NFC East Champ?

[Hog1]

Consider the state of coaching in the East. Dallas-no coach (maybe JJ). NYG-coach they don't like, and in turmoil. The division is up for grabs again this year. It might actually be a better oppurtunity for the Skins than 2006. They should be able to get stoked up about it, and get this ship righted. We'll see

Your thoughts?

[FRPLG]

Well we have free angency and the draft before we'll know what the teams actually look like in terms of talent. Until then I don't see one team as so much better or worse than another that it is worth talking about until we know more. Focus on us and making us better.

[Hog1]

My only point is the State of the Union around us. By appearances, another oppurtunity may be at hand

[Schneed10]

Are we not addressing the Eagles here? They looked good this season. They've got to be the clear favorites in 2007.

Of course we have an opportunity. We have an opportunity every year. But we're definitely not the favorite. We have a lot of work to do.

[12thMan]

I would have to say the Eaglesa would have to be the favorite going into next season.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Hog1

Consider the state of coaching in the East. Dallas-no coach (maybe JJ). NYG-coach they don't like, and in turmoil. The division is up for grabs again this year. It might actually be a better oppurtunity for the Skins than 2006. They should be able to get stoked up about it, and get this ship righted. We'll see

Your thoughts?

Well, quite clearly from my perspective, the favorite has to be Philadelphia.

Ranking the teams: Eagles, Redskins, Cowboys, Giants

We certainly have the talent to be a playoff team. However, Philly has a better team. But football is in many ways a game of chance and if we put together a pair of wins vs. the Eagles, we can take this division.

Theres not much to like about the NFC next year, so why not us?

[redsk1]

I think we stand a good chance, but right now we are going to be projected to finish last in the NFC east next year. We are a bad team until we prove otherwise. Yea, i know, we've got some talent, etc. We always do.

In 2006, if you we were average we could have beaten out the majority of the other teams. Look at Chicago. They are slightly above average and their in the SB. If they win, they'll be the worst SB champions ever (or close).

The Eagles will be the favorite, rightfully so.

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by Hog1

Consider the state of coaching in the East. Dallas-no coach (maybe JJ). NYG-coach they don't like, and in turmoil. The division is up for grabs again this year. It might actually be a better oppurtunity for the Skins than 2006. They should be able to get stoked up about it, and get this ship righted. We'll see

Your thoughts?

It's a sad day when everyone else in the East has to suck before we can feel some hope.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

It's really early, but my money is on Philly to win the title. But, here are some reasons why the Skins are a legitimate contender:

1). For the first time, Jason Campbell will be working in the same system for two consecutive years.

2). Jason Campbell will have all offseason to work with receivers.

3). Jason Campbell looked very promising in his last few starts.

4). We really established the run in the latter half of the season and Gibbs has repeatedly said that, henceforth, this team will be and will remain a run-first offense. In short, after fumbling and bumbling around for the first 9 games last season, we have re-established our identity on offense.

5). Todd Collins and others suggested that it would take a full year to understand Saunders' offense, but once it was understood, the offense would produce in a big way. History bears out the truth of that assessment and, as we all know, history tends to repeat itself.

6). After perhaps being overconfident last off-season, our team is hungry and feels like it has something to prove.

7). Between Betts and Portis, we have two proven runners going against some NFC East teams that, IMHO, can be run on.

8). There is no way in hell our defense can get any worse. Williams has fielded bad defenses before, but what makes him a great coach is that he adjusts his defense to ensure that he does not field poor defenses in back-to-back seasons.

9). I guarantee you we will be better at kicker next season. I think a lot of people underestimate the value of a good kicker, but Gibbs certainly does not and there are several free agent kickers that should be available this offseason (e.g., Josh Brown).

10). With a little luck, we will not have as many key injuries as we did last season. Not only was Portis injured and eventually placed on IR, but our defense lost key contributors and we didn't have the depth to overcome that. Griffin, Salave'a, and Daniels battled injuries all season long. Our secondary was without it's most important contributor. Marshall was hurt all season long. And yes, every team must cope with injuries. But, our defense was absolutely ravaged by the injury-bug.

[saden1]

Until Skins prove they can play offense and defense my money is on Philly...specially if McNabb is healthy.

