Expectations for this season

[riggofan]

personally - I don't think they need to play those players who have little to prove, much beyond a series or 2 - there are players that need time and there are players that the coaches don't need to see

for these next 2 games, only play the players that you need to see more from

PLUS you have to keep in mind, there are some players that just need some time on the field before the season begins

there are many injuries that don't happen with any contact at all - spit happens

But what happens to the QB if you are playing players on the bubble on the line? It's kind of a catch-22.

I don't think Griffin was really playing with any bubble players last week. Willie Smith is the guy they were expecting to be Trent's backup this season. The rest of the line was the starting o-line.

Anyway, I'm not talking about resting all of the starters in week 3 of the preseason. I was talking about Ryan Kerrigan specifically. I'd say the same thing about DJax. We've already been hit pretty hard with injuries and the season hasn't even started.

And yeah, I know **** happens and a guy can get injured slipping on a gum wrapper. He's still 1000x more likely to get injured playing an actual game of football.

[SkinsJock]

that's true JSPB - it's hard to lose players to injury, especially 'key' players, but coaches need film and some players really need to play

Griffin has not helped himself much to date with his showings against the Browns and the Lions - the line play was not great but Griffin because of what they saw on film, needs to show better awareness and he needs game time not practice time to improve on that

this is a big time, man up game for Griffin - he should not start the Miami game if he shows that he's not ready

if the coaches think that Griffin is progressing and he just needs more time to be better, they should play Cousins or McCoy until he clearly shows that he's a lot better - he's not shown that yet


these guys know how important this kid could be to the franchise in 2016 and beyond, let's determine if he can play QB at a high level or not

I've heard that Griffin has not lost a lot of his quickness - he's a little slower, he's still pretty quick but he's hesitant - NOT GOOD

[SkinsJock]

there's a bunch of players that should not play and some that have to show something

the coaches know what they need to see and should plan accordingly

[SkinsJock]

In all honesty, I don't have high expectations but I'm hoping that we show improvement on the field, better leadership from the coaches and the team captains and stability from the FO and management guys

It does not really matter who is the QB (I prefer Griffin) or what the win loss record is - I just want to see clear evidence that Gruden and Scot are in control here of the product on the field - this franchise needs continuity above all else

I really don't want to see Gruden fired unless he clearly does not do a good job as the HC here this season and I especially hope the season is not disrupted by dissension at the top or amongst the players


btw - from what we're hearing today, it does sound like Dan Snyder is interfering with things and that's a huge shame

[StorminMormon86]

I'd like to see some decent progress. A near .500 record (7-9) or better would be great, IMO.

And more progress would be made if they just went ahead and cut Griffin.

[OldSchool]

I think they can play .500 ball with Cousins at QB. I think they are a little more balanced this year able to run and defend better. Kiirk will have a few bad games and the defense and special teams will lose a few games but if Cousins gets a full 16 starts I think they win 7-8 games which would be a big improvement and good start to the SM & JG era.

[DarthMonk]

I think they can play .500 ball with Cousins at QB. I think they are a little more balanced this year able to run and defend better. Kiirk will have a few bad games and the defense and special teams will lose a few games but if Cousins gets a full 16 starts I think they win 7-8 games which would be a big improvement and good start to the SM & JG era.

Took the post right out of my keyboard. I think we are a .500 team with Kirk starting 16 games. With luck and extra confidence after some good fortune, maybe better.

[SkinsJock]

One thing for sure - this franchise is not being managed by Snyder - this is a clear indication that NFL guys are in charge here

I'd love to have your confidence in Cousins but I just hope he can help out the offense until we find another QB

[Deadskins]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I think all these six win predictions are underestimating how well we're going to do this year. I have a good feeling that we are going to be competitive, and will have a winning record, and be in the playoff conversation come December. 9-7 wouldn't surprise me at all.

[SkinsJock]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I think all these six win predictions are underestimating how well we're going to do this year. I have a good feeling that we are going to be competitive, and will have a winning record, and be in the playoff conversation come December. 9-7 wouldn't surprise me at all.

love the confidence but there are just too many things that need to go well - I think we'll see improvement .. 8-8 would be great

[DarthMonk]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I think all these six win predictions are underestimating how well we're going to do this year. I have a good feeling that we are going to be competitive, and will have a winning record, and be in the playoff conversation come December. 9-7 wouldn't surprise me at all.

love the confidence but there are just too many things that need to go well - I think we'll see improvement .. 8-8 would be great

Anything can happen if ...

1) specials are adequate,

2) back end can limit big plays, i.e., tackle and not have 2 guys cover 1 while letting another run free, and

3) we get some push up front in addition to simply being stout against the run allowing the blitz to get home with just 1 or 2 extra rushers as opposed to having to bring the house.

If this happens, Kirk won't have to be a miracle man and the offense should be good enough for us to have a decent chance in every game.

[Smurf85]

5-12

I know not possible, but somehow the Skins will find a way to lose another game.

Top 5 pick in draft and we'll be drafting another QB.

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

personally - I don't think they need to play those players who have little to prove, much beyond a series or 2 - there are players that need time and there are players that the coaches don't need to see

for these next 2 games, only play the players that you need to see more from

PLUS you have to keep in mind, there are some players that just need some time on the field before the season begins

there are many injuries that don't happen with any contact at all - spit happens

But what happens to the QB if you are playing players on the bubble on the line? It's kind of a catch-22.

I don't think Griffin was really playing with any bubble players last week. Willie Smith is the guy they were expecting to be Trent's backup this season. The rest of the line was the starting o-line.

Anyway, I'm not talking about resting all of the starters in week 3 of the preseason. I was talking about Ryan Kerrigan specifically. I'd say the same thing about DJax. We've already been hit pretty hard with injuries and the season hasn't even started.

