Something to Prove!

[skinsguy]

I have a better feeling about this year as well. I do think, however, that it will be important for us to have a good showing in preseason this year.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

I have a better feeling about this year as well. I do think, however, that it will be important for us to have a good showing in preseason this year.

But how do you guage a good pre-season? Historically speaking, Gibbs' teams usually don't fair too well during pre-season. It's important to stay healthy and see some degree of timing between JC and his recievers, but I wouldn't look for too much more than that.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

But how do you guage a good pre-season? Historically speaking, Gibbs' teams usually don't fair too well during pre-season. It's important to stay healthy and see some degree of timing between JC and his recievers, but I wouldn't look for too much more than that.

True, but I think this year's preseason is different. For one thing, we had such a bad year last year - Gibbs' worst season as head coach. I think it's important for the team to start out on a positive note as soon as they can.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

True, but I think this year's preseason is different. For one thing, we had such a bad year last year - Gibbs' worst season as head coach. I think it's important for the team to start out on a positive note as soon as they can.

I agree there, but just as a word of caution, if go something like 1-3, don't read too, too much into that. I think it's how we win or lose games that's going to tell us a lot about this team.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I agree there, but just as a word of caution, if go something like 1-3, don't read too, too much into that. I think it's how we win or lose games that's going to tell us a lot about this team.

I think it's how well our first team and second team guys are playing in these games. I mean, if we lose the games because of the rookies or third string guys who probably won't make the team, then I'm fine with that...but I definitely feel for the short time that our starters and second team people are playing, that they need to have a good showing.

[12thMan]

I think the one thing that Gibbs and Co. will take away from last season, is that you have let these guys just go out play football.

[RMSkins]

I would add 49ers coach Mike Nolan. Nolan is going to have to live up to the enormous hype the 49ers are getting this year, and personally I have no clue what these people see in the 49ers team. To me they are a 7-9 team at best.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by RMSkins

I would add 49ers coach Mike Nolan. Nolan is going to have to live up to the enormous hype the 49ers are getting this year, and personally I have no clue what these people see in the 49ers team. To me they are a 7-9 team at best.

Well they came on late in the season last year and finished strong, they had a few Pro-Bowlers on the squad and their still a young team. Alex Smith may be finally coming around too. Add that along with all the upgrades during the off season, and conventional wisdom makes them this years Arizona Cardinals.

[GusFrerotte]

I am not tripping out at all. I decided to get off the bandwagon after last season after Gibbs decided for the second time in 3 seasons to ride out Brunell and effectively waste another season. IF Gibbs put in Ramsey or Campbell in say 4-6 weeks earlier after Brunells unbelievable ineffectiveness in both 2004 and last season we would have had a bona fide shot at the playoffs. How can one get jacked up, when the franchise itself seems to be on self destruct so often? This season is going to be different. This season it is going to be "show me the money" before I get geeked up about it.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

I am not tripping out at all. I decided to get off the bandwagon after last season after Gibbs decided for the second time in 3 seasons to ride out Brunell and effectively waste another season. IF Gibbs put in Ramsey or Campbell in say 4-6 weeks earlier after Brunells unbelievable ineffectiveness in both 2004 and last season we would have had a bona fide shot at the playoffs. How can one get jacked up, when the franchise itself seems to be on self destruct so often? This season is going to be different. This season it is going to be "show me the money" before I get geeked up about it.

I think it's remarkably naive for anyone to automatically think that Jason Campbell would have led the team to the playoffs if only he had started several weeks earlier.

Doesn't anyone consider even the remote possibility that maybe, just maybe, the coaches were monitoring his practice every day of every week and actually doing him a favor by not throwing him into the fire before he was ready. Especially with the rest of the team learning Saunders' offense as well.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think it's remarkably naive for anyone to automatically think that Jason Campbell would have led the team to the playoffs if only he had started several weeks earlier.

Doesn't anyone consider even the remote possibility that maybe, just maybe, the coaches were monitoring his practice every day of every week and actually doing him a favor by not throwing him into the fire before he was ready. Especially with the rest of the team learning Saunders' offense as well.

I wouldn't think coaches would actually monitor their players progress in practice. Come on SS, what are you thinking? j/k

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

IF Gibbs put in Ramsey or Campbell in say 4-6 weeks earlier after Brunells unbelievable ineffectiveness in both 2004 and last season we would have had a bona fide shot at the playoffs.

I understand the whole wonderful "spark" theory, but to this statement, I have this to say:

No.

No we would not have. That is incorrect.

Hope I wasn't too wordy there.

[backrow]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Yes, let's continue with the theme of fives. Here's my short list of 5 coaches who, aren't neccessarily on the hot seat, but they have something to prove this year.

Jon Gruden. Training camp couldn't have started soon enough for Gruden; He's been chomping at the bit and drawing new diagrams since January. Gruden was once considered one of the darling coaches of the NFL, but has seen his teams decline since becoming the youngest coach to win the Super Bowl. I don't care who's in the starting line-up for Tampa Bay this year, you'll see a different team. Gruden is itching to return to his winning ways, and look for that intensity to tranfer to the field.

Marvin Lewis. Still considered one of the brightest defensive minds in the game, when he arrived in Cincy, Lewis thought he was signing up for the NFL not JV football. Lewis is now faced with the task of taking a talented team and keeping them focused on football, and more importantly winning. If anyone can do it, Marvin Lewis can. Look for Lewis to have the Bengals in the thick of things this year.

Joe Gibbs. The pundits are already chomping at the bit with their annual "Gibbs has lost it" rhetoric. If the Redskins can keep their budding star quarterback, Jason Campbell, healthy this could very well be the year Joe Gibbs blows the whole thing open in Washington. Coach Gibbs adheres to a quiet intensity, and his players will be focused and ready to compete for the 2007 campaign. Joe Gibbs has a special attachment to the city of Washington, D.C. and more than anything, he wants to bring the Vince Lombardi trophy back to what Gibbs calls,"The greates fans anywhere."

Bill Belichik. If anyone thinks Belichik isn't pissed about not going all the way last year, think again. The bar is high in New England, and with all the off-season additions, Belichik will expect even more from the Pats in '07. Another Super Bowl run by Belichik could cement his legacy as the greatest coach of all time. Don't think for a minute that it's not in the back of his mind either.

Norv Turner. Norv Turner is an average NFL coach.

There now, quote corrected. I'd delete Norval, and insert Reid. At least he's been to the dance and lost, as has Lovie Smith.