A 9th grader sealed the Godfrey deal

by Skin Patrol on Aug 22, 2007 12:21 PM EDT in Redskins Analysis

Two interesting little nuggets per Covering the Redskins regarding the recent signing of Randall Godfrey, to replace a released Lemar Marshall (WTF mate) and an interesting Joe Gibbs/Washington Post scuffle. First the former:

The team had been speaking to Godfrey for months and had him high on their wish list during free agency.. But Godfrey, who turned down a one year offer with a pay cut to stay in San Diego moved his family back to Georgia (he played at the University of GA) and was contemplating retirement.. Godfrey said he had offers from the Eagles and Cardinals on the table as well.. It was his 9th grade son who told him to starp it up for this season and play..
Phillip Daniels is a close friend of Godfrey and was lobbying the linebacker to come back.. The D-end said he's been in touch with Godfrey for the last 3 weeks trying to work on him.. Daniels joked now that he is here, "he owes me 3% commission."

If Daniels feels he's owed 3% than surely Godfrey's young son deserves a cut as well. I don't want to leap towards negative conclusions about our newest Redskin, but I'd just as soon have a Lemar Marshall -- who has proven his interest in playing for these Redskins through blood and sweat on the field -- than Godfrey, who, doesn't know the defense and apparently wasn't motivated to do so until his 9th grade son came in to save the day.

And that's the crux of the matter. Lemar Marshall has been with the Redskins since 2001 and throughout the entire Gregg Williams era. He was an integral part in both our '05 and '04 defenses that finished so well, starting 30 games over those two years. He is like having an additional coach on the field. The knock was that he was, at a listed 225, simply too small to play linebacker, a criticism that sounds more accurate against him as an inside linebacker than on the weak side. Godfrey is allegedly around 245, though I can find no info on that and encourage reader(s) to track it down.

None of that is to say that Randall Godfrey will fail to contribute defensively, but what was so bad about Marshall? How does this impact his teammates? If Lemar Marshall can be cut, beyond starters (and even some of them) it's hard to imagine which Redskin player feels safe. As Marshall himself said, he was totally shocked by the move.

[Note: Pretty damning commentary from Redskins 360 as we get the opportunity to see how the Eagles treat their departed linebacker (a former Redskin, incidentally, Jeremiah Trotter) and how we treat a departed linebacker. Marshall deserved better, and I'm not even talking about his treatment after-the-fact, which is all window dressing anyways. He should be wearing Burgundy and Gold right now.]

In other news:

Gibbs was angry about the Washington Post article that criticized the left side of the offensive line saying that the report that Stephon Heyer was having trouble adjusting to some of the techniques was inaccurate. He said he wants "the fans to have all the facts. There are a lot of reasons for giving up sacks but I want people to know Heyer hasn't given up one." Gibbs refuses to lay the blame for the glut of sacks through two pre-season games on anyone in particular but did repeat that the QB missed two sight adjustments on plays that caused sacks and one "route was broken off" on a Todd Collins sack..

Fair enough for an official explanation, and I don't fault Coach for doing this. Why on earth would he want to throw Stephon Heyer under the bus? This kid's confidence is crucial to the protection of Jason Campbell until Chris Samuels returns from injury. And it isn't beyond the realm of possibilities that Samuels goes down to injury this season; having a confident and mentally capable Heyer as backup is clutch.

That said, I'd be interested to hear what Coach Gibbs' thoughts are on Dillweed's excellent picture-by-picture breakdown of the Keisel sack. What it (definitively in my opinion) shows is that Heyer commits himself to blocking a linebacker who shows blitz but backs into coverage, and does so in a way that prevents him from adjusting to Keisel, who swims past him anyways. The blame game could be played a lot of ways -- Mike Pucillo could have stopped Keisel as well -- but without knowing the presnap assignments it's difficult to know just what went wrong. What I do know is that Stephon Heyer didn't block anyone adequately on this play. He set up to block someone who didn't go after the quarterback, then picked a target he couldn't cover. I'm not jumping all over Heyer, but it's difficult to protect your quarterback when the left tackle doesn't cover anyone, verdad?

Update [2007-8-22 14:39:26 by Skin Patrol]: Lee Gibbons at Redskin Report weighs in on Heyer.

Riggo's Rag, Oh My Godfrey

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Comments

Dillweeds assesment is right on

no matter which way you look at that play it was a missed block by Heyer. a rookie mistake. he has to stay to the inside and let Keisel turn to the outside and block him there, even if JC gets flushed out.

The problem I have is letting Heyer, a rookie, start against proven starters. Maybe Wade should play there until Samuels comes back. I know they want him to get starts at guard, but it almost cost us the season.

Gibbs better call it like it is and stop covering for a rookie of all people. Unlike the LM situation which i am stilled pissed at.

by Sincethebeginning @ Hogs Haven on Aug 22, 2007 1:23 PM EDT reply actions

Ah...

I gave my thoughts on Heyer: http://www.theredskinreport.com/2007/08/21/ease-up-on-heyer/

Whether or not he got beat on that play, its not even a story if keisel doesn't go low with the hit. That play ended up in 30 yard completion to Cooley, so I doubt you'd even know Campbell got hit if the guy wasn't dirty.

As for Marshall... he was beyond awful last year (to be fair he was very good in 2005). You can't just keep a guy around because he's been here forever, if he's done he's done. It was pretty telling for me when Khary Campbell came in for Washington on Saturday. Whether or not Godfrey makes the team or has an impact, you can't just keep guys around based on senority.

Although I'll make the same arguement when my main man Ade Jimoh 3 years down the road. :)

by Lee Gibbons on Aug 22, 2007 1:41 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think seniority

buys you a spot on the team, but it does speak towards your knowledge of the defense, which certainly should be a consideration when comparing players. The question becomes whether Godfrey has proven enough recently to get the nod over Marshall, and I don't see that. Acknowledging that he was overmatched as an inside linebacker, I'm not entirely sold that he can't backup on the weak side -- which is what Godfrey will be asked to do I believe. I'll disagree that Marshall is done, although clearly that is what the coaching staff believes. We'll probably get a chance to see, as I anticipate Marshall making a roster pretty soon.

Very good point about the 30 yard completion on the Heyer play.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Aug 22, 2007 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions