Hogs Haven

Preview: Washington Redskins @ Atlanta Falcons

2009-11-07T18:00:29Z

Week 9 - Sunday, November 8, 2009, 1PM

SERIES

	REDSKINS	FALCONS
SERIES LEADER	14-5-1
STREAKS		2 of past 3
COACHES VS. OPP.	Zorn: 0-0	Smith: 0-0
LAST WEEK	Bye (Wk. 7: L 27-17 vs. Eagles)	L 35-27 at Saints
LAST GAME	12/3/06: Falcons 24 at Redskins 14. Atlanta QB Michael Vick throws for 2 TDs & RB Jerious Norwood rushes for 109 yards & TD as Falcons score 24 unanswered points in win.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/14/03: Redskins 33, Falcons 31. Washington QB Patrick Ramsey completes 25 of 39 passes for 356 yards & 2 TDs. Redskins start season 2-0 for 1st time since 1991.
BROADCAST	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 152 (Was.), 125 (Atl.). XM: 102 (Atl.).

SEASON STATS

PASSING	Campbell: 136-206-1,481-8-7-85.8	Ryan: 139-233-1,649-12-9-82.4
RUSHING	Portis: 120-490-4.1-1	Turner: 138-554-4.0-8 (3L)
RECEIVING	Moss: 28-453-16.2-2	White: 37-543-14.7-6 (T2L)
OFFENSE	296.0	339.9
TAKE/GIVE	-8	+4
DEFENSE	283.4 (T2C)	378.1
SACKS	Carter: 6.5 (T3C)	Abraham, Biermann: 3
INTs	Hall: 3	DeCoud: 2
PUNTING	H. Smith: 43.4	Koenen: 42.7
KICKING	Suisham: 36 (9/10 PAT; 9/9 FG)	Elam: 39 (21/22 PAT; 6/10 FG)

NOTES

REDSKINS:
QB JASON CAMPBELL has 1.8 INT pct. since start of 2008, 2nd best mark among QBs with 700+ att
RB LADELL BETTS rushed for 155 yards & TD in last game vs. ATL
WR SANTANA MOSS had 7 catches for 123 yards (17.6 avg.) & TD in last meeting. Averages 15.3 yards per catch since 2001, highest among active WRs (min. 450 receptions).
TE FRED DAVIS had career-high 8 catches & 78 yards in last game, incl. 1st career TD
CB DE ANGELO HALL was 1st round pick (No. 8) by Atl. in 2004. Spent 4 seasons with Falcons (2004-07) & had 17 INTs (2 TDs).
DE ANDRE CARTER has 5.5 sacks in past 3. Aims for 4th in row with 1+ sack.
LB BRIAN ORAKPO leads all NFL rookies with 3.5 sacks

FALCONS: QB MATT RYAN is 10-1 (.909) in career at home & aims for 7th consecutive win at home. Falcons are 8-0 when Ryan has 100+ rating, incl. 5-0 at home…
RB MICHAEL TURNER rushed for 151 yards & TD last week. Has 16 rush TDs in 11 home games with Atl. Has 1,232 rush yards (112 per game) in those 11. When Turner has 19+ carries, his teams are 14-2 (.875).
RB JERIOUS NORWOOD rushed for 107 yards & had 69-yard TD in last meeting
WR RODDY WHITE has 19 catches for 392 yards (98 per game) in past 4 in Nov. Has 5 TDs in past 4, incl. 68-yard TD last week. Aims for 3rd in row at home with TD.
TE TONY GONZALEZ had 6 catches for 89 yards last week. Has TD in all 3 home games with ATL
DE JOHN ABRAHAM has 87 sacks since 2000, 2nd most among active players. Had 2 sacks vs. Was. in 9/4/03 game (with NYJ).
S THOMAS DE COUD has 2 INTs, 2 sacks & FF in past 3. His sack & FF set up DE KROY BIERMANN’s 4-yard FR-TD last week.
CB BRENT GRIMES had 2nd career INT last week.

Friday Night "Mights" - Washington Redskins vs Atlanta Falcons

2009-11-06T15:31:55Z

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

Look for the Fred Davis Era to begin in earnest this week in Atlanta.

Browse more photos »

The bye week really seemed to stretch out for months rather than just the two weeks since we last played an actual football game. After all that has been written, all that has been said, and all that has occurred around this team in the most recent days and weeks, I can tell you this: I am ready to watch my boys get on the field and play a football game. And I intend to reach back into my drawer and pull out my favorite shades--the rose-colored ones--to bring you this week's set of bold predictions for the Redskins-Falcons tilt.

I don't care about 2-5 anymore. I don't. I truly believe it doesn't matter. We are completely capable of knocking off this Falcons team and here is how we are going to do it:

1) Jason Campbell will throw for over 300 yards, 3 touchdowns, and will bottle up the turnover bug that has plagued him in the early goings of the season. I am hopeful that the two weeks off will have given his ankle time to heal enough for him to be just mobile enough to escape the first guy that leaks through. My prediction for the yards hinges on yards after the catch. I think this offensive line will struggle again, but I am betting on quick throws, receivers running into space, and improved decision-making from JC in the dome on Sunday.

2) Fred Davis is going to blow up. Double digit catches, triple digit yardage and at least one score. I think what will impress us the most about Sleepy on Sunday will be his lack of fumbles and his huge first downs. When the line breaks down, Davis is going to get the ball. This might very well be a theme all game long. You look at a guy like Fred Davis and his talent is undeniable. Kevin and I watched him in training camp and the preseason and he was a monster. He is capable of dominating the stats. I am going to assume that Davis understands that this is his chance to really show the Redskins organization that he was a great investment last year. He has put in extra work the last two weeks and it is going to pay off.

