Our Schedule...Did you know?

According to Boswell in today's Post, in the past 20 years, 18 teams have gone 4-12 and switched coaches. Their avg record is 7-9 so yes, I am being optimistic.

fair enough, but I think our talent was better than the 4-12 record indicated, and our coaching was seriously lacking. I think if you were to factor out teams where talent was the obvious issue - thus forcing a full scale rebuilding year, and also the cases where the coaches brought in were young or less than experienced, the avg might rise a bit. Yes I am suggesting skewing the stats so that it is more favorable, but also I think more realistic.

Out of those 18 teams, how many changed to a proven coach?
How many switched FO models so dramatically, from true dysfunction to highly regarded?

I think a lot of 4-12 teams bring in new coaches and still chug along under the old m.o.

I'm not saying we are SB bound (yet) but I think we have a lot of reasons to expect a 9-11 win season, even against the averages.

I think we will win somewhere between 0 an 16 games, and I am willing to put some serious money down on it!

so 19 wins and you lose a ton. no offense but I am hoping you go broke :D

It's hard to find a few positives in an otherwise tough schedule. Yes, it is nice to have mid-season bye week and home games against tough opponents but at the end of the days the Skins have to produce on the field. Hopefully they will.

Shanahan's records in denver his last three years were 9-7, 7-9, and 8-8.

I think its somewhat unreasonable to expect him to take over a 4-12 team, turnover the coaching staff 90%, rehaul the entire offensive line, bring in a new quarterback, completely change pretty much everything about the defense from basic scheme to overall philosophy... yet have a record markedly better than when he had an established system with established coaches and a roster completely of his chosing.

I highly doubt that a Shanahan-coached team will ever be too far above (or below) .500. If he ever has an 11-5 or better season in DC, it will be in 3-4 years. To make matters worse for 2010, we've got one of the toughest schedules in the league (atleast based on our opponents 2009 rankings).

Anythings possible - look at what the Jets did last year (albeit with a ridiculously easy schedule). Every year one or two teams catch the league off guard. I'm expecting a 7-9 season and hoping for 9-7: anything better than that is simply unrealistic.

I am going out on a limb and say we go 11-5 (5-1) in the division including a W over Minnesota. Carolina whipped up on them last year when they were playing well. Sidney Rice wont be 100%. Brett Favre wont have the same year he had last year and Percy Harvin might get a migraine during the game.

Shanahan's records in denver his last three years were 9-7, 7-9, and 8-8.

I think its somewhat unreasonable to expect him to take over a 4-12 team, turnover the coaching staff 90%, rehaul the entire offensive line, bring in a new quarterback, completely change pretty much everything about the defense from basic scheme to overall philosophy... yet have a record markedly better than when he had an established system with established coaches and a roster completely of his chosing.

I highly doubt that a Shanahan-coached team will ever be too far above (or below) .500. If he ever has an 11-5 or better season in DC, it will be in 3-4 years. To make matters worse for 2010, we've got one of the toughest schedules in the league (atleast based on our opponents 2009 rankings).

Anythings possible - look at what the Jets did last year (albeit with a ridiculously easy schedule). Every year one or two teams catch the league off guard. I'm expecting a 7-9 season and hoping for 9-7: anything better than that is simply unrealistic.

Shanahan was also trying to wear too many hats in Denver, and had basically burnt out. I think he comes back and these first few years has several reasons to "prove" something. I think our low end has to be 8-8, splitting the division, winning games we should win ie Rams, Lions, Jags, Bucs and pulling an "upset" or two, ie Minnesota. That doesn't include beating teams like Chicago, Tennessee, or Houston where they may be very good or flops.

Since we have the benefit this year of a last place schedule I would not be surprised to see us be that team that bounces way high this year, then next year settles back even though we may be more talented next year than this.

Id be happy with 10-6. And a wildcard

I think we could win anywhere from 6-11 games. I do think even if we win 6 games we'll win the 6 games we're supposed to win. No more up and down. We'll be a solid team this year and if we can stay healthy I see no reason we can't win our division. We're not out of line talent-wise from the rest of the division.

Hate to agree with irish and spill the Kool-Aid, but our schedule based on last years records is the 8th hardest. The silver lining is that Dall-ass is 3rd, the Giants are 7th and the Iggles 9th.

2010 NFL Strength Of Schedule - (SOS), nfl schedules, fantasy football (http://www.capperspicks.com/blog/nfl/2010-strength-of-schedule-50519/)

It's real early, but here's what I see:

Cowboys - W
Texans - W
@ Rams - W
@ Eagles - L
Packers - L
Colts - L
@ Bears - W
@ Lions - W
Eagles - W
@ Titans - L
Vikings - L
@ Giants - L
Buccaneers - W
@ Cowboys - L
@ Jaguars - W
Giants - W

According to Boswell in today's Post, in the past 20 years, 18 teams have gone 4-12 and switched coaches. Their avg record is 7-9 so yes, I am being optimistic.

True. Boswell's argument was interesting in that I think it could be turned on its head just the same. Over the past 5-6 years or so each year at least 1 team makes a drastic worst-first turnaround. Of course most of the bad teams don't because they are that bad to begin with. But there is always a team or two poised to make a big leap in wins.

Coaching or a key personel move are often at the core of those turnarounds. I'm not sold that this team is ready for that big a year, so I'll agree that 9-7 is optimistic. I would be really shocked if this team can't win 6 games. Sadly even that is an improvement.