wit33

Dude is 25, how long is this rebuild you speak of going to take lol

If Harris truly possesses all the qualities you describe, this won't be accepted. Your speculative viewpoint on this is quite intriguing relating to Ron attempting to sneak in another year

Malpractice to trade Chase Young. He must be part of any plans moving forward. He’s box office and good. Would be shocked if Harris and company let that type of star power go.

Your statement that you’re not comfortable with the status quo yet still actively engaging is, in my opinion, not dissimilar. I’m by no means suggesting you’re wrong; I acknowledge that I lean toward the extreme on the opposite end of the spectrum, and it’s not the norm. You make a good point, and I concur that witnessing something special holds increased value for both the fan and the fanatical fan’s family. I’d much rather have my nine-year-old watch winning football than not; I’ve avoided having him watch to prevent wasting his Sundays, haha. Washington has indeed had its fair share of poor to mediocre seasons over the years, and I won’t deny that. The RG3 season was truly magical, even with a wild card berth. It’s clear that the ceiling was different that season, largely due to having a quarterback who consistently reached an elite level of impact throughout the year. I want to make it clear that I’m not rooting against something special or a Super Bowl season arising from seasons of mediocrity. My stance on Ron has been somewhat moderate, especially in the early days, for many of the same reasons that others have begun to question him over the last season or two. I completely understand the arguments about him and the coaching staff. I share the desire for elite performance in all areas as much as anyone, and I’ve often engaged in debates over the years about not settling for average and going all-in on elite. I admit that I’m less passionate about the front office side of things because I believe that most people don’t truly understand front office personnel. As fans, we can see the product on the field and provide context based on real observations of players and coaches.

I have a completely different relationship with Washington football compared to most here, so I'm not here to argue what's right or wrong. I don't feel like I'm a part of the organization, and I won't shed a tear or feel like I've achieved something if Washington wins a Super Bowl. For me, a playoff win wouldn't feel much different than a Super Bowl win. The benefits are the same; in fact, the Super Bowl means the end of the season and no more football for months. Bonus football, on the other hand, provides an extra weekend to watch a team I'm somewhat emotionally invested in and engage in conversations here. I often feel more connected to these discussions than the results on the field, and I feel like I have a part in this. Moreover, the perspective that playoff football is meaningless is something I can't comprehend. It seems like an entitled fan's perspective, desiring to cling to some grand plan for building a championship organization. In my view, building such an organization requires a Hall of Fame QB who's willing to make sacrifices and work closely with their organization for 15 or more years. Only then might you have an organization capable of consistent success over two decades. The days of Washington in the 80s are long gone. Many teams have won SBs by getting the at bat through a wild card slot.

That’s a wrap. The hope for this season has transformed into a need for a miracle to secure bonus football for the Commanders. As we shift our focus, let’s hope Howell can attain a middle-tier QB status in the coming season, all while being on a rookie deal. To the dark side I go. PS: You must keep Chase Young!

The aspect of aggressiveness is an intriguing perspective to assess quarterbacks. It appears that the elite quarterbacks possess a degree of aggressiveness that sets them apart from the average ones. It’s as if the average quarterback, when playing in the fourth quarter down by 10 points, reaches the baseline level of aggressiveness that the elite quarterbacks maintain throughout the game. The average quarterback often requires external factors to grant them the “permission” to be aggressive. The journey to the pinnacle of elite performance is a challenging one, mainly because external pressures continually attempt to pull you back to an average level. Quarterbacks frequently hear repeated advice, trying to constrain them within the boundaries of what’s considered average. The elite quarterbacks often need to assert themselves and request that those around them step back and let them execute their own methods. Moreover, they must disregard the pundits who tend to evaluate them on scales heavily influenced by the abundance of average performances in the NFL.

I think NFL teams should be more open to the idea of acquiring talent even if their current season's performance is subpar. Why not bring in players during the season if they can contribute in future seasons? Teams with poor records from previous seasons often spend excessive amounts of money on free agents, so why not be proactive and bring in a player early? The NBA frequently follows this approach. For instance, Washington could trade a 26-year-old quality player for another team's 30-year-old talent, among other possibilities. I understand that this approach goes against historical norms, but why shouldn’t a team utilize the trade market to lay the foundation for the future? Keep your filthy eyes off of Samuel. I bet you’ve got all sorts of plans for him and the Eagles. Fans and media seem to think it’s not absurd. I agree with you.

