Victims of an extended preseason?

I think the team is catching heat and I think the coaches and players are concerned about their performance...I could be completely wrong but during the last preseason there were TONS of excuses, esp from the coaches regarding their poor performance in the offseason. I remember someone saying that they did not want to open up the playbook during the offseason. However, once the season started, we saw the same crap they had done during the offseason. So I hope this year is a bit better....but well we'll only know after the game next thurs. against the g-men.

Perhaps victims of a 6 and 10 team?

Sounds about right- not due to the final two games of the preseason, but due to the Rookie head coach and new system on both sides of the ball. Expecting anything more than 8 wins is extremely optimistic imho.

I do think this is part of the problem--lots of the mistakes out there were mental and effort issues. Now, you never want to see that and obviously Zorn was very upset by it. But that's the kind of thing that can come from the lack of focus after a long camp. In the NFL, it's all about momentum and mindset--I do think they will be better and more fired up next week.

About the playbook: it was vanilla on both sides. And on D they basically exposed their DBs to see how they would handle it (Zorn said as much in his post game presser). It will be better next week.

I have two big worries, though. How much better is better? Will we just be competitive or can we score some points, hit some big plays, and win some games in tight 4th quarters? We have NOT proven that at all and that's not just something you "turn on," at least not for this bunch. You have to develop that by actually winning some games with the teammates and playbook and coaches you have NOW. That's why this season is a question mark, and that's why we need to be patient.

My second worry is related: where are our LEADERS on this team? Where are the guys who will step up and make the game-changing play when it's all on the line? I'm not saying we don't have guys who can do it, but they need to do it with this team and these coaches. We need leaders on the field who can make the play that shifts the momentum in a game. Until I see that on the field from this bunch, I remain concerned.

I'm not panicking by a long shot, but this bunch has to show me something when it counts.

The reason for the preseason is to prepare the team for the regular season and player evaluation. So let's evaluate the 2008 Draft Picks.

WR Devin Thomas - Has shown nothing so far. Players with lesser ability (Maurice Mann, Billy McMullen) are getting open and making catches. He is not getting any separation and when he does get his hands on the ball, he is not catching it. I expect more out of the first pick in the draft.

TE Fred Davis - Looks very good. A very solid player that is making plays on offense and special teams. He is going to help the team right away.

WR Malcolm Kelly - Incomplete. Can't evaluate until I see him play.

OL Chad Rinehart - Good lineman. He will provide much needed depth on the offensive line.

CB Justin Tryon - Undersized and overmatched. He looks like the biggest bust in the 2008 draft.

P Durant Brooks - It's rare that a NFL team will use a draft pick on a punter. It's even worse when that punter might not win the job. If that happens, it's a wasted pick. Coach Zorn hasn't selected his starting punter yet, so I will save my judgment until then. Brooks has looked good in preseason and I prefer that the team keep him.

DB Kareem Moore - I am very impressed with his play. He may eventually be the starter before the year is over.

QB Colt Brennan - All he does is make plays. He does not have the prettiest mechanics but he gets the job done. This was the steal of the draft. Working under coach Zorn, he may develop into a real gem.

DE Rob Jackson - Looks good. Coach Zorn has a tough decision on which defensive ends make the 53 man roster. It's a toss up between Chris Wilson and Rob Jackson. If Rob Jackson is placed on the practice squad, another team will most likely pick him up.

FS Chris Horton - He looks like he will make the 53 man roster. A solid player.

I'm having a hard time believing that Tryon is the biggest bust in the entire league.

I'm having a hard time believing that Tryon is the biggest bust in the entire league.

Biggest bust in the redskins 2008 draft?

Biggest bust in the redskins 2008 draft?

I can buy that if that's what he meant.

I mentioned this after last week. It justs looks like we're going through the motions out there. Hell were dropping balls into the air for Safeties to pick. Cooley gets his ass rubbed and drops/fumbles a ball. JC has been just off in his throws. Our defense has lloked tired and uninterested. I by no means think our last two weeks mean nothing but I am somewhat confident that our play the last two weeks isn't indicative of total crapiness.

I think we're all going to have to be patient with Devin Thomas. Not many rookie draft picks step right on to the field and blow everybody away. These things take time. And Kelly has been injured so it's not really fair to say anything about his ability to play one way or the other. You can talk about how prepared he was conditioning-wise, but let's not write these guys off just yet.

I've never understood how people can excuse the team's poor performance on being "tired" of the doldrums of preseason.

Why can't they look sharp and be tired of the preseason? It shouldn't be mutually exclusive.

I think we're all going to have to be patient with Devin Thomas. Not many rookie draft picks step right on to the field and blow everybody away. These things take time. And Kelly has been injured so it's not really fair to say anything about his ability to play one way or the other. You can talk about how prepared he was conditioning-wise, but let's not write these guys off just yet.

I've never understood how people can excuse the team's poor performance on being "tired" of the doldrums of preseason.

Why can't they look sharp and be tired of the preseason? It shouldn't be mutually exclusive.

Just talking in general, if you're tired/bored with something, what is more likely to happen. You give it 110% or you slack off?