Boswell's accurate appraisal

[JWsleep]

Every year, I find that Thomas Boswell writes columns that just nail it when it comes to the skins. Today's is spot on, IMHO.

My favorite lines:

"For fans, supporting such a team is one long frustration. Do you cheer or boo? No third alternative has been invented."

Overall, as usual, he's on the positive side of things, but he feels the pain that's made so many in the redskins nation go nutty this year.

Check it out:

On Average, An Average Team

[MTRedskinsFan]

Hmmm.

I wonder how many of the teams in the middle of the pack, according to Boswell, have the same kind of potential the Skins possess. I'm not disagreeing w/ the notion that we are an average team, but I think most of us would admit, as fans, that the frustration w/ the team has more to do w/ its inability to coach/play up to its real potential:

Two very above average tailbacks w/ a phenom of a fullback. A truly special tight end. Very talented receivers (putting aside B. Lloyd). A qb that shows flashes of excellence (I personally believe JC was off to a fantastic season before dozens of dropped balls screwed w/ his confidence). And a line that can be very good when healthy.

We know our defense is good enough to get us somewhere, but we all sit around and scratch our heads wondering why all this talent on offense cannot consistently produce 30+ pts each game. If it did, we'd be 7-1, tied for 1st in the division. Would anyone call us average then?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by MTRedskinsFan

Hmmm.

I wonder how many of the teams in the middle of the pack, according to Boswell, have the same kind of potential the Skins possess. I'm not disagreeing w/ the notion that we are an average team, but I think most of us would admit, as fans, that the frustration w/ the team has more to do w/ its inability to coach/play up to its real potential:

Two very above average tailbacks w/ a phenom of a fullback. A truly special tight end. Very talented receivers (putting aside B. Lloyd). A qb that shows flashes of excellence (I personally believe JC was off to a fantastic season before dozens of dropped balls screwed w/ his confidence). And a line that can be very good when healthy.

We know our defense is good enough to get us somewhere, but we all sit around and scratch our heads wondering why all this talent on offense cannot consistently produce 30+ pts each game. If it did, we'd be 7-1, tied for 1st in the division. Would anyone call us average then?

I think you overrate the Redskins. That's common, of course.

Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El do not make an elite receiving tandem. Moss had the one great year for us, and he's still an extremely dangerous weapon, but as was the case as a Jet he is inconsistent due to nagging hamstring and groin injuries. He is by no means durable. Randle-El is just beginning to develop, but he has never posted more than 800 yards in a season. Our WRs are average.

To call Jason Campbell special at this stage is giving him way too much credit. Peyton, Brady, and Palmer are special. Campbell has been inaccurate on deep throws all season, he throws a low liner on deep passes. He's a very promising QB, but I can think of about 10 QBs in the league right now who would have performed better than Campbell if they were on our team.

So much of our offensive ineptitude this year stems from the offensive line's injuries. Our running game would look tons better if we just had Randy Thomas, let alone Jon Jansen. You did say it; WHEN HEALTHY our line is really good. But it's not healthy, not even close. It's nothing more than average right now.

Boswell is right on the money. The Skins have done nothing this year to make me think they're anything better than an average NFL team. They're at a fork in the road right now. They've been traveling down the road of mediocrity so far, and now they're in position to choose one of two paths: overcome injuries, establish an identity, and take the road to the playoffs, or choose the road that leads home for January. Who the hell knows what to expect - but one thing's for sure, the results of this second half could be a defining moment in Gibbs' career. Can he turn an average team into a serious playoff contender, peaking at the right time? Or will his guys fold up like lawnchairs? If he can still coach as well as we all think, we'll have a December to remember yet again.

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I think you overrate the Redskins. That's common, of course.

Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El do not make an elite receiving tandem. Moss had the one great year for us, and he's still an extremely dangerous weapon, but as was the case as a Jet he is inconsistent due to nagging hamstring and groin injuries. He is by no means durable. Randle-El is just beginning to develop, but he has never posted more than 800 yards in a season. Our WRs are average.

To call Jason Campbell special at this stage is giving him way too much credit. Peyton, Brady, and Palmer are special. Campbell has been inaccurate on deep throws all season, he throws a low liner on deep passes. He's a very promising QB, but I can think of about 10 QBs in the league right now who would have performed better than Campbell if they were on our team.

So much of our offensive ineptitude this year stems from the offensive line's injuries. Our running game would look tons better if we just had Randy Thomas, let alone Jon Jansen. You did say it; WHEN HEALTHY our line is really good. But it's not healthy, not even close. It's nothing more than average right now.

Boswell is right on the money. The Skins have done nothing this year to make me think they're anything better than an average NFL team. They're at a fork in the road right now. They've been traveling down the road of mediocrity so far, and now they're in position to choose one of two paths: overcome injuries, establish an identity, and take the road to the playoffs, or choose the road that leads home for January. Who the hell knows what to expect - but one thing's for sure, the results of this second half could be a defining moment in Gibbs' career. Can he turn an average team into a serious playoff contender, peaking at the right time? Or will his guys fold up like lawnchairs? If he can still coach as well as we all think, we'll have a December to remember yet again.

Great post. Great Signature.

At this point, we've almost lost to the Cardinals, Jets, and the Dolphins. 'Nuff said.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I think you overrate the Redskins. That's common, of course.

Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El do not make an elite receiving tandem. Moss had the one great year for us, and he's still an extremely dangerous weapon, but as was the case as a Jet he is inconsistent due to nagging hamstring and groin injuries. He is by no means durable. Randle-El is just beginning to develop, but he has never posted more than 800 yards in a season. Our WRs are average.

