TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

To me it's as pointless as Power Polls and Draft Report Cards, but it's May so it's discussion fodder..
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BURNING QUESTION

Will the offense be more effective this season?

The line should be better, but blocking alone will not bring points. The passing game has to improve, and the team has to make opponents pay for stacking the box. Wide receivers Santana Moss, David Patten and Taylor Jacobs must take their games up a level for the offense to threaten defenses. But when you count on veterans to do things they haven't done in the past, you are bound to be let down.

WHAT'S NEW

Coach Joe Gibbs knew the 2004 season was going to be hard. But even when he said that -- and he said it often -- his Hall of Fame aura was such that people discounted that as modesty.

But Gibbs had been gone from the NFL since 1992, and the game had changed and the way players were acquired and paid had changed dramatically. Few thought it possible for a Gibbs-coached team to lose 10 games, but it happened. You can look it up. Now, Gibbs is relying chiefly on the "we're a year older" philosophy to get the team back on a winning track. He and his coaching staff know their players and the league better -- and the players have a clearer idea of what is expected of them. But it's going to take more than that to turn this team around.

For the second year in a row, Gibbs has created a quarterback controversy -- and that takes a toll on a team. The only area on offense that can be called improved is the line, where right tackle Jon Jansen returns from injury and former Ravens center Casey Rabach was added. That hardly seems to be enough to overcome the talented, aggressive defenses the Redskins will face again this year.

Gibbs says he is in this for the long haul. That's good because it's going to be a long haul to get this organization back to the glory days he so fondly remembers.

GAME PLAN

Gibbs is patient, low-key, calm at all times -- and extremely demanding. He firmly believes that things must be done his way for his offense to succeed. There is no doubt that he runs the show, and he does not put any one player above the welfare of the team.

Gibbs still believes in the one-back offense with maximum pass protection, and he is not going to change now. What he does plan to change is the quality of the blocking, which he believes will improve performance. Gibbs will continue to use motion and formations in an effort to get favorable matchups for his blockers and playmakers.

One minor change will be in the running game. Instead of running "40-gut" and "50-gut" up the middle, Gibbs will have his blockers stretch out so that Clinton Portis will be able to glide to his side, then cut back into the best hole he finds.

New quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave brings the concepts of the West Coast offense with him. The Redskins are not going to become a West Coast team -- Gibbs believes in a solid protection front with fewer hot reads -- but some aspects of the West Coast will be incorporated. Plays that give quarterback Patrick Ramsey the opportunity to make a quick read and quick pass will help him.

Few things will change on defense. Assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams tries to generate maximum pressure at every opportunity to keep opponents off-balance. The lack of a pass-rushing end means Williams again will have to create pressure with linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties, but few defensive minds in the league are as capable of devising such schemes as well as Williams and his staff.

Williams' style of coaching mirrors his style of defense. He is aggressive, stays on the players and makes corrections on the field immediately.

Greg Blache, the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, has a great eye for detail, is meticulous in his planning and does an outstanding job of getting points across to the players. He, too, is demanding and unafraid to pull any player who is not buying into the program.

SPOTLIGHT PLAYERS

OLB LaVar Arrington: Keep an eye on Arrington, not just to see if he has completely recovered from his knee problem of 2004 but also to see if his contract disagreement with the team carries over to his on-field performance. His knee should be well by the time the regular season starts. His attitude might never be the same again. Arrington missed all but 12 games last year. When used properly, he is a devastating force. He is best suited to play off the line, where he creates havoc for any player who comes into his area. But Arrington has not been used that way since 2001. Instead, coaches prefer to send him after the quarterback. That inflates Arrington's sack total, but it doesn't get everything from a player of Arrington's ability.

WR Santana Moss: The receiving unit was a weak link in the offense last season, and it doesn't seem to be improved much, if at all. Moss takes over the No. 1 job from Laveranues Coles, for whom he was acquired. Moss, who is smaller but might be a bit faster than Coles, has been plagued by injuries in his career. If healthy, Moss has the speed to get downfield and make big plays.

OLB Marcus Washington: He was everything the team hoped he would be and more last season after the team signed him as a free agent. The Redskins knew he had pass-rushing and run-stopping skills, but his ability in coverage surprised and delighted the coaching staff. Washington can play either outside spot and probably could step into the middle and excel if needed. He has speed, power and smarts, and he's a sure tackler. He will be counted on to build off of last year's performance and has a chance to become one of the elite linebackers in the league.

DAN POMPEI'S TAKE

Anyone who can figure out the Redskins' plan should immediately alert team owner Dan Snyder so he will know as well. Prediction: 5-11 (fourth/NFC East).

FANTASY SOURCE SPIN

Stud: Portis. With the team tailoring the offense to accentuate Portis' strength -- his ability to glide to the side, then cut through a hole -- he should return to being a top-five fantasy back.

Sleeper: TE Chris Cooley. The H-back was master of the red zone in his rookie season, catching six TD passes, and should be a force inside the 20 again. He is a great fill-in starter for bye weeks.

Stumbler: Ramsey. When he took over for Mark Brunell last year, he was not impressive. Gibbs could be forced into using Brunell if Ramsey struggles.

FALL FORECAST

Offseason moves have left the team treading water instead of moving ahead. The receiving unit isn't much better, and Ramsey practically received a "no confidence" vote from Gibbs. The offensive line will be better, and that should mean increased protection for Ramsey and more running room for Portis. But that is not enough.

The team needs big plays and a significant boost in points from the offense, and there is no evidence either will occur. With that in mind, there probably won't be vast improvement over last year's 6-10 record. A third-place finish in the division and an 8-8 record is possible if things break right.

Paul Woody covers the Redskins for the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch and Sporting News.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

5-11 is a bit of a stretch in my mind. I don't think we'll make the playoffs, but the following factors make me nonetheless optimistic: Gibbs' smarts, work-ethic, adaptability; the rest of the coaching staff (notably Williams, Buges, and Blanche), the defense (Arrington, Daniels and Rogers should offset the losses of Smoot and Pierce); Jansen and Rabach sure as hell help our O-line; the use of more zone blocking and the iintroduction of the shotgun formation; and although we have no true #1 wideout, we have solid depth at WR between Patten, Moss, Jacobs, Thrash, and McCants.

So while we might have only slightly improved on paper, as us Redskins fans know, improving on paper is hardly a deciding factor in a team's W-L record. The intangibles - locker room chemistry (the whiners have left the building and Portis seems to be a real positive force), a good coaching staff (which we certainly do not lack), and a good offensive game-plan (which I am confident Gibbs will create) are the keys to our team.

Moreover, I don't think the Eagles have gotten much better in the offseason, the Cowboys have gotten better (AND much older), and the Giants essentially have a rookie, albeit a talented one, under center. I don't think the NFC East is going to be that much more challenging than it has been.

PS - I think Woody has finally come out of the closet and admitted that he is a crack-smoking, heroine addict. If Ramsey falters, Brunell might come off the bench? Is he f'ing nuts? I will only lose faith in Gibbs if he puts Brunell in if Ramsey falters. Brunell isn't getting any younger and we sure as hell know he can't put together a win. If Ramsey falters, put Rogers or even Tupa or Gardner in....PLEASE don't let #8 back onto the field.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

Can we at least wait until training camp gets underway for predictions? LOL, just ridiculous

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

yes Matty you'd hope that you at least the players break a sweat before a prediction is made........but hey they are doing the same thing we are on this board aren't they
:laughing-

5-11?????????? I hope that's NOT accurate................

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

[quote]Can we at least wait until training camp gets underway for predictions? LOL, just ridiculous[/quote]
Which parts are ridiculous, and basing something off training camp is worse than pre-season. It's called a prediction, it's a best guess. He says his prediction and he says why he thinks it will happen. It's certainly within the realm of possibility, and he makes a few good points. It's ridiculous to wait for training camp, or later, to make a GUESS as to how a team will do during the season. We'll probably have a thread doing the same damn thing within a month or two.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

What's ridiculous to me is making predictions in May. At least wait until the players start camp and some real hitting begins. Hell, why not start making predictions for 2006 while we're at it??

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

Because the team is damn near set for 2005. What do you expect to change between now and training camp in July?

