tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87350702024-03-07T00:49:39.747-05:00Jeff's Redskins ReviewJeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-25442520052502451192011-01-13T21:00:00.001-05:002011-01-13T22:55:12.975-05:00Interview with Ken Harvey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TS_FZMj1pQI/AAAAAAAAAIM/Tam879Dch2U/s1600/Harvey%2BCrushes%2BAikman.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 178px; height: 227px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TS_FZMj1pQI/AAAAAAAAAIM/Tam879Dch2U/s320/Harvey%2BCrushes%2BAikman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561881101484795138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">It's not often, as a sports fan, that you have the opportunity to have real, honest contact with the players you cheer for. Sure, you feel a connection to a player through game attendance, press conferences, or even Twitter. But there's something very special about talking, one on one, with the people who make you stand up and cheer.<br /><br />I was fortunate to be able to interview one of the great Redskins, Ken Harvey, recently. It was surprising, friendly, and a lot of fun. Here's my interview, the first video for Jeff's Redskins Review:<br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UQtBEjWmH2A?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UQtBEjWmH2A?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />The Redskins Review is also now on Twitter: follow me <a href="http://twitter.com/JeffSkinsReview">@JeffSkinsReview</a> !<br /><br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-38580003778377545112011-01-05T14:29:00.020-05:002011-01-06T20:27:53.766-05:002010 Season Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/09/13/PH2010091302657.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 270px;" src="http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/09/13/PH2010091302657.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Every team's season contains highs and lows; but because it's the Redskins we're talking about, we have to include the supremely disappointing moments as well. Put on your Redskins gear one last time while viewing the best, worst, and <span style="font-style: italic;">facepalm </span>moments in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 Season Review</span>:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >BEST OFFENSIVE PLAY</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">There were many to choose from, particularly in the early part of the season when #5 was under </span><span style="font-family:arial;">center. For a period of time, Washington led the NFL in big plays. But the winner is Ryan Torain's </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81b07422/Torain-12-yard-TD-run">12-yard touchdown run</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> against the Eagles. This play, against a division foe, was the throwback to yesteryear, when the Redskins had the personnel and guts to run the ball in the red zone. The fact that Torain made road kill of Quintin Mikell makes this play all the better. If there's a run that signaled the impending exit of Clinton Portis, this was it. Honorable Mention goes to Donovan McNabb and Anthony Armstrong's connection for a </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/09000d5d81b34cb8/WK-5-Can-t-Miss-Play-Armstrong-s-48-yard-TD">48-yard touchdown</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> in week five against the Packers.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WORST OFFENSIVE PLAY </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">While Clinton Portis' </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/09000d5d81adc1cc/RB-Portis-27-yd-run">phantom fall down</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> in week three against the Rams was a prime candidate for worst play, it simply cannot match the utter despair fans felt in week ten. On Monday Night Football, the visiting Eagles were humiliating the Redskins defense, 21-0 in the first quarter. The Redskins offense didn't have a first down and needed to do something to slow down the Michael Vick scoring juggernaut it, apparently, had not prepared for. The offense came on the field, ran twice for minimal yardage, and McNabb overthrew his receiver on third down. It was the last chance Washington had </span><span style="font-family:arial;">to put a respectable dent in the lead. The Redskins punted, the Eagles scored moments later, and the fans began streaming to the exits before the second quarter.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">BEST REASON TO DO YARD WORK DURING A REDSKINS GAME</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In week three, against the one-win St. Louis Rams, the first nine minutes were this: Washington had a punt blocked, lost a fumble, allowed a 42-yard touchdown, had 2 false-start penalties, a crack-back penalty, and were down 14-zip.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >BEST DEFENSIVE PLAY</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I've called DeAngelo Hall a good, not great corner. But in week seven, he was Madden-esque, tying an NFL record with four interceptions of Chicago's quarterback Jay Cutler. See them all </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81b94088/Hall-picks-apart-Cutler">here</a><span style="font-family:arial;">, but watch his second interception, a one-handed snag that he takes back for a lovely, long touchdown. Honorable mention goes to Hall as well, for his </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugmdgVS95dk&feature=related">week one theft</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> of Dallas' Tashard Choice for a pivotal touchdown. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WORST DEFENSIVE PLAY</span><br />The Redskins' defense finished far, far worse than last season, when it was a top-ten defense. Blame the scheme, blame the coaches, but there's no doubt that the players shoulder every bit of </span><span style="font-family:arial;">the blame for the week thirteen touchdown against the Eagles. Michael Vick and Philadelphia had already carved the defense like a holiday ham, but this <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81c27715/Vick-buys-time-hits-Avant-for-TD">three-yard pass to Jason Avant</a> proved that they were completely outmatched. The defensive line got no pressure, Albert Haynesworth rested on the ground for half the play, at least seven defenders roamed the end zone, and somehow Avant was still open. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In a season of great returns, Brandon Banks' </span></span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81bbff4a/Brandon-Banks-96-yard-kick-return-TD">96-yard kickoff return</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> for a touchdown in week eight against Detroit stands out most. He showed speed, patience, and even some tackle-breaking ability as he covered virtually the width and length of the football field. Detroit had already given up multiple long returns to Banks; he was simply unstoppable that day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WORST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY</span><br />Actually, the whole series of plays in this video qualify--in week fourteen, Graham Gano had a horrible kicking day capped by a </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81cd65b7/Redskins-Gano-has-game-to-forget">botched hold by Hunter Smith</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. His opportunity to redeem the multiple easy kicks missed slipped away, as did the opportunity for overtime. Honorable mention goes to any of the illegal blocks by special teamers that negated touchdown returns by Brandon Banks.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >BEST REDSKINS REVIEW PROCLAMATION</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-two-be-very-afraid.html">Week Two:</a> "The optimist in me thinks that the Redskins can make 8-8; but with this comical running game 7-9 would be impressive." </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WORST REDSKINS REVIEW PROCLAMATION</span><br /><a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-seven-cover-your-eyes.html">Week Seven:</a> "Donovan McNabb is the best quarterback the Redskins have had in recent memory." Some might say this is actually true. McNabb was on pace to hit 4000 yards while running for his life most snaps. But we never found out due to his benching, and it's likely we'll never know because he'll be wearing different colors in 2011. It would've been nice to see him groom a young kid into being the Redskins' future...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">BEST COACHING DECISION</span><br />This may come as a surprise, but the introduction of the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81aa894c/Fred-Davis-62-yard-catch">bootleg-play-action-pass-across-the-field</a> into the offensive playbook was the best of the year for Mike and Kyle Shanahan. It wasn't just effective, it was consistently producing long-yardage and touchdowns. I noticed other teams employing it, I like to believe, after seeing the success in Washington. Here it is against <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/09000d5d81c4b5b9/QB-McNabb-to-TE-Cooley-26-yd-pass">Tennessee</a>, the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81aa7a7e/Chris-Cooley-35-yard-catch">Texans</a>, the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/09000d5d81aacb19/QB-McNabb-to-TE-Cooley-22-yd-pass-TD">Texans again</a>, and the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81d33c4e/Grossman-1-yard-TD-pass">Jaguars</a>. The greatness of this play lies in the quarterback being mobile enough to make distance between the now-free rushers and strong enough to heave a pass longer than normally necessary. McNabb </span><span style="font-family:arial;">pulled it off regularly, and tight ends Fred Davis and Chris Cooley made most of their big yardage through it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WORST COACHING DECISION</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TSZml1ml6FI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Ri3Y4o9Z4MY/s1600/McNabb%2BBenched.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TSZml1ml6FI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Ri3Y4o9Z4MY/s320/McNabb%2BBenched.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559243590265595986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">It is really tempting to anoint the 3-4 defense as this season's worst coaching decision. The roster was unprepared, untalented, and (it certainly looked) unmotivated to change from the 4-3. Introducing the scheme guaranteed an uphill battle for the players; the result was that the defense routinely gave up 400 yards of offense.<br /><br />But the worst coaching decision was the week eight benching of Donovan McNabb. With just over two minutes left, and the Redskins down one score, Shanahan inserted Rex Grossman in to run to the drill and pull out a win. <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/09000d5d81bc65ba/Week-8-Can-t-Miss-Play-Say-it-ain-t-Suh">First play:</a> Grossman is blindsided (by the defense he hadn't faced all day),Ndamukong Suh picks up the fumble and ices the game with a touchdown.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Shanahan's convoluted explanation after the game didn't help justify the bizarre choice. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 SEASON HERO</span><br />Brandon Banks. I get that Santana Moss had a 1000-yard season and had the second-most receptions in Redskins' history. But Moss had critical drops, some of which hit him squarely in the hands. When the Redskins needed <span style="font-style: italic;">somebody </span>to go out, electrify the crowd and energize the rest of the team, Banks answered the call. It's been awhile since the Redskins had a special player on special teams, a guy whom you could believe could take it to the house on any punt or kickoff return. Banks, if he stays healthy (and gets some help with legal blocking), could be that guy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 SEASON GOAT</span><br />Coach Mike Shanahan. The 6-10 season result, his <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d81bc76d4/GameDay-Shanahan-wrong-to-sit-McNabb">pitiful explanation</a> of his last-minute benching of DJ McNabb, and his decision to keep Albert Haynesworth around indicated that, maybe, he's not the great genius of football operations Daniel Snyder, Bruce Allen, and the rest of the football world proclaimed him to be. He may have had a bunch of square pegs to fit into round holes, but the fan base expected better than a two-game improvement over the Jim Zorn train wreck. We expected the prime-time humiliations to division foes to end. <br /><br />We didn't expect a playoff birth, but a simple return to respectability. And we got none of the above.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THE GOOD NEWS...</span><br />Is that the Redskins are on a potential upswing. They have a decent draft position, they played well down the stretch, and Daniel Snyder will keep Shanahan around long enough to right some of the wrongs of past years. It will take time. Maybe a long time--look how long it took to raise pieces of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Titanic</span>. But Shanahan <a href="http://www.redskins.com/gen/articles/News___Notes__Shanahan_Wants_a_Younger_Roster_In_2011_188167.jsp">wants to go younger</a> with this team, not unlike the Tampa Bay Bucs, who went from nobodies to 10-6. The good news is that, with patience and wisdom, anything is possible.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THE BAD NEWS...</span><br />Is that the Redskins are still in the NFC East. The Cowchips performed well under interim-now-head coach Jason Garrett, managing to have a better overall record than the Redskins despite losing five in a row. The Giants faded toward the end of 2010, but finished a respectable 10-6. Only two teams in the NFC had better records. And then there's the Eagles, who are favorites to face Atlanta for the NFC championship. Somebody's got to bring up the rear in the division, and in the short term it looks like it's going to be Washington.<br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-14187811340866788362011-01-03T15:46:00.006-05:002011-01-03T17:48:11.862-05:00Week Seventeen: A Perfect Synopsis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TSJL1vJs7eI/AAAAAAAAAH0/i8YTlObB2yk/s1600/Torain%2BGut%2BCheck.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TSJL1vJs7eI/AAAAAAAAAH0/i8YTlObB2yk/s320/Torain%2BGut%2BCheck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558088276690922978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">New York Giants 17, Washington 14</span><br /><br />If ever there were a microcosm, a conspectus of the 2010 Redskins season, it was this final game against the Giants. Many of the same elements of frustration that </span><span style="font-family:arial;">prevented success for the franchise--and joy for fans--were on display Sunday evening. For every positive play that created hope in Washington playing spoiler, there were reminders that Mike Shanahan's team is a work in progress that hasn't progressed nearly as far as anyone hoped. In the end, the the season's final moment was the disappointing view of an opponent in victory formation.<br /><br />In a month, maybe even sooner, this game will be nothing more than a statistical notation. But a closer examination of this season finale explains a lot of what's good and what's bad about this </span><span style="font-family:arial;">team:<br /><br />Rex Grossman, for example, was good enough to be called a professional quarterback but made the errors that assured that he shouldn't be a starter in Washington. His final stat line included more than 300 passing yards and a <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81d67775/Anthony-Armstrong-64-yard-TD">gorgeous 64-yard strike</a> to Anthony Armstrong. But he also had two fumbles, an interception, and couldn't lead his team into field goal range with two minutes left. His performances in the last two weeks were hardly an indication of the "he knows the system" advantage coach Shanahan has reminded us of all season.<br /><br />Santana Moss was Grossman's favorite target, finishing with nine catches for 74 yards. And while it's proper to celebrate his fourth season of more than 1000 yards, he had another fourth-quarter </span><span style="font-family:arial;">error, a red zone fumble.<br /><br />Then there's the coaching: offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan ordered ten rushes in the first half for Ryan Torain, and the running back averaged a solid 4.8 yards per carry. In the second half, with the game still close, Shanahan got Torain the ball just eight times more while Grossman attempted 29 passes.<br /><br />And let's not forget the so-called best defensive back on the Redskins' roster, DeAngelo Hall. He had a decent game in run support, finishing with four solo and two assist tackles. But for all of his continued claims that he wants to be matched with the opponent's best receivers, he <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81d664bc/WK-17-Can-t-Miss-Play-Marvelous-Mario">failed miserably in defending</a> the Giants' last good receiver, Mario Manningham, on a 92-yard touchdown.<br /><br />Perhaps the best symbol of what the 2010 season has been like was in the first quarter, when Torain and the offense responded to the Giants' first score with a ground-game attack. The drive pounded into the red zone, and the offense, as it has done all season, fizzled. On came Graham </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Gano, he who has won multiple overtime games for Washington, for a chip-shot 30-yard field goal for the tie. Gano's kick went horribly wide left, and Washington never came closer to tying the game.<br /><br />As usual, the Redskins were good enough to make fans believe they could win but lacked the talent to actually pull it off. Here's to eight months of improving on the latter.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TSJRd_Hbp-I/AAAAAAAAAH8/IKUnBcFRphI/s1600/McNabb%2BFarewell.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 184px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TSJRd_Hbp-I/AAAAAAAAAH8/IKUnBcFRphI/s320/McNabb%2BFarewell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558094465729275874" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OFFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> I would be very interested to see if Mike Shanahan <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>believes that Grossman </span><span style="font-family:arial;">provides a better chance of winning than Donovan McNabb. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">DEFENSE: </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B+.</span> They didn't give up 400 yards and kept an uninspired Giants team from running away with the game.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sp. TEAMS:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B-.</span> At the stadium, there was a noticeable increase in energy when Brandon Banks took the field for punt returns. At times it seemed like he was one of the few players who has heart.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">COACHING:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> For all the criticism leveled at the coaches, their players (backup and starter) came ready to do battle in recent weeks.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OWNERSHIP: </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> Another rainy game, another day without free ponchos. The 2011 magnet-calendars are hardly consolation prizes. And what's with the #5 jerseys still being sold for $90.00 in the Redskins store...?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEXT UP</span><br />The Best and Worst of the 2010 Redskins season, my interview with Redskins great Ken Harvey, and reviews of the eagerly-expected NFL playoffs.<br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-88655710456539955842010-12-27T12:04:00.007-05:002010-12-27T17:52:55.698-05:00Week Sixteen: The Expendables<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TRkSKpiIZMI/AAAAAAAAAHk/W5oEBAmg7m4/s1600/Gano%2BGame%2BWinner.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 232px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TRkSKpiIZMI/AAAAAAAAAHk/W5oEBAmg7m4/s320/Gano%2BGame%2BWinner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555491589495219394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Washington 20, Jacksonville 17 (OT)</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />When the Redskins' season gets to this annual point--where the team is far from playoff contention, many of the early-season starters are benched or injured, and it's a holiday weekend--the motivation for players to play and fans to watch can be lessened. This year, despite the change in managerial and on-field leadership, Washington found itself in a similar place to Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell's team from a year ago. In week fifteen of the 2009 season, the Redskins were pummeled on </span><span style="font-family:arial;">(surprise!) national television by the New York Giants, 45-12, <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2009/12/week-fifteen-welcome-to-washington-mr.html">in front of new GM Bruce Allen</a>.<br /><br />This season, for reasons to be debated well into April 2011, the Redskins stood their ground and pulled off an underdog win against a playoff aspirations. That was inspiring. What made it even </span><span style="font-family:arial;">more poignant (and watchable) was that Mike Shanahan fielded a team missing many of the best players on the roster--LaRon Landry, Brian Orakpo, Clinton "Remember Him?" Portis, and Donovan McNabb.<br /><br />Like the real-life version of a team-up of Sylvester Stallone, Terry Crews, and Jet Li, it was The Expendables who pulled off what hadn't been done but five times all season: play a full 60 minutes and win. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">During the game, the broadcast team joked with the truth that Mike Shanahan and the coaching staff weren't sure of all the names of players they were using. But it was </span><span style="font-family:arial;">practice squad and castoff guys named Rob Jackson, Macho Harris, and Byron Westbrook who made plays while veterans like Chris Cooley and Rex Grossman had average or sub par games. Jackson, for example, went from not being on the practice squad weeks ago to making three solo tackles and forcing a fumble.<br /><br />The Jaguars offense, minus Maurice Jones-Drew, had everything to play for but were held to 17 </span><span style="font-family:arial;">points, 78 rushing yards, and just 336 yards. (Yes, 336 isn't much to be proud of...unless your defense routinely allows 400 yards per game.) Moreover, the Redskins defense provided relentless pressure on quarterback David Garrard, sacking him four times and influencing his worst throw of the game, an interception in overtime.