Obviously, this season has been going badly for the Redskins. It vexed me to no end, because the hopes were high going into this season that the Skins had made all the right azquisitions and were poised to build on a teriffic finish to their last campaign. But the fact of the matter is, out expectations for this team were way too high for this season.

In 2004, Coach Gibbs came back running the offense he used to run in his first term - an offense that was about 11 years past its time. That first year, it worked miserably. No one had any idea what they were doing, and they couldn't score any points; it was embarassing, frankly, whenever they took the field. The second year, partly because of its novelty, partly because of good personnel acquisitions (read: Santana Moss), and partly because the rest of the offense now knew what they were doing, the unit ran decently well and allowed the defense to take the Skins into the playoffs.

But that offense was maxed out - the Skins were only 11th in the League in offense that year, and they ran that scheme about as well as you can run it. And when they got into the playoffs, the really good defensive teams that don't get thrown by novelty just ate the offensive unit for lunch in the playoffs. For two forgetable games (even though one was a win!), the Skins offense looked like 2004 again. A change had to be made.

So, keep in mind that I completely support the hiring of Al Saunders, even though I am about to blame it for this season being such a mess, because in order for the Redskins to go deep into the postseason, they needed to be running a modern offense - and the Al Saunders offense is the best one there is.

But the system takes time. And working in Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randle El, and a completely new offense takes time. Lots of time. Like, maybe a whole season. Just like in 2004.

And then next year, next year, when the system is in place and people know their assignments, that's when we'll see the payoff.

We were right - all the pieces were in place. And they still are. But you can't just have the pieces to the puzzle and call it done. You have to put it together. Right now, they're putting the pieces of this offense together. Expecting that process to take a few minicamps and 4 preseason games was foolhardy.

So, Skins fans, be patient. This year isn't our year. We should be focused on next season, and making sure everyone stays around so they can run it right. And, no, throwing Jason Campbell to the wolves right now is not the right idea. The last thing an offense needs at this point is to be led by a kid with no NFL starts. Let's let the rest of the players get their acts together before we try throwing in another combustible element into the mix.

There is no magic pill. This offense isn't just going to get better by changing one element. It has to get better slowly, as the players adjust to their new, well, everything.

And if the defense is going to show it's weaknesses, well, this is the season for it. Expose needy areas so the team can address them. For instance, it's obvious now that we need another really good CB really badly. Would you rather learn that fact now, as the offense is struggling with its issues, or next season, when the offense is in playoff form?

So, what I'm saying is, we need write this season off - chalk it up as one big, long learning experience that in the end will benefit the team more than we know; understand this was the year when the learning curve was traveled, so that 2007 could the year of ascension. And forget about winnning the division or even going to the playoffs. Just watch for improvement. And the improvement will be there, by the end of the season. Remember in 2004, when the Skins upset the Vikings the last week of the season and Randy Moss stormed off the field he was so upset? Well, Saturday on week 17 we're hosting the Giants, and I'll say right now the Giants had better hope they don't need that game like Minnesota thought they needed the game in '04.