What I Want (as a Redskins Fan)

When asked about the intangibles that Mike Shanahan can bring to Washington that Jim Zorn did not possess, cornerback DeAngelo Hall offered his thoughts.

“It’s kind of hard to envision yourself trying to get somewhere when the person who’s talking to you has never been there personally,” cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. “That’s probably the only thing that I want. I want to go to the Super Bowl.”

What I want is a player who wants to WIN a Super Bowl, not just play in it.

I also want Hall to learn how to tackle.

I want Carlos Rogers to learn how to catch (you too, Smoot).

I want LaRon Landry to actually look around him before launching himself at an opponent. He might actually have a chance to make an interception.

I want a free safety, so Landry can play the position that he is actually good at.

I want Albert Haynesworth to go two games in a row without being carted off the field.

I want Brian Orakpo playing DE, and H.B. Blades starting in his place in the linebacking corps.

I want all defenders to stop celebrating after making a tackle on first or second down.

I want all offensive players to stop celebrating after making their first good play midway through the third quarter while they are losing 17-4.

I want London Fletcher to live forever.

I want offensive linemen who are more qualified to play in the NFL than they are to be a cast member on Biggest Loser.

I want a draft that addresses the worst O-line in the league.

I want reserve linemen to have more NFL experience than just living with another NFL lineman.

I want Stephon Heyer cut.

I want Antwaan Randle-El cut, or at least stripped of all return duties.

I want the staff to seek legitimate competition for Jason Campbell during the offseason.

I want Campbell to not get scared when a defense shows blitz on third down and check down to a draw or screen pass.

I want more routes that go six yards when we need five, instead of three when we need four.

I want at least one game-winning drive next year.

I want a field goal kicker who can make 95 percent of his kicks from inside of 40 yards.

I want to win at least one division game next year.

I want a team that can compete in the NFL. I want a team that I can at least brag about once or twice during the course of a season. I want to be three years old in 1982 and watch a dynasty being born.

The Redskins have been horrible (or at best mediocre) for long enough to atone for whatever bad karma they have accrued. 

The fans just want a team that they can be proud of (or at least beats Dallas and Philly once a year)!

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My Attempt To Admit Past Mistakes and Atone For Past Sins

One thing that I have come to dislike about sportswriters is their tendency to remind the reader of predictions they made that came true, while never acknowledging past articles that made them look very stupid.

In my writing, I try to avoid those tendencies.  If I am wrong, I will own up to it.

Watching the Giants-Redskins game last night reminded me of a recent article that I wrote that, in light of recent events, makes me look like a complete idiot.  Rather than ignore this I have decided to point out exactly how wrong I was.

Following the win against the Broncos, I felt that it was necessary to acknowledge special teams coach Danny Smith for the quality product that he has put on the field.

I have learned over the course of the Dan Snyder era to be very careful when complimenting the Skins.  But after the Amazing Gadget touchdown on a fake field goal against Denver, I decided to throw caution to the wind.

I noted the gutsy decision to bring kicker Shawn Suisham back this year after a horrible performance last season.  I wrote that Suisham has proven that Smith made a good choice by making every field goal attempt up to that point in the season.

The very next week, the Redskins played Dallas.  The Redskins dominated 58 minutes of the game, but lost 7-6 with the help of two missed field goals—one of which occurred late in the fourth quarter and would have sealed a victory.

Two weeks later, history repeated itself.  This time it was a 23 yard miss.  Suisham was fired shortly after the game.

I also praised the return teams.  I acknowledged that Antwaan Randle El is a horrible punt returner, but I praised the kickoff returns and noted that at least the Redskins didn’t muff many punts.

In the last few games, Randle El has muffed two punts, bringing his total to three on the year.  This eliminated the last positive aspect of him as a punt returner.  Recently, Santana Moss has been fielding more and more punts.

But my main point to this article was to give Smith credit for his innovative plays that have utilized punter Hunter Smith’s skills to their utmost potential.

Then I watched the last play of the first half last night against the Giants.

After that play, I knew that I had to call the Redskins out, and myself along with them.

