Portis: Redskins will be among top five teams

This team has the talent. Maybe Gibbs retiring is what we needed to bring in some fresh ideas on how to better us this talent. Take for example. When our line has a blocking meeting now Zorn has our WR's sitting in on these meetings to learn what everyone is doing on these plays. I have heard of other things he is doning to have all of our payers on the same page and not each little group off on theri own. I think the Skins will surprise the NFL this season and start it off by blowing the Giants away in the first game. I feel that could really set the tone for the entire year. What I just said can be thrown out the window if JC does not take his game to the next level.

This team has the talent. Maybe Gibbs retiring is what we needed to bring in some fresh ideas on how to better us this talent. Take for example. When our line has a blocking meeting now Zorn has our WR's sitting in on these meetings to learn what everyone is doing on these plays. I have heard of other things he is doning to have all of our payers on the same page and not each little group off on theri own. I think the Skins will surprise the NFL this season and start it off by blowing the Giants away in the first game. I feel that could really set the tone for the entire year. What I just said can be thrown out the window if JC does not take his game to the next level.

Interesting, though really not all that surprising, tidbit from ProFootballWeekly:

"Our sources tell us that there has been far less friction in Redskins Park so far this offseason since Jim Zorn has taken over. The root of the earlier stress, we are told, was Gregg Williams, who at times seemed to undermine the authority of Joe Gibbs, creating an awkward work environment at times. Zorn, we are told, has earned the respect of the veterans and is being treated as a nice guy who is not a pushover and is both competitive and intense."

I don't know that Williams necessarily undermined Gibbs' authority he just ran his own side carte blanche, but I think that was sort of the way Gibbs wanted it. I think with most any other head coach that would have been a very bad situation. I think the bigger problem was when Saunders was thrown into the mix. Anyhow, I don't really want to rehash all of this. Just wanted to toss in that nugget from PFW.

Interesting, though really not all that surprising, tidbit from ProFootballWeekly:

"Our sources tell us that there has been far less friction in Redskins Park so far this offseason since Jim Zorn has taken over. The root of the earlier stress, we are told, was Gregg Williams, who at times seemed to undermine the authority of Joe Gibbs, creating an awkward work environment at times. Zorn, we are told, has earned the respect of the veterans and is being treated as a nice guy who is not a pushover and is both competitive and intense."

I don't know that Williams necessarily undermined Gibbs' authority he just ran his own side carte blanche, but I think that was sort of the way Gibbs wanted it. I think with most any other head coach that would have been a very bad situation. I think the bigger problem was when Saunders was thrown into the mix. Anyhow, I don't really want to rehash all of this. Just wanted to toss in that nugget from PFW.

It's definitely an interesting take. We'll see how that translates to results on the field.

I'm w/ ya'll who love the confidence out of CP. I don't think he's blowin smoke here - I see a lot of reasons to be confident. Our defense should be just as good as last year's if not better. I say that because the d-line could really start to be a factor if A. Mont develops the way our coaches have anticipated and w/ P. Daniels in better shape than ever before (everybody's watched the power lifting comps and heard him talk about offseason fitness, right?). We should be just as strong elsewhere defensively too and possibly even better in the secondary.

So IMO our offense is the wild card, but holy shit do we have a lot of weapons. Two-tight-end-sets; 4 and 5 WR sets; CP ready to start ballin'; and a o-line w/ a healthy RT and another year of experience for the back-ups.

Skins could be the best story in football for '08.

I'm w/ ya'll who love the confidence out of CP. I don't think he's blowin smoke here - I see a lot of reasons to be confident. Our defense should be just as good as last year's if not better. I say that because the d-line could really start to be a factor if A. Mont develops the way our coaches have anticipated and w/ P. Daniels in better shape than ever before (everybody's watched the power lifting comps and heard him talk about offseason fitness, right?). We should be just as strong elsewhere defensively too and possibly even better in the secondary.

So IMO our offense is the wild card, but holy shit do we have a lot of weapons. Two-tight-end-sets; 4 and 5 WR sets; CP ready to start ballin'; and a o-line w/ a healthy RT and another year of experience for the back-ups.

Skins could be the best story in football for '08.


It could go this way. But since there is an entirely new system on offense you have to give it some time. I would be thrilled if this offense took off from the get-go, but you can't expect that. It could take a whole season for the Skins to really take command of the offense.

if we can win those close games instead of letting teams come back. last year we blew tampa bay buffalo giants dallas thats 13 wins

Careful with your verbs.

One thing I like about this thread is that there is very little contention, and that is out of the ordinary for a "preseason-predictions" thread (hell, it's out of the ordinary for any thread). It's great to hear that CP is optimistic, and I think we all appreciate it. As far as being a top 5 team, few of us really believe that, but it is great to see people express something other than a "best case scenario outlook" without getting lambasted for being "anti-Redskins," which is so often the case. I think it all reflects a calmer attitude in the Redskin community, and I believe a lot of it has to do with not having to deal with the stress of having Gibbs on the sideline; most would agree that he is universally recognized as the greatest person in the organization's history, and if not irrefutably the greatest, then at least arguably so. But it felt as though, every week, his legacy was on the line, and though he certainly lived up to it (in my opinion), the stress was nonetheless very high.
Now we go into a new year, with a new coach, and with very little on the line; on top of that, we are re-building somewhat, and there is no urgency to win NOW! Who here thinks that we will win less games in '09 than in '08? Very few people, I'm guessing, and that is a great feeling! And the importance of this is that this year we can watch and see how Zorn and Campbell and Co. develop, knowing full well that there is a learning curve, and that the future is around the corner, and the team will continue to progress. But there is less urgency, and less tension, and as a result the season can be more enjoyable (granted, urgency and tension brought us to the playoffs 2 of the last 3 seasons, which was more than the previous 11, so I might be eating my words in a few months!).
I miss Gibbs and I'm psyched to see Zorn take his place, and yet I don't feel any internal contradiction for having these seemingly opposite sentiments. Go Skins.

Hog Heaven | MVN - A Washington Redskins blog » Blog Archive » Portis: Redskins will be among top five teams (http://mvn.com/nfl-redskins/2008/06/27/portis-redskins-will-be-among-top-five-teams/)

What do you guys think? Bold prediction from CP... is he high or is he really convinced the Redskins can have a big season?

He says this stuff every freakin year... I'd like to see less talk and more action.

Luckily the season hinges on Jason Campbell's arm and not on Clinton Portis' mouth. Although I dig his confidence. I would love to see the Skins back among the elite, where they belong!

HAIL!!

He says this stuff every freakin year... I'd like to see less talk and more action.

hey, at least he does his part to make it happen every freakin year. i'd love to see some others follow his lead.