.: Based on your bio, you are an "Assistant Quarterback Coach." How many quarterback-oriented coaches are there at the Skins? With only three quarterbacks (who also work with other coaches) do you ever feel like you are smothering your QBs with attention?

How do you manage the inevitable office politics? Does one AQC play good cop with the QBs, another bad cop? Do the quarterbacks try to play the AQCs off one another? If a QB doesn't like you, is that a career-limiting situation? Was it easier to be an AQC earlier in the season, when all three QBs were sucking up to coaching staff, than later when Ramsey became the annointed one? In short, what are the power dynamics like between QBs and AQCs?

Noah Brindise: Just like any relationship between a player and his position coach. I think I have that title because of the fact that Coach Spurrier works very closely with the QB's also. I don't mind it at all and I can assure you that I am treated very well by all of our players.

College Park, Md.: Champ is one of the best corners in the game, but he has no business returning punts. Will that be a target in the draft?

Noah Brindise: I think that will be addressed, either through free agency or the draft. It sure is fun to watch him run with it once he catches it though!

Burke, Va.: Coach -- The defensive players have been pretty vocal in proclaiming Darryl Gardener as the unsung hero of the defense this year. Is there one particular member of the offensive who has performed particularly well and has not received sufficient recognition?

Noah Brindise: I would give the unsung hero award on offense to Larry Moore. He played very well at center for us and was a great team player. I would give runner up status to our fullbacks, Bryan Johnson and Rock Cartwright.

Landover, Md.: Seemed like the defense really jelled at the end of the year. Can we build on that next year with or without Marvin?

Noah Brindise: I think that our defense is in good hands no matter what happens.

Seattle, Wash.: With a less than stellar year for the Redskins, have you considered coaching someplace else? I know the Seahawks could use you.

Noah Brindise: I love my job here and we plan on having a very bright future here in Washington. Seattle is a very beautiful place, and Mike Holmgren is a heck of a ball coach.

Arlington, Va.: Good job in the development of Ramsey this season! I hope you and your Gator boys didn't watch the Michigan game Wednesday. Is Grossman going pro?

Noah Brindise: I appreciate the nice words, but Patrick was very easy to coach. I did, unfortunately, watch the game and was very distraught at the finish. The Gators played hard and fell a little short at the end. I am not sure what Rex's plans are as far as going pro, either way whatever team he is on next year has one helluva QB!

Washington, D.C.: Noah,

It looks like Patrick Ramsey really improved over the course of the last few weeks. What is more fun for you as a coach, helping a young player develop, or watching an established player perform without you having to worry about him?

Noah Brindise: I guess watching him transform from a rookie into an established player is what really makes this job fun. I saw that happen toward the end of the season with Patrick. He is not there yet, but he is very close. With a full offseason under his belt, I think Patrick will be ready to assume the reigns of our team for hopefully a very long time.

Bethesda, Md.: Ramsey really came on toward the end of the year. What do you, Patrick and coach Spurrier do now to make sure he continues to grow in the offseason?

Noah Brindise: There is an awful lot of footage to watch, and many things to correct. He is not nearly as good as he can be and he knows that. The NFL is an ever changing league and just when you think you have it all figured out, something new comes at you. Patrick really needs to get better at his accuracy, his foot quickness, and his recognition of defenses. The first two we can do this offseason, the third takes more game time experience. We can do all the tape study in the world but until you get out there on the field and do it for yourself, you don't know for sure if you have it understood.

Somewhere, USA: How, exactly, do you improve Patrick's accuracy?

Noah Brindise: There are some mechanical things that Patrick needs to improve on as far as release point and head position that should help him. He also needs to learn when to take a little velocity off his passes at times. The first interception he threw against the Cowboys was because he rifled the ball at Rod Gardner when he didn't really need to. A nice catchable ball would have been much better in that situation.

Pittsburgh, Pa.: Noah,

Who is the prototypical wideout in college that could make an immediate impact in stretching the field? Is there any chance Mr. Jacobs will be in town or are you a little gunshy now w/Ex-Gator WR's?

