anonemouse

For those critical of our defenses capabilities, the following extract
points out something very important - we only have 3 new starters on a D
ranked 5th last year. I'd consider Bowen an improvement as well. OK, so DT
is something of an unknown, but if they work out OK, I for one can't see us
playing worse.

Now if the O can improve (and I think the upgrades at many positions will
help a lot), then I think we can improve, if only a little, on last season.
9-7 or 10-6 anyone?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8388-2003Aug31.html

The plan that defensive coordinator George Edwards outlined yesterday means
that the Redskins will enter the season with three new defensive starters --
Bowen instead of Terrell at safety, and Haley and Holsey instead of the
departed Dan Wilkinson and Daryl Gardener at tackle -- from last season,
when the club ranked fifth in the NFL in total defense. The Redskins also
have a new coordinator, with Edwards promoted from linebackers coach after
Marvin Lewis was hired as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.

skinsfan2k

And the defense was 21st in points per game. Which correlates with your stats
on the starting points of opponents drives. If our defense was in the top five
we should have been able to stop some of those drives.

Also telling we were tied for 19th in sacks, 22nd in interceptions and tied for
25th in forced fumbles.

If the new tackles play OK we should get better numbers because Bowen should
improve the D given last years safety play. If the tackles falter we could see
a lot of 8-9 minute drives.

schmev

I'm not convinced yet that our DTs are absolute garbage.

Look at how long they took to get the safety situation in place. Let's see
how they play first. They get to face a nice test this Thursday. The Jets
and Curtis Martin are going to want to run the ball all night.

ccr

That's for sure. The Jets will test them relentlessly. I'm not as optimistic
as you about how the Skins will handle it.

thomas shepherd

If needed, put eight men in the box. I hope they force Testeverde to beat
them. He won't.

ccr

I think that would be a good strategy to start the game. Make them prove
they can complete some passes before allowing their running game to have any
chance.

Does anybody have an info on Vinny's arm strength these days? Can he still
air it out, or is his age starting to show?

kingofnewsgroups

reply:

you know where I live, been listening to the Jets talk this week, it heated up
today....

herm was on (gotta like herm, one of the nicest, coolest coaches in the sport),
gotta like chad pennington too (also one of the nicest, coolest players in the
sport)........hard to root against the jets, lot of good people there....

on vinny......he still has the arm strength, one of the stronger arms in the
league....the media has been reporting of late.

The King Of All Newsgroups
----------------------------------------
"When he said sit down, I didn't even bother to look for a chair."
-Max McGee on Vince Lombardi

thomas shepherd

A week ago, right after Pennington got hurt, I saw what the Jets newsgroup were
saying and it wasn't good. It seems like the majority of fans there were
bemoaning his propensity to overthrow receivers on the longer routes and thought
his specialty was in throwing short-midrange timing routes. I can't and won't
vouch for any actual facts being in or around those assessments but I do suspect
that he will be rusty and a couple of weeks away from playing at his best, what
ever that is.

kingofnewsgroups

reply:

If they cant stop #28, they will lose and I dont care if Richard Todd is their
QB.

The King Of All Newsgroups
----------------------------------------
"When he said sit down, I didn't even bother to look for a chair."
-Max McGee on Vince Lombardi

skinsfan2k

Richard Todd? How old are you? I remember this guy he was an interception
machine wasn't he?