Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

Sorry to create another thread but wasn't completely sure where to post this in one.

This season was as depressing and bleak as any season I have ever experienced as a Redskins fan, with 2009 being the only reasonable comparison. At the same time, examining our team from top to bottom, this team is a lot different than the types of rosters inherited by Mike Shannahan in 2009, Jim Zorn in 2007, or Joe Gibbs in 2004. All of those teams were marginally more successful by record compared to this one, but all of them were teams in perennial cap hell, lacking a franchise quarterback or stuck believing in a guy who was unlikely to become it, and were heavy on overpaid underachieving guys.

What makes this time any different? Well we have a franchise quarterback who health and system permitting is as good a bet to be our "guy" for the next 8-10 years as anybody, not to mention the backup who fans would be clamoring to start over Donovan McNabb, Mark Brunell, etc. Along with this, we also have a young, talented running back who we didn't have to criminally over-pay for in a trade to get (Portis), as well as a Pro-Bowl Left Tackle. We have a solid 1B/2A receiver who despite everything put up great numbers this season, and a young Tight End who looked like a huge weapon for us before going down with a concussion.

Defensively we could use a lot of help fixing the patchwork secondary we rolled out, and I would prefer not even to go into detail about Special Teams, but that is what Free Agency is for. At this point I am looking at the Salary Cap penalty as a blessing in disguise, as without it, we would have spent all of that money last offseason, leaving Gruden with a lot less roster flexibility coming in.

In summary: We've got our quarterback, we've got our running back, along with some useful weapons on both sides of the ball. We have a young head coach that we seem to think really highly about, and we have a ton of flexibility this offseason with money, something we really enjoy spending. Basically we have all the things we never had under the old regimes, the pieces that are a little bit harder to acquire, and with good coaching and intellegent free agent choices, we have a lot more reasons to be optimistic today than we have in years past.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

I believe the coaching moves, especially if Morris replaces Haslett will be good for us. However, if we do not bolster the offensive line and give RGIII a true #2 WR on offense, and just completely revamp the defense, we're never going to improve.

I trust Bruce Allen on draft days. Every year, he (and Shanahan) found us some incredible players like Alfmo, Reed, etc.

I really believe getting our cap back will fix a lot.

The defense needs to go in a different direction, whether it's by promoting Morris to DC or letting Haslett go back to a 4-3, big changes are needed.

On offense, we need to get a bigger offensive line and let go of Shanahan's smaller zone guys.

Things can't be worse than 2013. I believe Griffin will bounce back in year #3 like Cam Newton did and he, Morris, Garcon and Reed will be an offensive powerhouse.

If we really focus on the O-line and defense, we should be a contender this year. Our division is very weak and stepping back into first place is not a difficult task with Dallas and the Giants on the decline. Philly was nowhere near as good as their 10-6 record showed and now there's plenty of study material on Kelly's schemes for the rest of the league.

Any word on the Special Teams coach? We have to make massive changes there too outside of Forbath and Sundberg. Rocca, thanks for the tackles, your time is up. I'd love to see a signing like Jacoby Jones to be the #2 WR and return man. He'd fix our returning problems immediately.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

Cloudy with a 50% chance of thunderstorms.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=CrustyRedskin;1054371]Cloudy with a 50% chance of thunderstorms.[/quote]

Absolutely. Tomorrow's weather will pretty much be the same as today's.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

This boils down to what people think of Robert Griffin?

If you think he's a prima donna who won't ever learn to throw from the pocket, nothing is different. It's the same organization with the same resources making the same decisions.

If you look at this season, realize the guy was 23, and hey, those numbers would look pretty darn good for a quarterback if the year was 2006, then the answer is "Robert Griffin III."

And Trent Williams. And Jordan Reed. And Brian Orakpo They're really good too. And Shanahan's not here to explain to us in the offseason why it was critical for the success of the Redskins that we let Orakpo test the market.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

lol .. dang tripp you really really dont like MS.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

The outlook for me is... hazy. 4 years ago we hired Shanny and everyone thought he'd take us to the promised land and as an organization we're worse off than where we started.

