Its over...Commanders

[Bob Sacamano]

Really? So Moss 8 catches for 145 yards was "matching up well?"

we match up well w/ Moss if we could get physical w/ him, not allow him to get a clean release at the line every, freakin' time

if TO can be slowed by physical play, Santana Moss, who is no TO, not by a long-shot, sure as hell can be slowed too

 

[SkinsHokieFan]

good for you

but don't you think it's a little early to be counting up your cards?

We are fans on a message board. It is what we do. If it blows up in our face you can talk smack to us later

we match up well w/ Moss if we could get physical w/ him, not allow him to get a clean release at the line every, freakin' but don't you think it's a little early to be counting up your cards?

if TO can be slowed by physical play, Santana Moss, who is no TO, not by a long-shot, sure as hell can be slowed too

Moss has been terrific to start this season, and to the point where the Iggles were so focused with stopping him that Cooley and Portis killed them

The thing with quick little WRs like a Moss or Desean Jackson is they are very quick off the line that if you try and get physical and miss, its 6 points on the board

Thats why you guys didn't try it

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Thats why you guys didn't try it

we haven't really stopped them w/ our version either

you can easily turn a DB around if you give him all the room in the world to make his moves

as Terrence Newman will attest to

 

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

I think its because the Skins have an offensive game plan now to cater to what he can do which is short throws, lots of slants which is hard to get interceptions on.

Actuallly Campbell's strength is the deep ball...not short throws.

In fact, I'm shocked he's doing so well with his "short passes".

 

[hutru01]

Skins fans, enjoy the winning now and just hope and pray that they can keep it up.

Last night, I had a Commanders fan say to me verbatim, "The Cowboys are not going to have a good year". I said "ok, we will see about that, thats a bold statement this early in the season."

Afterwards, I thought to myself, you mean to tell me that just because your team wins two big games in a row and one of those teams happens to be the Cowboys and that indicates they are not going to have a good season?

Hmmm....Let me take you back to 1995.

Here is some NFL history for you guys. That year, the Commanders beat the Cowboys in both regular season games, but who won the Super Bowl that year? Yeah, that would be the Cowboys. We as Cowboys fans do realize how important it is to beat us, which is very sad, btw.

So....before we make bold predictions, lets realize it is WAY early in the season to be indicating what kind of season a 4-1 team is going to have.

 

[Sonny#9]

Skins fans, enjoy the winning now and just hope and pray that they can keep it up.

Last night, I had a Commanders fan say to me verbatim, "The Cowboys are not going to have a good year". I said "ok, we will see about that, thats a bold statement this early in the season."

Afterwards, I thought to myself, you mean to tell me that just because your team wins two big games in a row and one of those teams happens to be the Cowboys and that indicates they are not going to have a good season?

Hmmm....Let me take you back to 1995.

Here is some NFL history for you guys. That year, the Commanders beat the Cowboys in both regular season games, but who won the Super Bowl that year? Yeah, that would be the Cowboys. We as Cowboys fans do realize how important it is to beat us, which is very sad, btw.

So....before we make bold predictions, lets realize it is WAY early in the season to be indicating what kind of season a 4-1 team is going to have.

It's not so much that we've won those games, it's how. Come from behind wins, on the road, where the offensive line has dominated. They are controlling the clock, playing VERY good defense. They are winning in the 4th quarter. Campbell has been sharp for the most part -- and they are NOT turning the ball over. And they are beating "better" opponents.

All of which are departures from the past seasons. If it continues or not remains to be seen -- but you can understand the excitement.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

No doubt understand the excitement level for Skins fans. They have plenty of reasons to be happy and I can't blame them.

 

[hutru01]

but you can understand the excitement.

Sure, I can relate. They are the hottest team in the NFL right now. Just don't get "over" excited as you will set yourself up for a major disappointment when they cool down.

 

[thewireman]

Actuallly Campbell's strength is the deep ball...not short throws.

In fact, I'm shocked he's doing so well with his "short passes".

I seem to remember people talking about Campbell's rating suffers and the Skins have a better chance of losing when he throws the deep balls, maybe I'm mistaken and thinking of another QB?

 

[Sonny#9]

Sure, I can relate. They are the hottest team in the NFL right now. Just don't get "over" excited as you will set yourself up for a major disappointment when they cool down.

The Pittsburgh game worries me. They have three teams who aren't good aheead of them. I could see the Skins coming out flat, looking at the bye week, Dallas at home...

Cleveland also worries me. Good defense with talent on offense, even if they haven't shown it this year.

 

[Skinsmaniac]

I seem to remember people talking about Campbell's rating suffers and the Skins have a better chance of losing when he throws the deep balls, maybe I'm mistaken and thinking of another QB?

