Debunking top 3 myths about the '09 Redskins

[Paintrain]

1. The Redskins have the oldest, most injury prone OL in the division.
Actually the Cowboys have the oldest offensive line with no starter under 30 years old and an average age of 30.8. The Eagles have a younger offensive line but have 2 starters coming off of season ending injuries (Andrews-back and Andrews-torn ACL) and another addition that gave up 11.5 sacks (Peters). Samuels is the only Redskins OL that didn't finish the season last year and their average age is 29.8 years with 2 starters under 30.

2. The Redskins have the least productive returning receiving corp in the division.
If you read anything in any preseason magazine or on any website or listened to any sports radio you'd think we had Santana Moss and a bunch of camp bodies catching the ball. In reality, we have the most productive receiving group in the division. Here are the top 6 returning pass catchers (WR, TE, RB) for every team in the NFC East:
Eagles
214 receptions, 2839 yards, 15 TD

Giants
159 receptions, 1795 yards, 12 TD

Cowboys
232 receptions, 2585 yards, 15 TD

Redskins
280 receptions, 3024 yards, 11 TD

While we're behind on the TD passes, it's pretty clear that we have the most productive receiving group. By the way, the Redskins numbers don't include Kelly or Davis, both of whom are expected to contribute much more to the passing game.

3. The Haynesworth signing represents the 'same old Redskins' way of building a team and overall organizational instability. Of approximately 23 player additions to the roster over the past 3 years, 18 were either drafted or originally acquired by the Redskins (this includes Smoot and Dockery who returned in FA). The team is also the only one in the division who is returning it's entire coaching staff from last season and the only one who hasn't replaced their defensive coordinator from the start of last season.

I just wanted to throw some positive vibes and reality out there on the brink of training camp.

[MTK]

Good stuff man, good stuff

[SmootSmack]

Fantastic thread...which unfortunately will fall on many deaf ears (or blind eyes in the case of a message board)

[GusFrerotte]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Fantastic thread...which unfortunately will fall on many deaf ears (or blind eyes in the case of a message board)

Point #1 is no biggie since we are looking to contest the division cellar with Dallas again.

Point #2 is just mind boggling with those WR stats, one must ask why we sucked so bad recordwise with that type of WR output.

Point #3 Haynesworth hasn't played a down yet so this acquisition evaluation can only be done by midseason at the earliest. As for the critics' saying the Danny has reverted to his old ways, you really can't blame them or say that they are flat out wrong either.Giving any one athlete, no matter good, a $100 million + deal is just asking for trouble in my book anyway. A Rod isn't worth half what Steinbrenner is paying him, neither was MJ in his early years with the Bulls for that matter as one guy no matter how special can get you a ring on his own.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

Point #1 is no biggie since we are looking to contest the division cellar with Dallas again.

Point #2 is just mind boggling with those WR stats, one must ask why we sucked so bad recordwise with that type of WR output.

Point #3 Haynesworth hasn't played a down yet so this acquisition evaluation can only be done by midseason at the earliest. As for the critics' saying the Danny has reverted to his old ways, you really can't blame them or say that they are flat out wrong either.Giving any one athlete, no matter good, a $100 million + deal is just asking for trouble in my book anyway. A Rod isn't worth half what Steinbrenner is paying him, neither was MJ in his early years with the Bulls for that matter as one guy no matter how special can get you a ring on his own.

Actually if we hadn't gotten Haynesworth, the Giants would have. Can you imagine the Giants' D-line if they had gotten Haynesworth? Having a dominant player on your roster, rather than on your opponent's roster, can be good personnel sense while necessitating a heavy price tag. If you ask me the people who say, "Same old Danny," with regards to Haynesworth often overlook this aspect.

If he is a total bust, then yes, we will overpay him. But even if he is a bust, one can still defend the gamble on his talent, if not the final outcome of the gamble.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

Point #1 is no biggie since we are looking to contest the division cellar with Dallas again.

Point #2 is just mind boggling with those WR stats, one must ask why we sucked so bad recordwise with that type of WR output.

Point #3 Haynesworth hasn't played a down yet so this acquisition evaluation can only be done by midseason at the earliest. As for the critics' saying the Danny has reverted to his old ways, you really can't blame them or say that they are flat out wrong either.Giving any one athlete, no matter good, a $100 million + deal is just asking for trouble in my book anyway. A Rod isn't worth half what Steinbrenner is paying him, neither was MJ in his early years with the Bulls for that matter as one guy no matter how special can get you a ring on his own.

Umm, I couldn't tell if you were being sarcastic or not cause I'm ignant like that so....

Point #1: The Skins are the only team bringing back all their coach's and players, consistancy speaks volumes.

Point #2: Considering the Skins only had 50 plays on offense. We were a run first offense. Our only WR threat was 5-10. and our O-line couldn't pass block for anything...would most likely explain your point. Maybe with some help on the O-line, 3 new pass catching threats (Kelly, Thomas,and Davis), and now 130+ new plays added to their repituar as JC has stated the team will be better.

