Smugly applying grades to the 1st Quarter of the season.

[Dead Money]

That's the big difference I see between this team and every other Redskin team since we were consistently good: We have two bona-fide pass rushers on the line (well, on the edges. Whatever you want to call it in a 3-4.) We haven't had a strong front seven in almost 20 years, and I think we do now ... or at least we're a lot closer than we've been in a long time.

The rest of the team, frankly, looks exactly the same as it has for years. But that defense might just give us something to hang our hat on. Which is a nice step in the right direction.

Here-Here. I can't believe the strides that have been made in one year with this defense. Awesome. Cant wait to see what Jenkins brings to this Defense next year.

I know I come off all negative, but I just cant stand when the bandwagon gets rolling with Rex friggin gross man driving.

 

[Henry]

DM, it's not the QB who can beat the blitz. If you bang a QB around enough, he'll screw up. I don't care who he is. Of that list, I'd say Vick, Romo and Manning are hot and cold, and Fitz and Newton are unknowns. Brady will probably kill us.

More than the QB, I'd say it's the line. Which of those teams have lines and backs that can pick up the blitz? I honestly don't know.

But you're right. We are going to live and die with our pass rush this year, because that's our team's strength. I don't see very many people giving A's all around. I did suggest our LBs get an A for finally giving us that aforementioned pass rush. I think it's worth noting because it's been a glaring weakness on this team for so long.

And I don't know why being vulnerable to a top-tier QB makes a defense mediocre. Most defenses are vulnerable to top QBs who have two great WRs and a decent RB. If that's your gauge I guess we suck, but in my opinion you are setting a pretty lofty goal to reach just to get a C+ on defense in your book.

 

[Ax]

Kev, maybe I missed it, but I didn't see any review giving As all around.
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

Your vision, in this instance, is 20-15.

There's plenty of things to complain about. No need for anyone to invent them.

 

[Dead Money]

Jaime what has our defense shown you that says Brady and Welker won't gash us no mater what we do? They don't cover.

Henry we couldn't even bang around Romo at his worst last week.

Lots of "A"s being thrown around all over town, in print, on "other sites" and a couple here.

Ok homers, I'm inventing the fact that are defensive stats dont tell the complete story. I'm completely offbase by not falling in love with a 7 sack performance against trash. Let's see how Michael Vick does and then we'll talk some more. We have 2 weeks to prepare so maybe we can score some points this time. Hopefully Haslett can address some of the backside flaws that make this team vulnerable. Im going to the Carolina game so that should be fun.... Steven Jackson for a receiving TD? Really? LoLz

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

Jaime what has our defense shown you that says Brady and Welker won't gash us no mater what we do? They don't cover.

Henry we couldn't even bang around Romo at his worst last week.

Lots of "A"s being thrown around all over town, in print, on "other sites" and a couple here.

Ok homers, I'm inventing the fact that are defensive stats dont tell the complete story. I'm completely offbase by not falling in love with a 7 sack performance against trash. Let's see how Michael Vick does and then we'll talk some more. We have 2 weeks to prepare so maybe we can score some points this time. Hopefully Haslett can address some of the backside flaws that make this team vulnerable. Im going to the Carolina game so that should be fun.... Steven Jackson for a receiving TD? Really? LoLz

You arent the only one.

I think we have gotten lucky again, playing some teams that were having some serious issues with injuries is more about luck and timing than any massive improvement. Haslett is who he is, he is a guy who wants to be a gambler but who is a conservative guy at heart, you see who a coord is when the chips are down, and Haslett blinked, against the cowpies under pressure, he started calling the same plays, and even stopped blitzing for a bit, the hallmark of a guy who is going against type. I have a feeling haslett would prefer to be a bend but dont break guy probably running a tampa 2 or some sort of zone defence. This defence is looking much better, mostly because we have players who better fit but our best performances have come against teams with poor Olines, thats not a coincidence. RAK will feast on average to above average Lts and Kerrigan is a great bookend because the kid doesnt quit. we need a NT though Cofield would be far better at end

Our Offence moves the ball well until teams tighten up in the red zone, our line is not just undersized (which can be overcome) but undertalented (which cannot) its almost embarrassing how easily teams push them around in short yards. Thankfully our backs are all solid in this scheme now. Oline more than anything is our weakness, Rex looks like night and day when he has time.

we need to use the twin TE sets more, as we have great TE's and are not great at WR anyway. once we do that should help a bit.

maybe im jaded but im not overly excited about being mediocre, I would have vastly preferred that we were either good or bad not in between.

