My Take on the Redskins

[aswas71788]

Over the past several months, I have read many postings about the Redskins. Some bad, most good, some undecided, some frustrated. As a devout Redskins fan for some 60 + years, I have seen the worst and best that this team has suffered. I have been as critical as anyone over the last few years and have voiced that feeling. I can say without reservation that when they are bad, they are bad. Like last year or in the 50's and 60's.

With the changes that have taken place this year, I feel hope that this team will turn it's self around. The changes are not monumental. We gained a new quarterback, McNabb. Yep, it is still sometimes hard to imagine him as a Redskin. Seems strange. We gained a better offensive line through some acquisitions and a better blocking scheme. It is not the Hogs but it is better. Regardless of the feelings about our receivers, they seem to be better. Galloway and Armstrong seem to have stepped up. Maybe not as much as we would like but they are there, not invisible on game day. The defense under the new 3 - 4 scheme seems to be better at creating turnovers. Last but not least is the new coaches. More centered on how to more this team forward, more professional.

Granted, my view comes from 3 pre-season games and years of watching the good, the bad and the ugly. Two games against teams that are considered to be super Bowl contenders. Over all, he Redskins fared well. They will not win ever week and will not loose every week. But I think they will be in contention every week. If so, that will be a first since Gibb I. The first team has played well, even in the Ravens game. I am looking forward to this year with something more that interest to see what idiocracy will occur.

[KazooSkinsFan]

So in other words, you're pretty much in line with most other Redskin fans right now

[aswas71788]

Yes! This is the first year in a long time when the team seems to project stability. Spurrier was the fun n gun, party time. Gibbs II was turmoil, remember Pierce, Arrington, Clark, Ramsey? Always something, every year. Zorn was sort of an insecure feeling like the first time you rode a bike. Wobbly, uncertain.

I had high hopes for all of the above but there was just not that perception of purpose and having a plan for the future.

[ATX_Skins]

I get sick to my stomach every time somebody mentions Lavar Arrington.

[skinsfan#33]

I get sick to my stomach every time somebody mentions Lavar Arrington.

I might be the only one that feels like LA didn't get a raw deal from the Skins! He should have been mad at his agent and not the Skins, over his contract.

He should have played the way GW wanted him to and he wouldn't have rode the bench behind Holdman!

And he was DONE when the Skins let him go. His knees were shot and he had one so so year with th Gmen and then retired!

[redskinsdiehards]

I agree with aswas71788
Granted that this is just preseason. I think we are contenders this year.
Hail to the Redskins.

[RayNAustin]

I think the Redskins are in the best shape they've been in since Bobby Beathard and Gibbs I.

We have a GM that is solid .... we have a wise old school no nonsense veteran Head Coach who knows what it takes to win ... and a young innovative offensive mind that should only get better ... a defensive coach that has his guys excited and creating TOs, and an entire team that has embraced the the wholesale changes and have responded remarkably fast (they're much further along than I thought they would be at this point) .... and we have two veteran QBs who look to be capable of winning games ... hopefully, McNabb will stay healthy, but Grossman looks to be somewhere between serviceable and pretty good as a backup. The o-line has provided good pass pro (though the run blocking is still behind and needs the most improvement).

I'd say that by mid season,, these guys ought to be playing at a contender level. Hopefully they'll play well enough early to have a decent enough record to make a run in the second half of the season.

I believe there is every reason for legitimate optimism ... I like what I'm seeing, and I expect they'll continue to improve. We may just wind up with a very good team again.

[brad7686]

Well three things needed to improve from last year: Scoring points, getting turnovers, kicking.

I think we have taken steps to fix those, we'll just have to see if its enough.

[KazooSkinsFan]

Well three things needed to improve from last year: Scoring points, getting turnovers, kicking.

I think we have taken steps to fix those, we'll just have to see if its enough.

So you're saying other then offense, defense and special teams, you're good with where we are?

[brad7686]

Well three things needed to improve from last year: Scoring points, getting turnovers, kicking.

I think we have taken steps to fix those, we'll just have to see if its enough.

So you're saying other then offense, defense and special teams, you're good with where we are?

That's correct, with one caveat. Other than turnovers, the D was ok.

[KazooSkinsFan]

Well three things needed to improve from last year: Scoring points, getting turnovers, kicking.

I think we have taken steps to fix those, we'll just have to see if its enough.

So you're saying other then offense, defense and special teams, you're good with where we are?

That's correct, with one caveat. Other than turnovers, the D was ok.

I know, I was just messing with you. It was just funny because you picked an O, D and special teams stat.

[langleyparkjoe]

<-- Lavar defender.

The same way you guys complain about us putting players in positions they don't normally play, or coaching staff changing the way players play their game, you can't possibly say Lavar shoulda changed how he played.. that's utter garbage (changing his game, not your post). When Lavar came in the game after being benched so long, the crowd went nuts and was extatic to see him in there and he made a play right away. Snyder was a total jerk in regards to Lavar and eventually even apologized to him to it.

Lavar ended Aikman's career, he's a Skin4Life !

Ya'll can kiss my timberland heel if you don't like it

[SKINFAN]

I have liked LA the player, he gave his best years to us. Many times where he was the only glimmer in this team. And as mentioned he retired Aikman. But Lavar the talkshow host, I could care less. Two diff. people I think most peeps here look at the LA the host and disount what he has done here. IMO you remember him as the player, not the person. If you want to remember a guy as a player and person, look at #28 or #81. I'm not bashing Lavar, I'm just saying, he is still part of Skins folklore, much like riggins.

[KazooSkinsFan]

<-- Lavar defender.

The same way you guys complain about us putting players in positions they don't normally play, or coaching staff changing the way players play their game, you can't possibly say Lavar shoulda changed how he played.. that's utter garbage (changing his game, not your post). When Lavar came in the game after being benched so long, the crowd went nuts and was extatic to see him in there and he made a play right away. Snyder was a total jerk in regards to Lavar and eventually even apologized to him to it.

Lavar ended Aikman's career, he's a Skin4Life !

Ya'll can kiss my timberland heel if you don't like it

LaVar wasn't in much position to complain about how someone treated him. He wasn't in position on the field most of the time either. But I don't plan to kiss your timberland heel because I don't dislike your opinion, I just don't agree with it.

[KazooSkinsFan]

I have liked LA the player, he gave his best years to us. Many times where he was the only glimmer in this team. And as mentioned he retired Aikman. But Lavar the talkshow host, I could care less. Two diff. people I think most peeps here look at the LA the host and disount what he has done here. IMO you remember him as the player, not the person. If you want to remember a guy as a player and person, look at #28 or #81. I'm not bashing Lavar, I'm just saying, he is still part of Skins folklore, much like riggins.

I was thinking of Riggins all through your post, you got that too. Obviously I'm a fan as Riggo's on my logo, but I have no use for his opinion. But unlike LaVar he net made the Skins a better team. LaVar made us a more entertaining team and got on highlight reels, but he burned us twice for every play he connected on and frankly the burns usually hurt more then the plays he connected on helped. I was thrilled when we drafted him. But a friend of mine who's a Penn State alum and huge fan told me we'd make a mistake because he'd burn us multiple times for every great play. He was dead on.

[SKINFAN]

LoL, yah Kaz, the comparison between them is that they both have their shows, and at some point they were a bright spot on the team, no doubt Riggo was brighter.

[yupchagee]

Well three things needed to improve from last year: Scoring points, getting turnovers, kicking.

I think we have taken steps to fix those, we'll just have to see if its enough.

What about the return game?