<br /><br />After Rex Grossman's <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2010/12/week-fifteen-half-full-or-half-empty.html">touchdown-a-thon against Dallas</a> last week, the question in most fan's mind was whether the backup-now-starter was part of the Redskins' future winning equation on just another jersey you'll find on the <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/early-lead/2010/12/donovan_mcnabb_no_5_jersey_pri.html?hpid=moreheadlines">clearance racks like Donovan McNabb's</a>. The answer, after a medicore, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">19-for-39, 182 yards, one touchdown/one interception day, is...don't waste your money. Contrarians might argue that Grossman's numbers are negatively affected by Cooley's four-drop day, which included an easy touchdown.<br /><br />But when the game was on the line--the dreaded two-minute drill that Shanahan said McNabb hadn't grasped for most of the season--Grossman led the offense to produce one first down, burn a minute and thirty seconds, and produce four net yards before punting. The third down completion </span><span style="font-family:arial;">issues from McNabb's leadership continued, as Grossman's team went 0-for-7 before finishing 4-for-15. Hardly an upgrade. How about starting John Beck against the Giants and see what happens?<br /><br />But this day belonged to the second and third-stringers, who confirmed that this season isn't the total flaming mess of last year. (It's a mess without the flames.) And part of the difference, as shown in the last two weeks is that they players are playing for themselves, their pride, and their fans. Rob Jackson, when asked what this victory meant, put it best: "it means that we've got a lot of potential, a lot of upside."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OFFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> Why the Redskins ran on 24 of their 64 plays is a mystery for Kyle Shanahan to explain. Torain remains a solid back and should be in the backfield discussion come offseason.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DEFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">A.</span> Carlos Rogers nabbed his first interception in forever, the defense got four sacks, and, most importantly, won the game. What more can you ask for?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sp. TEAMS:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B.</span> The punting game was adequate, but isn't much better than when Hunter Smith was playing. Kicker Graham Gano gets his third game-winner and can breathe a little easier.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">COACHES:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B.</span> Kudos to coach Shanahan for playing his young guys and for Jim Haslett for continually mixing blitzes. The D was energetic, aggressive, and effective.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S SIGN THAT BROADCASTING FOOTBALL TRUMPS PLAYING IT</span><br />The Philadelphia area was blanketed by blizzard-like conditions on Sunday, and the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81d32bae/article/blizzard-forces-postponement-of-vikeseagles-game-to-tuesday">NFL postponed the Minnesota Vikings/Eagles game</a> until Tuesday. The NFL's statement cited road safety and stadium clearing as reasons for the postponement, not player safety or impossibility in playing the game. With modern technology, the game could have been played. Instead, the NFL knew they'd lose out on lots of revenue if the seats are partially empty for their nationally-televised game. Even the governor of Philadelphia disagreed with the postponement.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TRkWlRJ3wOI/AAAAAAAAAHs/Z-jbbnZukJU/s1600/Ice%2BBowl.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TRkWlRJ3wOI/AAAAAAAAAHs/Z-jbbnZukJU/s320/Ice%2BBowl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555496444853993698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />It wasn't that long ago--okay, forty years ago--that the NFL decided to man up and was rewarded with one of its greatest games ever: the Ice Bowl Championship game of 1967. The wind chill was minus-36 degrees, the surface was rock-hard, and the referees' whistles froze right after kickoff. And you know what? They played anyway, because it's football and football is played regardless of the weather. (Um, unless there's lightning.) Who knows how the legends of that game--men like Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry, Don Meredith, Bart Starr and Ray Nitchske--would have been viewed if they preferred to make sure everyone could see the game instead of just playing it? The NFL should remember its own history...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" ><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Redskins photo courtesy NFL.com, the Ice Bowl courtesy Sports Illustrated.</span></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-20903192284030170232010-12-20T09:57:00.010-05:002010-12-20T13:55:57.837-05:00Week Fifteen: Half Full or Half Empty?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TQ-cMkCqPWI/AAAAAAAAAHY/JbYJ5W-HlqM/s1600/Shanahan%2BGrossman.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 309px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TQ-cMkCqPWI/AAAAAAAAAHY/JbYJ5W-HlqM/s320/Shanahan%2BGrossman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552828605218307426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Washington 30, Dallas 33</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Well, this was unexpected. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Given the dwindling hope, negative media attention, and prominent roster change, it was easy to assume that the Redskins would walk into Dallas and provide another lackluster, disappointing performance. Instead, the team looked, well, unusually competitive and competent. But is this one day symbolic of anything substantial, or is it simply Fool's Gold? Let's look at the major headlines from the game:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Mike Shanahan: Genius All Along?<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">The facts are indisputable: Washington produced their best comeback of the season, twenty points, against their biggest rival, on the road. With Shanahan's choice for starter, Rex Grossman, at the helm, the offense was a perfect four for four in the red zone and converted two-point conversions for the first time in years. When previous Redskins teams would've folded like a cheap tent after a deflating first half, Shanahan's squad rallied to not only make it a game, but </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >could actually have won</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. (Yes, when you've only won five times all season, you cherish every single one of them.) So maybe we cut Shanahan some slack, let him choose his starting quarterback, defensive linemen, and schemes when and how he likes.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">On the other hand...</span>the Redskins needed that wonderful comeback because his offense was indeed absent for most of the first half. Dallas had </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >triple </span><span style="font-family:arial;">the time of possession and a 13 point lead by halftime. And despite a few defensive stands, the Shanahan/Haslett 3-4 scheme has once again allowed over 400 yards of opponent offense. Dallas spent the first half in the Redskins' red zone, and had they been just a bit more efficient, the final score would have certainly topped 40 points. None of this is a prescription for a winning game.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />And let's not gloss over the disrespectful mismanagement of Donovan McNabb, which continued right into the game's beginning. Despite benching McNabb, Shanahan asked him to participate in the ceremonial coin toss. In a show of exceptional maturity and poise, McNabb did so. Why Shanahan would demote a player, then ask him to represent the team--what an awkward position to be asked into--is further circumstantial evidence of the minimal professional respect for McNabb. Hardly a genius maneuver there.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Finally, let's not forget that this was still a loss to a division rival. For all the philosophical and structural changes made, the Redskins are 5-9, just one game better than they were <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2009/12/week-fifteen-welcome-to-washington-mr.html">last year</a>, and are again sitting at the bottom of the NFC East once.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Rex Grossman</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" > One Day Sale or Long Term Investment?</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It's been a long time since the Redskins have witnessed a quarterback have a four-touchdown game. And hardly anyone predicted that Grossman would be the man to provide it. But on Sunday he finished with a very respectable stat line (25 for 43, four touchdowns, 2 interceptions, one fumble) and placed the team in position to complete a comeback. His second-half poise, particularly in the red zone, was the difference between scoring touchdowns instead of field goals. His perfectly-thrown pass to Santana Moss was dropped, but it could have capped an exciting, game-winning drive.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">But let's not forget...</span>that Rex is equally as capable of tossing interceptions as he is throwing touchdowns. His last season as a starter, <a href="http://www.nfl.com/players/rexgrossman/gamelogs?id=GRO597298&season=2006">2006</a>, shows him having four games with three or more interceptions. In three of those games, he didn't have a touchdown. It was widely considered that the 2006 Bears made the Super Bowl despite Grossman, not because of him.<br /><br />Before Sunday, Rex's last relevant action as a starter was in the third preseason game against the New York Jets. After the game (a loss, by the way), Shanahan celebrated Grossman's decision making, quick release, and understanding of Kyle Shanahan's scheme. The reality was that he had third down passes deflected at the line, was solely responsible for a safety, fumbled on a sack, and sometimes tossed right into clear double coverage. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">His career touchdown day against Dallas needs to be viewed in light of the two turnovers he had that led to 14 Dallas points. The offense looked no better than under McNabb for half the game, and if the Redskins are going to dream of being competitive against the NFC East's best, that's not going to be acceptable.<br /><br />There is no denying that, for at least one moment in time, Grossman proved to be a winning hand. Let's see how he does against Jacksonville.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OFFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B.</span> It's an outstanding grade, considering that they were outplayed badly in the first quarter. But 30 points is 30 points. Ryan Torain again proved that he is dangerous in the open field and can make roadkill of opposing secondaries. If he can stay healthy in 2011...<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DEFENSE: </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">D.</span> Lost in all the Grossman and Shanahan talk is the continual mediocrity of the defense. For all the upgrades on offense, if this defense can't stop anyone from putting up 350-400 yards per game, well, it's all for naught.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sp. TEAMS: </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> I'm sure many fans were praying that Brandon Banks would save the day with an outstanding punt return in the fourth quarter. It was not to be, though the special teams coverage and punting was adequate on the day.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">COACHES:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> Kyle Shanahan, to his credit, called some great plays, including a <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81d04777/Torain-catch-and-run-TD">blitz-beating screen</a> to Ryan Torain. Also, I get that you go with what you think will work against an opponent. But the eleven Torain rushes are exactly why the Redskins fell behind in time of possession and points. Lastly, is it me or did Shanahan seem surprisingly happy after a loss? </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S PROOF OF WHO'S BEST IN THE NFC EAST</span><br />The East provided not one but two close, down-to-the-wire finishes on Sunday. On the road in New York, the Philadelphia Eagles scored not one, not two, not three, but <span style="font-style: italic;">four </span>touchdowns in the final seven minutes on their way to securing a hammer lock on the NFC East title. For those who haven't seen the<a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81d06fc3/Can-t-Miss-Play-Jackson-s-walk-off-punt-return"> miracle finish</a>, it's breathtaking, even if you can't stand either franchise. The Eagles may not have the best record in the NFL, but I'm certain that, after the Patriots, they're the team you least want to play.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy NFL.com</span></span><br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-80597673881310925732010-12-17T14:49:00.010-05:002010-12-17T23:11:04.996-05:00Reasons # 545, 546, and 547...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TQwxhOe9MgI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/kl9ZAlB1LRc/s1600/Pat%2BHill.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 217px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TQwxhOe9MgI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/kl9ZAlB1LRc/s320/Pat%2BHill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551866887534359042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">...on why you have to be crazy to be a Redskins fan. For the four people in Des Moines, Iowa, who aren't familiar with the bad reality show that this franchise has annually been, here's a small slice of the ridiculousness endured by the burgundy and gold faithful:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Reason #144:</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Daniel Snyder hires Marty Schottenheimer to run the highest-payroll team in the league. Though starting 0-5, the team rebounds to finish 8-8, made the cover of Sports Illustrated and actually began smelling the playoffs. Snyder immediately fires Schottenheimer. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Reason #182: </span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Starting quarterback Gus Frerotte scores a touchdown against the rival Giants, but cannot finish the game due to a self-inflicted head injury created when he celebrated by slamming his head into a wall. Without Gus, the Redskins finished the game with a tie.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br />Reason #201:</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Deion Sanders wears a Redskins uniform. 'Nuff said.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br />Reason #391:</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> In the midst of yet another losing streak, Daniel Snyder bans fan-made signs at FedEx Field. Parking and beer costs remain the same.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br />Reason #402:</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Head coach Jim Zorn calls one of the worst plays in NFL history, where his punter takes a snap and, without any blocking, launches a desperation pass into the general direction of </span><span style="font-family:arial;">three opposing players. What's worse is that Zorn set the play up, the opponent called a timeout, and coach Zorn re-ran the play anyway. Result: an interception and national lampooning.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">One might think, "Hey, weeping only endures for a night, right? I mean, the Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints fans didn't wear bags forever...give it some time while [insert coach/GM/QB here] gets things together."</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">You would be wrong. The names, numbers, and press conferences may change, but the results are the same. Here are, sadly, more Reasons You Have to Be Crazy to Root for the Redskins:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Reason #545:</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Two days after mishandling an extra point snap that would have helped provide game-tying points, punter Hunter Smith is fired. His numbers this season weren't spectacular, but he demonstrated honesty, ownership, and consequence for the error. He also had nothing to do with the offense's inability to score in the red zone, or kicker Graham Gano's inability to make easy field goals, both of which would have removed the necessity for Smith to make the failed play. So does Shanahan dump the kicker, or consider letting Smith go post-season, given that they're <span style="font-style: italic;">fourteen games</span> into a losing season? No. Coach Shanahan dumps Hunter Smith and brings in some new guy. How refreshingly honest was Hunter, on his way out the door? Here's some of what he had to say to TBD's Parker and Parker: </span> <blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;">"Am I a scapegoat?" Smith repeated. "I believe that in the NFL, there are a couple of different types of teams out there. There are some teams that display undying loyalty to their coaches and players. There are other teams that tend to want to make a little more of a statement in times of quote-unquote tragedy or something like this going on, by making an example out of somebody, by partially putting the blame on them for the loss. And I'm not saying that the Redskins are completely that kind of a team, but in this sense, I think that it does come down to that..."</span></blockquote> <span style="font-family:arial;">If there's one thing the Redskins are good at, it's straightening the artwork on a sinking Titanic.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reason #546: </span>An interesting article at the Washington Post revealed a little-publicized fact about </span><span style="font-family:arial;">the Redskins: they are one of the few teams in the league who </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/16/AR2010121605581.html">don't have a dedicated indoor practice facility</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. When the weather turns sour, as it did on Thursday when snow moved through the Washington area, practices are moved to odd venues like basketball courts or, in some cases, canceled. The article notes that in this season alone </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >six separate practices</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> were moved or postponed due to bad weather. Or more specifically, practices were altered because the Redskins lack the basic facilities with which to prepare for games. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Seriously? Daniel Snyder owns one of the top money-making franchises in the most popular and profitable sports franchises in America, yet </span><span style="font-family:arial;">hasn't kicked out the cash so his team can prepare in less-than-ideal weather? Is it any wonder that the Redskins are 5-17 since 2008 in games after November?</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">How is it that this team, in this climate, in this division, doesn't </span><span style="font-family:arial;">have anything comparable to its rivals, whom they're guaranteed to see twice a season? As a fan, wonder no more why the Eagles, Cowchips, and Giants mop the floor with the Redskins. But hey, at least FedEx Field has new giant video screens.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Reason #547: </span><span style="font-family:arial;">The Donovan McNabb Era has come to a close, with him on pace to reach 4000 </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TQwrNuFqYBI/AAAAAAAAAG4/P4lU6w9VFAg/s1600/Not%2BQuite%2BPrime%2BTime.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TQwrNuFqYBI/AAAAAAAAAG4/P4lU6w9VFAg/s320/Not%2BQuite%2BPrime%2BTime.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551859955351052306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">yards, and in possession of a Redskins franchise record for consecutive games with a passing touchdown. It's hard to believe, but Mike Shanahan has officially benched McNabb, placing him behind Rex "Wrong Answer" Grossman and unknown commodity John Beck. Shanahan can't guarantee that DJ McNabb is coming back next season and McNabb's agent is furious, calling the move "beyond disrespectful." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">There are plenty of angles with which to view this national-attention-grabbing story. (Was it justified? Why do this now, <a href="http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/17/cowboys-pretty-happy-about-redskins-move-to-rex-grossman/">before a game against rival Dallas</a>? What does this reveal about Shanahan's egotistical hold on his players?) But the must hurtful one is this, and it's a familiar one for longtime Redskins fans: Here. We. Go. Again. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">If it's not Albert Haynesworth, Mark Carrier, Jeff George, Joe Gibbs, Steve Spurrier, or Dana Stubblefield, it's Adam Archuleta, Brandon Lloyd, Mike Shanahan, and, now, Donovan McNabb. This show is as scripted as "The Real Housewives of Washington, D.C." Regardless of the so-called philosophy, this franchise continues to pay big money and get small results. The veteran walks in town, takes money, and, by hook or crook, flies out quickly to new pastures with fatter pockets. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And the fans are fools for ever paying $80 for their jersey. They sport the colors on their car, they buy the Christmas ornaments, they spend three hours every Sunday hoping that the inevitable won't happen.<br /><br />You <span style="font-style: italic;">have </span>to be crazy to do that.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >ONE LAST THING:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">For the record, it was noted <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/dj-mcnabb-takes-center-stage.html">here at the Review</a>, on April 5th, a note of caution about McNabb's trade to Washington. It bears republishing, if for nothing else than it's sad prophecy:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;">Now the Philadelphia front office won't admit it, and I'm sure head coach Andy Reid won't divulge the truth even under a cheesesteak lie detector test, but it's clear to me that the Eagles think that McNabb's best days are behind him...the Eagles did more than just trade a guy because they thought his skills were in sunset. No, <span style="font-style: italic;">they traded their franchise quarterback to a hated division rival who they knew had questions at quarterback.</span> McNabb isn't going to Kansas City, a team they play once or twice every four years and has minimal effect on their overall record. He's landing with a team that impacts their Super Bowl chances at least twice a year.