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Skeletons In The Closet: The Redskins Must Beat Detroit To End The Nightmare

October 29, 2010 By

One of my weekly contributions to SB Nation DC.
Oct 29, 2010 - Standing at 4-3, with just a game separating them from a much-needed bye week, the Washington Redskins are at a critical juncture in the 2010 season. This week’s contest against the lowly Lions wouldn’t figure to be must-see TV, but for anyone who watched this team last season, Sunday’s game means a heck of a lot.
The Redskins head into Ford Field with sour memories from their last visit to Detroit. When the Redskins left Michigan last year, they had just suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of a Lions team who had gone winless in their previous 19 games. The Redskins had already shown themselves to be a mediocre team before losing to Detroit, but falling to the NFL’s saddest of sad sacks confirmed that Washington wouldn’t be scaring anybody in 2009.
That excruciatingly painful three-hour event essentially spelled the end of the Jim Zorn era. AsChris Horton was whistled for a pass interference call to set up a key Lions’ touchdown, all Zorn could do was raise his hands in disbelief as he watched his team do the unthinkable and walk off the field losers to the Detroit Lions.
Zorn lost more than a game that day; he lost his locker room. The players quit on him just three weeks into the season and went on to finish 4-12. 2009 featured medicine balls, slip-n-slides, and a bingo caller turned offensive coordinator as the Redskins further embarrassed themselves with several catastrophic performances on national television.
One could argue the swinging gate snafu against the Giants and a pair of humiliating losses to theEagles and Cowboys were sparked by that fateful day in Detroit. The Redskins were the laughingstock of the league week in and week out and all Zorn could do was hold on for dear life. The press conferences were full of optimism, but it was the kind with a false ring to it. Zorn grimly attempted to convey his hopes for 2010, yet everyone knew he was a dead man walking.
With Zorn in over his head, the team eventually collapsed completely under the scrutiny, injuries and mounting defeats. For the last three weeks of the 2009 campaign, Washington played perhaps its worst stretch of football in 20 years, and Zorn was out the door after a loss to the Chargers‘ scrubs.
69091_redskins_shanahans_way_football_medium
Now, a year removed from the Detroit game, the Redskins return with a different attitude. They may not be among the NFL’s most skilled squads, but they are tougher mentally and eons more confident under the new regime.
You tell me with a straight face last year’s edition of the Burgundy and Gold would stand toe-to-toe with Colts or beat the Packers in overtime and I’ll give you one of those fun-size Snickers for your Halloween stash. They would have been run off the field. This year; different story. The 2009 Redskins went winless in the division. This year they are already 2-0 and also boast a 4-1 conference record to boot.
Filed Under: Jim Zorn, lions snap losing streak, redskins new era, redskins vs. lions

The ‘Troy Aikman v. Redskins’ Chronicles, Part I

October 29, 2010 By
Dear Troy, Stop calling my team’s games.

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

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

Because it’s just getting ridiculous at this point.

Let’s Review:

Packers Game:

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

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

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

Skins fans get it already

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

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

Bears Game:

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

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

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

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

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

Reaction: I have nothing to say other than this:

                                                

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

Unfortunately for Redskins fans, the worst might be yet to come.
Filed Under: Uncategorized

Crunching Numbers: Standout Stats

October 26, 2010 By

So many numbers to digest after seven weeks of Redskins football and here’s some key stats that stood out to yours truly.

136-Total number of tackles between LaRon Landry and London Fletcher thus far in 2010. Each has 68 individually and they are tied for the third most tackles in the NFL. That isn’t necessarily a great thing considering the defensive line has let too much get by them and the secondary is giving up a ton of receptions, but Landry and Fletcher are doing their jobs.

76.0-Donovan McNabb’s passer rating. He’s ranked number seven in passing yards, but he’s 24th in passer rating. Six touchdown to seven interceptions as well. He needs to lead more scoring drives.

2.6-Trips to the red zone per game. Washington is rarely sustaining drives into the red zone and you can tell by looking at their 29:25 average time of possession per game. They aren’t controlling the ball and they aren’t putting themselves into scoring position. 

