Quote:
Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon
CRedskins Rule:
Your comparisons are on target. Having said that, there are three big differences between the '95 Broncos and the '10 Redskins. Consider:
Difference #1: The Broncos had John Elway at QB; the Redskins have Donovan McNabb at QB. Let me be clear here; Donovan McNabb is a VERY good QB; he is the best QB the Redskins have had since the Sonny/Billy days. Not a word of what I am about to say is meant to be a put-down for Donovan McNabb - - but he is not now, has never been and never will be close to John Elway as a QB. I see no way that this "difference" can be overcome.
Difference #2: The Broncos of 1995 had in place plenty of talent on their OL. It had not been fully developed/exploited but there was talent there; the coaches (Alex Gibbs for one) had raw material to work with. The offensive line for the Redskins in 2010 consists of a really promising rookie tackle (Trent Willliams) and a half-dozen other guys whose best attribute is that they could serve as piano movers in the off season. Even in the most soaring flights of fancy, it is difficult to give this OL a label as kind and gentle as "Marginally Competent". This difference can be overcome with a couple of solid drafts, some SMART free agent signings - - not necessarily expensive free agent signings - - and really good coaching. Time will tell...
Difference #3: Also on the roster for the Broncos in 1995 was a rookie running back named Terrell Davis. And remember, he had a talented - - but not yet fully developed - - offensive line in front of him. In the years 1996 - 98, Davis was force to be reckoned with. Until he blew out a knee, he never had a season with less than a 4.5 yards per rush attempt. I know that Ryan Torrain is a good young back that Shanny "discovered" in his Denver days; I also think Torrain can be a solid RB in the NFL. But to compare him to Terrell Davis as a talent is a bit too much of a stretch for me - - unless all I had to go on was Larry Michael's descriptions and accounts of NFL games. To overcome this difference, will probably require the acquisition of a RB not currently on the roster. No, Clinton Portis in 2010 and going forward will not make up for this difference...
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I basically agree with all of this. Although one thing Elway and McNabb had is I generally disliked both. Think that is enough to get us to the SB on?
Seriously. I don't know what Torrain offers, or what we might get in next years limited draft. On the line, in 1995 the Broncos OL looked like this:
(note columns are: age years games started and draft info)
LT Gary Zimmerman(PB) 34, 9, 16 New York Giants / 1st / 3rd pick / 1984 Supp
LG Mark Schlereth 29 6 16 Washington Redskins / 10th / 263rd pick / 1989
C Tom Nalen 24 1 15 Denver Broncos / 7th / 218th pick / 1994
RG Brian Habib 31 6 16 Minnesota Vikings / 10th / 264th pick / 1988
RT Broderick Thompson 35 10 16
So
an aging ProBowl LT,
a dependable, 10th Rd LG;
a rookie 7th Rd Center;
a 10th rd RG
an undrafted I guess 10 year vet at RT.
We have:
a rookie 1st round (non - bust) LT
a 25yo LG
an 33yo Center (with a potential C in Cook)
a 32 yo journeyman RG
and a 29yo RT (former PB and maybe just needs the year for conditioning)
My biggest point, is that no one would have looked at Shanahan's line and gone HOLY SMOKES Batman that's outstanding. But Shanahan coached them up, and got the best from them, (as he did Elway too).
We aren't a great team this year. May or may not make the playoffs, but the Denver team that Shanahan inherited wasn't exactly lighting the sky up either.