Random Commanders Thoughts

[SkinsFTW]

3rd easiest SOS in the league, ahead of only NE and Denver.

But we still somehow lost to those clowns because one of 2 guys couldn't handle a football at the end the game.

 

[Conn]

Honestly it looks like Ben Johnson has figured out a scheme that allows Caleb Williams a lot of gimmes to attempt. Lots of screens and quick passes. The West Coast Offense is known as being QB friendly by design, so when you have a roster that features a good defense and running game, it makes sense to not burden the young QB with too much too soon. I haven't seen much evidence (yet) that Caleb is going to transform into a franchise QB any time soon, but I think in the short term the Bears coaching staff is content with limiting what Caleb is responsible for week-to-week.

I think it’s interesting, because Caleb is struggling playing in-structure at times and that’s a problem long term. But he’s capable of some nice plays out of structure, which Johnson didn’t have much with Goff, so the ceiling is high if they can settle down his throwing mechanics, his footwork, and teach him to take the gimmes the scheme gives him.

But yeah he spends a lot of time stinking right now

 

[NoCalSkins]

I think it’s interesting, because Caleb is struggling playing in-structure at times and that’s a problem long term. But he’s capable of some nice plays out of structure, which Johnson didn’t have much with Goff, so the ceiling is high if they can settle down his throwing mechanics, his footwork, and teach him to take the gimmes the scheme gives him.

But yeah he spends a lot of time stinking right now

Oh yeah, every game Caleb has a few plays where he scrambles out of the pocket and rifles a laser downfield which is reminder of the arm talent he has and a big reason he was the consensus number on pick. The problem is he doesn't handle the normal stuff as well as he should, which ironically is something JD5 has taken some criticism for in his second season (in the limited sample size we have seen).

 

[NoCalSkins]

I really hope that if the NFL is planning to keep the AI assistance going, that they allow it to consider the entirety of what is going on during the play. Allowing AI assistance to say Mariotta was touched, but then totally ignore that he was also tripped kind of makes replaying it a waste.

 

[Chris]

Hard Knocks NFCE version premiers tonight at 9pm on HBO.

(I hear there is a special side-field cam.)

 

[RedWolf]

Hard Knocks NFCE version premiers tonight at 9pm on HBO.

(I hear there is a special side-field cam.)

Are we in that?

 

[Chris]

Are we in that?

All teams in the NFCE

 

[AngryChuckT]

All fan bases have folks that seem to never have watched a football game in their life, but if you want to check out where the highest percentage ours congregate go to some of the FB groups. I started to leave the few I follow - until I realized there is some entertainment value there.

My favorite one recently is a fan that seems to loathe MM and wants him yanked for the rest of the season so 39 year old Josh Johnson can get the rest of the snaps in preparation to be QB2 next year.

My other was a fan that was serious in his desire to let MM walk next year and bring back TH as QB2 because TH is "just as good."

Amazing takes.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Reminder that Slowik was fired after year 2 with Texans coaching Stroud. Why? Serious offensive regression. Slowik knew HC from SanFran but Ryans did what he felt he had to, given what he saw from the O.

Standards. Process.

I'm not saying it worked out well or not but I can see the logic and I can see Ryans not favoring a friend. Those are good things.

I wonder if we will say the same about DQ come the offseason or maybe April 2026 when the dust settles - assuming changes (either in production or in staff) don't come much sooner.

Texans firing OC Bobby Slowik after two seasons

 

[Chris 44]

I guess the silver lining as to not squeaking into the payoffs and not really having a legit shot is that we get an early jump on the offseason. Player and coaching evals are already starting for us. Gives us a better shot at targeting coaches and players in FA. While already having an eye toward the draft and a nice view of players who will more than likely be available to us at our pick (top 7 at the very worst).

 

[RedWolf]

Is it just me? Or is this franchise ultimately going to drive me literally crazy? I've been following this team, and a hardcore Redskins fan, since I was 5 years old. 56 years. Through all of the good and the bad. I literally feel guilty because I raised my son as a Redskins fan. When he was younger I gave him a hall pass and he did not waiver.

The past 30 years has been nothing great. I really had hopes this year that we had turned the corner, I wasn't thinking Super Bowl but a hell of a lot better than what we turned out to be. I can't give up on them, but sometimes I wonder.

Is it just me?

Birds on the roof of my mother's house
I've no stones that chase them away
Birds on the roof of my mother's house
Will sit on my own roof some day

 

[SkinsInSATX]

Is it just me? Or is this franchise ultimately going to drive me literally crazy? I've been following this team, and a hardcore Redskins fan, since I was 5 years old. 56 years. Through all of the good and the bad. I literally feel guilty because I raised my son as a Redskins fan. When he was younger I gave him a hall pass and he did not waiver.

The past 30 years has been nothing great. I really had hopes this year that we had turned the corner, I wasn't thinking Super Bowl but a hell of a lot better than what we turned out to be. I can't give up on them, but sometimes I wonder.

Is it just me?

Birds on the roof of my mother's house
I've no stones that chase them away
Birds on the roof of my mother's house
Will sit on my own roof some day

Well, I don't know about 100% crazy, but maybe close to it for me. It's like we're cursed to a certain point. And I know they will say curses don't exist. But I mean, how can you look back at the last 30 years and think about, Sean Taylor, RG3, the coaching carousel, Alex Smith, and all the ex assistants from the Shanny tree, who have become successful, and think we aren't??

