Wow!! Am I first??

Nice work, Jess. Interesting information from a different point of view.

The answer to the question about coaching style is weird. Says he doesn't have an opinion, but decides instead to insult Dungy about being a Christian.

Excellent points from an outside source who doesnt drink SKINS KOOL-AIDE.Totally agree with everything except comparing JC to the other QBs in that draft class,We gave up more picks to move up and you should compare him to ALL DRAFT pks after JC that we could of had? Especially on D-LINE?

This guy should be the GM. Get depth, who knew.

I would like to know how he got the 1/7 stat for special teams.

Champ and CP was not the worst trade in recent years. Who did Denver get for the 2nd round pick?

btw Rock was a second round pick. But we gave a 2nd round pick to get him.

I for one is ready for some lust for mayhem. I can't wait until Sunday.

A real QB is worth many draft picks by any measure.

What I don't know is why we have given draft picks away with out getting value (except for this year).

I would like to know who the other teams picked with the draft pick they got from us and if they are still in the league. It gets under my skin how everyone blast the team for giving up draft picks (not that I agree with it) but never say anything about the players that were chosen by the other team. Hell if you going to tell a story tell the whole story and not just part of it.

Wow, we're revisiting the Champ/Portis trade, this could be a new low. What has it been 4 years?

I don't even know what to say, I thought the whole piss/whine deal regarding Pierce was bad, but this is just ridiculous.

Can we please revisit signing Jeff George?? How about Bruce Smith??

I have to disagree about the free agent vs. draft pick thing. This is my argument... If you pick correctly (and that's the key here) free agents are the better option. You have guys who have proven their worth in the NFL and are not yet expensive stars but are definitely not busts. We can completely eliminate the bust factor if you go the free agent route CORRECTLY. The problem is we didn't do our homework with Arch Deluxe, Lloyd, etc. Also, we started out doing it the wrong way by getting aging stars like carrier, bruce smith and Deion rather than young burgeoning guys. That's fine if you're only a player or two away but we weren't. BTW, Smith led us in sacks for years, our pass D was #2 in the league with Deion and Carrier put fear in guys' hearts going aross the middle against us. That wasn't exactly a failure despite what people keep saying. AND.. we have NEVER not been able to keep a guy because of the salary cap. We as fans should stop talking about the cap. Why do we care? It's not our money and doesn't affect our ability to sign people we want to keep. (Although the prices at the stadium are a result of high salaries, I'm talking on the field stuff only). I challenge anyone to name a single person that we had to let go because we could not afford him. (Stephen davis didn't fit Spurrier. That's why we ket him go). This is proven by the fact that when we let a guy go, we bring in a more expensive guy. When people talk about free agents vs. draft picks, they tend to forget that draft picks don't always work out, either. I'd be willing to bet that there are just as many Skins picks that fail as there are FA that fail. Look at our recent drafts and see how many players have been failures. Question...who are the best players at each position on our team? LB? Washington and Fletcher were FA. DL? Griffin was Free agent. Corner? Springs was a FA. OL? Thomas is arguably our best (Samuels gets the votes because he's a tackle) and was a FA. RB? Portis was a FA. The problem with the Skins is that we aren't choosing FA's corectly all of the time. Still, the argument that you build a team only thru the draft is fallacious. I'm tired of hearing about the Steelers of the 70's and the Pats. I think there's more than one way to get it done. If we continue to get young guys coming off their first NFL contracts that have potential (Griffin, Washington, etc.) free agency is a better alternative. Lastly, what do all of these famous Skins have in common? Butz, Jurgensen, Byner, Sanders, Lemarr Parrish, Theismann, Pardee, Riggins, Ken Houston, Pat Fischer, Bostic, Talbert, Joe washington etc. We didn't draft any of them. They came through trades or FA. Can we please put this argument to rest?

BTW, How does that Broncos D look with Champ? Portis for Champ was not a bad trade. Portis for Champ and a #2 WAS.

Portis was a trade but you all know what I mean. FA and trades are essentially the same in my argument because we are giving up picks or money for them.

jm,

I hate to say it, but it doesn't matter what the other teams did with the picks we've thrown away. Other teams have different needs.

mark,

You are missing the point. If you hit on a, lets say WR, in the 3rd/4th round, then you have a productive guy for 4 years at 500k per year with very little bonus money. If they're still productive at the end of their deal, then you sign them to a deal.

