Doing it Right!

[Skinsfan55]

Okay, so they're probably not going to the Superbowl. Rex Grossman isn't the best QB in the league, Fred Davis probably isn't the second coming of Kellen Winslow, these guys up front aren't the Hogs, our CB's aren't Hayes and Hanes... we don't have a lot of elite talent, but the Redskins are being built the right way!

The Redskins got rid of distractions and prima donas like Haynesworth and McNabb to change the culture of losing in Washington. They've brought in guys who are team oriented, who want to win. They also brought in high character guys through the draft who also fit the mold.

Kerrigan (23) has all the makings of a great linebacker and a compliment to Brian Orakpo. Trent Williams (23) has all the talent needed to become an elite LT. Fred Davis (25) appears to have all the talent to break out as a top 10 TE (at least!). LaRon Landry (26) hasn't seen the field yet due to injury, but there's another elite talent. We even have veteran role players like Chris ey, London Fletcher, Tim Hightower, Josh Wilson, DeAngelo Hall, OJ Atogwe who get the job done. We even have some talented youngsters stashed away who looked like stars in camp such as Jarvis Jenkins, Leonard Hankerson and Roy Helu.

Bottom line is, we don't have a bad apple in this bunch. These guys all have one goal, and they feel like they could win every time they take the field. It's idiotic for a fan to think this is bad news or bemoan the early season wins as "costing" us Andrew Luck. This is how winning teams are built in the NFL. With a long term plan and patience.

Luck is a fine QB and I'm sure he'd be an asset to any franchise, but the team that tanks in search of the first pick is one that's going nowhere. FWIW I hope the Redskins do get a QB to build around. This QB class should be deep and you don't need to pick first to get someone. Josh Freeman is a fine young QB who got picked 17th overall (2009). There's other recent exampled like Joe Flacco (18th pick, 2008), Jay Cutler (11th pick, 2006), Aaron Rogers (24th pick, 2005), and Ben Roethlisberger (11th pick, 2004).

Given what I've seen so far in their rebuilding process I trust Shanny and Allen to make the right calls be it drafting a QB next season or passing on one in order to grab the right player for their system, as they did with Ryan Kerrigan when they passed on Gabbert.

This team is actually facing in the right direction for once. They're not pointed down, competing for the #1 overall pick. Thank God.

[Red_One43]

^ Very well said!

[Colorado Skin Fan]

Robert Griffin III (RGIII) Baylor would do just fine and would likely be there for the Skins if they continue to play well. You have a build a new winning culture and that has to the first priority.

[Manchester_Redskin]

yeah, nice post

[riggofan]

Okay, so they're probably not going to the Superbowl. Rex Grossman isn't the best QB in the league, Fred Davis probably isn't the second coming of Kellen Winslow, these guys up front aren't the Hogs, our CB's aren't Hayes and Hanes... we don't have a lot of elite talent, but the Redskins are being built the right way!

Good post man. I hope more fans are feeling this way and being realistic. I'm happy about the first two wins, but we're not an elite team and who knows what our final record will be this year.

The best thing about this season so far is seeing a young team, playing together and being competitive. I think we have real reason to hope for success in the near future.

[GoSkins]

Great summary of where we are. It's going to take a while but this is the most optimistic I've been in a long time.

[Skinsfan55]

Think about it. We earned our 4-12 collar in 2009. The Redskins stunk. We had a decent young QB in Jason Campbell who I liked, but could be argued had lost the fans and the team and was never going to be a franchise guy. We had a broken down RB (Clinton Portis) who was becoming poison in the clubhouse and had work ethic problems. We had Antwaan Randle El as a high priced productionless WR/KR. The OL was horrible (best player was an aging Rabach.)

On defense we featured an old defensive line, decent but aging linebackers, good corners and weaknesses at the safety spots (with Landry miscast as a FS.) There was virtually NO depth anywhere on the team except TE.

The re-build started slow and he made a mistake with McNabb. The idea was that McNabb would come in and take the reins becoming the face of the franchise but I believe Shanahan misjudged him. McNabb isn't that type of guy. Shanahan and Allen had only one draft pick in the first 3 rounds in 2010 and they had a decent showing. 4 of the 6 guys are still with the team (Williams, Riley, Austin, and Cook). Shanahan also brought in Torain, Lichtensteiger, Brown, Carriker, Buchanon and others. While those guys might not be stars they do make up some solid depth. This is a deep Redskins roster and they are another year, or two years from turning the ship around. I personally can't wait to see what they do with another offseason.

Don't you feel like the Skins are in better shape than last season? The year before?