3) DeAngelo Hall is going to return a punt for a touchdown. Part of our biggest gripe about this coaching staff was its unwavering support of Randle-El in the return game. The reality though (and I am only speculating guys) is that a lot of capable return men simply don't want the ball in that role. It is as dangerous as it gets in this league and these guys have millions on the line. Call that the right or wrong way to see it from their perspective but I think it is honest. From here, I make the jump to theorizing DeAngelo Hall WANTS the ball in the return game. Let me take you back to the Eagles game. There was a series that the Eagles were forced to punt. Right in front of where I was sitting, I could see Randle El standing on the sideline ready to run in to return the punt. DeAngelo Hall stayed on the field though and waved him off. From my seat, it did not look like this was a coach's decision. In fact, Randle-El made repeated gestures to Hall as if he were beckoning him to leave the field so that ARE could get underneath the punt. This game is Hall's chance to show Atlanta they made a mistake by letting him go. Maybe that makes him more juiced for this one game and we go back to something else next week. Who knows? What I do know is that when he gets the ball as a punt returner, the chance he takes it to the house and dances is great. This week, the Skins will gain some major momentum on special teams when he high steps down the sidelines for a huge punt return touchdown.

4) Devin Thomas will score 2 touchdowns. We are building towards something with this player. This receiver is going to be a key component to our offensive future. He is not our biggest receiver, but he might be the most physical receiver we have. Something is starting to click with him that is helping him understand that his role is absolutely integral on our team. When he gets the ball, he can break tackles, and make guys sorry when they square up to try and tackle him.

5) Marko Mitchell sees his first significant action and makes it pay off with a touchdown. I will be heart-broken if/when he is on the list of inactives this week. Given our current state of things, a player like him simply must be given a shot on the field. His involvement will give us a real warm and fuzzy feeling on Sunday.

Our defense will hold their own--as usual. I think in the last 10 days or so, the players have had a real chance to get some work in with each other while the rest of the world (including us here at Hogs haven) focused on bigger picture issues with this franchise.

Here is what I am most impressed about with regard to this team over the last two weeks: How many stories did you read about players sniping at each other in practice or through the media? How many stories did you read about players complaining about coach's decisions? How many stories did you read about players playing the blame game or spinning the excuse wheel?

I don't think there were any really. Certainly none that were made out to be huge headlines. All the headlines and news focused on Snyder and Cerrato, right? Maybe in the end, this was the best possible thing that could have happened to this team. Maybe a team that should have been put under the microscope a lot more due to its play in the first 7 games escaped that kind of attention thanks to the debacle in the front office! (Maybe I have gone crazy.)

Maybe on Sunday, 53 men come together and beat the hell out of a Falcons team that is completely unprepared for the reinvigorated Redskins.

Joe Theismann Teams Up With GlaxoSmithKline to Promote Veterans' Health Awareness

2009-11-06T18:56:03Z

Tomorrow, at FedEx Field, between 12 noon and 2 pm EST, the Washington Redskins and Joe Theismann are working with GlaxoSmithKline to call a Time Out for Veterans' Health for the second year and counting to help increase awareness about the prevalence of chronic diseases.

Through this health screening event, along with other childhood obesity prevention and health awareness programming, GlaxoSmithKline and the Redskins are helping to increase awareness among the D.C. veteran community within D.C. and across America of the importance of a Triple Solution--prevention, intervention and innovation--in combating chronic diseases.

"A lot of my friends are veterans, so I feel a personal connection. I'm excited to participate in this program," Theismann said. "Veterans have protected our country--and now I would like to help them make sure their health is protected, too. Getting appropriate health screenings is the first step to learning more about chronic diseases and how they can stay healthy."

For more information, check out: www.forahealthieramerica.com

Hogs Haven will be in attendance and will be getting an exclusive interview with Joe Theismann. We look forward to bringing that to you early next week.

Redskins vs Falcons Red Zone Review

2009-11-06T14:17:33Z

It's been getting more difficult each week to do this post. Two of the Skins red-zone TDs that come to mind where scrub scores when the game was already out of reach. Nevertheless, I really think this is Fred Davis' time to shine. I know I said after watching training camp that Devin and Malcolm were legit, but Fred stood out in a different manner. Even when I wasn't watching him, he was drawing my eye's attention. It's encouraging to see that Fred cancelled his BYE week plans and stayed in D.C. to work on his technique. Do I dare predict a Fred Davis red-zone touchdown? Yes! (* - I also win if he's wide open and Campbell never sees him).

Redskins Red Zone Statistics 2009
	*Redskins Offense*	*Opponent's Offense*
*@Giants*	2-3	0-3
*Rams*	0-5	1-3
*@Lions*	1-2	1-3
*Buccaneers*	1-3	1-1
*@Panthers*	2-3	2-3
*Chiefs*	0-1	0-2
*Eagles*	2-3	0-0
BYE	-	-
Total	8-20	5-15

Another bright-spot for the Redskins is that the Falcons have allowed a red zone TD every game this year. This should be taken with a grain of salt when you look at the quality of their opponents. It's imperative the Redskins defense keeps the Falcons on their side of the field. Falcons have scored 2+ red zone TDs in 4 of their 7 games.

Falcons Red Zone Statistics 2009
	Falcons Offense	Opponent's Offense
Dolphins	1-4	1-2
Panthers	3-4	2-3
@Patriots	1-2	1-5
BYE	-	-
@49ers	4-5	1-2
Bears	2-2	1-4
@Cowboys	2-2	1-3
@Saints	1-4	3-4
Total	14-23	10-23

The Skins have proven they can get into the red zone time and time again. What red zone options would you like to see the Skins run 1st and 10 from the Falcons 9-yard line? (besides the Portis half-back option to Mike Williams)? Is this the week we see the rollout, bootleg?

This post is sponsored by Comcast's NFL RedZone Channel, which allows you to see all the action from inside the 20 for every NFL game.

Looks Like Hunter the Punter Out For Sunday

2009-11-05T20:51:56Z

Ryan O'Halloran threw up a comment on the Blache piece in the Post saying Hunter Smith re-injured his groin. They are supposedly trying out new punters as we speak.

Cooley could have punted if his ankle wasn't banged up!

P.S. No Durant Brooks sightings yet.

