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

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:02 pm**

I'm feeling optimistic that the Redskins will win 4 games this year. Anything beyond that is absolute gravy.

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:42 pm**

like a lot of meats - I'd imagine eating crow with gravy might help :wink:

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:52 pm**

spudstr04 wrote:I don't care about wins and losses, I just want a competitive football team that's not the laughing stock of the NFL, like last year.

Right on! Were we really the laughingstock of the NFL last year? I guess the Fat Albert and McNabb shenanigans didn't help. I still feel better about last year than that previous year under Zorn though. hah.

I like the opinions in this thread. It will be interesting to see if the Skins go 7-9 or so as expected will fans (and a certain owner) be going crazy at the end of the season.

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 1:19 pm**

honestly right now not sure how good or bad we will be.
i will have an answer after i see qb play,both lines,among everything else.

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 1:25 pm**

I usually hold my breath every year on these predictions (or give some "if everything works out and the stars align" prediction) and never say how I truly feel. In 2009, I thought we would win 5. In 2010, I thought we would win 6 (even though I said 8 and still regret not saying how I really felt).

This year, I think we will win between 4-6 games. The games we should win are Carolina, Buffalo, and the Niners.

Close games include Minn, Miami, Seattle, and Arizona. Personally, I think we can beat either Minn or Seattle.

Games I don't see us winning are STL, NYJ, and NE.

We are the worst team in our division by a fairly large margin. I wouldn't be very surprised if we went 0-6 against our NFC east opponents. In fact, I would be surprised if we won a divisional game.

All in all, I see us winning 2 of the 3 "should win", 2 of the "toss ups", and 0-1 in division.

This all hinges on the QB situation. I think we all know what we get with Grossman. If Beck shows up and performs well (which also means our WRs perform well), we could very well be a playoff team -- BUT I have not seen anything that would support this. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 2:11 pm**

The problem with thinking that a player or a position is a factor in how a team plays is VERY flawed

THIS IS A TEAM GAME
if all the players execute the plays as designed and practiced, the results will not be bad

The offense does not become good or bad because of 1 player but rather a combination of things not being done TOGETHER OR as well as the players can do them

I do not think that Grossman or Beck are very good QBs but if ALL the other players on offense play really well that will not matter as much

I'm not saying that we will do well offensively at all but I saw progress at the end of last season and I do not see a lot of the players that did not play well last season here anymore

while we are NOT making the playoffs - we just might end up seeing a fairly good defense this year
I'll guarantee this Redskins team will play with an attitude and desire

I just want to see progress that indicates we could have a chance at making the playoffs next season & EVERY season after

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 2:23 pm**

Red_One43 wrote:
NYFINESTSKINSFAN wrote:Does anyone here think that the Skins regressed this season? I don't think so. There is no way the Skins got worse as a team. We were 6-10 last season and of the 10 games we lost 6 of them were decided by less than a TD. I think this team has without a doubt progressed and to think the Skins will be a .500 or even possibly + .500 team is more possible than impossible. I think we had a pretty good draft and an excellent FA to fill in the holes.

2010 Redskins Losses

6 of 10 losses by 4 points or less
14 point loss vs the Rams - Redskins winning by 2 with 12 to go in 3rd
12 point loss vs Lions - Redskins winning by 5 with 7 minutes left in game

Texans L 27–30 (OT) 1–1 FedEx Field 3 point OT loss
Rams L 16–30 1–2 Edward Jones Dome 14 Point loss
Colts L 24–27 3–3 FedEx Field 3 point loss
Lions L 25–37 4–4 Ford Field 12 point loss
Eagles L 28–59 4–5 FedEx Field BLOWOUT!!!
Vikings L 13–17 5–6 FedEx Field 3 point loss
Giants L 7–31 5–7 New Meadowlands blowout
Buccaneers L 16–17 5–8 FedEx Field 1 Point loss
Cowboys L 30–33 5–9 Cowboys Stadium 3 Point loss
Giants L 14-17 6-10 FedEx Field 3 point loss

Well, to be fair, if you're going to look at our losses that way, you have to look at our wins...