But if you miss on a FA WR, cough B Lloyd, then you have invested 10 million in bonus money, a higher base salary, 1-2 mid round picks, and a huge cap hit when you realize the guy didn't work out.

I agree that the team needs FA pick-ups, every team does, but to not strike a balance up until recently is unacceptable...

Mark
the biggest problem with your argument is Snyder and many coaches since he bought the team have tried the FA route and Theyve come and gone and this team is no better off NOW then the 1st year!Every year is a WIN now mentality and eventually you have to REBUILD through DRAFT (REDSKINS have not)and go through growing PAINS!With a young QB whos growing NOW is the time to dump old & INJURY PRONE players take CAP hit & use draft picks and in 3 yrs then plug holes with FAs!

Ricky Bobby, I guess my point is this: Why should we care about the cap hit if it doesn't affect the product on the field? I don't think the team has missed out on someone because we reached the cap. Am I wrong ?

Let me assume, perhaps incorrectly, that by incorporating this statgirl's message, you (JLC) adopt it. In particular, I think you believe that our woes on offense are attributable to our lack of depth, which is a function of our free-agent wheelings and dealings. And while you wrote articles stating that it was a mistake to not re-sign Dockery earlier, aren't you the very same person who wrote that the trade for Kendall gave us a lot of options on the O-line (i.e., good depth)? To lose your center (Rabach), right guard (Thomas), right tackle (Jansen), second-string right tackle (Wade), and third-string right tackle (Heyer) to injuries by week 5 has got to be unprecendented. Although Rabach and Wade will likely return soon, it's pretty hard for anyone to say with a straight face that "teams lose guys like guys like Thomas and Jansen and don't miss a beat" (see,.e.g., the Ravens) or that our injuries to our o-line aren't simply God-awful.

In other words, I am sensing Monday Morning QBing (i.e., our depth on the o-line sucks) that contradicts your own prior statements (i.e., our o-line, with Kendall, has pretty good depth). Nice work.

jm220,

I agree 100% with your last post. They cannot continue to say this is the year, come within 3 dollars of the cap max, then go 5-11.

Now, especially with the emergence of Campbell, is the time for Vinny to get that plan going... 5-6 years in the making.

Anyway, It should be a 3 year plan that sheds some of our older, higher priced vets and starts building through the draft. Three years from now you have a Pro Bowl QB with loads of experience, some young guys and lower salaries that have come into their own, and THEN you can plug your roster with smart FA pick-ups for a true run at the SB...

jm220, I agree that we did it the wrong way for years...we got old guys instead of younger guys with potential. Now, the problem seems to be talent evaluation and determining how the FA will fit into our system. That's all Snyder/Cerrato/Gibbs. Several'sources' have said that Lloyd was a one dimensional 'go route' receiver and that Arch Deluxe was too slow to fit into our 2 deep scheme. We should have known that but apparently didn't do our research. I think the methodology is ok but we need a GM who can evaluate talent based on our needs.

This games a TRAP! Ooooo yeaheeeahahaaaahh!
TRAP! OOoYEEEAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
TRAP! Ooooo yeaaahheeaahhahhhhhh!
TRAP! OOOOOYEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.........

I agree with the point that a quality starting QB is worth just about whatever you pay for him.

I used to hate FA's and love draft picks but don't buy the hype. The fact of the matter is any hyped FA or draft pick isn't worth the money compared to a player a step below.

You pay too much for top 10 talent in the draft and they aren't worth it. You pay too much for the "best" at any position in Free agency. Look at Dockery last year.

It's a question of finding a system (which i think Ggrilliams is.) and getting good not neccessarily great players to play in it.

I agree with the depth problems. Is it possible that instead of a few Tier 1 guys and many Tier 3 guys we could have a couple Tier 1's, a couple Tier 2's and many Tier 3's? That way when we have injuries, we aren't going from good to bad rather than good to intermediate? I'm open minded. I'm not saying we should completely ignore the draft. I'm just saying that FA pickups are valuable and not just to fill holes or put us over the top.

the broncos got tatum bell w/ that 2nd rounder we gave up for the champ/clinton trade

mark,

I hear what you're saying, but I disagree. Remember the Gibbs recruiting trips of '04, his first year back? Those signings (some of them very good) decimated our cap and we had very little room to work with in '05.

Our inability to re-sign Smoot after that season cost us Merriman... no doubt about it in my mind. Everything has a domino effect.

I guess my point is that I'd rather swing and miss on a mid round pick than a free agent with a 30/10 deal. I know there are plenty of people out there who disagree, but that's just the way I feel. I've seen way too many teams be successful by building through the draft, and as a result, my opinion on it will probably never change.

Da truef, EXACTLY. Why pay top $$ for an unknown draft pick if you can get pay the same $$ and get a guy who has proven to be able to play? Mid to low rounders are the way to go (with all due respect to Landry, Sean Taylor, and all). I'd much rather have Marcus washington than a #10 draft pick. Cheaper and more of a sure thing.

mark,

Now that is something I agree with you on. The league truly needs to do something about the 1st round deals because they are becoming absurd. No one wants the top picks anymore because of the money you're required to invest in that unproven player. Maybe a rookie cap like the NBA?

In any case, I agree I'd rather have a proven player for 15 mill guaranteed than to spend 15 mill to sign an unproven guy at the #5 pick, unless it's LaRon Landry of course.

The picks I'm really talking about are the 2's through 4's. That is where you build depth, for very reasonable money, but unfortunately those are the rounds we've been without picks in for years...

Some teams have 4,5,6,7 picks in those rounds. We historically have 1 or 2. There are so many quality players still available at those rounds, again for very reasonable money.

Hopefully we get back to that starting this off-season.

Sweet Lincoln's mullet that's a good article.

Okay, now I might be drunk, but did this guy just say that the 2005 1st round was good?

1 San Francisco Alex Smith - QB
2 Miami Ronnie Brown - RB
3 Cleveland Braylon Edwards - WR
4 Chicago Cedric Benson - RB
5 Tampa Bay Carnell Williams - RB
6 Tennessee Adam Jones - CB
7 Minnesota Troy Williamson - WR
8 Arizona Antrel Rolle - CB
9 Washington Carlos Rogers - CB
10 Detroit Mike Williams - WR

Maybe it's just me, but I would call that "amazingly good"

Maybe it's just me, but I would call that "amazingly good"

Posted by: kost52 | October 18, 2007 08:59 AM

Okay, maybe I meant I wouldn't call it amazingly good.

Ricky Bobby, didn't we sign Springs after we let Smoot go ? ...for wayyyy more money? That's why I'm not convinced that the cap has anything to do with us. Now for other teams, sure it matters. But since we are content to mortgage our future, it hasn't had an effect yet. now there will be a time when it will all come crashing down but I think it's a ways off.

jm220 - Not sure if anyone has written this yet, but the extra pick in the Champ/Portis deal ended up being Tatum Bell.

No harm, no foul.

This games a TRAP! Ooooo yeaheeeahahaaaahh!
TRAP! OOoYEEEAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
TRAP! Ooooo yeaaahheeaahhahhhhhh!
TRAP! OOOOOYEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.........

Posted by: name that song | October 18, 2007 08:39 AM

Not sure of the title, but was the singer Randy Macho-Man Savage?

kost52 thanks. Now Denver really got a lot with that pick. Should we have given up the pick? No but if you are going to bash the Skins point out how Denver really didn't do anything with the pick.

RB, what was the difference between what we offered Smoot, and what he got? Not that I want to even REVISIT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 3-4 YEAR AGO, but, if I recall correctly, this was the EXACT same scenario that happened with Pierce. We gave him/Smoot a more than fair offer, they used it to JACK the price up with the Giants/Vikings, and got a better offer and took that better offer. We made more than reasonable offers to both guys.

In both cases, they left for more money than we were willing to pay. It was a rare case of fiscal responsibility.

Will the fake jm220 please change your name to something else? The poster above is not our jm220 - unless I am badly mistaken.

Don't understand the question about the Colts since we do not play them this season....

Hey guys,

You're missing the point. Joe has been going for free agents because he's smart and he knows two things: 1) he can't draft (see Howard, Desmond); and 2) Vinny and Snyder can't draft. Until they get an actual GM who understands actual football, they might as well be picking out of a hat.

Sorry if I'm a bit late on all this, for some reason I'm having to read thing two or three times just to get it in my head.

I have to point out one of the few rules that Aussie Rules has out done the NFL. When it comes to drafting players, ALL 1st round picks are automatically signed to a 2-year deal of the same value. ALL 2nd round picks are automatically signed to a 2 year deal of a certain value, all 3rd ......and so on. This avoids any holdouts, and it makes sure that if a player is a bust, the team doesn't pay for it on field, and off. If a Rookie comes out and dominates in their 1st year, then they only have 1 year left on their contract, which means the team has a reason to restructure before they hit free-agency.

