Skins and Texans poised to be next year's Cardinals?

SkinsFanSince91 · 03-11-2009, 07:16 PM

Interesting read.

I think he might be on to something.

Texans, Redskins poised to be the next Cardinals - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Discuss

SkinsFanSince91 · 03-11-2009, 07:18 PM

Here is what he wrote about the Skins in case the link doesn't come up.

3. The Washington Redskins

Offense: The league’s fifth-worst scoring unit in 2008 could stand to see some major improvement from top to bottom. About the only area that isn’t of concern is the running-back spot, but even Clinton Portis could stand to see some of his carries given to a productive backup. By far, starting quarterback Jason Campbell is the lead concern. After a solid beginning, he languished as last season wore on and didn’t show the leap in development expected. The 38 sacks surrendered by the offensive line and the lack of a reliable No. 2 receiver didn’t help. But a lot of those woes can be solved by better – and quicker – decisions from Campbell. This will be his third year as a full-time starter and, as history has shown, should be the watershed moment in which he makes the step into maturity as a passer. Ultimately, this falls on head coach Jim Zorn. He works as closely with Campbell as anyone, and having a second offseason of tutelage has to yield more consistent and lasting results.

Defense: A boatload of cash was invested in two players in free agency: defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Haynesworth has a lot to live up to, but if he can come even close to duplicating what he did the past two seasons in Tennessee, it will make Washington’s front seven exponentially better. Hall, on the other hand, has yet to show he can play well after getting big money. He certainly didn’t last season in Oakland, but Washington blessed him with a second chance anyway. If he can play like a No. 1 cornerback, the secondary should be amongst the league’s best. If he can’t, it will be an inconsistent unit. Losing the potential of a healthy Jason Taylor hurts, too, because there isn’t a lot of pop in the pass-rushing department without him. That means seasonlong double-teaming for Haynesworth.

Work to be done: A significant pass-rushing presence is likely going to have to come from the draft, since there just isn’t anyone left in free agency. And no, the talk of adding Renaldo Wynn or bringing back Phillip Daniels isn’t going to scare anyone. That means likely addressing the need with the No. 13 overall pick, which could produce Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, Penn State’s Aaron Maybin or Florida State’s Everette Brown. Two of those three players will likely be available when Washington is on the clock. But don’t be shocked if the Redskins go for a young offensive tackle if one is still available. Bringing Pete Kendall back would help the depth on the offensive line. And finally, developing one (or better yet, both) of last season’s second-round wideouts – Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly – into a reliable No. 2 would be a big step forward.

Bottom line: Zorn must get some development out of two parts of his offense. Campbell’s growth is the top priority, and then getting one of the young guys to take the lead as a pass-catching complement to Santana Moss. Defensively, a pass rusher has to be found to balance out and protect the Haynesworth investment, and the coaching staff has to hope Hall stays hungry in spite of his new deal.

Giantone · 03-11-2009, 07:58 PM

I see no reason why not but I'm sure there are 30 other teams out there that feel the same.

warriorzpath · 03-11-2009, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkinsFanSince91

Bottom line: Zorn must get some development out of two parts of his offense. Campbell’s growth is the top priority, and then getting one of the young guys to take the lead as a pass-catching complement to Santana Moss. Defensively, a pass rusher has to be found to balance out and protect the Haynesworth investment, and the coaching staff has to hope Hall stays hungry in spite of his new deal.

This is a good point. The redskins personnel folks may need to think about this to (maybe even to save their own ass).

GTripp0012 · 03-11-2009, 08:29 PM

Chiefs are really, really far from contending (I know that's what we said about the Falcons last year, but the Chiefs are twice as bad as the Falcons were before their breakout year), so I wouldn't have them anywhere on my list, but that's a very solid first four he's got.

Robinson is a good writer. I could take issue with some of the thinks he put in the Skins write-up, but he's a national writer who understands the big picture. It's not so important that he understand why Campbell's stat line looks like a different player in the second half of the year.

