ARTICLE: Stick a fork in the 2006 Washington Commanders

[silverbear]

Is that really how he did it???

Naw, I'm just being facetious...

 

[Bach]

of course we were thinking superbowl, we have the talent, we were supposed to have the coaches. We went fairly deep into the playoffs the year before(at least won a game). Why wouldnt we be thinking high? Sometimes things come crashing down, and you can't explain it. Ill admit that I thought that we were going to make strong playoff run this year. But oh well, s**t happens.

To be honest, I thought the Commanders would be a force to be reckoned with this year too. Last year was Gibb's second year back and down the stretch they when they went on that run, it looked like he had totally turned them around. Add in Lloyd and Randle-El to take the double team off of Moss and it looked like you all could have a fairly explosive offense.

The only real question mark in my mind was Brunell. I felt he could be their downfall, but with Portis and the added weapons, I figured he could just be average and they'd be as well or better than last year.

Surprisingly the defense has really taken some steps backwards and the offense has yet to get untracked. The thing is, with all the trades, you guys don't even have much help in the upcoming draft to try and improve. Giving up a #2 just to move up for McIntosh and then a couple of picks for Lloyd and Duckett, there's not much to work with. And the results now aren't coming in either. Nothing personal, but it's turning out better than I could've ever imagined. Even if Gibbs stays the entire 5 years, which is questionable, it's not like he has alot he can do to improve during that time. Brunell isn't going to get any better and if you go with Campbell next year, there's bound to be some growing pains, if in fact he grows at all.

After last year, I'm not going to write them totally off, but I can't see them only losing 2 more when they have already lost 4 out of 6 and have a much tougher schedule the rest of the way.

 

[ghst187]

offense, im guessing the two players that you are talking about are portis and moss right?

besides that, our o-line is pretty good(even though they have somewhat underperformed in some games this year)
- Chris cooley is a good H-back/TE
-Sellars is a beast back there. 280 pounds, great run blocker.

Defense is a little different.

Marcus Washington is by far the best player on defense. He is very good
Lemar Marshall usually plays very solid in the middle.
Griffin plays very, anchors that defensive line
Taylor, love him or hate him, he is a good safety.
Springs is a good corner. We really need him healthy.

I mean, you can say whatever you want being a cowboys fan, but there are some players that you just cant overlook. The fact is we are a talented team, and we can win games, we showed that last year, now we just have to translate that and show it this year. Something that has been very elussive to us

I don't disagree that the skins have some solid talent and I'd even add that they have two real gamebreakers in Portis and Moss along with two other players that are in the upper echelon at their position: Taylor and Springs.
They have a good OL, better than ours, a good WR corps, and a few good players scattered elsewhere. I definitely don't disagree that injuries have really hurt them. I definitely don't disagree that they can win games. They should beat teams like Tennessee by 2 TDs at least. They are also hijacked by a crappy QB and no viable alternative.
However, I think their success last year was based largely on scheming, momentum, and synergy. I think that by comparison, they are one of the least talented in the division and little to no depth.

Overall, the true thing hijacking the skins is management. They are really only a few key pieces away from being something. Management though has so grossly overpaid for a few overrated or over-the-hill stars that it has sacrificed depth and draft picks. And the bad thing, at least for skins fans, is that it doesn't look like its going to change anytime soon. First off, it would take a few years to dump bloated salaries, sacrificing a few good players, conceding a few rebuilding years (which Snyder would never do), and rebuild the team from the ground up through the draft and smart FA acquisitions. I think the skins could go 0-16 for 5 straight years and Snyder would still think that he knows how to run a franchise. That's the bad news longterm.
The bad news short-term is that the Skins are 2-4, have a brutal schedule upcoming where they could easily end up 2-7, their QB situation is hopeless, and their injury situation isn't really getting a lot better. Furthermore, any momentum isn't building and they can't carry success from one game to the next. They can beat a few good teams but they can lose to really bad teams too.
Now, they will undoubtedly surprise me and a few good teams this year because as we agree, they have some talent. But its hard to envision them digging out of the hole this year and any season soon, at least being run the way they are now.
Now, don't take this from me as a Cowboy fan because Lord knows I have some harsh criticism for us too. But I certainly like the direction we're heading a lot more than the direction the skins are heading.

