The Redskins rebuild has started and it’s time to understand it

The Redskins are undergoing what feels like their first true rebuild under Dan Snyder. It will take time, but it should also excite Redskins fans.

Haskins was 15-36 and had thrown five interceptions.  The Redskins lost to the Giants 46-16 and their record dropped to 0-3.  As I watched the highlights, Ron Rivera and Del Rio had a puzzled look on their face. You know, that Jay Gruden/Norv Turner look.

I was utterly confused, but even though the scoreboard startled me, what frightened me was not the outcome. It was the panic that I had apparently missed the first three games of the season. For the first time in 26 years, I missed watching a game. Three of them.

This was my nightmare last night.

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Now, let’s backpedal a bit. The Redskins had just beaten Miami in the Super Bowl. I had tickets to the game, they were field passes. I was running late to the game, very late. I made it to the game as the final seconds ran off the clock. The Redskins won, tears of joy streamed down my face. But my emotions were mixed. My heart was filled with joy knowing my team just won the Super Bowl, but I was devastated at the same time, I missed the game and it was the Super Bowl!  And I had tickets!

This was my nightmare several months ago.

As I self-reflect on the meaning of my dreams, I’m left with two answers. One, with these uncertain times, I’m greatly concerned that we won’t have a season. Second, no matter the outcome, it’s the ability to watch and enjoy the roller coaster ride that I enjoy most. You see, whether it was the 0-3 start or the Super Bowl win, it was missing the games that made these dreams a nightmare, not the results.

The reality is that the 2020 Redskins will likely fall somewhere in between. It’s a gray area they seemingly never escape. But it’s the same place that most teams find themselves.

The NFL is a league of parity. Since 1990, every team in the NFL (except Cleveland) has averaged between 6 to 9 wins. The Redskins check in at 7.39 wins per season over the past 30 years.

So what makes this season more compelling than others? For me, it’s not the anticipation of another likely 6-9 win season. No, I’m excited for a rebuild; a true rebuild, the first one we’ve seen under Dan Snyder.

A lot of Skins fans don’t understand what a rebuild means. It’s perfectly understandable, we’ve lived through quick-fix scenarios and have developed the same impatience as the team owner. It’s been 20-plus years of big splash free-agent signings, draft day debacles and absolutely no vision for the future.

We’ve lived through an era where the goal is finding band-aids to slow down the bleeding, just enough to sneak into the playoffs. They’ve worked tirelessly to produce a mediocre product, never willing to make the sacrifice it takes to develop a true contender.

So when we look at the 2020 free-agent class and its lack of big names, fans get disappointed.  You see, we’re programmed to get excited for the wrong reasons. It’s time to reprogram our brains. We are witnessing the beginning stages of a rebuild.

Rebuilds take time, even in the NFL where they can happen quickly, patience is still needed.  It doesn’t happen in the first three months. Much like the developmental stages of young children, the beginning stages of an NFL regime are the most important.

Coach Rivera is laying a foundation, he’s bringing in guys that fit his culture. They may not be part of the extended future, but these are guys than can deliver his message. So, don’t worry yourself with free-agent signings this year. The real long term vision for this team begins with the draft. Every great organization builds through the draft.

And understand this is a feeling out period for Rivera, not only with developing his foundation of players but learning to work with Kyle Smith and building relationships with his coaching staff.

Every team in the NFL has talent. Getting the ENTIRE organization from the top down to buy into the same plan is the goal. It ‘s very easy to talk about, incredibly hard to implement. The Patriots are masters of it and coach Rivera had success with it in Carolina.

It looks strange to us because we haven’t seen it for such a long time. It may sound cliche, but I’m “trusting the process” and eagerly anticipating whatever the 2020 season may bring. Ultimately, the ability to watch the games and enjoy the ride is my dream. My nightmare is missing games and that’s far worse than losing. Let’s all hope we can return to normalcy and have a 2020 season.