How good or bad was this season

[Prowl33]

It's sad to see the season over. We finished half a game under what we did last year. There are a ton of things you can point to in the individual games as to why each was lost.

When you look at the season as a whole though... we honestly did a lot better than we should have, and that is almost all on kirk, Reed, garcon, Jackson, crowder, and the o line. We had one of the worst defenses in our team history, we had a historically bad run game as was evident in our historically bad by league standards red zone %. Despite those things, we were 1 game away from a 2nd in a row playoff birth.

If you inserted a top half of the league defense and top half of the league run game, what would our record have been this year?

[PAPDOG67]

The fact that we were even in the hunt is remarkable with some of the numbers you see on the defensive side of the ball. Historically bad on getting off the field on 3rd down. We also were horrendous in the red zone on both ends of the spectrum. I know in the NFL there's a lot of woulda, coulda, shoulda, thrown around when saying we should have won this particular game, but I mean two games we absolutely should have come away with W's are the DET and the CINN game. We absolutely MUST draft a FS. The safety play has been unwatchable for quite some time now, as evedent of the 45 yard bomb given up with the game on the line. I believe a top notch safety and run stuffing DL will go a long way in making this defense upper half of the league. That along with a new coordinator, of course. I've never in my life seen so many defensive players running around with no idea of their responsibilities pre-snap. On offense, I think we need a serious road grader to replace Luvao to get the running game going. That along with an upgrade at C should help. I know people are down today, but I think we're heading in the right direction.

[welch]

- Offense did not run the ball, even though the OL should have been good enough to wear down opponents, then mash them in the second half. An Otto Graham offense: Otto thought rushing was boring. Sonny throwing to Bobby, Charley, and Jerry was fun to watch, but could not beat the really good teams.

- Defense was like the defenses that Otto Graham had: Otto could not be bothered with defense.

- The team took too many penalties, played flat too often.

- Give Gruden one more season and better players on defense. Then there should be a reconing.

[Bishop Hammer]

It would have felt a lot better getting in the playoffs but overall the year wasn't a complete loss. The Skins finished with back to back winning seasons for the first time in two decades. It definitely beats being 2-14 or 3-13, that's for sure.

[Smithian]

Wish the season ended better but back to back seasons with a winning record hasn't been seen for a while. Lots of progress last two seasons. I'll start getting frustrated if next offseason we're coming off 8-8 or 9-7 but I've seen enough I believe investment in the defense gets this team into the double digit win column and continues the progress.

[SkinsJock]

this season's expectations were 8-8 and we almost got 10 or 11 wins

there was a different 'attitude' by the players on the field and there were a lot of games that we were competitive

there's a lot of turmoil out there - continuity is important and players value stability

HOPEFULLY the idiot owner leaves the team 'decisions' to Scot and he gives this staff another season

[Redskin in Canada]

How good or bad was the season?

It depends who asks in what context and for what purpose.

1. If the question is posed from the owner's perspective, the answer is: fantastic.

A disaster was avoided and revenue was enormous. FedEx stadium was not as often empty and in such amounts as other seasons. Last season carried expectations among many optimistic fans of at least a repeat performance in playoffs if not an improvement. What is a fan if not somebody who always expects that a conference championship in 2015 surely was a sign that the team performance could be better in 2016? The owner knew that his choice for General Manager with a proven track record of success would add instant credibility and marketing value to the Team. It worked not only as a marketing plot, the Draft and Free Agency brought hope to the most dedicated fans. If not as a success in every occasion, personnel choices certainly were not the kind of horribly expensive disasters which have made Danny the laughingstock among his peers in the NFL.

Revenue was up in several respects, even with lower TV ratings overall. Merchandise and other revenue seems to maintain the Washington as one of the most profitable franchises in sports not only North America but the World. Redskins fans are some of the most loyal in all sports. The departure of one from the Stadium is always ready to be filled in by a somebody else whether that is a Washington fan or not, whether an individual or a company who uses the seats for marketing purposes.

2. If the question is posed from management perspective, specifically the GM, the answer is: excellent!

The influence of Scot McCloughan over the owner has grown. The influence of ... Does anybody still remember who the President of the team is? When the last name Allen is mentioned , do you honestly remember George or his son Bruce lately? Have you seen him in a prominent role seated next to the owner in games? No? Thought so.

The current season puts our GM in an excellent position! He has two great options:

a) place his own coaches if they get fired by the owner; or
b) replace any of them if they receive an opportunity to coach elsewhere next season.

The current coach staff was not picked by him and it is just a matter of not too much time before any or most are gone. Scot is in the strongest position to place new coaches and organize the Draft and Free Agency. Not too bad, is it?

3. If the question is posed from the coaches perspective: not too good with few exceptions.

Clock is ticking for Jay Gruden. Maybe, just maybe, he has one more season to make or break his tenure. He faces multiple problems: a mixed bag of poor and good coaching decisions (your choice about percentages here), the predictable tendencies in his choices, and ... some poor choices among his fellow coach picks.

