Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Good piece by Mike Wise here:

[url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/02/AR2008120203021.html]washingtonpost.com[/url]

The article got me thinking, especially this part:

[QUOTE]
It was never about this year.

[URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Daniel+Snyder?tid=informline"][COLOR=#0000ff]Daniel Snyder[/COLOR][/URL] might have said he expected to win the [URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/NFC+East+Division?tid=informline"][COLOR=#0000ff]NFC East[/COLOR][/URL] and return to the playoffs in an interview with [URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Comcast+Corporation?tid=informline"][COLOR=#0000ff]Comcast[/COLOR][/URL] SportsNet in August, which was a nice, preseason carrot for the owner to dangle in front of the needy masses. And the signings of [URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Jason+Taylor?tid=informline"][COLOR=#0000ff]Jason Taylor[/COLOR][/URL] and later [URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/DeAngelo+Hall?tid=informline"][COLOR=#0000ff]DeAngelo Hall[/COLOR][/URL] might have been done to immediately bolster the defense.

But from their build-through-the-draft mantra to their brazen pick of a position-coach lifer to take over for [URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Joe+Gibbs?tid=informline"][COLOR=#0000ff]Joe Gibbs[/COLOR][/URL], the Redskins have not-so-covertly sold their fans and themselves on one big idea: that 2008 would be a starter kit toward lasting [URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/National+Football+League?tid=informline"][COLOR=#0000ff]NFL[/COLOR][/URL] success.

That doesn't mean instantly believing smoke and mirrors can lead to hoisting a Lombardi Trophy a year after essentially the same roster barely made the playoffs. It means planting seeds, marrying the minds of a new coach, his young quarterback and yet another new system.

Just because there was gravy before the grunt doesn't mean the long-term goals should now be shelved.
[/QUOTE]

I think most of us can agree our expections back in August for this year were in the 7-9 win range, which we're on course for. So what has changed exactly? The only thing that makes some sense to me is the fast start inflated our short term expecations and has made us lose sight of what the long term plan is.

Yes, I agree the team is certainly capaable of playing better right now, but it still doesn't change the fact that realistically this was a 7-9 win team coming into this season with a rookie head coach, a new passing game and some new coaches on the staff, a QB learning yet another new offense and one that is a pretty big departure from the Gibbs/Saunders philosophy, and a front office that signaled they are working on stocking through the draft and taking a more conservative approach to free agency.

This simply wasn't a team built for winning [U]right now[/U]. So can we just calm down with the silly notion that if this team misses the playoffs we need to make major changes to the personnel and staff??

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Another nice quote from the article:

"But real progress in Washington is going to take a virtue this franchise has not had in the past decade: bona fide patience. It's the only way to erase years of impetuous, rash decision-making.

Since Brad Johnson threw for more than 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns in 1999, there have been 11 changes at starting quarterback for the Redskins. From Jeff George to Tony Banks, from Danny Wuerffel to Patrick Ramsey and beyond. Because of injury or just plain awful play, not one since Johnson has managed to begin and finish a 16-game season.

Jason Campbell has that chance, the opportunity to put a complete regular season under his belt. For the growth of him and the franchise, he deserves that."

This team has made great strides this year under a rookie coach and shown flashes of real brilliance (granted, not so much lately). I am hopeful that we make the playoffs this year but agree with Wise - patience Skins nation.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

.............yes.............
A signifigant amount of bandwagon jumping has been witnessed. Maybe a year early?
.............GUILTY

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Yes, the start raised my expectations. How could it not? Two road victories in the NFC East. We saw what this team could be.

Patience w/ JC yes. JC, Zorn and company deserve another year. No doubt about it. I'm growing less impatient w/ the FO though. Alot of people want to take up for VC but frankly he hasn't produced squat here for a number of years. I'll give VC another year too w/ Zorn and JC, but VC would be on the shortest leash next year if i were DS. If we don't put a high level product on the field next year, i say, let's rebuild our FO, personell dept over.

