Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

A pretty fair and balanced look at Skins and the upcoming season:


It is now year four of Joe Gibbs' return to the NFL, and what do the Redskins have to show for it, other than a well-compensated coaching staff, wealthy players and a three-year record of 21-27?

This seems to be a team balanced on the edge, one that could go in either direction. Play better defense, win a few close games, and the playoffs are again possible. Get mediocre play from some of the new big-bucks acquisitions, make no progress offensively and Gibbs, a Hall of Famer, may be deemed a failure.

Full Story: [URL="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/redskins/2007-05-23-offseason-report_N.htm"][COLOR=#0000ff]Gibbs faces tall order to avoid failure tag in D.C.[/COLOR][/URL]

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

Very good article. Excited to hear:

Give Campbell points for putting in the hours throughout the winter and spring.
"Every time I look over my shoulder, he is here," Saunders says. "He has
worked extremely hard on his techniques and fundamentals."

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

Im impressed at how well they broke down the team. Usually when a national publication breaks down a team they state the obvious and sometimes mess up their facts. Good find.

I think the skins season will ultimately come down to injuries and the bench. If someone does go down in a key position (say offensive line) do we have the depth to step up at that spot? Lloyd will be the most improved player...I don't count jason campbell, b/c although he was 2-5 or whatever those games didn't really matter and the team was already crippled.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

That is a STUNNING article...........totally fair.
The thing I like most about London Fletcher quotes, or in an interview. He often feels like he has to defend his talent level. That dude MUST play with an attitude, and a chip on his sholder. I like that

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

Yeah I was shocked when I read that last night. It's refreshing to read a balanced article that doesn't take ignorant shots at the Skins.

I do agree with the basic point that this is a team on the edge that could make a playoff run or struggle.

If things fall into place I could see 10-6 or better, and I could just as easily see 6-10 or worse. Depends on how well the D can hold up and the development of Campbell.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

Yeah, this article has good basis in common sense. It basically says the Skins' season could go poorly, or could go well. The same could be said for almost all of the teams in the NFL. The article doesn't prematurely write off the team like so many ridiculous pundits love to do.

For me, it comes down to this:

- Can Jason Campbell make the leap?
- And can GW come up with a better scheme?

Our defensive line hasn't changed, we have a rookie at SS, pretty much the same starting CBs in Rogers and Springs... we do have a much better MIKE LB and some additional depth, but our personnel additions certainly are not enough to go from the 31st ranked D to a top 10 or even top 15 D. For the D, it comes down to playing better. A part of it is staying healthy, but a bigger part of it is adjusting the scheme. If GW's tweaks don't work, we're not going anywhere.

But based on what I'm hearing about Campbell so far, and based on what I know about GW's brain, I like our chances just fine despite all the questions we have.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=Mattyk72;312870]Yeah I was shocked when I read that last night. It's refreshing to read a balanced article that doesn't take ignorant shots at the Skins.

I do agree with the basic point that this is a team on the edge that could make a playoff run or struggle.

If things fall into place I could see 10-6 or better, and I could just as easily see 6-10 or worse. Depends on how well the D can hold up and the development of Campbell.[/quote]

You beat me to it.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

I really cant believe that they had such a positive outlook on the team but i am a little suprised they said carlos should start ahead of fred.

For right now i would think unless carlos shows some kind of drastic change before the season starts then fred smoot should be the starter

cant wait for the season to start go skins

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=EARTHQUAKE2689;312875]I really cant believe that they had such a positive outlook on the team but i am a little suprised they said carlos should start ahead of fred.

For right now i would think unless carlos shows some kind of drastic change before the season starts then fred smoot should be the starter

cant wait for the season to start go skins[/quote]

I think it's an open competition, but since no coach has come out and said that Smoot will be the starter, you have to assume that Rogers will hold onto the job given he was the 9th pick and that nobody has said otherwise.

Either way though the nickel is going to play an awful lot anyway.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

I think Rogers has the slight edge headed into camp, but Smoot will push him.

I don't think it will make a big difference, like Schneed said the nickel will play a lot anyway.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=Schneed10;312877]I think it's an open competition, but since no coach has come out and said that Smoot will be the starter, you have to assume that Rogers will hold onto the job given he was the 9th pick and that nobody has said otherwise.

Either way though the nickel is going to play an awful lot anyway.[/quote]


while this is true, you also have to take into account that Greg Williams remembers how Fred Smoot played before with the Skins and the fact that he has better cover skills but for right now based on how carlos has played in the past two seasons that Gibbs is more than likely is favoring Smoot since he is a "gibbs" guy. So i guess we will have to just wait and see.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

I was happy about the list of players that were on the breakdown list that we let go. The team will be better without them!

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=EARTHQUAKE2689;312879]based on how carlos has played in the past two seasons that Gibbs is more than likely is favoring Smoot since he is a "gibbs" guy. So i guess we will have to just wait and see.[/quote]

How is Smoot a "Gibbs" guy? Gibbs drafted Rogers. He inherited Smoot, and then Smoot left.

I know you're a big Smoot fan, but you might be disappointed if you're really expecting him to start this season.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

USA Today article didn't mention anything the WARPATH has not already stated. Good to know this site has its shit together!!

Nothing new in the article but opinions.