I like the Gruden hire, but I'm not going to go crazy with it.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2014/01/09/redskins-deangelo-hall-players-questioned-rgiii-benching/?tid=pm_sports_pop]Redskins’ DeAngelo Hall: Players questioned RGIII benching[/url]

Good article. Hall says there was no tension in the locker room or complaints from RG3 until after he was benched. Says of RG3:

“From the first day that kid came into that locker room, all he wanted to do is impress us, try to prove to us that he would do anything to help us win football games. It was never about him. It obviously seems like it’s about him, because he’s the face."

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

I am not entirely sure we're worse off than 4 years ago. We are unquestionably better at the QB, RB, WR (yes, even without a legit #2 -- think of who our WRs have been in recent years) and TE position (would anyone take what we had then over what we have now, even with some questions about the long term durability of RGIII and Reed?). Our O line has an anchor LT, although admittedly not much else. Our D needs a lot of work, but we have solid players in Kerrigan, Orakpo, Riley, DHall, and Cofield, and some folks that I would still characterize as prospects (Amerson, Thomas, Rambo, Crawford). I think Forbath is going to work out, but the rest of special teams ain't special.

So there are no doubt some significant holes to fill, but we have money to do so and at least some folks who seem capable in making some decent picks and decent, albeit inconsistent, FA signings (with the occasional miss -- that will happen both with the draft and FA).

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=WillH;1054467][url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2014/01/09/redskins-deangelo-hall-players-questioned-rgiii-benching/?tid=pm_sports_pop]Redskins’ DeAngelo Hall: Players questioned RGIII benching[/url]

Good article. Hall says there was no tension in the locker room or complaints from RG3 until after he was benched. Says of RG3:

“From the first day that kid came into that locker room, all he wanted to do is impress us, try to prove to us that he would do anything to help us win football games. It was never about him. It obviously seems like it’s about him, because he’s the face."[/quote]

I have to say, DHall has really impressed me this last year. Still gets the dumb penalties too much, but he's been a standup guy for the team and has played well all around.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

I definitely want Hall back. I did not realize he's only 29...seems like he's been in the league longer than that.

I'd say he was our defensive MVP last season.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=WillH;1054467][url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2014/01/09/redskins-deangelo-hall-players-questioned-rgiii-benching/?tid=pm_sports_pop]Redskins’ DeAngelo Hall: Players questioned RGIII benching[/url]

Good article. Hall says there was no tension in the locker room or complaints from RG3 until after he was benched. Says of RG3:

“From the first day that kid came into that locker room, all he wanted to do is impress us, try to prove to us that he would do anything to help us win football games. It was never about him. It obviously seems like it’s about him, because he’s the face."[/quote]

Fletcher reiterated today that there were no issues in the locker room with RG3.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

David Gettis signing phenomenal!!!! Finally one of those Baylor wideouts. Art Briles WRs are killing it in the NFL.

WRs = Garcon, Gettis, Moss, Hawkins, Robinson, Morgan, Hankerson + Camp competition.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=Gary84Clark;1054498]David Gettis signing phenomenal!!!! Finally one of those Baylor wideouts. [B]Art Briles WRs are killing it in the NFL.[/B]

WRs = Garcon, Gettis, Moss, Hawkins, Robinson, Morgan, Hankerson + Camp competition.[/quote]

Except for the ones who seem doomed by their ACL's.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=Lotus;1054499]Except for the ones who seem doomed by their ACL's.[/quote]

Gettis played really well this year not sure why Carolina did not keep him. He is way better than La Fell.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=Gary84Clark;1054505]Gettis played really well this year not sure why Carolina did not keep him. He is way better than La Fell.[/quote]

Gettis got hurt in preseason this year. Injury is why he has not seen a regular season NFL field since 2010. ACL/hammy issues.

