Om Field - Redskins '09: Dead Team Walking

[Om]

Redskins '09: Dead Team Walking
October 23, 2009

By the end their embarrassing week three loss to the Detroit Lions, a team doing its best to threaten the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ all-time NFL futility standard, it was becoming clear the 2009 Washington Redskins were not going to contend for a championship.

By the end of their stultifying, belly-up week six loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, winless in 2009 and losers of 28 of their last 30 coming in—compounded by the Redskins brass’ knee-jerk reaction to humiliate Head Coach Jim Zorn, “strongly suggesting” he cede playcalling duties to a man five years removed from the game, living out of a suitcase and (presumably) still busy learning the names of the players he will be directing this weekend—it was clear the 2009 Redskins were not only going to fail to make the playoffs, but have a chance to go down in history as the single most embarrassing Redskins team in the storied history of the franchise.

That isn’t hyperbole. There is more to being a “bad team” than taking up regular residence on the wrong end of the scoreboard. Every team goes through hard times. The pendulum inexorably swings. Eras come and go. But few modern sports franchises have wandered as far off the reservation as the 2009 Washington Redskins in such vital areas as professionalism, direction, accountability ... basic competence.

There are a million earnest opinions out there as to why and how this train wreck came to pass; even more about what ought to be done about it. What I keep coming back to this week, however, is exactly how emotionally invested fans of this team will approach the long remainder a lost campaign.

With the competitive part of the season realistically over, just six weeks in, what exactly does a passionate fan of this team watch for? How does he view each game, each month, the totality? It isn’t like we are in week thirteen and there are just three meaningless “playing out the string” games left. There are ten games left—an NFL eternity.

Now before you get upset with me, oh positive and ever-faithful burgundy and gold aficionado, for the record, yes, I recognize there could still be a midnight call from the governor ...

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[WhoRUSupposed2Be]

Perhaps we should just take it one game at a time, Om

[ttr77]

Another great read OM. Well done.

Personally, I think the general apathy that is starting to take over most of this fanbase should make ownership VERY worried.

[Thiebear]

still calling 8 n 8

[REDALERT]

We as Die hard fans can dream. I mean, we already loss against the bottom feeders, so it can't get any worse.

I want to see what Sherm can bring to the table myself.

[TheDarb]

Om, as much as we'd all like to forget it, you didn't list the Carolina game on the right margin of your web page.

[Om]

Perhaps we should just take it one game at a time, Om

At your age, I might have said the same thing. I'm almost 50 and running out of Sundays. Time to kick this thing in the ass.

Om, as much as we'd all like to forget it, you didn't list the Carolina game on the right margin of your web page.

Yeah, I know. Been trying to fix it for 2 days but having Blogger issues ... finally got it though. Thanx for looking out ...

[LD0506]

Somehow this just left me fundamentally sadder

[RSimports]

like always one amazingly written blog. Makes me feel a little less pissed about the future.

Awesome job

Hail.

[Skinsinparadise]

Good read as usual. I listened to Vinny this morning where he talks about us fans the key for us is to be entertained. Sheehan on the radio made light of it and said its not about entertainment its about winning. I agree.

The Skins are very entertaining off the field, seems like a never ending soap opera whether it was the coaching search, them trying to replace JC, and now this stuff with Zorn. I don't think Vinny is incompetent but I think he is just OK. Some good moves, some bad moves - overall I think he's capable of keeping this team around 8-8, 9-7 with the right coach, but we are looking for much more than that.

This is a tough team to watch, you can watch JC for growth but at the same time we know its unlikely JC is here next year. Portis seems to be at the end of the road or close with no heir apparent. Zorn is just carrying out the season and even if it were more than that its tough for me to get excited about him.

I'd love it if Snyder actually did what politicians do -- run some focus groups where he listens to actual fans in terms of what we are dissatisfied with. Not saying he has to accede to our thoughts, but just hear them. Maybe he does get it, but has his plan and wants to do things his way anyway.

He has a right to that. But listening to Vinny am not quite sure Danny does get it. His pal, George Michael said as much. We are the consumers of his product. Yeah he is the CEO and can do what he wants but he does seem to have some disconnect with his consumers IMO.

If he actually explained himself or even said something like look I understand fans are upset -- they think I meddle but let me go on the record and say I don't, I hear they want a new GM, I get it, but let me tell you why I want to give Vinny another year....then you got a dialogue at least going on. Jerry Jones is a hands on owner and he talks and explains himself a lot.