I don't buy it, if Joe was smart enough to recognize that he's A) Realize he's not smart enough to pick FA's and B)Hire someone who could draft.

FYI to the person conducting the interview: Rocky McIntosh was not a first round pick. He was a second rounder (35th overall).

If you want to try and be funny and take shots at people, then at least do your homework.

aussie rules would do the trick. I completely agree with that method as long as the drafting team gets the right of first refusal or some sort of advantage in retaining their draft picks.

Greg(Boston)- You're right, whenever a team looks to re-sign someone, they have to try and put an accurate value on their head, teams on the outside looking to improve their current roster, are always going to over pay, just to get their foot in the door. maybe the NFL should (maybe they already do?) have an NBA type rule, where a player who has been with a team for x amount of years, can be re-signed, with only a certain % counting towards the cap.

mark - well I guess that's where it gets complicated, there is no free agency in Aussie Rules, a team has first, and well only, say in re-siging, if they decide not to re-sign, or can't agree on a deal by a certain date, they player then goes into a "pre-season draft" (a secondary draft for 'mature players' held after the "main draft").

Kost - why, that's simply un-american! lol.

Lisa - you're our hero!! I have an image of some guy sitting in front of like 15 laptops arguing w/ himself all day on this blog... lmgo.

Jess & Jasno - thanks for the interview. Nice work & nice to get another perspective. So now we have statistical evidence that the FO has made some seriously bad decisions.... [:-|
As if the record couldn't speak to that anyway... lol.

Not alot of confidence for Sunday (I have more for the Pats game) - but I'm rootin' - that's for sure!

Hail!

groundhogdayguy - Joe Gibbs can't draft? Tell that to LaRon Landry!

Or would you prefer Gaines Adams, Amobi Okoye, Jamaal Anderson or Alan Branch, all of whom have 1 sack between them.

Sorry guys I'm to lazy to actually report on anything myself these days so I'm just posting the semi-insightful work of others instead.

Dik, do not fear the game on the weekend. The Cards will ...stand...and....I dunno I'm too drunk, trying to think of a funny line about a house of cards falling!

Little help!

Joe Gibbs can't draft? ...it's looking more and more like he's great talent evaluator, AHEM, Jason Campbell....

According to the Times article yesterday, drafting Landry has allowed the Reaper to play deep and all over the field - which has vastly improved our defense. Seems to me Landry was a darn good pick.

POOP - Just want to give you some 'props' for your line the other day. Cracked me up.

POOP pissed his pants.

I love it.

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet -

The Redskins lost a tough game marred by costly fumbles and dropped passes in Green Bay on Sunday, but they are still a contender in the NFC. The development of QB Jason Campbell, and the further understanding of offensive coordinator Al Saunders' complex offense in Year 2 by the Redskins' offensive personnel is a clear reason why this team is in contention. However, the defense deserves at least equal credit, but what is the reason for the team's improvement so far this season?

Carter
TaylorFirst, the personnel is simply better this year. Washington added SS LaRon Landry in the draft's first round and LB London Fletcher via free agency. Landry will get votes for the Defensive Rookie of the Year because he is a great physical specimen with an excellent understanding of the game and aggressive attitude for such a young player. He is a striker and knock-out hitter, who is disciplined in his assignments, which complements FS Sean Taylor's free-flowing style very well.

Fletcher is an experienced leader who brings professionalism and playmaking ability to the middle of this defense against both the run and pass. He has not been a great player on the field, but his presence has been felt with his younger teammates like Rocky McIntosh, and Fletcher has certainly not been a liability with his play.

The personnel is not only better this year but also far healthier. Last year, the Redskins' defense was ravaged with injuries to many key players. This year, Shawn Springs, Cornelius Griffin and most of the other important players have been on the field and have not been slowed by as many injuries.

But if you want to point to two players who have simply played outstanding football this season for Washington, look to Taylor and DE Andre Carter. These two have been game changers. Taylor is a physical freak who has been given much more freedom with his responsibilities this season, which is exactly what he needs. He has outstanding size, speed and explosiveness. Plus, he plays the ball in the air very well and has become an intimidator on the back end; he is emerging as one of the elite safeties in the league.

