Different Season, Same Trap

[The Goat]

^^^Nice work!

[Swarley]

I believe many people are forgetting what good coaching and a good team environment can really do to a team. You can use all the stats in the world but you cant predict what changes in a team and players. My gut tells me we'll be at least 5 games better than last season, because I truly believe this team was horribly coached. Shit most experts thought the Bengals would barely win 4 games last season, and many more thought we would win more than 4.

[Beneil (diehard since 87)]

You know... this research actually tips me toward the McNabb side of the fence! i mean, think of it. The first time around, Joe Gibbs had us dominate teams! I remember games won in a fashion where in the 4th quarter, i felt "Ha ha! We got this!" quite a few times. Ever since, especialy AFTER Norv Turner, I feel like the other team is gonna come back even when we are up by... no ESPECIALY when we're up by 2 scores in the 4th quarter. I want us to sail away with the lead. I want us to be 3 scores up and running! I HATE the fact that we so often SIT on a lead and let the other team feel they are still in it to win!

With McNabb, people will truely 'FEAR' our offense!?!!! We'll have a chance of being a 'high scoring offense' again! You know what... i think i'm coming around. I think McNabb can add at LEAST ten points to our offense per game... i think that's more than enough.

[44ever]

Originally Posted by Beneil (diehard since 87)

You know... this research actually tips me toward the McNabb side of the fence! i mean, think of it. The first time around, Joe Gibbs had us dominate teams! I remember games won in a fashion where in the 4th quarter, i felt "Ha ha! We got this!" quite a few times. Ever since, especialy AFTER Norv Turner, I feel like the other team is gonna come back even when we are up by... no ESPECIALY when we're up by 2 scores in the 4th quarter. I want us to sail away with the lead. I want us to be 3 scores up and running! I HATE the fact that we so often SIT on a lead and let the other team feel they are still in it to win!

With McNabb, people will truely 'FEAR' our offense!?!!! We'll have a chance of being a 'high scoring offense' again! You know what... i think i'm coming around. I think McNabb can add at LEAST ten points to our offense per game... i think that's more than enough.

Now you're getting the idea Brother!!!

[Hog1]

AHA!!!! You have been..........caught in the trap.......

[SirClintonPortis]

Shanahan is from the Walsh coaching tree. If there's anything difficult about learning a new playbook, it's the "language" part of it. It's highly doubtful Shanahan simply rejected the general "language" scheme of the Walsh O, such as colors defining a formation. Really, they could be considered "dialects" like British English and American English are.

There is at least one news report where it can be safe to infer that he is well ahead of the curve if Kelly or Cooley was the one who said it was like he has been here for the last couple of years.

[Skinny Tee]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

Shanahan is from the Walsh coaching tree. If there's anything difficult about learning a new playbook, it's the "language" part of it. It's highly doubtful Shanahan simply rejected the general "language" scheme of the Walsh O, such as colors defining a formation. Really, they could be considered "dialects" like British English and American English are.

There is at least one news report where it can be safe to infer that he is well ahead of the curve if Kelly or Cooley was the one who said it was like he has been here for the last couple of years.

Well let's hope when he's on the field he'll know the "dialect" for "Duck!", "Look out!", and "How many fingers am I holding up?".

...You can't tell me that we're going to have a parallel scheme to what Reid is running with the eagles, especially with the reliance on Westbrook & the pass receiving RB's through much of the latter years. This guy is going to have to through a learning curve whether it be personnel, scheme or both.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by Skinny Tee

Well let's hope when he's on the field he'll know the "dialect" for "Duck!", "Look out!", and "How many fingers am I holding up?".

...You can't tell me that we're going to have a parallel scheme to what Reid is running with the eagles, especially with the reliance on Westbrook & the pass receiving RB's through much of the latter years. This guy is going to have to through a learning curve whether it be personnel, scheme or both.

Favre certainly had trouble jumping from Sherman's WCO variant to Childress's Philly-based WCO, oh wait, he skipped training camp and STILL put up a monster season....
Then you also wonder how was Jeff Garcia even considered by all those other WCO teams after he left San Francisco. They playbook is simply too foreign and they never would sign him. O wait....

And if the dialect analogy is not satisfactory, perhaps an analogy of first learning Latin accelerating one's ability to learn Italian or any other Romance language is more suitable for your tastes.
What you're saying is more like McNabb is learning Latin and then learning something completely unrelated like Chinese or ancient Egyptian. Something utterly farfetched and ridiculous.

[Skinny Tee]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

Favre certainly had trouble jumping from Sherman's WCO variant to Childress's Philly-based WCO, oh wait, he skipped training camp and STILL put up a monster season....
Then you also wonder how was Jeff Garcia even considered by all those other WCO teams after he left San Francisco. They playbook is simply too foreign and they never would sign him. O wait....