Point #3: You could say that about Orakpo cause he has not played a down. You might even be able to say we are unsure if AH will work out in our system, but his job is to rush the QB somewhere in between ....take on double teams and stop the run. He's done that for what 7yrs now. He's a proven commodity. The other big names had to know when to fall back into coverage or rush the QB...Archelleta, Taylor. AH will do fine.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

Umm, I couldn't tell if you were being sarcastic or not cause I'm ignant like that so....

Point #1: The Skins are the only team bringing back all their coach's and players, consistancy speaks volumes.

Point #2: Considering the Skins only had 50 plays on offense. We were a run first offense. Our only WR threat was 5-10. and our O-line couldn't pass block for anything...would most likely explain your point. Maybe with some help on the O-line, 3 new pass catching threats (Kelly, Thomas,and Davis), and now 130+ new plays added to their repituar as JC has stated the team will be better.

Point #3: You could say that about Orakpo cause he has not played a down. You might even be able to say we are unsure if AH will work out in our system, but his job is to rush the QB somewhere in between ....take on double teams and stop the run. He's done that for what 7yrs now. He's a proven commodity. The other big names had to know when to fall back into coverage or rush the QB...Archelleta, Taylor. AH will do fine.

Good point about the number of plays we had to work with SBXVII. Is it any wonder defenses caught up to us in the second half of the season? With only 50 plays and our o-line breaking down, no turnovers forced by our defense, dropped passes, and our kicker trying to get use to different holders, it's a wonder we scored at all in the second half of the season. These were real problems, not excuses. Even the assistant coaches were having to learn a new system. I think most, if not all, of these things have been addressed. I think some legitimate gripes have been made, but I also think Zorn installed what he could last year considering what he had to work with, and this year, Zorn, JC, and the Redskins in general, are going to make a lot of people eat their words.

[The Goat]

Damn son you nailed it!!! Point three is huge IMHO...it's something we might have heard before but grasping the importance of continuity among the coaches isn't automatic. I think the Giants have lost the most talent in the coaching dept. once Spags left...I really, really want to believe we can sweep those guys in '09.

The WR corp does look good on paper but we need better redzone production and fewer dropped passes on big downs...doesn't the law of averages insist this season will be better in those aspects than we've seen for a while?

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

2. The Redskins have the least productive returning receiving corp in the division.
If you read anything in any preseason magazine or on any website or listened to any sports radio you'd think we had Santana Moss and a bunch of camp bodies catching the ball. In reality, we have the most productive receiving group in the division. Here are the top 6 returning pass catchers (WR, TE, RB) for every team in the NFC East:
Eagles
214 receptions, 2839 yards, 15 TD

Giants
159 receptions, 1795 yards, 12 TD

Cowboys
232 receptions, 2585 yards, 15 TD

Redskins
280 receptions, 3024 yards, 11 TD

While we're behind on the TD passes, it's pretty clear that we have the most productive receiving group. By the way, the Redskins numbers don't include Kelly or Davis, both of whom are expected to contribute much more to the passing game.

Maybe I'm not following here, but are you talking about starting pass catchers only?

Here's the way the stats line up in the NFC East according to NFL.com:

philly = 6th in the league in passing, 362 completions
dallas = 9th, 328 completions
nyg = 18th, 298 completions
was = 23rd, 318 completions

I guess there are statistical myths, as you've pointed out, but then there's actual results, and our passing game has been downright impotent for years.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Maybe I'm not following here, but are you talking about starting pass catchers only?

Here's the way the stats line up in the NFC East according to NFL.com:

philly = 6th in the league in passing, 362 completions
dallas = 9th, 328 completions
nyg = 18th, 298 completions
was = 23rd, 318 completions

I guess there are statistical myths, as you've pointed out, but then there's actual results, and our passing game has been downright impotent for years.

You wanna borrow this avatar?

[skindeep]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

You wanna borrow this avatar?

"HEY EVERYONE I JUST ONE THE LOTTO!" said Paintrain
"You still have to pay taxes." said Debbie

Im riding the Paintrain. HAIL 2 ALL REDSKINS.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

You wanna borrow this avatar?

So I take it that everyone thinks our passing game is just fine and what I saw last year was just a mirage?

[Lotus]

Excellent post, Paintrain.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Maybe I'm not following here, but are you talking about starting pass catchers only?

Here's the way the stats line up in the NFC East according to NFL.com:

philly = 6th in the league in passing, 362 completions
dallas = 9th, 328 completions
nyg = 18th, 298 completions
was = 23rd, 318 completions

I guess there are statistical myths, as you've pointed out, but then there's actual results, and our passing game has been downright impotent for years.

I don't think you're following. Paintrain pointed out that these numbers "are the top 6 returning pass catchers (WR, TE, RB) for every team in the NFC East."

Great points, Paintrain. Well done.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I don't think you're following. Paintrain pointed out that these numbers "are the top 6 returning pass catchers (WR, TE, RB) for every team in the NFC East."

Great points, Paintrain. Well done.

Okay, I really hate to piss in everybody's cornflakes this morning, but if our passing game ranks 23rd in the league (not to mention near the very bottom in scoring) despite the fact that our starters are catching more passes, how effective are our starters really?

I know it's been eight long months since the end of the '08 season, and perhaps I'm suffering from amnesia, but I seem to remember that our main problem was scoring, particularly through the air.

I'm sure someone will tell me how I'm wrong ...