Carter is also emerging as one of the best defensive ends in the league. He has been a terror off the edge and has not been a liability against the run. He has a long, lean, athletic body type and is a very fluid athlete. He has rare closing speed and ability to change directions in space. Carter has improved his hand usage and overall technique as a pass-rusher and run defender. Every member of Washington's defense is reaping the benefits of Carter and Taylor's improved play.

Mark,

Springs was signed during the Gibbs recruiting trip of '04. Smoot left via free agency before the '05 season.

Greg,

Tying into the above, there is a big difference between fiscal resposibility and flat out running out of money.

So has there been a report on the Pogues gig?

Sorry my 9:36am post was from ESPN's Scouts Inc.

nice article, Kost. Now if we can just keep that O-line healthy for 4 quarters, we can have 7 more wins in the reg. season!

10-6

Hail!

RB, I'm not going to go down this road. Whats done is done. If you find the magic beans that can make us go back in time, let me know, we can go back a great number of years and fix everything coming forward.

Otherwise, I'm going to root for the Redskins this weekend, and not try and sort out what they did, or did not do right 4 years ago.

Dik, I really like the move of Alexander to the O-Line, I think he'll add a real pro-active stance to our offense. Monty Biesel will be the first ever mlb to get sacked! That can happen yeah??

Other than braylon, and ronnie those picks so far have been pretty busted. and those 2 players have only started to come around.

Good read -

http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsessionid=546675B24AD0DE40C2D4886810BA7AAD?id=09000d5d80358f1f&template=without-video&confirm=true

Greg,

Bro, pal, buddy, I hear ya. I was just commenting on the article and stating my point, which obviously is well known.

For the record, I did say that the Skins appear to be headed in the right direction. They have all but 1 pick next year (Duckett- makes me sick- sorry, had to) and may have finally realized what fiscal responsibility in a salary capped league means. We shall see when they actually have money to spend, which may not be for a little while.

SAK - Damn straight! I don't know how you get amazingly good out of that riff raff. I've done the research before, and Pro-Bowl appearance-wise, 2005 is one of the most disappointing 1st rounds in recent history!

Minor point, Rocky McIntosh was not a first round pick. He was our first pick in that draft, but it was in Round 2.

Bleak Ron Springs news
http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10415179

If you read the article I posted at 9:48am and are interested, the skins are ranked 14th in YPA with 7.24.

No prizes for guessing who is 1st!

Sadly, Nate and I couldn't meet up last night. I had to go meet a friend later at night and Nate was running late, so we just missed each other.

Thought Jess' article was a good start, but needed a lot more fleshing out. Lots of interesting comments in there from the Football Outsiders guy, but no follow-through. Why not provide examples about the special teams stats he quotes? Or statistical evidence to his "screaming coaches" remark? There could have been a lot more meat put on those bones.

That's sad news about Ron, never want to hear that sort of thing.

I dunno - it seems like there is a plethora of ways to win in the NFL. The stats only measure the level of success you were able to achieve.

I remember we used to hear - you can't win turning the ball over... well, you can if you're 'shoot from the hip' Dalla$$.

They say baseball is a numbers game too - ok, explain the last Marlins world series win. You answer - they had Beckett! I answer, he was a rookie. So was Dontrel.

Aaand - we're back to my point that fantasy-ball is ruining the league. Hail St. Joe & the return of smashmouth football!!

P Diddy, That's no good mate, was hoping to hear so big story of mischieviousness!

You're right about the 'screaming coaches' point. I think it's plain stupid. Different players respond to different things. Some need some man love, and some need discipline.

Different players respond to different things. Some need some man love

There is no man love in football.

The AMAZING Dik Shuttle doesn't want man-love. [:-\

You all know what I mean!!!

Where have the real JM220, Nate, Skinz, Monk, CL and all the regulars been?

If you guys are reading this I just wanted to say We need you. Hell, I need you. I'm a mess without you. I miss you so damn much. I miss being with you, I miss being near you. I miss your laugh. I miss your scent; I miss your musk. When this all gets sorted out, I think you and me should get an apartment together.

Come on kost. You know we were going to come after you on that one. LMGO

jm220- I just couldn't think of the right words! I meant gentle coodling?? compare to harshness...ness!

Question to all:

If Aaron Schatz and Jasno are so smart, why aren't they making millions coaching in the NFL? Hmmmm.

