Random Commanders Thoughts

[Boone]

I can't say it any clearer - just because Gruden doesn't announce to the world via the media that no one is guaranteed a starting role doesn't mean that's not his approach. As long as the players know 'you produce, you start, you don't you won't' (and don't you think they already know this?) then you're fine. I'm pretty sure RG3, having been benched to end this season, is going to be clear that he better up his game. The downside is, had he felt the need to point out to God, the Washington Post, and everyone else on his first day that performance determines who starts, all we'd hear about for the next 6 months was controversy over who's our QB of the future is. I'll flip it on you - what's the upside of having these kinds of conversations in public? Gruden already telegraphed how he operates and how he expects his players to operate when he answered the question about social media and Twitter. I feel sorry for the first guy who decides to air team dynamics on social media.

 

[Neophyte]

And maybe that is how it will play out but in my experience when a coach comes out and says "He is our guy" they tend to stick with that guy, regardless of performance. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Bulldog]

After giving up three years worth of picks you have to properly evaluate Griffin before moving in to another candidate.

From an extended look Cousins appears to be a competent passer who still needs to refine his game and learn to play under pressure in end of game situations.

It's not like Cousins is throwing the ball and moving around like Aaron Rodgers and we are simply ignoring him to play Griffin.

 

[Neophyte]

I doubt that Richard Sherman or Russell Wilson's job is open to be taken.

But then again....you'd have to be pretty damn good to take it anyways. Maybe Griff needs that.

But Russell got his job because he did beat Matt Flynn out after Flynn signed a bit FA deal and was the presumed starter there. That is the point and the message. He played better and earned it.

 

[Dead Money]

 

[Lanky Livingston]

But Russell got his job because he did beat Matt Flynn out after Flynn signed a bit FA deal and was the presumed starter there. That is the point and the message. He played better and earned it.

Well, you could say the same about Griffin and Grossman when it happened. Now there is nobody who can really and truly challenge Griff for the job.

If Robert comes out in OTAs and tanks while Kirk is running and gunning I am not so sold on RG III that I am going to ignore facts when they are in my face. But as of now, Griff has no competition. Its his job.

Griffin/Grossman isn't comparable at all, other than they are both situations with 2 QBs. Grossman is at the vet min, brought in to be the backup, and the team traded 3 firsts and a second to draft RGIII; RGIII was clearly expected to be the starter.

Matt Flynn was a high-priced FA, brought in to be the starter. Wilson was a 3rd-round project, who nobody expected to be that good that fast.

If Grossman beat out Griffin for the starting job, then it would be comparable.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

well...you are entitled to your opinion but I fully disagree with that.

My opinion still stands as far as I'm concerned.

Its not about your opinion standing, the situations are vastly different. Grossman was never presumed starter like Flynn was.

 

[Boone]

It's perplexing to me why anyone would question why Griffin shouldn't be the unquestioned starter. Are we so spoiled from his year one ROY performance that after one 'okay' season he's no longer a franchise QB? He had a decent year this year - better than 75%of what we've seen under center from healthy previous Redskins QBs.

Griffin is the starter and he's going to silence all the nonsense uttered about him during the coming season. I'm willing to bet anyone here that's the case.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

It's perplexing to me why anyone would question why Griffin shouldn't be the unquestioned starter. Are we so spoiled from his year one ROY performance that after one 'okay' season he's no longer a franchise QB? He had a decent year this year - better than 75%of what we've seen under center from healthy previous Redskins QBs.

Griffin is the starter and he's going to silence all the nonsense uttered about him during the coming season. I'm willing to bet anyone here that's the case.

Agree with this. Griffin should be the unquestioned starter. Anything else would be admitting a mistake!

 

[tshile]

Well, you could say the same about Griffin and Grossman when it happened.

Griffin was named the started like 5 seconds into the first day of the first camp after the draft.

It doesn't compare to the seahawks at all.

 

[tshile]

It's perplexing to me why anyone would question why Griffin shouldn't be the unquestioned starter. Are we so spoiled from his year one ROY performance that after one 'okay' season he's no longer a franchise QB? He had a decent year this year - better than 75%of what we've seen under center from healthy previous Redskins QBs.

