Devil's Advocate

[fmorris]

What’s up with the Washington Redskins? Are they 49er-game good, or Giant-game bad? Hell, even the media are confused. These 2005 Redskins have them spitting and sputtering like judder-bugs not knowing if they should continue bashing or apologize in the face of obvious progress. The problem being that nothing is obvious with these Redskins.

Since I usually find myself on the optimistic side of the fence I thought it may be interesting to consider the worse. Consider that maybe; just maybe, the media is correct in their continued assertions that the Redskins are cursed with mediocrity. Along the way I’ll try to take it one step further and translate not only what was said, but the underlining message that often proves so allusive to fans such as myself.

Not that I buy into any of the drivel, not for a second, yet for the sake of argument it’s worth taking a closer look. A good hard look; after all, who was it that said, “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer?”

Not one of the media hounds have come right out and admitted what they truly believe, but at the end of the day it’s clear what all the tripe boils down to: as long as that young, over energetic, instant gratification seeking owner is calling the shots, the football gods will never let the Redskins get within a sniff of the promise land?

Well, for once I’m taking off my Redskin beer-goggles and squinting for a good hard look at the real agenda--for the next few minutes I invite you to step with me out of the light and down a rickety stairway that descends into the dark places we’ve (unfortunately) had to read about, but somehow convinced ourselves didn’t exist.

Let’s assume the worse:

The Redskins early success was an aberration. They are lead by a coach passed his prime, who ruled in a different era, whom fate blessed with two strike shortened seasons.

Chances are Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com would agree. “All those Gibbs apologist who insisted earlier in the season that the Redskins head coach had merely suffered an aberrational 2004 might want to consider delaying the canonization ceremony a while longer.” Translation: We’ll be back to writing ‘The NFL has passed Gibbs by’ articles in no time. And, oh-by-the-way, all is right with the universe.

Let’s face it folks… the world loves a tragedy.

According to our Lenny, “Gibbs looked like just some ordinary Joe on Sunday, and his team was extraordinarily bad, to say the least.” The bigger the man--the further the fall, and it doesn’t get much bigger than the Hall-of-Fame. The world loves this stuff!

Quarterback, Mark Brunell, is also passed his prime, and in the face of an inspired Giant’s defense resorted to his miserable 2004 form. Let’s face it—he was lucky through the first part of the season, and his luck finally ran out Sunday with the whole Redskin nation as witness. This is a good thing because it was difficult for all the media types to keep explaining Mark’s transformation from last year.

It’s clear that it was yet another aberration and now that the stars are once again in alignment, he’ll revert back to the noodle-arm quarterback that we all know and love. Ask any expert. Fox commentator Jimmy Johnson stated, “Maybe, Brunell is not having the great year as some people thought.” Translation: I hate you dirty Redskins for ruining the Ring-of-Fame induction, and now you’ll pay the price in print.

Luckily we have someone like our little Jimmy to explain complicated football issues when they get confusing. In a recent article for Fox Sports he was kind enough to shed some light on our aberrational defensive success. He suggested that other teams would use the Giant’s game as a stencil of sorts.

“…this is a game that I’m sure other teams will take a look at, because the NFL is such a copycat league.”

Seemingly any Redskin success must be closely examined for the hoax that it is. Having a number four ranked defensive unit is not nearly enough. As Jimmy clearly points out, “Sometimes statistics can snowball and be misleading.” Translation: The defensive ranking was like all other success tied to the Redskins, an aberration. Now that the Giants have blown up the program, we’ll no longer have to deal with those pesky Redskins thinking their better than everyone. Every week there’ll be Tiki Barber trotting for 200+ yards.

Happy days.

Now onto the offensive side of things. The Redskins offense is so horrible that it pains me even to consider it. Hell, even little Sally Jenkings knows how bad this Redskin’s offense is, and she was quick to point out the Tiki gained more yards rushing than the entire Redskins offense.

In her latest article for the Washington Post she continually alluded to something other than an emotional Giants team as to the cause for the Redskins demise--something other than the ghost-of-Redskins-past Antonio Pierce. But I’ll get to Mr. Poor-Unfortunate-Me Pierce in a minute.