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

For one thing: The June 1 cuts, you never know what additions/subtractions we might make then

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

I don't NECESSARILY think it's too early to make predictions. Unfortunately, the pre-season and camps rarely are good measures of how a team will do in the regular season. I honestly don't think anyone can make a good prediction until week 6 of the regular season. Anyone remember how the Pats didn't look all that hot in the preseason, got spanked in the Week 1 game against in the Bills, and weren't SB favorties in 2003? Oh yeah, then they won the Super Bowl.

I really think that after the draft takes place, making predictions isn't that ridiculous.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

[QUOTE=TAFKAS]For one thing: The June 1 cuts, you never know what additions/subtractions we might make then[/QUOTE]

I can pretty much tell you which starters are getting the ax - Barrow, Morton, Gardner. As for acquisitions, I don't think we have the space to sign any starters. So, I agree with Daseal.....our roster is pretty much set.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

What's going to change? Plenty, once camp gets going competition for roster spots heat up, jobs are won and lost, we'll be able to see how the offense is coming along, how Ramsey looks, how the new guys are fitting in, how healthy guys are, etc.

Sorry but making predictions in May is just kinda silly to me. So much can, and usually does change between now and September.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

Last May who would have predicted us being upset that we would have to let Antonio Pierce get away?

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

Bears
Cowboys
Seahawks
Broncos
Chiefs
49ers
Giants
Eagles
Bucs
Raiders
Chargers
Rams
Cardinals
Cowboys
Giants
Eagles

I think I could guess more than 5 wins out of that schedule, but Matty's right. It's only May. People get hurt (i.e. Winslow), traded, or cut. It's to early to make a good guess, but what else is there to do?;)

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

Too tired to read all the way through but, not completely sold that these guys know much about the team. 5-11 huh? I doubt these guys are under 5' 11''. No offense to my vertically challenged compadres here. :oink:

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

Things can change and so yes, it could be too early to make a prediction. But people are injured (i.e. Arrington) or cut (i.e. last year's starting TE Rasby) midway through the season. If you say you can't make a prediction because of cuts, trades, or injuries, you could never make a prediction.

I personally think it's kind of crazy to say it's too early to ridicule someone who says we're going to go 5-11. Maybe I'm just a little too optimistic.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

[QUOTE=BossHog]Too tired to read all the way through but, not completely sold that these guys know much about the team. 5-11 huh? I doubt these guys are under 5' 11''. No offense to my vertically challenged compadres here. :oink:[/QUOTE]

I'm a tall 5'10" and I take offense. :madani: Lol.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

i agree with matty on this one. plenty can change between now and september. hell, at this point we don't know who the starting players are going to be on offense or defense.
QB- we think it's patrick but it's not a definate.
WR- we don't know who the starters are gonna be.
OL- we hope janson is comming back healthy and it's possible someone could beat out dockery.
TE- we think royal but not sure about it.
DE- not sure whats going to happen there, we got some players coming back from injury and we got some young talent.
DL- will they play as good as last year or better or worse?
LB- will lavar be back healthy, who will start at MLB?
cb- will rogers start, will walt start?
S- who will it be, plenty to chose from here?
SPECIAL TEAMS- they should be much better but will they?

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

I respectfully disagree. Our starters are pretty much set. Does anyone really think that the FO is going to acquire anyone of significance or cut a projected starter?

QB - No one can honestly say Brunell or JC will start
RB - Maybe Morton will beat out Portis?
WR - Patten and Moss are the starters
TE - Royal is the starter unless we get some mediocre starting TE.
DL - Daniels might be cut, but that's unlikely.
LB - We don't know who's going to start at MLB, but that's it.
CB - Walt's starting with Rogers working his way into the starting lineup by mid/late season.
S - Does it really make that big of a difference if Lott, Clark, or Bowen start?

I'm sorry, but our starting lineup is pretty much set. Gibbs has EXPRESSLY stated that there are not going to be any more major additions - he's comfortable with what we've got.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

Plenty CAN change, but when is it safe to take a GUESS at how a team will do? The positions where we will have battles shouldn't be anything THAT game breaking. MLB, CB, that's about it.

