The equivalent of how Redskins fans feel towards their Front Office.

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It's time for another exciting installment of Interview with a Fan. A great friend of mine, Jimmy Mac, has lived in Philly pretty much his whole life, with a brief stint in Baltimore commuting from his time as Monty and Manager at Rosecroft Race Track in MD. So, gambling comes into play here. He's must have heard the "How many Super Bowls you got?" comeback from me at least 13.5 gazillion times, but with the current state of the Redskins, I've shelved that one for an undetermined amount of time. I hit Jimmy with 5 questions:

1.)    Why does Andy Reid refuse to run the ball?
2.)    How much does Witherspoon add to a depleted LB core?
3.)    Six weeks in, any regrets letting Dawkins go?
4.)    Has McNabb lost a step?
5.)    Barbaro trash talk and Game Prediction.

Hogs Haven: Philadelphia had 60 offensive plays vs the Raiders (a whopping 46 of them passes and just 12 of them runs) - despite the fact that Brian Westbrook gained 50 yards on just six carries. 0 Wildcat plays with Vick. The Raiders have a 28th ranked defense against the run (145.3 ypg)....any explanations why Andy Reid refuses to run the ball? This has killed the Birds it seems at least 1 game a year.

Andy Reid's game-plan versus the Raiders (as most cases against bad teams) is to take them out early with the pass, get a huge lead, and then run later in the second half. Obviously, the plan did not work.  Here is Reid's biggest weakness as a head coach; it is making adjustments in-game when the original game plan did not work. Reid refused to run the ball and continued to throw the ball every down even though the Raiders can't stop the run and King Dunlap was getting literally run over by Seymour and McNabb was taking a beating. To most observers, this was unexplainable. Most every Eagle fan can explain it very simply: Arrogance. Reid refuses to make adjustments when things aren't working because he believes his way is the best way and he will go down with the ship throwing the ball. We have seen it for a decade and its sickening. The Eagles will either blow out teams or lose the game. Either Reid's initial game plan works and they win big or he will make no adjustments and the ship will sink. Simple as that.

Hogs Haven: It's now Week 7 and Macho Harris seems to be having a so-so year. What's your sentiment now on if the Eagles should have re-signed Dawkins?

The Trotter re-signing is basically the Eagles admitting they totally screwed up by not resigning Dawk. I don't think they brought back a 31yo LB who hasn't played in 2 years and couldn't run 3 years ago for his athletic ability. Harris will be a good player and isn't doing a bad job on the field as a rookie.

Hogs Haven: How much does the addition of Will Witherspoon help the Birds this week? I'm glad to see someone else suffer with Trotter besides the Redskins, but Witherspoon does have good skills covering TEs, which is basically the Redskins only offensive weapon.

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via extras.journalnow.com

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OK. So the Redskins are playing another winless team. Who doesn't feel good about this one besides me? At Carolina. Steve Smith. DeAngelo Williams. Julius Peppers. I gave the SB Nation Panthers' blogger, Jaxon, 5 questions ranging from 'How does Delhomme still have a job?' to all the statistics of how a team with so much talent is winless. He also makes his prediction. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section, and he will respond (SB Nation is the greatest platform).

Hogs Haven: How is it that Jake Delhomme still has a job? (I feel like we've been asking this question for 3 years now). Can you pinpoint what has contributed to such a drop-off of a former Super Bowl QB, and do you feel like he can turn it around?

There are some Panther fans that ask that question routinely but for the most part we still feel he can lead this team to a winning season. As far as his problems, he's made some bad decisions but he isn't alone in taking blame for the turnovers. I think the problems are correctable and yes, he certainly can turn it around. Panther fans really have no choice but to be patient since we have no better choice on the bench. Can you relate?

Hogs Haven: How is it a team with such great weapons (DeAngelo Williams, Steve Smith, Julius Peppers) is 0-3 and averages only 12.3 points per game offensively? 

That's easy. 11 turnovers in 3 games would kill any offense. Combine that with a rushing defense giving up 180 yards per game and you have the formula for an offense that can't afford mistakes. If the Panthers can limit their turnover and in turn run the ball more they should put themselves in better position to win.

Hogs Haven: What are the weaknesses in the Panthers defense that can explain why they are 5th worst in the league giving up 21.3 first downs per game?

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This is some amazing audio and look into Dan Snyder, Vinny Cerrato, and Jim Zorn. Steinberg blogged some of the text highlights of this 25 minute interview, but all the questions we would EVER want to ask Snyder, George Michael, who is a friend of Snyder, answers them in HEATED fashion:

"Let me tell you the truth: Dan does make I think most of those big-type decisions," Michael said. "He says 'Let's get this guy, let's get that guy.' And the guy that takes the heat for it--and it's why I think he's never gotten fired--is Vinny Cerrato...You need a coach who says 'I don't need that! I don't want that.'....if Zorn beat the Lions he'd have that type of power....Vinny Cerrato is a ZERO when it comes to public relations and building relationships with people in the world. I'm sorry."