Maybe it was the previous owner this whole time who brought the bad juju,,and we're just going through a rough start with our new one. Fuck idk, but I just want to experience sustained success with this team way sooner than later!!! Hail!!

 

[Chris]

For me it’s that the team experienced unexpected success in year 1 and it was glorious. Everything that could go right did.

In year 2 it has experienced unexpected failure and everything that could go wrong did.

I don’t think the team was as good as last year’s record and I don’t think the team is as bad as this season’s record.

I’m filing this season in a folder labeled ‘shit happens’. The organization in the future will have to prove me right or wrong before I seek out professional counseling.

 

[RedWolf]

I’m filing this season in a folder labeled ‘shit happens’. The organization in the future will have to prove me right or wrong before I seek out professional counseling.

Our folder is getting kind of full

 

[skinzplay]

Last season was a mirage, a fun ride for sure, but a mirage. Almost everything seemed to fall our way. Like you guys have said, we were not as good as we collectively seemed last year. The defense still stunk. Of course last year's march to the NFCC affected a lot of things. Fortunately, it did get us momentum for a stadium deal to get this team back where we belong. Let's hope the brain trust can fix what needs to be fixed on the field and in the coach's offices, and get us on the right trajectory.

 

[D’Pablo]

So this is maybe a dumb thought, but it feels like one can determine what kind of season we’re gonna have based on what kind of shape our coach is in. Last year, Quinn was svelte and pretty athletic looking- this year, not so much. Even Gruden’s best years were when he looked more put together. There’s very few exceptions to this rule across the league- maybe Andy Reid, but all of his assistants look pretty damn athletic. The season is very demanding and stressful, so I’m guessing those in the best shape can better handle the pressure.

 

[Boone]

For me it’s that the team experienced unexpected success in year 1 and it was glorious. Everything that could go right did.

In year 2 it has experienced unexpected failure and everything that could go wrong did.

I don’t think the team was as good as last year’s record and I don’t think the team is as bad as this season’s record.

I’m filing this season in a folder labeled ‘shit happens’. The organization in the future will have to prove me right or wrong before I seek out professional counseling.

I don't think anyone could state the facts any more clearly and concisely than Chris just did.

We really won't know if the tide has finally turned until we experience the next 3 offseasons and seasons. We are going to find out whether the franchise has fundamentally moved in the direction of competence and success and sustained winning or not during this stretch.

 

[skinzplay]

Yeah, hopefully we'll find out sooner rather than later, but I have serious reservations. I do sometimes wonder if DQ is so deep into the pop psychobabble steps-to-improve-and-grow stuff that it's adversely affecting his decision-making as HC. That whole career review thing he did was BIZARRE. I know there were plenty puff pieces that applauded him for self-reflection, but despite all the public kind words, there are coaches who just don't want to hitch their wagons to that horse. The Laura Okmin stuff rubbed a lotta league people the wrong way, just found it oddball. Essentially no one from that Falcons staff was interested in joining him in Ashburn in any capacity, except Whitt. And they're all going to stay away.

And then after all that self-reflection and assessment, his first order of business when getting his second chance was to hire Whitt as DC? And sign off on position coaches ill-equipped to coach and develop those in their player portfolios? Why did it take so long to move on from Whitt, when everyone in the league had been whispering it'd never work (listen to Keim's pointed question in Whitt's intro presser, there was a reason for it). Did it take DQ so long because he was waiting for JD Power & Associates to finish yet another survey and evaluation for him? The decision-making is flawed.

Last season was 28-3. This season is the 3rd and 4th quarter SB debacle. Next season? Solid answers for righting the ship had better be forthcoming. You don't lose this many games in a row, and do so like we've done, if the problem is exclusively talent or injury-related. I want him to succeed, but am concerned.

 

[Conn]

lol, the idea that someone with family connections to old school coaching culture types would be surrounded by people who are skeptical of someone worried about developing self-awareness and his staffs’ soft skills is so on point that it’s almost satirical. Like the EQ version of the old scouts sitting around the table with Billy Beane, mystified, in Moneyball.

Literally the only thing remotely interesting about Dan Quinn is his evident emotional intelligence. The idea that THAT rubs people around the league the wrong way is hilarious. I guess Adam Peters, plugged in with great relationships around the league and rising NFL golden boy for the last half decade, didn’t get the memo that weirdo Quinn was persona non grata.

If Quinn continues to fail here it won’t be because he hired a third party to analyze his previous failures, or hired someone to encourage his staff to connect with people.

That was a good/entertaining post though. Reminds me of the old volsmet posts back in the day, though I think it was college coaching that his family was plugged into.

 

[Commander Wraith]

He requested an in-depth performance review, showing a measure of self awareness, self-reflection, a desire to improve, and a bit of innovation/creativity.

That in-depth performance review (at least in part) then resulted him getting an HC job, and to a team with a first time GM, a bunch of coaches that hadn’t worked together, a previously massively flawed roster, and a rookie qb going to a championship game in year one.

Quinn’s extremely well-liked (notably by former coaching partners and players) and has had a good bit of success as both a DC and HC, and got a lot of positive media for the culture stuff last offseason. The idea that all of the above winds up in people not wanting to work for him is surprising to say the least.

Not saying it’s all rosy of course, but IMV the positives seem like they’re far stronger than the negatives.