APWith every team still at 0-0 in the standings that matter, it’s easy for every team to feel good about the coming year.
In Washington, the arrival of quarterback Robert Griffin III has folks feeling very good about the coming year.
It’s not just the fans. Players are getting swept up in the wave of optimism as well.
“I think it’s going to be a very big season for us,” linebacker Brian Orakpo said Tuesdsay, in comments distributed by the team. ”We’ve got some high expectations in the locker room and you know, I can’t wait to get it started.”
His words of hope came right on the heels of candor regarding the team’s recent history.
“You can’t really look at the numbers, especially with our team,” Orakpo said. ”We’re not winning any games you know, so stats really don’t mean anything. Once we start having leads and we get after it and win some ball games around here then things are going to change.”
One thing that will change if the team gets better is that Orakpo will get back to the Pro Bowl. Orakpo admits he draws a certain amount of motivation from the fact that he was snubbed in 2011.
“Somewhat, because I want to be a player that is in there every year, regardless of the situation, regardless of the stats, regardless of anything,” Orakpo said. ”Being an alternate? No, I don’t want to be an alternate. I want to be there every year. That’s my goal. Also, winning would help. We need to win some games and be a team that is relevant. That would obviously help a lot of guys on this team. That is something we’ve got to make sure we take care of.”
They start the season with a great opportunity to attract attention. If the Redskins can roll into the Superdome at beat the Saints in Week One, the Redskins will be taken seriously in 2012.
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I don’t.
8-8 would be a “big” season for the Redskins.
To bad they’re in the toughest division in the league. If RGIII has a great rookie year they’ll be tough.
Is that a diss from a Flacco fan?! Hilarious and rediculous at the same time.
Once Ray Lewis retires, that Ravens D becomes average.
Hater’s gonna hate, but things have changed in D.C.
He wasn’t snubbed. He didn’t play well enough to go.
As a Skins fan I agree with bluebongzilla that 8-8 would be “big”. A big step in the right direction, which is what smart Skins fans are hoping for.
They better hope so…
No decent round draft picks for the next couple of years in order to get RGIII…
Already have a mix-match group of players due to shoddy General Managing….
And not much cap room…
Good luck, you’re gonna need it.
Obviously raven you are like me. You have had to listen to Redskin fans run their mouth year after year about how they have the best team in Maryland. And now they have their future qb, so they are Super Bowl bound this year.
Yes RGlll should help and they have some good defensive players like Orakpo, Kerrigan and Fletcher. But they are still weak when it comes to offense. Their top receiver is still Moss and their top back last year was Helu and he only had 2 tds
9-7. Yeah I said it. RGIII is going to shred fools with arm and legs. And peytonsballs18 or whatever that dork’s name is will be nowhere to found.
Not!!!!
17-1 baby.
ravensdominate says:
Aug 7, 2012 7:14 PM
I don’t.
31 67
bluebongzilla says:
Aug 7, 2012 8:23 PM
8-8 would be a “big” season for the Redskins.
Whoa two Troll clowns back to back. GAL get a life!
bluebongzilla says: Aug 7, 2012 8:23 PM
8-8 would be a “big” season for the Redskins.
__________
I don’t know if that was supposed to be a diss, but yeah, 8 and 8 wouldn’t be half bad for the Redskins. That’s a three game improvement in their quarterback’s rookie season: means things are looking up for the future. 9 and 7 would be better, but as long as Washington wins more games than they did under Rex Grossman, everyone in the DMV should be pretty pleased, with the exception of Hulkhogansays.
As a Skins fan I would rather Orakpo be quiet and let his play do his talking for him. It is put up or shut time for #98. If he wants to be thought of on a Terrell Suggs level he needs to show it on the field. Finally develop more than one rush mOve and stop crying to the Ref when he is obviously held.
You have been in the NFL long enough, #98. Time to take a seat at the big boy table. Put up or shut, or step aside and let Kerrigan take you’re spot.
6-10 would be a good season for them. the schedule is brutual and to expect more from a rookie QB against that schedule is asking alot. He is no Cam Newton.
As a ‘Skins fan I have to say that our record this year is less important than the team showing improvement on the field like CAR last year. I was done buying into the annual hype of this team years ago, but it finally feels like we’re doing things the right way. Hope is a wonderful thing. But playoffs? This year? Doubt it.
This man knows brother. I hope he takes a big leap in his game and breaks into the elites of the pass rushers in the league. He’s got all the talent but it’s time to be consistent. Playoffs in Washington DC, oh happy day.
Stick to Geico commercials and stop hyping your bottom feeder team. Skins suck!
Deadskins gotta long way to go to compete with the elite teams c’mon orakpo be realistic #deadskins
Haters gonna hate…HTTR
He wears glasses, right?
@ravenator..
Quit hating..without rice and your
Def..your avg at best..skins got something new going..cant wait to bury you this year..
If the regarding continue to refuse to call holding against the guys blocking him, much like the replacements missed several blatant holds in the opening preseason game, he can kiss personal accolades goodbye.
Only takes one person to change the entire direction and destiny of a nation or team. Yes, I believe Brian that they can change their destiny with a very big season. Its not I’ll believe it when I see it – Its I’ll see it when I believe it. And they believe it.
Just the change in management philosophy/front office approach is reason for optimism….they’re building through the draft, accumulating extra picks, they have cap space despite the big penalty…now we just have to watch and see which guys can develop into big time players, sift through the roster and find the winners, and stay this course.
The Redskins defense wasn’t all that bad in 2011. If RGIII can give the offense a boost similar to what Cam did in Carolina then the ‘Skins could have a real shot at the playoffs.
Really strange season to predict, no? The defense was solid last year, 13 in total defense despite an offense incapable of getting st downs:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/total/position/defense
Will they be worse? Maybe, but not sure why as one of the stars was in his rookie season and another was two years in… So, there is plenty of room for everything to go wrong but there is potential there…some Top 10 Defense type potential…
The offense was atrocious and lead by one of the worse QB duos in the history of the league…all while playing in a division with many of the NFL’s most stout defenses. All that said, ending up 16th is not so horrible, no?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/total
Losing not a single player on offense, another year in the same system, and replacing the leader with someone who has serious breakout potential makes the offense more than capable of being bottom 20 as well as Top 10.
In the end, do I think surpassing the aforementioned “big season” of 8-8 is likely…no…but could that happen and possibly much more, I think so.
This season, more so than possibly any I have watched has a massive question mark stamps on it.
They better step it up, what with being in the mighty NFC East with the dream team, America’s team and the so-called new dynasty……*chuckle*
And i see “big garbage” from the skins this season
There is no use in arguing with people. The Skins have not done anything in the last 20 years to make anyone believe that this time it will be different. Except that I know this time it IS different. RGIII is a great piece to the puzzle but the rest of the team has improved greatly. Most importantly, The Danny has learned some patience – I may even stop referring to him as The Danny soon.
No one gave the Lions any respect until they were rolling on teams last year – I expect that to be the same for the Redskins. HTTR.
The news will be that the Saints miss their coach in loss to the Redskins. If the Saints win it will be they won the game for their coach. To think the NFL would let anything else be said is obsurd.
All I see is there are too many trolls on this site.If you don’t like the subject then don’t hit the link.
ravensdominate says:
Aug 7, 2012 7:14 PM
I don’t.
Says the former skins fan who jumped ship
Just like the rest of you bmore bandwagons
solid Defense that gave up 33 against the Vikings and 34 against the Jets last year?