Sporting News Football '08: Redskins (Magazine)

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by Daseal

I feel like it was a solid assessment. The skins have a lot of question marks going into the season, the basement of the NFC east isn't an outrageous prediction. I could see us going anywhere from 2nd to 4th in the division. Either way, I don't think I see playoffs happening at this point. Who knows, maybe the team plays amazing and with a (gasp) aggressive offense we're able to really put things together, but in June I don't see it.

As a team that lost four heartbreakers in a row only to rebound and make the playoffs, other than head coach what question marks do we have? I see no reason our offense won't be vastly improved (young QB continuing to grow, offensive line that can't possibly more injured than last season, significant upgrades at the skill positions, and, let's face it, a more modern NFL offensive philosophy). While we do have some threatening injuries on defense, I think it's reasonable to expect a level of performance at least close to last year's. If anything we under achieved this previous season. What do you see that I don't that makes a 4-12 prediction seem anything other than outrageous?

If Zorn turns out to be a hack than yeah, maybe we'll be bad, but I am at least willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

As a team that lost four heartbreakers in a row only to rebound and make the playoffs, other than head coach what question marks do we have? I see no reason our offense won't be vastly improved (young QB continuing to grow, offensive line that can't possibly more injured than last season, significant upgrades at the skill positions, and, let's face it, a more modern NFL offensive philosophy). While we do have some threatening injuries on defense, I think it's reasonable to expect a level of performance at least close to last year's. If anything we under achieved this previous season. What do you see that I don't that makes a 4-12 prediction seem anything other than outrageous?

If Zorn turns out to be a hack than yeah, maybe we'll be bad, but I am at least willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Other than Zorn? Nothing.

But it's all about Zorn. Here's the thing, I'm a Redskin fan and traditionalist. To me, Joe Gibbs is one of the greatest coaches of all time. How do you go from him to Jim Zorn, with basically the same player personnel, without taking a step back?

If Zorn puts up a better record than Gibbs, which I admit is possible, it will pretty much turn everything I know about coaching upside down.

But if I'm a betting man, I'm with Daseal. No playoffs for us this year. I won't go so far as 4-12; but if we make 8-8 in this division with a new coach, you'd have to be pleased with Zorn's first season.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Other than Zorn? Nothing.

But it's all about Zorn. Here's the thing, I'm a Redskin fan and traditionalist. To me, Joe Gibbs is one of the greatest coaches of all time. How do you go from him to Jim Zorn, with basically the same player personnel, without taking a step back?

If Zorn puts up a better record than Gibbs, which I admit is possible, it will pretty much turn everything I know about coaching upside down.

But if I'm a betting man, I'm with Daseal. No playoffs for us this year. I won't go so far as 4-12; but if we make 8-8 in this division with a new coach, you'd have to be pleased with Zorn's first season.

Without rehashing for the umpteenth time the Gibbs/conservative playcalling issue, he/Al didn't get the most from our talent last year. There were flickers, but the burner never was turned past medium.

Here's where I think our offense will be much improved this year. To a man, we've heard the playmakers rave about what they've seen from Zorn's offense thus far. The common themes have been aggression, putting players in positions to make plays, playing to the offensive players strengths.

Maybe I am looking thru maroon and black colored glasses, but I think we're going to see an offense unlike what we've seen in DC in YEARS. I think JC is going to have a big year & Portis having a career year. I don't expect to see a breakout WR but more balanced numbers and consistency across the board. We're not going to be a remake of the '99 Rams or anything, but if we don't consistently put up 24-28 points, I will be surprised.

As someone else said, I have some questions on defense. While I didn't share the same man love most had for Grilliams, I don't know if Blache is the answer either. Again I'll refer to the players comments this offseason about how the schemes are much simpler (which also means they are simpler to scout against, but that's a different thread) and 'let guys make plays'.