"I'll tell you this. Dan Snyder does not want to fire Jim Zorn...on my kids life....you have to take risks. That's what Snyder did with Zorn."

Are the Bucs of old back (for this year at least)?

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My weekly piece interviewing the opposing team's fan has always had a hint of arrogance, but given the eggs the Skins have laid the last two weeks, I can't even make fun of an 0-3 Bucs squad!  My Uncle, Roger Vaughan, has lived in Tampa even before the team's 1976 inception, so I looked forward to including him in this weekly piece given his vast knowledge on the Bucs. He cc'd his son in law, Matthew, on my email chain regarding the interview who replied all, "My attitude towards the Bucs may be at an all time low. I don't know if I can muster the 'give a sh!t' to even answer the questions." Classic! That should give you an idea of how fed up the fan base in Tampa is. Sounds familiar, right?

Roger and I hit up multiple topics in our conversation, including: Haynesworth, firing their offensive coordinator 10 days before week 1, Doug Williams's progression as Player of Personnel, the fall of Jon Gruden, and Josh Freeman's combine.

Hogs Haven: A lot of things have happened recently in Tampa with Offensive Coordinator, Jeff Jagodzinski, getting fired 10 days before week one, your free agent QB you brought in getting benched after week 3, you change the defense but not the personnel...things appear in disarray...would you say that?

Roger: I would.

Hogs Haven:Is the team re-building or is it trying to find an identity?

Roger: They're trying to re-build. The new coaching staff basically inherited Gruden and [Bruce] Allen's players. So they didn't really draft these guys. They had a first round pick and they drafted Freeman who's a year or two out...if he even makes it. They benched Leftwich because he's a statue...he doesn't move. With the line they have, you can't have an immobile quarterback, so they went to a guy that can actually run, Josh Johnson. On defense, their third round draft choice, Roy Miller from Texas…they picked him b/c he's fits what they're looking for...an interior tackle. Jim Bates is re-doing the defense and wants a huge body in the middle. They couldn't get Haynesworth, who would have been the perfect guy for him, so they got this rookie in there. They have Chris Hovan who I think put on 20 pounds in the off-season to bulk up to play inside, but they don't have any outside pass rushers and those are the guys that really...in the Bates defense...are the keys to putting pressure on the Quarterback. When you don't get a pass-rush, that puts a lot more pressure on your secondary.

(Thought to self..."Yea, Skins fans know about terrible pass-rushing all too well")

Our starting Strong Safety Tanard Jackson got suspended the first four games because he didn't show up for a pee test. They were short-handed in the secondary anyway, so they have some real problems.

Hogs Haven:You say you are re-building, so why would you go out and pay $80-100 million for a Haynesworth? Especially when you don't have any pass-rushers to take advantage of the 1-on-1 matchups he creates?

Roger: I don't know. I don't think we were really in the hunt. I don't think he would have wanted to come down here. In any event, I think that was to make the fans feel better. We're $30 million under the cap right now. You could do a hell of a lot with $30 million.

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It's Wednesday and thus it is time to put the Rams game, the drama with Coach Zorn, and the Robert Henson TwitGate behind us. Who would have thought the Lions game would mean as much as it does? Zorn is deflecting hot seat questions on his own radio show, and the Redskins are fighting to avoid being the first team to lose to the Lions in 20 games. Trivia...who was the last team to lose to the Lions?

Continuing the "Interview a fan" fun from last week, a friend of mine from the D.C. Improv, Philippe Cicchini, hails from Michigan. I can't recall one of his Facebook updates not belittling mentioning the Tigers, Pistons, or Lions in some form. I threw some Q&A his way hitting such topics as whether the Lions should start Culpepper, the Lions firing ALL their defensive backs after last season, and what he would do if he ran into Matt Millen in a dark alley.

Hogs Haven: The Lions have given up an average of 390 yards per game (granted, it was the Vikes and Saints they had to face). How do you think the defense will hold up against a sputtering Redskins offense, especially now that the Lions lost their starting LB Ernie Sims?

Phillipe: Being without Sims will definitely hurt the team's chances on defense.  He's easily one of their biggest teeth-rattling hitters and an emerging leader on that side of the ball.  But, even with him in the lineup the first two games, they were giving up an average of 134 yards on the ground.  If the Lions are able to contain Clinton Portis, the Lions might have a shot, since Jason Campbell will be coming in with a bum ankle, thus possibly hindering his mobility and ability to make plays through the air.  So, the Lions are catching a break this week in that they're finally going up against a quarterback whose last name isn't Brees or Favre.  But, the Lions haven't won a game since, seemingly, Abraham Lincoln's administration.  CAN the defense hold up?  It's entirely possible, but the D-line's going to have to play smart and put pressure on Washington's QB, especially if Campbell can't go.  WILL the defense hold up?  If history's any indication, we're probably looking at loss number 20 in a row if the offense doesn't figure out a way to hold on to the ball.

Hogs Haven: Against the Vikings, the Lions used Stafford conservatively. Do you think Duante Culpepper should be trying to get the first win or is Stafford ready to play? (The Lions have a NFL worst 40.5 QB rating through 2 weeks.)

