An Amazing Year!

[OldSchool]

I can't remember a year during the Snyder era that excited me a much as this one. Marty's surge at the end of the year was awesome and raised my hopes, that were crushed when Marty got canned. I never got that excited by Gibbs II because of my Snyder concerns. I never got on the 2012 bandwagon because of my total mistrust of running QBs, I foresaw the end from the beginning. Now I am excited.

In order of effect:

1. We have a brilliant young franchise QB. Shanny has been proven right Kirk finished in the top 10 of the QB ratings in his first year starting. Imagine Cousins starting and being consistently one of the best in the league for 10 years! I think that is the future!

2. SM took control of player acquisition and is proving to be as good as hoped.

3. Jay Gruden may be a great coach. Certainly he has proven himself an NFL HC this season with his huge decision to start and stick with Cousins, that has made all the difference this year and forms the foundation for a decade of relevance. The team overall has also improved. The culture is improving along with the team. The drama has ended in DC. It looks like a happy team to me and Gruden has to get credit for it.

[PulpExposure]

It really has been a great year. A lot of growth in the team, in our young QB, our inexperienced HC, and the playcaller. Win or lose the playoff game, this season shows a lot of promise for the future.

[DEHog]

4. Higher ticket prices...

[Chris Luva Luva]

Years ago I stated that Mike has done things that will turn the tide of this franchise, despite whatever he accomplished during his tenure. They were fundamental improvements that won't show up on the win/loss column.

- the practice bubble
- alterations to the scouting dept
- strength and conditioning areas were revitalized

And now we get to add something else to that list. He drafted one of the 2 best QB's in the 2012 draft...

[markshark84]

Basically, what makes this season, and HOPEFULLY the future moving forward, different is that we CURRENTLY have:
1. A FRANCHISE QB
2. A GM that appears* to not allow an idiotic and meddling owner to force his influence into football decisions
3. A HC that stood up to said owner by benching his prized pet (I'm sure the temper tantrum Danny boy threw was epic)
4. What appears to be a good coaching staff (although I haven't looked into this as much and am not 100% sure of this)
5. An owner who may understand --- after 2 decades of ruining the franchise ---- that he is a bumbling fool and better served wearing a dunce cap and sitting in the corner
6. A team that is unified and not full of guys who's primary goal is receiving a paycheck
7. Quality on-field leadership --- and by quality, I mean the RIGHT kind of leaders

* I will never 100% believe Danny boy isn't sticking his worthless head in football operations until I literally know personally. I don't trust the little weasel and never will. He is the worst thing that has happened to this franchise in the SB era. That said, since I actually have agreed with the overwhelming majority of personnel moves this year, I am confident Scot is the one doing them --- because Danny boy and I LITERALLY couldn't disagree more on the philosophy of how to acquire talent and or build a sustainable roster.

At the end of the day, what makes this season "amazing" (a word I personally wouldn't use as it is overstated) is that for the first time I can remember, we have a FO, QB, and roster moving into next season that is vastly improved and (fingers crossed) we shouldn't have any lingering issues moving into the 2016 season.

[markshark84]

Years ago I stated that Mike has done things that will turn the tide of this franchise, despite whatever he accomplished during his tenure. They were fundamental improvements that won't show up on the win/loss column.

- the practice bubble
- alterations to the scouting dept
- strength and conditioning areas were revitalized

And now we get to add something else to that list. He drafted one of the 2 best QB's in the 2012 draft...

I think that is why Shanahan is going to most likely get the MIA HC job.

The Shanahan situation was another Danny boy f&*< up...... in that he was more loyal to a QB than his HC. Another example of how idiotic the twerp is and how little he knows about the game of football from a management perspective (not taking away from the fact he knows nothing about football otherwise). He created bad precedent..... again. Shanahan may be a lot of things, but he knows his football. His son Kyle is a good OC. If ATL can rebound next year, there is a chance those 2 may become the first father-son concurrent HCs in the NFL.....

