The Commanders better enjoy this season...

[silverbear]

alright, well this is the way it probably should be. You all should have more production out of the wide recievers because you are more of a passing offense. While on the other side, the Commanders are primarily a rushing offense.

And yet, the Cowboys have run the ball 10 MORE times than the Skins have this year (499 carries to the Skins' 489)...

Go figure... FWIW, they've also thrown the ball 5 more times than the Skins have... obviously, you can't make the argument that the Skins are more run-oriented than the Cowboys, or that the Cowboys are more pass-oriented than the Skins (but you CAN make the argument that the Skins have been more SUCCESSFUL running the ball)...

And what is even more wierd, is that we both average the same ammount of pass plays and running plays per game.

Close, but the small edge goes to the Boys, they've run 1005 plays, the Skins have run 975... that's 2 plays more per game, not a big deal when each team is averaging between 65 and 67 plays...

well, I guess you could think that way. However, it also gives are team more unity.

Jimmy Johnson said it best-- in the NFL, you win with playmakers... "coaching", and "unity" will only take you so far, TALENT is what wins championships...

The Commanders don't have any big free agents to re-sign this year, we shouldnt need much to fill. Yes, there are some needs that we need. A big reciever to play #2 alongside moss, and a pass rushing DE. Those are probably are only major needs.

Gimme a break, you guys have precious little depth at most positions... you dodged a bullet this year by staying healthy, but if you'd suffered the same kinds of injuries you did last year (to use one example), you'd be on the wrong side of .500 right now...

Not having a lot of cap to sign players shouldn't hurt us this year. It might hold us back from getting some of the small needs that we might have, but it won't be anything big enough to entirely effect our team for next year

It will hurt you in that your competition will be adding to their talent base, and the Skins won't... again, remember this if you never remember anything else I tell you-- talent wins in the NFL... yeah, Danny Boy went about it the wrong way for a few years there, going for aging "names" and paying top dollar for them, but that doesn't mean you can win consistently while shopping in the bargain basement...

While I'm arguing this with you, at least I give you credit for recognizing how the upcoming offseason is likely to play out for the Skins... unlike many other Skins fans I've run across, you seem to be able to at least recognize reality... and inasmuch as you're a Skins fan, I certainly don't blame you for trying to keep a positive attitude...

 

[Bizwah]

Wow, Silverbear! You really had some interesting stats there.

Our teams are fairly evenly matched.

What's impressive is that we've accumulated those offensive stats with a questionable RB situation (Jones out for 4 weeks--and Barber not playing a big role until week 8), a banged up OL, and a QB that's new to our system.

Imagine another year in the system......

I think defensively we're going to be way ahead of the Skins. Here, our depth and playmakers really stand out. They're aging, we're young......

I, however, don't buy the Salary-Cap Heck that the Skins are supposed to have.

Never will happen.

We've been hearing this for years....how the Skins will have to pay the piper. Well, it hasn't really happened yet. I don't think it will.

 

[cfujskins]

And here I thought you might actually have a clue... you could desperately use a premium pick at WR, where the ONLY legitimate NFL talent you have is Moss, and you could surely stand to add a stud pass rusher...



Uhhh, don't look now, but you guys weren't able to do a whole lot in free agency last year... the reason for that was your cap situation...



Oh, sweet Jesus, this one has drunk ALL of the kool-aid...

Well, homer, the facts are that the Skins are currently WAY over the projected cap for next year (I've heard as much as 27 million dollars over... in order to get under the cap, they'll have to renegotiate a BUNCH of deals, or cut players like Arrington (who's likely gone anyway) and Chris Samuels...

I'd say that choosing between cutting a Pro Bowl OT or not being real active in free agency is one indication of cap hell... the Skins might have maneuvering room to get down under the cap without biting the bullet too hard, but that will leave them with no room to bring in free agent talent... look for this offseason to be like the last for the Skins, not much in the way of upgrading the roster... only this year, you guys won't even have the luxury of a first round draft pick...

Exactly, you said it yourself- a luxury (The Giants did just fine without one, wouldn't you agree?). It's not like we desperatly need a WR with the 1st rd pick. Even if we had one, I'd doubt we'd take a WR. As for a DE, There are many teams who need a somewhat dominant DE. They are rarer than other positions, high demand, low supply.

