Coach Gibbs might consider extending stay.

[Luxorreb]

Joe will definitely be back next season as Head Coach. Unsure about the following year. I think he might stay on as head coach and fade his operations to mostly AL and Gregg. I think he's already done that in a big way. I think we'll be able to keep most of the team together thru next season and perhaps the next if we get to playoffs this year.

[skinsguy]

I, for one, would love to see Gibbs coach this team until his health no longer will allow him to do so. Of course, I'm biased. But still, if most (and I think most have) can agree that Joe Gibbs has brought some sort of stability to this team, then you have to believe that is quite an important aspect that the team has lacked all these years. I realize we all want results, and results equals winning records every year, playoff appearances, and the eventual Super Bowl title.

But consider this. Under Coach Gibbs, just about all of the losses we've had have been games that we've been leading in, and or lost late in the fourth quarter. Basically, games we've given away in the 11th hour. There have been very few games that we were clear losers from the get go. The line between the Redskins being a good, playoff team and being a losing team is very, very thin. With the exception of the Patriots, this team has proven that it can stand up against every team in this league...including the Colts. This is what I've seen in the last few seasons. I can't really say that about years before then.

The end results is what we all look at, and if this is the case, we can all agree that the end results can be much different with a matter of a play or two and some good luck thrown our way. That's pretty much it. That, to me, doesn't call for the Redskins to make a huge change in the coaching and players department. It just means more patience and to stick with what we get, because it's going to start paying off.

[MTK]

Mediocre is defined as "of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance: Ordinary, so-so."

I don't see how that really fits when talking about this D.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Mediocre is defined as "of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance: Ordinary, so-so."

I don't see how that really fits when talking about this D.

Well the word ordinary fits but the rest of the definition does not apply.

[MTK]

Yeah not really but I'm done with defining words for today.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Yeah not really but I'm done with defining words for today.

I guess I am curious why you think they are more than an ordinary NFL D this year. The numbers you show are good but when they need to make a stop on 1 drive at the end of a game they have blown it more than once. The weak O put the team in a position to win and the D (supposedly the strong point of the team) needs to stop the opponent just once and they dont. IMO if this D had played close to what we thought it would be this team would be at least 9-5 and pretty well assured of a playoff spot instead of needing to win and hoping for help.

[Manusky91]

Originally Posted by irish

I guess I am curious why you think they are more than an ordinary NFL D this year. The numbers you show are good but when they need to make a stop on 1 drive at the end of a game they have blown it more than once. The weak O put the team in a position to win and the D (supposedly the strong point of the team) needs to stop the opponent just once and they dont. IMO if this D had played close to what we thought it would be this team would be at least 9-5 and pretty well assured of a playoff spot instead of needing to win and hoping for help.

You have to take into account the human aspect of this defense. In the games where they faltered, they were physically exhausted. It was in those games that the offense could not stay on the field. You can't expect any D to be on the field the whole game and pitch a shutout.

I think this past Giants game was the only one, except the Lions game, where they got the 1st downs when they needed them...at the end of the game to kill the clock.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Manusky91

You have to take into account the human aspect of this defense. In the games where they faltered, they were physically exhausted. It was in those games that the offense could not stay on the field. You can't expect any D to be on the field the whole game and pitch a shutout.

I think this past Giants game was the only one, except the Lions game, where they got the 1st downs when they needed them...at the end of the game to kill the clock.

I'm not talking about pitching a shutout. I'm talking about needing to make 1 stand to win the game. I'm talking about things like giving up a 55 yd pass with essentailly no time on the clock to allow the opponent into scoring position. That type of thing.

[Manusky91]

Originally Posted by irish

I'm not talking about pitching a shutout. I'm talking about needing to make 1 stand to win the game. I'm talking about things like giving up a 55 yd pass with essentailly no time on the clock to allow the opponent into scoring position. That type of thing.

Or you can make the argument that they did indeed pitch a shutout against the Fuccaneers.

[MTK]

The offense has failed us more often than the defense this year. It seems that you're looking for a flawless defense or something. The truth is even the best defenses falter at times. Overall I've seen many more good things than bad this year from the D. They are a playoff caliber defense. Again I'll reiterate they are in the top third of the league in many of the critical categories that defenses are judged on. Sorry but I just can't put them in the mediocre or ordinary category. Your expectations and evaluation of their performance just isn't realistic.

[freddyg12]

Scoring Defense, that's the stat that counts. Our D has given up few td's.

You need to take GW's scheme into consideration; he's employed the cover 2, bend don't break approach this year & it has been overwhelmingly successful w/2 exceptions, the NE & Dallas games. In the latter, we actually got beat a few times when we blitzed Landry instead of playing cover 2.

This is not a dominant shut down unit, but it's one that teams have a hard time scoring on. The talent level is now mediocre, but not the performance.

[Bill B]

In case anyone did not see this - here is an article form the Washington Times "Caution Trumps Free Spending"

Caution trumps free spending - - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Bill B

In case anyone did not see this - here is an article form the Washington Times "Caution Trumps Free Spending"

Caution trumps free spending*-*-*The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

I think we'll see a cautious approach much like last year. First off, we're not in position to be aggressive because of the cap situation, and second and most importantly I think Gibbs has seen that while free agency can be a valuable tool to supplement a roster, it needs to be used wisely.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I think we'll see a cautious approach much like last year. First off, we're not in position to be aggressive because of the cap situation, and second and most importantly I think Gibbs has seen that while free agency can be a valuable tool to supplement a roster, it needs to be used wisely.

I hope your right on this. I think when teams buy the super expensive free agents more often than not it doesn't always pan out like they planned. If I rememeber correctly wasn't everyone expecting the San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs after they went in an offseason free agent spending splurge this past offseason - boy that worked out well for the Niners didn't it?

[DieHardSkinsFan777]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I think we'll see a cautious approach much like last year. First off, we're not in position to be aggressive because of the cap situation, and second and most importantly I think Gibbs has seen that while free agency can be a valuable tool to supplement a roster, it needs to be used wisely.

Agreed. The good news we have almost a full draft this year, which will be very well needed.

And of course FA has always been a big part of Joes thinking process on filling holes and IMO it has been effective.