33.3%-When the Redskins do enter the red zone they score only a third of the time. That makes them the 30th ranked team when it comes to red zone scoring percentage. Finishing drives is essential to winning, but somehow the Redskins have gotten away without converting their red zone opportunities.

25-I already mentioned sustaining drives. The Redskins are second from the bottom when it comes to converting third down opportunities. They are moving the sticks on the “money down” just 25 percent of the time.

165-Number of rushing attempts by the team.

247-Number of passing attempts.

40/60-The offense’s run-pass ratio. Ryan Torain’s recent success might convince the coaches to start making the playcalling multi-dimensional. A solid run game would ease the pressure on McNabb.

548-Santana Moss’ receiving yards on the year. He’s on pace for over 1,200 yards. Told you guys this would be a big year for him.

276-Anthony Armstrong’s receiving yards on the year. He’s the second-leading wide receiver on the squad, and the drop-off is apparent on paper and on the field. Armstrong is fast and makes tough catches, but he has yet to be a consistent starter on the outside.

3-Number of punters the Redskins have used this year. Josh Bidwell was a huge letdown and Graham Gano kicked a game when Bidwell injured himself in pregame warmups against St. Louis. The Redskins finally got wise and brought back Hunter Smith. All Smith has done is nail nine of his 21 punts inside the 20. Plus, he limited Devin Hester to one return last week.

40-Number of punts. Only one team has more (Chicago).

+8-The Redskins are dominating in terms of turnover differential and last week they have six takeaways to three turnovers. It made a huge difference just as it usually does. Now if the offense could capitalize off the turnovers…

17-The total number of takeaways the Redskins had last season. It’s also the amount they have after seven games this season. Jim Haslett is making his mark.

8-Fred Davis probably figured to have more than eight catches this season. Too bad Chris Cooley has been the featured tight end and Mike Shanahan hasn’t used two tight end sets to the extent we thought he would. Eight is also the number of receptions Antwaan Randle El has with Pittsburgh this year. Speaking of punt returning (or lack thereof)…

14.7-Brandon Banks’ average on punt returns. Never expected to see a double digit average on punt returns again. Of course Banks brings talent to the equation at punt returner. Randle El lacked that aspect in his game.

Filed Under: albert haynesworth nose tackl brandon banks, fred davis redskins, red zone scoring redskins, redskins punt returning, redskins run-pass ratio, redskins stats, redskins turnover ratio

Need Exercise? Watch the Redskins Play Football.

October 26, 2010 By
(Praisin’ The Lord we’re 4-3)/(AP)

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

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

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

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


(I feel your pain, Mike)(AP)

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


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


So the lesson learned in Week 7 for the Redskins?


Embrace the Redskins approach of winning butt ugly “playing 60 minutes”.


Embrace the heart attack. 


(Thanks Bro!)(AP)


