Pessimistic about the season, optimistic about Josh Johnson

[SkinsJock]

I doubt that anyone's feeling too cocky - we are very fortunate and the guys on the sidelines did a great job today

We're 6-3 but I'm finding it impossible to get really excited about this team. Its not like that year where RG3 was exploding and it seemed like we really had something going. I honestly don't know how they're getting it done this year.

there are many instances this season and especially this week of teams winning games against 'better' teams - the Browns beating the Falcons; the Bills with Matt Barkley in NY: the Titans over the Patriots: and the pukes last night in Philly (great for us)
the Redskins are 1 of many teams that can find ways to win and then not play as well as they can, like against the Falcons and the Saints
the franchises with 'better' management and deeper rosters are just more consistently good, however, I am encouraged by what we've seen this season and I think that we may be regaining some respectability
maybe these new guys the NFL sent in are having some effect - is there much about this in the DC press?

the biggest thing coming out of this win was how the coaches and players dealt with adversity against a Buccaneers squad that this week is rated as the top offensive team in the NFL - this was really a great effort by both

I do agree that it's tough to get really enthused about this team and they look like they're going to continue to give us moments of glory and anguish

there's a lot on the line with these next 2 games against Watt and Clowney for the Texans and then the hated pukes in Dallas
the pukes get to deal with the Falcons, who have to be really mad that they lost to the Browns, before we take them on for Thanksgiving

[riggofan]

You can count me among those who think the Browns are much better than their record, especially with Gregg Williams running the show now. And let's be honest: the Saints might be the best team in the league right now.

I'm with you though that I was really glad to see the team do what they need to do yesterday. There were plenty of excuses for them to roll over. Also I don't know who was responsible in the FO for bringing those o-linemen in off the street, but they deserve some credit for patching it together as well. Lucky those new guys got to play the Bucs first before having to deal with the Texans.

[SkinsJock]

You can count me among those who think the Browns are much better than their record, especially with Gregg Williams running the show now. And let's be honest: the Saints might be the best team in the league right now.

I'm with you though that I was really glad to see the team do what they need to do yesterday. There were plenty of excuses for them to roll over. Also I don't know who was responsible in the FO for bringing those o-linemen in off the street, but they deserve some credit for patching it together as well. Lucky those new guys got to play the Bucs first before having to deal with the Texans.

+1 about the Browns and especially pleased to see Gregg Williams having some success - apparently there are many that don't think he's going to be the next HC - IMO they could do a lot worse

This was a huge lift for this franchise - it's a cliche but it would be nice to see them finish out the season (regardless of wins and losses) playing with that same effort - reminds me a little of the heartbreak Redskins of the 70's and 80's - hopefully not including a repeat of that Thanksgiving game with stupid Clint Longley

[riggofan]

Pretty decent article. I've had this feeling for a while that the team has been drafting better and building better, but its hard to quantify because they're still not winning consistently.

Don't look now but Redskins drafts are starting to produce among the NFL's best
https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/re ... -nfls-best

Teams with most draft picks still in the NFL

1. Bengals- 61
2. Ravens- 54
3. Seahawks- 54
4. 49ers- 53
5. Patriots - 52
6, Packers- 51
7. Redskins- 49

Say what you want but a lot of that credit goes to Gruden and (barf) Allen.

The big problem with those numbers there are the "still in the NFL" instead of "still with the Redskins". I wish they'd do a better job getting those drafted guys into their next contract and keeping them with the team.

Bigger picture, however, it means the Redskins are drafting and drafting well. Nearly half of the current 53-man roster came from Redskins draft picks, and that doesn't include undrafted success stories like Quinton Dunbar, Maurice Harris and Danny Johnson.

The Redskins have become a team focused on acquiring more picks in each draft, even letting their own home grown players walk to pile up compensatory picks.

It's a formula many successful teams like the Packers and Patriots have used for a long time.

In Washington, it's a relatively new way to design the roster, but it seems much more effective than the old way.

[welch]

I'm still optimistic. They played well against the Texans. Quinn looked like an NFL WR. OL has the injuries, sure, but Trent Williams should return in a game or two. I think the Redskins can beat the Eagles (once), the Giants, and somebody else. Maybe the Cowboys this week.

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

Sweep the pukes and the gnats... Get one over on the fecals and I'm good- I mean if Colt can beat dullass again I'm satisfied for the season. We dont have the fire power to bang with NO or LAR so playpffs will be short lived regardless

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

*not to say I wont be giddy if Colt can limp us into the post season while the highly touted Vikes watch from home- who were SB favorites after signing the ELITE Kurk Grossman! LMMFAO soooo much talent so much tears

[SkinsJock]

winning 9 games this season would be a lot more than many expected - anything can happen in the playoffs - the Eagles won it last season with a QB that's not even starting this season and they just got major exposed by the Saints as payback for what happened in the playoffs last season

let's not worry about winning a game in the playoffs - the ONLY thing to focus is to win this game this week ...

the pukes are most likely thinking that this is a no-brainer - they're in for a surprise - Colt is a better QB than the one they saw in the last game ...


