Has the team mailed it in? (If so, why?)

[BDBohnzie]

It's been said in this thread already, so I'll reiterate. This team's had injuries to key positions. They're missing their top 2 receivers in Garcon and Davis, the best pass rusher in Orakpo, a line hog in Carriker, and the secondary has been banged up and bruised including 2 guys (one injured, one suspended) who were supposed to be big contributors who haven't played. The depth on this team clearly is lacking, and you're asking guys who should be playing sparingly (if at all) to contribute as starters. On top of that, the Skins are 18 million in the hole salary cap wise, and will be again next year. That is money that would normally help build depth, and it's simply not there.

The team has 2 weeks to regroup and get ready for the next 7 games, and show what kind of toughness they have. If you think we take it hard when the Skins lose, there are 53 men in that locker room who take it that much harder. And on top of that, you have fans who question them day in and day out. While I won't give them a free pass being 3-6 at this point, I will give them the benefit of the doubt in that they haven't mailed it in yet.

[REDSKINS4ever]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

It's been said in this thread already, so I'll reiterate. This team's had injuries to key positions. They're missing their top 2 receivers in Garcon and Davis, the best pass rusher in Orakpo, a line hog in Carriker, and the secondary has been banged up and bruised including 2 guys (one injured, one suspended) who were supposed to be big contributors who haven't played. The depth on this team clearly is lacking, and you're asking guys who should be playing sparingly (if at all) to contribute as starters. On top of that, the Skins are 18 million in the hole salary cap wise, and will be again next year. That is money that would normally help build depth, and it's simply not there.

The team has 2 weeks to regroup and get ready for the next 7 games, and show what kind of toughness they have. If you think we take it hard when the Skins lose, there are 53 men in that locker room who take it that much harder. And on top of that, you have fans who question them day in and day out. While I won't give them a free pass being 3-6 at this point, I will give them the benefit of the doubt in that they haven't mailed it in yet.

Totally agree. It would be nice if they can dig deep and get on a winning streak. The only team remaining on the schedule I see them losing to is the Ravens. They can beat both Philly and Dallas twice and I'm not too concerned about the lucky Giants. Even if they finish 8-8 it would still be a positive step in the right direction.

[calia]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

It's been said in this thread already, so I'll reiterate. This team's had injuries to key positions. They're missing their top 2 receivers in Garcon and Davis, the best pass rusher in Orakpo, a line hog in Carriker, and the secondary has been banged up and bruised including 2 guys (one injured, one suspended) who were supposed to be big contributors who haven't played. The depth on this team clearly is lacking, and you're asking guys who should be playing sparingly (if at all) to contribute as starters. On top of that, the Skins are 18 million in the hole salary cap wise, and will be again next year. That is money that would normally help build depth, and it's simply not there.

The team has 2 weeks to regroup and get ready for the next 7 games, and show what kind of toughness they have. If you think we take it hard when the Skins lose, there are 53 men in that locker room who take it that much harder. And on top of that, you have fans who question them day in and day out. While I won't give them a free pass being 3-6 at this point, I will give them the benefit of the doubt in that they haven't mailed it in yet.

I think this is a terrific post. I am concerned about Shanahan's post-game comment, and I worry that some of the less mature players in the locker room might take it the wrong way (I think he intended to use it to motivate his team, although I think it was a bad way to go about it -- I think he was trying to say, "Let's see what we're made of now that we're facing real adversity.").

But as badly as the last two weeks have gone, there's a lot left to this season. We have the Eagles twice (they don't scare me), Dallas twice (they don't scare me much either -- we put up more points on Atlanta than Dallas did last night), the Giants again (and our guys ought to be primed to kill), Cleveland (not a good team), and the Ravens (seem to be able to play without key guys on defense). If we can put up a few more wins here and salvage a respectable season, I doubt everyone will be calling for the coach's head, given our horrible injury situation and lack of depth. (Haslett's head, on the other hand, seems likely to roll.)