Worst Defense in the NFL

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by The Huddle

Or if we had 3-4 more touchdowns instead of field goals the right places, we'd also have 3-4 more wins.

Just for the hell of it I'll sat 58% offense, 42% defense but I really think this is missing the point. I know my opinion is in the minority, and I'll likely get flamed for saying this, but I think the idea that this team is just some defensive tinkering away from being a legit contender is flat out laughable. However, I do agree that the team should and will spend most of its off season addressing defensive personnel issues. My concern is that they will likely go about this in the same ham-handede manner as they have approached other issues the last decade or so no matter who the coach has been- by throwing gobs of money at overpriced free agents who are either past their prime or were never actually that good to begin with. This is the same approach that brought such spectacles as the spectacular failure of the 2000 Redskins, not to mention this year's woefully disappointing offense.

I guess I'm pretty far off topic now, but one of the things about we Redskins fans is that we have been perpetually guilty of deluding ourselves as to how close our team is to actually returning to the top of the NFL heap. I think the Redskins are structurally flawed as an organization, and until significant changes are made in the way this team is assembled (GM or some significant counterweight to Gibbs) then Gibbs II will continue to sputter in the "one step foward, one step back" manner we'vce seen so far. There's nothing especially impressive about one playoff appearance in three years (come on- was last year's team really that good?), much less a 21-27 record, or suddenly being forced to start a neophyte at quarterback halfway through year three of what presumably was a five year plan, or expensive wideouts who put up pedestrian numbers, or exalted offensive "gurus" whose unit can't manage a paltry 20 points per game.

I think there is a lot more wrong with the Redskins than needing a few new faces on defense.

I can't argue w/the general summary of this post, but I think the intent of this thread is not that we're a "few new faces on defense" away from being a "contender," rather the D is our biggest issue & given limited resources, i.e. cap space, that's what the offseason will focus on.
I also agree that many seem to overestimate the Skins' potential every year, even Jurgensen & Huff do. But on this site I think the majority understand that the O is a work in progress, could make great strides next year, and we DEFINITElY need some new blood on D. That said, I'll think of this offseason as just improving to the best of the team's ability, not making those aquisitions that will get us to the super bowl, as we thought last offseason. This team can be a playoff team next year w/some tweaking of the D, IMO. Not talking super bowl (yet!). If I'm one of those fans w/unrealistic expectations, so be it, I have to have something to look forward to & be positive about this offseason.

[The Huddle]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

I can't argue w/the general summary of this post, but I think the intent of this thread is not that we're a "few new faces on defense" away from being a "contender," rather the D is our biggest issue & given limited resources, i.e. cap space, that's what the offseason will focus on.
I also agree that many seem to overestimate the Skins' potential every year, even Jurgensen & Huff do. But on this site I think the majority understand that the O is a work in progress, could make great strides next year, and we DEFINITElY need some new blood on D. That said, I'll think of this offseason as just improving to the best of the team's ability, not making those aquisitions that will get us to the super bowl, as we thought last offseason. This team can be a playoff team next year w/some tweaking of the D, IMO. Not talking super bowl (yet!). If I'm one of those fans w/unrealistic expectations, so be it, I have to have something to look forward to & be positive about this offseason.

Yeah, I know- I wandered pretty far off topic there, but I guess the whole "it's the defense's fault we're 5-10" thing just led me into going off a bit about where I think the real problems with the Redskins lie. This is not a solid football team on either side of the ball, nor is it well structured in the front office. Pinning the dismal state of this team solely on the defense doesn't make much sense to me. I would like to be optimistic but I'm tired of getting my hopes up. I will of course continue to support the team but I find it hard to be optimistic at the moment. My respect for Gibbs' past accomplishments and my admiration for what I know of him as a person are all that are keeping me from being even harsher in my assessment.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by The Huddle

Yeah, I know- I wandered pretty far off topic there, but I guess the whole "it's the defense's fault we're 5-10" thing just led me into going off a bit about where I think the real problems with the Redskins lie. This is not a solid football team on either side of the ball, nor is it well structured in the front office. Pinning the dismal state of this team solely on the defense doesn't make much sense to me. I would like to be optimistic but I'm tired of getting my hopes up. I will of course continue to support the team but I find it hard to be optimistic at the moment. My respect for Gibbs' past accomplishments and my admiration for what I know of him as a person are all that are keeping me from being even harsher in my assessment.

yeah, sorry - you even said in that post that you were off topic!
Understood about the FO, let's just hope that we've seen the worst of Gibbs' learning curve as Team Prez, and he'll adjust some things accordingly. I don't like the way he spends draft picks like pocket change, but I'll continue to have faith in him. This will be an interesting offseason, but as a Skins fan you have to always expect such!