Why I feel there is reason for concern:

Well I guess gibbs and company are infallible and know everything in a league full of question marks. That's basically what you're saying.

Not infallible, but when Gibbs starts camp late, I think he knows what he's doing.

When the coaches don't show anything in the preseason, I think they know what they're doing.

Generally speaking, Gibbs and company know a thing or two about running a NFL team, a hell of a lot more than we do in fact, wouldn't you agree?

From an outsider's point of view, we as fans really don't know jack shit when it comes to what's going on behind the scenes.

I don't doubt the coaches know a lot more about football than the rest of us, but I seriously doubt the coaches are telling the first team to go out there and look as substandard as possible tonight.

Vince Lombardi once said:
"Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect."

I don't doubt the coaches know a lot more about football than the rest of us, but I seriously doubt the coaches are telling the first team to go out there and look as substandard as possible tonight.

Of course not. I won't deny the overall effort needs to improve. But I'll guarantee that the coaches are looking at these performances from an entirely different angle than we are.

We're so focused on what the team does and at this point that really isn't important. The coaches on the other hand are looking at evaluating individual performances.

This info from Saunders sums it up perfectly

Sure, he would like to see more production from the starting offense during the preseason, but more important is their performance beginning with the Sept. 11 opener.

"The thing we try to keep in perspective is that everybody -- players, coaches, fans -- wants to win, but the most important part of the preseason games is that it's another practice to develop consistency and technique," Saunders said before practice yesterday at Redskin Park. "A lot of guys improved from the week before, which was encouraging."

The Redskins' first-team offense has played 26 snaps in two games and has yet to score. Its snaps have been limited to prevent injuries, and the game plan has been as plain as possible.

"Most of what we do from a preparation and play-calling standpoint is designed for us to get an evaluation of players doing specific things," Saunders said. "We devised some plays for Mike Sellers so we could see him lead block and see him run the ball, and we did the same for Antwaan Randle El to put him on the perimeter. We were pleased with some of the individual phases of what we're trying to accomplish."

The starters will play more against New England on Saturday night.

"There are things we can fix and things we're looking forward to getting better at the next couple weeks," Saunders said.

VERY valid concerns.

I do however agree with Matty's post saying some teams don't like to show anything in the preseason.

Offense concerns:

Saunders' offenses have not been impressive in ANY preseasons:

2005 Chiefs Preseason record: 0-4 18.25 pts./gm.
2005 Chiefs Regular Season record: 10-6 25.19 pts./gm.

2004 Chieifs Preseason record: 1-3 21.75 pts./gm.
2004 Chiefs Regular Season record: 7-9 30.19 pts./gm.

2003 Chiefs Preseason record: 3-2 18.8 pts./gm.
2003 Chiefs Regular Season record: 13-3 30.25 pts./gm.

Normally I wouldn't compare our preseasons to other teams', but this is our new offense.



Defense concerns:

Preseason is not an indicator of how the defense will play in the regular season either. Last year under Gregg Williams our D was better in the regular season. In past years, it was the opposite:

2005 Redskins Preseason: 1-3 18.31 pts. against/gm.
2005 Redskins Regular Season: 10-6 22.00 pts. against/gm.

2004 Redskins Preseason: 3-2 15.00 pts. against/gm.
2004 Redskins Regular Season: 6-10 13.60 pts. against/gm.

2003 Redskins Preseason: 1-3 23.25 pts. against/gm.
2003 Redskins Regular Season: 5-11 15.00 pts. against/gm.





So,what's my point for these calculations?

We have GREAT coaches running things. They know what they're doing. KC panicked when they lost Holmes and look what Saunders' offense did for Larry Johnson and the team. We MAY be without Portis for one week, probably not though. Our offensive line is all here unlike last year. Jason Campbell looks like he'll be a great NFL QB. He was handled properly instead of turning into another Alex Smith or Joey Harrington, being thrown into the fire right away and failing miserably...probably derailing their career from what it could have been.

We improved our defense in the offseason after being one of the top defenses last year. Carter and Arch will be huge.

Even last year, our defense was dismantled by injuries and Williams plugged in unknown guys to most people and they still outperformed the other teams' starters. Springs will be back. Griffin will be back. The Vince Lombardi tropy will be back in Gibbs' hands.

Our team has not shown us a great deal to be excited about this preseason. And you certainly have the right to be concerned and pull out your worry beads.

However, this appears to be Coach Gibbs style in the preseason. No team deserves to be crowned the class of the division until they earn that title on the gridiron. I'm holding off on the coronation ceremony, but I'm optimistically checking on good seating for that event.

There is a lot of football yet to be played, injury situations to addressed, game planning to be established, etc.. I would caution against drawing bold conclusions about the upcoming season based on the preseaon play. I don't look at this as 'Tune Up Time" but rather as "Audition Time". We can all relax and laugh at some of the poor audtions and appreciate the players with talent.

Cheers!

I don't doubt the coaches know a lot more about football than the rest of us, but I seriously doubt the coaches are telling the first team to go out there and look as substandard as possible tonight.

I also seriously doubt Saunders will run every play from the I-formation without any motion all year and that Randel El will suddenly be banned from running trick plays.

:)

How many of you were beating your chests and proclaiming "destination: Super Bowl" after the Spurrier beat down of San Fransisco a few years back in the preseason?? Be honest. How much did that game "mean"? We LOOKED great. Tell me about that superbowl season, there sparky.
It's preseason. end of friggin' story. Talk to me week 5.

How many of you were beating your chests and proclaiming "destination: Super Bowl" after the Spurrier beat down of San Fransisco a few years back in the preseason?? Be honest. How much did that game "mean"? We LOOKED great. Tell me about that superbowl season, there sparky.
It's preseason. end of friggin' story. Talk to me week 5.

Not me! :D

Saunders' offenses have not been impressive in ANY preseasons:

2005 Chiefs Preseason record: 0-4 18.25 pts./gm.
2005 Chiefs Regular Season record: 10-6 25.19 pts./gm.

2004 Chieifs Preseason record: 1-3 21.75 pts./gm.
2004 Chiefs Regular Season record: 7-9 30.19 pts./gm.

2003 Chiefs Preseason record: 3-2 18.8 pts./gm.
2003 Chiefs Regular Season record: 13-3 30.25 pts./gm.



Williams Defense:

2005 Redskins Preseason: 1-3 18.31 pts. against/gm.
2005 Redskins Regular Season: 10-6 22.00 pts. against/gm.

2004 Redskins Preseason: 3-2 15.00 pts. against/gm.
2004 Redskins Regular Season: 6-10 13.60 pts. against/gm.

2003 Redskins Preseason: 1-3 23.25 pts. against/gm.
2003 Redskins Regular Season: 5-11 15.00 pts. against/gm.






The above is simply another indicator why this is the best talk forum on the planet, heck, in the galaxy, greater heck, the entire Universe!

This Totally ROCKS !

Not to mention, PS proves nothing regarding RS results!

The above is simply another indicator why this is the best talk forum on the planet, heck, in the galaxy, greater heck, the entire Universe!

This Totally ROCKS !

Not to mention, PS proves nothing regarding RS results!

Thanks.

Either that or it just confirms that I'm a numbers geek. Not just sports stats, numbers for ANYTHING...sports, economics, hot dog eating projections...

Of course, being an accountant who does some statistic work as part of my job will do that.

Yeah, we are a lot more intellectual than the NY Giants forum! :D