The first 3 wins came on mistakes by the other team on the last play of regulation...

Dallas mostly dominated, but loses on a holding penalty after scoring winning touchdown (in a game where D Hall scored on the last play of the first half on a bonehead play by Dallas)

Philly's Jason Avant drops the game winning touchdown on the last play only to have it bounce into D Hall's arms (in a game where Mike Vick was knocked out early)

Green Bay mostly dominated, but has the winning field goal hit the upright on the last play (in a game where Mathews - who was killing us - goes out with a leg injury)

Chicago loses by 3 after a 4 INT day by D Hall including a touchdown return when the Bears were threatening

Tenn loses by 3 in a game where Vince Young was knocked out early

J-Ville loses by 3 in another OT game

... so when you look at our wins, you could say we were awfully close to 0-16... that being said, we could have a worse team than last year and still get 6 wins out of this schedule... 6-10

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 3:42 pm**

^^^^^^^ This.

And yet I agree with showing both sides not because I think it shows how fragile our team is, but how damn tough the game is to predict. There will be injuries, freak bounces of the ball, and a whole host of other things that go right or wrong which cannot be planned or accounted for in predictions. So, the teams expected to win are those you believe have the depth, talent, and character/chemistry to overcome the bad luck that inevitably hits every team at some point in their schedule. This team is building that depth, and has the talent on D, but the talent of the Offense and the chemistry are both still works in progress. It's difficult to justify anything better than .500 at this point. However, we do have a core of returning coaches, who have proven to be winners in the past. This team this year is more the coaches' team than the players' team. I am optimistic that win or lose we will be respected more than recent teams by the rest of the NFL, and that is one hell of a step in the right direction.

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:10 pm**

We are NOT as bad as some here and most of the media think BY A LONG SHOT

We are not as good as some here think either

we are a LOT BETTER than we were 2 years ago and the last draft gave us a look at what is possible with the right people making the decisions here

we should start to see a more consistently competitive group on the field each week and that will mean a better chance at success each and every week

looking to see a competitive team each week and the playoffs in 2012

HTTR

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 4:22 pm**

USAFSkinFan wrote:
Red_One43 wrote:
NYFINESTSKINSFAN wrote:Does anyone here think that the Skins regressed this season? I don't think so. There is no way the Skins got worse as a team. We were 6-10 last season and of the 10 games we lost 6 of them were decided by less than a TD. I think this team has without a doubt progressed and to think the Skins will be a .500 or even possibly + .500 team is more possible than impossible. I think we had a pretty good draft and an excellent FA to fill in the holes.

2010 Redskins Losses

6 of 10 losses by 4 points or less
14 point loss vs the Rams - Redskins winning by 2 with 12 to go in 3rd
12 point loss vs Lions - Redskins winning by 5 with 7 minutes left in game

Texans L 27–30 (OT) 1–1 FedEx Field 3 point OT loss
Rams L 16–30 1–2 Edward Jones Dome 14 Point loss
Colts L 24–27 3–3 FedEx Field 3 point loss
Lions L 25–37 4–4 Ford Field 12 point loss
Eagles L 28–59 4–5 FedEx Field BLOWOUT!!!
Vikings L 13–17 5–6 FedEx Field 3 point loss
Giants L 7–31 5–7 New Meadowlands blowout
Buccaneers L 16–17 5–8 FedEx Field 1 Point loss
Cowboys L 30–33 5–9 Cowboys Stadium 3 Point loss
Giants L 14-17 6-10 FedEx Field 3 point loss

Well, to be fair, if you're going to look at our losses that way, you have to look at our wins...

The first 3 wins came on mistakes by the other team on the last play of regulation...

