Our Schedule...Did you know?

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by GMScud

washingtonpost.com

Boswell made several good points in that article. My expectations are tempered at around the 8 win mark. Anyone thinking more is pretty much setting themselves up for disappointment. Some highlights:

In the last 20 years, 18 teams that went 4-12 switched coaches. Their average record the next season was 7-9.

Is there even a chance the Redskins could make the playoffs? Sure, there is. Unfortunately, it's just not much of a chance - less than 20 percent. Since '90, there have been 54 teams that lost 11 or more games, then got a new coach before the next season. How many made the playoff the first year? Ten of 54, or just 19 percent.

For the Redskins to reach 9-7 this season - a winning record and a mark that might get them into the playoffs - they would have to win five more games than last year. How rare is that? You guessed it: Darn rare. In the last 20 years, 115 NFL teams have changed coaches after the season. Just 17 of them - or 14.9 percent - improved by five wins. That should be sobering. But it gets worse. Of the 17 teams that showed big jumps, how many went backward in the new coach's second season? Answer: 13 of the 17.

Washington plays seven games against teams that won 11 to 14 games last year and four more against .500-or-better teams. That's not a schedule. It's a 113-day final examination.

You want me to tell you that the history book says that everything will be dandy by 2011. Sorry, another wrong answer.
Let's go back to those 115 coaching changes since '90. How many of those franchises had improved by five wins - which it would take to get the Redskins to 9-7 - by the end of Year Two? Only 22 teams - or 19 percent - met that high standard.

Expectations are premeditated resentments folks. Don't expect more than .500 from this team. Hell, that would would be twice as many wins as 2009.

Or you could drink Kool-Aid only to be horribly defeated. I for one am done going that route.

Although I appreciate the sobering numbers, Boswell would have been better off looking at teams which changed coaches AND GMs. Situations like Matt Millen changing coaches should not count here - we got rid of Cerrato.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Basically one thing I can guarantee is that based on having a competent coach, that swings the games we would have lost last year by at least 1-2. Having a REAL QB is also going to add another 1-2, so I'm thinking in the 8-10 win range.

[saden1]

It's hard to find a few positives in an otherwise tough schedule. Yes, it is nice to have mid-season bye week and home games against tough opponents but at the end of the days the Skins have to produce on the field. Hopefully they will.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Shanahan's records in denver his last three years were 9-7, 7-9, and 8-8.

I think its somewhat unreasonable to expect him to take over a 4-12 team, turnover the coaching staff 90%, rehaul the entire offensive line, bring in a new quarterback, completely change pretty much everything about the defense from basic scheme to overall philosophy... yet have a record markedly better than when he had an established system with established coaches and a roster completely of his chosing.

I highly doubt that a Shanahan-coached team will ever be too far above (or below) .500. If he ever has an 11-5 or better season in DC, it will be in 3-4 years. To make matters worse for 2010, we've got one of the toughest schedules in the league (atleast based on our opponents 2009 rankings).

Anythings possible - look at what the Jets did last year (albeit with a ridiculously easy schedule). Every year one or two teams catch the league off guard. I'm expecting a 7-9 season and hoping for 9-7: anything better than that is simply unrealistic.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Shanahan's records in denver his last three years were 9-7, 7-9, and 8-8.

I think its somewhat unreasonable to expect him to take over a 4-12 team, turnover the coaching staff 90%, rehaul the entire offensive line, bring in a new quarterback, completely change pretty much everything about the defense from basic scheme to overall philosophy... yet have a record markedly better than when he had an established system with established coaches and a roster completely of his chosing.

I highly doubt that a Shanahan-coached team will ever be too far above (or below) .500. If he ever has an 11-5 or better season in DC, it will be in 3-4 years. To make matters worse for 2010, we've got one of the toughest schedules in the league (atleast based on our opponents 2009 rankings).

Anythings possible - look at what the Jets did last year (albeit with a ridiculously easy schedule). Every year one or two teams catch the league off guard. I'm expecting a 7-9 season and hoping for 9-7: anything better than that is simply unrealistic.

Shanahan was also trying to wear too many hats in Denver, and had basically burnt out. I think he comes back and these first few years has several reasons to "prove" something. I think our low end has to be 8-8, splitting the division, winning games we should win ie Rams, Lions, Jags, Bucs and pulling an "upset" or two, ie Minnesota. That doesn't include beating teams like Chicago, Tennessee, or Houston where they may be very good or flops.

Since we have the benefit this year of a last place schedule I would not be surprised to see us be that team that bounces way high this year, then next year settles back even though we may be more talented next year than this.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Shanahan's records in denver his last three years were 9-7, 7-9, and 8-8.

I think its somewhat unreasonable to expect him to take over a 4-12 team, turnover the coaching staff 90%, rehaul the entire offensive line, bring in a new quarterback, completely change pretty much everything about the defense from basic scheme to overall philosophy... yet have a record markedly better than when he had an established system with established coaches and a roster completely of his chosing.

