The "I Still Believe at 5-4" Thread

[Skaggsrules]

This is for anyone who thinks this lose sucks, but aren't ready to start looking toward FA and the draft, and begin to forget what just happened, and look toward beating Dallas, and marching toward the playoffs.....No pessimism in this thread please

[InsomniaKiller]

I have found that a lot of people HATE these threads.

But here goes...

This loss was absolute garbage but we have a lot of important games left to play. Our season is not over, especially if the word is we have "saved the Eagles' season." Last I checked we're ahead of them so I'm not ready to give up

We've done stupid things this year. We cut back on them, we win games. This is as good a time as any to start.

[techskinsfan]

this team isnt much different than the 5-6 team that rallied off 5 n won a playoff game

[Biggie]

this team isnt much different than the 5-6 team that rallied off 5 n won a playoff game
So we have to go 5-6 before we start winning games? Because we're getting close to it.

[CNYSkinFan]

this team isnt much different than the 5-6 team that rallied off 5 n won a playoff game
yeah but this time we have to go 6-1...

We have alot of teams to catch including the NY Giant who have a win over us already, Detroit who could be 2 games ahead of us after today, and Tampa

the good news is we control alot of what happens in playing Tampa, NY once andi f for soem reason the Giants win today we play the Cowboys twice.

It is still in our hands but I am not sure we can do anything with us

[whitskins]

I respect you guys for still holding your heads up after this disaster. I just can't do it anymore. This is the worst I've felt after a loss in I don't know how long. I'm emotionally devastated.

[mexskins]

this team isnt much different than the 5-6 team that rallied off 5 n won a playoff game

Yes but the wild card race was not like this years.

But hey, eventhough we may be angry we all want our skins to win. A sad " Come on Skins, beat the Cowboys" !


Hail from Mexico !!

[Patrick]

This is for anyone who thinks this lose sucks, but aren't ready to start looking toward FA and the draft, and begin to forget what just happened, and look toward beating Dallas, and marching toward the playoffs.....No pessimism in this thread please

There were more positives but player's have to step up and make the plays. Oh well - seven more weeks to go and this year's not over yet.

[NCskinsfanatic]

Hey I'm pissed but I aint giving up, we could turn it around and sneak into the playoffs but it aint gonna be easy...and there will have to be some wholesale changes for the better... in both execution and playcalling.

[jaylen]

Season isn't over and lost yet lots of stuff have to play itself out.

But the manner in which we are losing games has to be a signal that maybe our coaches are too unprepared to actually make things happens for the players.

The fumbling bumbling time management in the red zone the scared no blitz mindset on offense sure doesn't leave me with much confidence that despite having time we are actually gonna make something happen and make the playoffs.

So I still believe but we're getting close to that point where the NBA and college bball hit my radar fulltime. And the Skins become idle chatter.

Our coaching staff is lost and fearful they need a coaches only meeting.

[28thegreat]

Well, I stand ready to take any tickets to games you all don't want to attend. Been a fan for hundreds of years...will still be a fan and, deep in my heart, want to believe the impossible. (Course, the offer to take the tickets means I want them FREE, which is probably also an impossibility.) I actually enjoyed today's game - up until the long play to Westbrook for the touchdown. I think that took the life out of us. PM me with info on those tickets. Haven't been to a game in over twenty years...but I'd find a way. Thanks in advance.

[OCSKINSFAN]

There were 2 positives about this game - the offense between the 20's and performance of JC and Portis. That said, there were many more negatives, and it's hard for me to believe there are fans still talking about "playoffs". Reminds me of a famous televised interview with a coach after a bad loss when he went off about being questioned about playoffs, considering it ridiculous.

[SpicyMcHaggis]

If both the Cards game and the Giants game end with the current result, we theoretically still have hope. But we have to play much better down the line.

[RicFlairOne]

Yes but the wild card race was not like this years.

But hey, eventhough we may be angry we all want our skins to win. A sad " Come on Skins, beat the Cowboys" !


Hail from Mexico !!

ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS THE GIRL IN YOUR PICTURE - WHAT A HONEY !!!!!

[hail2skins]

My faith in this team is deflated. This LOSS hurts and hurts bad. This is the 2nd team we've let off the hook. We could have nailed the Giants and we didn't. Guess what, we're looking up at them in the division. Now, we let the Iggles off the hook.

I know some people are saying the players need to make plays, but the coaches need to put them in a position to make those plays.

Why are we playing cover-2 against a team that thrives on short passes? Why I ask you. Why are we running no-huddle when we're up. Don't get me wrong, it was nice to see and served it's purpose. Why don't our coaches understand the intricacies of the game. Why didn't they ask for a measurement instead of burning a timeout.

As mentioned earlier, I think we have the talent, even with the injuries, to be better. I think we need a HEAD COACH that understands that.

Gibbs need to go. This team won't get better until he gone. This comes from someone who respects the man and the things he's done in the past.

[RicFlairOne]

Realistically the skins lose next week at Dallas puts them at 5-5. 9-7 will get any team in the NFC a wild card berth this year since the NFC is so weak their season starts at TB in 2 weeks. 4-2 gets them in the post season. If they beat Tampa have pretty good shot, if they drop to 5-6 then it's on to next year. This team will not win 5 straight games don't think they have the guts / heart !!

[MikeBass]

Hey I'm pissed but I aint giving up, we could turn it around and sneak into the playoffs but it aint gonna be easy...and there will have to be some wholesale changes for the better... in both execution and playcalling.

This is true, I have much respect for our coaches and their abilities but they are blowing it and it seems to me that when the offense is playing well the defense can not get it together and vice versa.