Dallas mostly dominated, but loses on a holding penalty after scoring winning touchdown (in a game where D Hall scored on the last play of the first half on a bonehead play by Dallas)

Philly's Jason Avant drops the game winning touchdown on the last play only to have it bounce into D Hall's arms (in a game where Mike Vick was knocked out early)

Green Bay mostly dominated, but has the winning field goal hit the upright on the last play (in a game where Mathews - who was killing us - goes out with a leg injury)

Chicago loses by 3 after a 4 INT day by D Hall including a touchdown return when the Bears were threatening

Tenn loses by 3 in a game where Vince Young was knocked out early

J-Ville loses by 3 in another OT game

... so when you look at our wins, you could say we were awfully close to 0-16... that being said, we could have a worse team than last year and still get 6 wins out of this schedule... 6-10

You are obsolutely right. Sometimes the ball bounces your way and sometimes he doesn't. The good teams win a high percentage of those type of close games. We weren't good. The point NY and I are making is that despite serious flaws D line, O line), we played competive ball. A 31st defense usually translates to 4 our less wins and definitely not three Pro Bowlers. We had no running game most of the season. Passing game came only in spurts. How did we stay competitive? With what they had and knew (learning a new system), they played their hearts out - the close games, won or lost, are evidence of that. NY points out that this team has progressed. Looking at the moves during the offseason, the team has progressed. No reason to think doom and gloom.

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:08 pm**

skinsjock
so the offense will be fine we r going to light it up no matter what qb is playing this a team sport but i disagree with no one player makes a difference because the qb is the position that one player makes a diffrence good or bad

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:32 pm**

It doesn't surprise me that national talking heads think we'll suck...we've sucked for 10 years, or more --- we're the O's of the NFL. We didn't get a big name qb, we don't have big name rbs, our wr's are not on the who's who...our oline has sucked for years...why would anyone, but us zealots think we'll be good? We deserve to be the laughingstock, 'we've made more blunders on who to draft and sign in FA, we have an owner who was never happy and always making changes (except for Vinnie, why did he put up with him??). A real cluster of a team.

I do think we're a better team now than two years ago...we're younger, we have some consistency with coaches and schemes, our schedule is easier, so 7 wins is about where I see us falling. Unfortunately, that means we have to give up 2 number ones next year and maybe a player to get a good qb in the draft. I don't need Luck, I'd be happy with Barkley!!!

I'll continue to need the Skins like an addict needs drugs but I removed my rose colored glasses a few years ago and realized we were a bad team, poorly managed, poorly coached with marginal players. I;m not a huge Shanahan fan but I have to give him, Snyder and Allen credit, they've remade our roster and it looks good.

Posted: **Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:13 pm**

FanofallthatisGibbs wrote:^^^^^^^ This.

And yet I agree with showing both sides not because I think it shows how fragile our team is, but how damn tough the game is to predict. There will be injuries, freak bounces of the ball, and a whole host of other things that go right or wrong which cannot be planned or accounted for in predictions. So, the teams expected to win are those you believe have the depth, talent, and character/chemistry to overcome the bad luck that inevitably hits every team at some point in their schedule. This team is building that depth, and has the talent on D, but the talent of the Offense and the chemistry are both still works in progress. It's difficult to justify anything better than .500 at this point. However, we do have a core of returning coaches, who have proven to be winners in the past. This team this year is more the coaches' team than the players' team. I am optimistic that win or lose we will be respected more than recent teams by the rest of the NFL, and that is one hell of a step in the right direction.

Very Well Put!

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:45 am**

SkinsJock wrote:like a lot of meats - I'd imagine eating crow with gravy might help

I don't expect to be seeing crow on the menu, with or without gravy, SkinsJock. This team has no proven quantity on the Offensive side of the ball. Kerrigan and Landry are already hurt. The D will be better than the O; but I don't see them being able to keep opponents to NEGATIVE numbers on the scoreboard, which might be what's necessary for this team to have a chance to win. Especially since they still don't have a proven kicker. Four wins is generous and optimistic so far as I'm concerned.

