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Charlie Weis Going To Washington? Why Not?
Published: December 4, 2009
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Here’s the problem with Redskins fans that would laugh off the possibility of Charlie Weis coming to Washington; it’s that same kind of situation that got your team and your emotions into this mess in the first place.
Let’s go over the facts about this gloriously hypothetical scenario. Vinny Cerrato, the GM that can’t do enough to get fired, has Notre Dame ties. Let’s assume for a moment that these ties wouldn’t be enough to put ND alum Weis in line for the ‘Skins gig.
You still have the reality of Daniel Snyder wanting to chase down every new hot name in a sweatshirt and head phones to coach this team.
And Weis has always maintained privately that he had plenty of options, most of which are back in the NFL. We all know that when somebody has options, coach or player, the Redskins are usually the kid in front with their hand up high saying “Ooooh! Ooooh! Pick us! We got lots of money to put in it!”
Why wouldn’t the Redskins at least be intrigued? Weis is a credible offensive coordinator and has as many Super Bowl titles at that position as the Redskins have in franchise history. Of the hot coaching prospects out there, only Mike Holmgren can make the same claim.
Since when are we above putting unorthodox coaching hires above Snyder and Co.? Snyder and Cerrato are crazy enough to hire Weis just to gain additional leverage in the Jimmy Clausen sweepstakes, of which they are the only eager contestant as it stands now.
Most ‘Skins fan may take this as a joke, but hiring Weis as the next head coach of the Washington Redskins is a very real and tangible proposition under this leadership group. And even though it is a hilarious proposition, it’s also one that you couldn’t classify as totally insane from the prospect of improving the team.
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Of Course Ray Lewis Doesn’t Think Much of Concussions
Published: December 4, 2009
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Want a lightning rod response on head trauma and concussions in the NFL? Who better to ask than Ray Lewis, the guy who has dished out more than his fair share of brain injuries, and based on this statement, probably has a concussion right now.
“You’ve got to ask yourself what point in the game you’re at, what stage of the season you’re at, how big is the game? Are you really needed at that point? If you’re blowing somebody out, no [don’t go back in]. If you’re fighting to go to [the Super] Bowl, then you’ve got to suck it up.
It’s surprising that media savvy Lewis, who has made a public career out of controlled and well-framed bravado, would take the machismo-charged route on this issue. I can see his point, given that you only have but so many chances to win a championship. But the only people these days in favor of playing with concussions are guys who already sound like they’ve had their skulls shaken up one too many times.
You would think Lewis, of all people, would take the road most traveled on concussions. Given that he would probably win a poll of “Most likely to give somebody a concussion via football tackle,” common sense would tell you that he would have interest in protecting his hard-hitting personal brand.
I would’ve expected him to say something along the lines of “you gotta play tough, but we have families to support and lives to lead after football.” At the very least, he could’ve called it a hard decision and left it at that. Anything but alluding to a “toughen up in big games, sissy” approach.
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So…About this Brotherhood Thing With Ray Lewis and Ray Rice
Published: December 3, 2009
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From the jump, please know that I’m not insinuating anything inappropriate or lascivious about Ray Lewis or Ray Rice.
But it is truly interesting to watch the burgeoning brother-to-brother dynamic between Lewis, a grizzled-14-year veteran who could motivate a glass of water; and Rice, the second-year, hard running mighty mouse who is the heart of the Ravens’ offense.
Ray Lewis has played beside some great defensive players; Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Trevor Pryce are among the current installment, and Chris McAlister, Peter Boulware and Rod Woodson are among the former squad members.
Never have I heard him make these kind of proclamations of personal endearment for a teammate until Rice and until this year.
Maybe Rice has more of a work ethic tailored after Lewis’ heart, or maybe its because Rice provides the offense a more dynamic look than they’ve had since arriving in Baltimore. It’s very puzzling that Lewis and Rice seem to have forged this kinship, where many other defenders, and fellow Ravens from the ultra-cliquish University of Miami, have not.
You hope for the best intentions out of Lewis specifically, because given his record of calling out the offense for costing him trips to the Super Bowl, you don’t want to paint him a opportunistic cheerleader.
It’s just that Lewis has rarely had anything publicly gushing to say about any Ravens offensive player, outside of Steve McNair. And he had to die to get that out of him.
Now, it’s a brotherhood thang with the best player on the team.
Not speculating, not hating. Just saying.
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Redskins to Welcome Wale’ at FedEx Field
Published: December 2, 2009
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D.C.’s best rapper and confused basketball fan, Wale’, will likely be the best thing to happen to the Redskins this December, as he is scheduled to perform at halftime of the ‘Skins-Cowboys game on Dec. 27.
Immediately, two possible scenarios emerge from this performance.
One, Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff drunkenly question, “What the hell was that at halftime?”
The music has no effect on the ‘Skins, and they go on to lose in a blowout.
Or, and, this is most likely, Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff drunkenly question, “What the hell was that at halftime?”
The fans are hyped and will the Redskins to a victory against the ‘Boys by the slimmest of margins.
Either way, Sonny and Sam will be drunk and have no clue what hip-hop is. These are facts that will not be debated.
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Washington Redskins Money Sits Against Philadelphia Eagles
Published: November 29, 2009
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Courtesy of a @RickMaese Tweet , we discover that Albert Haynesworth, Clinton Portis, and DeAngelo Hall are all out against the Philadelphia Eagles today. Translation, the Redskins’ biggest signees are all inactive, thus rendering any hope for a close game useless and non-gratifying.
Fortunately, these are all legitimate injuries; none of the “my hamstring-I got migraines-turf toe” variety. And that means that no one has really given up on making this season respectable for Washington fans.
Sadly, it doesn’t matter much if they players don’t want to conceded the inevitable. Everybody’s waiting on Charlie Weis to come to Washington anyway.
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Baltimore Ravens Have Playoff Possibilities But Remain a Longshot
Published: November 27, 2009
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Yeah, the math is still in favor of the Ravens . But a look at the schedule, the injuries, and the failures of the past gives no indication that the math will add up to a Ravens playoff berth.
The good news is that the remaining six contests are split between M&T Bank Stadium and the road, and two of those home games are against woeful Detroit and beatable Chicago.
The bad news? Two games remain against Pittsburgh, and just one loss would likely be the death knell on a Ravens wildcard. And then there’s the road games against Green Bay and Oakland, which no one would classify as locks for this struggling Ravens squad.
Injuries are a concern. Terrell Suggs is out with one of those knee injuries that most players think will shelve them for two games, but will likely amount to a month’s worth of Sundays.
Ray Lewis’ ankle has been tweaked , Ed Reed’s shoulder and neck are still a concern, and this is all before the NFL’s hardest hitting game of the year come this Sunday.
And even if injuries were the least of there concerns, the broken-winged Ravens’ offense hasn’t impressed in the last few weeks, culminating in last Sunday’s Billick-esque field goal parade against the Colts . Do we really believe that it will pick up in time for the balance of the Steelers games, and against three NFC North foes?
It’s possible, and Ravens fans are deservedly hopeful for better days ahead given the weekly exploits of Ray Rice and a capable passing tandem in Joe Flacco and Derrick Mason.
But the tri-force of chain moving can’t do it alone, and the defense must rediscover its lock-down ways this Sunday; lest the season be the championship run that got away.
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Washington Redskins: Road to Relevance Begins in Dallas
Published: November 22, 2009
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Two weeks ago, it wasn’t a stretch to assume that the Redskins would lose the balance of their schedule, finish 2-14, and pioneer new ways to draft everything other than offensive linemen. But a funny thing happened on the way to national ridicule and complete fan revolt.
Washington scored more than 17 points for the first time all year. And they won.
So today’s Redskins-Cowboys game holds much more than bragging rights and NFC East intrigue. Depending on the execution and proficiency of the Redskins’ offense, today’s result could make the difference between that 2-14 debacle and a 6-10 flop of a season.
This isn’t to say that the Cowboys are a legitimate playoff contender or a team by which the Redskins can measure their improving offensive profile. In fact, a great performance against the Cowboys will go as far as their play against the free-falling Denver Broncos did a week ago.
But at the very least, a win against the Cowboys will have demonstrated key principles of the Redskins that are necessary to have a respectable remainder of the year.
If the Redskins win, it will be the result of a consistent running game out of Ladell Betts, which means good offensive line play. Jason Campbell will have made quick decisions in the pocket and made the most of the few passes he attempted.
The Redskins defensive line is not likely to find great success against the Cowboy offensive line, but there will be opportunities for the secondary to exploit Mr. Erratic Tony Romo. Pressure from the defensive backs and Brian Orakpo seem to be the most obvious order for greatness, but we’ve seen the obvious turn oblivious real fast with these ‘Skins.
Suffice it to say, the game won’t be a gimme for Washington.
But there is more than a legitimate chance for this team to get a much-needed divisional road win, and the confidence to face the remainder of the murderer’s row schedule. And who knows; for a team that can run off six-game streaks in either direction, it could be the start of something ‘Skins fans could hang their hopes on.
Or at least, a few cleverly-critical signs.
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Baltimore Ravens: Keys to Beating Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts
Published: November 22, 2009
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The biggest key to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts’ six game winning streak over the Ravens hasn’t been overwhelming talent or coaching; it has been Manning’s ability to know exactly where the Ravens are and how to get to where they aren’t.
