I posted in another thread, but look at the Steelers this year. Ben's been out, Bell was suspended 2 games, Bryant suspended 4 games, Pouncey is out for the year, Shazier has missed time, 2 of their OL have been out, Vick got hurt last week, they've had 2 kickers get hurt, they're on their 3rd QB of the season and yet they're 4-2 and a missed FG away from being 5-1. They're 2-1 without Ben.
Yes, our injuries have sucked especially for a team like us that isn't deep. But teams can still find ways to win with injuries. And yes, with all the injuries, I didn't expect us to beat the Jets. But Cousins throwing the ball to the other team isn't about the injuries.
I think the difference here comes down to how good the team is prior to the injuries.
The Steelers to a degree have been a stable team with a long history of success over the past. You have to go back to 2003 to see a record from them below 8-8. And in those 12 years they've had just 2 head coaches and 1 QB. Even when your star QB goes out, that kind of stability I think leads to a situation where it's easier to weather an injury disaster because the team is stable in a system and with personnel. The reserves step up and start systematically bailing water out of the boat to stop from sinking because they know where all the pumps are.
Teams that are bad, like the Skins, don't have that to fall back on. When we get injuries our staff and players are running around with bandaids trying to plug the holes as best they can while the boat goes down.
Cowboys are another case in point. They're a bad team. Apart from last years success, they've been 8-8 or worse since 2009. Romo and Bryant go down and they can't cope, the boat isn't stable enough to bear that loss.
Now look at the Packers historically. Has Matt Flynn been a good QB anywhere else? But when Rodgers went down he was enough to keep the boat afloat as he was comfortable in a steady system.
If Brady had been suspended at the start of the year I'd wager that the Patriots wouldn't have utterly collapsed without him. Their coaching and their schemes and their players are stable enough and confident enough to weather those kind of storms. Might not go undefeated, but they always come out the other side.
Our team is none of those things yet. We're not talented enough at the skill positions, we're not deep enough and we've not been stable for decades now. We're always a gust of wind away from capsizing and that's what these injuries are to us...
My opinion on all this is that injuries will always happen in the NFL, nature of the beast. But the ability to cope with those injuries shows the good teams from the bad in terms stability. Personally I don't think I've seen enough of Gruden to know whether he's good coach or bad coach really.
I think he inherited a crapfest from Shanahan, including a broken QB and a generally bad team... and Jim Haslett.
I don't think he was fully prepared at all for the amount of media scrutiny and pressure that the Redskins job comes with and struggled in year 1. He's better this year, but still whiffs now and then. (Must be the wind in the stadium)
I think he was hampered by the chain of command above him in Snyder and Allen.
I think he's very much a rookie head coach.
But... I think he's got promise myself. He's certainly not as bad as some we've had here. (Spurrier I'm looking at you!)
The team has made strides organizationally this year with the appointment of McLoughlin and the sidelining of Snyder and Allen (as much as possible). I like the coaching appointments. I think McVay is young but will grow in the roll. I really like Callaghan and what he's done with the line in only a few months. Barry has turned the defense around, may not be earth shattering as yet (and yes... injuries!) but does anyone remember Haslett's Defense through the first few games of last year? Words were bandied around like "HISTORICALLY" and "BAD".
We've actually looked competent this year and I think that's a huge step forwards for us. It's not sexy or exciting, we're not winning divisions or superbowls just yet... but then I never expected us to.
Just be better. And I think we are. I'm in for a long term rebuilding plan. Why? Because for the first time in years (Decades in fact) I actually feel like we're doing things the right way. No quick fix, just careful hard work and good sound strategic drafting and planning. No big free agent splashes on players past their best, no quick fix coach hires, no flashy First round draft picks come to be the saviour of the franchise. I like this way better so far and the fact that we actually look competent for the most part over the first stretch of the season gives me a good feeling, despite the losses.
I honestly felt so far this year like we've had a chance in every game. Shoulda beaten Miami. Definitely could have beaten Atlanta. Even the Jets game I was feeling good after the first half. This team just doesn't feel like a disaster to me. IT's not a great team, but to be honest I've been pretty proud of the way they've fought and been in most of these games to the end, and the fact that it isn't parties and smiles after a loss.
I'm happy to let Gruden have the reins for a while yet, definitely beyond the year and just see what this team can do if it grows together with some stability. Let Gruden learn how to be a good headcoach. Let McLoughlin try and put the pieces in place. Give Barry a chance with this defense and maybe some new personnel after the season and maybe Junior Gallete. Give Callaghan another off season with this offensive line and these young players.
Damn I'm optimistic sometimes! LOL
And damn I do ramble.....
(We need a new button at the bottom of the page that says "Post Long Reply"
 }})
