Is the Redskins' Window starting to Open?

no doubt, young team with a franchise QB.. We will be good for the next 5 to 7 years

It all goes with KC and Joe Barry. If KC executes the offense we will contend and Barry is a competent DC (I have my doubts), then this team will contend every year. I think within the division we could get a bit of a streak going. Both Dallas and NYG are behind the power curve qb-wise, and Philly seems to think they know something the rest of the league doesn't. With SM guiding the player acquisition, you can see this whole team has been shaped far differently in the past. I am definitely excited.

The window is definitely unlocked. It will be at least cracked open after another successful season.

the offense was good enough until the playoff game where kirk went into super safe mode. so it really hinges on defensive improvement.

I think with cousins is I equate much of last year to somewhat of a rookie playing year. He really played different after the Tampa game. I can't wait to see the growth when he gets 100% of the reps as the starter all through out training camp and will have to answer little to no questions about Rg3.

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Yeah Kirk and Foles are on different levels, just based on my eyes. Foles never had me convinced while Cousins looks like the real thing.

My holdup is last years weak schedule and the fact we never beat a team with a winning record. I don't think it was a fluke season exactly but I would say we overachieved. Doubt we take a big enough step forward to be a serious Super Bowl contender this time around. Give it another year and the window will be wide open. Although if Kirk really is legit we should be a playoff contender again

NFL.com (8/13/2014): Nick Foles' growth has QB, Eagles facing sky-high expectations (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000377376/article/nick-foles-growth-has-qb-eagles-facing-skyhigh-expectations)
Bleacher Report (6/30/2014): Is Nick Foles Already a Top-10 Quarterback? (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2114168-is-nick-foles-already-a-top-10-quarterback)
4for4.com (7/26/2014): Nick Foles Has a Shot at Being Fantasy Football's #1 QB (http://www.4for4.com/fantasy-football/2014/preseason/nick-foles-has-shot-being-fantasy-footballs-1-qb)
(7/24/2014): Is Nick Foles the next Super Star Quarterback ? (https://sidelinesapp.com/item/is-nick-foles-the-next-super-star-quarterback/)

Fun to look back at the headlines from 2014 and put things in perspective. Their optimism in 2014 seems eerily similar to ours this year for Cousins.

BUT -- Completely agree Cousins seems different completely than Foles. Not a gimmick system, has great weapons / O-line stability / elite TE that should make things stable this year. And most importantly, we have Scott McC as GM instead of crazy Chip Kelly who got rid of the WRs/RBs and destroyed the team.

Cousins has been better than Foles since college, foles arm stregnth was always his best asset. Kirks a more cerebral student of the game and athletically he is just fine as well. IMO hes way ahead of foles and will continue to distance himself from these types of qbs

the offense was good enough until the playoff game where kirk went into super safe mode. so it really hinges on defensive improvement.

Kirk did that, or the offensive playcalling overall did that?

I think it was a strategic reaction by Gruden, McVay and Cousins deciding they had to get the ball out quick because the Packers pass rush was all over the place. Clay Matthews and Peppers gave us a hard time.

Which gets to your point about defensive improvement. There's such a difference between teams that bring consistent heat on the passer and teams that don't. We need Galette to wreck shop.

I think it is safe to say that the window is starting to open. It is certainly not fully open, but its getting there. You dont go from a dysfunctional team to the Super Bowl in one offseason. I think some good steps were made last year, and I believe we will take a few more this year. I like both draft classes from McC, although we havent seen this current one on the field yet so its hard to judge. But on paper, it looks good.

Kirk did that, or the offensive playcalling overall did that?

I think it was a strategic reaction by Gruden, McVay and Cousins deciding they had to get the ball out quick because the Packers pass rush was all over the place. Clay Matthews and Peppers gave us a hard time.

Which gets to your point about defensive improvement. There's such a difference between teams that bring consistent heat on the passer and teams that don't. We need Galette to wreck shop.

i'd have to go back and watch it, but at the time i remember thinking that kirk looked like a guy playing to protect his stats rather than win the game (ie, 5 yard completions on 3rd and 10, etc).

other guys outplayed us, so maybe it's moot, i just remember being a bit disappointed there.