Filed Under: Uncategorized

DeAngelo Hall Fuels A Redskins Win Over The Chicago Bears

October 25, 2010 By
Amidst the chaos of the second half at Soldier Field between the Redskins and Bears, one player managed to overcome the confines of mediocrity and shine in the Windy City. Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall intercepted four Jay Cutler passes, returning one 92 yards for a touchdown, propelling Washington to an important 17-14 win over Chicago.
Hall’s huge day tied an NFL record for the most interceptions in a single game and even more remarkable was that all four picks were in the second half. Washington’s defense also recovered a pair of fumbles, giving them six takeaways for the game and saving an offense struggling to produce points under Donovan McNabb.
With the Bears in the red zone and Cutler looking to build on a 14-10 lead late in the third quarter, Hall made spectacular one-handed interception and took off down the sideline. He found a convoy of blockers in front who escorted him into the end zone to put the Redskins on top for good. Later with minutes remaining, he made another interception on a Cutler bomb to allow McNabb and a beleaguered Redskins offense to run out the clock and enjoy a victory.
McNabb and the offense failed to score in the second half despite a strong day on the ground from new starting running back Ryan Torain. Making just his third start as a member of the Redskins, Torain rushed for 125 yards on 21 carries against the third best run defense in the NFL as Washington adopted a more conservative gameplan late to take the pressure off of a struggling McNabb.
McNabb went 17-32 for 200 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions; his worst game with Washington. The Redskins offensive line held Julius Peppers sackless, but McNabb was clearly flustered in the pocket for much of the day and as a result the offense failed to consistently move the football.
The Bears faced the same issue for much of  the day, and whenever it appeared as if one of the offenses was beginning to get untracked, turnovers ensued. There were eight fumbles and six interceptions between the two teams as eight of the 13 possessions in the second half ended with a turnover.
The Redskins had every opportunity to establish a commanding lead early as they started beyond their own 40-yard line four times in the first half. However, McNabb ruined a promising drive in the first quarter by throwing an errant pass, which was deflected in the air and returned 54 for a touchdown by D.J. Moore to put Chicago up 7-0.
There were other blown chances as well. Anthony Armstrong and Chris Cooley dropped passes that would have extended a possession and McNabb misfired on several attempts.
After the mistake, Washington settled down as McNabb led a pair of scoring drives to put Washington ahead 10-7 in the second quarter. Santana Moss hauled in a 24-yard touchdown reception, highlighting a five catch, 63 yard effort. Then Graham Gano hit a 46-yard field goal on the following Redskins drive as Chicago’s offense sputtered.
Cutler was sacked three times in the first half, and the Bears had minus-5 yards of offense after a quarter of play. Cutler finished at 26-40, 281 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions, continuing a string of forgettable games for head coach Lovie Smith’s prize quarterback. Moore’s touchdown was the only thing keeping Chicago in the game until Cutler put together a late drive to give them the lead at halftime 14-10.
With 4:13 remaining in the half, the Bears had just one first down, but they added five on a seven-play drive, capped by a nine-yard touchdown toss from Cutler to receiver Johnny Knox. The Redskins had dominated the entire half in terms of yards, time of possession, and field position, but McNabb’s interception and inability to maximize great field position left them in a hole heading into the locker room.
Chicago continued to move the ball on their opening drive of the second half. They brought it down to the Redskins’ one where it appeared Cutler had reached out to break the plane of the end zone on a sneak to score. However, officials ruled that he was short and London Fletcher had stripped him of the ball. Smith didn’t challenge and the Redskins escaped a 21-10 deficit.
With his back right at the end zone, McNabb made an ill-advised throw to his left, which was intercepted and returned for a touchdown again by Moore only to be called back after Washington was whistled for a delay of game penalty. Fans at Soldier Field voiced their displeasure, but little did they realize the comedy of errors was just starting.
The following six possessions ended with a turnover. The Bears drove inside the Redskins’ 30 twice, but Cutler threw a pick to Hall and Matt Forte coughed up the ball to stifle Chicago’s chances. McNabb returned the favor with a terrible pass intended for Joey Galloway that was intercepted and Torain fumbled inside the Bears’ 20-yard line. Gano also missed a 37-yard field goal attempt with Washington in the red zone.
However, Hall’s final interception allowed Mike Shanahan’s team to close out the game by taking a knee; something the Redskins were unable to do in their previous three victories. Washington improves to 4-3 after beating Chicago, and the team has already equaled their win total from last season’s 4-12 debacle. Next week they head to Detroit to take on the 1-5 Lions.
Defensive Player of the Game: This one’s a no-brainer. Four interceptions in one half is other-worldly even for a guy who has given up nearly 40 reception this season. Hall has a pair of touchdowns this year and both are responsible for Redskins wins. He’s the difference between 2-5 and 4-3, but I still get angry when he gives up a third down conversion due to soft coverage. Thus, my love-hate relatiionship with the $56 million man continues. He’s fine by me…for now.
Offensive Player of the Game: Torain tried hard to lose this award with a bad fumble deep in Bears’ territory, but he kept running hard and saved the Redskins from an evil Donovan McNabb twin (memo: McNabb must improve if the ‘Skins want to make a play-off run, but we’ll get to that later in the week). Back-to-back 100 yard rushing games is unheard of in these parts and Torain may have locked down the running back job for the rest of the year with Sunday’s effort.
Game Notes: The last Redskins to have three or more interceptions in a game was Champ Bailey in 1999 against the Arizona Cardinals. Bailey notched the trifecta against Jake Plummer, a former Shanahan quarterback.
Another memorable moment occurred late in the game when Redskins’ safety LaRon Landry lowered his head to make a tackle, but failed to realize a Cutler pass was heading right towards him. The ball ricocheted off his helmet and flew back 15 yards into the hands of left guard Chris Williams for a four yard reception.
Out of the eight fumbles in the game, Washington recovered seven.
Filed Under: deangelo hall interceptions, donovan mcnabb, jay cutler, johnny knox, redskins turnovers, redskins vs. bears, ryan torain, ryan torain 100 yard game

