Zorn Named Head Coach

Dan Snyder promoted his new offensive coordinator Jim Zorn to head coach thus ending the Redskins' search. If we can take anything away from his days in Seattle, Zorn knows how to mold a quarterback. He also comes from the Mike Holmgren coaching circuit, which has produced a lot of NFL head coaches, but not all of them have been successes so that won't tell us much.
I'm interested to hear what the Redskins players have to say about the man who's temperament and style has been compared very closely to that of Joe Gibbs. He sounds like a decent fit and I'm sure Snyder wanted a guy that he could have a greater amount of control over.
At this point, I'd rather have a guy that we know nothing about that someone that has already failed once in the NFL.

-The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Skins Coaching Roundtable

After watching Tom Brady and the Patriots get utterly dominated by the defensive line of the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, is it a bad thing to seriously consider coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for the job in Washington?

Things to remember: good & bad...

We are already a defensive oriented team and taking a talented coach away from a division rival is never a bad thing.

He is a rookie Head Coach with no previous track record putting the entire team on his shoulders.

He is better than Jim Fassel, Steve Mariucci and Ron Meeks.

Who knows if he even understands what the offensive unit is supposed to be doing on a weekly basis.

At this point, I'd give him a two year contract and see how he does. He has the highest upside of any of the candidates and his downside, a horrendous season, lurks behind anyone that takes the job.

- The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Art Monk: The Man and the Legend

I would first like to congratulate on behalf of the sports clowns Art Monk and Darrell Green for their recent induction into the professional football Hall of Fame. Both men proved themselves on and off the field countless times, making them invaluable members to their teams and communities.

While the clowns witnessed Green, the fastest man in the NFL for many years, as he played through the 80s, 90s and into the 2000s. Art Monk's accomplishments have always been whispered through a thick layer of nostalgia. Leaving the skins after the 1993 season, well before my football consciousness was fully developed, his glory years, stats and accomplishments fall more into lore of golden years past. "The Fun Bunch" of the early 80s and "The Posse" of the late 80s both included this dynamic possession receiver and there is no doubt that his accomplishments make him a worthy addition to the receiving core of the football HoF.

Mike Wise, a man more acquainted with Monk than I, wrote a great editorial in the Washington Post that is definitely worth a gander.

- The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Cleaning House is Exactly What The Redskins Need to be Doing

The Redskins have fired their two coordinators, Al Saunders and Gregg Williams in light of the retirement of Joe Gibbs. In their place they have hired Jim Zorn, from Seattle, to lead the offense and promoted Greg Blache to lead the defense.
In my mind there was no other way to effectively make this team better than to clean house in the way that Dan Snyder has done. I'm not saying he should have hired two assistant coaches before the head coach, but he definitely should have chucked both Saunders and Williams after ties to Gibbs were cut.
This team, as a whole, has been stuck in mediocrity for the last four years. Making the playoffs isn't good enough and the coaching staff, now of the past, had done nothing to inspire our confidence in their progression towards excellence. Personally, I like Gregg Williams and am disappointed that he won't be a Redskin anymore, but when you look at the bare facts of the matter, the Redskins, in their entirety, are trying to get better and that means change. The Redskins have great defensive personnel. The defensive line is strong and the secondary, with the addition of another cornerback in the off-season can match up against any offense in the league.
But this move isn't about where the Redskins are right now, it's about where they want to be next year and the year after that. The intangibles of a coaching staff go a long way toward consistently winning and after four years, neither of these coaches has shown that inner desire or that transcending confidence to make this team great.
Consistency is always important when you are trying to grow players and develop a winning ball club, but after four years shouldn't there be better results? Who have they really brought in to grow and develop? Why are injuries so crippling to the Redskins while other teams are able to win with good second string players? With all his natural talent, shouldn't Jason Campbell be better than a 77.6 quarterback rating and a 60 percent completion rating? With all their weapons, shouldn't the offense be better than 20.9 points per game? Why, after four years, are the Redskins continually struggling to be a wildcard team? Why did this team squander victories in the second half? Why couldn't this coaching staff get the most out of, what they tell us is, an incredibly talented team? Why should the Redskins settle for this kind of production, hoping that the team will suddenly turn it around? Suddenly make great strides when after four years, the only thing that has changed are a couple of the players names.
Some fans are angry, but do not kid yourselves, this was not a perfect team. Nor would it have been under the direction of Gregg Williams, whose stint in Buffalo languished as a lopsided defensive-minded team who went no where. Their time has come and gone. They had their chance and they did their best. Both coordinators either didn't know how to manage who they had or they didn't know how to bring in the best players to make their system work. By bringing in new people the current players will have another perspective on the game. They won't forget everything they were taught by either Williams or Saunders and will incorporate new techniques and styles into what they already have as a foundation. We'll have to wait and see, but maybe that extra little bit will take a good team and make them great.

