why we still care

[Rymanofthenorth]

I am redskins fan, Ive been one since 1982 when I was lucky enough to meet John Riggins, previous to that I liked the fortyniners because I was a notre dame fan, nuff said. when you are a kid you choose your team according to funny criteria.

I admit a large reason I loved this team is we always ran the ball and played hard nosed defence, when other kids were yelling out " im Joe montana" I was yelling out " Im Dave Butz" or "Im Neil Olkewicz" I played QB in Bantam but thought of myself as the Diesel when I carried the ball and on the odd occasion I threw the ball, if it was intercepted? I would level the kid and imagine I was Chris hanburger.

On Sundays I had to listen to my cousins cheer for the Cowboys, (because my family was a rodeo family) but My dad (who cheered for the indians in cowboy movies lol) would always cheer for the skins with me just to be contrary (he hates football and loves baseball) all those days did was make me love my skins and hate the cowpies even more.

through the 1980s and the early ninieties we won a lot, we had some great offences who could throw but our defences and running game were always the soul of this team. it was easy to love my team even when we didnt win, teams feared us because they knew we would smash them in the mouth. we didnt ever have a team full of superstars BUT we had guys who could play and play very well, and they were team guys.

now we are on hard times, after a decade (actually two ,damn I am old) of losing and futility, we have yet again been misled by a coach who rode in saying " this is a good team we can win right away." when its obvious we are not.

I still love my team, I know that guys who spend as much time as we do, arguing about minutiae love this team too. why? because we care we will fight and argue, because we care we will get mad when we lose even when we know that we SHOULD LOSE.

 

[Chris]

I'm am anxiously awaiting the day that I, once again, can feel mad when we lose.

 

[Bulldog]

The problem with this football team even under the Shanahans seems to be its propensity to take one step forward and then two back.

You look at the problems on offense.

No quarterback. Why? Because the team whiffed on the McNabb trade and didn't take a guy like McCoy last year.

No franchise anchor on the OL. Why? Because #4 overall pick Trent Williams is having a rough transition to the NFL and unlike Joe Thomas may end up at RT. Also, because the team sees Jammal Brown struggle in his return from injury at RT and instead of going in a different direction we re-up him for 5 years.

At wide receiver the team has drafted younger players but unlike the Bills or Patriots we don't seem to get our rookie wide receivers or tight ends on the field quickly.

Instead we are left with castoffs like Gaffney and Stallworth who at 30 and 31 have seen better days.
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[Goaldeje]

Instead we are left with castoffs like Gaffney and Stallworth who at 30 and 31 have seen better days.

Better days? I get infuriated every time I see Stallworth on the field. Someone needs to explain to me why Hank, Austin, Paul and Armstrong aren't our primary receivers at this point?

 

[Sarge]

Why do we still care?

I don't know

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_oBVV1l86A[/media]

 

[Sarge]

The problem with this football team even under the Shanahans seems to be its propensity to take one step forward and then two back.

You look at the problems on offense.

No quarterback. Why? Because the team whiffed on the McNabb trade and didn't take a guy like McCoy last year.

No franchise anchor on the OL. Why? Because #4 overall pick Trent Williams is having a rough transition to the NFL and unlike Joe Thomas may end up at RT. Also, because the team sees Jammal Brown struggle in his return from injury at RT and instead of going in a different direction we re-up him for 5 years.

At wide receiver the team has drafted younger players but unlike the Bills or Patriots we don't seem to get our rookie wide receivers or tight ends on the field quickly.

Instead we are left with castoffs like Gaffney and Stallworth who at 30 and 31 have seen better days.
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

Herein lies the problem. How do you evaluate a QB when the line is giving him 2.1 seconds to get rid of the ball? How do you evaluate the RB's when the line is all busted up and getting no push at all? How do you eval the WR's when the line can't hold the pocket for more than 3 seconds and let patterns develope? If we had just one good unit, be it a QB, an O-Line, WR's, we could probably tell much better who's a turd and who's a keeper at other positions . But when the whole offensive unit stinks....................who's to say?

I won't even go into the secondary, where no one is making us forget the name of Darrell Green

 

[Fear The Spear]

I've noticed that about receivers and always wondered why that is.
Other teams can draft receivers and they have an immediate impact their rookie year, sometimes a significant impact.
In our case, that NEVER seems to happen. Our drafted receivers either take years to make any kind of contribution, or they're complete busts.
When was the last time we drafted a receiver that ended up even becoming semi-solid and consistent ?
It's been rare that we've ever had good receivers, and in those rare times we actually find a good receiver, it wasn't a draft pick or an UDFA, but it's someone acquired through Free Agency.
THREE EFFIN receivers in this draft, not to mention last year's, and a couple of them drafted high, and NONE of them are doing anything for us ???
Seems like Vinnie is alive and well.\
It's no wonder we suck.

