The Marketing Philosophy Surronding the Redskins

[Bushead]

First and foremost, this is not some moan and groan post about Dan Snyder and the "evil" management that has held back the Redskins. This is more just a small discourse on the fans, media, and Redskins organization as whole constantly creating a aura, a brand if you will, of the "next season is THE season" mentality that crops up each and every year.

Suffice to say, the NFL does that anyways with each and every team; all NFL teams can usually compete against top tier teams and there is a small point differential in many games. But, with the redskins, there seems to be something more going on. The Redskins always seem to have this allure EVERY off-season that they are only one or two players away from breaking it big. I'm not saying fans, including myself, thought they would reach the Superbowl, but many of us were sure of at least a wild card bid several times out of the past 10 years.

To further this point (skipping some years for brevity):

• 2009: The addition of Albert Haynesworth will make our defense a top 5 force creating sacks and turnovers regardless of our poor depleted secondary without Shawn Springs, aging core, and lack of depth.

• 2006: Randel-El would help with the lack of talented WRs the 'Skins had and Archuleta would create pressure, and thus, more turnovers, and Andre Carter would finally generate that pass rush everyone had been looking for. None of these things happened (except the last one - finally)

• 2004: The core free agent class that is still mostly present today: two defensive Lineman in Phillips and Griffen with a solid CB of Shawn Springs and two additions through trade, Clinton Portis and Mark Brunell. This would not only make the Defense much better, but the offense would start scoring. One of those were correct.

• 2002: Linebacker upgrade! With Lavar, Jeremiah, and Jessie, our defense would be spectacular regardless of how horrible the Defensive Line was and wouldn't be able to keep lineman off of them.

After all of these free agent excursions, I was pumped for the season to begin because it seemed like the Redskin's time had finally come. Each season, coaches, fans, and players made it seem like it was only a player or two away, and some even said this. There was, for the past 10 years, an always seemingly teetering feel to the Redskins, as just one player might knock them over into a playoff bound streak.

Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and we all know now that this is not true. Many of these free agent pick ups were at the expense of completely ignoring vital positions. This in turn, made those free agent pick ups seem worthless; how is Jeremiah trotter really suppose to plug the hole with those scrubs in front of him? How is Mark Brunell suppose to pass for more than 20 yards with that protection?

And somehow, the smoke and mirrors continued to even this season. A complete lack of depth on many positions, a beat up RB, old O-Line, poor QB for the west coast, non-explosive WRs, poor secondary which injuries only made worse, and bad coaching were all things that we could see coming in. Yet, many of us, and I reiterate myself included, thought this was going to be a playoff year.

"We are going to build on last year and win another game or two to get there."

"In the system for the 2nd straight year, JC will be able to do what he needs to do to have a better season."

"Albert Haynesworth is going to make last year's defense excel; it will be dominate."

We all know, after this vicious 10 year cycle, what the Redskins have to do: take a 3+ year plan and slowly build that depth, talent, and athleticism that really needs to be at every position through more silent free agents and drafts - and not expect to win. The question more is, will we, as fans, accept this fact, and not buy into every free agent signing or new head coach that will be coming? Or, will the constant marketing machine of the Redskins continue to entice us each new season with players that won't help and publicity that is superficial?

[Trample the Elderly]

You can market this turd in a new shinny package but I'm not buying it. I don't care if Shanny can shine the turd. I don't buy well polished turds! Let me know when this team is THE SHIT! I might buy some shit.

[artmonkforhallofamein07]

I totally understnd what you mean, and I am sure I will go into next season optimistic about our future.

I think that is were the marketing machine is fueled. It is us the fans. We remember when this team was a dominant franchise in the NFL, and this fuels us each and every year. The thought that maybe we got it right this year. Maybe this is our year. The hope that our team maybe ready to make the next step. That finally we would turn the corner. We as Redskins fans help fuel this feeling. I know I do my fair share, and I always believe that in the NFL any thing can happen to make us come together as a team.

Things that I always forget about those Great teams in the 80s and the early 90s is that that team played together every year. Their was not a rotating door. When we have gotten good players on this team we let them go for the next thing. See Antonio Pierce and Ryan Clark ( a guy we should try and bring back to DC this offseason ).