The important thing to remember here is that the Redskins offence is also… you guessed it, an aberration. Clearly the receivers are too small, the quarterback is washed-up, and Clinton Portis is a system back--a cog plugged into Denver’s any-RB-will-do offensive empire, with obviously exaggerated numbers. Guess those silly Redskins thought they could go out and BUY a great back, but were foiled again. These football Gods don’t mess around.

But I digress a bit.

Back to Sally’s point, and it wasn’t an easy point to find. The best thing I could come up with was this: “A solid effort can stop a team that is surging on emotion -- and that is what the Redskins did not put forth.” Ahh, it’s all so clear now….the Redskins are incapable of putting forth a solid effort because Snyder’s money sucked the soul out of them. Translation: Snyder is the root of all evil. He’s fielding a group of brainless zombies dressed in burgundy and gold. Which by-the-way, explains their return-of-the-living dead like effort against the Giants. All this before the football gods even have their say.

Yikes!

Which brings us to Mr. I-thought-we-were-family Pierce? It’s clear that the Redskins have idea what loyalty to core players truly means. We’ll shell out millions for Mr. The-Redskins-bought-me-this-funky-wardrobe Sanders, but they don’t give a flying fart for the workmen that make up the true fabric of the regime. And it came back to haunt them on Sunday. This was truly poetic justice in its purest form--good always triumphs over evil. Guess Mr. Snyder never got that office memo.

Although the Redskins offer was described by Pierce as ‘close’ it didn’t match the Giants offer. According to Pierce, “It was about a difference of opinion in value, and loyalty in the front office.” I’ll tell you what the difference was. The difference was in what the Redskins offered and what the Giants paid him. The difference was getting paid – and he got paid. What the Redskins were worth to him didn’t equal this ‘close’ amount.

So excuse me if don’t get all weepy and curl up in the fetal position. Translation: Somehow the Redskins are responsible for not fostering loyalty by offering to pay a guy a ton of money to play football for them. Poor unfortunate me.

Moving ahead to next week the Eagles are coming to town. The media spin on this amounts to: Which team has the fortitude to emerge from the abyss and once again claim a spot as NFC East contender. In this game Donavan will throw for 400+ yards, and recapture his top quarterback status. Westbrook will break loose for 150 yards and two touchdowns.

TO will run amuck, easily exploiting our suspect secondary. The only real reason to watch this one is to see who the Redskin fans will boo and to see what cleverly creative end zone dances TO will bless us with. Translation: Redskins are going to kick their ass. Aberration number 5. Hail.

[rvan1]

that is one heck of a 425th post...

[PCS]

Whoa! :rubeyes: Get back to you on this one.

[fmorris]

that is one heck of a 425th post...

:laugh: Just wanted to get some stuff off my chest.

[PCS]

Some? Egads man if that was some than alot would be something Art or Om would be proud of.

:paranoid:

[skinthemboys]

Hey, Hey, Hey...I liked it!

[Walking Deadman]

Heck of a post man.....just explained everything to me.

[Kosher Ham]

I cant blame this all on Snyder. I think after year two he got his feet under him and started to do things the right way.

I would be lying if I didnt question the scouts for the Redskins. How many late round picks in the last few years have been worth anything ? How many did the Redskins keep ?

So does that lead to coaching ? Prior to Gibbs and Co. I would say yes. But even currently it is hard to justify a solid defensive player (Canty) going to a rival (Cowboys) instead of the Redskins in this past draft.

I have thought for weeks that this D is not the same D as last season. They are not focused. It is a huge problem. The Redskins D is living off of hype. Similar to the Patriots as a team. The Redskins D needs a big game against a solid team to prove me wrong, unfortunately I think the Eagles are currently living off hype too.

I actually look at the schedule and can justify a win every week. Although I respect other teams as well and expect them to be playing just as hard as the Redskins. I am hoping for a 10-6 season at this point.

The Giants game was dreadful. And the team should be embarrassed by their performance on both sides of the ball. The thing is that up until this game I felt that the players had something to hang their hats on every week. Hopefully it is just a fluke and this is not the tale of things to come.

I refuse to believe that at this point the Redskins who are still so close could possibly be folding tent. They are in the hunt and should be especially hungry after that game on Sunday by being smoked the Giants.

[fmorris]

I cant blame this all on Snyder. I think after year two he got his feet under him and started to do things the right way.

