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#1 |
Warpath Hall of Fame
![]() Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 33,990
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Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
Coming up on camp, rosters are generally set and offense/defense is being installed. On paper, Id say the roster has a nice collection of talent across the board. QB signed long term, we have some coaching continuity, we addressed a lot of holes, years of sticking to the draft team building has seemed to payoff....So how does this come together to make the playoffs? What needs to happen and what could go wrong.
Why the Skins will make the playoffs: 1. We finally have a Running Back/Running attack who can support the offense in the controlling the ball, support the pass game and improve the red zone. 2. We have now versatile D-Line which contribute to pass rush, but most importantly stop the run. Great coach there should have them ready. 3. Paul Richardson/Josh Doctson fill the void left as pass catchers of D Jax/Perrie Garcon. Paul is the deep threat and Doctson becomes a consistent WR...we need this to work in tandem. 4. Red zone improves because of A Smith and Run Game. More TD, less Kicking field goals, simple right? We have proven that to be not true. Why the Skins will miss the playoffs: 1. Run game does not pan. Guice bust, Thompson hurt and Perine doesn't take next step. Ive said this from the season has ended...we don't run the ball with A Smith, double digit losses. The defense cant be on the field 60-65% of the time. 2. Brandon Schreff play diminishes/injury. Diminish play unlikely...fo sho. Questions at LG, an unproven Center, sad depth.....we need Schreff to be a rock in the middle. 3. We struggle at Corner opposite Josh Norman. We lost a lot of talent at CB...we need someone to step up here. 4. WR core struggles for the second consecutive year. Injuries, Richardson doesn't transition, Doctson busts, crowder continues to disappoint. What you got? Im not worried as much with Alex Smith...but I (and neither did anyone here) have an issues with Cousins at QB coming in at the QB position the last couple years. |
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#2 |
\m/
![]() Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NY
Age: 51
Posts: 99,427
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
Definitely enough talent on the roster to win 10 games and compete for a wild card, at the very least.
As usual the x factor will be injuries. |
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#3 |
Contains football related knowledge
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Second Star On The Right
Age: 61
Posts: 10,401
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
I think this has the potential to be a VERY talented team. If that potential is realized, I think this is a playoff team.
The potential, however, is tricky - Smith, Doctson, Guice and Reed. If they live up to what, I believe, they can (for Reed it is a more a matter of being injury free at the right times) dominate on offense. Whatever else Gruden does, he gets guys open. Also, between Alex Smith and Guice, I think the Skins start scoring in the Red Zone. These are guys with a nose for the end zone. On defense, again, the potential is there. If Allen, Payne, Ionaddis stay uninjured and the depth holds up, I think the interior five (those three plus Foster/Brown) FINALLY clamps down on the opposing run games. If that happens, good things will follow. We have one of the tougher schedules from what I recall, but I just don't see that as an issue. We also have a tough division, but I think that we can be more than competitive in it. They are building the right way. I am hopeful that the team can really step up into the double digit win category and begin doing so on a regular basis. I am cautiously optimistic that the team is going through some foundational changes that will let it take the next step to be perennial contenders rather than perennially mediocre with flashes of very good.
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Strap it up, hold onto the ball, and let’s go. |
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#4 |
A Dude
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Age: 44
Posts: 12,416
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
My optimism stems from the defensive side of the ball. I think Montae Nicholson is a very, very important player in the making. His speed and athleticism permit our corners to get more aggressive and permits Manusky to mix up his coverage schemes more.
With a healthy Allen and Zach Brown, plus the addition of Payne and Settle, it's a given that teams will find themselves in more 3rd and 6s against us, and fewer 3rd and 2s. That's where Nicholson's range comes into play. I think we get off the field much more effectively in 2018. Montae Nicholson is the player in the secondary that it all hinges around - he will make the difference between another iffy defense and a decent one. Pair that up with our inevitably strong offense and I'm more than optimistic that it can all come together. If I were buying a jersey now, with the thought in mind of who will be the player we're cheering about most in January 2019, it's Montae Nicholson. I love the guy.
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God made certain people to play football. He was one of them. |
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#5 |
Living Legend
Join Date: Aug 2008
Age: 57
Posts: 21,202
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
If the question is where does the optimism stem from, mine comes from the injuries last season. It was terrible to go through them, but it gave our depth chances to play and our coaches chances to really evaluate second line players. Assuming even a slightly better level of health, we should be able to rotate players in defense without losing a beat.