<br /><br />In his post-trade press conference, Coach Reid spun a carefully crafted web of "been a great player here for 11 years...set every record you can set for this organization...nothing but good things to say about him...we're doing what's best for Donovan..." and other oddly pleasant reviews of McNabb's work in Philly. Which raises the question: if he's been that good, why let him go? This guy got you to the playoffs with no-name receivers and then again with managing the cancerous Terrell Owens. Might their training staff know something about McNabb's past injuries that the Redskins don't? Could the Eagles think McNabb is really toast?<br /><br />Simply put, are little green men with wings on their helmets going to jump out of Donovan's [backside] and sabotage the Redskins' season?</span></blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">Photo courtesy the Bleacher Report.</span></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-48627535714625630732010-12-12T22:25:00.008-05:002010-12-13T12:25:49.572-05:00Week Fourteen: Rough Torain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TQWUZ7kT3dI/AAAAAAAAAGw/ZU0MUN39k-s/s1600/Crushed_Gano.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 185px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TQWUZ7kT3dI/AAAAAAAAAGw/ZU0MUN39k-s/s320/Crushed_Gano.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550005289011633618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tampa Bay 17, Washington 16</span><br /><br />Mike Shanahan and the 2010 Washington Redskins have been trying to establish some sort of identity, some form of consistency that defines the team. Are they a deep threat, high-powered offense, as shown against the Texans? Is their defense all about giving up yards but forcing turnovers, like the Indianapolis loss? Or are the hard-hitting special teams the x-factor that can snatch victories from defeat?<br /><br />In Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (dropping the Redskins to 5-8), what became clear to fans is that whatever persona this team is going to establish will require a whole lot of their patience. The kind of patience necessary to sit in more than three hours of cold, rain, and wind, only to see a game lost on the simplest and most fundamental plays in football. Pack a <s>valium</s> lunch, Redskins faithful. It's going to be a long, difficult, rocky road.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">The easy person to pin this loss on would be Graham Gano, who missed or nearly missed, every extra point or field goal he attempted. To his credit, he admitted that this was the worst game of his career. The weather should mitigate some of that criticism, but it's hard not to point a finger at any kicker who misses two easy field goals that would have kept the home team comfortably ahead. (Meanwhile the Bucs' kicker, Connor Barth, went 3-for-3, including a 44-yarder.)<br /><br />The Donovan McNabb offense is more to blame. The stat line for the quarterback wasn't too bad--22 for 35, 228 yards, 2 touchdowns--but it doesn't begin to show how inconsistent he was. He was skipping passes off the ground often, and, ironically, if two of them hadn't been poorly thrown, they would have been easy pick-six interceptions for Tampa Bay. When Ryan Torain and the offensive line got the ball in six-point striking distance, the team consistently ran out of gas. After dominating the first half in production, they had ten points instead of 28. The offense disappeared in the third quarter, and ran the ball for just 12 net yards in the second half. <br /><br />London Fletcher and the defense did a solid job holding back Tampa Bay from mounting a comeback, but they again neared 400 yards of offense allowed and gave up the winning touchdown with less than four minutes to go.<br /><br />The good news, from this landfill of a season, is the emergence of running back Ryan Torain. In the <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-six-if-youre-gonna-lose.html">Week Six review</a>, Torain was crowned the future franchise rusher, and his return to the lineup certainly confirmed that coronation. From his first carry back from injury, he was in strong form. He patiently picked his holes, he ran through arm tackles, and he had a burst of speed when in the open field. He was positively <span style="font-style: italic;">Maddenesque </span>in his first half production (18 rushes, 158 yards, 8.8 yards per carry) and seemed a lock for 200-225 yards and a touchdown by game's end. What you might notice in <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81cd6685/Week-14-Ryan-Torain-highlights">his highlight reel</a>, however, is how the score barely changes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />These are the Redskins, so instead of preparing for Tampa Bay's halftime adjustments to the run, the burgundy and gold decided to more than double their first half pass attempts. Torain rushed just six more times for 14 yards. Sure enough, the Bucs won the time of possession battle in the second half and it was Washington scrambling down the field to try to tie the game. <br /><br />Nonetheless, this may be the game that solidifies Torain as the favorite to run the rock in 2011. He's one of the few bright lights on this dark, frustrating road ahead.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OFFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> This offseason should be very interesting. Keep McNabb but draft a young QB? Draft only o-linemen? Find compliments for Moss and Armstrong? Jettison Portis? Every area needs help.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DEFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> Perhaps LaRon Landry's presence is more vital than anyone originally thought. The D allowed young Josh Freeman to continue to look like a future star in the league.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sp. TEAMS:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">F.</span> Their only good play of the game--a much-needed return by Brandon Banks, was foiled by a penalty. Otherwise, it was muffed routine plays, missed field goals, and ineffectiveness.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">COACHING:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">D.</span> It's tempting to think back to the Gibbs days, when in cold, rainy weather, the offense would pound the ball and eat up the clock. Kyle Shanahan put the game in the hands of his QB, and the results were unnecessarily dramatic.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OWNERSHIP:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> Would it hurt to have cheap, Redskins-logo'd free ponchos for fans when they've decided to spend their Sunday afternoon in the rain, rooting for your out-of-the-playoffs franchise?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S FINAL WORD</span><br />...comes from Facebook. The Redskins, like every other business in America, has their own page on the social networking site. During and after games, they post updates and results. The comments section, particularly after losses, is where fans get to lay bare their frustrations with the team and ownership. After Sunday's loss, this comment surmised the burgundy and gold experience: "<span style="font-family: arial;">T</span></span><span jsid="text"><span style="font-family: arial;">he biggest problem with being a Redskins fan is that when you run into someone who wants to talk $^%*, there's really nothing you can say back to them.</span>"<br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-7947000976254888502010-12-06T15:01:00.011-05:002010-12-06T22:08:39.978-05:00Week Thirteen: Holiday Wish List<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TP1S7JdosqI/AAAAAAAAAGo/QSrPwGeyBFE/s1600/Bradshaw%2BSkins%2B2010.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 205px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TP1S7JdosqI/AAAAAAAAAGo/QSrPwGeyBFE/s320/Bradshaw%2BSkins%2B2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547681492096299682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Washington 7, New York Giants 31</span><br /><br />A long, long time ago, back before there was Facebook, compact discs, and online shopping, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Sears printed and mailed a Christmas Wish Book to homes across America. The Wish Book was, for children, like receiving Moses' stone tablets every year. The two-inch thick book, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">containing the latest toys and video games, provided hours of childlike planning, dreaming, and coercion. It was the singular source for wistful hopes of happy days.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />The Washington Redskins are, after another embarrassing division loss, hopeless. The offense is rudderless, the defense is a sieve, and the best guy on special teams is the size of a high school senior. You know a game day performance was the center ring in a <span style="font-style: italic;">Cirque de Suck</span> when the </span><span style="font-family:arial;">dominating story on Monday is <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/05/AR2010120504364.html">who <span style="font-style: italic;">didn't</span> contribute</a> to the horror.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The fans of the burgundy and gold deserve much, much better. They have been demanding it, in various and <a href="http://www.dansnydersucks.net/">sometimes hilarious</a> formats, for years now. But until someone with more money usurps owner Daniel Snyder's power, well, all there is left to do is dream. The Redskins Review has been pouring over the 2010 season like an old Sears catalog. Here, then, in the spirit of the season and the futility in not being able to do much else, are the Top Five Wishes for the Washington Redskins. (Cue the Johnny Mathis...)<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Find us players with heart, who care about winning more than themselves.</span> Let's get this out of the way now: "Albatross" Haynesworth should </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRwXjl8590EIMMv1ZXReBMp-NCGDIPy3-j9KhnY9K4nrz0cWCWO7A"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 182px;" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRwXjl8590EIMMv1ZXReBMp-NCGDIPy3-j9KhnY9K4nrz0cWCWO7A" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">be the last high-priced, massive-ego free agent ever hired for the Redskins. His training camp, preseason, and in-season selfishness should be immortalized on a poster in Ashburn, Virginia, with a warning that if anyone acts this way, begin cleaning our your locker. His marginal statistical line and salary should be laminated and charted in the head coaches' office. #92's story is well known: he doesn't want to show up for camp, he can't pass conditioning tests, he whines </span><span style="font-family:arial;">about having to play 3-4, he doesn't start, he gives half-effort when finally playing, and he shows up late for mandatory team meetings. Oh, and he is the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.<br /><br />He is, unfortunately, just one in a sad history of poor choices by the "talent evaluators" at Redskins Park. It's easy to poke holes at Daniel Snyder, whose checkbook funds this madness. But he </span><span style="font-family:arial;">doesn't scout, and he doesn't watch film of free agents. That's Gibbs/Zorn/Shanahan and their staff's job. Apart from London Fletcher, it hasn't been pretty. That must end. Now and forever more.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">There's a chap in Pittsburgh who, on national television, took to the field against a top defense and </span><span style="font-family:arial;">pulled out a thrilling win in freezing temperatures. He did so with a poor defensive line, no running game, linebackers in his face, a bad ankle and <span style="font-style: italic;">an in-game broken nose</span>. When was the last time the Redskins had anyone that dedicated?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >2. Call some plays that require </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">pelotas de acero.</span> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">End the passive, let's-hope-we-can-get-these-seven-yards-on-third-down-with-a-screen-pass mentality that's been pervasive in this and recent seasons. Sure, the Redskins are currently less talented then Auburn, Oregon State, and that blue team from Boise. But does that mean that Kyle Shanahan can't call unexpected, oh-no-he-didn't stabs at yardage? What do we have to lose? Respect?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Now let's use a little wisdom; we're not talking about calling the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew76rhNocL0">Worst Play Ever</a>, courtesy Jim Zorn. We're talking Joe Flacco launching not <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81cacbb1/Boldin-61-yard-catch">one</a>, but <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81cad5ab/Stallworth-67-yard-catch">two </a>60+ yard pass plays on third down from inside</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> the Ravens' <span style="font-style: italic;">own five yard line</span>. That's play calling that says "Screw it, we're here to win this football game. And if we fail in the process, it won't be because we didn't pull out every stop to try."<br /><br />And speaking of wishing for offense...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Get us a Steve Smith. That's right, Steve Smith.</span> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">If the Redskins are going to keep old, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">backside-of-their-prime players on the roster, let them be fearless, soft-handed guys who still can challenge a defense. That's Steve Smith to a tee. At 31, he can still <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81ca8966/Smith-39-yard-catch">stretch a defense</a> and has the will to play the game, despite being with the less-than-prolific Carolina Panthers. (That alone earns him kudos.) Santana Moss, by comparison, is also 31, the same height, weighs around twenty pounds more, and strikes a quarter of the fear in opponents. Don't even mention Joey </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Galloway.<br /><br />Now it's true that Smith hasn't always been a model player or teammate. But his commitment and fire when playing the game at its highest level are unquestioned. The Redskins need to give Donovan McNabb a strong-minded target he can count on; the career-worst season he's having is coinciding with having to work with some of the worst receiver talent in his career.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />If that Steve Smith-esque guy could be 6'5", that'd be nice too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Call it old-fashioned, but return to Redskins football.</span> The old heads remember the days when the offensive line dictated the offense. Regardless of what happened in the first half, fans knew that </span><span style="font-family:arial;">after halftime, Washington would run, run, run, and then run some more. Kind of how the Giants did on Sunday.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The NFL goes through its phases of so-called success. Some seasons it's about the scrambling </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.rotoinfo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/peyton-hillis.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.rotoinfo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/peyton-hillis.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">quarterback, others it's about the deep pass, some seasons it's about special teams. But one </span><span style="font-family:arial;">truism is that a strong running game will always keep you in contests. Old coaches used to say that “When you throw the ball, three things can happen—and two of them are bad.” For the Redskins, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">that 66% usually slides up to around 85%.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />So let's wish that Washington finds a Peyton Hillis: a 3rd year, 24-year old back who is, as <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81c7a2df/Hillis-rushes-for-131-yards-three-TDs">this video</a> shows, all about "running guys over and scoring touchdowns." He is athletic enough to juke or hurdle, yet with the sheer strength and weight to make road kill of a safety. He is everything Redskins running used to be about.<br /><br />If Ryan Torain remains healthy enough to be that kind of back, let's use this wish instead to hire solid second and third string offensive linemen.<br /><br />Last, and most fancifully...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Can we get a one-team lockout for 2011?</span> The NFL Players Association recently recommended that players <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-players-are-told-to-save-their-game-checks-in-case-of-lockout-2010-12">store away their game checks</a> due to the likelihood of a lockout next season. It's wishing a lot, but how about the Redskins simply sit out next season and rebuild? That's right, they forfeit the games in 2011. Dont' dress anybody. Keep the lights of FedEx Field off in the fall and winter. There won't be the excitement of a September kickoff...but there also won't be the inevitable frustration when they lose to a clearly inferior opponent.<br /><br />Furthermore, there won't be offseason free agent nonsense, no inflated preseason posturing, no disappointing losses to division opponents. No snarky media fixation on the yearly Redskins circus.<br /><br />In place of the inevitable embarrassments, the fans get to watch Mike Shanahan and the coaching staff dismiss the ineffective, overpaid, and unmotivated. He can actually devise an offensive and defensive scheme using the talent he brings in. Daniel Snyder and Bruce Allen actually get to manage a process without the pressure of having to concurrently deliver on the goods.<br /><br />Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?<br /><br />There's no <span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span> this week, on account of the complete failure by the offense, defense, and special teams to reach a level of mild productivity. McNabb, when he had time, wasn't accurate and fumbled. The receivers, when they got the ball, couldn't hang on or catch it. The defense allowed 200 rushing yards to two guys and an offensive line missing three starters. The special teams couldn't stop Redskins castoff Devin Thomas from blocking a punt. The coaches have now lead this team to two massive, inter-divisional blowouts in the last month.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S LAST WORD</span><br />...goes to John Riggins. On his postgame show, he had this wonderful quote: "This team may not win another game. You may be looking at 5-11. I joked that they are getting better each season...one game at a time. So by the time they become a winning team, we'll all be dead."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Photo courtesy NFL.com</span><br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-29665452574714387602010-11-28T18:51:00.008-05:002010-11-29T22:26:03.324-05:00Week Twelve: Par For the Course<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TPRip-JPrKI/AAAAAAAAAGg/bq9DMS6czZQ/s1600/Redskins%2BVikes%2B2010.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TPRip-JPrKI/AAAAAAAAAGg/bq9DMS6czZQ/s320/Redskins%2BVikes%2B2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545165514395856034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Minnesota 17, Washington 13</span><br /><br />There's an old southern saying, "water will seek its level," that suggests that, given enough time, you can tell the real from the fiction. It means that, after all of the hullabaloo, subjects always reveal their true nature.<br /><br />The 2010 Redskins are 5-6, and the record represents the pure mediocrity of the the team. They have the talent to usually be competitive, but will rarely win outright without the timely congruence of multiple favorable circumstances.<br /><br />On Sunday, the favorable circumstances were present, but the Redskins' lack of talent in all three phases kept the Redskins below .500, exactly where they deserve to be.<br /><br />For one shining moment--seven minutes and fifty-three seconds, to be exact--Mike Shanahan's offense functioned on all cylinders and looked very much like the squad expected at the beginning of the season. Even without Clinton "Elsewhere in 2011" Portis and a healthy offensive line, DJ McNabb ran Kyle Shanahan's creative offensive attack to perfection. Kyle dialed up the first appearance of the Redskins wildcat (though " warpath" has a better ring to it), the offense was four-for-four on third down, and McNabb was a perfect eight for eight with one touchdown.<br /><br />...And that was the end of the offensive show. Washington didn't <span style="font-style: italic;">attempt </span>a deep pass until the fourth quarter. The offensive line allowed McNabb to return to his run-for-yer-life mode and didn't open up many lanes for the nameless backup running backs. The Skins produced a very Indianapolis Colt-like 29 yards of rushing...but without the crisp passing and receiving. Santana Moss and the receiving corps weren't much help, dropping far too many catchable passes and not gaining enough separation to be a threat to the Vikings' secondary.<br /><br />The defense, to its credit, provided the weak offense with multiple opportunities to beat Minnesota. They even took the Vikings' biggest threat, Adrian Peterson, out of the game. But all wasn't roses for Jim Haslett and his squad. On a critical third down, the 3-4 personnel showed its weakness: Favre (who may or may not be fifty years old) is able to scramble for the first down, largely because linebacker Lorenzo saw Favre break out of the pocket...and ran the other way. The only logical explanation is his desire to cover a receiver. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">(For the record, this is is just one of quite a few times when Alexander and the other lineman-turned-linebacker, Andre Carter, have blown containment because they've looked awkward in their assignment.)</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> If Alexander's told to simply rush the passer or contain the run, Favre doesn't come near that first down. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />And while the defense can be proud that it limited the Vikings' somewhat-potent offense to just 17 points, they did let Peterson's backup, some guy named Toby Gerhart, <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81c78574/Gerhart-scores-first-career-TD">plow through defenders</a> for his first NFL touchdown...<a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81c779a6/Peterson-pounds-way-into-end-zone">just like the All-Pro did</a> in the first quarter.<br /><br />And then there's the special teams, who won the game with accurate field goals and continued brilliance from Brandon Banks. That is, until they lost the game with a low-talent penalty by rookie Perry Riley that nullified a Banks touchdown that would've put the Skins ahead.<br /><br />Perhaps it isn't fair to judge a team by its record. Look at the San Diego Chargers who were once 2-5, then 5-5, then stepped up to future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and dismissed them on national television. <span style="font-style: italic;">In Indianapolis.