Redskins' Coach Watch: Mike Holmgren Is Not Our Guy

2009-11-05T14:06:14Z

Field Gulls advise to stay away from Holmgren. Image via blogs.suntimes.com

View full size photo »

With Jim Zorn's fate sealed, the Redskins have already begun the hunt for a new head coach (and possibly GM). Since the Redskins front office has proven they have little skill or patience in selecting a leader not named Joe Gibbs, I've taken on the task to educate myself and anyone that cares about the strengths and weaknesses of the available candidates. We'll cover 3 main topics:

1.) Coach's reason for leaving their previous team
2.) Coach's relationship with the players
3.) Coach's ability to evaluate talent

First up is Mike Holmgren, and I'd like to thank John from the extremely popular and well versed SB Nation site, Field Gulls, for answering my Holmgren/Seahawks' related questions. In my final question, John gives a compelling argument of why the Redskins should stay away from Holmgren.

Hogs Haven: What were Holmgren's reasons for leaving? Seemed like he just wanted to retire, but he hasn't even been out of the NFL one year now he wants to coach again, preferably "an East coast team" as he said. Seems a little bizarre.

This is a somewhat controversial subject. Mike Holmgren announced he would retire after the 2008 season in January of 2008. Shortly thereafter, Tim Ruskell and Tod Leiweke announced that Jim Lawrence Mora would be the next coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Speculation is that Holmgren did not like that. Murmurs were that Holmgren wanted to return, but when asked Holmgren recited his stock "I promised Kathy I would take a year off and that's what I plan to do." Holmgren still hungers for football. He hated the way he went out both as a GM and a head coach and believes he has something to prove.

Hogs Haven: Holmgren would most likely assume the GM role as well. How would you rate his draft skills? At a quick glance, he seems to be almost perfect for the first 2 rounds. Dating back to the 2005 draft, everyone selected in the 1st two rounds is still on the roster, and dating back to 2000, he has picked a ton of winners (Hutchinson, Alexander, Trufant, Hamlin, Tatupa). From round 3-9, things get real dicey.

Holmgren was the GM from 1999 to 2002. He made two of the most important trades in team history: He traded a 10th overall and third round pick to Green Bay for Matt Hasselbeck, the 17th overall pick and a seventh round pick. Holmgren also traded Joey Galloway to Dallas for their 2000 and 2001 first round picks. He built the offense that led Seattle to Super Bowl XL. Holmgren had very little knack for defensive talent. His major achievement on defense was drafting Rocky Bernard, though selecting Ken Lucas in the second proved modestly successful too. Holmgren also failed at detail work. He could spot great offensive talent like Steve Hutchinson and mid-round systems players like Darrell Jackson, but his rosters lacked depth.

Hogs Haven: A lot of people would argue Holmgren played in easy division all those years, which explained the good record, but the inability to win the big games. There were a lot of NFC playoff losses. If you were Dan Snyder, would you have any hesitations making Holmgren your GM/Head coach?

If I were Dan Snyder I would have hesitations going to the dentist. I think Snyder wants a front for his machinations and that Holmgren is far too ambitious, proud and respected to be that.

Holmgren was perfectly respectable in the playoffs. He led the 2005 Seahawks to the Super Bowl and won Wild Card games in 2006 and 2007.

Hogs Haven: Any other thoughts I may have missed?

Sure. No team should want Mike Holmgren to be their coach or GM. There's a mystique that follows legendary figures and fans can fall into the trap of thinking that with the celebrity comes the success. Holmgren has a mind for offense and an eye for offensive talent, but many of the ways he forged his career with are outdated. He does not believe in the shotgun and very was resistant to implementing it in Seattle. He loathes trick plays and is conservative to a fault. Holmgren is loyal to a fault. He is stubborn. He decided in 2007 that announcing the team had abandoned the run was preferable to benching a clearly broken down Shaun Alexander. Mike Holmgren was a great NFL coach. His eye for and ability to develop quarterback talent is legendary. But Mike Holmgren is not still a great coach and hiring him would no more bring Washington Holmgren's offensive success than hiring Bill Cowher would make the Skins the Steelers.

Well damn. That is not a ringing endorsement.

Dan Snyder, as we all know too well, loves the big names. It gives the false illusion to season ticket holders that their investment is safe. As many people have echoed on this site, the hiring process should begin with a GM, not a coach. The Redskins have invested two years in the West Coast Offense, and my fear is that they are looking to plug a WCO coach first.

Next up...Jon Gruden, Russ Grimm, and Mike Shanahan.

Poll

Are you For or Against the hiring of Mile Holmgren as the Redskins next coach and GM?

Redskins @ Falcons: Offensive Line Chart

2009-11-04T17:30:23Z

NFL.com recently added 'Offensive Line' to their statistics, and it reveals an intricate look into each team's running game and pass protection. Not surprisingly, the Redskins have allowed a 30th ranked 23 sacks, while the Falcons boast the 2nd best pass protection with a puny 6 sacks allowed. The Falcons offense will be the most difficult test for Andre Carter, Griff, Haynesworth, and Orakpo to date, so we'll see how the Redskins D matches up with a top-tier O-line.

Moving on to rushing, who would have guessed the Redskins have a higher rushing average at 3.9 yards per carry over the Falcons' 3.6 average? It's a little skewed since Matt Ryan is averaging 1.6 a carry while Campbell is averaging 4.3 per run.

What gives the Redskins some hope this week is that over 3/4 of the Falcons rushing first downs come up the middle or to the right side, the strongest part of the Redskins defense.

Redskins' Game Plan Predictions:

- Offensive line: The Skins take the new play-calling scheme and shoddy line on the road to a dome, which will be deafening for the Guards. If Heyer is slow to get into position to begin with, how is this going to work when he loses a half second of his first step to crowd noise? To account for this, John Abraham will be seeing a lot of double teams, most likely with Portis chipping. The way Heyer has been getting beat, Portis will probably be taking on Abraham at full-speed at least once. All focus should be on keeping Campbell's blind side safe, if the Falcons find another way, then have a plan to adjust.

- Tony Gonzalez: Who is going to cover him? Orakpo is still learning on the job, and Tony Gonzalez will absolutely shred him with his routes. The obvious solution is getting to Matt Ryan. If he has time, there are simply too many weapons for him to throw to. The Falcons don't have that bruising back like Stephen Jackson and Brandon Jacobs, so perhaps for this game, Blache moves Orakpo to his natural DE position full-time. This will also help keep Michael Turner from getting outside.