I know some will argue. Yes, there's some good things VC has done. There's been really one constant in the last 7-8 years w/ the skins (besides DS) and thats Vinny. Who's team in the NFC East has had the least amount of success in the last 7-8 years? W/out researching, i'd venture to say us.

So yes, JC/Zorn..let's have patience. VC, you've got one more year to right the ship. Then I'm starting the fire VC chant.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Skins played PERFECT ball for 4 straight games to go 4-1... unrealistic to expect any team to play that way over the course of a season. 10-6 is still very realistic though.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=Mattyk72;506875]Good piece by Mike Wise here:

[URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/02/AR2008120203021.html"]washingtonpost.com[/URL]

The article got me thinking, especially this part:



[B]I think most of us can agree our expections back in August for this year were in the 7-9 win range,[/B] which we're on course for. So what has changed exactly? The only thing that makes some sense to me is the fast start inflated our short term expecations and has made us lose sight of what the long term plan is.

Yes, I agree the team is certainly capaable of playing better right now, but it still doesn't change the fact that realistically this was a 7-9 win team coming into this season with a rookie head coach, a new passing game and some new coaches on the staff, a QB learning yet another new offense and one that is a pretty big departure from the Gibbs/Saunders philosophy, and a front office that signaled they are working on stocking through the draft and taking a more conservative approach to free agency.

This simply wasn't a team built for winning [U]right now[/U]. So can we just calm down with the silly notion that if this team misses the playoffs we need to make major changes to the personnel and staff??[/quote]

I think you're 100% on the money. My only bone to pick is on the bolded part. I think most of us around here were saying the Redskins would be 10-6 or 11-5.

However, the REASONABLE people were indeed saying 7-9 wins :-).

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

I think any expectation that with a new coach we expected to do great or be better than last year was unrealistic. The talent we have has won us a few but there has only been 1 rookie coach to EVER have won the Super Bowl first year in with a team, JGruden with TB against his prior team.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Yes. The fast start, especially beating Dallas and Philadelphia on the road, raised expectations. I think it took opposing defensive coordinators a few games to catch onto what Jim Zorn's offense was doing. Once Pittsburgh demonstrated how to exploit the weaknesses of the pass protection, teams started doing the same. The problem I see, Zorn continues to call the same kind of game, irregardless of the opponent. I see very few adjustments from game to game and NO ADJUSTMENTS at halftime. The offenses' inability to score points is leaving the defense on the field too long and the defense is collapsing in the fourth quarter.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=Schneed10;506885]I think you're 100% on the money. My only bone to pick is on the bolded part. I think most of us around here were saying the Redskins would be 10-6 or 11-5.

However, the REASONABLE people were indeed saying 7-9 wins :-).[/quote]

Wait, the REASONABLE people had us at 7-9? I'd say hine site they were not the REASONABLE people at all and after a few more games the REASONABLE ones will be the 10-6 or 11-5. I'm guessing you picked us around the 7-9. LOL

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=firstdown;506889]Wait, the REASONABLE people had us at 7-9? I'd say hine site they were not the REASONABLE people at all and after a few more games the REASONABLE ones will be the 10-6 or 11-5. I'm guessing you picked us around the 7-9. LOL[/quote]
YOU are correct! It ain't over yet...

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Well starting out 6-2 may have raised our expectations and definitely been ahead of where we thought we'd be. But I do not thinks it was an unreasonable level for any of us at that point to have thought possible NFC East Championship possibilities. Superbowl is a stretch and just silly to have started that crazy talk.
But my point is if a team starts out 6-2, you are pretty much expecting them to remain [I]consistent[/I] the rest of the season. A loss here & there sure. But what you [B]don't[/B] expect is another season where we've started out strong like that and then take a big dump down the stretch.
Yes we have 4 games to go.....it's not looking so good. But it's certainly not over yet. *crosses fingers*

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

This season definitely exceed our expectations, well except for few people.. Also here's another article that got me thinking like this earlier..

