Perspective: A Few Things We Know

[12thMan]

If you ask ten different people what's wrong with the Redskins, you'll probably get ten different answers. You ask ten different Warpath members and that number shoots to twenty!

First of all, let's face it. There's no good way to lose, and no one is truly happy or satisified when their team loses - no one. I believe it was Malcolm who best summerized our frustrations with the Redskins this season, if it 'aint one thing, it's another. (paraphrase)

But if you break down this team individually, you really start to scratch your head. We have a middle linebacker who leads the NFL with 84 tackles (not a typo). A running back in Clinton Portis, who is now third in the NFL in rushing with 766 yds rushing, and might be breathing down Adrian Peterson's in a couple of weeks if he keeps this up. Speaking of which, I want to see if Peterson can respond to his recent injury in the same manner Portis has been doing all season. On top of all of that, we boast the baddest safety in the NFL - Sean Taylor. If Taylor doesn't leave the game early, you have to wonder if McNabb and Westbrooks rip down the middle of the field like they did Sunday.

Then there's Jason Campbell. Who, lately, has been making lemonade with a bunch of lemons. And doing so behind a makeshift offensive line that has yielded an impressive 14 sacks this year. Go look for yourself, it's one of the best totals in the NFL. Not too shabby if you ask me.

But let's get down to the brass tacks here. What do we really want to know? Can the Redskins make the playoffs and can they win once they're in? I believe that the answers are yes and yes.

I don't care if this team gets in by the hair of their chinny, chin, chin. Furthermore, if they do make it, I believe with all my heart they can be dangerous once there. Some might say, well, if you play poorly during the regular season, you play poorly in the playoffs too. Well, that might be sound reasoning, but what has been sound and reasonable about the Redskins this year? The only thing or things that have been constant,
I've already mentioned above. But there's more than meets the eye with Redskins, and it can't be underestimated. I believe two magical words will translate into a happy ending for Joe Gibbs' team: "playoff team". Those two words can validate one team and affirm who they were all along, while giving new life and identity to another. My gut tells me, the Skins fall into the latter category. This team desperately needs something they can now identify with; something more concrete to hang their hat on.

Could it be that this team stumbles, side steps, and zig-zags from now through December only to find themselves hosting a playoff game at FedEx? Could it be we have to suffer through several more weeks of roller coaster endings from the Redskins, only to wake up Monday morning to the latest "Fire Joe Gibbs" thread? How many more of those must we suffer through? It's quite possible that real Redskins won't show up until, God forbid, the playoffs? We'll see, but let's not write this team off just yet. If the Redskins go down to Dallas and snatch one from the high flying Cowboys, those two words won't seem so far fetched.

[JWsleep]

I'm with you, 12th! But shouldn't your post be broken down into 5 easily-digestible nuggets? That might make it easier for the rest of us...

[12thMan]

Haha..in time, my man. In time..

[GTripp0012]

Well, what are our chances of beating Dallas this week?

Optimistically, I'd say 20%.

But you are correct. If we can manage to upset them in Irving, we will remain a competitor for the division and we will pretty much secure at least the lead in the WC race. It's a big game, but not one that we have to have. Those are the best kind of big games!

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Good post. My biggest complaint about the team is that it is really inconsistent. It would be one thing if we were always bad, but we're not. Our offense and defense show flashes of dominance. But, for every quarter that the team looks great, they have a quarter in which they look horrid. I guess that explains why there are Kool-Aid drinkers and Hater-Aid drinkers; there are enough bad plays to warrant frustration and enough good ones to warrant optimism. If the team plays well and stops losing games in the 4th quarter, we will be a team to beat. Right now, we're just a team struggling to find its identity.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Good post. My biggest complaint about the team is that it is really inconsistent. It would be one thing if we were always bad, but we're not. Our offense and defense show flashes of dominance. But, for every quarter that the team looks great, they have a quarter in which they look horrid. I guess that explains why there are Kool-Aid drinkers and Hater-Aid drinkers; there are enough bad plays to warrant frustration and enough good ones to warrant optimism. If the team plays well and stops losing games in the 4th quarter, we will be a team to beat. Right now, we're just a team struggling to find its identity.

You're right. I was telling a friend today, if NFL games were three quarters instead of four, we'd be Super Bowl contenders!

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

You're right. I was telling a friend today, if NFL games were three quarters instead of four, we'd be Super Bowl contenders!