Also our offense should be very potent, people downplaying AS's accomplishments with various teams are going to see what he can do when he is the guy. We may only get 3-5 years from him, but I believe our offense will run in the top tier each year. I also think Gruden will trust him with a wide open game plan. That said, I think our greatest obstacle will be Gruden's tendency to play conservative to quickly in games, and his game management skills late in the half and game. But even there having AS to run 2 minute drills and end of half decisions strengthens this team's intangibles. |
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#6 |
Living Legend
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 22,221
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
My optimism comes from having a QB that is dedicated to the team and that without a doubt would go the extra mile to win games.
I'm excited to see the new pieces on the defense, especially the d-line. I think we have a lot of potential on that side of the ball and expect a big leap in improvement.
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R.I.P. #21 |
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#7 |
Warpath Hall of Fame
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: UNITED STATES
Age: 37
Posts: 35,999
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
I just don't see us losing more than 7 games, I think this team is really set up to win those CLOSE games, Alex is a winner, the fact that he has made 6 of 7 playoff appearances in no joke. Guice will keep the Offense on the field more. Payne will help the run D with Allen and M.I coming back. Like Matt said and we all know, It's all on injuries. Week 1 comes and Trent or Alex go down and we are done. Happens for every team 90% of the time too.
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“Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people.” ― Nick Saban |
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#8 |
Contains football related knowledge
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Second Star On The Right
Age: 61
Posts: 10,401
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
Lots to be optimistic about in the upcoming year.
As to the OP's query: If you asked me to bet on whether we make the play-offs or don't make the play-offs, I would bet that we do. However, it would not be a particularly large bet.
__________________
Strap it up, hold onto the ball, and let’s go. |
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#9 | |
Living Legend
Join Date: Aug 2008
Age: 57
Posts: 21,202
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
Quote:
Very Likely Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers New Orleans Saints Los Angeles Rams Philadelphia Eagles(I have them here, but the NFC is close between the Skins, Giants and Eagles) Possible Washington Redskins Tampa Bay Buccaneers Detroit Lions New York Giants Seattle Seahawks No chance San Francisco 49ers (I really want to put them in the possible category) Arizona Cardinals Chicago Bears Dallas Cowboys Compared to the AFC Very Likely New England Patriots Pittsburgh Steelers Jacksonville Jaguars Team Possible Baltimore Ravens Cleveland Browns Houston Texans Los Angeles Chargers Oakland Raiders Kansas City Chiefs Tennessee Titans Unlikely Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins New York Jets Cincinnati Bengals Indianapolis Colts Denver Broncos |
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#10 |
Warpath Hall of Fame
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: UNITED STATES
Age: 37
Posts: 35,999
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
Best case 11-5
Worst case 7-9
__________________
“Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people.” ― Nick Saban |
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#11 |
The Starter
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,464
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
We're going 14-2 this year. 'nuff said.
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Reserved for a witty signature. |
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#12 |
Pro Bowl
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jacksonville, Forida
Posts: 6,317
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
I can't bear to think we won't make the playoffs. This is my time of year for unbridled optimism.
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#13 |
\m/
![]() Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: NY
Age: 51
Posts: 99,427
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
I’d bet at least 2-3 of the so called heavy hitters in the NFC will under achieve, happens every year due to injuries, tough schedules, etc.
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#14 |
Warpath Hall of Fame
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: UNITED STATES
Age: 37
Posts: 35,999
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
Nobody saw the Rams or Eagles being deep contenders last yr. We could be that team this season, nothing is for certain in the NFL.
__________________
“Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people.” ― Nick Saban |
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#15 |
Living Legend
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Pacifica, CA
Posts: 15,164
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Re: Why Skins Will/Wont Make the Playoffs this coming Season.
Alex Smith, have seen lots of him. He’s a good QB but fizzles in playoff games plus he’s 33 years old. I’ve always liked Smith but he always disappoints me. I hope he proves me wrong.
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Joe Gibbs- The best coach of all time, Lombardi trophy should be renamed Gibbs. Art Monk- Art was like an OL playing WR, doing the dirty work and not getting the glory. Darrell Green- Best DB ever. Purveyor of fine Filth |
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