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:24 am**

USAFSkinFan wrote:The first 3 wins came on mistakes by the other team on the last play of regulation...

Dallas mostly dominated, but loses on a holding penalty after scoring winning touchdown (in a game where D Hall scored on the last play of the first half on a bonehead play by Dallas)

Philly's Jason Avant drops the game winning touchdown on the last play only to have it bounce into D Hall's arms (in a game where Mike Vick was knocked out early)

Green Bay mostly dominated, but has the winning field goal hit the upright on the last play (in a game where Mathews - who was killing us - goes out with a leg injury)

You could have accurately argued they were all close, but none were "mistakes" by the other team.

Dallas - Without the hold, they'd never have gotten the pass off

Eagles - Yeah, the hail mary hit his hands, but be real, it was an extremely unlikely catch in a crowd, you make it sound like it was in his hands and he dropped it. Mistake, no way.

Packers - They missed a field goal from FIFTY THREE YARDS. That's a "mistake?" Please.

Skewed points are no way to win an argument. Had you stuck with they were close and could have gone either way it would have been valid. But as you made it it was a contrived argument.

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:57 am**

I'll go with 7

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:42 pm**

Redskins_Fanatic wrote:
SkinsJock wrote:like a lot of meats - I'd imagine eating crow with gravy might help

I don't expect to be seeing crow on the menu, with or without gravy, SkinsJock. This team has no proven quantity on the Offensive side of the ball. Kerrigan and Landry are already hurt. The D will be better than the O; but I don't see them being able to keep opponents to NEGATIVE numbers on the scoreboard, which might be what's necessary for this team to have a chance to win. Especially since they still don't have a proven kicker. Four wins is generous and optimistic so far as I'm concerned.

This is just flat out wrong. Moss was in the top 10 for WR in both receptions and yards last year. Cool

ey was only out performaed by Whitten. AAA had the second highest yards per catch average of any WR in the NFL. Gaffney is coming off his two best seasons of his career. Our RT is a two time PB. Full back has been to the PB as well.

To say we have no proven quanitity on the offensive side is just flat out wrong.

Yes, we have holes and unproven guys at other spots, but come on at least be fair with your comments.

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2011 1:11 pm**

Moss was in the top 10 for WR in both receptions and yards last year.

Agreed. Moss is still a very good wide receiver. Maybe not elite, but very very good.

Cooley was only out performaed by Whitten.

ey is great when healthy, but that knee could be an issue. I believe that he was held out of practice again yesterday and wont play in the game tomorrow night.

AAA had the second highest yards per catch average of any WR in the NFL.

AA was very solid last year, but if you break down his season game-by-game he was also quite inconsistent and tended to disappear at times. He played in 15 games last season and in 11 of those he had 3 catches or less. He made some big plays but he needs to be more consistent and needs to show that he can duplicate what he did last season. He is not yet a proven commodity.

Gaffney is coming off his two best seasons of his career.

Will be interesting to see if Gaffney or AA wins a starting job. I'm hoping that by the end of the season Hankerson can beat them both out, but not sure that's likely this year.

Our RT is a two time PB.

Brown was inconsistent last season and struggled at times. He did come on towards the end of the season though. Given his injuries and recent struggles, its not clear what exactly we can expect from him this season.

Full back has been to the PB as well.

Sellers is getting PT at TE and appears to be done as a FB. He'll be lucky to make the final roster.[/quote]

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:08 pm**

CanesSkins26 wrote:Cooley is great when healthy, but that knee could be an issue. I believe that he was held out of practice again yesterday and wont play in the game tomorrow night.

Davis filled in admirably two years ago when Cool

ey was hurt. Davis has lost weight and has worked harder this off season. There would be little or no drop off if Cool

ey is hurt long term.

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:08 pm**

Predictions

* Redskins will win eight games, no playoffs.

* Both Beck and Grossman will start at least 3 games each.

* The offense will finish right in the middle, somewhere between 10th and 18th in the NFL in yards and points.

* The defense will be a little higher, somewhere between 8th and 14th in yards and points allowed.

* Kerrigan will struggle early on and lose some playing time.

* Gaffney will be the WR with the most receptions.

* Fletcher will go to the Pro Bowl, first team, with over 160 tackles.

* Jarvis Jenkins will play and contribute the most of all the rookies.

* Overall, the Skins offense will be a little more productive than last year, but will struggle to stretch the field consistently. Defenses will play the Skins aggressively and as a result, the Offense will struggle some in pass protection and sustaining drives.

* The defense will play much better than last year. More takeaways, give up fewer yards and fewer points. The defense will get beat deep on occasion and will sruggle occasionally against the run.

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2011 2:47 pm**

fleetus wrote:Predictions* Redskins will win eight games, no playoffs.

Very reasonable. I like 9 wins and no comment on play-offs.

* Both Beck and Grossman will start at least 3 games each.

Even if Grossman wins the opening day starting job, at some point, I see Beck getitng on the field for his "evaluation." Don't know about your number of "at least 3," but I understand where you are coming from.

* The offense will finish right in the middle, somewhere between 10th and 18th in the NFL in yards and points.

* The defense will be a little higher, somewhere between 8th and 14th in yards and points allowed.

I can go with those predictions

* Kerrigan will struggle early on and lose some playing time.

Kerrigan will struggle but I am not sure what you mean lose some playing time. This is the season to get him his reps. I say they let him learn.

* Gaffney will be the WR with the most receptions.

Not following you here. With Grossman at QB, Moss caught 22 balls in 3 games. Don't see why they won't continue.

* Fletcher will go to the Pro Bowl, first team, with over 160 tackles.

With a better D line. 1st team is very reasonable.

* Jarvis Jenkins will play and contribute the most of all the rookies.

I am going to go with Kerrigan, because I see him rushing the passer much more than he drops back into coverage and he was a good ball stripper when he tackled. He will play much more than Jenkins. I do agree that Jenkins will be heard this season.

* Overall, the Skins offense will be a little more productive than last year, but will struggle to stretch the field consistently. Defenses will play the Skins aggressively and as a result, the Offense will struggle some in pass protection and sustaining drives.

A "little more?" You went out on a limb on that one.

. A "little more" is a given, given the improvements on offense. How about a much improved run game? I think the run game will be improved a lot. Look at what they did toward the end of the season with the same rag tag guys. Surely, the slight upgrade and continuity will produce more than a little during the course of the season. Grossman showed that he can go deep. AA and Moss have proven that they can get deep. Even Grossman has shown he can burn some agressive defenses.

* The defense will play much better than last year. More takeaways, give up fewer yards and fewer points. The defense will get beat deep on occasion and will sruggle occasionally against the run.

Agree with all of the above. As long as Hall is in the secondary, we will get beat deep ocasionally. With a over half the opening day starters potientially being new, the D most likely struggle at times especially early on.

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:22 pm**

With these 2 QBs AND when you factor in Mike's ZBS - I think the key will be to try and run the ball a whole lot more than we are used to
I doubt that we try and do too much with the passing game at all

The defense will be a lot better - more familiar with what needs to be done and more aggressive PLUS they will be MUCH younger

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:41 pm**

Red_One43 wrote:
fleetus wrote:Predictions* Redskins will win eight games, no playoffs.
Very reasonable. I like 9 wins and no comment on play-offs.

* Both Beck and Grossman will start at least 3 games each.
Even if Grossman wins the opening day starting job, at some point, I see Beck getitng on the field for his "evaluation." Don't know about your number of "at least 3," but I understand where you are coming from.

I don't think either QB is a slam dunk. Both will struggle. Plus there are always injuries. I think 3 games is an easy prediction.

