SG: The Top 4 Reasons Why the Redskins Are Definitely Going to Contend in the Future (tried to be positive)

[SMOSS89]

In light of this past weeks' embarrassing loss to the Eagles, there are a percentage of Redskins fans who are ready to give up on the season, give up on the players, and give up on the entire Mike Shanahan regime after 9 games. Everyone of course, is entitled to their own opinion. It is because of this pessimistic hoopla that I decided to come up with some good reasons why it's not time to bail, and why the Redskins WILL return to contention for a championship in the coming years:

4. Donovan McNabb: Huh? The same Donovan McNabb who has had an underwhelming year statistically? The same one Mike Shanahan benched a couple of weeks ago? The same one who essentially laid an egg against the Eagles? The same one who most Redskins fans thought would not be back next year? Yes, that Donovan McNabb.

He's aging, inaccurate, and doesn't fit Mike and Kyle Shanahan's system. Those are the major knocks against him during his short time here in Washington. But is he really that bad? I don't think so. As far as his inaccuracy goes, he is just as inaccurate now as was in Philadelphia. The only difference with the Redskins is that he is the victim of an inordinate amount of drops, miscommunication with receivers he has not gotten a lot of reps with, and has faced a ridiculous amount of pressure each game. He has definitely lost his legs as a scrambler, but he has not lost his pocket presence and ability to evade the rush. In other words, he is a competent, legitimate NFL starting quarterback that can still win games if he is protected, and given a few playmakers.

So why sign him to a long-term deal if he does not have any significant playmakers and a somewhat competent offensive line? Because like I have believed all along, Donovan McNabb is the bridge to the future quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He can help you win games now, while the next guy learns and develops under him. He buys the Redskins time to find the stud QB we all have been waiting for. That's a good luxury to have, instead of throwing a youngster into the fire and hoping he's Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, or Sam Bradford. Don't believe that's the case? Go look at McNabb's contract. It gives the Redskins plenty of wiggle room to bail on Donovan whenever they believe they have a better solution at QB. Many would probably counter that point, saying that when you trade two premium picks you expect to have a QB who would perform better and win now for you. That's a fair argument, but I feel like the McNabb offer was a rare deal that was given to Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen, and they chose to part ways with the picks. I don't think that is their MO (trading picks), but time will obviously tell on that one.

3. Bruce Allen's role within the Redskins organization: Some look at Bruce Allen and surmise that he is no more than Mike Shanahan's whipping boy, only makes the moves only Mike wants, and is only good at gathering Redskins alumni for events . I'm going to go out on a limb and say that is probably an incorrect statement.

Bruce Allen is not and never was a great personnel guy, but he has certain qualities that are assets for this franchise. His ability to help keep an organization united by being a barrier between the owner and the head coach is something that hasn't been in place under the Snyder era. From everything I've read about him at the time of his hire, he has a great ability to work with many types of personalities, within his own organization as well as dealing with other GM's around the league.

And that trait shows up in his negotiations, both in contacts and in trades. McNabb deal aside, the Redskins have yet to make a deal that even some would consider to be an 'overpayment'. Every contract given out to players in this regime have been sensible and conform to regular NFL standards. Swapping 5th rounders for a defensive starter (Carriker). Getting a potential right tackle for a 3rd round pick at max (as well as a swapping of picks).Taking a chance on veterans for essentially nothing.That's Bruce. That's what he does. You can question the moves that are made in terms of WHICH players are being brought in, but you can't complain too much about the price the Redskins are paying for these players. However you view the job he has done so far, the fact remains that pairing a frugal executive like Bruce with a deep pocket owner like Snyder is an asset to any organization. It allows them to pay good value for key role players, so that when it is is time to spend big (McNabb, Trent Williams, big free agent, or draft pick), they are not compromising the salary cap by having a handful of players occupy a ton of cap space.

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[Champskins]

Good article. IMO Dan Snyders patience may only be short-lived though which makes me nervous... without at least an above .500 season theres no guarantee for anyone

[WhoRUSupposed2Be]

Very good article.

[Commander PK]

I love optimism, (when I'm in the mood for optimism )and despite last Monday night, every indication is that this organization is headed in the right direction from where it was a year ago. Everybody started expecting immediate results, but the truth is we should have seen some losses like this coming this year. (Admittedly, maybe not as bad as Monday night) The truth is, there is no other option for us to do but wait, whether we like it or not. Are there even better people out there that could be working for us. Sure, but these are the people we have, and we are going to have to give them time to instill their long-term plan.

