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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1. Fair enough
2. What "not yet fully developed talent" are you talking about? Was it 10 year (not including his USFL years) veteran OT Gary Zimmerman who played 2 more seasons and then retired, was it 10 year (not including USFL) veteran OT Broderick Thompson (RIP) who played one more season after '95 and then retired, was it former Redskin OG Ralph Tamm who played half the '96 season with the Broncos, then rode the Chiefs bench for the next 3 years, was it 7 year veteran OG Bill Schultz who played 2 games for the Broncos, was it 7 year veteran OG Mark Schlereth, was it 12 year veteran OT Reggie McElroy who played one more season with the Broncos after '95?
3. Agree to disagree I suppose. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess but not sure you can say at this point that Torain can't have a strong career, perhaps one that lasts longer than TDs