The biggest criticism of Campbell the last couple of years has been his accuracy on midrange throws. A lot of people felt that his inaccuracy would hurt in the WCO, but he's doing well so far. Some people think he is a good deep thrower, and he does have a big arm, but I don't know that is really the type of play that favors him.

 

[hutru01]

The Pittsburgh game worries me. They have three teams who aren't good aheead of them. I could see the Skins coming out flat, looking at the bye week, Dallas at home...

Cleveland also worries me. Good defense with talent on offense, even if they haven't shown it this year.

Yeah, see, Dallas was coming off a big win over Philly and Green Bay when they played the Skins. They were #1 in Power Rankings and underestimated a very good Commanders football team and got beat. It happens to all teams when they are overly-confident.

 

[hermitkid]

The thing about the Commanders is that their wins have been by five points, seven points, two points and six points. They're 4-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less. That's fine and dandy, but it's difficult to keep that up over the course of the season. Unless they show the ability to start beating teams by more than a few points, some of those close games most likely will start going the other way and end up being losses.

You also have to take a close look at whom they played and realize that they've had one hell of a schedule leading up to this point.

More often than not decent teams in the NFL will give you a fight, and the games will be close.

How Washington handles the next three games should tell us just how good the Commanders can be. If they continue to play those close games then there's legitimate concern about just how long they can keep it up, espescially in light of the fact that they haven't turned it over yet.

 

[hermitkid]

we match up well w/ Moss if we could get physical w/ him, not allow him to get a clean release at the line every, freakin' time

if TO can be slowed by physical play, Santana Moss, who is no TO, not by a long-shot, sure as hell can be slowed too

TO doesn't have the kind of explosiveness that Santana Moss has of the line, and it's a lot harder to jam a smaller more nimble receiver like Moss than it is to engage a larger target in TO.

That said, it should be interesting to see what lessons the Cowboys have taken from this game next time these two teams meet.

Let's see if Washington can keep up its play until then, I'm fairly confident the Cowboys will be able to.

 

[SultanOfSix]

I personally believe the 'Skins are playing above their talent level. They are also not turning the ball over at all, while their opponents are turning it over more frequently. They picked a good time to do it due to their schedule. However, I do not see this as continuing, only because it is the nature of the NFL. It remains to be seen if and when the 'Skins turn it over, whether they can overcome the mistakes. This is especially true for their QB.

 

[SkinsHokieFan]

Skins fans, enjoy the winning now and just hope and pray that they can keep it up.

Last night, I had a Commanders fan say to me verbatim, "The Cowboys are not going to have a good year". I said "ok, we will see about that, thats a bold statement this early in the season."

Afterwards, I thought to myself, you mean to tell me that just because your team wins two big games in a row and one of those teams happens to be the Cowboys and that indicates they are not going to have a good season?

Hmmm....Let me take you back to 1995.

Here is some NFL history for you guys. That year, the Commanders beat the Cowboys in both regular season games, but who won the Super Bowl that year? Yeah, that would be the Cowboys. We as Cowboys fans do realize how important it is to beat us, which is very sad, btw.

So....before we make bold predictions, lets realize it is WAY early in the season to be indicating what kind of season a 4-1 team is going to have.

Sure, I can relate. They are the hottest team in the NFL right now. Just don't get "over" excited as you will set yourself up for a major disappointment when they cool down.

There is a major difference from 1995

In 1995, that team was devoid of any significant talent. Terry Allen? Heath Shuler? Gus Frerrote? Michael Westbrook?

Only Ken Harvey and Darrel Green on D

Norv Turner was head coach. And the team started off 1-3 with losses to such powerhouses as the 1995 Raiders, the 1995 Bucs, the 1995 Broncos (none of those teams were playoff bound in 1995)

This Commanders team on the other hand has just gotten through the hardest portion of its schedule 4-1. I had, at best, 2-3 after this first 5 game stretch. I would have been VERY pleased with that because we'd still be in position to make some noise

The best part is A) this team will get healthier (Jason Taylor, Shawn Springs, Marcus Washington) B) the offense will keep improving (only week 5 of a new system) and C) those 2nd round picks will start to become more involved come November (with all the time the WRs missed, I am not surprised at their lack of production thus far)

7-1 should happen, and then at that point all the tough games are at home (Pittsburgh, Dallas, Giants, and Philly) The road games are the Seahawks, Bengals, Ravens and 49ers

So right now, hell yea I am excited, because the team has put itself in a very very good spot, and when they do get to 7-1, will be in excellent shape for the stretch run

 

[HogsRLegends]

I personally believe the 'Skins are playing above their talent level. They are also not turning the ball over at all, while their opponents are turning it over more frequently. They picked a good time to do it due to their schedule. However, I do not see this as continuing, only because it is the nature of the NFL. It remains to be seen if and when the 'Skins turn it over, whether they can overcome the mistakes. This is especially true for their QB.

