Preseason

[Skinzaholic]

Based on last years embarrassment (you know... dominate when the games dont count... then succumb to the hype during the season)... perhaps it would be better for Spurrier to go low key during this preseason... work on chemistry and solidifying the team overall instead of attempting to prime some high-powered offense.

Agree?

[Skinzaholic]

And after going 4-1 and leading the league in scoring last preseason, the coach plans to view the exhibition games in a slightly different light.
"We maybe got misled by preseason, misled a little bit," Spurrier said. "It seems like the other teams didn't play some of their starting guys, hardly any of them, and then when the real season started we sort of got overwhelmed a little bit."

[TexSkin]

Yeah I am hoping as well that he focuses less on winning and more on getting the team ready this preseason.

[Spence]

The preseason is for seeing what kind of players you have, especially the new ones. We need to see plenty of Jacobs, Russell, and Johnson at wideout. All the tailbacks should get a look. Ramsey should play a lot just because he needs to.

On defense, we should get a good long look at all the new defensive linemen [except Upshaw] and the safeties. We also need to let Bauman and Molden battle it out for nickel cornerback.

We also have to find out who are special teams standouts are. You know David Terrell will be tops. Who else?

If we win games that's fine. But it is not what the preseason is for. Redskins preseason record the last time they won the Super Bowl: one win and three losses.

[PennSkinsFan]

Yes! Pre-season will be for the few battles we have, OG, FB, RB, and S, and to gauge what depth we have, and who will be that depth. Chemistry is very importnat and crucial for the Skins since there was much turnover. That has to be a critical focus.

[Shabba]

He still said that the main thing will be to win the preseason games. That should not be the important thing. We should not have our starters in the game in the third and fourth quarters especially in preseason games 1, 2 and 4.

[Hailyeah]

I think one factor that will make this preseason totally different than last year is the situation at RB. Last year, SD was the man and there was no drama going into the season other than 'would they mesh'. Now, we have almost completely unproven players vying for the starting job. Spurrier will have to run a ton more in these games than last year to figure out who the heck is worthy of playing on Sundays. This is a major question that only reps for each guy can begin to answer. We won't see Fun N Gun with backup QBs in the second half of these games in daring comebacks.

[NamVet4]

While I agree with most of what everybody has written - I still feel there is a risk in pre-season games. Season ending injury due to trying to get " one more set of downs" from your key players. I hope Coach Spurrier is smart enough to know just who and how much to push!

[TexSkin]

Yup NamVet I agree I just hope Spurrier does not learn that lesson the hard way.

[LuvSkins17]

We just need to be sure to stay healthy during preseason. I know we don't want to have anyone sitting out and not get a chance to show US what they got.....

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

the difference between this year and last year, is that we pretty much know who is going to be starting, so what SS needs to find out is who is going to be 2nd and 3rd string. aside from coles, thomas, trung and fiore, everyone on the offense knows the system. its just a matter of playing well together and getting their timing down and things like that. i think SS can get the starters a few series and then yank them outta the game. and on defense the system is the same, we have 2 new starters so i think 2 series and out is good for the D too. SS might not be as concerned about winning and running up the score this time around, but he is still going to be throwing the ball more, so if the other team cant hang, its not our fault.

[CarMike]

OMT guys with last years pre-season games was this, Spurrier was getting familiar with the NFL. We had a lot of new players last year just like this year. But, with most of our new players this year you know what they offer. Last year we had a lot of ex-Florida players and Spurrier wanted to prove to the other NFL coaches/execs who said the UF guys couldn't play in this league. Spurrier wanted to prove them wrong. We shouldn't have that problem this year.

[hail2skins]

Originally posted by LadyNRedskinsfan
the difference between this year and last year, is that we pretty much know who is going to be starting, so what SS needs to find out is who is going to be 2nd and 3rd string. aside from coles, thomas, trung and fiore, everyone on the offense knows the system. its just a matter of playing well together and getting their timing down and things like that. i think SS can get the starters a few series and then yank them outta the game. and on defense the system is the same, we have 2 new starters so i think 2 series and out is good for the D too. SS might not be as concerned about winning and running up the score this time around, but he is still going to be throwing the ball more, so if the other team cant hang, its not our fault.

Lady does a good job in summing up my thoughts as well. Thanks Lady, I totally agree.