is this a critical game?

fansince62

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it's the first game of the season. new coach. new system. so the inclination is to think "no. it's not."

I'm not so sure. The first game, as we learned last season, can be a harbinger of what is to come. Some considerations.

- I don't care what anyone says....Texas is going to be an 8-8 kinda team at best this season. You need to win against these sorts of teams to start the process of separating from the middle of the pack.

- The better teams led by the better QBs will...IMO...routinely beat the Texans. The games may be close...but the Bradys, Mannings, Lucks, etc., lead their offenses to victory. RGIII, at this point, is an unknown. These QBs do so because they see the field, they understand the defense, they understand the offense and they make very fast decisions. My biggest uncertainty with Robert is how fast he sees, decides and gets the ball out of his hands.

- The o-line, especially the right side...hasn't been upgraded one iota from last season. I fully expect to see changes by mid-season in that part of the starting 5. Just a hunch.

- The defensive pass rush should be better...but stopping the run game is going to be the starting point. From what I saw in preseason I think we can be a very good run defense team. Texas is going to be a very good first test.

- The secondary is a huge unknown. It looked better in preseason than last year, but not good enough in my mind. Receivers were getting open - a lot. Cleveland game for example (their bad QB play undid a lot of this). Safety remains a huge question mark. We'll see if Hazlett compensates by reducing the time opposing QBs have to read and react. This game is all about speed and timing. Like any resource management problem..allocating resources along one vector (say....blitzes) means fewer resources elsewhere (e.g., pass defense in the flats). It all adds up in the end. This will season long cat and mouse game until the secondary solidifies.

- The passing game. This is what we are all most excited about. We didn't see it in preseason. under wraps as it were. I'll be frank here: Turnstyler, Chester and Leitxxxx better have their feces together. They looked over-powered and out-quicked to me. Somewhere...the planck seconds have to be found to provide Robert the margin he needs to grow into a pocket passer. Every opposing d-coordinator knows this. Not rocket science here...this is where the game is won or lost IMO.

- The running game. Until the passing game comes together...this is the heart of the team's offensive strength. I don't know what to think. It looked good during preseason...against vanilla defenses who were not scheming to stop it. We're in a world of **** if texas bottles this up early. It'll be a replay of last season if they do: second/third and long.....with bad things happening.

This game is really going to turn on coaching. There are too many uncertainties at this point - the team has some notable weaknesses, some promising potential and does not have an established identity...a "go to" philosophy where it trots on the field and matter-of-factly imposes its will. on the flip side...there is ample talent, better depth..and key weaknesses from last season appear to be mended...most especially special teams. I'm gonna be most interested in the intelligence Gruden and Hazlett bring to the table in minimizing the exposed areas and maximizing the strengths. Am also interested in how they...especially Gruden...respond/adjust to the inevitable game-time challenges that arise. This and whether Robert can execute the offense will telegraph how much of the rest of the season is going to play out.

Right now...it's an unknown. Right now....we can expect and hope for the forces of good to prevail!

HTTR and HTTJ!!!!!!
 
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I believe it's a 'critical game' for a lot of reasons. A win gives Gruden, Griffin, everyone confidence. It quiets the media. It reduces the pressure. It eliminates the 'oh no, are we going to have the kind of spiralling downward season like we did in 2013' stuff. We need to start well and win some games in the soft part of our schedule. It would be very helpful to win our first two, before we enter a very tough 4 game stretch against Philly, the Giants, the Seahawks, and the Cardinals. Of course, for Gruden, it's win this one and he can't focus on anything except that. I agree with a lot of your assessment. I think you underrate our running game (and our OL's ability to open holes). The upside of not having had a complete overhaul of the OL is that they know how to run block and we should have a top rushing attack again. I also think our secondary is going to be the most improved unit on this team this season. Amerson is going to be a very good corner and you really will start to see it this year. Breeland (who we will really miss the first 4 weeks) is very talented. And Clark is going to make us immediately more consistent even if he is a stop gap at FS. A big key today is whether or not Rambo can fill in competently at SS. I have concerns there as he's never impressed me. I think the other question we all want to see answered is whether or not our receiving corps is as good in reality as they are on paper. We should be able to slice and dice defenses with the talent we have at WR and TE. But it requires Griffin to work efficiently, make the right decisions, and have time to throw. We'll see, but as I outlined in my last blog, we should have a dominating offense with the talent there.

Today isn't a 'must win'. Few games ever really are. But if we're going to rebound and return as a playoff contender, a win would be a great tonic to rid ourselves of the taste of last year's awfulness.