Griffin is the starter and he's going to silence all the nonsense uttered about him during the coming season. I'm willing to bet anyone here that's the case.

I agree with you.

I didn't intend on starting a debate on whether or not Griffin should be the starter. I just think the best mentality from the headcoach is that every position is always open for competition. No one gives a crap what you did last year, when you drafted, what it cost to get you, or what your contract is. If you're the best guy for the job you're the one taking the field.

 

[Bulldog]

You don't think NFL rookie of the year and 20/5 TD/INT ratio gives Griffin some demonstrated performance from 2012 to show he has separated from a guy like the 32 year old Grossman?

If he hasn't shown that, this club is in much greater trouble than I thought.

 

[Elephant]

I have refrained from comment because the truth is I just don't know. I do not know what to think of Jay Gruden. I hear McD5 trying his best to sell Gruden on the rest of us and my first instinct is to check my wallet. I say that in jest mostly, but why is he selling Gruden? I look at the stats, I look at the records and I look at the product in the NFL, more specifically the Bengals playoff demise. A team that is so solid on offense throughout 3 seasons disappears in the playoffs? Why? What my limited experience...40 years of watching football...tells me is that the coach was calling poor games in crunch time and/or there is a meltdown by the players. Who knows for sure? I know that I don't.

So my attitude going forward is to let the chips fall where they may. There is nothing I can do about it but yell, scream, throw tantrums...or simply accept my complete and utter powerlessness in the matter and simply hope for the best. We won't really have any answer to the direction of this football team other than a new head coach, until it happens. Will Haslett still be here when the coaching staffs are finalized? I don't know. Will the team concentrate on building this team from the trenches since we have skills players in place? I won't know until Free agency starts and in the draft. Will we draft players who will succeed? We won't know until they hit the field...some players we won't know for a year or 2 down the road.

So what do we know today?

1.) Jay Gruden is the head coach.
2.) We have a formula that has been the most successful structure for an NFL team...GM who has a player personnel staff on one side and a coaching staff on the other and both answer to him.
3.) The marketing machine that has Dan Snyder written all over it is still in full effect!


And to be honest, #3 is the most concerning. I can get on board with the Gruden hire, although there is a piece of me that swears this is the big splash hire...that this is a decision made that will benefit the bottom line more than the fielded product.

But what I don't like and makes me trul question what direction this team is headed, is what I witnessed yesterday during the press conference. For a brief 15 minute period...just 15 minutes...can you please save us from the big name sponsors being flashed on a billboard behind the new coach!!!! You want a new era? You want the very "culture" of Redskins' Park to change? Then stop selling Harris Teeter, BoA, Audi and the other sponsors for just 15 minutes while you introduce the new coach.

A cultural change starts from the top...I see no change there. And it makes me question whether Jay Gruden was brought in because he is the best candidate or whether he was brought in to sell the team to fans so they will buy tickets. The answer to that is unknown to us, but I will be damned if that simple maneuver doesn't make me wonder!

 

[Bulldog]

So, an assistant coach has to go to the Super Bowl to legitimize himself as a candidate?

Joe Gibbs made the playoffs every year with Don Coryell but never advanced to the Super Bowl.

Bill Walsh was with Cincinnati in the 1970's and they went to the playoffs regularly but never advanced that far either.

Seems they did OK as head coaches?

 

[Boone]

I have to ask, in what way does marketing - be it small or monumental - have any impact on the on the field results? You may be irritated by it, but for me, I don't care how many sponsors we have or jerseys we sell, as long as we start winning. And I think the McD5 jabs need to stop.

 

[servumtuum]

I'm seeing a ton of misunderstanding and what appears to be miscommunication going on here.

I'll see if my breakdown here offers any clarity.

There should be competition for all positions-new players must have the chance to demonstrate to the best of their ability their "fitness" for the position of starter,
back-up, third string...whatever.

A starter from the previous season should be considered the starter until demonstrably out-performed by another player-that player is known as the "competitor."

Such assessments are the job of the coaching staff.

