Washington Redskins
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NFL Team Column |
Now Starting for Your 2011 Washington Redskins….
While we’re waiting for the NFL and the rest of the league to fix their differences and get ready to play some football, I’ve decided to jump the gun and get the Redskins ready for the opener. Herewith, I present their starting lineups on offense and defense on opening day, along with some key subs. We don’t need no steenking training camp.
Of course this all depends on how loose Snyder is with the purse strings come FA season, and how willing players are to take a chance and sign with this unique franchise where many a career has come to die—albeit a deathbed covered with satin sheets.
Let’s start with the Offense:
WR: Santana Moss (2010 starter) Leonard Hankerson (R)
I believe Moss will prove a bigger bargain than Santonio Holmes, who the ‘skins want from the Jets. They’ll keep Santana’s demands under control by telling him he’ll be able to mentor another “U” product, Hankerson, who should be the future.
LEFT TACKLE: Trent Williams (2010 starter), Clint Oldenberg
Healthy, you automatically pencil in last year’s first rounder as your first offensive lineman. He should only be better this year if he can stay healthy.
LEFT GUARD: Will Montgomery (2010 starter)
The interior line for the Redskins is very unsettled. They want to get bigger and stronger at the interior positions and I believe Casey Rabach is odd man out. Monty started at guard last year
CENTER: Kory Lichtensteiger (2010 starting guard, a center by trade) Erik Cook
Kory is a Shanahan-type lineman. Tall, slender, quick of foot. He started at guard last year but is more natural at Center, where he replaces Rabach.
RIGHT GUARD: Marshall Yanda (ex-Raven starter)
I have to believe the ‘skins will scoop up a good starting guard in FA, and Yanda is one of the better ones. If not him, perhaps Davin Joseph.
RIGHT TACKLE: Jammal Brown, (2010 starter) Selvish Capers
I’m buying the story that Brown was out of shape and still hurt last year and he will regain his skills this year. If not, the position is very vulnerable.
TIGHT END: Chris Cooley (2010 starter), Fred Davis, Logan Paulsen
Maybe the steadiest position on the roster. Two receivers and a good blocking TE.
WR: Anthony Armstrong (2010 Starter), Terrence Austin, Niles Paul
With the Redskins drafting three WRs this year, it’s unlikely oft-injured Malcolm Kelly makes the squad.
RB: Ryan Torrain (2010 starter), Roy Helu (R), Keiland Williams
Torrain, healthy, is the starter, but will be pushed by rookie Roy Helu. Keiland Williams is the third down back.
FB: Mike Sellers (2010 Starter)
If he can still block, he starts. If he loses it, he’s cut.
QB: John Beck (Wants the Gig, badly)
Yeah, I know. They’re trying to run a Space Station with a Commodore 64. Beck is, in essence, a rookie. His biggest hope is that McNabb is gone and the running game thrives.
DEFENSE
RIGHT DEFENSIVE END: Jarvis Jenkins, (R-Clemson) Jeremy Jarmon, Ky
The J-squad has the right side covered. Just a hunch, but I’m thinking Jarvis may be the Redskins sleeper of the draft.
NOSE GUARD: Cullen Jenkins, (ex-Packer) Anthony Bryant
Nose Guard is the critical position on defense in the 3-4. The ‘skins will try to sign two, possibly Cullen Jenkins of Green Bay and possibly oft-injured ex-Jet Kris Jenkins. And you know at some point in the season all three Jenkins will be on the field together, the first all-Jenkins defensive line.
LEFT DEFENSIVE END: Adam Carriker (2010 starter), Phillip Daniels
Carriker came on strong last year at the end of the seasons. Sure, Daniels is old, but he spends the offseason shot-putting buildings.
RIGHT OUTSIDE LB: Brian Orakpo (2010 starter), Chris Wilson
If Jenkins can tie up tackles, Orakpo sees another double-digit sack season.
RIGHT INSIDE LB: London Fletcher (2010 Starter), H.B. Blades
When experts condemn the Redskins free agent acquisition accomplishments over the years, they take a fresh breath and say, “but they weren’t all bad….”
LEFT INSIDE LB: Robert Henson (2010 Backup), Perry Riley
Rocky Mac didn’t make the adjustment from the outside in, and his job is up for grabs. Both these guys have shown promise, but are inexperienced. One will likely start, and it could be one of the better training camp rivalries.
RIGHT OUTSIDE LB: Ryan Kerrigan (R-Purdue) Lo Alexander
Can you say “Orakpo bookend?” ‘Skins #1 pick has ceaseless motor but a lot to learn. Alexander will see PT somewhere and could start until Kerrigan gets comfortable at LB.
RCB: Kevin Barnes (2010 sub)
No, I don’t spend the enormous bucks necessary to sign Nnamdi Asomugha, because I don’t want Sonny or Sam to sprain a tongue muscle listing the defensive starters. With Rogers likely gone, this is a position of weakness, however.
FS: Atogwe Oshiomogho, (FA acquisition) DiJon Gomes
Be nice if all tthree Nebraska draftees made the squad. Atogwe, ‘skins lone pre-lockout FA acquisition of note, will stay in shape chasing down WRs who’ve blown by Hall and Barnes.
SS: LaRon Landry (2010 Starter), Doughty
LaRon was having a pro bowl level season last year before his injury. No reason why he can’t pick up where he left off.
LCB: DeAngelo Hall (2010 starter), Bryan Westbrook.
Corner is not a good position for the redskins, especially with Rogers out the door. Key here is Kerrigan/Orakpo pass rush to keep pressure off corners.
Of course there will be surprises, but with this lineup, healthy and with all our wishes and buts turned to candy and nuts, this should be a team that contends for the playoffs. More than likely, however, they’ll end up around .500.
'Skins and NFL Suffering the Lock-Out Blues
All right all right, I guess I have to write something about the Redskins. You remember the Redskins? Used to be an NFL football team? Now about half of them play two-hand touch at local high schools and the rest stay home lifting weights, filing their nails and not playing football.
Like any NFL fan, I’m hoping that by the time you read this, it is out of date. I fervently hope the Millionaire/Billionaire Boys Clubs have regained their sanity, hammered out differences and are playing football and watching the money roll in.
Football has hogged the Lock-Out spotlight for 115 days as this is written, and frankly I think it’s NBA basketball’s turn to huddle in secret conference rooms, then skulk out under cover of darkness without a deal being made.
I do know none of this is doing any good for football itself, the players, the owners or beleaguered fans. Wait, I take that back. There is one subset of football players for whom the lockout is both good news and bad.
I refer to the drafted but as yet unsigned rookies. An example: Redskin wide receiver hopeful Niles Paul is keeping a weekly journal for the Washington Post. The Nebraska rookie reports he is currently living in his parents’ basement because he can’t yet afford his own place. That means Paul and most other rookies also cannot afford the temptations of a sudden influx of cash. That may be the reason why you haven’t read about some high draft choice being picked up for DUI or worse. They can’t afford to get into trouble. And, while a lot of rookies are good guys and immediately buy Mama a house when they get their signing bonus, I think most Mamas would just as soon have their beloved kid living at home for the Summer.
Of course what Paul and the rest of the drafted rookies aren’t doing is being coached up. It’s a double whammy for teams with new coaches not coaching these new players. Those coaches can’t install their system and players can’t learn it. At least Redskins rookies have a few smuggled out playbooks from last year to serve as a base for learning. Around the league, a number of first rounders were able to pick up a playbook before they were re-locked out of camp by the courts.
The guys really left in the lurch are the Undrafted Free Agents—players who normally would get signed right after the draft to a team that needs specific position help and/or fodder for camp. As it is, none of them can sign because the teams can’t offer them contracts.
And of course the great unwanteds—on the Redskins that includes Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb--can’t be traded. On the other hand, neither can Santana Moss, who may not be so unwanted and may end up back on the squad when and if there is a season. (He recently said he wants a new deal withe the Redskins the minute the CBA is signed)
I said before the draft and I’ll say it again—the Redskins were smart not to pick a rookie QB this year. This will be a lost season for most if not all rookie QBs. They all will get a late start and in many cases remain at a distinct disadvantage versus the vets they’re trying to unseat.
The Redskins to their credit—and with needs across the board--drafted mostly guys at positions they can learn quickly. One exception is DE turned linebacker and top draft pick, Ryan Kerrigan. He needs to learn the 3-4 OLB slot, and he has a lot of mental and physical challenges. But rookie D-linemen (Chris Neild, Jarvis Jenkins), WRs (Paul, Leonard Hankerson, Aldrick Robinson) and RBs (Roy Helu, Evan Royster) should be able to pick up the system quickly enough to contribute this year.
Of course with no rookie QB and McNabb ;ikely out the door the moment the new CBA is approved, the Redskins have John Beck and Rex Grossman as their quarterbacks. Beck’s unproven and Grossman isn’t even signed, so it could be a lost year anyway. Meanwhile Beck is acting like a leader—which I like—the question is will he have enough game to back it up when and if the season starts.
The only other big news out of Redskin Park is The Danny has torn out a bunch of seats out of FedEx to make an area where drunks can stand around and mingle during games. Swell. The Redskins are selling off the physical seats they’ve torn out, but save your hate. The proceeds are going to charity. Meanwhile. Mr. Snyder is still suing a newspaper. Classy.
So what’s a football fan supposed to do this Summer (and, I fear, Fall)? There soon will be a basketball lockout, baseball doesn’t really start until the playoffs, tennis and golf don’t’ provide enough excitement. This leaves Lacrosse, women’s basketball, the other football, (futbol), and your columnist depressed.
Draft Shows Redskins Long Nightmare May Be Over
Let’s start with this amazing stat. The Washington redskins entered the 2011 draft with no third round pick and no fourth round pick. When it was over, the ‘skins picked in every round—include two guys in the 5th and 6th, and four in the 7th—and didn’t trade any of next year’s draft picks for a washed up vet.
I can come to only one conclusion: when they find Daniel Snyder’s body, they will discover ligature marks on his wrists and ankles and a gag stuffed in his mouth. Dudes and dudettes: was not a Dan Snyder-style draft. (Another fact: Twelve players drafted, the most since a pre-Snyder 1985.)
But we kid The Danny. At last check, he was alive and well and suing people. In truth, there hasn’t been this sort of sea change in the Redskins approach to drafting since Snyder bought the ball club. It is apparent to me this is now Mike Shanahan’s Show—beginning to end. Whether that will turn out to be a good thing or not--as the old cliché goes--only time will tell.
He came into the draft minus the aforementioned picks and with rumors that he wanted to trade up to grab Blaine Gabbert as his new John Elway. To do so, the experts experted, he’d have to trade his own first and second rounder this year and a first rounder next year. As we now know, not only did he not make that trade, he could have had Gabbert with his original #10 overall selection. Instead Mike traded down. (Seriously, someone check on Snyder, just to make sure he’s okay.)
Who the Heck’s Beck?
Then Sunday, Coach Mike endorsed one John Beck as his quarterback of the future. Beck is already on the roster, has hardly played at all in his career, is age 30, and nobody’s ever heard of him except his immediate family and maybe Glenn Beck. This means Mike knows more than we do, is razzle-dazzling everyone while he plots to trade for someone else, or has lost his mind.
But would a wackadoodle coach approach the draft the way Coach Mike did this year? I think not. Here’s why.
Going into the draft, the Redskins had more weaknesses than strengths. By conservative estimate the team’s needs on offense were a quarterback, some running backs, at least one WR, and some offensive linemen. On defense, the team needed a rushing linebacker, a defensive end, a nose tackle, and a cornerback.
Now then, let’s turn our cards over and see what Shanahan pulled off:
Defense Upgraded from Worst to What?
His first pick was Ryan Kerrigan, a defensive end from Purdue with a Rolls Royce motor, a rep as a pass rusher who can also play the run, and great character. The only question mark—can he make it as an outside linebacker and cover in space?
Mike had another second round pick because of his trade back in the first round, but he traded down twice more for a third and a fourth rounder. (Or maybe it was three times--my head is still spinning.)
Meanwhile, with his original second round pick—don’t bother memorizing this stuff, it won’t be on the final—he grabbed a defensive end slash run stuffer slash rush lineman named Jarvis Jenkins from Clemson, another good character guy. Experts are calling him a sleeper. No, not a Fred Davis forget-to-set-the-alarm-clock type sleeper, but a first rate player who’s been overlooked. In Jenkins case, it may have been because he was opposite De’Quan Bowers, who until medical issues arose, was thought by some to be the first player taken, period.
All right, Coach Mike has filled two gaping holes (‘skins fans hope) on a defense that was one of the very worst in the NFL last year. But then the offense was nothing to dance the Tango about either.
Start with the wideouts: the best one, Santana Moss, is a free agent. He may well sign with a contender if the CBA is ever signed. So Coach Mike used his third pick to Leonard Hankerson, also from the “U”. (Might it be a message to Moss to stay and mentor his eventual replacement?) I watched Hankerson’s highlight reel. After every TD he made, he just dropped the ball in the end zone. No spike, no dance, no “me-first” special move. That’s old school. (The Redskins took two other wideouts, Nebraska’s Niles Paul with a fifth round pick, and SMU’s Aldrick Robinson in the sixth.)
Shanahan’s Wheelhouse
Keeping in mind Coach Mike is happy with Beck, and the worrisome Oline may be upgraded with FAs, the next weak link on offense was running back. Portis was done and gone, and the current crop look like seat fillers. No one in football has a better rep for finding top notch RBs in lower rounds than Shanahan. So he said: “I’ll take two, just to be sure.”
With the fourth rounder, the ‘skins took Roy Helu, a Nebraska back people claimed was a “system” runner. Well, he’s going to a team with a “system,” and he’s a one-cut back who should thrive in Shanahan’s zone block scheme. So too might Evan Royster, selected in the sixth round. The former Nittany Lion flew under the radar despite being Penn State’s all time leading rusher. Bad radar, one guesses.
There were other picks you’ve never heard of, and with good fortune they may contribute.
Does the Danny Get It?
Is this past draft only a hiccup in an ongoing disaster, or—dare we dream—signs the owner finally “gets it,” has butted out, and is letting the Adult’s Table run the dinner?
Sorry kids, gotta say it again: Only time will tell.
One more thing: You have to hope Shanahan, GM Bruce Allen, and the scouting system are upgrades too. If these picks don’t pan out, you can bet Snyder-in-Charge will come roaring back to life quicker than the monster in a Grade Z horror flick.
What QB Do ‘skins Take at #10? A Guy Called “Nobody”
The redskins will not draft a quarterback with their #10 overall pick this year.
You can take it to the bank. You can take it to New Jersey. You can put it in your caboodle kit and take it anywhere you want. Watch my logic, and observe that at no time do my fingers leave my hands nor does Elvis leave the building. Just don’t wager on my theory. I don’t want to be responsible if you get your knees broken.
REASON # 1 The two guys considered worth drafting at #10 or higher will be gone by the time the Redskins draft.
These gents are Cam Newton of Auburn and Blaine Gabbert (Missouri). We don’t know if Shanahan likes either QB. There’s a decent chance he’s not enamored. Newton doesn’t fit the Shanahan mold, and Gabbert played in a spread offense and may have a hard time learning to come off primary receivers.
Either way, either one is a risk. Newton has stated, for instance, that whoever gets him will add not only a QB but also a Celebrity and an Icon. Fair enough, but the Redskins had an Icon named McNabb and he didn’t work out so well. They’ve had celebrities on the team, ranging from Neon Deion Sanders to Bruce Smith to Joe Gibbs (2.0) to would be rock star Brandon Lloyd to Should-Have-Thrown-His-Golf-Clubs-in-the-Potomac Steve Spurrier to whatever character Clinton Portis was playing at a press conference that week. Did any of those Celebs bring home a Super Bowl? Right.
The last Redskins Icon, Darrell Green, retired in 2002. One other is back at NASCAR, two are broadcasters (Sonny and Sam) and one is under the table looking up Sandy Baby’s skirt.
Right now the potential QBs are at the combine, as this is written they haven’t thrown or gone through their paces yet. But already, pundits are predicting Gabbert and Newton go top ten—a good combine and they can only become more valuable. If they tank, a carefully choreographed Pro Day may be arranged by their handlers to rectify it, unless there's a lockout. (Newton has already had one.)
There is a distinct possibility that Shanahan has his eye on another QB, one that could, perhaps, last until the second round. Maybe a Christian Pounder or Andy Dalton. He may want to wait and take his chances next year. He may trade down and pluck someone with a higher second or lower first—Jake Locker for instance. (He might bite for Locker at #10, I’ll admit.)
REASON # 2 If the drafted QB flops, Shanahan’s rep takes a huge hit, as does his long term prospects as a head coach.
No matter whose idea it was to bring in Donovan McNabb as the Redskins short term savior, the fact is he did not work and play well with the Shanahans--um, yet (Read on).
No one expects Rex Grossman to take the Redskins to the playoffs save the Grossman family. Ditto John Beck or Glenn Beck, for that matter. While the free agency market isn’t exactly swarming with top-notch prospects, the truth is a rookie QB is always a gamble. If a vet like McNabb couldn’t get comfortable with the Shanahan playbook, what makes one think a rookie will become familiar enough with the nuances to be a first year star?
It seems unlikely there will be much of an upgrade in the offensive line in 2011. Arguably four interior positions need serious improvement and the ‘skins don’t have enough picks to fix that, especially considering their problems on defense. So a rookie QB would also face trial by fire, learning a complicated system while keeping an eye out for incoming blitzers. That didn’t work out well with the Redskins' last first round picks, Patrick Ramsey or Jason Campbell.
In addition to an iffy Oline, the ‘skins need at least one wide receiver—two if Santana Moss doesn’t return. Their running attack doesn’t scare anyone other than Redskins fans. A rebuilt line takes time to jell.
REASON # 3 Too many needs elsewhere.
We discussed the offensive needs, but the Redskins pathetic defense needs serious shoring up also—and let us not forget the team has no 3rd or 4th round pick. On defense, their 3-4 desperately needs a run stuffing nose tackle. They kicked the tires on FA Shaun Rogers and passed—good call. They could also use a defensive end or two. (Carriker seemed to improve as the season went on.) A 3-4 requires top notch outside rushbackers, and the ‘skins have exactly one, Brian Orakpo. On the inside, London Fletcher is aging—though you wouldn’t know it from his play—and Rocky McIntosh may well be gone.
Things don’t improve at the third level. CB Carlos Rogers may be gone, leaving them with DeAngelo Hall as the only returning starter at corner. Presumably LaRon Landry will return at strong safety, but free safety remains unfilled as of this writing.
REASON # 4 Come to think of it, there may not be a new season. Plus, a top-notch rookie QB may be much cheaper next year.
If there’s a lockout, and by golly that’s looking like a good bet, coaches will not be able to coach up their draftees, or anyone else for that matter. A linebacker, nose tackle, WR or OL may be able to pick up a system during even an abbreviated camp, but QB is a much more complicated position to learn. So, the rookie year for any QB in 2011 may well be a wasted year. The thought may have occurred to Mike and Kyle that the most qualified QB they’ll have in the fall of 2011 would be one Donovan McNabb.
So that’s my analysis. NFLDraftDog has a Mock Draft Contest for us big time experts, so I’ll hold off on my prediction as to who the ‘skins might take at #10 overall. I have to believe the wisest move is for them to burn up the phone lines trying to trade down, and get some more picks to replace the early ones they’ve lost. Build both lines, fill other slots with rookies and FAs, then we’ll talk franchise QB.
‘Skins draft Strategy Should Take Lesson from Playoffs
If we are thinking about the upcoming draft and free agency, what can we learn from this weekend’s playoff games? The Redskins, after all, have to make some brilliant moves to protect their rep as Champs of the Offseason Maneuver and to have a shot at the playoffs next year.Let’s start with the Packers, as that seems a pretty decent model to base a turnaround on, a fact enhanced by their win Sunday. First lesson—nice to have a franchise QB. Aaron Rodgers plummeted during the 2005 draft, seeing Alex Smith taken with the number one overall pick by San Francisco, enduring a painful wait until Green Bay ended his misery at 24th over all. . He had the last laugh; needless to say, as he is now one of the very best in the NFL and Smith is on the chopping block in the midst of a mediocre career.
There’s a saying that you don’t improve by riding the bench, but rode it Rodgers did while a fella named Favre handled the QB reins. Aaron must have been paying attention. The lessons for Washington are (1) a franchise QB may not become a franchise QB overnight, and (2) bargains can be found lower down in the draft. Even past the first round: in the second round (Favre) or even much lower. (See, Brady, Tom). But unless Redskin fans expect the New Guy to learn at the elbow of Rex Grossman, that plan won’t fly. Still, after his disaster with Donovan McNabb, I suspect Coach Mike will grab the guy he wants if the guy he wants is available with the tenth overall pick.
Another QB lesson: A big, strong and/or mobile quarterback is worth his weight in playoff survival. Whether it was defenders failing to fell Big Ben or Rodgers dipsy-doodling away from rushers, a QB who can buy time and find the open receiver, or leg it out for a first down, is critical. As brilliant as Mike Vick played in the regular season, he got pounded during the playoffs and became ineffective.
With the Redskins going through a painful shift from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense, another lesson can be learned from Green Bay—or Pittsburgh for that matter. The critical elements to a successful 3-4 are a dominant nose tackle and an all-pro outside rushbacker or two. Green Bay drafted B.J. Raji, and got a powerful and versatile run stuffer, with the added bonus of interceptor extraordinaire. They have their rushing linebacker in all-pro Clay Mathews. It can be argued the Redskins already have one in Orakpo, but as Pittsburgh shows, two are better than one. Both were snapped up in the first round in 2009. (The previous year, while the Redskins were stinking up the joint with their three second round receivers, the Packers took Jordy Nelson in the second round and Jermichael Finley in the third round.
Another lesson that should be learned from this year’s playoffs, one the Redskins have ignored ever since Gibbs 1.0 ended, is you can never have enough depth on the offensive line. Many teams would have fallen apart when their all-pro center went down early in a playoff game. Not so, Pittsburgh, which survived the loss of Maurkice Pouncy.
Yet another lesson: All-World receivers are overrated—what’s needed is a stable of very good ones. All four teams fit that category, without a Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson in the bunch.
You need a tight end who not only has good hands, but who can give runners the edge with his blocking.
Good runners picked late in the draft or found through free agency are preferable to placing a high pick on a guy who may only have a shelf life of 3-5 years. Shanahan has proven a past master at that, and with critical needs elsewhere, the RB situation can be addressed with lower picks or FAs. (My sleeper pick if he’s there in the latter rounds is Pitt fullback Henry Hynoski, 6’2” 260, a truck with arms.)
Where does that leave the Redskins? My thinking is first round pick will go to an apple of Mike’s eye QB if the guy he wants is still on the board. If not, the best DT or rushing linebacker will be the selection. That may reverse itself in the second round, or another starter in the offensive line would be a good choice.
If the ‘skins re-sign Moss, his presence plus Anthony Armstrong and second year player Terrence Austin plus—dare we dream? —Malcolm Kelly might suffice.
Of course all this can and undoubtedly will change by the time FA and the draft roll around. If Shanahan picks up a vet like, say, Carson Palmer, he may focus on key line positions with the top picks. If he unloads Albert Haynesworth and/or Donovan McNabb, he may have some more middlin’ picks to add depth to the team.
So, look for improvements at critical positions to show up on the field next year. Oh yeah, that’s if there isn’t a lockout.
It’s the Line, Stupid. Fix It and Get Well for 2011
Now that the regular season has come to another thudding end for the Redskins, the team and its fans can focus and concentrate on the area it most excels at—the offseason. There hasn’t been an offseason in the past ten years where hopes have not run amuck, where big time, earth-shattering changes have not been made, or where major acquisitions have not come on board to turn this mess around. It can be argued that the Redskins are the best offseason team of the twenty-first century. It’s when the live bullets fly that the problems start.
The two key questions going into the offseason are was the first year of the Mike Shanahan era a disaster and if so, is it fixable in the short run?
The short answers are “sort of” and “probably not.” The problems are multiple, the draft picks insufficient, and the mistakes of the last season plentiful.
Last column I promised to look at the offense this time. I am a man of my word, and that will be today’s focus.
Grossman: QB of the Future?
Let’s start with the good. Rex Grossman is a fine hold-the-fort or backup QB, with flashes of starter brilliance. Since the team is not going anywhere for the next two or so years, it makes sense to let him play it out if and until a new QB is drafted who will be a long term solution. Grossman’s strengths are: He’s a vet who’s been to the Super Bowl; he is most familiar with the Shanahan system; he’s learning the receivers, and he should be re-signable relatively cheap.
The ‘skins have the 10th pick in the draft this year. If a QB catches Mike’s eye and he’s available with that pick no one’s gonna stop Coach Mike from plucking him and making him the next Elway.
Who might be there at ten? Depends, obviously on free agency, who comes out or stays in college and how the candidates look in the combine. There are some key elements to be weighed by QBs with eligibility left. Mostly, will there be a strike or lockout. Better to stay in school and hone one’s skills than walk a picket line.
Then there is the example of Jake Locker, who went from a “sure” top five pick last year to a top ten, or lower guy this year, playing through injuries on a mediocre Washington Huskies’ team. His bowl effort and a good combine will raise his stock. But will college eligible QBs risk it?
Two QBs Worth Considering
Two quarterbacks who seem adept at pulling the ball down and escaping trouble may be there when the skins pick. Locker might be there, and he’s an intriguing prospect. He’s experienced, he’s played hurt (broken rib), and he ran for 385 yard and six TDs this year. The other possible intriguing prospect likely to be available at ten is TCU’s Andy Dalton. He’s 6’3” 220 and blessed with red hair. Fella named Sonny Jurgenson has/had red hair, and he did okay for the Redskins. Different personality than Sonny. Dalton quoted scripture after the Rose Bowl and led student prayer groups. Sonny led chugalug contests. In his prime, Mr. J possessed the best arm I’ve ever seen on a football field.
Some early mocks have the ‘skins taking a WR at ten, notably J.J. Green of Georgia. Other mock have him well gone before the ‘skins pick. Great talent, but ironically, receiver is far from the weakest position on the team.
Could Be Worse at WR
First the ‘skins must induce Santana Moss to come re-sign at a reasonable rate. He’s got some good years left in the slot.
Next, lock up Anthony Armstrong for years to come. The kid is the find of the year.
Although he didn’t play much this year, UCLA rookie Terrence Austin could be a bookend receiver for Armstrong.
Malcolm Kelly is the big question mark. Next practice will determine if he will ever be a player or a Jacuzzi Hog.
That’s four WRs there, and if Roydell Williams can contribute, or they start to work Banksie into the pass attack, the position is set.
So is tight end, once people stop with the nonsensical idea of trading Chris Cooley. Cooley is a first rate tight end. His only real fault is stunting whatever growth Fred Davis might have—he can’t get off the bench when Cooley is healthy. Logan Paulsen, another UCLA rookie may be the blocking TE of the future.
Running back should Ryan Torain, Leiland Williams, and somebody else. Torain is a stud, but injury prone. I think Portis is gone and Sellars may be too.
About that Offensive Line
Which brings us to the line. It got better as the year progressed, but it is hardly a major NFC East unit yet. It’s too small for openers. Lichtensteiger and Casey Rabach are sub 300 pounders, and Montgomery is no road grader either at right guard. The true biggies Derrick Dockery (benched), Artis Hicks (benched), Stephon Heyer (Can’t pass block) are likely gone. The jury is still out on Jammal Brown, who claims good health for the first time in two years. But missing two seasons effectively ended Jon Jansen’s effectiveness—it may end Brown’s?
Rookie Trent Williams didn’t finish the year strong giving up two sacks to Osi Umenyora, fooled on inside moves. Word is he needs to spend more time prepping for opponents, and no just rely on his talent. FA acquisitions might help on the OLine, but I’d love to see Mike Pouncey’s twin in Burgundy and Gold. He’s either be a 10 year all pro center, or a ten year all pro left guard, forming a brutal combination with Williams.
Fix the offensive line then everything on the team gets better. Grossman has more time to find receivers. Receivers have more time to get open. Runners don’t have to go against eight in the box. One cut runners will find gashes in defenses when the zone blocking hums. Field position improves. Kickers are more confident, punters practice coffin corner boots.
Sure there are needs on defense—we’ll have more on that next time out.
I Hate Dallas but this Loss Didn’t Hurt As Much
Of course I hate Dallas--all good Redskin fans do. And I hate when the Redskins lose to Dallas. But I have to tell you, as Dallas losses go; this was one of the least painful. Here’s why:
*For the first time this year, I believe Kyle Shanahan’s system works. No, I don’t think Rex Grossman is the ultimate answer, but he knows the system inside and out, and it looked like young Kyle’s entire playbook was in play. Hey, it worked in Houston, and if Grossman can make it work here, it may be worth saving.
*The Redskins scared the Hell out of the Cowboy team, Jerruh Jones, their perky little Cheerleaders, and fans who laughed and scratched their way through the first half. The ‘skins came back from 7-27 to tie the game and lost on a late field goal. But the winning Dallas drive was against a defense that was down five starters to injury. It felt like an exhibition game that was lost when the scrubs came in.
*Hey it could have been worse—ask the New York football Giants
*And last but not least, the Dallas win hurts Dallas because it could help the ‘skins leapfrog the 'pokes in the upcoming draft.
Still it was a loss and reminds us of the very serious Redskin team flaws.
Here are some of the problems facing the Redskins as they head into the offseason:
Has Shanahan lost this team? Don’t shoot the messenger; I freely admit I do not know at this point. But it is one thing to publicly garrote an idiot like Albert Haynesworth publically. All evidence I’ve read indicates the team had grown weary his antics and was glad to see him go.
But Donovan McNabb? Your team leader has been embarrassed three times this year. First there was the first benching for Grossman, complicated by Shanahan’s shady explanations. This insult was supposedly fixed with a publically trumpeted $78 million extension for Donovan. But McNabb was embarrassed again when word got out that all it guaranteed was a $3.5 million payout when and if he’s cut. Then there was his latest benching for the rest of the season, accompanied by “third string” status and Shanahan blabbing that he can’t guaranteed McNabb’s future in Washington. Yeah I know Grossman had a career game, but you don’t humiliate a veteran, respected leader the way McNabb has been. I was against acquiring McNabb for reasons that have proven prophetic—he’s an old 33 year old, and the ‘skins were outfoxed by Philly in the trade. It has cost them a second rounder last year and a third and a fourth this year. And the treatment of McNabb can’t help in the free agent market.
Not as serious an issue, but indicative of the clunky personnel and public relations approach at Redskin Park was putting Safety LaRon Landry on injured reserve. No biggie at first glance--he’s hurt and needs time to heal. But--he was well on his way to getting Pro Bowl status, and the Redskins move all but guarantees he won’t be selected to the team. It’s an honor Landry richly deserves, and it could cost him money at negotiation time. Did the Redskins need the slot on the active roster? Evidently not. The two DB’s they recently signed were inactive Sunday.
Problem 1A is the defense. It stinks. For the last several years, the Redskins defense has been rated in or near the top ten in the NFL. This year, it is dead last, they give up so many yards per game they threaten to become the all-time worst Washington defense ever. Coach Mike and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett defend the poor numbers by pointing out the team is now a 3-4 defense. Yeah, so?
At a time when the team has so many critical needs on offense, they’ve created a new defensive scheme without the personnel to play it. Sunday the outside linebackers were a converted defensive end (Andre Carter) and a converted defensive tackle (Lo’ Alexander.) These guys can’t cover in space and belong on the line. The inside linebackers are undersized for a 3-4 four and London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh never played the position before. Meanwhile, Big Albert was chased away, and ex-defensive tackle Kedric Golston is playing out of position at end. The team desperately needs a dominant nose guard, and the defensive backfield could use shoring up.
And I buried the lede. I think Haslett should go. I see nothing approaching the kind of genius that makes, say, Dick LaBeau’s 3-4 at Pittsburgh the great unit that it is. Haslett’s blitzes inevitably come from the wrong side and/or too late, they can’t stop your grandmother from rushing for 100 yards, and the smart offensive coordinators always seem a step or two ahead of Haslett.
Wow, I’ve used up my column space without addressing the offensive shortcomings. Okay, next time, I promise.
A Shocking Solution to All ‘skin Ills: Move ‘Em
Many Redskin fans are in despair over the news out of Redskin Park this week—and why should this week be different than most? But hear me now and pay me later, suckers; Cork has the solution to all Washington fans problems.
Let’s review the bidding so far. Shanahan and Allen suspended Albert Haynesworth this week for the rest of the season. Anyway, Al will miss the next four games, but presumably could return for the playoffs (that’s called Gallows Humor, kids).
My capacity for outrage at the plight of the Redskins has been dulled by Snyder’s woefully unsuccessful stewardship over the past decade or so. My reaction to the latest twist in l’affair Haynesworth is this: What took so long?
I didn’t fully appreciate the depth of the Haynesworth’s inadequacy until I watched the Pittsburgh-Baltimore masterpiece the night after Haynesworth sat on his big, fat, contract on the bench for the Giants game. Mr. H was a healthy scratch because he couldn’t be bothered to give a rat’s ass about the Redskins during the week. Apparently he had the sniffles or something so he didn’t practice. He could attend team meetings and he did, apparently. Not on time of course—he couldn’t be bothered with that. He did find time to attend his local watering hole, according to reports. Some claim he allegedly showed up to practice with a hangover. Ironically, that’s fixable; he just needed hangover lessons from Sonny Jurgenson, John Riggins, or Todd Phillips.
Earlier this year, Albert also couldn’t be bothered to show up to “voluntary” practices, a mandatory camp, or workouts at Redskin Park. When he finally did report, he showed up out of shape and took ten days to pass a conditioning test.
Now Albert is free to go race his speedboat, visit his watering holes, waste his career, destroy whatever positive rep he once had, and assemble a highlight reel of his best play for the Redskins.
What was there about the Steelers-Ravens game that made me feel worse about Haynesworth? Watching Haloti Ngata, DT of the Baltimore Ravens play the game the way it should be played (except for busting Big Ben’s Snotlocker). Mr. Ngata, probably the best defensive lineman in football, gives 100% and up effort on each and every play. He spent more time behind enemy lines than a LRRP team. He’s in the offensive backfield more than the Referee. He ties up more blockers than a Mistress of the Night at an NFL Sadist convention.
Cork’s Ingenious Idea
The trouble with a snake-bit franchise—and the Redskins fairly define one--is even after the snake is gone and the venom has been sucked out, the malady lingers on. This is especially so when the venom is left too long and begins to fester.
I think players with a sense of history believe nothing will improve with Dan Snyder still running the team. I think the entire franchise, lock stock and Snyder, should be moved to Los Angeles. Yeah, you heard me, move it to LA, where no one cares if you win or lose as long as the sun’s out, where flakes make movies instead of clogging highways in Winter, and where a man like Snyder should feel right at home.