HTTJ???
 
Boone said:
I believe it's a 'critical game' for a lot of reasons. A win gives Gruden, Griffin, everyone confidence. It quiets the media. It reduces the pressure. It eliminates the 'oh no, are we going to have the kind of spiralling downward season like we did in 2013' stuff. We need to start well and win some games in the soft part of our schedule. It would be very helpful to win our first two, before we enter a very tough 4 game stretch against Philly, the Giants, the Seahawks, and the Cardinals.
Click to expand...

I agree, and add that momentum is very important factor to this younger team with a younger coaching staff. I agree that this is critical game, not to just win although that is the most favorable outcome. But, go out there and show that you can play, show that things are different, Be different. Show us.
 
This game is critical for only one person-RG3.

How much has he developed? And if the answer isn't good, how much time do we devote to him?

The entire season? 6 games? Do we just ditch the season, or do we pull the plug after several games and try to make the playoffs?
 
I think it is a critical game, this is a team we are playing that we need to beat if we have hopes of the playoffs. Griffin is in his third year, is healthy, and has every weapon he needs on offense. Today is the day to unveil our new high powered offense. By our offense being able to put up points it will take the heat off our secondary, which we all know is not top notch. By us also being able to put up points it will allow our defensive line to attack the QB, which will also help our secondary.

So yeah it is critical to see if Griffin can lead this team to a victory, because lets face it, it starts with him today.

Hail VICTORY!
 
There are only 16 of them. They are ALL critical.
 
I don't see a win today as being 'critical', just more like important. I view Houston as beatable. The kind of team that we should handle if we have an edge under center. Do we? I'd like to think so but I'm not sold yet.

If we lose today next week becomes critical. If we win today next week becomes a momentum builder going into Philly.
 
I think it is.

If RGIII gets started on the proper footing, it buys him a few criticism-free (in the media) weeks. If he doesn't... I don't think I need to explain the rest.

This is a game the 'Skins should win. Even if we don't score a ton, Houston has no QB at all.

Nick
 
I think in a 16 game season, every game is critical. Now, with that said, My initial feeling is "no, not really". As you pointed out, new coach, new system, some new personnel....there's a lot to grow on, BUT we have a lot to grow on. Also, bear in mind that the Texans lost 1 more game than we did last year & that was after winning their first 2.

So, my feeling is that if they don't win today, I don't think it changes much at all. It may take time to get things in place & there HAS to be a learning curve for everyone. I know listening to the mediots, they think that if RGIII comes out & doesn't look stellar today, the Redskins are in trouble. I don't believe that. We all know, thru our own experience as Redskins fans, change demands time. So, if everything doesn't click right away, I don't think I'll be concerned.

I will always welcome a win, but unless it is a complete collapse on all facets, I don't see a reason to worry just yet if they do lose today. So, no, I don't think today is critical. Today is the stepping stone. I hope it is a good step, but if it isn't, no big deal.
 
Mooch just predicted that the texans get 8 sacks against the Redskins quarterbacks!
Yes plural.
Its critical we make him look like the asshat he is!
 
I just watched that, too. **** mooch...He was a mediocre coach who's hugged favres nuts just to be relevant in the booth
 
We need this game. I don't think Houston is going to be anything but an average team and if we can't beat them..... The right side of our OL is going to be key, will it hold up? And the Defense in general, will it be the one that looked good in Preseason (and remember how good it was in Preseason last year) or will it be the one that showed up in the regular season last year? I'm really not sure what we're going to get this year.
 
You know...He's my favorite non redskins player...but no way we aren't game planning around him big time.
 
Natonal tv media types always go with the chalk to start and then adjust as time goes on so that at the end of the season they can say "I told you so".

Easiest job in the world outside of television weather.
 
It's funny how so many piss and moan about Robert needing to be a better "pocket passer", and not run around so much.

Personally, I'd like to see more fans learn to be "pocket fans", and not panic and run too early.

We should practice what we preach.

The Gruden era starts today. Any fan who wants to scramble out of the pocket after one game should be benched.

Grab a drink, some snacks, and your favorite chair, boys and girls. The thrill ride starts today.
 
Dead Money said:
Mooch just predicted that the texans get 8 sacks against the Redskins quarterbacks!
Yes plural.
Its critical we make him look like the asshat he is!
Click to expand...

Then he turned around & tweeted RG3 telling him, "it's time to shine in the Lone Star State!"

What? You just predicted the Texans would break a franchise record & NOW you're tweeting the guy you expect to be the recipient of those sacks & tell him to "shine"??? :rolleyes: Typical
 
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