- Motivation: Clinton Portis blogged today:

"Forget about what we've been through that's put us in a 2-5 hole...Everybody in the NFL has talent, what we need is the motivation. We have to look at the season one game at a time instead of the big picture."

It seems obvious, but it's true. If the Skins come in focused and avoid the mistakes that kill them every game (dropped balls, lazy tackling, missed blocks), then they can keep the game close, which is the most we can ask for against an opponent that has won a game previously.

Listen To Hogs Haven On The Radio Tonight At 6:15 PM EST

2009-11-04T17:46:51Z

Listen To Hogs Haven On The Radio Tonight At 6:15 PM EST

The URL for the radio station is embedded in the title of the Fanshot, but here it is again:

http://radio.webstream.net/radio_player_large.asp?stationCallSign=WWPR

I'll be joining their sports talk drive-time show to discuss the Redskins, Dan Snyder, Coach Zorn, etc.

My goal is try and represent the angst of the average Redskins fan right now without coming across as too bitter. I will definitely work in a ridiculous statement about our "wild card potential" or our ability to get back in the "wild card hunt". Something that will make them scratch their heads for sure. Otherwise, I am sure it will be a healthy dose of, "What the hell is going on up there?"

The Revolution - Redskins Fans Are Getting Through To Snyder

2009-11-04T10:00:14Z

"All that's necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

When Benjamin Franklin said these words, history found itself carefully perched atop a virtual mountain of international conflict. As the men we now refer to as patriots sought the favor of history, words like these were carefully chosen and circulated to stir the masses. They continue to provide inspiration to us today, and can be applied to multiple parties in our current situation. Listen, I get that we are not in a life and death situation here like they were in Franklin's days. I am simply saying that for us to ignore what is going on here would be even more foolish than me comparing the American Revolution to our Revolution. And I would know, as I am the author of many foolish posts on this site and others.

First, let me just say this: I know some of you are getting tired of reading (or not reading) posts dealing with the state of the franchise. But I believe it would simply be irresponsible to not add to the commentary of what is so obviously happening in our little world right now. This has bled a little into other pieces I/we do and that may be unfortunate, but the fact of the matter is, these issues run very deep...these issues cut very deep. And we will continue to talk about them. You don't hear us calling for a walkout during a game. We aren't selling "Fire Snyder" t-shirts, and we aren't advocating for any overly negative actions that would further embarrass the fans or the players. I do agree though with some of the commenters yesterday that something fun has been missing recently. That is why I am picking back up my Redskins By The Numbers piece starting immediately at #29. I have been consumed with other articles and topics since the season began and left the Numbers piece to pick back up again at the end of the season (the offseason is LONG when you don't make the playoffs.) But I want to try and offer something that was fun for all of us even in the midst of all this turmoil. I realize it is a small gesture, but I hope it is received well.In addition to that, I will try and keep my ranting at least mostly limited to this Revolution post. Maybe that will bring around some of you Hogs Haven old-timers in these discussions more. Now back to the business of the day.

Daniel Snyder has stated publicly that his number one goal is to win. However, his actions to date would suggest his number one goal has been to monetize the emotional investment that so many Redskins fans have poured into their favorite team. He has spent more time figuring out how to turn fan loyalty into profits than on how to turn football players into a team. He has spent more energy censoring the hometown fans than on censoring the utterly ridiculous things that come out of Vinny Cerrato's mouth.

I don't doubt Snyder wants to win. His actions with regard to the management of this football team though suggest otherwise. At what point do you determine that the current management philosophy is not working? People are quick to label Snyder as a successful businessman because of his previous successes. Yet, what about his tenure as owner of the Redskins would point to a man who understands how to build a business? He inherited a wildly successful franchise with a rabid fanbase that was generations old. At the outset he attempted to turn dollars into wins by bringing in past-their-prime free agents. He held coach after coach responsible for mediocre results. As the product deteriorated, he alienated his own legions of fans by dismissing a man like Marty Schottenheimer who actually understood the sport and bringing in a guy like Steve Spurrier who had no respect for the professional game.

How many successful businessmen would go three years, five years, seven years down a path that continually led to the same result: not good enough to contend for a Super Bowl? Daniel Snyder has gone ten years down that path and still has shown ZERO ability to change and improve. When Joe Gibbs came back, we were led to believe that Snyder had learned to tinker and meddle less. What is more likely is that Joe Gibbs simply didn't stand for it, and Daniel Snyder was very much intimidated by the man that had overseen the greatest era in the franchise's history.

The current regime, as Vinny Cerrato so eloquently stated, believes that they gave this coaching staff a "playoff-caliber" roster. If they honestly believe that, we really are screwed.

As always, we base our hope on the premise that it will be Daniel Snyder who figures this thing out and that any future success will be on his watch. He's not going anywhere. But the idea that Vinny Cerrato will be around for another second is absolutely nauseating. Changing the head coach in the middle of a season like this doesn't do a thing. Firing Vinny Cerrato would do a LOT. Look at the Cleveland Browns. They just canned their personnel man and the quote I read was that "it didn't cause a single ripple in the locker room." Here is what I think firing Vinny immediately would do:

First of all, it would give the paying customer something to really grab a hold of in the midst of this terrible storm.

Secondly, it would give the guys who may still actually want the job a chance to evaluate what happens in the next two months and develop a plan of attack to present to Snyder in the off-season. With a little separation from Cerrato and his amazing penchant for taking 25 words to say absolutely nothing, Snyder might actually be able to think straight when it comes to listening to guys like Cowher, Shanahan, and Gruden tell him what they would do if given control of this team. It might give a guy like Roger Goodell a chance to quietly slip Snyder a short list of names to consider for the GM/Personnel/Football Operations role. These lists exist. Right now, with Cerrato mucking everything up, these lists can't help us.

Finally, it would be the easiest way to win back some positive feelings from the fans as well as respect from your peers. There is no way many people in the NFL right now have any respect for Snyder and the way he has run this team into the ground. I believe he has to care about those things at some point--and if we are not at that point now, God help us all.

Yesterday afternoon, Dan Snyder expressed sorrow and regret for the state of things. He is showing signs that he gets it. The team sent out a survey to their season ticket holders. My guess is that they will get a heaping pile of rather heated words. I am very interested in seeing what they do with those feelings and emotions people share with them.

