Skins Take

Washington Redskins Training Camp is moving to Richmond in 2013

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:43:00 +0000

For the first time since 2002, the Washington Redskins will hold their training camp outside of Ashburn VA. According to ESPN 950 in Richmond, the Redskins will move their training camp to Richmond VA for the 2013 season.

"Sources tell ESPN 950 that the Redskins will move their training camp to Richmond starting in 2013. The team is expected to make an official announcement later today."

No new information on the exact location of the Redskins training camp, but Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is expected to announce the move sometime today.

This is a good move for the Redskins. They have a lot of fans in Central and Southeastern Virginia. The move will certainly draw more fans from the Richmond and Tidewater areas.

As for this season, training camp will be held at Ashburn for the 10th straight year.

Bringing the Take Back Part I

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:13:00 +0000

I'm planning to bring back Skins Take after a two year hiatus. A lot has changed for the Redskins. The team is going through a rebuilding process and they have mortgage their entire draft future on Robert Griffin III.

There will be more about myself and the Redskins in the next post. For now, enjoy seeing RGIII getting drafted by the Redskins and his interview with Jay Leno.

My Interivew With Danny Rouhier From 106.7 The Fan

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:41:00 +0000

My good friend Josh Feldman of Entertain This help me collaborate our interivew with Danny Rouhier from 106.7 the fan. Danny is a stand up comedian from New York City and he heard weeknights on 106.7 the fan with Bill Rohland on their evening show called "Overtime with Bill Rohland". The entire interview is posted on Entertain This website, which is a entertainment news site that features news about music, movies, pop culture, environment, and sports. I write for this site to cross promote skins take into a wider audience. If anyone is interested in writing for Entertain This, please send an email to entertainthisnow@gmail.com.

Anyway, here is the interivew with Danny based only on my four questions I ask him recently.

1) Do you think the Redskins will ever win the Super Bowl under Dan Snyder’s ownership?

"Hard to say. Words like ‘ever’ or ‘never’ are always a bit risky, especially in sports. What if, in 50 years, he’s still the owner but instead of the impatient tyrant that makes life at Redskins Park miserable for everyone that works there, he’s just a nice old grandfather who owns the team in name only? What if he goes all George Steinnbrenner on us and lets smart people run things for a long time? The point is, I guess, that I wouldn’t say anything is absolute in sports. That said, the way he does business now (although for the time being empowering Shanahan is a nice start) is not conducive to winning. Just look at the comments of former employees over there. And these little ribbon cuttings and PR moves to show you a kinder/gentler Dan Snyder? They’re a farce. It’s another in a long line of PR moves designed to make sure the fans buy in again next year."

2) How did you get started with comedy?

"I was always a jock and was really outgoing. I always knew in the back of my head that I wanted to perform. I loved attention, being in front of people, talking in big groups, and really, the sound of my own voice.The only outlets I had growing up for performing would have been doing plays and musicals. We all know that musicals are terrible terrible things that should be banned. I had no interest in reciting someone else’s lines or hanging with the drama kids (I know they didn’t want me around either). I got a baseball scholarship and when I was in college, never had time for anything else. I had 2 experiences though that looking back, had a profound affect. Pablo Francisco came to my school and put on a show and the other, an improv troupe opened up for David Spade. As I watched the improv show (they did a good job btw), I thought to myself: ‘I can do this. They are just relaxed and having fun with each other.’ That feeling stayed with me for many years. But, when I went to see Pablo, he DESTROYED for an hour with nonstop energy and killer joke after killer joke. Everything he said was hysterical. I left that show feeling like I could never ever be a standup comic. If that is what it took, then I had no chance. I regret that feeling nearly everyday. It’s why I didn’t start for years after graduating. I took an improv class for fun on a weekend. I met a couple stand up comics who were really nice guys. I got some help writing jokes then got myself on an open mic. In those 5 minutes at a gay hipster coffee house in Dupont Circle, I realized what I wanted to do with my life."

3) Do you think the Redskins have a better chance making the playoffs or finishing 7-9 or 8-8?

"This group, as they are built is not going to the playoffs. They are not talented enough across the board. This team doesn’t have players to fit their 3-4 scheme at this point and the offense lacks playmakers and quality O-linemen beyond rookie Trent Williams. There are a couple nice stories (guys like Brandon Banks, Anthony Armstrong, Keiland Williams etc) but not front line NFL starters at this point. I said before the season (you can look up the audio!) that this team would go 6-10. They are the oldest team in the NFL and have a lot of work to do if they want to be competitive."

4) How do you feel as a fan when the Redskins were embarrassed once again on Monday Night Football at home against the Philadelphia Eagles?

"Furious and Sad. Furious because I’m tired of being a joke. I’m sick of getting made fun of in the bar or when I’m on the road. I’m sick of being the punchline when I tell people that I’m a Redskins fan. The team puts me in that spot and it’s not fair. Long after these current players are gone, I’ll still have these last 20 years of complete buffoonery to look back on. I have to deal with with being a laughingstock year after year and I’m not alone. This fan base has suffered indignities like few others. Not just in the team’s poor play but in the attitude of the team towards a loyal and committed fanbase (charging us to go to training camp, outrageous parking prices, suing fans, banning signs etc.). Games like Monday night bring all that back into focus and it makes me livid.

That game also made me sad. Even though intellectually, I know they are not good still, that glimmer of hope is always there. In the back of my mind, I believe that maybe this is the time they do something magical. I’ve seen other teams do it, maybe we can too? You try and keep that feeling quiet but it’s always there. And when you get embarrassed like that, when everyone around the league is watching, it’s just depressing. I get upset… then I get upset at myself for being upset because I knew better. I knew they weren’t any good so why I am I surprised? It’s a terrible cycle. All I want is for them to be good. I want it so bad. I want that feeling again that I had when I was a kid. But you know what? More than anything else I want other fan bases to suffer, I want the eagles/giants/cowboys fans to have to eat giant piles of dung when the Redskins win the Super Bowl. I want them to feel like I’ve felt for the last 20 years. Then I want them all to apologize to me for being terrible people who are fans of evil teams that no one with a brain would like. Then I want to tell them that I do not accept their apology and they can go pound sound. Then I want them to ask what that means as they get taken to a desert and are left there forever."

Albert Haynesworth's Suspension Builds A Deeper Problem For The Organization

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:09:00 +0000

After today's events regarding Albert Haynesworth being suspended for the final four games of the regular season, it appears that Haynesworth will be one of the worst free agents signings in franchise history. Haynesworth will join the likes of other free agent busts such as Deion Sanders, Adam Archuleta Brandon Lloyd, Dana Stubblefield, Jeremiah Trotter and Jeff George. There are so many subplots regarding the feud between Haynesworth and head coach Mike Shanahan and it is highly likely that we may not get the truth of this ordeal anytime soon.

Still, there is a case to make for each side of the story. You can make the case that Haynesworth is wrong on this issue because he never participated in the offseason workouts, and never appeared to be in football shape during the season. You can make the case that Shanahan should get the blame because he let this issue drag on, and it eventually became a major distraction for the team.

Those points are valid, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. This issue presents a major problem for the organization and it goes beyond Haynesworth and Shanahan.

For 11 years, owner Dan Snyder has never rebuilt the roster through the draft or made smart additions during free agency. Instead, he traded draft picks for older veteran players and he spent outrageous amounts of money on players that were past their prime and never produced on the field.

The results are a 42-44 record at FedEx Field since 2000, and an 85-103 record overall since taking control of the team in 1999. Even after the Redskins have a losing season, they tend to do a quick fix to their problems instead of thinking about the long-term plan for the team. For example, I will examine the most recent free agency period first, then I will focus on 2009 and 2008 offseason moves.