I would be lying if I didnt question the scouts for the Redskins. How many late round picks in the last few years have been worth anything ? How many did the Redskins keep ?

So does that lead to coaching ? Prior to Gibbs and Co. I would say yes. But even currently it is hard to justify a solid defensive player (Canty) going to a rival (Cowboys) instead of the Redskins in this past draft.

I have thought for weeks that this D is not the same D as last season. They are not focused. It is a huge problem. The Redskins D is living off of hype. Similar to the Patriots as a team. The Redskins D needs a big game against a solid team to prove me wrong, unfortunately I think the Eagles are currently living off hype too.

I actually look at the schedule and can justify a win every week. Although I respect other teams as well and expect them to be playing just as hard as the Redskins. I am hoping for a 10-6 season at this point.

The Giants game was dreadful. And the team should be embarrassed by their performance on both sides of the ball. The thing is that up until this game I felt that the players had something to hang their hats on every week. Hopefully it is just a fluke and this is not the tale of things to come.

I refuse to believe that at this point the Redskins who are still so close could possibly be folding tent. They are in the hunt and should be especially hungry after that game on Sunday by being smoked the Giants.

I think it's important to take one game at a time. The Redskins were flat in all aspects of the game. Coach Williams commented about the fundamentals that went by the wayside, and that's what he stressed to the team following the game. I counted a lot of broken tackles on D and dropped passes on O. I expect the Redskins will come out firing, but it should also be a close game. I don't buy into the thought of living off of last years Defense. Prior to the Giants game they were ranked #4, and that doesnt lie. They did show a tendency to give up big running plays which was fully exploited by the Giants. Obviously we lacked in intensity and loss grips in regards to fundamentals. The game was 50% our undoing and 50% of pure Giants intensity. That pretty much equaled a 100 butt-kicking.

[fmorris]

Some? Egads man if that was some than alot would be something Art or Om would be proud of.

:paranoid:

That's funny. I want to use Om's 'says here..' line, at one point, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. :laugh:

[BigRay]

Wow just wow !!

[project myu]

Translation: Redskins are going to kick their ass. Aberration number 5. Hail.

:point2sky :eaglesuck

[BG]

Ehh, it was a little short.

Nice post dude.

[Dalecitymike]

The loss against the N.Y. Giants was so bad that you have to point blame. Maybe you start at the O-Line, or the QB. You vent, but your still hurt for having to go through the emotional roller coaster. You then turn blame to the coaches, but after that is done. You get some phone calls or emails from Giants fans that pour salt on the wounds. You then blame the owner, but where does the blame game end? Do you blame the media? Write post about how they are getting you down. Should we blame the fans for not buying enough Giant tickets and cheering for them? The truth is nothing is going to make that loss feel right. Nothing but a win. The Redskins owe it to their fans to play smart, hard nose football this week. Everyone in the Redskins organization that accepts money from the profits of the fans has the duty to show that reputation of the organization is at stake. Die hard fans are actually scratching their heads for the first time since Joe Gibbs came back, and I don't think it's fair to Gibbs. These players need to show some heart, and some loyality to Gibbs, and to us fans! Let's show our support this week, and let them know we will not falter after just one bad game.

:point2sky

[budski]

Aberration? I agree how you can go from one of the best tackling defenses in the league to what we saw Sunday. You cant.

Things got out of hand and everyone was trying to hard to make the big play, they call it loss of situational awareness.

[Billy Bullocks]

You forgot to throw in, Seattle and Dallas lucky....

this team wasn't that good coming into the season. I respect Gibbs and Williams as coaches. Dallas showed everyone 3 years ago that good coaching can bring out alot in a bad team. We won 10 games that year. Unfortanately for you guys, the other teams in the East arent that bad anymore.

Philly may have fallen off, but they still have alot of talent, and no team in the division is going to have a cakewalk game against them. Believe me, just because Dallas went out and stomped them doesn't mean I htink we're going to go do the same thing at the Linc in 2 weeks. Every division game scares me.

Personally, I feel that your team is lacking in too many key areas to come out of this division with more than 7 or 8 wins. I'm trying to be as open minded as possible, being a Cowboys fan...Your Offensive line has played good at times, and horribly at others. Samuels being banged up a bit is not helping.