* The offense will finish right in the middle, somewhere between 10th and 18th in the NFL in yards and points.

* The defense will be a little higher, somewhere between 8th and 14th in yards and points allowed.

I can go with those predictions

* Kerrigan will struggle early on and lose some playing time.
Kerrigan will struggle but I am not sure what you mean lose some playing time. This is the season to get him his reps. I say they let him learn.

I say let him learn too! But I don't think he has the raw talent Orakpo had. I think he will have a longer learning curve. At some point, the coaching staff will sub other players in there to hopefully be more effective. It will also allow Kerrigan to concentrate on executing on "his packages".

* Gaffney will be the WR with the most receptions.
Not following you here. With Grossman at QB, Moss caught 22 balls in 3 games. Don't see why they won't continue.

Moss just got a new contract. He is a year older. The roster has a lot of WR's. I see Gaffney as a steady professional who will be effective in this offense. Moss will be right there too, no big deal.

* Fletcher will go to the Pro Bowl, first team, with over 160 tackles.
With a better D line. 1st team is very reasonable.

* Jarvis Jenkins will play and contribute the most of all the rookies.
I am going to go with Kerrigan, because I see him rushing the passer much more than he drops back into coverage and he was a good ball stripper when he tackled. He will play much more than Jenkins. I do agree that Jenkins will be heard this season.

Jenkins is moving into a situation where he is doing what he has always done well. Kerrigan is moving into a situation where he has to learn a new position. By next season Kerrigan will be on track. This season, even though the stats may not show it, Jenkins will be a large contributor on defense, IMO.

* Overall, the Skins offense will be a little more productive than last year, but will struggle to stretch the field consistently. Defenses will play the Skins aggressively and as a result, the Offense will struggle some in pass protection and sustaining drives.
A "little more?" You went out on a limb on that one. . A "little more" is a given, given the improvements on offense. How about a much improved run game? I think the run game will be improved a lot. Look at what they did toward the end of the season with the same rag tag guys. Surely, the slight upgrade and continuity will produce more than a little during the course of the season. Grossman showed that he can go deep. AA and Moss have proven that they can get deep. Even Grossman has shown he can burn some agressive defenses.

Well, I don't think "a little more" is a given. Just not buying the "going deep" part. I think the run game will be improved, but by game 3 or 4, every opposing defense will be determined to stop our run game and force Grossman/Beck to win games for us. That's a tall order when you look at the schedule. So, I think "a little more" improvement will be an achievement.

* The defense will play much better than last year. More takeaways, give up fewer yards and fewer points. The defense will get beat deep on occasion and will sruggle occasionally against the run.
Agree with all of the above. As long as Hall is in the secondary, we will get beat deep ocasionally. With a over half the opening day starters potientially being new, the D most likely struggle at times especially early on.

Yep, while I do believe the front 7 is better this year. I am not sure they will get to the QB a lot more than last year. I also think their run defense will be MUCH improved, but they may struggle to stop the run against certain teams. I think the secondary will be better overall and if Landry is healthy for most of the season, I think the defense may even be a top 10 defense.

Posted: **Thu Aug 11, 2011 5:03 pm**

fleetus wrote:
Red_One43 wrote:
fleetus wrote:Predictions* Redskins will win eight games, no playoffs.
Very reasonable. I like 9 wins and no comment on play-offs.

* Both Beck and Grossman will start at least 3 games each.
Even if Grossman wins the opening day starting job, at some point, I see Beck getitng on the field for his "evaluation." Don't know about your number of "at least 3," but I understand where you are coming from.

I don't think either QB is a slam dunk. Both will struggle. Plus there are always injuries. I think 3 games is an easy prediction.

* The offense will finish right in the middle, somewhere between 10th and 18th in the NFL in yards and points.

* The defense will be a little higher, somewhere between 8th and 14th in yards and points allowed.

I can go with those predictions

* Kerrigan will struggle early on and lose some playing time.
Kerrigan will struggle but I am not sure what you mean lose some playing time. This is the season to get him his reps. I say they let him learn.