</span> The Bolts are a team that has learned to gel using the talent on hand and deserve the respect of a 7-4 or even 8-3 team.<br /><br />The Redskins should be taken at face value.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OFFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C-.</span> This mere suggestion of a running game is big trouble for McNabb and the offense. It's hard to believe that, six months ago, the Redskins were looking at three Pro Bowl veteran running backs on its roster. Come January, it'll be time to bring in all new talent to compete with Ryan Torain for the starter.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DEFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B.</span> Something doesn't feel right about applauding their success in not giving up 400 yards, but here it is. Congratulations!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sp. TEAMS:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">A-.</span> For all the big contracts, big names, and big egos on the roster, it's refreshing that one of the leaders for team MVP is a little guy who joined as an undrafted free agent.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">COACHING:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> If this group of coaches can pull a playoff berth out of this current roster, I'll take back everything I've said about them this season. <br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OWNERSHIP:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> There were an unusually-large amount of empty seats at FedEx on Sunday. Have the fans said that $4000 is too steep a price for mediocrity?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">MADDEN </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">PREDICTION</span><br />Just for fun, ESPN has Madden 11 run through each week's games and posts the predictions. Nice that they use the current rosters. I'm afraid to download the last update, which removes every semblance of a decent Redskins running game. To the game's credit, it wasn't too off on the final score. with <a href="http://espn.go.com/espn/thelife/videogames/easims?id=5596511">the Vikes victorious</a>: 19-16.<br /><br />Photo: </span>AP/Pablo Martinez MonsivaisJeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-17769239825162250542010-11-23T11:08:00.004-05:002010-11-23T13:59:37.761-05:00Week Eleven: Give Thanks<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Washington 16, Tennessee 13 (OT)</span><br /><br />The good news for Washington, after their historically bad performance against the Eagles, was that they still have seven games with which to find redemption and finally establish a recognizable identity. Facing the 4-5 Tennessee Titans, fans wondered two questions: how will this team respond? And should I care?<br /><br />The good news is that the Redskins played with strong effort, displayed moderate levels of competency, and, most importantly, with the win gave fans a reason to not begin eyeing Baltimore Ravens merchandise.<br /><br />The game certainly started off for the offense like a Monday Night Football hangover: on the first play, DJ McNabb drops back, trips, and it's a 7-yard loss. Next play: incomplete pass to Clinton Portis. On 3rd and 17, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan calls a run. And just like last week, the offense goes nowhere behind confusion, poor execution, and timid play calls. Add in a horrendous 22-yard punt, and within five minutes, the Redskins look like they're prepared to surrender many </span><span style="font-family:arial;">more first-quarter points.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TOwLy94_94I/AAAAAAAAAGY/deyNoRGtZkY/s1600/Titans%2BSkins.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 236px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TOwLy94_94I/AAAAAAAAAGY/deyNoRGtZkY/s320/Titans%2BSkins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542818211621238658" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Then <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81c4686f/Young-fumbles-on-scramble">one of the most significant plays</a> of the game happened. With the Titans in the red zone (they </span><span style="font-family:arial;">only needed one 14-yard Chris Johnson run to get there), quarterback Vince Young scrambled up the middle to avoid the collapsing pocket. Lorenzo Alexander, the play-any-position standout, came from Young's blind side and purposely slapped out a fumble, which was recovered by Washington. This averting of sure opponent points (though they were earned not much later by the Titans on a punt return) was a much-needed sigh of relief, showing that maybe, just maybe, the Redskins have glimmers of possibility left in the season.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />And while the rest of the game wasn't always as inspiring, there was much to be proud of. Mike Shanahan motivated the team in overcome multiple pre-game and in-game injuries and win over a favored opponent on the road. Moreover, the battered and short-handed offensive line was unexpectedly strong, helping Washington to improve in their habitual worst area of performance: third down conversions. The Redskins dominated time of possession (40 minutes to 26) because they were able to convert 50% of their third downs. The o-line were able to give McNabb time to launch his 50 pass attempts, which helped Santana Moss have one of his better games of the season (6 catches, 106 yards, 1 touchdown) and for Joey Galloway, Chris Cooley, and Brandon Banks to actually contribute to the production.<br /><br />The other piece of good news for the Redskins is that they aren't alone in facing difficult times. The burgundy and gold may not be good, but the purple and gold of Minnesota are on a year-long path of self-destruction. While Washington was considering changes to its coaching staff, the Vikings were nursing the wounds of a Super Bowl birth thrown and fumbled away. Their fans then watched an offseason sideshow featuring coach Brad Childress and the organization toyed with by Brett Favre; they begged him to return with a multi-million dollar bonus, then personally escorted him back. Ten weeks into the season, Favre and the Vikings are the NFL's biggest letdown, and the locker-room and organizational infighting wasn't helped with the month-long hiring of the cancerous Randy Moss. After Sunday's 31-3 home loss to the Green Bay Packers dropped the Vikes to 3-7 , Childress and their post-season hopes were shown the door. Now the team is left to go through the motions and start looking at 2011. And it's only Thanksgiving.<br /><br />The Redskins faithful should pause during this holiday season and be thankful that even with the prime-time failures and confusion, the team could be a whole lot worse.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OFFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B-.</span> Credit the offensive line again for opening up 100 rushing yards and for giving McNabb the rare luxury of time to throw. The inspired yards after catch by underused tight end Fred Davis </span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;">were refreshing to see as well.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DEFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B+.</span> The pundits were sure that Vince Young, Chris Johnson, and the Titans were going to gouge the secondary for 20+ points. It wasn't pretty, and they were helped by facing a rookie quarterback, but the defense got the stops they needed.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">SP. TEAMS:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C+.</span> How kicker Graham Gano comes up as short as he did on the last kick in regulation is disappointing. That he came back and booted a similar kick to win makes it all better.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">COACHING:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B. </span>I've been critical of Kyle Shanahan's play calling, but I liked seeing the shovel-pass to Moss, the insertion of Brandon Banks, and the well-executed screens.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S UNANSWERED QUESTION</span><br />What exactly is Mike Shanahan's plan for Albert Haynesworth? Last week #92, the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL, had an embarrassing, nationally-mocked half-effort against the Eagles. This week, facing his former team, he doesn't start and is minimally used. Has he been disciplined for his effort? Is his knowledge of the defense so small that he is no longer considered start-worthy? What's going on?<br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-73061980377601547852010-11-17T13:12:00.006-05:002010-11-17T22:18:23.277-05:00Week Ten Part 2: National Embrarrassment. No Joke.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TOSOn86tFkI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/mZCcaWDHx68/s1600/Redskins%2BTerrible%2B11-15-10.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 183px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TOSOn86tFkI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/mZCcaWDHx68/s320/Redskins%2BTerrible%2B11-15-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540710258590946882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Being a Washington Redskins fan is a torture unlike any other in the National Football League. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">To root for the burgundy and gold, in the last decade or more, is to wish upon a dream that has long since passed. It is to visit weekly with a childhood friend with whom you now have little in common, except the wonderful memories of sunny days, smiles, and simpler times.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">For the fortunate fans who witnessed the Redskins of the 1980s and early 1990s, they saw a franchise that grew from its inconsistent but exciting 1970s into a continual contender. All the Super</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> Bowls, NFC Championships, and playoff appearances produced a pride based in the trust that Jack Kent Cooke, Joe Gibbs, Bobby Beathard, and the front office knew what they were doing. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Players like Darrell Green, John Riggins, Russ Grimm, and Doug Williams may not have been the most talented to play the game, but fans could trust that they gave their all on Sunday. And they found ways to give a little more against a division foe. That franchise of those Glory Days earned </span><span style="font-family:arial;">and kept the respect of the league.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In the last eleven seasons, this franchise has descended below mediocrity, below embarrassment, way down into the once-unimaginable depths of national joke. The mocking barbs once leveled at the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions now aim toward Washington. It seems that nearly every national sports publication snickers at the Redskins.<br /><br />And why shouldn't they? Daniel Snyder's ownership has produced seven coaches and two playoff </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://misterirrelevant.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/oc.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 224px;" src="http://misterirrelevant.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/oc.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">wins. None of those coaches ended their tenure with better than a .500 winning percentage. The </span><span style="font-family:arial;">team has spent millions on the retreading of veterans like Jason Taylor, Deion Sanders, Bruce </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Smith, and, yes, Donovan McNabb. Young talent like Ryan Clark, Brandon Lloyd, and, yes, Jason Campbell were cut by the Redskins and miraculously play better elsewhere. Offseason after </span><span style="font-family:arial;">offseason the franchise brings in new saviors who either aren't given enough opportunity to shine or never shine at all: Steve Spurrier, Marty Schottenheimer, and, yes, Mike Shanahan. For every Sean Taylor or Brian Orakpo, there are draft choices traded away into nothingness.<br /><br /><a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2010/11/week-ten-shanahilarious.html">Monday night's disaster</a> was further notice that Redskins fans have been duped. While fleecing fans for more money, they have been spoon fed Glory Day nostalgia to believe the next high-priced defensive end is Dexter Manley. Or that Joey Galloway is really Downtown Charlie Brown. The marketing machine creates new anniversary jerseys, runs jumbotron montages, and produces DVDs of days long, long gone.<br /><br />Then the franchise puts a team on the field that is a mere shadow of those men of respect and ability. And has the nerve to remind the bewildered to<a href="http://www.redskins.com/gen/articles/Pro_Bowl__Vote_For_Your_Favorite_Redskins_2444.jsp"> vote their favorite player</a> for the Pro Bowl. Maybe fans will get to that when they finish <a href="http://blog.redskins.com/2010/11/17/where-does-the-loss-to-the-eagles-rank-among-the-worst-ever/1#c31587303">considering where this loss falls</a> in the pantheon of embarrassing Redskins losses. That is, if they can drown out the <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/16/2440780/yearly-ritual-redskins-embarrassed.html">national chorus of laughter</a>, <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81c2dc3d/article/eagles-have-a-clear-plan-redskins-not-so-much?module=HP_cp2">the charges of aimlessness</a>, and <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?id=5813073">the second-guessing of leadership</a>.<br /><br />Ah, but the joke is on you too, Daniel Snyder and Washington Redskins. ESPN, ABC and the NFL Network don't continually schedule your team for nationally-televised games because they might win or potentially play well. You're there because your franchise is considered a bumbling circus sideshow whose inevitable failure makes for good ratings and easy, mean-spirited ridicule. Emperor Snyder has no clothes, and the media is laughing all the way to the bank.<br /><br />As always with this team, there remains a glimmer of hope. Perhaps Mike Shanahan is just rusty in his ability to give plausible reasoning at press conferences. And maybe Bruce Allen really has a plan to build the team with quality young players, not just old ones. It might be that Daniel Snyder isn't sticking his nose in player issues and announcing contracts for maximum media buzz.<br /><br />At this point, it's doubtful.<br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-87559275786630888522010-11-15T22:25:00.012-05:002010-11-16T02:43:19.193-05:00Week Ten: Shanahilarious<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philadelphia 59, Washington 28</span><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TOIwFquzwjI/AAAAAAAAAF4/QR0oiKNx2SA/s1600/-Shanahan%2BSoaked%2B11-15-10.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TOIwFquzwjI/AAAAAAAAAF4/QR0oiKNx2SA/s320/-Shanahan%2BSoaked%2B11-15-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540043365547229746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This loss, before a national audience, wasn't bad: it was <span style="font-style: italic;">historically </span>bad. It was the worst first </span><span style="font-family:arial;">quarter by a defense in NFL history. Philadelphia Eagle Michael Vick had a performance unseen in the history of the NFL (300+ passing yards, 50 + rushing yards, 4+ passing touchdowns, 2+ rushing touchdowns). The Redskins gave up the most points in a half in their history and allowed the most first quarter points by a visiting team in NFL history. The Eagles celebrated the most points in a half in franchise history. </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Even the stats that aren't records indicate a total, Republicans-over-Democrats shellacking: just over fifteen minutes into the game, Philadelphia had five touchdowns (more than Washington would score all night) while the Redskins had run just twelve plays for 23 yards. Vick was his own Human Highlight Reel, finishing the first half with a perfect quarterback rating. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />But really, in the end, what matters are two things: how it happened and who is responsible. Fortunately, both questions can be answered with three words: Shanahan's staff failed.<br /><br />The Redskins coaches, blessed with two weeks to prepare, strategize, and practice, put a team on</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> the field that looked like it had just finished playing Detroit an hour before the Philly game. They were ill-prepared, unresponsive, and unmotivated.<br /><br />If Mike Shanahan can't prepare his team in two weeks to play a division rival, at home, on Monday Night Football, then why is he being paid $35 million? How is he any better than quarterback coach-turned-head coach Jim Zorn, who was cheaper and didn't hire his son to run the offense? Spare us ESPN commentator John Gruden's effusing over Shanahan and his Super Bowls ("[He's] a great coach. He managed the bye well..[but it's] his team that has not played..."). The proof is in the pudding, and on the biggest stage the Redskins will see this season, he and his shiny Denver Super Bowl trophies comically failed.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Kyle Shanahan's offense were a phantom success. When the game mattered--the first quarter--the play selections were stale flatulence. How bad did it stink? Here's the first quarter: Vick throws an 88-yard touchdown bomb, Washington calls three run plays. Punt. Vick's offense runs five more plays, all different: touchdown. Washington has a 1-yard screen pass, a rushed 7-yard completion, then an interception as McNabb runs for his life. Vick and offense show variety and the series ends with a shovel pass, touchdown. <br /><br />Young Shanahan's offense, down 21-0 and on the edge of being blown out, walks on the field and attempts <span style="font-style: italic;">two rushing plays and one pass</span>, which was overthrown. Punt. Total output after three series: 21 yards.<br /><br />Folks, the game was over right then. Moments later, the icing was on the cake when Philly no-name running back Jerome Harrison galloped 50 yards through a half-hearted defense for a touchdown. Shanahan's eventual offensive response--deep passes--came too late to sufficiently impact the deficit.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TOIwueptHwI/AAAAAAAAAGA/qsztV77pyZc/s1600/Eagles%2B11-15-10.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TOIwueptHwI/AAAAAAAAAGA/qsztV77pyZc/s320/Eagles%2B11-15-10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540044066679234306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As for defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, he was completely outcoached by Andy Reid. Sometimes</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> it looked like Riverdale Baptist high school had invited Boise State to a scrimmage. The defense was on its heels for nearly all of the first half: they didn't stop Philly from scoring at will until <span style="font-style: italic;">35 points</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"> later. But until then, Reid's playbook was completely unstoppable. Reverses worked. Shovel passes worked. Draw plays worked. Deep passes worked. Screen passes worked. Runs up the </span><span style="font-family:arial;">middle worked. <br /><br />Haslett has answering to do when his players allow over 1000 yards and over 90 points in two weeks.<br /><br />The worst moment, in a night filled with horrific moments, came after halftime. ESPN's Suzy Kolber reported that she spoke with both coaches during the half. Andy Reid, when asked what his strategy would be while leading 45-14. "Score more points," was his reply. When Kolber asked Shanahan about his team, he was at a loss in explaining the record-setting first period.<br /><br />"Do you have any ideas?" was his reply.<br /><br />Ha ha, coach of a national laughingstock. Hilarious.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OFFENSE</span>: <span style="font-weight: bold;">D-</span>. McNabb's strong arm and elusiveness are the saving grace from F-ville. (Sorry Keiland Williams, score your touchdowns outside of garbage time, thanks.) The bigger question is whether those traits are worth a new five year contract...<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DEFENSE</span>: <span style="font-weight: bold;"> F-</span>. <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81c27715/Jason-Avant-3-yard-TD">This play</a> encapsulates the defense's night: Vick has seven seconds to pass due to no rush, Haynesworth doesn't care enough to get up and pursue, and the nine guys playing the pass let a receiver open for a touchdown. Egad.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sp. TEAMS</span>: <span style="font-weight: bold;">C. </span>Lorenzo Alexander was a lone bright spot, crushing a kick returner as he did last time the teams met. Brandon Banks looked like 75% of his pre-surgery self. He really needs that other 25, apparently.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">COACHING:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">F. </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Give Shanahan a modicum of credit for beginning his press conference with the understatement of the season: "I didn't get the players ready." </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OWNERSHIP:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">F.</span> Daniel Snyder's years of mismanagement earned him the privilege of watching his team play the fourth quarter in front of Eagles fans.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S FINAL WORD</span><br />...goes to my brother, who drove four hours from Virginia to attend the game, only to be so disgusted that he left early and drove another four hours back home. "I asked a guy next to me in the second quarter [as fans began streaming out], 'if the Skins score and no one is in the stadium, does it count?' "<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photos courtesy WashingtonPost.com and NFL.com.</span><br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-83076577541337793962010-11-01T09:44:00.005-04:002010-11-01T17:59:26.889-04:00Week Eight: Gross(man) Misconduct<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Washington 25, Detroit 37</span><br /><br />Since taking over a 4-12 franchise, coach Mike Shanahan has enjoyed virtual carte blanche in reshaping the 2010 Redskins. Whether it was in shaping the roster (adios, Rock Cartwright and Antwaan Randle- El), rubber stamping the schemes (hello, 3-4 defense), or choosing his starters, Shanahan's powers have been unlimited and immune to the criticism that his predecessor routinely faced.<br /><br />But on Sunday, Shanahan pulled a move so bizarre, so </span><span style="font-family:arial;">unprecedented, that it defied all conventional strains of football logic. Even more, it guaranteed a loss to the one-win Detroit Lions, dropping Washington to a modest 4-4 record. In legal terms, it wasn't just wrong to do--misconduct--but it rose to the level of <span style="font-style: italic;">gross </span>misconduct: s</span><span style="font-family:arial;">o outrageous that it shocked the conscience.