- The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Week 16: Redskins vs. Vikings

In week 15 against the Giants, this Redskins team again proved me wrong and turned in their best game of the season. Clinton Portis was able to run the football, the offensive line was able to open up holes and protect the quarterback and the secondary was able to contain the explosive pass play of the Giants. More importantly, this team showed grit and determination that has been missing all season. The most important play of the game was LaRon Landry's late hit on Plaxico Burress. Yes, I know it resulted in a flag and eventually the Giants got some points during that specific drive, but it speaks volumes to your own team and to the other team about Landry's intensions and determination in the secondary. Plays like that are building him into a recognizable entity within the Redskins' defense and it gave Manning another player to worry about as he checked through his progression. It's something Sean Taylor would have done and I'm glad to see that Landry is hoping to fill his shoes.

This week the Redskins face the Vikings who in all respects are a lesser team. Yes, they have an explosive running back and a great run defense but they also have a weak secondary and a horrendous passing game. They also struggled last week against a Bears team that the Redskins handled in Week 14. The Bears held Peterson under 100 yards, sacked Jackon twice and pulled down three INTs. The Redskins' defense is better than that and can take advantage of the young quarterback in the same way they attacked Eli Manning. I'm still not convinced that Todd Collins is a savior and after the horrendous completion percentage of last week, he's going to have to do a lot better to open up the passing game.

The Redskins have to run the football to win the game and, ideally, Clinton Portis goes over 100 yards. But this Minnesota defense is tough and that's going to be a struggle. Bottom line, this Redskins team has done the same thing week in and week out. Pound the rock, play physical defense and get a couple of passes inside the redzone to Cooley. The only difference between their wins and their losses is whether they execute or not. This game will come down to who wants it more and who steps up to take it. I think the Skins will take it this week. They are hungry and are finally putting their talent to use.

Redskins 17, Vikings 10

- The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Week 15: Redskins vs Giants

Last week's win against the Bears defied my expectations for this team, especially after the loss of Jason Campbell and the introduction of long time backup Todd Collins. The Skins performance was admirable but let’s not confuse the forest for the trees. The forest that is the Redskins is a 6-7 team struggling to claw their way into the playoffs, starting a back-up quarterback and playing against a very physically talented receiver in Plaxico Burress. Neither the Redskins nor the Giants are the same team that matched-up in week three and while the Redskins have been devastated by injuries, the Giants have grown stronger and more confident. I never trust the lesser Manning to get things done, but the Giants defensive line is a force to be reckoned with and could easily reach double digit sacks against the Redskins hodgepodge O-line. The Redskins will struggle to put up points and with a depleted secondary will give up big plays to either Burress or Shockey.

The Bears defense is not what is has been in past years and Collins' ability to read their coverage and execute will not be the same against this Giants team that is more experienced and much more formidable at the front of attack. Collins will have less time to make his selections and get rid of the ball and will have to utilize TE Chris Cooley as his main offense weapon to sustain drives and get into Giants territory.
It was disappointing after Campbell went down that running back Clinton Portis did not answer the call and step up his game. Portis finished with 17 carries and only 36 yards. Portis did turn a screen pass into a 54 yard pick up but his value has to be downhill, running the football. His strength lies in getting to the second level of a defense, opening up space and making people miss tackles. These are all things he has shown flashes of this year, but nothing more than glimpses of his past talent. Blame is shared with the offensive line, but as a squad they have been getting better and I don't see Portis making the same strides to work within their strengths and abilities. The Redskins have offensive playmakers. Sunday's question will be whether Collins can get them involved and get them into open space allowing their athleticism to take over.

Defensively, the Skins have been playing better. This squad is as unpredictable as the rest of the team but showed good signs last week from Shawn Springs. He still got beat on the touchdown to Berrian but had two INTs on good position plays. However, in addition to the defensive backs the linebackers will have to increase their role in coverage. The Skins routinely get destroyed by good tight ends and even though he is questionable, Jeremy Shockey will play in the game and could hurt the Skins. As a whole unit, coverage will be paramount while still containing the man-child of Brandon Jacobs. The Giants have the most offensive weapons the Skins have faced since Dallas, and the defense will have to be one step ahead on every play in order for the team to have a hope of winning.

This is a very important game on both sides. The Skins need it to stay in the playoff hunt, especially since the Giants are ahead of them in the charts and in tiebreaking categories at this point. The Giants need this win to dagger the clawing Redskins and quash doubts about their inconsistencies. Bottom line, the Skins struggle to win back-to-back games and are 2-4 on the road this year. I don't see good things happening on their trip to the Meadowlands.
Redskins 13, Giants 27
-The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Week 14: Redskins vs. Bears

I'm getting very tired of this Redskins team. I love our players, but when I see the amount of talent and time they are wasting week in and week out, it pisses me off. From the coaching staff, right down to the players they seem content to mail in their games, simply go through the motions. I think they expect their abilities to come through and save them when game time rolls around, forgetting that in the NFL every player has the raw talent to be there.
There is no fire in this team, there is no will to succeed, no intensity to carry them through close games. Jason Campbell is praised for his poise, but when does that kind of poise merely reflect an inner complacency? The Redskins have lost almost every single close game they have played this year and that has been the difference in their season.

There is no way they should have lost last week to a Buffalo team who ranks 30th in the league on defense and 29th on offense. Where is the passion? Where is that inner determination to beat down their opponent on every play? The best comparable example of the Redskins lack of desire is their game against the Patriots. Where the Skins laid down and timidly played to a 52-7 loss, a weaker but more empowered Ravens team actually showed up to play and was one or two plays away from defeating the so-called unbeatable New England team.

