The Thursday Line - Chances of Culture Change Rising for Washington Redskins
by Ken Meringolo on May 13, 2010 11:46 AM EDT
in Redskins Analysis
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PrintIn today's Thursday Line, we identify a few of the areas that will be most telling of true culture change in DC this upcoming season.
Over/Under: Dan Snyder filmed walking into the locker room with the team at the end of a game - 1.5
I am going with the Under here. I think when we beat the Cowgirls, there is a good chance Snyder will be working his way to the locker room at the final whistle. You can say what you want about Snyder, but he absolutely cherishes wins over Dallas. I don't think he will get caught screaming things like, "When we play physical we win!" as he did two years ago, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt on one locker room appearance. Keep in mind, this locker room appearance Over/Under specificallyapplies to right when the team gets in there. I don't think Shanahan wants anyone but the players and the coaches in the locker room immediately after games. And I think that somehow this message will get through to the owner, in the most polite way. But if we smash Dallas on opening day...I would think Shanahan lets it slide (before making it clear it should be the rare exception and not the rule.)
Over/Under: Fake Field Goal Attempts - 1.5
Would the lack of any fake field goal attempts this season be a true sign of culture change? No. I am taking the Under because I think in the course of a season, every head coach (uhhhhhh...every rational head coach) probably has one fake field goal in his pocket. One. Not one per game. Not one per half. Not one per drive. One per season. Oh, and for most coaches, if you line up for a fake field goal, and the other team calls a timeout, that counts as the "one" on the season. Without Hunter Smith in the mix, I am not sure how we could score anyway.
Over/Under: Fair Catches By A Returner Before Returner Is Replaced - 6.5
This is the "straight-outta-my-5-hole" number of the day. The point is, Shanahan won't be happy with a punt return game that consists of nothing more than hand-waving and catching balls. If that were the case, Bruce Allen would be interviewing sorority girls for the job. So if a guy stands back there and fair catches 6 in a row, I bet they get somebody else back there to take some more risks. Sure, there are punters capable of getting 6 perfect punts off in a row, but it is more likely that at least one of those kicks will have some return potential...I got the Under.
Over/Under: 40+ yard completions in 2010 Donovan McNabb - 18.5
A few stats for you to help you make your decision here: McNabb had 17 completions of 40 or more yards last season (led the league) and Jason Campbell had 8. Matt Schaub, Kyle Shanahan's quarterback last season had 15, and he led the league with 4,770 yards passing on the season. So this number is set perhaps too high for most of you out there...I will take the Over on this though and I'll tell you why. I think the Skins will look to go deep WAY more than they have in the recent past. McNabb is capable of not only throwing a decent deep ball, but if the pocket breaks down, he can use his feet to buy time for the receiver to get into the pattern. Jason Campbell, while athletic and mobile, seemed to rule out the deeper patterns as soon as there was any trouble in the backfield. McNabb won't do that. Also, if you have been watching the last few years, you have seen Santana Moss routinely get open downfield, only to not get the ball thrown to him. As much as I loved JC, this was my biggest complaint. Moss is a talented, professional route runner with the speed and ability to get deep on guys. McNabb will take a considerable amount of shots with Moss going deep this year. The combination of McNabb's increased accuracy on the deep ball, Kyle Shanahan's play-calling and the ability for guys like Cooley, Davis, and Thomas to get yards after the catch lead me to think that McNabb will lead the league once again in 40+ yard completions.
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Hmmm
1) I’ll take the over, but not like 5 or 6. Keep in mind that we have TWO games against Dallas, and if I’m not mistaken, the video of Danny Boy was in Dallas.
2) Under. Although I was under the impression that we didn’t do ENOUGH fake field goals last year. I mean we lost 12 GAMES! Hunter deserved a shot to pass Campbell for Team-High TD passes
3) Under. Zorn was sitting on the sidelines telling anyone who would listen “But he’s gonna bust out on the next one.”
4) Under. I don’t think McNabb will have the time, plain and simple. He didn’t get that many last year with a good experienced line and Desean Jackson. I’ll be glad to lose my imaginary money if he does, but I don’t see it happening……. THIS year.
Foaming at the mouth from all the excitement of a "Kindergarten Ninja"-less Front Office!