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's the scene: with just under two minutes left, the Redskins had the ball at their own 25 with plenty of timeouts. On the previous two drives, Donovan McNabb and the offense turned the ball over and failed to convert a fourth down. Nonetheless the Redskins were down just six points. Shanahan sends in Rex Grossman, not DJ McNabb</span>, to orchestrate a winning drive. On the first play, Grossman is <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/09000d5d81bc65ba/Week-8-Can-t-Miss-Play-Say-it-ain-t-Suh">blindsided and coughs up a fumble</a> that is easily returned for a touchdown. The game is essentially over.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2010/09000d5d81bc1014_gallery_600.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 311px;" src="http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2010/09000d5d81bc1014_gallery_600.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Naturally, the first question asked of Coach Shanahan in the post game conference was why he benched a healthy McNabb. Shanahan's explanation was straight from the Andy Reid Short Answer 101 course: he thought that Rex knew the two minute offense better, that Rex gave them the best chance to win, and that his gut told him to do so. That was it.<br /><br />Gastroenterology aside, this explanation is pure nonsense. Rex Grossman may have more experience in offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's offense due to his work with the Texans, but he has zero regular season snaps and didn't outplay new-to-the-scheme McNabb in training camp to even be considered the starter. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Grossman's knowledge doesn't trump in-game experience; he hadn't seen the Detroit defense coming at him, except when a play happened to go out of bounds where he was standing with a clipboard and orange Gatorade</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. Yet he was called upon to walk in, cold, with 1:45 left and win a game.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Has there ever been a time when a coach replaced a healthy starter this way? </span><span style="font-family:arial;">This isn't baseball, where a hot closing pitcher can be called up in the bottom of the 8th. Even if it did exist in the NFL, Grossman isn't such a specialist. If he were that good, he wouldn't have bounced from Chicago to Houston to Washington.<br /><br />In short: if Grossman's the answer, you're probably asking the wrong question.<br /><br />To be fair, it is true that McNabb's performance wasn't great against the Lions. He was out of sync with receivers on some occasions, he awkwardly tripped twice on snaps, and he did little to improve the Redskins' next-to-worst third down conversion percentage. Under his leadership the team is horrific in red zone scoring and touchdown efficiency. And one can deduce that the reason the Washington defense allows so many yards per game is because they tire from being forced on the field by the ineffective offense.<br /><br />But let's be real: the blame for the Detroit loss falls on many shoulders, not just McNabb's. The offensive line couldn't protect for the pass, couldn't provide for the run. Snap after snap, Detroit was able to get pressure on McNabb, sometimes without blitzing. The FOX broadcast reported that of his 36 dropbacks, there were five sacks, eleven hits, and ten hurries. That leaves just ten passes where McNabb wasn't having to save his hide from </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Ndamukong Suh and company. Because the Redskins couldn't run, they faced an average third down of more than ten yards.<br /><br />If Shanahan wants to truly evaluate McNabb's performance, how about he look at the two dropped two-point conversions by Fred Davis? If he wants to look for scapegoats, why not mention coach Jim Haslett, DeAngelo Hall and the secondary, who apparently decided to let Detroit's best receiver, Calvin Johnson, punk them all day? The "best chance to win" wouldn't have been necessary if Philip Daniels doesn't jump offsides on a field goal or Reed Doughty doesn't negate a kickoff return with a penalty.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Even worse, Shanahan's decision sends a powerfully negative message to his supposed franchise quarterback: I can singularly blame you for the failures of my offensive line, receivers, defensive backs, and assistant coaches. Sure, coach confidently said that McNabb is his starter after the bye week; but his action suggests that McNabb may be on thinner ice than even he realized. And that's just unconscionable.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br />OFFENSE: C-. Something's very wrong when your longest, non-QB rush of the day is eight yards. And don't look now, but Chris Cooley is quietly having a mediocre season of dropped passes. The o-line should have been made to walk home from Detroit..<br />DEFENSE: C+. Orakpo and the defense didn't put much heat on a rusty Matt Stafford, which let Calvin Johnson have a career day. Yet they still gave the offense a chance to win.<br />Sp. TEAMS: B+ Brandon Banks is smelling like a rookie steal. Twenty more pounds on him and he might be able to break more tackles.<br />COACHING: C. The coaches had little answer for the front four of Detroit, didn't adjust coverage on Johnson, and sent in the backup to win the game. Sadly, they still did better than Zorn's crew from <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2009/09/pardon-my-french.html">a year ago</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">MADDEN </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">MOMENT</span><br />Talk about odd: in my <span style="font-style: italic;">Madden </span>Redskins franchise, I cleaned house of much of the current roster after winning the Super Bowl. (I went 16-1, thank you very much.) I made sure to keep Brandon Banks on the roster for season two, and though he's only a 55-rated wide receiver he's a 95+ speed rating. And just this week I finally got him to score a kickoff touchdown. On Sunday, the real Banks was dominant and finally <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81bbff4a/Brandon-Banks-96-yard-kick-return-TD">returned a kick for six</a>. Well done, sir.<br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-71662908689845467312010-10-25T14:23:00.003-04:002010-10-25T16:11:18.565-04:00Week Seven: Cover Your Eyes<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Washington 17, Chicago 14</span><br /><br />It's funny how life tends to repeat itself. <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2004/10/week-6-benchmark-standard.html">Six years ago</a>, almost to the day, the Redskins played the Chicago Bears and I was unable to fully review the game due to various intrusions into my football watching. (Actually, it was shopping with family.) I worked around these annoyances by employing my then-ten-year-old sister in law to take notes on the game. With marginal results. Nonetheless, the Redskins won by three and a substantial Redskins Review was produced.<br /><br />On Sunday, the Bears and Redskins met, and again this thing called "life" frustrated the reviewing process. (This time there was a confluence of a sore back, an unfulfilled promise to purchase a new pet, and Comcast's choice not to bother airing the game.) And once again I employed a ghost writer--this time a wee older--to take copious notes on the Redskins' performance. And wouldn't you know it: the Redskins won by three.<br /><br />Here then, are my brother's notes on the Redskins' very, very sloppy win:</span><p>There was a period in time where I wondered who wanted the game less. Started with a pass from McNabb making the rookie mistake of throwing while being dragged down for a pick-6. He didn't look as good as he has earlier in the season. </p> <p>Thank goodness for the second coming of <span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1288030972_4">John Riggins</span>, aka <span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1288030972_5">Ryan Torain</span>. He looked great for a lot of the game, when we chose to run. Orakpu is our star on defense, continuing to collapse the pocket, and it looked like the Mad Genius had learned nothing. That didn't last. Martz actually learned by the middle of the second quarter that the long ball was not to be, and went with 3 step drops and quick slant passes. The Redskin D had no answer to it. Thank goodness halftime came, as the defense continued to unravel.</p> <p>Jay Cutler reverted back to a year ago in the second half. He was our 12th mam, throwing an INT after every miscue of ours. Hall's 4th pick (all 2nd half) was a pick-6 and the last score of the game, as athletic as the INT the Colts had at the end of our last game. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/photo/1003a17821H22413g6s14.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 327px;" src="http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/photo/1003a17821H22413g6s14.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Torain earned his paycheck (as well as Clinton "wish-this-was-two-hand-touch" <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1288030972_6">Portis</span>' paycheck) by running hard and getting 1st downs at the end, where normally we would end up running into a wall 3 times and punting.</p> <p>Our run game is slowly looking like a Shanahan team. Armstrong isn't quite a go-to receiver yet, with a crucial drop. Moss was blanketed, McNabb's true security outlet. Maybe that was why he didn't play well. </p> <p>Top performers:<br /> Torain - he should keep the starting job even when Portis is healthy.<br /> Hall - gambled the whole game, and beat the house.</p> <p>Coach of the game - whoever it is that's in charge of special teams. Never kicked to Hester, ALWAYS out of bounds. Net yardage looked bad (how DO those refs figure out where it really went out of bounds?), usually netting 20-ish yards, but the alternative........</p> <p>I think Haynesworth has an allergy to leather oblong shapes - you'd see him on the field, but never near the ball.</p><span style="font-family:arial;">Well said. A few notes of mine: I like the Ryan Torain/John Riggins reference. <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-six-if-youre-gonna-lose.html">Last week</a> I compared him to Stephen Davis, a downhill runner who could plow over defensive backs and had just enough agility to make a man miss. Riggins ran much like that, too, though I can't recall him ever juking a player. He did have that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNzEzSV9dv0&feature=related">extra, magical gear</a> in his youth that I hope Torain finds. His second 100-yard performance is a great sign.<br /><br />Second, the Redskins were fortunate that Jay Cutler and his receivers were so awful. Credit DeAngelo Hall, whom I've called good, not great, for his record-matching day. But Chicago's receivers didn't finish routes, didn't come back for the ball, didn't, well, help their quarterback avoid looking horrific.<br /><br />Third, DJ McNabb is the best quarterback the Redskins have had in recent memory. But he is, as my Pops said, "sporadically brilliant." That means that the rest of the time you're hoping he throws the ball higher than shoetops and doesn't launch deep passes into double coverage. That said, he's a rare quarterback who can avoid a blitzer for just the one second he needs to get off a pass. I'll take that over the Jason Campbell-Patrick Ramsey-Todd Collins statuesque passers who simply took hits from linebackers.<br /><br />I'll forego the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scorecard </span>this week, instead to pass this important note: this may be the only week when Redskins fans maybe, just maybe, might root for Dallas to win. They face the NFC East-leading Giants on Monday Night Football. A win for the Cowchips puts Washington in a tie for first place.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Photo credit: Johnathan Newton/Washington Post</span><br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-75251111876858412612010-10-18T10:44:00.011-04:002010-10-18T14:09:35.993-04:00Week Six: If You're Gonna Lose...<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Indianapolis 27, Washington 24</span><br /><br />Mike Shanahan and the coaching staff will meet sometime in the film room after Sunday night's loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The coaches will see the Washington defense allow 469 yards of offense, including 170 rushing. They'll watch their offense drop catches and fail to take advantage of multiple Colts turnovers. And they'll have to accept the embarrassment of a prime-time loss on national television.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />When the video stops and the lights come up, if they have any sense, they'll crack a small smile </span><span style="font-family:arial;">and say, "Hmph, that was pretty good!"<br /><br />The coaches will say that because they (and their observant fans) know that the 2010 Washington Redskins are of mere moderate talent. While the players have tremendous heart, hit hard, and are </span><span style="font-family:arial;">good enough to create some fortune, they don't yet belong in the same class as the NFL upper echelon. Indianapolis has lived in that realm for years now, and they proved it on Sunday. The Colts are deep at receiver, devastating at defensive end, and are lead by one of the best field generals ever to play the game.<br /><br />But Shanahan has to smile because his flawed </span><span style="font-family:arial;">team showed something too: they can not only play with the best of the league, but take them to the wire. Every game has its positive take-aways, but the coaches can pump their fist about these from Sunday night:</span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TLxxROzzv7I/AAAAAAAAAE8/eA2DwhE9dbg/s1600/Torain+Colts.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TLxxROzzv7I/AAAAAAAAAE8/eA2DwhE9dbg/s320/Torain+Colts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529418983351238578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">(1)<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Ryan "Rough" Torain</span> is the future running back for the Redskins. How fitting that Torain wear #46, which looks much like the #48 worn by storied back Stephen Davis. Like Davis, Torain is a large, solid downfield runner who simply can't be taken down by arm tackles. Torain showed patience for blocking, held onto the ball, and, unlike Clinton </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Portis, didn't need to be helped off the field after every third run. Torain, whose name wasn't on the lips of fans during the preseason, has emerged as a key component in the offense's balance. If he can work on his pass blocking, avoid fumbles and stay healthy, he can become yet another in Mike Shanahan's long list of prosperous </span><span style="font-family:arial;">runners. Even better, he can become everything this offense </span><span style="font-family:arial;">needs. His touchdowns from Sunday make the NFL films' highlights, but he had multiple plays where he broke away from tacklers to avoid a loss. The Redskins haven't had that powerful a back since, well, Stephen Davis.<br /><br />(2) The <span style="font-weight: bold;">defense</span>, horrid though it may statistically seem, continues to put the Redskins in a position to win. The box scores don't tell the tale of the loss on Sunday. After all the yardage and points allowed, the fact remains that when London Fletcher and the defense needed to force second-half turnovers for Washington to have any chance of winning, they got two fumbles and a sack. When McNabb and the offense needed to get the ball back late in the fourth quarter, the defense forced Manning into a rare three-and-out. Slice it how you like, but defensive coordinator Jim Haslett's </span><span style="font-family:arial;">guys are like an old hymn: they may not come when you want them, but they'll be there right on time. </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />(3) The <span style="font-weight: bold;">future </span>is brighter than even the coaches might have thought. The Redskins of previous </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TLyEk0Ds1uI/AAAAAAAAAFE/Zzg_vusrklw/s1600/IMG00195-20101017-2202.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TLyEk0Ds1uI/AAAAAAAAAFE/Zzg_vusrklw/s320/IMG00195-20101017-2202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529440210488448738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">seasons (seriously, just pick one in recent memory) wouldn't have had much of a chance in keepi</span><span style="font-family:arial;">ng Sunday's game close. Tthose teams were, with some exceptions, stocked with high-profile veteran free agents who were either poorly coached, unmotivated, or both. The team that faced down the AFC Champion Colts wasn't expected by many to take out Dallas, Green Bay, and Philadelphia. And they nearly stole another win, even without Albert Haynesworth, Rocky McIntosh, and Portis. Might unsung players like Anthony Armstrong, Brandon Banks, and Torain be honored at Homecoming in 2025?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OFFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> McNabb can't ask for a better circumstance than three timeouts, two minutes, 57 yards for the win, 30 yards for field goal range. To come up empty is a reminder that the offense still needs work. <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />DEFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B.</span> During halftime, I tapped a note to myself: "Can we have an error-free 2nd half? No drops? Grab every loose fumble? Can we keep Manning off the field?" Mission, largely, accomplished. Also, I will henceforth refuse to mention Carlos Rogers' name until he gets an interception. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sp. TEAMS:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B-.</span> I love the tone that the Special Teams set, pounding runners and forcing turnovers. I can't remember a year when this squad has had this kind of literal impact.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">COACHING:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C+. </span>If I were gameplanning against aggressive, sack-happy defensive ends, I would have called draw plays often. It's safer than a play action pass, which may roll into the aggression, and it forces the ends to think about whether to head upfield or hang back. Washington called, by my count, two. One on a throwaway 3rd and long. <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span> <span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />OWNERSHIP:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B.</span> My Pops and I got to the stadium early, anticipating the Homecoming parade featuring Rick Walker, Darryl Grant, Mark Moseley, and other Redskins greats. I never saw the parade, but I did get ten Hooters wings for $10, the best value of any food at FedExField. Thanks, Danny.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S <span style="font-style: italic;">MADDEN </span>MOMENT</span><br />This week's moment is a no-brainer, a catch that only happens when you have the <span style="font-style: italic;">Madden </span>receiver </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TLyLMhujglI/AAAAAAAAAFM/uXbP5JDZ_Wk/s1600/Garcon+Catch.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TLyLMhujglI/AAAAAAAAAFM/uXbP5JDZ_Wk/s320/Garcon+Catch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529447489832452690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">skills turned up. In fact, it's superior to Randy Moss' effortless <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUeWoDHtNTE">one-handed grab</a> while a Patriot </span><span style="font-family:arial;">earlier this season. Indianapolis Colts receiver Pierre Garcon got open (as he was most of the </span><span style="font-family:arial;">night), and with a full extension <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/09000d5d81b6a008/WK-6-Can-t-Miss-Play-Catch-of-the-year">catches the nose of the football in his right hand</a> and completes the reception. It was like watching magnetism at work in a science museum. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Photos courtesy NFL.com, NBC, and, um, me.</span><br /><br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-53616316985078737142010-10-10T22:21:00.008-04:002010-10-11T10:03:04.438-04:00Week Five: Grand Theft Gano<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Bay 13, Washington 16 (OT)</span><br /><br />At some point in the 2010 season, the Redskins will win a game as underdogs over a high-quality opponent. They will do so by coming from behind and, through sheer willpower, create their own lucky bounces. When that happens, it will be celebrated as a team rising to the occasion and </span><span style="font-family:arial;">demonstrating its inner strength and character.<br /><br />For now, a win like the one on Sunday is pure thievery.<br /><br />The Green Bay Packers had, for much of the game, the dominant defense and the more talented offense. The Redskins looked like their consistently inconsistent selves, unable to run, protect the passer, or slow down their opponent. After the first quarter, the Redskins had <span style="font-style: italic;">a tenth</span> of the Packers' yardage, hadn't completed a third down, and was getting beaten by </span><span style="font-family:arial;">backup tight ends and wide receivers. They had no answer for the Packers' blitz. By halftime, Washington was down 13-3, but Donovan McNabb was running or his life from an unrelenting and undeterred Green Bay defense. McNabb's best completion of the half (in which he was again scrambling) was for 52 yards, nearly half of his thirty-minute total. It was a wonder that the game's outcome was still in question.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />But in all of this, something odd was slowly occurring: the Redskins' much-maligned defense, one of the worst in the league, bent badly but refused to break. It stood its ground at the goal line, pressured <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/15491/great-debate-can-rodgers-overtake-favre">the great Aaron Rodgers</a> into poor throws and influenced receivers into dropped passes. The Washington offense, whose production seemed to be limited to three-and-outs and third-and-longs, found a way to sneak in critical completions of more than 20 yards. A rookie wide </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TLMNVcY7_XI/AAAAAAAAAE0/DEa9Ny2CEZQ/s1600/Gano+Celebration.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 261px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TLMNVcY7_XI/AAAAAAAAAE0/DEa9Ny2CEZQ/s320/Gano+Celebration.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526775829762932082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">receiver, third on the depth chart, played like a veteran in the fourth quarter with game-saving </span><span style="font-family:arial;">catches.<br /><br />And behind the clutch kicking of Graham Gano, the Redskins yanked an improbable, thrilling victory out from under a projected </span><span style="font-family:arial;">NFC champion.