When Will we ever learn to stop listening to the hype before a Redskins season?

[Hog1]

Oh yea of little faith. This team looking at the roster is talented. Unfortunately, to this point, it has not extended to the playing field. However, because they have not done IT, does not mean they cannot do IT...................yet.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

If you're speaking of the offense, then yes -- they've definitely underperformed. But I don't think that's the case with the defense.

Let's take the secondary: Clearly, the most disappointing figure has been Carlos Rogers. Here is a very talented guy, taken #9 overall, had many scouting agencies confirming he was the real deal, and he's done nothing but regress. Either he's not as advertised, or he's decided to coast this year, and not play up to his potential. The jury is still out on that question.

We are getting exactly what everyone should have expected with Mike Rumph. Kenny Wright was brought in to be a third down, nickel corner, seeing the field way more than he was ever expected to. Still, I don't think anyone anticipated how bad he was going to be, limited roles or not.

And Shawn Springs? How long did they expect him to perform flawlessly at 100% health? Sometimes, I think certain members of the coaching staff, and all of the personnel decision makers in the front office see his jersey #24 -- and in their minds, they see #28. It's like a mirage. Apparently, they were under the impression that they could count on him year after year to shutdown every receiver that ever lined up against him until he was 42 years old, without the slightest evidence of a slowdown.

That's just the secondary. That doesn't even address the defensive line and linebackers. I could go on, but I'm at lunch...

Not sure what you're saying... are you saying the D is playing as expected, or are you referring to the injuries that has forced much lesser talented guys into action?

Injuries have killed them, I'll let them off the hook a bit there. But even when most of the guys have been in there they've been disappointing. For the most part this is the same unit that was one of the top units in the league the last 2 years, now they're dragging along the bottom of the league. I was on the Springs is the key bandwagon early on, but now I'm re-thinking that and wondering what the heck is going on.

Hell, we can even go back to August and see that they were horrible then. I'll admit I thought it was just the preseason at that time and they would work things out, afterall they did just that in each of the previous 2 preseasons, but obviously it was a sign of things to come.

[Beemnseven]

I'm saying injuries have exacerbated the problems of a defense that was already on the decline. Let's face it, when the pass rush hinges so heavily on the health of a cornerback who had a history of injuries to begin with, you know you had problems.

We already saw what happens to the defense when one guy, Cornelius Griffin, gets banged up. And remember, he wasn't that hot coming out of New York anyway. His performance after he signed with the Skins was every bit of a miraculous rejuvenation that was bound to fizzle out. Even when healthy, he and Salave'a's days of wreaking havoc and getting penetration were nearing an end. Now, they seem to absorb offensive linemen rather than bulldoze through them. Didn’t they realize how important Griffin is, and that if he gets injured, the defense really takes a hit? And that maybe instead of both Brandon Lloyd and Randle El, (while David Patten and James Thrash ride the pine) they should go after another playmaker for the D-line? Nope. Instead they spend draft picks on guys like Manuel White, or trade 3rd rounders for T.J. Duckett.

Guys like Philip Daniels and Renaldo Wynn seem to be fan favorites, but they were spare parts and rejects who might have trouble making rosters of other teams were it not for this organization’s often zealous pursuit and retention of so-called “leaders in the locker room”.

As far as linebackers go, if you notice, teams with linebackers that fly all over the field and make dazzling plays seem to be more of a reflection of the quality of the D-line in front of them. When things are going well with the front four, linebackers will make most of the highlight reels. We’re not seeing that this year with Washington, Holdman, and Marshall.

Bottom line, everybody’s a year older, they tend to rely on past performance and have this attitude like, “oh they did well last year, we don’t have to worry about that position”. Sure injuries have killed them. But good teams, championship teams, have contingency plans for that. The Redskins didn’t.

IMHO the defense has always been somewhat of an afterthought for this team. Giving us a high priced free agent every other year or so, but getting nowhere near the intense focus it deserved. But then again, I don’t know what I should expect for a team that is as careless with draft picks. They’ve never been an organization with a sense of building from the ground up anyway, which is why I maintain that we should have seen what was coming with this defense.