[redskinz4ever]

Great summary of where we are. It's going to take a while but this is the most optimistic I've been in a long time.

this team has a "FEEL" to it and it feels so good

[yupchagee]

Okay, so they're probably not going to the Superbowl. Rex Grossman isn't the best QB in the league, Fred Davis probably isn't the second coming of Kellen Winslow, these guys up front aren't the Hogs, our CB's aren't Hayes and Hanes... we don't have a lot of elite talent, but the Redskins are being built the right way!

The Redskins got rid of distractions and prima donas like Haynesworth and McNabb to change the culture of losing in Washington. They've brought in guys who are team oriented, who want to win. They also brought in high character guys through the draft who also fit the mold.

Kerrigan (23) has all the makings of a great linebacker and a compliment to Brian Orakpo. Trent Williams (23) has all the talent needed to become an elite LT. Fred Davis (25) appears to have all the talent to break out as a top 10 TE (at least!). LaRon Landry (26) hasn't seen the field yet due to injury, but there's another elite talent. We even have veteran role players like Chris ey, London Fletcher, Tim Hightower, Josh Wilson, DeAngelo Hall, OJ Atogwe who get the job done. We even have some talented youngsters stashed away who looked like stars in camp such as Jarvis Jenkins, Leonard Hankerson and Roy Helu.

Bottom line is, we don't have a bad apple in this bunch. These guys all have one goal, and they feel like they could win every time they take the field. It's idiotic for a fan to think this is bad news or bemoan the early season wins as "costing" us Andrew Luck. This is how winning teams are built in the NFL. With a long term plan and patience.

Luck is a fine QB and I'm sure he'd be an asset to any franchise, but the team that tanks in search of the first pick is one that's going nowhere. FWIW I hope the Redskins do get a QB to build around. This QB class should be deep and you don't need to pick first to get someone. Josh Freeman is a fine young QB who got picked 17th overall (2009). There's other recent exampled like Joe Flacco (18th pick, 2008), Jay Cutler (11th pick, 2006), Aaron Rogers (24th pick, 2005), and Ben Roethlisberger (11th pick, 2004).

Given what I've seen so far in their rebuilding process I trust Shanny and Allen to make the right calls be it drafting a QB next season or passing on one in order to grab the right player for their system, as they did with Ryan Kerrigan when they passed on Gabbert.

This team is actually facing in the right direction for once. They're not pointed down, competing for the #1 overall pick. Thank God.

Role players? Several of these guys are probowlers!

[Deadskins]

That just means they're good at their roles.

[Countertrey]

Robert Griffin III (RGIII) Baylor would do just fine and would likely be there for the Skins if they continue to play well. You have a build a new winning culture and that has to the first priority.

Hmmmmm... I'm going to start a "Whiff for Griff" campaign... I just know it will be very popular among my 'skins brethren, who will concur that we should blow the rest of the season.

Don't worry, CSF... it's tongue in cheek... though I do think Griffin would be a great catch...



Whiff for Griff! Next up? My "Go Cowboys" thread!

[andyjens89]

How about "Dominate for Super Bowl"?

[Skinsfan55]

4. This is the seventh time the Redskins have started 2-0 since 1978, with five of the previous six trips resulting in a playoff berth. But this is the ninth time a Mike Shanahan team has opened 2-0. And only four of the previous eight times ended in the postseason.

So what does being 2-0 mean to Shanahan?

“You just win two games, that’s about it,” he said. “I don’t think our players are overly excited that we’re 2-0. They understand we have a big game Monday night against Dallas and things change very quickly. Our concentration will be on Dallas and not what our record is.”

5. That’s quite a change from the Jim Zorn era. When the Redskins were approaching their 6-2 mark, Zorn talked about the playoffs and how he had to think about making sure certain players were ready for the postseason. And around that time I remember seeing Clinton Portis getting ready to tape a show while seated just by the practice field. Before the taping began he was talking with Randy Thomas and I kept hearing Portis say, “Championships!” Looking way too far ahead. It’s a moment that stuck with me and helped explain, in part, why that season fell apart.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/nfl ... z1YSC1TPk3

[Colorado Skin Fan]

Whiff for Griff. I like that!!

I guess my point was I think he's a mid first round pick. We play to win and rebuild our respectability and tradition. Shanny and Allen have now proven they can find talent and character outside of the 1st 10 picks of the draft. RG3 fits that mold if we are looking to find a future franchise QB.

Great initial post. Thanks for the welcome. Been watching for a while and decided to jump in.

[oneman56]

nice to see another Colorado Skin fan to the board. Welcome CSF!

[Skinsfan55]

lol, I live in Colorado Springs, who would have guessed there'd be this many Coloradans?

[oneman56]

I'm in Littleton and it's definitely nice to see other Skins' fans out here.

[Smithian]

I'm sort of worried about the QB position going forward. Thing is you can come overcome average QB play in the regular season, but this a QB league. Elite QBs win in the playoffs.

