Responding for Josh McDaniels

by Skin Patrol on Jan 31, 2008 2:51 PM EST in Analysis Comment 14 comments

One of my favorite blogs is Covering the Redskins. Bram Weinstein also does field reporting for Triple X Internet Radio, which I've heard a few times when these Redskins weren't on local television. Bram dismissed Wunderkind? Josh McDaniels, saying:

Josh McDaniels. He's 31. Why not just give the job to John David Booty because he played under Pete Carroll? He'd get trampled by the pressure. No offense, but he seems to be living proof that Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all time. What scheme has this 31 year old devised? I smell fresh meat.

First, nuh uh, Bram, he's 31 and a half.

Or maybe Tom Brady is evidence that Josh McDaniels is a good coach? We'll find out, but it should be noted that McDaniels joined the Patriots staff in 2001 (as a personnel assistant) which, incidentally, was the year they turned into a good team. He's seen both sides of the ball as he became a defensive assistant between 2002-2003. In 2004 he was promoted to QB coach, in 2006 he was the offensive coordinator, though he retained his QB coach position throughout.

One might note after looking at Tom Brady's stats that he became much better after McDaniels showed up. For instance, prior to McDaniels, he scored touchdowns on ~4.5% of his passes. After McDaniels that number was: 5.9, 4.9, 4.7, 8.7. Pre yards per attempt: 6.9, 6.3, 6.9. Post YPA: 7.8, 7.8, 6.8, 8.3. His QB Rating, which I don't care much for anyways, was higher with Daniels than any season prior. Three of his four Pro Bowls came under Josh McDaniels. Etc.

These stats are cherry-picked, as there are some categories where he showed little or no improvement such as int%, barring this season, and completion%, again barring this season. But should we do that? Can we possibly ignore Tom Brady's historic 2007 regular season, perhaps the greatest season ever produced by any quarterback in the game's history? If the answer to that is no, should we ignore Josh McDaniels' contribution to that?

The fact is, looking at Tom Brady's stats from '04 through this year, it is pretty clear that the present Tom Brady is a better qb than the one we met in '01 and knew through '03. Of course that should be the case as quarterbacks tend to improve with the amount of experience they accumulate, but that by no means completely denies any impact that McDaniels had on Tom Brady's development.

And then you have articles such as this one where prominent league sources are singing his praises:

A writer who will vote in Saturday's Pro Football Hall of Fame election left after 30 minutes at McDaniels' interview table Wednesday saying, "He's amazing."

I don't know whether all the above in aggregate means he's a good candidate for the Head Coaching position here. But I do suspect that it makes him deserving of more than a mere cursory look and the suggestion that he's never developed a scheme in his career. Maybe he hasn't, but let's interview him and find out.

Just my opinion.

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Fox

just said that josh mcdaniels will not pursue redskins and he is committed to the patriots for 2008

by skinsnyankees on Jan 31, 2008 3:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well...

I think he's doing the professional thing by saying that, but I am not sure whether a defensive coordinator his age is that willing to turn down a head coaching position, with salary, when that's presented. Then again, if ever there was a team a person would want to stick with for years to come, it's the 2007 Patriots.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Jan 31, 2008 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lets get one thing strait

about the next HC coming in. First, its all about management,or wait........first its all about the team.

That's the dilemma with Dan, who is it all about. Bram says it nicely, Whoever it is will have to toe a fine line with management.

So consequently you would think its always going to be win big or bust. That's hitting the nail on the head. And thats what has taken place since his ownership.

There's always an exception though. Gibbs is that exception. 2 out of 4 years in the playoffs.

BTW anyone see that Wapo piece about ocho cinco coming to DC. Good grief, please no drama. Snyder is enough and he's not on even on the field.

by Sincethebeginning on Jan 31, 2008 3:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I saw that

RI had mentioned it but didn't know what the deal was. Is he coming down for an actual visit?

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by Skin Patrol on Jan 31, 2008 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

From what i understand

Hes still under contract and wants out. He said on Jim rome that somebody in the FO is sabatoging him.

The article in RI says that he has ties to the redskins through certain people, players, management etc.

by Sincethebeginning on Jan 31, 2008 6:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agent:

Drew Rosenhaus.

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by Skin Patrol on Jan 31, 2008 6:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I sincerely hope so...

and what do you mean, "no more drama"? You could be referring to a few things, but 85 is one of the best things Danny can do for the skins in 2008-and he's sure to boost merch sales...CJ is one of my favorite players-he didn't find the end zone much this year, but that's the exception, not the rule. He's a true #1 reciever.

Anyways, after being with the Pats, I wonder if Mickey D would want to come to a jacked-up operation. The Patriots are excellent from stem to stern, and are respected throughout. But he's surely worth a shot-I could see a condition of his hire being play-calling responsibilities, and good luck on that one.

by JustinU804 on Jan 31, 2008 5:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What i'm saying is Dan creates enough drama

Look at whats going on right now with the head coach.

He is of the generation "me first" and takes it to a new level. Yeah, we need him standing on the sidelines wearing a homemade pimped out jacket that says "hall of fame on it", like we need another Brandon Lloyd standing on the sidelines. I'm not comparing their play on the field but the sentiment would be the same toward him if we dont win plus some because of the antics he brings. We need to utilize the draft and get away from high priced FA's for once.

What happens when he wants out of D.C. and starts doing what hes starting to do now in cincy. Its just starting because Marv says hes not getting traded and CJ says he wants out. One word, CANCER.

You prove my point about these type of guys. You like the idea about one of your favorite players coming to town with his name on a skins jersey and boosting sales. I'm more inclined to look at it a little more from an overall team standpoint.

Just look at the 3 big receivers with the most baggage and antics. Owens, Moss, and Johnson. If their all so good how come none have won a SB. Moss was added to a team that was already great and had been to 3 SB's in the past 5 years or so thus making that team even better and they were still worried about what he might say or do.

But if they decide to bring him here then oh well, i'll deal with it. I guess it will make some people happy i just really wont be one of them.

by Sincethebeginning on Jan 31, 2008 6:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Look at whats going on right now with the head coa

by danielbank on Feb 1, 2008 12:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

85's

Antics are far from troublesome. I see you are of the "No Fun League" fold. He may want the ball, but in his hands, it generally goes where it's supposed to go.

And naming a few high profile recievers who havent' won a superbowl means nothing. It's not a position where ONE great player will catapult the team to a higher eschelon. He's one of five...just the best one. And at least he's not "over the hill" or unproven. At 30, he's still evey bit as dangerous as 25-if not even moreso...he has gotten better

by JustinU804 on Feb 1, 2008 10:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I dont necessarily believe

he's troublesome in a criminal way. But standing on the sideline wearing Hall of fame on your back is an insult. I will all but guarantee you he never makes it and yes, partly because he does things like that. But not only because he does things like that but because it takes away his focus from the game and prevents him from being maybe even better than he his.

Some of this new generation of players celebrate every single time they touch the ball. Can you imagine if Darrell green did that, he never would have been as good as he was. How about Art Monk who simply went out to do his job and that was it.

Think im to old school, ok lets look at Sean Taylor, many people including me, think that he was on his way to being the best player of his position. Did you see him looking into the camera every time he made a play and talk about how he was the best and nobody could touch him and hes coming to get some other player, etc. etc. .......no.

There was alot of talk this year how Chad Johnsons teammates were tired of him running his mouth.

Plenty of guys have fun like Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley and Santana Moss to name a few. But they dont go overboard with it, they know when enough is enough. Chad Johnson does not.

So no, im not of no fun league fold. I love watching these guys have fun on the field. I'm just more of the "want to win league", or "not piss everyone off on my team league" and not of the "look at me im a superstar league" fold.

by Sincethebeginning on Feb 1, 2008 12:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs