Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

Each year around this time, I try to forecast five surprise teams based on scheduling formulas, quarterback play and offseason moves.

This isn't a judgment on which teams had the best offseasons. That story is for another time. This isn't a playoff forecast, either; some of the surprise teams won't win enough games to make the playoffs.

[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=5146633]NFL: Washington Redskins head our list of 2010 surprise teams - ESPN[/url]

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

I've mentioned it before here, Clayton always has a positive outlook on the Redskins. Every year when we plan out the schedule for the upcoming season and run through all the teams he always says "Watch out for the Redskins, with that talent there's no reason they shouldn't finish somewhere around 9-7 11-5 and at least get a wild card berth"

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

Is he a closet Skins fan?

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

Agreed about the Skins and Raiders, but the inclusion of the Bears on the list is laughable. Sure Peppers was a good pickup, but I also see the Lions improving and making a race out of the battle for the basement with the Bears.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

I don't think so. He's never really indicated he is

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

Good read Matty. Thanks. I hope that Clayton is right. However, he missed the fact that the most important cog for the 2010 Skins is Richard Bartel.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

19-0

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

yeah, I've noticed that about Clayton too. He even said that the J. Taylor trade might put us up to 50 sacks in 08. Needless to say, the next year we cut Taylor & drafted Rak.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

i cant take any forecast of the skins season seriously if it doesnt mention the impact of Pineapple Jesus. donovan mcnabb will be his backup after the 3rd preseason game.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

[quote=Mattyk;696688]Each year around this time, I try to forecast five surprise teams based on scheduling formulas, quarterback play and offseason moves.

This isn't a judgment on which teams had the best offseasons. That story is for another time. This isn't a playoff forecast, either; some of the surprise teams won't win enough games to make the playoffs.

[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=5146633]NFL: Washington Redskins head our list of 2010 surprise teams - ESPN[/url][/quote]

I think most of us feel the same way about DM. No great insight here.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

One more reason to perpetuate members here to switch their avatars to the ones that portray McNabb as a deity. Halo and all. LOL.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

Anything positive about the Redskins coming from the writers is a plus, especially this time of year when all we're noted for is making free-agent headlines. Good work, I'll take it and run.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

I hope Clayton is right this time.

It seems pretty safe to assume the offense gets significantly better this season. Our line is upgraded, if marginally, and McNabb will make everyone better most of the time.

I think our trajectory on defense is less predictable. Lots of change. Lots of new variables.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

[quote=The Goat;696904]I hope Clayton is right this time.

It seems pretty safe to assume the offense gets significantly better this season. Our line is upgraded, if marginally, and McNabb will make everyone better most of the time.

I think our trajectory on defense is less predictable. Lots of change. Lots of new variables.[/quote]

I agree with this post. Hard to tell what the defense is going to do this season. But special teams may be overlooked at the moment as well. Rock Cartwright and his kick coverage skills are gone, we're changing from Hunter the Punter to Josh Bidwell, we have a relative unknown at kicker in Gano, our team has so much change we really have no idea what the coverage units will look like.

Certainly all the focus on offense and defense are warranted. But special teams has a huge impact on games too. Talk about the great unknown.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

This sucks. I'm starting to get football fever way too early because the Washington Caps coach is a one "trick pony simpleton" who couldn't get that ridiculously talented team out of the first round and now there is no NHL playoffs to keep me occupied for the next month.

It's going to be a long summer out here on the West Coast.

The more I think about McNabb. The more I like it. We could see a pretty substantial turnaround this year.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

Clayton is really bullish on us this year.

In past seasons, we might have been behind the Eagles and Giants, but could at least count on being neck and neck with the Cowboys going into the year. That's not really the case this year, as the Cowboys got all their legitimate defensive talent to develop at the same time, and now, they seem to be head and shoulders above the division.

I'm really not a big fan of the Giants offseason at all. Perhaps if there is a team in the NFC East we can catch up to, it's them.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

Unless the Cowpokes have a new franchise QB I really can't consider them a serious contender. Phillips doesn't impress either. But I agree with GTripp the talent, especially on defense, is ample. I could see them go 12-4 and lose to NO, Minn, or Green Bay (gonna be GOOD) in the playoffs.

