The Tempered Expectations Thread

Come on man, let us have a few months of unbridled optimism before the season starts and all our dreams slip away lol. No, but you're right, we should all be cautiously optimistic and the best we can do at this point is hope to get better

Yes, yes, yes!

My personality is too similar to Spock's. I can't get too high and can't get too low. Dare I say I'm naturally... medium? I totally agree with you Scud. There are areas where Shanahan can make an immediate impact, but others will take much longer.

Immediate Impact:
- Discipline. Players will toe the line or lose their jobs.

- Respect in the locker room. He brings immediate leadership credibility, so those in the locker room who didn't respect Zorn will respect Shanahan.

- Turnovers on defense. The switch away from Blache's scheme to a defensive coordinator who favors a more attacking style should help the turnover situation. This is not a certainty, we don't know who the new DC is yet, so we don't know the scheme. But if it happens, it will happen this year.

Long Term Impact:
- Offensive line personnel. Our line is so shitty that it will take multiple player acquisitions before it's built the way he wants.

- QB development. It will take Campbell or a new rookie more than one year to get up to speed.

- Running game scheme. Offensive linemen will be shuffling in and out of here over the next two years. Installing the new scheme for the running game will take time as the new line gels.

In the NFL, you can put together a decent season just by playing disciplined and winning the turnover battle. So it's possible Shanahan turns in a 9-7 season in 2010. I'm definitely not hoping for any better than that until 2011 and beyond.

Peter King and Randy Cross this morning were talking about the OL on NFL radio, and they were discussing the fact that it doesn't take as long to get the zone blocking scheme up and running effectively over man schemes. I guess because it's more scheme over talent.

I go back to when Marty Schottenheimer was hired. Yes, he started the season 0-5, but he turned the season around and got the Redskins playing disciplined, hard nosed football. The team finished 8-8. It wasn't THAT talented of a group either. Imagine what Schottenheimer could have done if allowed the time to stay and build the team. So, the BIGGEST mistake of Snyder's tenure here was firing Schotty before he even got started. This coaching carousel probably wouldn't have happened if he would have allowed Marty another season to build the team.

This is sort of a similar situation in that Shanahan is going to have final say with talent, much like Marty did. Like Matty said, this just seems much different on the surface than the other hires, including Joe Gibbs. I definitely expect an immediate improvement with this team come 2010. Like what Schneed said, I don't expect the Redskins to be completely built into a championship team come next season, but I do expect the team to be improved enough that playoffs (lol why do I hear Jim Mora's voice in my head) wouldn't be out of the question. I too think a 9-7 record is possible, which I would take in his first year over a 4-12 record any day of the week!

Good thread GM...It demonstrates the power of positive thinking. I read all three of the links before going to bed last night, all three authors have consistently over the years pointed out the very same things they're demonstrating here.

Experience has taught me to always temper optimism and high hopes in exchange for common sense, patience and reality. People always get excited when change takes place, moreso when they've convinced themselves that the change they're moving into is going to be better than the one they're moving away from.

Someone, I think it was Landry44 posed the question; Why do people continue to think Snyder will not step back and let Allen & Shanahan run the show? Well the answer is simple, because his track record does not show that to be what he does. "Maybe" things will be different this time around, we don't know yet, but we will certainly find out. So it's only fair to those who are throughly convinced to share their moment. Many are and will remain in the W&S mode which based on all the things we've seen transpire here when it comes to coaches coming and going is an understandable attitude to take.

I am not going to get too excited over the beginning of the Shanahan era just yet, like many of you, I will wait to see the product on the field. However, I think it is entirely reasonable to expect Shanahan to work this team into a wild card berth next year.
The Super Bowl (or even contending for one) is several years (and several players) away from becoming a reality, but perrenial contention for the NFC East should be an immediate reality.

shanaMAN!

i'm just glad we true professionals running the team. that's all we can ask for at this point.

Let's just call it the debbie downer thread, lol, j/k Is anyone else worried that we'll see an improved team this year, with around 7 to 9 wins, that will be looking great for the future only to have a lock out over the labor agreement that cancels the 2011 season?

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=73822&d=1258470173

i'm just glad we true professionals running the team. that's all we can ask for at this point.

Exactly...funny how people dont mention the name Snyder in their complaining, he has proven to be one of two common denamenators in steady decline of this franchise and one of the worst owners in all of sports. Its ok to say it, by not it almost a defense to him. Dont understand it.

But Im thrilled at this point and like it was mentioned before above, "this change feels different" and I think Danny Boy has finally "got it": he knows nothing about football and building a championship team.

Bruce Allen is a class act, Im thrilled and actually proud. This is the best organizational move since hiring Joe Gibbs the first time. HTTR