But wait, Cork, I hear you whining, that leaves DC without a franchise. Wouldn’t do that to you Bunky. See, as part of the deal, the fine citizens of Washington get a replacement franchise, either an expansion team or someone anxious to move on, like Minnesota or Buffalo.
Wouldn’t it be simpler if Snyder just sold the team you ask? Yeah, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon. He’s too big an egotist to do that. If Snyder sold, he’ be out of the DC limelight overnight. No more MNF cameras peeking into his box, no more press conferences to avoid, no more bad policies to defend.
I don’t doubt Snyder’s sincere intents to win or his willingness to open his wallet. It’s his competence as an NFL owner I believe that has held him back. Everything he touches on the football field turns to Kitty Litter.
His open wallet is no longer a blessing. His high priced acquisitions have almost overwhelming shone themselves to be mercenaries, or badly misjudged by Snyder and company as to talent or health or desire. And not just players. There was the bizarre kick up to head coach status he gave to Jim Zorn, or his firing Marty Schottenheimer a season or two too soon, and Vinny Cerrato several seasons too late. Or thinking Steve Spurrier was the answer, or not knowing that Joe Gibbs needed a strong GM to succeed, or myriad other issues--his judgment has been off.
Until a new owner is in place at Redskins Park, I fear it will be just more of the same.
Can Redskins Win Out? When Hogs Have Wings…
Scores of trees have sacrificed their lives and uncounted billions of electrons have bitten the dust in the last week due to an extraordinary outbreak of Brain Fog in the Washington DC area and environs.
If I’ve read one, I’ve read a dozen stories speculating on how the Redskins, despite last Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Favres, can pull it together and win out the rest of the way. Make the playoffs as a Wild card, and then who know what will happen?
There is a blueprint for this, from 2007 when, rallying from the nightmarish murder of safety Sean Taylor, and a mental oopsie by Genius-in-Residence Coach Joe “Two Timesout” Gibbs, the ‘skins heroically reeled off four wins and made the playoffs. If you don’t remember that, I’m sure Dan Snyder does. That appearance made it an even one playoff qualification since The Danny took over the team.
The 2007 winning streak was the stuff of legends, unfortunately about the only truly legendary accomplishment of Gibbs, Mark Two. Personally, I don‘t doubt that Gibbs could still coach during his second tenure here. But his biggest weakness—finding and acquiring personnel--did him in. That duty once belonged to a GM named Bobby Beathard. During Joe’s second appearance he had final say on trades, drafts, and contracts with Snyder providing the checkbook.
Because day-to-day coaching made so many demands on his time, he did not have time or energy for in-depth research of the people he wanted to bring in. He had to depend on the Redskins scouting staff and Snyder’s Personal Racquetball partner, Vinny Cerrato. Computer nerds have a saying for what resulted: Garbage In, Garbage Out. I believe Gibbs was basing his ultimate “I’m the boss” personnel decisions on faulty data acquired for him
Gibbs told the 2007 team to go back to basics, and cram the ball down opponents throats. While his OLines were not to be confused with the glory days of the hogs, they managed to get the job done back then. But to seriously think there is even the tiniest chance of the redskins repeating such a feat in 2010 is madness.
Three primary reasons: The remaining schedule, the offensive line, and the running back situation.
THE SKED: Starting Sunday, the Redskins get the Giants for the first of two games against that long time nemesis. Unfortunately for the Redskins, the first of the two tilts is played in the Meadowlands. The Giants will be without most of their top receivers, and with home field advantage the ‘skins might have a puncher’s chance. But lose they will Sunday and again when they take on the presumably healthy New Yorkers at FedEx later this month.
The ‘skins play Dallas, who they beat, but the game is at Dallas, the Cowboys have a better coach now, and are playing for pride and next year’s coach—whoever that may be. The ‘skins have to play the Jags, and the Jacksonville runs well behind Maurice Jones-Drew. The ‘skins run defense is weak, the more so with LaRon Landry and Rocky McIntosh hurting. That leaves the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That used to be an automatic “W,” but no more.
The OFFENSIVE LINE: Too light, too inexperienced, too banged up. Mike Shanahan has to realize he’s playing in the NFC East, where OLines are big, ornery and angry. His light, lithe and limber approach in Denver won’t do—especially not with this bunch. Center Casey Rabach and left guard Kory Lichtensteiger (whose name translates as: “Have a sandwich, you look emaciated.” ) are listed at 290—a Twiggyish size in a land where Hogs once roamed. Trent Williams is a rookie at OLT and he’s been banged up. He’ll be an all-pro someday, but not yet. Right guard is manned by Will Montomery. He replaces Artis Hicks, who was put on the bench because that’s one of the few places he can’t miss blocks. Jammal Brown, still recovering from hip surgery that kept him off the field last year, is not 100%.
THE RUNNING BACKS: The Geezers Three Shanahan put his hopes on last Summer are gone. Too Slow Johnson and Fast Eddie Whatsisface are stocking shelves at WalMart, and Clinton Portis refuses to accept collect calls from his body-- which is trying to tell him to retire. Ryan Torain is one of those guys who will impress you until he’s hurt, but he gets hurt boarding the bus to the stadium. When you have to check the Team Roster to see who else is left, you know there’s little hope. There’s Keiland Williams and um… Okay, I’ll check: Oh Lord, it’s worse than I thought. According to the Redskins website, they have Andre Brown, James Davis and Kenny Chesney ready to go. Say what? Really? I did not know that. Scratch Chesney. He’s got a hammie. No? Oh wait, he’s playing a concert at FedEx.
Will the Redskins lose all five remaining games? Nope. They’ll find their way to one upset win, perhaps two. So there you have it troops. Grim news all around. Maybe next week I’ll write about Brandon Banks, cheer everyone up.
It Could Have Been Worse—No Wait, It Couldn’t
This column is a response to an email I got from an old friend offering condolences on the Redskins 59-28 loss Monday night to the Eagles. He’s a Steeler fan--they just lost decisively to the Patriots-- so he has a general idea about how I felt. Of course he has a recent Super Bowl memory to keep him company.I appreciate the sympathy. I missed the game “live ” as I was out Monday night doing my charity work—typing porn into brail for the Deaf, reading Ayn Rand books to the Poor, and donating blood to the American Vampire Association. Since TiVOing is one of the few tech skills I have, I tried that. (I don’t want to say the interweb/WiFi/Geek-run world has passed me by, but I use the same cell phone Gordon Gekko did in the first “Wall Street.”)
Unfortunately, I successfully recorded the carnage and watched it “as if live” later that night. I’d stayed in the dark til then by using my favorite super foolproof secret-keeping technique. I put my fingers in my ears and go “la la la la la la la” whenever anyone speaks. (Don't tell anyone, I'm hoping to patent it.)
It took most the night to watch the game. I had to keep putting it on pause to refill my bourbon glass, fetch Kleenex and answer angry phone calls from neighbors who feared the screaming meant Charley Manson had been paroled and dropped by my house.
Seeing the pre-game woofing contest between the two teams, I assumed it would be a closely fought, body-bag style, Redskins-Eagles bloodbath. But the only blood came from ritual flagellation by Redskin fans during and after the game. To use a recent boxing comparison, the Redskins played Antonio Margarito’s face and the Eagles were Manny Pacquiao’s fists.
My bitter, ironic laughter started on the first play from scrimmage, when overpaid Redskin CB DeAngelo Hall was beaten for an 88-yard TD by fast, shifty Eagle receiver DeSean Jackson. Who saw that coming? For starters, anyone who’d watched Hall’s matador-style pass coverage against Denver’s fast, shifty receiver Eddie Royal a few years ago. Shortly thereafter, the Redskins brain trust, Vinny Cerrato and Dan Snyder, decided they just had to have Hall. So Dan peeled off $65 million to bring him to the Nation’s Capitol and keep him for years to come.
I Owe DeAngelo an Apology
I do owe Hall an apology. I ripped him a few weeks back when he said he would henceforth run the Redskins defense, not defensive “coordinator” Jim Haslett. Yo, DeAngelo? You can have the gig. Haslett’s mighty 3-4 has landed the ‘skins in last place on defense in the NFL. Along the way they’ve given up 30 points (Texans), 30 (Rams), 27 (Colts), 37 (Lions), and ta-da! 59 against the Eagles.
I’ve been a Redskin fan for decades, and I can’t remember a worse Redskin defensive breakdown. (At least until Google found the 52-7 New England debacle in 2007.) Until this year, the Redskins have always been a 4-3 defensive team. Except for the occasional blowout, they’d kept most of their losses respectable and for years they ranked pretty high on the defensive side of the ball. Then Snyder hired Haslett who said we are in the era of the 3-4. Haslett then left his press conference to take congratulatory calls from Edsel Ford, the guy who invented New Coke, and George Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” sign wrangler.
The first thing the 3-4 announcement did is put touchy fatboy defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth in a snit. Albert, paid $100 million by The Danny to play where coaches tell him to play, handled his snit by buying a bigger speedboat, staying away from off-season practices, and working his way out of shape. His only other activity in the offseason, apparently, was signing a $21 million bonus check from Snyder. Think of it as a thank you for his four sacks the previous year.
Albert became be-snitted because he didn’t want to play nose tackle. He just wanted to rush the passer, not tie up blockers. Haynesworth likes the spotlight. He got it Monday, when the cameras caught him taking a siesta on the turf while Philly QB Mike Vick used Albert’s nap time to select an open receiver to hit for a touchdown. Vick might have been sacked on the play had Haynesworth bothered to get up. But the Philly lineman standing sentinal over Haynesloaf had the presence of mind to leave him there and block an unimpeded Andre Coleman. (Albert explained later that with the holiday season upon us, he’d stayed down to make a list and check it twice.)
Okay, Albert is a spoiled kid the Brain Trust never should have acquired. But he’s hardly the entire problem. Switching to a 3-4 left the Redskins defense with more people out of position than Hitler’s forces on D-Day. A 3-4 team needs to have more defensive linemen than linebackers (duh.) You need lots of LBs in the 3-4, and good 3-4 trained LBs is even better. The ‘skins were fairly loaded with linemen but very thin at linebacker as the switch was being made.
Their best defensive player, London Fletcher, a career middle backer, was moved over to play next to another new to the 3-4 inside backer, Rocky MacIntosh, a career 4-3 outside linebacker. Meanwhile, Brian Orakpo, who played end in college, and Coleman, who led the ‘skins in sacks as a DE last year, were made their new 3-4 outside linebackers. Orakpo—familiar with LB from 2009--adjusted and thrived. Coleman, demonstrated again he couldn’t play off the ball. He was so bad he was replaced there by a former defensive tackle! (Okay, it’s Lo’ Alexander, and he can play anywhere—but still)
Another DT, Kedric Golston was moved to DE. Promising DE Jeremy Jarmon was moved back and forth between linebacker and line before finally settling on the bench. DE Rob Jackson went to the practice squad. Three fat guys were brought in to play nose tackle. Might have worked but rules don’t permit all three to play the position simultaneously. Fat Albert now comes off the bench in nickel situations to play DE, NT, or nap instructor. He is the world’s highest paid part time player, not counting Hugh Hefner.
The Offensive Offense
As for the offense: Troubles there began when Mike Shanahan brought his son, Kyle, to “Bring Your Kid to Work” day, let the youngster be offensive coordinator, then forgot to replace him. In the first quarter Monday, Kyle, using my “fingers-in-ear/la la la la la la la’” technique, remained blissfully unaware that Philly was scoring every time they got the ball. Why else would he stick to a scripted, 15 play scenario? By the time Kyle realized his off tackle slants, intercepted short passes, and two-yard runs up the middle weren’t working, Philly led 35-zip, it was raining on the field and from the eyes of Redskin fans everywhere.
You may have heard the Redskins signed the very same 34-year-old quarterback they benched two weeks ago to a $78 million extension before the game. No, seriously. (Later reports claimed that reports of a $40 million guarantee were a little off. NcNabb was only assured of $3.5 million, which leads one to ask: Who’s Donovan’s agent—Bernie Madoff?)
I admire McNabb as one of the classiest players in the game and suspect he will have a fine broadcasting career when his football days are over. To my mind he is a QB with great gifts who too often manages to come up short in big time pressure games. Oh sure, he threw for 200 yards in the second quarter Monday, but the pressure was off by then.
Good Start, Fast Regression
I had written in this column that the Redskins had been hitting harder this year than in the recent past, but that came to an end Monday. ‘Lo Alexander de-cleated a kickoff returner, and one or two other players won’t have to wear Halloween masks when cashing their paychecks. But by golly, it looked like the team quit on Shanahan. We’ll learn more in Tennessee Sunday.
Throughout this latest Redskin disaster, you cannot give enough discredit to owner Dan Snyder. It seems no matter what he decides, it all goes horribly wrong. Of all Snyder’s bad decisions, keeping Vinny Cerrato as his chief football cook and bottle washer for far too long has been the biggest. Between them they have all but ruined a once glorious franchise. I thought Snyder just needed time for the learning curve to take hold, as it did with George Steinbrenner. I now firmly believe the only chance the ‘skins have is to for Danny to sell the team. Firing Cerrato wasn’t enough.
Oh well, better luck to both our teams this week. I don’t suppose we could trade owners? I’d even throw in Haynesworth, Hall and Rex, the wonder Grossman.
The Sports Gods Know When Owners Are Bad
We start some years ago at a Trout Camp in Vermont. It’s a beautiful spot and some relatives have a time-share at some cabins. My wife and two boys have been there with me a number of times. Anglers of various skill levels catch and release or better yet, catch and devour Trout, pan-frying those beauties up for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Because it is a pond, and hence water flows in from streams, some trash fish—inedible uglies—get mixed in. My point? Hang on, we’re almost there.I am a terrible fisherman. I can barely bait a hook, much less tie a fly or cast a line properly. Experts arrive there with an array of flies and rods and reels. I brought a change of clothes in case I fell in. Some kindly relatives took my boys under their wing and taught the lads to catch Trout. Since there is a Trout Camp Rule that anyone out in a boat must actually be fishing, I have laid some lines in the water over the years. Technically, I have fished for Trout.
But I have never caught a Trout. Trash fish, yes. Trout, no. This leads me to believe that Trout know who is trying to catch them. And, in their Trout way, they feel their lives were not lived in vain if they sacrificed them to the wiles of a Trout Fisherman who knows what his is doing. It would be a disgrace to any Trout and his family, however, to stumble upon, inadvertently snag, or otherwise klutz their way onto the hook of an incompetent like me.
The Sports Gods Speak
Watch now, as I cleverly switch to a truism about professional team sports. Like Trout being psychically aware who are inept fishermen, the gods of sport know when teams are run by boobs, well meaning or otherwise.
Two examples:
As a transplanted Washingtonian forced to live in Los Angeles, I’ve protested by hating the Lakers. Kobe and the blasé attitude of most LA sports “fans” make it easy—but I know they are owned by one of the very best owners in sports—Dr. Jerry Buss.
I chose another local team to root for—a semi-pro outfit called The Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers suck. Always have, always will. In a Sports Illustrated survey not long ago their owner was voted the worst owner in sports. The sports gods know this. They know Donald Sterling is a bad owner, and like the gods of Trout fishing, they make sure he is not unjustly rewarded.
So this year, on their way to a 1-8 start, the Clips have lost to injury, point guard Baron Davis, emerging superstar and leading scorer Eric Gordon, All-Star center Chris Kamen, and first sub off the bench sub, Randy Foye. The sports gods wanted to nip the Clipper threat in the bud—and have.
Snyder and Jones, a Matched Set
The Redskins are similarly cursed. Dan Snyder is widely considered one of sports’ least successful owners—except financially. He might top the boob parade were it not for Ego-in-a-Suit, Jerruh Jones of Dallas. As always seems to happen under Snyder, the ‘skins are beset by key injuries at positions where they are thinnest. This year it’s the OLine, as usual, wide receiver, as usual, and running back. Off-season promise led to the team reduced to a single healthy back at the end of the Detroit game. To dd to the fun, the sports gods allowed Redskin coaching savior Mike Shanahan to make a world class bonehead call in benching Donovan McNabb for Rex Grossman with game on the line. Rex Grossman?
This week, RB Clinton Portis practiced, expecting he might return for the critical Eagles game. He can’t run much anymore but he helps keep quarterbacks upright by laying outline backers with his legendary blocking skills. Foggedaboudit. Clinton reinjured his groin in practice.
Then there’s the topper: The best offensive weapon the ‘skins have displayed all year has been spectacular rookie Brandon Banks. This miniature undrafted skitterbug has been a spectacular addition to the team. He is lighter than light and faster than light and ran two, count ‘em two kickoffs to the house against the Lions (one was called back). So who do the gods of sport find and wound? Banks, of course. He was flown off in the dead of night for a medical consultation, then rushed into surgery for a knee cleanup. So he’s out gainst the Eagles, too.
The ‘skins are 4-4 and the Monday nighter is critical. But the sports gods know who is still running the team, and they will assure success will continue to elude the Boys in Burgundy as long as The Danny runs the show. Or I catch a Trout—whichever comes first.
Ten Little Redskin Thoughts at Bye-Week
FIRST THOUGHT: if Mike Shanahan didn‘t send a basket of Mini-muffins to Minnesota Coach Brad Childress and bad-boy receiver Randy Moss Monday, he should have. Randy played himself out of the good graces of the Vikings and was whacked—stealing headlines that otherwise would have been focused exclusively on Mike Shanahan and his McNabb issues. While the McNabb affair has been over covered, Randy Moss has legs—he was picked up by the Titans and will likely see the field before McNabb does.
