The Swinging Gate D.C.

Come Follow The Swinging Gate At It's New Location!

2011-03-23T19:26:00.000-04:00

I know I haven't updated this space in a while, but Jack Anderson, my partner over at SBNationDC, Ed Sheahin and myself have teamed up for our new site, The Swinging Gate D.C. (yes, we kept the name of this blog).

So while it's been fun starting my first ever blog on this space, I will now be taking my talents over to Wordpress, so come check out the new site at http://swinginggatedc.com . Thanks for all of your support!

- DShif

CBA Issues Put The Washington Redskins’ Favorite Time Of Year On Hold

2011-03-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

A feature for SBNation DC

At the moment, it's going to be tough for these men to make big moves

Mar 1, 2011 - The NFL free agency period is usually the Washington Redskins' favorite time of year. Over the majority of the past decade, Washington couldn’t wait for the end of the current league year to end and for the new one to begin, because that signaled the start of free agency.

And that’s where the Redskins would shine. Year after year, it was commonplace to see Redskins One being flown out to a free agent near you to fulfill each and every one of his financial desires. If you were a big-name free agent, the burgundy and gold cross hairs were pointed directly at you and the money usually reeled you into the nation’s capital. The Redskins may not have won Super Bowl championships during those years, but they sure did earn a ton of ‘Offseason Championships’ trophies in that stretch.

But this year? Not so much. The Redskins, as well as every other NFL team, are at the mercy of the current labor negotiations going on between the league and it’s players union. If a new Collective Bargaining Agreement isn’t done by this Thursday, we’re headed for a potential lockout.

I had a chance to speak with former Redskins salary cap analyst J.I. Halsell about how the CBA could potentially halt a very important offseason for the Redskins.

"The CBA uncertainty makes it hard to plan right now about how to build your team in 2011 because you don’t what the rules or circumstances are going to be," Halsell said.

The mediated negotiations will resume this week, so NFL executives are still careful to reveal the progress that the NFL and the players union have made thus far. But according to Halsell, if you ask the player agents, it doesn’t look too good.

"The over arching theme with those guys was pessimism. [The agents felt that] this wasn’t going to get done any time soon, that this will be a long term chess match", he said.

That’s not what any NFL fan wants to hear.

The CBA will affect each team differently, with each team having their own set of issues as it relates to their roster. For the Redskins, one of the first things they need to do this offseason is resolve their two most dramatic situations from the 2010 season: The Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb conflicts. Let’s take Haynesworth. How does the CBA uncertainty affect him?

"With the Haynesworth situation, he’s still part of the team. You’ve seen guys like Bob Sanders and Shaun Rogers getting released right now. Those are the types of guys that are getting released right now," Halsell said. "Particularly with a guy like Shaun Rogers on the market, who essentially is [direct] competition on the free agent market against a guy like Albert Haynesworth. If I’m a club, why would I give up a draft pick to trade for Albert Haynesworth when I can just find Shaun Rogers, without having to give that up?"

Great. So the Redskins, for now, are stuck with Haynesworth unless they finally decide to cut bait with him down the road.

As for McNabb, his situation is a little more complicated. Even though his late-season benching signaled a likely end for him in Washington, with all the labor uncertainty happening at the moment, it’s not exactly time to send him out of D.C. just yet.

"Contractually, they hold all the cards in [the McNabb] situation, and they don’t have to do anything with Donovan until they have to make a decision on his $10 million option bonus," Halsell said. "I read the reports that Donovan could be released pretty soon after the draft, but at the same time there’s nothing compelling the Redskins to do that."

Click HERE for the rest of the feature

A Simple Way Of Looking At The Washington Redskins' Offseason Needs

2011-02-23T11:32:00.001-05:00

Phil Taylor/NT - Please draft him

Well, from all of the latest reports, despite the NFL and NFLPA are meeting vigorously in recent days, it looks like we could be heading for lockout city come next week.

Obviously, this hurts NFL teams from going after a lot of their needs in free agency. This year's free agent class is one of the largest and most talented in recent memory.

But should there be some resolution to the labor conflict, I've figured out a decent way of looking at the Redskins needs and how to go about addressing those needs. Let's take a look:

Tier 3 (least important) needs:

Running back (this is a Mike Shanahan coached team)

Tier 2 (mid level) needs:

Wide receiver
Cornerback (especially if Carlos Rogers leaves)
Free Safety
Right Tackle
Left Guard

Tier 1 (most important) needs:

Center
Right Guard
Right Defensive End
Nose Tackle
Outside Linebacker

If you notice, QB is missing from any of the lists. I'd say right now that's the most debatable need for the team. Depending on who you are, it's either the top it the 'Tier 1' needs or in the middle of the 'Tier 2' needs. It all goes back to the argument of 'If you're going to draft a QB, will he have the pieces around him to succeed?', if you think so, then sure, bring in a young QB. If not, hack away at the other needs.

As for me? I say you go into free agency (if there is one) with the idea of attacking as many Tier 3 and Tier 2 needs as possible. Try and get guys who fit the system(s), are upgrades over the current player manning that position, and come at a good value (a huge factor, in my opinion). You're not going to be able to address every single need this offseason, but bringing in quality players at good prices allow the team to have room to get more quality players. Bringing in 3-5 younger, quality players at good value is better than bringing in one player with a Haynesworth-type deal (thanks, captain obvious).

Anyway, that leaves you to go into the draft just hacking away at all your Tier 1 needs. I would love to see the Redskins simply go to town drafting the top D-Linemen/O-Linemen/Outside Linebackers coming out of college. If you can throw in some quality skill position guys/ a developmental QB later in the draft, that works too. I just hope they spend their top picks on their top needs, and everything else comes in the later rounds of the draft, if not free agency.

Obviously this is just one persons opinion. Different fans have different thoughts on the Redskins offseason needs.

Feel free to comment on which needs belong in which category.

Should The Washington Redskins Re-Sign Carlos Rogers?

2011-02-15T09:20:00.000-05:00

A feature for SBNation DC

Feb 15, 2011 - Over the last few weeks, we have been going through some of the key Redskins free agents, who they should keep and who they should let walk. Last week, we talked about Rocky McIntosh and Jamaal Brown. This week the subject will be on cornerback Carlos Rogers.

Carlos Rogers’ 2010 Season

Before we go into his 2010 campaign, let’s go back in time a few years:

It’s January of 2006. The Redskins were in the divisional round of the playoffs (I know, right?), and were facing Matt Hasselbeck and the eventual NFC champion Seattle Seahawks. Then-MVP Shaun Alexander was knocked out of the game from a concussion he received early via a hit received from Marcus Washington and LaVar Arrington. The Redskins had the early momentum, forcing Seattle to put the game in the hands of Hasselbeck without his star running back. One of the games’ forgotten critical plays came early in the second quarter, on a Hasselbeck attempted pass. As he dropped back, Hasselbeck threw a pass late into the flat, and a young rookie cornerback named Carlos Rogers got a tremendous break on the ball. It looked like the youngster had a great shot to intercept the pass and in all likelihood, take it to the house.

But it wasn’t to be. Because he dropped it. He was in great position and he was unable to come up with what could have been a game changing play.

Moments like that would go on to define Rogers’ six-year career in Washington. He was always able to get in position to make plays, but more often than not, he was unable to come up with that game-changing interception. It happened so often that it became a common topic of discussion among Redskins fans over the years. The burgundy and gold faithful wondered if Rogers would ever put it together and pair his solid coverage skills with some consistent playmaking ability.

Flash forward to 2010, Rogers’ contract year, and Redskins fans were treated to, well, more of the same.

As the season started, new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett seemed to be a big fan of Rogers’ strengths, and didn’t focus much on his weaknesses:

"I'm a fan of Carlos Rogers," Haslett said. "He's got really good cover skills. I think he's a special type of guy. I can see why they drafted him in the first round. Here's a guy that's big, long, fast, tough. You don't find too many guys like that."

Haslett saw the sixth-year cornerback as one who is physical with receivers at the line of scrimmage, can tackle well and can even come on some cornerback blitzes. Rogers was able to do a good job at excelling in those areas during the season.

There were moments where he was able to take receivers out of the game, and forced opposing quarterbacks to rely on other options. And when it was time to get physical, he did. The best example was in Philadelphia when he and the rest of the secondary were tasked with stopping the small but speedy Eagles receiving corps that featured big play threats DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. He was able consistently put his hands on receivers and jam them at the line of scrimmage throughout the game, and as a result, effectively took them out of the contest.

Click HERE for the rest of the feature.

Is It Too Early To Start Talking About A Laron Landry Contract Extension?

2011-02-11T15:55:00.001-05:00

He's a beast. But how much is he worth?

The past week or so has been much to do about the Redskins free agents, potential free agent signings, and who they might want to take with the 10th pick in the 2011 draft.

But could one of their biggest investments this offseason be an extension for strong safety Laron Landry?

I know that the Redskins have much more important issues right now than whether or not to extend a current member of the roster. They have to gear up for the scouting combine, evaluate their own free agents, potentially re-sign some players, and finally, figure out who they like in the upcoming free agent class.

