Offseason Power Rankings - # 29

Seriously. It's just to have SOMETHING to say. Put out a power poll after the first preseason game...

Matty, how do you expect the skins O to move up to a top 10 when they have done almost nothing to improve?

As much as I hate to say it, I think this poll is closer to being correct than being wrong. I doubt the skins will be 29th at the end of the season but I will be amazed if they can get to 15.

This is where we should be ranked... in May. We had, though not a disasterous offseason, certainly not one that made strides of improvement over last year's squad - and last year's squad left us picking 9th.

I don't think we are the third worst team in the league - far from it. But for the purposes of the May 2005 Power Rankings, we are what we are.

Whatever, its May.

My first reaction was to be pissed off, but the more I think about it, fine, let them put the Skins dead last! That way when we end up with a decent record and end up in the top 10, they all have to eat crow...and LOTS of it!!!
Seriously, when was the last time the Redskins dropped in power rankings after FA and the draft...at least this substantially? Watch teams like the Vikings and Cowboys that have "made great strides" this offseason flounder in mediocrity due to lack of chemistry. They are like this years Redskins as far as "winning" the offseason.
Our offseason has had a real "team" type of feel to it. No huge stars, but a lot of team-oriented guys that will make our team better. I think our special teams will be very good, which may make the difference in more than a couple games. I also think our offense will be improved....not super explosive, but we'll at least be able to put some points on the board. So if our D is anywhere close to last season, we should end up around 10-6...no worse than 9-7...

Who cares it's only May. Besides I like being the under dog!!!

:httr:

Matty, how do you expect the skins O to move up to a top 10 when they have done almost nothing to improve?

As much as I hate to say it, I think this poll is closer to being correct than being wrong. I doubt the skins will be 29th at the end of the season but I will be amazed if they can get to 15.

I think you're mixing me up with someone else, I didn't say anything about the offense going top 10.

My view is it's way to early for a power poll, it's just silly to rank teams right now.

What really matters, and what's not shown in this "power ranking" thing, is what I'll call the 3 C's= Coaching, Chemistry, and Continuity. For the first time in a long time, I feel good about these things. And, remember: we usually get over-ranked in these things in the offseason because of our wild, splashy offseason moves.

Here's what we did this offseason, Irish: we improved the O-line (Rabach, Jansen's return), we altered our receiving corps (Patten, Moss), we didn't break the bank on anyone, even though we lost some good players in Pierce and Smoot, and we drafted a CB replacement, some depth at LB and FB/H-back, and we got a QB prospect (Brunell's replacement, and insurance for Ramsey). Nothing here is on paper an upgrade, I'll admit, except Rabach. ANd given that we were 6-10, why should we move up in the polls (which are pretty subjective: what IS a power ranking???). BUt that's not what's going to matter. It's the three C's, the big one being coaching. If GIbbs gets it going on offense, we'll be good--a decent shot at a wild-card, is my bet. If not, it aint gonna happen, and all the flashy signings wouldn't change a thing.

I see parallels between us and last year Chargers team anyway. They fought their way to a 12-4 record with a strong defense, a dominant tailback, less than amazing receivers and a quarterback revitalized after everyone wrote him off in favor for the incoming rookie.

Now Clinton Portis isn't exactly Tomlinson (though you have to think he'll score more than 5 touchdowns this year) and Chris Cooley, though productive, is no Antonio Gates. But our defense is stronger I'd say, and I doubt many would argue that Gibbs is a superior coach to Schottenheimer. Now if Ramsey can just have himself a Brees 2004 season, we might be in business.

Sorry Matty, I confused you with Redskins Rat.

Why is it silly to rank teams now? With that logic it would be silly to ever rank teams (or talka about what the future holds) because nobody has any idea who will play, be injured, etc, no matter what time of the season it is.