NO has lost some talent on defense, especially w/o re-signing Sharper. But this is the 2nd year of Williams' scheme and the dividends will be apparent.

In our division I expect Philly to be the biggest surprise. Kolb is obviously the main guy but Sonic the Brilliant Hedgehog Reid is scheming some crazy shit w/ Vick taking more snaps this season. The Philly defense is wobbly, but probably way ahead of ours.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

[quote=The Goat;696928] The Philly defense is wobbly, but probably way ahead of ours.[/quote]


I'd like to know how u came up with that thought.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

[quote=GTripp0012;696910]Clayton is really bullish on us this year.



I'm really not a big fan of the Giants offseason at all.[/quote]

LOL..........,you are not alone.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

Well the national media has always had a big love fest for Donovan Mcnabb. There are many guys in the media that conitued to say that Mcnabb was the best qb in the division year after year. This alone will turn alot of the talking heads into Redskin lovers when it comes to predicting how the team will do in August.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

[quote=The Goat;696928][B]Unless the Cowpokes have a new franchise QB[/B] I really can't consider them a serious contender. Phillips doesn't impress either. But I agree with GTripp the talent, especially on defense, is ample. I could see them go 12-4 and lose to NO, Minn, or Green Bay (gonna be GOOD) in the playoffs.

NO has lost some talent on defense, especially w/o re-signing Sharper. But this is the 2nd year of Williams' scheme and the dividends will be apparent.

In our division I expect Philly to be the biggest surprise. Kolb is obviously the main guy but Sonic the Brilliant Hedgehog Reid is scheming some crazy shit w/ Vick taking more snaps this season. The Philly defense is wobbly, but probably way ahead of ours.[/quote]

I would say I'm surprised at the Romo bashing, but I've seen it on here too much. I certainly hope for him to fail but I can't deny that he's a really good qb. He's very accurate & is dangerous out of the pocket. The only legit knock on him is his performance in big games, and I think some of that is unfair too.

Philly is a bit of an unknown compared to recent years. They did just revamp their D, signed Tapp from SEa. & drafted some D players. How much impact those guys can make this year might determine how good the whole team is. One thing about Philly that might begin to shift their fortunes downward is their GM Roseman. I wonder if he's trying to fix something that wasn't broken by replacing McNabb. Kolb looked good in a couple starts last year, but it was only a couple games.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

What is Clayton's record on these guesses?

Has he conferred with any of the other talking/writing heads on this?

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

[quote=backrow;696996]What is Clayton's record on these guesses?

Has he conferred with any of the other talking/writing heads on this?[/quote]

Just from memory, I think Clayton's predicitons are usually off except where there's an obvious. He bases his predictions almost entirely on stats, which he pretty much admits in his writing. In the nfl of 20 years ago that was a viable way of predicting teams' success. Today, not so much.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

I'd be curious to know how he fared each year in his predictions.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

Great Video about McNabb

[url=http://www.hulu.com/watch/137389/in-their-own-words-donovan-mcnabb#s-p4-so-i0]Hulu - In Their Own Words: Donovan McNabb - Watch the full episode now.[/url]

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

[quote=GTripp0012;696910]Clayton is really bullish on us this year.

In past seasons, we might have been behind the Eagles and Giants, but could at least count on being neck and neck with the Cowboys going into the year. That's not really the case this year, as the Cowboys got all their legitimate defensive talent to develop at the same time, and now, they seem to be head and shoulders above the division.

I'm really not a big fan of the Giants offseason at all. Perhaps if there is a team in the NFC East we can catch up to, it's them.[/quote]

I've gotta believe w/ Philly losing McNabb it hurts their chances of being a playoff team again. Kolb is still an unknown. To me they're the team in transition.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

I think he definitely helps, I still hope our Offensive line can keep him upright.

Re: Clayton: McNabb's arrival will propel Redskins
 

[quote=Gtothearry;696950]I'd like to know how u came up with that thought.[/quote]

While Philly's defense isn't packed w/ talent that group has continuity. The Skins defense is a wildcard because of the scheme change and associated personnel challenges.