2010 Offseason: The Donovan McNabb signing, as much as I hate to admit it, is one of those examples. The Redskins gave up a 2nd round draft pick in 2010 and a 3rd or 4th round draft pick in 2011 to the Philadelphia Eagles. McNabb has had one of his worst seasons since he was a rookie. His 75.2 quarterback rating is the fifth worst in the NFL.

They acquired Jammal Brown of the New Orleans Saints for a 3rd or 4th round draft pick in 2011. The trade is based on McNabb’s playing time and his results this season. However, Brown has yet to stay healthy all season and has struggled at right tackle. Also, the Redskins added aging veterans such as Larry Johnson, Willie Parker, Joey Galloway, and Bobby Wade. So far, none of those players except McNabb and Brown are currently on the roster.

2009 Offseason: The Redskins spend $100 million on Haynesworth which included $40 million guaranteed. They also signed cornerback DeAngelo Hall to a 6 year $54 million contract. Hall received $22.5 million in guaranteed money.

2008 Offseason: The Redskins traded a 2nd and 6th round draft pick to the Miami Dolphins for defensive end Jason Taylor. Taylor would play only one season for the Redskins and was released in 2009. Also, the Redskins had a good amount of draft picks to rebuild their roster, but even their draft selections were a complete disaster. Here is a list of players drafted by the Redskins in 2008.

Round 2 (34) Devin Thomas WR Michigan State (On the N.Y Giants)
Round 2 (48) Fred Davis TE USC (On the Roster)
Round 2 (51) Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma ( On IR)
Round 3 (96) Chad Rinehart G Northern Iowa ( Buffalo Bills Practice Squad)
Round 4 (124) Justin Tryon CB Arizona State ( Traded to the Colts in 2010)
Round 6 (168) Durant Brooks P Georgia Tech ( Released in 2008)
Round 6 (180) Kareem Moore DB Nicholls State ( On the Roster)
Round 6 (186) Colt Brennan QB Hawaii ( Released in 2010)
Round 7 (242) Rob Jackson DE Kansas State (Released in 2010)
Round 7 (249) Chris Horton S UCLA (On IR)

Thanks to the poor personnel decisions and terrible spending in free agency, the Redskins are closer to being one of the worst teams in the league instead of being a contender. The worst part is that Snyder has never learned from his past mistakes. The fans are sometimes too passionate to realize that because they buy into the marketing hype created by Snyder in terms of selling tickets and jerseys. It could take 2-3 years to sort out this mess.

The team is not only old and has minimal talent, but they don't have a winning mentality. They keep bringing in star players with huge back-loaded contracts and they get treated differently within the organization than other players and coaches. Anytime a player has a selfish mentality, it doesn't translate to great production on the field.

Also, when good coaches come to the Redskins and get paid, they seem to lose their ability to coach as well. Joe Gibbs may have brought some respectability to the organization with his two playoff appearances, but they never were a title contender unlike his first tenure from 1981-1992. Steve Spurrier and Jim Zorn were terrible hires because neither of them coached at the pro level and they were never in charge of player personnel decisions.

Marty Schottenheimer led the Redskins to an 8-8 record following a 0-5 start to the 2001 season. He also had the final say in player personnel decisions. However, Snyder fired him because he wanted to get involved with the team, and he wasn't happy that Vinny Cerrato was fired by Schottenheimer. Since then, the Redskins have been a mediocre football team with the future isn’t as bright as Snyder wants it to be.

What I'm trying to prove basically is that Snyder continues to embarrass the franchise and his own fan base, and I don't believe he's going to change his mentality anytime soon. Despite Shanahan having the final say in player personnel decisions, and Bruce Allen being the general manager, I still think that Snyder is still involved in the organization.

The decision to re-sign McNabb to a five year deal before the Redskins played the Eagles on Monday Night Football was the perfect example. That signing was a marketing ploy to lure fans in and that the Redskins have a pro-bowl type quarterback for the next few years even though McNabb isn't having his best season. I also think that hiring Allen as their general manager and Shanahan as their head coach is a public relations move to let the fans think that the Redskins have a respectable front office.

So, if Snyder had any concern for us fans and any respect for the history of this franchise, he would choose three options.

A) Back-off and let Shanahan get the final say in personnel decisions.

B) Stop spending millions of dollars on free agents and don't trade high and mid-level draft picks for older players.

C) Start working on a sale process that will allow him to recover his investment and hand the team over to someone else.

Which option do you think Dan Snyder will choose??

Albert Haynesworth Suspended For The Season

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:12:00 +0000

The Albert Hanyesworth vs Mike Shanahan saga has taken another turn for the worst. The Washington Redskins announced today that Albert Haynesworth will be suspended for the reminder of the season without pay for "conduct detrimental to the club." Haynesworth arrived late for a team meeting last Friday and he appeared to look hung over. Shanahan deactivated Haynesworth before the Redskins played the Giants last Sunday. It was the fourth time this season that Hanyesworth was deactivated for a regular season game this season. Here is a statement from the Redskins.

"Despite the club's numerous attempts to persuade Albert Haynesworth to abide by the terms of his contract, he has repeatedly refused to cooperate with our coaching staff in a variety of ways over an extended period of time," Among other things, he has consistently indicated to our defensive coaches that he refuses to play in our base defense or on first-down or second-down nickel situations. He has also refused to follow the instructions of our coaches both during weekly practices and during actual games as well.

“Yesterday, when Albert was at Redskin Park, he told our General Manager Bruce Allen that he [Haynesworth] would no longer speak with me. “Although suspending any player is not a decision that a head coach enters into lightly, I believe the situation has reached the point where the club clearly has no alternative.”

Another Bad Home Loss

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:29:00 +0000

Like it has been for the last 11 years, FedEx Field has turn into a home of foreclosure for the Washington Redskins. Last Sunday, the Redskins endured their fourth home loss of the season as they lose to the Minnesota Vikings 17-13. The Redskins are 2-4 at home this season and 42-44 overall since 2000. The loss will be the eighth time decade that the Redskins will finish either at .500 or below at home. This loss isn't surprising since the Redskins have been inconsistent all season. The Redskins play to the level of competition every week. They play a close hard fought victory against good teams, and find stupid ways to lose when playing against bad teams.

The Redskins showed their inconsistency last Sunday. They committed costly penalties and receivers weren't catching the football. Whenever the Redskins missed a great opportunity, they never had enough talent to overcome those mistakes. The illegal block in the back penalty on rookie linebacker Perry Riley was a back-breaker for the Redskins. It occurred during what supposed to be a huge 77 yard punt return for a touchdown by Brandon Banks. If that penalty wasn't called, the Redskins would of possibly won the game, keep their playoff hopes alive, and I'll be talking about how amazing Brandon Banks is as a football player.

Instead, the Redskins are 5-6 and their playoff hopes are realistically over. However, even if they somehow got the victory, it will very hard for the Redskins to make the playoffs.

The running game wasn't a factor at all because the team had to relied on backup Kelliand Williams and journeyman James Davis. Ryan Torain is still out with the hamstring injury, and Clinton Portis is out of for the season. The result with Davis and Williams was 29 total rushing yards. The Redskins are on track to have one of the worst rushing seasons in franchise history, which is very surprising since head coach Mike Shanahan usually has a great ground attack.

The poor running game, the inept performance on offense after a terrific 13 play drive to start the game, and the defense not making plays in crucial situations resulted in the Redskins loss. The next five games aren't going to get any easier either. Four of the next five are against teams with winning records.

But there is some good news. The Redskins are on track to finish with a 7-9 or 8-8 record this season, which is a major accomplishment. This is essentially the same roster from last season despite changes at quarterback, a few free agent acquisitions, a couple of draft picks, and the front office. However, teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are making major progress from last season disappointing record because of their rebuilding process through the draft, something the Redskins never did under Dan Snyder regime. If you compare the offseason moves between the Chiefs and the Redskins this year, it will make you even more angry at the Redskins front office again.