Over/Under but first Culture Change is happening
The quickest way to establish a Culture change is to instill a disciplined structure to the day to day events:
Quote from Edwin Williams via Redskin Insider
“We have structure,” he said. “You can always go to your calendar and know exactly what you have to do. Day lifting, day off. You didn’t have that last year. Coach Shanahan is very strict. He tells you exactly what he wants and how he wants it. And the only thing you need to do is go out there and do it.”
1. Over, Dan will be in the locker room, but he’ll still remain behind the scenes
2. Over, While I would tend to agree with your reasoning, I think the NFL has changed and more chances are going to be made…You could almost surmise the Superbowl was won with an “on-side-Kick”. More fake punts and field goals will occur
3. Under, but not for your reason…No player will get to field 6 fair catches in a row, change will occur much quicker if the job is not being done.
4. Over: The best deep ball threat will benefit the most with more opportunities and a better QB throwing the deep pass. My guess 20
I still remember Snyder's butthead behavior
when Turner was coach. The guy knows no bounds. Jeeeeeeeeeeerk!
one of the happiest
days of my life was when Snyder fired Turner. It’s somewhere between my wedding and the births of my kids.
1. Over, not even Shanny can control Danny… unfortunately.
2. Under, I don’t think we’ll see any fakes, if only to avoid comparisons to last season.
3. Under.
4. Under. My kool-aid isn’t strong enough to think we get that many big plays with our O-Line.
my thoughts exactly
I don’t think we’ll see any fakes, if only to avoid comparisons to last season
Pommylee
Re: Donovan's deep ball
I have always believed, from years and years of watching McNabb obliterate us with the long ball, that McNabb’s deep ball is arguably the best in the league. He is so accurate with deep passes, perhaps even more so than in middle-range plays. We will see Santana Moss catch a few early in the season that will make all of us collectively piss our pants with happiness… until he he’s covered better a few weeks later. But now, I believe McNabb’s deep ball will get our receivers involved a lot better than they have in the past.
Are any of you guys regular Skins game attenders? For YEARS I used to scream from section 318 as Campbell routinely did not take a chance on deep routes because he didn’t see them, didn’t feel like taking the risk (or, last year, b/c the pocket was collapsing immediately). McNabb will find those receivers. And considering defenses will have to stop mid-range passes more than deep balls (Cooley and Davis are our most dangerous possession threats by far, don’t you think?) the deep ball will be a part of the game plan multiple parts a game. I hope Santana has his track shoes ready.
1. Over, as much as he’s given control, I think he also certainly fully retains the perks that he is the OWNER. While he’ll stay out of decision making and opinions, he’s going to enjoy the locker room after wins.
2. Under – Shanahan’s game is all discipline – fakes are still plays that are a part of the game. I don’t think he’ll personally pay enough att’n during a game to special teams to see if the opponents are undisciplined about things there, rather focusing on how he can exploit undisciplined defensive players with his offense.
3. Under – fully agree – while all of the possible returners in camp won’t be making the team, we’ll likely have at least 3 solid options, and the only way I see any over is later in the season after one of them has established himself as the consistent leader that he’ll get the benefit of the doubt.
4. Under – I think McNabb will be able to negate some of the O-line issues with his presence and mobility, but it will take a while for our line to gel. I’m with Rabid though – NEXT YEAR…. :)
I picked the last 2...
I think they might have the biggest overall impact on the season. Fair Catches: Under 6.5 With the “bring ‘em in and we’ll see what we got” approach to the offseason, and with a few possible options at returner, I don’t think he’ll hesitate after 4-5. 40+ yard completions: Over 18.5 I think I’m being a little optimistic on this one. If it is over 18.5, then the ‘Skins should have a good offensive season. It would be exciting to see that many long balls from a Redskin team. Not sure I’d know how to act.
Classic.
nothing more than hand-waving and catching balls. If that were the case, Bruce Allen would be interviewing sorority girls for the job.
they'd have to introduce
standing room only to FedEx field
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
Imma hafta pick
the under on all four.
Letting our bullpen pitch is like playing Russian Roulette...
...with an automatic.
Got to love odds
1. Over, but in secret.
2. Under, but being a Denver fan too, and after last season’s game, I’d say over, but Shanahan might be into that type of thing.
3. Under, but not by much.
4. Under but he’ll still be in the top 5 or so in the league.
I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.
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