Biggest Surprise

SkinFan 0-16 or 16-0 · Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:01 pm

What do you think will be the biggest surprise for our skinz this year. I love bold predictions so Im going to make another one.

BIGGEST SURPRISE: Defensive Line. We will be decent against the pass, and a brick wall against the run. Think about it Noble, Haley, Griffin, Daniels, and Wynn are all run stoppers. With these guys up front we will not give up as many 100 yard rushers and in Goal-Line packages all of then will be in.

We may not be great, like the Panthers' line. But they will be good enough to get the job done.

A name comes to mind that LaVar caled our line against the Jets when we thought they were OK,

The Blue Collar Crew!!!!!!

JonC56 · Post by **JonC56** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:13 pm

I don't know were you draw the line between a bold prediction and wishful thinking. The dline will be better against the run then last year because of the addition of griffin, but whos going to give us a consistent pass rush? (and lets not say the linebackers because first there not on the dline, and second there not going to blitz every down)

One suprise that I think will happen will be the play of matt bowen. He was an absolute beast in that playoff game against the falcons when he was with green bay. NOw that hes back at his natural safety position I think he will florish. Alot of the garbage that took place on D last year was the schemes of george Edwards.

Also I think jacobs will break out and have a good year if he can stay healthy. Although, that wont be a huge suprise after the praise Gibbs gave him after mini camp.

JPFair · Post by **JPFair** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:24 pm

I don't know if it will be considered a "surprise" or not, but I think the biggest difference between this years team and last years will be discipline. What I mean by that, is the lack of ridiculous penalties that we'll be hit with. We can never completely eliminate penalties, but I think we'll see a huge decrease in the amount of penalties that we had last year. Specifically, I don't think we'll see as many false start penalties, too many men on the field penalties, and penalties that are completely related to the coaching staff. Most of the penalties we had last year were due to a lack of discipline, as well as mass confusion between the players and the coaching staff. How many times did we see confusion on the field with players not knowing where they should be etc..

I think the lack of stupid penalties will be the biggest surprise.

SkinFan 0-16 or 16-0 · Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:34 pm

Cal it wishful thinking if you want, or call it a bold prediction. Either way I believe it.

And I think Griffin will be good enough to command some double teams. This will create one on one matchups and we will win some of them. Last year we had no one good enough to do that. Noble will also be able to give some push up the middle to free up some DE's. Daniels will be able to get more sacks because of this. Wynn was solid last year. And his numbers would have been better last year if there was not some 40 year old dude falling on the QB every time he did all the work.

JonC56 · Post by **JonC56** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:34 pm

JPFair wrote:I don't know if it will be considered a "surprise" or not, but I think the biggest difference between this years team and last years will be discipline. What I mean by that, is the lack of ridiculous penalties that we'll be hit with. We can never completely eliminate penalties, but I think we'll see a huge decrease in the amount of penalties that we had last year. Specifically, I don't think we'll see as many false start penalties, too many men on the field penalties, and penalties that are completely related to the coaching staff. Most of the penalties we had last year were due to a lack of discipline, as well as mass confusion between the players and the coaching staff. How many times did we see confusion on the field with players not knowing where they should be etc...I think the lack of stupid penalties will be the biggest surprise.

A big suprise to me would be if a joe gibbs coached team did have alot of stupid penalities and did not play with any disipline.

SkinFan 0-16 or 16-0 · Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:38 pm

JPFair wrote:I don't know if it will be considered a "surprise" or not, but I think the biggest difference between this years team and last years will be discipline. What I mean by that, is the lack of ridiculous penalties that we'll be hit with. We can never completely eliminate penalties, but I think we'll see a huge decrease in the amount of penalties that we had last year. Specifically, I don't think we'll see as many false start penalties, too many men on the field penalties, and penalties that are completely related to the coaching staff. Most of the penalties we had last year were due to a lack of discipline, as well as mass confusion between the players and the coaching staff. How many times did we see confusion on the field with players not knowing where they should be etc..

I think the lack of stupid penalties will be the biggest surprise.

Good One. I can really see that happening with the return of Joe Gibbs, and our outstantding coaching staff.

JonC56 · Post by **JonC56** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:44 pm

Lets be honest, there is no one on that line that will make any defensive coordinators lose sleep. I'm not real fond of Vinny Cerrato but I do agree with the fact that he said "every team will have a weakness in the salary cap era , and ours is the D line.". I'll be ecsatic if the d line's pass rush is mediocre this year.

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:46 pm

I think Bowen will have a great year, too. I also think that our LB corps will play much much better than years past...with fewer blown assignments.

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:50 pm

I think our LBs will be better than ever seince we will have a good, healthy MLB.

Though, I don't know if I would like Jessie Armstead or Marcus Washington more.. Armstead, I think, would make Gibbs happy.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:56 pm

I think the secodary as a whole will surprise a lot of people With Champ going to Denver some say we will be a question mark at corner but Smoot will be solid, as long as Springs stays healthy he'll be solid also and the saftey they will definatly make their presents known

Jeremy81 · Post by **Jeremy81** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 12:47 am

I think our defense as a whole will improve more than most people expect. whether it's the d-line or the linebackers stuffing the run and rushing a pass, i think it will get done.

riggoranger · Post by **riggoranger** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 2:07 am

Hey Guys - Newbie Here. Just registered over the weekend and this is Post #1. I've been reading this board for some time and have to say that it has a really nice vibe.