This play consisted of a unique blend of two grade-school games.

The first part, where every blocker went out left into formation, leaving a punter alone to be rushed by four Giant linemen, resembled a popular kids game known in my neighborhood as “Smear the Qu33r” (Don’t get offended by the gay reference in the title.  I didn’t make it up.  It’s a game that every kid knows, like freeze tag). 

This is a game where a ball is snapped, thrown, or kicked to one kid, while every other kid runs to tackle him.  It’s like running a kickoff back with no other players on your team to block for you.

The second part is a game called “500.”  This involves one quarterback who throws a “Hail Mary” pass up for grabs to three to 10 other kids.  The thrower yells a number in the air, and the first person to catch it wins that point total.  The first player to 500 wins, and gets to become quarterback.

This play leads me to believe that Danny Smith developed this play by watching grade-school kids playing in the park.

The point of my article was that Smith is a good coach who deserves a shot to stay on next year, despite the coaching turnover that will occur.

I still think he is a good coach.  I know he isn’t out on the field executing the plays he calls and isn’t responsible for all of the special teams mistakes that have occurred in the last five weeks.

I just wanted to point out MY mistakes, and let other writers know that it is OK to sometimes admit that you don’t always know what you are talking about.

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What Sign Could Get By The Censors at Fed Ex Field?

Dan Snyder has banned all fans from bringing signs into Fed Ex Field for the rest of the season (and maybe longer).  This leaves me to wonder if there was a sign that management couldn’t ban with a clear conscience?

I usually attend at least two home Redskin games a year.  My father used to split the cost of season tickets with a friend.

This year we were forced to give the tickets up due to economic reasons. We figured that we could save money and still scalp tickets to at least one game.

However, the Redskins have played so poorly that we have decided to save our money for next year.

But if we did attend a game this year I would attempt to bring a sign in that security would have a hard time refusing.

This ban is an obvious attempt to keep fans from publicly criticizing Snyder or Cerrato.  So I thought at first that a sign praising them might be allowed.

Like “Dan is the Man.”  Or “Vinny Forever.  Critics Never.”

But I realized that if they allowed these signs in it would further fuel their public perception as arrogant, controlling, manipulative tyrants with no ability to serve in their team’s best interest.

Maybe a sign that says “Thank You Dan For Promoting Breast Cancer Awareness”, written on a pink backboard, would get by.

How could they turn down a sign that supported their attempt at promoting a worthy cause?

Maybe I should make a Redskins shirt that I bought at Fed Ex Field into a poster.

On the front it read F@#k Dallas!   On the back it read F@#k TO, Tony Romo, Marion Barber, and Bill Parcells!

I know that it is a little out of date, but since they let me in to the stadium each of the last three years with this slogan prominently on display they couldn’t possibly refuse me now.  Could they?

Maybe I would just come with a “John III:XVI” sign.  They wouldn’t refuse the good word of the bible, would they?

These are just some of the intriguing questions that have gone through my mind concerning this unique new issue.

If any fans are attending the next Redskin home game I implore you to try one of my ideas, then report back to me on their success or failure.

Certainly Dan Snyder would let a few worthy signs into the stadium if they helped to serve Redskin Nation by promoting positive messages! 

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Is AFC Still NFL’s Dominant Conference?

In recent years, the AFC has been noticeably stronger than the NFC.

 

While the American Football Conference hasn’t come close to achieving the level of dominance that the NFC enjoyed throughout the 1980s and the better part of the ’90s (15 out of 16 titles), they have certainly put together their own impressive streak that started with the John Elway-led Broncos in the late ’90s. (AFC teams are 9-3 during that span).

 

Has this recent trend of AFC superiority carried over to this season?

 

So far, the NFC has held it’s own.  And for the first time in several years, the NFC has several teams that could be considered favorites if they make it to the big game.

 

Before I studied the numbers, I was of the opinion that the NFC might actually be superior this season.  While the stats don’t support this theory, they do show that the NFC has pulled even with its rival conference.

