Looks Like Somebody Has a Sixpack of the Mondays
by Ken Meringolo on Aug 30, 2010 11:42 AM EDT
in Redskins Analysis
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1) I ran into a husband and wife rocking Redskins gear on the flight home from Vermont. I asked them their impression of the game on Friday night and all they could talk about was how Donovan McNabb BETTER be ready to go in Week 1. The husband said, "He's still an Eagle to me. Until he suits up in the regular season, and particularly against Dallas, it won't be real for me." Is that how most of you feel? I have kind of warmed up to Don Burgundy over the last couple months, but something inside me feels this way too.
2) I had a long conversation with a Redskins fan at a bar up in Vermont about Danny Smith, our special teams coach. I was asked how he has kept his job over the years. Smith has been on the scene since 2004. My first thought was to say, "I defy you to find a football person (anyone who has worked either in the sport or who has covered the game) who has an unkind word for Coach Smith." The dude is honestly revered. He has escaped the blame for just about every debacle that has gone down over the last handful of seasons. But we have had some ridiculous special teams debacles, right? Kevin and I have seen him in action at practice and we have seen him out at events. I can speak for both of us when I say he is equally impressive in both situations. Yet, the guy had a point when he wondered aloud how a coach under Dan Snyder has been able to keep his job despite such glaring deficiencies. I will suggest that I am very much okay with Smith being retained (I have to believe Shanahan could have brought in someone else if he wanted to). What are your Danny Smith thoughts?
3) Is it just me or are the normally negative friends in each of our circles getting a little jazzed about this team? Further, what constitues getting "jazzed"? Is an 8-8 prediction from a cynic being optimistic?
4) I read somewhere this weekend that every year since 2003, a worst-place team has come back the following year to win their division. I always get excited by these kinds of stats. Are we that team this year? But our problem is that we aren't trying to leapfrog Seattle, St. Louis, Arizona, and/or San Francisco. We have to jump over the entire NFC East. Handicap our chances to do this in the comments section.
5) Surveying the landscape in the NFC East, I ask the following question: Can Clinton Portis be the best running back in our division this year? On the face of it, he probably should not have a chance...BUT I'll argue yes because:
- In New York, Brandon Jacobs will steal stats from Ahmad Bradshaw in the first half of the season before breaking down.
- In Dallas, Felix Jones probably could be the best in the division, but Marion Barber and Tashard Choice will (deservedly) get plenty of touches.
- In Philly, LeSean McCoy will get held back by Andy Reid. I am pretty sure McCoy could lead the league in rushing if they turned him loose, but since when has Andy Reid committed to a running back like that?
That leaves Clinton Portis with a chance, right? Larry Johnson will get plenty of time to be sure, but if CP can stay healthy early, I believe Shanahan will let him go. If he can find those seams in the zone-blocking scheme that he once could, we could be in for a real treat. Or maybe I am just trying to talk myself into drafting Portis too high in my upcoming fantasy draft.
6) We will spend more valuable front page space on this all week, but mark your calendars:
When: Thursday, September 9th
Where: Hard Times Cafe in Bethesda, MD starting at 6 PM
Budweiser is throwing a Hogs Haven party for the NFL kickoff and our good friends at Hard Times Cafe are hosting us all. That means FREE BEER, giveaways, Beirut, special guests, food specials and FREE BEER.
Come one, come all. We will start a sign-up list ASAP. If you are coming, put yourself on the list. That is all it takes to get on the invite list for a Hogs Haven event!
See you there.
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Put me on the list
and make sure there are cabs to get me home later.
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
Did anyone notice the coin toss?
Did Rex Ryan really need to send all former Skins to the coin toss? Really? You’re looking for a psychological one up during a preseason coin toss?
totally forgot to put that in my writeup...I didn't know whether to laugh or cry
But it certainly seemed like a mockery.
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by Kevin Ewoldt on Aug 30, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
when has Rex Ryan
ever passed up a chance to say “F*** You”
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
I thought it was funny
Id much rather have Santana than Coles, and we were still hyped about what Jason Taylor could do for us in preseason when we had his sorry ass too…
We could have Coles now too
considering his ass got cut. He was a beast in Madden ‘04, ’05? though. The play-action deep post from Brunell to Coles couldn’t be defended.