Laron's walking into his final year on his contract, and the Redskins will have a choice to let the season to play out to see if he can stay healthy and improve on last year's success. That's certainly a good way to go if you're the Redskins, but given their current cap situation (once there is a cap again), they have plenty of room right now to extend the guy, and potentially at a better price.

There are two scenario's that could play out if the Redskins choose to play out the season without extending Landry:

The first scenario is that he plays lights out, even more than he did in 2010, while showing he can stay healthy for a full season. That in turn would skyrocket his value and force the Redskins to either pay him big or be forced to let him walk (highly unlikely).

The second scenario could be that Landry doesn't get over his achilles heel issues, still plays decently, but not to the level he was playing at in 2010. His value would obviously be lowered a bit, and the Redskins re-sign him to a fair long term deal.

So the question is, which of these scenarios is more likely to happen? That's always the gamble when you are in a situation like this. Pay him huge if he breaks out, or pay him less if he levels off. Obviously, the Redskins aren't going to hope his play levels off, they'd hope he improves on his 2010 campaign. And even tough they don't know how the upcoming season will play out, if the Redskins believe he is about to have another breakout season, you gotta lock him before the season starts to get good value.

Either way, Landry's gonna get his money eventually. He is arguably one of the big cornerstone players on this roster along with Trent Williams and Brian Orakpo, and will probably be paid like one. Whether it's before the season starts, during the season, or just after, Laron's pockets will be getting fatter thanks to the Redskins (at least, it better be thanks to the Redskins).

Should The Washington Redskins Re-Sign Rocky McIntosh And Jammal Brown?

2011-02-08T08:59:00.001-05:00

A feature for SBNationDC

Feb 8, 2011 - Last week we started going through some of the key free agents the Redskins will have to make tough decisions on. I went through why the Redskins should bring back Santana Moss, and it looks like the Redskins decided to listen to my advice (NOT). This week we’ll look through two more intriguing names on the roster that also happen to be free agents: Rocky McIntosh and Jamaal Brown.

Rocky McIntosh’s 2010 season:

McIntosh was one of the players who was probably hit the hardest when Mike Shanahan made the decision to go from a 4-3 base defense to a 3-4. There was some confusion early about whether McIntosh was better on the inside or the outside. The decision was made that he would man the inside along with middle linebacker London Fletcher.

The decision yielded mixed results. On the bright side, McIntosh finished second on the team in tackles with 110 and even had two sacks to his credit. He had moments where he showed flashes of his prior successes in the 4-3, particularly when it came to applying pressure on the quarterback.

Unfortunately for McIntosh, when he struggled, it wasn’t always the most pleasant thing to watch. There were several moments in games this where he was caught out of position repeatedly. Whether it was covering a tight end or a running back coming out of the backfield, McIntosh looked a step slow at times in the new scheme. Whether that was because he was adjusting to the 3-4 or because he was simply put in a position that exploited his weaknesses (specifically coverage), there were some moments during the season where he looked bewildered.

What may be the most ironic thing about McIntosh’s 2010 season was that while he finished second in the team in tackles, he may have actually have been the second worst tackler on the team this season behind Kareem Moore. He was far more consistent in years past, but for some reason, he had a hard time wrapping up ball carriers this year. That’s not a good sign for any linebacker.

So Should He Stay Or Go?

The 28 year old linebacker walks into free agency on iffy ground. He's still a solid player, but he probably is more suited for a 4-3 scheme rather than Jim Haslett's 3-4. There were some real struggles this year for Rocky, some of which may be too glaring for the coaching staff to believe he could improve next season.

Not only does a so-so performance this season hurt McIntosh, but the potential emergence of his replacement could be one of the main factors as to why he could be a goner. Rookie linebacker Perry Riley didn't get much playing time at that inside linebacker spot this season, but when he was in there, he showed some flashes of someone who could eventually start somewhere down the road. I wouldn't be surprised if the Redskins truly view Riley as the long term option at that position. That, along with spotty play from McIntosh, may be enough to convince the Redskins front office to let McIntosh walk in free agency.

Given that the Redskins need more players who can effectively play in this 3-4 scheme, letting McIntosh go is probably the right move to make.

Click HERE for the rest of the feature.

No Matter Who Wins the Snyder vs. City Paper War, Washington Redskins Fans Have Already Lost

2011-02-03T13:14:00.001-05:00

And everyone's right back to bashing you, Mr. Snyder

At this point, everyone is aware of Daniel M. Snyder's case against the Washington City Paper. And judging by the fervor that the Snyder camp is attacking this issue with, this situation only looks to get even uglier than it already is right now.

But I don't want to talk about the actual case here. The big point to me is this: it doesn't matter who's right or who's wrong. Even though it looks like Snyder will be the biggest loser from all of this, in truth it might actually be the Redskins fanbase that are actually hurt most.

Remember, over a year ago, the fanbase had a revolt against ownership, and demanded that he hand over control to real football people who know what they were doing. Well, everyone got their wish when Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan were hired. And with Snyder's relatively quiet 2010 season, it looked like all things were peachy when it came to owner involvement (or lack thereof).

Then, of course, this happens. All this incident does is brings back old wounds and pours salt on them. The (relatively few) Snyder apologists will take his side, saying the City paper needs to get their facts straight and stop attacking the owner to promote their agenda. For the Snyder bashers (and there still are plenty of them), all it does is add more fuel to the fire.

It's a shame, because for most of the 2010 season, the conversation was starting to shift away from ownership. Yes, there were certainly some down times this past season. However, all the frustration, anger and vitriol went Mike Shanahan's way, and that's usually the way it's supposed to be in an NFL franchise. Fans usually take it up with the coach, especially when he has the kind of power that Shanahan does.

But now we're back to talking about Snyder, and that's really unfortunate. We have to sit here and talk about how he hasn't changed at all and how he's a still a thin-skinned jerk and how his PR people are tools and yadda yadda yadda. To be honest, I'm quite sick of it. The entire episode in a way reverts the conversation to what it was prior to the new regime coming to town, and that's a place I don't want to go back to.

Is the owner a good owner? No. Until he wins, he will never be considered a good owner, and incidents like these don't help his cause either. But I do wish this thing can get resolved as soon as humanly possible so that the focus can be on what's the most important thing to the fans: this regime successfully rebuilding the Redskins into a contender.

Washington Redskins Free Agents: Should Washington Keep Santana Moss?

2011-02-01T09:36:00.002-05:00

A feature for SBNationDC

(Larry French/Getty Images)

Washington Redskins fans have been quick to realize that this upcoming offseason will certainly be unique. They are all aware that the entire offseason will be dominated by the status of a new collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Union. Until then, as we know, teams are not permitted to make trades with other teams or acquire another team’s free agents. That’s unfortunate for the Redskins, as this upcoming free agent class will feature several players that they certainly will want.

That being said, the team is still allowed to negotiate new contracts with their own free agents. Over the next few weeks we will be taking a look at four of the Redskins key free agents, and whether or not the team should re-sign them.

We start this week with wide receiver Santana Moss.

Santana Moss' 2010 Season

Moss, 31, is coming off of a season where he amassed 93 catches (a career high) for 1115 yards and six touchdowns. It was his fourth 1,000-yard receiving year in his career and his third for the Redskins. No matter the head coach, quarterback or offensive coordinator, Moss has been a steady, productive force for the burgundy and gold over his six-year stint in Washington.

In 2010, as he was getting accustomed to his fourth different offense in Washington, he was given a different role by offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan than in his previous years. The Shanahan’s deemed Moss to be more productive by putting him more in the slot rather than playing the classic outside ‘X’ receiver position that he was playing in prior seasons.

Putting him in the slot allowed him to run a more variety of routes and exploit certain matchups against the oppositions' lesser cornerbacks. Along with his ability to get open, it gave him more chances to catch the ball and use his open field skills to get yards after the catch. He isn't as fast as he used to be, but he was still able to run precise routes and get separation of most defensive backs.

He didn't have any of the monster games he used to have early in his career (had just three 100+ receiving yard games in 2010), but he did show more consistency this year than in his previous ones. In 2010, Moss was able to put together a longer stretch of solid efforts, rather than having the occasional huge game followed up by one where he was virtually invisible.

In fact, Moss had 10 games this season where he had at least 70 yards receiving (as opposed to just four in '09) and 12 games where he had at least 56 yards receiving. Not too shabby for the 10th-year pro out of Miami.

All in all, Kyle Shanahan’s vision for Moss went just as planned, as he led the team in receiving and set a new career high in receptions with 93.

Click HERE for the rest of the feature.

This Offseason, It Might Be Okay For The Washington Redskins To Embrace Free Agency

2011-01-27T14:27:00.001-05:00

Unlikely, but LaMarr Woodley would be real nice to have (Scott Boehm/Getty Images )

This offseason, there will undoubtedly be a lot of talk about who the Redskins will select with the 10th overall pick in the draft. Will it be a quarterback? Will it be an offensive lineman? Defensive lineman? With so many needs, the Redskins can almost do no wrong with drafting a number of different positions at that spot.

And fans are smart to think about the draft process early this year, as the draft is one of the only certainties of this offseason. The reason being, of course, is because the current labor situation only allows for NFL teams to do two things: Re-sign their own free agents, and go about the draft process as they normally would due to that fact that the draft will take place no matter what.

