Fielding a competitive team

[hagams]

I get what your saying. I can see this being a tough schedule for us out of the gate, but we knew that long ago. The NFC has always been a tough division, and it's always a toss up for who's going to show up and actually play like they should. Nothing new.

However, I did watch the other games.

- The Cowboys looked like we knew they would, but it's not going to be that way every game. Someone will get pressure on that little twerp throwing the ball, and maybe he'll miss a couple of more passes. But they are a solid football team.

- The Eagles have been, and always will be a hit or miss team. They are a very capable offense, when they decide to run on all cylinders. There running game is always a threat because of BW, and you never quite know what Mcnab is going to do.

- We had the chance to shut the Giants up, and we couldn't perform like we should have. I'm sure this will be addressed all week, and we'll see a slightly better offense on Sunday. But, more importantly we'll see a slightly better coach come gameday. They are all learning together.

So, yes we can be 1-5 by the end of the cycle. But, the way this game is played nobody knows. And that gentlemen is why come Sunday, you will have your jersey's on, you will have your kids outside, and your wife shopping. So you can watch, and either cheer or b*tch at our beloved redskins.

"Not because you have to, but because you want them on that wall..... you need them on that wall"

[JWsleep]

We have a brutal opening schedule in the best of times (and it's clearly not the best of times, though I think the chicken little thing is over reacting).

We have all 3 of our NFC east road games in the first five weeks. That's a bitch. And we have the Saints with their high-powered offense. I'd love to get through at 2-3. If we do, we still have all our home games against the NFC east and some winnable games. And we'll have had some time to get things working.

Prepare yourselves for this, folks. We are going to have some tough times. But I sincerely believe that we are not far off and that in the NFL, momentum and confidence are incredibly important (see, for example, the Giants SB run). It's a league of parity, mostly. Look, SD and Indy lost yesterday, and NE scrapped by while losing their franchise QB. The Browns looked awful and they won 10 last year. Etc.

What I do not want is another tear down the house fire the coach throw the bums out thing. I don't think that helps.

So, sure, come to board and vent. Write up your doom-and-gloom observations and fears. I guess that's what the internet is for (besides porn). But the reality is we're a middle of the pack team with a new coach, a question mark QB (like MOST teams!), and a conspiracy-theory tough schedule in the early going. And we play in the toughest division in football where the defending SB champs look only to finish third at best. That's life as it stands now. I think we'll get it going and we'll see strides by midseason. So long as there's real progress, I'll be satisfied. Not happy, mind you. We lose, and I'm pissed for the week. But satisfied.

[Boston Brave]

Bottom line: The team just needs a win. A 21 point win or an ugly win, but a win. With 10 days between games 1-2 and at home this weekend, the team hopefully will turn the ship this weekend.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

If we can take down the Saints and Cards at home and we're sitting at 2-1, we'll all be feeling pretty damn good.

[skinsguy]

A win changes everything. Attitudes will change, the gloom and doomers will not be seen...at least not until the next loss.

[redsk1]

I was as down as anyone after the Giants game. We stunk it up, no doubt about it. We didn't have 1 complete pass til late in the second. We didn't score any points in the second half. We only lost by 9points. It felt worse.

After a few days, though i've mellowed. It's just one game. Dallas looked just as good last year and we whipped them at home. We whipped the Giants on the road last year. It's a long year. Call me crazy but I think we've got a good chance to get a W this week at home. We'll see what happens.

[Paintrain]

Last year after week one, the Lions had finally turned the corner, the Browns were destined for another 10 loss season, the Texans were a hungry, young talented team and the Giants were in for a long season..

The early season means just slightly more than the preseason. We might get off to a 1-4 or 2-3 start, which with our schedule wouldn't be a complete shocker or indictment of the team as a whole. But then we get the Rams, Browns and Lions-2 of them at home. All of the sudden 1-4 can become 4-4 and it's a whole new season..

Look, if you were delusional (like me) and thought that this was a near lock for a 10 win team, then maybe it's time to readjust your thinking and expectations. 8-8, 9-7 is possible, 10 wins if it all falls right is still a possibility. Despite what we showed on Thursday, as horrific as it seemed, we are closer to a 10-6 team than a 6-10 team. Hold off on all of the cynicism that seems intrinsic to some of you until at least mid-October.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by steveo395

Who knows maybe Campbell will end up totally sucking, but I know he has already shown that he is better than how he played Thursday. A lot of his problems seemed to be from not knowing the offense that well. That is something that can be corrected, but it might take a few weeks. Also the play calling and game management were pretty bad, which is something that Zorn has to work on. The Redskins definitely have some problems, but at least they know exactly what they need to fix now.

That's a good point that hasn't been brought up enough I think.

[steveo395]

Originally Posted by Skinny Tee

*** WARNING CYNICAL PERSPECTIVE AHEAD ***

After THU's blowup how do you think our team will compete with our NFC East opponents this coming year.

Granted, only one game has passed but if you just take the overall dynamic of each team and compare them we are in NO shape to even remain competitive during each matchup.

I don't mind losing games by any stretch but the fact that we can't even hold run of the mill competition for any opponent is disconcerting. I don't know if you guys watched any games from teams in our division today but if we're going to be competitive in the face of that opposition we're going to need some unscrupulous airplane mechanics in our pocket.


If were not 1-4 by the time we cycle through the NFC East at the end of Week 5 then you won't have to hear my cynicism again this year, I won't make another post until the offseason

...but if they are

Alright we never have to hear from him for the rest of the year.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by steveo395

Alright we never have to hear from him for the rest of the year.

LOL. Classic!

[hooskins]

haha, Skinny Tee you better man up to your promise. You better be Snyder ass-kissing your way to the offseason.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by steveo395

Alright we never have to hear from him for the rest of the year.

When you stick your neck out, you can't be overly surprised when it gets cut off. In other words, make a dumb comment, and it will haunt you. HAHA.

[Skinny Tee]

Originally Posted by steveo395

Alright we never have to hear from him for the rest of the year.

You guys have until Week 5 when I turn that in and I will gladly hand in my posting rights if I don't have sit and watch a futile team play on Sunday.


...I'll keep posting up until Week 5 at the Eagles game after that though you won't hear from me until the offseason. I'm getting my fill in now though until these next two weeks. Hail to the Redskins!

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Skinny Tee

You guys have until Week 5 when I turn that in and I will gladly hand in my posting rights if I don't have sit and watch a futile team play on Sunday.


...I'll keep posting up until Week 5 at the Eagles game after that though you won't hear from me until the offseason. I'm getting my fill in now though until these next two weeks. Hail to the Redskins!

But we're already 2-1 so we know 1-4 can't happen.

[Skinny Tee]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

But we're already 2-1 so we know 1-4 can't happen.

Yes, true but I also said after we cycle through the NFC East which would take place on Week 5. We won't know if we better than 1-4 if we don't at least play 5 games first.


...Outside chances still exist like having a win deducted from our record as a severe penalty for violating an NFL rule.

I know my battleship is sunk but it's not underwater yet. I'm playing as the ship goes under in Week 5. Hail to the Redskins.