There's alot of negative energy in here surrounding the playoffs well....

[memphisskin]

Originally Posted by sandtrapjack

Summed up very nicely.

I'm sorry about the loss yesterday to Buffalo, but the Sean Taylor tragedy just took too much time from the team. They did not have the prep time as they would a normal week. And even that time in the film room or meetings or on the practice field could not have been "quality" time with everyones thoughts on what happened to ST.

Sadly I cannot justify picking Washington to win versus Chicago this week. For all the reasons BrunellMVP mentioned here. But also because it is a very short preparation week (Thursday game) that you can eliminate one day due to Sean's funeral.

Normally players in the NFL get Monday off following a Sunday game, but this is a short prep week for a Thursday game. Everyone will be in Miami on Monday. And that will leave them 2 days to prep for the Bears. Thank god it is a home game, or you could take another day away for travel, which would have only allowed one day to prepare for the game.

A. The players did have to deal with a tremendous tragedy, but they did not miss any practice time because of it. Sean passed on Tuesday, which is the player's off day, and unfortunately NFL players do not get bereavement leave. I agree that they were admittedly distracted this week, however unfortunately this is not even a new phenomena for '07.

ESPN - Memphis' campus closed after lineman shot to death - College Football

The lack of preparation time would mean something if they hadn't moved the ball so well for the majority of the game. They were emotionally spent after the week they had. I wished they would have taken out their pain on the Bills, but as Doc Walker said today the same things that have plagued them all season bit them yesterday. That is, short yardage and red zone situations.

We are 5-7 because when we need someone to step and make a play we don't have anyone we can depend on to do it. I think the one thing missing from the Skins in Gibbs 2.0 is accountability.

B. The team will only get one practice day in before the Bears game, but at this point in the season don't the players pretty much know what's going on anyway? Sure, the coaches will miss some time preparing the game plan, but what you hope is that the memorial service allows the Skins to begin to move forward. The reality is that Sean is gone and we've got four games left to make something of our season. I would say that its not going to happen, but then again I didn't think there was a chance we'd lose four straight when we made it to 5-3. So its possible, I'd give it a low possibility of happening just because of how things have broken for us thus far, but stranger things have happened.

[BugelDisciple]

I haven't seen any inspired play from the Redskins this season. I agree 9-7 goes to the playoffs, but I don't have any reason to believe the skins will get there.

[sandtrapjack]

Originally Posted by memphisskin

A. The players did have to deal with a tremendous tragedy, but they did not miss any practice time because of it. Sean passed on Tuesday, which is the player's off day, and unfortunately NFL players do not get bereavement leave. I agree that they were admittedly distracted this week, however unfortunately this is not even a new phenomena for '07.

ESPN - Memphis' campus closed after lineman shot to death - College Football

The lack of preparation time would mean something if they hadn't moved the ball so well for the majority of the game. They were emotionally spent after the week they had. I wished they would have taken out their pain on the Bills, but as Doc Walker said today the same things that have plagued them all season bit them yesterday. That is, short yardage and red zone situations.

We are 5-7 because when we need someone to step and make a play we don't have anyone we can depend on to do it. I think the one thing missing from the Skins in Gibbs 2.0 is accountability.

B. The team will only get one practice day in before the Bears game, but at this point in the season don't the players pretty much know what's going on anyway? Sure, the coaches will miss some time preparing the game plan, but what you hope is that the memorial service allows the Skins to begin to move forward. The reality is that Sean is gone and we've got four games left to make something of our season. I would say that its not going to happen, but then again I didn't think there was a chance we'd lose four straight when we made it to 5-3. So its possible, I'd give it a low possibility of happening just because of how things have broken for us thus far, but stranger things have happened.

So does your reasoning indicate that this game was yet just ANOTHER game in a long history of Gibbs 2.0 games where Washington had a halftime lead only to lose at the end of the game?

[LittleBigSpear]

I agree that a draft pick is more important than the playoffs, eventhough making the playoff is a fantasy.... I am not sure we will win another game the rest of the season to be honest.

[BrunellMVP?]

We are not a good team right now...for all the talk that we should have won 6 out of our seven loses, we also could have lost 4 out of our 5 wins. Bottom line: we've lost 4 in a row, coach gibbs made a huge fundamental (read remedial) error, and taylor just died....the playoffs are a dream. The focus now shifts on helping jason campbell (and other young bucks) progress...

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I would say that about sums it up. The talent is there, and honestly I love Gibbs as a talent evaluator, I just think he needs to basically study this whole off-season about the modern NFL or move into a talent evaluation position.

Obviously, Campbell is looking great, just need to give him more time unlike yesterday.

[SmootSmack]

This team does not, DOES NOT, need to play for a draft pick. They need to, excuse me Herm, play to win the game. They have played tough for the past month with nothing to show for it. They need to smell and taste victory, especially Campbell, and get some swagger in them. They need some momentum to build on heading into Campbell's 2nd full season.

[BrunellMVP?]

We are not a good team right now...for all the talk that we should have won 6 out of our seven loses, we also could have lost 4 out of our 5 wins. Bottom line: we've lost 4 in a row, coach gibbs made a huge fundamental (read remedial) error, and taylor just died....the playoffs are a dream. The focus now shifts on helping jason campbell (and other young bucks) progress...

[BrunellMVP?]

We are not a good team right now...for all the talk that we should have won 6 out of our seven loses, we also could have lost 4 out of our 5 wins. Bottom line: we've lost 4 in a row, coach gibbs made a huge fundamental (read remedial) error, and taylor just died....the playoffs are a dream. The focus now shifts on helping jason campbell (and other young bucks) progress...

[BDBohnzie]

As far as the moment of silence goes, it's hard to keep 90,000 people quiet. However, it is quite tacky to hear the different cheers during it. The first one I heard was "We Love You Sean" from a male voice...and that kinda shot a few more. The buddy I went to the game with looked at me afterwards and said, "Some people just don't get it". I couldn't agree more.

As far as this team goes, I'm glad some are able to keep a level of optimism amongst themselves. I thank you for that, and wish I felt the same way.

However, this team is not a playoff team on several levels. Injuries have killed this team, and with a few more stemming from yesterday (Springs, Wade), it's going to be extremely difficult to go at such a pace.

The Skins have lost 4 straight, 2 of which they had leads well into the 4th quarter. While this team is a few plays away from being 8-4, the simple fact remains this team cannot finish games out.

Then you have the physical, mental and emotional exhaustion from last week's events. Playing yesterday, flying back and forth to Miami today, and playing the Bears on Thursday...while it's a noble feat, it's only going to lead to complete frustration once Friday morning rolls around, win or lose to the Bears.

As Smoot said earlier, all I can hope for is mistake free football from here on out. The playoffs are a pipe dream.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

A huge lift would be getting Springs, Sellers and Thomas all back for the Bears. I think that would help IMMENSELY.

[Redskin]

Slim chane that we could do it but we need some consitancy...we can compete with all those teams and possibly win wuth a little luck or consistency

[VTSkins897]

it's an outside shot, but will 9-7 guarantee we get in? sorry if i missed it in the earlier posts. i guess it's just another year where we have to hope the other guy loses instead of getting it done on our own. at any rate, i'll still take it.

the toughest game is going to be minnesota in my opinion. it might be the case that dallas will be resting it's starting, especially if they have 14 wins coming into the game, so oddly enough we should cheer for them to win out and knock off some of these wild cards.

dont think the chicago is a guaranteed win either. that will be a very tough game on one day of preparation coming off a sunday loss to the bills and an even bigger one during the week. it will take immense effort to get that win, but if we do.....

[memphisskin]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I would say that about sums it up. The talent is there, and honestly I love Gibbs as a talent evaluator, I just think he needs to basically study this whole off-season about the modern NFL or move into a talent evaluation position.

Obviously, Campbell is looking great, just need to give him more time unlike yesterday.

While I agree that Gibbs has made strides in evaluating talent, I'm going to have to disagree with you about there being talent here. We've had one winning season in Gibbs 2.0, and with our O-coordinator and D-coordinator both making more than most head coaches it can't be the coaching staff.

We've had what, four players make the Pro-Bowl during Gibbs 2.0? I love these guys, and I do think we have more talent than we did during Spurrier's reign. If we do have talent, then why are they not producing? Why do we struggle year in and year out to get past the 5 win mark? Outside of maybe our top ten players, we're not really that talented. They are paid like they are superstars, but they are not really talented. The one run we made was based off effort and will, not talent. Of course, my cup of kool-aid just spilled, so once I get a refill I'll be back in line...

[MTK]

The playoffs aren't happening this year. We've lost too many games we should have won and at this point we would need to run the table to have a realistic shot. Taylor's death has drained the team from top to bottom and while I don't think the players will pack it in and stop playing hard, I think it's tough to expect them to keep their focus the rest of the way.