But when the labor situation does get resolved (whenever that is), I think it would do the Redskins some good to be active in acquiring other teams' free agents this offseason. In the past, we have seen what happens when the Redskins decide they want to be active in free agency, and we all know it doesn't bring back pleasant memories. But despite the fact that they have had massive failures in free agency in the past, it does not mean that free agency isn't a good tool for roster building.

Yes, the draft is important. Very important, even. But for nearly 20 years free agency has been an available roster building tool in the NFL that some (key word: some) teams have used very successfully. Obviously, the burgundy and gold have not been on of those teams. It has been said time and again about how teams should build through the draft and use free agency to help augment an already solid core of players.

That may be true, but this year could prove to be a unique situation. The free agent class this year is a larger, more talented, and most importantly, younger group of players. One of the first things Bruce Allen did when he came to Washington was to clean up several bad contracts and move the guaranteed money onto the 2010 uncapped season so that the Redskins will be in great position to go after free agents if necessary this year and beyond. For the first time in a decade, the Redskins will finally have a financial clean slate. Now it'll be up to them to use their available funds wisely.

Now, just because I am advocating being active this year doesn't mean I am saying they should be stupid. There's a difference, as Redskins fans have painfully found out over the years. This offseason should be about filling holes on the roster with young, emerging talent for good value. It's about getting quantity WITH quality in 2011, and with Bruce Allen's track record, it doesn't look like the Redskins will be grossly overpaying for anyone on the upcoming free agent market.

So while Redskins fans may hate free agency (and with good reason), I'd ask them to realize that this year is a unique situation in free agency that any NFL team would be foolish not to dive in just a little bit.

And with all their needs, the Redskins will certainly need to get all the help they can get.

Click here to see the 2011 free agent class. Who should the Redskins go and get?

Can The Washington Redskins Run A 3-4 Defense Like The Green Bay Packers?

2011-01-25T10:32:00.000-05:00

A feature for SBNation DC

This year’s Super Bowl will pit the Green Bay Packers against the Pittsburgh Steelers, two well-run organizations who know how to win and know how to build balanced, deep rosters. They both have franchise quarterbacks, one with a playoff pedigree in Ben Roethlisberger, and the other being Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback who has played the hottest in this year’s playoff tournament.

However, the two teams also share a trait that may interest Washington Redskins fans: They both run a 3-4 defensive front. Yes, the very same scheme that the Redskins are attempting to implement over at Ashburn.

One of the key differences between the Steelers defensive unit and the Packers’ is that this is just the second year the Packers have been running the scheme. It would seem that after just two years, Green Bay’s decision to switch to a 3-4 seems to have paid huge dividends. But for the Redskins, there just doesn't seem to be that same level of optimism that next year's defense will be significantly better than the train-wreck unit that was trotted out this season.

So how did Green Bay do it? All one has to do is briefly recall the Packers first offseason after transitioning to the 3-4 to see why they are so successful, and why Redskins would do well for themselves to take notes.

Back in February of 2009, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy announced the hiring of Dom Capers as defensive coordinator and that Green Bay would switch their base defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4. In their previous season, the Packers defense was a middle of the road unit, finishing 20th overall. The Packers were coming off of a disappointing season where they went 6-10 (just a season after they went 13-3), and they knew they needed to make some changes. McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson believed that going to a 3-4 would help the Packers defense become more effective by getting more pressure on the quarterback and being more flexible against modern NFL offenses.

As the Redskins found out last offseason, there are challenges that come with switching your base defense, no matter who you are. There are several key questions that have to be addressed. How much of the current roster make a smooth transition to the new scheme? Who will be playing out of position? Most importantly, who will play nose tackle?

When the Packers were faced with the same set of questions, they seemed quite sure they had the answers. Though they knew they’d have some issues with certain players (in their case, defensive end Aaron Kampman becoming an outside linebacker). But when the announcement was made nearly two years ago, McCarthy seemed excited for change:

"Change creates excitement," McCarthy said then. " … The Green Bay Packers organization will never lack for energy. It’s such a great place to work from a culture standpoint, the passion of all the people that work here. But there’s definitely a ton of energy on the third floor right now. Today’s exciting."

McCarthy was also convinced that although his players would have to learn a new scheme, it'd be the best thing for the defense in the end.

"Terminology-wise, they’re learning a new language … and I think that’s good for everybody. That touches every player. Technique-wise, there’s definitely going to be some carryover — there always is, particularly in sub-fronts. You may look at some of our subpackages, and you may not think there’s a whole lot of difference compared to what we’ve done in the past."

That sounds quite familiar if you’re a Redskins fan. We were hearing similar things from Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett shortly after there were rumblings that the Skins were switching to a 3-4.

The difference is, the Packers went about each issue in a much different manner than the Redskins.

Click HERE to read the rest of the feature.

The Washington Redskins Probably Wish To Become Like These Four NFL Organizations

2011-01-17T15:08:00.001-05:00

We're knee deep in the playoffs, and for the Redskins, that means an early start for their offseason plans. It's been that way more often than not over the last decade, and we all know why.

We will be going into year two of the Mike Shanahan/ Bruce Allen era, and Allen recently said that he believes the infrastructure of the organization has changed dramatically since he took over. Let's hope that is true. Because in football, good organizations win more often than not.

My definition of a good organization is one where the entire operation is in sync. From owner to GM to scouting staff to head coach, everyone is on the same page. They identify an organizational identity, and they acquire players (through smart draft classes and key free agent pickups) that fit that identity.

It's no accident that the good organizations are usually in the playoffs year after year. That does not mean that good organizations will win the Super Bowl every season, but it means they have a legitimate shot. Bad organizations can have good seasons (i.e. the Redskins '05/'07), but that does not mean that those teams will have consistent, prolonged success.

The Redskins have certainly improved as an organization, as they now have a real structure in how they operate, but they obviously have a ways to go before they are to be considered an elite organization.

With that, I decided to take a look at what I believe are the top 4 organizations in the NFL today:

4. The Baltimore Ravens - The way this team is run, you would never guess that they were up I-95 just 50 minutes from Redskins park. Even though John Harbaugh may have be out of line when he said that the Ravens want to take over the DC fanbase, he is part of a damn good organization. Ozzie Newsome and his staff are among the best in the league at drafting. Just take a look at their draft classes since 2006, it has been stellar. They didn't get a franchise quarterback 'till 2008, but they built their team in such a way that once they got their QB, they could immediately compete for an AFC championship. They have an identity that they adhere to and it's helped them be in it every year.

3. The Indianapolis Colts - Yes, they have Peyton Manning. But they do have organizational depth. That's probably one of their biggest strengths. Indy built a deep team around Manning (especially on the offensive side of the ball) such that when his top targets go down like they did this year, the Colts can still compete. Bill Polian is a good GM who knows how to find late round and undrafted gems every single year. On defense, they started with their line, getting two good edge rushers who can get to the QB, especially when the Colts have the lead.The rest of their defense is a quick, speedy unit that adheres to the 'Tampa 2' style defense and they continue to draft guys who fit that mold. They might be guilty of building their entire team around one player, but they have done it well over the past decade and though it's only yielded a single championship, they continue to be one of the best in the NFL.

2. The Pittsburgh Steelers - Tough. Gritty. Physical. Those are the things that come to mind when I think of the Steelers. They have a long standing identity. Take a look at them on the defensive side of the ball and that's where you'll really see what this team is all about. They've run the same 3-4 scheme for almost two decades, and they have drafted a boat load of players who keep fitting what they do, both from skillset perspective as well as mentality. From their deep defensive line, to their stellar group of linebackers, Pittsburgh has shown what a 3-4 defense should look like. They don't even need to have a stellar secondary to make it work. The Redskins' defensive coordinator Jim Haslett came from Pittsburgh originally, and has taken a lot of what he does from the Steelers. Obviously, the Redskins defense looks nothing like the Steelers right now, but Pittsburgh is certainly the team to emulate on defense if you're Washington. Augment that defense with a gritty offense who has some playmakers, including a QB who can extend any play, and you got a tough nosed team that can win on any given Sunday.

1. The New England Patriots - I hate 'em. Can't stand 'em. Couldn't be happier that they lost to the loud mouth Jets this past weekend. But man, do they run a good operation. Don't believe me? Check the draft pick situation.The Pats have 7 picks in the first four rounds.The Redskins have two picks in the first four rounds. That's ridiculous. They don't draft superstars, they draft lunch pail guys who fit the scheme (I'm sensing a theme on this list) and fit whatever mold Bill Bellicheck wants. Yes, they have Tom Brady, but besides yesterday, he usually is afforded great protection and he is able to find a bevy of under-rated weapons on his team. Despite the loss to the Jets, they will be fine in the future.

Given some time, I think the Redskins can be on their way to becoming a good organization. It will take several years, but if the owner lets the football people do their jobs, the Redskins may finally reclaim their spot in the NFL as a perennial playoff contender.

Feel free to give your own opinions on this, who I left off the list, if someone else deserves the top spot, etc.

