The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Guilty of wishful thinking? Probably. I may not be the only one, though.

I actually had a purpose in my original post, which was to point out that Redskins fans were looking at this Sunday's matchup all wrong from the perspective of a Bears fan. Y'all are saying that the Bears have no chance because their quarterback is no good.

The list of good Bears quarterbacks is shorter than the list of Italian war heros.

Bears middle linebackers .. that is a list you can be proud of.

Whether the Bears are dead meat in this game or serious competitors remains to be seen, but there is not a Bears fan on the planet who thinks their chances lie with Orton. We are deluded, but not crazy. We think there is a chance our defense could be awesome. So when Orton throws his first pick, don't guffaw and say "I told you so." It was never in doubt. When Portis has his 5th run of 8 or more yards, then feel free to break out the beers.

VARon wrote:Guilty of wishful thinking? Probably. I may not be the only one, though.

I actually had a purpose in my original post, which was to point out that Redskins fans were looking at this Sunday's matchup all wrong from the perspective of a Bears fan. Y'all are saying that the Bears have no chance because their quarterback is no good.

I have to disagree with you there, VARon. The fans at this site have been giving you many more reasons than just your QB is no good. Actually, I haven't seen a single post in this thread that said any such thing. Any mention of Orton has been about the fact that he is a rookie, and although he has looked very good in the pre-season, he has not yet faced a top 5 defense for a full 60 minutes, or in a game that actually means something. My own post pointed to our improved line play, and the execution they have displayed so far in the pre-season. It has been very reminiscent of the mid '80s for me. And I think the improved downfield threat of our new receivers will have the affect that defenses won't be able to stack players in the box to stop our running attack. So to summarize, I think we will win because of excellent play on our part, not poor play on da Bears part.

My prediction: Redskins 24, Bears 7 ... the oddsmakers in Vegas say it's 5-1 that I will score all 31 points ... who wants some of that action?

On this thread, no one has focussed on Orton. I was referring to other threads I had read on this board that inspired me to post in the first place.

Like most of you, I saw Dr. Z's prediction the Bears would beat the Redskins and thought WTF!? What you may not recall is that just last week, this same joker picked the Bears to finish last in the NFC North and also listed them at dead last -- yes, 32nd -- in his power rankings.

We aren't THAT bad, but assuming Dr. Z believes we are, what possible reason can he have for saying we will beat the Redskins? That is some serious disrespect of the Skins!

So let me distance myself from this joker and repeat that the Bears defense is going to be good. I still think you will win, and I still think you have the better team, but the *beware* comes from having seen Ramsey under pressure and knowing what I know about the Bears defense.

At this point (long before now, I fear) I've exhausted what I have to offer, so I will bow out. The game should be interesting. We are both bound to learn something about our respective teams.

VARon, you make a lot of good points. I think right now it is wait and see for both teams. Both have made chnages in their passing games (we added two of the five WRs to average over 18yds/catch and you added hands-down the BEST reciever in the NFL last season) over the offseason and both are entering the second year under new coaches.

I just feel like the 'Skins are a little head of the curve and I still stand by my prediction that Orton will not pass for over 100 yds. However, I still think the Bears are a tough opponent.

It is a misconception to look at the fact that the Bears D was ranked 21st and assume that their defense is poor. They were one of the best, if not the best scoring defense in football last year. Therefore, this game relies a lot on Ramsey making good decisions. If we play our game I don't see us losing barring an exceptional performance than Orton. We just cannot afford to make mistakes with the football because the Bears have shown how easily they can capitalize on turnovers.

While I do intend to bow out, let me mention in parting that this thread has been picked up on the Bears message board.
http://bears.hosttown.com/index.php?showtopic=71354

Haha, I like that board:

Whoa, reasoned thinking, proper grammar - what kind of football board is that!?

wow, ive never seen a thread that intelligent on this board, whats up with that?

No joke. I wish one thread over here would sound so intelligent and well-reasoned.

That board does seem to have an embarrassment of riches.

Ho hum, maybe they're just having a good week.

Thanks for the compliments guys!:up: You guys have a nice board too. May the best team win!

I just read this in another thread.
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown ... 071sd8.htm

Beware of the Skins!

VARon wrote:Just FYI, our best receiver last year was David Terrell. The Bears released him, the Patriots signed him, and just last week the Patriots cut him again. Unless somebody else picks him up (and the Patriots only took a look because Terrell was Brady's target in college) he is out of the NFL.

Terrell signed with Denver

Continuing the trend of signing everyone elses castoffs.

From the perspective of a Bear's fan, the funny thing is that David Terrell is replacing Jerry Rice at wide receiver. Believe me, that is the first and last time you will see these two names in the same sentence.

