I think I've figured out who the Redskins are

[Burgold]

The Redskins are a brawler. They're that boxer who's not very talented, but can take a punch. If you get into a long match, they'll wear you out and win on points, but they don't have a knock out punch, they can't dance and make the other guy look foolish. That's why we're in every game. We trade punches.

Sometimes, we think we're a contender and when we do, when we get our heads full of ourselves, we get knocked flat. Maybe next year we'll have what it takes to just play around and worry about showmanship. Maybe next year we'll have a team that can talk trash.

Today, we're a brawler. We're a blue colar, black eyed, son of a gun, who you don't want to mess with because he'll hurt you, he'll tire you out, and take your best shots and return the favor. More, he won't give in.

For now, that's who we are and for now... I'll take it.

[Command The 414]

pretty good comparsion imho....and about right on all points.....for once I'd love to have a KO though...LOL

[Burgold]

Me too, but it's tough when you're haymaker barely weighs 150 pounds.

[Command The 414]

Me too, but it's tough when you're haymaker barely weighs 150 pounds.

LOL..Brandon Banks I guess right?

[hail2skins]

I guess the thing that drives me crazy about phrases like "this team is fighting" and "we're playing with heart" is.......we seem to hear the same thing about the team for at least some stretch every season. There have been several seasons.....my mind goes back to 2000 after Norv got fired, the end of Spurrier 2003, and the end of Zorn 2009.......where the team did appear to quit at the very end of the season. And maybe, comparatively speaking, this team has had less blowout losses than others......really only one so far.

I only expected 8-8 this season and am optimistic the Skins will consistently be above that if Shanahan sticks around for an appreciable length of time. But that's what I want, and not merely to always claim that this team is "fighting its guts out" year after year.

[SWFLSkins]

This team is Rocky IV, beat up, old mostly, staggering around with just enough heart not to stay down. I think with some fresh legs the Rocky original can show it's head here.

[Burgold]

It's frustrating because we've been living with this for twenty years. So, when our team is learning to walk and takes a few strides many of us are like... "Why the heck aren't they running by now!" This team is significantly improved in many small ways from last years... I agree that it's frustrating that we're so far off still, but 7 years of bad drafting and bad lockerroom chemistry will do that to you.

The first step is to make this group of guys into a team, then getting them to become brawlers who'll fight tooth and nail for each other. Gibbs got us to that point. It feels like Shanny is as well. Zorn had it until he benched Portis and then lost the team and the prima donnas took over. We've got to weed them out, replace, and upgrade. Sadly, the cupboard was too bare for it to be done in one offseason... even with free agency.

Shanny and Allen are also learning who this team is and who can do what and you can't really do that without game conditions. Practice will only tell so much.

For now, this team is a tough guy who's in the ring and isn't talented, big, or fast enough, but is willing to take on all comers. So far, Joe Palooka's doing about .500 with one early round knock out.

[Hitman21ST]

This team is Rocky IV, beat up, old mostly, staggering around with just enough heart not to stay down. I think with some fresh legs the Rocky original can show it's head here.

Rocky II hopefully. I don't want a tie

[Captain Wiggles]

This team is Rocky IV, beat up, old mostly, staggering around with just enough heart not to stay down. I think with some fresh legs the Rocky original can show it's head here.

I just hope their not Rocky V or VI. Old broke Rocky, bankrupt cause Paulie spent all his money.

[LD0506]

I agree with the OP, and "playing with heart" is important but it is just one step in the process. You have to have the guy's heads in the game, they have to be committed to playing hard the whole game no matter what the score is, but then you have to go somewhere from there. Yes, we've seen and heard this before, comments about heart and spirit and attitude, but that is just a foundation. You have to be able to take that and build on it, adding players that embrace that mindset in a legitimate structure that leads to success, and IMO that's where the whole thing keeps falling apart. This is the rot that Cerrato infected the team with, the lack of clear vision of who we are and who fits that mold. We have had a slew of mismatched pieces for years, players that in and of themselves may be good but do not and cannot perform their best in the dysfunctional patched together mess that we have been.