And if the dialect analogy is not satisfactory, perhaps an analogy of first learning Latin accelerating one's ability to learn Italian or any other Romance language is more suitable for your tastes.
What you're saying is more like McNabb is learning Latin and then learning something completely unrelated like Chinese or ancient Egyptian. Something utterly farfetched and ridiculous.

What I am more speaking about is fundamentals in scheme and not language of the WCO. The eagles offense relied heavily on short passes to a shifty RB coming out of the backfield. What he won't have here is the same offensive objectives of the short passes to pass catching RB's.

Brian Westbrook's Receptions vs. Clinton Portis's Receptions

2004 - 73 --------------------------> 2004 - 40
2005 - 61 --------------------------> 2005 - 30
2006 - 77 --------------------------> 2006 - 17* (8 games)
2007 - 90 --------------------------> 2007 - 47
2008 - 54 --------------------------> 2008 - 28

Shanahan's RB Receptions

2004 - Droughns & Griffin ----> 42
2005 - Bell & Anderson ------> 36
2006 - T. Bell & M. Bell ------> 44
2007 - Young & Sapp(FB) ---> 49
2008 - Hillis & Bell & Pittman -> 34


Doesn't matter what language you use, McNabb is adapting to a different focus in Shanahan's system. He's a veteran who will be equipped to do so, that's why Shanny wants him, but nevertheless he'll be dealing with a learning curve come time for training camp.

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by Skinny Tee

What I am more speaking about is fundamentals in scheme and not language of the WCO. The eagles offense relied heavily on short passes to a shifty RB coming out of the backfield. What he won't have here is the same offensive objectives of the short passes to pass catching RB's.

Brian Westbrook's Receptions vs. Clinton Portis's Receptions

2004 - 73 --------------------------> 2004 - 40
2005 - 61 --------------------------> 2005 - 30
2006 - 77 --------------------------> 2006 - 17* (8 games)
2007 - 90 --------------------------> 2007 - 47
2008 - 54 --------------------------> 2008 - 28

Shanahan's RB Receptions

2004 - Droughns & Griffin ----> 42
2005 - Bell & Anderson ------> 36
2006 - T. Bell & M. Bell ------> 44
2007 - Young & Sapp(FB) ---> 49
2008 - Hillis & Bell & Pittman -> 34


Doesn't matter what language you use, McNabb is adapting to a different focus in Shanahan's system. He's a veteran who will be equipped to do so, that's why Shanny wants him, but nevertheless he'll be dealing with a learning curve come time for training camp.

Often in Phillies offense the wanted to get the recievers vertical to utilize DM's arm. In many cases that took all but the backs out of the play resulting in them getting more balls than most. At the same time it substituted for the running game. The WCO is the WCO is the WCO. It is the same thing it will just be used a little differently.

[djnemo65]

Am I missing all these bullish prediction threads? Sounds like most fans are calling between 7 and 9 wins, which sounds pretty reasonable to me.

Although I do bristle at Saden and Sandtrap's mention of the Redskins' past blunders in this context, as if the poor personal decisions of past regimes has anything to do with the direction being taken by an entirely new management team. What, should Shanahan never sign any veterans just because we overpaid Deion Sanders 10 years ago? Boswell's most recent article does a pretty bang up job anticipating and eviscerating Saden's implied argument: that the signing of McNabb constitutes another instance of "overpaying for veterans in their twilight years," when in fact NFL history suggests it should be viewed very differently.

[CRedskinsRule]

I think it is completely realistic to think that Shanahan (Kyle since he will be calling plays) will be able to quickly get on the same page with McNabb. Both Kyle and Donovan are going to work with each other, and with Mike to find a comfort zone of play calling. As for the line, McNabbs lines have had issues year in and year out, not to the extent of our 2009, but again, I think we can confidently expect that our line will be upgraded from last year. No coach of Mike Shanahan's stature is going to let that same type of line play repeat itself.
In the end, we will be more competitive in games, but we certainly don't know how that will show itself in terms of win/loss count yet.

[Mechanix544]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

I think it is completely realistic to think that Shanahan (Kyle since he will be calling plays) will be able to quickly get on the same page with McNabb. Both Kyle and Donovan are going to work with each other, and with Mike to find a comfort zone of play calling. As for the line, McNabbs lines have had issues year in and year out, not to the extent of our 2009, but again, I think we can confidently expect that our line will be upgraded from last year. No coach of Mike Shanahan's stature is going to let that same type of line play repeat itself.
In the end, we will be more competitive in games, but we certainly don't know how that will show itself in terms of win/loss count yet.

very nice post. agreed.

[jdc65]

I think Heyer will have a decent year. Coach must have seen something in him to merit a 2nd rd tender. Last year was such an abomination that we saw the worst in Heyer. Hopefully he has some ability and can be productive, even as a dependable back-up.

[BaltimoreSkins]

I have to admit I have questioned these offseason moves, but then I'm not an NFL coach. I would be impressed if we get more than 7 wins.