HTTR

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

You keep saying that... But why did we bring in AS... Or tag Kurt... If we had the answer on the bench the whole time??

I hope you're right- I LOVED the game ol Colt won for us in Arlington a few years back.. Just not picking up what you're putting down.

Like- he is better accustomed to the scheme and play book? And maybe a bit more mobile? Stonger arm perhaps? I can see that... Better qb? Nah

[DEHog]

One thing the Smith injury did was secure Gruden's job for another year. Spitting the rest of the games and getting to 9 wins may be enough to back into the playoffs. As someone already mentioned it will be a quick exit from there. All in all not a bad season...but the injuries!!

[riggofan]

I'm still optimistic. They played well against the Texans. Quinn looked like an NFL WR. OL has the injuries, sure, but Trent Williams should return in a game or two. I think the Redskins can beat the Eagles (once), the Giants, and somebody else. Maybe the Cowboys this week.

Quinn was pretty impressive. Last pick in the draft. Rookie playing his what first or second game? That guy played the second most snaps on offense of any player on Sunday.

Seems likely we'll let Crowder move on in FA next year if this continues.

[SkinsJock]

I'm still optimistic - Dak Prescott is not even a top 15 QB - check his stats

If there's one thing we've seen a number of times this season that no matter how much 'better' one team is than the other, on any given Sunday, the results of these games is not a given - look at what the Browns did to a very good offensive Falcons unit

I liked getting Alex Smith based on what he did last season but we don't have the weapons that he had there and he's very slow in getting rid of the ball
we we're always going to get a good QB in the next draft because we were only going to win 6 or 7 games with Smith as QB - now we're going to win the NFC East and we'll still be looking to find a future starting QB in the draft with that first pick and we'll have both Smith and McCoy to help nurture him along

patience is a virtue ... especially if you're a skins fan

[DarthMonk]

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

YASSSS!!!

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

Roy Helu jr sighting!!

[riggofan]

we we're always going to get a good QB in the next draft because we were only going to win 6 or 7 games with Smith as QB - now we're going to win the NFC East and we'll still be looking to find a future starting QB in the draft with that first pick and we'll have both Smith and McCoy to help nurture him along

lol. There's so much going on in here, I can't really decide which part is the most insane.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

we we're always going to get a good QB in the next draft because we were only going to win 6 or 7 games with Smith as QB - now we're going to win the NFC East and we'll still be looking to find a future starting QB in the draft with that first pick and we'll have both Smith and McCoy to help nurture him along

lol. There's so much going on in here, I can't really decide which part is the most insane.

Considering we already won six games (should have been seven, even according to the league) I have to admit I can't follow it. We're also paying Smith whether he's playing, injured, retired, or sitting on the bench healthy. We're not going to have a high first round pick so any thoughts of drafting a franchise QB are out. This team isn't good at drafting quarterbacks. Never has been. And, if they draft a QB they probably won't have both Smith and McCoy because they usually only keep two on the active roster.

[El Mexican]

we we're always going to get a good QB in the next draft because we were only going to win 6 or 7 games with Smith as QB - now we're going to win the NFC East and we'll still be looking to find a future starting QB in the draft with that first pick and we'll have both Smith and McCoy to help nurture him along

lol. There's so much going on in here, I can't really decide which part is the most insane.

Considering we already won six games (should have been seven, even according to the league) I have to admit I can't follow it. We're also paying Smith whether he's playing, injured, retired, or sitting on the bench healthy. We're not going to have a high first round pick so any thoughts of drafting a franchise QB are out. This team isn't good at drafting quarterbacks. Never has been. And, if they draft a QB they probably won't have both Smith and McCoy because they usually only keep two on the active roster.

How can the team justify not drafting a QB?

Alex will be 35 if he ever takes another snap with us. His mobility will be even more limited.

The pressure on the FO will be there during next year's draft. That's either with or without a decent outing by Colt.

[SkinsJock]

I'll try and clarify for you 2
going into this season, the expectations, with Smith as QB, were for 6-7 wins - we have 2 idiots in charge & they were probably thinking that we'd draft a QB in 2019 and give him a year OR whatever time it took to prepare him to be the starting QB - in their brilliant minds, Alex Smith was going to be the QB for 2018 and 2019 and help get the new kid ready - I've always liked Colt McCoy but that means squat to the guys in charge here

the 6-4 start means we're most likely not drafting in the top 10 like dumb and dumber thought

our #1 need is still to get a starting QB, but, just like always, we have a lot of positions of need, no matter where we finish
AND
we're probably saddled with the same HC - so not much to get excited about there

hope that helps ... but I doubt it



we need to win this game and get all excited about how great we are all over again

[El Mexican]

I agree.