We aren't the only ones keeping these issues on the front burner. A lot of people are expressing their angst in a lot of ways. And at Redskins Park--a place where signs have been all but outlawed, there are signs that it is at least possible we are all getting through. If action occurs and the Redskins move forward in a positive direction, everyone can feel that much better about having added their voice to the cause of helping their beloved team.

Ask The Falcoholic!

2009-11-03T17:06:00Z

Hey, 'Skins fans!

Those of you who have long memories may remember when I first broke into SB Nation a few years back. Hogs Haven was a good friend of The Falcoholic in those days, and I still like to pop over here and give things a read from time to time. Blah blah blah.

But that's now why I'm here. I'm here because we're playing you guys this weekend, and you're likely burning with questions about the Atlanta Falcons. If that's not what you're burning with, please see a doctor. Please feel free to direct any and all questions about Matt Ryan, our close loss to the Saints or our fortunes in 2009 this way and I'll be happy to answer them.

Also, please Recommend this post so that it will remain up top for those who have questions all week long. Thanks, and here's to a great game!

Dan Snyder Apologetic!?!?!

2009-11-03T20:58:37Z

Dan Snyder Apologetic!?!?!

At a charity event (today?), Snyder let his guard down in a rare Q&A session with reporters, saying, "We've let everyone down, including ourselves, and we know that and we're just apologetic."

Hmmm....This is all I have wanted to hear from him as a start to making things better. Any chance this is followed by a Vinny Cerrato firing?

Pour Some Sugar On Me - Now With 33% Less Negativity!

2009-11-03T18:00:35Z

More photos » by Nick Wass - AP

Is Albert Haynesworth capable of rallying a team to fight their hardest despite the circus going on all around them? If not, then who?

Browse more photos »

As I watched the Monday Night Football game last night, I was thinking, "I could totally live with just having to deal with a team that was slightly underachieving but had some hope for the future." Instead, we get the added debacle of our current ownership and management mess. But I'll save thinking and writing about that for tomorrow. Today, my thoughts are squarely on last season's anomaly--that is, starting 6-2 and finishing 2-6. Watching that first half of the season, you would have been hard-pressed to find someone--anyone--that would have picked the Redskins to miss the playoffs. The losses to teams like Pittsburgh and the Giants notwithstanding, the team had a very real chance to get the wins necessary to make the postseason. But the free falling Skins could not save themselves.

Is it possible that we have a team that can reverse its 2-5 start? Not probable, but possible, yes. No team has a tougher schedule in November than the Redskins. Our opponents combine for a .750 winning percentage. Going on the road this week in Atlanta will be very tough, especially with those guys coming off a loss to their division rivals.

Assuming that the coaches can solidify the offense from an X's and O's perspective, the only thing that can turn the Redskins around is if they adopt an attitude that they are capable of winning every game they have left on the schedule. This plus the kind of "bunker mentality" that "nobody is giving us a chance" is how teams band together and fight just hard enough to beat teams they might not otherwise be capable of defeating.

The problem with this theory is that teams that adopt that kind of attitude usually do it in the process of rallying around someone or something. Coach Zorn could be that person to rally around, but he has been so publicly castrated that you almost feel like rallying around him is the same as dancing on the deck of the Titanic. Players have been shown clearly who is in charge, even if that authority is ripping the franchise apart. Chris Samuels would always take it upon himself to make sure guys played with pride and professionalism no matter what the record. His leadership is at least somewhat diminished now that he is no longer wearing pads. Who is going to step up and assume the role of rallying the troops? London Fletcher? Greg Blache? Jason Campbell seems to always have his glad game on, so maybe he is the guy that keeps the players focused on the season. I look forward to your comments on this one.

Ten Yard Fight - 10 Chances To Make One Good Point

1) I hope all you mediocre fantasy teams out there capitalized this week on the bye weeks of Tom Brady, Carson Palmer, Big Ben, Randy Moss, and even guys like Cedric Benson, Matt Cassel, and the Steelers defense. I did and it was great, until I realized that all of the teams I beat (in a cumulative scoring system) had studs on the bench. I'll take it, but it is yet another reminder that my team is woefully undermanned coming down the stretch.

2) In the Jets-Dolphins game, the high passer was Mark Sanchez with 265 yards, the high rusher was Thomas Jones with 102 yards, and the high receiver was Dustin Keller with 76 yards. Chad Henne threw for a paltry 112 yards, Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown each had 27 yards rushing, and Williams led all Dolphin receivers with 41 yards. Final score Dolphins 30, Jets 25...huh?

3) It was good to see the Rams get their first win of the season...against someone besides the Redskins. Although by the associative property of scheduling (or is it transitive?), their win against a team that beat the Redskins means they are...wait, it just means we're all in the same crappy neighborhood. If you want an example of a guy who is playing as if his team is undefeated and every game is a playoff game, look no farther than Steven Jackson.

4) I realize that Calvin Johnson is hurt, but you simply HAVE to let Matthew Stafford go deep more often if you're calling plays in Detroit. That guy has a cannon for an arm and he actually has great touch on his deep balls. I predict that next year, the combination of Stafford, Johnson, and Kevin Smith will be one of the most potent offensive threats in the league. (I bet they draft an offensive lineman to help that come true...Vinny...Vinny?)

5) Speaking of playing with pride, the game nobody outside of Tennessee and Jacksonville featured two runners that blew up for exciting play after exciting play. Chris Johnson busted out for 228 yards and Maurice Jones-Drew had 177 yards. MJD had a staggering 22.5 yards per carry on 8 carries! I was a little concerned for Chris Johnson with Vince Young starting for the first time this season, but it all seemed to go okay, huh? Looking ahead, I see Vince Young enhancing the rushing the attack of the Titans. They will turn his arm loose on a few more deep throws I imagine, and between him, Johnson and LenDale White, they should be able to keep the ball moving on the ground nicely.

6) In my fantasy column I write for SB Nation, I urged Kyle Orton, Knowshon Moreno and Tony Scheffler owners to start somebody else this week. My thought was that the Ravens defense, coming off of a bye, playing at home, and trying to save some face after giving it up in recent weeks were not to be messed with in any fantasy format. Well, I got one right.

