Hate to admit it, but I've got Parcells-envy BIG TIME!!

[kleese]

Maybe I've just got a "case of the Monday's," but I think I figured out today that my relative calm and confidence surrounding this team is nothing more than DENIAL.

My reaction(s) this year have been along of the lines of "patience, learning, judge the season on the whole," etc.... but the more I think about it and analyze it, I think I'm just flat out in denial.

Why does it seem to take the Redskins so much longer to "gel" or "come together" than other teams around the league? Look at the Panthers. That's a team with a second year coach that has a CLEAR identity. Maybe they won't be quite good enough to win anything major this year, but they have ALREADY established themselves. Position by position they most likely aren't as talented as we are, yet they are probably a better team.

I made excuses for us before the Philly game-- talked about how we caught them at a bad time, we weren't quite ready, etc... and now I'm realizing that I was probably just "protecting myself" from what felt like impending doom. Why COULDN'T we win that game? What exactly did the Eagles do that was so outstanding? They basically just waited around for us to screw it up-- as always, we did.

Granted, this Redskins unit DOES have more grit, a little more heart than past squads. We certainly kept fightining, and that gives me hope.

But on the whole, this team just seems so "scatterbrained" so close, yet so far.

Again, a team like the Panthers won't knock your socks off when you watch them, but at the same time, they play with such a purpose-- they know exactly what they're doing, where to be, etc.. they don't kill themselves and they capitalize on the opponents' mistakes.

Meanwhile, we suffer through a weekly series of catastrophies-- somehow, amazingly, we seem to manage to overcome a lot of these mistakes. Yet, whenever we get into a tight one that we REALLY need to win (Division games), it seems we have one catastrophie too many.

Now, to the SCARY part of this thread. I look at Dallas and I'm scared to death of what I see. Parcells has already taken total control of that team. While we're a year and a half in to our regime, still trying to figure out how to stay on-sides, call an audible, or not get personal fouls, the Cowboys are 4 games into a regime and alrealdy playing poised and to (or above) their potential.

True, they've beaten two bad teams (Jets, Cards) and they did get fairly lucky against the Giants, however, that's not the point at all. The point is that the Cowboys are doing all of the little things, young players (Carter) are CLEARLY progressing. They bury teams that they should and following a somewhat ugly opening loss, they collected themselves and made HUGE clutch plays on the road in the division against a team we couldn't beat at home. Key words there-- IN THE DIVISION.

Face it folks, our hated rivals have the best coach in the league-- and one of the best of all-time. I do think Gruden is on his level, and there are other very good ones like Vermeil and Fisher, but Parcells is just a different breed. His presence is unreal. They are a 100% different team with many of the same key parts. It's amazing.

I do think their talent defiencies in some areas will hold them back from wininng big this year, but IMO, they are as much, if not more, of a playoff threat than we are.

It's so frustrating to have to STILL watch the Redskins through your fingers like the climax of a scary movie, while the Cowboys just go out and take care of business in a professional manner. Again, I do think Dallas will struggle against teams better than the Jets and the Cards, but I GUARANTEE you that they won't beat themselves, and they will play like they think they are going to win every week.

And in the off-season, Parcells will begin fixing whatever issues they have, and they'll come back with that same attitude, but with better players, next year. And the year after that, they'll get even better, etc..... I guess the good news is that he won't be around for much more than 5 years or so. But in the meantime, we're going to see the Cowboys get better and better and better. Year to year AND week to week.

Meanwhile, I HOPE we get better and better, but I can't say that we will. We've been riding a roller-coaster this year, basically playing the same type of game against the below average, average, and above average teams we've played. Our opponent's rarely seem to matter. We seem to be our only opponent on the field each week.

We can keep saying, "when we cut out the mistakes, watch out," etc..... but you know what? We won't cut out the mistakes. We never do. We couldn't call an audible smoothly last year, we couldn't do it week one, and we can't do it now. Same for staying on-sides and not doing dumb things in general. Why would it change now? This is who we are. Our only hope is that we overcome ourselves each week and find a way to win.

