The Tempered Expectations Thread

[mooby]

Originally Posted by GMScud

So I've done some reading, some thinking, and some presser watching today. We've known Shanahan was going to be named coach for a while. After reading hundreds of posts on here today, there is plenty of elation. Everyone is stoked. Plenty of "FINALLY!" type statements.

Don't get me wrong, I think Shanahan/Allen is a positive move for sure. But I'm skeptical nonetheless. I've gotten too excited by this franchise before. "Oh wow, we signed HIM?? Oh wow, HE'S gonna be our coach?? Man I can't wait till training camp!!" Sound familiar? We've all been down this road too many times in the past 10+ years.

Marty Schottenheimer? Oh man, he's going to have complete control. He'll turn this thing around... Steve Spurrier? What an innovator he is. He'll surely revolutionize our passing game... Joe Gibbs? My gosh, the Lord of the Rings will without question boost us back up to the NFL's elite...

Yeah, not so much. I'm happy Mike Shanahan is our head coach. I'm also happy that Bruce Allen is running the show. If he is in fact running the show. I love the Washington Redskins. But at this point, I'll believe it when I see it. Hail.

A few good reads:

washingtonpost.com
washingtonpost.com
washingtonpost.com

I feel like I'm completely in the same boat. Usually when we get our new head coach it's like, oh boy this time it should work, I can't see anything I don't like so far.

But this time it's just like, I don't know what to expect, I've been too excited before, and this latest season convinced me we have much deeper problems than just a couple injuries or missing players. Like, our franchise will never be successful unless something drastically changes, not just the coach/Vinny getting fired.

I mean I could list all the feelings I've felt throughout the years whenever we started over with a new coach. It's like:

Zorn - Well Gibbs left the roster in pretty good shape and if Snyder and Cerrato really think this guy is not just good enough to be a OC but a head coach as well then the odds are pretty decent that this works out. Besides I've grown to like the idea of hiring unproven talent and finding that next gem in the coaching ranks.

Gibbs - Well if anybody can fix what Spurrier did it will be Gibbs. How can you question this? Man won 3 SB's for us and we were hella good back in his day. Even at his worst he'll upgrade the team seriously from Spurrier's days

Spurrier - well he was a great college coach and I like the idea of the fun'n'gun, a great aerial attack is something I'd love to see. Good idea by Snyder and co.

Shotty - Well he's proven so that's a good thing. Also I don't know much about football seeing as how I was 13ish at the time and was still feeling my way around it.

Turner - too young to really understand. At that age I was like, oh we try and score, and the defense tries to stop the other team from scoring. Shouldn't be too hard. All the head coach has to do is make sure everything's copacetic (sp?).

So long story short I'm not even cautiously optimistic. I'm still in wait and see mode, aka talk is cheap these days and the actions of this franchise will prove over time if a serious change has been made from the days of old.