7) I saw something crazy on the television when I was watching the various games this weekend. Fans in the stands were holding these weird things in their hands that had words and messages written on them. All different kinds. They were holding them up and waving them around. Made me think back to a time when you saw that here in D.C. I think it was earlier this season...no wait, I forgot, the rule against signs here has been around forever. (Serenity now!)

8) This Sunday night, NBC is giving us yet another NFC East matchup: Dallas vs. Philadelphia. I guess I'll get to watch The Simspons and Family Guylive that night. It kills me because I love watching football on Sunday night. It's quiet in my house, I can actually pay attention, and I can relax and just sink into a game. I can think of no matchup I would prefer less than this one. Will it be a good game? Probably. Will I flick over to it a million times over the course of the night? Of course I will. But the screen will be filled all night with that which makes me vomit. At least if we beat Atlanta, one of the announcers might throw in an ill-advised, "And with the Redskins beating the Falcons earlier today, the NFC East race could really tighten up here in the coming weeks."

9) Game #1 I am looking forward to this weekend (besides the Skins game of course): Cincinnati hosting Baltimore. I picked Cincy to win that division and a win at home over the Ravens on Sunday would really put them in the driver's seat (they already beat the Ravens on the road and the Steelers at home.) I will be interested to see how the Bengals move the ball after what the Ravens did to the Broncos. Carson Palmer is a step up from Kyle Orton, and his receivers are probably better across the board as well. If Cedric Benson can get a few hard first downs on the ground, the Bengals should be able to move the ball well enough to score. I think Flacco is officially in a bit of a rut. I won't call it a sophomore slump because he is still playing relatively well. Either way, defensive coordinators are figuring out ways to contain him.

10) Game #2 I am looking forward to this weekend: Detroit at Seattle. Just kidding. The Monday Night game next week between the Steelers and the Broncos at Invesco Field (Mile High) is going to be a great game. I can just feel it. Josh McDaniels is already working to make sure his team doesn't begin a free fall. Who knows better than Redskins fans how six wins in the first half of the season can turn into a slide all the way to 8-8? The Steelers are coming off a bye and they need this conference win, since winning their division is going to be dicey. This will be a great Monday Night game.

I'm going to toy with predictions in this column and see where it takes me. We'll keep a running tally of how good or awful I am at picking games. I'll pick winners, but I will only pick games where both teams are .500 or better (unless you want to see me pick the Packers over the Bucs and claim how smart I am.)

Patriots over Dolphins

Cardinals over Bears

Giants over Chargers

Broncos over Steelers on MNF in OT

We'll start with those four picks. See you next week.

Thank You Chris Samuels: Tribute to a Modern Day Redskins Hog

2009-11-03T16:02:27Z

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We all know the retirement is coming, so I thought we'd get it out of the way now and give our thanks to the Redskins' modern day Hog, Chris Samuels, and everything he's given to this franchise. It may seem preeminent, but let's be honest, the current state of the Redskins and their forth-coming personnel over-haul is not worth risking paralysis. Chris likely wanted to get his farewell over with, but with the nightmare the front office is currently dealing with, they can't handle any more bad news, especially offensive-line related. It's amazing to think how many moving parts there were over a 3-year span that nearly did not bring Chris Samuels to the Redskins.

Before we dive into all of Samuels' accolades, it's amazing how hectic 1999 and 2000 were. The team was in the process of being sold and multiple people who shouldn't have been in the decision process were. What led to the Redskins large amount of first round draft picks was kicked off by the Panthers' foolish move to acquire Sean Gilbert.

1998

Defensive tackle Sean Gilbert held out for the entire 1997 season and the Redskins kept the franchise tag on him for 1998. The compensation for another team to sign Gilbert was set at two first-round draft picks. The Panthers foolishly bit and got Gilbert-a good player, but not a high-impact performer-in exchange for their first picks in 1999 and 2000. [Warpath Conf.]

1999

Just before the 1999 draft, Charley Casserly dialed up club president John Kent Cooke and explained the deals he had working. "Charley," John told him, "we need to do what's best for the franchise in the long run."

This sadly was the last time we've heard a quote like this out of Redskins Park. What's more maddening is the introduction of Vinny Cerrato into this process:

New York real estate mogul Howard Milstein nearly bought the team from the estate of Cooke's late father, Jack Kent Cooke, but Milstein withdrew his loan-heavy $800 million offer when it become apparent that NFL owners would reject his bid.

However, in late February, Milstein was allowed to appoint an ad hoc general manager, former 49ers director of player personnel Vinny Cerrato, to work in concert with Casserly. Cerrato wanted an office at Redskin Park. Cooke said no, so Cerrato set up shop in a hotel five miles away. "Every time we were considering a free agent," Casserly says, "I had to remind myself to copy some tapes and send them to Vinny. It was uncomfortable, but I told Vinny, 'This isn't complicated. Either you're going to be here or I'm going to be here. We have to do what's best for the Redskins.'"

This is exactly what Casserly did in the draft.

Casserly, who had the fifth pick, set up a tentative deal with New Orleans, which was choosing 12th and looking to move up to take running back Ricky Williams. The teams would swap first-round selections, and the Redskins would get the Saints' other five choices, plus a first- and a third-rounder in 2000.

Ditka takes Williams at #5 and the Redskins take Champ Bailey at #7 and Jon Jansen in the 2^nd round.

2000

In the 2000 draft, the Redskins traded their 16^th and 21^st overall picks (and a 4^th and 5^th rounder) for the #2 and #3 overall picks, which of course the Skins selected Lavar Arrington and Chris Samuels. The thing is, the Redskins originally wanted to draft both Nittany Lions.

Snyder, naturally, is looking to State College, Pa., where defensive end Courtney Brown and linebacker LaVar Arrington played. The owner hired two limousines to drive him there to interview the two young men. The Redskins want both, but particularly Arrington.

The Browns knew we wanted Lavar bad, but the Skins did not get goated into trading up to the #1 spot. Browns took Courtney Brown, and thus, Chris Samuels was taken with the #3.