Costly mistakes are being made by both units (Cooley's offside penalty killed us) and I can not figure out for the life of me why Williams will not keep blitzing when it obviously works for us. We run the ball on 3rd and goal at the 5 in the red zone when getting the ball to our receivers was working all day. It is puzzling, maybe we have too many people trying to make decisions on the side line and it is hurting us.

[Patrick]

My faith in this team is deflated. This LOSS hurts and hurts bad. This is the 2nd team we've let off the hook. We could have nailed the Giants and we didn't. Guess, we're looking up at them in the division. Now, we let the Iggles off the hook.

I know some people are saying the players need to make plays, but the coaches need to put them in a position to make those plays.

Why are we playing cover-2 against a team that thrives on short passes? Why I ask you. Why are we running no-huddle when we're up. Don't get me wrong, it was nice to see and served it's purpose. Why don't our coaches understand the intricacies of the game. Why didn't they ask for a measurement instead of burning a timeout.
As mentioned earlier, I think we have the talent, even with the injuries, to be better. I think we need a HEAD COACH that understands that.

Gibbs need to go. This team won't get better until he gone. This comes from someone who respects the man and the things he's done in the past.

I can understand your questioning Mike, BUT as probably the only one on this board tonight who is putting more blame on the players than coaches:
Why is the ball being hiked to the QB when he's not looking / OR WHY is he not looking?
Why are we getting no push from the D-Line??
Why is the O-Line not openning holes on the goal line ??? (Well, this is an easy one - because we are not good enough)
Why is the "second" RB not protecting the ball????
IF you can explain how these are the coaches faults - I'll stand correct.
I'll admit our coaching can be a heck of a lot better. BUT when players are making the plays - a lot of coaching isn't needed. Example: Dallas, Pittsburgh.

[skinsfan36]

i believe we have a shot because this is a good team with bad coaches excluding lazor,bugel. otherwise id say its more then a shot

[give_portis_the_rock]

Honestly, if we could finish off games -- is there anyone better than us in the NFC? People talk about "NFC contenders" -- they mention the Giants, Packers, and Lions. Well we lead the Giants and Packers through three quarters, and we spanked the Lions pretty good. We're still competitive in the NFC, so yeah I still believe.

[redskins490]

Well yeah, the game today against the Eagles was a disapointment to all Redskins fans, especially me. I don't know about the Cowboys game, but I'll be there to support the Redskins. Hopefully, they'll end the season with more wins then losses. If that happens, I'm happy.:niceday:

[28thegreat]

I can understand your questioning Mike, BUT as probably the only one on this board tonight who is putting more blame on the players than coaches:
Why is the ball being hiked to the QB when he's not looking / OR WHY is he not looking?
Why are we getting no push from the D-Line??
Why is the O-Line not openning holes on the goal line ??? (Well, this is an easy one - because we are not good enough)
Why is the "second" RB not protecting the ball????
IF you can explain how these are the coaches faults - I'll stand correct.
I'll admit our coaching can be a heck of a lot better. BUT when players are making the plays - a lot of coaching isn't needed. Example: Dallas, Pittsburgh.

Nope, there's two of us. There are too many things going on at any one point in an NFL game for it to be all the coaches vault. And ultimately, it is the players who play the game. Oh, and you forgot one...why does a kicker who hits five from over forty yards last week shank an extra point? I'm sure one of the coaches sneezed right before the play.

As someone who has had both great success and great failure as a leader, I can surely attest to the fact that not everything that goes bad is because of poor leadership. Sometimes the people under you just screw up no matter how good the game plan.

(And the game plan worked through three quarters.)

[culpeper]

Honestly, if we could finish off games -- is there anyone better than us in the NFC? People talk about "NFC contenders" -- they mention the Giants, Packers, and Lions. Well we lead the Giants and Packers through three quarters, and we spanked the Lions pretty good. We're still competitive in the NFC, so yeah I still believe.

the iggles just out played us in the end. westbrook is amazing. we had a chance, man against man in the trenches, and we lost.

i dont agree with the 'gibbs should go' crowd. i understand that things can be better and we continue to make basic mistakes with clock mngment and timouts. but who else is better for us out there right now? you dance with the one who brought ya...and right now we are a team in limbo, and were really close to putting it all together.

it hurts, sure. 5-4 sounds AWFUL compared to 6-3. but in the NFC we still have a chance, and there are 7 games left....HAIL.

[give_portis_the_rock]

the iggles just out played us in the end. westbrook is amazing. we had a chance, man against man in the trenches, and we lost.

i dont agree with the 'gibbs should go' crowd. i understand that things can be better and we continue to make basic mistakes with clock mngment and timouts. but who else is better for us out there right now? you dance with the one who brought ya...and right now we are a team in limbo, and were really close to putting it all together.

it hurts, sure. 5-4 sounds AWFUL compared to 6-3. but in the NFC we still have a chance, and there are 7 games left....HAIL.

Yeah well we can't think like that
5-4 may be awful compared to 6-3, but 6-3 is awful compared to 8-1. And 8-1 is where we SHOULD be at if we're gonna be reflective.

Seven games to go, three of them division games -- plenty of football to be played. The two favorites right now have had a history of cooling down toward the end of the year. At this point last year, did anyone expect Philly to take the division? They were 5-4 coming off a win against us.

[Biggie]

Yeah well we can't think like that
5-4 may be awful compared to 6-3, but 6-3 is awful compared to 8-1. And 8-1 is where we SHOULD be at if we're gonna be reflective.

