Pleasant Surprises This Season Include:

1) Greg Blache's coaching. I was a bit nervous that he wouldn't be able to keep up the performance that Williams coaxed out of the players. I was wrong. The D has been playing well and with fire. Individual complaints could be made, but overall to this point there hasn't been a real drop in performance. I can't attribute it to Blache himself, but all of a sudden Redskins defensive players have caught some INTs, which was a big downfall of the Williams era (sans #21, who bucked that trend). Blache's halftime adjustments are what really convinced me so far; especially in NY.

2) Last year's Rookies and first year starters: It looks like Leigh Torrence is here to stay. His performances are solid, and it seems like he's flying around out there. Undrafted to nickel corner in a year isn't too shabby. In fact, it could be termed a meteoric rise, if a somewhat obscure one. Reed is another bright spot, even if he gets benched in favor of Horton sometime in the future. Having him at backup/3 safety formations is a good thing. HB looked solid even with his recuperating knee. I had doubts as to his ability to hack it at starting outside linebacker (mainly my fear was coverage), but he proved himself against the saints. Heyer has looked solid in pass coverage. Kudos to him for beating out incumbent Jansen. Consequences aside, if you're going to get a penalty, do it like Heyer did it, blow the guy up. It also bodes well for the development of his attitude in the run game.

3) Kedric Golston: I'm a big Montegomery fan and have to admit that I havn't seen enough of Golston to be personally convinced, but by beating out Montegomery for the starting spot he's made it clear that he's a player. Eventually Mr. Griffen is going to be run down by the fleet footed juggernaut Mr. Age, and when that happens, us skins fans needent worry too much because the Barbarian can play.

4) Shawn Springs: played incredibly well last year. He looks like he's even better so far. His presence alone changes the way offenses treat this team. Thank the powers that be he wasn't released, hasn't retired and his contract hasn't been an issue. May he stay healthy.

5) The drafting of Durant Brooks: I'm going out on a limb here. He's been spotty in holding etc etc.... But his punts seem to mask the coverage team just right, resulting in punts that should be fair caught but aren't. We havn't seen the inevitable devestating hit-fumble-TD that those punts generate, but my instincts tell me one isn't far off. Especially with Rock and Sellars being 1 and 2 to the ball so often. Brooks needs to add some weight and grow a mustache, but I'm hopeful that his addition will be a good longterm decision.

I'm omitting our Head Coach's performance. I am indeed pleasantly surprised by it so far, but will reserve any outward show of my excitement until after Philly. I'm not certain that my ebullient feelings won't be quashed dead by our division rivals' media driven Football-God(s) image being not so untrue.