[url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24174/]Y! SPORTS[/url]

U guys are actually serious about have this bum be our number 2?? Lmao thankfully this isn't madden

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=skinsfaninok;1054507]U guys are actually serious about have this bum be our number 2?? Lmao thankfully this isn't madden[/quote]

I wouldn't say he's a bum but I'm certainly not thinking a wr who hasn't seen the field in almost 4 years is going to be our #2, especially not since he's on a futures contract.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=GTripp0012;1054377]This boils down to what people think of Robert Griffin?

If you think he's a prima donna who won't ever learn to throw from the pocket, nothing is different. It's the same organization with the same resources making the same decisions.

If you look at this season, realize the guy was 23, and hey, those numbers would look pretty darn good for a quarterback if the year was 2006, then the answer is "Robert Griffin III."

And Trent Williams. And Jordan Reed. And Brian Orakpo They're really good too. And Shanahan's not here to explain to us in the offseason why it was critical for the success of the Redskins that we let Orakpo test the market.[/quote]

I agree with you on the outlook for this team. First and foremost, the key to everything is the development of RGIII. A star QB can overcome many team deficiencies. Fortunately for me, my outlook is positive because I believe that RGIII will become a superstar.

RGIII has some very good people to work with on offense: Trent, Alfred, Jordan, and Pierre. Shore up the line and we'll be fine on that side of the ball.

On defense, we also have some very good people: Orakpo, Coefield, and Kerrigan. I also have hopes that Amerson, Phillip Thomas, and Richard Crawford will be solid contributors next season.

We should be able to fix ST's with a couple of inexpensive acquisitions and a legitimate ST coach.

We have cap room for some key FA's and we should get some help from the draft.

So, if we picked the right man as HC, I think we have a shot to be significantly better in 2014.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

I agree, good outlook. Big IF's with RG3 and new young unproven coach, but good because:

1) RG3 - if he plays well.
2) 30 million salary cap
3) Young players in prime in key skill positions
4) Early 2nd round pick = close to first rounder
5) Finally will use collaborative effort / scouting reports - hope this is a good thing.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=Lotus;1054506]Gettis got hurt in preseason this year. Injury is why he has not seen a regular season NFL field since 2010. ACL/hammy issues.

[url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/24174/]Y! SPORTS[/url][/quote]

Wrong I went to the preseason games saw him catching and running and being dangerous. It was hard for them to cut him , he out performed LaFell. I was at the game saw it. He is not a bum, Gettis is a good receiver. Tall and fast with good hands.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=ethat001;1054605]I agree, good outlook. Big IF's with RG3 and new young unproven coach, but good because:

1) RG3 - if he plays well.
2) 30 million salary cap
3) Young players in prime in key skill positions
4) Early 2nd round pick = close to first rounder
5) Finally will use collaborative effort / scouting reports - hope this is a good thing.[/quote]

Your fifth point is a very good one. I'm not as critical as some people are about Shanny's drafting and FA's but there is room for improvement.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=Gary84Clark;1054617]Wrong I went to the preseason games saw him catching and running and being dangerous. It was hard for them to cut him , he out performed LaFell. I was at the game saw it. He is not a bum, Gettis is a good receiver. Tall and fast with good hands.[/quote]

Sounds like Malcolm Kelly. Tall, fast and injured. :D


I hope he comes back and does well. Hopefully being a Baylor man will help his chemistry with Griffin.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=Gary84Clark;1054617]Wrong I went to the preseason games saw him catching and running and being dangerous. It was hard for them to cut him , he out performed LaFell. I was at the game saw it. He is not a bum, Gettis is a good receiver. Tall and fast with good hands.[/quote]

You missed my point. "Tall and fast with good hands" doesn't matter if you can't get on the field. And he hasn't seen a real game since 2010.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

[quote=Lotus;1054660]You missed my point. "Tall and fast with good hands" doesn't matter if you can't get on the field. And he hasn't seen a real game since 2010.[/quote]

Well it was because of the Tedd Gin addition. The boy is good and explosive.

Re: Outlook For 2014 & Beyond
 

I would be happy if we get any contribution from just one Gettis next year.