Coles will prob go back to the Jets after Week1
Apparently they just cut him to avoid a roster bonus. $$$
For the record
in no way was I advocating that we actually sign Coles. I was trying to make fun of him for being cut and use this as a reason to reference an older iteration of Madden.
I know we're not supposed to read to much into preseason, but
The other teams in our division look very vulnerable and on the flip side, the Skins don’t look all that bad (except for the running game). I think worst to first is possible.
by worldwidewes on Aug 30, 2010 1:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Sadly I'd probably take all three Dallas RBs over Portis
talent-wise.
McCoy doesn’t look like he’s going to be great. Good, maybe, but a shadow of someone like Westbrook was.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Felix Jones potential is ridiculous, but he can’t stay on the field.
Marion Barber is on his last leg because of his style of running.
Tashard Choice is a gem as a third stringer
At this point in Portis’ career I would probably take them as well.
Eagles will be drafting another RB in 3 years IMO because McCoy fails to live up to expectations. (now watch him blow up this year for 1,500)
"You're fucking out!"
My comments on all as follows:
1) I’ve warmed up to McNabb (first couple of weeks after trade did not feel good at all). He is definitely an upgrade over JC if we can keep him upright and I’m sure he hates the Cowgirls, the Giants and most of all the Iggles as much as we do. Plus Cooley likes him. ’Nuff said.
2) Dan is the Man for STs. If there were someone better, we’d have him in place. Now that we’ve gone on attack mode everywhere, why not STs? I’ve been impressed this year for the most part, e.g. a fair catch seems to be an anomaly compared to the last few years.
3) 8-8 is the perfect half full/half empty situation. I think most of us are jazzed to see competence top to bottom in the organization and a corollary improvement on the field. We are no longer laughable. 8-8 to me will be a downer, but anything is better than the last decade.
4) I think the Div is up for grabs and there is a good chance that the number 2 team will take the extra playoff spot. So it’s 3 of 5 we make the playoffs (60% chance).
5) In this division it does not make sense to rate running backs individually as all the teams are utilizing RB by committee. In that case, any team could produce the top rusher in the div, but lose by a large amount the team rushing title. I don’t really think we have a chance at finishing better than #3 in the div in total rushing unless our OLine comes together spectacularly. Not holding my breath.
6) I’m all in. See you there.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
the fact we had ARE at punt returner for more than one year makes it completely valid to question danny smith
a life: it's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come -Lester Freamon
by eastcoastatlas on Aug 30, 2010 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder
How much of that was Danny’s call
by worldwidewes on Aug 30, 2010 3:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Don't discount McCoy
If you are looking for overall offensive production (i.e., total yards from scrimmage) then McCoy is definitely the man. He’s in the same position as Brian Westbrook was, where 50-60 percent of his yards could come through the air.
Portis has a high probability of having the most “rushing yards” at the end of the season for sure, but I give McCoy the edge when combining receiving/rushing yards.
On McNabb
I’m an Orange, as sad as that may be these days, but I’ve been following Donovan since his first year on campus. The man is an unbelieveable QB, always has been and still is. Being from CNY, it’s always been tough to pick a pro team, I’m a SU fan. But the day Don got drafted to Philly, well, I became a Eagle fan, and on Easter Sunday, I became a Redskins fan, again. As a kid, I loved Larry Brown.
Anyway, in my opinion, the Eagles stupidly wasted 11 years of having one of the best in the business. How could they have spent all those years getting him so little help in the skill positions, and never, ever, providing a decent running game? I’m waiting? Anyone?
When he was sent to Washington, with Shanahan, I was giddy as a school! I’m wiling to bet Shanahan was too. He knew darn well what he was getting, and how to use him. This was a marriage made in heaven, for both sides, and especially for the fans.
Donovan spent his last 11 years making Philly look like a much better team than they were, the O-line was never that great, the running game, well we already went there. And the receivers? Don’t get me started.
It might take till next year for this to really take off, but believe me, when it does it will be special.
He’s that good.
by BleedingOrangeGoSU on Aug 30, 2010 1:57 PM EDT reply actions
I finally broke down and got the new Madden and thats helping me get used to McNabb
He’s alot of fun to play with and moves so well. Starting to grow on me.