 

At roughly the midway point of the season, the AFC and NFC have played themselves to a 16-16 tie.

 

The NFC holds nine teams with winning records while the AFC has eight.

 

The big difference between this year and recent years is that the AFC’s best teams don’t appear to be decidedly better than the leading NFC teams.

 

The AFC still has the traditional powers in Indy, Pittsburgh and New England.  But of the three, only the Colts have looked great at 7-0.  The Steelers and Patriots still look very good, but at 5-2, both clubs have shown signs of vulnerability.

 

Denver may be the surprise team of the conference at 6-1.  But I don’t know many people who would view them as dominant.

 

In the NFC, New Orleans and Minnesota have been very impressive.  The two are a combined 14-1 and both have the swagger of a legitimate title contender.

 

The NFC East also has three very good teams in New York, Dallas and Philadelphia.  These three all have their faults, but easily fall into the same category as Pittsburgh and New England.

 

If you break down the records of winning teams in inter-conference play, the AFC has a slight advantage.  Winning AFC teams are 12-3 against the NFC, while the NFC’s winners are 15-7 in inter-conference games. 

 

The season has a long way to go, and the AFC could still regain their recent dominance over the NFC.

 

But if current trends continue, this could be one of the most evenly matched Super Bowls in a while.

 

Heck, the NFC might even be favored this year.

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Banned In D.C.: Signs No Longer Allowed

Sticks and stones do break bones, and apparently words will hurt Daniel Snyder and Vinny Cerrato just as badly.

Word came down from Redskins management yesterday that fans will no longer be allowed to bring signs or placards into Fed Ex Field.

The timing of this announcement sends a clear message to everyone that The Redskins’ owner is well aware of fan sentiment.

But instead of making positive changes to improve his team he has decided to subscribe to the philosophy that if you don’t see it and can’t read it, then it doesn’t really exist.

This is an unprecedented move of cowardice from an owner who is making decisions with his heart in a league that has the most success when emotions are left at the door.

Many teams have had poor management and poor performances in this league for a lot longer than the Redskins.

Detroit set the standard for mismanagement during the Matt Millen era.

But did Millen ever stoop to banning fan signs?

Of course not.

In many cases during his tenure, a shot of an original sign in the crowd was one of the only Detroit highlights played on Sportcenter.

What’s next?

Will fans be removed from the stadium for wearing bags on their heads with the eyes cut out?

Snyder and Cerrato must grow thicker skin and realize the reality of the NFL’s appeal.

Fans attend games for entertainment.

If the team is not providing that entertainment, the fans must find new reasons to attend games.

Whether a sign or a costume hurts a player or owner’s feelings or not, showing them off is fun for the fans.

It lets them vent their frustration in a non-violent way and gives them a reason to go to a game that they know will likely end in an embarrassing Redskins loss.

This move may make Snyder feel better on game day, but it is only hurting his much maligned reputation.

No good will come of this!

Daniel Snyder needs to man up and solve this problem instead of pretending that it doesn’t exist.

Instead of coming down on the fans, Snyder needs to come to terms with why the fans are disgruntled and take measures to regain their enthusiasm.

I know that this will be hard to accomplish this season.

But until changes can effectively be made, the ownership needs to accept fan reaction for what it is: A desperate attempt from a loyal fan base to display its displeasure.

I guarantee that if Snyder can build a team next year that plays hard, shows some skill, and wins at least seven or eight games, the signs will disappear without having to ban them.

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For Washington Redskins, Only One Word Will Do: Pathetic!

In case you missed the title of this article let me state it again: Pa-Thetic.

 

The Washington Redskins proved today beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have an offense that can not play on an NFL level by losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 14-6.

 

That’s the Chiefs that hadn’t won a game in nine previous attempts.

 

That’s the Chiefs that came into this game with the worst defensive unit in the entire NFL statistically.

 

That’s the Chiefs that lost AT HOME to JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders.

 

That’s the Chiefs that made Kevin Kolb look like Donovan McNabb.

 

That’s the Chiefs that made Miles Austin look like Jerry Rice.