 

[Henry]

Henry we couldn't even bang around Romo at his worst last week.

Despite last week's fawning all over Broadway Gomer (thanks Bang ), he didn't beat us. The Dallas defense did.

If you are going to hold up the Cowboys' six field-goal performance as proof that our defense isn't that good ... eh. I'm not too worried.

maybe im jaded but im not overly excited about being mediocre, I would have vastly preferred that we were either good or bad not in between.

One could argue that to get from bad to good you will often first have to be in between somewhere.

 

[Goaldeje]

we need to bring up the "predict the season" thread again some time soon and see where everyone is at.

also, I agree with Henry's first post about only changing the LBs to an A. Rocky was a beast yesterday, London...well, he's London. nuff said. and the 2 big boys on the end are going beserk.

Right? You know what I love this year? I love watching our defense play. And I know, I know, they give up plays sometimes and are out of position, and whatever. But do the rest of you not feel on any given play that we have an excellent chance of sacking the QB between Rak and Kerrigan? It's like Christmas Eve on every play, watching those guys!

And then I think about how young they are, and well, I'm enjoying things.

 

[fansince62]

Right? You know what I love this year? I love watching our defense play. And I know, I know, they give up plays sometimes and are out of position, and whatever. But do the rest of you not feel on any given play that we have an excellent chance of sacking the QB between Rak and Kerrigan? It's like Christmas Eve on every play, watching those guys!

And then I think about how young they are, and well, I'm enjoying things.

Agree totally. good or bad...things happen and it's exciting. can't put my finger on it....but after every game...I end up thinking that I never really got excited/emotional when the offense had the ball. it's a strangely....well....dull offense. what can I say?!

 

[Canadian Hog]

Above all else, what I'm most excited about is that this is arguably the first season in the past 19 or so where we have shown a commitment towards building the team in a smart, conservative, and patient manner without taking shortcuts. Forget what we've previously done, where the front office and owner drew at straws and tried to magically come up with a winning formula without having a single clue on how to do it.

In my opinion, it's year 1 with an actual plan in place to succeed long-term, and we've established a 3-1 record despite our shortcomings and holes roster-wise. I'll take that as a positive and a sign that we've at least located the road to success and are driving towards it...even if we are off in the distance right now.

The rest of the way, provided the defense maintains it's strong level of play (particularly the front 7), Kyle finds a way to get our TEs more involved in the offense, we establish ourselves as a consistent threat to run the ball each week and control the clock using it, and Gano becomes the definition of reliable in the kicking game, I see this team being able to reach 8 wins.

A previous poster mentioned they aren't too crazy about being somewhere in the middle in terms of success. I'd agree with that statement, provided we were a veteran-laden team with a limited upside. However, we're young. If anything, being a middle-of-the-pack teams just fuels the fire for this group of what might potentially become of it with a little more seasoning and experience.

 

[Dead Money]

Quote all the stats you want, this isn't baseball. Look up from the box scores and you will see that our D is vulnerable to a QB who can beat the blitz. I know many of you forget this because we:

A.) Haven't had a decent pash rush in years
B.) Haven't had a QB that could beat the blitz in decades.

Blitz happy Haslett showed what he's really capable of against a 1/2 speed Pokes team. There's (4) teams left on our schedule that think this team is capable of beating the way they are playing defensively. If a QB has any accuracy and wrs that can catch they will burn our scheme. Again, this is IMHO. Now if our offense gets its collective sh** together this is subject to change, but as of now? I'm not hopeful.

Michael Vick
Cam Newton
Ryan Fitzpatrick ( I heard he's super-smart)
1Alex Smith?
2Chad Henne?
Tony Romo
3Tavaris Jackson?
Mark Sanchez
Tom Brady
Eli Manning
4Christian Ponder?
Michael Vick

I'm not bagging on our defense as much as I am the fellas here issuing A's all around! "Oh its a progress report" again... my bad.