One of many Seers from the Midwest

"coodling" Kost just stop. LMGO!

Does anyone have an update on the expected return date for Randy Thomas? He had a surgery on September 19 and since then I've heard a plethora of views regarding his return date: from "done for the year" to "back in four weeks." Given the nature of injury I think that the mid-November return date is overly optimistic, but they have not placed him on the injured reserve so they must expect him to be back some time by the end of the season or at least for the playoffs. Jason LaCanfora, do you have any insider info on Randy's status? Thanks.

Preston Pearson and Ron Springs were 2 guys I hated to see on 3rd down. As much as I HATE the Cowboys, it's a sad story. My prayers are with you, Shawn.

the article posted here by kost says:

"... and the further understanding of offensive coordinator Al Saunders' complex offense in Year 2 by the Redskins' offensive personnel is a clear reason why this team is in contention..."

What is it that they're doing this year on offense is new and out of ordinary? Seems like the same things they've been trying to do last year except now they have Campbell you can through.

Can anyone point something out on offense that's attributed to Al's 700 page book?

M base on the injury and reports it won't be until some time in Dec. A friend from my gym just return from the same injury yesterday. He was out for three months.

hahaha okay, I meant coddling, for a second there I thought I had made up a word!

Even with all of their QB problems, the Cardinals lead the NFL in touchdown efficiency inside the red zone, scoring nine TDs in 13 possessions inside the opponent's 20, or 69.2 percent of the time. ... In two career games vs. Arizona, Redskins RB Clinton Portis has 333 rushing yards (166.5 per game) with three TDs. ... Washington's Chris Cooley has 23 TDs since entering the NFL in 2004, most in the NFC among tight ends.

4-12 - Just dropped you an email....

I agree with this statement completely ... and I bet that the Skins probably were #1 last season in the second set of stats (if those stats were ever kept) ... "But field goal kicking is seriously overrated, while kickoff distance and both kick and punt coverage are really underrated."

>>>>Can anyone point something out on offense that's attributed to Al's 700 page book?>>>>>

I'd sure like to see the 0-yard pass pattern on 4th & 2. How many more 0-yard pass patterns are in there have for non-goal line short yardage?

Oh well. At least we have a qb. How long he lives behind the line is a different question. If things get any worse as far as pass protection, I'd go to the run game. That is, if there were any run blocking.

What was that about depth?

4th how are you holding up brother?

Yeah the Cards will be a good test for us, especially if Warner gets up and plays. The have three 1st round WR's (Fitzgerald, Boldin, Johnson), and Ede is currently 2nd in the NFC in Rushing yards (and I suppose if A.Peterson didn't get 200+ last week he'd still be #1).

My opinion is that Rattay will start, and Warner will play in no-huddle/2minute drill situations.

Can anyone point something out on offense that's attributed to Al's 700 page book?

Posted by: Thor | October 18, 2007 10:43 AM

The WR reverse.....oh....hang on....

Not to be too picky about the 1st rounders but wasn't Boldin a 2nd rounder just like Rocky which dozens have pointed out already.

I haven't seen a 'The Crickets' post in a while, I would love to hear where came across the aerial frame-by-frame Reaper shots from the Lions game.

sween,

I've been meaning to tell you how right you were, and how wrong I was, on the game plan for the Lions game.

Bangkokben - You're right, that was my bad.

As a human being, I can't help but feel for the Springs family. From an elbow cyst to a coma??!!!

As a 'skins fan, I can't help but feel that this is some sort of bad Cowboy mojo.

Of all weeks, why the Cardinals?

Godspeed, Ron.

NFL Chose this as game of the week. It's kinda interesting. Lloyd is cheering and McCardell is giving lil' tips and tricks to the other WR's.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8035db97

Has there been a 'DC Dame' sighting yet?

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?season=2007&week=REG7&game_id=29291

I'm doing good JM220, thanks for asking.

I'm making some good progress in getting government officials to look at my daughter's case more closely since I spoke with some news reporters.

The WashPo METRO section are acting like Jack-SJKs and have been ignoring me, but I so far have gotten what I wanted to this point as far as gettting the attention of High End Government officials without them....

Well folks, I'm outta here, hope you all have a great day, and I'll see in in....oh.....about...7 hours.

Night, Go Skins!!