 

That’s the Chiefs that were the last team to have the ineptitude to lose to the Detroit Lions (that is, until, you know, the Redskins lost to them this year).

 

That’s the Chiefs that……………well, you get the picture.

 

I am going through such pains to remind people who this team that the Redskins lost to actually is because their defense didn’t look like Kansas City today.  They looked like an all star team comprised of players from the ’85 Bears and the 2000 Ravens.

 

Please don’t be angry, Chiefs fans.  I am just stating facts.  I will not write the pathetic line that I have heard over and over from the Redskins locker room that we lost to a team that we should have beaten.

 

That is a lie and a cop out.  The truth is that the Chiefs deserved to win that game and at this point are a better team.  The Chiefs dominated the Washington offense and deserved to win the game.

 

Read what I have written carefully.  It is the truth.  The Redskins’ current offensive lineup is not capable of exposing the worst defense in the league.

 

The sad thing is that a very good defense is going to waste in Washington.  I truly believe that the Washington defensive unit could take at least ten teams in this league to the Super Bowl. 

 

Any team that could score 20 points on a regular basis would win 12-14 games with this defense.

 

Word came down after the game today that Jim Zorn has been relieved of his play-calling duties.  While I am glad that some form of reprimand was carried out somewhere on this team I have little faith that it will make a difference.

 

At this point there are too many areas to point fingers at.  The Head Coach is probably the right place to start, but anyone who thinks that the problems end there is delusional.

 

I really considered going down the entire Redskins organization from the owner, personnel, coaching staff, roster to the practice squad and listing who I would get rid of and why.

 

I still may at some point this year, but for now let me state the obvious.

 

The season is over and the time to rebuild the offense is upon us.

 

Yes, we are 2-4.  Yes, we have a long season in front of us.  Yes miracles do happen every day on the Lifetime Network.

 

Get real, people.  This offensive unit peaked in 2005, had a slight rebound in 2007, and had a total meltdown in 2008. 

 

This unit is not one piece away.  Its best players are entering the twilight of their career.  Two of them may already never play again in Chris Samuels and Randy Thomas.

 

If this team wants to do anything productive to build towards future success, it will go young and bench the veterans.  Who cares if it looks ugly?  How much worse could this offense do than six points against the Chiefs?

 

If Colt Brennan hadn’t been put on IR and Chase Daniel hadn’t left I would say go with one of them.  As it is we might as well play Campbell, because Todd Collins is not the future and proved today that he has lost so much mobility and arm strength that he can’t physically make 35 percent of the plays that most QB’s are required to make.

 

The O-line is already playing the young guys due to injury, so not much change will happen there.

 

Santana Moss is one of my favorite players.  But he is getting older and is not a part of a successful future for this team.  Bench him and Randle-El, and play the young guys.  At least then they can be evaluated and we can see if they should be part of this rebuilding phase or not.

 

Chris Cooley is still young and can be a part of this team’s future.  Keep him in.  But also give Fred Davis a chance to show what he can do (besides fumble).

 

Clinton Portis has been the heart and soul of this team for six years.  This isn’t really his fault.  He is still the best option the Redskins have.  But he is getting older and will not be around long enough to endure a two-three year overhaul.

 

Therefore, he must sit down next to Ladell Betts and let Marcus Mason and Aldridge show if they are part of the future of this franchise. 

 

As far as Rock Cartwright is concerned, I would release him tomorrow.  He will never be a vital player and his on field strutting and off field comments are not needed in any way. 

 

The Skins should cut him so that they don’t have to keep releasing Renaldo Wynn every week to make room for a substitute punter.

 

I know it hurts, but Redskin fans have to look at this situation objectively.

 

Will a coaching change during this season turn this team around?

 

Are Portis, Moss, Randle-El, Collins, Betts, Samuels, Thomas, and Cartwright players that are young enough to endure a rebuilding process or good enough to change the direction of this season.

 

The answer, of course, is no.

 

The season is lost.  It’s evaluation time.  Let’s find out who has a future and who doesn’t.

