I must hear at least 100 times a year "the Redskins are the most passionate fanbase in the NFL." While all teams are passionate, the Redskins are surely up there, but sometimes that passion can go against my strive for daily sanity. I still vividly remember when it was announced Rex Grossman, not Donovan McNabb, was going to start vs Dallas in 2010. Man, I've never seen Twitter and the comments section so rabid with CAPS LETTERS, !!!!!!!!!!!, and four letter words that provoked many earmuffs. As we now know, it was the right move. Add in John Beck, Haynesworth's rhabdomyolysis, McNabb's wristband, swinging gate, backseat doctors for Landry's achilles...it's never ending. To our defense, certainly it's warranted with a sub 7 win team and a Head Coach that is "non-direct" with fans (to put it nicely).
So, what will 2012 bring for Redskins fans to get worked up about? I take my best guesses here in the hope that making light of it early will help keep us calm. I am 99% sure these lost draft picks will come back into the discussion.
- RGIII gets injured on a missed block - Fan reaction:
"THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU IGNORE THE OLINE FOR 20 YEARS?!?!!? SAME STORY - DIFFERENT COACH. WE HAVE A CENTER THAT VINNY PLUCKED OFF A PRACTICE SQUAD....PRACTICE SQUAD RIGHT TACKLE....ARRGGH. AND WORST PART IS WE HAVE NO FIRST ROUND PICKS NEXT 2 YEARS TO FIX IT!! FIRE DAN SNYDER!!" - Pierre Garcon drops a GW touchdown pass - Fan reaction:
"WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO SCREW UP WR TALENT?!?!!? PIERRE IS TOP TEN IN DROPS LAST 3 YEARS...SO WHAT DO WE DO?....GIVE HIM $42 MILLION!!! FIRE DAN SNYDER."
- Billy Cundiff misses a game winning FG - Fan reaction:
"WHY DID WE FIRE GANO? SMART MOVE...BRING IN AN EX-COWBOY WHO SHANKED AN OT FG JUST LAST SEASON. FEDEX IS NOT EASY TO KICK AT....WHY NOT KEEP THE GUY WHO'S BEEN PLAYING HERE FOR 2 YEARS AND LEARNING? FIRE DAN SNYDER." - In limited action Kirk Cousins plays well - Fan reaction:
"WHY DID WE TRADE ALL THESE PICKS WHEN WE COULD HAVE HAD COUSINS ALL ALONG FOR FREE? KEEP TRADING THOSE PICKS AWAY SNYDER....IT ALWAYS WORKS OUT FOR TEAMS THAT DO!!! F*CK!!!" (QB controversy ensues) - DHall calls out coaches for not being on field when defense gives up TD to lose the game.
I hope this doesn't happen, but DHall is a competitor and speaks his mind. He's clearly taking a lesser role, which won't sit well if the secondary isn't playing well.
I don't know who recalls this but Redskins fans were EXTREMELY harsh on Twitter to Hankerson for the dropped balls in pre-season last year. And I mean harsh in that they would tweet him directly saying he has Carlos hands, needs an operation, etc. It's embarrassing to say the least. For that reason, I think the Garcon one is a lock.
The good news is the Redskins were a half decent team last year despite their record. Although the safeties are worrisome, the defense still held their own with Doughty and Gomes....so, are we really THAT much worse off? I don't think so. Although the Saints have film on all that film from last year. Let's just say I'll be continuing my tradition of keeping hard alcohol by my recliner for the 2nd half....but like the previous twenty years, I'm still optimistic we can compete.