Offseason Power Rankings - # 29

[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.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by offiss

I need to know what Gibbs did last season to say we are going to improve this season? I didn't see him adjust all year, same pass patterns over and over. Then he has every expert on the planet scratching their heads with the Campbell pick, and we are to believe outsiders are supposed to see us just jump up and become a playoff contender? Personally I have a strong feeling we will see a lot of the same nonesense on offense we saw last season, I also feel that Gibbs may lay our offensive woes at Ramseys feet and not his own, I didn't see Gibbs do anything significant adjustment wise last season, the stupidity of our offense was as head scratching as the Campbell pick.

For instance with all the pass INT calls, we refuse to throw downfield and take advantage of that, even when it's 3rd and long as if the world will end on an INT. I believe Gibbs coached scared last season, and would like to know why someone outside the Skin's family should believe it won't happen again, and on what basis should they use to believe that a team who would throw away next years draft to take a QB by all accounts is realistically 3 years away, when Ramsey is just coming into his prime? The Campbell pick does not scream confidence in our starting QB. Nor does it send a message to anyone that we believe in him, or his ability to make us more than a bottom dweller.

The last 5 games of the season the offense was much more productive, I outlined the numbers in another thread but I'm too lazy to dig them up right now.

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.

With Jansen back and Rabach in at center, the line should be vastly improved already. It's year 2 in the system for most of the guys, so there should be some improvements there as well.

I see we're back on the Campbell pick, it is what you make it I guess. Some are going to say it's because of a lack of confidence in Ramsey, but I see it as Gibbs solidifying the QB position for years to come. Let's face it, Brunell is outta here very soon, and what exactly has Ramsey done so far where he shouldn't have his job challenged? I agree it wasn't a conventional pick, but 2-3 years from now Gibbs could have the last laugh.

[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.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

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

[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.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

The last 5 games of the season the offense was much more productive, I outlined the numbers in another thread but I'm too lazy to dig them up right now.

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.

With Jansen back and Rabach in at center, the line should be vastly improved already. It's year 2 in the system for most of the guys, so there should be some improvements there as well.

I see we're back on the Campbell pick, it is what you make it I guess. Some are going to say it's because of a lack of confidence in Ramsey, but I see it as Gibbs solidifying the QB position for years to come. Let's face it, Brunell is outta here very soon, and what exactly has Ramsey done so far where he shouldn't have his job challenged? I agree it wasn't a conventional pick, but 2-3 years from now Gibbs could have the last laugh.

I had felt all along our biggest need was to get a mauler in at center, hopefully Rabach is the goods. I really do hope Gibbs adjusts and opens up the offense, but as Daseal stated when Gibbs was asked after every lose why we didn't throw downfield? He was insistant that we did, obviously his idea of a downfield passing game compared to the rest of us defiently varies, it's not like he was saying we are trying but thing's are breaking down, he said we did, which in a coventinal NFL didn't come remotly close, that's what concerns me, it just seemed like the long layoff caused Gibbs to crawl into a shell offensivly and made our offense very predictable.

[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 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.

[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.

[monk81]

I hate these polls, they favor certain teams.....I heard a commentator say, the pollsters hear their favorite team bought some new socks, and they move 'em up in their polls. The teams have to play a couple of regular season games before you can evaluate or rank the teams.......