Are you buying into the Shanaplan?

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Have we turned the corner? Not sure - I think we will. Again, I want to see how ShanAllen handles the coming need for talent replacement/retention. If we succeed, if the talent level is improving, players will be lost. How they are replaced is key.

Look at Houston, their D lost DeMarco Ryans & Mario Williams this past year and is still playing at a high level. Sure, their was a scheme switch. Regardless, most teams losing two pro-bowlers from the first & second level of their defense would be in serious trouble. In Houston, however, they maintained there performance. I don't recall Houston signing guys to huge UFA contracts to replace them. Instead, they retained and replaced from inside - w/ guys on the roster that nobody may have known before plus good drafting (J.J. Watt makes up for a lot of other talent defeciencies).

Couple of things: We, too, have had our share of losses on defense: Rak and Carriker. One could also argue our defense is much better with Meriweather in the line-up. So the talent rule applies to the Redskins as well. It's quite possible that Mario Williams was a bit overrated to begin with. What has he done in Buffalo this season? Haven't heard much from him.

In short, Robert was the missing piece. The QB raises the level of play of those around him and we've witnessed that this season. We won a total of 11? games the previous two seasons. I feel we're on the right track; Turned the corner.

Generally I think we agree more than not on this point.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Couple of things: We, too, have had our share of losses on defense: Rak and Carriker. One could also argue our defense is much better with Meriweather in the line-up. So the talent rule applies to the Redskins as well. It's quite possible that Mario Williams was a bit overrated to begin with. What has he done in Buffalo this season? Haven't heard much from him.

In short, Robert was the missing piece. The QB raises the level of play of those around him and we've witnessed that this season. We won a total of 11? games the previous two seasons. I feel we're on the right track; Turned the corner.

My point about Houston was just an example of how good teams replace lost talent. Think of Gibbs I, the current Patriots or the 2000-2009 Eagles. Good teams can lose talent b/c it can be adquately replaced (or appropriately retained).

I fully agree that Robert was the missing piece although I would suggest it is more accurate to say "a quality QB was the missing piece" - the fact that we were able to insert an amazing talent like RGIII into that piece is just absolute gravy.

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Generally I think we agree more than not on this point.

I agree that we generally agree.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

My point about Houston was just an example of how good teams replace lost talent. Think of Gibbs I, the current Patriots or the 2000-2009 Eagles. Good teams can lose talent b/c it can be adquately replaced (or appropriately retained).

I fully agree that Robert was the missing piece although I would suggest it is more accurate to say "a quality QB was the missing piece" - the fact that we were able to insert an amazing talent like RGIII into that piece is just absolute gravy.

I definitely think that's why the Redskins were so good in the 80's, they had good backups who could come in and make plays, good quarterbacks who could win ya some games, and certainly a good eye for talent. But, I think drafting a guy like Kirk Cousins just showed everybody that if you do plan on being a winner, you're going to need a good backup QB.

[REDSKINS4ever]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

I definitely think that's why the Redskins were so good in the 80's, they had good backups who could come in and make plays, good quarterbacks who could win ya some games, and certainly a good eye for talent. But, I think drafting a guy like Kirk Cousins just showed everybody that if you do plan on being a winner, you're going to need a good backup QB.

In the 80s, Beathard and Casserly did the best job in the NFL at finding quality players to play on both sides of the ball. The Redskins had players like Alvoid Mays, A.J. Johnson, Jumpy Gathers, and were rock solid at every position.

This season through building the team, this was the first time that quality depth was added to the roster since Shanahan had been the HC. You could even see it in preseason games before the regular season.

The Redskins were fortunate Kirk Cousins was still there in the 4th round because he was projected to go in the 2nd round. Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan were wise to want to go into a more youthful direction instead of depending on turnover bound Rex Grossman to be RG3's back up.