Next Week's game: @N.Y. Giants (7-4)
Time & Network: 1p.m. on Fox
Commentators: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnson, Tony Siragusa

I really expect the Giants to destroy to the Redskins this Sunday despite their injury issues at the offensive line and at wide receiver. Giants quarterback Eli Manning is 8-3 against the Redskins and has won four straight games against them. The Giants need to win to keep pace with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East. The Redskins are still mathematically alive for a playoff spot, but with some key starters out again because of injury, this game could be a blowout in the making.

Giants: 31 Redskins: 13

Video Of the Day: Redskins Fans Fighting in the Stands

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:56:00 +0000

A Big Road Victory Comes With a Big Price

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:06:00 +0000

After an embarrassing 31 point home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Redskins responded with a huge 19-16 overtime victory against the Tennessee Titans. The big road victory came with a big price for the Redskins. At least seven players were injured during the game.

Among them were Redskins running game Clinton Portis, who played his first game since week 4. Portis looked very good early in the game as he rushed for 32 yards on five carries. But Portis got hurt again and returned to the sidelines in the second half. Portis was just one of the eight players injured. Here is the list of the remaining six players who were injured during the game.

RB Chad Simpson: Suffered a foot injury during pregame warmup’s (Placed on Season-Ending IR)

C Casey Rabach: Knee injury

LB Rocky McIntosh: Severe groin injury

SS Anderson Russell: Suffered a leg injury during a 87 yard punt return by Titans wide receiver Marc Mariani (Placed on Season-Ending IR)

LG Derrick Dockery: Knee injury

OLB Lorenzo Alexander: Hamstring injury

The Redskins also had four starters out prior to kickoff. Here is the list of those injured starters.

CB Carlos Rogers: Hamstring injury

SS LaRon Landry: Achilles tendon

RG Artis Hicks: Thigh injury

RB Ryan Torain: Hamstring injury

Despite these injuries on defense and a patchwork offensive line, the Redskins outplayed the Titans, a team that has won 12 straight against NFC opponents. The Redskins offensive line played their best game of the season. Tackle Stephon Heyer looked terrific at left guard, and Will Montgomery, who started at right guard in place of Hicks, performed better at center than starter Casey Rabach. Therefore, the Redskins, who were last in the league in 3rd down conversions, went 8-16 on 3rd downs and it led to game-winning 48 yard field goal by Graham Gano in overtime. Gano redeemed himself after missing a 47 yard field goal with four seconds left in regulation.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb had enough time to make plays and covert on 3rddown. Also, two dumb penalties on the Titans defense in overtime helped the Redskins to secure the victory. The defense did a good job on not allowing an offensive touchdown to the Titans after a disastrous performance last week. The Titans only scored three field goals after Mariani’s 87 punt return for the touchdown.

After the game, the off-the-field drama centered on Titans quarterback Vince Young. Young was knocked out of the game because of a thumb injury he suffered early in the 4th quarter. Backup Rusty Smith took over for the rest of the game. Young was prepared to re-enter the game, but Head Coach Jeff Fisher kept Smith instead. When the game ended, Young tossed his shoulder pads and his own jersey into the stands. He briefly talked with Fisher and quickly left the stadium alone. So not only the Redskins knock out a starting quarterback for the second time this season, but Vince Young’s may have played his last game as a Tennessee Titan.

As for the Redskins, they are 5-5 and still in the NFC playoff picture. However, they will need to get healthy quickly or these injuries could cost them in December.

Next Week’s Game: Vs. Minnesota (3-7)

Time & Network: 1p.m. on Fox

Commentators: Dick Stockton, Charles Davis, and Jim Mora Jr.

Brett Favre comes into town this thanksgiving weekend in perhaps his final game ever at FedEx Field. The Vikings are off to a poor start with a 3-7 record. They recently fired head coach Brad Childress and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will be the interim head coach. Childress was hated by his own players and their 31-3 home loss to the Green Bay Packers was the final straw. So with this coaching change, the Vikings will be more motivated to play for pride this Sunday. The Redskins cannot take this opponent too lightly otherwise it could be another bad home loss.

The Monday Night Massacre

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:47:00 +0000

Ladies and Gentlemen, the entire country has witness once again how dysfunctional the Washington Redskins franchise really are. On the day they signed a new five year contract extension for quarterback Donovan McNabb ,and the entire season on the line, the Redskins lose to the Philadelphia Eagles 59-28 in a humiliating effort. It was the worst home loss ever at FedEx Field, and it proves the lack of talent the Redskins have on their roster.

There were several NFL and franchise records broken in last night's massacre alone. Eagles quarterback Michael Vick becoming the first player in NFL history to throw for 333 yards, rush for 80 yards, throw four touchdown passes and rush for two touchdowns in a single game. The Eagles set an NFL record for most points scored in a quarter with 28, and set a franchise record for the most total yards of offense in a game with 592. The Redskins set a franchise record for the most points given up by the opposing team in a half with 45.

Basically, the Redskins defense, which was last in the league in giving up total yards per game, made Vick look like the greatest quarterback in the NFL. They made backup Eagles running back Jerome Harrison look like the second coming of Barry Sanders or Emmit Smith. This defense was just awful at every facet of the game. They couldn't tackle, contain Vick, add pressure, and they couldn't cover anybody. But here is a even more dangerous statistic on how poorly the Redskins defense has performed this season according to Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post.

"The Redskins are now allowing 25.4 points per game, seventh-highest in the league and Washington's worst average since 1998, when it yielded 26.3 points an outing. The Redskins also have given up 27 touchdowns; the most they have relinquished in the 16-game-schedule era is 46 in 1988, a number they are now threatening. They're on pace to give up 48."

I know its takes time to adjust to the 3-4 defense after several years of playing in the 4-3, but if these statistics are broken by the Redskins defense for all the wrong reasons, then I don't see Jim Haslett being the defensive coordinator next season. This defense has been a major issue all season. They give up too many yards, but their high takeaway total compensates their weaknesses. However, there is going to be games that the Redskins don't get takeaways. Guess what?? They didn't get cause a turnover last night. What does it result?? The defense giving up 52 total points. So if you exclude the takeaways, this defense can't stop anyone. They already given up 31 points to the Texans, 26 points to the Rams, 31 points to the Lions, and 52 points to the Eagles.

Oh yeah, there was a pregame scrum before the game too involving one of the Redskins defensive players. Redskins safety Laron Landry was taunting Eagles wide receiver Desean Jackson. Landry said to the Jackson that "I’m going to put you asleep again."

Those words lead to a scrum between both teams before they exited to their respective locker rooms. So what did the Eagles did on their 1st play of scrimmage? Vick throw an 88 yard touchdown pass to Jackson. Guess who covered Jackson during that play?? Laron Landry. See what happens Landry when you don't shut up and put your money where your mouth is. You get burned by Jackson in pass coverage. Then again, Landry has always been awful in pass coverage in general, so it wasn't too surprising that Jackson beat him easily.

Overall, this was the worst Redskins loss I have ever seen. I was very fortunate to not be at the game last night. I know some of my friends that went there, and I feel very sorry for them to see this epic humiliation on a rainy overcast Monday evening. This loss was an indictment on the decline of this franchise. It is still dysfunctional, a laughing stock, and it lacks talent everywhere.

I know this team is old, but that doesn't mean anything. The New Orleans Saints were the second oldest team in the NFL last year, and they still won the super bowl. Why? Because they have talent on the roster. Outside of Donovan McNabb, Brian Orakpo, London Fletcher, Anthony Armstrong, and Brandon Banks, the Redskins have zero talent. The level of skill players between the Eagles and the Redskins are astounding, and it was proven to the fullest extent last night.

