Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

If you ask ten different people what's wrong with the Redskins, you'll probably get ten different answers. You ask ten different Warpath members and that number shoots to twenty!

First of all, let's face it. There's no good way to lose, and no one is truly happy or satisified when their team loses - no one. I believe it was Malcolm who best summerized our frustrations with the Redskins this season, if it 'aint one thing, it's another. (paraphrase)

But if you break down this team individually, you really start to scratch your head. We have a middle linebacker who leads the NFL with 84 tackles (not a typo). A running back in Clinton Portis, who is now third in the NFL in rushing with 766 yds rushing, and might be breathing down Adrian Peterson's in a couple of weeks if he keeps this up. Speaking of which, I want to see if Peterson can respond to his recent injury in the same manner Portis has been doing all season. On top of all of that, we boast the baddest safety in the NFL - Sean Taylor. If Taylor doesn't leave the game early, you have to wonder if McNabb and Westbrooks rip down the middle of the field like they did Sunday.

Then there's Jason Campbell. Who, lately, has been making lemonade with a bunch of lemons. And doing so behind a makeshift offensive line that has yielded an impressive 14 sacks this year. Go look for yourself, it's one of the best totals in the NFL. Not too shabby if you ask me.

But let's get down to the brass tacks here. What do we really want to know? Can the Redskins make the playoffs and can they win once they're in? I believe that the answers are yes and yes.

I don't care if this team gets in by the hair of their chinny, chin, chin. Furthermore, if they do make it, I believe with all my heart they can be dangerous once there. Some might say, well, if you play poorly during the regular season, you play poorly in the playoffs too. Well, that might be sound reasoning, but what has been sound and reasonable about the Redskins this year? The only thing or things that have been constant,
I've already mentioned above. But there's more than meets the eye with Redskins, and it can't be underestimated. I believe two magical words will translate into a happy ending for Joe Gibbs' team: "playoff team". Those two words can validate one team and affirm who they were all along, while giving new life and identity to another. My gut tells me, the Skins fall into the latter category. This team desperately needs something they can now identify with; something more concrete to hang their hat on.

Could it be that this team stumbles, side steps, and zig-zags from now through December only to find themselves hosting a playoff game at FedEx? Could it be we have to suffer through several more weeks of roller coaster endings from the Redskins, only to wake up Monday morning to the latest "Fire Joe Gibbs" thread? How many more of those must we suffer through? It's quite possible that real Redskins won't show up until, God forbid, the playoffs? We'll see, but let's not write this team off just yet. If the Redskins go down to Dallas and snatch one from the high flying Cowboys, those two words won't seem so far fetched.

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

I'm with you, 12th! But shouldn't your post be broken down into 5 easily-digestible nuggets? That might make it easier for the rest of us...;)

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

Haha..in time, my man. In time..

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

Well, what are our chances of beating Dallas this week?

Optimistically, I'd say 20%.

But you are correct. If we can manage to upset them in Irving, we will remain a competitor for the division and we will pretty much secure at least the lead in the WC race. It's a big game, but not one that we have to have. Those are the best kind of big games!

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

Good post. My biggest complaint about the team is that it is really inconsistent. It would be one thing if we were always bad, but we're not. Our offense and defense show flashes of dominance. But, for every quarter that the team looks great, they have a quarter in which they look horrid. I guess that explains why there are Kool-Aid drinkers and Hater-Aid drinkers; there are enough bad plays to warrant frustration and enough good ones to warrant optimism. If the team plays well and stops losing games in the 4th quarter, we will be a team to beat. Right now, we're just a team struggling to find its identity.

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Good post. We have a lot to be happy about. Things just haven't worked out so far. Some of it is due to correctable problems with the team, and some is just bad coincidence.

There is still time to improve. If we could win 5 straight in 2005 w/ MB at QB, then we can certainly do it this year.