Where is the Redskins' fortitude? It's not enough in this league to deserve to win, you have to earn it, and at 5-7 this Redskins team hasn't done anything to earn anyone's respect. The Bears are drastically worse statistically, yet they have an equal 5-7 record and have capitalized on the few opportunities they have been given this season. Not to mention they have Devin Hester, a player so explosive the Redskins will need to take the time and game plan for. But this is something I don't think they've had the time or experience to do.

This Bears defense is not the vaunted or feared group of years past and Clinton Portis has historically showed that he can run on them. They also gave up over 150 yards and a TD last week to the Giants' Derrick Ward, so the Redskins could have success scoring this way on Thursday. Running the ball is something they have been unable to do in their four game losing streak and would give an all-around boost to the offense, but simply gaining yards hasn’t necessarily translated into points this year for the Redskins and I don't see that changing on Thursday.

This Skins team that has shown at multiple junctures this year that they can lose close games or fail to win the game when the ball is in their hands. It'll be another close one against the Bears but the Skins failure to put the ball in the end zone will again hurt their chances against the superior special teams play of the Bears.

Redskins 20, Bears 24

-The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Week 13: Redskins vs.Bills

It's tough to know how tragedy will affect a team. The Redskins' situation is as unique as Sean Taylor was, and his memory as a great player in this league should be remembered far longer and with far more importance than a victory on Sunday against the Bills.

Under stress and after tragedy, many people do find solace and comfort in "business as usual." The routine is a reassuring reminder that our lives can go on while we mourn. Coming together as a team can also provide strength, empathy and compassion when faced with such circumstances, erasing any feeling of loneliness or confusion. However, It is still very difficult to face such realities when a tragic situation defies our perception of reality, which this sudden and unthinkable death has done. The sports community has seen great teams and memorable seasons derailed at the lost of a loved one, but we have also seen spectacular games rallied behind a "greater cause."

I would like to think that a man's legacy is not appropriate to rally behind. I would like to think that remembrance does not come with the price tag of a win and that a loss on Sunday would not diminish how much these men cared about Sean Taylor. They are deeply saddened by his passing and while returning to the field is the right move, if they are too conflicted or too burdened at this point to play at the caliber the NFL desires and lose, it in no way should be looked upon as a failure to honor #21.

The Bills are a mediocre team. They have some weapons on offense and defense but nothing that has been consistent or spectacular. They have a quarterback crisis and a talented but young running back. The Redskins should win this game and should win it by at least two scores.
Who knows how the Redskins will play, but I would also hope that they will allow themselves this short amount of time on Sunday to feel joy. It does not bring doubt on your suffering to remember how precious life is.

Redskins 27, Bills 16

- The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Week 12: Redskins vs. Bucs

The Redskins face another good team in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but this is again a winnable game if the Skins play the way they are capable of. The return of Santana Moss, who looks to be in better condition than he has in weeks, is a good thing but the loss of fullback Mike Sellers will hurt the Skins' running game. The Skins will look to exploit the Bucs' 18th ranked rushing defense and their undersized defensive line, but without a legitimate fullback the Skins' formations could struggle to pick up yardage. Campbell will also need to exploit the Bucs' cover 2 zone scheme with short to mid range passes and screens. Campbell has done a better job over the past two games but sometimes looses sight of tight end Chris Cooley. Cooley's size and speed can be an asset against the Buccaneer linebackers and should be targeted at least 10 times on Sunday.

Defensively, the Redskins need to do a much better job of containment and coverage. Joey Galloway presents the same problems the Cowboys exploited last week. Sean Taylor is still out of the game and cornerbacks Springs and Smoot need to step up and disrupt Galloway's fly routes. If they let him release into the secondary without contact, his speed and vertical jumping ability will dictate the play. Jeff Garcia is good enough to get Galloway the ball and smart enough to pick apart the Skin's secondary. Garcia doesn't throw a lot of INTs and generally protects the football so one forced fumble or interception could determine the outcome of the game.

The Redskins need to do the little things this week against a very comparable but beatable team. They need to convert in the redzone, minimize penalties on the road and get back to playing smash mouth defense. It's been a dismal stretch of games since the Patriot blowout but the defense has never recovered and with Sean Taylor still out, and the rest of the secondary playing very uninspiring football, I still don't see the Skins pulling out a win. With the offense moving in such a positive direction it is disappointing that the defense can't seem to slow teams down.

Redskins 23, Buccaneers 31
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Washington Redskins: Everything You Expected and Worse

In my preview I stated that the Redskins would attempt to cover TO with a single cornerback, Springs, hoping that their best would be good enough to shut down his best. They did not do this on Sunday. Instead, they pulled into a Cover 2 scheme and consistently left the big guy open. Yes, Springs was involved in three of TO's four touchdowns, but it was the entire defensive zone that failed every time. The Cowboys, as a team, were awful on Sunday and should have lost convincingly at home to the Skins. However, TO was amazing on Sunday and his size and speed simply shredded any hope the Skins had at staying in this game. It blows my mind when I watch the replays of his touchdowns how he got so open, why did no one cover the most talented receiver on the field? The cornerbacks didn't jam him at the line and the safeties didn't roll over into coverage. What else did they think was happening?