Washington Redskins May Need a Nose Tackle More Than They Need a QB

2011-01-10T17:34:00.000-05:00


Maake didn't get it done this year (Redskins Blog)

With the 2010 season now over, there will be plenty of analysis going forward about the Redskins needs, how they will attack free agency, and what they will want to do in the draft. While many inside Ashburn think they need to draft a franchise quarterback this year, I would argue drafting a stud nose tackle could be more important right now. Although drafting the future QB is certainly a priority, the Redskins may run the risk of taking a chance on a project QB who isn't a sure thing (and this draft is littered with those types).

Let's face the facts. The Redskins defense stunk this year. They had their moments when they were able to get a few stops, get some key turnovers, and apply some pressure on the QB. But for the most part, they were gashed. And there's no debate that the area that they were hurting this most this year in the trenches. As a fan watching, it felt like opposing running backs were getting nearly 4 to 5 yards a pop against the Redskins, with the defensive line getting pushed around with relative ease.

They say the 3-4 defense is predicated on having an effective nose tackle. Well, the Redskins have run the scheme for a full season and they still have not found an adequate nose tackle on their roster. Yes, some of the backup nose tackles such as Anthony Bryant were effective in spots, but that position was one where the opposition dominated. Plain and simple, the Redskins NEED to upgrade here. The entire defensive scheme is compromised if you don't have a stud up front.

Just taking a look at some of the teams who played this past weekend, four of them run the 3-4 defense (Ravens, Jets, Chiefs, Packers). All of them have at least solid if not dominant defensive lines. Looking at Green Bay in particular, they have come such a long way in the scheme because the first thing they did when they decided to go to the 3-4 defense in 2009 was draft a stud D tackle by the name of B.J. Raji.Judging by his play the past two seasons, he doesn't look like he's a bust. That's the type of player the Redskins should target in the draft. The Redskins may not be able to address every need this offseason, but if they can start by checking off a few needs along the defensive line, this whole 3-4 thing could really work.

I attempted to raise this point as well as a few others about the Redskins when I was on SBNationDC Radio the other day talking about the end of the Redskins season:

You can listen to that interview here.

Washington Redskins Are Keeping The Faith On Both Sides Of The Ball

2011-01-04T12:37:00.001-05:00

Skins believe they are getting it on both sides of the ball (Washington Post)

A Feature for SBNationDC

A common definition of faith is to believe strongly in a truth despite a lack of supporting evidence or facts. If that’s the case, then the Washington Redskins still have plenty of faith about future success going into the 2011 season.

The 2010 season is over, and the Redskins have finished in last place in the NFC East for the third consecutive season. Their offense has been inconsistent at best. They have statistically the worst defense in the NFL. But despite all of that, they couldn’t be more excited about the future, on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, if you take a look at some of the things the Redskins accomplished (or didn’t accomplish) this season, it’ll make you wonder what, if any, positives can be taken into next year. As Redskins fans and observers know, there are plenty of question marks going forward about the offense. How will the offensive line issues be dealt with? What will be the running back rotation? And most importantly, who will be the quarterback next year?

With so many questions, the players feel they will find the answers, in time.

"We can really be special in this offense that we have," Santana Moss said on Sunday. "I've been in a lot of offenses in the past six years [as a Redskin], and it's just that this offense fits what this league is about right now. Throwing the ball around and running when you can. When we get our stuff oiled up together we can really be explosive."

That’s a lot of confidence coming from a guy who doesn’t even know if he’s going to be in D.C. next season. Moss wasn’t alone in his assessment of the future of this offense. Anthony Armstrong, arguably the Redskins offensive breakout player this year, offered similar optimism.

"I felt good about [the offense] all season. I knew it was going to be a work in progress, but I knew we had plenty of capability and opportunities to make plays and put up a lot of points. I think we're on the right track, we have a lot to build on."

It remains to be seen just how much they can build off this year. The offense endured a line shuffle (due to injury and poor play), a dwindling stable of running backs, a lack of true playmakers and of course, a controversial quarterback change. Those aren’t exactly positives going into 2011.

That being said, the offense did find some pieces moving forward. Ryan Torain is a tough (albeit injury prone) running back who perfectly fits the Shanahans' offense scheme. The aforementioned Armstrong is a younger player who provided more than the Redskins could have even imagined before the season started. Trent Williams played like a rookie at times, but held up well throughout the season. Other youngsters such as Keiland Williams, Terrence Austin, Kory Lichtensteiger and Will Montgomery look like they can become solid contributors moving forward.

On the other side of the ball, Jim Haslett’s defense took a lot of heat for a boatload of reasons. They shouldn’t have gone to the 3-4 defense this year. They don’t have a true nose tackle. They don’t have a player opposite of rush linebacker Brian Orakpo to help add pressure. Oh, and there was that little Albert Haynesworth thing. All of those issues, and yet, the defensive players see the positives that this scheme brings.

"You can see the potential," Orakpo said. "The potential is there. Guys are flying around."

Click here to read the full article.

The Washington Redskins Fans (For The Most Part) Deserve Better

2010-12-23T17:29:00.001-05:00


These two men and their troubles have, unfortunately, overshadowed the 2010 season

The Redskins should probably change their team slogan from "R U In?" to "We Know Drama".

The current drama is the fallout of last week's benching of Donovan McNabb. First, Rex Grossman goes out there and has a game no one thought possible, then Mike Shanahan pounds his chest after a loss about how right he was, and now McNabb's agent has come out with a statement bashing the Shanahans:

"I believe there is tension between Donovan and Kyle that's rooted in the fact that Donovan has suggested modifications to Kyle's offense based on intricacies Donovan has learned in his NFL career. For example, Donovan has asked all year that the team run more screen passes to help manage the pass rush more effectively. Ironically, Kyle decided to employ Donovan's suggestions after he unceremoniously benched him on Sunday.

And of course, he had to throw in one last zinger in there about Kyle:

"After Donovan quickly led the Redskins down the field and scored what appeared to be the game saving drive against Tampa Bay, Kyle was quoted as saying “He’ll (McNabb) never take another snap for me again.” Remember that statement came after Donovan led the Redskins on one of their best drives of the entire season.

Fantastic.

I'm not going to talk about where I fall on the McNabb benching, but I wanted to bring up a larger point about the drama that seems to surround this team. It's just too much.

It's ridiculous that this team always seems to have another soap opera every week. Although there are media outlets who love to pump up drama, the drama still has to come from somewhere. Every incident this year, whether it be the Haynesworth duel or the McNabb benching, it all came down to a group of men with too much testosterone wanting to show who's the boss. It's like watching two family members fight and there's nothing you can do to settle their differences. I'm not going to bash Mike Shanahan, but enough already. Seriously. Not only has the drama affected the team, but it's sparked furious debate among the team's wounded fan base.

And that Redskins fanbase is certainly in an interesting place right now. If you remember, the 2009 season was such a debacle that only dramatic organizational change was going to make them happy. And fans got what they wanted, with the arrival of Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan. No one wanted to think about what would happen should they fail. And sure enough, nearly a year after ShanAllen was brought in, fans are ready to label this regime as a failure (a ridiculous rush to judgment, in my opinion). While I strongly disagree with that assessment, it's hard to blame some fans. Redskins fans have only seen failure the last decade or so, and just when it looks like things could turn around for the better, they receive another dagger to the heart.

Some may say "Who gives a crap about the fans?", to which I would respond "Uh, the fans mean a lot to the team". The fan base of any sports team is essential, and how they feel about their team should be important both to the media and the team itself. The sad reality is that Redskins fans are like wounded puppies right now. Every time they go from an abusive home (prior regime) to a loving one (current regime), they still believe something bad will happen anyway.

I've always wondered what the fans have done to deserve seasons like this one. Redskins fans are some of the most passionate in the NFL, especially for a team that hasn't won a Super Bowl in almost 20 years. Sure, the owner deserved to pay for the mistakes he made during his last 10 years, but the fans didn't. Now that it looks like Snyder got it right and backed off, it looks like the fans still haven't seen tangible results (yet). Perhaps with the season ending and the calender year changing, positive things will be on the horizon in 2011. Like they say, the tougher the struggle, the sweeter the victory.

And lord knows Redskins fans deserve some victories.

For Mike Shanahan, The Truth Hurts

2010-12-15T16:42:00.001-05:00


Shanahan knows there's a long way to go

Well, another week, another disappointing loss.

After the botched hold that cost the Redskins a shot at overtime (and no, I won't be renaming the blog to 'The Botched Hold D.C'), the Skins became 5-8, mathematically eliminating them from the playoffs.

Now that the season is essentially over, Mike Shanahan is willing to talk about next year. But after a tough first year, it's looking like the future will require more work than Shanahan had originally anticipated. Unfortunately for Shanahan, he's learning the hard way what type of team he inherited.

That's not to say he didn't expect there to be some growing pains, as he surely had to have coming into this season. But from the outside looking in, it looks like he may have believed the team would become more competitive right away. After all, this is a two-time Super Bowl winning head coach, he should be confident in his abilities to turn a team's fortunes around. That being said, 2010 probably taught Shanahan that this isn't Denver, his team doesn't play in the AFC West, and his quarterback isn't John Elway.

Oh, and it probably also taught him that his team stinks right now.