I don’t think Larry Johnson will take too many carries from Portis. LJ is more of a traditional backup who comes in when the starter is hurt not a RB by committee guy. To quote Keim “Johnson had seven games with 11 carries or less last season; he averaged 2.8 yards or less in five of them. And in the last three years, he’s had 15 games of 12 carries or less and averaged 2.8 yards or less in nine of them. Just another way of saying he needs a lot of carries. If Clinton Portis gets hurt, he may get them; if not, then he won’t. But the Redskins obviously knew this.” I think Portis will be spelled by one of the speedier younger backs to give a change of pace and then when Portis is out LJ gets 15-20 touches.
we're a .500 team... maybe
By trading for McNabb, Shanahan is saying we’re good enough to win this year, so anything short of the playoffs is a failure.
However, if we had kept the picks, developed our own QB, and not dumped our then starting QB for a bag of potato chips, 8-8 would be a vast improvement.
As far as Smith...
I’ve got to agree with that guy’s wonderment over his job security. I’m not saying that I know that he’s been a problem and should be let go, but other than Ethan Albright, what about special teams has been particularly good over the past 6 seasons? There’s an issue with personnel not being brought in, to be sure, but I do remember there was one particular player Smith insisted on bringing in, through the draft no less. His name is Durant Brooks. He was utterly pitiful in the league. In a draft where we got such late-round gems as Kareem Moore and Chris Horton (provided either can stay healthy anyway, but Horton’s 08 Saints game has already given us full value on that pick), using an earlier pick on Brooks because Smith insisted he would be great is a major blemish. Then there’s the ARE b.s. over the years. But those are the negatives; I know there are positives. I simply don’t know enough (nor could I as a normal fan) to say whether or not the problem lies with Smith.
And with the trend of one team going from worst to first, 5 of those 7 years, it has happened in the NFC South. And in every one of those years, the worst team in the South has made the playoffs the next year. That stat says more about the instability of the NFC South than the ability of teams in the NFL to rise quickly from the ashes. But of course, I really reeeeeaalllly doubt the Bucs will make it out the NFC South basement this year, so maybe we will fill that void. But I won’t be holding my breath on it.
Re: Danny Smith
these so-called debacles are whatever. the real question is, how the fuck did he keep ARE at punt returner for so long. how do you do that? how do you never look to improve on an area where so much can be won and lost?
a life: it's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come -Lester Freamon
biggest mystery since stonehenge
these so-called debacles are whatever. the real question is, how the fuck did he keep ARE at punt returner for so long. how do you do that? how do you never look to improve on an area where so much can be won and lost?
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
It seems that ultra-conservatism was the rule
not only for ST but for O and D as well. Hence never throwing down field, hence JC holding the ball for well over 1.8 seconds before he was creamed, hence having defensive backfield operating out of No. Virginia. Zorn felt comfortable that ARE would catch the ball and didn’t seem to want more than that. Fear ruled the day.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
It wasn't his call
He was allowed to pick and chose the spots when Moss would be allowed to return punts, which wasn’t many instances, but other then that, Zorn wanted ARE returning them because he never fumbled the ball.
coaching to not lose.
ugh
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Portis
I think Portis is going to have a big year. He’ll be re-born under Shanahan. Also, they can run Johnson and one of the young guns enough to keep him healthy. What would help is fort he Skins to get out to the lead and be able to burn clock in the second half. That would help DMac as well.
by BleedingOrangeGoSU on Aug 30, 2010 3:43 PM EDT reply actions
Run Blocking?
I don’t care who we have at RB, if we are unable to run block effectively, then we are in trouble. So far this pre-season run blocking has been horrendous, and that’s to put it nicely. Pass blocking has been very effective though against some tough opponents. Based on our line’s strength, which appears to be pass blocking, I have a feeling we are going to go with a Kyle Shanahan aerial attack.
Warming up to McNabb was instantaneous for me.
It was hard for me, because of course I hate the Eagles and want to see them fail, but I always just really liked McNabb. I liked the way he played, and I liked the way he carried himself outside of the game.
The disrespect he got from Philly fans helped, because it made me feel like I can like him and still be opposed to them, but it was still awkward and wrong.
When I heard he was on the trading block I thought ‘Oh thank God, he’ll finally leave the division so I can root for him openly.’ I never thought he would actually end up on the Redskins.
So yeah, it still looks strange at this point, but from day one I’ve been happy every time I see him in burgundy and gold.
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