The Tempered Expectations Thread

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

If we do not up-grade our personnel department, when it comes to the draft and free agency we'll have to rely heavily on our scouting department. I'm not so sure that's a good thing.

Yup. I'm on the edge of my seat to see how we set up personnel and scouting. We need strong people there to make up for any personnel deficiencies which Shanahallen might bring to the table. Maybe the Goodmans will come in, as SS has hinted. I wish we could bring in Jimmy Raye. That guy knows how to build a roster.

[53Fan]

If I owned the Redskins I would ask about acquiring players too. Shanny said what he likes about BA, among other things, is that they don't always see things the same and he wants someone to give imput who disagrees with him. I think that is what Snyder really needs and I think he's got it. Vinny was a yes man. MS and BA are not. There is nothing wrong about an owner enquiring about players, he just needs someone to tell him no and why not.

[celts32]

I am not going to temper my expectations. I finally have people in place that I trust. I have done nothing but temper my expectations the past decade. I don't expect a Super Bowl next year but I think with a few good moves they could contend for the playoffs. People on this board were predicting playoffs last summer with Zorn and Vinny running things. Turnarounds in the NFL can happen quickly and as bad as they were this year a lot of the losses were close and could be wins next year with better coaching and improved talent in certain areas. I think a true Super Bowl contender is a few years away but a fun team that plays meaningful games in December is possible next year.

[celts32]

Whats this Jeff Goodman all about? Would this be considered an upgrade in league circles?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by celts32

Whats this Jeff Goodman all about? Would this be considered an upgrade in league circles?

Jeff Goodman? Doubt it. I mean he's considered an up and comer. He's young though. If anything he could be like a Bruce Allen apprentice-both are more about the business side of things. Goodman has a law degree and he's smart about organizational structure, contract negotiating etc. It's possible if he arrives that Eric Schaffer wouldn't return.

Jim Goodman essentially oversaw the draft process for the Broncos from 2005-2008. Is he much of an upgrade over Campbell? I'm not sure

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Jeff Goodman? Doubt it. I mean he's considered an up and comer. He's young though. If anything he could be like a Bruce Allen apprentice-both are more about the business side of things. Goodman has a law degree and he's smart about organizational structure, contract negotiating etc. It's possible if he arrives that Eric Schaffer wouldn't return.

Jim Goodman essentially oversaw the draft process for the Broncos from 2005-2008. Is he much of an upgrade over Campbell? I'm not sure

who do you hear we may bring in to fill the "void" in terms of personnel decisioning? adding goodman and neglecting the personnel aspect is kind of like continuing to draft skill position players while neglecting the lines.

[cdskins26]

I agree, but coming in with no expectations would be boring. We always make it look like were ready to take over. But im sure this years different. . .

[SmootSmack]

Jim Goodman and Morocco Brown I suspect will be leading that

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Excellent news for Brown. Part of me would rather have someone with more experience in the mix, but I'd hate to bring in someone else and lose Brown. He seems like a smart fellow from everything ive read about him as well as from listening to his appearances on cerratos old show.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by GMScud

So I've done some reading, some thinking, and some presser watching today. We've known Shanahan was going to be named coach for a while. After reading hundreds of posts on here today, there is plenty of elation. Everyone is stoked. Plenty of "FINALLY!" type statements.

Don't get me wrong, I think Shanahan/Allen is a positive move for sure. But I'm skeptical nonetheless. I've gotten too excited by this franchise before. "Oh wow, we signed HIM?? Oh wow, HE'S gonna be our coach?? Man I can't wait till training camp!!" Sound familiar? We've all been down this road too many times in the past 10+ years.

Marty Schottenheimer? Oh man, he's going to have complete control. He'll turn this thing around... Steve Spurrier? What an innovator he is. He'll surely revolutionize our passing game... Joe Gibbs? My gosh, the Lord of the Rings will without question boost us back up to the NFL's elite...

Yeah, not so much. I'm happy Mike Shanahan is our head coach. I'm also happy that Bruce Allen is running the show. If he is in fact running the show. I love the Washington Redskins. But at this point, I'll believe it when I see it. Hail.

A few good reads:

washingtonpost.com
washingtonpost.com
washingtonpost.com

I feel like I'm completely in the same boat. Usually when we get our new head coach it's like, oh boy this time it should work, I can't see anything I don't like so far.

But this time it's just like, I don't know what to expect, I've been too excited before, and this latest season convinced me we have much deeper problems than just a couple injuries or missing players. Like, our franchise will never be successful unless something drastically changes, not just the coach/Vinny getting fired.

I mean I could list all the feelings I've felt throughout the years whenever we started over with a new coach. It's like:

Zorn - Well Gibbs left the roster in pretty good shape and if Snyder and Cerrato really think this guy is not just good enough to be a OC but a head coach as well then the odds are pretty decent that this works out. Besides I've grown to like the idea of hiring unproven talent and finding that next gem in the coaching ranks.

Gibbs - Well if anybody can fix what Spurrier did it will be Gibbs. How can you question this? Man won 3 SB's for us and we were hella good back in his day. Even at his worst he'll upgrade the team seriously from Spurrier's days

Spurrier - well he was a great college coach and I like the idea of the fun'n'gun, a great aerial attack is something I'd love to see. Good idea by Snyder and co.