GusFrerotte · 03-11-2009, 08:42 PM

Skins will not be the Cards of '09, just for the simple fact we will be retaining most of the same units that we fielded for '08. Haynesworth is a definite plus for the D, but how arre we going to be at the LB spot. Can Rogers step up his level of play to that of the old Springs consistently? What the hell about our O line? Also, how can you fail with Kurt Warner throwing to Boldin and Fitzgerald, two barn burners. WE don't have barn burners on our team. Moss can be, but not often enough as he is oft injured anymore. Also you need to remember what division the Cards played in, the weakest division in the NFL, while we play in the toughest. On top of that you have the JC drama. I think if he was going to be a great QB in the NFL, we would have seen some shades of it, no matter the system, etc. I am not talking about throwing mechanics either. He really doesn't show any leadership on the field, like he wants to make it his team.

724Skinsfan · 03-11-2009, 09:10 PM

What exactly does it mean to be next year's Cardinals? Have one of the game's best passing game, worst running game, and a mediocre defense in a bad/mediocre division go 9-7? Looking to the Cardinals of 2008 as a source of inspiration is like asking a lottery winner for financial advice. Yes, they made it to the Super Bowl and good for them, clearly the system ain't perfect.

Damn, what a hater!

SmootSmack · 03-11-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

What exactly does it mean to be next year's Cardinals? Have one of the game's best passing game, worst running game, and a mediocre defense in a bad/mediocre division go 9-7? Looking to the Cardinals of 2008 as a source of inspiration is like asking a lottery winner for financial advice. Yes, they made it to the Super Bowl and good for them, clearly the system ain't perfect.

Damn, what a hater!

I kinda had the same thought

FRPLG · 03-12-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

What exactly does it mean to be next year's Cardinals? Have one of the game's best passing game, worst running game, and a mediocre defense in a bad/mediocre division go 9-7? Looking to the Cardinals of 2008 as a source of inspiration is like asking a lottery winner for financial advice. Yes, they made it to the Super Bowl and good for them, clearly the system ain't perfect.

Damn, what a hater!

my thoughts really. The Cards are crap. They are the poster child for a weak conference where a team can put together a few half decent weeks and squeak by. They'll be worse than 9-7 this year and my money says they don't even get close to the playoffs. We're talking about the Cardinals here. The ARIZONA CARDINALS.

GTripp0012 · 03-12-2009, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRPLG

my thoughts really. The Cards are crap. They are the poster child for a weak conference where a team can put together a few half decent weeks and squeak by. They'll be worse than 9-7 this year and my money says they don't even get close to the playoffs. We're talking about the Cardinals here. The ARIZONA CARDINALS.

Well, the Cards were the very best team in the NFL playoffs this year. The Steelers earned their easy road by having a complete and impressive regular season. But by January, the Cardinals were every bit as good as the 2007 Giants were in the playoffs.

And I guess the point is less a direct comparison, and more a general look at which non-playoff team can make the super bowl in 2009.

Monkeydad · 03-12-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRPLG

my thoughts really. The Cards are crap. They are the poster child for a weak conference where a team can put together a few half decent weeks and squeak by. They'll be worse than 9-7 this year and my money says they don't even get close to the playoffs. We're talking about the Cardinals here. The ARIZONA CARDINALS.

So you're saying if the Skins make the Super Bowl next year after a late-season run (which we've done in recent years), you will complain and call the team crap for not winning early in the season?

tryfuhl · 03-12-2009, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

What exactly does it mean to be next year's Cardinals? Have one of the game's best passing game, worst running game, and a mediocre defense in a bad/mediocre division go 9-7? Looking to the Cardinals of 2008 as a source of inspiration is like asking a lottery winner for financial advice. Yes, they made it to the Super Bowl and good for them, clearly the system ain't perfect.

Damn, what a hater!

I hear ya, but who cares how they got there, they made the most of it when they had to. We may say that we had some playoffs in the past 10 years, but they've pretty much been scraping by as well.

The Giants in the previous superbowl were a wild card team

It ain't where ya from, it's where ya at

irish · 03-12-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

What exactly does it mean to be next year's Cardinals? Have one of the game's best passing game, worst running game, and a mediocre defense in a bad/mediocre division go 9-7? Looking to the Cardinals of 2008 as a source of inspiration is like asking a lottery winner for financial advice. Yes, they made it to the Super Bowl and good for them, clearly the system ain't perfect.

