Behold, the inaugural online post of "My Thoughts On The Burgundy & Gold." What began as a series of e-mails last season -- that you can access in The Archives to the right, for the record -- will, if all goes according to plan, turn into a bit more now that I've decided to transfer my writing to the internets.
If this is your first time visiting and/or reading, welcome. If you received my e-mails last year or read them some other way, it's good to have you back.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, the eve of another Redskins season is nearly upon us and, in keeping with the past decade, it would be an exercise in futility to try and realistically predict just how our beloved team will fare.
While the core group of last year’s starters remains relatively intact, the 2008 off-season was not without the usual drama that has become all-too-standard during Dan Snyder’s tenure. A new head coach arrived in Jim Zorn, former Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks guru, all-around good guy and the man now responsible for taking this team back to the promised land.
So can he do it? Sure, he can, and I say that because whether we fans like it or not, nobody really knows what Jim Zorn is capable of.
He’s never been a head coach, let alone a coordinator, so we’ll just have to remain optimistic. We should give him the benefit of the doubt until he blows a plethora of halftime leads like his predecessors, until he mis-manages games like He Who Shall Not Be Named or until he simply cannot take it anymore and decides to follow Bobby Petrino back to the seemingly greener pastures of his comfort zone.
Or -- brace yourselves, as I’m about to get crazy -- until Coach Zorn leads this franchise to the Super Bowl.
If this is your first time visiting and/or reading, welcome. If you received my e-mails last year or read them some other way, it's good to have you back.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, the eve of another Redskins season is nearly upon us and, in keeping with the past decade, it would be an exercise in futility to try and realistically predict just how our beloved team will fare.
While the core group of last year’s starters remains relatively intact, the 2008 off-season was not without the usual drama that has become all-too-standard during Dan Snyder’s tenure. A new head coach arrived in Jim Zorn, former Seattle Seahawks quarterbacks guru, all-around good guy and the man now responsible for taking this team back to the promised land.
So can he do it? Sure, he can, and I say that because whether we fans like it or not, nobody really knows what Jim Zorn is capable of.
He’s never been a head coach, let alone a coordinator, so we’ll just have to remain optimistic. We should give him the benefit of the doubt until he blows a plethora of halftime leads like his predecessors, until he mis-manages games like He Who Shall Not Be Named or until he simply cannot take it anymore and decides to follow Bobby Petrino back to the seemingly greener pastures of his comfort zone.
Or -- brace yourselves, as I’m about to get crazy -- until Coach Zorn leads this franchise to the Super Bowl.
I will be the first to admit that I do not pay much attention to the preseason, what with the minimal number of snaps being taken by the starters and the overall lack of giving two shits, so it’s tough for me to gauge exactly where the Redskins stand.
What I do know, however, is that they have some serious talent. Not one guy here or there, but a potential Pro Bowler at a number of the skill positions. At the risk of being a major homer, allow me...
Under center, the Skins have a solid starter in Jason Campbell, a quarterback who showed flashes of brilliance last year until Chicago’s defensive line decided to formally welcome him into the League. Assuming he can stay healthy and is quick to learn yet another new system -- two major assumptions, I know -- I think JC has the tools to make some serious strides this year.
In the backfield, Clinton Portis continues to fly relatively under the radar (personality notwithstanding) and, at least when it comes to talking to the media, has shown signs of maturity. With the exception of an injury-shortened 2005 season, he has rushed for at least 1,200 yards per year during his career and, barring another catastrophe, should be able to continue doing so.
The Redskins have a top-5 tight end in Chris Cooley, a player who has the strength to gain crucial yardage after the catch and the hands to make said catch in difficult situations (read: a poorly-thrown ball).
Santana Moss had a case of the brick-hands for a brief stretch of last year -- and let’s not forget about those sensitive hammies -- but it’s hard to argue #89’s explosive playmaking abilities. His size is a concern (as is Randle El’s), but I have faith that we’ll see good things from Santana this year.
Throw in Mike Sellers, Ladell Betts, James Thrash, a few promising rookies and the always-true-Redskin Rock Cartwright and I’d say you'd have a pretty decent offense, wouldn’t you?
On the other side of the ball, The Skins have solid guys in nearly every facet, just not enough of them. On the ends of the defensive line are reliable veterans Andre Carter and the newly-acquired Jason Taylor, behind them are two steady linebackers in Marcus Washington and London Fletcher and behind them is a devastating hitter in man-beast LaRon Landry.
So where are the problems? Where they’ve always been, unfortunately.
Washington’s cornerbacks have had trouble with the deep ball for as long as I care to remember, and while it looked like they were poised to turn things around last year, issues still remained nearly week in and week out (and especially after the loss of Sean Taylor’s presence). A new bump-and-run system could prove advantageous, but one of the biggest question marks on defense has to be in coverage.
The offensive line needs to be able to protect Campbell better than they have, the defensive line needs to be able to ratchet up the pressure on opposing quarterbacks and the special teams need to generate good field position every chance they get.
But perhaps the biggest concern, as always, is consistency. Consistency is key no matter who you are and what you play, and yet another new set of systems for the B&G will bring a new sense of confusion. Every game in an NFL season is important, and whether you start strong and finish weak or start weak and finish strong -- as the Skins have done twice in the past three years -- it’s nearly impossible to be successful without cohesion and chemistry from the first snap to the final whistle.