SECOND THOUGHT: When oh when will this nightmare end? Admit it, Redskin fans; you had had hysterically high hopes for the new Shanahan era in DC. Replacing Vinny Cerrato with kin of the late George Allen was a major bonus. And now this mess? The Oline is as bad as ever, the QB resides beneath the bus his Coach threw him under, the RB depth is Supermodel thin, and the defense has slud to second worst in the NFL in yardage surrendered. And yet, and yet…the team has won as many games as all last year. Oh, goodie.
THIRD THOUGHT: I thought Mike Shanahan handled the Albert Haynesworth issue about as well as it could be handled. He treated him like a Marine recruit—a very highly paid marine recruit—seeming to break him down, and rebuild him as a better player. Now Haynesworth is back, in better shape than ever and apparently motivated. How long will that last? Stay tuned.
FOURTH THOUGHT: Jim Haslett has forgotten more about defense than I’ll ever know. Perhaps that’s the problem. It seems to me that the best 3-4 defenses are the most aggressive ones. Blitzes come from all angles and at unexpected moments. With the Redskins, it appears they play a particularly unimaginative variant of the defense. It is one that doesn’t stop the run well and doesn‘t put QBs in fear of their health and wellbeing. Part of the problem is no doubt trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Lots of people are playing at new, unfamiliar positions. As they grow more comfortable, things will get better, right? Right?
FIFTH THOUGHT: That said, the Redskins haven’t hit this hard in years. Both LaRon Landry and Kareem Moore will turn out your lights and the special teams hit like crazy. The reason, one suspects, is that Shanahan has let it be known that special special teams play gets rewarded. Ask Anthony Armstrong and Lo’ Alexander.
SIXTH THOUGHT: Brandon Banks. Talk about a game changer. As more film of this guy gets around the league more punts will sail out of bounds and more kickoffs will be pooched. He looks like somebody’s kid wandered out onto the field wearing his daddy’s helmet and pads until he starts running with the ball. Against Detroit he ran two kickoffs back for TDs--one called back--and a punt return almost went to the house.
SEVENTH THOUGHT: Other new guy pleasant surprises include Anthony Armstrong, who is averaging a mind-boggling 21 yards per catch and Trent Williams who is still learning and still occasionally being schooled, but looks like a keeper. Also they’ve added, that is they have a nice new player who is…um…can I get back to you on that?
EIGHTH THOUGHT: Thinking ahead to the draft. The ‘skins have once against put themselves into a position where they are short draft picks when they need them most. Compare the home squad to New England, which rids itself of a problem, Randy Moss, and then has a third rounder fall into their laps. They gave up a second rounder for McNabb. Chances he’ll return next year? Meet my cousins, Slim and None. Great teams build through the draft, not giving away a second round pick for a fading QB they end up treating like poor relations. So, at the next draft the Redskins need only four new OLinemen, a receiver or two, a running back and a QB. On defense they need a linebacker or two and a corner.
NINTH THOUGHT I am not a fan of Duh Rayduhs, but I am rooting for Jason Campbell to succeed. It looks like a perfect match of system and skills, and it would be nice for Campbell to show people that allowed to remain upright, he’s a more than decent QB. I would suspect he has another fan in Joe Gibbs
TENTH THOUGHT Back to Donovan. I will be rooting for him unreservedly against Philly in the post-bye week tilt. Sportsbloggers like myself should not pretend we have a deep understanding of sports psychology and the relationship between coaches and their charges. But I do know this: If McNabb doesn’t come through after the bye; it can mean a lot of things—none of them good. It could mean Shanahan’s attempt at Tough Love didn’t work. It could mean Donovan is essentially through as a big-time NFL QB. It could mean that, like Patrick Ramsey and Jason Campbell before him, the sieve disguised as an O-line prevents success. It could mean Andy Reed is smarter than both Shanahan and Bruce Allen. It could mean that the Redskins QB of record next year is either Rex Grossman or John Beck.
And now I think I’m gonna try to stop thinking about the Redskins until next week’s column.
The H&H Boys Finally Pay off for Redskins
When Dan Snyder opened his well-hinged checkbook and wrote enormous checks to make DT Albert Haynesworth and CB DeAngelo Hall long time Redskins, the expectation was the two of them would make major contributions to the team right away.
Well, better late then never.
Don’t have to remind Redskin fans of the good game both lads put in against Chicago, but what might have slipped by are some other factors. During their time in Burgundy and Gold, Hall and Haynesworth have been more disruptive off the gridiron than on, royal pains in the patoot, and grist for sports page and blogosphere headlines. Highlights included the time Hall announced he was now running the defense, not coordinator Jim Haslett . And he, Hall, would forthwith cover whomever he wanted to cover.
Big Al has made headlines staying away from practice, denouncing the defensive system, and spending the season, not the off-season getting into shape.
But from controversy and tragedy (the death of Haynesworth’s brother) has come redemption—at least for a week. And on top of this redemption-- exemplified in their career best games as Redskins--was something else, a mature reaction to their success from both men.
Their on-field efforts were certainly highlight-worthy. Hall was a shoo-in winner as Defensive Player of the Week. Al played like he’s capable. Was there a prettier sight than seeing Albert grab a Chicago guard and fling him at the hapless Bear QB, sacking him? Al didn’t touch Jay Cutler himself--was like seeing a skilled Kegler use the head pin to knock down the ten pin to pick up the spare. Was Albert snarky after the game—did he gripe at his coach for keeping him off the field in past contests? Nope. Just quietly went about his business in a most professional way.
Hall, as it turned out, was on a mission from God Sunday. Along with most of the media, I’d forgotten that Cutler had carved up Hall last year, when DeAngelo played for the Raiders. Cutler, with the help of then rookie receiver Eddie Royal, made Hall look repeatedly foolish. Cutler tried to replicate his success against Hall Sunday, but DeAngelo blew up his scheme by nabbing a record tying four interceptions along the way.
When given the opportunity to stir up a hornet’s nest after the game, Hall acted maturely, crediting the system he was in, which was a belated Mea culpa to Haslett.
With Hall and Haynesworth looking to pay dividends, at least for now, let’s peek at some of the other off-season additions to see how they‘ve turned out.
New D-Linemen Nothing Special
Adam Carricker has proven stoutly adequate, tho hardly spectacular at rushing the passer from his Defensive end position.
Likewise, newly acquired nose tackles Ma’ake Kemoeatu and Anthony Bryant have proven marginal presences on the field, with fellow newcomer Vonnie Holiday forced into playing the nose on passing downs. Phil Buchanon at corner has served as an average nickel back, with the exception of the final series against Green Bay where his coverage was nothing short of superb late in the game.
On the other side of the ball, right guard Artis Hicks has shown why he never broke into the starting lineup during his years as a backup at Minnesota. Jammal Brown at right tackle has disappointed, although many of his issues can be blamed on his ongoing slow recovery from hip surgery. OG Kory Lichtensteiger has replaced Derrick Dockery at left guard with mixed results. Part of the OL issues are due to learning a new system and learning to play together (four of five starters are new form last year), and experience and increased health should improve that unit.
The kicking unit has not shined either, and it remains a puzzle why the flawless Red Snapper was dumped.
The biggest mixed blessing has come at running back where the over the Hill firm of Johnson and Parker have ridden off into the sunset, but Ryan Torrain has proven a hoss with two consecutive 100 yard plus outings in relief of Clinton Portis. Joey Galloway, at WR, is older than the hills and plays like it and Roydell Williams has done nothing worth mentioning.
What about Donovan?
Which brings us to the biggest offseason acquisition, one each Donovan McNabb. First of all, he’s been worth his weight in publicity. A vet dismissed and insulted by a trade within the division, as McNabb was by Philly, is always a good story. McNabb is a class act, adding locker room leadership and on field presence to a team that needed it. But what’s he done? Not much. He’s played like a fading Superstar. He’ll turn 34 in a month. That’s not young, but Brett Favre can call him “kid.” It appears there’s less in McNabb’s tank than Brett’s. The ‘skins are left needing a long-run QB, and minus a second round pick next year. The speculating has already begun.
Some Thoughts on a So-So Season So Far
*Donovan McNabb is apparently a great guy, a locker room leader and physically gifted QB. That said, nobody breaks your heart like Donovan. You just end up feeling that when push comes to shove, he will not deliver the critical play when it’s most needed. McNabb presents the ‘skins with a huge dilemma. He’s not worth anything approaching a maximum contract. Not re-signing him, or at least not trying to, means they gave away a valuable second rounder with little return.*Trading deadline passed, and Albert is still a Redskin—sort of. Good for Mike Shanahan for sticking to his trade demands. Unfortunately other teams are smarter than Vinny and Snyder were in signing Haynesworth in the first place, and didn’t bite for the second rounder Mike wanted. Something to work on in the off-season. For those of you who whined about Albert not being active Sunday against Indy, save it. Mike did him a favor. Has Albert EVER played an entire drive since he's been a Redskin? Had he tried against Peyton's hurry up, he not only would have been a defensive liability, he'd have risked a heart attack.
*You should notice 360 pound NG Ma’ake Kemoeatu didn't play much either. He knew the plays and practiced but was too gassable and too immobile to play against Peyton.
*Word has to be getting around the league--the Redskins are one of the hardest hitting teams in the NFL. Alexander, Wilson, Landry, Doughty, etc. will leave opponents asking for their Mama then failing to recognize her when she shows up. And with clean hits.
*Knowing that special team play is the road to personal success on the team has inspired Danny Smith’s special teams players.
*Advice to Kareem Moore and Carlos Rogers. Next time, instead of trying to catch an interception, think like Setter—no, not an Irish Setter, a volleyball Setter. Try to punch the ball in the air. That way there’s at least a 50-50 chance a Redskin with actual hands will catch the carom. With your mitts, trying to grab the ball is a losing proposition.
*Yeah, I know it’s too early to start dealing with year-end honors, but here’s an early look. All-Pro candidates? LaRon Landry at safety and Lorenzo Alexander as special teams choice. Chris Cooley, if he comes back healthy, soon, may be considered. Rookie of the Year candidate: OT Trent Williams. Doubt they’ll pick a lineman, but at the rate he’s improving, he might even be an All-Pro candidate by season’s end. Williams held Indy’s Whirling Dervish to zero sacks with only one (questionable) holding call against him.
*I thought Santana Moss would be huge this year. He isn’t bad at all—particularly as a possession receiver--but he isn’t huge. I think he’s lost a little off the top end. Still gutty, still great, still the Redskin that opponents plan defenses around first—for now--but not what he once was.
*I say “for now” because Anthony Armstrong is approaching that status rapidly. He’s got speed, smarts, route-running ability and the coach’s faith. He is also a terrific special teams player.
*If there is one player on the team I hope will be a lifetime Redskin, it’s Lo’ Alexander. The guy represents all that is good in football. I can’t believe they’ve gotten him so cheap.
*I hadn’t thought about it until announcer Chris Collinsworth pointed it out Sunday night, but 4/5ths of the Redskins offensive line is new this year. I suspect they will keep getting better as they play together more often. But the ‘skins need a heavier center, and the right side of the line could be upgraded.
*You could have knocked me over with a feather when I heard the name Justin Tryon called out running back a kickoff for Indianapolis against the ‘skins. I thought he was a greeter at K-Mart.
*The Best Free Agent acquisition the Redskins have made during the Snyder Error, er, era, is one London Fletcher.
*John Klem of “The Examiner” started off his what-went-wrong column by writing the Redskins problem “facing Peyton Manning is that…” and I stopped reading there. John, the problem with facing Peyton Manning is you are facing Peyton Manning. You look like your guys brought Finger Paints to compete against Picasso in a paint-off.
*Don’t misunderestimate the next two opponents. Bear QB Jay Cutler must be drooling at the prospect of throwing against the Redskins defensive sieve Sunday, and Detroit is much improved.
Doing it with Mirrors, but at Least ‘skins Doing It
Once again, the Washington Redskins did something that would not occur to them last year. While in the process of losing a game, they took the bull by the tail, faced the situation, and won a contest they had no right to win. Through a combination of guts, luck, smarts, opportunism, opponent injuries, and hitting like madmen, they appeared on their way to transitioning from Snyder’s Follies to Shanahan’s Soldiers.
So now with five weeks of the season gone, the ‘skins sit perched atop the NFC East with the same 3-2 record as the Giants and Eagles but with two of their wins against NFC opponents. It’s a beautiful thing, natch, but one gets the impression a big fall may be around the corner. (I tend toward pessimism; ten years of Snyder will do that.).
But still, let’s look at the positive aspects of the “new” Redskins in general, and specifically their come-from-behind win against Green Bay. I personally love the fact that Shanahan and his GM Bruce Allen quickly realized how deeply flawed personnel acquisition was under former de facto GM Vinny Cerrato, aided and abetted by Snyder’s Millions for Spoiled Brats Giveaway Program. Allen and coach Shanahan dumped a lot of deadwood and sent a message to the rest.
Coach Mike let it be known that it was his way or the proverbial highway at Redskins Park. He did it in the time-honored tradition—he went after the biggest bull in the China Shop. He let it be known that Albert Haynesworth would not be getting a free pass—quite the opposite. He treated Albert like an unwanted relative by forcing him to—oh the horruh—get in shape and prove it, and play the position he was told to. At the same time Mike showed him the love that would come his way once he got with the plan.
Vinny’s Picks Don’t Stick
The new regime got rid of past Cerrato draft-day disappointments. QB Jason Campbell, OL Mike Rinehart, DB J.T. Tryon, to name three. Then he made what some might think the cruelest cut of all--sending former 2nd round pick Devin Thomas on his way. In an unusually frank (for him) interview, Shanahan said the reason Thomas was cut was he didn’t take the game seriously enough. Ouch.
Thomas, for all his physical gifts didn’t play like a Shanahan player. Too much celebrating, not enough focus on the things that lead to such celebrations. As soon as Thomas was let go, Redskins fan boards lit up with people claiming he was never given a chance under Coach Mike. Meanwhile, his replacement, Anthony Armstrong, took a giant step toward cementing the other starting WR slot opposite Santana Moss.
Campbell, Rinehart and Thomas have been snapped up by other teams, and don’t be shocked if one or more has a respectable NFL career. But it was the right play by Shanahan.
Despite that, lets not get too far ahead of ourselves. There’s a lot left to do. The defense, so far, is wretched. The offense is mediocre but with the excuse they've been beat up at key positions. Still the team is playing over its head, and definitely playing for coach Mike. I haven’t see this much hitting on the field since the first Gibbs era. LaRon Landry, Lo’ Alexander, Mike Sellars, Portis (before his injury), Reid Doughty, Kareem Moore--the list goes on--have put the fear of God in opposing players with light-‘em-up hits.
Yeah, I’m Worried
But this Sunday’s game worries the Hell out of me. What has statistically been one of the worst defenses in the NFL this year does not build confidence as a guy named Peyton Manning feasts his greedy eyes upon it. Manning the most gifted playd in the NFL when you consider football smarts physical gifts. He works in—some say runs--a scheme that is perfect for him. His vision and quick release keeps him from getting hit much, and his encyclopedic knowledge of what is going on before him helps him to find open receivers and hit them in stride.
With Manning’s talents and their iffy defense, Sunday’s game could be a mess for the home folks. There’s hope because it’s not being played in Indy, where the home yard resembles a Cathedral of Silence when Peyton calls his plays at the line. The only way I see beating Indy is to control the ball with running and short passes, set up the deep ball, get turnovers, and score early and often. Not asking for much. If the starting tackles are less than effective, or McNabb doesn’t have a near perfect night, it might be ugly early instead.
But it’s a strange year, and not many saw a nearly last place defense and a first place position at this point—so who knows what to expect.
It May Have Looked Ugly, but It’s a Beautiful Win
A Country tune says it best: “The girls all get prettier at closin’ time.” (Yeah, that’s kinda sexist, but take it up with the Academy of Country Music, not me). I’m just making the point that when it looked like the Redskins were ready to close out another season in hopeless despair, they got a pretty amazing win over Philadelphia and found themselves atop the NFC East. And ugly wins are beautiful at close-out time.
But it was close. If Eagle receiver Anthony Avant hadn’t displayed the same sort of mitts Redskin DB Carlos Rogers is famous for on the Hail Mary pass that ended the game, Redskins fans would be lamenting another painful loss, not celebrating a win. If Andy Reid hadn’t questioned a ball spot at the end of the first half, the Eagles could have scored a touchdown and won. If Michael Vick hadn’t been hammered by two defenders and knocked out of the game…. And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo-bee.
But instead Donovan McNabb got to be hailed as a returning hero for his “triumph” in Philly and he was only 8 for 19 with a 60 passer-rating Sunday. And a rising tide raises all boats. With the win, professional disappointment Albert Haynesworth even came in for some praise for his “best game so far.” The running attack got some some cheers. The beleaguered defense held when it had to.
But reality sucks and the fact is aging Clinton Portis is out for a while, Haynesworth had no sacks, and Mike Shanahan and his kid couldn’t get the ball to Santana Moss.
But again, an ugly win is still beautiful. So instead of worrying about the bad things, lets look at what looks most hopeful.
The most encouraging thing I spotted Sunday was the offensive line. The Oline played very well despite not having rookie Trent Williams at left tackle and losing starting guard Artis Hicks for the second half. They both return this Sunday, so Portis’s groin may not be as big a deal as one thinks.