“You’re not used to it,” he said Monday at Redskin Park. “You always want to win, especially those close games. You want to find a way to win and it’s always disappointing when you don’t win. With all the time you put in and all the effort in the off-season, it’s really hard to lose.”

While it was difficult to truly build the foundation of a winner in the 2010 offseason (limited free agent pool, few draft picks), it seemed like he needed certain veterans to have renaissance years just to finish with an average record. A lot of his offseason moves suggested this. Do I blame him? No, because he needed to field a team that would compete every Sunday no matter what. But was he wrong on certain guys? Absolutely.

This leads into the argument a lot of Redskins fans and observers are having right now, which is: should the Redskins just embrace an all out rebuild?

Fans want Shanahan to stand in front of a microphone and say something to the effect of :

"We are rebuilding, this will take some time but hang in there with us and in a few years we'll contend."

If you think Mike Shanahan is going to say that, with him taking this job with two Super Bowl rings and all the prior success in his career, you must be fooling yourself.

The hope is that with a better free agent class, and more draft picks than last year, hopefully the team continues to chip away at their most pressing needs.

As a fan, that's all you can hope for going into 2011.

Is There A Civil War Going On Right Now In Redskins Nation?

2010-12-02T18:32:00.002-05:00

Ah, so that's what that fight was about

In the aftermath of another disappointing loss (this time to the Vikings), I was surprised at the amount of spotlight given to Redskins fans. Whether it be players calling out the fans, fans bickering over what really troubles the Redskins, or fans simply fighting each other, the current state of the burgundy and gold faithful have taken my attention away from the troubles of the actual team..

Each fan is entitled to their own opinion, and as fans of this team, no one fan's view of the team is "better" than anyone else's view, as each fan has the right express how they feel about the team they love.

All that being said, from all that I have heard and read (for most of this year, really), there seems to be two fundamental ideas butting heads here, with most fans leaning one way or the other, but no one fan fully falling into one extreme or the other:

Idea 1: Same old, Same old

The idea that nothing has really changed, this team keeps having the same struggles (o line, lack of playmakers, etc.) year after year and no matter who the coach is, no matter what group of players are brought in, the results are the same. I hear a lot of these phrases thrown around:

"How come we keep bringing in all these old players?!?"

"Oh yeah? Then why would you trade for McNabb for a 2nd and a 3rd?!"

"It's been the same thing every year! They look like they're not trying!"

"Why go to a 3-4 defense when you don't have 3-4 personnel?"

"Shanahan doesn't know how to draft well!"

"Kyle only got the job cause his daddy is coach!"

You also have some who react to one play or one game and somehow extrapolate a very strong opinion about the team's flaws, and it's solely based off of that very small sample size.

As mentioned earlier, there is no one fan that I've seen share ALL of the above beliefs, but I've seen a number of fans share bits and pieces of this viewpoint.

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Idea 2: I'm going to be patient for the next few seasons

This is the idea that essentially states that 2010 was going to be an average to below average season, and anything positive they do was a bonus. You hear retorts to the above arguments such as:

"McNabb is a good quarterback that they got for good value!"

"They didn't implement the 3-4 defense for this year!"

"We brought in the older players to temporarily plug holes!"

"Shanahan knows how to build good offenses!"

"Kyle isn't a bad play caller! He just needs more talent to run his system!"

Now, I admit, I lean towards this viewpoint, but it doesn't mean the other side is 100% wrong. There are things we have seen this year that as a fanbase we should be pleased about (mostly Brandon Banks). However, there are certainly things that have happened that would make even the most optimistic fan scratch their head (*cough* McNabb benching *cough*).

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So which viewpoint is the correct one? That's an impossible question to answer, of course, only time will tell. The truth of the matter probably lies somewhere in between.

Those who have gripes with the way the 2010 season has unfolded so far can certainly make some legitimate arguments as to why things may not turn out well in the future.

Likewise, those who are more patient can sum this year up as one where the rebuilding plan began (albiet in an unconventional way) and can look forward to future success under this new coaching staff.

One way or another, we're all going to find out in the next few years who is right. That's the fun part about being part of a fanbase, we all get to find out what lies ahead together.

Injuries Forcing the Redskins to Start the Slow Climb Towards Youth

2010-11-27T15:44:00.002-05:00

Yeah, he's a keeper (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

After seeing the ridiculous amounts of Redskins falling by the wayside this past Sunday against the Titans, I wondered 'Why us?'. Perhaps karma finally caught up to the Redskins for knocking out an equally ridiculous amount of the opposing team's star players. Or perhaps the Redskins were tired from the short week after a collosal butt whooping on national tv. Or maybe, just maybe, the football gods finally stepped in and let the Redskins know what we've all known all along: Relying on older, more veteran players doesn't work during the second half of the season.Time to get younger. At least, that's what I hope the football gods said.

Remember that veteran backfield consisting of Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker? Well, they're all gone now, and we're left with Ryan Torain (24), Keiland Williams(24), James Davis(24), and Andre Brown (who?). To be honest, I have no problem with this. I love CP as much as the next guy, but you knew at some point the Redskins could not rely on him to be the guy he was from 2004- first half of 2008. So why not give the young guys a shot at running back?

Another development in the youth department for the Redskins is the emergence of Darrel Young. Again, I have a huge man crush on Mike Sellers, but the man has been at this for a while, the Redskins need a good replacement for him. Enter Young (apt name, for now) to give the Redskins a legitimate heir to the fullback position, and now it looks like the Skins could have a young, productive backfield for years to come. How about that?

As for the offensive line, the injuries to that unit against the Titans gave the Redskins the chance to display the type of depth we all knew they had (not): The type where the backups somehow play better than the starters. Huh? How does that make sense? Well, it's the Redskins, I guess it doesn't have to make sense.

It may have been one game, but it was stunning to me the improvement of the offensive line play, which seemed to coincide Casey Rabach's knee injury. I don't know if that's more an indictment of Casey Rabach's play or a tribute to Will Montgomery, but damnit, I want to see more of that.

As for Stephon Heyer, he has been ridiculed a lot this year, but I feel like it's mostly for his play in previous seasons, not for things he has done this season (minus the dumb penalties). Say what you want about the guy, but he came in and fought his butt off at guard, and somehow played better at that position than his tackle position. Again, maybe it was a one game fluke, or maybe it's something the Redskins could explore in the future, who knows.

And lastly, even though this isn't injury related, I'm still going to hope that someone at Redskins Park is reading this: When are we going to promote Terrence Austin to the active roster? Pretty please? I know the coaching staff has a huge crush on Joey Galloway and Roydell Williams, but at some point someone has to look at the film. He may not be an all-pro, but he has to be at least as good as Galloway and Williams.

Pull the trigger, Mike (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

I'll give the Redskins credit and say I think they know they have to get younger, faster, and more dynamic if they want to compete for the long haul, and as the 2010 season comes to an end, we will hopefully notice that the Redskins roster finally began the long journey towards youth.

The Top 4 Reasons Why the Redskins Are Definitely Going to Contend in the Future

2010-11-19T15:51:00.003-05:00

Someday Dan.......someday(Getty Images)

In light of this past weeks' embarrassing loss to the Eagles, there are a percentage of Redskins fans who are ready to give up on the season, give up on the players, and give up on the entire Mike Shanahan regime after 9 games. Everyone of course, is entitled to their own opinion. It is because of this pessimistic hoopla that I decided to come up with some good reasons why it's not time to bail, and why the Redskins WILL return to contention for a championship in the coming years:

4. Donovan McNabb: Huh? The same Donovan McNabb who has had an underwhelming year statistically? The same one Mike Shanahan benched a couple of weeks ago? The same one who essentially laid an egg against the Eagles? The same one who most Redskins fans thought would not be back next year? Yes, that Donovan McNabb.

He's aging, inaccurate, and doesn't fit Mike and Kyle Shanahan's system. Those are the major knocks against him during his short time here in Washington. But is he really that bad? I don't think so. As far as his inaccuracy goes, he is just as inaccurate now as was in Philadelphia. The only difference with the Redskins is that he is the victim of an inordinate amount of drops, miscommunication with receivers he has not gotten a lot of reps with, and has faced a ridiculous amount of pressure each game. He has definitely lost his legs as a scrambler, but he has not lost his pocket presence and ability to evade the rush. In other words, he is a competent, legitimate NFL starting quarterback that can still win games if he is protected, and given a few playmakers.

So why sign him to a long-term deal if he does not have any significant playmakers and a somewhat competent offensive line? Because like I have believed all along, Donovan McNabb is the bridge to the future quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He can help you win games now, while the next guy learns and develops under him. He buys the Redskins time to find the stud QB we all have been waiting for. That's a good luxury to have, instead of throwing a youngster into the fire and hoping he's Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, or Sam Bradford. Don't believe that's the case? Go look at McNabb's contract. It gives the Redskins plenty of wiggle room to bail on Donovan whenever they believe they have a better solution at QB. Many would probably counter that point, saying that when you trade two premium picks you expect to have a QB who would perform better and win now for you. That's a fair argument, but I feel like the McNabb offer was a rare deal that was given to Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen, and they chose to part ways with the picks despite wanting to build for the future. I don't think that is their MO (trading picks), but time will obviously tell on that one.

