Somebody please try to convince me that the FO has a plan.

[Coff]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Great post Smoot. It seems alot of people arent happy no matter what the Redskins front office does. We've been hit or miss for many years but lately, we've been hitting alot more than we've been missing. The FO has shown improvement. The FO is showing patience. We appear to be moving in the right direction.

I suppose it's rather unfortunate that the criteria people use to assess the FO is based upon success on the football field.
"People aren't happy no matter what the Redskins front office does" because whatever it does never seems to translate to winning. This decade the Redskins have been one of the least successful teams in the NFL. They've won one lonely playoff game and zero division titles despite grossly outspending every team in the league. Sports is a nasty, results based institution and until the Front Office can show consistent success, rather than consistent failure, people simply will not be happy with anything they do. Inasmuch as we can affect change through public opinion (which, granted, we probably can’t), it is irresponsible for anyone of us to be to be an apologist for the Front Office.

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by Coff

I suppose it's rather unfortunate that the criteria people use to assess the FO is based upon success on the football field.
"People aren't happy no matter what the Redskins front office does" because whatever it does never seems to translate to winning. This decade the Redskins have been one of the least successful teams in the NFL. They've won one lonely playoff game and zero division titles despite grossly outspending every team in the league. Sports is a nasty, results based institution and until the Front Office can show consistent success, rather than consistent failure, people simply will not be happy with anything they do. Inasmuch as we can affect change through public opinion (which, granted, we probably can’t), it is irresponsible for anyone of us to be to be an apologist for the Front Office.

Damn fine post. How can you argue w/ wins and losses?

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Coff

I suppose it's rather unfortunate that the criteria people use to assess the FO is based upon success on the football field.
"People aren't happy no matter what the Redskins front office does" because whatever it does never seems to translate to winning. This decade the Redskins have been one of the least successful teams in the NFL. They've won one lonely playoff game and zero division titles despite grossly outspending every team in the league. Sports is a nasty, results based institution and until the Front Office can show consistent success, rather than consistent failure, people simply will not be happy with anything they do. Inasmuch as we can affect change through public opinion (which, granted, we probably can’t), it is irresponsible for anyone of us to be to be an apologist for the Front Office.

judging the current front office and its decisions based on the performance of a prior front office structure is as foolish as judging the redskins now based on what another team does. Not ranting and raving like a lunatic no matter what the front office does is not the same thing as being an apologist.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

judging the current front office and its decisions based on the performance of a prior front office structure is as foolish as judging the redskins now based on what another team does. Not ranting and raving like a lunatic no matter what the front office does is not the same thing as being an apologist.

Good post.

[Coff]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

judging the current front office and its decisions based on the performance of a prior front office structure is as foolish as judging the redskins now based on what another team does. Not ranting and raving like a lunatic no matter what the front office does is not the same thing as being an apologist.

Oh that's right! Cerrato is now the Vice President of Football Operations whereas before he was the Director of Player Personnel. Huge difference; completely different stucture.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Coff

Oh that's right! Cerrato is now the Vice President of Football Operations whereas before he was the Director of Player Personnel. Huge difference; completely different stucture.

Uhhhh... While Gibbs was here, he had final say over everything. Now Cerrato has final say. While Gibbs was here, we traded away draft picks like there was no tomorrow and signed old average-ish veterans to big fat contracts left and right.

So far, Cerrato has only traded one draft pick thats worth anything and he did it for a first ballot hall of famer who was coming off a 16 sack seaason. So far, Cerrato has only signed two players to contracts of any signifigance: 1. Albert Haynesworth, the best DT in the league and arguably the best defensive player Period; and 2. DeAngelo Hall - a playmaking cornerback who has the third most interceptions of any player in the past 5 years, who is only 25 years old and whos best years are ahead of him.

You want to look at things honestly and not just complain for the sake of complaining? Well heres the facts - Cerrato has done better as "GM" in a little over one year on the job than Joe Gibbs did his entire second tenure here. Joe Gibbs traded away picks and mortgaged our future in an effort to win right then. Cerratos philosphy appears to be to build for the draft and make smart FA moves - only giving big longterm contracts to young players who are still on the upside of their careers.

So yeah, to anyone who is paying attention, the title change (and responsibilities that come) is a huge change in structure and we are already reaping the benefits of that change.

[CRedskinsRule]

Also interesting you use SD, who has 6 picks, they are without their 2nd just like us, and have their 4th and 7th that we are missing (the 4th was for Kendall). So what are the odds that their 4th round pick fills a starting line spot immediately for 2-3 years, or that their 7th even makes the team? The draft is great for bodies, and I would always love to have all the picks, but this year that's just not the case, c'est la guerre.

