Lost Identity

[burgold]

I never thought I'd start a fashion thread, but here I am.

Washington has been trying to build an identity on the field. They want to be fast and violent. They're an undertalented try-hard gang where the sum is more than the individuals. They are a deadly 2 minute drill and fourth down team (worst spot ever.) However, while many people have this team's back, what's on their back is a mystery.

Against Chicago they wore black on black
Against the Steelers they wore burgundy on burgundy
Against Philadelphia they will wear white on white

Maybe this constant fashion change is the way of every NFL team nowadays, but isn't it weird that three games in a row they won't wear their team colors? What is wrong with burgundy and gold? Why do we shy away from who we are? All my childhood memories of the team during their glory years had a fixed look. Burgundy jerseys on white pants with burgundy and gold striping or a white jersey with burgundy pants. You saw the colors and you knew who you were facing. Now, if someone flips through channels they won't even know what team is playing. We are chameleons... and I get that at away games the opponent gets to choose what they will wear, but we do this to ourselves at home. It's our choice not to have an identity.

Maybe this is Tanya Snyder's fault. Maybe the team just feels uncomforable in all its uniforms and just dithers when it's time to go out. Maybe Payne picks up a jersey and asks, "Do I look fat in this?" and McLaurin sagely suggests, "Black is slimming." And maybe I'm overthinking this (since this topic is barely worth thinking about I'm definitely overthinking this.) But we don't need this mix and match Barbie dress mentality. We are the Burgundy and Gold and it's time we started acting like it.

Harrumph lol

 

[burgold]

Not sure how I double posted the thread. Anyone know how to delete one of em?

 

[Xameil]

We've done the white on white amd burgundy on burgundy for years. I remember in Joe Gibbs II we doing that.

 

[Boone]

I am on record as being nowhere near as fixated on uniforms and colors and details as many are ... I know that a lot of great fans (like SilentThreat) have very specific desires about the uniforms and every aspect of them. For me, it's more about the name and logo.

I think it's odd that Harris and Company have essentially maintained the status quo on the uniforms - knowing full well that this is an area of significant dissatisfaction among fans. In almost every other area, they've publicly gone out of their way to try and address what fans care about. But not the uniforms.

Other than that Harris hasn't completely ruled it out, it's the one thing that makes me wonder if a total rebrand isn't coming.. Why else would you ignore such a sore spot with the fan base. My take on the uni's. Whites are BAD. Reds are slightly less bad. Blacks are kind of cool but they don't fit with our history. I've gotten used to the 'W' but even though I don't absolutely hate it, it's pretty lame for a pro football logo. And it just reflects the reality that no one knows what 'Commanders' means or represents.

 

[burgold]

Maybe if they added in some kind of camoflage pattern to the one-color uniforms it would read "Commanders" Multiple shades of burgundy or varying patterns of black and dark gray might be cool. Then again, really, honestly, don't come to me for fashion advice.

 

[formerly4skins]

The black-on-black wannabe dime-store Steelers knockoffs literally make me want to puke 🤮

 

[Enforcer]

Ehhh, I think it depends on your perspective. I'm cool with black jerseys. Could use some tweaks, sure.

But from my experience, the younger base, which they want to build up for long term, are down with it. The 30ish and younger folks I've often seen say it looks clean or is fire. I see school age kids, high school, college, etc happy with the jerseys. Just my observations.

I'm just happy the team is good, and people are wearing Commanders stuff out and about.

Lastly, the NFL has specific rules about jerseys. So, I'm sure that plays into Harris' choices. Along with the major focus/priorities of just getting the team good and everything related with that.

 

[Boone]

I think one disconnect (which is really at the core of @burgold’s topic is that we ARE starting to see a team identity but how it connects to ‘Commanders’ is highly suspect. We heard about the identity before we saw it but it involves aggressive, physical play, complementary football, swarming to the ball, and smart overachieving players who do their job and who are loyal to each other and unselfish.

I know in the draft we heard some references to finding players who would do things ‘the Commanders way’ which I’ll confess made me cringe.

I wish they’d go with a team identity that really reflects the qualities they most value. That’s why ‘Wolves’ has always made the most sense to me. Once you have a clear identity and a name that aligns with it, the logo and uniforms come easy. When they don’t align (ie.. as ours don’t) it makes it tough.

 

[Riggotoni]

I wish they had burned all the black jerseys as soon as they bought the team. If the Steelers owned an XFL team... It's like Tanya saw Zorn's press conference about coaching the yellow red and black, and thought he knew what he was talking about.

 

[burgold]

I think one disconnect (which is really at the core of @burgold’s topic is that we ARE starting to see a team identity but how it connects to ‘Commanders’ is highly suspect. We heard about the identity before we saw it but it involves aggressive, physical play, complementary football, swarming to the ball, and smart overachieving players who do their job and who are loyal to each other and unselfish.

I know in the draft we heard some references to finding players who would do things ‘the Commanders way’ which I’ll confess made me cringe.

I wish they’d go with a team identity that really reflects the qualities they most value. That’s why ‘Wolves’ has always made the most sense to me. Once you have a clear identity and a name that aligns with it, the logo and uniforms come easy. When they don’t align (ie.. as ours don’t) it makes it tough.

The best thing about Wolves is the pack aspect. That may elevate it even above werewolves (which I prefer)

But yeah, having three different uniforms over three weeks is hardly making a statement about one's identity. It's flailing around trying to please people and dress like the popular kids.

 

[Due East]

Hard to argue against the Oregon Duck multi-uniform marketing strategy. All the traditionalist have stuck around for 2 names and uniform changes. They need to grab new fans and a new generation to help us keep from our stadium from getting taken over weekly.

 

[TD_WashingtonRedskins]

I'm an old guy, clearly, but I agree with the primary point of this thread. I wish they would stick with something far more traditional and establish something. Work some gold in there...the players last night that I thought looked great were the ones who had gold sleeves or cleats that helped the true colors pop.

I'm holding out hope that the organization is just making the best of the current situation until a rebrand that they know is coming.

 

[NickyJ]

The black-on-black wannabe dime-store Steelers knockoffs literally make me want to puke

Same, but even so, I really, really, REALLY wanted the Commanders to wear black when we played the Steelers. "Look at us. We're the Steelers now."

 

[Bulldog]

One way to make Commanders more relevant is to change the logo to the Mikitary District of Washington design with the sword and Washington monument, pointing to the history of city as seat of President.

But generalized ‘Commanders’ with the Walmart stenciled ‘W’ is abysmal.