Redskins in The Zone
Repeatedly we saw the line move gracefully in Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme. The runners glided behind them until a crack in the defense opened, and they made their one-cut move . The result more often than not was a decent gain. A review of Shanahan[‘s history at Denver is reassuring in that regard. The line makes the backs shine, not vice versa. And once the system starts to work, formerly mediocre runners are suddenly 1,000 yard plus gainers. Plus Shanahan finds them everywhere. As free agents, near the bottom of the draft, you name it. So this week it will be Ryan Torrain starting, and who-knows-who backing him up.
Still I’m not sold that everything is fine on the Oline. It still has a ways to go. Green Bay may choose to stone the running game, Sunday, knowing full well of the Redskins WR issues. If that happens, don’t expect another 8 for 19 performance from McNabb, or zero catches from Moss.
Green Bay is hardly a pushover. The redskins 31st rated defense will have to try to stop the hot hand of Aaron Rodgers and his fine receiver corps. Again, speaking optimistically after an ugly win, I’ll point out that the D showed a few signs of improvement too last Sunday. While Haynesworth isn’t pass-rushing much, he did collapse the pocket and tie up blockers at times. And he may be rounding into shape. The Adam Carriker experiment at defensive end appears to be working, Kareem Moore is back healthy at safety, and it looks like the team has found it’s left outside linebacker.
Lo' Jack of All Trades
That would be Lo’ Alexander, the jack of all trades and master of most. He’s a most underpaid and unsung redskins hero—a versatile team player who can separate a returner from his senses on one play, defend against a pass at LB on the next, then move to defensive tackle for the next down. Give me a team of Lorenzo Alexander’s, and I’ll give you a championship.
I’m not big into predictions, but barring the unexpected (weather, injuries) I see a high-scoring game this week, and the last team to score wins.
After "Big D" Win, ‘Skins Suffer Two "No D” Losses
Two weeks ago I left the saloon where I was watching the Redskins game at halftime for a good reason—I’d just learned I was a first time Grandpa. My grandson saved me from seeing a second half El Foldo by the ‘skins against the Houston Texans. This week I left the same joint in disgust well before the final whistle blew. All I missed was some more pathetic performances by the ‘skins and seeing the Raiders fans next to me cry in their beer.
Preceding the ‘skins loss to the pathetic Rams was the classless rants earlier in the week by Redskins twin Patron Saints of Overpaid Underperformance, Albert “I’m a slave” Haynesworth and DeAngelo “I’m running the defense” Hall.
I was ready to pack it in as Redskin supporter, you know, like some of their players have. But I’ve been a fan since Betty White was in short pants. I’ve been through the thick and thin of the Allen and Gibbs eras, and the thin and thin of Dan Snyder’s stewardship.
So instead of making this my last Redskins column, I decided to pick a weakness—any weakness—and see if we can get to the bottom of the mess. Let’s start with the teams alleged Defense, shall we?.
I’m not much of a 3-4 fan and you’d be hard pressed to find one anywhere near Washington these days. Don’t get me wrong, when played properly with extraordinary personnel at key positions, it’s an intimidating and effective system. But without those key slots filled, a 3-4 tends not to be just average, but flat out awful, as it was Sunday.
Building a Great 3-4 Defense
About those key positions: As near as I can fathom, the great 3-4 teams are strong at nose tackle, and have a terrific linebacking corps. That means big inside backers, with great blitzing outside LBs who also can play in space. Add a lights out all-pro safety, some corners who can cover until the blitzers get to the QB and DEs who can hold the edge.
In other words, it’s pretty much the Pittsburgh Steelers prototype.
Coaching is critical, of course, and Steelers guru Dick LeBeau is one of the all time defensive geniuses. But just as important is a personnel pipeline that can fill and replenish those key positions. Pittsburgh has seen all-pro quality LBs defect for more money, but have replaced them with nary a glitch.
Which brings us to the Redskins. No one will confuse Redskins Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett with LeBeau, but he’s playing pretty much the hand he was dealt. You start with the draft day and FA cluelessness that were the hallmark of the Cerrato Administration, then add in the act the fact the Redskins have been a 4-3 team since the days of leather helmets. Even with the right people, it’s the wrong defense.
Key Positions Weak
We can go down the list of key positions and see where the trouble lies. Nose tackle is Ma’aku Kemoeatu. He came to the team cheap because he came recovering from a leg booboo. Recovering, not recovered. He can’t hold the middle. Neither do the pass-rushing backups, Albert Haynesworth and Vonnie Holliday. Since the nose can’t stay put or tie up blockers, that puts the inside LBs in peril. And in London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh, Washington has two men playing out of their comfort zone, out of position, and underweight for the pounding inside LBs take in a 3-4.
On the outside, the Redskins have been forced to play defensive linemen at linebacker. Starters Andre Carter and Brian Orakpo are better suited to hand on the ground rushing. They are backed by former defensive tackle slash Jack-of-all-trades Lo’ Alexander and former defensive end Chris Wilson. Since neither Carter nor Orakpo are effective defending the pass, overrated CBs Carlos Rogers and DeAngelo Hall can’t effectively press or stay with top receivers for long.
Safety is another story. Strong safety LaRon Landry, if surrounded by top-notch defenders could rise to all-pro level and now leads the team in tackles. Kareem Moore’s return at free safety means Reid Doughty can focus on special teams and Chris Horton can find a nice seat on the bench.
Can It Ever Be Fixed?
How to fix the D? Got me. The Redskins can’t focus upcoming free agent signings or the draft just on defense—there are glaring weaknesses on the other side of the ball, too. The injury to rookie OT Trent Williams has shown just how thin OL depth is, and the line isn’t a cohesive unit. (O-lines that have played together for some time can cover for each other and hide weaknesses.)
The entire backfield needs to be replaced in the next few years. Clinton Portis is about done, Mike Sellers is old, and Donivan McNabb, who has never shown a penchant for winning big games, won’t have many to play in the enar future—and he’s not anyone’s QB of the future.
At receiver, Old Man Santana Moss keeps on rolling along, a fact that’s even more amazing because there is nothing much opposite him. Joey Galloway graduated college with Abe Lincoln, Anthony Armstrong isn’t ready yet, and Devin Thomas is still Devin Thomas. There was a receiver for Denver who caught six balls for 169 yards Sunday—fella by the name of Brandon Lloyd. Wonder if he’s available?
Instead, the ‘Skins may well take a flyer on San Diego’s disgruntled WR, Vince (DUI) Jackson when he comes off suspension. He can join Haynesworth and Hall in the bad actor Bridge Club. All they would need, is one more bad actor to be the dummy.
‘Skins Beat ‘pokes
Well that was nice. When it comes to Redskins football, there is nothing—nothing-- better than a big fat win over the Dallas Cowboys, and nothing better than a big fat win over the Cowboys than a big fat win over the Cowboys that tortures Cowboy fans in general, and Jerry Jones in particular.It was a semi-deserved win—you might call it more of a Dallas loss—but Redskin fans will take it, and it is a victory that should bring optimism to Redskins fans, tempered with reality. It says one thing—the professionalism so long missing from Redskins football, is back. So are the gold pants. Liked the gold pants.
Now lets break it down. First, I haven’t seen an arm bar like Alex Barron put on Brian Orakpo on the last play of the game since the Iron Sheik retired from wrestling. If you doubted Chris Collingsworth is one of the best color men in broadcasting, Sunday night’s game would have disabused you. Early on he said the Redskins expected to get holding called on Barron, and they got the one that mattered.
On defense: The 3-4 worked in the sense that it is a dynamic, aggressive defense. No more bend but don’t break. Dallas may have the best collection of receivers in the NFL and they worked over the Redskins' DBs, but the aggressiveness of the defense has to be credited with forcing many of the mistakes the Cowboys made.
As the weakness against the passing attack of Tony Romo showed, this is a far from perfect defense, a work in progress, an approach still being taught by Jim Haslett and still being learned by all but one of the defensive stalwarts. (More on that later)
The linebackers had a pretty good game, especially the inside duo of Rocky Mac the ageless one, London Fletcher. Andre Coleman and Orakpo, while not yet masters of the blitz, are learning. The defensive line rotation was mostly positive, keeping the linemen fresh. But all was not roses.
Carlos “Manos de Piedra” Rogers is the living embodiment of guys who play DB because they can’t catch. His dropped sure interception almost cost the Redskins the game. DeAngelo Hall makes up for his iffy cover skills by a magical ability to turn the big play. Give a big bonehead assist to Romo for his flip pass with time expiring in the first half, but credit Hall with tearing the ball loose, and running it in. Nice flip, too.
LaRon Landry made or assisted on 17 tackles, and played the kind of game Redskins fans have been waiting for ever since he was drafted. Nice to see him back at strong safety. Reed Doughty remains a gutty defender who is a step slow to be starting, but Kareem Moore is recovering from surgery quickly and may be back soon.
And then there’s Albert.
There were few more telling negative events Sunday night than the picture of Albert Haynesworth standing off by himself sulking while Haslet and company were talking to the defense. Watching Al play against Dallas, you understand Shanahan’s frustration, and realize the trouble with Haynesworth isn’t just attitude, isn’t just conditioning, it’s desire. It appears the $32 million bequeathed to date on him by Dan Snyder has taken away his urge to play football, his pride, and a good deal of his talent. What do you expect for a $100 million contract? Attending defensive conclaves, trying on every play, doing what the coaches ask? While Redskins fans hope the light will turn on, he appears to be the dim bulb on D.
On offense, Donovan McNabb didn’t turn the ball over, and as was indicated in the broadcast, is hollow cheeked, well conditioned and anxious to show the Eagles what dunderheads they are. A big positive.
It is obvious that Chris Cooley is back and as good as new from last year’s injury. Santana Moss is healthy, motivated and as tough as ever. Beyond that, no one stepped up at WR. Anthony Armstrong, Joey Galloway, Roydell Williams all did essentially zip opposite Moss. If Devin Thomas was in as a receiver, I didn’t see him. But he looked terrific running back kicks. Despite Moss and Cooley, the Redskins receivers compared most unfavorably with the crew of Dallas thoroughbreds. Help is needed.
Clinton Portis, I will say now, is as good a blocking tailback as you will ever see. Watching him stone linebackers is inspirational. While he’s not running like the old Portis, he’s not running like an Old Portis. Mike Sellers did look old and slow at fullback, and no other backs contributed much.
On the line, Trent Williams got his baptism of fire and against the best pass rushing linebacker in the NFC—pretty much held his own--alone. Kid is a definite keeper. While most O-lines don’t rotate personnel except for injury, Kyle Shanahan found playing time for guard Kory Lichtensteiger spelling Derrick Dockery, and Stephon Heyer playing right tackle. Center Casey Rabach continues to have trouble against talented nose tackles, but overall, against a superb Dallas Defense the O-line acquitted itself well.
Keep in mind they have not played together for long, and can only improve as they get to know each other’s tendencies.
Special teams looked good with two exceptions. Punter Josh Bidwell klunked a couple and fumbled a snap as holder. Place-kicker Graham Gano looks like the answer for years to come.
Woes A-plenty for ‘skins As Dallas Week Arrives
If you’re Mike Shanahan, right about now you have to be asking yourself, just what the Hell have I gotten myself into?
Short answer: A mess.
Long Answer: A situation where if you are successful, you will be considered one of the reigning coaching geniuses of all time, and a slam-dunk for Psychiatrist of the Year.
As this is written, Tuesday Afternoon, I’m blue and I’m moody. I’ve been trying to keep up with the back and forth at Redskins Park, and quite frankly it’s depressing. I tell myself the Steinbrenner Yankees thrived on chaos, and sometimes the most dysfunctional teams in sports are champions either because or despite of dysfunction.
Here’s what has happened during Dallas week, and it’s only Tuesday. Rumors have flown that Defensive wideload Albert Haynesworth will or will not be traded by game time, either to the Tennessee Titans for draft choices, or, for all I know, to North Korea for political prisoners. Or he may be benched, not activated, or not in uniform.
But didn't he and Mike Shanahan patch things up, you say? Perhaps. Perhaps not. But I find it hard to believe that any self-respecting football coach would look at film of Haynesworth’s (non-) effort against the Cardinals in the last pre-season game, and say, “Yup, that’s my man. Give me 53 of those and I’ll bring you a championship.” He stunk up the joint. He played Pattycake. He rushed with the force of a Category One Zephyr. He avoided making tackles. He loafed. He dawdled. He acted like he didn’t care—or worse—that he would show his coach who is boss.
Not that the Haynesworth Brouhaha is anything new: Big Albert has acted like Redskin Park is a quarantine zone, and avoided it until absolutely necessary. He’s “worked out” on his own, avoided anything with the word “voluntary” in it, and acted like a petulant kid. The most meaningful event from him in the last year was trading in his speedboat for something faster.
Dan Snyder, of course, signed Albert for $100 million, $41 million guaranteed last year.
As thanks, Albert reported to camp sullen and out of shape. Mike Shanahan, who was not here when Al was acquired, decided to force Al to get into shape. He worked him at two positions--right end and nose tackle. Albert may or may not like either position. After all, when Vito Corleone held a gun to his head and forced him to sign his $100 million contract, he’d been promised he’d get to play tackle—not nose guard, and not end.
Jim Haslet, the new Redskins defensive coordinator is a 3-4 man, and that put Albert in a snit, apparently. So now, Coach Mike has a disgruntled grump instead of the best D-lineman in football on the defensive side of the ball. He can trade him, bench him or play him. But it matters little. Haynesworth has done enormous damage to the team—the latest in an ongoing line of player acquisitions under the Snyder/Cerrato team that has proven disastrous.
On the other side of the ball, guess what? Coach Mike’s biggest star is spending Dallas week making excuses in advance, if I read his quotes accurately.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb, Coach Mike’s blockbuster off-season acquisition, has been accused in the past of not winning the big games. Of course until this year McNabb played for the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that hasn’t won a big game since Chuck Bednarik nearly decapitated Kathy Lee Gifford’s husband, Frank, 50 years ago.
Unfortunately, McNabb was far less than sterling in his three outings against the Cowboys as an Eagle last year. He went oh for three, losing a shutout and being held to 61 and 69 passer ratings in the other two games. Then this summer after his trade, he complained that Philly management did not support him enough during his 11 seasons there.
McNabb has been a fine Washington citizen until—uh-oh—he rolled out what sounds like a couple of pre-game excuses ahead of Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. First he’s telling everyone that he’ll gut it out and play, but his ankle isn’t 100% and while he isn’t suffering from the dreaded “high ankle sprain,” it’s “very close to it.” It sounds to me like he’s setting himself up with a medical excuse if things go horribly wrong Sunday.
There were two other comments Donovan made on his radio show this week that sound like the words of a man preparing to fall short. While he says he’s “absolutely” ready to take the offense on, McNabb hedged, noting, “When you learn a new scheme, learn a style of your coach…that’s something you build over time.” McNabb didn’t say how much time, but it doesn’t sound like he’s mentally confident. If that wasn’t enough, when asked who’s in charge of the offense, he replied, “That’s a good question, but I would go with Kyle Shanahan.” That sounds to me like another excuse. It’s chopping the legs out from his coaches—implying no one’s obviously in charge.
But here’s what may have Shanahan banging his dome against hisdesk. Donovan also said on his radio show that as far as Haynesworth is concerned, “we can’t win without him.”
So now Shanahan has a team with $41 million owed or invested in one player who is showing the maturity of a bal peen hammer, and a quarterback who’s adding to his woes.
The sad thing is this team has been a mess since Snyder bought it, and with Allen and Shanahan running the place, it looked like there might be hope for a quick turnaround. But now, going into a critical, nationally televised game against their most hated enemy, the team is distracted, far from focused on the issue at hand.
Or is it? Could it be a ruse? Could all this be meant to distract Dallas, while the Redskins huddle at Redskin Park making 'smores, sharing recipes and laughing at the dumb media buying into all this. Geez, I hope so.
Mike the Psych Takes Control; Are ‘skins ready to Roll?
I go off to Maine for two weeks vacation and look what happens? First, chaos--a bad loss to the Ravens, McNabb hurt, Haynesworth in a snit. Then, just when things look desperate, Fat Albert is back in the fold happy as a pig in slop and QB Rex Grossmann looks like a backup gift. For a topper the 'skins beat the Darlings of Hard Knocks and their toothy, effusive, lap-banded but still fat celebrity coach, Rex Ryan.
Right now, the Redskins look nine and sevenish but I’m well aware things can and will change. So instead of summarizing the last two weeks, here’s some tidbits and observations going into the final pre-season conte...er, exhibition game.
MIKE SHANAHAN: Coach Shanahan is a brilliant psychologist. He played Albert Haynesworth like Jascha Heifetz plays a Stradivarius. Like a Marine top kick, Mike broke Al down, let him know who was boss, then built him up in his own image and likeness, and (as of now) has turned him into a happy camper. But Haynesworth is like 50-year-old Nitro, still unstable and likely to blow at any disturbance. But Mike has done as good a job with the knucklehead as one could ever expect.
DEVIN THOMAS: Devin is getting the same treatment, albeit delayed, until the more vital Fat Albert dilemma was solved. Devin, if I read the tea leaves correctly, is a million dollar athlete with a five and ten cent mind. He either can’t or won’t learn the plays or run routes the way he’s supposed to. What does Mike do? He sits his butt on the bench during game three, while 10 other receivers catch balls. Devin, hip to playerspeak at least, has said all the right things to the media as he prepares for his make or break last-chance saloon visit Thursday. If he’s fixable, he’ll have a big night and make the team. If not—Devin, don’t let the door hit yuh…etc.