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[quote=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;377335]Good post. My biggest complaint about the team is that it is really inconsistent. It would be one thing if we were always bad, but we're not. Our offense and defense show flashes of dominance. But, for every quarter that the team looks great, they have a quarter in which they look horrid. I guess that explains why there are Kool-Aid drinkers and Hater-Aid drinkers; there are enough bad plays to warrant frustration and enough good ones to warrant optimism. If the team plays well and stops losing games in the 4th quarter, we will be a team to beat. Right now, we're just a team struggling to find its identity.[/quote]


You're right. I was telling a friend today, if NFL games were three quarters instead of four, we'd be Super Bowl contenders!

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

[QUOTE=12thMan;377338]You're right. I was telling a friend today, if NFL games were three quarters instead of four, we'd be Super Bowl contenders![/QUOTE]

That's what is so frustrating. If games ended in the 3rd quarter, we'd be 8-1 and talking about a first round bye. That we can get ahead of good teams speaks to just how close we are to doing some great things. That we cannot close games out speaks to the fact that we aren't there yet.

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

I think you make a good point about struggling to find our identity. It seems like one week, we're a rushing team, the next weak we're a defensive team with no offense, the next week who knows.

Granted, this may just be a way for the coaches to attack specific weaknesses on the opponents... But until recently seems like we're changing to our opponents identity instead of vice versa. I feel that the coaches weren't sure what our strengths were, so they just attacked the enemies weakness. I know that is a very generic statement that I have nothing to back up with statistics, and maybe I'm the only one who's observed these characteristics, but it's a vibe I've picked up throughout the season.

It's very frustrating because we're close to being a good team. Right now we're very mediocre, but the bright spots certainly remain. Campbell is obviously developing well, the O-line is starting to gel together, and the running game has begun to show up.

Our defense is going to try and stop the "big play" of Dallas, and give them the underneath. Their offense is so explosive, it seems insane to realistically think we stand a chance.

I really think if we make this a physical battle we have a good chance at pulling this one out. We hit hard, tackle well (I know... not likely..), and lust for the turnover. Get into their receivers heads. Play mean. There is really no other way to look at this game. It's a loss in virtually every measurable category. But you can't measure heart (insert crescendo of inspirational music).

Statistically we don't match up, but how many times has either side thrown statistics out the window for an old fashioned slug fest. I'm not expecting a win, but I'm not expecting us to lay an egg either. We're coming off a divisional loss and if this team has any kind of leadership driven attitude, this is the game to show up.

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

I just have a feeling this team is going scuffle, scratch and claw it's way for the rest of the way - and it's going to be very frustrating.

Jason Campbell said something very telling during the post game on Comcast, and I think it's speaks to his growth as well. He said, you know this team has to understand we don't have to win games every week by 2 and 3 points (or the final play of the game). We're capable of beating a team by 20 or 21 points. That's where I think we should be.

So it's good that, as a leader, he recognizes that. It's just a matter of time, I'm telling you.

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Here's my perfect scenario...

Some how, some way we find ourselves in the playoffs. Randy Thomas comes back, Sean Taylor comes back and Marcus Washington comes back. That would put us in a pretty good position to make things happen. Also, if we take care of business against teams we SHOULD beat, someone mentioned in another thread that Dallas is likely resting starters the last game of the season so we likely could win that one as well.

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Optimism at it's prime! Here it is, WE ARE A LOUSY FOOTBALL TEAM! The sooner most get this through their heads, the easier it will be to stomach all the loses we have coming over the second half of the season. So long as Gibbs is running things we will always find a way to lose.

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[quote=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;377347]That's what is so frustrating. If games ended in the 3rd quarter, we'd be 8-1 and talking about a first round bye. That we can get ahead of good teams speaks to just how close we are to doing some great things. That we cannot close games out speaks to the fact that we aren't there yet.[/quote]Exactly. That's it.

It doesn't mean we don't have "killer intinct" or a "winning attitude" or any other intangible. It just means that we are only as good as our opponent, and that doesn't always win you ballgames.

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[quote=offiss;377405]Optimism at it's prime! Here it is, WE ARE A LOUSY FOOTBALL TEAM! The sooner most get this through their heads, the easier it will be to stomach all the loses we have coming over the second half of the season. So long as Gibbs is running things we will always find a way to lose.[/quote]

I'll take 5-4 lousy any day of the week.

By the way, if you want to see a lousy team and disappointment this year, about 30 minutes north of here, there is a team they call the Balitmore Ravens. Ummmm....that's what I would call lousy.

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[quote=offiss;377405]Optimism at it's prime! Here it is, WE ARE A LOUSY FOOTBALL TEAM! The sooner most get this through their heads, the easier it will be to stomach all the loses we have coming over the second half of the season. So long as Gibbs is running things we will always find a way to lose.[/quote]

Uhhh... if Washington is a "lousy team" and they have still managed a 5-4 record through nine games, wouldn't that be a testament to Gibbs' coaching ability by coaching a "lousy team" to a winning record?

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The fact of the matter is - the cold hard fact, unfortunately - with every loss, Joe Gibbs' coaching will be called into question. Whether it's true or not, that's the perception that has emerged over the past 4 years, and like I said, unfortunately, it will stick.

This team has no choice but to make the playoffs.

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[QUOTE=offiss;377405]Optimism at it's prime! Here it is, WE ARE A LOUSY FOOTBALL TEAM! The sooner most get this through their heads, the easier it will be to stomach all the loses we have coming over the second half of the season. So long as Gibbs is running things we will always find a way to lose.[/QUOTE]

I think if I felt the team had no hope until Gibbs left I wouldn't waste mine (or anyone else's time) posting on this site until he left

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[QUOTE=12thMan;377415]The fact of the matter is - the cold hard fact, unfortunately - with every loss, Joe Gibbs' coaching will be called into question. Whether it's true or not, that's the perception that has emerged over the past 4 years, and like I said, unfortunately, it will stick.

This team has no choice but to make the playoffs.[/QUOTE]

And with every win, it's something to the effect of "Yeah well we won by 6, should have won by 16. We won in spite of Gibbs."

I really really want him to give a big FU to the fans when he leaves. "You kept saying for two decades 'if ony we had Gibbs' Well guess what? I came back and from day one all you people did was bitch and moan. Could I have done better? Of course I could have. But I've taken the blame for everything even when I could have and probably should have thrown others under the bus. Enough is enough. Go bitch and moan about someone else"

I'd pay money to see that.

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[QUOTE=offiss;377405]Optimism at it's prime! Here it is, WE ARE A LOUSY FOOTBALL TEAM! The sooner most get this through their heads, the easier it will be to stomach all the loses we have coming over the second half of the season. So long as Gibbs is running things we will always find a way to lose.[/QUOTE]

We are not a lousy team or a great one, but somewhere in between. Why is it that so many members of this site think that if they will be more persuasive when they go to one extreme or the other? IMO, the best posters on this site are the unemotional ones who don't use superlatives in every sentence.

By the way, "it[B]'[/B]s" means "it is."

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[QUOTE=SmootSmack;377416]I think if I felt the team had no hope until Gibbs left I wouldn't waste mine (or anyone else's time) posting on this site until he left[/QUOTE]

I would say to that person if you don't understand that this team is lousy under Gibbs, you might want to rethink your posts, or abstain all together until you do.

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While I do think the Skins could make the playoffs (with lots of help from others) I think the chance of hosting a playoff game are zero.

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I agree with the identity stuff. I think game plans and scheming are of the utmost importance but the feeling I get from our team and coaching staff is that we haven't decided how we want to win games. We're content to let the other team's strengths and weaknesses dictate to us far too much. We need to decide exactly what it is that we do and then go about perfecting it so tahat it works against everyone.