Patrick Crayton and Jason Witten are good players but they don't deserve that much attention. There is only one guy on that field that the Redskins had to account for and they didn't do it. They looked scared, and when everyone in the stadium knows exactly where the ball is going and it still goes there, something is wrong. This Redskins defense, which was supposed to be the backbone of their squad, looked scared, hesitant and unaware of what was happening. TO didn't pick on one guy; he lined up on all sides of the field, on the fly, in the slot and burned everyone. Looking at the way the Redskins played on defense it's inexcusable that they lost this game, but not unexpected. This again shows the kind of team that they are and why they sit at 5-5 and the Cowboys sit at 9-1.

Jason Campbell had his most prolific game as a Redskins passer, completing 33 out of 54 passes for 348 yards, 2 TDs and only one pickle, but continues to struggle winning ball games. In the Redskins final two possessions, when they were putting themselves in a position to win the game, Campbell was only 3 of 10 for 31 yards and a redzone INT.
I'm going to be highly critical of a guy who only completed 61.1% of his passes and choked when it really mattered. Yes, there were other opportunities and missed chances throughout the game, and no game is determined by one play, but it can be determined by one player. These situations are piling up for the young quarterback, situations where he goes the distance but doesn't have it in him to grab the win. It happened against the Giants, It happened against the Packers and now again versus the Cowboys.

The Redskins' offense as a whole doesn't have a dagger mentality. They simply can't finish games or put away opponents. They are habitually forced to settle for field goals after their inability to make the big play keeps them out of the endzone. It's nice to know that Shaun Suisham can kick 40+ yard field goals, but in a game where the Redskins dominated in every other offensive statistic: 28 first downs, 423 total yards, 73 total plays, it was their failure to get six points that denied them the win. In the end, just like John Madden says, the team that scores the most touchdowns is going to win the ballgame.

-The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Week 11: Redskins vs. Cowboys

The Cowboys are a very good offensive team. They do have their weaknesses on defense, mainly in the secondary, but have been able to gloss over those inefficiencies by getting and maintaining a lead. They score a lot through the air and have a bruising back in Marion Barber to eat up clock and hurt worn-down defenses.

On a normal day, the Redskins would have to play flawless football and make big plays in order to beat this Cowboys team that looks primed to go deep into the playoffs. However, with the already much maligned offensive line, nagging injuries to Santana Moss and the loss of Sean Taylor, this game looks to be very lopsided.

This Dallas team hasn't scored less than 24 points in any game this season and has the fifth ranked passer in Romo, completing 65.1 percent of his passes for 23 TDs and only 11 INTs. I didn't even mention the big guy that the Redskins are talking about single covering all day with Shawn Springs. Going off Springs’ recent historical success, the Redskins seem content to man up against TO on Sunday and see if Springs can keep him in check yet again. Springs is a good cover corner in this league and should have seen a lot more playing time this year than he did, but the Redskins will get burned all day if they go with this strategy. Coverage and pass rush go hand in hand and, at this point, the Redskins are just not generating the kind of pass rush that will make this idea effective. Romo is comfortable in and out of the pocket and has the necessary quickness to make plays and find the open receiver. Last week against the Giants, who defensive front line is one of the fiercest in the game, Romo was only sacked once. I just don't see, especially with Taylor out, how the Skins' secondary expects to cover all of Dallas' weapons and blitz the passer at the same time.

The Redskins' offense could have success in the passing game against a secondary that's also suffered key injuries. However, I'm still skeptical about Campbell's accuracy and ability to read a coverage scheme. This is a guy that has yet to throw for over 300 yards in a game and has recorded a passer rating of over 80.0 just twice this year. He had his best game statistically last week against the Eagles but didn't get the win. In addition, his biggest passing threat, Moss, is probable again this week; it just doesn't look good for the young quarterback.

It's just too much for an inexperience and depleted Redskins team to overcome. This Dallas team is the real deal and, while these games bring a lot of rival intensity, I don't think we can overlook their weapons and the Redskins lack of consistency and general confidence.

Redskins 10, Dallas 31

- The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

A Lack of Defensive Depth

It's been apparent for the past decade what the Redskins' main fault is; lack of player development and necessary depth. In this day and age, no player can or does play every down. Their physical limitations just don't allow them to compete at the level necessary every minute of every game. The Redskins have a very good starting defense, but once you get past that front line, it's incredibly weak.

This chink in their armor was revealed again versus the Eagles after a third quarter knee injury knocked Sean Taylor out of the game. The hole left by his absence was exploited by Brian Westbrook whose speed and agility was more than a match for the second hand scrub the Redskins used to replace Taylor. In addition, regardless of being physically gifted, every Redskin defender showed their inexperience and lack of game awareness against the Eagles as they continually bit on screen pass after screen pass; the biggest one resulting in the winning touchdown. It's not enough to just be a coordinator in this league. These coaches need to make their players better. Good teams improve throughout the season, but the Redskins are making the same mistakes they made during week one and have shown little growth. It is vital that they not only recognize what continues to go wrong, but that they fix it.

