Offseason Power Rankings - # 29

[RedskinsJunkie]

We are a hell of a lot better than 29. HAving the coach we have gets us more than that. A number 3 D last year gets us more than that. The difference between us last year and the Bears of a couple of years ago was the tight games... Winning the tight ones. The bears had everything go right for them... We had everything in the tight ones go wrong. I have to believe that we are going to be more soldi this year than last, Gibbs has a better understanding of the new game, and our continuity in the staff and players will get us better than 29. I think we will be in the top 18 this year and if our O can rank in the top 18 in the league we have a shot to be in the top 10. Our D will be that good again this year...

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I think we'll have a domino effect of creamy goodness.

Improved Gibbs understanding of the game leads to;
improved ideas of what can get a better offense which leads to;
signing Rabach and Jansen coming back which leads to;
Portis getting more room to room which leads to;
Ramsey getting more time to throw which leads to;
Moss/Jacobs/Patten getting more YAC which leads to;
teams not having any idea what we are going to run which leads to;
Gibbs having improved understanding of the game which leads to;

Playoff contention.

[Daseal]

signing Rabach and Jansen coming back which leads to;
Portis getting more room to room which leads to;

I don't see how these two go together. Portis's main problem was the other team would stack the box, especially since we only had two receivers they could load it up. Having two (though be it great upgrades) still doesn't nullify the fact that until we establish an intermediate passing game (hint - 1-3 long balls a game isn't a passing game) to make them respect the pass, and maybe some spread offenses, I don't see Portis averaging as many yards.

The problem is everyone knows 85% of the time it's Portis, and since our receivers and QB don't exactly get a lot of gametime practice, and our receivers aren't exactly looking to be the next fun bunch, I feel for Portis to improve -- our passing game MUST improve first.

[kingerock]

i personally would like them to rank us 32, or better yet, add the NFL Europe teams in and rank us right below them. If we are ranked too high then the media has expectations.

Expecations = pressure.

The lower the expectations, the lower the pressure. Look at Rothlesburger and Brees last season. Look at Kitna the season before that. May I mention superbowl MVP seasons for Tom Brady and Kurt Warner. Or maybe even MartyS in San Deigo last season or heck, even Priest Holmes when he moved to the Chiefs.

I don't know about you, but I seem to perform in any situation when the pressure is off and I can just enjoy myself. I would guess that to be true of proffesional atheletes too.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

True. Just look at the D last year...

[Daseal]

I'm wondering why people think Gibbs won't make any changes to the offense this year. He's already upgraded the speed at WR, he's said they are going to try out the shotgun, and the staff as a whole has said they realize they need to be more aggressive this year.

I think it's because thats the same stuff he spewed at every press conference after a disappointing loss because his offense couldn't move the chains. Yet we didn't see much of any of it. The way we played on offense against MN is the way we need to play all the time. Granted MN's defense wasn't exactly stellar, we spread the field, we mixed it up, it was a pretty good game. We just need to start playing like we have nothing to lose all the time.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by Daseal

I think it's because thats the same stuff he spewed at every press conference after a disappointing loss because his offense couldn't move the chains. Yet we didn't see much of any of it. The way we played on offense against MN is the way we need to play all the time. Granted MN's defense wasn't exactly stellar, we spread the field, we mixed it up, it was a pretty good game. We just need to start playing like we have nothing to lose all the time.

Saved me some typing Daseal, thanks.

[SkinsRock]

Originally Posted by Daseal

I think it's because thats the same stuff he spewed at every press conference after a disappointing loss because his offense couldn't move the chains. Yet we didn't see much of any of it. The way we played on offense against MN is the way we need to play all the time. Granted MN's defense wasn't exactly stellar, we spread the field, we mixed it up, it was a pretty good game. We just need to start playing like we have nothing to lose all the time.

As frustrated as he was, at least Gibbs still appeared as the leader of the team and showed that he really wanted to fix things, as opposed to "I don't know...I guess I gotta coach 'em up better". Come on Daseal, give the guy a little respect....he has won three professional championships by adapting his style of offense to the players he had, combined with considering what most of the defenses were doing at the time. He can (and will) do it again.
It floors me that after so many people (especially the so-called experts)thought the Skins would be better because of Gibbs last year, many think they will be worse this season. Gibbs spent 11 years completely out of football....now he's "gotten his feet wet" and knows what needs to be done to apapt his "90's offense" to 2005.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Or how we played against the Giants the second time around...