And that’s not just throwing away from hapless Raven defensive backs. When the Ravens want to blitz, he turns them into a twisted web of deep coverage.
When they want to fall back, he artfully directs a short passing game mixed with occasional runs into the teeth of the defense.
It’s simple enough to throw out the cliches of “make Manning feel pressure and hope for mistakes,” but he’s been in the league too long and seen too much film for cliches to have any effect.
With no Terrell Suggs and a recovering Haloti Ngata , pressure from the edges and up the middle will be easier planned than executed.
The key to the Ravens’ success today won’t have anything to do with defensive pressure, and everything to do with offensive continuity.
If the Ravens can sustain drives with running the ball, they’ll limit Peyton’s chances for long drives that tire out defenses.
If Joe Flacco can find holes in the Cover 2 defense down the field, and change his looks up with routes over the middle to tight ends and backs, the Colts’ defense won’t have time to adjust before the Ravens’ offense can put up points of its own.
And if the special teams make a few plays in the return and field goal kicking game , the Ravens will have a formula for keeping the Colts offense out of the picture as much as possible.
The first step to beating the Colts is in knowing that beating their offense isn’t an option. If the Ravens commit to making their own offense the better defense on the day, they’ll have a better chance of breaking the Mayflower spell.
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Ravens Waive Steve Hauschka
Published: November 17, 2009
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Let Steve Hauschka land on his feet somewhere else will a fresh start and the rattle fully out of his spirit . The Ravens are chasing the playoffs and genuinely have no room or time to coddle a position that, historically, has been paramount to the team’s success.
Oh, and in case you were wondering about Matt Stover? From the Ravens story:
This all takes place just days before longtime Ravens kicker Matt Stover’s return to Baltimore since joining the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 14 because Adan Vinatieri went down with of a knee injury.
After spending 19 years with the franchise, dating back to its days in Cleveland, Stover made no secret that he wanted to continue his career in Baltimore when his contract ran out after a 2008 campaign that saw him convert 27 of 33 field goals during the regular season and all four of his playoff attempts.
But in an attempt to save a roster spot that Hauschka occupied last year as a kickoff specialist, Stover was not brought in and an offseason battle between Hauschka and undrafted free agent Graham Gano ensued.
Meanwhile, Stover, 41, is currently 6-of-6 for Indianapolis with a long of 40 yards.
Nice one, Duffy. Tell the truth and shame the devil; even on the team’s website.
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Betts Not Better Than Portis, But Certainly a Better Fit
Published: November 16, 2009
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It is impossible to make the claim that Ladell Betts is a better running back than Clinton Portis. Not only has Portis delivered the goods in Washington , but over his tenure in the NFL, he’s one of the best of all time.
So no, the calls for Portis to lose his job are unfounded based on the stats. But can you make personnel decisions based on stats alone? Is there something in team chemistry and familiarity with schemes the can be a deciding factor beyond production?
If there is something to those things, then Ladell Betts should be the starting running back for the Washington Redskins.
I acknowledge that he isn’t a better player than Portis, but I won’t concede that Betts doesn’t give the team a better chance of winning than Portis at this stage of their careers . Portis has been run down , badmouthed and pinpointed for a lot of the Redskins woes over the last few seasons. From being all too anxious to share his opinion, to injuries, to this year’s apparent breakdown in physical ability, he’s been the target.
Betts, on the strength of his status as a career backup, hasn’t had the extensive injury history, and or the spotlight that inhibits trust and rapport with teammates. That’s not to say that Betts wouldn’t make many of the same assessments that Portis has over the years, but it is to say that he doesn’t have the frequent platform to regularly deliver an opinion.
So we don’t hear it. And when we do hear him, it’s usually the sound of a great teammate with a positive outlook.
Betts has proven beyond serviceable as a starter for the Redskins, and may be more versatile in clutch situations given his experience as a third down back. Maybe the running game against the Broncos worked for a multitude of reasons, and maybe the least of those was Betts’ ability.
But Betts is the back who wound up with a hundred plus yards on the day, and were it that easy to put together a game like that, Portis, an all-time great, would’ve found a way to do it against the far-inferior competition of weeks past.
And if you do think it was Betts talent, it’s not as if yesterday’s performance was a flash-in-the-pan fluke. Portis and Betts have long been interchangeable , even with the coach who brought Portis to Washington.
Teammates, coaches and pundits may have their minds made up on Portis given his contract and his career stats, and Portis has earned both well.
But is the question of the Redskins starting running back more on justifying the wealth and history of the injured starter, or with recognizing the back-up who provides the better chance to win?
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