Reason for Optimism?
 

Al Saunders in his 2nd year at each stop:

2002 Kansas City Chiefs:
Rushing Yards: 3rd in NFL
Passing Yards: 12th
Total Yards: 5th
Total Points: 1st

2000 St. Louis Rams:
Rushing Yards: 1st
Passing Yards: 3rd
Total Yards: 1st
Total Points: 1st

1990 Kansas City Chiefs:
Rushing Yards: 10th
Passing Yards: 10th
Total Yards: 8th
Total Points: 6th

[url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/20070225-014012-4261r.htm]Saunders remains upbeat about offense - Sports - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper[/url]

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Reasons why I'm a little optimistic right now:

1) A full offseason, and a full year of Campbell as THE guy.
2) A healthy Portis/Betts two-headed monster (Gibbs said Portis is coming back with an I'll show you attitude).
3) On offense, resigning Dockery is an issue, but aside from that, there's continuity.
4) I doubt GW will allow his defense to stay at the bottom of the NFL. They've got nowhere to go but up.

Am I optimistic for a Super Bowl? No. But I'm optimistic for the playoffs. We've still got major questions (D-line, secondary, etc.). But we rediscovered our identity in the second half of last season. We also discovered a QB that can give us hope.

In the end, Jason Campbell is the guy that gives me hope.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Let's face it, next season will all come down to the continued development of Campbell, and the revival of the defense. If those two things go as planned we'll have a shot at a good season.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Reason why I'm not optimistic: The last 10 years.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

[quote=Daseal;280177]Reason why I'm not optimistic: The last 10 years.[/quote]

Except the year before last?

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

[quote=GoSkins!;280181]Except the year before last?[/quote]

except 99 and 05 pretty much the last 10 years

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Reasons I'm optimistic:

Defense:
Williams doesn't field bad defenses two years in a row.
Since 2000, he has had the #1 (Titans), #21, #15, #2 (Buffalo), #3, #9 and #31 (Washington).

This makes last year look anomalous. I would think the chances of him being bottom 10 next year is about the same as being top 10.

Offense:
It's not just that Saunders does good in his second year, it's that he has Gibbs working with him. Whoever doesn't realize this is a benefit is to young to remember Gibbs first stint. The guy is a football genius. There may not be a more capable person out there to help Saunders tweek his offense.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

[quote=GoSkins!;280185]Reasons I'm optimistic:

Defense:
Williams doesn't field bad defenses two years in a row.
Since 2000, he has had the #1 (Titans), #21, #15, #2 (Buffalo), #3, #9 and #31 (Washington).

This makes last year look anomalous. I would think the chances of him being bottom 10 next year is about the same as being top 10.

Offense:
It's not just that Saunders does good in his second year, it's that he has Gibbs working with him. Whoever doesn't realize this is a benefit is to young to remember Gibbs first stint. The guy is a football genius. There may not be a more capable person out there to help Saunders tweek his offense.[/quote]


i think our offense if jason campbell can play as good as phillip rivers did this past year with a full off season as him being the number one guy and brandon lloyd playing like his contract states we will be in the top 5 in offense

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

how does schneed and the word optimistic get in the same sentence together? i think most peoples outlook on the 2007-2008 redskins will be vastly different then how the team actually ends up. i look forward to a playoff run. I'm not ready to write off coach Gibbs just yet

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Saunders likes to score quickly. Fast break offense. One thing he has to realize that for our team to win we are probably going to have to keep our defense off the field as much as possible. So Al keep that in mind and everything should be ok. The offense will be better. It's the defense I'm worried about.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

it cant get any worst than last year hopefully. At least the starting QB is a upgrade over last year.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Well, Campbell has given me hope since he began to play. And I agree about Saunders and his offense getting better over time. We know it's complex, etc.

The big issue, IMO, is do we have enough options to really improve our D. Seems like we've had a fair number of bandaid fixes for key positions, with the attitude being that we can turn anyone into a good player with this system. My hope is that GW and Co. get over that and recognize the need for talent, and for fitting the system to the talent, not vice versa. Don't know if that's sunk in fully with GW, who is famously pretty stubborn. He's going to get some good players out of this offseason, but will he use them to the best advantage?

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

The reason why everybody should be opptimistic is for the running game. The last 6 games was really impressive when you consider the fact that everyteam we played had 8 in the box. If that can carry over to next year we'll be in better shape.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Not only am I feeling optimistic but I have already put my money where my mouth is.

When the playoffs started I bet $100 on the Colts to when the Super Bowl at 8 to 1. The day after the SB I collected $700 and let $100 ride on the Skins winning it all next year at 50 to 1!

I know it is a long shot but looking at the odds I thought that they had more of a shot than anyone else receiving those kind of payouts. Here's hoping for a really happy February of 2008! Wish me luck!

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

[quote=dmek25;280189]how does schneed and the word optimistic get in the same sentence together? i think most peoples outlook on the 2007-2008 redskins will be vastly different then how the team actually ends up. i look forward to a playoff run. I'm not ready to write off coach Gibbs just yet[/quote]

LOL.

I find it interesting that I have gained a reputation for being pessimistic around here. In my daily life I tend to be optimistic.

In this case, I'm just trying to be realistic.

The NFL is a world of overreaction. A team goes 12-4 and suddenly people are talking Super Bowl next year, and like a playoff berth is already a cinch. And when a team goes 5-11, people start writing that team off like they've got no chance. This is the NFL, the line between winning and losing is very small. Turnarounds happen all the time.

Last year, we started the season with a QB who wouldn't threaten the deep part of the field (either because he couldn't, or because he wouldn't, or because the coaches wouldn't let him). Now we have a more mobile QB who will threaten deep.

And as has already been said, I view our defensive season in 2006 as an anomaly. I think we'll rebound. How much we rebound is the question. Our fortunes largely ride on Campbell, a QB that is making me feel good about saying that.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Barring injury to JC, this O will be something to watch. Please hope we sign Dock!
Defensively, this team has so many questions at this time, but I do agree in general that there was a dropoff last year that was an anomaly for all sorts of reasons. That doesn't mean however, that we're guaranteed improvement if we just get a couple new starters. Its more likely this D will be mediocre than good, but that can be enough to win.
I think the greatest anomaly was our nfl record for fewest turnovers. If CR & co. catch just a few of those int.s last year we may have finished .500. Turnovers are the biggest momentum changers in the game & when you can't get any your D is on the field a lot more.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

somebody remember this day, me and schneed actually agree :)

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

I'm optimistic because FA is starting, and we have the NFL Draft to look forward to! Oh, wait............................. bother!

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Reason I'm optimistic:

Because no one is going to congratulate you on being the one fan who knew the team was going to suck all along. It's not the stock market. There is no money in selling short. Irrational exuberance is what we as fans should be all about.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Greg Williams had a "Suck A" defense. He didn't quit, resign, interview for another job or anything else of that nature, which leads me to believe that he's got a plan to right the ship and won't let himself be embarrassed again two years in a row. Also, if he were to struggle two years in a row, his chances of being a headcoach for us or anyone will start becoming very slim. In 2007, he'll be coaching for his future paychecks.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

[quote=70Chip;280308]Reason I'm optimistic:

Because no one is going to congratulate you on being the one fan who knew the team was going to suck all along. It's not the stock market. There is no money in selling short. Irrational exuberance is what we as fans should be all about.[/quote]

Well, who cares if people are going to congratulate you for being right or not. Just comes down to this: what do you think about next season?

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

I predict that Campbell 07 will be very statistically similar to Brunell 06 (slightly worse by a slim margin).

Within this prediction, I am saying that:

1) Campbell will learn the art of the check down and his completion pct will skyrocket.

2) Campbell would have reached this level last year if given the course of a whole season.

3) Campbell will not make vast strides in this offseason. Rather, we will get to see a young player with immense talent learning to be an NFL QB on the go.

4) Campbell will throw more TDs and more INTs than Brunell in 2006.

5) Campbell will run less (then himself in 2006).

6) The best way to use Campbell as is conducive to winning is to rely heavily on a strong running game (theres a shocker).

7) Campbell will be in the top half of passers in 2007 (measured by QB efficiency), but will make a huge jump in his development a year from now becoming a top 10 QB in 2008.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

[B][QUOTE][B]I predict that Campbell 07 will be very statistically similar to Brunell 06 (slightly worse by a slim margin). [/B][/QUOTE][/B]

LOL! You call that optimism?!?!

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

I'm optimisitc that B Lloyd will record a rap album that goes platinum.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

[quote=724Skinsfan;280398]

LOL! You call that optimism?!?![/quote]

Comp Att PCT YD Y/A TD INT
162 260 62.3 1789 6.9 8 4

Rating: [B]86.52[/B]

I'm being very optimistic. If JC can put up a rating of 82 (or better), I'd be satisfied.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

[quote=GTripp0012;280410]Comp Att PCT YD Y/A TD INT
162 260 62.3 1789 6.9 8 4

Rating: [B]86.52[/B]

I'm being very optimistic. If JC can put up a rating of 82 (or better), I'd be satisfied.[/quote]

Me, too. But I'd also be satisfied if Jason put up a rating of 25.68 (<slight exaggeration) and had 14 wins.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

[quote=724Skinsfan;280419]Me, too. But I'd also be satisfied if Jason put up a rating of 25.68 (<slight exaggeration) and had 14 wins.[/quote]Me too, but I wouldn't be feeling too good about Campbell.

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Many things have already been mentioned that I agree with. I am optimistic because:
I was happy with Jason last year, and barring alien intervention, he should be signifigantly improved with a full camp, and year with Al.
Danny will figure out how to free up the $$$ for necessary changes.
GW is a proud dude........maybe to much so. However, his ego will not allow him to have a D that plays like that again in 2007. FA and the draft will tell.

Mostly, because Joe2 is more aware than anyone that his return is not going as he envisioned, to date.
Unless, you believe that he has lost it, to old to do it, or for any reason CANNOT do..............IT, he will succeed. That's who he is...............relentless, driven, over-achiever. CAN'T MISS

Re: Reason for Optimism?
 

Honestly, I think our offense is going to really take off next year. We finally have a QB who throws a real nice accurate deep ball, a QB who can make all the throws. JC just needs to work on some small things. But what I really like about him is he is willing to learn and accepts coaching. i can tell by Al's comments that he knows he has a budding star. I don't see why we won't have a top ten offense. And I don't care about yardage. I want an offense that put's the ball in the end zone.