[JGisLordOfTheRings]

Originally Posted by saden1

Until Skins prove they can play offense and defense my money is on Philly...specially if McNabb is healthy.

*GASP* BLASPHEMY! haha lol....no really though. The NFC East is a mess, to say the least. The cowboys have no coach, or possibly no winning direction to go in anymore. Tiki's gone. Yee-Haw. Let me reiterate....

YEE HAW


Ya feel me?

The Eagles dont have McNuts but, they have GOOD depth at other key postions which is the reason they made the playoffs without him.

We are in the best postion possible at this point. The East in disarray(sp), we just went through a so-called "Rebuilding" year and it seems that a Qb change has seemed to gel team players to JC. If we cant fix WTF is wrong with our D this offseason and don't take advantage of the NFC Championship thats basically been friggin' handed to us, then I dont what what to do.

Next year looks very promising.

VERY promising.

HTTR!

[ncskinsfanec]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

It's really early, but my money is on Philly to win the title. But, here are some reasons why the Skins are a legitimate contender:

1). For the first time, Jason Campbell will be working in the same system for two consecutive years.

2). Jason Campbell will have all offseason to work with receivers.

3). Jason Campbell looked very promising in his last few starts.

4). We really established the run in the latter half of the season and Gibbs has repeatedly said that, henceforth, this team will be and will remain a run-first offense. In short, after fumbling and bumbling around for the first 9 games last season, we have re-established our identity on offense.

5). Todd Collins and others suggested that it would take a full year to understand Saunders' offense, but once it was understood, the offense would produce in a big way. History bears out the truth of that assessment and, as we all know, history tends to repeat itself.

6). After perhaps being overconfident last off-season, our team is hungry and feels like it has something to prove.

7). Between Betts and Portis, we have two proven runners going against some NFC East teams that, IMHO, can be run on.

8). There is no way in hell our defense can get any worse. Williams has fielded bad defenses before, but what makes him a great coach is that he adjusts his defense to ensure that he does not field poor defenses in back-to-back seasons.

9). I guarantee you we will be better at kicker next season. I think a lot of people underestimate the value of a good kicker, but Gibbs certainly does not and there are several free agent kickers that should be available this offseason (e.g., Josh Brown).

10). With a little luck, we will not have as many key injuries as we did last season. Not only was Portis injured and eventually placed on IR, but our defense lost key contributors and we didn't have the depth to overcome that. Griffin, Salave'a, and Daniels battled injuries all season long. Our secondary was without it's most important contributor. Marshall was hurt all season long. And yes, every team must cope with injuries. But, our defense was absolutely ravaged by the injury-bug.

Don't you think we're in an eerily similiar situation to that of the 2004 season? I think the team and the coaches will be very motivated to prove that they're much better than what they showed this past season just like they were after that season. There are also some promising things to build on next season just like after that season. I will be very suprised if the Skins don't make a playoff run next season and maybe even an NFC East title run.

[ncskinsfanec]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

It's a sad day when everyone else in the East has to suck before we can feel some hope.

You have to take advantage of the situation, don't you?

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by ncskinsfanec

Don't you think we're in an eerily similiar situation to that of the 2004 season? I think the team and the coaches will be very motivated to prove that they're much better than what they showed this past season just like they were after that season. There are also some promising things to build on next season just like after that season. I will be very suprised if the Skins don't make a playoff run next season and maybe even an NFC East title run.

The difference with 2004 is that in 04, our team was held back by our offense, more specifically our lineplay and QB play (Brunell was far worse than Ramsey in 04, but Ramsey was no god himself). Coaches can do things to fix offenses with scheming and playcalling. Defense cannot be fixed with scheming or playcalling...either the guys we have must start playing better or they will need to be replaced.

I can't see this 2007 team being as good as the 2005 team. But they still could finish 10-6 or better, as that 05 team caught a series of tough breaks during that 3 game stretch in Tampa, and then home against the Raiders and Chargers. Plus that schedule was really difficult that year for a 4th place schedule. It will almost certainly be softer this year.

With a few breaks, we certainly could top Philly in the division. But the safe money for this division--given even odds--is the Eagles.

And it kills me to say that, because that team got lucky for years.

[davy]

Right now only a blind optimist would predict anything other than a last place finish in the division next year.