<br /><br />Washington had a lot of help from Green Bay: there were stretches where even their veteran receivers couldn't hold onto easy catches; the coaching staff didn't choose to control the clock with the run, and kicker Mason Crosby missed two field goals, one to win the game.<br /><br />In postgame interviews, the Packers had the dazed look of a man who has an alarm on his Porsche but still woke up to find it sitting on cement blocks. Green Bay <span style="font-style: italic;">just knew </span>they should have won. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">“We just let an opportunity slip away,” receiver James Jones said. “There is no explanation for the way we lost this game. We lost it ourselves.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">"</span><br /><br />But might it be that the Redskins aren't great, but good enough to pickpocket a win from even the best?<br /><br />-------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OFFENSE:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">C+</span>. DJ McNabb is an exciting quarterback. But he's also capable of "spotty brilliance," as my Pops puts it. With the empty running game, offensive production is squarely on his shoulders. He's got to complete more of the easy throws. Anthony Armstrong is a work in progress but he could be the one-on-one jump ball threat that Devin Thomas hadn't become. <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DEFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">A.</span> Another near-300 yard day by an opposing quarterback? 157 rushing yards allowed? And they get an "A?" Yep. LaRon "Hit Stick" Landry and Brian Orakpo held a strong offense to 13 points and got stops when they needed. A consistent offense would help the defense's rating tremendously.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sp. TEAMS:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B.</span> Punter Hunter Smith and returner Brandon Banks can join Gano in taking a bow. <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">COACHING: </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B.</span> The point was made in the radio postgame discussion that Mike Shanahan and the coaching staff are using essentially the same tools Jim Zorn had last season. (McNabb being the notable exception, of course.) But they're getting better results. I agree. In previous seasons, this game's a loss, with Washington allowing catches on tipped balls and giving up critical sacks. Or missing field goals. Or having pass interference penalties. Or dropping interceptions. Or...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OWNERSHIP: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">A.</span> Wins like these further cement the brilliant idea by Daniel Snyder to let other people run the team while he signs the checks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S <span style="font-style: italic;">MADDEN </span>MOMENT</span><br />I'll suspend my <span style="font-style: italic;">Madden </span>moment this week in favor of the pure hilarity of a postgame moment in the FOX Sports studio. <a href="http://presscoverage.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/foxnflsunday.jpg">You know who works there</a>: Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, Jimmy "Extenze" Johnson, and the guy in James Brown's seat. In their round-robin about the game, Terry, Howie, Michael and Jimmy all went on about Green Bay's loss due to injuries, penalties, third down conversions, and solar flares. No mention of the Redskins, you know, playing well enough to take advantage of all those mistakes. <br /><br />When they finished lamenting Green Bay's loss, the guy in James Brown's spot said, in effect, "Guys, last week we said the Eagles lost because of no Michael Vick. This week we're saying that Green Bay lost to the Redskins because of no Clay Matthews. When are we going to start taking Washington seriously?"<br /><br />What erupted was a cacophonous five seconds of blubbering, side-stepping, faint praise, and empty sports cliches from all four commentators. "Oh yeah, well coached...lot of heart...McNabb...stepping up...I've always thought...a Shanahan team always...great victory..." I haven't seen this much shufflin' since the<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJNC3dgreaU"> '85 Bears</a>. <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Photo courtesy Getty Images</span><br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-19665629252309303482010-10-03T22:00:00.006-04:002010-10-04T00:14:39.051-04:00Week Four: Better to Be Lucky...<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Washington 17, Philadelphia 12</span><br /><br />Here's the awful truth about the Redskins' win over the Eagles: as well as they occasionally played, Washington was once again very, very beatable. Another game that could have been favorably finished by the early fourth quarter came down to one heart-stopping play. At 2-2, they are one holding penalty and one strangely dropped pass from being 0-for-everything. That's nothing new for the 2010 Shanahan Skins, whom my wife described thusly: "win or lose, you need Alka-Seltzer and </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TKlJ3YafZCI/AAAAAAAAAEk/1IRIvyllsFM/s1600/Jason+Avant+Drop.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TKlJ3YafZCI/AAAAAAAAAEk/1IRIvyllsFM/s320/Jason+Avant+Drop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524027633741816866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Tums just to watch them."<br /><br />On the other hand, here's the glorious, unexpected truth: the Redskins aren't 0-4. They sit atop the NFC East with wins against arguably their strongest division opponents. Factor in that one of thos</span><span style="font-family:arial;">e was against the stinkin' Cowchips and other was on the road and Redskins fans have to be happy with their team.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />This is a team, however, that has yet to define itself in consistently positive terms. (The negative terms, sadly, are very consistent. More on that in a moment.) One week Donovan J. McNabb is unstoppably accurate, nearing 500 yards of offense. This week he's skipping passes off the turf and leading open receivers out of bounds on deep throws. For half this season, Clinton Portis and the running game is a laughable non-factor; this week he and Ryan "Rough" Torain are breaking off ten-yard runs like it's the Joe Gibbs era. One week the defense gives up just seven points, the next two weeks they give up 30 each.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This inconsistency means that no lead or great performance should be taken for granted while time remains on the game clock. At halftime, the narrative for the Redskins' first half performance was "The Redskins Reach Shanahan's Expectations." The first nine minutes of the game were a complete flip of the pitiful nine minutes in St. Louis: a 51-yard put return, a red zone touchdown, and a crushing ground game. <br /><br />The second half was thirty minutes of offensive futility and defensive fatigue, it's narrative: "Let's Hope They Get Lucky." Just like the previous three games, Washington failed to run the ball well enough in the second half to tire their opponent. And don't bother asking them to score after halftime: they have just one touchdown and two field goals out of all four games.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the defense has given up--get ready--<span style="font-style: italic;">five </span>touchdowns and <span style="font-style: italic;">six </span>field goals in the second half of those games. For those mathematically challenged, that's 13 points for the Redskins, 53 for them. Not to put too fine a point on this, but Washington has been <span style="font-style: italic;">outscored by 40 points after halftime</span>. Fatigue has to be a factor, but let's not discount that the personnel in Jim Haslett's 3-4 looks as ill-fitting as Denise Huxtable's faux-Gordon Gartrell. (Ask Theo.) Former pass rushers Andre Carter and Lorenzo </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TKlIzOjz8gI/AAAAAAAAAEc/KPQuEXLe_Hc/s1600/Gordon+Gartrell.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 120px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TKlIzOjz8gI/AAAAAAAAAEc/KPQuEXLe_Hc/s200/Gordon+Gartrell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524026462865453570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Alexander are now in pass coverage and have little chance of keeping up with slot receivers, much less snatching an interception. They look slow, plodding, and vulnerable.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So, yeah, it is better to be lucky than good sometimes. On Sunday, the Skins were fortunate that the dynamic Eagle Michael Vick went out with an injury, fortunate that backup/starter Kevin Kolb was rusty, fortunate that the referees saw more significant penalties by Philadelphia, and really fortunate that a last-second hail mary pass fell into DeAngelo Hall's arms.<br /><br />The 2010 Redskins will take wins any way they come.<br /><br />------------------------------------<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">OFFENSE:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">C+.</span> Clinton Portis seems to be getting hurt after every other rush; perhaps that's why <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sports/blogs/redskins-confidential/Portis-uncertain-of-role.html">his role in the offense</a> seems unstable. Might his body be showing signs of decline? <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DEFENSE:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">B-.</span> What's scary is that when an opponent desperately needs to move the football, the Redskins' defense lets them. But holding Philly to no touchdowns until three minutes remained is admirable.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sp. TEAMS:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">B-.</span> Hallelujah, there were no missed kicks, no fumbled snaps, no unblocked rushers, and a sparkling return from 5' 7", 155-pound Brandon Banks. But the punting left much to be desired.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">COACHING:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> C.</span> As noted above, Shanahan and company were outcoached in the second half for the fourth straight game. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S MADDEN MOMENT</span><br />The <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2010100310/2010/REG4/redskins@eagles#tab:watch/contentId:09000d5d81b0a578">last-second hail mary drop</a> by Jason Avant manages to best even a <span style="font-style: italic;">Madden </span>moment. In the video game, receivers have a tendency to make a catch and, as an immediate tackle graphic occurs, drop the ball to the turf. I've often watched the game replay, wide-eyed, saying to no one in particular, "He HAD the ball! How did he drop it?" Philadelphia said that very thing on every FOX slow-motion replay of Avant. I watched it and said "He got not one but TWO gloved hands completely on the ball. How does he not catch that?" Shocking, considering that, according to reports, Jason Avant <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/2010/8/10/1615478/eagles-training-camp-jason-avant">doesn't drop anything</a>! Maybe that's only during drills.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Redskins photo courtesy: Toni L. Sandys-Washington Post</span></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-28530269698543968552010-09-26T19:13:00.011-04:002010-09-27T01:23:45.312-04:00Week Three: Different Team. Same Result?<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Washington 16, St. Louis 30</span><br /><br />Last week I explained that the 2010 Redskins were, through their first two games, creating <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-two-be-very-afraid.html">four fears</a> for the NFL and their own fans. At the conclusion of Sunday's loss to the St. Louis Rams, allow me to add one more, this one the most cringe-inducing:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fear #5:</span> The Redskins are the same #@$%@ team we <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2009/09/week-two-taboo-to-boo.html">booed off the field</a> last season.<br /><br />You remember them: Jim Zorn's boys lost to bad or rookie quarterbacks, allowed previously unknown backups to have their career best days, squandered opportunities through failures to perform the </span><span style="font-family:arial;">basic requirements of football, and, generally, made the worst teams look better than they really are.<br /><br />(Boy those were tough years.)<br /><br />Now, before we succumb to fear #5, let's remember that the 2010 team is just three games into a season. To suggest that the Shanahan Era Redskins are the same as the Zorn Era Redskins (and, one might argue, the modern-era Redskins) is a wee presumptuous. The current football product is an amalgamation of a new scheme, new coaching, and new leaders. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Even the ownership seems to have turned a leaf. So at its essence, the present can't be the past.<br /><br />But on Sunday, the circumstances were eerily familiar, the results uncomfortably predictable. They faced a Rams team that had one win in its last 28 games. The Rams had a rookie quarterback, no star wide receiver and got less than half a game's production from its star running back. Their best safety was out with an injury and even their fans didn't seem to want to show up for the contest. <br /><br />Yet, in true Zorn fashion, Shanahan's Redskins still managed to lose. Badly. Before garbage time </span><span style="font-family:arial;">padding, Washington had virtually half the plays, half the time of possession, half the yardage, and half the points of St. Louis. New defensive coordinator Jim Haslett's mighty 3-4 defense, which had some success against two top-shelf quarterbacks, managed one measly sack of the rookie. New offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's offense ran well in the first half, disappeared in the second half, and converted--get ready--one third down. <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It gets worse: in the first<span style="font-style: italic;"> nine minutes</span>, the Redskins had a punt blocked, had lost a fumble, allowed a 42-yard rushing touchdown, had two false-start penalties, a crack-back penalty, and were down 14 to nothing. Egad.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />The second half adjustments for Washington? How about zero sacks of Bradford, zero red zone touchdowns, sixteen unanswered Rams points, and nearly four yards a carry for backup Kenneth Darby, a chap who in three years had never rushed for a touchdown? <br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TJ_7Zb3zM3I/AAAAAAAAAEU/3KFebIcQNJc/s1600/Kenneth+Darby.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TJ_7Zb3zM3I/AAAAAAAAAEU/3KFebIcQNJc/s320/Kenneth+Darby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521408082576618354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The hope, naive though it may be, is that this loss represents the Low Point Before the Ascent. That coach Shanahan looks back at the 2010 season and can say "I told everyone that it was a new day, and the Rams game was the last time we reminded anyone of the old days." That unlike the past, the Redskins won't find new, stomach-churning ways to lose to the lesser and narrowly fail to the better.<br /><br />But with a team currently giving up huge yardage, barely able to run, and relying on field goals, it's hard to believe that this is the worst. History says to buckle up. It's gonna be bumpy ride.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OFFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">D.</span> 1/10 on 3rd down, 0/3 in the red zone. That's all you need to know.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DEFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">D.</span> Now's a good time to ask <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5596206">DeAngelo "This is my defense" Hall</a> how Mark Clayton and some guy named Danny Amendola managed to move the sticks on him. How bad did the Rams control the Redskins' defense? After kicking a field goal in the second quarter, the Redskins ran 32 plays, the Rams 73.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sp. TEAMS:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">C.</span> Graham Gano stepped in for an ailing Josh Bidwell, so positive points here. But the weekly foul-ups in blocking or ball handling are inexcusable. <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">COACHING:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">F. </span>OK, so Portis averages more than five yards per carry in the first half but in the second half he's relegated to 3rd downs while backup Ryan Torain gets the rock? And where was Jim Haslett's adjustment to Bradford's series of short passes or Darby's consecutive rushes in the second half? <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S <span style="font-style: italic;">MADDEN </span>MOMENT</span><br />It's nice to see a <span style="font-style: italic;">Madden </span>moment work in Washington's favor. After achieving a first and goal at the one yard line, the Redskins defense held St. Louis to a field goal attempt. At the snap, 310-pound Philip Daniels <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/09000d5d81adc58a/Redskins-defense-blocked-field-goal">hurdles the offensive line and is practically standing straight up</a> while blocking the kick. I've had all of one field goal blocked in my years of playing <span style="font-style: italic;">Madden</span>, and it happened just like that. It was shocking in a video game, even more so in real life. <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">John McDonnell-The Washington Post</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-74949823996851239532010-09-19T20:29:00.010-04:002010-09-20T14:50:17.929-04:00Week Two: Be Very Afraid<span style="font-family:arial;">Houston 30, Washington 27 (OT)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">When your team allows twenty unanswered points and nearly 500 yards at home on the way to losing a practically won game in overtime, there are plenty of people to blame. Some even call it a repeat of <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2009/12/week-thirteen-epic.html">last season's Zorn-rific choke to New Orleans</a>. Contrarians are preferring to celebrate what appears to be an excitement that hasn't been seen in Washington in nearly ten years. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I prefer to view these 2010 Redskins as...scary. I've seen enough football and horror films to know when to trust my fear-fueled spider sense, which tells me that something ain't what I thought it would be. In lieu of What Worked and What Didn't Work, here's what, if I'm the rest of the NFL, just might make 'em shake in their shoes:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Fear #1: Donovan J. McNabb is still a top-ten NFL quarterback</strong>, and it was the steal of the offseason for Washington to have him. Every dollar of DJ McNabb's contract was verified by his outstanding performance on Sunday: 38 for 48, 426 yards, one touchdown, and zero turnovers. Throw in the absolute lack of run support--more on that fear in a moment--and you have one of the best Redskins quarterback performances in a decade. The Philadelphia Eagles may have found a stopgap to their QB troubles in Michael Vick, but I guarantee you they saw McNabb's performance and felt a twinge of fear and regret. How good is McNabb? Even ancient Joey Galloway is a deep threat. DJ is the <strong>Man of the Game.</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Fear #2: The Redskins' 3-4 defense looks like it's been in Washington all along.</strong> There was <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TJbMvbXB19I/AAAAAAAAAEM/uUyBPYIFJJ0/s1600/IMG00164-20100919-1625.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518823508559386578" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TJbMvbXB19I/AAAAAAAAAEM/uUyBPYIFJJ0/s320/IMG00164-20100919-1625.jpg" /></a>concern in the offseason (and, frankly, in the preseason too) that coordinator Jim Haslett's adjustment to the traditional 4-3 would take time to gel. But Brian Orakpo, LaRon Landry, and London Fletcher lead an aggressive, pressuring attack that has the potential to harass even the best quarterbacks. The Texans' Matt Schaub hit the dirt five times--how long has it been since that happened for the Redskins? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">That said, Sunday's loss exposed some facts that should keep coach Mike Shanahan sleepless throughout the season:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Fear #3: The Washington defense lacks a shutdown corner.</strong> DeAngelo Hall is good, not great. The rest of the secondary's quality drops quickly and dramatically from there when it comes to pass coverage. Fans were shocked (some gave sarcastic praise) when Carlos Rogers caught his first interception in recent memory. Safety Reed Doughty led the team with ten tackles, but that wasn't from blitzing; it was from Schaub's receivers getting open early and often. And for the second week, an opponent's primary target got open on a fourth and long when an incompletion would have iced the game. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Fear #4: The Redskins' running game is a thinly-veiled facade.</strong> I mentioned <a href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2010/09/week-one-preparation-opportunity-win.html">last week</a> that the ground game is more diversion than attack. On Sunday, the two-headed Pop Warner running game produced 18 net yards on 17 rushes. That's one yard per run, a statistic that would make the Hogs of yesteryear spin in their pigpen. Part of McNabb's performance was from necessity--he had no help in milking the second-half clock or punching out four yards on third downs. It was bizarre that the Texans were fooled on any play action passes after the first quarter. The optimist in me thinks that the Redskins can make 8-8; but with this comical running game 7-9 would be impressive.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>SCORECARD</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>OFFENSE:</em> <em>C+.</em> It's just unfair to soil McNabb's outstanding performance with the running game. But that's football. The worst moment was Larry Johnson deciding to not lower his head and attack a defender but circle around and lose ten yards. His production: two rushes, minus-seven yards. <strong>Hang Your Head.</strong> Is Trung Canidate available and in shape?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>DEFENSE:</em> <strong>D.</strong> It's accepted that the Texans possess an emerging QB and a top-five receiver. But for the love of Chris Hanburger, can the defense not allow them to connect during the critical plays? Can this defense put their opponent in a sleeper hold and not allow them to stand up?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>Sp. TEAMS:</em> <strong>C.</strong> Graham Gano had his game-icing field goal deflected by an unblocked Texan, and then missed a second attempt at a 51-yarder to win in overtime. Otherwise, fantastic directional kickoffs by Gano helped pin Houston deep.