As for free agency, last year we supposedly had a terrible free agency while the Giants and Boys loaded up in talent. We were projected to go 4-12. Yet we were highly competitive in the NFC, let alone the NFC east. Go and and make another excuse (luck, fluke, ect.)

About the cap, homer, could you show me we are WAY over the projected cap? "Facts are" followed by a "I've heard" make me a little curious.

 

[cfujskins]

Jimmy Johnson said it best-- in the NFL, you win with playmakers... "coaching", and "unity" will only take you so far, TALENT is what wins championships...



Gimme a break, you guys have precious little depth at most positions... you dodged a bullet this year by staying healthy, but if you'd suffered the same kinds of injuries you did last year (to use one example), you'd be on the wrong side of .500 right now...



It will hurt you in that your competition will be adding to their talent base, and the Skins won't... again, remember this if you never remember anything else I tell you-- talent wins in the NFL... yeah, Danny Boy went about it the wrong way for a few years there, going for aging "names" and paying top dollar for them, but that doesn't mean you can win consistently while shopping in the bargain basement...

Right, because TALENT is the ONLY way to win, right? If I'm not mistaken, Joe Gibbs' teams of the past were a far cry from having loads of talented individuals and still managed to have huge success. He kind of prided himself on that.

Last year was the same. The only differece is that we lost the (many) close games. Had a few plays and/or calls gone our way, then our record could have been flipped (10-6).

When guys get hurt, guys are supposed to step up and pick up. Our guys do that. Our guys do just that. A few years ago you would probably not believe me If I told you that we could field a consistent top 10 defense...without LaVar Arrington, would you?

 

[The30YardSlant]

Right, because TALENT is the ONLY way to win, right? If I'm not mistaken, Joe Gibbs' teams of the past were a far cry from having loads of talented individuals and still managed to have huge success. He kind of prided himself on that.

Last year was the same. The only differece is that we lost the (many) close games. Had a few plays and/or calls gone our way, then our record could have been flipped (10-6).

When guys get hurt, guys are supposed to step up and pick up. Our guys do that. Our guys do just that. A few years ago you would probably not believe me If I told you that we could field a consistent top 10 defense...without LaVar Arrington, would you?

If we agree, will you go away?

 

[silverbear]

About the cap, homer, could you show me we are WAY over the projected cap? "Facts are" followed by a "I've heard" make me a little curious.

Well gee, would NFL.com be a definitive enough source for ya??

Here's the link to the article on their site that has the Skins at roughly 27 mil over next year's projected cap:

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/9117553

Had to hunt for 20 minutes to find the freakin' article, LOL...

 

[silverbear]

I, however, don't buy the Salary-Cap Heck that the Skins are supposed to have.

Never will happen.

We've been hearing this for years....how the Skins will have to pay the piper. Well, it hasn't really happened yet. I don't think it will.

OK, now tell me WHY the Skins won't face the same fate as the Boys and Niners did...

 

[silverbear]

Right, because TALENT is the ONLY way to win, right?

Yup... over the long haul, the smart money bets on the teams with the most talent...

If I'm not mistaken, Joe Gibbs' teams of the past were a far cry from having loads of talented individuals and still managed to have huge success. He kind of prided himself on that.

You are mistaken... Gibbs had lots of Pro Bowlers on those teams... he coached the Skins from 81 to 92 the first time around, and had 20 different players make a total of 43 Pro Bowl appearances...

At quarterback, he had Mark Rypien, Jay Schroeder and Joe Theismann make the Pro Bowl... they combined to make 5 appearances...

At running back, Earnest Byner was the only Pro Bowler, he went twice...

At wide receiver, Gary Clark went 4 times, Art Monk went twice, Charlie Brown went twice... that's 8 total appearances...

At offensive line, there's almost too many to list-- Jim Lachey went twice, Mark Schlereth went once, Mark May went once, Russ Grimm went 4 times, so did Joe Jacoby, and Jeff Bostic went once... that's 13 Pro Bowl appearances, by 6 different offensive linemen... the Hogs were the heart of Gibbs' teams, and they were a VERY talented bunch...

On the defensive line, Charles Mann went 4 times, Dexter Manley went once, Dave Butz went once...

At linebacker, the only one I can find is Wilber Marshall, who went in 92...

At defensive back, Darrell Green went 4 times, Mike Nelms went twice and Tony Peters went once...

Clearly, it's ridiculous to say that Gibbs didn't have top talent in his first tenure with the Skins...