 

P.S.: If I were Dan Snyder and I really loved the Redskins I would sell the team immediately and try to buy a rival franchise.  With one move he could help the Redskins and destroy a rival team at the same time. 

 

Jerry Jones seems to be doing that already in Dallas, so Snyder should focus on acquiring either the Giants or the Eagles.

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Much Needed Strategy Advice For The Washington Redskins

Our favorite source of Sunday heartburn and indigestion returns to Fed-Ex field Sunday to play the lowly Kansas City Chiefs.  They will match up against their record setting sixth consecutive opponent without a win this year.

 

They have two choices:  They can rise to the occasion, or set a new low in fan and player morale.

 

Since it seems that the Redskins need help from anyone who is willing to give it, I thought that I would give the coaching staff several strategies that could help them avoid another embarrassing loss to a winless team.

 

The first thing that I would do is leave seven players in pass protection at all times.  Todd Yoder would draw the start at tight end and play the majority of the game to help block.

 

Due to recent injuries to two of the Skins’ best linemen the Redskins are forced to start four players who did not see significant action last year, including two players who haven’t started a game in years.

 

If given time Jason Campbell has proven that he can make plays, but this lineup will not likely give him that time, despite facing the leagues worst defense.  We saw how this Redskin unit made a horrible Tampa Bay defense look like they were the championship unit of the Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks’ heyday.

 

The Redskins must protect this makeshift unit and give Campbell at least enough time to scan through his progressions.

 

Leaving Yoder in to block and using Clinton Portis in all passing situations will let the Skins benefit from having their best blocking tight end and running back on the field.  This will limit Campbell’s targets but give him enough time to have a chance of actually finding them.

 

Keeping Yoder in the game would in theory limit Chris Cooley’s playing time.  But if I were Zorn I would go with my three best receiving threats most of the game to maximize the effectiveness of the limited amount of receivers that will be sent out into formation.

 

In most scenarios I would use Moss, Cooley, and Randle-El as my three targets.  I would also look to line Cooley up out wide and keep Randle-El in the slot to maximize the huge advantage the Redskins have against the Chiefs’ nickel back.

 

The Chiefs have been horrible all year defending the slot receiver, including Miles Austin’s ten catches for 250 yards last week.  Randle-El may not be a great receiver, but he is at least as good as Austin.  The Redskins should seek to force the Chiefs into the same scenarios that they were beaten on last week and every week this year.

 

On goal line formations I would substitute Malcolm Kelly for Randle-El to give the Redskins the option of the lob.

 

The defensive unit has been pulling its weight for the most part.  But they have many injury concerns on the front line this week.

 

In order to increase the line’s effectiveness and give them another healthy body to help in the rotation I would play Brian Orakpo on the line the entire game.  The Redskins are deeper at linebacker this week than they are on the line and this move would help solidify their front while putting the best combination of talent on the field.

 

If Campbell is given the protection he needs to make decisions and the defensive line can play well despite its injuries the Redskins should win this game.

 

If they don’t make the correct adjustments to minimize the weaknesses within their lines this could turn into another very long afternoon for Redskins fans.

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Shaun Suisham Is The Redskins’ MVP Against The Bucs

I don’t trust that guy.  I never feel confident when he kicks.  I didn’t even want him back this season.  I was a huge advocate for signing former Ravens kicker Matt Stover.  He is 40, which isn’t too old for a kicker, and he is still very reliable from inside 45 yards.

But I must admit that Suisham saved the game today.

When punter Hunter Smith got hurt early in the game Suisham came in and delivered.  His first punt was a crucial forty yarder out of his own end zone.  He also made a great angling punt at the end of the game to push the Bucs behind their twenty yard line.  None of his punts gave the Bucs a chance to return them for any significant yardage.

His punting average for the game was less than 40 yards, and some might think that isn’t good.  For an emergency punter, that is excellent.  If anyone wants to see what could have happened, go to youtube and search for a video entitled “bad day for Joe Theismann”. 