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[quote=irish;377437]While I do think the Skins could make the playoffs (with lots of help from others) I think the chance of hosting a playoff game are zero.[/quote]

I respect your opinion. But if you indeed believe they'll somehow make it to the playoffs, the possibilty of them hosting a game is certainly higher, much higher than zero.

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[QUOTE=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;377424]We are not a lousy team or a great one, but somewhere in between. Why is it that so many members of this site think that if they will be more persuasive when they go to one extreme or the other? IMO, the best posters on this site are the unemotional ones who don't use superlatives in every sentence.

By the way, "it[B]'[/B]s" means "it is."[/QUOTE]

The ones that really don't have an opinion, the lukewarm posters, the will get'em next week crew, the all is well it's just a matter of time Guy's, the posters who can't handle controversy, the cheerleaders?

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[QUOTE=SmootSmack;377423]And with every win, it's something to the effect of "Yeah well we won by 6, should have won by 16. We won in spite of Gibbs."

I really really want him to give a big FU to the fans when he leaves. "You kept saying for two decades 'if ony we had Gibbs' Well guess what? I came back and from day one all you people did was bitch and moan. Could I have done better? Of course I could have. But I've taken the blame for everything even when I could have and probably should have thrown others under the bus. Enough is enough. Go bitch and moan about someone else"

I'd pay money to see that.[/QUOTE]

Its not as though Gibbs personally reads these threads and takes offense to the whining. Aspirational assumption as a moderator of this site, but ultimately, incorrect.

Nor for that matter does he read Tom Boswell's columns. He probably does have a finger on the pulse of the fans and senses a lot of disappointed fans, but still largely sees a group that holds him in high esteem.

I'd pay money to see a reporter rip him at a post-game press conf for a change.

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[QUOTE=hurrykaine;377446]Its not as though Gibbs personally reads these threads and takes offense to the whining. Aspirational assumption as a moderator of this site, but ultimately, incorrect.

Nor for that matter does he read Tom Boswell's columns. He probably does have a finger on the pulse of the fans and senses a lot of disappointed fans, but still largely sees a group that holds him in high esteem.

I'd pay money to see a reporter rip him at a post-game press conf for a change.[/QUOTE]

I know for a fact he's much more aware of what people say about him on blogs and fan sites than he would let on.

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[QUOTE=offiss;377443]The ones that really don't have an opinion, the lukewarm posters, the will get'em next week crew, the all is well it's just a matter of time Guy's, the posters who can't handle controversy, the cheerleaders?[/QUOTE]

Contrary to the prevailing wisdom, you don't need to use superlatives (e.g., best, worst, lowest, highest) to state an opinion. You should be able to recognize the good and bad aspects of a team without being labeled a waffler. But, I guess people who like things put in black and white terms think that anyone who sees multiple sides of an issue is a "flip-flopper." I know a lot of people who see things that way........they just all happen to be in middle school.

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

[quote=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;377454]Contrary to the prevailing wisdom, you don't need to use superlatives (e.g., best, worst, lowest, highest) to state an opinion. You should be able to recognize the good and bad aspects of a team without being labeled a waffler. But, I guess people who like things put in black and white terms think that anyone who sees multiple sides of an issue is a "flip-flopper." I know a lot of people who see things that way........they just all happen to be in middle school.[/quote]


It's funny how we haven't heard all the virtues of the Champ v. Portis trade lately.

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[quote=SmootSmack;377452]I know for a fact he's much more aware of what people say about him on blogs and fan sites than he would let on.[/quote]
I agree. I remember a while back people started creating avatars on other boards with Gibbs pissing on the dallas star. A person with connections to the team told them that Gibbs had seen it and hated it. How would he have known about it if he hadn't been exposed to it in some way?

As to your comment about Gibbs giving an FU to the fans, I was thinking the same thing last night. He seems to just be stuck in this "damned if you do and damned if you don't" mentality with some fans right now. He deserves better.