And yeah, I know **** happens and a guy can get injured slipping on a gum wrapper. He's still 1000x more likely to get injured playing an actual game of football.

Um... Willie Smith is a t Wal-Mart greeting customers now tho...?

[StorminMormon86]

Defense and special teams will be the key to a winning record this year.

[OldSchool]

Defense and special teams will be the key to a winning record this year.

This plus their ability to rush better. We won't be a .500 team if Cousins has to throw it more than 35 times a game, at this point he's not good enough to be a Payton Manning 40+ pass per game QB. So yes, we need to see across the board improvement to get to .500 in my view.

[riggofan]

Defense and special teams will be the key to a winning record this year.

This plus their ability to rush better. We won't be a .500 team if Cousins has to throw it more than 35 times a game, at this point he's not good enough to be a Payton Manning 40+ pass per game QB. So yes, we need to see across the board improvement to get to .500 in my view.

I think the pass rush is going to be better. That kind of looks like one area they've improved. Crossing my fingers that Kerrigan is good to go, of course.

Question for the real football people on here though. Can the weaknesses in the secondary hurt the pass rush?

[FanofallthatisGibbs]

riggo - I don't think it hurts the pass rush. It's the other way around - the D-line can only make the secondary that much stronger. Sure we may have fewer "coverage sacks" due to poor secondary play, but if the D-line hurries the QB consistently, the chances of errant passes and mistakes from not having a breath to read the Def may indeed make the secondary appear much stronger. One only need looks at the Redskins TO margin in '13-'14 to make that case (ranked 26th, 30th respectively).

I have always been suspicious of DBs from teams with dominant D-lines. I think it's starts in the trenches, not out in open space downfield. 2012 the Redskins were 3rd in TO Margin, getting over 30 takeaways that year. We didn't have stud DBs, though D-Hall played a career year. We had the right mix of pressure and it made those DBs look much better than their talent level.

If the pass rush is indeed improved, expect more INTs and Fumbles forced. This should have a tremendous impact on the record. Hopefully Cousins can keep the INTs under control and manage the game well enough, otherwise the D will get tired and frustrated fast with always defending a shorter field. Fingers crossed!

[Countertrey]

Question for the real football people on here though. Can the weaknesses in the secondary hurt the pass rush?

Only if the pass rush sucks to begin with... An effective pass rush doesn't need strong secondary coverage to get to the passer, in the vast majority of plays...

[riggofan]

Thanks for clarifying, that is good information. I knew that a weak d-line could make life hard on the secondary, but wasn't sure if it worked the other way too.

[Deadskins]

Thanks for clarifying, that is good information. I knew that a weak d-line could make life hard on the secondary, but wasn't sure if it worked the other way too.

It can, in that if the QB can make the D pay by completing passes even with the rushers being in his face, then he can slow down the pass rush considerably.

[SkinsJock]

2014 vrs 2015 - where we stand ...

HC - will do a better job; the O line, defense and special teams should all play at a better level - but how hard could that be

QB - will be better ... but Cousins has to stop turning the ball over ....

RBs and WRs - these are strengths but they need a good O line and a good QB

Defense looks to be improved but, like the O line, how hard could that be

Special teams needs to show that the pre season really does not mean a thing

minimum 4 to 6 wins and maybe 8 - 9 max.

2016 = new HC and we'll draft a QB - hopefully with Scot as GM

[OldSchool]

Balance is the key to improvement in 2015. I think the following are the keys to get to .500 in order of importance:

1. The power run blocking needs to improve. I think being able to run the ball 30+ per game is a prerequisite for a .500 season. We need to keep our passes below 35 times per game so Cousins is not overburdened. The Skins will lose games were Cousins needs throw it 40+, he can carry a team Payton Manning style at this point in his career.

2. Pass rush and coverage just needs to be average if we can shorten the games by running 30+ times per game.

3. Need to keep games in the low 30's, we're not going to win track meets with a QB with 9 starts.

4. Special teams don't have to special but they must be average.

5. Cousins has to play well enough to start 16 times. Consistent game manager play from Cousins should be all we hope for from a QB with only 9 starts. I expect he'll play pretty well 13 out of 16 times providing he gets enough help from the rushing game

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

We've been absolute crap almost every season since 1991. I'm done having expectations. Having said that, I expect the team to be more competitive than it has been, even if the wins and losses don't reflect the improvement. I think we're another offseason or two from completing a rebuild. I don't think we have a starting quarterback on the roster. I think the offensive line needs a full season playing together to become solid. I think the secondary is still hot garbage. I think the pass rush is still going to be mediocre at best. And I know for fact the special teams is among the worst in the league, if not the worst. If we survive the season without more quarterback drama I'll be thrilled.

[SkinsJock]

on the first day of the season, I'm mostly cautiously optimistic .. I can see that if a few things go well, we'll be decent ... maybe even 9-7

I'd love to go 8-8 this season - more importantly, I'd like to see Jay Gruden and Kirk Cousins do their jobs well

I just don't have any confidence in both of them being much better than we've seen

hope springs eternal ... we should hope for the best and be prepared for the worst

wait until next year

[riggofan]

Glad you're feeling optimistic man. My expectations are probably like 6-10 for this season. Who knows though, maybe things break right for us for a change. I would love to start off with a win v. Miami this weekend.

I just don't have any confidence in both of them being much better than we've seen

hah. Man you've been the eternal optimist in the future greatness of Robert Griffin. You can't allow yourself to imagine that Cousins and Gruden might be a little better than what we saw last year???

Both the coach and the QB would be greatly helped by some improved play from the rest of the team.