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>COACHING:</em> <strong>C.</strong> For all the knowledge that offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan possessed of Houston's plays, the defense did little to stop them. Where was his father's kicker-icing timeout? Didn't he invent that annoying tactic? And for the record, one last time, let's say that Shanahan needs to either play Haynesworth or trade him. (If you really want to twist his nose, put Albert on special teams.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><em>OWNERSHIP:</em> <strong>C.</strong> My club-level gameday experience was great: cool air conditioning, still-comfy leather chairs, and 50 of my new friends cheering the Dallas loss on the HD screens. Then there was the <strong>$34</strong> for two shakes and two cheeseburgers at Johnny Rockets, and I shook my head.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>THIS WEEK'S <em>MADDEN </em>MOMENT</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you've played <em>Madden</em> for any length of time, you know how the CPU will be able to ramp up its efficiency in the fourth quarter. You know it's happening when the running back suddenly turns into Gale Sayers and Barry Sanders' love child and bursts for a five-tackle-busting 80-yard touchdown. Or when, on a game-winning 4th and 10, the quarterback avoids the rush and lanches a long touchdown to a receiver who is unbelievable open for the score. That's what happened to Reed Doughty and Philip Buchanan, who provided little resistance to Andre Johnson on the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81aaa1c8/Johnson-s-TD-ties-score-vs-Skins">tying score</a>. The lesson: if you're in double-coverage on their best receiver, don't worry about whatever's happening at the line of scrimmage. Just stand near the guy you're covering!</span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-53800769719931319752010-09-13T08:55:00.007-04:002010-09-13T12:12:42.521-04:00Week One: Preparation + Opportunity = Win<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dallas 7, Washington 13</span><br /><br />For Redskins fans, every game against Dallas begins with a nervous, angry excitement ("we're gonna kill 'em!...I hope..."), continues during the game with disbelieving pronouncements ("why aren't we #$#% RUNNING THE BALL?!?") and ends one of two ways: with a silent shaking of the head with hands covering the face, or with a long, smiling exhale. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Is it written somewhere that Redskins/Cowboys games must be this excruciating to watch? That, regardless of the players or coaches, the contests must be as deodorant-bustingly dramatic as possible? Is "bustingly" even a word?</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />The headlines for this game have read like this one from the NFL.com's page: "Cowboys miscues costly in loss to 'Skins." And there was this link over at Sports Illustrated: "Game ending penalty helps 'Skins beat Cowboys."<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />I respectfully disagree. Mike Shanahan's team earned every bit of the W on their record. The Dallas mistakes weren't committed in some vacuum like they were on the Cowchip practice field; but instead they were <span style="font-style: italic;">created </span>by a well-prepared defense who seized opportunities to apply pressure, steal a football, and alter their opponent's game plan. This win gets filed in the Rivalry Annals as </span><span style="font-family:arial;">less a miracle finish than the imposition of will by the Washington defense on a so-called Super Bowl-caliber offense.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Make no mistake: the 2010 Redskins have a lot that's not yet right, seems unsettled, and is cause for concern. Let's start instead with...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT WORKED</span><br />With one exception, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Washington defense did exactly what it wanted to. </span>The box score may show Tony Romo had no interceptions, Miles Austin had ten catches for nearly 150 yards, and the defense allowed 380 net yards. But the story is that Jim Haslett's defensive schemes limited Romo to one pass of 30 yards or more, never gave up a run longer than twelve yards, and silenced Romo's favorite target, tight end Jason Witten. Haslett dialed up varied blitzes, forcing checkdown passes that seemed to alter Dallas' first half downfield attacks. (I counted at least four screen passes that went nowhere.) LaRon Landry was everywhere, making 17 tackles. And let's not forget that Dallas managed a paltry seven points--the second lowest output of any team on Sunday, and by far the worst in the NFC East.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Though the offense was limited, <span style="font-weight: bold;">it didn't commit a turnover.</span> Anyone who has followed Washington lately knows that the team finished minus-11 in turnover ratio last season. No slip-ups by Portis, McNabb, or anyone else kept the defense from having to defend a short field.<br /><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Player of the Game</span> is, without question, linebacker Brian Orakpo. He had one solo tackle and one assisted tackle. But it was on the game's two pivotal plays that he asserted his </span><a href="http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/09/13/PH2010091302657.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 270px;" src="http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/09/13/PH2010091302657.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">dominance. <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/09000d5d81a7d381/Redskins-Hall-flips-the-script">Here's the first</a>, the fumble by Tashard Choice. Kudos, of course, to DeAngelo Hall for his heads-up, ball-hawking focus on what's usually a throwaway play. But Orakpo is the player </span><span style="font-family:arial;">whose pressure and jump up in Romo's face is the impetus for the quarterback to break the pocket and scramble forward. (The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Unsung Hero </span>award goes to #97, linebacker <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lorenzo Alexander</span>, who </span><span style="font-family:arial;">pressured Romo's back side and stayed in the play to make contact on Choice when Hall was going for the strip.) His second outstanding effort was on <a href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81a7e14e/Hook-Line-and-Sinker">the game's final play</a>--watch Orakpo cause Dallas' Alex Barron to pull a Rowdy Roddy Piper clothesline, ending the game in Washington's favor. Orakpo nonetheless had so much speed and power that Romo still had to escape the pocket. Had Barron not held Orakpo, it could very well have been a sack that won this game. Imagine how FedEx Field would've shook then.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT DIDN'T WORK<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">The ground game</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> is more diversion than attack.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">It's time for a concerned pause when the quarterback is your leading rusher after thirty minutes of football. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan oddly trusted the offensive line to protect DJ McNabb more than to block for Portis. The team passed ten more times than it ran; that's not a lot of difference on paper. But Washington led the entire game, which would normally skew the play calling toward the run. In the preseason, I noted that Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker were largely ineffective, hoping that the regular season would show a better attack. Not so. It was a similar cutback run almost all night.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The red zone playcalling was atrocious.</span> One corner pass, from the five yard line, to new receiver Anthony Armstrong is questionable. A second pass to Armstrong, on third down, when you can go up by three scores, is just disrespectful to your playmakers Chris Cooley and Santana Moss. How about a three-wide receiver draw to Portis? Or, maybe, a quarterback bootleg? Virtually <span style="font-family:arial;">anything was better than throwing to your least-experienced starting receiver twice in a row. </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Remember when the Redskins would line up from the eight yard line and pound the ball for three yards at a time? That was twenty-five years ago.<br /><br />So <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hang Your Head</span> this week, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kyle Shanahan</span>. Your offense may not have lost the game for Washington, but it certainly didn't win it.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">One more note on preparation and opportunity: </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;">it is on the last play of a game when off-season conditioning is most important. Brian Orakpo came to training camp in shape, passed his tests, and practiced. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Albert Haynesworth </span>whined, showed up late, failed his tests, and earned himself a seat on the bench when the game was on the line. Enjoy your money.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SCORECARD</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OFFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">D</span>. The upside is that McNabb is still fleet of foot and has a strong arm. Also, Trent Williams did an adequate job defending Andre Ware. But the Skins won't win without better running.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">DEFENSE:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">A+.</span> Aside from allowing Miles Austin to catch a 31-yard catch on 4th and 15, it's hard to criticize Haslett's defense. Actually, Carlos Rogers dropping a game-winning interceptions comes to mind...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sp. TEAMS:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B+.</span> Kicker Graham Gano went 2 for 2, including a hastily-called, crucial 49-yard field goal. Holder Josh Bidwell can practice hands drills with Rogers.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">COACHING:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">B.</span> The field goal from 49 yards was incredibly gutsy, the defense was outstanding, but the offense must score in the red zone.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">OWNERSHIP:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> A.</span> First "A" ever given to Daniel Snyder. The new screens looked fantastic, the new stomping area is a great idea, and opening the gates eight hours before kickoff was fan-friendly.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">THIS WEEK'S <span style="font-style: italic;">MADDEN </span>MOMENT</span><br />It's always strange when real football imitates video game football. You've probably had those moments when, playing a friend, you just call the Four Verticals play at the end of a half and hope for the best. Cowboys coach Wade Phillips' did just that, and even before the turnover it looked like an idiotic idea. Did the coaching staff think that Romo was going to complete a 60-odd yard Hail Mary? Did Choice think he could catch a lateral and outrun ten or so Redskins on the way to the end zone? The lesson: take a knee and preserve your integrity.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo credit: </span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post</span></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-17139323116729382712010-09-08T22:00:00.007-04:002010-09-09T01:05:27.698-04:00The 2010 Prediction (Let's Hope Madden 11 is Wrong)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TIhqwIxjVxI/AAAAAAAAADA/ULe-dtM-5y0/s1600/Madden+11+Cooley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TIhqwIxjVxI/AAAAAAAAADA/ULe-dtM-5y0/s200/Madden+11+Cooley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514775118936758034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm comfortable admitting that EA Sports' <span style="font-style: italic;">Madden </span>video game series has some power over my </span><span style="font-family:arial;">pre-kickoff football opinions. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">To be perfectly honest, my enthusiasm for purchasing <span style="font-style: italic;">Madden</span> is </span><span style="font-family: arial;">directly proportionate to my assumed improvement of the Redskins' statistical ranking. (So, as you </span><span style="font-family: arial;">might imagine, last summer I nearly passed on <span style="font-style: italic;">Madden 10</span>, which had the Jim Zorn-led Redskins </span><span style="font-family: arial;">at a cellar-dwelling 70.) </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The game drops in early </span><span style="font-family: arial;">August, and at the time the NFL has yet to play </span><span style="font-family: arial;">even preseason contests. That virgin game on <span style="font-style: italic;">Madden</span>, then, is the first indicator of how great your team just might be in September.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">This year, I was particularly stoked about the potential for my team to be judged favorably by the faceless programmers at Electronic Arts. No recent version of <span style="font-style: italic;">Madden </span>has featured such an overhauled Washington Redskins. Surely they'd be highly ranked--even if no one in their right mind can predict how they'll finish. (More on that in a moment.) So with some gusto I ripped open the packaging, slid the disc in my PS3 and eventually began my first game. I say eventually because I had to reset my system no less than three times while inputting redemption codes, downloading rosters, and getting hardware updates. Remember the days of popping in a cartridge and playing?<br /><br />Anyway, first thing I noticed was that Washington was a mediocre 76. Even with the latest roster update (which oddly keeps Willie Parker around), the Skins are a good four points below anyone in the NFC East. At least they're rated significantly higher than the Chiefs and Rams, two teams they had trouble with under Jim Zorn.<br /><br />For a fair game, I invited Miami (rated 78) to virtual FedEx Field on the All-Pro level. For the record, I'm good at Madden on the higher settings. My Redskins franchises have yet to lose more than three games in any season, and I regularly post undefeated championships. Once I'm comfortable with the playbook, make some depth chart substitutions, and feel out whatever play calling changes EA throws in, I'm dangerous even with my perennially marginal home team.<br /><br />I mention this because my first half of Madden 11 football was...horrific. It was so bad that it slipped a measure of fear into what the Redskins' 2010 season might be like. I was in disbelief because everything that you knew <span style="font-style: italic;">could </span>happen this year <span style="font-style: italic;">did </span>happen.<br /><br />The new 3-4 defense immediately gave up multiple plays of 50+ yards: a 60-yard touchdown to Brandon Marshall (in which CPU-controlled Laron Landry whiffed on a big hit) and on the next series, a 51-yard run by Ronnie Brown when Albert Haynesworth was blocked right out of his assigned gap. By the way, Albert's endurance lasted exactly <span style="font-style: italic;">two plays</span> before his icon went red and he needed to be substituted. On offense, I took DJ McNabb (rated 89) on a blitz-avoiding scramble and saw Santana Moss streaking ahead of his defender. I gently pressed L1 to lob him a simple leading pass for the easy score. McNabb threw an awkward, wounded duck that was easily intercepted. When I went to my ultra-effective goal-line run offense (usable anywhere on the field!), Clinton Portis finally broke through to the second level of defense, with one man to beat for a satisfyingly long touchdown. He twisted in the tackle and promptly fumbled the ball three yards sideways. In the next series, McNabb limped off the field after completing his first pass, a 61-yard touchdown to the ancient Joey Galloway.<br /><br />At halftime: Miami 24, Washington 7. The Redskins' defense was swiss cheese, the offense couldn't sustain a drive, and Rex Grossman (rated 65) was all I had left to mount a three-score comeback. Egad. The scenario was so nightmarishly plausible, so disarmingly realistic, that I stopped the game and had dinner. Really.<br /><br />I don't believe I'm alone in hoping that 2010 looks nothing like that in the real world.<br />-------------------------------------------------------<br />So how will the Redskins fare in 2010? I've seen predictions from 4-12 to 10-6 with a wildcard birth. Choosing is an absurd practice. Remember last season when the <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/4523/power-rankings-how-the-voters-voted-19">ESPN experts picked the eventual champion Saints to finish 18th</a> in the league? The Washington Post recently asked how the Redskins will finish and responders optimistically <a href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/nfl/redskins/schedule/">predicted a nine-win season</a>. I can't resist being absurd too, so I'm predicting 8-8, with a 7-9 season a distinct possibility. Maybe I'm just shaken by that first half of Madden. Here's how I see it breaking down:<br /><br />Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Win</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Big D is unprepared for the new, very un-Zorn game plan by Shanahan and is stunned on national television.<br /><br /></span>Redskins vs. Houston Texans- <span style="font-weight: bold;">Loss<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">The Texans' Mario Williams manages multiple sacks and Trent Williams learns how fast the NFL really is.</span><br /><br />Redskins at St. Louis Rams - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Win<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">The perfect rebound opponent. Rams QB Sam Bradford shines, but his defense allows McNabb and the Skins offense to have a field day.</span><br /><br />Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Loss<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Andy Reid and the Eagles hooligan fans manage to rattle McNabb on his first visit back to Philadelphia. Did I mention that their fans are hooligans?<br /><br /></span>Redskins vs. Green Bay Packers - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Loss<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">The defense begins to show signs of proper execution of the 3-4, but Aaron "Favre Who?" Rodgers proves to be too much for them to handle. Seems like a long time ago that he was the 24th pick in the draft.<br /><br /></span> Redskins vs. Indianapolis Colts - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Loss<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Just about everyone will lose to the Colts this year. Nonetheless, the "Shanahan sucks!" thread on ExtremeSkins.com reaches 10 pages.</span><br /><br />Redskins at Chicago Bears - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Win</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This is the beginning of the happier days of the 2011 season. The 2-4 Skins upset Chicago with its first mistake-free game.</span><br /><br />Redskins at Detroit Lions - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Win</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Last season's loss in Detroit was a figment of their imagination, and the whipping the receive from Washington helps erase the memory.</span><br /><br />Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Win<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Kevin Kolb and the Eagles, reeling from </span>their <span style="font-style: italic;">loss the previous week to the Colts, are no match for the confident Redskins and their bandwagon-riding fans. At 5-4, hope for the playoffs seeps into the fanbase.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br />Redskins at Tennessee Titans - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Loss</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Despite Santana Moss' best day of the season, the Titans' Chris Johnson has the last laugh with a late touchdown. Every season there's one game that you wish you could have a Rewind button for two or three plays. This is that game.</span><br /><br />Redskins vs. Minnesota Vikings - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Loss</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson remind Washington what the cream of the NFC looks like in a cover-your-eyes loss.<br /><br /></span>Redskins at New York Giants - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Loss</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Here's where the playoff dream is officially dashed. Washington keeps it competitive, however, in a strong showing.<br /><br /></span>Redskins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Win</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If Zorn, Campbell, Smoot, and the rest of the 2009 castoffs can beat them, surely the 2010 team can.</span><br /><br />Redskins at Dallas Cowboys - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Loss</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">The Cowchips are making their annual playoff run, and take out their revenge for the week one loss. The offense continues to lack consistency. Jerry Jones' face reportedly cracks a smile.</span><br /><br />Redskins at Jacksonville Jaguars - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Win</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">With a .500 season in view, the Redskins thump the Jaguars. Fortunately, no one in Jacksonville sees the beating because of the blackout.<br /><br /></span>Redskins vs. New York Giants - <span style="font-weight: bold;">?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Here's where I think the Redskins face a gut-check. The playoffs aren't an option and they have nothing to play for but pride. Is this the same franchise that went 4-12 last year and collected a paycheck? Or does this team reflect Mike Shanahan and defend their home turf against the playoff-bound Giants? The answer will be the final statement about whether a New Era has truly come to Washington.</span></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-23856160716880669662010-09-07T17:30:00.001-04:002010-09-07T17:57:01.684-04:00If I Ran the Jumbotron...Ask any person who has been to FedEx Field what irks them about the gameday experience, and they might mention the ticket prices, the overpriced beer, or maybe the lack of intimacy that RFK enjoyed. I would suggest, however, that one response would trump them all: "what's up with the 1970's video screens?"<br /><br />The screens weren't just outdated. They were incapable of displaying multiple images, delayed real-time video, and appeared to be made of 10,000 giant Lite Brite pegs. Three-fifths of the useful area was made up of advertising and another fifth was used for the current score/occasional spinning Redskins symbol. (In more giant Lite Brite pegs.) They were, even by 1990s standards, embarrassing.