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We've talked to Rams' fans and heard all the comments from Redskins Park regarding the game this Sunday, but why not ask the team that just played them, the Seahawks? I shot an email over to the SB Nation Seahawks blog, Field Gulls, and they quickly returned my questions regarding the Rams D-line, the Rams WRs, what to expect from the Rams secondary, and the often-penalized, Richie Incognito.

Hogs Haven: The Rams were unable to record any sacks despite having Leonard Little and Chris Long. How was the Seahawks O-line so successful in keeping Hasselbeck upright? Did they not blitz a lot? You'd think Spagnuolo would come up with something to get to the QB.

The answer is in the question. Soon to be 35, Leonard Little, (who missed a portion of the game) and second year end, Chris Long, are not quality pass rushers, but they are the best pass rushers the Rams have. Steve Spagnuolo mixed it up, showing creative looks and a diverse pass rush, but Seattle's offensive linemen were not challenged by the Rams talent itself. When the Rams rushed four, Seattle's line kept the heat off. When the Rams blitzed, Seattle used a mix of screen, max-protect and good blocking from its backs to protect Matt Hasselbeck.

Spagnuolo and Seahawks offensive coordinator Greg Knapp matched wits, and Knapp won. Spags will get the better of more traditional or less adaptive coordinators. He is a true disciple of Jim Johnson. Spagnuolo sent corner blitzes, safety blitzes and regularly involved the linebackers. The Rams executed well, but their dearth of talent undercut them last Sunday. I was impressed though, and I expect the Rams defense to steal some wins against superior opponents.

Hogs Haven: How would you rate the Rams WRs? Bulger seems to have trouble with the WRs and their timing. Is this the case or did the Seahawks corners implement something to disrupt their game plan.

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We've beaten the Week 1 loss to death, so we're ready to move on to the Rams game. A good friend of mine, and former roommate, John Dickerman, is a Missourian native and knows everything St. Louis there is when it comes to sports. Since so many NFC East fans could give a rat's ass know so little about the Rams, I thought it'd be worth picking his brain for a quick update on the state of the 2-14 squad from last season. 

Ken and I will be doing an interview with the SB Nation Rams blog in the next day, so we'll be able to get a good feel of what to expect. I appeared on their blog last night, and one thing is very clear: The Rams current WRs are about as valuable as Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly were to the Redskins last year, specificaly with the timing and accuracy of their routes.

The Rams are a total disaster as a result of at least 6 years of poor drafting. (The Rams currently have two players on their roster from the 2006 Draft - two players picked in the 4th and 7th rounds.)  There is no question that they are rebuilding.  This year, in particular, they are in flux because they have two high-priced veterans on O who are past their prime (Marc Bulger), or nearing their prime and are ineffective because of a poor surrounding cast (S Jax).  They have added money to the O line with Bell, Brown and Jason Smith, but their O line is inefficient and undisciplined.  (The big story this week was Incognito again taking personal foul penalties - two of them, there's no question that guy has a load of talent, but he has a rep for being a dirty player now.  He's on a short leash with the league, and everyone in St. Louis is frustrated with his immaturity on the field.)  I don't think anyone in St. Louis expects them to win more than 4 games.  6 wins would have to be considered a success.  

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So moving on from Week 1, I'll try and keep pace with my weekly interview with a Redskinette. I actually met Melanie [profile] awhile back at the Redskinette calendar release party, and she was more than gracious to answer my questions:

Hogs Haven: So tell me a little about yourself...years on the squad, et cetera?

Melanie: This is my second year on the squad. I'm originally from California but went to Virgina Tech.

The thought that popped in my mind which I use with anyone I meet from VA Tech, "VA Tech, OK..I'll speak slower then."

Hogs Haven: I'm going to name a couple Redskins players...you want to try and guess what position they play?

Melanie: Oh man....OK! (laughing/worried)

Hogs Haven: Devin Thomas.

Melanie: Ah...I'm not sure!

Hogs Haven: It's OK...that's not a gimme. Clinton Portis.

Melanie: Umm...Wide Receiver?

Hogs Haven: Ooo. Close. He is on offense...but running back. What's been the best moment of being a Redskinette...and you can't say the first time you ran out of the tunnel onto the field.

Melanie: Ahh dang! It'd have to be the calendar shoot trip in Aruba last year.

Hogs Haven: What has been the worst moment?

Melanie: I once got grabbed during a promo.

Thinking to myself: "Was his name Ken Meringolo?"

Hogs Haven: OK, last question...if Colt Brennan asked you to go Hawaii with him for a 2-week romantic vacation, but because of the Redskins policy, you'd lose your cheerleading job, would you still go?

Melanie: Haha. Nope. I have a boyfriend.

There were a lot of boyfriends at the calendar release party supporting their girlfriends, which didn't seem to bother all the old men with cameras. I'll get down to the bottom of that as we progress through the Redskinette lineup. Thanks again to Melanie for being a good sport.