At WR, Moss is having a huge year for you guys, far exceeding what I thought he would do. Cooley has looked pretty decent at times as well. However, you guys lack a true #1. Moss can put up huge numbers, but I'm not looking for him over the middle on 3rd and 7. Portis may be the most overhyped player in the game right now. Is he a good RB, yes. But he is nowhere near as good a runner as people think. Sometimes he looks flat out lost on the field.

Brunell can be good, and just like Bledsoe, this requires protection. When it's there, he plays great, look at the SF game, which I cought glimpses of. When he's not being protected, he's off, NYG, or 58 minutes vs Dallas(Im still hurtin over this one).

Defensively you guys are good, but nothing special. I gave the defense alot of respect coming into the season, but SkinsNTerps hit the nail on the head, you guys failed to address a position of need on a good defense...DE, in a year where there was a pretty good selection of defensive ends out there. Dallas got 4! Canty, Spears, Ratliff, and hybrid DeMarcus Ware.(instead opting to trade 3 draft picks to get Campbell) you guys don't really have a great pass rush, and the interior of the line doesn't really scare me either.

LB..Pierce is with teh Giants, and he definately was your best LB last season. I'm happy for you guys that Arrington is coming onto the field again, but he's pretty much just out there to blitz. That even I noticed from looking over at the Giants SKins game in the Cowboys game TV breaks.

Springs is the only guy I like in your secondary alot. The guy plays solidily every week. Not that great, but still gets the job done. Sean Taylor will make a real good play, but then a boneheaded mistake on the next. Athletically, big hit potential, all that, I'll give it to him, he's got it. But some of you are acting like he's the next Ronnie Lott. At this point, I wouldn't take him over Roy Williams (who everyon seems to think is compeltely inept in coverage). Walt Harris. The guy I thought was doing decently. The guy I look at the TV screen at, and he makes a real nice tackle on a Giants player in the flat. A few plays later, he makes possibly the worst flag football effort to bring down Barber on his big run....

In today's NFL, a win is a win is a win. I wont argue with that. When everyone looks back and tallies up this season, you got the W in Dallas, and you got the W agsinst the Hawks. But you also got mislead about your team, IMO. Dallas fans are saying, we are 2 plays away from 7-1....maybe true, but we may have lost other close ones. In Washington's case, you really are 2 plays away from 2-5. There's no other way about it.

Fact is, NYG are a better football team than the Redskins. PErsonally I think Dallas and Seattle are too. NY was the only one of those teams to come out and finnish you guys off. 60 minutes, not 58. But boy did they do the job. Weather or not NYG are the best of the 3 teams I've mentioned here remains to be seen, it's a long season, but they sure as hell showed you they were better than you. by alot. Maybe it really was a flat effort on your part(definately), and maybe they played inspired football, but maybe it was just your luck running out. There was no hole in one hail mary's to be hit against NY, the game didn't go into OT because of an errant kick...you guys finally got a dose of reality handed to ya.

But hey Washington, go out there on Sunday Night with America watching. And no doubt alot of Cowboys fans, all of whom doubt you, and prove us wrong. Philly may not be the Philly we have gotten to know over the last 4 yeras, but this is still a team with plenty of talent. This is a team backed up against a wall, somewhere they havent been in a long time. This is a team who's facing a must win situation before January for the first time in a few years. Go out and beat them. Then the critics may be quiet. Hell, I'll prolly tip my hat to you.

[skinsmania123]

You are wrong about Brunell IMO. YOu know, if you listen carefully to Brunell when he is interviewed and they talk about last year, he says it was A LOT of things that caused him to play poorly. He mentioned the play of the Line. The flat play calling, and himself.

You simply cannot erase his performance against KC, and Denver. They certainly have defenses better then the Giant's. The Giant's game was just too freaking weird to come to any conclusions. Some, like myself have called it the Ghost of Mara game. I mean 9 dropped passes. Come on. Tiki freaking Barber runs for over 200 yard? I hope he enjoyed it. Because I guarantee he will NEVER run for that many yards again even if they play San Fran, Houston or Cleveland, back to back.

Look if Brunell and company F'Up this weekend, than you can spit out your diatribe.