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[quote=Southpaw;377411]Uhhh... if Washington is a "lousy team" and they have still managed a 5-4 record through nine games, wouldn't that be a testament to Gibbs' coaching ability by coaching a "lousy team" to a winning record?[/quote]

No. When one thinks of the Skins as a bad team, one thinks of playcalling and disfunctional coaches. It's those aspects of the team that make it a lousy team.

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[QUOTE=offiss;377443]The ones that really don't have an opinion, the lukewarm posters, the will get'em next week crew, the all is well it's just a matter of time Guy's, the posters who can't handle controversy, the cheerleaders?[/QUOTE]


There is no reason to believe that one should be labled "lukewarm" if they can see the team from a total perspective, not just from the highly pessimistic and angry tone that you present us with. One can only assume the controversy you're referring to is what you attempt to bring to the board. If you are referring to any controversy that the Redskins team is going through, I would be lead to believe that those of the "sky is falling" mentality are in fact the ones who have issues with dealing with adversity, and not the ones who face the rough times yet still maintain an optimistic view on things.

Furthermore, you assume cheerleaders in a negative light. Can you actually look at the Redskins cheerleaders and see anything bad about them?

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Label me a cheerleader all you want, I really don't give a F. Sue me for trying to have some optimism for my favorite team.

A fan rooting for their team. What an amazing F'ing concept huh?

Life must really suck for those that can't find an ounce of pleasure in their favorite team.

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[QUOTE=12thMan;377318]If you ask ten different people what's wrong with the Redskins, you'll probably get ten different answers. You ask ten different Warpath members and that number shoots to twenty!

First of all, let's face it. There's no good way to lose, and no one is truly happy or satisified when their team loses - no one. I believe it was Malcolm who best summerized our frustrations with the Redskins this season, if it 'aint one thing, it's another. (paraphrase)

But if you break down this team individually, you really start to scratch your head. We have a middle linebacker who leads the NFL with 84 tackles (not a typo). A running back in Clinton Portis, who is now third in the NFL in rushing with 766 yds rushing, and might be breathing down Adrian Peterson's in a couple of weeks if he keeps this up. Speaking of which, I want to see if Peterson can respond to his recent injury in the same manner Portis has been doing all season. On top of all of that, we boast the baddest safety in the NFL - Sean Taylor. If Taylor doesn't leave the game early, you have to wonder if McNabb and Westbrooks rip down the middle of the field like they did Sunday.

Then there's Jason Campbell. Who, lately, has been making lemonade with a bunch of lemons. And doing so behind a makeshift offensive line that has yielded an impressive 14 sacks this year. Go look for yourself, it's one of the best totals in the NFL. Not too shabby if you ask me.

But let's get down to the brass tacks here. What do we really want to know? Can the Redskins make the playoffs and can they win once they're in? I believe that the answers are yes and yes.

I don't care if this team gets in by the hair of their chinny, chin, chin. Furthermore, if they do make it, I believe with all my heart they can be dangerous once there. Some might say, well, if you play poorly during the regular season, you play poorly in the playoffs too. Well, that might be sound reasoning, but what has been sound and reasonable about the Redskins this year? The only thing or things that have been constant,
I've already mentioned above. But there's more than meets the eye with Redskins, and it can't be underestimated. I believe two magical words will translate into a happy ending for Joe Gibbs' team: "playoff team". Those two words can validate one team and affirm who they were all along, while giving new life and identity to another. My gut tells me, the Skins fall into the latter category. This team desperately needs something they can now identify with; something more concrete to hang their hat on.

Could it be that this team stumbles, side steps, and zig-zags from now through December only to find themselves hosting a playoff game at FedEx? Could it be we have to suffer through several more weeks of roller coaster endings from the Redskins, only to wake up Monday morning to the latest "Fire Joe Gibbs" thread? How many more of those must we suffer through? It's quite possible that real Redskins won't show up until, God forbid, the playoffs? We'll see, but let's not write this team off just yet. If the Redskins go down to Dallas and snatch one from the high flying Cowboys, those two words won't seem so far fetched.[/QUOTE]

Very well put, 12th.

