American Football: Joe Gibbs WILL make a big difference

Joe Gibbs is a Hall of Fame coach. He also is a first-year coach. He is this season's version of Bill Parcells. That means Gibbs' Washington Redskins will be expected to follow Parcells' Dallas Cowboys into the playoffs.

How much difference will the new coaches make?

Seven new coaches have started work in six of the eight divisions. Only the AFC North and South remain static.

The NFL traditionally turns over approximately one fourth of its coaching jobs every season. Two years ago, a first-year coach, Jon Gruden, won the Super Bowl. That is unusual. More often, first-year coaches take over failing teams. Under Gibbs' predecessor Steve Spurrier, the Redskins were 5-11. In Spurrier's two seasons, they were 12-20. Spurrier was supposed to make a bigger difference.

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Joe Gibbs does have this team thinking newly and differently but who knows what can happen, they have to be able to find a way that works for them. They have to have the running game with ports, and then they will do the damage.

Gibbs will make a different but how much of a difference is up to his players.

LIke the article says, no other new coach will make much of a difference this year, but I'm not gonna point fingers at those coaches, they are all in pretty bad situations. More in Atlanta may be the only other one who can end up with a winning record this year, but that is only if his D comes up big. Vick is not the only payer on that team, something that most NFL fans semm to have forgotten about...

So the skins going to make the playofs?

Originally posted by TRD
So the skins going to make the playofs?

i think if their offensive line does a better job this year they just might

I won't guarantee it, but I'd say it sure lookd good for them, they haven't made any bad moves as far as who they have brought in this off-season.

The falcons are going to make the playoffs, Vick is back and they have even more talent now, and players to help out vick. And out of all the coaches the Falcons will do the best, because the coach is put in a better situation.

I dont think the Skin's are going to make the playoffs, they are going to improve a lot yes, but the D needs to show up. and the line. Too many sacks are going to end up hurting the skins to much.

C'mon, now, Ben! The Skins have a better chance at making the playoffs than the Falcons do. Sure, Vick is the most exciting player to watch in the NFL. But, this is a team sport that we are talking about, and the team sucked last year.
The Redskins would have been in the playoffs last year, if they would have been coached to have the mental toughness not to make simple mistakes that cause penalties. That cost them at least 2 or 3 games last year. And that won't happen this year, I'd bet my name on it

Who do the skins have on defense?

let's see, Lavar Arrington to start with, then there's Fred Smoot, oh yeah, that Sean Taylor guy they drafted, a coulep of off-season additions, including Micheal Barrow, who led the Giants in tackles the past 3 years, Marcus Washington from Indianapolis, and Shawn Springs, not quite Champ Bailey, but Trung Candidate was no Clinto Portis, either

I think our defence is pretty good as you say Gibbs. Watch out as we are the dark horses this season!!!!

Sportsline has done an early preseason power ranking, placing the Redskins at #20. 20? I wouldn't expect them to be #, ormaybe inthe top ten (they weren't in the playoffs last year, but some of teams that are ranked above them that I can't beleive include the Saints, Jags, Dolphins, Bucs, Steelers. With the talent that Washington has amassed, Joe should be able to put a consistent winner on the field, and very likely make a STRONG bid for the division title.