Offensively, the Skins are taking baby steps. Jason Campbell looked comfortable in the no-huddle scheme, but I don't think for a second that he is capable of running an offense the way someone like Peyton Manning or Kurt Warner does, so while it's nice to know he can compete in this fashion it should not be an every week kind of thing. Still, in the end, the offense failed when it mattered. Campbell only completed 2 of 7 passes for 17 yards in the final two possessions with two fumbles and a sack. This shows Campbell's continued hesitation and indecisiveness and in this area he needs to continue to get better. I'm not really sure what it takes, other than experience, to thrive in pressure situations, but I'm afraid the young stud may not have what it takes to win under pressure.

The Skins need to get better as an entire team. They have a lot of potential and a lot of raw talent but at this point in the season and in their careers, they haven't put it all together. It's a good start, but their shot at 2008 playoff glory faded this past week.

-The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Week 10: Redskins vs. Eagles

While this is a very winnable game for the Redskins, their recent inability to win back to back games has red flags popping up everywhere. A fan can only hope that almost losing last week to a very weak Jets team tricked the cosmos into thinking the Redskins actually lost and therefore deserve to win this week.

This week will focus around Jason Campbell and Donovan McNabb. With the re-emergence of Clinton Portis as the dominant playmaker of the Redskins' offense it will be Campbell's responsibility to recognize how and when to utilize the play action pass. This has always been the big picture strategy of Joe Gibbs and should finally fall into place against a banged up Eagles’ secondary. Safety Brian Dawkins and cornerback Lito Sheppard have seen limited playing time this season and their lack of game strength can be exploited. The Redskins will look to take advantage of these two positions early in the game before they can regain their timing. In last week's game against the Cowboys this secondary gave up 324 yards and the defensive unit as a whole didn't record a sack. Campbell needs to recognize one on one match ups, utilize the speed of Moss and Randle El and complete deep passes in order to build a lead.

Normally at this point in the game I would suggest they turn the ball over to Portis, pound the rock and sit on the lead, but we've all seen how that turns out. The second half needs to be the same aggressive ball movement with Campbell orchestrating short passes and reliable check downs. After throwing deep passes throughout the first half he will need to dump it off in the second. Hit guys coming out of the back field. Hit Cooley on 8 yard curl routes. Get the defensive on their heels and roll over them.

This is a telling game for how far Campbell has come as a leader and how far the Skins will be able to go in this year’s Playoffs with him at the helm. The Eagles are still a dangerous team and know how to win so the Redskins have to be careful. However, the Redskins have to and will win to put pressure on the Giants (a team they should have beaten) and the Cowboys (a team they play next week). Look for the Redskins team to show up this week and put some hurt on the Eagles.

Redskins 27, Eagles 16

- The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

DC Notebook:

Wizards:
Gilbert Arenas had his knee drained yesterday in preparation for tonight's Nets game. After an 0-3 start this is a little disconcerting. The Wiz need Arenas to be at full speed to compete against top tier teams - such as the Nets - as even without health concerns he has historically struggled against good defensive guards.

Redskins:
After his breakout 196 yard game against the Jets, Clinton Portis has also broken out of his shell with "Choo Choo". Keeping a light atmosphere can only help the Redskins who have looked very uptight and burdened this entire season. Not to mention, in years past, it has been the emergence of Portis' characters that has sparked a winning attitude and all around better play for this squad. With everything that is swirling around Philly right now I can't think of a better way to stay loose against what will be an Eagles team in disarray.

Capitals:
The Caps take on the 13-1-0 Senators who are riding the best 14-game start in league history. It doesn't look good for the Caps as they are 2-9-1 with one tie in the last 13 meetings against the boys from Ottawa.

Nationals:
The Nationals brass has said they are exploring a multitude of possibilities this winter regarding both trades and free agency. However, as they are exploring this multitude of possibilities in center field, if their past record is indicative of anything, I doubt they will sign any of the big names. More talk is being thrown around about Rocco Baldelli and I expect a trade that would send Chad Cordero or Felipe Lopez to the Rays much sooner than a free agent signing which would force them to actually spend money.
Baldelli certainly has the highest ceiling of the other center field options as his combination of power and speed could allow him to flourish into a star outfielder, but hamstring injuries over the past few years bring serious doubts about even reaching mediocrity. He can't have an impact if he isn't in the lineup and if Baldelli busts again in 2008 the Nationals would immediately regret passing on the consistency of a Hunter or a Rowand. Baldelli wouldn't be worse than Nook Logan or a Ryan Church, but winning baseball games isn't just about not being a bad ball player. At some point as a general manager, don't you want the best?
The Nats also seem to be leaning heavily on their farm system to provide a front end of the rotation starting pitcher. Looking to add a Tom Glavine or bringing back Livan Hernandez shows that they are confident with their draft choices and expect them to immediately contribute to the team. There aren't a lot of good young pitchers on the market this winter so it does make sense to take this approach, but there is no point in spending money on an old guy who isn't going to make his starts. We don't want another Brian Lawrence debacle.