[url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/29/AR2008112901785.html]E. Manning a Leading Example as Redskins' Campbell Tries to Take Next Step - washingtonpost.com[/url]

Thought it's good one..

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

The 4-1 start probably rose our expectations too high, but after the next three games, I think people realized that 6-2 is about where we deserved to be. Right now, I think it's the opposite effect, our expectations are at an unreasonably low level thanks to the three losses in four games.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=Hog1;506903]YOU are correct! It ain't over yet...[/quote]

Your right the season is not over and who knows it just takes a couple of big play's to spark some confidence in our O and they could get moving or should I say scoring. The same thing seemed to happen to the Giants last year and with our strong D we could surprise a few people. I'm one that never gives up and I never pick the other team to win no matter what the odds are against us. I guess its just my nature not to give up and I believe we can win every week. Luckly I can let the losses go alot easier now days.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

I think some people are forgetting that we did actually make the playoffs last year and that the team finished strongly last season to get us there. The core of that team was retained for this season and so I don’t think going 6-2 was such a huge surprise even though we had a new HC.

I think that what is really worrying is that although Zorn changed to a WC passing system it’s the running game which has been kept pretty much the same and an unchanged Defence has carried the team this season.

So the only part of the team that the HC has had an effect on i.e. the passing game has not performed and is in fact getting worse. And it now seems that other teams have caught on to what we have been doing on 1st and 3rd this season and our Coaches don’t seem to be able to change or have a plan B. I think this season is in danger of falling off a cliff and if we did finish 7-9 i think that would be a bad performance for this team.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

I disagree. I completely disagree with anyone who says our expectations were to high after a 6-2 start. Our team has played the number one ranked offense, Two ranked offense, third, fourth, sixth, and seventh. Then the ninth and the tenth...................Against all of those offenses our defense is ranked at sixth overall. I know they had a bad outing against the Giants, but come on! Our offense has to help them out. If our offense can just elimate their mistakes, like they did to start the season at 4-1 then we'll beat just about every team we play against. We have one of the easiest schedules to close out the year. Dallas will fall. Pray for New Orleans to run up 50+points against Atlanta..............And we're in!

We have the defense for it! YES! WE HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER DEFENSE!!! One that broke Westbrooke's ribs sending his ass to the locker room so our offense was able to come back from a 14 point hole. A defense that stopped Jamal Lewis for SEVEN STRAIGHT TIMES AT THE ONE YARD LINE OR CLOSER! A defense that shut down the Dallas offense TWICE!!!................I know Dallas is not that good, but still, its Dallas!.............A defense that held Big Ben to just 5 completions before sending him to the locker room with an injury. A defense that held Drew Brees, during his record setting year, to just 216 yards..........hey! What am I saying? He MIGHT not even get the record because of us. No other team has held him to lower numbers! Same thing with Kurt Warner! He only had 192 against us. No other team has come anywhere close to that AND HE COULD BE THE MVP THIS YEAR!

Portis is number two in the league in running the ball. Campbell doesn't turn it over. You've heard it said ALL YEAR LONG. We should be putting up 30+points on these guys or even 40+ points on them. If our offense just STOPS, YES STOPS, dropping that gosh dang ball we'll be fine!

