If you look carefully, Hos, you'll notice I've never once, in this thread or in all the time I've been visiting you fine folks here, "annointed" the Skins to anything. That's a straw man you've built here in this thread and are now busyily and sincerely admonishing. I won't keep you from that, because you're really quite good at it and it's enjoyable to watch ... so have at it.
All
I've done here ... as I tend to do whenever I see hyperbole and the convenient use of misdirection employed by those who I know understand full well that's what they're doing ... is let you know I noticed.
So ... since in all your speachifying to this point you have yet to actually ask me what
I think of the Skins moves so far ...
I see a team two years into a massive franchise rebuild, which, based on the way last season ended, looks to be taking shape quite nicely, thank you very much.
A team that just finished the last season strong, and has lost not one player of consequence to date. Not a bad base line, in my humble opinion. Certainly not a bad jumping off point.
I see a team with a whole bunch of players a couple of years into Gibbs' program talking as one about team and chemistry, and doing more than pay that lip service to that notion. Maybe that's to be scoffed at here, but it is the bread and butter in a Gibbs locker room, and these guys are "getting it" big time. That ain't just me talking, as I think you know.
I see a team hitting the ground aggressively in FA, as they did last year, filling targeted needs. Yes, I know they still have
other needs, and I know that they have contingencies and strategies in place to try to fill them, and will be doing so, as will every other NFL club, between now and training camp. But damn if it wasn't a pretty good start over the last couple days.
I think that by fleshing out the WR corps with speed and playmaking ability, their offense will, at the very least, keep opposing DC's busier this fall than last, given speed threats on both sidelines and the slot now, with two very capable underneath guys in Cooley and Fauria, and with a guy in the backfield who managed to set the franchise rushing record last season despite defenses stacked to stop him, who will quite likely find a little more breathing space.
I see a defense that's already added another playmaker to a secondary already pretty fair, and guaranteed not finished yet.
I see a team using draft picks to pick up young veterans who can start and help them NOW, and who are just heading into their primes, rather than speculating on guys fresh out of school who might or might not turn into something in a few years.
I see a head coach who understands the need for depth and role players as well as anyone in the league, and year after year, seems to find guys who fill those roles impeccably, despite all the "you build through the draft!" cautionary tales that helpful souls such as you impart with such solemnity.
You'll notice I haven't "annointed" anything here, right? Instead, as a guy watching his team emerge from a decade at sea, seeing the results right there in front of the eyes of anyone willing to simply open a sports page from circa last January and see who was still playing ... I gotta tell ya, it doesn't suck as bad to be a Skins fan right now as you'd like your faithful readers here to think.