I highly doubt that a Shanahan-coached team will ever be too far above (or below) .500. If he ever has an 11-5 or better season in DC, it will be in 3-4 years. To make matters worse for 2010, we've got one of the toughest schedules in the league (atleast based on our opponents 2009 rankings).

Anythings possible - look at what the Jets did last year (albeit with a ridiculously easy schedule). Every year one or two teams catch the league off guard. I'm expecting a 7-9 season and hoping for 9-7: anything better than that is simply unrealistic.

So a few around .500 seasons means that he can't turn that around and do well again? Paging Bill Cowher..

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

I am going out on a limb and say we go 11-5 (5-1) in the division including a W over Minnesota. Carolina whipped up on them last year when they were playing well. Sidney Rice wont be 100%. Brett Favre wont have the same year he had last year and Percy Harvin might get a migraine during the game.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by EARTHQUAKE2689

I am going out on a limb and say we go 11-5 (5-1) in the division including a W over Minnesota. Carolina whipped up on them last year when they were playing well. Sidney Rice wont be 100%. Brett Favre wont have the same year he had last year and Percy Harvin might get a migraine during the game.

If we go 5-1 in division, I think 11-5 would almost be a disappointment. Our non-division opponents include: Detroit, St. Louis, Tampa, Houston w/o Cushing, and Chicago. If we went 3-2 against that group, it would be a major disappointment.

We have a very hard schedule, but it's almost entirely due to the NFC East being so strong this year. They are the teams that know our strengths and weaknesses the best, and I don't think it's a coincidence that we went winless against them this past year. I think even a 3-3 record (which we had accomplished in both 2007 and 2008) should be good enough to make some noise this year. 5-1 should win us the division, and comfortably.

[aceinthehouse]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

If we go 5-1 in division, I think 11-5 would almost be a disappointment. Our non-division opponents include: Detroit, St. Louis, Tampa, Houston w/o Cushing, and Chicago. If we went 3-2 against that group, it would be a major disappointment.

We have a very hard schedule, but it's almost entirely due to the NFC East being so strong this year. They are the teams that know our strengths and weaknesses the best, and I don't think it's a coincidence that we went winless against them this year. I think even a 3-3 record (which we had accomplished in both 2007 and 2008) should be good enough to make some noise this year. 5-1 should win us the division, and comfortably.

If we can go 5-1 in the Division GT..then my 14-2 prediction won't be too far off.

Kinda funny,but in my 14-2 prediction? Our 2 losses are the Bears and Titans on the road...(Both winnable games)

The question imo is...simply?
Can we beat the Vikings,Packers and Colts in our house?
Most will say...we just ain't good enough. (and they could be right)
Having a franchise QB can literally change a franchise though.(let alone a HOF type coach)

If we can win even 2 of those 3...This team can beat anybody imo...

If we can,this team can beat anybody and win the SB.
It's that simple imo...

[Dirtbag59]

I'd be happy with 5-13. maybe one day we'll go 10-8 but for now we have to pace ourselves.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

I'd be happy with 5-13. maybe one day we'll go 10-8 but for now we have to pace ourselves.

Nice one Dirtbag

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

If we go 5-1 in division, I think 11-5 would almost be a disappointment. Our non-division opponents include: Detroit, St. Louis, Tampa, Houston w/o Cushing, and Chicago. If we went 3-2 against that group, it would be a major disappointment.

We have a very hard schedule, but it's almost entirely due to the NFC East being so strong this year. They are the teams that know our strengths and weaknesses the best, and I don't think it's a coincidence that we went winless against them this past year. I think even a 3-3 record (which we had accomplished in both 2007 and 2008) should be good enough to make some noise this year. 5-1 should win us the division, and comfortably.

I agree with you, but you know its the Redskins, we always find a way.

[skinsfaninok]

Id be happy with 10-6. And a wildcard

[FRPLG]

I think we could win anywhere from 6-11 games. I do think even if we win 6 games we'll win the 6 games we're supposed to win. No more up and down. We'll be a solid team this year and if we can stay healthy I see no reason we can't win our division. We're not out of line talent-wise from the rest of the division.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Hate to agree with irish and spill the Kool-Aid, but our schedule based on last years records is the 8th hardest. The silver lining is that Dall-ass is 3rd, the Giants are 7th and the Iggles 9th.

2010 NFL Strength Of Schedule - (SOS), nfl schedules, fantasy football

It's real early, but here's what I see:

Cowboys - W
Texans - W
@ Rams - W
@ Eagles - L
Packers - L
Colts - L
@ Bears - W
@ Lions - W
Eagles - W
@ Titans - L
Vikings - L
@ Giants - L
Buccaneers - W
@ Cowboys - L
@ Jaguars - W
Giants - W