-The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Redskins/Jets Preview

There's no position in sports that encompasses the hero/goat dichotomy as completely as the NFL quarterback and there's place in the world where it's easier to be scapegoated than New York. Just ask Chad Pennington. With his team sitting at 1-7 the five-year starter is going to be riding the bench this week against the Skins as second-year pro Kellen Clemens makes his second career start.

I've never been a fan of assigning win-loss records to individual players (pitchers, quarterbacks, goalies) in team sports and in my opinion to say the Jets struggles this year are the result of Pennington's play isn't fair. That's not to say Pennington is an ideal starter - his lack of arm strength lets teams put more guys in the box and makes it easier to stop the running game - but he has a 65.3 career completion percentage and has thrown 81 touchdowns to 53 interceptions. Plus it's not like Clemens (49% completion rate; 1 TD and 4 picks) have played so overwhelmingly well that he has to be given a chance.

The Jets offense really doesn't have much a chance to do anything of note in this game; despite their 52 points-allowed debacle last week the Redskins are still one of the best defensive teams in the NFL and a Jets offense that ranks 30th in the NFL in total yardage, 26th in points and has seen their running backs score exactly one touchdown to this point in the season won't give them too much trouble.

Of course it's not like the Redskins offense have been world-beaters so far this year, but this game should give them a chance to start getting things together. The Jets rank 29th in ranks allowed and 26th in points allowed and don't have anyone who can stop the Redskins receiving corps. Washington's offensive line is still beat up, but they should provide enough opportunity for a Skins offense that should be able to run a lot of plays as the defense shuts down the Jets pathetic offense.

Players to Watch:

Jets: Kellen Clemens. After several seasons of Jets fans bemoaning their horrible fate in having Pennington as their starting quarterback before finally seeing him benched could it be anyone else?
Redskins: Clinton Portis. Portis hasn't had a solid game on the ground since Week 5, averaging 3.2, 2.4 and 2.5 yards per carry in games after that. If the Skins want to compete for a playoff spot, especially playing Gibbs' style of football, Portis needs to get it going. He'll have the opportunity to against one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

Redskins 31, Jets 13 - and it won't even be as close as the score.

-DMG

Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Redskins Totally Dominated

At no point during this game did the Redskins have any hope of winning or playing at the same level as the Patriots. By the time Jason Campbell hooked up with Chris Cooley most fans had already changed the channel. From the moment New England took control of the ball in the first quarter the Redskins were simply outclassed. The defensive playmakers who, before the game, had hoped to impose their will and claim ownership of the field faded into the background as Tom Brady sliced threw their efforts.
The bottom line is it's not the Patriots that are head and shoulders above the rest of the NFL, but Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Every play, every executed down is done to perfection. So much so, that even when Brady looked mortal he exploded with an efficiency that countered every effort the Redskins made. Tom Brady lost a fumble and threw a couple of balls into the dirt early in the ballgame, but finished with a 29/38, 306 yard day with 3 TDs, and 0 INTs. Oh, and he scrambled for 2 rushing TDs, just to show everyone how well-rounded he is.

But the Redskins weren't supposed to win this game anyway and regardless of the offensive juggernaut that is wrecking havoc on the NFL, the Skins lost again because of turnovers and their inability to compete at the line of scrimmage. Each fumble was caused by an assignment breakdown at the line or a botched pick up by the blocking back. The score of this game isn't the underlying issue for the Redskins who should not consider themselves ready to have an impact on the playoffs yet. They have a long way to go before they are able to compete at that kind of level. The personnel across their lineup are not getting the job done and after their third loss to a superior team, they need to re-evaluate how to utilize the players they have. The Patriots are as close to perfection as you can be right now and the Redskins should use this game to fix their flaws.

Offensively, this means a whole different game plan. I saw Jason Campbell continue to struggle with his accuracy down the field and I saw the running game hampered by a sluggish offensive line. These weaknesses feed off each other and allowed the Patriots to compact their coverage, ultimately resulting in the Redskins inability to move the football or break big plays. The coaching staff must find a way to move Campbell's line of sight to the next plane on the playing field and get the ball in the hands of Moss and Randle El on the fly. Both playmakers are getting the ball in open space but are stuck around the line of scrimmage as the coaching staff continues to call far too many quick-outs and screens.
Defensively, I saw just the opposite. I'm not sure what kind of coverage they were trying to use - cover 2? - but it allowed Brady to pick them apart with dink and dunk passes all the way down the field. Yes, the Skins were able to contain the big play threat of Randy Moss, but they instead allowed nine combined catches out of the backfield and another nine to slot receiver Wes Welker. They unnecessarily spread out their coverage and not only bent but broke six times. They've done a good job at minimizing an opposing team's primary weapon, but good teams have so many more ways of winning the game so these efforts are nullified.

Next week, the Skins battle the Jets and should bounce back against a team who has struggled mightily this year. I hope the Redskins uses the Jets as a statement game for themselves and the remaining teams on the schedule. In the following weeks, they run into Philly and get a first crack at Dallas and need to quickly right the ship that was just caught in the Patriot hurricane.