All QBs on the roster during the off-season are "competitors" in that sense to Griffin.

No player is "automatic'- the starter at any position is subject to losing his starting position if outperformed by one of the other "competitors" for his position-no one is exempt from this.


I think the word "competitor" got confused with multiple meanings operating here. The idea of "Can this QB compete with Griffin" in terms of ability, talent, innate and learned skills is
not the meaning I use when referencing the idea of players competing for starting position during the off season.

Am I close to the general consensus with this?

 

[Elephant]

I have to ask, in what way does marketing - be it small or monumental - have any impact on the on the field results? You may be irritated by it, but for me, I don't care how many sponsors we have or jerseys we sell, as long as we start winning. And I think the McD5 jabs need to stop.

I wasn't taking a jab at McD5, I was telling the truth and it was not in animosity. He started a thread that was pitching Gruden. Not mocking, just stating. Hell, he sold me from being completely against the hire to accepting it and looking for the best.

I have not been one of the Snyder bashers, he frustrates the hell out of me but I truly believe he wants us to win...knowing that is the single greatest marketing tool. But for many of us, we're tired of the constant barrage of products. If you want to sell the fans on a new culture at Redskins' Park, it would go a long way if you eliminated a barrage of marketing during the introduction of your new head coach. Where is the priority? Building a winner on the field or selling time to Harris Teeter and Bank of America?

 

[Neophyte]

It's perplexing to me why anyone would question why Griffin shouldn't be the unquestioned starter. Are we so spoiled from his year one ROY performance that after one 'okay' season he's no longer a franchise QB? He had a decent year this year - better than 75%of what we've seen under center from healthy previous Redskins QBs.

Griffin is the starter and he's going to silence all the nonsense uttered about him during the coming season. I'm willing to bet anyone here that's the case.

I'm not taking a stab at Griff. I don't think any of our 22 starters should be "unquestioned". Ever. And I would think that no matter who our QB is. Or our RB. Or LT.

And right now there aren't really any better options on the team at RB and LT than Morris and Williams. In fact, I think they are even more locks to start than Griff is. However, we live in a superstar era. These guys are deified by fans and the media on a daily basis and it is easy to get a big head. Easy to start believing your own press.

I like the idea of Gruden walking into the first team meeting and looking at the 80 some odd guys in the room and saying the following:

"Any man here can earn a starting job with this team. I don't care what your name is, what your contract is for, where you were drafted or what you did last year. If you prove that you are the best man for the job, that job will be yours. If you prove that we have a better chance to get a win with you than with any of the other guys playing your position you will get the playing time. My job is to win games, not get anyone here a certain number of snaps or a starting job. That is your place. You earn the job. I will give everyone a fair shot."

I'm not even saying he has to publicize it. I probably wouldn't if I were him. But I wouldn't be promising anyone a starting job in front of the media either.

And don't take that to mean that I think Cousins should be starting over Griffin, I don't. But I would make damn sure Kirk knew he could win the job and I would make sure Robert knew it too. Every damn day.

 

[SkinsFTW]

Where is the priority? Building a winner on the field or selling time to Harris Teeter and Bank of America?

When you've consistently been a bottom 5 loser while consistently been top 5 in making money the question you ask has already been answered.

 

[tshile]

I have to ask, in what way does marketing - be it small or monumental - have any impact on the on the field results? You may be irritated by it, but for me, I don't care how many sponsors we have or jerseys we sell, as long as we start winning. And I think the McD5 jabs need to stop.

I agree with the spirit of what you're saying.

I think there's something about the whole franchise, including Snyder's actions against other local entities, that makes people feel that it now is the state of extorting money from a fan base that has been built over the better part of a century.

In addition to that I think there's a gut wrenching feeling that we're being duped again. No one likes being duped and I think there's quite a few instances over the years where people have felt duped, and duped by someone praying on their loyalty and love for the franchise.

If Snyder could go 10 years without weird off the field drama between him and local entities while producing a solid contender on the field every year... i think all of that crap would go away.

Cooke was not exactly loved by the fans for a long time either.

Then the '80s came...