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

We were a [B]playoff team [/B]last year. Gibbs slowly and correctly brought the team back to respectability. [B]Zorn did not inherit a lemon[/B]. Yes, my expectation was lowered when Gibbs left and first time coach Zorn was installed. However I still expect them to be respectable.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=firstdown;506917]Your right the season is not over and who knows it just takes a couple of big play's to spark some confidence in our O and they could get moving or should I say scoring. The same thing seemed to happen to the Giants last year and with our strong D we could surprise a few people. I'm one that never gives up and I never pick the other team to win no matter what the odds are against us. I guess its just my nature not to give up and I believe we can win every week. Luckly I can let the losses go alot easier now days.[/quote]

I'm right there with you firstdown. The wins in Dallas and Philly got everybodys hopes up and I get pissed when we lose because I know we CAN win every week. But my disappointment is tampered by the fact that we have a first year coach and a new offensive system that is going to take time whether we like it or not. We're on the right track. It is absolutely foolish to start calling out Jason Campbell. I think he's on a pretty good pace as far as learning the system and that would be more apparent if the o-line and receivers were up to speed. This thing can change at any time and impatience on the fans part will not speed the process. Giving up when things are tough is for losers. Campbell and company will prevail in spite of the uneducated fans who call for his head. That's the kind of guy he is and that's why I like him leading our team. There is nothing wrong with high expectations but lets not get ignorant about it. As far as making the playoffs last year, yes we did, we also are learning a new system this year which according to any QB who has played it, says it takes about 3 years to get it down right. We didn't last long in the playoffs and if wasn't for the fact that we were playing with a lot of emotion after losing Sean, and we had a QB step in who had what..8 years or so in Saunders system, we probably wouldn't have even made it. Give JC time in this system and see what happens.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

man it was hard after going 4-1 to not think: "if this is us now i cant wait to see what we look like in a few months . . "

that said, as fans around week 4-6 we had every right to be proud and hopeful of our burgundy n gold. when your teams hot, enjoy it relish it because you dont know how long you got bragin rights. im just happy the skins put together a nice enjoyable to watch stretch of games and we still have meainingful football to play near seasons end. really more than we expected going in to this season.

go skins!!

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

I think to get to the next level, we have to rebuild our O-line and D-line through the draft over the next 2-3 years -- we are old on both sides.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Yes.

But a few things began to hurt us. Again, teams realized by watching tape that the Redskins weakness was pas protection, so they are bringing the blitz and forcing JC to make quick, snap decision.

Second, teams have realized that after Santana Moss, the Redskins have no threats at wide receiver, therefore, they simply key on trying to take Moss out of the game plan.

Finally, the game plan from week 4, 5, and 6, looks like the same exact game plan form weeks 11, 12, and 13. Plus, I am sick of those stupid quick screens.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=Miller101;506928]I disagree. I completely disagree with anyone who says our expectations were to high after a 6-2 start. Our team has played the number one ranked offense, Two ranked offense, third, fourth, sixth, and seventh. Then the ninth and the tenth...................Against all of those offenses our defense is ranked at sixth overall. I know they had a bad outing against the Giants, but come on! Our offense has to help them out. If our offense can just elimate their mistakes, like they did to start the season at 4-1 then we'll beat just about every team we play against. We have one of the easiest schedules to close out the year. Dallas will fall. Pray for New Orleans to run up 50+points against Atlanta..............And we're in!

We have the defense for it! YES! WE HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER DEFENSE!!! One that broke Westbrooke's ribs sending his ass to the locker room so our offense was able to come back from a 14 point hole. A defense that stopped Jamal Lewis for SEVEN STRAIGHT TIMES AT THE ONE YARD LINE OR CLOSER! A defense that shut down the Dallas offense TWICE!!!................I know Dallas is not that good, but still, its Dallas!.............A defense that held Big Ben to just 5 completions before sending him to the locker room with an injury. A defense that held Drew Brees, during his record setting year, to just 216 yards..........hey! What am I saying? He MIGHT not even get the record because of us. No other team has held him to lower numbers! Same thing with Kurt Warner! He only had 192 against us. No other team has come anywhere close to that AND HE COULD BE THE MVP THIS YEAR!