 

[Route 66]

This thread reeks of speculation and it really boils down to odds. This entire season could go either way for the 'Skins. Heck, they could win every game the rest of the season and win the big one. No one knows. The chances are higher that the Cowboys will do better in the Wins column come January. We could try to figure this one out til the cows come home.










moo.

 

[BeWare94]

To make the playoffs they're going to have to go 8-2 against:

Oct 22 @Indianapolis
Nov 5 Dallas
Nov 12 @Philadelphia
Nov 19 @Tampa Bay
Nov 26 Carolina
Dec 3 Atlanta
Dec 10 Philadelphia
Dec 17 @New Orleans
Dec 24 @St. Louis
Dec 30 N.Y. Giants


Good luck.

With the exception of Tampa Bay there isn't a freebie remaining on that schedule. They'll be lucky to come out of that stretch .500

 

[BeWare94]

but you know what else is funny, is that when you all end up in the same spot as us in January, you will be just a distraught as we are now

I won't be that distraught if we go 10-6/11-5 and win a playoff game. I'll feel like we had a good year and something to build on. You WANT to win the big game every year but you KNOW it's not possible to win every year.

 

[BeWare94]

can't wait to see what he writes when we punish Indy @ Indy

Can't wait to see you disappear when Peyton, Marvin and Reggie bury your azzes. The silence will be deafening...

 

[BeWare94]

but I guess more 3 int performances wont hurt you down the road? Maybe next time you wont be so lucky.

Its easy to lay blame on a rookie, cause of course you can say, "oh well, we know he will get better". but whats the excise for bledsoes play?

I don't blame Pat Watkins...rookies will struggle from time to time. I blame Roy Williams for letting L.J. Smith's fat *** run past him for almost six (Pat Watkins made the tackle inside the five after Williams blew the coverage outright.)

 

[SultanOfSix]

I don't blame Pat Watkins...rookies will struggle from time to time. I blame Roy Williams for letting L.J. Smith's fat *** run past him for almost six (Pat Watkins made the tackle inside the five after Williams blew the coverage outright.)

As BP said in his press conference, Roy played it right. Watkins played it wrong.

 

[jobberone]

As much I care for the skins?
you cant write them off... same thing happened last year.... started horrible, then finished strong and THEY went to playoffs and we didnt

I hate it when someone is so right about the Skins. Well said. Too early to write off anyone in the NFC East.

I think Philly is the best team but I'm not too convinced.

I think the Giants could be the best but I'm not convinced.

I think we could win it all or not make the playoffs depending on the OL/Bledsoe and injuries.

I'm not convinced the Skins are even an 8-8 team but I don't want to write it in stone because I could end up with egg on my face.

 

[sjordan6]

I dont think the Skins are through yet, but I think their season is on the line this Sunday at Indy. Not a good place to have to go to save your season.

However, if the Skins could upset Indy their record goes to 3-4 and their confidence level would sky rocket thus possibly saving their season.

I dont see it happening and even if it were to happen they still have a difficult road happen but not an impossible road.

I just do not get for the life of me how the "majority" of Skins fans are on board with trading draft picks for veterans?

That will ultimately be their downfall and Joe Gibbs as well. I have seen well respected Skins posters on ES who swear that trading draft picks for proven middle of the road players is a great thing.

The NFL has always been about building your team through the draft and filling holes when necessary through FA or trades not the other way around.

When the Skins realize the error of their ways only then will they be a real threat to be good on a consitent basis IMO.