I can criticize on why the Redskins came out flat when they had two weeks to prepare for the Eagles, and why they give a contract extension to McNabb. But on the Lavar Arrington Show today on 106.7 the fan, Lavar's sidekick, Chad Dukes, perfectly explains how he feels, and how do I feel as a Redskin fan right now. If your a Redskins fan from this area, a fan of a another NFL team, or just like sports talk radio personalities going nuts on their hometown team after a terrible loss, then this opening segment of the show is for you.

Next week's Game: @ Tennessee
Date & Time: 11/21/10 at 1.P.M on Fox
Commentators: Dick Stockton, Charles Davis, and Jim Mora

How would the Redskins respond following one of their worst defeats in franchise is beyond me. I do know this. The character of this football team will be put into the test next weekend in Nashville.

Week 10 Preview: Eagles Vs Redskins: Are You Ready?

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:23:00 +0000

Finally, its time to put the Donovan McNabb vs Mike/Kyle Shanahan feud to rest and play football. The Washington Redskins will play their biggest game of the season tonight as they host the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football in a huge NFC East matchup. The winner of this game will have sole possession of 2nd place in the division and one game behind the division-leading N.Y. Giants. The Eagles are coming a huge home victory over the Indianapolis Colts, while the Redskins are coming off a drama-filled bye week.

The Eagles are also big favorites in this game, but with the Cowboys upsetting the Giants yesterday by double digits on the road, it proves how unpredictable the NFC East really is. Any team is capable of beating anyone in the division, so don't be surprised if the Redskins get a convincing victory tonight.

However, if the Redskins want a statement victory, the offensive line needs to play better. They need to do improve on pass protection, and give enough time for Donovan McNabb to throw. I really hope that Jammal Brown is fully healthy from his injury so that we can see less of Stephon Heyer at the right tackle position. If Brown isn't healed, then Heyer could get some playing time, which is bad news for Redskins fans. Also, I dearly hope that Derrick Dockery is active tonight. It is obvious that Kory Licthensteiger isn't getting the job done at left guard, so let's see how Dockery performs at that position. I'm not saying that Dockery should start, but at least they should use him if Lichensteiger is still struggling. If the offensive line can protect well enough, it will open up the running game and the passing game.

As for McNabb, he could due for a huge game tonight. The entire country will witness how McNabb responds after being benched against the Detroit Lions and his sub-par performance. If history repeats itself, McNabb will have a bounce back game and perform very well in the second half of the season. Two years ago after his benching at Balitmore, McNabb threw for 9 touchdowns, and one interception to led the Eagles to the playoffs and the NFC championship game. McNabb went 4-1 in his final five games to finish the 2008 season. Redskins fans hope that McNabb can bring in a similar result this time.

The defense will face another test tonight in containing Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. Vick was back to his old-self last week versus the Colts as he went 17 of 29 for 218 yards, and one touchdown. He also rushed for 74 yards and was sacked three times. Vick has yet to throw an interception this season. The defense will need to add pressure on Vick, and let him beat us with his arm. If they lose containment on Vick, then he will beat us with his legs. Vick has been known as a great scrambling quarterback, and he's dangerous when he's passes the line of scrimmage. The defense needs to do good coverage on wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and Desean Jackson. The cover 2 defense work to perfection in week 4, but look for the Eagles to adjust on offense in order to keep the defense guessing in pass coverage.

Prediction: Everyone is jumping on the Eagles bandwagon after their victory over the Colts. They expect a big victory over the Redskins tonight and look forward to their big matchup next week against the Giants. Therefore, I actually think this could be a trap game for the Eagles. They are coming off an emotional victory and going on the road to face a division rival that is coming off a bye week. So far, teams have played very well coming off a bye week this season, and the Redskins are hungry for a victory.

However, this doesn't mean the Redskins will blowout the Eagles. The Redskins have historically struggled on Monday Night Football at home. Their last home victory on Monday Night Football was in 1997 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Still, I expect another close game, but it will be a defensive battle. McNabb will be turnover free finally, and the running back Ryan Torain could eclipse over 100 yards rushing tonight. Vick will have a decent game too, but he will be contained by the Redskins defense. In fact, I expect the defense to get a couple of takeaways and Vick will throw his first interception of the season. However, this game will comedown to the final possession like it has been for every Redskins game this season. But this time, McNabb responds in the two minute offense, and he will set up the game-winning field goal from Graham Gano to give the Redskins their biggest divisonal victory of the 2010 season.

Redskins: 17, Eagles: 15

A New Level Of Discontent Part 2: The Culture of the Organization

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 01:16:00 +0000

When the Redskins added Bruce Allen as their new general manager, and Mike Shanahan as their new head coach and vice president of football operations, everyone assumed that both of them will have the final say in football related decisions. However, that hasn't been the case. Shanahan has been doing the football decisions while Allen has been focusing on the marketing product of the team such as setting up alumni events.

Despite the change at the front office, the latest feud between coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Donovan McNabb shows that this organization hasn't really change at all even with the new regime. After the loss to the Lions, the coaching staff still hasn't given a clear answer on why they bench quarterback Donovan McNabb, nor they haven't answered why the offense is struggling in protecting the quarterback, and on 3rd down conversions.

Instead, they try to put the entire blame on McNabb. In fact, the rumors of his benching goes back into week. 4 according to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports. Kyle Shanahan, the Redskins offensive coordinator considered benching McNabb against the Philadelphia Eagles. He even cut the Redskins offensive playbook in half to get McNabb have a better understanding of the offense.This tells me that the coaching staff isn't confident with McNabb as their starting quarterback despite trading two draft picks for him.

The McNabb vs Shanahan feud has added another level of dysfunction for this organization, and it has made the Washington Redskins one of the most talked about teams in the NFL for all the wrong reasons. There were headlines during the offseason with Albert Haynesworth skipping workouts, and today's its McNabb's benching.

If you take away the Brett Favre and Brad Childress saga in Minnesota, the NFL new policy on limiting helmet-to-helmet hits, and the NFL trying to negotiate a new labor deal for next season, the Redskins will be the number one headline in the NFL nationally, not just locally. This team knew it will get the most attention ever since they acquired McNabb, and still they found even more ways to be dysfunctional. I know this team is at the midpoint of the season, but I don't really see any difference in a level of dysfunction between today and what has been during the last 11 years.

Therefore, little has change in the organization as of right now. But who knows?? The only way this feud ends is when the Redskins put together a winning streak, but that's hard to do when this football team is inconsistent every week.

A New Level Of Discontent Part I: Shanahan vs McNabb

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:35:00 +0000

Head Coach Mike Shanahan has been with the Redskins for nearly a year, and he already has two major confrontations with two of the biggest players on the roster. During training camp, it was Albert Haynesworth because he skipped the optional and mandatory offseason workouts. Today, its quarterback Donovan McNabb because of his below average play at quarterback, and he's in the epicenter of the Redskins offensive woes.

With under 2:00 to go in the 4th quarter, and the Redskins trailing 30-25, Coach Shanahan decides to put his backup quarterback Rex Grossman into the game because he was frustrated with McNabb interception on the previous drive and his concerns about McNabb's hamstring injury. On the very first play, Grossman was sacked, fumbled the football, and the Lions recovered it for a touchdown and sealed their second victory of the season.

Like other Redskins fans, I nearly lost my mind when Grossman was on the field in that situation. I did thought that McNabb suffered an injury after he throw the interception. But it turned out to be a coaches decision by Shanahan because he was frustarted with McNabb on the last interception and he went with his gut feeling. The day after the loss, Shanahan gives a different reason.

"When you deal with a two-minute offense and you don't have any timeouts, and you haven't done it in five weeks, and you're calling sometimes two plays [simultaneously] - you've got to hustle to the line of scrimmage, and you're calling plays that you haven't called in the two-minute attack - and you're actually working on cardiovascular endurance at the same time [you're] working on the clock, it's really hard to do that when you haven't practiced it and you haven't really put yourself in any strenuous activities because of your hamstrings. So I thought it would be in our best interest to go in a different direction."

If Shanahan just said that he had an issue with McNabb's inaccuracy in pass attempts and his below average performance at quarterback, then that's fine. Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid had the same problem with McNabb and the media wouldn't blow this story out of proportion as it is now. The media will then put most of the blame on McNabb.

But Shanahan reasoning to bench McNabb was so stupid, the media give some sympathy to McNabb. Shanahan actually thought that McNabb wasn't conditionally fit to run a two minute offense?? That has to be the biggest lie I've ever heard from a NFL head coach. McNabb led the team in rushing with 45 yards. If he was healthy enough to play for 58 minutes, why not play him for two more minutes?

Another factor is that McNabb isn't the main problem of the Redskins offense in general. He hasn't had any good protection from the offensive line all season.McNabb is the second most-sacked quarterback in the league and with the poor protection, he's probably a huge hit away from being knocked out the rest of the season. Despite drafting tackle Trent Williams in the 1st round, the Redskins are still struggling in run and pass protection. It is hard to overhaul an offensive line in one offseason, and the Redskins are probably a couple of drafts away from having a solid offensive line.

I understand why Shanahan is frustrated with McNabb poor play this season. The statistics proves his point. But to questioned McNabb's intelligence is ridiculous. McNabb has been in the league for 11 seasons, has been to 5 NFC championship games and one Super Bowl appearances. That alone speaks for itself. However, McNabb has history of struggling with the two minute offense. Those struggles were evident in his four losses in the NFC title game and in Super Bowl XXXIX.

However, as bad as McNabb was last week, he still give the Redskins the best chance to win.Did Shanahan really thought that a rested and rusty Rex Grossman gives the Redskins a better chance to win in a two minute situation then McNabb?? The players on the roster believe that this is McNabb's team and they believe him every step of the way. The Redskins hasn't had that type of leader in the locker room in a long time.

So what will happen during the second half of the season?? Shanahan said that McNabb is still the starter despite the benching, but does anyone believes what Shanahan said?? Shanahan has a long history of switching his starting quarterbacks in his NFL coaching career, and some of those moves backfired. So expect the unexpected if McNabb continues his below average performance. More importantly, expect McNabb to leave D.C. after this season when his contract expires unless they make a huge playoff run.

Coming up tomorrow, Part II will focus on the culture change in the organization.

Video of the Day: Comedian Danny Rouhier Goes Inside The Mind Of Head Coach Mike Shanahan

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 03:39:00 +0000

We Hit Rock Bottom Again

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:30:00 +0000

At around 1p.m. on Halloween, the Redskins are looking to get their revenge from last year's disappointing lost to the Detroit Lions. They were hoping to go to 5-3 into the bye week and set themselves for a possible playoff push late in the season.

At 4:30p.m., the Redskins leave the Motor City on the loss column with a 37-25 lost to the Lions. But this was just more of the loss to the Lions. There is a major possibility that this loss will derail the Redskins season again because of head coach Mike Shanahan decision to bench his starting quarterback Donovan McNabb with under two minutes to go in the 4th quarter.

Since there was a lot of issues leading up to and after the benching, I will save my analysis on Shanahan's decision to bench McNabb for my next post.

However, I will analyze why the Redskins lost the game in the first place. First, the offensive line was terrible. They were beat up all day long against the Lions front seven. Therefore, McNabb was sack five times and had limited time to find an open receiver. Also, McNabb throw a terrible interception into triple coverage late in the 4th quarter. That interception led to a short touchdown drive by Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and give the Lions the lead at 30-25. The Lions never trailed from there on.

In addition to the offensive line and quarterback problems, running back Ryan Torain suffered a hamstring injury and he did not return to the game. This led to Kelliand Williams being the only Redskin running back in the roster. The more I see the protection issues at the offensive line, the more I think that they miss running back Clinton Portis.

Portis is an great pass blocker for the team, and he is often the six man blocking McNabb in a passing game. Since Portis injury, McNabb has been sacked more often then he was during his first four games. Also, 3rd down conversions has nearly killed the Redskins chances in ballgames this year. They went 2-14 on 3rd downs. That is inexcusable against a poor Lions defense.

If the offensive line continues their struggles and the offense does not covert on 3rd downs, the Redskins will lose more games late in the season. The Redskins are among the league- worst in 3rd down conversion rate.

The defense kept the Redskins in the game thanks to two takeaways. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall got his sixth interception of the season early in the 1st quarter. The defense also caused a forced fumble early in the second half. So far, the Redskins are tied for the league lead with 19 takeaways. However, those two takeaways didn't produce any points from the offense.

Special teams played a big role on both teams, but the Redskins had their first kickoff return for the touchdown in four years thanks to rookie Brandon Banks. Banks return a kickoff 96 yards for the touchdown to give the Redskins a 25-20 lead early in the 4th quarter. With the offense struggling to find any production, Banks could be the game-changer that the Redskins desperately need on special teams.

Next Week Game: vs Philadelphia
Time & Network: 11/15/2010 at 8:30P.M. On ESPN
Commentators: Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Jon Gruden

The Redskins will have two weeks to put their disastrous loss behind them and focus on the second half of the season. Despite all of their problems on offense, the quarterback, offensive line, and the coaching staff, a victory over the Eagles will give them three wins in the division and a sweep over their divisional rival.

Week 8 Preview vs Detroit

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 15:34:00 +0000

The true character of the Washington Redskins will be put into the test this Sunday as they face the Detroit Lions in Ford Field. The Lions are 1-5, last place in the NFC North, and coming off a bye week. The Redskins are 4-3 and sitting in second place in the NFC East. The last time the Redskins played in Detroit Michigan, they were humiliated. The Lions ended their 19 game losing streak and defeated the Redskins 19-14. The loss sealed the fate of former head coach Jim Zorn and Vice President of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato.

Fast Forward to Halloween 2010, the Redskins already match their last season's win total at four, and looking forward to going to their bye week with a 5-3 record. The team is well-coached and has a defense that is aggressive and finding ways to create turnovers. However, this team has shown that they can play terrible against bad teams. This was the case in a week 3 loss to the S.t. Louis Rams.

So if the Redskins want revenge from last year's embarrassment and become one of the elites in the NFC, they will have to take the Lions seriously and be ready to play football. This team has the ability to play physical football for a 60 minutes and get off to a good start in some games. However, a bad turnover or sloppy play early could be disastrous for the team.

The offense also needs to be consistent, convert on 3rd downs, and score some touchdowns in the red zone. They shouldn't have any problems since the Lions defense isn't good. This would be a good opportunity for quarterback Donovan McNabb to finally have a bounce back game after several sub-par performances. McNabb also needs to be accurate and limit turnovers. If there is too much pressure after a play-action fake, McNabb should just take a sack, and don't force anything.

The ground game should effective because the Lions have given up four 100-yards or more during the past five games. So I expect running back Ryan Torain should be having another good game and help take pressure off McNabb in the passing game.

The defense needs to continue their aggressive play and limit big plays. They will have a tough matchup in the secondary since they are covering wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who is one of the best receivers in the league. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford will play in his first game since week 1 when he suffered his shoulder injury. Last year, Stafford put up big numbers against the Redskins by going 21 of 36 for 241 yards, and a touchdown. He also had a 87.8 quarterback rating.

Therefore, expect Jim Haslett to add more pressure on Stafford. Also, the defense does give up a lot of yards, but they are create turnovers and it has kept them in games. If the defense continues to play well, then the Redskins will have opportunities to get the victory.

Prediction: Ironically, the Redskins are 4-1 when they score 17 points, but they are 0-2 when they score 20 or more points. Those two losses came against Houston and Indianapolis. However, the Redskins should score more than 20 points today because the Lions defense have given up a lot of points. But the Lions have been very competitive in all of their games this season.

Therefore, I expect another close game today. However, I think the Redskins offense finally has a breakout game. McNabb will throw for two touchdowns, and Torain will have a rushing touchdown and his thrid straight 100+ yard game. More importantly, they will win their first game when scoring 20 or more points.

Enjoy the game everyone. It should be exciting close contest. Finally, have a happy and safe Halloween!!!

Redskins:28 Lions:24

Is The NFL Really That Stupid??

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 19:59:00 +0000

As you know, the NFL has mandated new laws on helmet-to-helmet hits to limit concussions from players. There were several hefty fines from players last week, and this week was no exception for Redskins defensive linemen Albert Haynesworth.

During DeAngelo Hall's 92 yard interception return for the go-ahead touchdown, Haynesworth delivered a block on offensive linemen J'Marcus Webb of the Chicago Bears. The video of Haynesworth hit can be viewed on NFL.com. The block occurred within 11 yards behind Hall as the cornerback ran down the sideline. Video replay shows that Haynesworth made a clean block on Webb. Coach Mike Shanahan praised Haynesworth for that hit on Webb. However, the league office wasn't happy about Haynesworth block at all.

Last Thursday, the NFL fined Haynesworth $7,500 for unnecessary roughness from his blindside hit on Webb. This is ridiculous. For example, let's just say if was Bears wide receiver Devin Hester running on that play instead of Webb. Would Haynesworth be fined for that hit on Hester? No, because Hester can easily catch up to Hall to make a tackle. So basically, Haynesworth gets fined because Webb was too slow to catch up to Hall during the return.

If NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell doesn't fix the disparity between what is a legal and a illegal hit, then fans could grow more discontent about the product on the field. The NFL is a contact sport. There is always going to be hard blows to the chest and the helmet. It's part of the game. While they trying their best to protect the players, the league needs to protect their brand too. The NFL has marketed and sell film footage's of big hits from linebackers, defensive ends, and safeties for years. Remember, when you play in the NFL, it's a privilege, not a right. There are severe consequences in this sport, such as severe concussions, rib injuries, and torn ligaments.

I have no problem with the NFL protecting everyone, but you can't cross line on what the league has been know for decades, which is big hits on the field. That's one of the reasons why the NFL is the most-watched sport in America.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think the NFL was wrong on fining Hanyesworth $7,500 for that hit on J'Marcus Webb?

Bend But Don't Break Defense Strikes Again

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:14:00 +0000

The Washington Redskins left Solider Field with a 17-14 victory over the Chicago Bears last Sunday in a game that was ugly from start to finish. Both offenses struggled to maintain possession of the football and there were a combined 9 turnovers in the game. At one point, I honestly thought that this was the worst football I have ever seen. Neither team really wanted to win this game, and both teams did whatever they can to lose. However, the Redskins won the turnover battle and therefore sealed the victory despite poor play from the offense.

The Redskins offense was just horrible all around. Quarterback Donovan McNabb continued his inconsistent play by going 17 of 32 for 200 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. McNabb was also a victim of his receivers not catching the football early in the game. Despite the Bears pathetic performance on offense and great field position, the Redskins only scored 10 points the entire 1st half. The offense didn't much better either in the second half, but the defense bailed them out in critical situations. The good news is that Ryan Torain ran for his second straight 100+ yard game and he is quickly becoming a future starting running back for the Redskins.

However, the second half of this game was worthy of football comedy. Early in the 3rd quarter, the Bears had the ball at the goal line and in control to take a 10 point lead over the Redskins. Quarterback Jay Cutler decides to do a quarterback draw, and he was stopped short of the goal line by Albert Haynesworth and fumbled the ball. Haynesworth apparently jumped over the Bears's center and caused the fumble. Haynesworth, who already had a field day against the Bears offensive line, was just creating havoc all day for Culter and the Bears offense. Also, the turnover was the first of many Culter committed in the 2nd half.

Cutler throw four interceptions to Redskin cornerback DeAngelo Hall, which include a 92 yard return for the touchdown to give the Redskins a 17-14 late in the 3rd quarter. Hall's four interception performance in a single half ties an NFL record and it earn him NFC defensive player of the week honors. This is the second time a Redskin defensive player earned that award this year. Hall is also the third Redskin to have a four-interception game; the others were Sammy Baugh in 1943 and Dan Sandifer in 1948.

Another factor in Hall's amazing performance is Cutler's poor play at quarterback. He proved that he is today's version of Jeff George. Most of his interceptions he thrown were just awful, and his receivers ran the wrong route too. I'm just glad the Redskins never traded for him, otherwise it could be another disaster in the making.

Anyway, two of the Redskins most criticized players propelled their team to a 4-3 record, and a 6-1 record in the NFC. If the Redskins continue to find ways to win ugly in a wide open NFC, they could find themselves in the playoff discussion in December. However, the offense needs to be consistent, limit turnovers, and score more points. This team won't win anymore games if they continue to score 17 points per game. Finally, I am pleased that the defense is being more aggressive, and creating turnovers in key moments. They already matched their takeaway total from last season.

Next Week's Game: @ Detroit
Time & Network: 1.P.M on FOX
Commentators: Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan

This Halloween matchup provides a dangerous problem for the Redskins. The Lions are coming off the bye week, and they have plenty of weapons on offense led by wide receiver Calvin Johnson and rookie running back Jahvid Best. If quarterback Matthew Stafford is healthy this Sunday, then the Redskins could be in big trouble. Any team playing after a bye week in a dangerous team in the NFL, and the Lions are due for a big victory. Despite their 1-5 record, I think the Lions are a better team then the Bears, and they have been in every game so far this season. A preview of this matchup will be coming up this weekend.

Video of the Day: DeAngelo Hall's Four Interception Performance Aganist Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:14:00 +0000

So Many Missed Opportunities (UPDATED)

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:02:00 +0000

Last Sunday night, the Washington Redskins let their golden opportunities slip away as they fall to the Indianapolis Colts 27-24. This was a tough game to lose since the Redskins had several opportunities to win the game, but their secondary struggled to catch an interception. Before I'll analyze on what could of been a season defining victory, let's look at the positives and negatives from this tough lost.

The Positives: The ground game finally became effective. Running back Ryan Torain had his best game of the season last Sunday. He had 20 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Torain is the first Redskin running back to run for 100 yards or more since week 9 of last season. The defense and special teams find ways to kept the Redskins in the game. They continue to play physical, and committed 3 turnovers. Despite the defense giving up 469 total yards of offense, they found ways to keep the game relevant.

The Negatives: The offense was never consistent in critical situations, despite the defense helping them. Quarterback Donovan McNabb was still inaccurate in most of his pass attempts, and it was evident in the Redskins first offensive series. When the Redskins were inside Colts territory and about to take a early lead, McNabb under thrown a quick slant pass to Santana Moss and it was intercepted by Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers. That interception led to Peyton Manning's 57 yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon. The Colts had a 7-0 lead and never trailed the rest of the game despite their mishaps. The secondary could of easily give the Redskins the victory if they had good hands to catch the football. Cornerback Carlos Rodgers dropped two interceptions, and Kareem Moore drop one also. Rodgers has always been a great cover player, but he struggles to catch an interception. I think its a mental problem for Rodgers, and its so frustrating to see him drop easy picks that can change the momentum of the game.