Accolades:

Has started 136 regular season games and 3 postseason contests with the Redskins
Six Pro Bowls (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008)
Ranks third among active tackles in Pro Bowl appearances, trailing only Seattle's Walter Jones (9) and Chicago's Orlando Pace (7)
4 consecutive Pro Bowl appearances (2005-08), marking the most consecutive appearances by a Redskins offensive lineman since Joe Jacoby and Russ Grimm went to four straight all-star games (1983-86)
Has helped open up holes for the six of the top 10 single-season rushing totals in team history - Clinton Portis 1,516 yards (2005), Clinton Portis 1,487 yards (2008), Stephen Davis 1,432 yards (2001), Stephen Davis 1,318 yards (2000), Clinton Portis 1,315 yards (2004) and Clinton Portis 1,262 yards (2007)
1999 Outland Trophy Winner (Best Interior lineman voted by the Football Writers Association of America)
Won the Jacobs Award as the SEC's most outstanding blocker
Featured on the cover of the December 3, 2001 issue of Sports Illustrated along with running back Stephen Davis after becoming the first team in NFL history to lose its first five games, then go on to win its next five games
Voted as the Redskins 2002 Ed Block Courage Award winner, annually given to a player from each NFL team that exemplifies commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage
Didn't allow a QB pressure in 1999, had 91 knockdown blocks and played nearly every offensive snap during the regular season opening many holes for Shaun Alexander, who gained 1,383 yards rushing
Attended John Shaw High School in Mobile, AL where he played both offense and defense

Samuels' 6 Pro Bowl berths are the third-most in franchise history. Can you name the 2 Redskins with the most at 7?

Chris, thanks for everything and you can count on me being there when your name gets hung in the Ring of Fame.

Article Souces: [SI.com 1999], [SI.com 2000], [Wikipedia], [WaTimes], [Redskins.com]

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Sam Bradford Will Be A Redskin??

2009-11-03T14:16:59Z

Sam Bradford Will Be A Redskin??

Bradford unlikely to slip by Washington (according to Adam Schefter)

Monday, November 2, 2009 | Print Entry

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford could slip some in the April NFL draft, but it is unlikely he would slip past the Washington Redskins' first-round pick.

The Redskins' team doctor is Dr. James Andrews, who performed Bradford's shoulder surgery this past week. If any team is going to have extra insight as to how well Bradford's subsequent rehab is going, it is the Redskins. Of course, any team can get any information it wants about Bradford's shoulder, but it is an interesting connection that Andrews works for the Redskins.

In the weeks before the 2008 NFL draft, Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart underwent foot surgery with Dr. Robert Anderson, who also happened to be the Carolina Panthers' team doctor. Then, when the draft came, Stewart slid some but not past the Panthers' 11th overall pick.

This is not to suggest that Bradford is destined to land in Washington, but it's hard to imagine him getting past the Redskins' slot, wherever it is.

I thought it was very unfair to put him in the position. The position they put Jim in, it shouldn’t ...

2009-11-02T22:07:27Z

I thought it was very unfair to put him in the position. The position they put Jim in, it shouldn’t happen," Holmgren said. "You can be upset with me as a play-caller or how the team’s going, (then) fire me. But don’t do that. Don’t pull the rug out from under me, tie my hands, make me look foolish … take away what I came there for to do in the first place. Don’t do that...what they did, I did not like it at all."

nfl.com
Guess that means we can cross Holmgren off the list of coaches. Geez...who would coach here?

Redskins Fans Wake Up On Monday Morning Without Pain Of Sunday Loss

2009-11-02T19:16:38Z

Thousands of Redskins fans woke up on Monday morning with an odd crispness to their step. They hit the ground running with a fresh outlook on the day and week that would have been unrecognizable to any Redskins fan prior to today.

"It was like I had the will to face just about anything that came my way when I woke up this morning," said one Redskins fan who admitted that the smile on his face on this Monday morning was usually reserved for Mondays after weekend trips to Vegas, or when he opens a fresh box of frozen waffles. He explained, "When you open a fresh box of frozen waffles, you know they are going to be fresh. You can eat five, maybe six of those things and you know they are all going to be as good they can possibly be. Of course, the next time you go for waffles, you are going to have to eat those freezer-burned leftovers...I like to save those for when I am drunk."

Sweet.

No loss for the Redskins yesterday means a week that Redskins fans can start without the fresh pain of mediocrity stinging the heart, mind and soul. We asked another burgundy and gold fan what it was like to get this week started without the day-old memory of coming up short in yet another loss.

"Huge...just huge. This changes my whole week. Not only do I still have enough Jack Daniels to get me through the week for once, but my girlfriend is actually talking to me today. When the Redskins lose, I can't deal with her problems, especially since all her problems are somehow my fault. I haven't celebrated a 3-week anniversary during a football season with a girlfriend in years."

As we conducted our man-on-the-street interviews to gauge the euphoria today in D.C., we noticed a man wearing a Darrell Green jersey walking with a decided limp toward the Metro stop. His walk suggested great pain, but he wore a giant smile on his face as he carried what appeared to be luggage for a trip he was about to embark upon. We asked him if we could help him carry his bags, but he enthusiastically denied our help. We asked what was causing his limp.

"Son, I am doing just fine. Couldn't be happier about the non-loss yesterday. Unfortunately, even though the team did not play this past weekend, Daniel Snyder continued his sexual assault on my 5-hole. I suspect I'll have this limp for some time. He's killing me!"

Redskins Red Zone Review at the BYE

2009-11-02T15:02:41Z

More photos » by Pablo Martinez Monsivais - AP

12 days ago: Philadelphia Eagles placekicker David Akers celebrates his second quarter field goal as Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry walks off the field during the NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Browse more photos »

Sooo, how was everyone's week off? As the Redskins get back to practicing today, motivation has to be at an all time low. It's about at this time we start hearing all the interviews from Redskins Park. "I'm still motivated, after all it's a job."

It's safe to say that the Redskins will look quite different next year. Chris Samuels, an anchor on the left side and the longest tenured Redskin will be gone, and Jim Zorn and Sherman Smith are likely to see pink slips. It would be surprising to me if Blache stuck around given everything he's been through this season as well.

