How good or bad was the season?
It depends who asks in what context and for what purpose.
1. If the question is posed from the owner's perspective, the answer is: fantastic.
A disaster was avoided and revenue was enormous. FedEx stadium was not as often empty and in such amounts as other seasons. Last season carried expectations among many optimistic fans of at least a repeat performance in playoffs if not an improvement. What is a fan if not somebody who always expects that a conference championship in 2015 surely was a sign that the team performance could be better in 2016? The owner knew that his choice for General Manager with a proven track record of success would add instant credibility and marketing value to the Team. It worked not only as a marketing plot, the Draft and Free Agency brought hope to the most dedicated fans. If not as a success in every occasion, personnel choices certainly were not the kind of horribly expensive disasters which have made Danny the laughingstock among his peers in the NFL.
Revenue was up in several respects, even with lower TV ratings overall. Merchandise and other revenue seems to maintain the Washington as one of the most profitable franchises in sports not only North America but the World. Redskins fans are some of the most loyal in all sports. The departure of one from the Stadium is always ready to be filled in by a somebody else whether that is a Washington fan or not, whether an individual or a company who uses the seats for marketing purposes.
2. If the question is posed from management perspective, specifically the GM, the answer is: excellent!
The influence of Scot McCloughan over the owner has grown. The influence of ... Does anybody still remember who the President of the team is? When the last name Allen is mentioned , do you honestly remember George or his son Bruce lately? Have you seen him in a prominent role seated next to the owner in games? No? Thought so.
The current season puts our GM in an excellent position! He has two great options:
a) place his own coaches if they get fired by the owner; or
b) replace any of them if they receive an opportunity to coach elsewhere next season.
The current coach staff was not picked by him and it is just a matter of not too much time before any or most are gone. Scot is in the strongest position to place new coaches and organize the Draft and Free Agency. Not too bad, is it?
3. If the question is posed from the coaches perspective: not too good with few exceptions.
Clock is ticking for Jay Gruden. Maybe, just maybe, he has one more season to make or break his tenure. He faces multiple problems: a mixed bag of poor and good coaching decisions (your choice about percentages here), the predictable tendencies in his choices, and ... some poor choices among his fellow coach picks.
To be fair with Joe Barry, he was not the outright disaster that his 0-16 Lions indicated. There have been flashes of good play and good players. Unfortunately, he was dealt a bit of a raw deal with poor personnel in the a secondary in shambles whose utter self implosion was only mitigated by the addition of Norman, and a DL which can be and was dominated by all good OLs among opposing teams. No, he is not the disaster that could have been but his defense is still among the last 5 in the entire NFL and proved to be the weakest link of the Team in 2016.
Sean McVay coached most games, particularly nationally televised games, as if they were opportunities for HC job interviews elsewhere. Considering the talent among TEs and WRs, and the unbalanced investment to improve offense in general, his results are meagre. The spectacularity of a passing game always prevailed over the ability to establish a solid run game and a balanced offense. He will not last long here un;ess he gets an offer to replace Jay. This is the story of a good coach rising to high too soon for his own good.
The winner this year is ... Bill Callahan. He did a great job with great talent and managed to fill in the gaps well when injuries or suspensions affected the OL.
Ben Kotwica redeemed himself. Our special teams are serviceable and at times show flashes of real solid play. How do our special teams in 2016 compare with previous embarrassments and disasters?
4. If the question is posed from the players perspective: mixed bag, some good, some bad and some ugly.
The good: TEs, WRs, OL and some LBs plus a surprise at RB
The bad: safeties, what safeties? Hopkins ... do not get me started. Problem is in his head, he has all the right physical attributes. DL ... oh my ... can a true and legitimate NT stand up (to start), please? Breeland ... to think that many expected him to rise to the position of our prime CB in 2016? Reminds me of Amerson, who finally woke up to keep his head in his shoulders ... with the Raiders.
The ugly: Captain Kirk. Yes, he will be paid. Yes, he will stay. No, there is no better option. He is a player who earned and deserves the opportunity to keep growing and ... sometimes shoot himself in the foot with regressions and simply unreliable decisions marked by a lack of clutch and heroic performances at crucial times for the entire team. Why would anybody be wrong if they felt that he will be minding the store ONLY until a better option looms over the horizon and takes up his job?
5. If the question is posed from the fans perspective: mixed bag
Some left totally giving up hope as long as the owner is there still meddling;
Some kept an eye from a distance but have placed the team on a much lower level of priority
, and
Yet other faithful will take every "next season" with eternal hope for improvement because burgundy and gold in their veins (as long as the performance of the team does not affect negatively their personal and family lives, it is only a game after all). They paid and watched every game in the stadium or TV no matter what. Some even post in fans websites
Happy 2017 to ALL three types of Skins fans above.