- The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Week 8: Redskins vs. Patriots

The Redskins will have to play lights out defense against the Patriots to have any hope of winning, because at the end of the day even a solid defense will be exposed by Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, and Wes Welker. The Redskins defensive backs not only have to be in the right spots but they have to make the plays. This means, catching every potential interception and not letting it bounce off your chest. This means finishing the play and staying with your assignment, not get lured away by a big hit.
As the Patriots have shown in their 2007 campaign, they are fearless and Tom Brady is fearless. He doesn't hesitate throwing the ball into double coverage because he's confident his receivers can will the ball into their hands. They are as physical an offense as you will see play the game and the Skins will have to meet them on every play. The second half defense that they showed against the Cardinals, the defense that loses games and allows offenses to get into a rhythm cannot reappear. The bend but don't break philosophy is the most overrated and detrimental strategy any football team can adopt and if they use this umbrella at any point in the game they will lose.
Carlos Rogers, Fred Smoot, Shawn Springs, need to hit those clowns at the line. Bump them off their routes and then stay with them like white on rice the entire game. Don't let those explosive receivers get a good release and then dictate the timing of the game.
Rocky McIntosh, London Fletcher, Marcus Washington, need to jack those guys up when they come across the middle. Make them feel it every time they attempt to open up that part of the field and make Brady hesitate throwing it anywhere he thinks he can safely put the ball.
Sean Taylor, LaRon Landry, need to be the ball hawks they have been all year in order to take away the deep ball. So far this tandem has worked to perfection but they will have to be better than the Patriots wide receivers to win this game.
However, the Redskins offense is horrendous, and we saw their futility last week. With an offensive line that is still beat up and a running game that has consequently suffered, the Redskins will have to lean on Jason Campbell to win this game. While he has looked very good thus far and is making strides, his decision making in tight situations and accuracy throwing the deep ball still lacks. At this point in his career he's not ready to beat the number four ranked defense in the league.
Nobody in the league can play with the Patriots right now outside of maybe the Colts, who they will play next week, so I don't see the Redskins coming away from this game with a win. They will keep the game closer than most people expect, enough to be inside the 17 point spread, but it's gonna be a long day for the defense as the offense continues to struggle.

Patriots 28, Redskins 17

- The Hokie

Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Redskins Recap: Escaping by the Skin of our Teeth

Once again, a Skins second half breakdown let their opponent back into the game but, while they were able to hold off the Cardinals' charge, this is a disturbing trend that has to stop. The Skins were once again saved by their defense and special teams but, once again, were shot in the foot every time the offense took possession of the ball.
As expected, the offensive line struggled at the line of scrimmage resulting in a 2.6 yards per rush and 73 total rushing yard performance. The passing game was also non-existent; Campbell's final stats 12/18 for 95 total yards and an INT.
The second half baffled those watching the game, as the offense grew increasingly more and more conservative. This style of play did give the Skins a touchdown in the third quarter, but failed miserably in the fourth quarter resulting in three consecutive three and outs, taking minimal time off the clock and leaving the defense out to dry.
I'm at a loss when trying to find the reason for these kinds of mistakes. The defense won the turnover battle, special teams was relatively good at winning the best field position for our squad, but when it comes to the offense competing in the second half they don't show up. The skins can't turn into turtles after halftime and they seem content to shut it down after they get a lead. A lead is good, but they have to continue to build on that lead to put teams away. The Cardinals are a mediocre offensive team so the Skins were able to pull this one out, but in the course of the season and looking at future games, powerful offenses have and will come back to bite them in the second half. Teams are not intimidated by a one TD lead at halftime.
Games should not come down to a missed-by-inches 53 yard field goal, and the Patriots certainly aren't going give our guys any breathing room next week. The coaching staff has to take a very long look at how they want to manage the game in the second half, because right now it's not working.

- The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Redskins vs. Cardinals

To start with, most of the dcsportsclowns will be going to the game this Sunday, which is going to be an amazing day of food, fun, football and beer. Gonna wake up early, get decked out, hit the metro and roll on over to cheer for our boys in burgundy and gold! So be prepared for a couple of kick ass reviews come next week.

The Cardinals are a dangerous team, especially if Kurt Warner comes back from his elbow injury and can play the majority of the game. The Skins O-line is the biggest question mark coming into this game and if they contribute to an overall offensive struggle, the Cardinals will be able to wear down the overworked Skins D with their solid running game. This is a very winnable game for the Redskins, but if all these minor annoyances add up it could be a very long day. Not to mention the Skins have dropped winnable games twice this year already.

This week’s game will be won and lost at the line of scrimmage. Now, normally that's the case for any winning team, but with injuries devastating our offensive line there have been drastic changes for a team that is still only averaging 3.7 yards per carry on the ground. For all the good Portis and Betts have done pounding the rock, eating up clock and giving Campbell space to throw, they have yet to break out with big plays or game changing performances. Some of this can be attributed to losing Randy Thomas and Jon Jansen so early on, taking the right side of the line to the felt, but it's not going to get any easier and those two guys need to find ways of creating big plays by themselves.