To be a solid defense they are to be helped by the offense with ball control. Our team hasn't really figured that out yet. Whether the switch is taken to Kyle, Rex or both of them I care not. It better happen during the bye.

Again, Happy to have won a few games, but I know there is nowhere up to go from and A, and we have no A's on this team besides the Punter.

Michael Vick-CHECK
Cam Newton-CHECK
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

we still suck, but now at least there is hope.

 

[Dead Money]

I was and still am in the 6-8 win camp.

We will just have to wait until we play someone with an offense I suppose.

I may be wrong but I thought the gnats had te and wr issues in our game in the second half. May be, my bad if so.

Quote all the stats you want, this isn't baseball. Look up from the box scores and you will see that our D is vulnerable to a QB who can beat the blitz. I know many of you forget this because we:

A.) Haven't had a decent pash rush in years
B.) Haven't had a QB that could beat the blitz in decades.

Blitz happy Haslett showed what he's really capable of against a 1/2 speed Pokes team. There's (4) teams left on our schedule that think this team is capable of beating the way they are playing defensively. If a QB has any accuracy and wrs that can catch they will burn our scheme. Again, this is IMHO. Now if our offense gets its collective sh** together this is subject to change, but as of now? I'm not hopeful.

Michael Vick
Cam Newton
Ryan Fitzpatrick ( I heard he's super-smart)
1Alex Smith?
2Chad Henne? Matt Moore?
Tony Romo
3Tavaris Jackson?
Mark Sanchez
Tom Brady
Eli Manning
4Christian Ponder?
Michael Vick

I'm not bagging on our defense as much as I am the fellas here issuing A's all around! "Oh its a progress report" again... my bad.

To be a solid defense they are to be helped by the offense with ball control. Our team hasn't really figured that out yet. Whether the switch is taken to Kyle, Rex or both of them I care not. It better happen during the bye.

Again, Happy to have won a few games, but I know there is nowhere up to go from and A, and we have no A's on this team besides the Punter.

I'm just sayin':

Michael Vick-CHECK
Cam Newton-CHECK
Ryan Fitzpatrick-CHECK

 

[Boone]

I hate you.
Or I love you.

I really haven't decided

 

[Dead Money]

Sorry to rub it in John really I am. Like many of us feared... we've seen this before. If Tony Romo with cracked ribs and recently removed from a collapsed lung can throw up and down the field on that D its gonna go bad again. Yeah "he didn't beat us" but he did. He took them most of the length of the field several times with the 3rd 4th and 5th string receivers in the game.

The difference now is that half our team isn't 30-35 and we have time to build on that brief momentum they got to experience earlier this season. I still have hope, just not in the short-term like so many others do/did.

 

[Boone]

Well, honestly Kev, as much as I dig you, you aren't exactly stepping out on a limb with your predictions. The Redskins have more or less sucked since Gibbs left the first time, so expecting them to buck that trend is about as safe a bet as betting Obama will lead America to new economic heights.

On both fronts, being right doesn't make one a genius, or bring anyone any pleasure.

 

[Destino]

So far the second quarter of the season has been 0-3 and getting worse each time. 7 point loss to Philly, 13 point loss to Carolina, and 23 point loss to the Bills. Next up the 6-1 49ers.

 

[Boone]

That's the killer. I think all Redskins fans can understand rebuilding a franchise takes time. It's the lack of observable progress which is so hard to bear. And we don't even have a future QB on the roster yet. That makes the future look awfully cloudy and bleak from where I sit.

 

[Goaldeje]

So we're either gonna lose by 37 or 57, depending on which matrix you want to use?

 

[Burgundy Burner]

We've learned a painful lesson over the last fifteen months. QB is the most important position to the enth degree. Either we get Luck or Griffin - or we continue this crappiness.

 

[Henry]

I'm just sayin':

Michael Vick-CHECK

We held the Eagles to their second lowest point total of the season.

Cam Newton-CHECK

You get this one.

Ryan Fitzpatrick-CHECK

We held the Bills to their second lowest point total of the season.


Defense is not the problem.