Seven games to go, three of them division games -- plenty of football to be played. The two favorites right now have had a history of cooling down toward the end of the year. At this point last year, did anyone expect Philly to take the division? They were 5-4 coming off a win against us.
We're already lost two division games that we basically had in the bag. 3-0 in the division is great. 1-2 is not.

[redskin_rich]

A win against Dallas next Sunday would heal all wounds... At least for me.

Hail to the Redskins!!!

[techskinsfan]

So we have to go 5-6 before we start winning games? Because we're getting close to it.
hey i remember a terrible oakland game and an even more devastating chargers game before we started that rally...all im sayin is that team was in the same shoulda coulda woulda situation in alot of games...i hope we arent 5-6 this year

[give_portis_the_rock]

We're already lost two division games that we basically had in the bag. 3-0 in the division is great. 1-2 is not.

I'm aware of that
But imagine if we started winning those games -- then you think people would call for coach's head?

[Biggie]

I'm aware of that
But imagine if we started winning those games -- then you think people would call for coach's head?
No. Two reasons, really:


You can't win a game you've already lost.
We'd be winning. Big difference.It's not like Gibbs has nothing to do with the wins or losses, and they just happen randomly. When we make bad decisions, manage the game poorly, give up opportunities and generally screw ourselves over, it's usually either him or GW, and when it's GW, it's him by extension because he's the head coach and he should have some kind of control over the entire team, and not be completely helpless on one side of the ball.

[techskinsfan]

Nope, there's two of us. There are too many things going on at any one point in an NFL game for it to be all the coaches vault. And ultimately, it is the players who play the game. Oh, and you forgot one...why does a kicker who hits five from over forty yards last week shank an extra point? I'm sure one of the coaches sneezed right before the play.

As someone who has had both great success and great failure as a leader, I can surely attest to the fact that not everything that goes bad is because of poor leadership. Sometimes the people under you just screw up no matter how good the game plan.

(And the game plan worked through three quarters.)
exactly...the coaches put players in a position and its their job to execute and do their job...greg williams wasn't out there trying to tackle westbrook...i don't think its all the coaches fault...us running well in the middle of the field and then not running well inside the 10 has nothing to do with coaches they are the same plays, just not executing blocks...we just dont have the players to be an elite team

[Biggie]

exactly...the coaches put players in a position and its their job to execute and do their job...greg williams wasn't out there trying to tackle westbrook...i don't think its all the coaches fault...us running well in the middle of the field and then not running well inside the 10 has nothing to do with coaches they are the same plays, just not executing blocks...we just dont have the players to be an elite team
What I would like to know is why, on Reggie Brown's touchdown, it was London Fletcher covering him.

[redskin_rich]

What I would like to know is why, on Reggie Brown's touchdown, it was London Fletcher covering him.

Prioleau was there too and he could have made a play on that ball, had he been aware a second earlier. But to answer your question, it was because of the zone we employed.

[Biggie]

Prioleau was there too and he could have made a play on that ball, had he been aware a second earlier. But to answer your question, it was because of the zone we employed.
That's one of the problems - Gregg's weird Cover 2 garbage puts guys like Fletcher on people they just can't keep up with. A middle linebacker should not be 50 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

[give_portis_the_rock]

No. Two reasons, really:


You can't win a game you've already lost.
We'd be winning. Big difference.It's not like Gibbs has nothing to do with the wins or losses, and they just happen randomly. When we make bad decisions, manage the game poorly, give up opportunities and generally screw ourselves over, it's usually either him or GW, and when it's GW, it's him by extension because he's the head coach and he should have some kind of control over the entire team, and not be completely helpless on one side of the ball.

Alright, so he wasted a few timeouts. That's not what you look back on in this game and say "damn that stings now." What I look at is the missed Suisham PAT. What I look at is the Cooley false start call when the Eagles had linebackers covering our wideouts. Coaching may not have been perfect but the players lost this game, plain and simple.

That's one of the problems - Gregg's weird Cover 2 garbage puts guys like Fletcher on people they just can't keep up with. A middle linebacker should not be 50 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Fletcher is a better safety than Prileau, oddly enough lol
Remember, he's the one who stayed in stride with Randy Moss...

[JoeJacksonTaylor28]

Redskins...

Please beat the stupid girls twice, and my season is done... We weren't going to win the SB this year anyways...

[JoeDaSchmoe]

Alright, so he wasted a few timeouts. That's not what you look back on in this game and say "damn that stings now." What I look at is the missed Suisham PAT. What I look at is the Cooley false start call when the Eagles had linebackers covering our wideouts. Coaching may not have been perfect but the players lost this game, plain and simple.

For the record, the missed PAT didn't actually matter. If he makes it, we tie, 7-7. Then we go up, 14-7. Then we kick a field goal, 17-7. Then they score and don't feel the need to go for two, so it's 17-14. Then we score, 24-14. Then they score, 24-21. Then we run a *&#ing draw on third and goal from the seven and have to kick a &*$%ing field goal, 27-21. Then... the screen. 28-27. Same exact situation late in the fourth. It evened out over the course of the game.

[give_portis_the_rock]

For the record, the missed PAT didn't actually matter. If he makes it, we tie, 7-7. Then we go up, 14-7. Then we kick a field goal, 17-7. Then they score and don't feel the need to go for two, so it's 17-14. Then we score, 24-14. Then they score, 24-21. Then we run a *&#ing draw on third and goal from the seven and have to kick a &*$%ing field goal, 27-21. Then... the screen. 28-27. Same exact situation late in the fourth. It evened out over the course of the game.

Yeah I was fuming after that call too
Almost ON CUE, after Darrell Johnston talks about how Campbell has excelled in the red zone :smash:

[Rogers_Redskins]

When we beat the girls this weekend there will be nothing but joyous threads thought Hailredskins.com.

[JoeJacksonTaylor28]

When we beat the girls this weekend there will be nothing but joyous threads thought Hailredskins.com.
Hopefully that "when" was part of an accurate choice of words

[joethefan]

So we have to go 5-6 before we start winning games? Because we're getting close to it.

well remember that's our M.O......wait till our backs are against the wall then start playing.....

[CarMike]

I still believe.....that dallass will pound us about as bad as New England.

Romo will eat us alive. Our front 4 cannot get pressure unless we play Detroit. No pressure on Romo will equal 5 TD throws against our secondary.

It's not going to be pretty. That's all I believe in.

[helimech24]

I still believe.....that dallass will pound us about as bad as New England.

Romo will eat us alive. Our front 4 cannot get pressure unless we play Detroit. No pressure on Romo will equal 5 TD throws against our secondary.

It's not going to be pretty. That's all I believe in.Way to be upbeat on a "I still Believe" thread. :moon2:

When either Gibbs or Saunders get their heads out of their bumms, and stick with what works during the course of the game, the Skins will be really good. To often we have success with a style (running or passing) and then we get away from it during the forth quarter. I thought we turned the corner last week when we stuck with the run, but leave it to this game when we go back to shooting ourselves in the foot. We were running all over the Philly defense and using the play action effectively. So with 3+ minutes left, we pass three times. One of them being a screen. :smash:

But do I believe...Hell yes. Over the last two years we have beatin the Cowgirls 3 out of 4 times. One of those times being with Romo at the helm! If we can play smart. We will win.

BTW, the cover 2 has working in more games then not this year. So I don't think we should damn it to hell just yet. Had ST been in there instead of P2, that Reggie Brown TD would have probably been a lot different.

[CarMike]

Way to be upbeat on a "I still Believe" thread. :moon2:

When either Gibbs or Saunders get their heads out of their bumms, and stick with what works during the course of the game, the Skins will be really good. To often we have success with a style (running or passing) and then we get away from it during the forth quarter. I thought we turned the corner last week when we stuck with the run, but leave it to this game when we go back to shooting ourselves in the foot. We were running all over the Philly defense and using the play action effectively. So with 3+ minutes left, we pass three times. One of them being a screen. :smash:

But do I believe...Hell yes. Over the last two years we have beatin the Cowgirls 3 out of 4 times. One of those times being with Romo at the helm! If we can play smart. We will win.

BTW, the cover 2 has working in more games then not this year. So I don't think we should damn it to hell just yet. Had ST been in there instead of P2, that Reggie Brown TD would have probably been a lot different.
Truth hurts sometimes. I'm finished with "feel good" threads or what have you.

[hail2skins]

I can understand your questioning Mike, BUT as probably the only one on this board tonight who is putting more blame on the players than coaches:
Why is the ball being hiked to the QB when he's not looking / OR WHY is he not looking?That is a player's fault and a discipline issue as well. We haven't been the most disciplined team since Gibbs' return.

Why are we getting no push from the D-Line??I believe everyone had issues with the dline before the season even started. No surprise here for me. When we didn't have it before, what did we do? Blitzed. Don't see that much these days. We sit in cover-2 against teams who like throwing short passes.

Why is the O-Line not openning holes on the goal line ??? (Well, this is an easy one - because we are not good enough)Whose fault is it that we're not good enough? Is it because of the injuries? Is it because we didn't get the best players? Is it because we didn't draft well? Is it because teams know what we want to do down there? Is it because defenses know we're going to run? Is it because we're predictable down there? If you answer "Yes" to any of the questions, it's coaching.

Why is the "second" RB not protecting the ball????Well, let's see here. There was a guy up in New York that had a fumbling problem. A new HEAD COACH came in and gave him some coaching on how to hold on to the ball. Guess what, that guy improved drastically. I'm sure you know who I'm talking about. Tiki Barber. He was coached up and it worked.

IF you can explain how these are the coaches faults - I'll stand correct.
I'll admit our coaching can be a heck of a lot better. BUT when players are making the plays - a lot of coaching isn't needed. Example: Dallas, Pittsburgh.Maybe it's because of the coaching during the week that the players are making the plays?

[Hr fan]

This is for anyone who thinks this lose sucks, but aren't ready to start looking toward FA and the draft, and begin to forget what just happened, and look toward beating Dallas, and marching toward the playoffs.....No pessimism in this thread please

Disagree about not stressing the draft - IMO it should be a year-round feature.

[RedskinsDave]

I still believe.....that dallass will pound us about as bad as New England.

Romo will eat us alive. Our front 4 cannot get pressure unless we play Detroit. No pressure on Romo will equal 5 TD throws against our secondary.

It's not going to be pretty. That's all I believe in.

I believe as well. I guess the "hey we're 5-4" crowd will go with "hey we're 5-5" now and then after the season is over and we miss the playoffs, we'll hear "hey we weren't 5-11 again". Whatever it is, I am tired of hearing it. I am tired of watching wins turn to losses. I am tired of being taken for granted as a fan and then watching others drink the kool-aid and justify why we're taken for granted.

If anyone wants to follow this up with the standard "turn your tickets in, someone else will buy them" I will tell you preemptively to go play in traffic.

[WisconsinRedskins]

Yes but the wild card race was not like this years.

But hey, eventhough we may be angry we all want our skins to win. A sad " Come on Skins, beat the Cowboys" !


Hail from Mexico !!
I'm very confident a 10-6 team will get a wildcard in the NFC.

[PA Skins Girl]

Beat Dallas. Beat Dallas! BEAT DALLAS!!

[Keino]

I believe we are a Mediocre team because of mediocre coaching and as such, I still believe we will be watching yet another NFL playoff tournament from the comforts and confines of home.

[redwolf1218]

we are heading into Dallas to face the #1 offense and #2 defense in the NFC. we are in 3rd place in the division, with Philly nipping at our heals, and they have Miami at home. i still believe in miracles, i just wish i didnt have to hope for one every week.

[28thegreat]

What I would like to know is why, on Reggie Brown's touchdown, it was London Fletcher covering him.

Because Taylor was hurt and out of the game...Prioleau cain't carry Sean's dirty laundry and he needed help.

[give_portis_the_rock]

I still believe.....that dallass will pound us about as bad as New England.

Romo will eat us alive. Our front 4 cannot get pressure unless we play Detroit. No pressure on Romo will equal 5 TD throws against our secondary.

It's not going to be pretty. That's all I believe in.

Noooooooo
If Taylor is healthy then Romo can't light us up.
He can throw up those rainbows all he wants, ST will pick them off.
Homo probably WANTS them to be picked off anyway, since his career basically started at 26 and he has a lot of picks to throw to catch up to his idol Brett Favre. ;)

[skins74]

I still believe we should be 8-1

[BigCountry]

I'm very confident a 10-6 team will get a wildcard in the NFC.

I'm confident a 10-6 team would win the NFC West and North divisions. I'm confident that other then the Cowboys (Sorry Green Bay) the NFC is as weak as it's been since Gibbs' first season at the helm and hell, we could actually back into the playoffs and if we do, we'll probably be playing Seattle or Tampa Bay.

When did Redskins fans get spoiled? was it the first or the second playoff appearance in the last decade and a half that we got so used to winning? As the infamous saying goes, we are what we are. We're a franchise that like it or not, has been one of the league's poorest since 92. We're a team with below avarege depth that has been bitten by the injury bug and is
5-4, playing some pretty good football. We have a QB that has only started 16 games and is looking like the best QB drafted by the Redskins since Joe Theisman but he's still learning. Yes, the nature of 3 of the 4 losses we've had has been unbearable and Gibbs has made mistakes that your everyday fan can point out. I know everyone here hates the word patience but that's the NFL. Building a consistant winner takes time and wether Gibbs can get us there all depends on the rest of the season and how he coaches. In 2004 Gibbs didn't call a conservative game when he had a two score lead because we barely ever built up two score leads. In 05, with all due respect to Mark Brunell, we weren't a team that was going to win any shootouts and the only two losses you could put on the coaching staff were Oakland and San Diego. If you look back at the second Giants game from that season, Gibbs decided to air it out with a 1 point lead with Patrick Ramsey under center. This year I can't explain what's going through his head but whatever his mind set was in 05, he better get back to it.

On a side note, when you have 6 tries inside the 6 yard line, why is it so awful to ask your running game, which has been your meal ticket since I don't know when, to score a TD? The draw play on 3rd and 7 was a boneheaded call, but Gibbs tried to put the game on the shoulders of the O-line and they let him down big time.

[Skaggsrules]

Seriously, Dallas is beatable...look at what Buffalo did to them, and they had to practically hand the game to them....We can beat Dallas, we have the talent to beat Dallas, it all depends how GW wants to use it on D, and how Joe and Al want to use it on offense...Dallas has always had problems with Cooley, their coverage is still mediocre at best.....Zone might have to be the way to go with Dallas, but blitzes need to be put in....Romo has trouble with the blitz right up the gut....Dallas is beatable, it depends on loosing the handcuffs and getting aggressive

[give_portis_the_rock]

Seriously, Dallas is beatable...look at what Buffalo did to them, and they had to practically hand the game to them....We can beat Dallas, we have the talent to beat Dallas, it all depends how GW wants to use it on D, and how Joe and Al want to use it on offense...Dallas has always had problems with Cooley, their coverage is still mediocre at best.....Zone might have to be the way to go with Dallas, but blitzes need to be put in....Romo has trouble with the blitz right up the gut....Dallas is beatable, it depends on loosing the handcuffs and getting aggressive

Dallas really is a much less balanced team than we are.
They just don't have handcuffs on their players like we do, that's all. If our playbook was as open as Dallas' playbook, Jason Campbell would be FAR FAR better than Tony Homo. He's smarter, he's got a stronger arm, he's more athletic, he makes less mistakes and he's not an arrogant jerk who annoys the living hell out of everyone who ISN'T a Boys fan...

The key to beating Dallas is simple -- target their awful safeties with a deep passing game. And the defensive game plan we get from Coach Janky Spanky -- have two Sean Taylors on the field to pick off those nice little deep passes Romo loves to throw.

[wewantdallas]

Seriously, Dallas is beatable...look at what Buffalo did to them, and they had to practically hand the game to them....We can beat Dallas, we have the talent to beat Dallas, it all depends how GW wants to use it on D, and how Joe and Al want to use it on offense...Dallas has always had problems with Cooley, their coverage is still mediocre at best.....Zone might have to be the way to go with Dallas, but blitzes need to be put in....Romo has trouble with the blitz right up the gut....Dallas is beatable, it depends on loosing the handcuffs and getting aggressive

The only way we beat Dallas is if Dallas takes us for granted and has a mental letdown like they did in Buffalo. But that game was helped by the fact that it was IN Buffalo and was the first MNF game there in years. The fans were nuts.