To call Jason Campbell special at this stage is giving him way too much credit. Peyton, Brady, and Palmer are special. Campbell has been inaccurate on deep throws all season, he throws a low liner on deep passes. He's a very promising QB, but I can think of about 10 QBs in the league right now who would have performed better than Campbell if they were on our team.

So much of our offensive ineptitude this year stems from the offensive line's injuries. Our running game would look tons better if we just had Randy Thomas, let alone Jon Jansen. You did say it; WHEN HEALTHY our line is really good. But it's not healthy, not even close. It's nothing more than average right now.

Boswell is right on the money. The Skins have done nothing this year to make me think they're anything better than an average NFL team. They're at a fork in the road right now. They've been traveling down the road of mediocrity so far, and now they're in position to choose one of two paths: overcome injuries, establish an identity, and take the road to the playoffs, or choose the road that leads home for January. Who the hell knows what to expect - but one thing's for sure, the results of this second half could be a defining moment in Gibbs' career. Can he turn an average team into a serious playoff contender, peaking at the right time? Or will his guys fold up like lawnchairs? If he can still coach as well as we all think, we'll have a December to remember yet again.

LOL!!! Very shocking for someone on Warpath to overrate The Skins! As far as production goes we have one of the WORST wr coprs in the NFL.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I think you overrate the Redskins. That's common, of course.

Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El do not make an elite receiving tandem. Moss had the one great year for us, and he's still an extremely dangerous weapon, but as was the case as a Jet he is inconsistent due to nagging hamstring and groin injuries. He is by no means durable. Randle-El is just beginning to develop, but he has never posted more than 800 yards in a season. Our WRs are average.

To call Jason Campbell special at this stage is giving him way too much credit. Peyton, Brady, and Palmer are special. Campbell has been inaccurate on deep throws all season, he throws a low liner on deep passes. He's a very promising QB, but I can think of about 10 QBs in the league right now who would have performed better than Campbell if they were on our team.

So much of our offensive ineptitude this year stems from the offensive line's injuries. Our running game would look tons better if we just had Randy Thomas, let alone Jon Jansen. You did say it; WHEN HEALTHY our line is really good. But it's not healthy, not even close. It's nothing more than average right now.

Boswell is right on the money. The Skins have done nothing this year to make me think they're anything better than an average NFL team. They're at a fork in the road right now. They've been traveling down the road of mediocrity so far, and now they're in position to choose one of two paths: overcome injuries, establish an identity, and take the road to the playoffs, or choose the road that leads home for January. Who the hell knows what to expect - but one thing's for sure, the results of this second half could be a defining moment in Gibbs' career. Can he turn an average team into a serious playoff contender, peaking at the right time? Or will his guys fold up like lawnchairs? If he can still coach as well as we all think, we'll have a December to remember yet again.

Great post, the ending is very revealing & brings up a point:

Talent & ability is not just measured in the players, but also the coaches. We have the highest paid staff w/a hall of fame coach. That has a lot to do w/fan expectations & I hope has a lot to do w/why we're 5-3. I think you can say we have a very "talented" coaching staff.

I'd say our player talent is above avg. for the starters when all are healthy, but not high above avg. Overall, we are avg. because of poor depth in several areas. So I agree w/Bos for the most part.

Every year there are a few teams that over achieve. You're right in that if Gibbs can get these guys to play in Dec. the way the old Gibbs' teams did, we'll be right in the mix.

[squrrelco3]

Excellent article...I agree, Boswell is spot on...

[redsk1]

No doubt until we learn how to score some points we are average. No big news there.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by redsk1

No doubt until we learn how to score some points we are average. No big news there.

To be honest, I think the fact that we're an average NFL team comes as a revelation to many, many people on this site.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

To be honest, I think the fact that we're an average NFL team comes as a revelation to many, many people on this site.

And, in all fairness, to others it is a vast overrating of our ability.

[paulskinsfan]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

To be honest, I think the fact that we're an average NFL team comes as a revelation to many, many people on this site.

I agree, as Ive gotten into many debates for calling the Skins a mediocre team. Despite a 5-3 record, they just aren't that good right now. They need a solid WR and to build both lines.

[70Chip]

I think he's right on the money. I think the key to the rest of our season is wether or not Portis can be a threat. I don't have any expectation that the passing game will dramatically improve, but if Portis can do what he's done throughout his career (run fo 90-something yards per game) then I think we can find a way to get 250 yards from Campbell and be in position to fight for a wild card.

Also, the best way to overcome red zone difficulty is to take more shots to the house between the 40s. They need to start doing that more. We don't get nearly our share of PI calls and I think they need to at least give the refs the chance to throw a flag.

[MTK]

Good article, I always like Boswell's stuff.

We're definitely playing like an average team, but I think we have above average talent. At some point this year the team will turn a corner, I'm just not sure if it will be the corner we want them to take.

[Hog1]

Good article from Boswell.
I think we have better than average talent, acually good and very good in most area's. The Patriot game (while only one game) displayed.....many glaring problems. Yes, I am aware how good the Pat's are, blah, blah. Formost to me, the team to me does not play coinsistently with..............heart, fire, cohesion, whatever you would like to call it. They have not yet decided as a team, they want to win? Have the desire to go over the top?
A has been mentioned earlier, the second half of the season will be a defining time for many

[Dlyne8r]

Off topic, but speaking of Boswell of the Wash. Post, what happened to Jason La Canfora's blog? Love him, or hate him, I enjoy reading his stuff. I recall him saying about a week ago that they were toying with the idea of everyone being required to sign up as a member, but I didn't catch anything else about it.