12th's Five Reasons To Be Encouraged

[12thMan]

Monday's are just THE worst day to start thread after a lost to a divisional rival. Now that everyone has calmed down a bit, myself included, I think we can get our perspective on. (I know that's not good grammar, but oh well) Here are five reasons I think we can feel good despite what happened Sunday.


1) It's only one game: Anyway you slice it or dice it, it's still one game and one lost. Not one of us here expected this team to go 16-0. Heck, we're not even looking for 12-4, to be honest. I'm willing to bet, we'll win one or two games that we're "supposed" to lose too. Isn't that the way the NFL really works, any given Sunday? Tom Brady are you reading this?

2) This could be the worst game the Skins play all year. I'm glad we got this stinker out of the way in the third week, instead of the 12th or 13th week. If and when we lose another game, we probably don't stink it up like quite like this. Chances are we'll punch everything in from the one yard line here on out.

3) Bye Week: Contrary to popular belief, these guys read the papers and listen to the media. We'll have a week to lick our wounds, look at what went wrong, and get pissed off for Detroit. Not to mention work out some kinks on the right side of the offensive line and timing with the receivers. And don't forget our divisional rivals play each other this week, and the high flying Cowboys face a winless Rams team. Somebody's falling to 1-3 this week folks.

4) The NFC is upside down this year: If I had told you five weeks ago, the Redskins would be in second place in the division, and that Chicago, New Orleans, and the Rams would all have losing records, you'd be pretty encouraged. I'm starting to like our chances of getting in the playoffs. Hey, I know it's only week three but let a brotha dream.

5) See reason number 1: While I haven't been overly impressed with our coaching staff's ability to make half-time adjustments, I do feel confident they can make proper adjustments between games. It's only one game, and hopefully, hopefully, we come out of week four 3-1. Three and one! Now that one doesn't sound too bad afterall.

[Schneed10]

I'd like to point out that were were one yard from tying the game and sending it to overtime.

I've been saying this in thread after thread, but I'll say it again, the line between winning and losing in the NFL is VERY thin. We were in position to win on Sunday, and we should be in position to win most of our games the rest of the way.

[Schneed10]

Also, if you told me the Skins would be at the other team's 1 yard line, with one minute to play, and had 1st and goal, I'd tell you we'd punch it in for a TD 8 or 9 times out of 10.

This was just the one time we lost out in that situation. I still like our chances going forward.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Also, if you told me the Skins would be at the other team's 1 yard line, with one minute to play, and had 1st and goal, I'd tell you we'd punch it in for a TD 8 or 9 times out of 10.

This was just the one time we lost out in that situation. I still like our chances going forward.

Same here. Noted on the one yard line

[12thMan]

I can't reiterate enough the fact that the Eagles or the Giants are going to be playing catch up for the rest of the season.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Also, if you told me the Skins would be at the other team's 1 yard line, with one minute to play, and had 1st and goal, I'd tell you we'd punch it in for a TD 8 or 9 times out of 10.

This was just the one time we lost out in that situation. I still like our chances going forward.

I agree to an extent.. I firmly beleive we didn't get in to the endzone because of playcalling, not the opponent's defense. I have some concerns that we wouldn't see much difference in the playcalls in an identical situation.

[RobH4413]

Here's sort of 5 more.



1) With the emergence of Antwaan Randel El as a quality, top tier #2 WR in the NFL right now, this speaks wonders to the opportunities that present themselves.

2) WR Reche Caldwell will get the opportunity to attack the doubters. He'll be given a legitimate chance to earn some playing time, and knock any naysayers that think he isn't a legit threat on the field.


3) TE Chris Cooley will get the chance to improve his blocking, and will have more opportunity to be incorporated more in the passing game. I feel as if Cooley has been hurt by the loss of Randy Thomas more than any other weapon we've got. Does this mean he'll benefit from the addition of Demulling the most as well? With the o-line working together for a few weeks, this gives our offense, especially the minds behind it, the chance to work on some new strategies.

4) This bye week appears to be located at a particularly useful time. There are many players nursing injuries, and this team needs to suck it up... and get the train rolling. This team isn't going to blow anyone out yet, but has the propensity for winning ugly. Don't be surprised when we beat the Patriots 17-10. That's right, I said it.