To be fair with Joe Barry, he was not the outright disaster that his 0-16 Lions indicated. There have been flashes of good play and good players. Unfortunately, he was dealt a bit of a raw deal with poor personnel in the a secondary in shambles whose utter self implosion was only mitigated by the addition of Norman, and a DL which can be and was dominated by all good OLs among opposing teams. No, he is not the disaster that could have been but his defense is still among the last 5 in the entire NFL and proved to be the weakest link of the Team in 2016.

Sean McVay coached most games, particularly nationally televised games, as if they were opportunities for HC job interviews elsewhere. Considering the talent among TEs and WRs, and the unbalanced investment to improve offense in general, his results are meagre. The spectacularity of a passing game always prevailed over the ability to establish a solid run game and a balanced offense. He will not last long here un;ess he gets an offer to replace Jay. This is the story of a good coach rising to high too soon for his own good.

The winner this year is ... Bill Callahan. He did a great job with great talent and managed to fill in the gaps well when injuries or suspensions affected the OL.

Ben Kotwica redeemed himself. Our special teams are serviceable and at times show flashes of real solid play. How do our special teams in 2016 compare with previous embarrassments and disasters?

4. If the question is posed from the players perspective: mixed bag, some good, some bad and some ugly.

The good: TEs, WRs, OL and some LBs plus a surprise at RB

The bad: safeties, what safeties? Hopkins ... do not get me started. Problem is in his head, he has all the right physical attributes. DL ... oh my ... can a true and legitimate NT stand up (to start), please? Breeland ... to think that many expected him to rise to the position of our prime CB in 2016? Reminds me of Amerson, who finally woke up to keep his head in his shoulders ... with the Raiders.

The ugly: Captain Kirk. Yes, he will be paid. Yes, he will stay. No, there is no better option. He is a player who earned and deserves the opportunity to keep growing and ... sometimes shoot himself in the foot with regressions and simply unreliable decisions marked by a lack of clutch and heroic performances at crucial times for the entire team. Why would anybody be wrong if they felt that he will be minding the store ONLY until a better option looms over the horizon and takes up his job?

5. If the question is posed from the fans perspective: mixed bag

Some left totally giving up hope as long as the owner is there still meddling;

Some kept an eye from a distance but have placed the team on a much lower level of priority , and

Yet other faithful will take every "next season" with eternal hope for improvement because burgundy and gold in their veins (as long as the performance of the team does not affect negatively their personal and family lives, it is only a game after all). They paid and watched every game in the stadium or TV no matter what. Some even post in fans websites

Happy 2017 to ALL three types of Skins fans above.

[Irn-Bru]

I thought it was a pretty good year for us.

Kind of sucks to miss the playoffs, but honestly the way we were looking in the last two weeks I wouldn't have expected much from a wild card appearance anyway.

We look like a team that is built for longer-term success. Young or prime-of-life talent at most positions. Almost no bloat.

Lots of holes to fill on defense, and I kind of suspect we need a new defensive coach or coaches. Plenty of work to do, and even some on offense.

Now that we've hit this level, I'm going to say that next year anything short of making the playoffs (with a reasonable chance to progress in them) will be a failure. It's year three of a true rebuild, which means we're going to appreciate even more the momentum of good things accumulating.

[Chris Luva Luva]

So, there's two trains of thought on my mind. In perspective of my career as a fan, the team is still trending upward. There are things to be happy about...

However, the fact that in three separate weeks where this team had the chance to control it's playoff fate, they failed to show up. They choked in those situations. That's hard to overlook. Getting to the bottom of that reason opens a can of worms. I can't ignore it but I understand that my outlook on the team depends on the manner of my perspective.

[DEHog]

So, there's two trains of thought on my mind. In perspective of my career as a fan, the team is still trending upward. There are things to be happy about...

However, the fact that in three separate weeks where this team had the chance to control it's playoff fate, they failed to show up. They choked in those situations. That's hard to overlook. Getting to the bottom of that reason opens a can of worms. I can't ignore it but I understand that my outlook on the team depends on the manner of my perspective.

That's December football Chris, could it just be that Caroolina and NY are better than us right now. Those two them have a few athletes we don't have...

[Chris Luva Luva]

So, there's two trains of thought on my mind. In perspective of my career as a fan, the team is still trending upward. There are things to be happy about...

However, the fact that in three separate weeks where this team had the chance to control it's playoff fate, they failed to show up. They choked in those situations. That's hard to overlook. Getting to the bottom of that reason opens a can of worms. I can't ignore it but I understand that my outlook on the team depends on the manner of my perspective.

That's December football Chris, could it just be that Caroolina and NY are better than us right now. Those two them have a few athletes we don't have...

