Regular Season Analysis/Predictions

[SkinsJock]

I'm not 'happy' but I am certainly not worried .. - we have not really seen anything yet - it's pre season for crying out loud

we have a QB in RG3 that has a much higher chance of being a great QB than Cousins

let's give RG3 and Gruden some time - we're playing in a division that I think we can find a way a way to win 6 games

[riggofan]

The positive from the preseason is how well our defense has played.

+1000. Not just a positive but a huge surprise! Hopefully missing Merriweather those first two games won't completely screw it up.

[Deadskins]

Im surprised at all the respect for a mediocre smeagle team!!!

Me too. They are so last year. That stuff won't fly this season. We sweep the division. 11-5

[Mirttinur]

5-11. Even with Hatcher added in, our defense should still be awful. RG3 still looks like an unpolished NFL QB, always late making decisions. I think our offense does well because of RG3's athleticism and strength at all offensive positions, but it won't be able to make up for a terrible defense. I hope I'm wrong though.

[Kilmer72]

How many handles can a troll have here? Just curious.

[riggofan]

So with preseason over, I have to say I am definitely feeling more optimistic that this can be a good season.

1) I don't know if you've been paying attention, but Dallas AND the Giants both look terrible.
2) We have some legit depth on this team and our special teams are going to be better no question.
3) I'm not entirely sure, but is it really starting to look like our defense might not embarrass themselves every week? Might actually be decent?

Still gotta play the games. Still have to take advantage of being in a weak division. A strong start v. the Texans and Jags would be huge!

[HogHeaven1983]

6-10 seems reasonable (still last place in the nfc east)

that's a 3 game improvement over last year

not bad with a new coach and an inconsistent qb

seems clear the D and special teams are better

the O with RG still looks choppy, inconsistent, and turnover prone

(what good are world class receivers if the qb cannot get the ball to them)

I think if gruden makes this a 65 to 70% running team we will have a better chance at winning (true as long as rg is starting)

[Kilmer72]

I don't know what is going to happen but I would expect our Oline to look like crap. I think our defense will be pretty good and ST adequate. Two out of three will win a bunch of games and in our division might even give us a real good chance of taking it.

[SkinsJock]

I do think that this group will not be as hard to watch as last season's Redskins were

the offense has the weapons but a lot of concern about the O line - Griffin in a new offense but also learning to be a better NFL QB

the defense looks like it could be decent and Special Teams have to be better than last year's group

the Giants and the Pukes look horrible - I'm not convinced the Eagles are all that good

5-4 at the break and 4 of the last 7 (5-1 in the NFC East) = 9-7 overall - maybe even 10-6

[Deadskins]

6-10 seems reasonable (still last place in the nfc east)

that's a 3 game improvement over last year

not bad with a new coach and an inconsistent qb

seems clear the D and special teams are better

the O with RG still looks choppy, inconsistent, and turnover prone

(what good are world class receivers if the qb cannot get the ball to them)

I think if gruden makes this a 65 to 70% running team we will have a better chance at winning (true as long as rg is starting)

Why do I doubt you are a Redskins fan?

[Irn-Bru]

There are good reasons to be optimistic this year:

- It's our first season where we are truly free from the cap penalty. It's a "building" year from that perspective, but finally we've been able to assemble some real depth. For the first time in years I've been paying very close attention to the roster bubble and have been saddened to see certain players go. (Jackson, Phillip Thomas, Seastrunk, Hocker, and others.) My gut tells me that's a good sign.

- We didn't just acquire depth: on offense, at least, we have a true cast of top-level playmakers — enough that it's a real concern how we are going to get the ball into everyone's hands.

- Our offensive line still needs better players, but we are better there than last year in terms of starting talent and depth. I don't expect us to be a top 10 team, however.

- We are now cutting DBs who were on the verge of starting regularly just 1-2 years ago. We used to have one of the worst secondaries in the league, and that just isn't true anymore. Combine that with a solid LB corps and a good-to-solid defensive line, and let's see what our D can do.

- People often overlook how much our special teams hurt us last year. We've got a decent punter and not a terrible kicker (though I would much have preferred Hocker). We have depth players that excel on 'teams, and they've shown it in preseason. Again, I'm not expecting top 10, but anything better than "historically bad" is going to magnify improvements on both defense and offense thanks to improved field position.

- RGIII . . . I have concerns but am still a believer. The most important thing to watch going into the season.

[DarthMonk]

I think if gruden makes this a 65 to 70% running team we will have a better chance at winning (true as long as rg is starting)

This is essentially impossible.

The Seahawks led the league last year as the runningest team in the NFL running the ball 54.79% of the time. Only 5 teams ran more than 50% of the time.

The most balanced team in the league was Philadelphia.

We ran 42.58% of the time.

The most pass happy team was Atlanta @ 67.24%.

[StorminMormon86]

I don't think we'll finish in last place...that distinction will be the Cowgirls.

[riggofan]

I don't think we'll finish in last place...that distinction will be the Cowgirls.

That would be nice to see. I think the g-strings will give them a run for their money though.

Btw did anybody watch Jerruh on that ESPN interview this week? What a capital D-BAG.

[OldSchool]

I think the team is a 4-12 to 7-9 team with Griffin as a starter. His lack of QB skills hold his teammate back. With Cousins starting I think it is a 9-7 to 12-4 type team. The defense, special teams and offense is better. Since I expect Griffin to play the entire season unless injured I'll project 6-10, 3 wins more than last season with hopefully some improvement in his QB skills.

[Deadskins]

did anybody watch Jerruh on that ESPN interview this week? What a capital D-BAG.

Do you have a link?

[riggofan]

did anybody watch Jerruh on that ESPN interview this week? What a capital D-BAG.

Do you have a link?

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_ ... otball-man

His comment about Jimmy Johnson are especially embarrassing.

Johnson's response is pretty on point:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-foo ... in-profile

Sorry to get off topic there!

[masterkwon]

Having been the joke of the league for two decades now, everyone has been conditioned to have one, and only one, question this time of year...is this the season they don't suck? A third of the out of division games are soft and the division is weak so that will certainly help, but trying to get from bad, or embarrassingly bad to average is still going to be a work in progress. Patience folks.