To be honest, I'm starting to have a better feeling about this year. Although most of what we read is just team created propaganda to get us excited and ready to go to the super bowl, same as every year, we could certainly make it. I like the fact that Joe Gibbs had a full off-season with one season under his belt. He got to know MOST of his players, and he had time to look at a flawed system and make necessary changes. We also bring back nearly the same coaching staff (infact -- did we lose a single member above something like quality control?) I really like Blache at D coordinator. I don't think he gets a lot of the credit that he deserves.
Now, in order for us to be successfull some things need to be true:
1) The rumors about us catering the running game to Portis's strengths is very important. Not that we need to ignore the inside banging, but let's reverse the ratio of inside to outside/stretch type plays and I think we'll be fine.
2) The WRs still worry me. I don't think we "upgraded" at that position by any stretch. Everyone here, if they hate Coles or not, was defending him as a player before all this went down. All of a sudden he was useless last year. So either you don't tell yourself the truth during the season and you fake opinions on players, or you're bitter. Either way -- he showed up every week to play and played hard. While his speed wasn't quite what it used to be, in the two games I went to I watched Gardner and Coles and they would often get a few lengths ahead of a DB. Which in this league is pretty damn open. I think Jacobs could be big, Moss is kinda small to be a full-time #1, and Patten is a roleplayer. While I think the speed could certainly help, we lost any sort of physical traits our receiving corps once had. Another problem is our passing game was so weak last year, and this is the group Joe Gibbs knows least of all. Considering we have two guys, slated to start, who just joined the team.
3) As long as we start using the shotgun and creating a passing game. We need some sort of passing game. We're hearing it's coming, which I'm glad to hear. Most people think I want a Spurrier-esque system which isn't true. I love to watch the team revolve around Portis, but to help Portis out we gotta be able to pass. It's much harder to create/make a rhythm passing very rarely than passing fairly often, that's why I'd like to see an intermediate (7-14 yard passes) game flourish. With the speed at WR the YAC could be great and it backs the DBs off just enough. How many press-conferences did we hear "But we did go deep" when you could count the amount of deep balls on one hand? As long as we do it and don't pretend like we do.
4) I think the defense will be our question. I think some of the injuries last year were blessing in disguise. Especially Mr Matt Bowen. The man did a great job blitzing in Tampa Bay game. Problem is, he's a bigger hitter that seems to only be able to connect on other Redskins, he's a liability in coverage, and plays decently against the run. I'd rather have a multi-faceted player back there. I liked how Clark / Lott played. I think we're going to miss Smoot and Pierce some too. Regardless of what Pierce does in NY he was great for us here in the middle. Sometimes a system makes someone a star more than that person. I actually feel that's true a majority of the time. He may not do well in NY, just like Griffen didn't do much besides his rookie year. TAFKAS - while Rogers MAY be better than Smoot. I doubt it'll be this year, I doubt he'll assume the type of leadership role Smoot played, and I also doubt that we're going to be better THIS year for it. As long as LaVar plays his position and within the system (IE not leaving his side way open for the big gain going for the big play) then we'll be fine.
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1. You're right Joe Gibbs is notorious for his inability to adapt
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Strangely, this does worry me a small bit. Last year we didn't seem to adapt much, maybe he was feeling out the league, I don't know. Hopefully he'll get it back, but I didn't see many in-game adjustments.
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3. The only people saying it are the fans and the media. And if there were one, sometimes that's a good thing. A little push from Campbell could be just what Ramsey needs
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Who else ever says there's a QB controversey? normally not a coach, especially someone who handles things like Gibbs. He's too good of a guy to sell players like that out (unless they're last years WRs, in which case he burns them for the offenses mistakes.)
That said, I feel we'll have a better record this year than last, but I question if we actually have a more talented team this year.