Portis is number two in the league in running the ball. Campbell doesn't turn it over. You've heard it said ALL YEAR LONG. We should be putting up 30+points on these guys or even 40+ points on them. If our offense just STOPS, YES STOPS, dropping that gosh dang ball we'll be fine![/quote]

I don't think we even hit Westbrook on that play when he broke his ribs and he just made a quick move which cracked them. Just like when DG jumped over that guy on a punt return back in the 80's maybe early 90's.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

I think our fast start definitely raised our expectations. Most even-keeled fans around here thought anywhere between 7-9 and 9-7 was pretty realistic for this team. I personally predicted 8-8.

I understand a W is a W, and simply looking at the standings, one would think we were in fantastic shape for the playoffs at 6-2.

I definitely re-adjusted my expectations after our hot start (I threw my 8-8 prediction out the window for a 10-6), but even at 6-2, I was pretty wary of the second half for a few reasons:

1) Portis getting continually knicked up
2) Lack of pass rush
3) Inability to consitently create turnovers
4) Not finishing drives/poor play in the red zone
5) Losing to St. Louis (regardless of what the stat sheet looked like)

Our victories in the 1st half were very narrow, even when we were playing our best football. It became pretty obvious the margin for error is tiny with this team. We've slipped against some good opponents in the last month, and even when our D does snag the rare turnover and put it back in our offense's hands on a short field, we can't convert. We simply don't score enough points to compensate for any other shortcomings.

And one thing that isn't getting enough mention IMO is how god awful our special teams play has become.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

^^^ yeah between juggling punters, lack of any return yards (except moss in det) and shazaaam's damn leg tiring out a quarter way thru the season our St has been awful but . . . come to think of it i cant think of a return td we allowed except bush and jacksons so 2 return tds isnt horrible. our tackling on ST has been pretty good with thrash, rock, campbell and even devin thomas making a few tackles.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Yes, false hopes were abundant in the early-mid season. This year I thought we would be 9-7 which we still may be. It's about how the season has progressed though, I would be much more delighted had we lost a bunch in the beginning and then the team started to grasp Zorn's offense and build up to start winning. Instead our early wins seem to be a carry-over from Gibbs with Zorn's play-calling mixed in. Now that every team has video of our offense and can gameplan against zorny we have a frozen offense. Basically we seem to be headed in the wrong direction and that is frustrating.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=Mattyk72;506875]Good piece by Mike Wise here:

[url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/02/AR2008120203021.html]washingtonpost.com[/url]

The article got me thinking, especially this part:



I think most of us can agree our expections back in August for this year were in the 7-9 win range, which we're on course for. So what has changed exactly? The only thing that makes some sense to me is the fast start inflated our short term expecations and has made us lose sight of what the long term plan is.

Yes, I agree the team is certainly capaable of playing better right now, but it still doesn't change the fact that realistically this was a 7-9 win team coming into this season with a rookie head coach, a new passing game and some new coaches on the staff, a QB learning yet another new offense and one that is a pretty big departure from the Gibbs/Saunders philosophy, and a front office that signaled they are working on stocking through the draft and taking a more conservative approach to free agency.

This simply wasn't a team built for winning [U]right now[/U]. So can we just calm down with the silly notion that if this team misses the playoffs we need to make major changes to the personnel and staff??[/quote]

Excellent writeup. I expected a 7-9 or 8-8 season. The mediots expected even less. The fact that we might beat that by 2 games is a testament to Zorn. He's brought this team higher and is off to a very good start as a coach.

Patience has not been a Redskin trait over the last 8 years. We need to make good draft choices in the right areas and good choices in FA. That's Vinny's job when he's not on his talk show.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

I think that I expected 9-7. At least I was hoping for that, and it looks like we could very well get there or exceed that. The problem is that my expectation was for the offense to struggle early and get better as the season progressed. The opposite has happened. Unless the offense finds a way to find the endzone, I'm going to be worrited about next year all off season.