3. Bruce Allen's role within the Redskins organization: Some look at Bruce Allen and surmise that he is no more than Mike Shanahan's whipping boy, only makes the moves only Mike wants, and is only good at gathering Redskins alumni for events . I'm going to go out on a limb and say that is probably an incorrect statement.

Bruce Allen is not and never was a great personnel guy, but he has certain qualities that are assets for this franchise. His ability to help keep an organization united by being a barrier between the owner and the head coach is something that hasn't been in place under the Snyder era. From everything I've read about him at the time of his hire, he has a great ability to work with many types of personalities, within his own organization as well as dealing with other GM's around the league.

And that trait shows up in his negotiations, both in contracts and in trades. McNabb deal aside, the Redskins have yet to make a deal that even some would consider to be an 'overpayment'. Every contract given out to players in this regime have been sensible and conform to regular NFL standards. Swapping 5th rounders for a defensive starter (Carriker). Getting a potential right tackle for a 3rd round pick at max (as well as a swapping of picks).Taking a chance on veterans for essentially nothing.That's Bruce. That's what he does. You can question the moves that are made in terms of WHICH players are being brought in, but you can't complain too much about the price the Redskins are paying for these players. However you view the job he has done so far, the fact remains that pairing a frugal executive like Bruce with a deep pocket owner like Snyder is an asset to any organization. It allows them to pay good value for key role players, so that when it is is time to spend big (McNabb, Trent Williams, big free agent, or draft pick), they are not compromising the salary cap by having a handful of players occupy a ton of cap space.

2. Mike Shanahan's offensive vision for this team: I was listening to Charlie Casserly the other day, and what he said really hit me. He reminded Redskins fans to look at Denver's offensive personnel from just two seasons ago: Jay Cutler (the Pro Bowl version), Brandon Marshall (Pro Bowler), Eddie Royal (his best year), a good young tight end in Tony Scheffler, and two young tackles in Ryan Clady and Ryan Harris. That's an offense that most Redskins fans would probably be envious of. And who built that offense? Mike Shanahan. And he did it all through the draft. So it's not like this guy doesn't know how to build an offense. The thing is though, it took several years to rebuild that team to get it to that point through consecutive good drafts. He knows what it's supposed to look like, and he knows the types of players he needs to get his offense to be successful. People are yelling and screaming now about how this offense stinks (and make no mistake, it does), but its year ONE in what should be a three or four year plan. You don't wake up one day and suddenly have the Philadelphia offense, or the Atlanta Falcons offense. It takes years. Shanahan has certainly opened himself up for a good amount of criticism (going to the 3-4 defense, his handling of the media, the McNabb benching), but I don't doubt for a minute that this man knows how to build an offense. He just needs more than one year to do it. Which leads me to the number 1 reason the Redskins will contend in the future:

1. Daniel M. Snyder's new-found patience: Most people around town think 'Daniel Snyder' and 'Patience' probably shouldn't be in the same sentence. And going by the majority of his track record, they would be right. However, for those who believe that he is still impatient, those are the folks who I believe still undervalue the embarrassment he went through during the 2009 season, and what type of effect it really had on him.

The team was losing, the fans were revolting, and the team was clearly becoming a joke under the direction of a terrible 'GM'. Snyder had no choice but to listen to the fans' frustration, and consider making changes. But the fans were not the only people he listened to. There were many reports last year of how various NFL figures would speak with Snyder about how to get things turned around. He spoke with people such as former players, media members, former coaches like Joe Gibbs, and some have even hinted that he had spoken with the league office. All of his meetings essentially had the same theme: Fire Vinny, identify a plan, and have some patience. He has done just that, and now it's time for him to be patient. He is not going to let this past week deter him from the plan, nor can he afford to.

Snyder would be foolish to go back to his old ways, you see. He has owned up to (some of) his mistakes and knows if his meddling ways rear their ugly head again, not only will the team struggle for a longer period of time, but his business that is the Redskins will lose its customer base much more than it did in 2009. He knows what happens when he fires good coaches too soon. He knows what happens when he is in charge of hiring inexperienced coaches. He knows what happens when you exclusively have a 'win now' attitude, even though your team isn't good enough to win now. And because of that he can't go back to the old ways of doing business, and instead stay patient and allow this team to develop. As a fan, all I can do is hope, but I'm going to be optimistic and say I believe he understands this.

When the Redskins finally do win a Super Bowl under Daniel Snyder, the story will not be about who the head coach was that led them to glory, or who the star player was that helped shape the new chapter in Redskins lore. The story will be about Snyder, his trials and tribulations during his tenure, and how he changed his ways to become a successful, championship owner in the National Football League. He will be praised because he finally did the one thing he couldn't do most of his tenure: Have Patience!.

Donovan McNabb Signs Extension.......So Now What?

2010-11-16T15:09:00.002-05:00

Yeah, there's still a lot of work ahead (Jay Westcott)

So yesterday was quite the eventful day for the Redskins, yeah?

I'm not going to go into any of analysis of the actual game last night, like going through why the Redskins got blown out, why they can't perform in prime time, the offenses continued struggles on third down, or why the defense completely laid down to Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles. Those issues have probably been beaten to the ground by now, and will continue to be until they play again on Sunday afternoon in Tennessee.

The more important question for this team going forward is: "How will they build a successful team around Donovan McNabb?"

That's obviously a tough question to answer at this point of the season, but it's good to know that the Redskins decided to take decisive action with McNabb now rather than have the negotiations occur in the offseason. The timing is a bit curious (paying a guy 40 mil guaranteed two weeks after benching him), but I believe there was no doubt this deal needed to get done. Because the fact is, the Redskins have a ton of needs going forward.

The first thing the Redskins need to do in order to revamp the roster is figure out who on the 2010 roster needs to stay, and who needs to go. There are certain players which are no brainers in terms of people who absolutely need to get out (Joey Galloway, Roydell Williams, most of the 1 year contract veterans). However, there are several key players that the Redskins will have to make tough decisions on based on their contract situations or other factors (such as age, declining performance,etc):

Redskins have tough decisions on:

Jamaal Brown
Andre Carter
Artis Hicks
Rocky McIntosh
Santana Moss
Casey Rabach
Carlos Rogers

The Redskins will likely not be able to keep all of these players, so they will have to pick and choose who fits in their future plans.

Once they are able to deal with their own roster, they will then be able to explore their options both in the draft and in free agency. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Redskins make a concerted effort to get younger and faster on both sides of the ball. They certainly need to. It'll probably be an aggressive free agent spending spree, but for more blue collar players who fit their system rather than big time, high impact veterans (which sounds familiar, doesn't it?). It could be relatively similar to the 2010 offseason. Of all the big name players to be available (as of today),Vincent Jackson would likely be the only player that Shanahan and Bruce Allen will push hard for. Of course, no one actually knows the Redskins free agency plans in Week 11 of the season, but from the outside looking in, this is what seems to be the case.

I know it sounds silly to think now, but I bet the Skins are going to want to get as many draft picks as possible for 2011. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who the oldest team in the league is, and the Redskins' age shows from week to week. I obviously don't have any inside information, but I wouldn't be surprised if they traded veterans on this roster to get whatever they can for the 2011 draft. Guys like Albert Haynesworth, Andre Carter, and even DeAngelo Hall are all players who could be tradeable in the 2011 offseason.

So that of course leads into the draft, and we all know what the needs are. Interior O-line. Wide Receiver. More 3-4 personnel. Yadda yadda yadda.

Though this front office and coaching staff haven't had a ton of time to prove themselves, I believe they are more realistic than previous regimes. They know that the offensive line right now is terrible and needs plenty of work. They know they need another playmaker or five at the skill positions. They know that they need personnel that better fits the 3-4 defensive scheme they are trying (keyword: trying) to run. How they will go about addressing their needs? Only time will tell.

I think a good majority of Redskins fans came into the 2010 season believing that this year was going to be about development, seeing what works and what doesn't, and the eventual weeding out of the Redskins locker room. Most fans and pundits believed this was a team that was capable of 7 or 8 wins, which in most cases, would not yield a playoff berth. Does that excuse performances like last night? Absolutely not. Performances like that are inexcusable. That being said, with some time and development in a single system, in addition to the acquisition of youth on both sides of the ball, perhaps the Redskins of the future will resemble the team they played last night, rather than the team they themselves fielded.

How's that for some optimism?

Video: What Should the Redskins Do? (Lebron James Spoof)

2010-11-08T21:45:00.001-05:00

That was an awesome bye week. Usually most 'Skins fans would be bummed because they can't watch their team play, but it feels like this year has been so up and down, everyone, fans and team included, is in need of a break.

So during the time I would have usually been watching a Redskin game, I had a few of my friends get together and help make a video about the bye week.

The video was filmed this past Sunday and is a spoof of the Lebron James Nike Commercial (if you have not seen it yet, go here).

The Redskins are 4-4, and in need of some improvement if they want to contend.

The question is simple: What Should the Redskins do?

Top 5 Redskins "High Stress" plays of the first half of 2010

2010-11-03T21:03:00.106-04:00

This season so far has been full of ups and downs, as we know. As a result, there have been several critical plays in very close games that have brought us fans to the edge of insanity. So since it's the halfway point of the season, I figured it's time to look back on the moments that drove us crazy us so far.