EDIT: Don't forget, it's huge for a team like ours to have a decent kicker. So far Swisher Sweet has looked damn good, and that's a staple for the kind of team that wins by 6 or less.

5) Turnovers. No-one appears to be talking about the great job our defense did last week forcing turnovers. I expect our defense to come out with that same fierce attitude from the first half of the Giants game against Detroit. They will certainly try to beat us deep with their threats at WR, and I think we're due for a Shawn Springs interception.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

I agree to an extent.. I firmly beleive we didn't get in to the endzone because of playcalling, not the opponent's defense. I have some concerns that we wouldn't see much difference in the playcalls in an identical situation.

I couldn't disagree with you more on that one. The Giants blew off the ball like nobody's business on the 4th down play. They got so much penetration that they knocked Sellers back into Betts, and Betts tripped over Sellers at the 3 for a loss of two yards.

Playcall or not, the Giants got into our backfield against the stronger side of our offensive line.

The spike on 1st down was questionable, there was no need to hurry so much on 4th down, so that was questionable too. But I'd run left all day long given the status of our team right now.

[BrunellMVP?]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Also, if you told me the Skins would be at the other team's 1 yard line, with one minute to play, and had 1st and goal, I'd tell you we'd punch it in for a TD 8 or 9 times out of 10.

This was just the one time we lost out in that situation. I still like our chances going forward.

fair point, but it should have never come to that...and in the end, the yard may as well have been 99, because we didn't get it...football ain't horseshoes

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

Here's sort of 5 more.



1) With the emergence of Antwaan Randel El as a quality, top tier #2 WR in the NFL right now, this speaks wonders to the opportunities that present themselves.

2) WR Reche Caldwell will get the opportunity to attack the doubters. He'll be given a legitimate chance to earn some playing time, and knock any naysayers that think he isn't a legit threat on the field.


3) TE Chris Cooley will get the chance to improve his blocking, and will have more opportunity to be incorporated more in the passing game. I feel as if Cooley has been hurt by the loss of Randy Thomas more than any other weapon we've got. Does this mean he'll benefit from the addition of Demulling the most as well? With the o-line working together for a few weeks, this gives our offense, especially the minds behind it, the chance to work on some new strategies.

4) This bye week appears to be located at a particularly useful time. There are many players nursing injuries, and this team needs to suck it up... and get the train rolling. This team isn't going to blow anyone out yet, but has the propensity for winning ugly. Don't be surprised when we beat the Patriots 17-10. That's right, I said it.

EDIT: Don't forget, it's huge for a team like our to have a decent kicker. So far Swisher Sweet has looked damn good, and that's a staple for the kind of team that wins by 6 or less.

5) Turnovers. No-one appears to be talking about the great job our defense did last week forcing turnovers. I expect our defense to come out with that same fierce attitude from the first half of the Giants game against Detroit. They will certainly try to beat us deep with their threats at WR, and I think we're due for a Shawn Springs interception.

On the turnovers note, does Phillip Daniels get more blocked passes than any other DE or what? He can't sack a damn thing, but he can get those hands up there.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by BrunellMVP?

fair point, but it should have never come to that...and in the end, the yard may as well have been 99, because we didn't get it...football ain't horseshoes

To quote Pacino in Any Given Sunday...."This is a game of inches....there are inches all around you." I love it!

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I couldn't disagree with you more on that one. The Giants blew off the ball like nobody's business on the 4th down play. They got so much penetration that they knocked Sellers back into Betts, and Betts tripped over Sellers at the 3 for a loss of two yards.

Playcall or not, the Giants got into our backfield against the stronger side of our offensive line.

The spike on 1st down was questionable, there was no need to hurry so much on 4th down, so that was questionable too. But I'd run left all day long given the status of our team right now.

They made 1 play out of 3 (should have been 4, never give up a down inside the 5 yard line) chances.. Of course they blew it up, the offense ran the same exact play the play before.. Don't you think the defense was expecting the play to run to the left 'all day long' also? Same formation, same motion, same play, same result.

[#56fanatic]

I would like to be optomistic about our team. Fact is i am just not seeing it. Yes, we are 2-1. that is great, better than 1-2 or 0-3. As far as encouraged, I dont know that I am encouraged about what I am seeing.