Damn, what a hater!

I doubt anyone in AZ cares if the Cards went 9-7, 7-9, or 16-0. All they care about is that they came within a couple of minutes of winning it all. Considering the Skins havent sniffed the Super Bowl in going on 20 years I cant imagine any Skins fan not wanting to replicate what the Cards did last year.

What I really think the author is saying is that the Skins are not a very good team but if a few things go right they could make the best of it and make a run. Thats what the Cards (who arent a very good team) did.

KLHJ2 · 03-12-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irish

I doubt anyone in AZ cares if the Cards went 9-7, 7-9, or 16-0. All they care about is that they came within a couple of minutes of winning it all. Considering the Skins havent sniffed the Super Bowl in going on 20 years I cant imagine any Skins fan not wanting to replicate what the Cards did last year.

What I really think the author is saying is that the Skins are not a very good team but if a few things go right they could make the best of it and make a run. Thats what the Cards (who arent a very good team) did.

I would rather be next years Steelers. There is no consolation prize for second place.

It's just like the Emmy's and Grammy's. No one want's to be the guy that says "It was just an honor to be nominated." You would rather be the one making the speech.

I think that AL Davis said it best when the Raiders lost the Super Bowl one year when one of his players said "Well, at least we learned something". Al Davis replied "We didn't come here to learn nothing, we came here to win!".

In other words I could give a rats ass if we make it to the Super Bowl and lose next season; we might as well have missed the playoffs alltogether. It's like getting to the goal line and having to kick a field goal. Hell, you could have done the same thing from 35 yards away.

CRedskinsRule · 03-12-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angry

I would rather be next years Steelers. There is no consolation prize for second place.

It's just like the Emmy's and Grammy's. No one want's to be the guy that says "It was just an honor to be nominated." You would rather be the one making the speech.

I think that AL Davis said it best when the Raiders lost the Super Bowl one year when one of his players said "Well, at least we learned something". Al Davis replied "We didn't come here to learn nothing, we came here to win!".

In other words I could give a rats *** if we make it to the Super Bowl and lose next season; we might as well have missed the playoffs alltogether. It's like getting to the goal line and having to kick a field goal. Hell, you could have done the same thing from 35 yards away.

I agree I would rather be the Steelers.

But to have a shot, as a fan, I would be loving every minute and every playoff game, and all the hype leading up to it. I miss the days when year in year out teams knew that they were going to have to get past the Skins. Any single game, including the SB, can go either way. But the thrill of getting there, of seeing our team stomp over some, scrape by others, and win on a luck call in still others. All leading to a final do or die, glory or runner up moment. That can't be overlooked or minimized.

03-11-2009, 07:16 PM	#1
SkinsFanSince91 Special Teams Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wash DC Posts: 368	Skins and Texans poised to be next year's Cardinals? Interesting read. I think he might be on to something. Texans, Redskins poised to be the next Cardinals - NFL - Yahoo! Sports Discuss __________________ http://zstiojar.edu.pl/68560