So now Allen and Shanahan have a coordinated view of what we will be. Like it or not the first step had to be that weeding out, evaluating who might be usable and who isn't, then setting up the framework to establish a professional atmosphere for the team to function. As much as it pains everyone, the results on the field were simply not the highest priority this year. There had to be a serious change of direction for this team to ever thrive again, instead of the same old quick fix mentality that has mired us in mediocrity.

The critical thing now is where they take the team from here, what moves are made in the offseason, both additions and cuts on the roster and on the coaching staff.

[Burgold]

I just hope their not Rocky V or VI. Old broke Rocky, bankrupt cause Paulie spent all his money.

That sounds more like Riggo.

I'm broke. I'm bored. And I'm back.

[spjunkies]

They are..... WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!!!!!

[hail2skins]

I have to throw in my Stallone analogy and say we should be like Rocky 3. Shanny is like Apollo Creed (beat us to a pulp with Bubby Brister in '98 and then stupid Jake Plummer in '05), comes back to guide us, and then we make the playoffs and go up against the Eagles with Vick, who are like Mr. T ("You shouldda never came back!!").

[Burgold]

Man, there are a lot of Rocky's. I wonder if that means that we have to re-sign MacIntosh.

For the brawler to become a contender, I think there are three things that are essential. We must improve our strength, our speed, and our hand to eye.

Our cardio actually seems to be okay. We can last 16 rounds most of the time.

[paloosa]

I think the OP has hit it the nail on the head. I think that we are a team hates to play us because they don't know what team will show up but they are afraid that they will come out bruised and battered. We have knocked out Romo sits to pee, Young, and a few other key players this year. We play a physical style but we give up more than we should on defense. Yesterday's game was a prime example of how we should be playing. Run the ball and wear down the other teams defense. We need to take the short passes if that is what we are given but also convert better on third downs. We did that well yesterday and we need to continue that type of play. The only problem is what team will show up next week?

[Campbell's_da_man]

If you want to crown their ass, then crown them, but the redskins are who we thought they were!!!

[Burgold]

If you want to crown their ass' date=' then crown them, but the redskins are who we thought they were!!![/quote']

Huh? where did you get that from what I or anyone else wrote in this thread?

And the Redskins are who we thought we were line is bull. Look at the preseason predictions. Look at the ES predictions. Most thought we were going to be a bottom of the barrel dreadful team. Last in the NFC East or they thought Shanny was going to be a miracle worker and that CP would be a 1500 yard running back and we'd have Houston's air attack.

[hail2skins]

Huh? where did you get that from what I or anyone else wrote in this thread?

And the Redskins are who we thought we were line is bull. Look at the preseason predictions. Look at the ES predictions. Most thought we were going to be a bottom of the barrel dreadful team. Last in the NFC East or they thought Shanny was going to be a miracle worker and that CP would be a 1500 yard running back and we'd have Houston's air attack.

LOL Burgold I think he was being humorous, remembering Denny Green's rant after his Cardinals blew a big lead to the Bears in a 2006 game.

And I hate to tell you this, but there is a thread showing the ES predictions.....and at least the survey portion had a good share of folks putting us in the 8-8 to 10-6 range.

[Burgold]

Whoops... I'm in a grumpitudinous mood... plus, I think I read that line three or four times in this thread and it began to grate. Sorry C da Man

[Dallsux]

Rocky II hopefully. I don't want a tie

Yes, but if we get that tie, at least McNabb will be prepared for it this time.

[BoBoCTiberius]

Stallone sucks. Let's be the Gubernator in Predator instead.

[BG]

We are fortunate with our wins is all. I do like your explanation though.

[SMOSS89]

It's like that Simpsons episode where Homer becomes a boxer, and all he does is take punches until the other boxer would tire out, at which point he'd deliver the knockout punch.

That is, of course, until he ran into Mike Tyson .

[Burgold]

It's like that Simpsons episode where Homer becomes a boxer, and all he does is take punches until the other boxer would tire out, at which point he'd deliver the knockout punch.

That is, of course, until he ran into Mike Tyson .

That might be us. lol.

Here, have 500 yards of offense. Here, break a record. Here, have a bs penalty. Ooh, poor baby, you can't run anymore.... you're tired. Tap... We won! We won!

It's so stupid it's brilliant!

[Skinz4Life12]

redskins = jimmy braddock