LEFT SIDE OF THE DEFENSE: Worries me. Adam Carriker has been just adequate, and I tell myself he’s still getting into game shape after a year of injuries. Mebbe so, mebbe not. Everyone loves Phillip Daniels but he’s old enough to draw Social Security. While he can still lift your apartment building with one hand, he’s vulnerable to injury and not a long-term answer. Meanwhile the kids aren’t there yet. Jeremy Jarmon is too raw, Rob Jackson and Chris Wilson too young and shifted to LB, respectively. What would ease our worries on that side would be a dominant OLB. Skins don’t have one. Andre Coleman is a DE in linebacker’s clothing, and Lo Alexander hasn’t taken charge. The CB on that side is like the little Girl with the Curl. DeAngelo Hall will grab you an interception and draw cheers, meanwhile, he’s employing the “vicinity” rule in pass coverage. And he’s not a sure tackler.
QUARTERBACK: McNabb concerns me. For one thing he plays lousy against Dallas, he’ll be rusty in the season opener and just might stink up the joint and lose the fan base and coach’s confidence. For another thing, he gets hurt. A full season? Likely not. This leads us to Rex Grossman? Really? He may be the ‘skins QB of the immediate future. But he’s game manager and needs a dominant running game.
THE RUNNING GAME: It’s down to four guys vying for three RB slots. Portis is in. He will start, but he’s almost thirty and not gonna be a workhorse. Larry Johnson, who was one more two-yard loss from a ticket to Palookaville, saved his career against the Jets by running hard and catching a TD pass. Because Portis may get hurt, and because no one else can replace him as a 20-25 carry a game man, Johnson is on the team. Which leaves Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams to fight over the last two slots. (No shocker if they keep four RBs) Torain has the experience factor, but the kid from LSU has some moves. Barring an injury or four RBs, Torain’s on the team and Williams is on the practice squad. Fast Willy has become Slow Willy and is gone.
WIDEOUTS: Barring a trade, the ‘skins have a pretty good batch to chose from, with some hard decisions. The only lock to start is Santana Moss at “X” receiver. Second year surprise Anthony Armstrong will make the team. Shanahan must decide if Joey Galloway has another year in him. One or the other will start at “Y” receiver. Beyond that the fun begins. Much depends on Devin Thomas’ and Malcolm (“My Hammie is better”) Kelly’s showing Thursday. I think the team will keep either Terrence Austin or Brandon Banks in a mini-WR and runback guy slot. Nod to Austin, as he‘s been more dependable, is four inches taller and Banks can be hidden better on the practice squad. Odd men out, Roydell Williams, and Bobby Wade.
FREE SAFETY: A weakness unless newly acquired 34-year-old Tyrone Carter can earn the job. Reed Doughty looks like the starter otherwise, and he’s smart and hard-hitting but like Chris Horton, a step slower than you want at free. The Kareem Moore injury was costly, but he should be back early to mid-season.
CONFIDENCE FACTOR: I don’t mean player confidence; I mean fan confidence in the organization. A shambles for years, the firing of Jim Zorn and GM Vinny Cerrato now seems eons ago. Meanwhile, the Bruce Allen/Shanahan administration has hit the ground running, and it’s the little things that grab your attention. Sure there was Big Al and the unwillingness to squander big bucks on fading vets during the off-season to show their smarts. But unlike the prior suit crew, they bring in a kicker who can kick field goals and a punter who can boom punts. It wasn’t long ago that kicking slots were nametag positions--guys came and went like a bad Taco.
At QB, acquiring Donovan McNabb made the splash, but backups Grossman and John Beck look like quality pros. It goes on and on at position after position. Doesn’t mean they should expand the trophy case at Redskins Park, but it‘s a sign that professionals are in charge. And that’s a nice change.
Optimism Rears Its Lovely Head
Skins Impress in Preseason Opener
First of all calm down, already, it was only the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo stinks, has no quarterback, and three of their starters on an offensive line that isn’t good to begin with didn’t play.
And, um, also consider that…oh the Hell with it, after ten years of false hopes, false starts, battered dreams and bitter disappointments, Redskin fans will take any good news we can find, and Friday night’s 42-17 win over the Buffalo Bills was just the tonic we needed.
And yes, we know Steve Spurrier had a great pre-season start when he coached Washington, but Mike Shanahan is no Steve Spurrier, and right now you can forgive Redskin fans if we are giddily optimistic.
Here’s the good news in roughly the order of impressiveness, beginning with...
OFFENSE
The Offensive Line: Seeing the way a Mike Shanahan coached zone blocking scheme works compared to, say, Jim Zorn’s version last year, is like watching the Rockettes compared to a team of Grandmothers in combat boots. What once was a glaring weakness looked positively balletic at times. Generally it takes an O-line at least half a season to learn to work together, but this group looked in mid-season form. And that was with Stephon Heyer filling in for injured starter Jammal Brown. What was even more reassuring, the second-string backups didn’t drop off much. The interior trio of Eddie Williams, Corey Lichensteiger and Chad Rinehart acquitted itself well. The kid, Trent Williams? He dominated DE Aaron Mayben, and despite rookie nerves, made his selection at #4 overall look like genius. This could be a 10-year All-Pro in the making.
The Receivers: This crew narrowly edges out RBs & QB because it was a more questionable area going into the game. Chris Cooley is all the way back from last year‘s season-ending injury. Fred Davis, who shined after Cooley went down, caught a TD pass, picking up where he left off in 2009. But most importantly, the Y-receiver, the position opposite Santana Moss, looks strong. Veterans Joey Galloway and Bobby Wade galloped like kids, and two of the kids—who have the size of an average Pop Warner receiver—showed the kind of speed needed to take pressure off of Moss. Terrence Austen and Brandon Banks, who also double as returners, may give the team the kind of heart stopping score-from-anywhere weapons it has long lacked. Normal sized second year player Anthony Armstrong looked good, caught a touchdown pass. Even Devin Thomas got caught up in the flow, running precise patterns including one blow-by pattern for a touchdown. He was singularly unimpressive as a KO returner, however.
Running Backs: Clinton Portis looked good in his short stint, but what was most amazing was the game seemed to confirm the magic Shanahan has at selecting and/or creating great running backs out of unexpected talents. Neither Larry Johnson nor Willie Parker played, but two youngsters--LSU rookie Keiland Williams and second year player Ryan Torain--were impressive. Yes, much of the credit belongs to the Oline, of course, but the runners have bought into Shanahan’s one-cut system.
Quarterback: You expected Donovan McNabb to look good throwing the ball—what I didn’t expect was seeing him look positively svelte, having lost a reported twenty pounds from last year. Another pleasant surprise was the performance of Rex Grossman, who played like a polished vet and barring the unexpected, solves the backup QB problem.
DEFENSE
Albert Haynesworth: What? No, not so much his on field play, but for his press conference work after the game. He likes the defense. He wants to be a team player. He’s a happy man. No more calls, we have a winner. In the battle of will and ego, Mike Shanahan def. Albert Haynesworth by a TKO, and turned him into a devoted acolyte at the Church of St. Mike.
The Rest of the Defensive Line: The 3-4 is designed to pressure the QB from all angles, and it starts with the talent up front. At first glance, it appears the Redskins have the hosses to do it. And that’s without Big Al starting at defensive end and without linebacker Brian Orakpo blitzing next to him. But the best news is Ma’ake Kemoeatu at nose guard. He appears all the way back from his injury, and is a solid mass in the middle, critical to the 3-4. With Big Al and Adam Carriker starting, backed by Daniels and Kedric Golston, the Dline is a real strength.
Defensive Backs: With one or two exceptions, everything looked good. Of course, it was Buffalo. When the ‘skins dial up the rush, the DBs will have a to cover for a shorter time, and should improve there, too.
Linebackers: In space, there still may be question marks, but as tackling machines? No problem. There must be a painting of London Fletcher growing old somewhere—he sure doesn’t appear to be in person. Rocky Mac appears adjusted to the inside. Orakpo is coming off a Pro Bowl season, and the only issue is the other outside slot.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Already, the punt return team looks exponentially better than last year. If Banks and/or Austen can make the team and last a season, it’s a new weapon in the arsenal. No FGs were attempted, so that grade is incomplete, but Graham Gano’s kickoffs were high and decently deep. Josh Bidwell is a very solid pickup at punter.
INTANGIBLES:
First and foremost are Shanahan and GM Bruce Allen’s eyes for talent. Like most other battered Redskin fans, we all had our doubts about some of the acquisitions the Redskins made in the off-season. But based on their first outing, this most certainly is not Vinnie Cerrato material. And even some of Cerrato’s castoffs looked the best they have since they came to DC. Specifically I was impressed with OLmen Artis Hicks and Kory Lichtensteiger, RBs Torain and Keiland Williams, thought-to-be elderly or oft-injured WRs Galloway and Wade, plus dynamic rookies OT Trent Williams, ILB Perry Riley, WR Banks and Austen, punter Bidwell, and backup QB Grossman.
SOME AREAS NEEDING WORK:
Why? Because no Redskin fan over the last decade can afford not to be a realist.
On their earliest scoring drive, against the first team defense, Buffalo picked on the Redskins left side. Misdirection, quick moves, and short passes had linebacker Andre Coleman and DB DeAngelo Hall spinning in circles, and DE Adam Carriker biting on fakes. That doesn’t worry me as much as it could. For one thing, Hall made a key interception, and when the full pass rush packages are put in, DeAngelo can afford to guard tighter. Likewise, Carriker is freshly back from injuries and like most of the D, eager to listen, learn and accept coaching. I think Lo Alexander will end up starting on the outside opposite Orakpo, as it appears Coleman’s problems playing standing up in SF have followed him to DC. But then, it was only one game.
The lack of injuries is also most appreciated. Where are all the hamstring pulls of yore? Not evident, thankfully. While injuries are often a matter of luck, it appears the new conditioning program is working. With good health, I currently believe this is a playoff team. Key injuries can shatter those hopes.
And now one final dose of reality—next week? Baltimore. Bigger, badder and much, much better than Buffalo. An impressive showing here will only increase the sense of optimism flowing through the blood of Redskin Nation.
Coach Mike Learns a Lesson from Yogi
Yeah, I know it’s a football column, but a certain baseball player transcends all sports. His name is Yogi Berra. He used to squat behind the dish for the N.Y. Yankees, is a Hall Famer for his defense and clutch hitting, and managed the Yanks and Mets. But as many already know, Yogi is most famous “Yogi-isms”—sayings that at first make no sense—until you think about them.Many can be applied to football. Here are some examples (followed by my parenthetical comments):
“How can a you hit and think at the same time?" (Yogi meant hitting a baseball, but it works for hitting on the gridiron. You think first, then you hit. Over think and you whiff.)
"If people don't want to come out to the ballpark, how are you going to stop them?" (This circular logic is now practiced by NFL teams who force season ticket holders to pay for pre-season games they don’t want to see.)
"It's like deja vu all over again." (If this doesn’t describe most seasons under the Dan Snyder/Vinny Cerrato administration, I don’t know what does.)
"You can observe a lot just by watching." (Isn't that what coaches do best?)
“It ain't over till it's over.” (And then, sometimes, there’s overtime.)
My favorite Yogi quote violates the laws of math--but then football players routinely give a mathematically impossible 110 Percent effort anyway.
Sayeth Yogi: “Ninety percent of hitting is half mental.”
This brings me to my point. I love the way Coach Mike Shanahan is playing mind games with some Redskin players, particularly those with great skills but a rep for underperforming. Let’s start with You Know Who.
Big Al Haynesworth decided he didn’t want to be part of the team until it started costing him money if he didn’t show. He didn’t attend a single voluntary or mandatory pre-camp practice and he didn’t work out with his teammates. This is nothing new for Big Al, whose talent is matched only by his wrong-headedness.
But he reported to camp 35 pounds lighter and ready to play. Not so fast, said Coach Mike. First he’ll need a “Get out of Jail Free” card—pass a “conditioning test.” Big Al failed. Repeatedly. Did Mike let him rejoin his teammates anyway? Nope. He kept Al isolated, not in pads, not lining up. He became the kid on the playground they won’t let play with the other kids.
Suddenly the guy who didn’t want to be part of a team is anxious to rejoin them. He’s still a bad actor in many people’s view, but Shanahan’s strategy is right on the money. He is rewarding those who attended workouts all along and he is showing everyone who is the boss. When Al eventually passes his test, he’ll play because Mike’s inside the Big Guy’s dome.
Shanahan and company are working Yogi’s mental magic on other players, too. Take WR Devin Thomas (please). He’s made a career of failing to live up to expectations. Now he’s found himself dumped down to third string. Been told he has to earn his way up the chart by consistency and achievement in practice. It’s working so far. He’s looked good early and Shanahan has made a point of saying so.
Safety LaRon Landry has disappointed since he arrived in Washington. One reason was the untimely death of Sean Taylor, which forced Landry to play out of position. Landry played deep deep safety under deposed defensive coordinator Greg Blache. Now he’s back at strong safety, in the thick of the action. Result? His enthusiasm has been re-ignited.
CB Carlos Rogers has been an unhappy camper for some time. He is known for getting beaten on double moves and owns the worst mitts since Edward Scissorhands gave up the sport. But Rogers can tackle and plays better moving forward than backward. Early practices have featured Rogers blitzing. No better way to restore confidence than to have a player doing what he does best.
WR Santana Moss had been a world-class receiver for years with the Redskins. But recently, injuries and age have slowed him down. Or was it because Jim Zorn used him as a fixed “X” receiver, never in motion. With no decent wideout to take pressure off him, Moss was shut down. He constantly faced double and sometimes triple teams. This year, Moss will be in motion. He’ll line up where he’s least expected. He’ll be in space more often. And the swagger is back.
I like the way Shanahan is handling the mental aspects of the game. He’s getting players to buy into his system, play to their primary skills, and rejuvenate their confidence. It’s too early to predict great things yet. The Redskins are in the brutal NFC East. They are learning new offenses and defenses. Donovan McNabb must stay healthy. Clinton Portis is one noggin bop away from retirement, and there is still no one dominant opposite Moss. The Oline is better, but thin. And this is my quote about Albert, not Yogi’s: ”Once a knucklehead, always a knucklehead.”
So as long as the Redskins keep believing, stay healthy and—as Yogi once put it—don’t “make too many wrong mistakes,” they have a shot.
Redskins Biggest Off-Season Moves Were at the Top
Now that the World Cup is safely in the rearview, baseball is asleep until September and Fat Albert has put his speedboat in dry dock, I’m ready some football.
Aside from seeing Strasburg fling it (or not when he’s tweaky) and watching Wizard manglement try to assemble a basketball team to replace the one they disassembled last year, what else is there in Summer Sports for a Washington fan? Did anyone catch the Tour de Schwinn in France? That was dull enough when Armstrong was winning it. Golf? Insomnia cure sans El Tigre’s challenges. NASCAR? NASCAR has been fining guys and taking away points for playing bumpsy-daisy at 200 MPH. Good for safety, but as entertainment, it’s like asking a Pro Wrestling Ref to stop looking the other way.
Redskin Summer Camp (for real) is replacing the “Hi, Donovan” and “Where’s Albert?” Show at voluntary workouts. The good news is Al’s on hand and in shape with a new positive attitude. We’ll see. Once pads and practice unis go on over the shirts and jocks and the hitting is for real, Reality sets in for players. The upcoming weeks will determine who starts, who impresses the coaches, and who may not make the final 53.
Camp is the beginning of Reality Season for Redskin fans, too. Especially this year with the Big Change at the Top. For the past decade or so the Redskins have dominated the NFL—during the Unreality Season between the last game of the year and the start of camp for the next. The ‘skins have grabbed headlines at making trades and FA pickups, and especially at pouring cash over ingrates, aging vets and never-will-be’s. This has deluded the Redskin Faithful (and many a prognosticator) that the Redskins were back, baby.
But alas the sad roll call now flies through Redskin fan’s consciousness like a waking nightmare: Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, Mark Brunell, Jeff George, Shane Mathews, Danny Wuerffel, Adam Archuletta, Brandon Lloyd, Jeremiah Trotter, Jason Taylor. Along with these guys, there were the many inept draft choices that also helped Dan Snyder’s wallet spew money like a ruptured well barfing crude into the Gulf.
Read on as the Ol’ Cork stretches this lame but appropriate analogy to the breaking point. Just think of Danny’s wallet as much like BP’s leaking well. Money and oil seem in limitless supply, but recently there have been serious attempts to plug up the respective gushers. Okay, please don’t call the Analogy Police. I’ll go quietly. Wait, one more! We will know over the next months if either or both attempts to stop the Madness have been successful.
I’m just happy poor Tony Hayward finally got his life back. His life is now in Russia, but the position in Hell was already filled.
On the football side, instead of focusing on winning the Off-season, the Redskins shocked everyone by instead making major front office, coaching and philosophical changes. (Warning: This has happened before with The Danny, who has the attention span of a two-year old when it comes to team building).
Of the changes, I’ll argue the most significant was in the Front Office, not on the sideline. Firing de facto GM Vinnie Cerrato and replacing him with a real one (Bruce Allen) was long overdue, and critical for any real changes at Redskin Park. The damage that has happened under Cerrato’s watch is immeasurable. And yes, I know Snyder is the ultimate boss, but for all Snyder’s bad decision-making, I can’t think of anything Cerrato did to counter it or reduce the damage. Maybe he’ll tell us in his book. The impression is they were joined at the hip, but these gridiron Siamese Twins did not possess a single clue when it came to acquiring Championship level personnel.
Hiring coaches under the Snyder Administration has been a series of false hopes followed by disasters, too. The Danny started by keeping Coach Norv Turner on too long, and keeping Marty Schottenheimer around for too short a time. Marty had the team going in the right direction, he’d booted Cerrato, and I’ll argue all day he was a QB away from having a team ready to go deep into the playoffs. He never got the chance to acquire that QB before his second year began. Instead Snyder found a QB to replace him—a retired QB turned gifted college football coach.