Am I contradicting myself on my "don't judge this team on the Norv scale" mantra? Yes. I tried real hard to avoid/ignore it, but it's impossible. It's still there. That lack of confidence before big games is still there. It's all still there.

Spurrier? Well, I just don't know. I LOVED the hire and I still think it was worth a shot for Snyder. And I have seen definite improvements from last year to this year, and that's good-- gotta give Spurrier even a little more lee-way than a guy like John Fox because the NFL is totally new world to Spurrier.

And this team is playing HARD, that's for sure.

But I must admit that Boswell's article bothered me. That losing stigma seems to linger. Whether to blame that on Spurrier or the overall prevailing atmosphere that surrounds this organization, I'm not sure.

I'm not giving up. Mainly because we have Ramsey, who I think is a special player. My hope is that he has SO MUCH of a winning aura surrounding him that it will slowly generate throughout the team, and that he and Spurrier (who still shows plenty of flashes of knowing how to coach a QB) can team to combine for a formidable combo.

And by saying I'd rather have Parcells over Spurrier, it isn't really a knock on Steve. I'd say that about most every coach in the NFL. But it sucks that he's in Dallas.

And here's the bottom line, as long as he's there, I think Dallas will be better than we are. This year may be our best chance to finish ahead of them for quite awhile. You can blow that off all you want, but check his track record. We may even win the position by position comparisons, but they win the war because of the guy on the sidelines.

I guess it hit me driving around today. I've seen TONS of teams in recent memory go from bad or average to quite good in a short span of time-- as an example, the Panthers seem to be the latest team to do it. Yet, we seem mired in this 7-8 win zone, where our players get better, the coach's change, yet the results stay the same. It's puzzling. And it's not so easy as to blame it on Snyder, seeing this started in the 5 seasons BEFORE he owned the team.

No need to call me off the ledge. I'm not jumping. We're 3-2 and that's pretty good. But it's almost like there's some invisible forcefield that wouldn't allow us to win either of those East games, which would have allowed us to feel REALLY good.

I've seen enough to keep me interested and hopeful. Maybe if we keep coming close, we'll eventually figure out a way to turn that elusive corner? But it sure seems a lot more elusive for us than it does other teams around the NFL, doesn't it?

Let me put it this way-- ask me who I think will be closer to the Super Bowl after the next 2-3 years, the Redskins or Cowboys, and my answer will come quick and easy. Unfortunatley, it's not the answer any of us want to hear.

[Skins26]

dont want to hear it hear. We got a coach! He's a good coach. Its only his second year give him a chance.

Parcells beat the Cardinals, wooo hooo good for him! Way to beat up on the Cards. You just beat a bunch of like substitute teachers that they found on the street.

[Eagles_Legendz]

Originally posted by Skins26

dont want to hear it hear. We got a coach! He's a good coach. Its only his second year give him a chance.

Parcells beat the Cardinals, wooo hooo good for him! Way to beat up on the Cards. You just beat a bunch of like substitute teachers that they found on the street.

I think, kleese's point is, while the Cowboys don't have the talent that Washington has emassed, you can see a clear difference in attitude. Would a Cowboy player have been high-fiving someone on the sidelines after committing a crucial 15-yard penalty, like Upshaw was? It is apparent that these Cowboys have a 'swagger' about them this season. Whether this produces enough wins to make up for a lack of talent is questionable, and yes they have been beating up on some weak teams, but it's incredibly obvious the difference that Parcells is making already.

[kleese]

Legendz,

Good call on the Upshaw thing-- I noticed it as well. He went to the sidelines and high-fived and was chatting it up with someone (Chase I believe). That play deserved an all-time ass-chewing, not a high-five and a smirk. Think the Tuna would have said something to him?

[Skins26]

My point is i hate Parcells and dont want to give him credit for anything.

[kleese]

26,

Hate him all you want, and no offense intended, but if you fail to give him credit, you're just flat-out wrong. It's absurd to not give him credit.

[EagleSteve]

Originally posted by Skins26

My point is i hate Parcells and dont want to give him credit for anything.

I hated the Gibbs-led Redskins and the Parcells-led Giants with a passion, but you've got to give credit where credit is due. Gibbs is hands-down the best coach I've ever seen. I've never had that same level of respect for Parcells, but there is no denying he's an excellent coach. Denial just leads to more frustration.

[kleese]

Actually, Redskins fans should respect Parcells even MORE than other fans. He's only coach I've ever seen go toe to toe with Gibbs and wind up winning the battles quite often. He was the only coach I ever felt could neutralize the "Gibbs factor." Of course, Gibbs got the best of Parcells as well, but I always viewed it as an even match-up, which would help explain our wars with the Giants in the 80's.

Gibbs and Parcells are on the same level, IMO, and that lands them as two of the top 5 coach's of all-time with Lombardi, Halas, and probably Bill Walsh.

[NavyDave]

What we need is a parcells type of discipline on the team to be honest

[Skins26]

Yeah I guess your right kleese. Its just hard cause i hate him so much.

[MikeB]

Unfortunately I think you are right kleese. Not so sure about the Tuna being all that. After all, they did only beat some scrubs. However, your point about the Skins being mired in the 7-8 win range is dead on.

I was feeling pretty good about the season until we lost to the Eagles this weekend. You can see they are clearly not the Eagles of 01-02. McNabb is struggling, they are banged up and just not that good... yet we played to their level and spotted them 14 easy points. In true Redskins fashion it's always nice to know that we would have won that game had just one (I can name two specific ones...) penalty not been committed. Same with the NY game. We never just get beat. We always --just-- beat ourselves. One penalty too many. One dropped pass too much. One slip when you are wide open. One sack that shouldn't have been... ah, you get the point.

And your right, Tuna's teams don't do those things. They may loose, but they don't beat themselves like we always do. And the funny thing is, as tough as Marty was, even he couldn't shake that from this team.

What's it going to take? Unfortunately probably more time than many of us have on this board. Someday you will all be typing about the passing of MikeB, and the damn Skins still won't have beat an NFC East team... depressing.

[Eagles_Legendz]

Where've you been Mike? Haven't seen you around recently. The Eagles D hasn't lost much IMO from last year (especially after they get healthy again), but the Eagles offense is in some odd type of funk. McNabb is playing like he's a rookie again.

[EagleSteve]

Originally posted by Eagles_Legendz

McNabb is playing like he's a rookie again.

Actually EL, I'd prefer if he played like a rookie again. He's missing that attitude.

BTW, nice avatar.

[luckydevil]

The **** can coach, one of the greatest coaches ever. The fact that they are 3-1 is amazing

[MikeB]

EL... I don't know. I was hoping that if I didn't pay so much attention to the Skins that maybe their luck would change. Doesn't look that way so I figured I might as well join the gang for some therapy amongst friends.

Glad one of the few good Eagles fans is still with us!

Anyway. I agree. Your D is solid as always. I knew it was a trap to go into that game thinking pass, pass, pass. We should have stuck with the run some more, even if it wasn't working real good, to set up some good opportunities downfield. I think that would have exposed your young secondary a lot more. But hey, who am I to second guess?

[Eagles_Legendz]

Originally posted by Blazers21

Actually EL, I'd prefer if he played like a rookie again. He's missing that attitude.

BTW, nice avatar.

Thanks, though I'm sure you deserve one more than I do. You should have one. Yeah, I'm really befuddled in regards to McNabb's play. He's regressing. :doh:

[Yomar]

its a surprise, but I'm not willing to fall to my knees just yet, the Giants game was solid, but frankly they should have beaten the Cards and the Jets and probably should have beaten the Falcons too. I'll reserve judgement

[kleese]

Yomar,

It's not who they have or haven't beaten up to this point. It's about what THEY are doing. They look so much more crisp, so much more poised, so much more focused. Everything is smooth. There seems to be a plan and a purpose to everything they do.

I don't think they are going to go into Tampa or even New England later this year and win the game-- I see them finishing 8-8 or 9-7. But they won't lose because of themselves. And they will get better next year-- double digit wins. Just watch. Frightening for sure, but just watch.