It isn't fair to use the wins and loses as a measure of if expectations are reasonable. Well, of course, unless we start winning again.:)

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=Defensewins;506930]We were a [B]playoff team [/B]last year. Gibbs slowly and correctly brought the team back to respectability. [B]Zorn did not inherit a lemon[/B]. Yes, my expectation was lowered when Gibbs left and first time coach Zorn was installed. However I still expect them to be respectable.[/quote]

The Redskins had a change of QB to Collins, who then had a huge streak of high caliber QB play in the last 5 games; we also were playing on emotion due to the murder of ST.

If these two things had NOT happened I'm not sure we would have finished nearly as well last season.

Granted, Zorn inherited a good team. He's got them to play well. Yet, due to being a rookie coach many thought this team would regress, not stay the same or better.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Yes... Every season I get my expectations up that this is the year the skins pull them self's out of the basement of the NFL and start playing at Higher level.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=firstdown;506889]Wait, the REASONABLE people had us at 7-9? I'd say hine site they were not the REASONABLE people at all and after a few more games the REASONABLE ones will be the 10-6 or 11-5. I'm guessing you picked us around the 7-9. LOL[/quote]

You have a hard time reading English or something?

I said 7-9 wins. As in the team would win somewhere between 7 to 9 games.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=firstdown;506917]Your right the season is not over and who knows it just takes a couple of big play's to spark some confidence in our O and they could get moving or should I say scoring. The same thing seemed to happen to the Giants last year and with our strong D we could surprise a few people. I'm one that never gives up and I never pick the other team to win no matter what the odds are against us. I guess its just my nature not to give up and I believe we can win every week. Luckly I can let the losses go alot easier now days.[/quote]

Although I never agree with you in the parking lot, I feel exactly the same with the Skins.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Yeah, I think we obviously aren't as good as we appeared back in September, but we aren't as bad as some people seem to think now either. We are close. Watching the Giants game I saw a team who is clearly better than us, sure, but I didn't think we were outclassed. They executed and we didn't but we have guys who can play too.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

I would just like to make 2 points - someone said that Redskins fans have not shown patience over the last 8 years. Are you on drugs – I think we have shown nothing but patience – patience with an under performing team particularly recently with the offense, changes to HC which often made no sense. And particularly patience with a front office which, more often than not, made moves that everyone at the time could see were really bad and proved in hindsight to be even worse.

The second point was about us not looking out classed against NYG – I thought we looked outclassed in every single aspect of the game. To me it showed how far off this team is from being a Championship team. We looked much closer to the NYG’s last year than we do this year and we seem to be going backwards the longer this season goes on.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Guess it depends on how you define patience.

Redskins fans have always been pretty quick to call for the backup QB. In fact I think DC invented the term QB controversy.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=djnemo65;507082]Yeah, I think we obviously aren't as good as we appeared back in September, but we aren't as bad as some people seem to think now either. We are close. Watching the Giants game I saw a team who is clearly better than us, sure, but I didn't think we were outclassed. They executed and we didn't but we have guys who can play too.[/quote]This is essentially going to be my offensive breakdown condensed into 50 words.

Hope I didn't spoil any surprises ;)

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

Mattyk72 Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guess it depends on how you define patience.

Redskins fans have always been pretty quick to call for the backup QB. In fact I think DC invented the term QB controversy.


I agree about the QB point. I am still really hoping that JC is the guy and that he will step up to the next level, but I think the end of last year and the impact Collins made has put a big question mark in a lot of peoples minds that JC gets the most out this offense.

Having said that I think people are wrong to suggest we drop him now. I don’t think anyone really knows yet how good or bad he is. Like everyone else I think we need to improve the O line and our passer protection and get the WR corps to stop dropping the ball before we can start looking at how effective JC is. My gut feeling is he is a good the average QB who in a good team could get the job done but in a average team isn’t going to make the difference.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

I think that there's no doubt the hot start raised expectations to a point that a first time head coach would have a difficult time reaching. Jim Zorn was set up for disappointment the minute they started winning games. I hoped it would continue, but I knew there was a good chance that once film circulated they'd be in a little bit of trouble and there's nothing wrong with that.