But Mark has the 3rd highest passisng rating in the NFC. His turnover ratio is nothing close than miraculous.

I was the biggest Brunell detractor when the season started because of his past performance.

You will see the same good stuff out of Brunell as you have seen game in and game out ( Giant's game excluded ) this Sunday. I do not know if they will win but they will NOT lose because of the O line and Mark.

[Billy Bullocks]

I said that Brunell does well with protection, just like any QB, but like Bledsoe, when that protection breaks down, he turns into a lot worse of a QB than some of the other ones. I do remember saying that if you come out and beat Philly, the other wins seems alot less flukey. But if you don't you will be 2-3 against good teams....and those wins will look more and more like a fluke.

See ya in December

[36HAMMER]

You know what, i 've hurt as bad as anyone over this. i was really hopeing the skins would continue to progress and i could begin to walk alittle taller about my team but alas the poo was deeper than the cleats. i've finally come out the other end of this mess and while i have my concerns and questions. this team has to show it self and alot of it's fans if it has the heart we have believe they got. i hope they can win.the fact is as i have said before our room for error is very very small. at this time we must play a nearly flawless game to win.i don't want another lose like the one we just had, as bad as the eagles need this game we need it more.let 's get some.

[dawgjk9]

wow..theres a LOT of stuff there..youreally needed to get it offof your chest

[Chachie]

I said that Brunell does well with protection, just like any QB, but like Bledsoe, when that protection breaks down, he turns into a lot worse of a QB than some of the other ones. I do remember saying that if you come out and beat Philly, the other wins seems alot less flukey. But if you don't you will be 2-3 against good teams....and those wins will look more and more like a fluke.

See ya in December

Brunell desperately needs the roll-out to stay consistent. The G-Men took that away from him entirely. Jimmy Johnson was right about other teams using the Giant game as a blueprint. Keep Mark in the pocket and his legs are useless. He can't buy time and he can't read as effectively while stuck in the pocket. I think this is what you were trying to say.

Until December, stay out of our huddle.

[fmorris]

You forgot to throw in, Seattle and Dallas lucky....

this team wasn't that good coming into the season. I respect Gibbs and Williams as coaches. Dallas showed everyone 3 years ago that good coaching can bring out alot in a bad team. We won 10 games that year. Unfortanately for you guys, the other teams in the East arent that bad anymore.

Philly may have fallen off, but they still have alot of talent, and no team in the division is going to have a cakewalk game against them. Believe me, just because Dallas went out and stomped them doesn't mean I htink we're going to go do the same thing at the Linc in 2 weeks. Every division game scares me.

Personally, I feel that your team is lacking in too many key areas to come out of this division with more than 7 or 8 wins. I'm trying to be as open minded as possible, being a Cowboys fan...Your Offensive line has played good at times, and horribly at others. Samuels being banged up a bit is not helping.

At WR, Moss is having a huge year for you guys, far exceeding what I thought he would do. Cooley has looked pretty decent at times as well. However, you guys lack a true #1. Moss can put up huge numbers, but I'm not looking for him over the middle on 3rd and 7. Portis may be the most overhyped player in the game right now. Is he a good RB, yes. But he is nowhere near as good a runner as people think. Sometimes he looks flat out lost on the field.

Brunell can be good, and just like Bledsoe, this requires protection. When it's there, he plays great, look at the SF game, which I cought glimpses of. When he's not being protected, he's off, NYG, or 58 minutes vs Dallas(Im still hurtin over this one).

Defensively you guys are good, but nothing special. I gave the defense alot of respect coming into the season, but SkinsNTerps hit the nail on the head, you guys failed to address a position of need on a good defense...DE, in a year where there was a pretty good selection of defensive ends out there. Dallas got 4! Canty, Spears, Ratliff, and hybrid DeMarcus Ware.(instead opting to trade 3 draft picks to get Campbell) you guys don't really have a great pass rush, and the interior of the line doesn't really scare me either.

LB..Pierce is with teh Giants, and he definately was your best LB last season. I'm happy for you guys that Arrington is coming onto the field again, but he's pretty much just out there to blitz. That even I noticed from looking over at the Giants SKins game in the Cowboys game TV breaks.

