The Tempered Expectations Thread

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

I think that's the thing some people are wondering about that, word "defer". There are those who do not seem to think Allen"s track record in the area where Shanahan may need help is any better than his. (hence the suggestion of still another piece being needed).

Here's hoping that Shanahan can pull off something that at least six other coaches have tried and failed at when it comes to winning super bowls with one team and being able to dupllicate it with another. Vince Lombardi, Dick Vermiel, Bill Parcells, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Holmgren and Joe Gibbs twice in the same city.

Nice post. 100% agree.

[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.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

I think that's the thing some people are wondering about that, word "defer". There are those who do not seem to think Allen"s track record in the area where Shanahan may need help is any better than his. (hence the suggestion of still another piece being needed).

Here's hoping that Shanahan can pull off something that at least six other coaches have tried and failed at when it comes to winning super bowls with one team and being able to dupllicate it with another. Vince Lombardi, Dick Vermiel, Bill Parcells, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Holmgren and Joe Gibbs twice in the same city.

That's an excellent point and one several here have brought up. JLC indicated in a blog post a couple weeks ago that Shanahan and Allen were planning to bring in someone like Eric DeCosta to help out in the personnel department. I really think their doing so is crucial to the team's success.

[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.

[SmootSmack]

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.

I'd imagine Jim and/or Jeff Goodman will be added in the next few weeks, if not days, to the front office. Jim Goodman will probably replace Scott Campbell.

[celts32]

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

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

Paintrain:

Indeed the Redskins of the mid-90s were not very good. The John Kent Cooke years left a lot to be desired when compared to the Jack Kent Cooke years.

However, when Danny Boy bought the team in the midst of the 99 season, he bought a team that made the playoffs. The team was not great and was not destined to become a dynasty, but it was solid and won more games than it lost.

The next year, the Skins were over .500 when Danny Boy fired Norv Turner in the middle of the year and the issue that caused the flare-up was that Norv refused to put Jeff George in as the starting QB. Amazingly, when Terry Robiske took over as interim coach, he surveyed the scene and decided that Jeff George was just the guy to lead the Skins; how insightful of him.

Oh, that was the year that the recently acquired Deion Sanders talked about not knowing "Coach Rabinsky" very well. Lots of respect in that locker room for and from the new acquisitions to the team courtesy of the Boy Wonder.

Danny Boy is not nearly the worst owner in sports. But what he did in his first ten years of ownership here was to take a solid-but-hardly-great squad, tear it apart to add "marquee players" and put the fans in DC thru a decade of less than mediocre football.

The fact that the Redskins are the second highest grossing franchise in sports - - not sure if that is still true - - means exactly NOTHING regarding the product on the field.

You won't hear a word of disagreement from me on anything you said. I was just wondering how one quantified the 'worst owner in all of sports.'

[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.