THis is in Dallas, and we have never played well there. Plus, we are destroyed by injuries now on all sides of the football and we are on the verge of being an emotionally beaten team before the game even starts.

I just see nothing from this team that even SUGGESTS we have a shot. All I have is my eternal Redskin Hope that's not at all based in reality. So yeah, I'll be watching and hoping like everyone else.

But the reality is, we can barely beat a 1-7 Jets team, and every dying team that comes into our stadium is magically resurrected to go on and play a strong season. I'm just so sick of seeing cowardice every week from this team. Cowardice and confusion. That sums this team up in 2007 for me.

Yeah, you can point to a lot of strong individual efforts, but as a whole, cowardice and confusion. Afraid to win, afraid to drive the final nail into a team's coffin, no identity, afraid to "give up a big play." Dallass right now is just the opposite. THey're having fun, they're taking shots, they're taking risks, and they know how to beat people. It makes me sick.

So the only thing I believe is that I'll be watching and hoping for some miracle from these world class underachievers and fan heartbreakers. This team absolutely disgusts me right now, from the top down.

[Skins7ny]

I'm confident a 10-6 team would win the NFC West and North divisions. I'm confident that other then the Cowboys (Sorry Green Bay) the NFC is as weak as it's been since Gibbs' first season at the helm and hell, we could actually back into the playoffs and if we do, we'll probably be playing Seattle or Tampa Bay.

When did Redskins fans get spoiled? was it the first or the second playoff appearance in the last decade and a half that we got so used to winning? As the infamous saying goes, we are what we are. We're a franchise that like it or not, has been one of the league's poorest since 92. We're a team with below avarege depth that has been bitten by the injury bug and is
5-4, playing some pretty good football. We have a QB that has only started 16 games and is looking like the best QB drafted by the Redskins since Joe Theisman but he's still learning. Yes, the nature of 3 of the 4 losses we've had has been unbearable and Gibbs has made mistakes that your everyday fan can point out. I know everyone here hates the word patience but that's the NFL. Building a consistant winner takes time and wether Gibbs can get us there all depends on the rest of the season and how he coaches. In 2004 Gibbs didn't call a conservative game when he had a two score lead because we barely ever built up two score leads. In 05, with all due respect to Mark Brunell, we weren't a team that was going to win any shootouts and the only two losses you could put on the coaching staff were Oakland and San Diego. If you look back at the second Giants game from that season, Gibbs decided to air it out with a 1 point lead with Patrick Ramsey under center. This year I can't explain what's going through his head but whatever his mind set was in 05, he better get back to it.

On a side note, when you have 6 tries inside the 6 yard line, why is it so awful to ask your running game, which has been your meal ticket since I don't know when, to score a TD? The draw play on 3rd and 7 was a boneheaded call, but Gibbs tried to put the game on the shoulders of the O-line and they let him down big time.

Actually, the best QB we have drafted since Joe T is probably Mark Rypien (he did, after all, win the SB MVP and had one of the better years in modern history in 1991). If you are not going to go with Mark Rypien, you should probably go with Stan Humphries. He was a heck of a QB, just not for us.
Jason Campbell has the potential to be better than both of them were. And Humphries was pretty good for a while there, until injuries caught up with him.

[give_portis_the_rock]

Actually, the best QB we have drafted since Joe T is probably Mark Rypien (he did, after all, win the SB MVP and had one of the better years in modern history in 1991). If you are not going to go with Mark Rypien, you should probably go with Stan Humphries. He was a heck of a QB, just not for us.
Jason Campbell has the potential to be better than both of them were. And Humphries was pretty good for a while there, until injuries caught up with him.

I think Campbell could even be better than Theismann

[CarMike]

Seriously, Dallas is beatable...look at what Buffalo did to them, and they had to practically hand the game to them....We can beat Dallas, we have the talent to beat Dallas, it all depends how GW wants to use it on D, and how Joe and Al want to use it on offense...Dallas has always had problems with Cooley, their coverage is still mediocre at best.....Zone might have to be the way to go with Dallas, but blitzes need to be put in....Romo has trouble with the blitz right up the gut....Dallas is beatable, it depends on loosing the handcuffs and getting aggressive

Two things. The game was in Buffalo and next weekends game in a divisional rivalry.

Philly beat us with two weapons on offense. McNadds and Westbrook. Our defense knew what was coming and yet couldn't stop them. dallass has way more weapons than the Eagles.

[28thegreat]

I'm confident a 10-6 team would win the NFC West and North divisions. I'm confident that other then the Cowboys (Sorry Green Bay) the NFC is as weak as it's been since Gibbs' first season at the helm and hell, we could actually back into the playoffs and if we do, we'll probably be playing Seattle or Tampa Bay.

When did Redskins fans get spoiled? was it the first or the second playoff appearance in the last decade and a half that we got so used to winning? As the infamous saying goes, we are what we are. We're a franchise that like it or not, has been one of the league's poorest since 92. We're a team with below avarege depth that has been bitten by the injury bug and is
5-4, playing some pretty good football. We have a QB that has only started 16 games and is looking like the best QB drafted by the Redskins since Joe Theisman but he's still learning. Yes, the nature of 3 of the 4 losses we've had has been unbearable and Gibbs has made mistakes that your everyday fan can point out. I know everyone here hates the word patience but that's the NFL. Building a consistant winner takes time and wether Gibbs can get us there all depends on the rest of the season and how he coaches. In 2004 Gibbs didn't call a conservative game when he had a two score lead because we barely ever built up two score leads. In 05, with all due respect to Mark Brunell, we weren't a team that was going to win any shootouts and the only two losses you could put on the coaching staff were Oakland and San Diego. If you look back at the second Giants game from that season, Gibbs decided to air it out with a 1 point lead with Patrick Ramsey under center. This year I can't explain what's going through his head but whatever his mind set was in 05, he better get back to it.