I believe we have the talent to compete against any defense in this league. We have the talent to not be shutout in the 1st half. I believe that those two teams are better coached. They say a team takes on the personality of it's coach and I believe that Jay Gruden's laid back nature is true of his team. Just my opinion.

[DEHog]

So, there's two trains of thought on my mind. In perspective of my career as a fan, the team is still trending upward. There are things to be happy about...

However, the fact that in three separate weeks where this team had the chance to control it's playoff fate, they failed to show up. They choked in those situations. That's hard to overlook. Getting to the bottom of that reason opens a can of worms. I can't ignore it but I understand that my outlook on the team depends on the manner of my perspective.

That's December football Chris, could it just be that Caroolina and NY are better than us right now. Those two them have a few athletes we don't have...

I believe we have the talent to compete against any defense in this league. We have the talent to not be shutout in the 1st half. I believe that those two teams are better coached. They say a team takes on the personality of it's coach and I believe that Jay Gruden's laid back nature is true of his team. Just my opinion.

That's well said, I never been a Jay ( or Jon) Gruden fan. I guess it's just the coach in me, it's so difficult to win. Sometimes you have to tip your hat to your opponent.

[Chris Luva Luva]

I'm not willing to do that because it's become a trend... You need at least three data points for something to become a "thing". And we've seen on multiple occasions that his team comes out flat during big-stage games. And personally, I don't believe in coincidences.

The Panthers were and still are reeling, except when we allowed them to have a stellar day. The defense is trash, we all know that but there's no reason for the offense to hide inside it's shell. And truth be told, the defense outplayed the offense yesterday.... Let that sink in. The defense has been neglected and marred by injury...

The offense has a QB ranked in the top 10. A top 3 TE that can't be stopped. A legit run game (now). The best deep threat in the ENTIRE NFL in DJax. Garcon who is amazing. The best PR in the league and a helluva slot guy.

Jesus... how much more do they need on offense to not get manhandled?

[DEHog]

I'm not willing to do that because it's become a trend... You need at least three data points for something to become a "thing". And we've seen on multiple occasions that his team comes out flat during big-stage games. And personally, I don't believe in coincidences.

The Panthers were and still are reeling, except when we allowed them to have a stellar day. The defense is trash, we all know that but there's no reason for the offense to hide inside it's shell. And truth be told, the defense outplayed the offense yesterday.... Let that sink in. The defense has been neglected and marred by injury...

The offense has a QB ranked in the top 10. A top 3 TE that can't be stopped. A legit run game (now). The best deep threat in the ENTIRE NFL in DJax. Garcon who is amazing. The best PR in the league and a helluva slot guy.

Jesus... how much more do they need on offense to not get manhandled?

We will disagree about the run game, I think that is the issue to our red zone issues which is the issue with our offense.

[Chris Luva Luva]

We will disagree about the run game, I think that is the issue to our red zone issues which is the issue with our offense.

Allow me to clarify, as my statement was very broad. We have found a good running back. Kirk had more of a running game this year, than we've have since Alfred sophomore year. That being said, our run blocking is horrible.

Which leads me to another grip about this coaching staff. Their seeming inability to put the best players on the field. Matt Jones vs Kelly is a prime example. Starting Sua at LB instead of safety... It took forever to bench Kory at center, longer than it should have.

[PAPDOG67]

Great points all around, including not putting the best guys on the field. Anyone else feel that Nseke might be an upgrade over Moses. I like Moses, but we don't seem to get any push from him in the run game. I thought Nseke played very well while trent was suspended, like good enough to show people he can definitely start in this league.

[OldSchool]

this season's expectations were 8-8 and we almost got 10 or 11 wins

there was a different 'attitude' by the players on the field and there were a lot of games that we were competitive

there's a lot of turmoil out there - continuity is important and players value stability

HOPEFULLY the idiot owner leaves the team 'decisions' to Scot and he gives this staff another season

Well said

[Snout]

After having a team that was so bad for so long, how can I possibly complain about back to back winning seasons? I don't like how we are such a one dimensional passing team, but if we are winning half our games, how can I really complain? I tell myself I would prefer a return to Redskin smashmouth football, with a battle in the trenches and a clock control 4th quarter running game. I tell myself a good defense is better than a good offense. But what if that strategy sends us into another 3-13 or 4-12 tailspin? I shudder to think of it. So I will shut my mouth, stop complaining, and be happy that the Redskins are at least once again an average team.

[SkinsJock]

the Redskins are not a NFC East type team anymore because Jay Gruden is not an NFC East type coach

I'm OK with another season with Jay Gruden but I'm looking forward to a time when Jay Gruden is not the HC here

[DEHog]

I attended a game in December with a playoff spot on the line...hard for me to complain after attending December games for the past 20 years with mostly nothing on the line.

[SkinsJock]

^^ we actually played a 'meaningful game' in January - long time since that happened