Top 10 reasons why the Skins won't win 10 games this year

Well, let us not forget that we had a chance of winning every single game we played in last year - nearly beating the Eagles....

The line was thin between having a winning season with a playoff appearance and the season that we had. If we were getting blown out of every single game we lost, then I would agree that things didn't work at all last year. Certainly, that wasn't the case.

Do we need to improve? Definitely of course!!! Do we need to open up our offense? You betcha!! Was our offense completely broken down last year? While very unproductive - it improved as the season went along but we definitely need to score more than 14 points in a ball game.

The point of this thread was for me to play devil's advocate to the thread I posted about the team winning 10 games, and actually it's kinda fun.

Schneed10, you point out John Riggins' per carry averages, but Portis is NOT John Riggins. If we continue to pound him into the line for 3 yards and a cloud of dust is that really productive and playing to his strengths?

Somebody else pointed out the MLB depth to take over for Pierce, let me address that one. Barrow missed all of last season with a mysterious injury and is no guarantee to even make the roster. Holdman couldn't hold down a job with the Browns. McCune is a manimal and looks great in pads, but can he actually play?? Yes Pierce was a one year starter but let's no overlook the outstanding job he did. I find it hard to believe his presence in the middle won't be missed on some level.

Someone said Moss doesn't miss games? Checking on NFL.com it appears he's missed a few starts over the last two seasons. I do know that he's been frequently banged up with hamstring injuries. Also, weren't the Jets ready to demote him to their #3 WR this year?

As for Patten, facts are facts, the guy has been a career backup. Yes he knows how to play in this league but the jury is still out as to whether he can be a WR that can be counted on game in and game out. Perhaps there's a legit reason he's been a career backup?

I don't know why people do not give Williams and our D credit for their success.They over achieved is just wrong. Williams took mostly average players and tought them how to play their position and the position of other players. He could plug in the player he wanted for the formation he was running. They stuck to their assignments and made the play. They swarmed to the ball and gang tackled on almost every play. Our D was probably under more presure than any D in the league and played their asses off.They will even be better this year with another year in the system.

I don't know why people do not give Williams and our D credit for their success.They over achieved is just wrong. Williams took mostly average players and tought them how to play their position and the position of other players. He could plug in the player he wanted for the formation he was running. They stuck to their assignments and made the play. They swarmed to the ball and gang tackled on almost every play. Our D was probably under more presure than any D in the league and played their asses off.They will even be better this year with another year in the system.

Nice post. They were fun as hell to watch weren't they?

With Devil's Advocates and Hell mentioned in this thread, it has gone..............













Downhill!

But where's HermosaBeach Skinsfan with his Top 10 reasons why the Skins WILL win 10 games this year list? That would make the mirror image thread complete. Or can HermosaBeach only see the glass as half empty?

if the football gods really had such a big influence im sure they would be in snyders pocket by now

Schneed10, you point out John Riggins' per carry averages, but Portis is NOT John Riggins. If we continue to pound him into the line for 3 yards and a cloud of dust is that really productive and playing to his strengths?

I'm glad you did play devil's advocate because the discussion was getting a little thin since there hasn't been any news lately.

I definitely don't think we should just keep running the bunched formation plays with Portis all the time, you're right he's definitely not built like a grinder. My only point was to say that Riggins never got us more than 4 yards per carry, and yet we won a Super Bowl that way.

Now, that's not to say we can't (or shouldn't) get more out of Clinton Portis. Portis is more talented than Riggins was, he's just not as tough as old number 44. We can get Portis back to 4.5 yards per carry if we play to his strengths, and we definitely should do so by running zone-blocking stretch plays, because it should ratchet up his yards per carry and take some of the burden off the questionable passing game.

And that really is the key. With Riggins running sub-4 yards, we were able to win because we had Joey T, Art Monk, and tremendous pass protection amongst other offensive weapons. When you have a passing game that good, you don't need a guy picking up a first down every time you hand off. But Patrick Ramsey, Santana Moss, and our dirtbags don't quite compare to that passing game. So if we expect to do something, we still need to rely on Portis.

Now that's not to say Ramsey is incapable of stepping up, but I do agree with you that improving the running game is important to our success. But (at the risk of stating the obvious) our passing game is where we need to make the most improvement. If Ramsey does make the Drew Brees leap, a 3.8 ypc from Portis would be just fine.

4.5 would be better though :biggthump

The point of this thread was for me to play devil's advocate to the thread I posted about the team winning 10 games, and actually it's kinda fun.

Schneed10, you point out John Riggins' per carry averages, but Portis is NOT John Riggins. If we continue to pound him into the line for 3 yards and a cloud of dust is that really productive and playing to his strengths?

Somebody else pointed out the MLB depth to take over for Pierce, let me address that one. Barrow missed all of last season with a mysterious injury and is no guarantee to even make the roster. Holdman couldn't hold down a job with the Browns. McCune is a manimal and looks great in pads, but can he actually play?? Yes Pierce was a one year starter but let's no overlook the outstanding job he did. I find it hard to believe his presence in the middle won't be missed on some level.

Someone said Moss doesn't miss games? Checking on NFL.com it appears he's missed a few starts over the last two seasons. I do know that he's been frequently banged up with hamstring injuries. Also, weren't the Jets ready to demote him to their #3 WR this year?

As for Patten, facts are facts, the guy has been a career backup. Yes he knows how to play in this league but the jury is still out as to whether he can be a WR that can be counted on game in and game out. Perhaps there's a legit reason he's been a career backup?

Not trying to argue too much Matty, but who would have cared at all about Pierce at this time last year? Williams made Pierce shine. Pierce was a good fit for Williams. That said, I think that Pierce had a career year last season and someone will step up and fill that spot. Maybe not as well, but maybe even better. I'm really on the fence trying to determine the truth behind Pierce's great season.

As for Moss, I checked NFL.com. He played 15 game in 2002, 16 in 2003, 15 in 2004. The real question is does he fit Gibbs offense. Coles was not used to the best of his abilities and will probably do better in NY. Maybe the same can be said for Moss. I trust Gibbs knows what he is doing there.

As for Patten, your right... he is a career backup. I think that Jacobs has a good chance at stealing the #2 receiver position from him this year, but that would be a good thing. As a #3, Patten has proved he can really wreck havock. If he can catch the ball, he is at least an improvement over Gardner.

Well, let us not forget that we had a chance of winning every single game we played in last year - nearly beating the Eagles....


Over the last say 4 years, how many games have we been totally blown out in? Spurrier kept most of the games very close, as did Marty. If the Redskins were winning close games we'd be the Patriots.