The Tempered Expectations Thread

[skinsguy]

I go back to when Marty Schottenheimer was hired. Yes, he started the season 0-5, but he turned the season around and got the Redskins playing disciplined, hard nosed football. The team finished 8-8. It wasn't THAT talented of a group either. Imagine what Schottenheimer could have done if allowed the time to stay and build the team. So, the BIGGEST mistake of Snyder's tenure here was firing Schotty before he even got started. This coaching carousel probably wouldn't have happened if he would have allowed Marty another season to build the team.

This is sort of a similar situation in that Shanahan is going to have final say with talent, much like Marty did. Like Matty said, this just seems much different on the surface than the other hires, including Joe Gibbs. I definitely expect an immediate improvement with this team come 2010. Like what Schneed said, I don't expect the Redskins to be completely built into a championship team come next season, but I do expect the team to be improved enough that playoffs (lol why do I hear Jim Mora's voice in my head) wouldn't be out of the question. I too think a 9-7 record is possible, which I would take in his first year over a 4-12 record any day of the week!

[RiggoDrill]

I am not going to get too excited over the beginning of the Shanahan era just yet, like many of you, I will wait to see the product on the field. However, I think it is entirely reasonable to expect Shanahan to work this team into a wild card berth next year.
The Super Bowl (or even contending for one) is several years (and several players) away from becoming a reality, but perrenial contention for the NFC East should be an immediate reality.