On a side note, when you have 6 tries inside the 6 yard line, why is it so awful to ask your running game, which has been your meal ticket since I don't know when, to score a TD? The draw play on 3rd and 7 was a boneheaded call, but Gibbs tried to put the game on the shoulders of the O-line and they let him down big time.

Well said my friend. Well said.

[AGibbsGirl]

So much could be said but the request was to remain positive-so....I still believe that on any given Sunday we could win...want me to prove it?...I already picked the Skins to win over Dallas in the Pick 'em league :D

But, man oh man, I'm miserable...don't like these conference losses that should be wins....

OH, but hey, I personally liked what I saw in Jason on Sunday, what poise, what strength, and for the most part the decision making was mature and decisive....

[BandWagon]

My faith in this team is deflated. This LOSS hurts and hurts bad. This is the 2nd team we've let off the hook. We could have nailed the Giants and we didn't. Guess what, we're looking up at them in the division. Now, we let the Iggles off the hook.

I know some people are saying the players need to make plays, but the coaches need to put them in a position to make those plays.

Why are we playing cover-2 against a team that thrives on short passes? Why I ask you. Why are we running no-huddle when we're up. Don't get me wrong, it was nice to see and served it's purpose. Why don't our coaches understand the intricacies of the game. Why didn't they ask for a measurement instead of burning a timeout.

As mentioned earlier, I think we have the talent, even with the injuries, to be better. I think we need a HEAD COACH that understands that.

Gibbs need to go. This team won't get better until he gone. This comes from someone who respects the man and the things he's done in the past.


And why after running up and down the field the entire game, when the pressure is on they fold like bad high school team? That's what I want to know. We can't (or won't) put anyone away and then panic and can't make plays. It's pathetic. Utterly pathetic. And we're four years into this system. I put it on the coaches too. Oh wait, wasn't this supposed to be a "positive" thread? Sorry....

[WarEagle]

Here's something optimistic. It's already been said repeatedly, but JC had a good game. Watching him on my HDTV on Sunday, I noticed his physique is similar to Peyton's and Tom's. That can't hurt. Compared to JC, other QBs look short and squat and panicked. I like a tall QB.

Also, I have fallen in love with the white game jerseys. The gold outline of the burgundy numbers, the 75th anniversary logo, everything. I'm going to have to pick a number and buy one. It will have to be #17, because he isn't going anywhere for a very long time. Hail!

[FromDallas]

Seriously, Dallas is beatable...look at what Buffalo did to them, and they had to practically hand the game to them....We can beat Dallas, we have the talent to beat Dallas, it all depends how GW wants to use it on D, and how Joe and Al want to use it on offense...Dallas has always had problems with Cooley, their coverage is still mediocre at best.....Zone might have to be the way to go with Dallas, but blitzes need to be put in....Romo has trouble with the blitz right up the gut....Dallas is beatable, it depends on loosing the handcuffs and getting aggressive

Let me start off by saying that I enjoy talking football and I'm not here to talk trash. With that being said ...

I agree with your comment about Cooley. Dallas has always had problems with Cooley. With the way the Dallas offense is set up Roy Williams will likely be the one covering him which does not bode well for Dallas because Roy is probably the worst safety in coverage in the NFL. Cooley will get his yards without a doubt.

As for everything else in your post ... Ever since the game against Buffalo every team's fans have been saying that they will do to Dallas what the Bills did. Hasn't happened yet, and don't expect it to happen this week. Romo definitely does not have problems with the blitz, in fact he's at his best when he's chased out of the pocket. He's probably the most acurate passer in the NFL when throwing on the run. Witten is his favorite target when teams employ a zone defense.

It's going to be a great game this week. I always LOVE watching the Cowboys and Skins play. Usually when these two teams play records go out the window.

[skinsfan36]

i believe but my believe has taken a hit with no rogers(playing very well) for the year,taylor,thomas out until mid december most likely. but hey we should beat minnesota,tampa,buffalo,chicago,dallas once hey thats 10-6 but im not getting my hopes up until we have all new coaches other then bugel

[MikeBass]

i believe but my believe has taken a hit with no rogers(playing very well) for the year,taylor,thomas out until mid december most likely. but hey we should beat minnesota,tampa,buffalo,chicago,dallas once hey thats 10-6 but im not getting my hopes up until we have all new coaches other then bugel

What really will all new coaches do for the fans unless we are willing to except losing for another few years?...How many times have we changed coaches in the past 10 years?

Now we are talking about redoing the hole staff again. Along with new the staff we are probably going to have 2 new linemen, a new outside LB and a new corner on defense. Jansen will be replaced at tackle and we will need a new guard and a upgrade at receiver. Some of these positions will be manned by rookies who should not be expected to carry the team.

We are going to have to have some continuity in this program instead of trying to hang everyone after a year or two of bad luck. It may be time for Gibbs to go as I think that he may be planning on doing after this season anyways but we are going to have to patient with someone soon or a later until this team is built back into a winning franchise.

[give_portis_the_rock]

Here's something optimistic. It's already been said repeatedly, but JC had a good game. Watching him on my HDTV on Sunday, I noticed his physique is similar to Peyton's and Tom's. That can't hurt. Compared to JC, other QBs look short and squat and panicked. I like a tall QB.