The starting line on Sunday will consist of Chris Samuels, Pete Kendell, Casey Rabach, Rick DeMulling and Jason Fabini. It's good to still have the veteran Samuels anchoring the line, as he will continue to play a vital role protecting Campbell against the Cardinals blitz (16 sacks) and being the lead man on the Skins’ left side rushing attack. Kendell is an 11-year veteran who knows how to play through injuries (hamstring) and should be a formidable LG. Rabach went down with a groin injury against Green Bay, but most coaches foresee minimal troubles as the center can dig himself in and drive vertically, which doesn't rely heavily on the groin. Demulling will split time with newly signed Kevin Sampson out of the Kansas City system and current defensive tackle Lorenzo Alexander. All three are merely adequate RGs but the rotation should keep them fresh and if one of them steps up and shows he can get the job done, so much the better. Todd Wade is also a possibility at RG, but his groin injury seems worse than other's injuries and would see limited minutes if he suits up. Fabini (RT) was supposed to sit out of practice Wednesday to rest his injuries and stay sharp, but did practice and will start on Sunday.

So that's the rag tag army of Redskins' O-linemen. Only time will tell if they are able to get the job done, but if they start to open up holes we might get to see Campbell's explosive evasive ability, much like the plays he was forced to make against Detroit. He can and will have to scramble in order to buy time to find an open receiver. This puts increased pressure on Cooley, Sellers, Moss and Randle El to keep plays alive, come back to the football and get open for Campbell as he attempts to make something out of nothing. The Cardinals defensive backs can hit, but have given up big plays thus far and the Skins can go deep against CB Rod Hood with either Moss or Randle El. The offense will be able to look past the dropped passes of last week and despite injuries should come out on top of the less talented Cardinals defense.

On the other side of the ball the Skins’ defense is primed to continue their defensive dominance. This year, not only are we limiting opponents yardage (259.0 yds/g), but we are getting picks (6 INT) forcing fumbles (7) and getting after the quarterback (15 Sacks). These are all areas that suffered last year and this year's simplified defensive scheme is taking advantage of our playmakers’ athletic abilities. They will put on another show against either Warner (questionable) or Tim Rattay and while the Cards do see the return of big play threat Anquan Boldin, this carousel of quarterbacks won't be able to stand up against the Skins overwhelming defense.

Redskins 23, Cardinals 10

- The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis

Redskins: Here Are Some Stats for Your Ass

The Redskins have been utterly dominant on defense this year, and that's not an understatement, but their offensive woes in key areas have cost them dearly. Let's do a little stat breakdown of this year and past years to really see why they haven't been able to put everything together. Maybe, as a group, we can highlight what's really causing the skins to implode every other game.

I really encourage you to read today's article in the post by Jason La Canfora, but to sum it up; In the last four years under Gibbs, the Skins have been a miserable team at winning after halftime and winning back to back games. The Redskins have recorded 12 losses since 2004 despite leading at halftime. If you add these decisions to their 24-29 record it immediately becomes 36-17, and even if you cut that number in half, their record sits at 30 - 23.
What Canfora also gives as a telling statistic is "Since 2004, the Redskins have just two stretches of three wins or more - a three-game run to open the 2005 season and a five-game streak to close out 2005." Outside of those streaks, in the other 45 games, the Skins have won back to back games just twice. Basically,we fold. We just can't capture the consistency that good teams have, and while we can get up and play at a high level one week, the next week we get snake bit. Until we can master these swings, the Skins will be a middle of the pack team.

This year it certainly isn't the defense's fault. In the NFC the Redskins rank first in Points per Game (13.8), Yard per Game (259.4), Yards per Play (4.2), Third Down Efficiency (31%), Passing Yards per Game (179.4) and they rank third in Rushing Yards per Game (80.0). That's a show right there.
And our offense has been serviceable. They respectively rank 7th in Points per Game (20.2), 7th in Yards per Game (333.4), 6th in First Downs per Game (18.6), 3rd in average Time of Possession (32:15) and they are dead even in Turn Over ratio.

So it begs the question, where are we going wrong? Why aren't we able to put teams away? Why aren't we able to take it to that next level and become a reliable force not only in the NFC but in the NFL?
I looked at three different stats that I thought were particularly telling of our inability to move the ball and finish off opposing teams: Third Down Percentage, First Downs per Game, and Ratio of Field Goals to Touchdowns.

In 2004, the Skin's 3rd Pct was 32% (70/221) good for 28th in the league. In 2005, 42% (97/230), 7th in the league *that was our playoff year.* In 2006, 37% (79/211), 18th. 2007, 39% (28/71), 19th.

In 2004, the Skins average First Downs per Game was 16.8 (27th in the league). 2005, 18.8 (15). 2006, 18.4 (15). 2007, 18.6 (16).

In 2004, the Redskins kicked 27 field goals and scored 25 touchdowns. 2005 they kicked 21 FGs and scored 42 TDs. 2006, 30 FGs, 31 TDs. 2007, 9 FGs, 10 TDs.

Now, I'm not sure if these are stats indicative of their mediocrity, or if these stats dictate their failures, but an inability to covert on 3rd downs, a failure to consistently get first downs and a propensity to settle for three points instead of getting six highlights the root of their sporadic frustrating play. As individual players, they make plays in close games and put up some solid numbers, but it's just not enough. I hate to say this, but with year after year of these kinds of performances my blame is starting to fall on the three-headed coaching monster. Are too many Redskin cooks spoiling the broth? It's time to mix up the coaching staff.

- The Hokie
Click Here For Expanded Analysis