 

Theismann was forced into punting duties when his punter was injured against the Bears in 1985.  His first punt went exactly four yards off of the side of his foot.  This was the exact same part of the field where Suisham kicked.

Suisham also kicked a 42 yard field goal amid swirling wind conditions; the same conditions that caused the Bucs to miss two forty yard+ kicks.  He also launched a kickoff through the back of the end zone.  He is usually short on his kickoffs, but he was great today.

 

Last year, Suisham had the worst field goal percentage of any starting kicker.  Most of his misses were from outside of 40 yards.  Some of them were even short, which is very disconcerting.

 

While he has not attempted a “long” field goal by NFL standards this year, he has made the ones that he has been asked to make.

He did have a point after attempt blocked which, if you look at the play, is clearly the result of a lapse in blocking assignments.  The snap, hold, and kick were perfect.  Adam Viniateri couldn’t have gotten that kick off.

Congratulations Shaun Suisham.  I hope this game helps to build up your confidence and you continue to perform in the clutch down the stretch.

 

 

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Redskins Nation Must Be Realistic: No Point to Firing Jim Zorn

Every fan in Redskins’ Nation had every right to want every coach and player fired, the team sold, relocated, and renamed, and FedEx Field burned to the ground last Sunday.

But now that we have had a chance to cool off a little. Let’s honestly look at our choices.

No interim coach has ever made a deep playoff run in the NFL.  I’m not sure if any have even made the playoffs (let me know if one has).

On the opposite note, there have been many coaches that have lost two out of their first three games and went on to turn their season around and win a Super Bowl.  The most recent example is Tom Coughlin and the Giants two years ago.  He was just as maligned and despised by Giants fans early in that season as Zorn is this year by Redskins fans.

Now Coughlin has a key to the city.

I’m not saying that Zorn is likely to turn this team around.  I’m just reminding people of the reality of the Redskins’ situation.  If you are going to fire someone you better have a better person waiting to replace him.

Firing Zorn would effectively kill the season.  Let’s not be too hasty.  After the next three weeks we will all see if Zorn should be fired or not.  The Redskins play three teams that are actually in much worse shape than they are.

 

No team in the NFL has a better opportunity to get well than the Redskins.  It’s the pro football equivalent of having a three day weekend off of work to recover from an epic hangover.

 

Dan Snyder’s choices were to fire coaches and force his team to spend the next three weeks trying to read the Cliffs Notes’ version of another coach’s philosophy or let the Redskins have these games to improve upon Zorn’s schemes.

 

I can’t believe I am saying this, but…Snyder actually made the right decision.  Since he doesn’t have the track record for patience I feel that he must be given some credit when he actually makes a well thought out decision.

 

Redskin fans have every right to expect more from their favorite team.  But firing a coach in the middle of a season is never a good way to improve a team.  If Zorn can improve some of his game time decisions and Greg Blache can remember that bad teams respond poorly to defensive pressure the Redskins have every chance of being 4-2 after six weeks.

 

Until then Zorn and Blache must continue to seek on field success with the understanding that they have been given the NFL’s version of a final written warning.

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Greg Blache Unveils a Softer, Gentler Approach To Defending Rookie QB’s

Following one of the most embarrassing losses in recent franchise history Redskin nation will be looking many places to heap the blame.  Coach Jim Zorn and quarterback Jason Campbell will probably bear the majority of it.

While they certainly played their parts in Sunday’s debacle, the person that deserves the most blame is defensive coordinator Greg Blache.

For a person who has such a good coaching resume and led the defense to a very good showing last year, he really showed an amazing lack of understanding of basic football concepts.

Greg Blache gave rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford the time to gain confidence.  Every basic coaching course will teach that the best game plan to use against an inexperienced quarterback is to bring heavy blitzes and force him into making a mistake.

Greg Blache must have skipped the introductory coaching classes.

Most coaches will study game film to determine what formations have been most effective against the Lions this year.  New Orleans and Minnesota certainly provided enough of a blueprint.  They pressured Stafford into five interceptions and allowed only one touchdown pass.

Greg Blache must have skipped the film session.