VARon wrote:.. the funny thing is that David Terrell is replacing Jerry Rice at wide receiver. ... that is the first and last time you will see these two names in the same sentence.

interesting observation and while I wish Terrell well I doubt he will help Denver much. We can only hope that he is looking forward to meeting Mr Taylor and company later in the year than he might have originally!



all the best this season VARon (just not this w/e! You guys might have a decent run in that division this year. The Favre boys do not look so "big" this year.

VARon wrote:At this point (long before now, I fear) I've exhausted what I have to offer, so I will bow out. The game should be interesting. We are both bound to learn something about our respective teams.

Thanks for your views and welcome to our board.

I feel that the first game is very important to BOTH teams. It may help the winner build confidence and it may be quite an obstacle to overcome to the loser during the early part of the season.

These are much better Bears than last season Bears. The same can be said about the Skins. At least we both think so. The point is really what team has made greater progress. Bears have a really good coach. But I like our chances and I am predicting a Skins win. Nobody takes any result for granted in today's NFL.

If any of you are interested, we are making predictions in another thread for all games:

http://www.the-hogs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14976

Williams said he has reviewed film of Ron Turner's offenses from his tenure at the University of Illinois, where Turner was head coach the last eight seasons, and his previous stint as Bears offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 1993-96.

"We've gone back to all of the years he was a coordinator, all of the University of Illinois film and the Bears' preseason film," Williams said. "There's a book, a biography and a scouting report on every coordinator in the league. I've always tried to stay ahead of the learning curve.

"Those things that made Ron successful in Chicago the first time around, those are the same types of things he was comfortable running at Illinois. Those are the same things we've seen here in the preseason."

Thats from Gregg Williams, we will shutdown the Bears offense this Sunday. Is that a homerish comment? Why yes, I think it is. GO SKINS! HAIL TO THE SKINS!! Our first W of the year is here.

This game is easy to pick.

Skins 27
Bears 6

The talent disparity on both sides of the ball is unbelievably in favor of the Skins. There isn't a single Bears' unit that is better than any Skins' unit.

QB: Skins -- say what you will about PR, he played well in his final 5 games last year.

RB: Skins -- Portis had 1300 yards in an "off" year.

O-line: Skins -- Potentially 3 Pro-Bowlers; Bears have a quality Center, but not much else

WR: Skins -- Skins have speed, depth and ey; Bears have Moose and misfits

D-line: Tie -- the only unit where the Bears are close, but that's only if Harris doesn't have a soph slump

LBs: Skins -- 2 Pro Bowlers (Washington and LaVar) and quality depth; Urlacher is solid, but Briggs isn't enough

DBs: Skins -- more Pro Bowlers (Springs and Taylor) and more quality depth (Harris and Rogers)

STs: Skins -- Brien is accurate, but can't kick more than 40 yards

Add in the fact that the Skins' D is playing at home, against a rookie QB in his first game, with a chip on their collective shoulder because everybody is picking them to take a step back, and this one shouldn't be close.

The skins have won 3 straight season openers....

you just jinx'ed us... good go'in....

BringThePain! wrote:you just jinx'ed us... good go'in....

The only solution now is for someone to buy BTP and me a pair of tickets for the game so we can go unjinx the team.

he speaks nothing but the truth people... put us on your shoulders... and we'll lead you to the promise land...

DBs: Skins -- more Pro Bowlers (Springs and Taylor) and more quality depth (Harris and Rogers)


That is a scary comment if you think Walt Harris is quality. He was nothing but toast with the Bears and the Colts. this guy can't even cover his own foot with a sock.

I think you are also underestimating Lance Briggs. He is in for a big year this year and don't be suprised if he makes the Pro Bowl.

By the sounds of the post the Bears might as well not show up.

neck86 wrote:That is a scary comment if you think Walt Harris is quality. He was nothing but toast with the Bears and the Colts. this guy can't even cover his own foot with a sock.

I think you are also underestimating Lance Briggs. He is in for a big year this year and don't be suprised if he makes the Pro Bowl.

Harris has filled in nicely from what we've seen as Skins fans.. until he proves us wrong.. I assume that's the way most will think of him... as quality depth...

neck86 wrote:By the sounds of the post the Bears might as well not show up.

Do us that favor.

The way "experts" predict how we will finish this season, this game is key for the Redskins to start turning their so call expert opinions. aNYWAY, If we win, people will say it was just the bears without a QB. If we lose, it would give them plenty to talk about and trash the Skins ....

We cann't afford to look pass anybody.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS, HAIL VICTORY

Who cares what the experts say, they don't know anymore than we do. If you lose it will be because a very good D stopped you. I would not be suprised if our D scores as much as our O.

Orton will only be as good as his line allows him to be. The Bears O line was not impressive when it came to pass blocking all preseason. They did well run blocking.

He will be blitzed up the rump and it is how he deals with that that will predict how the O will do.