We Lost Today Simply Because We Lack Talent (which is a relief)

[kleese]

All losses stink; and losses when you had a chance to win stink more. So no doubt, I'm down about today and a bit frustrated.

But I'm not mad or depressed. Why? Because I truly believe we are finally in good hands. This does NOT mean that I agree with everything Shanallen has done, but as a whole, watching this team I feel like we are well coached and have direction.

Gameplan was solid today; our offensive line and lack of playmakers limits what we can reasonably do with the offense. We simply do not have the talent to make up for the amount of errors we made today, but I felt like the team as well prepared and that they've really responded after the Monday night beatdown.

We have many holes to fill before we become a true contender, but I think we are only a few moves away from being a 10-6 type of team- quite possibly as early as next year.

Shanny has had almost a full season now to evaluate the roster; I have not agreed with all of his personnel decisions, but on the whole, I am content and fairly confident going forward.

No sunshine pumping here; we have waited 20 years for a winner and many fans will remain jaded and skeptical until we get one. But through 11 games of this regime I'm pretty content with what I see.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

Nice post...I agree. I think that, short-term, we're a play-making WR and 2 OL away from being a 9- or 10-win team. Long-term, we need linemen on both sides of the ball and a QB-of-the-future in addition to the rest.

All in all, I am happy with year 1 of Shanahan. By this point during Zorn's first year, we were getting crushed with very little creativity or adjustments. We've seen this staff try to put the talent we have in positions to make plays. We ran the wildcat today!! I hope to see Armstrong and Austin make some plays at WR in December. I hope to see some creativity with Banks. I hope to see players like Montgomery getting more reps on the OL. But, long-term, I'm thrilled with our direction!

[Hal2856]

Could'nt agree more. We simply do not have the talent. We lost this game becuase a rookie was playing when he shouldn't have. Riley hasn't been active all season. Injuries and lack of talent are hurting us, but I'd rather be 7-9/8-8 with midiocre talent and over achieve (which we are btw, with a lesser coach this team would be awful), than be 9-7/10-6 with the same mediocre talent. We are going to have another solid draft and off season, that should help.

[sugewhite94]

i So agree! we need to DRAFT young talent

[grego]

i think i agree with this. every week, we (i) look for someone or some group to blame- qb, D, O, O line, RB- every week we can point the finger at some group. and since about game 3, i've given a hard look at kyle shanahan and his, at times, predictable play calling.

still, the common denominator in all this is that we are just not that good. not that good at WR, not that good at O line, not that good at RB, at the very least. and until we get some talent there, we will be a maddening team to rood for or to try to figure out.

[BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93]

Yes!!!

Took the words outta my mouth

people are having temper tantrums thinking we are some world beating kind of team

noooo... We lack talent and the only reason ppl are going crazy is because we beat Dallas that first week

that put rose colored glasses on everyone (including me)

now we look back and realize that we just aren't there yet

[authentic]

I agree...I've been saying for WEEKS that we have JV talent in a Varsity league. When your most dynamic playmaker on the team, is a 5'5, 145 pound undrafted rookie, then you are in trouble. We have alot of work to do on both sides of the ball and alot of this will have to happen through FA.

[authentic]

Yes!!!

Took the words outta my mouth

people are having temper tantrums thinking we are some world beating kind of team

People who continue to say this need to get thier heads examined.

[Chicken Fried]

Sadly, this is the same spot we were in 4 years ago. We don't have talent. The difference is that I think most of us have finally put the Kool Aid down and took a breath. We realize it now. Many ESers are still delusionally optimistic, but I think more people are becoming level-headed about this.

[kleese]

The best news to me is that the young guys Shanny has brought in all look pretty good and his first round pick looks like a stud. Younger guys like Banks, Keiland, Torain, Orakpo, Landry, Armstrong, etc have been our main bright spots this year- we just don't have enough of them. McNabb has stabalized then QB position and will allow Shanallen to build the talent in other areas. Just need to hit on our draft picks and mid level FA's (easier said than done)

[Conn]

i So agree! we need to DRAFT young talent

And continue doing what we've been doing outside the draft with FA's, as well. Torain, Banks, Armstrong, possibly Davis.

There are multiple ways to build a team, and so far, going after UDFA's has been a successful strategy for us.

[authentic]

Sadly, this is the same spot we were in 4 years ago. We don't have talent. The difference is that I think most of us have finally put the Kool Aid down and took a breath. We realize it now. Many ESers are still delusionally optimistic, but I think more people are becoming level-headed about this.

When I look around the league, off the top of my head, I notice that we are below par at the following positions:

-Oline

-Dline

-WR

-RB

When you look at some of the worst teams (Oakland, Cincy, Buffalo, Detroit...etc), at least they have some outstanding talent at certain areas. I'm hard pressed to find a unit on our team that i can confidently say, "We have a definative advantage".

[kleese]

Sadly, this is the same spot we were in 4 years ago. We don't have talent. The difference is that I think most of us have finally put the Kool Aid down and took a breath. We realize it now. Many ESers are still delusionally optimistic, but I think more people are becoming level-headed about this.

That's what fans need to realize- it's not Shanallen's fault we are right where we were 4 years ago- and in some ways right where we were 20 years ago. The fans are frustrated and worn out, but THIS regime has been here for 11 games and less than one calendar year- they have nothing to do with the past and they were given a huge mess to clean up.

I like what I've seen this year all things considered; and while i do think it will take several off- seasons to totally purge this roster, I think we could very well be a playoff team as early as next year.