[horse]

I think the plan is pray no one gets hurt. Look we just have to be patient, We're along way from the start of the season. Campbell finally gets some consistency and our 4th ranked D can only be better with Big Al. We really do have to pray for no injuries though.

[Carnage]

Whats the problem? we have a new plan every year?

[GTripp0012]

I do think a team could build a strategy off of trying to hit it big in the draft with mid round draft picks: going "BPA" as they say by looking for those high upside players who tend to be overvalued, but only giving the big money to the ones that pan out.

I tend to think this is the kind of strategy that Vinny wants to use, but he just can't do it in the environment that the Redskins have. Too much pressure to trade your picks for win-now opportunities. But, unfortunately, that's the difference between having a margin for error, and needing to nail the draft every year to support the age of your team from going all 2003 Raiders on us.

[SmootSmack]

At the end of the day, how many people really care if they have a plan or not. People just want results. Cerrato could hold a press conference and say "our plan is to completely gut our team of veterans, start all the young guys, and build a team for long term success" and after a 5-11 season we'd all say Booo!!!

Or he could say "We shelled out a few hundred million for the best Pro Bowlers money can buy, mortgaged our future, but this should work for a year until we have to dismantle the team"and after a Super Bowl win we'd all say Yay!!!!

[PennSkinsFan]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

At the end of the day, how many people really care if they have a plan or not. People just want results. Cerrato could hold a press conference and say "our plan is to completely gut our team of veterans, start all the young guys, and build a team for long term success" and after a 5-11 season we'd all say Booo!!!

Or he could say "We shelled out a few hundred million for the best Pro Bowlers money can buy, mortgaged our future, but this should work for a year until we have to dismantle the team"and after a Super Bowl win we'd all say Yay!!!!

I wouldn't. I like that plan. That's the way the Caps were built. Now, I would only want to go through that plan if Cerrato was not the architect. I am one of those that has NO, not little, but NO confidence in Vinny Cerrato. Not has he provided one shred of legitimacy.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by PennSkinsFan

I wouldn't. I like that plan. That's the way the Caps were built. Now, I would only want to go through that plan if Cerrato was not the architect. I am one of those that has NO, not little, but NO confidence in Vinny Cerrato. Not has he provided one shred of legitimacy.

I love the Caps, but really would Redskins fans put up with the teams being absolutely abysmal for several years the way the Caps were before now finally being legit contenders? Probably not, because most people don't care as much about the Caps, and don't realize how awful the team was for a while (overpaid veterans, no depth, etc.) .I'd wager that 4 out of every 5 people think they hired McPhee last year and this was a quick turnaround.

I think there are many people that have decided to gloss over any good moves by VC and only acknowledge them as "dumb luck" and are determined to never give Cerrato any credit no matter what. The thought that a team built by Cerrato could win really bothers them. They'd almost rather they didn't win.

[irish]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I love the Caps, but really would Redskins fans put up with the teams being absolutely abysmal for several years the way the Caps were before now finally being legit contenders? Probably not, because most people don't care as much about the Caps, and don't realize how awful the team was for a while (overpaid veterans, no depth, etc.) .I'd wager that 4 out of every 5 people think they hired McPhee last year and this was a quick turnaround.

I think there are many people that have decided to gloss over any good moves by VC and only acknowledge them as "dumb luck" and are determined to never give Cerrato any credit no matter what. The thought that a team built by Cerrato could win really bothers them. They'd almost rather they didn't win.

While the Skins havent been abysmal they havent been very good either for going on 20 years now and overpaid vets and no depth are Skins trademarks. When a team built by VC wins something let me know but until then it business as usual in Redskins Park.

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

At the end of the day, how many people really care if they have a plan or not. People just want results. Cerrato could hold a press conference and say "our plan is to completely gut our team of veterans, start all the young guys, and build a team for long term success" and after a 5-11 season we'd all say Booo!!!

Or he could say "We shelled out a few hundred million for the best Pro Bowlers money can buy, mortgaged our future, but this should work for a year until we have to dismantle the team"and after a Super Bowl win we'd all say Yay!!!!

Yes, it's all about results and our results from our current "no plan" approach haven't been good. When we're a consistent winner I'll change my tune.

I too wouldn't mind a couple bad years if we were building something here. Sometimes what's best for you doesn't make you happy right now.