03-11-2009, 07:18 PM	#2
SkinsFanSince91 Special Teams Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wash DC Posts: 368	Re: Skins and Texans poised to be next year's Cardinals? Here is what he wrote about the Skins in case the link doesn't come up. 3. The Washington Redskins Offense: The league’s fifth-worst scoring unit in 2008 could stand to see some major improvement from top to bottom. About the only area that isn’t of concern is the running-back spot, but even Clinton Portis could stand to see some of his carries given to a productive backup. By far, starting quarterback Jason Campbell is the lead concern. After a solid beginning, he languished as last season wore on and didn’t show the leap in development expected. The 38 sacks surrendered by the offensive line and the lack of a reliable No. 2 receiver didn’t help. But a lot of those woes can be solved by better – and quicker – decisions from Campbell. This will be his third year as a full-time starter and, as history has shown, should be the watershed moment in which he makes the step into maturity as a passer. Ultimately, this falls on head coach Jim Zorn. He works as closely with Campbell as anyone, and having a second offseason of tutelage has to yield more consistent and lasting results. Defense: A boatload of cash was invested in two players in free agency: defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Haynesworth has a lot to live up to, but if he can come even close to duplicating what he did the past two seasons in Tennessee, it will make Washington’s front seven exponentially better. Hall, on the other hand, has yet to show he can play well after getting big money. He certainly didn’t last season in Oakland, but Washington blessed him with a second chance anyway. If he can play like a No. 1 cornerback, the secondary should be amongst the league’s best. If he can’t, it will be an inconsistent unit. Losing the potential of a healthy Jason Taylor hurts, too, because there isn’t a lot of pop in the pass-rushing department without him. That means seasonlong double-teaming for Haynesworth. Work to be done: A significant pass-rushing presence is likely going to have to come from the draft, since there just isn’t anyone left in free agency. And no, the talk of adding Renaldo Wynn or bringing back Phillip Daniels isn’t going to scare anyone. That means likely addressing the need with the No. 13 overall pick, which could produce Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, Penn State’s Aaron Maybin or Florida State’s Everette Brown. Two of those three players will likely be available when Washington is on the clock. But don’t be shocked if the Redskins go for a young offensive tackle if one is still available. Bringing Pete Kendall back would help the depth on the offensive line. And finally, developing one (or better yet, both) of last season’s second-round wideouts – Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly – into a reliable No. 2 would be a big step forward. Bottom line: Zorn must get some development out of two parts of his offense. Campbell’s growth is the top priority, and then getting one of the young guys to take the lead as a pass-catching complement to Santana Moss. Defensively, a pass rusher has to be found to balance out and protect the Haynesworth investment, and the coaching staff has to hope Hall stays hungry in spite of his new deal. __________________ http://zstiojar.edu.pl/68560

03-11-2009, 07:58 PM	#3
Giantone Gamebreaker Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 14,022	Re: Skins and Texans poised to be next year's Cardinals? I see no reason why not but I'm sure there are 30 other teams out there that feel the same.

03-11-2009, 08:29 PM	#5
GTripp0012 Living Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Evanston, IL Age: 36 Posts: 15,994	Re: Skins and Texans poised to be next year's Cardinals? Chiefs are really, really far from contending (I know that's what we said about the Falcons last year, but the Chiefs are twice as bad as the Falcons were before their breakout year), so I wouldn't have them anywhere on my list, but that's a very solid first four he's got. Robinson is a good writer. I could take issue with some of the thinks he put in the Skins write-up, but he's a national writer who understands the big picture. It's not so important that he understand why Campbell's stat line looks like a different player in the second half of the year. __________________ according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

03-11-2009, 08:42 PM	#6
GusFrerotte Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Detroit area Posts: 4,153	Re: Skins and Texans poised to be next year's Cardinals? Skins will not be the Cards of '09, just for the simple fact we will be retaining most of the same units that we fielded for '08. Haynesworth is a definite plus for the D, but how arre we going to be at the LB spot. Can Rogers step up his level of play to that of the old Springs consistently? What the hell about our O line? Also, how can you fail with Kurt Warner throwing to Boldin and Fitzgerald, two barn burners. WE don't have barn burners on our team. Moss can be, but not often enough as he is oft injured anymore. Also you need to remember what division the Cards played in, the weakest division in the NFL, while we play in the toughest. On top of that you have the JC drama. I think if he was going to be a great QB in the NFL, we would have seen some shades of it, no matter the system, etc. I am not talking about throwing mechanics either. He really doesn't show any leadership on the field, like he wants to make it his team.

03-11-2009, 09:10 PM	#7
724Skinsfan Playmaker Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 3,508	Re: Skins and Texans poised to be next year's Cardinals? What exactly does it mean to be next year's Cardinals? Have one of the game's best passing game, worst running game, and a mediocre defense in a bad/mediocre division go 9-7? Looking to the Cardinals of 2008 as a source of inspiration is like asking a lottery winner for financial advice. Yes, they made it to the Super Bowl and good for them, clearly the system ain't perfect. Damn, what a hater! __________________ "I hope I'm getting better. I hope you haven't seen my best." - Jim Zorn

Skins and Texans poised to be next year's Cardinals?

Locker Room Main Forum