KFFL Redskins Pre-season assessment.

[Daseal]

Washington RedskinsLast year's return of Joe Gibbs to the Washington Redskins did not go exactly as planned. Even with the addition of premiere RB Clinton Portis, the Redskins struggled through much of the 2004 season, winning just one game within their division before finishing with a disappointing 6-10 record. This year, the Redskins, as usual, have made a fair amount of noise during the offseason by reworking their WR corps and drafting QB Jason Campbell and CB Carlos Rogers.

Should the Redskins' struggles continue into 2005, some might start to doubt if Gibbs can return the team to its former glory.

Despite stating that QB Patrick Ramsey was their No. 1 QB for the coming season, the Redskins selected QB Jason Campbell in a somewhat surprising first round selection in the 2005 Draft. One has to wonder how long of a rope Ramsey has to get the team back on track. Ramsey will probably need time to get comfortable with his WRs since the team traded WR Laveranues Coles for New York Jets WR Santana Moss and brought in former New England Patriots WR David Patten in hopes of reviving a passing game that ranked in the bottom five in passing yards last season. Getting the passing game going will be key to the success of the team's running game. Though Portis was able to record 1,315 yards rushing last season, he posted a career low 3.8 yards per carry.

For the second straight season the Redskins lost a top level cornerback as they watched Fred Smoot depart for the Minnesota Vikings. The Redskins are looking to replace him with rookie CB Carlos Rogers, and Rogers is currently listed as the team's starting right cornerback. But Smoot was not the only key loss on defense as the New York Giants were able to pry away last year's leading tackler, the aforementioned LB Antonio Pierce. Furthermore, FS Sean Taylor, coming off a strong rookie season, is currently trying to resolve aggravated assault charges and has been trying to force the team to negotiate a new contract. In addition, LB LaVar Arrington is unhappy with the organization because he feels he was rushed back from his knee injury last season, resulting in extended time off.

If the offense doesn't click, and the key losses on the other side of the ball, the team may not be able to lean as heavily on their defense as they have in seasons past to bail them out.

[Sean"Big Hurt"Taylor]

I believe the moves that the redskins made this offseason have been surprising yet keys to the success of the team. we needed a new center, faster receivers and replacement for our starting cb. we really have fulfilled everything except the tightend and speed rusher off of the edge of our d-line. i stilll believe we will fill those needs before the preseason.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I don't like the addition of "trying to force the team to negotiate a new contract". Unless they mean get some of his money back by him going to jail.

I know it's journalism, but you have to operate on SOME facts or at least assumptions.

[mooby]

i don't know about that, but i don't think lavar's contract issues will cause him to miss any games or anything like that. i was happy just because snyder didn't open his wallet like in offseason's past.

[Red Robert]

It sure would be nice to hear more postive news, tough to be a loyal fan this off season.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Honestly, we are focusing more on the bad than the good. We've had plenty of good news too.

[dirtbag2112]

"Should the Redskins' struggles continue into 2005, some might start to doubt if Gibbs can return the team to its former glory."

Like that hasnt happened already?!?!

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I love how people expect immediate turnaround. I'll admit that when Gibbs took over I was "hoping" playoffs, but I knew deep down this team was kind of far gone.

[Daseal]

I also disagree with most of the assessment.

It sure would be nice to hear more postive news, tough to be a loyal fan this off season.

Being that KFFL is mainly a fantasy site, why would they try to sugar coat Redskins news. Besides their D, which did take key losses which they wanted to let people know, what Redskins player is going to definitely put up numbers for you? Maybe Cooley? I'd like to say Portis, and while he had decent yardage on his jillion touches, he didn't get what counts for fantasy, touchdowns. So basicly they're saying just like the past 10 years, be weary of drafting a skin.

Let's also remember fans have much more optomism about a team than an outsider looking at what we have and what we've done as an organization for years. The Patriots lost two coordinators, possible a MLB, some WR's, and a DE is holding out, yet I bet their assessment is far better just because of their track record.

[Monksdown]

Thats an opinion page article. And I never have liked other people's opinions very much. Particularly when they refuse to provide both sides of the argument.

My opinion carries as much weight as that girl. And I would like to share some of it now:

"KFFL's mom is a whore!"

[Daseal]

Monks - What is your argument, and how often do we not see the other side on this board. How many people on this site would admit Joe Gibbs has a chance of failing with his second tenure. The answer is not many, and though it may not be probable, it's certainly possible.

Now, before you try to attack me, I'm not saying I buy that; however we often decide to overlook the other side of our beloved team too.