When guys get hurt, guys are supposed to step up and pick up. Our guys do that

LOL... your guys haven't HAD to do that, most of this year... that's precisely my point...

If the Skins had to rely on their depth, they wouldn't be within spitting distance of .500, period...

 

[AsthmaField]

The skins are already having difficulties because of their cap situation. This past offseason is indicative of "paying the piper" because of previous years signings.


First off, the skins were very inactive in free agency, particularly for a Snyder owned team.

The best indicator to me was when they let Smoot and Pierce go in free agency. You know they wanted to keep both players... and if keeping the team together is what was important to them and a reason for not signing a lot of free agents... then doesn't it follow that they would've kept their own good free agents? Of course. But they just couldn't. Smoot and Pierce wanted to stay and would have with even a match... but the skins let them walk. Why? Because they weren't good players? No. Because they hate building good team chemistry and keeping their vets? Of course not. Because they didn't have the cap room? Ahhh, that's more like it.

And if you fall for the company line that they couldn't pay Smoot more than they're paying Springs... then you are naive. What did you expect Snyder and Gibbs to say? They couldn't resign those guys because of past cap mis-management? C'mon...

And yes, the Skins might make the playoffs... but to use that as proof that they didn't experience at least cap "heck" this past offseason is foolish, at best. The skins are in a position to make the playoffs because of coaching and the players currently there. Does that mean other players wouldn't have helped had they been signed? No. Keeping Pierce alone might have been enough to keep Allstott out of the enzone in the Tampa game. Antonio alone might have improved your W-L record by one game... which this season would've made a huge difference. Who knows what an edge rusher and better CB play might have done for you this year? Who knows what a really good number 2 WR would have done to take pressure off of Moss?

Now, because you couldn't resign Smoot, you had to go CB in the draft with the #9 pick. That is at best a wash and improves the team none. In reality, Rogers, at least this season, isn't as good as Smoot, and you lost ground in the perpetual talent struggle in the NFL. Had the Skins had the money to sign Smoot, the pick at number 9 would likely either been DE Merriman, DE Ware, or WR Mike Williams. Any of those 3 players would've been an immidiate upgrade for you guys and made a big difference this year. But because you didn't have the money to re-sign Smoot and you couldn't have a huge hole at CB... you had to simply replace a good player with a good player... which is a net talent increase of zero. Keeping Smoot and adding Demarcus Ware would've increased the overall talent level of you defense instead of it just being a wash. Or adding M. Williams at WR would've helped the WR corps immensely and the CB would've still been in fine shape with Smoot and Springs.

You don't think Gibbs would've rather had that scenario than just replace a CB with a CB? Of course he would've. But he couldn't because the Skins cap situation wouldn't allow it. Gibbs isn't stupid... he just didn't have the money to do it any other way.

What would the skins D be like with Smoot covering and Merriman getting after the QB? Better, for sure... and I'm glad we don't have to find out.

What would the sking passing game be like with Moss and M. Williams? Better for sure, and again, I'm glad we don't have to see that.

So, for anyone to simply act like the skins just got frugal all of a sudden and wanted to watch their good players walk out the door, is just silly. To think they didn't want to add a good WR or someone... anyone... on the DL who could provide a pass rush... is more than simple homerism.

The skins couldn't do the smart thing because they didn't have the money.

They may be in the playoffs... but they'll be there in spite of not having the dollars to do what they needed to in free agency... not because they decided to let talent walk.

 

[KINGBRICE_28]

Sure guys continue on like I never even came by.....

Fine I'll just put in my own quotes.....

Well long time no see...what have you been up too....

nothing much just came by to see how you guys were....

So are you excited about the game this week?

you bet....I can't wait to finally beat Philthy......

So KB Are you suprised about this season so far?

Yes actually I am....I figured 8-8 tops....I'll take a playoff birth though....

......Much better.....



Wow....I'm bored , I'm going to bed....lol.....

 

[Chicago]

The skins are already having difficulties because of their cap situation. This past offseason is indicative of "paying the piper" because of previous years signings.

You are right man, but did it harm the team? Absolutely not.