[scskin]

I think it's hard for some of us to see the lack of talent because we come so close to winning games.For anyone that believes our talent is good, here is a question I received from another Skins fan that makes sense to me. Who would you pick from the Skins to A.start a franchise with, or B. draft on you fantasy team. It hit home like a ton of bricks when I said maybe Orakpo.

[refhaf4L]

Agree with this post, but we need so much though. We haven't done squat for 10 years. We need a center, guard, right tackle, a number 1 receiver, another pass rushing linebacker, someone who can fill in for London, depth at running back, and three D lineman, another running back. Expectations for this team need to be tempered. This is a three draft project and fans need to be patient. We have receivers dropping routine balls all over the place...what a mess. Next to the other three teams our division, we are dead last in talent. Not good.

[CounterTrey]

Yeah I've been saying this for a while...If we get to 8-8 we this talent and our scedule this year, we should feel good about this team..we really should.

We are two good drafts away from being a serious contender.

[chipwhich]

Agree with this post, but we need so much though. We haven't done squat for 10 years. We need a center, guard, right tackle, a number 1 receiver, another pass rushing linebacker, someone who can fill in for London, depth at running back, and three D lineman, another running back. Expectations for this team need to be tempered. This is a three draft project and fans need to be patient. We have receivers dropping routine balls all over the place...what a mess. Next to the other three teams our division, we are dead last in talent. Not good.

This is the most honest post I have seen here in a long time. In addition to what you included, we need to draft a quarterback to develop.

This is why it disgusts me that we traded for McNabb and Brown instead of biting the bullet and rebuilding with the draft. Ironically people on here wanted us to trade more picks for VJax.

Until the GM of this franchise refuses to trade picks for any reason, we will continually be a doormat in the NFL.

Heck some people blame it on the stadium

[authentic]

Agree with this post, but we need so much though. We haven't done squat for 10 years. We need a center, guard, right tackle, a number 1 receiver, another pass rushing linebacker, someone who can fill in for London, .

speaking of which. As much as i hate to say it, but we definately need to find a replacement for London. He will be 36 next season and at some point you have to part ways. The man is getting older, and is not the best fit for this scheme. Like Tampa did with Derrick Brooks, we may have to make that difficult decision and go younger.

[gorebd82]

I'm sorry to be the one to somewhat disagree, but I think that the claim of no talent on our team is greatly exaggerated. I think that we are a few "impact" players away from where we want to be. I actually feel that we have a lot of solid players and very good depth. There's not much of a fall off when our players go out with injury. But the reason there's no fall off is because we need more impact players. But it is impossible to have impact players at every position in the salary cap era.

I think we really just need an impact player or two in each position grouping. These impact players create mismatches. I think if we can add an impact WR, an impact interior OL, and another impact pass rusher, that we can have the team we are all looking for. Now this is also dependent on what happens with Big Al, he's an impact player, but only at times. If he leaves or cannot be a consistent contributor, then we need an impact player in the front 3. We don't need 2 offensive linemen and 3 defensive linemen and 4 new receivers, etc. Go get Vincent Jackson, spend our first on an OLB opposite Orakpo, and get an impact interior OL in the second round to pair with Litchensteiger and Montgomery. That will make all the difference in the world for our team. That bumps 3 people that are getting PT down to reserves. There are teams that are considered to be in the upper echelon that have more suspect or no name players than us, but those weak links are hidden because those teams have superstars that cover up everyone else's deficiencies.

[Die Hard]

These posts are always hilarious. You never see them before Week 1.

You wanna impress me? Tell me the Skins will suck BEFORE the season.

[SkinsHokieFan]

These posts are always hilarious. You never see them before Week 1.

You wanna impress me? Tell me the Skins will suck BEFORE the season.

I did after the Cowboys win

Look how smart SHF is here

[gorebd82]

speaking of which. As much as i hate to say it, but we definately need to find a replacement for London. He will be 36 next season and at some point you have to part ways. The man is getting older, and is not the best fit for this scheme. Like Tampa did with Derrick Brooks, we may have to make that difficult decision and go younger.

I'd actually like to see if Lorenzo Alexander can move to ILB. He moves well in space, is smart and hits like a brick wall. He makes some plays at OLB, but isn't an outstanding pass rusher. He's been able to play every other position and I think that the middle might fit him best. He can play the thumper role and keep some of the heat off of the other ILB, whether that be Fletch, Rocky, Perry Riley (who's not the most popular right now), or someone else. Lorenzo kinda reminds me of Levon Kirkland. I'd love to see a LB quartet of Orakpo, London, Lorenzo, and a 1st round rookie like Akeem Ayers or Von Miller.

[texasthunder]

What a refreshing thread that is filled with an objective view of the teams talent.

As fans of the Redskins,we follow closely all the players we have on the roster, and because of that familiarity we have some trouble actually believing what their true talent level is.

I mean c'mon, we are signing players off of other teams practice squads and lineman from the UFL.

I do have faith in that Shanahan will continue to develop the younger players, and he will infuse some of the skilled positions with players of talent.

[chipwhich]

These posts are always hilarious. You never see them before Week 1.

You wanna impress me? Tell me the Skins will suck BEFORE the season.

People do, they are run off the board They are called chicken littles.

I have beating the build through the draft mantra for years.

[kleese]

These posts are always hilarious. You never see them before Week 1.

You wanna impress me? Tell me the Skins will suck BEFORE the season.

I picked us to be 8-8 (scroll down)

http://edkleese.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html