QB - Gibbs said for sure it's Ramsey. So I think you can lock that one in.
WR - We know which four will be competing for starting spots, and since they're all damn near the same receiver then we basicly know who our starters are.
OL - We know our line. Who's going to beat Dockery? Ray Brown?
TE - Could be up in the air, but either way. Will Robert Royal (or whichever undrafted rookie) make a big enough difference to swing our schedule? Doubt it.
DE - Daniels till he gets hurt with Wynn riding the other side. They're going to play the run and we're going to blitz like last year. If it ain't broke - don't fix it.
DL - Are you asking for a prediction? In May? LOL, you must be crazy!
LB - If LeVar isn't back then we'll just keep Marshall out there. It's a drop off, but it's not a bad one. Going to a veteran who plays solid and knows the system. MLB is our biggest void and question.
CB - This is probably the biggest question.
S - Sean Taylor and (as much as I hate it) Matt Bowen. Ryan Clark and Andre Lott will be in and out depending on the situation (passing).
ST - Another predictions.

Half of those positions you asked for someone to make a prediction. You're right, we won't know how things go till the season starts and people get settled in, however, at that point it kind of ruins the whole point of a prediction. This guy isn't saying this is definitely what will happen. He's guessing at what he thinks will happen, who cares. Sure it's May, but all the other sites start doing them around camp time, normally a bit earlier. Hell, the Power Rankings, in my opinion, count as that and they were released not long before this article. So obvious all the media sources think people want to read this stuff in May, must not be that absurd.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

At this point of the year in recent years who around the NFL knew:
-Ricky Williams would retire
-Michael Vick would break his leg
-What rookies would be in camp and who would still be holding out
-What veterans would be holding out well into the season
-How teams respond to new coaches/systems or new players fit in to existing systems
Just a few reasons why it's absurd to try to predict records until after training camp, too much can happen in the pre-season to alter a teams fortunes.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

[QUOTE=Paintrain]At this point of the year in recent years who around the NFL knew:
-Ricky Williams would retire
-Michael Vick would break his leg
-What rookies would be in camp and who would still be holding out
-What veterans would be holding out well into the season
-How teams respond to new coaches/systems or new players fit in to existing systems
Just a few reasons why it's absurd to try to predict records until after training camp, too much can happen in the pre-season to alter a teams fortunes.[/QUOTE]

(1) Guys like Ricky Williams (age/caliber) retire once every 15 years.
(2) Guys like Mike Vick can get injured at any point in the season - such injuries don't go away once the preseason ends (in fact they occur 10 times more often in the regular season).
(3) Of our rookies, only Rogers will have an impact this year and unlike many other teams, we likely won't use him a lot until well after the season has started (Williams has been known for not introducing rookie CBs into the starting lineup early in a season).
(4) It takes more than camp for new players to get used to new coaches/systems and so I guess we shouldn't make predictions until midway through the season since new players won't get adjusted to Gibbs and his system until about Week 10.

What exactly do camps and the preseason show us? I didn't hear many people on this board or elsewhere saying after camps and the pre-season last year..."Well, we're going 6-10 and Gibbs just hasn't got this offense thing down."

INSTEAD, all I heard was "It's only camp.....It's only the preseason.....It's only week 3....etc (you get the point)." So while many people here are saying it's way too early to make any predictions before camp or the pre-season, those very same people will disregard whatever happens in camp or the pre-season as just camp or the pre-season. And for good reason.

Camp and the pre-season are more about finding depth and getting a team's engine started. They RARELY reveal how a team will fare in the regular season. Most starters only play 1-3 series in Weeks 1, 2, and 4 of the preseason. Moreover, many of the starters are held out during even those few pre-season series due to minor injury concerns. If you think you can gleam something out of a dozen series where the playbook is dumbed down (so as not to reveal too much) and the regular starters are out of 85% of the snaps, then you've got a keener football eye than I do.

So, when exactly is it Kosher to make any predictions? It only makes sense to reserve judgment about how our team will fare in 2005 if you honestly think that camp or the pre-season will reveal something significant about our team's playbook and starters. For me, they don't.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

I'm really begining to hate sports writers, and the like. Steelers? last year? Chiefs last year? Chargers?

These writers suck.