I am still not sold on his GM abilities, but he was right on Cousins....

[Chris Luva Luva]

I am still not sold on his GM abilities, but he was right on Cousins....

And Jordan Reed... Moses at RT...

Mike caught a bad deal with cap penalty and then losing the picks for RGIII... He's not a legit GM but he can clearly identify probowl. IF paired with a good GM, he'd be money.

[DEHog]

I am still not sold on his GM abilities, but he was right on Cousins....

And Jordan Reed... Moses at RT...

Mike caught a bad deal with cap penalty and then losing the picks for RGIII... He's not a legit GM but he can clearly identify probowl. IF paired with a good GM, he'd be money.

Agreed...but Moses was taken by Allen.

[OldSchool]

Basically, what makes this season, and HOPEFULLY the future moving forward, different is that we CURRENTLY have:
1. A FRANCHISE QB
2. A GM that appears* to not allow an idiotic and meddling owner to force his influence into football decisions
3. A HC that stood up to said owner by benching his prized pet (I'm sure the temper tantrum Danny boy threw was epic)
4. What appears to be a good coaching staff (although I haven't looked into this as much and am not 100% sure of this)
5. An owner who may understand --- after 2 decades of ruining the franchise ---- that he is a bumbling fool and better served wearing a dunce cap and sitting in the corner
6. A team that is unified and not full of guys who's primary goal is receiving a paycheck
7. Quality on-field leadership --- and by quality, I mean the RIGHT kind of leaders

* I will never 100% believe Danny boy isn't sticking his worthless head in football operations until I literally know personally. I don't trust the little weasel and never will. He is the worst thing that has happened to this franchise in the SB era. That said, since I actually have agreed with the overwhelming majority of personnel moves this year, I am confident Scot is the one doing them --- because Danny boy and I LITERALLY couldn't disagree more on the philosophy of how to acquire talent and or build a sustainable roster.

At the end of the day, what makes this season "amazing" (a word I personally wouldn't use as it is overstated) is that for the first time I can remember, we have a FO, QB, and roster moving into next season that is vastly improved and (fingers crossed) we shouldn't have any lingering issues moving into the 2016 season.

There must have been some epic discussions after the Detroit preseason game and during the 2-4 start. I hope the reversal of fortunes this year have taught Snyder to leave it to the football people. with SM and JG on the same page and running the team with Cousins we should be annually in the hunt for a championship if Snyder will stay out of it and not make a fire Marty and meddle again.

[markshark84]

IF paired with a good GM, he'd be money.

Exactly my point.

[SKINS#1]

It all started last Jan. when Scot McCloughan was hired.

January 29, 2015 Named Chad Grimm defensive quality control coach.
January 28, 2015 Named Matt Cavanaugh quarterbacks coach.
January 27, 2015 Named Perry Fewell defensive backs coach and Mike Clark head strength and conditioning coach.
January 20, 2015 Named Joe Barry defensive coordinator.
January 15, 2015 Named Bill Callahan offensive line coach.
January 8, 2015 Named Scot McCloughan general manager.

[SkinsJock]

I am so very happy for both Kirk Cousins and Scot McCloughan - both have clearly shown that they are very good at doing what they do

Dan Snyder will not interfere ... for now - he will spin this thing to his advantage but he will give these guys another year

we are very fortunate to finally have people managing this franchise and I'm sure they will keep doing a great job

[OldSchool]

The fan base is united even SJ and I are singing from the same song sheet now....

[Deadskins]

3. Jay Gruden may be a great coach. Certainly he has proven himself an NFL HC this season with his huge decision to start and stick with Gruden

Yes, I'm glad he didn't bench himself.

[langleyparkjoe]

3. Jay Gruden may be a great coach. Certainly he has proven himself an NFL HC this season with his huge decision to start and stick with Gruden

Yes, I'm glad he didn't bench himself.