Absolute waste to trade one of those guys for that compensation. Go get someone else’s good player. Be creative and aggressive.

Consider making a trade for a player if you decide to part ways with one of those guys. The NFL has been catching up to the NBA in terms of aggressiveness and out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to team building, but they still lag far behind in terms of trade compensation. Draft picks are often overrated when you’re giving up a good to great player. Force a team to give up one their good players in return.

High school: I coached Freshman, JV, and Varsity at various points over a decade. Stopped soon after I had when I had my son, now coaching his club basketball 9-10 year old team. I hadn't coached for over 6 years or so and jumped back in with this 9-10-year-old team. Even though it's the same sport, coaching high school players for many years is quite different from coaching 9-10-year-olds lol, though they're a dedicated and competitive group, which helps.

Yes, sir. I coach basketball, though.

Not really sure who the coaches are just imagine there are some. I did preface by saying “I think there might be a few coaches”. Are you a coach?

I enjoy it when this message board starts to resemble parents in the crowd at an AAU or high school basketball game, or those at a Pop Warner or high school football game. I think there might be a few coaches in here, and they’re doing the very thing they likely advise their own parents not to do, lol. Everyone has their own perspective, but the extreme positions can be quite extreme. Labeling coaches as incompetent when they are just a game away from a playoff spot at the halfway point of the season is quite a stretch. It’s incredibly challenging, even with an elite QB, and some teams still struggle to maintain consistency.

I agree. I might have been overly assertive in my statement about him now being the starter, and it may have implied that I didn’t think he’d be on the team. I share your belief that it’s highly probable he’ll be on the roster and even have a chance to start.

I don’t think it deserves to cause an earthquake, but reaching an average level, or to put it more precisely, being the 16th best scoring offense six games into the season with a young QB and a new offense, deserves praise in my opinion. If you think this is the highest point we can reach, I can understand your perspective to some extent. Attaining mid-tier scoring production with a QB earning less than $1 million per season holds substantial value. Ron doesn’t play a role in this discussion from my perspective, but I’m not suggesting you should or shouldn’t consider it. I understand your viewpoint. I’d be surprised if he gets another legitimate opportunity in Washington with a completely new front office and coaching staff. Perhaps there’s a slim chance, but I’d estimate it at around 10%. One of the primary reasons I’m fully on board with EB is because he has no interest in settling for mediocrity. He backs it up on game day with aggressive play-calling, even when others advocate for a conservative, yawn-inducing approach. I can’t stand playing it safe and believe that’s what we’ve had to endure for the most part over the years. Let’s embrace an offense that demands Howell to manage 40-50 pass attempts per game and all the sacks that come with it. It’s a sink or swim mentality.

It’s a bit more nuanced than making it possible only if he plays at an elite level like Joe Burrow. I understand the perspective that might be biased against him succeeding. The reality is that in year 1 of an offense with a first-year starting QB, Washington ranks 16th in scoring. He might not be Joe Burrow, but Washington is achieving average-level results with flashes of greatness.

If Washington can achieve 24-plus points per game by the end of year one with EB, I’ll be thrilled. It’s been quite some time since Washingtoms had an above-average scoring offense. Many teams would envy 22 points per game. Let’s not become too demanding all of a sudden. Let’s welcome more sacks if it leads to having a top 12-15 scoring offense! Washingtons currently 16th in scoring.

An offense with a governor in place would undoubtedly reduce Howell’s sack numbers, but that doesn’t align with the Reid QB development model. Stay resolute, EB. Continue to explore and be aggressive in the pursuit of developing greatness at the quarterback position. I’m looking forward to witnessing more 40-plus pass games from the Washington QB in the upcoming games. Lettts gooo!!! Sink or swim.

25 year olds can careless about any of this, but I hear you. No, keep pushing forward at full throttle with Howell, offering him plenty of chances to command a high-volume passing game. Managing just 25-30 pass attempts is reserved for the lower tier of average, and this is something Howell should be capable of handling as the season progresses. A quarterback who can throw 40-50 times and effectively manage the game can vie with the elite. I’m not suggesting this is the sole approach, but I’m fully on board with the Reid/EB philosophy when it comes to quarterback development. The bottom line is, can they or can’t they handle a high-volume passing attack.