Danny the Distracted again went for the shiny new object, and brought in Steve Spurrier. I’m no rocket surgeon, but I knew when Steve didn’t dump his golf clubs into the Potomac, he was doomed. Head coaches must be no-life-outside-football mega workaholics. Spurrier’s simplistic offense and bewildered game face told us he was not NFL material. Maybe he wasn’t bright enough. Maybe he didn’t have the support. Or maybe he wasn’t willing to make the sacrifices necessary.
Danny next made what looked like the genius move to end all genius moves. Saint Joe came back from NASCAR Heaven to again to work his miracles at Redskin Park. The three Super Bowl trophies he’d won glistened in a new light of endless sunshine again, looking less like a reminder of glory days past, and more like the prologue to hardware yet to come.
Joe Gibbs used his considerable leverage to earn the equivalent of what Film Directors strive for in Hollywood—“Final Cut.” Joe would run the whole shootin’ match, brook no interference from upstairs. That’s a good thing—right? Unfortunately, no. Gibbs arrived minus a vital cog in his earlier winning operation—GM Bobby Beathard. Gibbs could decide who on the squad should play and get the very best out of his players. But the river of talent came from the fertile mind of Beathard.
Another problem. Health issues, mostly related to Gibbs workaholic schedule, had helped drive him into retirement the first time. This go ‘round his outrageously excessive hours were replaced by merely excessive hours on the job. But those hours could no longer be limited only to working with players already on hand. He also had responsibilities and duties Beathard once handled, and more effectively.
Rules changes hurt too. The salary cap meant Gibbs could not exceed the unlimited budget Jack Kent Cooke provided back in the glory days. Stars got paid, but the bench wilted. And while it might not seem like a big deal to most, the shortening of half time hurt Gibbs, one of the game’s geniuses at half-time adjustments.
Gibbs re-retired and was followed by the disaster that was Jim Zorn. His boyish enthusiasm appealed at first. He got off to a great start his first year, winning early and often. But once the league had a book on him and his limited offensive approach, and once injuries depleted what talent the team had, the squad fell apart.
Cerrato and Snyder threw gasoline on the Zorn Bonfire by bringing in overweight and under motivated Albert Haynesworth, overpaid DeAngelo Hall, and over-the-hill Jason Taylor. Come draft day they managed to round up an underperforming trio of wideout wipeouts, all grabbed in the second round.
Snyder appears to be sllllooooowwwwwly learning that the key to successful ownership in the NFL is to hire the best people available to run your team, and then get the Hell out of their way. Since he couldn’t fire himself, he booted Zorn (no surprise) and Cerrato (very pleasant surprise)
The two replacements have good reps. Mike Shanahan has two Super Bowls to his credit. Bruce Allen has GMed successful franchises before. The two men resisted past mistakes and fiscal temptations this off-season and spent what money they spent judiciously on free agents and trades (McNabb, Kemoeatu, Carriker). We will know in the upcoming months (and maybe years) how smart their moves have been.
The doors are open at Redskins Park for real football. We’ll take some imaginary kicks at the tires and have some thoughts on the new guys, new offense, and new defense. And new hopes in upcoming days and weeks.
Man, it’s great to see Football back!
A Step toward Respectability, However…
I suppose I should wait for the last of the undrafted free-agent signings before I sum up the Redskins Draft performance, but those signings are rarely meaningful, just camp fodder or development projects. That said, the big UFA TE from UCLA, Logan Paulsen, was pretty dynamic before he kept breaking his foot.
‘Skins always seem to take a player or two from UCLA. Perhaps their scouts prefer hanging out in beautiful downtown Westwood, CA, rather than, the wilds of Utah or Idaho.
First the good news about the Redskins Draft. Barring injury or serious mis-calculation, the Redskins have solved their left tackle problem for the foreseeable future. The biggest sigh of relief comes from one Donovan McNabb, who can now dial up the Gekko Lizard, and reduce his hospital and death benefits.
While we’re on the topic, let’s look at the rest of the OLine. First, don’t expect any help this year from 7th rounders Center Erik Cook of New Mexico or Tackle Selvish Capers of West Virginia. At best they’re likely destined for the practice squad.
With Trent Williams at left tackle, the left side of the line is set with Dockery at left guard and Casey Rabach at center. Rabach, smart and tough, is a liability against big nose tackles, and I shudder to think what will happen in the pre-season game with the Ravens where he might be looking at Haoli Ngata and rookie Mount Cody, who each out-weight Rabach by about a Buick.
Right guard is unsettled, with Big Mike Williams, Chad Rinehart and Wil Montgomery primary contenders. May I toss another hat in the ring? Alan Faneca, late of the New York Jets. Dunno what Faneca has left or if he’s comfortable on the right side, but the Jets cut him for financial considerations, and if a decent deal can be struck, I’d sign him. I certainly prefer him over the other most talked about free agent lineman out there, Hotel Adams, formerly of the Cowboys. I’ve said this once and I’ll say it again and again, the Redskins should never and I mean NEVER sign a former Cowboy. They are cursed, and never produce in Burgundy and Gold.
Barring a breakthrough by someone already on board, or a good FA pickup down the road, the right tackle slot is also iffy. Leading candidate is former career backup Artis Hicks, favored over Stephon Heyer.
On defense, fourth round pick LSU linebacker Perry Riley is expected to see action, and if unsigned vet Rocky MacIntosh is traded or released, the Bayou Bengal could start. Quick but undersized, Riley could benefit from a year or so of seasoning to reach his potential.
Two draftees who could also contend for playing time this year are H-back Dennis Morris of Louisiana tech, a sixth round selection, and seventh round wideout Terrence Austin of UCLA. Morris is likely a developmental project, but if he comes through in pre-season, ‘skins may opt to throw him into the fire and dump Mike Sellers. Not the way to bet, but it could happen.
I’ve seen Austin play a few times, and he’s dynamic and blindingly fast, but built like a ballerina. Keeping our metaphors in the same vein, you could also say he’s tougher than a peg leg pole-dancer at an Alaskan strip joint. Muscle the dude up by about 15 pounds and he could be a terrific return man and get some PT as a receiver.
Coach Mike Shanahan likes to count startin g QB McNabb, acquired for a 2nd round pick, and DE Jeremy Jarmon, drafted with a 3rd round supplemental choice. Throw them into the mix and the Redskin 2010 draft looks like a more than decent haul.
But any Redskin draft class must be compared with the competition—particularly the NFC East—where it becomes more problematic. The Giants and Cowboy picks are inexperienced but with potential to be long time superstars. Jason Pierre-Paul, a linebacker/DE for the New Yorkers could be the next—dare we say it—Lawrence Taylor, and Cowboy’s Oklahoma wideout Dez Bryant has drawn the dreaded Randy Moss comparison.
The Eagles, meanwhile toughened up their defense with Michigan DE/LB Branden Graham and South Florida DB Nate Allen.
And finally, despite speculation, there were no draft-day blockbuster trades to benefit the ‘skins this year. But Jason Campbell, erstwhile starting QB, is taking his aching bones and unfulfilled promise west of Oakland in exchange for a 2012—that’s no misprint—fourth round selection. If Oakland can protect him better than the Washington Oline did, he’s likely to shine.
Trent Williams, Offensive Tackle, is the Newest ‘Skin
I begged you people when I published my Mock on this website---please no wagering. Hope you heeded me, as I’m Oh for Four as these words are written. However, in my last column before the draft, (Apr 20), I hemmed and hawed but predicted the pick would be a left tackle. (“Who will that be? Smart money says Russell Okung. But it could be Trent Williams or Brian Bulaga. But I believe it will be a left tackle.”) Half credit?
The BIG NEWS—which any Redskin fans knows already is the team has picked Oklahoma Tackle Trent Williams with their #4 overall pick. It’s a mild surprise in that most experts favored Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung. It is the first first,first round offensive lineman since, surprise, Chris Samuels, who handed in the card to the commish.
Late in the pre-draft speculations season, some profundicators fell for the disinformation campaign the ‘skins started with safety Eric Berry—who went one slot later to KC.
But Shanahan knows Donovan McNabb would last past pre-game introductions without a hoss on the left side to keep body and soul together. Furthermore, Williams is said to be more agile than Okung, more capable of protecting the backside cleaning up the wash on zone blocked plays to the far side, and move people out on plays to his side.
I got no arguments with the pick. The only thing now is to see how long it takes—or indeed if they can pull off a deal for more picks. Otherwise, we might as well skip watching the draft Friday Night and catch reruns of "N3mber.".
If there late breaking trade developments, we’ll update them here. In the meantime, the Redskins, although strengthened on the OLine, remain the NFL team with the fewest picks in this year’s draft, next on the clock in the fourth round.
“With the Fourth Pick, The Redskins Select….”
Okay, here’s a final thought on who the ‘skins will pick Thursday. It’s based on a few clues such as a card-runner, the economy, the way the three teams ahead of the ‘skins are likely to roll, and some comments by Danny’s Boy, Kyle Shanahan.
Here’s what I think will happen. All day Thursday the phone lines will be afire with the top five, maybe top ten teams trying to move down. But, because of the ridiculousness of rookie contracts, few if any teams will be desperate enough to move up and take on a big buck contract on a pick that could be a bust, and thus lay low that team’s hopes for the immediate future.
Specifically, I don’t think anyone ahead of the ‘skins will be able to deal out of that position. The Rams especially may want to—preferring not to risk the franchise on a QB who, while gifted, may be physically delicate. The sensible pick for the Los Angeles Rams…excuse me, the St Louis Rams…is a man-child named Ndamukong Suh. He not only is the most gifted player out there, he’s smart, classy, and a defensive leader for the next ten years.
So naturally, the Rams take QB Sam Bradford.
Next, forget my Mock Draft. Like all Mocks it’s just the product of a person able to guess and type at the same time. Detroit will take defensive superstar in the making Suh, and be very happy to have him. If he weren’t there, they’d have taken Russell Okung to protect their franchise QB. They still might, but Suh’s likely to have a career like a certain successful single-syllable sibilant star before him, a tsunami named Sapp, and that would make them regret their choice for years to come.
Tampa Bay—probably Gerald McCoy, defensive tackle.
Which brings us to Washington. Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan have been working their tuchases (tuchi?) off trying to find takers for QB Jason Campbell and/or DT Albert “No Wanna Play Nose” Haynesworth. They’d love to have Seattle or San Francisco's two first rounders for both of them, but it’s not going to happen.
For further hints, we now shift to the post-minicamp wisdom of Redskin offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Kyle had just spent the weekend gazing upon his offensive line charges and had not retched, did not gag, and did not quit in disgust—which is more than you can say for the ‘skins OL last season.
Instead, Kyle said, and I quote: "I'm real excited about our offensive line. I mean, they talk about that that's been a weakness and stuff, but I don't see it on tape and I don't see it out on the field. I think we got some real good players....”
This was then followed by ten minutes of men in white with butterfly nets chasing this Kyle Shanahan imposter around the room. No, check that, he actually meant it.
Okay, now let me get these thoughts down before the men with the nets come after me. Kyle is not as crazy as he seems.
The group he inherited will never be The Hogs, but with proper care and feeding, they may not be the swine we think they are.
And it has less to do with individual talent than scheme.
I like to trot out as an example of the ineptness of the plays last season--not just the play calling last season, by mentioning just one of the Redskins running plays, the Zorn variant of the Redskins classic, the "Counter Trey." In its glory days, this off-tackle power sweep always started with the back taking a jab step away from the eventual running lane. That was the "Counter" part of it, and that was significant. Just that little fake could influence defenders for an instant, cause a shift of weight, a little lean, a moment’s hesitation. As a result, the blocker had the advantage. In that elephantine collision of huge beasts that is the heart of any offense, that advantage was usually the difference between an eight-yard gain and a two-yard loss.
Under Zorn, I never once saw that misdirection. This was an offense sans faking for the most part.
So when Shanahan talks about his new scheme, what he means is a system that gives the advantage back to the blockers, not one that allows a defender to just tee off and naturally flow to where the ball will be.
Yeah, I know, they couldn’t pass block last year either. This year, largely the same crew will have the advantage of a quicker QB and, hopefully a believable running game to help along those lines.
Which brings us back to the draft. The Redskins are on the clock, Bradford, Suh and McCoy are off the table and retired all Pro Redskins tackle Chris Samuels stands ready to take the selection card up to Roger Goodell. Symbolic? Maybe. An honorific to a great former Redskin forced to leave the game too soon due to injury? Of course. Do they want to embarrass Chris? Of course not. So logically, Samuels will walk up to the podium with a card on which is written the name of the man the Redskins expect will give them the same ten years at left tackle that Samuels did.
Who will that be? Smart money says Russell Okung. But it could be Trent Williams or Brian Bulaga. But I believe it will be a left tackle.
Um, unless it’s, er, QB Jimmy Clausen. Naw, it can’t be. Safety Eric Berry? Well they could use the guy on D…
Naw. Gonna be a left tackle. With that improvement—and another key free agent or trade, the offensive line may actually not suck this year. That would be a nice change.
Trade for McNabb: Is It First Shoe to Drop?
Okay, guys, time to re-do your Mocks. You can probably pencil OUT a QB in the first round for the Redskins. As you may already know, the Washington football club just traded the #37 overall pick in the draft (2nd round) and either a 3rd or a 4th pick next year for ex-Philadelphia Eagle QB Donovan McNabb. (Note the date of this story, April 4, NOT April Fools Day.)
In a word, “Yikes!” In two words, “Holy Shikeys!” In three, “OMG!”
It's like the Over-the-Hill Gang has been Exhumed Yeah, I know Mike Shanahan has forgotten more about quarterbacks than I’ll ever know, but that’s what worries me. That Mike Shanahan has forgotten more about quarterbacks than I'll ever know.
No one can deny the greatness that has been Donovan McNabb. But is McNabb a has-been himself? He will turn 34 this fall, and he has been beaten up the last couple of seasons. The once wonderfully elusive McNabb is no more. He can still move, but not as quickly or as well. Sure Brett Favre is--what, 60?--but Favre never got hurt. McNabb does.
Trading for McNabb means Jason Campbell is gone sooner rather than later and the Redskins will likely draft an offensive lineman with their #4 overall pick. But as of now, after this trade, it means they don’t pick again until the 4th round. Great linemen are rather scarce at that point. And without a significant upgrade, the Redskins offensive line is a shambles. Then too, the Elderly Trio of once-dominent backs behind McNabb doesn’t promise to make defenses respect the ground game—RBs need blocking too.
I have to believe there is more to come. Campbell may fetch a starting OLineman in a trade. Suddenly the luxury of having two quality TEs in Cooley and Davis doesn't make as much sense. One may be traded for picks that can be turned into linemen.
And then there’s the Defense, which is being turned into a 3-4 with 4-3 personnel. Woefully thin at linebacker already, the demands of a 3-4 system means depth at the position is critical. The Redskins don’t have it. Despite the addition of Phil Buchanon, CB needs addressing. Washington doesn’t have the picks this year—and has weakened itself next year—to fix that.
The Easter Shocker will have repercussions throughout the NFC East. One of them is that Philly is now loaded with draft picks in a year where defensive talent is said to be plentiful.
Linemen, Franchise QB top Redskins draft Needs
There’s an old saying among military strategists: “Battle plans are very effective until the actual battle begins.”
And similarly, any Redskins "Needs" column has an excellent chance of being spot on--until the Draft begins, until the Redskins pull a pre-draft blockbuster trade, or until somebody they are working out impresses the Hell out of Coach Mike Shanahan and Company.
That said, let the tealeaf reading begin.
Let’s start with some needs already met, which if you count a new GM and a new Coach put the Redskins well on the Plus Side. Feel free to cheer yourself up with the realization that the ‘skins strategy could have been plotted this year by Jim Zorn and Vinny Cerrato.
As this is written, and the thin ranks of available free agents have been decimated by signings around the league, the Redskins haul to date is not so cheery. The Free Agent season was complicated by the capless year, overpaid vets like Portis, Haynesworth and Hall already on board, the limited class of signees available, and the willingness of other teams to spend like drunken sailors.
Since the Redskins plan a Draft Party in a few weeks, let’s assume the new free agents will be introduced there, too. It might go something like this:
“Please welcome to FedEx Field, the Redskins’ new Free agents. In the interests of time, we request you hold your shouts of "Who's he?" until they have ALL been introduced.
“ARTIS HICKS, aging backup lineman, came from Vikings where he never started unless someone was hurt. He’s in his thirties and a big lad.
“REX GROSSMAN, backup QB. He’s averaged four and a half starts annually in his seven-year career, and yes, he’s from the University of Florida, former home of Steve Spurrier!
“LARRY JOHNSON, you know him, you love him, if you’re Gay, he may have already insulted you. He’s here to challenge or back up Clinton (One Concussion Away from Retirement) Portis.
"SEAN RYAN, thirty-something Tight end, can’t catch, let's hope he can block.
"PHILLIP BUCHANON--this cornerback has been with five teams in seven years, so you know he’s good.
"MAAKE KEMOEATU, is a 345-lb nose tackle who’s not only in his thirties but coming off two recent Achilles surgeries. Roll him out, guys.
"JOSH BIDWELL is the no-nickname, 34 year old, 11-year veteran bootster who replaces the wonderfully nicknamed “Hunter the Punter”
"And last and probably least, please greet JUSTIN MEDLOCK! He’s a 2nd year UCLA grad brought in to challenge kicker Graham Gano.