The only prediction I would spend anytime listenting too or giving any credibility too is one by St. Joe, Gregg Williams, and maybe Vinnie, anybody else trying to give a detailed, crystal ball prediction and is full of it.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

The only benefit of the doubt I give them is that being that they are writers, they HAVE to go with what they see on paper. People won't take too much stock in someone saying, "Well, I just have this gut feeling THIS team will do this and THAT team will do that." If writers did that, everyone on this site would be published in major newspapers across the country.

Granted 5-11 is a little crazy for me to think about right now, BUT I'll give them that benefit.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

I think I'm kinda in the middle on this one. The one fatal flaw in the argument that we all know now who our starters will be, therefore it's not too early to make predictions, is that we don't know the other 13 teams we play this year as well. We have to remember that there are two teams to every game. So while we may "know" who our QB, WR, RB, etc, etc, are going to be, who here knows that same information about the Raiders, Cheifs, Bears, etc, etc.?

Now, the reason I'm in the middle is because I don't mind US throwing around predictions and looking to the schedule to guess our wins and losses. After all, what else do we have to do right now? But sports writers making predictions seems a bit rediculous this early. The main reason: it would take entirely too much effort for any writer to do an adequate amount of research into each and every team to make a valid prediction. Why? Because they would have to know every team in the NFL as well as we know the Redskins situation, sit down and disect each and every game from every week, match strengths against strenths and weaknesses against weaknesses and try to make predictions based on each individual matchup. It's not enough to look at a team's roster and say "you know, I don't think they look much better than last year, and last year they were 5-11, so I'm going with 5-11 again." Rather, a responsible sports writer would have to disect the status of each team, recognize the question marks remaining between now and the June 1st cuts, and then predict each game in the entire NFL schedule to come up with a final record. Until I see any expert's rundown of exactly which games they see us losing and which they see us winning and why, I don't put any stock in their predictions. Those are the types of things we see on this site when we talk about the skins, but I don't see such a thorough analysis from any so-called "experts" when they thow out "5-11". Furthermore, another reason any predictions are useless right now is that the real potential for injuries hasn't even started. If Peyton Manning tears an ACL in a preseason game, then anybody's May predictions are crap. Not only would it effect the record prediction for the Colts, but it would also effect the prediction for any team that plays the Colts.

Again, I don't mind us throwing stuff around because that's what these sites are for, but sports writers and "experts"? Come on, there are just WAY too many variables between now and the start of the season to even bother. It's like the mock drafts that come out the day after the super bowl when all the picks are set and then subsequently change 150 times before draft day.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

Exactly. Hence the reason I say they are ONLY going on what they see on paper, which is WAY too presumptuous.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

I don't care what anybody says, Gibbs will not have a worse record in his second year. It just won't happen. He will do whatever it takes to win.

Last year, the writers gave the Redskins higher rankings based upon Gibbs HOF reputation. So do they write that off and think that he hasn't learned anything after a season of experience in today's NFL? Yeah, right. The situation last year did not provide the appropriate time to make the changes he needed to make to the offense. Now he will have had a full offseason to do that. The WR's arguably aren't any better? If that truely is the case, so what! Teams like the Patriots and Eagles have had plenty of success without a premiere WR (Philly did make it to the NFC championship 3 times without TO). Plus especially in close games, one play can make the difference. How many games were there last season that were lost to a BS play or call? At least two come to mind right away (the non-illegal motion vs. GB and the should-have-been offensive pass interference vs. Dallas). That would have put us at 8-8 and, considering how sorry the NFC was, in the playoff hunt. My point being that luck (or "the ball bouncing your way") has a lot to do with it, and as much homework someone does prior to making predictions, they still won't get it right a lot of the time.
And who cares if it is too early? This site is here to talk about the Redskins whether there is new news or not, and that's just what we're doing...

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

I'm glad I have another person pointing out that luck is something the Skins are in dire need of. Too bad you can't buy it or draft it.

Good thing is, we should hopefully be able to blow out teams so bad that one play or two will be of no consequence.

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[QUOTE=PSUSkinsFan21]I think I'm kinda in the middle on this one. The one fatal flaw in the argument that we all know now who our starters will be, therefore it's not too early to make predictions, is that we don't know the other 13 teams we play this year as well. We have to remember that there are two teams to every game. So while we may "know" who our QB, WR, RB, etc, etc, are going to be, who here knows that same information about the Raiders, Cheifs, Bears, etc, etc.?