The injury accelerated their original plan. I'm guessing it takes at least a year to be able to play again?

Considering the draft precedes the start of next season, it would be incredibly risky for the FO
to wing it and enter next season with a bunch of journeymen QBs, forgoing a young star in the draft.

I think they'll face too much pressure to sell tickets.
And nothing sells more tickets than a new QB and maybe a new coach.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

I agree.

The injury accelerated their original plan. I'm guessing it takes at least a year to be able to play again?

Considering the draft precedes the start of next season, it would be incredibly risky for the FO
to wing it and enter next season with a bunch of journeymen QBs, forgoing a young star in the draft.

I think they'll face too much pressure to sell tickets.
And nothing sells more tickets than a new QB and maybe a new coach.

Nothing sells tickets. Not even wins. The team is leading the division. The stadium is half-empty. Dumping the head coach and the quarterback won't change that. Dumping the owner and the general manager will. Dumping the stadium will. Dumping the team name might even help at this point. They're barely drawing NBA game sized crowds. It's embarrassing. The answer is not to draft another quarterback unless you can draft one that can win more games than the ones you already have on the roster. You have to pay Alex Smith no matter what you do.

[welch]

I'll try and clarify for you 2
going into this season, the expectations, with Smith as QB, were for 6-7 wins - we have 2 idiots in charge & they were probably thinking that we'd draft a QB in 2019 and give him a year OR whatever time it took to prepare him to be the starting QB - in their brilliant minds, Alex Smith was going to be the QB for 2018 and 2019 and help get the new kid ready - I've always liked Colt McCoy but that means squat to the guys in charge here

the 6-4 start means we're most likely not drafting in the top 10 like dumb and dumber thought

our #1 need is still to get a starting QB, but, just like always, we have a lot of positions of need, no matter where we finish
AND
we're probably saddled with the same HC - so not much to get excited about there

hope that helps ... but I doubt it



we need to win this game and get all excited about how great we are all over again

If the Redskins planned, they would not have traded for Smith and then paid him at a Kirk Cousins level. It made little sense to start Cousins last season, and no sense, none, to keep Colt McCoy on the bench after the OL went out. This was not a top-of-the-NFL roster. Wel, that's done.

I assume that Smith is done, just as Joey T. was done after the injury. Assume that McCoy starts next season.

So, as mentioned above, draft:

- QB

- WR

- Depth players everywhere.

And fire Bruce Allen. Unless Snyder fires himself, of course.

Meanwhile, beat Dallas!

[SkinsJock]

I had heard that the injury, while very bad, is not career threatening - that being said, Alex' age is a big factor and whether he will be able to help this franchise is a huge problem - we were always going to need a new QB ... now we're most likely going to be paying Smith and not getting anything

and some of you guys think I'm crazy ranting against the FO and the damage they've done to this franchise

same old Redskins .... we'll be better next year ...




before all that goes down we can still win this game

[El Mexican]

I agree.

The injury accelerated their original plan. I'm guessing it takes at least a year to be able to play again?

Considering the draft precedes the start of next season, it would be incredibly risky for the FO
to wing it and enter next season with a bunch of journeymen QBs, forgoing a young star in the draft.

I think they'll face too much pressure to sell tickets.
And nothing sells more tickets than a new QB and maybe a new coach.

Nothing sells tickets. Not even wins. The team is leading the division. The stadium is half-empty. Dumping the head coach and the quarterback won't change that. Dumping the owner and the general manager will. Dumping the stadium will. Dumping the team name might even help at this point. They're barely drawing NBA game sized crowds. It's embarrassing. The answer is not to draft another quarterback unless you can draft one that can win more games than the ones you already have on the roster. You have to pay Alex Smith no matter what you do.

True. Yet changing the coach and drafting a QB is the cheapest option to generate some kind of income.
All the other imply serious expenditures.

[El Mexican]

If the Redskins planned, they would not have traded for Smith and then paid him at a Kirk Cousins level. It made little sense to start Cousins last season, and no sense, none, to keep Colt McCoy on the bench after the OL went out. This was not a top-of-the-NFL roster. Wel, that's done.

I assume that Smith is done, just as Joey T. was done after the injury. Assume that McCoy starts next season.

So, as mentioned above, draft:

- QB

- WR

- Depth players everywhere.

And fire Bruce Allen. Unless Snyder fires himself, of course.

Meanwhile, beat Dallas!

Yes, that would seem the most likely scenario.

But if he is able to return the team is obligated to give him another start, at least?

And if not, as B&G said, we are still saddled with his contract obviously.

I'm thinking the odd man out will end up being Colt.