Coming off a much needed break from all the negativity, the Redskins face a tough opponent with a trip down to visit the red hot Falcons. With Zorn getting two weeks to prepare, I still don't feel much better for the Skins chances in pulling an upset. We'll post a game thread tonight so we can follow the action and discuss how to best match-up with Atlanta.

Even though the Skins went 2-3 in the red zone against the Giants and Eagles, two of them (one in each game) were late TDs when the game was already out of reach. Either way though, it's a glimmer of hope that they can punch it in.

Redskins Red Zone Statistics 2009
	*Redskins Offense*	*Opponent's Offense*
*@Giants*	2-3	0-3
*Rams*	0-5	1-3
*@Lions*	1-2	1-3
*Buccaneers*	1-3	1-1
*@Panthers*	2-3	2-3
*Chiefs*	0-1	0-2
*Eagles*	2-3	0-0
Total	8-20	5-15

This post is sponsored by Comcast's NFL RedZone Channel, which allows you to see all the action from inside the 20 for every NFL game.

Latest installment from Danny. Good stuff.

2009-11-02T14:40:51Z

Latest installment from Danny. Good stuff.

2010 Draft - Offensive Line

2009-10-28T14:22:43Z

I've never seen more of a debacle at O-line than we currently have here with the Washington Redskins. We've waited far too long to seriously address the O-line in the draft and it clearly shows. Free agent O-linemen are often used up old guys or injury prone, so I don't think that free agency is a good way to address this need. We need a group of young prospects who can grow and develop together. The only way to successfully accomplish this is to use every draft pick we have this year on Offensive Linemen.

I'm assuming that we'll have two picks in the top 37 this year (1st and 2nd round). We can definitely pick up two potential pro-bowl linemen with those two picks if we do our homework. Our next picks are then in the 4th, 5th and 7th rounds. It has been shown in the past that you can pick up some quality depth for the O-line and even some diamonds in the rough. That would be 5 young offensive linemen. You can then have a completely open competition in camp for the starting jobs. Competition for playing time brings out the best in NFL players. IF, we stick to this plan, then we should have a much improved offensive line next year and one that would only get better with time (like a fine wine). Then, once we have a youthful talented O-line we can aggressively fill in the skill positions through free agency or through future drafts. We can then draft a QB in the first round of the 2011 draft who would most likely thrive with a young O-line with a year of experience under their belts. Hell we could even draft a top notch young running back in 2011 if we so choose. It's time to start getting younger and clearly the biggest need for that is on the O-line.

Redskins Player Evaluations: Trick or Treat?

2009-10-30T17:30:33Z

Took me 2 hours, but I'm still proud of it.

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In the spirit of Halloween and the BYE week, I thought I'd do a mid-season evaluation and tag the Redskins players as trick or treat based on their performance (players I thought who have been medium are not included). I gotta say, it's nice diving back into the stats and getting away from all the "banned signed" coverage for a bit.

Let's start with the treats:

London Fletcher - 65 tackles, league leader. This can also be considered a bad stat since that means a.) You're on the field too long, and b.) other players aren't making tackles. The next 4 closest people in tackles behind him play for (BUF, CLE, OAK, and TAM). London gets the top treat because he is the only vocal leader on our team and has continued to work hard to motivate our guys. Leader by example is the perfect title for London. I can't imagine the Redskins defense without him.

Albert Haynesworth - He has lived up to his contract and despite the Redskins 5 losses, he still plays 100% and has shown his competitiveness yelling in the locker room. Everything we expected he would bring to our offense has happened with Andre Carter totaling 6.5 sacks (6th rank) and Orakpo 3.5 sacks.

Hayesnworth has 3 sacks, 21 tackles (16 solo), and 1 recovered fumble.

Rocky McIntosh - 2 forced fumbles and 35 tackles. He's shown he has deserved a contract extension, but at this point, a.) Will the Skins pay him, and b.) Why wouldn't he want to move to a team with a better chance to win?

Chris Cooley - 8th ranked TE with 29 catches despite a sputtering offense. Imagine if Cooley played for the Saints? Chris' play on the field speaks for itself, and his bond with the fans via his blog cannot be underestimated, not to mention the over and beyond amount of charity work he does.

Hunter Smith - Hunter Smith is the 15^th ranked punter when it comes to Net Average (38.8), which is the best of his career. He has also been the rock for Suisham's consistently good field goal kicking.

OK, now for the tricks....and there's a lot of them:

Devin Thomas & Malcolm Kelly: Everything we saw in training camp has not translated to the pre-season or regular season. I do not have an explanation for it, but it is frustrating and it has hurt our offense. A lot of the passing plays Campbell doesn't even give a look their way, so they can't take the full blame.

Thomas: 7 games, 71 yards, 1 TD, 0 Fumbles
Kelly: 7 games, 73 yards, 0 TD, 0 Fumbles

Laron Landry: Laron is another one of those players everyone (coaches included) expected to make the jump to the "premier" safety, and it hasn't happened.

Landry: 0 INTs, 1 pass defended, 1 forced fumble.

He does however have the same average # of tackles per game (approx 5.0) as the elite free safeties (Reed and Polamalu). There is a bright spot in that he is the 6th ranked FS in tackles with 35 (covering for all of the corners' missed tackles), but looking at the free safeties ahead of him in tackles, DET, STL, SEA, DEN, NE, there are some solid guys there (Dawkins, Atogwe, Babineaux). The frustrating part is that all the safeties above him have at least one INT. Laron has all the physical skills to be that guy, but I'm still unsure as to whether it's his instincts or the fact Blache has him playing 30 yards off the line of the scrimmage that is the real problem. Either way, Washington does not have a "ball-hawk" safety.

Last and definitely least...

Vinny Cerrato: I would be here all day if I listed out everyone on the offensive line, but my major two gripes are with Stephon Heyer and Chad Rinehart. These were both guys expected to make the jump to serviceable starters, and that gamble has failed miserably (Chad has only played in 2 games). It is crystal clear we have no talent for evaluating our current offensive line talent, and that is killing this franchise.

To add insult to injury, Jason Taylor currently has 5.5 sacks in Miami. The Redskins paid him $8 million last year and Miami is paying him $1.5 million this year. Awesome...and they got a 2^nd round pick and 6^th round pick from the Redskins.

Who are your trick and treats?