I disagree that the Skins can just as easily go 6-10. We will be 8-8 just based on Defensive pride coming off of last year. The development of Campbell brings us over the top into the playoffs. But maybe I'm biased.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

I have a sneaking suspicion that Carlos Rogers is going to step it up this year. I don't know that he'll ever be an elite corner but I think he can become a good CB1. His play last year simply wasn't as bad as most want to believe. If you watched him objectively you saw a lot of better than average coverage with basically no help from the front 7. Dropped INTs really should count as a factor when comparing elite CBs. If they can cover and prevent completed passes then anything else is gravy. Plus the dropped INTs were somewhat of a fluke. No way he drops another 6 INTs this year. The law of statistics says it isn't possible. He'll be fine.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=FRPLG;312898]I have a sneaking suspicion that Carlos Rogers is going to step it up this year. I don't know that he'll ever be an elite corner but I think he can become a good CB1. His play last year simply wasn't as bad as most want to believe. If you watched him objectively you saw a lot of better than average coverage with basically no help from the front 7. Dropped INTs really should count as a factor when comparing elite CBs. If they can cover and prevent completed passes then anything else is gravy. Plus the dropped INTs were somewhat of a fluke. No way he drops another 6 INTs this year. The law of statistics says it isn't possible. He'll be fine.[/quote]

He had thumb issues last year, that could have contributed to the drops. Even that notwithstanding, I can't imagine he'd be any worse than he was last year.

That's a concept that really applies to the entire D, actually.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=Schneed10;312901]He had thumb issues last year, that could have contributed to the drops. Even that notwithstanding, I can't imagine he'd be any worse than he was last year.

That's a concept that really applies to the entire D, actually.[/quote]


Rogers wasn't that bad last year. They picked on Springs back-up and the Safeties over the top mostly.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=JDALY27;312903]Rogers wasn't that bad last year. They picked on Springs back-up and the Safeties over the top mostly.[/quote]

I was talking about his ability to catch INTs. [I]That[/I] was bad.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=Schneed10;312904]I was talking about his ability to catch INTs. [I]That[/I] was bad.[/quote]

Yes it was. Don't know what type of spell was on the entire defense last year but turnovers just didn't materialize.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

Hopefully by clearly defining the roles of the safeties it will help free up Taylor to be more of a ball hawk. It would be nice to see him pick off a bunch of passes this year. The big hits are nice, but turnovers are game changers.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

Good article--the stunning stat of having the fewest take-aways EVER in a 16 game season says it all to me. NO WAY that we suck like that again. And TOs really determine games "up here" as Gibbs would say.

Plus, the second year of Saunders is going to make a big difference, IMO, not to mention JC.

But nothing will be easy for us. We've got to learn to win again, to be cocky, to believe in ourselves. That can be the toughest thing sometimes.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

I agree about Carlos as well, btw. He's sort of been written off by everyone--it's Springs and Smoot getting all the press. Let's hope that lights a fire. Plus, if we can get pressure, it makes all the difference for CBs. No one can cover if there isn't some pressure up front, and we brought VERY little last year. Plus, with ST committed to help, things should improve for whoever our #2 CB is.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

Maybe we should start a "Carlos Rogers Watch" thread when the season begins? Could be fun.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

I like the pro-con prediction from USA, a neat way of saying we have no idea what the Redskins are going to do, but we won't predict doom and gloom. If we are better or worse than last year, or somewhere in between, either way they'll be right.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=Southpaw;312891]How is Smoot a "Gibbs" guy? Gibbs drafted Rogers. He inherited Smoot, and then Smoot left.

I know you're a big Smoot fan, but you might be disappointed if you're really expecting him to start this season.[/quote]


i am not a big smoot fan or a big rogers fan i am just saying based on experience and performance smoot has to have the edge

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=Schneed10;312904]I was talking about his ability to catch INTs. [I]That[/I] was bad.[/quote]


it was really terrible he needs to learn how to hang on to those he should train with deion like cham did and with darrell

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

Now we are arguing about who is going to start at corner? Please, who cares the coach will start the best two, and we have a solid 3 or 4 that are capable. What's the big deal?

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=angryssg;313160]Now we are arguing about who is going to start at corner? Please, who cares the coach will start the best two, and we have a solid 3 or 4 that are capable. What's the big deal?[/quote]


rogers cant catch and according to some smoot cant tackle

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=EARTHQUAKE2689;313162]rogers cant catch and according to some smoot cant tackle[/quote]

Rogers is a Dback who cares as long as he breaks it up. He Is bound to catch some sooner or later. Smoot can tackle or maybe I was watching different games than everyone else.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

[quote=angryssg;313166]Rogers is a Dback who cares as long as he breaks it up. He Is bound to catch some sooner or later. Smoot can tackle or maybe I was watching different games than everyone else.[/quote]


oh i know smoot can tackle it seems like people forgot the player smoot was for us when he was here he was not a nickel corner

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

usa today sucks for news, but it really is the best for football.

Re: Good article on Skins from USAToday
 

Very fair article. Very accurate assessment of the Redskins potential. In regards to Smoot versus Rogers, I think the competition will be good for the team. Both players will have ample playing time, since most teams use a lot of three wide receiver sets. Its great to have 2A and 2B corners. Personally I think Carlos Rogers is a decent corner. He is generally in position to make a play, his problem is he can't catch. There are a lot of defensive backs that can't catch. You might not notice it as much because they are also out of position to make a play. Catching the ball is something he can work on.