Defensively - no pressure from front 4 continues to be an issue, which is not going to change during the season. We lack aggressiveness. Corners play has been sub par really. I just dont understand why we went away from what made GW "the great defensive mind"? His aggressiveness is what made him great, we are just not aggressive the last two years. We bend, but dont break. well we broke last week, against a team that has options. Had McNabb hit some of his misthrows last week, it would have been a different story. I remember the 1st two years of constant pressure, forcing teams hands, making them react instead of us reacting. Every team we faced those two years said we were one of the best D's they have or will face. I believe we have the players to be more aggressive. Our corners just aren't that good at covering people for extended times, we need to force the offenses hand, make them get rid of the ball. they sit back there and have all day, we will and HAVE been picked apart.

offensively - what transpired against the Giants was absolutely a joke. This is the same crap that we have dealt with for years. We played really good in the 1st have, mixing up plays. Why in the hell did Portis run the ball 6 times in the second half? we were up 14 freaking points. We were up 10 and trying freaking reverses?? what the hell is that? Playcalling, clock management, timely penalties has been the song we have been singing for years also. I like Jason Campbell - I think he will be a really good QB for us, but we can't have him out there throwing 35 times a game. The Giants did not take the lead until 5 minutes left in the game. This reminded me of the Atlanta Game last year, were up 14 points, and all of the sudden we forget to run the damn ball, and lost giving up 17 unanswered in the second half. WE are a running team, that is our identity. Where are the screens we ran so well last year? I understand Jansen and Thomas are hurt, but hey they aint coming back anytime soon, so that excuse has to stop.

Its only 1 game - correct, but how many years have we had the same issues?? and when the hell are we going to be able to cover the middle of the damn field??

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

I would like to be optomistic about our team. Fact is i am just not seeing it. Yes, we are 2-1. that is great, better than 1-2 or 0-3. As far as encouraged, I dont know that I am encouraged about what I am seeing.

Defensively - no pressure from front 4 continues to be an issue, which is not going to change during the season. We lack aggressiveness. Corners play has been sub par really. I just dont understand why we went away from what made GW "the great defensive mind"? His aggressiveness is what made him great, we are just not aggressive the last two years. We bend, but dont break. well we broke last week, against a team that has options. Had McNabb hit some of his misthrows last week, it would have been a different story. I remember the 1st two years of constant pressure, forcing teams hands, making them react instead of us reacting. Every team we faced those two years said we were one of the best D's they have or will face. I believe we have the players to be more aggressive. Our corners just aren't that good at covering people for extended times, we need to force the offenses hand, make them get rid of the ball. they sit back there and have all day, we will and HAVE been picked apart.

offensively - what transpired against the Giants was absolutely a joke. This is the same crap that we have dealt with for years. We played really good in the 1st have, mixing up plays. Why in the hell did Portis run the ball 6 times in the second half? we were up 14 freaking points. We were up 10 and trying freaking reverses?? what the hell is that? Playcalling, clock management, timely penalties has been the song we have been singing for years also. I like Jason Campbell - I think he will be a really good QB for us, but we can't have him out there throwing 35 times a game. The Giants did not take the lead until 5 minutes left in the game. This reminded me of the Atlanta Game last year, were up 14 points, and all of the sudden we forget to run the damn ball, and lost giving up 17 unanswered in the second half. WE are a running team, that is our identity. Where are the screens we ran so well last year? I understand Jansen and Thomas are hurt, but hey they aint coming back anytime soon, so that excuse has to stop.

Its only 1 game - correct, but how many years have we had the same issues?? and when the hell are we going to be able to cover the middle of the damn field??

Welll I think it's easy to be negative if that's all you focus on. Like I said, somebody in our division will be 1-3 by Sunday night, and it won't be the Redskins.

We played one good half, and one bad half. Think about that, we didn't stink up an entire game, we blew it in the second half. I think we have some things to correct, yes. But you can't tell me if we beat the Lions, no matter how we beat the Lions, you'll feel good.

[MTK]

I think it's funny some keep complaining about the lack of pressure from up front but I really don't see it as a major issue especially when compared to recent years. Andre Carter is off to a nice start.