You know these are great points...I actually understand the philosophy with why they go this route. The problem is they always sign guys who were role players with their last team and expect them to make a pro bowl splash with them! Or they sign has been pro bowler and expect them to continue that same play with them. Snyder always goes for the quick fix because somehow he thinks his money will buy him a ring and the problem is the team never has foundation to stand on and usually the super team that he puts together in March normally collapses by October. I think last year was a fluke and I do believe they are done. You can stick a fork in them because the only foundation they can build on is the defensive cordinator and this season he doesnt have the players to hide their weaknesses. he cant blitz as much because the secondary will be exposed. They have never had a true pass rush. Sean Taylor is Roy Williams-like but problably worst in coverage ( if that's possible). Their D-line is null and void and the secondary cant stay healthy to save their life. The offense can't score points and brunnel is worst than Bledsoe. This team will not be able to keep up with the Colts offense on Sunday and their offense is too incosistent to take advantage of a poor defense that cant stop the run. Losing a lead to the winless Titans with a rookie qb says it all about the Commanders. Yes they beat jacksonville but hey what have you done for me lately.

Losing to the Colts and going 2-5 will be too much to overcome with two more games against Philly,the cowboys , carolina @st louis,@ N.O , atlanta, tampa bay, and the giants. That's brutal for a team that can't beat a winless team at home. Like the post said...stick a fork in them!

 

[theogt]

As much I care for the skins?
you cant write them off... same thing happened last year.... started horrible, then finished strong and THEY went to playoffs and we didnt

I hate it when someone is so right about the Skins. Well said. Too early to write anyone in the NFC East.

I think Philly is the best team but I'm not too convince.

I think the Giants could be the best but I'm not convinced.

I think we could win it all or not make the playoffs depending on the OL/Bledsoe and injuries.

I'm not convinced the Skins are even an 8-8 team but I don't want to write it in stone because I could end up with egg on my face.

Actually, they were 4-2 at this point last year. 4-2 is a vastly different circumstance than 2-4.

 

[jobberone]

Actually, they were 4-2 at this point last year. 4-2 is a vastly different circumstance than 2-4.

I didn't quote their record from last year and don't even think last year directly correlates a great deal with this year for any team. Different for each team on year to year basis.

The Skins are a Jekyl and Hyde team right now. Realistically they are facing a way uphill battle. But teams go on tears and ride into the playoffs all the time. I won't write them off but again they're swimming upstream.

The NFC East will beat each other up IMO. It's unrealistic to think you can predict the East with at least three good or better teams.

 

[theogt]

I didn't quote their record from last year and don't even think last year directly correlates a great deal with this year for any team. Different for each team on year to year basis.

The Skins are a Jekyl and Hyde team right now. Realistically they are facing a way uphill battle. But teams go on tears and ride into the playoffs all the time. I won't write them off but again they're swimming upstream.

The NFC East will beat each other up IMO. It's unrealistic to think you can predict the East with at least three good or better teams.

No, but you agreed completely with someone who said this is exactly what happened last year. What happened last year was they started the season extremely well (3-0 to 4-2) and then had a bad stretch (5-6), but finished strong. Outside of the Jacksonville game they've looked downright terrible all year. Of course you can never "call someone done" until they're mathematically eliminated, but that's just silly. The chances of them going 8-2 over the next 10 games are so incredibly low, for all intents and purposes, their season is over.

 

[jobberone]

No, but you agreed completely with someone who said this is exactly what happened last year. What happened last year was they started the season extremely well (3-0 to 4-2) and then had a bad stretch (5-6), but finished strong. Outside of the Jacksonville game they've looked downright terrible all year. Of course you can never "call someone done" until they're mathematically eliminated, but that's just silly. The chances of them going 8-2 over the next 10 games are so incredibly low, for all intents and purposes, their season is over.

I hate it when someone is so right about the Skins. Well said. Too early to write off anyone in the NFC East.

I think Philly is the best team but I'm not too convinced.

I think the Giants could be the best but I'm not convinced.

I think we could win it all or not make the playoffs depending on the OL/Bledsoe and injuries.

I'm not convinced the Skins are even an 8-8 team but I don't want to write it in stone because I could end up with egg on my face.

I was agreeing youi could not write anyone off in the East yet. How is that completely agreeing with someone when I don't care what they did last year. My point is don't write them off although I'll be surprised if they climb out. Don't put words in my mouth. Read the entire thread in context not one sentence.