[BossHog]

Damn. I just hate when others look down on my squad.

[RedskinPete]

I fear we are in for a long hard few years!

[RedskinsJunkie]

I like to look at it realistically but this is a little ridiculous. Not one person on this board would have bet a wooden nickel on SanDiego's chances last year... And let's face it, no one was looking at their draft or off season and going "Oh yeah... These guys are going to rock in '04". Why not stand a little behind your team and the fact that they are trying to at least do things differently this year in the offseason.

I for one thought the offseason was boring because I have been used to the splashy signings and trades. For once they didn't go after crazy names past there prime for big $$$. We all agree that we lost some players that we would like not to have lost, but the reality is we finally have the same staff, most of the same players, and we are picking up some ROLE players which we haven't done in the last 10+ years. I hope we hit it big this year so I can laugh in all of the nay-sayers faces...

[SkinsRock]

Originally Posted by RedskinsJunkie

I like to look at it realistically but this is a little ridiculous. Not one person on this board would have bet a wooden nickel on SanDiego's chances last year... And let's face it, no one was looking at their draft or off season and going "Oh yeah... These guys are going to rock in '04". Why not stand a little behind your team and the fact that they are trying to at least do things differently this year in the offseason.

I for one thought the offseason was boring because I have been used to the splashy signings and trades. For once they didn't go after crazy names past there prime for big $$$. We all agree that we lost some players that we would like not to have lost, but the reality is we finally have the same staff, most of the same players, and we are picking up some ROLE players which we haven't done in the last 10+ years. I hope we hit it big this year so I can laugh in all of the nay-sayers faces...

Amen! Agreed 100%

It was the Chargers last year, Panthers the year before, and so on....so who's to say the Redskins can't be that team in '05? I think they can. (Disclaimer: I am not saying that someone who is more critical of the team is less of a fan...just try to have some faith in them.)

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I think that people are not understanding the point of Daseal's post. He is giving full credit to what Gibbs did back in the 80s and is stating that he believes he can do it again. It is completely fair to assess the things that Gibbs did last year as problematic, due to formations, protection and personnel. Those things lie solely on him (most of them). Just because he one of the greatest coaches of all time does not mean he shouldn't be questioned. I had issues with Gibbs myself last year. He made some good moves and he made some bad moves. But I WILL be the first to say that I think he has handled this offseason like someone who has learned something in his first year back.

I just don't think it's fair to crucify Daseal because he won't talk about only the good things. He's been very adamant that he believes Gibbs can do it again.

[RedskinsJunkie]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I think that people are not understanding the point of Daseal's post. He is giving full credit to what Gibbs did back in the 80s and is stating that he believes he can do it again. It is completely fair to assess the things that Gibbs did last year as problematic, due to formations, protection and personnel. Those things lie solely on him (most of them). Just because he one of the greatest coaches of all time does not mean he shouldn't be questioned. I had issues with Gibbs myself last year. He made some good moves and he made some bad moves. But I WILL be the first to say that I think he has handled this offseason like someone who has learned something in his first year back.

I just don't think it's fair to crucify Daseal because he won't talk about only the good things. He's been very adamant that he believes Gibbs can do it again.

I am not crucifying anyone. It is just brutal when people look at these polls and look at what was done in the offseason and try to say we are going to suck next year. I am not saying he is wrong and if you read some of my post I agree with him on many accounts.

I also thought Gibbs last year did a lot wrong in the games, but I think this year will be different. He knows what to expect and has gotten used to the playclock and different D's etc...

I am just saying that most everyone when we went out and signed Deon, Carrier, Jeff George, Bruce Smith, and the list goes on and on, would have said the Skins had a great offseason. They are going to make strides this year. What about picking up some role players and some depth in important positions on the team. OUr team could have easily been 10-6 last year with a couple small tweaks and the same personnel.

Just because we didn't go out and sign big name free agents doesn't mean our team did nothing in the offsseason to improve and that we will be worse off than last year.

It was a ridiculous statement.