RMN: Gibbs has Redskins fans buzzing

[bubba9497]

Gibbs has Redskins fans buzzing

http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?action=detail&pk=FBN-REDSKINS-10-07-05

ASHBURN, Va. -- Like so many others who heard the news, Mike Shockley danced a jig, high-fived his buddies and promptly took off the rest of the afternoon to celebrate.

This was a different sort of seventh heaven.

"My son tells me the four greatest men to ever walk the face of the Earth were Jesus Christ, Cal Ripken Jr., Joe Gibbs and Grandpa," said Shockley, a Virginia real-estate agent.

And with the Jan. 7, 2004, announcement, Shockley knew one of them would be back walking the Washington Redskins sideline. Of course, those expecting Joe Gibbs to be a savior last season for a franchise that had fallen onto hard times were disappointed.

Sure, many gave the Hall of Fame coach with three Vince Lombardi Trophies a bit of a free pass during the ugly 6-10 season.

But that didn't mean there weren't plenty of questions by those who thought Gibbs could walk on water.

"A lot of them were wondering how shallow it was," Redskins offensive lineman Ray Brown said last week. "The expectations were tied to nostalgia, and a lot of times, that's not going to win you a lot of football games. It will make you feel good about how it used to be, but, unfortunately, I think our talent just didn't play to its level. That bore itself out by us being 6-10."

Now, 2004 seems like eons ago.

The Redskins still might not be an offensive juggernaut, but entering Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High, they are 3-0 _ one of four undefeated teams in the NFL.

The last time Washington was 3-0 was 1991. That season, they started 11-0, finished 14-2 and beat the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI for Gibbs third championship.

"That's all it's about _ winning," receiver Santana Moss said. "I just feel privileged to be part of something special. We have a special coaching staff that has done a lot for the city. I just want to be part of it."

While some will point to Sunday's nail-biting 20-17 overtime victory at home against the Seattle Seahawks as proof the Redskins are for real, others will remember the wild Monday night in Dallas last month as perhaps the turning point for the franchise.

In that game, the Redskins chased away the demons and found a way to beat the Cowboys on the road, despite trailing 13-0 with just less than 4 minutes remaining.

Before the game, Gibbs told ABC's announcers he felt like a homecoming opponent _ a sacrificial lamb on a night that was all about the Cowboys.

The Triplets _ Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin _ were being inducted into the team's Ring of Fame at halftime. Charlie Pride was singing the national anthem.

And for 55 minutes, it appeared America's Team would be celebrating its 10th consecutive win against the Redskins at Texas Stadium.

Then embattled quarterback Mark Brunell rediscovered his wheels and scrambled for 25 yards. Less than 1 minute later, he hit Moss in stride for a 39-yard touchdown.

If that wasn't shocking enough, a team that had gone 116 minutes, 13 seconds without a touchdown to start the season had two in three plays when Brunell found Moss again, this time for a 70-yard, winning score with 2:35 remaining.

"Knowing what we went through last year, to get a win like that was a stepping-stone," said Clinton Portis, who had as many wins last season (six) with Washington as he had the first half of his rookie season with Denver. "Not beating (Dallas), we had pretty much become a pushover in this conference. This told you we had a team of guys who really want to win, guys who are tired of losing, tired of being pushovers."

Instantly, Gibbs was vindicated in his decision to go with Brunell over Patrick Ramsey at quarterback.

Last season, Brunell was being called Gibbs' $8.6 million mistake as injury and ineffectiveness left him benched in favor of Ramsey.

But there were plenty of other mistakes critics assailed.

Sure, Gibbs still had his signature play, the counter trey. But it went nowhere against blitzing defenses. Likewise, his once-innovative offense, the one that in 1983 set an NFL scoring record that stood for 15 years, looked as if time had passed it by.

Critics questioned if the same had happened to Gibbs himself, who, after being away from the game for 11 years, had returned to a sport that drastically had changed.

The players were different, the rules were different, the offenses and defenses were different, even the climate had changed.

"First years are always kind of hard, but it had been so long since I'd been through one I kind of forgot all the things that are involved," Gibbs said last week. "The hardest thing is you're uncomfortable because you don't really know the people, and, of course, you don't really know the players. It's really unsettling. It was a hard year for us, for sure.

"Having said that, there were a lot of other coaches who were first-year coaches who did better than I did. So you go ahead and admit that and go on down the road."

Despite his acclaim, Gibbs, 64, and his bunch of geriatric assistants looked dysfunctional at times last season. It was particularly noticeable on the sideline, where the Redskins often had trouble getting the play in on time.

ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth, a former Broncos offensive lineman who also played on Gibbs' 1991 championship team, believes some off-season moves will pay off more than others.

The first was getting rid of receiver Laveranues Coles, who complained mightily about the team's lack of production. It didn't matter that the Redskins had to take a $9.3 million salary-cap hit to get rid of him.

"You don't want to be here, good, I'll get rid of you," Schlereth said of Gibbs' thought process. "Those statements you make help you establish yourself as a guy in charge again and helps direct that organization."

Gibbs also added Bill Musgrave as quarterbacks coach. Musgrave brought knowledge of the West Coast offense and zone defenses. And he helped Gibbs do the once unthinkable _ install the shotgun formation.

"I think Bill has given him a much more up-to-date perspective," said ESPN analyst Joe Theismann, who helped Gibbs win his first championship in Super Bowl XVII. "It's made him a better coach."

Barring what he calls a "personal disaster," Gibbs says he is in it for the long haul.

"I don't think I would have signed (a five-year deal) if I didn't intend to live up to it," he said. "My intentions are to get the Redskins back to winning.

"The fans have always treated me much better than I deserve and have always been there for us. You'd like to get back to a point where they have a lot to cheer for."

They have that now. At sold-out FedEx Field on Sunday, the house was rocking.

There was no doubt where the fans' loyalty lies.

After watching four coaches in six years unsuccessfully try to resurrect the Redskins, they were behind Gibbs.

Though two tough road games loom in Denver and Kansas City, whatever happens, fans like Shockley will stick by Gibbs.

"He can go 0-16 and we'd blame it on the owner," he said of the controversial Dan Snyder. "It would never be his fault."

[trimee]

If that wasn't shocking enough, a team that had gone 116 minutes, 13 seconds without a touchdown to start the season had two in three plays when Brunell found Moss again, this time for a 70-yard, winning score with 2:35 remaining.

God, I still get goosebumps when I read about it!

The first was getting rid of receiver Laveranues Coles, who complained mightily about the team's lack of production. It didn't matter that the Redskins had to take a $9.3 million salary-cap hit to get rid of him.

Remember just 2 REAL short months ago when the media was still calling Gibbs an idiot for that move? Just this fact alone (no matter how this season turns out) makes them all eat crow!

[Walking Deadman]

Finally,

A nice story :applause: