kmd24;1812836 said:
I really think Gibbs gets thrown under the bus because of high expectations. Admittedly, the TO was bad, and he's very conservative, but he is getting a lot out of a not very talented team. In many ways, the Skins of 2005 remind me of the Cowboys of 2003. That Commanders team wasn't very good, but Gibbs managed to keep them in a lot of games and win ten, plus a playoff win despite 120 yards of offense.
I will agree with you that Gibb's has the team playing above their talent level. The skins play hard for Gibb's. The problem with Gibb's is that he no longer knows how to manage a game, make in game adjustments and his philosophy is outdated.
TheSkaven;1812816 said:
I'll be the contrarian here and say that they're really not that bad of a squad. I think their quarterback is young and has shown promise. Their record might not show it, but I think they're a better team than the Giants and Eagles. I also think they're the only team left on our schedule that has a chance of handing us an "L".
For this year, I will say they are average at best. The problem facing the Skins is they are not positioned to improve over the next couple of years.
1. The game has passed Gibb's by just like it did with Parcell's but unlike Parcell's he no longer knows how to manage a game and is a poor evaluator of talent Also, their seems to be a lack of cohesiveness with the coaching staff. This could be the result of having both of the coordinators paid like HC's.
2. The Team is old - the average age of their current roster heading into next year is 29.5 yrs. They have 24 players or 45% of their 53 man roster over 30 (including 8 players 35 or older). 12 of those players are consider core starters.
- The entire starting OL is over 30 and 7 of their 11 OL on the roster is over 30 with the only one showing any promise is Heyer. I know OL can play well into their 30's but it can't be good to have your entire unit at that stage of their career. Hell, we only have Flo who is over 30 and we are complaining about his age.
- The defensive Front seven has 4 of their starters over 30 including 36 yr old Phillip Daniels and 33 yr old Fletcher.
- Shawn springs will be 34 and is often injured.
3. Their WR core is a mess. their #1 WR Moss is no more than #2 on most teams and seems to always have hamstring problems. ARE really should be #3. Their depth includes 38 yr old McCardell and 31 yr old James Thrash. McCardell couldn't make it on probably 90% of the other rosters and Thrash is really only a special teams player.
4. Clinton Portis may be slowing down a bit and Betts has disappeared after getting his new contract. I know the injuries to the OL has played a part in Portis' effectiveness but watching him play it seems that he is starting to be less of the impact player.
5. They have the least amount of cap space of all 32 teams, and I have read, they maybe over the projected cap next year. either way, they are at a competitve disadvantage. We all know how Snyder manages the cap by converting bonus options to signing bonuses, but with so many of the players over thirty this will only hinder the rebuilding process/youth movement.
6. lack of real GM and personnel department. Regardless of everything written above, this will be what keeps the skins wallowing in mediocracy. we were fortunate that JJ was willing to humble himself and learn from others who knew more than him and change his ways. Until Snyder does the same, the franchise will never improve.
Net-Net, the skins have entirely too many issues to address, to make this a quick turnaround. It will continue to get worse before it gets better and I will enjoy every minute of it.