Shotty - Well he's proven so that's a good thing. Also I don't know much about football seeing as how I was 13ish at the time and was still feeling my way around it.

Turner - too young to really understand. At that age I was like, oh we try and score, and the defense tries to stop the other team from scoring. Shouldn't be too hard. All the head coach has to do is make sure everything's copacetic (sp?).

So long story short I'm not even cautiously optimistic. I'm still in wait and see mode, aka talk is cheap these days and the actions of this franchise will prove over time if a serious change has been made from the days of old.

[WaldSkins]

Originally Posted by mooby

I feel like I'm completely in the same boat. Usually when we get our new head coach it's like, oh boy this time it should work, I can't see anything I don't like so far.

But this time it's just like, I don't know what to expect, I've been too excited before, and this latest season convinced me we have much deeper problems than just a couple injuries or missing players. Like, our franchise will never be successful unless something drastically changes, not just the coach/Vinny getting fired.

I mean I could list all the feelings I've felt throughout the years whenever we started over with a new coach. It's like:

Zorn - Well Gibbs left the roster in pretty good shape and if Snyder and Cerrato really think this guy is not just good enough to be a OC but a head coach as well then the odds are pretty decent that this works out. Besides I've grown to like the idea of hiring unproven talent and finding that next gem in the coaching ranks.

Gibbs - Well if anybody can fix what Spurrier did it will be Gibbs. How can you question this? Man won 3 SB's for us and we were hella good back in his day. Even at his worst he'll upgrade the team seriously from Spurrier's days

Spurrier - well he was a great college coach and I like the idea of the fun'n'gun, a great aerial attack is something I'd love to see. Good idea by Snyder and co.

Shotty - Well he's proven so that's a good thing. Also I don't know much about football seeing as how I was 13ish at the time and was still feeling my way around it.

Turner - too young to really understand. At that age I was like, oh we try and score, and the defense tries to stop the other team from scoring. Shouldn't be too hard. All the head coach has to do is make sure everything's copacetic (sp?).

So long story short I'm not even cautiously optimistic. I'm still in wait and see mode, aka talk is cheap these days and the actions of this franchise will prove over time if a serious change has been made from the days of old.

Our offensive line was on a downward slope when Joe Gibbs was here and he has to take some of the blame for our line being where it is now. Who built the Hogs anyway????

Let's wait and see who Shannahan builds his staff with before we jump on him. If rumors of Jerry Gray as our DC turn out to be true, then I might be the first one to question Shanny.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by WaldSkins

Our offensive line was on a downward slope when Joe Gibbs was here and he has to take some of the blame for our line being where it is now. Who built the Hogs anyway????

Let's wait and see who Shannahan builds his staff with before we jump on him. If rumors of Jerry Gray as our DC turn out to be true, then I might be the first one to question Shanny.

I said pretty good shape, not "we have no holes whatsoever". And back in '07 our line wasn't that bad, sure downward slope maybe but Zorn coulda done plenty to shore it up before the '08 and '09 seasons. He had 2 offseasons to get a new guy or two in there and the only guy we really got that will be here awhile looks like Dockery.

FYI I'm not jumping on him, just saying that hiring a new GM/HC isn't making me break out the rose colored glasses again.

[Redskin Jim]

Originally Posted by WaldSkins

Our offensive line was on a downward slope when Joe Gibbs was here and he has to take some of the blame for our line being where it is now. Who built the Hogs anyway????

Let's wait and see who Shannahan builds his staff with before we jump on him. If rumors of Jerry Gray as our DC turn out to be true, then I might be the first one to question Shanny.

Bobby Beathard, He should be credited for assembling the Hogs, but also Bugel for doing a great job coaching them up.. I'm hoping between Allen and Shanny they adress the O-line first and formost of all of our personell problems. The Redskins will be very fortunate if these two can aquire half the tallent on o-line that Beathard did in the 80's..

[CRedskinsRule]

Well, I haven't really seen this mentioned, and I may be reading too much into the few interviews I've seen, but here is my tempered expectation.
The 3 main guys right now are, BA MS and Kyle. All have sounded upbeat and positive, but one theme seems to be buried deep in their statements: They expect to argue thru their disagreements: Shanny said repeatedly, he expects Allen to challenge him. In the Texans interview piece Kyle spoke enthusiastically about working with his dad, but mentioned in several ways that he and his dad have gotten into it over things and his dad usually wins. BA seems like a key to this not getting out of control, he will have to negotiate the churning waters and make sure that feelings/emotions don't take over.

I certainly expect everyone to work together professionally and capably, but Redskins stress has been known to crack the hardest of shells.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Well, I haven't really seen this mentioned, and I may be reading too much into the few interviews I've seen, but here is my tempered expectation.
The 3 main guys right now are, BA MS and Kyle. All have sounded upbeat and positive, but one theme seems to be buried deep in their statements: They expect to argue thru their disagreements: Shanny said repeatedly, he expects Allen to challenge him. In the Texans interview piece Kyle spoke enthusiastically about working with his dad, but mentioned in several ways that he and his dad have gotten into it over things and his dad usually wins. BA seems like a key to this not getting out of control, he will have to negotiate the churning waters and make sure that feelings/emotions don't take over.

I certainly expect everyone to work together professionally and capably, but Redskins stress has been known to crack the hardest of shells.

Good observations. I think over the next few years we are going to see how much BA has diplomatic skills...or not.