NewCliche21 Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 My first real memory? My dad being thrilled about Super Bowl XXII, I was three years old. I didn't really understand what was going on. Fast forward 27 years and nothing has changed, but at least I get to follow the team through more than expletives my dad would make (good play or bad). With all of this about Barry and the controversy surrounding him, there have been some posters comparing it to Gibbs and his 0-5 start where he looked like crap. As much as I would love to remember those days, I can't due to lack of birth. My first real coach that I got to follow was Norv. Yes, I feel the envy pouring off of you. Could you guys who were around in the late 70's, early 80's tell me a little bit about what it was like during that time? I'm thinking the culture of the fanbase, if there were any hot coaches (like Spurrier or John Fox) that we wanted, what the opinion of Gibbs pre-hire was both around the league and among the fans, the type of personnel he was walking into (good/bad for his system), Cooke's involvement, Beathard's involvement, if anyone even gave a damn about coordinators, etc.? Basically just trying to see how the team looked right before an era of greatness (while keeping in mind that it wasn't too far after Allen). Any memories of what things were like from after Allen to before XVII would be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skins214428hail Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I can tell you this much. Free agency ruined the redskins.And some will argue the NFL. We use to draft guys and sit them until they were ready to go.Now we draft guys and expect them to be ready from day one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgold Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 This pre-dates me slightly. I remember Gibbs being called a surprise pick. Gibbs himself jokes about thinking he was going to be the first coach fired before ever winning a game. I think the difference here was manifold though. Gibbs was top dog and not a coordinator which made the pick of the unknown HC more dangerous. Gibbs was unknown, but had a strong track record. Barry has a bad track record and isn't as much unknown as unwanted. There was no 24/7 sports news apparatus driving fan insanity in terms of ESPN, Twitter, etc. which gave Gibbs a bit more breathing room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipwhich Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 A love of all things Redskins existed between the media, the fans, the city. QB controversy existed then as it does now. RG3 joins a long list of QB controversies dating back to the first I experiences with Sonny J, Billy Kilmer and Joey T. Even with all the mischief Riggins got into, back in the day, everyone knew on day 1 of the season the diesel would be gassed up and run for 100+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Califan007 The Constipated Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 There was no internets. So you had an incredibly small circle of fans that you were exposed to daily, if any. I do remember there being some upset fans when Pardee was fired as head coach. I don't recall anyone saying directly to me that Gibbs would prove himself to be an outstanding head coach. From what little I recall it wasn't mentioned much. When he started out 0-5 I know I definitely felt as if we had a dunce for a head coach, but it wasn't exactly based on anything substantial other than "I HATE LOSING ALL THE !#$! TIME!!!" lol... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hail2skins Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Trying to find articles on the Gibbs hiring: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/redskins/history/gibbs/articles/jghired.htm Here's an ES thread from last season. Steinberg's blog entry liked by SHF in the OP is good reading: http://es.redskins.com/topic/376074-sports-bog-the-gibbs-coaching-search/ What I find humorous is the whole notion that the Redskins are concerned about a "fan revolt" over the hiring of Barry. Do the Redskins really think that the readership of ES is so representative of a Redskins fanbase that it feels like they have to "take the temperature" over the hiring of a defensive coordinator? I doubt it......do many Skins fans out there really care who they hire as DC? Just like with the potential hiring of Fassel in 2008. This was a guy who had a decent seven-year stint with the Giants---got them to three playoff appearances, including a Super Bowl--but yet the Skins supposedly pulled his name over some "fan revolt?" Not sure I really buy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobisimo Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I can tell you this much. Free agency ruined the redskins.And some will argue the NFL. We use to draft guys and sit them until they were ready to go.Now we draft guys and expect them to be ready from day one. I think that might be *a little* over-stated. Not significantly, but a little. Yes, I know we were clever with our roster. I know that we seemed to fabricate injuries during the pre-season that allowed us to stash guys to IR (a practice squad equivalent for us) until they were ready to play. I know that the lack of a cap allowed us to maintain a great deal of talent. But, really, free agency and Plan B really only hurt us due to a lack of a GM like Beathard, so far as I saw it. This pre-dates me slightly. I remember Gibbs being called a surprise pick. Gibbs himself jokes about thinking he was going to be the first coach fired before ever