Redskins Just Not Good

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The Washington Redskins are just not a good football team.  They are not a good football team right now or no time in the near future. 

First let me say this.  I am a glass half full type of person.  I'm very optimamistic about most things unless my gut feeling tell me differently.  Being a business owner I can understand the Washington Redskins from Daniel Snyder's point of view.  Having played the game of football for a long time I can understand it from a players point of view.  Also, being a fan of the Washington Redskins for over 35 years I understand as a fan.  Now with all that being said let us look at the state of the redskins and what I see as the problem and  a possible solution.

Now keep in mind that what I think really does not matter.  I am just looking at the games from my point of view.  Whether it is at the game or on television.  I do not have an up close and personal look.  My view is just like most fans and or critiques. 

The problem with the Washington Redskins go much farther than the owner, Daniel Snyder.  The problem with the Redskins go as far back as drafting Heath Shuler, Michael Westbrook and hiring Norv Turner.  Daniel Snyder was not the owner of the Redskins when this occurred.  Mr. Snyder was just like you and I during that time.  He was just a fan.  The problem is that the ownership did not know how to correct that situation and find continuity. 

If I had the financial capabilities to purchase the Washington Redskins during the time they were for sale, I would have bought them and probally made some of the same mistakes Daniel Snyder made.  The reason is because although I want to win bad I am still a fan. 

I was never sold from day one on Heath Shuler and I was on the fence with Michael Westbrook.  Michael Westbrook was drafted in the first round based on his potential and the game winning catch he had against Michigan.  I know all players are drafted on potential for the most part, but with Westbrook he never showed me that he was getting better or could be consistant.  Now you throw in Norv Turner, who is a good offensive coordinator but was never cut out to be a coach or a leader of men. 

The Redskins went through 5 years of mediocrity under Norv Turner before Snyder bought the team.  Most people do not remember Daniel Snyder was named executive of the year after the 1999 season after the Redskins won their first division title since 1991.  Now this is when the problems begin with the new regime.

The Redskins come within one game and one play of the NFC Championship and the following off season go on a spending spree that resembles a child given a hundred dollars and told that they have twenty minutes to shop in a toy store.  They go after older high priced free agents instead of getting young hungry guys to help build on what you have going. 

In defense of the ownership, they get it right when they hire Marty Shottenheimer.  Shottemheimer was the right coach, but not the right GM.  Shottenheimer was building something with the Redskins.  The ownership botched on this one.  Shottenheimer in my opioned would have worked out better than Gibbs part two.  Shottenheimer knew he needed a quarterback and he would have addressed that. 

Then there was the Steve Spurrier experience.  Need I say more.  This was a total disaster.  I think that Patrick Ramsey's football career was damaged by Steve Spurrier and his offensive scheme. 

The Joe Gibbs part two was not really a complete failure but it was not a great success.  The problem with Gibbs part two was that the Redskins could not seem to get any stability.  Mark Brunell should have been the back up to Patrick Ramsey.  The one thing people did not like about Patrick Ramsey was that he took chances.  Funny, the thing they do not like about Jason Campbell, is he do not take enough chances. 

I think that Joe Gibbs leaving a year early caught Daniel Snyder off guard.  I could be wrong, but that is what I think.  The ownership wanted a coach that could help them build off of what they thought they had going on after the 2007 season.  Jim Zorn was not the coach the team wanted.  He was the coach the team settled for.  I am not saying that it could not have worked with Jim Zorn.  But, the bottom line is that it is not working and is not going to work.

I would have to hold the management of the Redskins accountable for that.  Although, as I said earlier, this goes back to the Norv Turner hire and the drafting of Heath Shuler and Michael Westbrook. 

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