“And that, ladies and gentlemen is your Free Agent class of 2010!!!”
With those additions, here’s a look at what the Redskin still need to fill with their five draft picks this year.
OFFENSIVE LINE: With starting OLT Chris Samuels and starting ORG Randy Thomas gone, the ‘skins need a first rate left tackle and at LEAST one more interior lineman. Shanahan said he thinks Big Mike Williams can play right guard, which means the ‘skins could instead try to replace the mediocre right tackle Stephon Heyer.
DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD: I’m not a DeAngelo Hall fan and sadly he may be the best they’ve got. Carlos "Manos de Piedra" Rogers is very unhappy and still vulnerable to double moves, and Philiip Buchanon is a stopgap at best. The skins have three good strong safeties, but no effective free safeties.
LINEBACKER: ‘Skins will shift to a 3-4, per Shanahan, and their linebacker corps is a mess. Andre Carter, DE will be a man without a position, too light for DE and not good at linebacker. Brian Orakpo, will play out of position at OLB, instead of hand in the dirt DE. Outside linebacker Rocky MacIntosh will probably move inside. As a sign of the desperation, the ‘skins are trying out versatile DT Lo Alexander at linebacker.
QUARTERBACK: Shanahan won his Super Bowls with Hall of Famer John Elway. He’s drooling over a replacement, which could be Sam Bradford (if he trades with the Rams) or Jimmy Clausen, if the Notre dame signal caller impresses in workouts. If either plays much next year, I wouldn’t want to handle their insurance, since OLine will remain weak.
RUNNING BACK: Portis sat out the rest of the season after his mid-season concussion last year. One pop to the noggin and he’ll probably retire. Larry Johnson, if he has anything left, may give the ‘skins a year or two tops.
The team also needs runback men and another Nose Tackle, so any return to dominance will likely have to wait at least a couple of years.
Next column, we predict the ‘skins draft strategy, or as I like to call it, "Your Guess is as Good as Mine."
Shanahan’s All Volunteer Army Arrives for Duty
The official NFL off-season Get-Yer-Hopes-Up Season has ended and the official Voluntary Non-voluntary Team Workout season has begun for the Redskins under new GM Bruce Allen and new head coach Mike Shanahan. Monday marked the first team gathering under the new regime.
While free agency is not over, the Redskins, for one of the rare times since Dan Snyder bought them were pretty much non-starters. As were most of the FAs they signed.
So the biggest splash in Free Agency for Washington is that there’s been no big splash in Free Agency for Washington. Loneliest job in the world has to be the crew of Snyder’s jet, Redskin One, which apparently is sitting forlorn and unused. Last year the ‘skins ran the biggest financial bailout program this side of the White House, donating $100 million to defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, and another $50 or so mil cornerback DeAngelo Hall and left guard Derrick Dockery.
Not much return on investment, as the team fell to 4-12 with Hall and Haynesworth missing games and Dockery unfortunately unable to play all five line positions at once for them.
This year Snyder hasn’t had to crack open much more than his petty cash drawer. The ‘skins have signed utility offensive lineman Artis Hicks, blocking TE Sean Ryan, backup RB Larry Johnson, Nose Guard Maake Kemoeatu (I believe his last name is pronounced KE-mo-EAT-you—which at 350 pounds he may be likely to.). All are temporary fixes at best, and not even the best FA at their position available.
Meanwhile the Dan Snyder Travel Agency has been in full swing, bringing prospective Redskins into and out of Redskin Park without signing anything other than the occasional autograph.
So, now Redskin nation turns its lonely eyes to off-season workouts and preparing for the upcoming draft. I don‘t know Shanahan, and he’s not been very forthcoming about his plans for the draft—as he should be. But that doesn’t stop me from reading tealeaves and making some educated guesses how he’ll go.
The key element to Washington will do with their #4 overall pick depends on what Shanahan thinks of Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford or Notre Dame signal caller Jimmy Clauson. Shanahan owes his reputation as a Super bowl-winning coach and offensive genius to one John Elway, who helped him win two Super Bowls at Denver. So if Mike believes either Bradford or Clauson is that man, and he is available at #4, the Redskins will draft him. If not, Shanahan will look for a tackle like Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung, or a defensive stud like Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska, Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma, Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama or Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee. He might even work out a trade down for more picks.
If he takes a QB, he’s unlikely to start him right away. He has Jason Campbell around for a year to absorb the likely beating any Redskin QB will take with the sieve of an Oline the ‘skins have.
If the ‘skins go QB at #4 overall, they’ll go lineman with their second round pick. They might even trade a future pick for another OLineman, or work to acquire one in 2011 either through free agency or the Draft or both. This gives the QB a year to develop without being traumatized and the Redskins more time to rebuild a line in the image and likeness Shanahan wants.
It will also give the defense a chance to adjust to the 3-4 defense Shanahan and his defensive coordinator Jim Haslett are installing.
Kemoeatu will start at nose tackle if his Achilles is recovered, with Daniels and Haynesworth at DE on running downs. With Anthony Montgomery, Kedric Golston and Jeremy Jarmon in the rotation, they seem set at DL—if Maaku can go.
Linebacker is more problematic. The only lock is London Fletcher at one of the inside slots. The other inside LB position may go to Rocky MacIntosh, who played the outside in the 4-3. If the ‘skins take Alabama’s MacLain, Rocky Mac will go back outside. So while grabbing a defensive player with a first round pick makes less sense than a dynamic offensive starter, that would solve problems at two positions. Meanwhile, H.B. Blades can work into the inside rotation.
If Rocky Mac stays inside, the two outside linebackers are anyone’s guess. DE Andre Carter tried OLB for San Francisco and the experiment failed. Brian Orakpo is a better DE than linebacker. (He’d play a lot of DE in passing situations, anyway.) Chris Wilson may work at the outside. The oddest experiment is putting the Redskins resident jack-of-all-trades, Lorenzo Alexander, all 275 pounds of him at LB.
The defensive backfield is iffy too. The underperforming Hall and disgruntled Carlos Rogers will likely start at corner, with J.T. Tryon and Kevin Barnes their likely backups. Either Chris Horton or Reed Doughty can play or share strong safety. The likely starter at free safety, LaRon Landry is also better suited at strong safety, and an overall disappointment as a first round pick.
Adding to the excitement and confusion is the status of next year, which may capped, uncapped, or non-existent, due to a lockout. Long-range plans are all but impossible, and the short-range future does not look particularly promising.
Redskin O-Line News is both Grimm and Grim
Amazing it’s taken this long for the electors to the NFL Hall of Fame to realize the Redskins didn’t find the offense to win its Super Bowls with only runners, receivers and quarterbacks. A Hog is in the Hall, at last. Russ Grimm was elected to the seven member class, an overdue honor. His selection, while reason for Redskin fans to rejoice, is also a reminder of the low level to which the value of Olinemen fell under the Vinny Cerrato regime.
Now the line must rebuild under GM Bruce Allen and Coach Mike Shanahan. That may not be easy. For one thing Shanahan will probably use the Number 4 pick overall for a quarterback. And after watching the Senior Bowl, I have to admit I’m not drooling over any offensive linemen I saw play.
Since Russell Okung of Okahoma State didn’t participate, let's talk about Mike Mayock’s favorite lineman, OG Mike Iupati from Idaho. Iupati put on a clinic—a holding clinic. They could have flagged him numerous times, and that didn’t bode well for his stock. Sure, some of the top prospects at Oline are underclassmen, but I wonder if Shanahan will use a #4 overall on a lineman. I somehow doubt it, though Okung would be tempting if Chris Samuels retires.
I had been thinking that if the ‘skins were serious about switching to the 3-4 this year, they could well go for nose tackle Terence Cody of Alabama with a first round pick, perhaps even trading down a few slots to take him. But Cody may have eaten himself out of consideration, showing up at 370, about 20 pounds over his in-season playing weight, and looking in need of a bra. So I don’t see Shanahan using a #4 overall for a defensive lineman— or a defensive player for that matter. If he does, it could be for the next John Lynch at safety. Eric Berry is the top rated safety, and a likely free safety, but maybe not a #4 overall value.
So my suspicions go back to the man most critical to Shanahan’s coaching reputation, one John Elway, franchise QB and two time Superbowl winner. And I have to think that if the Redskins braintrust is impressed with any of the top QB prospects, that may well be the way they go.
Not saying it’s what I’d do, but it is a distinct possibility, and as some of you may have suspected, they’re smarter than me. No, Cork isn’t going all humble on you, I never said that when Cerrato lead the Braintrust..
If Shanahan goes with Sam Bradford of Oklahoma or Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame with the #4 overall, what do the Redskins do to rebuild their ramshackle offensive line? With their third round pick already gone for the right to draft DE Jeremy Jarmon, the only reasonable prospects for starters lie with their second and fourth rounders. And it can be argued the team needs at least four new Olineman if they are to contend for the playoffs.
What about free agents? Unfortunately, the pickings are slim. Are the addition of players like Chad Clifton or Mike Gandy a big upgrade? Don’t think so.
Even if it’s an uncapped year, there isn’t much on the offensive side of the ball. (If it wasn’t for bad luck, the Redskins would have no luck at all.) And since other franchises have valued offensive linemen more than the Redskins, it is likely the available players will be in higher demand than they’re worth.
In the meantime, ‘skins fans can celebrate the good old days and the Hog in the Hall.
3-4 or not 3-4? That Is The Question for 'skins
With the signing of Jim Haslett as new Redskins Defensive Coordinator, there’s been much talk about the ‘skins switching over to a 3-4. There’s some positive and negatives about that defense, and to be effective in Washington, there will be some real need for personnel changes. (Haslett recently said he may use a variety of defenses.)
In general, the 4-3, which Greg Blache and Greg Williams and practically every redskins Defensive Coordinator have used since Sam Huff appeared on the cover of Time Magazine in the late 1950s is no longer dominant. It has changed some over the years but the personnel groups generally include the following types:
Start with a large “piano player” at defensive tickle, whose job is to occupy blockers and stop the run. (The term “playing the Piano “ applies to a lineman who glides side to side without being pushed off the line or expected to rush the passer.) Next is a quicker, sometimes smaller DT who can hold his position and also apply pass pressure. As some have noted—most notably Big Al Haynesworth himself—under outgoing ‘skins defensive coordinator Greg Blache’s scheme both DT’s were responsible for stopping the run, but also keeping blockers off the linebackers. The LBs moved sideline to sideline and made most of the tackles. (No wonder Fletcher has led the Skins in tackles since his arrival.) Haynesworth preferred his usage in Tennessee where his gig was to blow up the backfield and rush the passer.
The defensive ends, particularly in the NFC East, tend to be a tad asymmetrical, too. As a general rule, the ‘skins under Blache have put the smaller, pass rushing DE (Usually Carter) on the right side, and a larger, run-stuffing type on the right side (Daniels this past year.) This is why it made no sense for Cerrato to trade for Jason Taylor last year after Daniels suffered a season-ending injury. The lanky Taylor, listed at 6’6” and 242, is a rushbacker type—which he did successfully again this year for Miami.
NFC East teams tend to be right handed, and a defense needs to stop the run to the right. Neither Taylor nor Carter was particularly effective at that task.
Outside linebackers (this year mostly Rocky MacIntosh and Brian Orakpo) were charged with off tackle and outside contain, and had pass defense duties. Mac has gotten the hang of it, Orakpo, not so much. He was named to the pro bowl because of the impeccable timing of his four-sack performance just before voting. But most of his sacks have come when he’s moved up to DE on passing downs. In the middle, Fletcher moved sideline to sideline and often had deep middle responsibilities on passes, a tough cover for any linebacker.
These are over-generalizations, of course, depending on game plan and down and distance, but pretty much that’s the way the base 4-3 sets up for the Redskins. The ‘skins have varied it, especially on passing downs. Many years ago, under Gibbs, they had a playoff game against Green Bay, which at the time had no passing attack but a terrific ground game. Gibbs and Co. surprised everyone with a five-man defensive line, and the ‘skins shut down the Pack on their way to the Super Bowl.
While Blache’s 4-3, a more conservative variant of his mentor, Gregg Williams’ approach, has kept the ‘skins among the top defensive units in the league, rules changes allowing receivers almost free range have meant an increased emphasis on getting to the passer and covering a 4-5 man receiving sets.
The trouble in the NFC East, which is still largely a rushing conference, is you have to make the playoffs to play in the playoffs. So an NFC East team has to be a tough, run-stopping team, particularly late in the season when the weather is bad. In the playoffs the weather may be bad, but more often you’ll be playing a dome team (NO, Minn.) or semi-dome team (Dallas, Arizona).
Switching to a 3-4 will be tricky for the ‘skins and could be a multi-year process. Let’s start with the personnel on hand, and what should be done with them. The first thing a 3-4 team needs is a nose guard. Essentially he replaces two men, the defensive tackles, and in this unglamorous position he’s meant to stuff the run and tie up the middle. This is why huge, relatively squatty guys are the archetype at the position.
You’ll need at least two, because they wear down from the beating in games and in a season. The skins don’t have a starting quality nose guard on hand. Griffith, Monty, Lo Alexander and Golston are too light (though one or more might play backup) and Haynesworth wants nothing to do with the job. A trade or draft pick might be the answer. I’m not the first to suggest Terrence Cody of Alabama. At 6’5” he isn’t squatty but weighs slightly less than Pluto. Trouble is he’s a likely first round pick, and the ‘skins have other big needs, especially on offense.
Haynesworth has played defensive end for the ‘skins and Tennessee and could hold down one of the DE slots. The 300-pound Daniels would cover the other, but at his age, health and mobility are concerns. Jeremy Jarmon, listed at about 270, could grow into the job, but that could take a couple of years.
Linebacker is a little more problematical. Both Andre Carter and Orakpo have played outside linebackers in their careers, and neither has shined at the position. Those were 4-3 linebackers, however, and outside rushbackers may better suit them. Throw Chris Wilson into that mix, as well as Rocky Mac, who may be better suited for the outside than a more physical inside LB.
Fletcher isn’t small, he’s short. He’s 5’10” 240 and has been an extraordinary MLB his entire career. He’s also aging, and having one fewer lineman to keep blockers off him isn’t a good idea. And there’s been rumors he might be looking to change clubs. H.B. Blades is a physical carbon copy of Fletcher, but less experienced.
So, the linebacking corps is iffy for a Redskin 3-4. To borrow a line from the (singing, not football playing) Eagles, it could be heaven it could be hell.
To my mind the consistently best -looking 3-4 has been in Pittsburgh, though Dallas’s is the best this year. Pittsburgh has a cloning machine deep in the bowels of Heinz Field that produces an endless array of linebackers. In Dick LeBeau, it has a stone genius at DC who knows what he wants and needs and consistently replaces linebacker when they leave for better paydays. Dan Snyder would be wise to sign a big paycheck for almost any Pitt or Pitt-style LB looking for a new home.
The ‘skins also have needs in the defensive backfield at free safety and as a potential replacement for CB Carlos Rogers.
The problem with revamping the defense to fit Haslett’s new scheme is the disaster area on the other side of the ball at Redskins Park. The Redskins may need as many as four new offensive linemen, a running back and a quarterback. We’ll look at the offense in our next column.
Shanahan’s the Man for Washington
Bulletin! Bulletin! Bulletin! Stop the Presses!!! Alert the Medja!!! Oh wait, we are the Media.
Mike Shanahan is the next Redskin coach in line to be fired by Dan Snyder. According to the Denver Post, ESPN, Fox and some guy named Bob who has a blog or something on the Internet, it’s a done deal--five years. By the time you read this, it will undoubtedly be an even doner deal, with all major media, from “Vatican Times” to the “Drudge Report” re-reporting the big news.
According to my best souses--two drunks at McGlaskey’s Saloon--Shanny will get $7 mil a year, guaranteed, and will assume the vaunted mantel of “Executive Vice president for Football Operations,” last worn by some guy named Vinny. Good Ol’ Vinny was fired what seems like months ago, but not before he could do plenty of damage.
Shanahan will have lots to say at a presser, likely Wednesday, and the best thing he could say is “Shut up, Clinton Portis!" Portis, who hasn’t liked to practice much, and has been a shadow of his former self for two years, verbally attacked (likely) outgoing QB Jason Campbell on a radio show for his alleged lack of leadership. Campbell ripped him back, too. But who cares? Skins got a new coach to begin undercutting.
Peter King, who gets some stuff right now and then, says Shanny will be looking for a new QB, likely to be coached up by his kid, Kyle. King also reported that Shanny is tilting toward a 3-4 defense. Okay…here’s some speculation on how that might shake out.
Need a nose guard. Two, actually, because the starter usually gets hurt. Need to trade for one, pick up a FA, or draft that immoveable object out of Alabama named Terrence Cody. The ‘skins then move Haynesworth to RDE, with Jeremy Jarmon and/or Phillip Daniels handling the left side. Inside backers would be London Fletcher and either H.B. Blades or Rocky Mac. The outside backers would be Andre Carter, and Brian Orakpo. Orakpo hasn’t shined as an LB, and Carter doesn’t like the position, but they’d spend much of the game blitzing, and if one doesn’t work out, MacIntosh can slide outside, and Blades play inside. Or an FA can be acquired as a stopgap.
This leaves guys like Golston as backup on the line and Montgomery, Griffith and a few others on the outside looking in. Lo Alexander could move back to offense—guy’s a keeper.
Of course, if they make that move and draft Cody or some other DL number one, it doesn’t address the mess that is the Oline, or the needs at running back and cornerback.
Shanny, you still sure you want the gig?