Springs is the only guy I like in your secondary alot. The guy plays solidily every week. Not that great, but still gets the job done. Sean Taylor will make a real good play, but then a boneheaded mistake on the next. Athletically, big hit potential, all that, I'll give it to him, he's got it. But some of you are acting like he's the next Ronnie Lott. At this point, I wouldn't take him over Roy Williams (who everyon seems to think is compeltely inept in coverage). Walt Harris. The guy I thought was doing decently. The guy I look at the TV screen at, and he makes a real nice tackle on a Giants player in the flat. A few plays later, he makes possibly the worst flag football effort to bring down Barber on his big run....

In today's NFL, a win is a win is a win. I wont argue with that. When everyone looks back and tallies up this season, you got the W in Dallas, and you got the W agsinst the Hawks. But you also got mislead about your team, IMO. Dallas fans are saying, we are 2 plays away from 7-1....maybe true, but we may have lost other close ones. In Washington's case, you really are 2 plays away from 2-5. There's no other way about it.

Fact is, NYG are a better football team than the Redskins. PErsonally I think Dallas and Seattle are too. NY was the only one of those teams to come out and finnish you guys off. 60 minutes, not 58. But boy did they do the job. Weather or not NYG are the best of the 3 teams I've mentioned here remains to be seen, it's a long season, but they sure as hell showed you they were better than you. by alot. Maybe it really was a flat effort on your part(definately), and maybe they played inspired football, but maybe it was just your luck running out. There was no hole in one hail mary's to be hit against NY, the game didn't go into OT because of an errant kick...you guys finally got a dose of reality handed to ya.

But hey Washington, go out there on Sunday Night with America watching. And no doubt alot of Cowboys fans, all of whom doubt you, and prove us wrong. Philly may not be the Philly we have gotten to know over the last 4 yeras, but this is still a team with plenty of talent. This is a team backed up against a wall, somewhere they havent been in a long time. This is a team who's facing a must win situation before January for the first time in a few years. Go out and beat them. Then the critics may be quiet. Hell, I'll prolly tip my hat to you.

Lucky in Dallas? Yes and no. Yes that they waited till the very last minute, obviously converting one huge 4th down into a touchdown. No in that they found a weak spot and exploited it twice for an improbable victory.

Lucky in Seatle? Not so much. Yes they did miss what could have been a game winning field goal, but saying the Skins didn't deserve the win is like saying that the '90 Giants didn't deserve the SB win, because the Bills (Boy.I.love.losing.Superbowls) shanked one. The luck element is alive and well in every team and should likely have a stat of it's own.

If there was such a stat, few would argue that the Giants are leading the league. And not by a small margin. On the opposite end of the spectrum you would likely find the Redskins. If you've been following the Skins game-by-game you would see that luck is something they've had very little of.

Case and point was the fumble on the Giants opening drive after the sack--that the Giants luckily recovered. If the Skins get that turnover you'd be hard pressed to convince me it wouldn't have been an entirely different game.

But all that is coulda-shoulda-woulda, but is enough to seperate the contenders from the rest of the ummm, unlucky ones.

You had some good points. Are the Giants a better team than the Redskins? They sure were on Sunday. Over all I think it's too soon to call. What's for sure is that the East is much more competitive..at least for the time being.

Finally beating the Eagles will not quiet the critics. In fact, it would galvanize them--how those lowly Redskins took advantage of the poor Eagles and how this would have never happened if Donavan didn't have a hyrnia. It's a no win-no win situation.

[Grumpy Vet]

I thought Charlize Theron as Mary Ann Lomax was absolutely stunning.

....Edit... Sorry - very interesting read on the Redskin post too......

[AFskinsfan]

You forgot to throw in, Seattle and Dallas lucky....

this team wasn't that good coming into the season. I respect Gibbs and Williams as coaches. Dallas showed everyone 3 years ago that good coaching can bring out alot in a bad team. We won 10 games that year. Unfortanately for you guys, the other teams in the East arent that bad anymore.

Philly may have fallen off, but they still have alot of talent, and no team in the division is going to have a cakewalk game against them. Believe me, just because Dallas went out and stomped them doesn't mean I htink we're going to go do the same thing at the Linc in 2 weeks. Every division game scares me.

Personally, I feel that your team is lacking in too many key areas to come out of this division with more than 7 or 8 wins. I'm trying to be as open minded as possible, being a Cowboys fan...Your Offensive line has played good at times, and horribly at others. Samuels being banged up a bit is not helping.

At WR, Moss is having a huge year for you guys, far exceeding what I thought he would do. Cooley has looked pretty decent at times as well. However, you guys lack a true #1. Moss can put up huge numbers, but I'm not looking for him over the middle on 3rd and 7. Portis may be the most overhyped player in the game right now. Is he a good RB, yes. But he is nowhere near as good a runner as people think. Sometimes he looks flat out lost on the field.

Brunell can be good, and just like Bledsoe, this requires protection. When it's there, he plays great, look at the SF game, which I cought glimpses of. When he's not being protected, he's off, NYG, or 58 minutes vs Dallas(Im still hurtin over this one).

Defensively you guys are good, but nothing special. I gave the defense alot of respect coming into the season, but SkinsNTerps hit the nail on the head, you guys failed to address a position of need on a good defense...DE, in a year where there was a pretty good selection of defensive ends out there. Dallas got 4! Canty, Spears, Ratliff, and hybrid DeMarcus Ware.(instead opting to trade 3 draft picks to get Campbell) you guys don't really have a great pass rush, and the interior of the line doesn't really scare me either.

LB..Pierce is with teh Giants, and he definately was your best LB last season. I'm happy for you guys that Arrington is coming onto the field again, but he's pretty much just out there to blitz. That even I noticed from looking over at the Giants SKins game in the Cowboys game TV breaks.

Springs is the only guy I like in your secondary alot. The guy plays solidily every week. Not that great, but still gets the job done. Sean Taylor will make a real good play, but then a boneheaded mistake on the next. Athletically, big hit potential, all that, I'll give it to him, he's got it. But some of you are acting like he's the next Ronnie Lott. At this point, I wouldn't take him over Roy Williams (who everyon seems to think is compeltely inept in coverage). Walt Harris. The guy I thought was doing decently. The guy I look at the TV screen at, and he makes a real nice tackle on a Giants player in the flat. A few plays later, he makes possibly the worst flag football effort to bring down Barber on his big run....

In today's NFL, a win is a win is a win. I wont argue with that. When everyone looks back and tallies up this season, you got the W in Dallas, and you got the W agsinst the Hawks. But you also got mislead about your team, IMO. Dallas fans are saying, we are 2 plays away from 7-1....maybe true, but we may have lost other close ones. In Washington's case, you really are 2 plays away from 2-5. There's no other way about it.

Fact is, NYG are a better football team than the Redskins. PErsonally I think Dallas and Seattle are too. NY was the only one of those teams to come out and finnish you guys off. 60 minutes, not 58. But boy did they do the job. Weather or not NYG are the best of the 3 teams I've mentioned here remains to be seen, it's a long season, but they sure as hell showed you they were better than you. by alot. Maybe it really was a flat effort on your part(definately), and maybe they played inspired football, but maybe it was just your luck running out. There was no hole in one hail mary's to be hit against NY, the game didn't go into OT because of an errant kick...you guys finally got a dose of reality handed to ya.

But hey Washington, go out there on Sunday Night with America watching. And no doubt alot of Cowboys fans, all of whom doubt you, and prove us wrong. Philly may not be the Philly we have gotten to know over the last 4 yeras, but this is still a team with plenty of talent. This is a team backed up against a wall, somewhere they havent been in a long time. This is a team who's facing a must win situation before January for the first time in a few years. Go out and beat them. Then the critics may be quiet. Hell, I'll prolly tip my hat to you.

You are right we are just 2 plays away from 2-5, we are also 2-3 plays away from 6-1. New York is the only team that has flat out beat us in every way. There are no 2 ways around that either. Don't get me wrong, you have a valid point, again it's all in the perspective. I give you credit for not being the typical dallas fan. You are a gentleman. You can respect talented players when you see them. I am a huge Parcells and Jones fan. You guys made some great moves in the off season that will ensure a heated rivalry for years to come. Now that we've gotten past all the pleasantries... DALLAS SUCKS!!!

[georgiaredskin]

fmorris.........ah, so YOU'RE the Devil's Advocate. I was always wondering who that was.