Redskins Vs. Bears: Fourth Quarter Analysis

October 24, 2010 By

3:36-I dare not praise another Redskin. Ryan Torain had 58 yards on the latest Redskins drive and Donovan McNabb did not attempt a pass. Yet he fumbles inside the Bear 30 and the Redskins come up with nothing.

3:44-Graham Gano’s missed field goal could very well spell a rash of kicker tryouts this week. It was makeable 37-yarder in a close game in the fourth quarter. Not a good time to miss one. McNabb continues his brutal second half performance as he comes nowhere close to completing a key pass to Moss in the end zone. I’m not for putting in Rex Grossman, but McNabb isn’t meriting an extension with games like this.

3:56-Time for one final drive by the Redskins defense. They make this and their great effort will be remembered fondly. The offense certainly isn’t doing them any favors late in fourth.

3:59-DeAngelo Hall has four picks in one half. I rip on the guy a lot, but there are games such as this one where he shows why the ‘Skins paid him $56 million. I mean what a catch and subsequent 92-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Also as a little postscript, the Redskins managed 121 yards on the ground. The Bears were ranked third in the NFL in rushing defense and were giving up just 84 yards a game. If Ryan Torain didn’t fumble twice to cloud matters, I’d say the Redskins might have found a back for the rest of the year.

Filed Under: redskins analysis, redskins vs. bears

Redskins Vs. Bears: Third Quarter Analysis

October 24, 2010 By

3:14-Just a putrid quarter for Washington. The defense continues to be it’s resilient self as they stop Jay Cutler on the goal line and force a fumble. He might have been in, but no challenge and The Redskins hold on.

Donovan McNabb is having an awful day after throwing his second pick. He’s 14-28, 174 yards, a TD pass, and two interceptions. He is out of synce and unable to move the chains consistently. The offensive line hasn’t been flawless, but they aren’t getting completely worked over either. This one is on him.

3:30-DeAngelo Hall has two picks in this quarter. For as much as I detest his soft coverage, he does have great ball skills and his touchdown is the second one of the year. Another well-timed touchdown with the Redskins struggling to generate points.

Still the defense is starting to bend quite a bit. the Bears have made a pair of trips deep into Redskins territory this half. Cutler has managed to ruin both, making this a battle between two teams with self-destructive signalcallers.

Filed Under: deangelo hall touchdown, donovan mcnabb interceptions, redskins analysis, redskins vs. bears

Redskins Vs. Bears: Halftime Analysis

October 24, 2010 By

Oh my, where to start. Washington should be winning this game by multiple scores yet they trail Chicago 14-10 at the half. Washington has 176 yards to the Bears’ 84. Until the Bears final drive of the half they had one first down.

The Redskins have controlled field position, starting around midfield on the bulk of their possessions. However, they weren’t able to finish two drives. One ended with McNabb’s INT and the other stalled and led to a field goal.

With the way the defense handled Cutler (with the exception of the final drive), this one is on the offense for not taking advantage of their opportunities. Ryan Torain has had mixed success running the ball, and several receivers have dropped key passes.

The offense hasn’t been in sync all year, and McNabb has been erratic again today. He has missed receivers and the drops have provided a bad combination of offensive inefficiency.

Defensively, LaRon Landry and Albert Haynesworth are having strong games and the Redskins have sacked Jay Cutler three times. Haynesworth has a sack and several solid penetrations. He’s been good today.

The Bears seem to be shortening Cutler’s dropbacks to alleviate the defensive pressure and it worked on the final drive. Washington needs to tighten up defensively after giving up a touchdown to give the Bears the lead.

Filed Under: . bears analysis, albert haynesworth sack, laron landry, redskins vs. bears halftime, redskins vs. cowboys

Redskins Vs. Bears: First Quarter Analysis

October 24, 2010 By

1:27-Sorry I’m late today. Just got back from New York.

The Redskins third drive is a promising one until Donovan McNabb refused to take a sack off a blitz. That was an uncharacteristic, but it happened and now the Redskins are in a 7-0 off of a careless mistake. With the lack of points, Washington can’t afford to give up easy touchdowns.

This game is vital to the Redskins and I would say it’s the most important game of the year to date. The game is very winnable after a brutal three game stretch where the Redskins took two. The ‘Skins are down a game to Philly and the Giants and they can’t lose ground especially in a week where they should win.

1:39-McNabb shakes off the interception and gets the Redskins down the field to tie it up with a Moss TD. Gotta say the more I see of Ryan Torain the more I think he could be a workhorse back for this team. He breaks tackles like it’s his job (well it is) and when he gets going downfield, he’s one tough runner.

Chicago has negative yards of offense. This shouldn’t be that close.

Filed Under: redskins analysis, redskins vs. bears

Brian Orakpo Is Breaking Out This Week

October 22, 2010 By

My bi-weekly column for SB Nation DC. Stay tuned this weekend for my coverage, analysis, and a prediction for Sunday’s game against the Bears.
Oct 22, 2010 - The dreaded sophomore slump can destroy any promising, young NFL career, but if a second-year veteran can build upon a successful rookie campaign, the sky is the limit. For Brian Orakpo, it’s clear he can be a presence on defense for the Redskins. The question, however, is just how much of a presence he will be.
Orakpo is a fine pass-rusher. He has five sacks, 19 tackles, and a forced fumble in six games, making him one of the more valuable pieces in this Redskins defense. Let’s also not forget the holding penalty he drew against Alex Barron to beat the Dallas Cowboys in week one. In fact, Orakpo has been blatantly held at least once in every game this season, preventing him from adding to his sack totals.
But as solid as he has been, Orakpo has yet to set himself apart as an elite sackmaster this season. He is undoubtedly the best rusher on the team, but I am waiting to see him take over a game Clay Matthews style. Last year, Orakpo got some face time after a dominant four sack performance against the Oakland Raiders, and a similar outing this week against the Bears will raise his profile once again.
Gyi0061914779_medium
Orakpo’s potent combination of size, speed, and strength makes him the perfect fit as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. Last season, he split time between OLB and defensive end in a 4-3 and it was clear he looked his best going after the quarterback. The rookie from Texas notched 11 sacks and emerged as bright star on a defense desperate for playmakers.
Heading into 2010, expectations were high for Orakpo to become a top-flight pass rusher, especially after Jim Haslett entered as the new defensive coordinator. Haslett has placed an emphasis on pressure and turnovers, meaning Orakpo is in on more opportunities to hit the quarterback. The Redskins have begun to employ him predominantly as a pass rusher at OLB in a 3-4 scheme where he can wreak havoc in opponents’ backfields. 
The transition has been a rocky one for every player on the defense, but Orakpo has been one of the few to really stand out thus far. He needs a standout performance to take the next step as a playmaking force and this week he has a prime opportunity to take over on the field.

For the full story click here.

Filed Under: bears vs. redskins, brian orakpo, brian orakpo sacks, jay cutler sacks, redskins pass rush, redskins sacks
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