[Kostaskins]

we need draft picks!!!! and good drafts of course

[maskedsuperstar]

Good article. IMO Dan Snyders patience may only be short-lived though which makes me nervous... without at least an above .500 season theres no guarantee for anyone

Well, did you really read the article?

[Pedro]

The guys we're bringing in to replace injured starters are mostly young, rather than the old guys we already knew were past it as in days gone by. That tells you the fingers crossed win now era has gone. Some of these guys will step up, we'll be better in the future. Exactly the way it should be with a team that can't reasonably expect to win the SB this year.

Ultimately Dan decides but we have reversed a trend of getting progressively worse as a franchise. Or that's how it looks to me, even if some of the guys (like Haslett and some of the players) need changing the overall setup and philosophy I'm happy with.

[Mania]

Great read and very well done. The negative skin fans r the same fans that criticize dan snyder for too much involvement, yet they want to fire shanahan and start over. Hypocrites

[F-16 CHIEF]

I love optimism, (when I'm in the mood for optimism )and despite last Monday night, every indication is that this organization is headed in the right direction from where it was a year ago.

Not trying to be negative, but do you honestly believe that? How are they getting better? They're getting worse on defense each week.

The offense still hasn't scored 30 points yet and they're headed to game 10. Sounds like a Zorn offense to me?

I don't see any improvement. At all. In any area of this team, with the exception of the return game.

[holmester]

Not trying to be negative, but do you honestly believe that? How are they getting better? They're getting worse on defense each week.

The offense still hasn't scored 30 points yet and they're headed to game 10. Sounds like a Zorn offense to me?

I don't see any improvement. At all. In any area of this team, with the exception of the return game.

Do you see the players that we are putting out there on offense? Who the **** are these guys? Our deep threat/#2 WR played in the XFL or whatever last year, our starting tailback couldn't make a team, our slot receiver's are a 40 yr old and Roydell ****ing Williams, our possession receiver is 4 foot 11 after a good stretch, and the interior of our O-line is a joke. How do you expect them to put up 30 points in a game?

[maskedsuperstar]

Not trying to be negative, but do you honestly believe that? How are they getting better? They're getting worse on defense each week.

The offense still hasn't scored 30 points yet and they're headed to game 10. Sounds like a Zorn offense to me?

I don't see any improvement. At all. In any area of this team, with the exception of the return game.

Really, what did you expect this year? The article makes sense. You have to give it time. They signed a bunch of old guys because they couldn't dip into FA, without giving up draft picks. Allen said this many times. Did you listen? These old guys probably won't be here next year.

[maskedsuperstar]

Do you see the players that we are putting out there on offense? Who the **** are these guys? Our deep threat/#2 WR played in the XFL or whatever last year, our starting tailback couldn't make a team, our slot receiver's are a 40 yr old and Roydell ****ing Williams, our possession receiver is 4 foot 11 after a good stretch, and the interior of our O-line is a joke. How do you expect them to put up 30 points in a game?

Starting tailback couldn't make the team, huh?

[Califan007 The Constipated]

Not trying to be negative, but do you honestly believe that? How are they getting better? They're getting worse on defense each week.

The offense still hasn't scored 30 points yet and they're headed to game 10. Sounds like a Zorn offense to me?

Not reaching 30 points is the mark of a Zorn offense? lol...No, more like 18 points ...

Since you've obviously forgotten exactly what the Zornskins' offense was capable of, let me remind you: over the span of the last 8 games of 2008 and the first 7 games of 2007--15 games--the Zorn-led offense of the Redskins averaged a whopping 13 points per game. I used that time span because it was after the league got used to Zorn's playcalling tendencies (first 8 games of 2008) and before the bingo caller came in and took over the playcalling (last 9 games of 2009). 13 point. Per. Game.

I want you to tell us that you feel Shanahan's offense so far this year has really been no better that that. I'm curious as to how not scoring over 30 points per game is the same in your eyes as averaging 13 points per game over a 15 game stretch lol...

I don't see any improvement. At all. In any area of this team, with the exception of the return game.

You don't see any improvement in the down field passing game? We lead the league in plays over 50 yards.

In defensive takeaways? In defensive TDs?

In the rushing game? PLEASE tell me you remember last year's pathetic rushing attack...we didn't get a rushing TD until week 5 in 2009...and we only had 3 rushing TDs by week 9. Compare that to this year, where we have EIGHT rushing TDs in 9 games. 8 > 3 lol :yes:...We only had 5 rushing TDs from our RBs all of last year. We're already ahead of that total halfway through the season. Last year our punter had as many rushing TDs as our #1 RB lol ...This season, our top 3 RBs are all averaging at least 4 ypc...last year, in 2009, ONE of our RBs averaged 4 ypc.

So, yeah, I'd say that our rushing game has improved.

[tr1]

Not reaching 30 points is the mark of a Zorn offense? lol...No, more like 18 points ...

Since you've obviously forgotten exactly what the Zornskins' offense was capable of, let me remind you: over the span of the last 8 games of 2008 and the first 7 games of 2007--15 games--the Zorn-led offense of the Redskins averaged a whopping 13 points per game. I used that time span because it was after the league got used to Zorn's playcalling tendencies (first 8 games of 2008) and before the bingo caller came in and took over the playcalling (last 9 games of 2009). 13 point. Per. Game.

I want you to tell us that you feel Shanahan's offense so far this year has really been no better that that. I'm curious as to how not scoring over 30 points per game is the same in your eyes as averaging 13 points per game over a 15 game stretch lol...

You don't see any improvement in the down field passing game? We lead the league in plays over 50 yards.

In defensive takeaways? In defensive TDs?

In the rushing game? PLEASE tell me you remember last year's pathetic rushing attack...we didn't get a rushing TD until week 5 in 2009...and we only had 3 rushing TDs by week 9. Compare that to this year, where we have EIGHT rushing TDs in 9 games. 8 > 3 lol :yes:...We only had 5 rushing TDs from our RBs all of last year. We're already ahead of that total halfway through the season. Last year our punter had as many rushing TDs as our #1 RB lol ...This season, our top 3 RBs are all averaging at least 4 ypc...last year, in 2009, ONE of our RBs averaged 4 ypc.

So, yeah, I'd say that our rushing game has improved.

Excellent post.

Facts always get in the way of perception...but, that doesn't take the keyboard away from the haters.

[Stophovr6]

I like the optimism, I need it in order to try and not be so down on this team. But i'll believe it when I see it. I can't count the number of times over the years I've been made to believe this team is going somewhere, only to have my heart ripped out mid season. I get that this is going to take time. And I really hope it's on the right track, but I'm not going to get my hopes up.

[BTBIRD 227]

I think the Skins big down fall is the move from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense, you have Linebackers talent for a 4-3 not a 3-4. I think this is the big mistake of the Shanahan regieme.The Skins have a lot of corrections to make on both sides of the especially O line. Nine games should not qualify as a statement of the success or failure of Shanahan/ Allen era.

[Commander PK]

The fact is, whether we want to believe it or not, this is a transition year of the first order. I expect another huge number of cuts after this season is over. We have had a few wins sure, but the reality is that this team doesn't look anything like it's going to look once the turnover is complete. I have accepted the fact this team is just not going to be very good for a while. We have to have patience, this mess wasn't created in one year, and it's going to take more than that to get us out of it.

I'm more encouraged by the stability in the front office and coaching staff then I am about the play on the field. Every indication is that Dan has finally removed himself completely from any kind of football decisions, and that was the BIGGEST hurdle by far that this team needed to get over to be successful over the long-term. Evidence: See Donovan McNabb contract

[Brixtion_skin]

The fact is, whether we want to believe it or not, this is a transition year of the first order. I expect another huge number of cuts after this season is over. We have had a few wins sure, but the reality is that this team doesn't look anything like it's going to look once the turnover is complete. I have accepted the fact this team is just not going to be very good for a while. We have to have patience, this mess wasn't created in one year, and it's going to take more than that to get us out of it.

I'm more encouraged by the stability in the front office and coaching staff then I am about the play on the field. Every indication is that Dan has finally removed himself completely from any kind of football decisions, and that was the BIGGEST hurdle by far that this team needed to get over to be successful over the long-term. Evidence: See Donovan McNabb contract

I have to agree with you. I think the next 2-3 years are going to be rough. The owner and more specifically the fans are going to have to suck it up. Limted draft options for 2 years when you have OL/WR/RB problems as well trying to replace a front 7 suited for the 3-4 is a challenge at the best of times. We need draft picks...lots of them.

[Rufus T Firefly]

Do you see the players that we are putting out there on offense? Who the **** are these guys? Our deep threat/#2 WR played in the XFL or whatever last year, our starting tailback couldn't make a team, our slot receiver's are a 40 yr old and Roydell ****ing Williams, our possession receiver is 4 foot 11 after a good stretch, and the interior of our O-line is a joke. How do you expect them to put up 30 points in a game?

You're right. And that makes me uber-optimistic for the future.

[SWFLSkins]

we need draft picks!!!! and good drafts of course

Complimented with pick-ups that are ........low risk, high reward.