The following are what I believed to be the top 5 'high stress' plays of the year to this point:

5. Week 2- Andre Johnson's 4th quarter, 4th down touchdown: Got a heartbreaker listed right off the bat. The Skins were up by 7 point with 2 minutes to go, and Matt Schaub drops back and gets pressured and simply chucks it up to Andre Johnson, knowing it's Reed Doughty in coverage. And, well, you know what happened afterward. As a fan watching, you're thinking the Redskins had the game in hand if they made that one play, if they got to Schaub just one more time, but they didn't, and it was a killer. The momentum swung straight to Houston the rest of the game. After that play, it felt like the Redskins were losing the rest of the way, even though it was a tie game. This of course started the whole "bench Reed Doughty" sentiment, even though that was on Phillip Buchanon for leaving Reed on an island with the best receiver in football. Makes me sick. And what's worse, Johnson was injured earlier in the game, but managed to tough it out long enough to deliver a dagger. The only semi-consolation is that Andre delivered another soul crushing 4th quarter TD against the Chiefs several weeks later. Oh wait, that's not really a consolation, it still sucks.

4. Week 7- Donovan McNabb's Pick Six That Wasn't a Pick Six: Jay Cutler just fumbled at the 1 yard line, and the Redskins offense took over. After dodging a huge bullet by getting the big turnover (which should have been challenged by Lovie Smith), Donovan goes back and throws another pick six to DJ Moore. Bears up 21-10. Game over because the Redskins are not scoring 11 points in one half. That'd be too much to ask.
But wait, flag on the play? Delay of game? Replay 2nd down? So, the Redskins saved themselves from, well, themselves. That was probably heart attack number 20 that this team almost gave me. I'm sure Donovan looked to his best bud Kyle Shanahan and smiled, probably thinking "just kidding!".

Don't scare me like that (AP)

3. Week 5- Mason Crosby Doinks the Left Upright at the End of Regulation: As Aaron Rodgers drove down in the final seconds of the game, it looked like it was going to be a repeat of the Week 2 loss to Houston. He got the key completion to his tight end Andrew Quarless, to set up Mason Crosby for a 53 yard field goal attempt. Thump-thump, thump-thump. I mean seriously, the way these games were going at this point, I almost wished they would just fast forward to the final play of regulation since it always comes down to that every week. Makes it less tiresome. But anyway, he gets the kick off, had plenty of leg, drifted, then doink. Whew. Another bullet dodged.

2. Week 4 - Jason Avant Drops the Game Winning Touchdown: Jason Avant had the damn thing in his hands. He had it. Game over and the Eagles win. Yes, it would have been a tough catch, but this is the Redskins, these types of things happen against them. Except somehow he managed to volley ball pass it to DeAngello Hall. Huh? I was going nuts because I thought we lost, thinking "the one time Kolb goes deep and it's the game winner". But I turned around, saw a burgandy jersey with the ball, and exhaled, again.

1. Week 1- Alex Barron becomes the Redskins MVP: Ah, the one that started it all. There were so many moments in that drive where you had to had to think "we lost". The Carlos Rogers drop (which became an early season staple), the big 4th down conversion to Miles Austin (how do you bust coverage on 4th down over the middle like that?), and the fact that Dallas had SOMEHOW made it to the Redskins 16 yard line in less than a minute. I'm watching as Tony Romo scrambles up the middle and hits Roy Williams for the game winning touchdown, at which point I just turn around in disgust. I'm moving toward the door to go back home in silence when someone yells out "FLAG!!". I look back at the TV and I see holding on Dallas. Holy hell, we won the game. I went to sleep that night pretty exhausted, but little did I know that this would be the beginning of the roller coaster ride that is the 2010 Washington Redskins.

Feel free to comment/bring up more if you think of any more.

Is this it for Sonny and Sam? Should it be?

2010-11-03T14:04:00.000-04:00

Say Goodbye? (Via TBD)

I'm a relatively young Redskins fan, so by the time I was fully emotionally invested in this team, the glory years of the original Redskins broadcast team, Frank Herzog, Sonny Jurgenson and Sam Huff had been long gone.

Over the last 7 seasons, broadcast has been done by Larry Michael, Sonny (who is still sharp), and, well, Sam. Like I mentioned earlier, I'm a relative youngin' so I wasn't listening to their broadcasts when they were calling Superbowl victories in the 80's and early 90s', and were considered one of the best in the business. That being said, I can only go by what I hear from the current day broadcast team.

I'll never forget, a friend and I were driving into Fed Ex Field two seasons ago when they were playing the Arizona Cardinals, and we were listening to the pre-game show in which they break down Sonny and Sam's analysis to "Sonny's Offense" and "Sam's Defense". Sonny did his analysis, then it was time for Sam:

Larry Michael: "And that was Sonny's Offense brought to you by [whatever company]. And now for Sam's Defense. So Sam, what do you think about what the defense needs to do today?"

Sam: "What?"

I wish I had the Redskins Broadcast Network's audio archives, because I could guarantee you I'd find that clip. Now, there are certainly other examples that people have of Sam not always being sharp these days, but I'll lay off of that because this isn't meant to bash the current broadcast team.

The question is: Is it possible this year may be the last year for the team of Sonny and Sam? If not, should it be? They have done a fine job over the years and have certainly represented a lot of what the Redskins have stood for during the glory years.

However, it's no longer the glory years, and the Redskins over the last 11 months have been all about changing their image, in all aspects of the organization. There could be a feeling inside the owners office that the play-by-play team is in need of new blood. Now, that's not to say Dan Snyder should fire these two, because for him that'd be like firing his grandparents. But you'd have to think that he's conjuring up ways for these two to ride off into the sunset peacefully, without there being drama (ie the Larry Michael vs. Frank Herzog story, one where only about 10 people in the world actually knows what happened).

As some in the media have speculated so far, there have been shows about the 'Redskins Legacy' revolving around these two men, and perhaps that's a sign of things to come. Or perhaps it's just another way of reflecting on this franchises great history.

Either way, these two men are clearly heading towards the end of their careers, and for a lot of Redskins fans, those two will always represent the best moments of their Redskins' fandom, while the younger generation of fans will look forward to the new broadcast team painting the picture of future glory.

Assessing the Positive and Negative Developments for the Redskins at Halfway Point

2010-11-01T21:42:00.013-04:00

So, the Redskins have lost yet again to their suddenly bitter rivals, the Detroit Lions. Unfortunately for the Redskins and their fans, the issues surrounding the final 2 minutes of the game overshadowed not only the rest of the game, but could overshadow much of the first half of the season.

They're 4-4 and are certainly in the mix, and have some decent pieces. However they obviously have much to work on if they wish to be a legitimate factor in the second half of the season. In the midst of the current "sky is falling" sentiment among the fans, it is important to note the good aspects of the team, while also realizing there are certainly areas of serious concern.

Positives:

Impact Young Players: Coming into the draft there were concerns that the Skins didn't have enough picks, and would not get young enough in one offseason. There were certainly plenty of veterans brought in via trade/ free agent acquisition, so the concerns were legitimate. However, after 8 weeks into the season, there are players like Anthony Armstrong, Brandon Banks, Trent Williams, Ryan Torain, and Keiland Williams all contributing, in addition to last years group of Landry, Orakpo, and (at times) Fred Davis. The Redskins still have a ways to go to have a "young" roster, but finding diamonds in the rough is a good place to start, considering their draft situation over the last few years.

Turnovers on Defense: Generating turnovers consistently has been an issue for this team for the last several years, and finally this year they are making big time plays on defense. Yes, they give up yards, but they do get the turnovers in bunches now. DHall is a pick machine, players are very strip conscience and as a result the Redskins are on the plus side of the turnover ratio. My personal favorite type of turnover to watch this year has been what a friend of mine called the "ConverNover". This is when the 'Skins give up a big conversion 2nd/3rd and long and all of a sudden, a Redskin defender comes from behind and strips the ball from behind, recovering the fumble in Redskins territory, which has the same effect as a punt. It's the ultimate "No No No YES!" staple of the defense so far this year.

Skins love to get these types of 'ConverNovers'

Special Teams (minus FG kicker): The first thing to consider is that the Redskins kick coverage unit is among the best in the NFL. That ranking took a little hit after the Lions game, but overall they have played incredibly hard. Graham Gano, as a kickoff specialist, has done an amazing job. The punt coverage units have also done a good job. Hunter Smith has stabilized the punter spot for a bit, and though he can still shank one every once in a while, I think he's doing a good job considering the punters that have come through DC.

But we all know why the special teams is excelling recently. That would be my guy Brandon "Money" Banks. The kid is electric. I can say right now, 8 games into his career, that he's the best we've seen since B Mitch. Easily. He's a threat to score every time he touches the ball. He's young. He's hungry. He's blazing fast. He does the "John Wall" dance every time he scores. Gotta love him.

Well, that's what's right about the team. But no one wants to talk about that right now. It's all about the weaknesses......

Negatives:

Joey Galloway and Roydell Williams: Drive me insane. Here are their combined stats through 8 games:
11 catches for 185 yards. Are you kidding me? Roydell was a guy that I was actually more upset with being on the roster initially. He made it because he was a good special teamer. But how can a team that NEEDS a big time receiver waste a spot on a special teamer? I have no idea how Roydell made the team over Terrence Austin.