Also since Cliff Russell has had an entire season on the sideline and been able to watch, does he have a better understanding of what's expected? More importantly, does he still have the breakaway speed that made him an attrative draft choice?

We're expecting big things from young Patrick next year. Rod and Derrius need to be catching many balls this offseason after their performance on Sunday.

Noah Brindise: I can't answer the first question honestly yet because I haven't studied this years crop of WR's yet. As far as Taylor Jacobs, he is a pure speedster that has really developed over the last two years. I think he will make a great pro. Cliff should be 100 percent when we have our first mini-camp. The trainers and doctors feel like he should be just as fast as before the injury, but we will just have to wait and see.

Silver Spring, Md.: Hi Noah,

Early in the season Patrick struggled a bit, but once he started getting better protection from the O-Line, he performed well. What is the status of upgrading the offensive line next year and getting Tre Johnson resigned? Is that a big priority?

Noah Brindise: Offensive line play was crucial to Patrick's development, and let me be the first to say publicly that I thought our O-line played very well this year. Having said that, you always try to improve whenever you can and if a player comes along that can helpm the interior of our offensive line then we will take a hard look at him.

Sandusky, Ohio: Play "scout" and please compare Kelly Holcomb's ability to read defenses and his speed of release with that of the injured Tim Couch. Thanks.

Noah Brindise: Kelly, in my opinion, is a very good QB. He doesn't have the size/arm strength of Tim Couch but he is a very heady QB. I think Kelly could be one of the best backups in the league and I feel like if the Browns lose this weekend, it won't be because of him.

Washington, D.C.: Robert Gillespie looked real impressive in pre-season. Can he get on the field in 2003?

Noah Brindise: Robert did a great job on our practice squad and will get every opportunity to make our active roster next fall.

Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, D.C.: Granted there are a few holes to fill in the offseason, but is there a need any greater than OG from the coaches perspective? Is that OG from Hawaii at the top of the draft board, or is another WR at the top?

Noah Brindise: Probably not. OG, followed by some speed.

Somewhere, USA: You guys (especially Danny) have to be bummed that Parcells took the Dallas job, right? As if they haven't been tough enough to beat!

Noah Brindise: Coaches don't play!

Northern Virginia: Isn't the problem with the Redskins line play more than skill positions. In the heyday, the Redskins' offensive line controlled games. Look at the Redskins' rejects in Oakland and KC -- Gannon and Green -- ranked 1st and 3rd among AFC quarterbacks. What do they have in common? Great lines. Why do the Redskins talk every year about skill positions when the foundation is not there to utilize those skill players?

Noah Brindise: I think our line played very admirably during the year. Check the stats! We ran the ball very well and we didn't get sacked nearly as much as some other teams. We also take alot more deep drops rather than the quick passes that the Raiders and Chiefs throw.

New Market, Va.: Did you believe, along with coach Spurrier, that the Florida players would be able to impact moreso than they did, or were you just as skeptical as most everyone else?

Also, great job with Patrick.
Thanks

Noah Brindise: I thought they would perform much better than they did. Unfortunatly, I was wrong.

Noah Brindise: I just wanted to thank everyone for joining me this year on these chats. I have learned that there are alot of very knowledgeable fans out there. I hope that we can make you proud next season and beyond! Hail to the Redskins!

Oxxon Hill, Md.: Who wins tonight: Miami or Ohio State?

Noah Brindise: OK, I have to answer this one. Miami rolls! Way too much speed for the Buckeyes.

Alexandria, Va.: You seem like a young guy to be a coach (that's a compliment). How old are you?

Noah Brindise: I am 27.

Silver Sprin, Md.: Is Cliff Russell healthy? Practicing? How can he help the team?

Noah Brindise: Nobody is practicing anymore! He will be ready for our first mini-camp and will immediately be our fastest receiver.

Washington, D.C.: Are the retro uniforms coming back next year?

Noah Brindise: I am not sure what the plans are for uniforms.

Noah Brindise: OK everyone, now I really do have to go. Now that it is the offseason, I am going to spend some time with my wife-she deserves it!

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