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I got Street & Smith's Pro Football Yearbook today off of the newsstand and I found it interesting what they have to say about the Commanders. They seem to have a pretty similar view as to what a lot of us around here have. I say "they" but really, the part I'm talking about is from a section they do for each team called "View From The Other Sideline". It is where Street and Smith's asks a coach or scout from a rival team what they think about that particular team. I like it because it isn't just some writer's opinion. It's actually what a member of the NFL thinks about the team and their offseason moves and so is probably a lot more likely to be on target. I usually don't put too much stock into what the preseason magazines say... but coming from an opposing team, I think this is pretty credible. I think it's on target, too.
Anyway, here is what the opposing coach or scout said about the Commanders and their offseason:
"The Commanders are the Commanders. They make a big splash every year. They go out and throw money around and throw it at the wrong players. They come in and have to fight to get to 8-8. They really weren't a playoff team. [Adam] Archuleta is just a guy. Brandon Lloyd is just a guy, not a difference-maker. Defensively, Gregg Williams is a magician. He's done more with less than any defensive coordinator in the league. They'll be good defensively, but offensively I think they'll go backwards because [Mark] Brunell is a year older. Al Saunders will put in a complete new offense and, if you look where it's been installed at new places, it takes two years for it to fire up. The first year he was in Kansas City, they were 6-10. It's a very complicated offense and different from anything Joe Gibbs is used to. I don't think they'll win eight games."
Commander fans... if you don't believe me, pick a copy up for yourself. I didn't add a thing to that coach's thoughts.
I find it funny because that's what Cowboy fans have been saying since the end of last season. That Archuleta and Lloyd are very average pick-ups, at best and that although they were in the playoffs last year... the team wasn't really very good and had a plethora of holes... holes that Archuleta, Lloyd, Randal El, and Carter aren't going to be enough to fill.
The fact that the guy who said this is a coach or scout in the NFL gives a lot of weight to his opinion and lets us fans know that we're not the only one's who see Washington as somewhat less than a second round playoff team.
In another spot, the rival coach or scout wonders how Brunell will do with Saunders offense... how quickly he'll pick it up. He says:
"The key is how quickly he grasps the offense. It's a complicated offense, all [about] speed cuts. He does have some wide receivers who fit. [Santana] Moss fits. [Brandon] Lloyd will fit. [Chris] Cooley doesn't fit. There's no such thing as an H-back. [Clinton] Portis fits. Brunell is going to have to know where to go with the ball and get it out of his hands. Jason Campbell can't play in this offense right away. He could play in the old [Joe] Gibbs offense. This offense is a timing offense. If a receiver isn't exactly where he's supposed to be, it's going to be an interception. If the ball isn't out on time, it's not going to be a completion. No route adjustments, no audible system."
When I read that, I thought, "Boy... I don't know if Lloyd is going to be disciplined enough to run precise enough routes for that offense. He tends to march a litte to the beat of his own drummer, if you know what I mean. He might work just fine... but he'll have to be more disciplined than he's been in the past.
Anyway, I just thought all of this was interesting, coming from an actual NFL scout or coach.
Overall, a pretty good preseason magazine and it has NFL coach and scout takes on each team, so it's good to read takes from guys who really know what they're talking about.
I'm sure Commander fans will say that he doesn't know what he's talking about. :laugh1:
Anyway, here is what the opposing coach or scout said about the Commanders and their offseason:
"The Commanders are the Commanders. They make a big splash every year. They go out and throw money around and throw it at the wrong players. They come in and have to fight to get to 8-8. They really weren't a playoff team. [Adam] Archuleta is just a guy. Brandon Lloyd is just a guy, not a difference-maker. Defensively, Gregg Williams is a magician. He's done more with less than any defensive coordinator in the league. They'll be good defensively, but offensively I think they'll go backwards because [Mark] Brunell is a year older. Al Saunders will put in a complete new offense and, if you look where it's been installed at new places, it takes two years for it to fire up. The first year he was in Kansas City, they were 6-10. It's a very complicated offense and different from anything Joe Gibbs is used to. I don't think they'll win eight games."
Commander fans... if you don't believe me, pick a copy up for yourself. I didn't add a thing to that coach's thoughts.
I find it funny because that's what Cowboy fans have been saying since the end of last season. That Archuleta and Lloyd are very average pick-ups, at best and that although they were in the playoffs last year... the team wasn't really very good and had a plethora of holes... holes that Archuleta, Lloyd, Randal El, and Carter aren't going to be enough to fill.
The fact that the guy who said this is a coach or scout in the NFL gives a lot of weight to his opinion and lets us fans know that we're not the only one's who see Washington as somewhat less than a second round playoff team.
In another spot, the rival coach or scout wonders how Brunell will do with Saunders offense... how quickly he'll pick it up. He says:
"The key is how quickly he grasps the offense. It's a complicated offense, all [about] speed cuts. He does have some wide receivers who fit. [Santana] Moss fits. [Brandon] Lloyd will fit. [Chris] Cooley doesn't fit. There's no such thing as an H-back. [Clinton] Portis fits. Brunell is going to have to know where to go with the ball and get it out of his hands. Jason Campbell can't play in this offense right away. He could play in the old [Joe] Gibbs offense. This offense is a timing offense. If a receiver isn't exactly where he's supposed to be, it's going to be an interception. If the ball isn't out on time, it's not going to be a completion. No route adjustments, no audible system."
When I read that, I thought, "Boy... I don't know if Lloyd is going to be disciplined enough to run precise enough routes for that offense. He tends to march a litte to the beat of his own drummer, if you know what I mean. He might work just fine... but he'll have to be more disciplined than he's been in the past.
Anyway, I just thought all of this was interesting, coming from an actual NFL scout or coach.
Overall, a pretty good preseason magazine and it has NFL coach and scout takes on each team, so it's good to read takes from guys who really know what they're talking about.
I'm sure Commander fans will say that he doesn't know what he's talking about. :laugh1:
