Lanky Livingston
Guest
I've had some time to think about this, and I'm definitely leaning more towards Goaldie & Dreamingwolf.
Listen - all of you clamoring about how "Griffin didn't look right" need to be honest with yourselves - Griffin did not look right at all since after the initial injury he sustained against the Ravens. His passing accuracy outside of a couple throws against the Eagles has been very suspect, especially against Dallas. I didn't hear anyone talking about how Cousins should have started the final games after Cleveland! And its simply because we were winning. Because as Boone (or Henry) pointed out, because the Cowboys were too stupid to realize that Griffin was a shell of his former self, so they respected his passing ability, despite all the worm-burners.
There are a lot of people who are really mad right now, because we lost arguably the best rookie this franchise has ever seen to a potentially disastrous injury in his last game of the season. Yes, it sucks. Yes, I'm furious right now too. But we all knew the risks going in with this kid - slight build, 6'1, ACL injury history - let's not pretend like this is a total blind side or anything.
But to call for Shanahan to be fired? Are you kidding? We just won the division for the first time since 1999. THIRTEEN YEARS. We've gotten rid of 99% of the "problem players" from the Vinny regime. D. Hall & his ****ty contract are all that is left. This franchise has turned around, and is headed in the right direction. We have rookie OLineman that step in for injured starters and play WELL. We have a WR who if he had not hurt his foot in week one, I am confident would have shattered our team receiving records. Yes, a lot of this is due to Griffin, but a lot of it is due to the overall character of the team, and the players that this staff has assembled.
And don't forget, its only due to Mike Shanahan that we even have a viable "option B" in the first place. How many other coaches would have taken Kirk Cousins in the fourth round after trading the farm for Griffin? Not many, I'm betting. A lot of fans were outraged by that pick (myself included), but how genius does it look now?
As far as "he should have pulled him" or he "should have let him play," I will let that decision go into history as a questionmark. I am not going to begin to know that I would have made the right decision. How many of you would have left Terrell Davis in the superbowl with a migraine so bad he couldn't even see? How many other examples has there been even this year? I'm sure Fletcher probably could have benefitted from a few games off after his injury, but the coaches left it up to him to play, and he did. He only won defensive player of the month due to his efforts. Decisions like this are made all the time; they are scrutinized when they don't work, and celebrated when they do. What happens if Fletcher takes a week off and we lose due to poor defensive breakdowns? We get infuriated that the coaching staff shut down our best defensive player.
Anyway, I'm representing my Skins today, and that includes Mike Shanahan. I'm excited to see what this offseason holds, and who we take in the draft to continue the amazing direction this franchise is headed. I'm excited to see Carriker and Orakpo back in uniform, and how that revitalizes our defense. I'm excited to see if Chase Minnifield is recovered from his knee injury, and if he can really play CB. Yes, its a downer to know that Griffin is probably out for a long time, but I have waited 20 years, I can wait one more.
Sorry to anyone I have offended with this post, I <3 you all.
Listen - all of you clamoring about how "Griffin didn't look right" need to be honest with yourselves - Griffin did not look right at all since after the initial injury he sustained against the Ravens. His passing accuracy outside of a couple throws against the Eagles has been very suspect, especially against Dallas. I didn't hear anyone talking about how Cousins should have started the final games after Cleveland! And its simply because we were winning. Because as Boone (or Henry) pointed out, because the Cowboys were too stupid to realize that Griffin was a shell of his former self, so they respected his passing ability, despite all the worm-burners.
There are a lot of people who are really mad right now, because we lost arguably the best rookie this franchise has ever seen to a potentially disastrous injury in his last game of the season. Yes, it sucks. Yes, I'm furious right now too. But we all knew the risks going in with this kid - slight build, 6'1, ACL injury history - let's not pretend like this is a total blind side or anything.
But to call for Shanahan to be fired? Are you kidding? We just won the division for the first time since 1999. THIRTEEN YEARS. We've gotten rid of 99% of the "problem players" from the Vinny regime. D. Hall & his ****ty contract are all that is left. This franchise has turned around, and is headed in the right direction. We have rookie OLineman that step in for injured starters and play WELL. We have a WR who if he had not hurt his foot in week one, I am confident would have shattered our team receiving records. Yes, a lot of this is due to Griffin, but a lot of it is due to the overall character of the team, and the players that this staff has assembled.
And don't forget, its only due to Mike Shanahan that we even have a viable "option B" in the first place. How many other coaches would have taken Kirk Cousins in the fourth round after trading the farm for Griffin? Not many, I'm betting. A lot of fans were outraged by that pick (myself included), but how genius does it look now?
As far as "he should have pulled him" or he "should have let him play," I will let that decision go into history as a questionmark. I am not going to begin to know that I would have made the right decision. How many of you would have left Terrell Davis in the superbowl with a migraine so bad he couldn't even see? How many other examples has there been even this year? I'm sure Fletcher probably could have benefitted from a few games off after his injury, but the coaches left it up to him to play, and he did. He only won defensive player of the month due to his efforts. Decisions like this are made all the time; they are scrutinized when they don't work, and celebrated when they do. What happens if Fletcher takes a week off and we lose due to poor defensive breakdowns? We get infuriated that the coaching staff shut down our best defensive player.
Anyway, I'm representing my Skins today, and that includes Mike Shanahan. I'm excited to see what this offseason holds, and who we take in the draft to continue the amazing direction this franchise is headed. I'm excited to see Carriker and Orakpo back in uniform, and how that revitalizes our defense. I'm excited to see if Chase Minnifield is recovered from his knee injury, and if he can really play CB. Yes, its a downer to know that Griffin is probably out for a long time, but I have waited 20 years, I can wait one more.
Sorry to anyone I have offended with this post, I <3 you all.