Also, I have fallen in love with the white game jerseys. The gold outline of the burgundy numbers, the 75th anniversary logo, everything. I'm going to have to pick a number and buy one. It will have to be #17, because he isn't going anywhere for a very long time. Hail!

He's taller than Brady actually, aint he?
I think Brady is 6'3", Campbell is 6'5" easy. And he is much more athletic than either of them.
But have you ever seen such a young QB make such good decisions? This kid is really special, we'd be idiots to let him go.

I like the 75th anniversary throwback uniforms a lot, when's the next game we wear them?

And I hope the Boys where white as usual, because I like the burgandy better than the white uniforms. And I don't like it that we follow a trend started by the BOYS of all teams.

[Skins7ny]

I think Campbell could even be better than Theismann

Optimism? The best reason for optimism is Campbell. I agree that, health permitting, he will be even better than Theismann (and I love Theismann).

We are set at QB for the next 10 years, assuming that we don't alienate JC with our front office shenanigans the way we did Champ. When you have a good QB, you can build around him, and his excellence can mask some other holes on your roster. When you don't have a good QB, you have to have everything else on your roster working perfectly, and there is very little margin for error week-to-week. Without a good QB, you are unlikely to be much more than a 8 or 9 win team. With a good QB, the sky is the limit.

We have a good QB. He cannot carry the team yet (like McNabb has carried his team), but he is progressing to that point. That is the best reason for optimism yet.

I also am hopeful that Danny will stop beating his (and ours) heads against the walls and hire a GM when Joe Gibbs steps aside.

[Skaggsrules]

Let me start off by saying that I enjoy talking football and I'm not here to talk trash. With that being said ...

I agree with your comment about Cooley. Dallas has always had problems with Cooley. With the way the Dallas offense is set up Roy Williams will likely be the one covering him which does not bode well for Dallas because Roy is probably the worst safety in coverage in the NFL. Cooley will get his yards without a doubt.

As for everything else in your post ... Ever since the game against Buffalo every team's fans have been saying that they will do to Dallas what the Bills did. Hasn't happened yet, and don't expect it to happen this week. Romo definitely does not have problems with the blitz, in fact he's at his best when he's chased out of the pocket. He's probably the most acurate passer in the NFL when throwing on the run. Witten is his favorite target when teams employ a zone defense.

It's going to be a great game this week. I always LOVE watching the Cowboys and Skins play. Usually when these two teams play records go out the window.

I was saying with the blitzing, blitz with McIntosh or even Landry right up the gut, and have the DE hold contain, trying to limit the amount of running Romo can do....though if Dallas can establish Marion Barber, it'll probably free up Romo more, and Witten is the offensive player that scares me the most...TO doesn't like to do much vs. the Skins, but Sean Taylor won't be playing.....I still think the Skins can, because any team can win any game in the NFL.

[CNYSkinFan]

I am not a believer yet, but I look at the schedule and definitely see many ways we can still make the playoffs. We aren't winning the NFC East though, that is the Cowboys. And I think it is safe to say the other division winners are Green Bay (North), Seattle (West) Tampa (south)

The Detroit Lions and NY Giants both are 6-3. We are only one game out of the wildcard spot and every other team is at least 2 games out of the wildcard spot.

We have a head to head tiebreaker over Detroit if they lose one more game then we do down the stretch. They play Green Bay twice, San Diego, Dallas, and the Giants in upcoming games.

We have a game left against the Giants and if we beat them in the Meadowlands finish with the same record we would own the NFC division tiebreaker over them (both of us have 3 NFC losses right now)

If somehow the Saints catch Tampa forcing them into the wildcard race, we play Tampa and with a win could get a head to head tiebreaker on them.

Now for the guys behind us:

Arizona (4-5) We own a head to head tiebreaker on them
Philadelphia Eagles (4-5) They have 5 NFC losses, we have the edge there
Chicago Bears (4-5) We play them head to head and must win this game

The only two teams I am worried about is Crolina and New Orleans. Carolina only has 2 NFC losses and NO has only 3 (tieing us). We play neither of them and so we go down to common opponents and strength of victory permutations that cannot be done right now.

The bad news is we play the Cowboys twice and the Giants in the Meadowlands. All three are probably losses as it stands right now, and NFC losses at that. We need to steal one, more likely two of these, starting with this week.

[Hr fan]

I think Campbell could even be better than Theismann

Agree. Theismann was a beautiful system QB once he became dedicated to being a system QB. IMHO Campbell has shown that he can adapt to a number of systems, 5 in 6 years, and is probably worth building a system around his abilities. BTW, my memory (no longer a strong point) remembers Theismann beinbg drafted by the Dolphins and subsequently, not immediately, being traded to us.

[Skins7ny]

Agree. Theismann was a beautiful system QB once he became dedicated to being a system QB. IMHO Campbell has shown that he can adapt to a number of systems, 5 in 6 years, and is probably worth building a system around his abilities. BTW, my memory (no longer a strong point) remembers Theismann beinbg drafted by the Dolphins and subsequently, not immediately, being traded to us.

Correct. We did not draft Theismann, Miami did, in 1971 (4th round). He played in the CFL and we aquired his rights in 1974. He returned punts here for a while, and Sonny and Billy (and much of the rest of the team) hated his guts. I think because of his pedigree from Notre Dame, and the fact that he pronounced himself the starter (or the skins' best QB) when he arrived. I am not sure about that last part.

The best QB we have ever drafted was Sammy Baugh, hands down. In the modern era, it is a very short list. Rypien and Humphries both starred in the league for a while. Humphries' career as a starter was cut short by injury, and Rypien's supply of fairy dust ran out.