Playing in the NFC East means an absurdly minimal margin of error will be in play throughout the season, which does not bode well considering the recent history of the franchise and its inability to capitalize on breaks and pounce on reeling opponents.
Whether you’re a paid analyst, a lowly blogger or a casual fan, it’s nearly impossible to know just how things will play out at the start of each NFL season. Sure, it’s easy to predict a better-than-decent campaign from teams like the Patriots and Colts, but beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess.
Did Joe Expert think the Giants would win the Super Bowl last year? No, which is what makes the NFL so damn interesting.
If the Redskins' offense can find a way to gel and the defense can put fear in opponents' eyes by both punishing the quarterback and setting the tone early and often, they once again have the potential to surprise some people.
Football is back in a mere 48 hours, and with that means we’re able to spend another autumn with the Burgundy & Gold. It will certainly be an entertaining four months, and if they can somehow do the unthinkable and keep our interest well into January, remaining passionate through the ups and downs will have been worth every second.
Hail.
What I do know, however, is that they have some serious talent. Not one guy here or there, but a potential Pro Bowler at a number of the skill positions. At the risk of being a major homer, allow me...
Under center, the Skins have a solid starter in Jason Campbell, a quarterback who showed flashes of brilliance last year until Chicago’s defensive line decided to formally welcome him into the League. Assuming he can stay healthy and is quick to learn yet another new system -- two major assumptions, I know -- I think JC has the tools to make some serious strides this year.
In the backfield, Clinton Portis continues to fly relatively under the radar (personality notwithstanding) and, at least when it comes to talking to the media, has shown signs of maturity. With the exception of an injury-shortened 2005 season, he has rushed for at least 1,200 yards per year during his career and, barring another catastrophe, should be able to continue doing so.
The Redskins have a top-5 tight end in Chris Cooley, a player who has the strength to gain crucial yardage after the catch and the hands to make said catch in difficult situations (read: a poorly-thrown ball).
Santana Moss had a case of the brick-hands for a brief stretch of last year -- and let’s not forget about those sensitive hammies -- but it’s hard to argue #89’s explosive playmaking abilities. His size is a concern (as is Randle El’s), but I have faith that we’ll see good things from Santana this year.
Throw in Mike Sellers, Ladell Betts, James Thrash, a few promising rookies and the always-true-Redskin Rock Cartwright and I’d say you'd have a pretty decent offense, wouldn’t you?
On the other side of the ball, The Skins have solid guys in nearly every facet, just not enough of them. On the ends of the defensive line are reliable veterans Andre Carter and the newly-acquired Jason Taylor, behind them are two steady linebackers in Marcus Washington and London Fletcher and behind them is a devastating hitter in man-beast LaRon Landry.
So where are the problems? Where they’ve always been, unfortunately.
Washington’s cornerbacks have had trouble with the deep ball for as long as I care to remember, and while it looked like they were poised to turn things around last year, issues still remained nearly week in and week out (and especially after the loss of Sean Taylor’s presence). A new bump-and-run system could prove advantageous, but one of the biggest question marks on defense has to be in coverage.
The offensive line needs to be able to protect Campbell better than they have, the defensive line needs to be able to ratchet up the pressure on opposing quarterbacks and the special teams need to generate good field position every chance they get.
But perhaps the biggest concern, as always, is consistency. Consistency is key no matter who you are and what you play, and yet another new set of systems for the B&G will bring a new sense of confusion. Every game in an NFL season is important, and whether you start strong and finish weak or start weak and finish strong -- as the Skins have done twice in the past three years -- it’s nearly impossible to be successful without cohesion and chemistry from the first snap to the final whistle.
Playing in the NFC East means an absurdly minimal margin of error will be in play throughout the season, which does not bode well considering the recent history of the franchise and its inability to capitalize on breaks and pounce on reeling opponents.
Whether you’re a paid analyst, a lowly blogger or a casual fan, it’s nearly impossible to know just how things will play out at the start of each NFL season. Sure, it’s easy to predict a better-than-decent campaign from teams like the Patriots and Colts, but beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess.
Did Joe Expert think the Giants would win the Super Bowl last year? No, which is what makes the NFL so damn interesting.
If the Redskins' offense can find a way to gel and the defense can put fear in opponents' eyes by both punishing the quarterback and setting the tone early and often, they once again have the potential to surprise some people.
Football is back in a mere 48 hours, and with that means we’re able to spend another autumn with the Burgundy & Gold. It will certainly be an entertaining four months, and if they can somehow do the unthinkable and keep our interest well into January, remaining passionate through the ups and downs will have been worth every second.
Hail.
Posts
MWP,
ReplyDeleteI dig the optimizm! A 'must have' for any true Skins fan... We need some production out of Moss and Randell El (which means...The Randell) because as much of a stud as Cooley is, he can't shoulder the whole weight of the passing game. AND the defense needs to step it up some...CRUSH some quarterbacks...sure would be nice to have 21 still around, but it's all good, we still have some heavy hitters.
BFW,
Sean Acton