Now, the reason I'm in the middle is because I don't mind US throwing around predictions and looking to the schedule to guess our wins and losses. After all, what else do we have to do right now? But sports writers making predictions seems a bit rediculous this early. The main reason: it would take entirely too much effort for any writer to do an adequate amount of research into each and every team to make a valid prediction. Why? Because they would have to know every team in the NFL as well as we know the Redskins situation, sit down and disect each and every game from every week, match strengths against strenths and weaknesses against weaknesses and try to make predictions based on each individual matchup. It's not enough to look at a team's roster and say "you know, I don't think they look much better than last year, and last year they were 5-11, so I'm going with 5-11 again." Rather, a responsible sports writer would have to disect the status of each team, recognize the question marks remaining between now and the June 1st cuts, and then predict each game in the entire NFL schedule to come up with a final record. Until I see any expert's rundown of exactly which games they see us losing and which they see us winning and why, I don't put any stock in their predictions. Those are the types of things we see on this site when we talk about the skins, but I don't see such a thorough analysis from any so-called "experts" when they thow out "5-11". Furthermore, another reason any predictions are useless right now is that the real potential for injuries hasn't even started. If Peyton Manning tears an ACL in a preseason game, then anybody's May predictions are crap. Not only would it effect the record prediction for the Colts, but it would also effect the prediction for any team that plays the Colts.

Again, I don't mind us throwing stuff around because that's what these sites are for, but sports writers and "experts"? Come on, there are just WAY too many variables between now and the start of the season to even bother. It's like the mock drafts that come out the day after the super bowl when all the picks are set and then subsequently change 150 times before draft day.[/QUOTE]

Very, very good post PSU (I've just added a reputation point for you). I'm willing to admit it when I'm wrong and didn't consider everything. There are a lot of variables left to be decided (principally, in my mind at least, what other teams will be like). I didn't even consider (duh), that the Eagles might be different without TO (if he holds out), that Manning might falter or excel more than expected, or that Bledsoe could look like he did with the Bills in 03 (awesome) or crappy.

I also agree while its crazy for a reputable sports writer to make a solid prediction at this point, it's also fair game for us.

Pat yourself on the back because you just managed to change my mind (and maybe someone else's). :biggthump

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[QUOTE=Ramseyfan]Very, very good post PSU (I've just added a reputation point for you). I'm willing to admit it when I'm wrong and didn't consider everything. There are a lot of variables left to be decided (principally, in my mind at least, what other teams will be like). I didn't even consider (duh), that the Eagles might be different without TO (if he holds out), that Manning might falter or excel more than expected, or that Bledsoe could look like he did with the Bills in 03 (awesome) or crappy.

I also agree while its crazy for a reputable sports writer to make a solid prediction at this point, it's also fair game for us.

Pat yourself on the back because you just managed to change my mind (and maybe someone else's). :biggthump[/QUOTE]

:headbange
Thanks RF, glad I could contribute.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

[QUOTE=Ramseyfan]Very, very good post PSU (I've just added a reputation point for you). I'm willing to admit it when I'm wrong and didn't consider everything. There are a lot of variables left to be decided (principally, in my mind at least, what other teams will be like). I didn't even consider (duh), that the Eagles might be different without TO (if he holds out), that Manning might falter or excel more than expected, or that Bledsoe could look like he did with the Bills in 03 (awesome) or crappy.

I also agree while its crazy for a reputable sports writer to make a solid prediction at this point, it's also fair game for us.

Pat yourself on the back because you just managed to change my mind (and maybe someone else's). :biggthump[/QUOTE]


i agree with you ramseyfan, PSU made some very good points. i will still have to respectfully disagree with you when you say our starters are pretty much set. i think certain players are gonna start just like you do but i'm not gonna make predictions until i'm positive and until i've seen the skins play in pre-season. the best time to make a prediction, as to the skins record, will be after game 3 of the pre-season.
to make it clear, i'm not against you or anybody else making predictions at this time or any other time. i just feel it's best to wait until, at least, pre-season.

Re: TSN Preseason Support Group-Redskins
 

That's fair enough wolfeskins.