winning a game. I think the difference here was manifold though. Gibbs was top dog and not a coordinator which made the pick of the unknown HC more dangerous. Gibbs was unknown, but had a strong track record. Barry has a bad track record and isn't as much unknown as unwanted. There was no 24/7 sports news apparatus driving fan insanity in terms of ESPN, Twitter, etc. which gave Gibbs a bit more breathing room. Gibbs was an OC in Tampa Bay (oh noes, a TB connection) and San Diego. In San Diego, he had Dan Fouts -- and Dan Fouts was known as the QB who was always losing, but never through lack of effort. It was like he'd lose 48-45 each week, and he always put up big stats. I know anyone can hit Google and find out actual scores, etc. I'm just saying that's what it seemed like -- that he was always involved in shoot outs. A love of all things Redskins existed between the media, the fans, the city. QB controversy existed then as it does now. RG3 joins a long list of QB controversies dating back to the first I experiences with Sonny J, Billy Kilmer and Joey T. Even with all the mischief Riggins got into, back in the day, everyone knew on day 1 of the season the diesel would be gassed up and run for 100+ Definitely. We love our back-ups. As for Califan's comment about there being no Internets, too true. I remember Peter King writing an article about covering the Giants back in the day, and how it would just be a few of the reporters sitting around with a guy like Parcells, and he'd say stuff about what the team was going to do in the game on the promise that the reporters wouldn't give it away in advance. What a difference between then and now. The game sure grew up quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewCliche21 Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Thank you guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan since a Fetus Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I tried to help by looking on Twitter for people's opinions at that time, but it looks like posts don't go back that far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I tried to help by looking on Twitter for people's opinions at that time, but it looks like posts don't go back that far. Twitter was, like, called Usenet back then. There are archives of discussions about return of the Jedi contemporary with the film's theatrical release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carex Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I can tell you this much. Free agency ruined the redskins.And some will argue the NFL. We use to draft guys and sit them until they were ready to go.Now we draft guys and expect them to be ready from day one. I don't believe this is as true as people say. Most Redskins rookies either contributed immediately or never became more than part time starters. The only draftees who contributed eventually rather than almost immediately that I can think of are Mark Rypien, Kurt Gouveia, Ed Simmons, and Marcus Koch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipwhich Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 What ruined the Redskins was letting Trent Green get away and trading for Brad Johnson. That is probably the biggest failure in anything that changed the course of this franchise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOF44 Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Heck right before Allen we got the ultimate dream head coach, we snagged Vince Lombardi! It was terrible when he passed from cancer. Jurgenson credits him with changing the teams direction, then Allen came in and made us into the over the hill gang. Twitter was, like, called Usenet back then. There are archives of discussions about return of the Jedi contemporary with the film's theatrical release. Well not exactly, but when Gibbs was hired there was not public internet, shocking I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Jones Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 What ruined the Redskins was letting Trent Green get away and trading for Brad Johnson. That is probably the biggest failure in anything that changed the course of this franchise. Been a while, but I recall the ownership search and eventual purchase by Dan left uncertainty in the FO. Not saying they didn't let him go, but instability led to indecision and the team just let him go. It was not a clear cut situation that Green was not signed. The Brad Johnson trade was different as it happened later, after things had settled down, during the early dark years that Dan owned the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipwhich Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Been a while, but I recall the ownership search and eventual purchase by Dan left uncertainty in the FO. Not saying they didn't let him go, but instability led to indecision and the team just let him go. It was not a clear cut situation that Green was not signed. The Brad Johnson trade was different as it happened later, after things had settled down, during the early dark years that Dan owned the team. Actually the Brad Johnson trade happened at exactly the same time. Trent turned down the Redskins offer and signed with St. Louis, the Redskins immediately traded for Brad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hail2skins Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Actually the Brad Johnson trade happened at exactly the same time. Trent turned down the Redskins offer and signed with St. Louis, the Redskins immediately traded for Brad. Yeah, remember Casserly announcing "We have a plan" after we were left QB-less after Trent left. Didn't Snyder want to rescind the Johnson trade when he took over? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 The Brad Johnson trade happened just BEFORE Snyder became the owner. Trent Green was from St Louis and his QB coach here was Martz, who left to become Vermeil's OC. One must remember he had only started half a season after Frerotte got hurt in 98. Then again, Brad Johnson I don't think had made it through a whole season before Casserly traded a 1st, 2nd and 3rd for him. We offered Green a good but not great contract. St Louis offered him a better one and with the ownership in limbo, John Kent Cooke wasn't gonna offer him big money, and Green really wanted to go to StL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autoidiodyssey Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 There was no internets. And sports talk radio as we now know it didn't exist. WTEM didn't go with an all sports format until 1992. Before that there was Ken Beatrice ("Your next!") and that was about it in DC. Sports radio as a format didn't exist at all until WFAN in NYC launched in 1987. ESPN was a little over a year old when Gibbs was hired. No Mort or Schefter or any "insiders" trying to break news. ESPN was only available in 4-5 million homes when it launched in 1979. It really was a completely different world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rskins06 Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 What ruined the Redskins was letting Trent Green get away and trading for Brad Johnson. That is probably the biggest failure in anything that changed the course of this franchise. Ouch!! That still hurts!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hail2skins Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Trent Green was from St Louis and his QB coach here was Martz, who left to become Vermeil's OC. One must remember he had only started half a season after Frerotte got hurt in 98. Trent played pretty much the whole '98 season. He came in the opening game when Norv yanked Gus after a pick-six (I really think Norv was still not happy about the head-butting the wall incident the previous year). For whatever reason, Gus did come back and play in the blowout loss to the Vikings mid-season, but other than that, it was Trent's show that year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Califan007 The Constipated Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 As for the oft-repeated Gibbs 0-5 start - we were close in all of those games, and our offensive was way at the top of the NFL. Izzatso? Vs. Cowboys: lost 26-10 (we were down 20-10 going into the 4th quarter) Vs. Giants: lost 17-7 Vs. Eagles: lost 36-13 (we gave up 22 points in the 4th quarter) Vs. 49ers: lost 30-17 (we were down 30-3 going into the 4th quarter) Total points scored in those 4 games: 47 Average points scored in those 4 games: 11.7 points per game Our offense we may have been "way at the top of the NFL" in terms of yards for those first 5 games, but most definitely not for points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobisimo Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I don't have many stories involving Redskins players, but I met Trent Green at training camp and he was nice enough to take a few minutes to chat with me. He seemed a tiny bit surprised when I wandered over to him, but I led with revealing that he was my starter in Madden football (I think Trent was 3rd string, officially). He was like, "really? Am I any good?" Made me laugh. He was a nice guy, and I'll always lament that it didn't work out for him to be our starter long term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RabidFan Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 i tied an onion on my belt....which was the style at the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
End2round2sanders Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I can tell you this much. Free agency ruined the redskins.And some will argue the NFL. We use to draft guys and sit them until they were ready to go.Now we draft guys and expect them to be ready from day one. By the time FA rolled around the skins were old and in rebuilding mode, you couldn't get anyone to come here then, I mean we got guys like Ken Harvey, Washington, Terry Allen, and Ellard but we sucked at the draft back then. FA is not why we took some 7 years to return to the playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hail2skins Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Izzatso? Vs. Cowboys: lost 26-10 (we were down 20-10 going into the 4th quarter) Vs. Giants: lost 17-7 Vs. Eagles: lost 36-13 (we gave up 22 points in the 4th quarter) Vs. 49ers: lost 30-17 (we were down 30-3 going into the 4th quarter) I saw that too and gave the benefit to the OP due to being "somewhat close" heading into the 4th quarter in a good number of those games (the 49er game being the clear exception). Of course, I can't remember '81.....was not living in DC at the time......but those losses in the first three games of '01 were jusr brutal. I remember the home opener against the Chiefs (the AZ game had been postponed due to 9/11) and we had cut it to 14-13 and then THE Trent Green (mentioned elsewhere in this thread) led KC to two quick scores before half and the Skins left the field down 28-13 to a lot of boos. The first thing fans see on the lite-brite tron after that is Marty soliciting donations for 9/11 and his image got booed louder than the Skins had leaving the field!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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