If nothing else, at the end of the year we should know what kind of players we have. Are we talented enough to compete at the upper crust of the NFL as our FO seems to think or are we a collection of names who've had occassional moderate success and cashed in?

[Miller101]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Other than Zorn? Nothing.

But it's all about Zorn. Here's the thing, I'm a Redskin fan and traditionalist. To me, Joe Gibbs is one of the greatest coaches of all time. How do you go from him to Jim Zorn, with basically the same player personnel, without taking a step back?

If Zorn puts up a better record than Gibbs, which I admit is possible, it will pretty much turn everything I know about coaching upside down.
But if I'm a betting man, I'm with Daseal. No playoffs for us this year. I won't go so far as 4-12; but if we make 8-8 in this division with a new coach, you'd have to be pleased with Zorn's first season.

Dude, don't forget that Gibbs had a SHIT load of injuries to deal with his last two season here. Last year we finished 9-7 with ALL of our starting recievers going down (we started James Thrash and Keenan McCardell for at least one game), two or three lineman go down, our quarterback, our starting corner, our starting outside linebacker..............Cooley, our only reciever that didn't get hurt had to stay in and help block until our coaches found Alexander (talk about being desperate). And lets not forget about Sean Taylor......................after all that we still made the play offs last year. We made it because of Gibbs. If Zorn goes through all that then I wouldn't be surprised if we go 4-12. But, if Zorn has a healthy team (he better, I'm getting tired of all these injuries) We'll finish first. It won't be so much about turning coaching upside down. It will be more about this team FINALLY playing to its full potential.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Other than Zorn? Nothing.

But it's all about Zorn. Here's the thing, I'm a Redskin fan and traditionalist. To me, Joe Gibbs is one of the greatest coaches of all time. How do you go from him to Jim Zorn, with basically the same player personnel, without taking a step back?

If Zorn puts up a better record than Gibbs, which I admit is possible, it will pretty much turn everything I know about coaching upside down.

But if I'm a betting man, I'm with Daseal. No playoffs for us this year. I won't go so far as 4-12; but if we make 8-8 in this division with a new coach, you'd have to be pleased with Zorn's first season.

I don't have the stats to back this up, but I'm more concerned with year two of the Zorn era (should there be a year two of course). I see guys like Mangini and Payton come guns a blazing there first year, but then experience a bit of a sophomore slump.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

As a team that lost four heartbreakers in a row only to rebound and make the playoffs, other than head coach what question marks do we have? I see no reason our offense won't be vastly improved (young QB continuing to grow, offensive line that can't possibly more injured than last season, significant upgrades at the skill positions, and, let's face it, a more modern NFL offensive philosophy). While we do have some threatening injuries on defense, I think it's reasonable to expect a level of performance at least close to last year's. If anything we under achieved this previous season. What do you see that I don't that makes a 4-12 prediction seem anything other than outrageous?

If Zorn turns out to be a hack than yeah, maybe we'll be bad, but I am at least willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Where are the "significant upgrades at the skill positions" ?? Do you mean the draft picks? Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas? If they collectively amass 50 receptions this year, we should feel lucky.

The offensive line couldn't be more injured than they were last year? I hope you knocked on wood when you typed that.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

As a team that lost four heartbreakers in a row only to rebound and make the playoffs, other than head coach what question marks do we have? I see no reason our offense won't be vastly improved (young QB continuing to grow, offensive line that can't possibly more injured than last season, significant upgrades at the skill positions, and, let's face it, a more modern NFL offensive philosophy). While we do have some threatening injuries on defense, I think it's reasonable to expect a level of performance at least close to last year's. If anything we under achieved this previous season. What do you see that I don't that makes a 4-12 prediction seem anything other than outrageous?

If Zorn turns out to be a hack than yeah, maybe we'll be bad, but I am at least willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Yea, but the QB that got things heading in the right direction will not be starting on Sundays. I think this is JC years to show he belongs in the NFL.