I read this part and had to laugh:

Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss vs. Cardinals cornerback Eric Green. In the loss to the Packers, Moss had one of the worst games of his career and benched himself late in the contest with a sore hamstring. He has fought through a variety of injuries this year and has yet to find his Pro Bowl form. In Green, he will be facing a solid, if not spectacular, corner who has only one interception in his three years of service.

So one interception in 3 years a spectacular corner makes?

nice work kost, we'll take it from here...

parent conference day = much BMGO

4th- Got your email, and got his phone number for you...

JM220, thanks for the info re Thomas. Let's hope that he can return in early December as opposed to late December - it would be a huge boost for the OL.

OMFG! Feeling a bit lazy today Jason? I am sure that Jess is a swell girl, but why not post a link to her Blogger page. Nice analysis, but there are a lot of talented and knowledgeable amateurs who write well with an opinion about football and the Redskins who don't find their work featured on a national newspaper's website. Maybe the WaPo should think about hiring low-cost stringers like Jess for these blogs to help manage expenses if paid 'reporters' like yourself can't get the job done.

A: No opinion. I just want to point out that you don't need to be an Evangelical Christian to be a kind players' coach, despite what Tony Dungy may want you to believe.

wow! wow! you'd expect a comment like that from someone like me. i was irked by dungy's comment about "doing it the christian way" after the superbowl but i wouldn't have chosen this angle to bash him.

my problem with dungy's comment was that he was implying that the rest of the SB winning coaches didn't do it the christian way. and no one, not muslims, not other christians have ever said something like that in those moments. they always praise God, Allah and that's that. but dungy went a little too far.

i guess it's free speech and it's his belief that he was the first christian to do it the "christian way" but i don't have to agree with it.

I think Dungy was simply refering to his decision not to curse. I don't think he was taking any swipes at coaches who choose to curse. "The christian way" he was refering to was just another way of saying he choose to do it his way. As a man of GOD he realizes that all things are possible through him, it would un-christian like to proclaim he did it his way

players and coaches always seem to thank God after a win. have any of them ever blamed God after a loss? i'z just askin

Maybe Dungy meant they weren't cheating? As opposed to his nemisis... Given what the guy has been through (personally and professionally), I think you can allow him some latitude when thanking his chosen saviour.

I'm not a fan of blind religion either, but surely there's room for someone to joyfully proclaim their beliefs.

Receiver, The: "I was doing fine until GOD made me drop the BALL!"

aaahhhhh hahahahahahahahahahah.

skinsrealist, that makes sense.

cindy, looks like Neely Tucker had fun writing this today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR2007101702359.html?hpid=artslot

can we borrow her for a game to do a piece on skins D?

I think they are blaming GOD during the game that they are losing. I don't think it is uncommon to hear a couple of GD's from the sideline and on the field when you're getting you tail handed to you.

Those are 'Godfrey Daniels' right?

Sometimes, just sometimes comments are a little over analyzed and taking out of context. Just my opinion.

I just hope God still hates the Cardinals.

"Who among us has not longed for a hammer..."

You wanna borrow the journalist? Or the Hammer Lady! She has Lust for Mayhem indeed!!

Sure she's no May Hen... I mean Spring Chicken... but she wields a HAMMER!

Lay it down. Lay the hammer DOWN!

Hail!

That 75 year old woman who swung her hammer around at the Comcast office...

(Sound of applause)

I wish I had the courage to do something like that. Maybe, at that age I wouldn't give a damn, and the thought of prison may be comforting since my family by that time will be ready to collect my insurance money.

When I turn 70, I'm heading to Ashburn equipped with a hammer and geritol.

of course 27 minutes until jasno chat. definitely 27 minutes until jasno.

"In Green, he will be facing a solid, if not spectacular, corner who has only one interception in his three years of service".

SJK, if Green is spectacular with one INT in 3 years, what does that make Stone Hands Carlos?

An all-pro "Island" cornerback!

From an ESPN Chat:

Steve (Baltimore): Kidd please answer my question!!! What are the realistic chances of Sean Taylor being the DPOY?? No team is throwing deep on the 'skins, which is why they have jumped from 31st in the league in total D last year, to 3rd this year. The only time a QB has tested him was Favre, and I think we all know how that turned out. So what do you think? Thanks!!

Keith Kidd: (12:26 PM ET ) He has played well but I think I counted three dropped INTs vs. Green Bay. There is no doubt Landry and Taylor is one of the best tandems in the league. Yes, he can win DPOY but he has to get better on the back end on his catching. Those balls hit him right in the hands and he dropped them.