Washington used to be a prime destination for free agents before Bruce's tenure. What am I missing? Same terrible facilities back then. Players had a strong fondness for Dan. Let's not confuse our fan perspective of him; Dan was known for his willingness to spend significant amounts of money on players. Washington wasn't the preferred choice over the Rams, but you win some and you lose some. Washington remained competitive throughout the process. Locations like Miami and Dallas may miss out on players, despite the lack of state taxes. Ultimately, where an older QB has the best chance to win and maximize their earning potential is where they'll land. I'd love to hear Dan and Bruce's side of the story someday. The Shannys aren't exactly known for taking the high road. Mike has a history of playing the victim and shifting blame, both in Denver and Washington That sounds about right; he'll leave with over $150 million, while fans might feel like they've been shortchanged. Good for him. He’s likely to shed that entitlement at his next destination, similar to what Russell is experiencing in Denver with Peyton. They’re cut from the same cloth. Why not? Kirk will be the same dude for another couple years.

Just to clarify, I have reservations about being overly optimistic regarding Ron. I was among the early critics, taking issue with his lackadaisical approach in the beginning, his ego in terms of public perception, and his messaging to the media. I'm a strong advocate for continuity, believing that competence coupled with continuity in the NFL can elevate a team above the 15-20 others constantly churning and making changes year after year. Compared to Jay, I find myself more optimistic about Ron. This is because I see him as a capable leader of both men and the team, resulting in minimal drama and good cohesion. Agree 100% with all of this. When Jay mentioned the possibility of multiple first-round picks and other selections, it gave the impression that he was merely speculating. As it turns out, Shanny seemed more inclined to part with draft assets beyond just a 3rd round pick and a guaranteed contract. I must admit I was mistaken in my initial assessment. Though, John Lynch wasn’t signing off on anything crazy IMO No, I consistently pointed out the poor culture from the very beginning and the potential negative impacts it could have on the organization. However, I firmly believed that a team can often overcome such challenges. This is precisely why I placed a high value on Alex Smith and, to a lesser extent, Peterson during their brief stints here. They brought an instant identity and a stronger team culture. Yeah, I believe that, for the most part, players prioritize securing their financial futures, and each offseason provides evidence of this. No, any other team willing to offer him a historically large guaranteed contract. I argued and questioned at the time what the value should be for a full season of what some in this area were considering elite QB play. What, in your opinion, is the equivalent draft compensation for a full season of Kirk Cousins, especially considering the final game against the Giants with a chance at the playoffs? Toward the end, there was no doubt that both parties were done with each other. The Vikings are soon to part ways with him. Yuck! Entitled quarterbacks in their 30s with families don’t sit well with me. I can’t wait for his next regime to deal with his demand for Tuesdays off.

He was demanding a fully guaranteed contract right from the start, he shared this on radio station Minnesota years ago. Slight chance I’m misremembering, but remember hashing this out in the Kirk Cousins thread that was wildly entertaining that was mistakenly removed lol I will attempt to dig it up.

Ninety-seven days ago, you were a fan of Ron, lol, and we both shared an appreciation for the Jays' offense. The folks who are critical of Ron might not be fully convinced you're on their side just yet, lol. I also supported Bruce for getting the cap situation under control and putting an end to the practice of paying top dollars for underperforming players. My support largely stopped at that point. I openly voiced my criticism of the culture that Bruce oversaw, which is why I strongly supported Alex Smith and his Hall of Fame-worthy intangibles . I have no disagreement these days regarding how they handled contract negotiations with Kirk. I'm not a fan of the team-building approach that involves overpaying mediocre quarterbacks, which is why I found myself aligning with Bruce and Dan. As for the way they conducted things behind the scenes, it's not a major concern. My fundamental disagreement was with paying Kirk and the overall concept of offering average quarterbacks elite-level contracts. I found it somewhat absurd for Kirk to demand a guaranteed salary after only a strong half-season of football. I love Jay as an analyst and believe he’s a future star in that space if someone would tap into that or he gives up idea of coaching in the NFL. We have a distinct perspective on how player signings work in the NFL when it comes to playing for different franchises. Kirk's top priority was securing a guaranteed contract, and he would have considered any team, even staying with the poorly managed Washington franchise, to ensure that financial security. Guaranteed dollars were his top priority! This isn't a critique of him, but it didn't align with what I wanted to support, which interestingly put me on the same side as Dan and Bruce, lol.

He didn't want to stay because he didn't have a fully guaranteed contract. Kirk would have had no problem quarterbacking for this franchise if he had been offered an elite-level contract at the time. Let's be clear, he's no martyr, just a 100% capitalist, lol.