The best indicator to me was when they let Smoot and Pierce go in free agency. You know they wanted to keep both players... and if keeping the team together is what was important to them and a reason for not signing a lot of free agents... then doesn't it follow that they would've kept their own good free agents? Of course. But they just couldn't. Smoot and Pierce wanted to stay and would have with even a match... but the skins let them walk. Why? Because they weren't good players? No. Because they hate building good team chemistry and keeping their vets? Of course not. Because they didn't have the cap room? Ahhh, that's more like it.

No, no, no. Both the Vikings and the Giants offered a bit more money. But again, Pierce is out due to injury and Smoot? Oh yes recentely I ´ve heard of him. Great play with "Steely Dan" on the Viking Criuser.

What would the sking passing game be like with Moss and M. Williams? Better for sure, ....

Big Mike Williams as a second Rec? Right now he is underachieving.

For years we were critizised for spending too much money in players with a soldier of fortune attidude. Now of a sudden we stop this sh## and having no cap room has helped little Danny to resist the sexy pick, aka players like BMW. We start to win more games than we loose, the team might not quite ready to peak yet but gives us hope for a bright future next year. Right now we all enjoy the show and will think from gameday to gameday and see how long this journey will go.

You can call scenarios as much as you like but the great majority of Commanders fans are simply happy and maybe tommorow a little bit happier than today. The game will be televised live in Germany and guess what i´ll do on sunday.

But to bring peace to this board, I´ll root for Atlanta in the first game, also televised here and than I switch to an english channel sunday night to watch the boys win easily against the Mufflons and reach the play-offs.

 

[AsthmaField]

You are right man, but did it harm the team? Absolutely not.

That's my point... yes you might make the playoffs... but what could your team have done with Merriman at DE, Smoot at CB, and Pierce at MLB? Would your D have been more intimidating? Yes. Would you have pressured the passer better? I'm sure of it.

You can't point to a successful season this year and say you didn't need anything more from FA or the draft. You can't... because you don't know how much better you might have been had the skins had the extra cap space to keep Smoot, Pierce and draft Merriman or Ware or Williams. In that scenario, regardless of which of the three you draft, the Commanders would've been a better team with either a better passing game with a true red zone target or a true edge rusher to pressure the QB.

No, no, no. Both the Vikings and the Giants offered a bit more money. But again, Pierce is out due to injury and Smoot? Oh yes recentely I ´ve heard of him. Great play with "Steely Dan" on the Viking Criuser.



Big Mike Williams as a second Rec? Right now he is underachieving.

You can't say Pierce would've been hurt had he played in Washington...

And Smoot played very well for Gregg Williams. There's no reason to doubt that Smoot, in his prime, would've played well for Williams again. Better than Harris or Rogers, that's for sure. The Steely Dan thing was funny though.

Big Mike would've been a huge upgrade at WR for you... don't look at him in dysfunctional Detroit and think that's the way he would've performed for Gibbs and Co.

Again, you did okay without these guys... but you can't know how much better you would've been with them.

For years we were critizised for spending too much money in players with a soldier of fortune attidude. Now of a sudden we stop this sh## and having no cap room has helped little Danny to resist the sexy pick, aka players like BMW.

That's because Danny brought in guys like Bruce Smith, D. Sanders, etc. Guys who were long past their prime... yet he payed premier money to get them. That's why people made fun of the Commanders... and said they'd have cap trouble in the future. And guess what? You're having the cap trouble.

Resigning Smoot and Peirce and drafting Ware/Merriman/Williams wouldn't have been in the same galaxy as Bruce Smith, Sanders, etc. Resigning your own up and coming players and drafting well could never be made fun of and wouldn't have.

You have the sense to realize that you didn't resign Smoot and Pierce because you didn't have the cap room... and really, that's all I'm saying. There are skins fans that say Washington could've signed them and simply chose not to because they didn't want them... or that you couldn't resign Smoot for more than Springs. Basically saying that the skins weren't in any sort of cap squeeze... those are the one's that I pointed my post towards.

You can call scenarios as much as you like but the great majority of Commanders fans are simply happy and maybe tommorow a little bit happier than today. The game will be televised live in Germany and guess what i´ll do on sunday.

But to bring peace to this board, I´ll root for Atlanta in the first game, also televised here and than I switch to an english channel sunday night to watch the boys win easily against the Mufflons and reach the play-offs.

The skins fans should be happy... but they should also understand that they were limited in free agency because of past cap mismanagment and also understand that they'll be further limited this coming offseason... while Dallas, NYG and Philly will not be. In a close division... that can't be a good thing.