[ThatGuy]

Talk to me when they beat someone decent, or without the world's flukiest ending.

Dallas Opponents this year

Atlanta

Giants

Jets

Cards

Combined Record 4 - 14

Most teams would be 3 and 1 with that schedule.

My good friends at extremeskins, how does it feel to live life on the teeter totter. You're either WAY UP or WAY DOWN, easy partners.

[JerseyGator]

It's just style differences regarding Parcells and Spurrier. Parcells was not an overnight success. He has not done nearly as well without Bellichek. He also came on when the Gints drafted LT - good timing.

The Cowboys looked pretty bad against the Falcons. I'm not sold on their QB yet. He was a back-up his senior year at U GA.

Like any coach, Parcells does well when he has his type of players. Give Spurrier time to ensure he has his type of players.

[EagleSteve]

Originally posted by Eagles_Legendz

Thanks, though I'm sure you deserve one more than I do. You should have one.

Thanks, EL. It's not a goal in my life... I'm happy enough just doing my part keeping my friends Kilmer, Chief Skin and MikeB honest (I can't not like a Flyers fan!). No offense, guys.

Well, let's land the big, bad Tuna and the Cowboys onto Andy Reid's yacht. Talking about two beached whales...

[Dale]

Originally posted by JerseyGator

I'm not sold on their QB yet. He was a back-up his senior year at U GA.

Carter turned pro following his junior season. He was a starter at Georgia all three seasons he was there.

It was rumored that had he stayed his senior year, he would not have started. But then, at one point, people were predicting Carter to be a potential first round pick -- and many prognosticators suggested had he turned pro after his sophomore season, rather his junior year, he would indeed have been a first rounder.

Simply put, neither matter today.

[kleese]

You guys are in denial, I'm sorry.

[Larry]

Yes, I respect Parcells' ability. (I've tried to avoid watching what he's done in Dallas.)

I'd really hoped that Marty would do the same thing for us: Establish discipline, fundamentals, teamwork, that sort of thing.

It's possible that SS can do those things, too. (Or, that the team will do it on it's own. I don't care who gets the credit, as long as the results are there.)

[shawn]

That Guy, 'Nifty the point is that in preseason everyone would have guessed we would be 0-4 or 1-3 by now. after four weeks everyone is saying we should be 3-1 because we are better than those teams and as one of you mentioned we should have beat the Falcons as well. That's the whole point. though we are missing some talnet in some positions, we have been able to come together andd beat some teams and have the fans say, "we should beat those teams". Last year that statement would have been a joke.

With That said I think what parcells has done is bring discipline to the team. on the cowgboys board and even here I had mentioned on many occasions that cowboys lacked discipline and that killed them in a lot of the games. Parcells is also going a long way in developing the players. the talent may have been there, but the coaches weren't able to develop it or expose it, evident from the play of players like Stewart and Blade who have been key on the DL. Being able to bring in the right people to develop Carter (though I am not ready to annoint him any title myself, I have often argued against other fans, that until he utterly fails and is kicked out of the league you can't label him a bust).

He also is able to put the players in a position to succeed, maximizing their abilities. simple, last year many of you hear were upset about the fact that lewis was playing Arrington as a DE, where his talents are not maximized and he may be neutralized from that position. Parcells is simply putting players where they fit best.

With that said, If the redskins don't correct their penalty problems and the coach addressing the disipline on the team, the redskins will continue to struggle in each game. They ahve some talent on the team and should succeed. I can say they maybe at a crossing point. There has been rumblings about Spurrier and his audible system. Spurrier has to come out and defend or discuss his system. players showing a bit of frustration. This is the crossing road. they will either address these issues and become a force or they will continue to struggle and frustrations mount and by the end of the season, there will be a team in disarray which might require another coaching change.

I think spurrier made one mistake, he has adjusted his game to the NFL a bit, having admited that NFL is different than college, he also is finding out that NFL players are not in awe of him. college kids may have been, but not NFL when some players have their own TV and radio shows and make more money than the coach and the coach can get fired, but the player stays around and is build around. his ego might be a little hurt having to admit that.