Overall: At least the Redskins made the game interesting, and they had plenty of chances to upset the Colts. They are good things to build upon from this game. The defense continues to create turnovers and gives the offense a chance to score with excellent field position. The Redskins might have found a decent running back, and the passing game should be effective as McNabb adjusts to the new play-calling schemes from offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. However, the defense is struggling to stop the running and the passing game. It will be nice of Albert Haynesworth was active last week, but unfortunately, he was watching the game from the owner's box. So the Redskins are 3-2 in games that are decided by 6 points or less, and 3-3 overall. Not a bad start considering that the Redskins had a brutal stretch to begin the 2010 season.

Next Week's Game: Week 7 @Chicago
Time & Network: 1p.m. on FOX
Commentators: Thom Brennaman and Troy Akiman

It is homecoming weekend for McNabb and Shanahan as they return to their hometown city of Chicago Illinois. Both of them played high school football in the Chicago metro area, and McNabb has a 4-1 record at Solider Field. It is also a matchup against one of Shanahan former starting quarterback from Denver, which is Jay Cutler. Cutler will be dealing with a bad offensive line, so look for the Redskins front seven to create even more havoc for Cutler. I also don't expect Torain is have a big game because the Bears are ranked thrid in the league in run defense. So Torain could have problems finding any holes in the ground game. This should be a close contest, but I think Redskins defense will win this game because of the Bears offensive line issues, and McNabb always find ways to win in the windy city.

Redskins: 20, Bears: 17

Week 6 Preview: Colts vs Redskins

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 16:51:00 +0000

The Washington Redskins host the Indianapolis Colts in a primetime matchup of division leaders tonight at FedEx Field. The Redskins are coming off a comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers, while the Colts are coming off a home victory over the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. The Redskins are facing another top rated quarterback this week in Peyton Manning.

For the Redskins to have any chance of winning tonight, they will need to be consistent on offense. Quarterback Donovan McNabb needs to be more accurate on this pass attempts. I've seen him overthrow too many of his open targets. If McNabb corrects his accuary, then this offense can easily score a lot of points against a very weak Colts secondary. Also, the Redskins need to establish the ground attack, and the offensive line needs to perform better. The offensive line will not face a feared defense unlike last week's beating against the Packers, but the Colts defensive line is very solid led by Dwight Freeny and Robert Mathis. Tackles Trent Williams, and Jammal Brown, who were injured last week, should be ready to go tonight. Also, Ryan Torain needs to have a decent game on the ground in order for the Redskins to control the clock and keep Manning off the field.

Finally, the offense needs to score a touchdown FIRST in this game because the Colts are a hard team to come from behind. Once the Colts establish a early lead, they tend to control the clock, and the game essentially. Last week, the Colts opened the game with a 3-0 lead, and never trailed the entire game. They went on to defeat the Chiefs 19-9. The Colts had four field goals and a touchdown, and they still won by double digits. Therefore, it is extermely important for the Redskins to score as early as possible. I know that games aren't really decided in the 1st quarter, but they are playing against the Colts, and they rarely blow early leads against their opponents.

The defense has been playing very well this season, despite their only bad performance against Houston and St. Louis. The Redskins have held the Cowboys, Eagles, and Packers to under 20 points per game. They are ranked in the top-10 in fewest points allowed, even though the defense is ranked last statistically. However, the defense will have a tough challenge in containing Peyton Manning. Manning is one of the best quarterbacks to ever to play in the NFL. If he sees a flaw in coverage, or the defense isn't properly set, Manning will pick them apart and find a open target easily. Still, the Redskins will need to tackle better, do a solid job in pass coverage, and play physical for a full 60 minutes. If LaRon Landry has another superb performance, the Redskins may have a chance tonight.

Prediction: The major difference this week is the Colts. They rarely beat themselves, and Manning always find ways to win under any circumstance. The defense is their only weak spot because of their injuries in several key areas. Still, unless Manning throws for four interceptions, it is hard for me to pick against them. The Redskins are terrible in pass defense, and I think Manning will take advantage and have another huge performance tonight. However, a Redskins victory could put them in the driver seat as a early favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Colts: 21, Redskins: 16

Team Adverstiy Rules

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 03:24:00 +0000

For 45 minutes, it appeared that the Redskins will leave FedEx Field and endure another disappointing home loss to the Green Bay Packers. Despite their miss opportunities, the Packers were dominating the game on both sides and the Redskins offense wasn't in sync. But when the 4th quarter arrived and trailing by the score of 13-3, the Redskins were facing a test of character, coaching, and adversity. When the game ended in overtime, they all pass with flying colors.

Led by Donovan McNabb 48 yard touchdown pass to rookie Anthony Armstrong and key defensive plays by strong safety Laron Landry, the Redskins overcame a 10 point 4th quarter deficit to defeat the Packers 16-13.

There are so many factors on how the Redskins won. The Packers did beat themselves and had several of their key players injured during the game. Also, it is worth noting that the Clay Matthews did not play late in the 2nd half because he suffered a hamstring injury, and it changed how the Packers were attacking on defense. But the Redskins won this game because of two players; Donovan McNabb, and Laron Landry.

First, McNabb became the difference maker on offense despite his mediocre performance. The offensive line was abused by Clay Matthews and A.J. Hawk. Tackles Trent Williams and Jammal Brown suffered minor injuries during the game. This lead to McNabb being sacked five times in the game alone. Coach Mike Shanahan was constantly switching players in different positions on the offensive line, but it didn't make a single difference. McNabb had barely enough time to convert a pass, so he did a lot of scrambling to avoid the pass rusher. This led to his throws being completely inaccurate at various times. McNabb could of easily avoid his own abuse if he had a running game, which was ineffective during the entire game.

Despite his issues, McNabb did made some big plays to spark the offense in critical moments, such as a 50 yard completion to Santana Moss on 3rd and long early in the 2nd quarter, a touchdown pass to Armstrong, and a 30 yard completion to Chris Cooley late in the 4th quarter to set up Graham Gano's game-tying 45 yard field goal. Nevertheless, McNabb found a way to get the Redskins back into the game. This team wouldn't win these types of games last year under Jason Campbell at quarterback.

Secondly, Laron Landry has really step his game in a big way. Landry had 13 tackles, a forced fumble, and a interception in overtime to set up Graham Gano's game-winning 33 yard field goal. Landry leads the NFL with 41 total tackles, and he was named NFC defensive player of the week. Last season, Landry was criticized for his poor play in pass coverage, and his personal ego on the field. Today, the switch to the 3-4 defense has transformed Landry to one of the best strong safeties in the NFL. So far this season, Landry is playing his best football of his young career, and he could get a big contract extension by seasons end if he keeps playing at a high level.

Overall, the Redskins were involved in another close game for the fourth time in five games and each of them came down to the last possession. Three of those games were in the win column. I know these close games helps the NFL in terms of TV ratings, but I would like to see Redskins win some games by double digits for once this season. I'm not sure of I can really go through another close one next week.

Also, whenever a team gets a good head coach and a decent quarterback, teams will overcome from adversity, whether its trailing by big margin or overcoming a key injury from a impact player. The Redskins showed it last Sunday, and it could lead to big things in a wide open NFC East this season. Eventually, the injury situation in the offensive line, the lack of running game, and giving up a ton of yards on defense will catch up to them. But if this team can find ways to win in close situations, then everything will work out at season's end.

Next Week's Game: Week 6 Vs. Indianapolis Colts
Time & Network: 8:20 P.M. On NBC
Commentators: Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning comes into town as a pair of division leaders meet up in a primetime showdown. Both teams are 3-2, and are looking to stay in first place in their respective divisions. A preview of this matchup will be coming up later this weekend.

