Why the low expectations from the pre-season mags?

[Paintrain]

With the offseason mags coming out, the consensus seems to be the Redskins will be in last place in the NFC East with anywhere from 4-6 wins. For a playoff team that was one of the hottest teams entering the post season & returning 22 starters, what factors do you think national writers are using?

(Mods-Poll please)
New Coach/System Uncertainty
Everyone else in the division is simply better
We got lucky last year and weren't that good anyways
General disregard for all positive things Redskins
Other

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

With the offseason mags coming out, the consensus seems to be the Redskins will be in last place in the NFC East with anywhere from 4-6 wins. For a playoff team that was one of the hottest teams entering the post season & returning 22 starters, what factors do you think national writers are using?

(Mods-Poll please)
New Coach/System Uncertainty
Everyone else in the division is simply better
We got lucky last year and weren't that good anyways
General disregard for all positive things Redskins
Other

I think those are the two big ones. However, don't know that "we weren't that good." IMO, these team played a bit over their heads down the stretch and that was a direct result of Joe Gibbs being the team's head coach. Because of that, I don't really know what to expect from this next year, they could be anywhere from 6-10 to 12-4 and I wouldn't be totally shocked.

Also, when you look around, this is the toughest division in the league and the Skins (rightly or wrongly) are seen as the biggest question mark. Because of this they face predictions of a mediocre to bad season.

[GTripp0012]

When I do vote in this poll, it's going to be flat-out for "Everyone else in the division is simply better".

We really shouldn't be that much better or worse than last year. I don't think 4 wins is very likely at all, because at least four wins is a virtual guarantee. 7 or 8 seems like a better prediction.

And as we all know from experience, it only takes a lucky break or three to turn a 7 win team into a 10-6 division winner.

I know some publications are going to write us off, which gives the potential to give their editors hell in January, but it is what it is. Whatever we can accomplish this season is simply a building block for the future.

[MTK]

Preseason predictions are pretty worthless. They usually take last year's finish and recycle that for the predictions. Rarely does anyone go out on a limb. Throw in a new coach and the doubters are out in full force.

[Monkeydad]

Because they're talking about the Redskins.

Seriously, the media has always loved to hate our team for some reason.

[rypper11]

NFC East is the toughest division in the NFC. We'd be a lock to win the South (who wouldn't have a team with more than 7 wins if they played only teams from outside of their division) and would have a good shot to win the West. In the North, who knows what the Packers will be w/o Favre, the Bears have no offense and the Vikings have no passing game at all.
Taking off my homer glasses I still say we are in the top half of teams in the NFC (probably 6 or 7) but three better teams are also in our division.

[hooskins]

I don't mind the doubt because it is well deserved. The Skins have been pretty inconsistent in the last 10+ years so we deserve it. Even the last 3 years, we barely made the cut two of them, and did pretty terrible 1 season.

We need consistency, then the haters will automatically disappear.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

With the offseason mags coming out, the consensus seems to be the Redskins will be in last place in the NFC East with anywhere from 4-6 wins. For a playoff team that was one of the hottest teams entering the post season & returning 22 starters, what factors do you think national writers are using?

(Mods-Poll please)
New Coach/System Uncertainty
Everyone else in the division is simply better
We got lucky last year and weren't that good anyways
General disregard for all positive things Redskins
Other

Add to that a recent history of instability from the top down. They did a lot to keep some continuity, but the media is by & large still miffed that GW didn't get hired.

I thought the g-men would suck last year & through their first 2.5 games, they proved me right. Then they go on a run & win it all. I'm just not convinced they have the team to get back in the playoffs even. plus the super bowl hangover will have a greater impact on Eli, because no one gives him credit for their win, you hear about their d line the most.

Eli is in a make or break year; he might respond confidently or he might still feel a lot of pressure, like he still has something to prove. I think it'll be a tough year for him, and I don't think you can expect Plaxico to be that good again. Shockey could be an issue too.

So I see the g-men in last place in the nfc east w/us in third behind Philly & DAllas.

[JWsleep]

New, untested coach, tough division, questions about JC (it was TC who led the playoff run), etc. Given that Dallas had its best regular season record last year and the gints won it all, you can't place us above them. And we all know that the media is more into the iggles than us. So were last in the toughest division.

But no one knows much right now, especially about the skins. Wake me up when we're actually playing for real.

[Schneed10]

I actually think it's justified. We were good last year, but not great. It took an incredible motivational job by Joe Gibbs to get the team through December after losing Taylor. Collins came in and did a great job, too.

Given that there's big change on offense (totally new passing system), and a change on defense, and given that we don't have that motivating force in Gibbs for the stretch run, I'd say we're more likely to finish below .500 than above it.

[Schneed10]

In other words, I think we have 9-7 or 10-6 personnel, but 7-9 or 6-10 is more realistic because coaching changes simply take time to hash out.

You've got exceptions, of course. Eric Mangini and Sean Payton did darn well in year 1 of their gigs. Hopefully we end up with a first year result like that.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

With the offseason mags coming out, the consensus seems to be the Redskins will be in last place in the NFC East with anywhere from 4-6 wins. For a playoff team that was one of the hottest teams entering the post season & returning 22 starters, what factors do you think national writers are using?

(Mods-Poll please)

Using your list:

New Coach/System Uncertainty
Everyone else in the division is simply better (NFC East is strong throughout)
We got lucky last year and weren't that good anyways
General disregard for all positive things Redskins
Other

[Cowell]

Does it really shock anyone that we are placed last in our division? The Cowboys are going to be good, the Eagles have improved tenfold, and the Giants aren't a bad team either. We are the biggest question mark because we have a brand new coaching staff and we are going to run a completely revamped offense.

[MTK]

Ok, I understand Dallas and NY...

But what have the Eagles done to improve "tenfold"?

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Ok, I understand Dallas and NY...

But what have the Eagles done to improve "tenfold"?

Certainly they haven't improved tenfold, but Philly will has helped their pass D by adding Samuel at CB (especially if they keep Lito Sheppard around as a nickel). I've always admired their building O-line and D-line depth through the draft, a trend that continued this offseason. Most of all, McNabb will be two years removed from his torn ACL. His mobility was suspect as the beginning of last season, but it was a factor when we met Philly the second time around. As for negatives, they didn't add quality veteran depth at WR, gambling that DeSean Jackson is ready for prime time. Overall, I see Philly in the 9-10 win range, something that will be tough for us to match in year one of a new coach/system.