[murphy196]

It's called being a fan! If we didn't have the feeling that every year we have a chance to do something, then it would be pointless to watch or keep up with the team. The NFL is a league where things can turn around quick, so it's not unrealistic to think going into a new season that we have a chance to make the playoffs and then once in the playoffs, anything can happen.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by murphy196

It's called being a fan! If we didn't have the feeling that every year we have a chance to do something, then it would be pointless to watch or keep up with the team. The NFL is a league where things can turn around quick, so it's not unrealistic to think going into a new season that we have a chance to make the playoffs and then once in the playoffs, anything can happen.

Nice post

[Bushead]

Originally Posted by murphy196

It's called being a fan! If we didn't have the feeling that every year we have a chance to do something, then it would be pointless to watch or keep up with the team. The NFL is a league where things can turn around quick, so it's not unrealistic to think going into a new season that we have a chance to make the playoffs and then once in the playoffs, anything can happen.

First, I would like to say I can't believe out of that whole post, I made a typo in the title.

Second, It's not realistic. Each year we are enticed and cheated with this whole idea that we are only 1 WR or 1 DT away from making the playoffs. EACH AND EVERY YEAR. But, in contrast, at the end of the year, we don't have enough offensive lineman, we don't have any depth at key positions, our QB is sub par, our coach isn't good enough, and the list goes on.

We get enticed by this whole idea that we really are only one player away! Then they not only get one or two players, but they get 3 or 4. So, there is almost this thought, well we were only just one or two players away, and now they picked up several! There is no way it can fail!

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by murphy196

It's called being a fan! If we didn't have the feeling that every year we have a chance to do something, then it would be pointless to watch or keep up with the team. The NFL is a league where things can turn around quick, so it's not unrealistic to think going into a new season that we have a chance to make the playoffs and then once in the playoffs, anything can happen.

Well said. I'll always enter a season with hope and optimism. I'll never pick against the Skins in my predictions no matter how badly things look. I'm a true fan, not someone who only supports the team when they're winning. Anything can happen any Sunday, so I won't be one of those who whine and say they'll lose, only to be a liar on Monday when celebrating with everyone who stood by the team.

[tryfuhl]

Allen said we'd be exploring FAs, the draft, trades, etc

I think he just didn't want to say "Yeah half of these guys are gone"

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

Allen said we'd be exploring FAs, the draft, trades, etc

I think he just didn't want to say "Yeah half of these guys are gone"

Actually it was reported that he told the players that there would not be wholesale changes like everyone thinks. He expects them to perform better with better leadership from the coach and for them to have more commitment than they've ever had before.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

Actually it was reported that he told the players that there would not be wholesale changes like everyone thinks. He expects them to perform better with better leadership from the coach and for them to have more commitment than they've ever had before.

Well it's one of the first days of the off-season for us, I'm sure that they won't have all of the personnel decisions made anytime soon. I heard the presser as well, but it's also going to up to the new HC.

[SouperMeister]

Your original post describes our front office philosophy for assembling a team as opposed to marketing a team. Until the draft is fully embraced for building a quality core with depth, we will continue to be the kings of the offseason and a recurring joke in the regular season.

[Lotus]

We're just one player away! Next year is our year!

[Bushead]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

Your original post describes our front office philosophy for assembling a team as opposed to marketing a team. Until the draft is fully embraced for building a quality core with depth, we will continue to be the kings of the offseason and a recurring joke in the regular season.

And this how it feeds right into the marketing kind of philosophy. As a PR major, I would love to represent a product that constantly under performs but our numbers are still king of the league. This is what the Redskins have. I understand a coach would never come out and say "This team is very poor, we need to take 2-3 years to build something," but we have this thing as fans as we always go "we can do this!" because of one offseason signing when there are plenty of problems and we have a poor record.

[53Fan]

What does "surronding" mean?

[The Goat]

Heh heh. By May Snyder will have most fans buying truckloads of Skins garb, tickets and whatnot. There will be lots of hype coming from various bobble-heads.