I say let him learn too! But I don't think he has the raw talent Orakpo had. I think he will have a longer learning curve. At some point, the coaching staff will sub other players in there to hopefully be more effective. It will also allow Kerrigan to concentrate on executing on "his packages".

* Gaffney will be the WR with the most receptions.
Not following you here. With Grossman at QB, Moss caught 22 balls in 3 games. Don't see why they won't continue.

Moss just got a new contract. He is a year older. The roster has a lot of WR's. I see Gaffney as a steady professional who will be effective in this offense. Moss will be right there too, no big deal.

* Fletcher will go to the Pro Bowl, first team, with over 160 tackles.
With a better D line. 1st team is very reasonable.

* Jarvis Jenkins will play and contribute the most of all the rookies.
I am going to go with Kerrigan, because I see him rushing the passer much more than he drops back into coverage and he was a good ball stripper when he tackled. He will play much more than Jenkins. I do agree that Jenkins will be heard this season.

Jenkins is moving into a situation where he is doing what he has always done well. Kerrigan is moving into a situation where he has to learn a new position. By next season Kerrigan will be on track. This season, even though the stats may not show it, Jenkins will be a large contributor on defense, IMO.

* Overall, the Skins offense will be a little more productive than last year, but will struggle to stretch the field consistently. Defenses will play the Skins aggressively and as a result, the Offense will struggle some in pass protection and sustaining drives.
A "little more?" You went out on a limb on that one. . A "little more" is a given, given the improvements on offense. How about a much improved run game? I think the run game will be improved a lot. Look at what they did toward the end of the season with the same rag tag guys. Surely, the slight upgrade and continuity will produce more than a little during the course of the season. Grossman showed that he can go deep. AA and Moss have proven that they can get deep. Even Grossman has shown he can burn some agressive defenses.

Well, I don't think "a little more" is a given. Just not buying the "going deep" part. I think the run game will be improved, but by game 3 or 4, every opposing defense will be determined to stop our run game and force Grossman/Beck to win games for us. That's a tall order when you look at the schedule. So, I think "a little more" improvement will be an achievement.

* The defense will play much better than last year. More takeaways, give up fewer yards and fewer points. The defense will get beat deep on occasion and will sruggle occasionally against the run.
Agree with all of the above. As long as Hall is in the secondary, we will get beat deep ocasionally. With a over half the opening day starters potientially being new, the D most likely struggle at times especially early on.

Yep, while I do believe the front 7 is better this year. I am not sure they will get to the QB a lot more than last year. I also think their run defense will be MUCH improved, but they may struggle to stop the run against certain teams. I think the secondary will be better overall and if Landry is healthy for most of the season, I think the defense may even be a top 10 defense.

Thanx for the reponses.

Posted: **Sat Aug 13, 2011 10:57 am**

I feel that predictions made this early are premature. If I force myself to go with the players that we have right now. 8-8 is the best I can come up with. But I feel we might be close to a similar 6-10 record as last year EVEN if I am convinced that this younger roster is more suitable for his offense and defense and it offers a much better future than the one we had last year.

And that is my true problem lies. The true difficult prediction to make is the following:

Will Daniel Snyder keep the current combo Allen/Shanny/Shanny IF we have NO IMPROVEMENT in the wins/losses columns?

Will he be PATIENT and stay the course?

or

Will he be guided by attendance and merchandise decline sales to make yet another big name change at the top?

I feel that the father-son Shanny combo is taking a big risk with Beck and Grossman this year. If the choice works, they will be regarded as geniuses BUT if they fail after betting their reputation on those two names, their future is rather uncertain.

I HATE uncertainty when a head coach is not given a chance to prove himself OR when he makes it easy for the owner to make another blunder.

I will be happy with improvement like many. Will the owner be satisfied with that too? That is the big question for me.

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Season Win Total Prediction?