No Matter the Seat, the Signs Look Good
By George Solomon
Sunday, September 5, 2004; Page E02
Even from one of those new "obstructed view" seats at FedEx Field, the Redskins looked very good Friday night in their final preseason tuneup, overwhelming Atlanta, 27-0, in a game Coach Joe Gibbs wished had counted in the standings.
But Gibbs knows better. If the game counted, Falcons Coach Jim Mora Jr. would not have pulled superstar quarterback Michael Vick after three series, with the Redskins ahead 24-0, when it was apparent Atlanta could not keep LaVar off Vick.
A 3-2 preseason proved that Mark Brunell deserves to be the starting quarterback, the receivers are solid, Clinton Portis will be a dangerous runner, LaVar and Marcus Washington will lead an improved defense and rookie Sean Taylor is a budding star. The special teams clearly are better -- and John Hall's leg is a great asset.
Still, with the Redskins opening the regular season a week from today against Tampa Bay at FedEx Field, Gibbs is taking a wait-and-see approach. He's been away from the game for 11 years and knows he no longer has a dominant offensive line. He wonders if his defense under Gregg Williams will measure up as it did under Richie Petitbon. And he can't be sure the special teams will win games, as they once did.
"I'm anxious and nervous" Gibbs said Friday night of the upcoming season, sounding like the Gibbs of old. "Every game will be a life and death struggle."
Before training camp, Gibbs said he was apprehensive about how he would measure up after being away so long. That isn't a question anymore -- he's had a game-face from Day One on the job. And his coaching staff is first-rate.
What we don't know about Joe Gibbs's 2004 team is its character. In the Gibbs I era, the team was resourceful, competitive in just about every game, found ways to win and rarely beat itself. Gibbs always said he would win or lose with "his" people, solid guys he could count on.
Next week, we'll begin finding out about his new people.
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