Instead he decided that playing prevent defense the entire game would be more effective.  He was right.  His scheme certainly prevented a Redskin victory.

This may have been the worst defensive coaching job I have ever witnessed.  He rushed four people almost the entire game.  He had speed rusher Brian Orakpo playing coverage over 60 percent of the game, including the critical 24-yard pass play on the Lions’ last drive that helped them seal the victory.

He had the cornerbacks playing eight to 10 yards off of the receivers on several 3d-and-2 situations.  How does that make any sense to anyone?

The Lions were certainly grateful.  When Stafford saw the amount of space that the Redskins were giving on these plays he checked down to easy three-yard button hook pitch and catches.

I have never witnessed a defense play as conservative against a rookie quarterback in my life.  The Redskins never came close to getting any pressure on Stafford with just four pass rushers.  As a result, Stafford had time to find the seems in the secondary.

I don’t care if you drop back 11 players into coverage.  A professional wide receiver will eventually get open, and a professional quarterback will eventually find him.

Greg Blache wasn’t the only person who was at fault yesterday.  He was just the most glaring reason for this loss.  Here is a list of (dis)honorable mentions.

 

Fred Smoot

You should be ashamed of yourself.  You were scared to hit a rookie quarterback! 

On a 3rd-and-13 on the Lions’ first scoring drive Smoot had a perfect shot to tackle Stafford short of the marker and force a field goal.  Instead he threw a timid alligator armed attempt at a tackle with his eyes closed that I had previously only seen performed by wide receivers who are scared to catch a pass over the middle.

The result was that Stafford flew by him and Detroit scored a touchdown later in the drive.

Smoot and fellow cornerback DeAngelo Hall bear a striking resemblance to Deion Sanders (minus the interception returns for touchdowns).  This leads to a question that is equally as confusing as the question of why a coach wouldn’t blitz a rookie quarterback.

Why do you play defense if you are scared to hit someone?

 

Clinton Portis

Hey Clinton, the game was yesterday, in case you forgot.

I know that the offensive line isn’t opening up holes very well and that Portis isn’t being called on very much.  But when he did get carries he showed no burst or power.

The Clinton Portis that I am used to seeing is a player who excels at getting underneath tacklers and falling forward for four yards even when no hole is open.  That guy didn’t play yesterday.

From his body language to his facial expressions it was very evident that Portis is very angry with the coach, the scheme, and his reduced role in the offense.  It is clearly affecting the way he plays.

I’m not sure which reality is correct, but either choice is a bad one for the Redskins.  The choices are either that Portis is disgruntled and playing without heart, or that age and wear are finally catching up to him.

Either way, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Redskins go in another direction at running back next year.  The 1,400 rushing yards Portis needs to become the all-time Redskins rushing leader are looking like a pipe dream.  That in itself is an amazing testament to how low this team’s expectations have become.

 

Jim Zorn

Decisions, decisions.

It’s amazing how often early coaching mistakes come back to haunt a team later in a game.  If you take back Zorn’s decision to go for it on the first drive instead of kicking a field goal and his decision to accept a penalty instead of making Detroit attempt a 50-yard field goal the Redskins win the game.

Zorn’s two crucial errors cost the Redskins seven early points.  They lost by five.  You do the math.

 

Ladell Betts

How does a player who gets paid millions of dollars to spend his life concentrating on being the best football player he can be not understand basic football concepts?

Like getting out of bounds to preserve time during end of game scenarios!

Betts did this not once, but twice.

The first time was during the Redskins’ final scoring drive.  Betts caught a pass near the sidelines, had the first down, but decided to turn up field to gain one extra yard instead of getting out of bounds.  As a result, roughly 30 critical seconds were lost.

The second play occurred at the end of the game.  Betts caught a lateral, ran beyond the first down marker, and had time to step out of bounds with two seconds left.  Instead, he ran right into the waiting arms of two Detroit defenders.

I know the second situation was a tough play to make, but good players make those smart decisions.  The ones who can’t usually end up as backups on a 1-2 team that looks to be one of the league’s worst.

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