[Monksdown]

Daseal- I wont attack you.

I always make sure to read what you write, because you ere on the side of caution. Or atleast you try to help us see from the outside looking in.

Somebody, somewhere, has taken the same information that we have, and has only seen bad things. We can be overly optimistic, yes. Can that reporter(?) be overly pessimistic, yes.

In another thread I was very critical of our interior line. I havent seen anything from Casey Rabach, and we have all seen alot less from Dockery. Last year was Rabach's first 16 start season. He is green.

My point is, in our continuing struggle to see both sides of any argument, I sometimes feel like we are letting the negative hype affect us too much. And on the opposite side, more often we let ourselves be overly optimistic. In either of these cases, I like to step out on the other side. If a thread starts:

"We should trust Joe Bugel. He is the best O-line coach ever!" You can damn well bet that I will argue against it if no one else will.

That's the point of all of this anyway isnt it. I enjoy the discussion.

Lots of love dude, REDSKINS FOR LIFE!

[Daseal]

I'd take Alex Gibbs over Joe Bugel, but that's for another thread all together. Either way we couldn't do worse than the O-line coach we had last year! Samuels said he tryed to change his blocking technique.

Monks - I also enjoy seeing all the points about the Redskins. I think part of it is I have a lot of contact with people that aren't Redskins fans through work, etc. I've also gone out of my way to find fans (some I had to use other teams forums) to talk to on a consistant basis about their view of the Redskins, and the inside info on their team. I've learned a lot from what others seem to think about the 'skins. Not a single non-skins fan has been nearly as optimistic about our season as you see here.

Though I think we could go to the playoffs this year with a slight tweak on the offense, I could also see us doing even worse (but I don't think it will happen.)
O line upgrade, D line slightly upgraded, LBs prolly a wash losing Pierce but gaining Arrington, secondary was a loss, WR a loss, TE same, RB same, QB we got better. It all depends on how things pan out.

What this team needs is a quiet off season. Just keep the team together, let the chemistry build. We need continuity. We need to keep a coach in here for a few years, and we need to build the team back up to what we all know it's capable of. From a talent standpoint we're rolling in it -- from a team-play standpoint.. well, our defense looks to have bought into a system that's team first. Hopefully the offense will follow suit.

[monk81]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Monks - I also enjoy seeing all the points about the Redskins. I think part of it is I have a lot of contact with people that aren't Redskins fans through work, etc. I've also gone out of my way to find fans (some I had to use other teams forums) to talk to on a consistant basis about their view of the Redskins, and the inside info on their team. I've learned a lot from what others seem to think about the 'skins. Not a single non-skins fan has been nearly as optimistic about our season as you see here.

What this team needs is a quiet off season. Just keep the team together, let the chemistry build. We need continuity. We need to keep a coach in here for a few years, and we need to build the team back up to what we all know it's capable of. From a talent standpoint we're rolling in it -- from a team-play standpoint.. well, our defense looks to have bought into a system that's team first. Hopefully the offense will follow suit.

Daesal..........

1. Perhaps we are overly optimistic because we've been waiting 14 long years.........and we think that the odds gotta change, and we hope beyond hope that this will be the year the Skins will FINALLY turn it around and have a successful season. If we become more realistic, then we become pessimistic about our team, then at some point you'd get so depressed that the fans probably wouldn't care anymore...The offseason is the time to be more optimistic, then when the regular season kicks in, THEN reality sets in and we can start to bitch.........

2. Please tell me these forums and people where you can get intelligent dialogue about the Skins and other NFL teams. Maybe because I'm here in Texas if you ask them about the Skins and start to talk players, strategies, matchups, competition, they either say, "all we have to do is win 2 games and beat the Redskins and we can consider it a successful season, that's "our" (Cowboy fans) Super Bowl.", or "Redskins Suck". Even Packer fans, Dolphin fans, Bear fans, Texan fans..........say "The Redskins are a team with a great history".....end of dialogue. I guess because these
non-Cowboy, non-Skins fans, have problems of their own.......If you think the Redskin fans are too optimistic, then I invite you to the Cowboy forums or spend a couple of days in Texas......it's down right nauseating.

3. I agree with your last paragraph wholeheartedly.......

PEACE............

[portistothehouse]

Well i think if gibbs can get the running back going, with portis , betts and nemo . and ramsey or who ever is playing qb, can pass for 245 a game ,cut down on int and turnover. I think the redskins can go 9-7 maybe get into the playoffs