All this crap flying around about who's a fan and who isn't, who's an optimist and who isn't is really starting to piss me off, to be quite honest.

I'm completely with 12th - that's exactly how I feel about this team. We look SO damn good on paper and we ARE performing and we ARE "in the hunt."

That doesn't make a loss feel any better, in fact it makes it feel worse. I can't find one good reason we lost to the Eagles - it just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm not calling for Gibbs head, I'm not calling for Snyder to move to Argentina, I'm just a fan who lives and dies every Sunday by whether my team wins or not.

Losses suck, losses like the one to the Eagles REALLY suck. I'm pissed off and my hopes for the season took a dive. I'm cautiously optimistic about Dallas for the only reason that when it comes to Dallas the records and stats don't seem to matter. Yeah, I'm pissed we blew a lead and gave up 20 4th quarter points to a team that we had beat. Yes, something is terribly wrong when you blow a game like that. But I'll be damned if I won't be there next Sunday, cheering on the Skins and hoping for an upset.

All this mudslinging about who's a pessimist, who's not, who's drinking kool-aid and so on is just ridiculous. I'm as equally sick of the people who have nothing to do but complain no matter what happens as I am with the idiots who have their head stuck in the sand and think we're one first down from being better than the Patriots.

We're a good team. We're in the playoff hunt. We're above .500. The injuries have been absolutely brutal, which makes our current position all the more incredible. We've got a lot of talent and a lot to build with.

We also do some inexplicably stupid stuff sometimes. The clock management is bewildering on occasion, the penalties and turnovers are frustrating to say the least.

Why can't we all just approach this as it is? A good team that's got it's problems but is still in the playoff hunt? Point out the good things, point out the bad things - that's the way it should be.

The mudslinging and namecalling shouting about who's a fan and who's not and requests for people to be shot really need to come to an end or this entire forum is going to be a miserable place to hang out.

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[quote=12thMan;377458]It's funny how we haven't heard all the virtues of the Champ v. Portis trade lately.[/quote]I'm on record in the past saying that it was ridiculous that the Skins threw in a high 2nd round pick when Denver was getting the much rarer commodity (shut down CB). I'm also on record singing Portis's praises. The trade has worked well for both teams, but Gibbs has had a sketchy record of giving away draft picks when he didn't need to (also see trades for Brunell, Duckett, and Lloyd).

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[quote=mheisig;377739]Very well put, 12th.

All this crap flying around about who's a fan and who isn't, who's an optimist and who isn't is really starting to piss me off, to be quite honest.

I'm completely with 12th - that's exactly how I feel about this team. We look SO damn good on paper and we ARE performing and we ARE "in the hunt."

That doesn't make a lost feel any better, in fact it makes it feel worse. I can't find one good reason we lost to the Eagles - it just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm not calling for Gibbs head, I'm not calling for Snyder to move to Argentina, I'm just a fan who lives and dies every Sunday by whether my team wins or not.

Losses suck, losses like the one to the Eagles REALLY suck. I'm pissed off and my hopes for the season took a dive. I'm cautiously optimistic about Dallas for the only reason that when it comes to Dallas the records and stats don't seem to matter.

All this mudslinging about who's a pessimist, who's not, who's drinking kool-aid and so on is just ridiculous. I'm as equally sick of the people who have nothing to do but complain no matter what happens as I am with the idiots who have their head stuck in the sand and think we're one first down from being better than the Patriots.

We're a good team. We're in the playoff hunt. We're above .500. The injuries have been absolutely brutal, which makes our current position all the more incredible. We've got a lot of talent and a lot to build with.

We also do some inexplicably stupid stuff sometimes. The clock management is bewildering on occasion, the penalties and turnovers are frustrating to say the least.

Why can't we all just approach this as it is? A good team that's got it's problems but is still in the playoff hunt? Point out the good things, point out the bad things - that's the way it should be.

The mudslinging and namecalling shouting about who's a fan and who's not and requests for people to be shot really need to come to an end or this entire forum is going to be a miserable place to hang out.[/quote]


very good post. I have been a diehard for all of my 33 years. My Sundays are sacred, I live eat breath redskin football. Every year I get caught up in "we are going to be great hype!" and seems like every year we are in the same position of frustrating losses. I am one fan that gets tired of hearing the cool aid crap. I am a fan that wants to see improvement from year to year (i gave up on the week to week stuff!) Some may call me a negative pessimist fan, oh well. Facts are hard evidence this team has not improved since Joe has been here. We have had two losing seasons (horrible losing seasons!) and one season where we had to win 5 straight (against a light schedule) to make the playoffs. And here we are in the middle of the pack again, having to basically win all most all of the remaining games to get a shot at the wild card. We may have a bright future with some of the young talent we have here, and I do believe we have some very good young talent. But, we are not a rebuilding type franchise. we are built to win every year, and when the same type of losses mount up year after year its very frustrating and hard to see the brighter side of things. I go into every sunday thinking this is the week we bust out and show what we can do, but all most every sunday we show what kind of team we are. Good enough to hand around and lose in the final minutes. I dont know if Joe leaving is the best thing after this season or not, I could go either way right now. I respect Joe so much I want to see him win, but the NFL is so different now, that I am not sure his mentality fits todays NFL. Call me what you will, but I just want a winner, a team that competes week in and week out, year in and year out.

on that note, i hope we whip the cowboys ass Sunday. If not, bring some pain to TO and Romo. Go after Romo's ass until he see's Burgandy and Gold in his sleep.

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

[QUOTE=#56fanatic;377773]very good post. I have been a diehard for all of my 33 years. My Sundays are sacred, I live eat breath redskin football. Every year I get caught up in "we are going to be great hype!" and seems like every year we are in the same position of frustrating losses. I am one fan that gets tired of hearing the cool aid crap. I am a fan that wants to see improvement from year to year (i gave up on the week to week stuff!) Some may call me a negative pessimist fan, oh well. Facts are hard evidence this team has not improved since Joe has been here. We have had two losing seasons (horrible losing seasons!) and one season where we had to win 5 straight (against a light schedule) to make the playoffs. And here we are in the middle of the pack again, having to basically win all most all of the remaining games to get a shot at the wild card. We may have a bright future with some of the young talent we have here, and I do believe we have some very good young talent. But, we are not a rebuilding type franchise. we are built to win every year, and when the same type of losses mount up year after year its very frustrating and hard to see the brighter side of things. I go into every sunday thinking this is the week we bust out and show what we can do, but all most every sunday we show what kind of team we are. Good enough to hand around and lose in the final minutes. I dont know if Joe leaving is the best thing after this season or not, I could go either way right now. I respect Joe so much I want to see him win, but the NFL is so different now, that I am not sure his mentality fits todays NFL. Call me what you will, but I just want a winner, a team that competes week in and week out, year in and year out.

on that note, i hope we whip the cowboys ass Sunday. If not, bring some pain to TO and Romo. Go after Romo's ass until he see's Burgandy and Gold in his sleep.[/QUOTE]

Well I guess we completely disagree on Gibbs. I'm in no way calling for Gibbs head. He's been more successful than any other coach we've had in recent decades, I see no reason to throw in the towel on him yet.

I guess our sentiment is the same, though.