Week 5 Preview: Packers vs Redskins

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 23:56:00 +0000

The Washington Redskins return to FedEx field this Sunday as they host the Green Bay Packers in a intraconference matchup. Both teams are coming off big divisional victories. The Redskins had a road victory last week at Philadelphia, and Green Bay escaped a close contest against the Detroit Lions.

The next two home games for the Redskins are against two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL; Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning. For the Redskins to win tomorrow's game, they will have to continue establishing the run game.

Running back Ryan Torain will get the start this Sunday, and he will need to have a big game on the ground to control the clock and keep Rodgers off the field. That could be possible because the Packers are ranked 24th in run defense, so I expect Torain to get the bulk of the carries. Also, the offense needs to be consistent and productive for a full 60 minutes. Last week, the Redskins had 17 points in the 1st half, but none in the 2nd half. That will not work against a explosive Packers team.

The Redskins need to have a balanced attack, and let Donovan McNabb create some plays down the field. So far, their passing game is the best I've seen in 11 years, and McNabb has proven that he can put up big numbers. Also, the offensive line could face a big challenge as they face the Packers front seven led by linebackers A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews, who leads the league with seven sacks. The good news is that Trent Williams will back in the starting lineup, but the offensive line is very thin, and Matthews could create more problems for the run and pass protection.

Finally, this could be the game that rookie Brandon Banks has a breakout performance. The Packers have already given up a good amount of punt returns for touchdowns so far, and Banks could have enough firepower to change the momentum of the game. Sometimes in the NFL, games are won and lost on special teams. Hopefully, Banks can single-handily change the outcome of the game.

The defense will have another difficult task in defending Rodgers. The Redskins will have to create pressure on Rodgers, and make sure he isn't comfortable in the pocket. If Rodgers has enough protection, then he will no problem finding his receivers. The Redskins are last in the league in pass defense, so the secondary will face a major challenge in covering Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. But the Packers don't have a decent running back in the roster, so I expect the Packers to throw more often in this game, and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to continue using the deep zone cover two formation.

Prediction: This game could be a shootout in the making. I think both quarterbacks will probably throw close to 350 yards in this game. However, the Redskins ground attack, and special teams, will be the major difference. Torain will run for over 100 yards and two touchdowns, and Banks will have a punt return for a touchdown. McNabb will continue to spread the ball around with his receivers, and more importantly, they will control the time of possession by running the football, and keep Rodgers in the sidelines. This will lead to a impressive victory for the Redskins against a perennial Super Bowl contender.

Packers: 28, Redskins: 31

Note: Skins Take sends our condolences to Albert Haynesworth and his family, who lost his brother in a fatal motorcycle accident last Thursday. Haynesworth will not play on Sunday as he attends his brother's funeral in Nashville Tennessee.

Clinton Portis Could Be Done As A Redskin

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:19:00 +0000

Before the season started, there had been numerous reports on Clinton Portis in regards to having his best offseason of his NFL career. Portis was attending the offseason workout program instituted by Head Coach Mike Shanahan. After the Redskins brought in two veteran running backs, it appeared that Portis's starting job was in jeopardy. But Portis regain his starting running back job after intense competition during training camp.

After two forgettable years under former Coach Jim Zorn, Portis appeared to be rejuvenated when Shanahan arrived. Portis had a great relationship with Shanahan dating back to his first two seasons in Denver. With the offseason over, Portis entered the 2010 season in football shape and motivated to have a comeback season.

However, there were questions whether if Portis would stay healthy for the rest of season? Apparently, it didn't take long to answer that question.

This past week, the Redskins announced that Portis suffered a third-degree separation of his left groin and he will be out for 4-6 weeks. This means that third year running back Ryan Torain will get the starting job. So, does this mean that Clinton Portis just played his last game as a Redskin?

It could be the case for two reasons. First, Torain has proven he can carry the load and be an effective tailback along the way. He rushed for 70 yards and had one touchdown against Philadelphia last week. Torain has the potential to elevate his game this Sunday against Green Bay, and possibly solve the Redskins running game issues.

Secondly, and most importantly, Portis is getting old. He just turn 29 last month, and typically running backs tend to be at the tail end of their careers. Also, since he signed the contract extension in 2008, Portis has been gradually declining in term of production on the field. He fell short of 1500 yards two seasons ago, and he missed the rest of the 2009 season with a concussion. Portis hasn't really been a really productive back since 2007, the last time the Redskins made the playoffs. Therefore, this injury he just suffered is sadly not a surprise given his age.

So I expect the Redskins to sideline Portis for the rest of the year, even if he is technically ready to play late in the season. That is too bad, considering that Portis is one of the best run and pass blockers on the roster. But injuries will take its toll eventually on a older player. The good news for Portis is that he's getting $7.7 million in guaranteed money, but his contract for 2011 isn't guaranteed.

So, there is a good chance that Portis will not return to the Redskins next season, and it could be the first of a major overhaul for the entire 53 man roster. There is also a chance that Portis could have a successful rehab procedure and return in week 12, but I just don't see that happening because of his history of injuries and his declining performance on the field.

So bye bye CP #26!!! Thanks for seven memorable seasons!!!

McNabb's Homecoming = Success

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:13:00 +0000

Quarterback Donovan McNabb may not had his best game during his return trip to Philadelphia, but it was good enough to give the Redskins a 17-12 victory over the Eagles. Before kickoff, McNabb received a standing oviation from a sellout crowd at Lincoln Financial Field. When he took the field, McNabb received boos, but it didn't stop McNabb from leading the Redskins into a productive drive.

During the first half, the Redskins were hitting on all cylinders. The offense scored a touchdown in their first two drives. Running backs Clinton Portis and Ryan Torian ran for a combined 169 yards rushing. Torain also scored his first NFL touchdown on the team's opening drive. Portis did left the game with a groin injury. Apparently, that injury is more serious then expected because yesterday the team announced that Portis could miss 4-6 weeks because of his third-degree separation of his left groin.(More on this injury in my next post!!)

McNabb had a mediocre performance. He went 8 for 19 with 125 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also had a 60.2% completion rate, but his eight completions was his the lowest in two years.

The defense played with intensity for a full 60 minutes. They basically played a cover two deep zone formation. That way, it will limit big plays from Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, two of the Eagles best wide receivers. This formation work out well, but it led to several open targets for Lesean McCoy and Owen Schmitt, who each led the team in receiving yards. However, the defense will remembered for the big hit on Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.

Vick was sandwiched by Kareem Moore and DeAngelo Hall while running towards the end zone. Vick will miss 1-2 weeks because of his rib injury. If Vick never suffered that big hit, this game could of easily had a different result.

Instead, the Eagles turned to Kevin Kolb, and the offense went completely inept for the rest of the game. The Eagles didn't score a touchdown until late in the 4th quarter. While Kolb made the game interesting late in the game, De-Angelo Hall ended the game with an interception in the end-zone when time expired.

Overall, the Redskins had to win this game and they did. My only concern is their lack of production on offense in the second half. The Redskins need to score some points to avoid another second half meltdown, and the win a complete game, something that this team hasn't accomplish this season. Otherwise, its good to be in first place and have two divisional wins. Finally, since the NFC East is completely wide open this year, the Redskins could have a reasonable shot of winning the division. I guess parity is good for the Redskins so far.

Next Game: Week 5 vs. Green Bay Time & Network: 1PM on FOX Commentators: Joe Buck and Troy Akiman Another high powered offensive team comes to FedEx Field this Sunday. The Packers are led by Aaron Rodgers, who is putting some great numbers statistically. However, while their defense does a good job in takeaways, they are vulnerable on giving up big plays. Last week, they give up 26 points to the Detroit Lions. The Redskins will need to be turnover free and control the time of possession if they want to seal this game. There will be a preview on this matchup coming up later.

Video of the Day: Donovan McNabb's Postgame Speech

noreply@blogger.com (YasinJ) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:57:00 +0000