I believe that the biggest surprise will be Chris Cool

ey. He's a smart guy and he'll run Gibbs' offense masterfully. He'll make key blocks, have some beautiful catches, and will make IMPACT plays. By mid-season, everyone in DC will be asking: "Kellen who?"

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:52 am

Welcome aboard Riggo...I agree Cool

ey will surprise some folk...but I think the most pleasant surprise will be the entire D and how they'll go from a bend but don't break to a fly to the ball group!

skinsfan1 · Post by **skinsfan1** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:38 am

Welcome riggo!

hkiss444 · Post by **hkiss444** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:02 am

Marcus Washington outplays Lavar Arrington; more sacks, more tackles, and Lavar goes to the Pro Bowl.

wormer · Post by **wormer** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:09 am

Here's a bold one. Portis will break the all time single season rushing record for yardage.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:47 am

JPF - I agree with the improvement we should see from the team being more disciplined but I also would attribute this as coming from the coaching staff preparing the players better and making them accountable this season. I guess that this is just another way of saying the same thing!!

I also will be surprised if the Redskins are a better team and Dan S will get any credit for it. It has been easy to criticize him for his fiscal irresponsibility but he also will be due some credit for this turnaround.

I'm sure that just about every fan is aching for this season to get going but especially this team and our fans who have had such high expectations recently - I am very excited about the possibilities this year and I think we will see a greatly improved team chemistry and some unknown players making unexpected contributions this season due to improved coaching and players making the plays they are capable of.

SkinFan 0-16 or 16-0 · Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:34 am

JonC56 wrote:Lets be honest, there is no one on that line that will make any defensive coordinators lose sleep. I'm not real fond of Vinny Cerrato but I do agree with the fact that he said "every team will have a weakness in the salary cap era , and ours is the D line.". I'll be ecsatic if the d line's pass rush is mediocre this year.

We dont have that player. But you have to admit that we will be better than last year. With Noble coming back (looking good in mini camp), and with the addition of Griffin and Daniels, we will not be embarassing like we were last year. I think that with these players and Gregg Williams getting creative we will be decent this year.

But Im not saying that a dominant pass rusher wouldnt help.

ChillWill · Post by **ChillWill** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:46 am

I think the biggest surprise will be that the SKINS will find a pass-rusher from somewhere, coupled with G. Williams' blitz package the SKINS defense will have 40 sacks and average less than 100 yards per game against the run.

Yes, this is wishful thinking.

JonC56 · Post by **JonC56** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:49 am

SkinFan 0-16 or 16-0 wrote:
JonC56 wrote:Lets be honest, there is no one on that line that will make any defensive coordinators lose sleep. I'm not real fond of Vinny Cerrato but I do agree with the fact that he said "every team will have a weakness in the salary cap era , and ours is the D line.". I'll be ecsatic if the d line's pass rush is mediocre this year.

We dont have that player. But you have to admit that we will be better than last year. With Noble coming back (looking good in mini camp), and with the addition of Griffin and Daniels, we will not be embarassing like we were last year. I think that with these players and Gregg Williams getting creative we will be decent this year.

But Im not saying that a dominant pass rusher wouldnt help.

I stated before that I think we will be better against the run with the edition of griffin, but after the debacle last year, the only place the dline and whole D can go for that matter is up. With that being siad, the Dline is still our teams biggest liability, but I agree with you when you say they will be better then last year.

Redskins Rule · Post by **Redskins Rule** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:55 am

I would love to see the dline kicking butt like it did during Coach Gibb's last reign here, but in all honesty the d line is going to suck. They will have to blitz line backers and safeties. I just hope that Springs and Smoot are healthy enough to cover the receivers man to man, because with all of that blitzing going on they will most likely be one on one alot.

genuswine hoglover · Post by **genuswine hoglover** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 2:25 pm

My prediction is that the O-line and the d-line will do better than predicted, BUT.....the surprise is that it will not be with the players you think. Some of the hidden gems will arise, either those we have on the roster now or those we pick up after final cutdowns. This will occur not only on the dline but on the offensive line as well!

JR_USCG_GOSKINS · Post by **JR_USCG_GOSKINS** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:13 pm

The biggest suprise is going to be how this team comes out and fights for four quarters..And everybody is afraid of us like they were in the 80's..I'm talking RESPECT from everyone including the critics....I'm talking PLAY-OFFS,it might be a wildcard spot , but we will be there!!!!

tcwest10 · Post by **tcwest10** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:19 pm

riggoranger wrote:By mid-season, everyone in DC will be asking: "Kellen who?"

Why wait ? Most of us are doing it now ! Heck, they're asking that question in Cleveland these days.

SkinFan 0-16 or 16-0 · Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:36 am

Good One TC West. And by training Camp instead of saying Kellen Who? They'll be saying...

Where's Kellen?