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

[quote=#56fanatic;377773]very good post. I have been a diehard for all of my 33 years. My Sundays are sacred, I live eat breath redskin football. Every year I get caught up in "we are going to be great hype!" and seems like every year we are in the same position of frustrating losses. I am one fan that gets tired of hearing the cool aid crap. I am a fan that wants to see improvement from year to year (i gave up on the week to week stuff!) Some may call me a negative pessimist fan, oh well. Facts are hard evidence this team has not improved since Joe has been here. We have had two losing seasons (horrible losing seasons!) and one season where we had to win 5 straight (against a light schedule) to make the playoffs. And here we are in the middle of the pack again, having to basically win all most all of the remaining games to get a shot at the wild card. We may have a bright future with some of the young talent we have here, and I do believe we have some very good young talent. [B]But, we are not a rebuilding type franchise. we are built to win every year, and when the same type of losses mount up year after year its very frustrating and hard to see the brighter side of things[/B]. I go into every sunday thinking this is the week we bust out and show what we can do, but all most every sunday we show what kind of team we are. Good enough to hand around and lose in the final minutes. I dont know if Joe leaving is the best thing after this season or not, I could go either way right now. I respect Joe so much I want to see him win, but the NFL is so different now, that I am not sure his mentality fits todays NFL. Call me what you will, but I just want a winner, a team that competes week in and week out, year in and year out.

on that note, i hope we whip the cowboys ass Sunday. If not, bring some pain to TO and Romo. Go after Romo's ass until he see's Burgandy and Gold in his sleep.[/quote]Have faith Fanatic - it might not happen this year with all the injuries, but this team is FINALLY seeming to move in the right direction. As bad as the 2006 offseason was, some restraint was demonstrated last winter by the FO. We resigned some of our own core guys (Sellers, Betts, and Cooley) and with Campbell, we have a great young leader to build around. Many of us may bitch about poor game management today, but I believe that most of us would also agree that the future looks bright for the Redskins.

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

While I have faith, while I'm being optimistic, and while I'll be drinking the Warpath flavored Kool-Aid this week (is it one of those that changes color when you mix it?), I did some snooping today and something doesn't sit right with me...the Redskins vs. the NFC East.

Since 2002 (the year that Yahoo! stops keeping track), the Redskins are 10-23 against the NFC East. The numbers are only "that good" because of 2005, when the Skins went 5-1 in the East on their way to 10-6 and the playoffs. By comparsion, in the same timeframe, the Eagles are 22-12, the Giants are 19-15 and the Cowboys are 16-17.

The Redskins do control their destiny...they have to come out and hit the Eagles, Cowboys and Giants right in the f'ing mouth. If nothing else, these teams see past records and know they can beat the Redskins, because time has told us that. The Redskins have to stop this thinking.

A fairer comparison: A 21st century Gibbs-coached Redskins team has a record of 8-13 against the NFC East. We can talk playoffs, and kool-aid flavors, and optimism until we're blue in the face, but this record is the one number is what will make or break the Redskins. Currently sitting at 1-2, it's an uphill battle the rest of the way against the NFC East. The 3 games left will guide the path of the 2007 Redskins. It starts this Sunday in Irving.

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

That's an interesting stat.

Here's what it always seems to me. As soon as the Redskins improve, other teams seem to improve just that much more.

In 2005, we're 10-6, sweeping most of the NFC East, and expecting to dominate the next season. Well we all know how well that went. EVERYONE improved, Eagles, Giants, Cowboys. It's a never-ending cycle.

I have to agree with the person who stated this is the "5-3 season that feels like 2-6". For me, it's the injuries. SO MANY key players getting hurt. Not just one or even two or three. MANY, MANY players.

And not just key players, CORE Redskins. Just SO frustrating.

Re: Perspective: A Few Things We Know
 

How about this for perspective:

Imagine being a 49ers fan. They invested a ton in 2005 1st overall pick Alex Smith who is looking like a huge bust since Norv left SF. They significantly overpayed in free agency for CB Nate Clements. They traded their 2008 1st round pick (plus a 2007 4th rounder) to NE to move up to take OT Joe Staley toward the end of the first round. That 2008 pick is looking more and more like a top-5 pick with SF's increasing ineptitude. And figuratively rubbing salt in that wound, NE traded SF's 4th round pick to Oakland to land Randy Moss.

Being a Skins fan doesn't look so bad by comparison. Our future looks much brighter than theirs, not that that means anything.