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

when was the last time we drafted a receiver who made any impact as a receiver ON THIS TEAM. no excuses, revamp the damn personelle dpt and spend whatever you need to to bring in the best talent evaluators.

 

[Henry]

I've noticed that about receivers and always wondered why that is.
Other teams can draft receivers and they have an immediate impact their rookie year, sometimes a significant impact.
In our case, that NEVER seems to happen. Our drafted receivers either take years to make any kind of contribution, or they're complete busts.
When was the last time we drafted a receiver that ended up even becoming semi-solid and consistent ?

Art Monk.

Seriously.

Since Art Monk was drafted in 1980, four WRs that we've drafted have each had one 1000+ yard season receiving (for us):

Charlie Brown (1981) - Two-time pro-bowler. 78 catches, 1225 yards, 8 TDs in 1983. (He also had 32 catches, 690 yards and 8 TDs in nine games in strike-shortened 1982.) But he only played for us for three years.
Michael Westbrook (1995) - 65 catches, 1191 yards, 9 TDs in 1999
Albert Connell (1997) - 62 catches, 1132 yards, 7 TDs in 1999
Rod Gardner (2001) - 71 catches, 1006 yards, 8 TDs in 2002

That's it. That's the glory of our post-Art Monk WR draft.

Pretty impressive, ain't it.

Now TEs ... that's another matter. We seem to always find good TEs. I have no explanation for any of this.

 

[Canadian Hog]

I recently ran into a guy who told me he wished he had the kind of passion for a sports team that I do with the Redskins. He feels like he's missing out on something, because he likes sports, but isn't attached to a particular team.

I told him that his comment was quite interesting, because when you are on the other side of the fence and have been experiencing the pain we have experienced as Redskins fans for the last 20 years, you kind of wish you didn't feel the attachment and could just let go.

I ultimately think we still care because we remember the good feelings and the joy we experienced back when this team was successful. We know what the possibilities are in terms of how we feel when this team is successful.

I still remember being an 11 year old and praying for a week straight prior to the Bills Super Bowl game, hoping that God would grant the Redskins a victory. Here I was, thinking after the triumph in Minnesota, that this thing called winning was a piece of cake. I was into my 4th season as a Redskins fan and thought that championships would be an ongoing thing.

Had I not been fortunate enough to catch this last glimpse of greatness from the franchise, I honestly don't know what would keep me going as a fan. I'm standing on my last leg as it is right now.

Why do we still care? Maybe because we fear letting go, the void would be too big.

 

[Cycleans]

To take it a step further. When was the last time the Skins had a reliable pass catching duo on the field? I can't explain it but one glaring observation I've made in the last few years or so is our Wr's don't find it easy to get open. Even against crappy defenses!!!! I could probably say that for more than a several yrs or so.
The closest thing they have had to a reliable pass catching Duo is Moss and Cooley but how often are they both on the field together? Fred Davis and Cooley sounded promising but due to Cooley's health that never materialised.
The Oline is in shambles, all hopes are on Beck at QB....and our wr's can't get open against anyone or any front. It seems to me the offense is officially at rock bottom. There is only one direction to go from here.

 

[Cycleans]

I recently ran into a guy who told me he wished he had the kind of passion for a sports team that I do with the Redskins. He feels like he's missing out on something, because he likes sports, but isn't attached to a particular team.

I told him that his comment was quite interesting, because when you are on the other side of the fence and have been experiencing the pain we have experienced as Redskins fans for the last 20 years, you kind of wish you didn't feel the attachment and could just let go.

I ultimately think we still care because we remember the good feelings and the joy we experienced back when this team was successful. We know what the possibilities are in terms of how we feel when this team is successful.

I still remember being an 11 year old and praying for a week straight prior to the Bills Super Bowl game, hoping that God would grant the Redskins a victory. Here I was, thinking after the triumph in Minnesota, that this thing called winning was a piece of cake. I was into my 4th season as a Redskins fan and thought that championships would be an ongoing thing.

Had I not been fortunate enough to catch this last glimpse of greatness from the franchise, I honestly don't know what would keep me going as a fan. I'm standing on my last leg as it is right now.