I feel like eventually we'll need to get lucky by finding an Andy Dalton type in the second round or trading up a bit to get a top QB to develop. I still wish we had picked up Ryan Mallett. 6'7, cannon arm, proven production in college, and was coming out of an NFL style offense in college, but like 30 other teams we drank the kool aid that he "talked funny". we'll probably be one of the teams trying to offer a first round pick for him soon enough.

The rest of the team is coming together pretty well. Feeling really good about us going from Point A to Point B, but not sure we can get from Point B to Point C(hampionship) without a top of the line QB.

Then again, if Jim Haslett wants to mimic the 2000 Ravens and tell Rex Grossman not to mess up.... That would work just fine for me.

[Skinsfan55]

I too wanted a QB but I really trust Shanahan's evaluation of players at the position. He passed on Gabbert and keyed on Kerrigan instead and the dude looks like a beast so far. It could be argued that he also passed on Ponder with this move. It's tough to say how much he liked Dalton and Colin Kaepernick because they were gone in the second round but we got Jenkins who looked good in practice so we should be alright.

Mallet looked good to me as well, but I just trust Shanahan's judgement on this. Either Shanny didn't think he was going to make it as a franchise type QB, he didn't like his character baggage or both. I too am a little concerned about Rex due to his past, but he's been solidly above average in Washington. 57% completions in 4 starts (5 games total), 11 TD, 6 int and 1,480 yards. He looks pretty good thus far against some stout defenses.

[redskinz4ever]

right now im happy with everything taking place.seems danny has finally stopped playing madden with his TOY if you will.let the football people do what they do.draft wise this is our best draft in the last 10 years (getting younger also) we are still finding pieces to our D which has been much improved from last years.our QB situation is well not good but it could be alot worse.GROSSMAN is average ..... and BECK is well im not sure.hopefully this offseason it is our # 1 thing on our bucket list.
oh and find a solid kicker every time GANO walks out to kick it makes me want to puke.

[Kilmer72]

right now im happy with everything taking place.seems danny has finally stopped playing madden with his TOY if you will.let the football people do what they do.draft wise this is our best draft in the last 10 years (getting younger also) we are still finding pieces to our D which has been much improved from last years.our QB situation is well not good but it could be alot worse.GROSSMAN is average ..... and BECK is well im not sure.hopefully this offseason it is our # 1 thing on our bucket list.
oh and find a solid kicker every time GANO walks out to kick it makes me want to puke.

Let us at least give Rex a whole season. Maybe everyone will be surprised. So far he doesn't look average. I think he can do it.

[SKINFAN]

I don't know about you guys, but personally, I like the careful Rexy rather than careless gunslinger Rexy. Everything is fine for now. Sure it'll be nice to have a better QB, but let's get everything lined up, have a good WR corps, we already have a rock solid run game. This way if and when we do get a good QB everything is set up for him to succeed. =)

[redskinz4ever]

right now im happy with everything taking place.seems danny has finally stopped playing madden with his TOY if you will.let the football people do what they do.draft wise this is our best draft in the last 10 years (getting younger also) we are still finding pieces to our D which has been much improved from last years.our QB situation is well not good but it could be alot worse.GROSSMAN is average ..... and BECK is well im not sure.hopefully this offseason it is our # 1 thing on our bucket list.
oh and find a solid kicker every time GANO walks out to kick it makes me want to puke.

Let us at least give Rex a whole season. Maybe everyone will be surprised. So far he doesn't look average. I think he can do it.

an average grossman is not a bad thing ...saying it could be worse

[SkinsJock]

No worries - NO player in B&G is going to be able to play if they don't do exactly what Mike, Jim and Kyle want them to do

Rex doesn't have to be good or be bad - he just needs to do his job
same goes for ALL the players - they just have to do their jobs on the practice field & in the games

what has been missing here is that the franchise has not been managed - now we have guys bringing in players that make the sum total better


loving the progress - the O line and parts of the offense still need upgrading
we are a work in progress this year and looking to be playoff contenders next season

ESPECIALLY if we can bring in a super QB and get him ready to play



GOTTA LOVE THE SHANAPLAN

[redskinz4ever]

No worries - NO player in B&G is going to be able to play if they don't do exactly what Mike, Jim and Kyle want them to do

Rex doesn't have to be good or be bad - he just needs to do his job
same goes for ALL the players - they just have to do their jobs on the practice field & in the games

what has been missing here is that the franchise has not been managed - now we have guys bringing in players that make the sum total better


loving the progress - the O line and parts of the offense still need upgrading
we are a work in progress this year and looking to be playoff contenders next season

ESPECIALLY if we can bring in a super QB and get him ready to play



GOTTA LOVE THE SHANAPLAN

100% agree ..... except playoff s this YEAR