Bushead
01-04-2010, 05:14 PM
First and foremost, this is not some moan and groan post about Dan Snyder and the "evil" management that has held back the Redskins. This is more just a small discourse on the fans, media, and Redskins organization as whole constantly creating a aura, a brand if you will, of the "next season is THE season" mentality that crops up each and every year.
Suffice to say, the NFL does that anyways with each and every team; all NFL teams can usually compete against top tier teams and there is a small point differential in many games. But, with the redskins, there seems to be something more going on. The Redskins always seem to have this allure EVERY off-season that they are only one or two players away from breaking it big. I'm not saying fans, including myself, thought they would reach the Superbowl, but many of us were sure of at least a wild card bid several times out of the past 10 years.
To further this point (skipping some years for brevity):
2009: The addition of Albert Haynesworth will make our defense a top 5 force creating sacks and turnovers regardless of our poor depleted secondary without Shawn Springs, aging core, and lack of depth.
2006: Randel-El would help with the lack of talented WRs the 'Skins had and Archuleta would create pressure, and thus, more turnovers, and Andre Carter would finally generate that pass rush everyone had been looking for. None of these things happened (except the last one - finally)
2004: The core free agent class that is still mostly present today: two defensive Lineman in Phillips and Griffen with a solid CB of Shawn Springs and two additions through trade, Clinton Portis and Mark Brunell. This would not only make the Defense much better, but the offense would start scoring. One of those were correct.
2002: Linebacker upgrade! With Lavar, Jeremiah, and Jessie, our defense would be spectacular regardless of how horrible the Defensive Line was and wouldn't be able to keep lineman off of them.
After all of these free agent excursions, I was pumped for the season to begin because it seemed like the Redskin's time had finally come. Each season, coaches, fans, and players made it seem like it was only a player or two away, and some even said this. There was, for the past 10 years, an always seemingly teetering feel to the Redskins, as just one player might knock them over into a playoff bound streak.
Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and we all know now that this is not true. Many of these free agent pick ups were at the expense of completely ignoring vital positions. This in turn, made those free agent pick ups seem worthless; how is Jeremiah trotter really suppose to plug the hole with those scrubs in front of him? How is Mark Brunell suppose to pass for more than 20 yards with that protection?
And somehow, the smoke and mirrors continued to even this season. A complete lack of depth on many positions, a beat up RB, old O-Line, poor QB for the west coast, non-explosive WRs, poor secondary which injuries only made worse, and bad coaching were all things that we could see coming in. Yet, many of us, and I reiterate myself included, thought this was going to be a playoff year.
"We are going to build on last year and win another game or two to get there."
"In the system for the 2nd straight year, JC will be able to do what he needs to do to have a better season."
"Albert Haynesworth is going to make last year's defense excel; it will be dominate."
We all know, after this vicious 10 year cycle, what the Redskins have to do: take a 3+ year plan and slowly build that depth, talent, and athleticism that really needs to be at every position through more silent free agents and drafts - and not expect to win. The question more is, will we, as fans, accept this fact, and not buy into every free agent signing or new head coach that will be coming? Or, will the constant marketing machine of the Redskins continue to entice us each new season with players that won't help and publicity that is superficial?
Suffice to say, the NFL does that anyways with each and every team; all NFL teams can usually compete against top tier teams and there is a small point differential in many games. But, with the redskins, there seems to be something more going on. The Redskins always seem to have this allure EVERY off-season that they are only one or two players away from breaking it big. I'm not saying fans, including myself, thought they would reach the Superbowl, but many of us were sure of at least a wild card bid several times out of the past 10 years.
To further this point (skipping some years for brevity):
2009: The addition of Albert Haynesworth will make our defense a top 5 force creating sacks and turnovers regardless of our poor depleted secondary without Shawn Springs, aging core, and lack of depth.
2006: Randel-El would help with the lack of talented WRs the 'Skins had and Archuleta would create pressure, and thus, more turnovers, and Andre Carter would finally generate that pass rush everyone had been looking for. None of these things happened (except the last one - finally)
2004: The core free agent class that is still mostly present today: two defensive Lineman in Phillips and Griffen with a solid CB of Shawn Springs and two additions through trade, Clinton Portis and Mark Brunell. This would not only make the Defense much better, but the offense would start scoring. One of those were correct.
2002: Linebacker upgrade! With Lavar, Jeremiah, and Jessie, our defense would be spectacular regardless of how horrible the Defensive Line was and wouldn't be able to keep lineman off of them.
After all of these free agent excursions, I was pumped for the season to begin because it seemed like the Redskin's time had finally come. Each season, coaches, fans, and players made it seem like it was only a player or two away, and some even said this. There was, for the past 10 years, an always seemingly teetering feel to the Redskins, as just one player might knock them over into a playoff bound streak.
Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and we all know now that this is not true. Many of these free agent pick ups were at the expense of completely ignoring vital positions. This in turn, made those free agent pick ups seem worthless; how is Jeremiah trotter really suppose to plug the hole with those scrubs in front of him? How is Mark Brunell suppose to pass for more than 20 yards with that protection?
And somehow, the smoke and mirrors continued to even this season. A complete lack of depth on many positions, a beat up RB, old O-Line, poor QB for the west coast, non-explosive WRs, poor secondary which injuries only made worse, and bad coaching were all things that we could see coming in. Yet, many of us, and I reiterate myself included, thought this was going to be a playoff year.
"We are going to build on last year and win another game or two to get there."
"In the system for the 2nd straight year, JC will be able to do what he needs to do to have a better season."
"Albert Haynesworth is going to make last year's defense excel; it will be dominate."
We all know, after this vicious 10 year cycle, what the Redskins have to do: take a 3+ year plan and slowly build that depth, talent, and athleticism that really needs to be at every position through more silent free agents and drafts - and not expect to win. The question more is, will we, as fans, accept this fact, and not buy into every free agent signing or new head coach that will be coming? Or, will the constant marketing machine of the Redskins continue to entice us each new season with players that won't help and publicity that is superficial?