Why do we still care? Maybe because we fear letting go, the void would be too big.

Well said....

 

[Miles Monroe]

Fred Davis and Cooley sounded promising but due to Cooley's health that never materialised.

Davis and Paulsen could be a nice combo, but of course, we didn't see it. We may get to see just how good Paulsen can be with Davis hurt.

 

[Goaldeje]

Davis and Paulsen could be a nice combo, but of course, we didn't see it. We may get to see just how good Paulsen can be with Davis hurt.

Seriously. WTF is the deal with our coaching staff since Zorn (and including Kyle). Look at Gronk and Hernandez in NE. Pretty successful, right? I realize we don't have Tom Brady slinging it around down here, but everyone always says that a good TE is the QB's safety net, right? So why not give him two safety nets? Why are we not consistently utilizing two TE sets?

Is it because of the awesomeness that Stallworth and Gaffney bring to the table? Is that it?

 

[fansince62]

I keep hoping to see the spark of excellence...flashes of improvement....in short...some sign of direction and purpose. but....into the second half of the season....I'll be out on the links by half time.

we watch...well.......it's rather like raising a moron for a child: it's your child for better or for worse.

 

[#98QBKiller]

I'm am anxiously awaiting the day that I, once again, can feel mad when we lose.

I just noticed yesterday that I wasn't mad that we were losing. Halfway through the game I was downloading songs on iTunes with the game in the background and explaining to my Fiancee' why we were playing so terribly.

I think I knew coming into the season that there was no way we were going to win with the likes of Beck and Grossman starting for us.

 

[servumtuum]

Art Monk.

Seriously.

Since Art Monk was drafted in 1980, four WRs that we've drafted have each had one 1000+ yard season receiving (for us):

Charlie Brown (1981) - Two-time pro-bowler. 78 catches, 1225 yards, 8 TDs in 1983. (He also had 32 catches, 690 yards and 8 TDs in nine games in strike-shortened 1982.) But he only played for us for three years.
Michael Westbrook (1995) - 65 catches, 1191 yards, 9 TDs in 1999
Albert Connell (1997) - 62 catches, 1132 yards, 7 TDs in 1999
Rod Gardner (2001) - 71 catches, 1006 yards, 8 TDs in 2002

That's it. That's the glory of our post-Art Monk WR draft.

Pretty impressive, ain't it.

Now TEs ... that's another matter. We seem to always find good TEs. I have no explanation for any of this.

Uh, Henry...

Gary Clark (1984) had five 1,000+ yard receiving season with the Redskins, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and had 41 TDs in those five seasons


Henry, I would have to add Gary Clark to that list because together with Monk and the later addition of deep threat Ricky Sanders they provided the best WR combo that the Redskins ever had-actually one of the best any NFL team has ever had. A QB needs more than one option when passing and right now other than Moss we have no one opposing teams seriously need to fear-among the WRs anyway. Perhaps one or two of the youngsters as has been suggested may step up but it's going to take several games of being targeted to make any sort of accurate assessment on that.

Oh in addition we need a QB who can throw with consistent accuracy and an OL that helps give him time to do so-but that's been mentioned elsewhere.

 

[Miles Monroe]

Seriously. WTF is the deal with our coaching staff since Zorn (and including Kyle). Look at Gronk and Hernandez in NE. Pretty successful, right? I realize we don't have Tom Brady slinging it around down here, but everyone always says that a good TE is the QB's safety net, right? So why not give him two safety nets? Why are we not consistently utilizing two TE sets?

Is it because of the awesomeness that Stallworth and Gaffney bring to the table? Is that it?

If you could only have been in the room with me during the game yesterday. I think my wife is still numb from me bitchin about all young guys we aren't using. Paulsen showed me enough in his limited time, but as it's been said many times before, our OC needs a glass belly button installed, because his head is so far up his ass, it's his only chance of seeing what's actually going down.

 

[servumtuum]

...our OC needs a glass belly button installed, because his head is so far up his ass, it's his only chance of seeing what's actually going down.

Beautifully phrased.

 

[Fear The Spear]

Uh, Henry...

Gary Clark (1984) had five 1,000+ yard receiving season with the Redskins, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and had 41 TDs in those five seasons


Henry, I would have to add Gary Clark to that list because together with Monk and the later addition of deep threat Ricky Sanders they provided the best WR combo that the Redskins ever had-actually one of the best any NFL team has ever had.

We were talking about draft picks. Neither Clark nor Sanders was drafted by the Skins.