Very good point...can we have a disastrous game against a lesser team and still win...that will determine who wins the division ultimately. Yet I'm still very excited that for the first time in a long time we seem to know how to finish games and aren't beating ourselves late in games with things like calling a timeout when we don't have any timeouts left.

 

[HogsRLegends]

There is a major difference from 1995

In 1995, that team was devoid of any significant talent. Terry Allen? Heath Shuler? Gus Frerrote? Michael Westbrook?

Only Ken Harvey and Darrel Green on D

Norv Turner was head coach. And the team started off 1-3 with losses to such powerhouses as the 1995 Raiders, the 1995 Bucs, the 1995 Broncos (none of those teams were playoff bound in 1995)

This Commanders team on the other hand has just gotten through the hardest portion of its schedule 4-1. I had, at best, 2-3 after this first 5 game stretch. I would have been VERY pleased with that because we'd still be in position to make some noise

The best part is A) this team will get healthier (Jason Taylor, Shawn Springs, Marcus Washington) B) the offense will keep improving (only week 5 of a new system) and C) those 2nd round picks will start to become more involved come November (with all the time the WRs missed, I am not surprised at their lack of production thus far)

7-1 should happen, and then at that point all the tough games are at home (Pittsburgh, Dallas, Giants, and Philly) The road games are the Seahawks, Bengals, Ravens and 49ers

So right now, hell yea I am excited, because the team has put itself in a very very good spot, and when they do get to 7-1, will be in excellent shape for the stretch run

The Seahawks play like a different team at Qwest Field than they do on the road....I wouldn't call the Ravens and Bengals road games gimmes either. But I do think we can win 3 of those 4, and at least 2 of the 4 tough home games in the second half of the season...which would put us at 12-4....it would suck to be a 12-4 wildcard but I'm thinking its going to take 13-3 or better to win the division.

 

[SkinsHokieFan]

The Seahawks play like a different team at Qwest Field than they do on the road....I wouldn't call the Ravens and Bengals road games gimmes either. But I do think we can win 3 of those 4, and at least 2 of the 4 tough home games in the second half of the season...which would put us at 12-4....it would suck to be a 12-4 wildcard but I'm thinking its going to take 13-3 or better to win the division.

It is the NFL, NO game is a gimmie at all

Teams have bad days, other teams have good days, "Any Given Sunday" etc etc

However, looking ahead (and I am a fan I am allowed to do that) the team is in terrific shape for the rest of the schedule

There are 3 very winnable games coming up. From that point forward, the toughest competition will all be at home

Simple formula, beat all the "not so good" teams (as it stands currently) and split the hard games (with hopefully a win against the Giants) and the Commanders are 13-3

It is simple enough to look at as a fan

Hopefully the players are NOT doing what I am doing

 

[hutru01]

There is a major difference from 1995

In 1995, that team was devoid of any significant talent. Terry Allen? Heath Shuler? Gus Frerrote? Michael Westbrook?

Only Ken Harvey and Darrel Green on D

Norv Turner was head coach. And the team started off 1-3 with losses to such powerhouses as the 1995 Raiders, the 1995 Bucs, the 1995 Broncos (none of those teams were playoff bound in 1995)

This Commanders team on the other hand has just gotten through the hardest portion of its schedule 4-1. I had, at best, 2-3 after this first 5 game stretch. I would have been VERY pleased with that because we'd still be in position to make some noise

The best part is A) this team will get healthier (Jason Taylor, Shawn Springs, Marcus Washington) B) the offense will keep improving (only week 5 of a new system) and C) those 2nd round picks will start to become more involved come November (with all the time the WRs missed, I am not surprised at their lack of production thus far)

7-1 should happen, and then at that point all the tough games are at home (Pittsburgh, Dallas, Giants, and Philly) The road games are the Seahawks, Bengals, Ravens and 49ers

So right now, hell yea I am excited, because the team has put itself in a very very good spot, and when they do get to 7-1, will be in excellent shape for the stretch run

Good post. You have made very valid points here, my reference to 1995 was just to explain the different types of scenario's that teams run into on a yearly basis. Take the Giants last year, they went 10-6 in the regular season, and won the freaking Superbowl!

I would be excited too if I were a Commander's fan. Great teams in NFL history go through adversity always. I am very interested in seeing how the rest of the season will play out now that the pressure of being #1 has been alleviated from the Cowboy's shoulders. I think the past couple weeks will have a direct impact on the rest of the season for Dallas. (As a fan, obviously, I hope its positive). We will see.