[coolbeans]

still calling 8 n 8

Maybe you should take another quick peak at the schedule. If they can't beat Detroit, TB, or the Chiefs, they have no chance at all against probably 9 out of the final 10 opponents.

[Taylor4Life]

If he actually explained himself or even said something like look I understand fans are upset...

I think you nailed it there. In the current state of this franchise, Snyder would do well to address the fans and own up to this mess that we are in. It would help his image, and maybe calm the fans down somewhat. His silence throughout this mess either speaks to his cowardice, or his disdain for the fanbase.

[BuryYourDuke]

This article snapped me out of a fog of apathy. I had stopped caring so much in the past few weeks. After a few tears, now I'm just depressed. Thanks Om...haha...but seriously, this is a great article.

[Skinsinparadise]

I think you nailed it there. In the current state of this franchise, Snyder would do well to address the fans and own up to this mess that we are in. It would help his image, and maybe calm the fans down somewhat. His silence throughout this mess either speaks to his cowardice, or his disdain for the fanbase.

Thanks. As for me, I can take it if they disagree and just say look we get the critics, you guys think that we trade too many picks, aren't good at building depth, haven't built the O line, etc -- and let us reassure you we get it, here's what we are doing about it, or we disagree.

The little public dance they do seem to tell a different story as to whether they get it.

1. Vinny talks about the fans wanting entertainment -- didn't say we want wins but entertainment. Doesn't that seem to play into their style -- going for the splash?

2. Yeah the media is harsh and over the top but they tend to make everything a media conspiracy. Is it a media conspiracy that they are under 500 under Snyder's ownership?

3. We talk about the O line being an issue. One of the few times Snyder goes public, Doc's show before the last draft, he and Vinny scoff at that and said the O line is fine. They talked about how Samuels is younger than the Cowboys LT, etc. I guess that's an example where they indeed did publicly disagree with fans concerns over the line. So I'll give them props for going public with it.

4. George Michael, one of Danny's closer pals flat out says that Danny doesn't get the fans issues with how the team is run.

I do think the criticisms on Vinny and the owner gets watered down by over the top comments by the media and fans -- I don't think that Vinny just makes disaster move after disaster move. If we were in front of Danny making that case, wouldn't he scoff at that and say really how about: London Fletcher, Orkapo, Jarmon, finding diamonds in the rough in the later rounds like C. Horton, Golston, M Mitchell. Does Cooley stink?

So IMO I think a stronger critique is actually a more measured one because its harder to poke holes in it and that is -- is Vinny one of best drafters in the league? Is he one of the best at building rosters, depth, looking down the road as opposed to just the immediate year, etc? I think you can make a compelling case that Vinny is OK but nothing special. When people say he's terrible, its not too hard to defend him from that attack IMO.

But isn't the owner all about getting the best? The best players, best this best that. Why settle for mediocre? No Vinny isn't Matt Millen but is he as sharp for example as Jerry Reese? Vinny for the moment has struck out on three receivers, while Reese hits on Nicks, Manningham, previously the Giants got Steve Smith. they have built themselves a solid line and pass rush from the draft. IMO that's the standard we should be comparing ourselves to -- not whether Vinny has made some good moves or not, yes he has made some good moves, yes he has done somethings right, but is he an elite GM? I have yet to hear any NFL person say so.

[TheLongshot]

That isn’t hyperbole. There is more to being a “bad team” than taking up regular residence on the wrong end of the scoreboard. Every team goes through hard times. The pendulum inexorably swings. Eras come and go. But few modern sports franchises have wandered as far off the reservation as the 2009 Washington Redskins in such vital areas as professionalism, direction, accountability ... basic competence.

Sorry, but I think you are way off base here. I think there is plenty professionalism and accountablity throughout the team. Despite the rough start, the team is not tearing each other apart and everyone is focused on trying to get better. Hell, even Portis is on his best behavior, which is kinda shocking.

It is only out here in the echo chamber that things are nuts, but we should be used to it by now. Rumors always fly around this team and has done so since Snyder had bought the team. Most who are paying attention that much of it turns out to be nothing, but it never stops bothering people.

The rest of this season is going to be about if Zorn and his staff can turn this thing around. Some have already put the tombstone on his career here, but until it actually ends, he has a chance to redeem himself. Certainly any thoughts of playoffs are a pipe dream, but then again you adjust to the reality that you are presented which is a team with a struggling offense that might never fully fly because of OL issues.

It would be one thing if the team had given up. But, they haven't. It goes both ways. As fans, we can't give up on them, even if by the end it might mean all the changes that Om suggests might happen next season. While there are games, there is hope.