The Skins are building something here. If Jason Campbell continues to improve and shows that he can get it done when they take off the "training wheels" if you will, this team could be good for a long time. Colt Brennan has a shot at becoming the a good backup and that would be amazing. I'd love to see this team continue to build through the draft, retain players, and have a coach who wins for a significant period of time.

This team has a chance to be great, in my opinion, and they need to be left alone and allowed to develop. There's no need to make the flashy moves, just keep drafting talent and filling fewer and fewer holes through free agency. I believe that Jim Zorn has a chance to become this franchise's next great coach if they have the patience to let him mold this team.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=Mattyk72;506875]Good piece by Mike Wise here:

[URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/02/AR2008120203021.html"]washingtonpost.com[/URL]

The article got me thinking, especially this part:



I think most of us can agree our expections back in August for this year were in the 7-9 win range, which we're on course for. So what has changed exactly? The only thing that makes some sense to me is the fast start inflated our short term expecations and has made us lose sight of what the long term plan is.

Yes, I agree the team is certainly capaable of playing better right now, but it still doesn't change the fact that realistically this was a 7-9 win team coming into this season with a rookie head coach, a new passing game and some new coaches on the staff, a QB learning yet another new offense and one that is a pretty big departure from the Gibbs/Saunders philosophy, and a front office that signaled they are working on stocking through the draft and taking a more conservative approach to free agency.

This simply wasn't a team built for winning [U]right now[/U]. So can we just calm down with the silly notion that if this team misses the playoffs we need to make major changes to the personnel and staff??[/quote]

I think I'm one of the few people on this site that really keeps it real. I'm not patting myself on the back or anything but it amazes me how angry some people get after loss. Look, we all get mad, including myself, but once we cool down everyone needs to realize what this team is. Below average on offense...did anyone think we were going to be the 99 Rams??? And an above average, play-off caliber defense, below average special teams. And as you mentioned a new coach. The one truly great player we had has tragically passed. I was thinking this was a 5-7 win team. So far they've surpassed my expectations.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

We should not have been a playoff team last year. 9-7 didn't sniff the playoffs in the AFC. We were one and done by a team that was only slightly better than us last year and would have been one and done themselves had we not made the playoffs.

We were a realistic 4-4 team at the break. The only reason we are still thinking playoffs is because we beat a underachieving Dallass team and a woefully inconsistent Philly team. I mean, how do you tie the Bengals and then rack up 48 on the Cardinals?

This is a 7-9 that got a couple of fortunate wins that will transform us to a 9-7 team this year. We are lucky to go 2-2 the rest of the way. I see easy losses coming to Baltimore and Philly. And the way we played STL and DET, beating Cincy and SF is no sure thing.

Re: Did the 6-2 start raise our expectations to an unrealistic level?
 

[quote=jdlea;507290]I think that there's no doubt the hot start raised expectations to a point that a first time head coach would have a difficult time reaching. Jim Zorn was set up for disappointment the minute they started winning games. I hoped it would continue, but I knew there was a good chance that once film circulated they'd be in a little bit of trouble and there's nothing wrong with that.

The Skins are building something here. If Jason Campbell continues to improve and shows that he can get it done when they take off the "training wheels" if you will, this team could be good for a long time. Colt Brennan has a shot at becoming the a good backup and that would be amazing. I'd love to see this team continue to build through the draft, retain players, and have a coach who wins for a significant period of time.

This team has a chance to be great, in my opinion, and they need to be left alone and allowed to develop. There's no need to make the flashy moves, just keep drafting talent and filling fewer and fewer holes through free agency. I believe that Jim Zorn has a chance to become this franchise's next great coach if they have the patience to let him mold this team.[/quote]

Good post. A reasonable voice heard above the chaotic clamor of panic.