As for Galloway, it makes you wonder why they continue to trot him out there. He can run one route correctly, and when he does something other than a go route, he looks lost, to say the least. Not only is he useless out there, he has horrible karma right now. How many times have you watched the game and heard the announcer say "intended for Joey Galloway" and something bad happens? Either a drop, horrible throw, or pick. Hardly ever a completion. Not only is he worthless, he's not even livin' right.

Questionable Play Calling: The play calling has reflected much of the offensive performance thus far, which has been inconsistent at best. I'll give Kyle credit, he has made a few adjustments (shortening up drops, less bootlegs), but he still makes some calls that make you scratch your head. He's probably 0 for 3 on end arounds with Santana, and he seems to want to run when the game dictates pass, and vice versa. The best example of that was when the offense had the ball with about 4 minutes left against the Lions, and needed to run the clock out. Ryan Torrain was hurt, but Keiland Williams was getting some running room, especially up the middle, against Detroit. But Kyle wanted to stay aggressive and chose to keep passing, which is good if you have a good pass protecting line, but the Redskins don't right now. Their strength (if they have one) is their run blocking. It was a bad sequence of calls to go with some other bad sequences Kyle has had this season.

Interior O-Line Play: This is an obvious one, of course. I'll start with Kory Lichtensteiger. I have no idea why he was given the job. He was given the job, he didn't earn it. I understand he's smaller, faster, and a better "fit" for the system than Dockery. But look at the sack numbers when Kory is in the game and when Dock was in. The coaching staff likes him because he is "versatile". So what if he is? You can be versatile and still suck at all three positions you supposedly know, and that's what it looks like right now with Kory.

When the Skins re-signed Casey Rabach in the offseason, they must have believed he could fit their system and believed it would help to have some measure of continuity on the o line from the year before. Well, that obviously didn't work out. For the last 8 games of the season, one has to shudder to think what will happen when Casey has to go up against stud interior d-linemen.

Thanks, Interior O Line

Artis Hicks is a guy who is hit and miss. He can have solid games like he did in Philly and against Indy, and then can give up some inexcusable pressures at crucial times that make you scratch your head. He is a solid veteran who provides great depth, but probably should not be a starter.

One crucial decision: I don't know what it is about Ashburn, VA, but it turns some of the smartest of football men in the history of the game into poor decision makers. I believed in the long term fortunes of this team under Shanahan (and still do), and nothing I saw in the first 7 games changed that outlook. Until the final drive of the Lions game, where there started to be a little wavering on that belief. Right when it looked like the Haynesworth situation was starting to die down, now we got a bigger storyline, with McNabb getting benched. Even if it was the "right" decision, Shanahan now opens himself up to criticism for not only that move, but for all the previous moves he's made thus far. McNabb vs. Kyle and Mike is gonna be the main storyline for the Redskins from now on, whether or not it's actually a real issue. Every game will be an audition for McNabb to either show the Redskins he can pick up this offense or show another team he still has the ability to succeed in the NFL. Shanny will have to answer the McNabb question every week from now on until the contract situation is resolved, and that's on him. That's what happens when you bench the QB you traded a 2nd and 3rd for. I think most fans would still have been upset if the Redskins lost to the Lions with McNabb still in the game, but the storyline of "why can't the Redskins beat bad teams" is much better than the can of worms that Shanahan just opened up for himself.

So going into the second half of the season, there are plenty of things the Redskins can be proud of. On the other side of the coin, there are certainly some issues they must to get taken care of if they are to have some success this year, and for the years upcoming.

Let's see how they respond after the bye week.

The 'Troy Aikman v. Redskins' Chronicles, Part I

2010-10-29T09:42:00.000-04:00

Dear Troy, Stop calling my team's games.

So the Redskins have played some pretty high profile games thus far this season, and because of that, they have also gotten each television networks "A" squad play-by-play crew. Sounds awesome, as you would expect to hear some good analysis from the best each network has to offer.

Except it's not awesome, thanks to one Troy Aikman, of course. Skins fans know he is biased against the Skins, so that point is really not up for debate. What I'd like to do is review some of the more egregious comments made this season by Mr. Aikman in what hopes to start a petition to get him off Skins games forever.

Because it's just getting ridiculous at this point.

Let's Review:

Packers Game:

The situation: Joe and Troy were talking about the Redskins trading a high round draft pick to get Donovan and how the Redskins are apparently in 'wait and see' mode regarding his contract extension:

Aikman: ""I think you're right on that, because there hasn't [been a long term deal yet], but yet they gave up a second round pick for him, and that's kind of been the way the Redskins do things.....The fact that they gave up a second rounder well make you think 'Okay, they're gonna sign him, and keep him around [for 3 or 4 years]', but they gave up a 2nd rounder [in 2008] for Jason Taylor and he was one and done"

Reaction: The last sentence pretty much ruins the entire statement. How could he even compare trading for a potential franchise QB for the next 3-4 years to a defensive end who didn't fit the system from Day 1? Really Troy? And as for the 'that's how the Redskins do things', he clearly didn't see what happened in the offseason and how Mike and Bruce went about building the roster. I love how he always tries to lump this regime with all the other Snyder regimes as just 'same old same old'. Speaking of same old same old....

Skins fans get it already

That'd be the now obligatory Dan Snyder Fail graphic/montage. This isn't so much a FOX thing as it seems to come up with almost every Redskins broadcast. Yes, we get it, Snyder has not had success with his hiring and firing of big names coaches.

Troy then added his insight by saying "and Norv Turner was a coach Dan Snyder inherited, he was hired by Jack Kent Cooke, and he was the one who had the most success".There ya go, Troy, always sticking up for your boy who to this day has still proven to be a terrible head coach.

Bears Game:

The situation: On the Bears final possession of the game, after DeAngello Hall had reeled in three interceptions at that points, Jay Cutler and the Bears were driving. Aikman then gave some "wise" perspective on what he'd do in this situation.

Aikman: "I'm still a little surprised that they haven't taken a shot at DeAngello Hall. Johnny Knox going up against Dhall and he's playing him pretty tight,and we've seen him jump some routes, and we haven't yet
seen some double moves on him"

Reaction: Judging by this comment, as well as Jay Cutler's post game comments about how he'd still go after Hall, it appears Troy and Jay are on the same page when it comes to attacking corners who have owned you in a single game. Just keep going to that well, and sure enough, Cutler did a fourth time. Ironically on the last interception, DHall played back to prevent against the double move. I thought he didn't do that? I thought he jumps every route he sees and is vulnerable because of that? This was not Troy's only comment on number 23, as his other DHall comment was the one that had people scratching their heads.....

The situation: DHall just ran back a pick six on Cutler. He's fired up, Redskins bench is fired up, and he does his standard (key word being standard) touchdown/interception celebration.

Aikman: "And at the end of this play you see DeAngello Hall, and he's going to go to his knees and
I think this here should be a penalty for excessive celebration. They can go to a knee and point to the sky,
and that's acceptable. But going to two knees there, I think that should be a flag"

Reaction: I have nothing to say other than this:

There has been plenty more this season thus far, the above is just the tip of the ice burg on some of the Aikman BS. I'm sure as the year goes on and the Redskins continue to be on "America's Game of the Week", there will be more material for this series.

Unfortunately for Redskins fans, the worst might be yet to come.

Need Exercise? Watch the Redskins Play Football.

2010-10-25T23:36:00.001-04:00

(Praisin' The Lord we're 4-3)/(AP)

Redskins fans have gotten more cardio work this year than they originally anticipated. By miles.

One of the positive developments this season is that the team is clearly competitive, and have been so against good teams in the NFL. That's something fans are really excited about.

However, the way the Redskins make their fans wait till the final seconds of the game to have it decided every week is getting a little ridiculous. A win's a win, but damn man, can't we just pull an Oakland (can't believe I just said that) and lay a 40+ burger on someone so we can just relax?

When I watch the games each week with a group of fellow Skins fans, we usually get pretty pumped and emotional, but this year has been over the top. I've never seen this much leg shaking, pacing, deep breaths, hand clutching, sweating, and random swearing in my tenure as a Skins fan. I remember going to bed after the Dallas game physically exhausted. It's been that kind of year.

(I feel your pain, Mike)(AP)

This past week they decided to throw in some comedic value for us Redskins fans. After a decent looking first half (decent by this year's standards), the game went into all out butterball mode by both teams. I wanted to wash my eyes immediately. By the time DeAngello Hall caught his record-tying fourth interception, I just laughed and shook my head and thought 'No one is going to wanna remember this game except DHall'.

I've just accepted that this is what the 2010 season will be. The entire year, no matter what team the Redskins play. You may not like the way it looks, but they are getting it done. Better to work out the kinks while winning rather than the reverse. In a wide open NFC this year, you never know what can happen down the stretch if the Skins are still in it.

So the lesson learned in Week 7 for the Redskins?

Embrace the Redskins approach of ~~winning butt ugly~~ "playing 60 minutes".

Embrace the heart attack.

(Thanks Bro!)(AP)