That's what is so frustrating. If games ended in the 3rd quarter, we'd be 8-1 and talking about a first round bye. That we can get ahead of good teams speaks to just how close we are to doing some great things. That we cannot close games out speaks to the fact that we aren't there yet.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

That's what is so frustrating. If games ended in the 3rd quarter, we'd be 8-1 and talking about a first round bye. That we can get ahead of good teams speaks to just how close we are to doing some great things. That we cannot close games out speaks to the fact that we aren't there yet.

Exactly. That's it.

It doesn't mean we don't have "killer intinct" or a "winning attitude" or any other intangible. It just means that we are only as good as our opponent, and that doesn't always win you ballgames.

[RobH4413]

I think you make a good point about struggling to find our identity. It seems like one week, we're a rushing team, the next weak we're a defensive team with no offense, the next week who knows.

Granted, this may just be a way for the coaches to attack specific weaknesses on the opponents... But until recently seems like we're changing to our opponents identity instead of vice versa. I feel that the coaches weren't sure what our strengths were, so they just attacked the enemies weakness. I know that is a very generic statement that I have nothing to back up with statistics, and maybe I'm the only one who's observed these characteristics, but it's a vibe I've picked up throughout the season.

It's very frustrating because we're close to being a good team. Right now we're very mediocre, but the bright spots certainly remain. Campbell is obviously developing well, the O-line is starting to gel together, and the running game has begun to show up.

Our defense is going to try and stop the "big play" of Dallas, and give them the underneath. Their offense is so explosive, it seems insane to realistically think we stand a chance.

I really think if we make this a physical battle we have a good chance at pulling this one out. We hit hard, tackle well (I know... not likely..), and lust for the turnover. Get into their receivers heads. Play mean. There is really no other way to look at this game. It's a loss in virtually every measurable category. But you can't measure heart (insert crescendo of inspirational music).

Statistically we don't match up, but how many times has either side thrown statistics out the window for an old fashioned slug fest. I'm not expecting a win, but I'm not expecting us to lay an egg either. We're coming off a divisional loss and if this team has any kind of leadership driven attitude, this is the game to show up.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Good post. We have a lot to be happy about. Things just haven't worked out so far. Some of it is due to correctable problems with the team, and some is just bad coincidence.

There is still time to improve. If we could win 5 straight in 2005 w/ MB at QB, then we can certainly do it this year.

[12thMan]

I just have a feeling this team is going scuffle, scratch and claw it's way for the rest of the way - and it's going to be very frustrating.

Jason Campbell said something very telling during the post game on Comcast, and I think it's speaks to his growth as well. He said, you know this team has to understand we don't have to win games every week by 2 and 3 points (or the final play of the game). We're capable of beating a team by 20 or 21 points. That's where I think we should be.

So it's good that, as a leader, he recognizes that. It's just a matter of time, I'm telling you.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Here's my perfect scenario...

Some how, some way we find ourselves in the playoffs. Randy Thomas comes back, Sean Taylor comes back and Marcus Washington comes back. That would put us in a pretty good position to make things happen. Also, if we take care of business against teams we SHOULD beat, someone mentioned in another thread that Dallas is likely resting starters the last game of the season so we likely could win that one as well.

[offiss]

Optimism at it's prime! Here it is, WE ARE A LOUSY FOOTBALL TEAM! The sooner most get this through their heads, the easier it will be to stomach all the loses we have coming over the second half of the season. So long as Gibbs is running things we will always find a way to lose.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by offiss

Optimism at it's prime! Here it is, WE ARE A LOUSY FOOTBALL TEAM! The sooner most get this through their heads, the easier it will be to stomach all the loses we have coming over the second half of the season. So long as Gibbs is running things we will always find a way to lose.

I'll take 5-4 lousy any day of the week.

By the way, if you want to see a lousy team and disappointment this year, about 30 minutes north of here, there is a team they call the Balitmore Ravens. Ummmm....that's what I would call lousy.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by offiss

Optimism at it's prime! Here it is, WE ARE A LOUSY FOOTBALL TEAM! The sooner most get this through their heads, the easier it will be to stomach all the loses we have coming over the second half of the season. So long as Gibbs is running things we will always find a way to lose.

Uhhh... if Washington is a "lousy team" and they have still managed a 5-4 record through nine games, wouldn't that be a testament to Gibbs' coaching ability by coaching a "lousy team" to a winning record?