<br /><br />For those unfamiliar with the utter wackness of the screens, I present the following, a picture I took at the NFL Kickoff in 1997. And yes, that's Britney Spears.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TIagO9RatDI/AAAAAAAAACg/n0P5IuffI90/s1600/112-1293_IMG.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TIagO9RatDI/AAAAAAAAACg/n0P5IuffI90/s200/112-1293_IMG.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514270972587979826" border="0" /></a>So I was particularly pleased to hear a few months ago that, just in time for the new NFL season, Daniel Snyder has upgraded the FedEx monitors to...modern standards. The new video screens look a little something like this (but with less attractive ads on the sides):<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TIag7lbKFeI/AAAAAAAAACo/qxyUJbgJB9A/s1600/Video+Screens+New.jpg"><br /><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://wai.redskins.com/redskinsFile/articles/images/101327.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 511px; height: 185px;" src="http://wai.redskins.com/redskinsFile/articles/images/101327.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Wonderful. Now fans can actually see the screen from multiple angles, read down and distance information along the bottom, and enjoy football at the other end of the field. Just like Baltimore has been doing for years now. At least now <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/09/redskins_tackle_fedex_field_cu.html?wprss=dcsportsbog">the fans get called "sir"</a> when they enter and leave.<br /><br />Although we got to preview the screens during the preseason and Monday's Boise State/Virginia Tech thriller, the big debut is Sunday night when the Skins face Dallas on Sunday Night Football.<br /><br />So I got to thinking: what would I show on the screens, to simultaneously launch this exciting new season, show off the vibrant screens, and humiliate the Cowchips?<br /><br />There were many choices, but I hereby present my <span style="font-weight: bold;">Top Ten Images to Show on Sunday Night</span>:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TIaW0ki-AjI/AAAAAAAAACQ/ol-2kxgvp10/s1600/Redskins+Fans+-+Sign.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 121px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TIaW0ki-AjI/AAAAAAAAACQ/ol-2kxgvp10/s200/Redskins+Fans+-+Sign.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514260623669461554" border="0" /></a><br />1. Open with this picture of the Redskins faithful, watching a game that had nothing to do with Dallas. That's called staying on message. (Make sure to fire up the old "Hail to the Redskins" rendition that sounds like it was recorded by Jack Kent Cooke's old buddies.)<br /><br />2. Russ Grimm's Hall of Fame introduction, particularly the lovely portion where Joe Bugel describes cramming "50 Gut" down the throat of Dallas' Randy White <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRLV8ZrYM3Q"><span style="font-style: italic;">ten straight times</span></a>.<br /><br />3. Celebrated Dallas coach Jimmy "Mini" Johnson's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lCku52Y_YE">Extense commercial</a>. What next in his "I'm still in my physical prime after 65" tour, a stint on a ridiculous reality competition? Uh, <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/072110dnosposurvivor.2da4df1.html">nevermind</a>. You really can't make this stuff up.<br /><br />4. For a taste of a time when a rivalry meant something: this piece from the NFL Network's <span style="font-style: italic;">Top 10</span> show. It's, essentially, cliff's notes on former Redskins coach <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3b-pcEB6Zg">George Allen's obsessive hatred of everything Dallas</a>. "Forty men together can't lose!" is his now-famous quote. Boys and girls, that's leadership.<br /><br />5. Terrell Owens <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNO6On7cK1M">crying </a>about "my team..my quarterback..." Tony Romo. I know he's not on team. But can you resist the pure hilarity of T.O. weeping about the press not being fair, in front of a wall of blue Cowchip stars, all over Tony Romo? I dare a stadium full of people not to watch and smile.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TIaQIpAViFI/AAAAAAAAACA/7iKEiommKws/s1600/Cooley+Witten.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TIaQIpAViFI/AAAAAAAAACA/7iKEiommKws/s200/Cooley+Witten.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514253271882369106" border="0" /></a><br />6. And why not: a 1200-inch diagonal picture of Chris Cooley mocking an unsuspecting Jason Witten at the Pro Bowl. Juvenile? Sure. Funny? Yep.<br /><br />7. Landon Donovan's<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/23/landon-donovan-goal-video_n_622538.html"> goal in the World Cup</a>. Yes, it's not "football," as we Americans know it. But for inspiration's sake, I always get goosebumps when I hear Ian Clarke's enthusiastic "Goal, goal, USA! Oh, it's incredible!" It's more proof for the Redskins that with perseverance, anything's possible. It helps even more when your opponent is Algeria.<br /><br />8. Tony Romo boldly <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxPWowImUGw&feature=player_embedded">announcing a Cowchip home Superbowl</a> at a summer Dallas pep rally. (See the one minute mark if you'd prefer to skip as much viewing of Babe Laufenberg's beard as possible.) That'll fire up the Washington faithful. I'd let the video continue for a moment, if only to show Dallas' hotshot rookie Dez Bryant dancing...days before he sprained his ankle.<br /><br />9. This montage of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKCvtoFqWOQ&p=0C67E6A977816C7D&playnext=1&index=43">two modern-era Redskins miracle </a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKCvtoFqWOQ&p=0C67E6A977816C7D&playnext=1&index=43">wins </a>over Dallas. I'm particularly proud to say I attended the second game and saw Sean Taylor run back the field goal. ...And add a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PufhB4C-AEQ">Wilhelm Scream</a> to Roy Williams while you're at it.<br /><br />10. And finally, in big, bold, high-definition letters: WE WANT DALLAS.<br /><br />After that, it's time to play football. Now how can I get this list in Snyder's hands...hmm...Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-78751071044220569422010-08-16T13:50:00.004-04:002010-08-16T15:22:24.150-04:00Football, Cars & Food: Redskins Rides 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TGl63ZEwvSI/AAAAAAAAABw/tS5OyNw3QME/s1600/RR-300-250-BANNER.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 250px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TGl63ZEwvSI/AAAAAAAAABw/tS5OyNw3QME/s320/RR-300-250-BANNER.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506067111479393570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">Let's be honest: until the regular season begins, you have nothing else to do on your Sundays. Sure, you could mow the grass, spend time with loved ones, maybe even play "name that former team" watching the random guys of the Arena League. How droll. Why not instead enjoy great food, groovy music, and see some fantastic cars? And, oh yeah, meet some Washington Redskins? </span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">If that sounds like you're idea of a great Sunday, check out the </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;" ><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-size:11pt;" >third annual <span style="font-weight: bold;">Redskins Rides Car </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;" ><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-size:11pt;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Show</span>. This event features classic and exotic cars and ti’s also a great chance to see </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;" ><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-size:11pt;" >Redskins players bring out their rides!<span> </span>Competition categories include Classic, Custom, </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;" ><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-size:11pt;" >Import, Special Interest for all exhibitors and Top Redskins Ride for the players.<span> </span>Fans can </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;" ><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-size:11pt;" >get their Redskins gear autographed by the players while enjoying food and live </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;" ><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-size:11pt;" >music.<span> </span>A great community event for Redskins fans and car enthusiasts alike!<span> </span>Come </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;" ><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-size:11pt;" >together for this fun family event that benefits charity!<br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /> It's all at : 21300 Redskins Park Dr., Ashburn, VA 20147</span> <p style="font-family: arial;">Time: 12pm-7pm</p> <p style="font-family: arial;">Admission: $15 for Adults, $10 for kids, 3 and under are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door.</p><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;" ><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-size:11pt;" ><span>Plenty of information, including</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:11pt;" ><span><span style="font-family: arial;"> pics and videos, are all at </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.redskinsrides.com/">www.redskinsrides.com</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Tahoma;font-size:11pt;" ><span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://easternmotors.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/randel-el-close-to-fans.jpg?w=450&h=300"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 300px;" src="http://easternmotors.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/randel-el-close-to-fans.jpg?w=450&h=300" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-38132757770258334462010-08-13T21:11:00.013-04:002010-08-14T18:34:19.976-04:00The Great Taste of Preseasoning<span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">Washington 42, Bills 17</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm not usually one to put much effort in reviewing preseason games with depth or enthusiasm. These are the games that, frankly, serve as a teasing appetizer for the hearty, full-bodied supper called the NFL regular season. Most times teams approach these games as pure evaluation tools, hoping that their starters finish the four games unscathed and fresh for when the contests actually matter. But on some occasions, a preseason game means much, much, more than just limited playbooks executed by future UPS drivers.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br />Friday night's game signaled the true beginning of the New Era in Washington. Unlike previous </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Redskins reboots, the fans got to see a true shift in the philosophy, key players, and (gasp!) ownership. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This was the triumphant beginning of Shanahan the Man: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">no feigned excitement about an unknown coach, no ridiculously high-priced free agent saviors, no bizarre team strategies. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Fans saw new coach Mike Shanahan's footprint all over the Skins the moment he addressed </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the media as new head </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TGYCjkKSb1I/AAAAAAAAABo/H0z31rLoZVY/s1600/Shanahan+Preseason.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 217px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/TGYCjkKSb1I/AAAAAAAAABo/H0z31rLoZVY/s320/Shanahan+Preseason.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505090404532514642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;">coach with owner Snydely--excuse me, Daniel Snyder--nowhere in sight. This is his team, and he and GM Bruce Allen took the off season months to detonate the 2009 squad, </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://redskinsreview.blogspot.com/2009/12/week-sixteen-youve-earned-trophy.html">as I requested</a><span style="font-family: arial;">, and start all over again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">So all eyes were on FedEx Field as Shanahan the Man, Donovan McNabb, Trent Williams, and, more slowly, Albert Haynesworth, trotted onto the field for this first exhibition contest.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Let me be frank, after taking copious notes for the first half, I followed the rest of the contest via streaming box score updates. (I did run to my DVR and rewind the plays over twenty yards. C'mon, I miss football as much as anyone but it IS just a preseason game.) With the horrific display of offense in 2009, I smiled when these revelations calmed my cautious expectations for 2010:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">1. DJ McNabb looked great, making quick reads and decisions while throwing on target and scrambling when necessary. Frankly, that's all we need him to do...and all we wished Jason Campbell could have done. (Speaking of him, you can get a JC jersey for <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Former-Redskin-Jason-Campbell-Jersey-size-L-/190429186919?pt=US_Football_Fan_Shop">just a dollar</a>! Replace the patch with "D. Williams" and enjoy!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">2. The first team offense performed solid. The first series was odd, featuring a Santana Moss end around on the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">second play</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> of the game. (Remember when Coach Gibbs would run the most vanilla playbook during the preseason and lose the games?) But Cooley then got open and again in the second series when McNabb orchestrated multiple play action fakes. Clinton Portis ran hard, covering the ball well while wideout Anthony Armstrong certainly upped his prospects to return in September with a goal-line touchdown reception. Oh, and left tackle Trent Williams appears to be The Truth, doing a great job of keeping McNabb virtually untouched.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">3. Rex Grossman appears to be a qualified backup...but let's hope we don't need him. I am pleased that he was able to meet my low expectations of his performance. He zipped balls in to open receivers, but he also made some questionable decisions on placement. Had Buffalo's defenders been a step better, Sir Grossman could have tossed two pick-six interceptions. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">NEXT UP</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The one-quarter-of-pure-excitement continues next week when the Redskins face off against a Super Bowl contender in the Baltimore Ravens. Hopes are high in the land of crabcakes and Natty Boh with good reason: Anquan Boldin provides the best target that Joe Flacco's ever had and running back Ray Rice is this season's fantasy football keeper. For the first time in a long time, Baltimore might have a stronger offense than defense. A strong showing here, particularly from the first-team defense would add a wonderful spice to an increasingly flavorful preseason.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy Jonathan Newton/Washington Post</span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8735070.post-37505258508086842622010-04-05T09:23:00.011-04:002010-04-05T11:47:36.141-04:00DJ McNabb Takes Center Stage<span style="font-family:arial;">Tiger Woods shows up early at Augusta? Good to know. Fifth seed Butler playing for its first NCAA championship tonight against perennial champ Duke? Whatever. Lil' Wayne writes his first letter to fans from jail? Yawn. </span> <span style="font-family:arial;">The real news is that Donovan Jamal McNabb has joined the Redskins. With this trade, Washington acquires a 33-year old, six-time Pro Bowler and arguably its highest-profile quarterback since Joe Theismann. In return, the Philadelphia Eagles receive a second round pick (#37) for this year and either a third or fourth round pick from next year's draft. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/S7oFSJqdUSI/AAAAAAAAABg/yk2UuWItWO8/s1600/McNabb+Campbell+2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wx_JWTSvY90/S7oFSJqdUSI/AAAAAAAAABg/yk2UuWItWO8/s320/McNabb+Campbell+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456679707902562594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And I'm not sure if I like it. But I do know that this blockbuster trade that has dominated the news </span><span style="font-family:arial;">cycle simultaneously answered and created questions, like Richard Alpert's back story on "Lost." Cue the rotating title and eerie intro music:<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Eagles are secretly smirking, believing that they've pulled off a Trojan Horse.</span> You remember the story from history class: the Greeks, desperate to find an advantage over their rival Trojans, pretended to retreat leaving behind the beautiful, towering gift of a horse. When the Trojans looked skeptically at the offering from those who so recently sought to destroy them, they were assured that the horse was harmless and would bring luck to the Trojans by the Greek Sinon, who was "left behind" by his countrymen. The apparently gullible Trojans celebrated their victory, dragged the horse inside their gates, and partied. When night fell, a secret door opened and out poured Greek warriors who had no problem slaughtering the drunk Trojans. Mission accomplished.<br /><br />Now the Philadelphia front office won't admit it, and I'm sure head coach Andy Reid won't divulge the truth even under a cheesesteak lie detector test, but it's clear to me that the Eagles think that McNabb's best days are behind him. That's not shocking; teams do that every year for that same reason. But the Eagles did more than just trade a guy because they thought his skills were in sunset. No, <span style="font-style: italic;">they traded their franchise quarterback to a hated division rival who they knew had questions at quarterback.</span> McNabb isn't going to Kansas City, a team they play once or twice every four years and has minimal effect on their overall record. He's landing with a team that impacts their Super Bowl chances at least twice a year.<br /><br />In his post-trade press conference, Coach Reid spun a carefully crafted web of "been a great player here for 11 years...set every record you can set for this organization...nothing but good things to say about him...we're doing what's best for Donovan..." and other oddly pleasant reviews of McNabb's work in Philly. Which raises the question: if he's been that good, why let him go? This guy got you to the playoffs with no-name receivers and then again with managing the cancerous Terrell Owens. Might their training staff know something about McNabb's past injuries that the Redskins don't? Could the Eagles think McNabb is really toast?<br /><br />Simply put, are little green men with wings on their helmets going to jump out of Donovan's [backside] and sabotage the Redskins' season?<br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Redskins are nonetheless significantly upgraded at the prime football positions. </span> I will extrapolate on this point made this morning by Tony Kornheiser. Going from Jim Zorn/Jason Campbell/Vinny Cerrato to Mike Shanahan/Donovan McNabb/Bruce Allen is like trading in your </span><span style="font-family:arial;">2006 Palm Treo for a 2010 Blackberry Storm 2. Sure, they both make phone calls, surf the web, and manage your email. But the competency, polish, and confidence with which it accomplishes those tasks is astoundingly different. If by nothing else than resume comparison, the Redskins will be smarter, more polished, and more competitive than in recent memory. Even if DJ McNabb (does anyone call him that?) manages just marginal performance, and Shanahan takes longer than thought to adjust to the competitive NFC East, and Allen doesn't get along at all with the Washington press corps...it will still be better than the 4-12 <span style="font-style: italic;">Cirque de Suck</span> of the 2009 season, with its on the field embarrassments, off the field melodrama, and organizational self-destruction. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />[Cue the "Tiger Woods scored more than Washington last year" joke and rimshot here.]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">3. <span style="font-weight: bold;"> Is Snydely Whiplash twirling his moustache in the shadows once again? </span>All the expectations for the new coaching regime suggested that Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan would be making all the football operation decisions. From early interviews both men suggested a cautioned, calculated approach to filling the man needs of the franchise. In February, when free agency was in full swing, the Redskins were eerily quiet, quieting the skeptics (I'm raising my hand) that owner Daniel Snyder would not play fantasy football as he has in the past offseasons. Every fan remembers those days: the signings of veterans with limited shelf life like Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, Dana Stubblefield, Mark Carrier, and Mark Brunell.<br /><br />But then there was the signing of 30-year old running back Larry Johnson and ex-Bear/ex-Texan quarterback Rex Grossman in March. Two days ago, 29-year old running back Willie Parker was signed. And now with the McNabb signing, the Redskins have again dominated the off-season, pre-draft headlines by picking up aging veterans.<br /><br />Folks, this looks uncomfortably close to the Redskins of old. What happened to the "I'm looking forward to working with Jason [Campbell]" and "his best years are ahead of him" perspective of Shanahan on his starting quarterback? What happened to keeping Campbell, drafting a young quarterback with the fourth pick and grooming him into franchise status? What happened to coveting draft picks for the most glaring of Redskins needs, the offensive line? What happened to the silent understanding that 2010 is a rebuilding year in D.C.?<br /><br />There is only one man whose <span style="font-style: italic;">win now</span> mentality brings about such wholesale change: Daniel Snyder. And we all know the level of success when <span style="font-style: italic;">that </span>happens.<br /><br />Finally, fans do know that the team that takes the field in September will be nothing like the team that sauntered into the 2009 post-season a wounded, demoralized mess. McNabb will be working with young, promising receivers, a diverse running attack and supported by a new-look 3-4 defense. At least the team will be worth watching.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ONE LAST THING</span><br />Fans can be also be absolutely sure that the only #17 Redskins jersey available this time next year will be Doug Williams'.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial;">*Photo courtesy UPI/Kevin Dietsch</span></span>Jeff Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01083385668280587411noreply@blogger.com0