Hopefully Sean wasn't the only one to work on catching passes this week.

There is no truth to the rumor she got the hammer from jm220. And Neely is a he, fyi.

Give me some coodling man love - stat!

"In Green, he will be facing a solid, if not spectacular, corner who has only one interception in his three years of service".

I hate to ruin this for you guys but if you read the sentence again you'll notice he writes "not spectacular."

Cyn Cyty LMGO!! Water is over my desk and boss is looking at me all crazy.

Get a clue. He's saying he is at least solid, sometimes spectacular.

Does someone have the Jasno chat link handy? Thanks!

"Joe Gibbs can't draft? ...it's looking more and more like he's great talent evaluator, AHEM, Jason Campbell....

Posted by: POOP | October 18, 2007 09:31 AM"

I'll see your Jason Campbell and raise you one Heath Shuler.

chat link

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/10/11/DI2007101101579.html

Shuler wasn't Gibbs. I have to say that drafting under Gibbs hasnt' been that bad. Two d-lineman, dockery(?), rocky mac so far. Los was a bit of a bust although playing better this year. Taylor and Landry are Top 10 and you can't get too much credit for them.

Great Guess Blog!

I think it's hilarious that people expected The Reaper to make 5 INTs in the Green Bay game.

In the rain.

Against the hardest passer in the NFL.

We could just as easily focus on the fact that the Reaper was actually in position to make those drops, compared to last year when the secondary was getting repeatedly torched on long passing plays.

/end rant

I'll see your Jason Campbell and raise you one Heath Shuler.

Posted by: groundhogdayguy | October 18, 2007 01:09 PM

OH DEAR GOD NO...that name sends the yuckies to my mid region....throw in some Micheal Westbrook and 50/50 and you've got yourself a deal my friend...

every team has their own philosophy as to how to build a team in the nfl, and there isn't one proper way to do it. it's about talent evaluation and luck. many, in fact most, teams in the league attempt to "build" through the draft, but the fact is that only one can win the super bowl. most of these teams end up in a cycle of these "rebuilding" years of going through the draft, but eventually end up nowhere. just because you build through the draft doesn't mean you'll end up with the patriots squad of the last five years. it takes an incredible amount of luck to be as successful talent wise as they have been through the draft. most teams just don't discover an all-time top-10 QB in the sixth round. It just doesn't happen every year. It takes a balance of FAs and draft picks for most teams to be successful. the dominant rams of '99+ had linchpins Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner that weren't drafted by them. the bucs won the super bowl with brad johnson at qb, keyshawn johnson and joe jurevicius at WR, and probably their best player simeon rice at DE. None of them were drafted by the bucs. brett favre has kept the packers contenders for over 15 seasons. he was not a product of their draft. neither was reggie white when they won the SB. The fact is that there are just as many teams that win SBs with their linchpins and catalysts coming through FA and trades as through the draft. Just because teams decide to build through the draft doesn't mean they become the NE patriots.

Let us also not forget about how Brett Favre always underthrows deep routes....not taking anything away from MEAST (1/2 man, 1/2 raging beast)....just sayin...

The passes Sean dropped were long balls that kinda floated. The first one where he might have scored was definitely a hard one to catch because it was an out pattern that Brett gunned. The other two he dropped should have been caught. But like you said, the fact that he put himself in position in the first place is what separates him from the others. Probably not many FS have the range to get all the way over there. No deep passes on us this year ! Am I the only one that thinks that we have a shot against NE ? Didn't we end their winning streak last time (with the Ball Coach)?

mark,

yes, I think you are the only one. maybe someone on that new planet 400 billion light years away thinks we have a shot, but that's about it.

Mark, I have to disagree with you on the interception thing. I'm amazed at how many bad pairs of hands we have on both sides of the ball. We are talking about professionals. Taylor should have had at least 4 picks, and the first should have been a TD. These types of plays change games and maybe put us at 5-0.

The Redskins can definitely beat the Patriots. Take the Redskins + points, and take the under.

cosmo,

word! I used to think that it was bad luck the Skins were only able to create a handful of turnovers last year... but it clearly has nothing to do with bad luck. Have you seen how many times we've had our hands on a pick and dropped it, or missed the opportunity to scoop a fumble, etc.??

don't get me wrong, the D is playing out of their minds right now... but they still can't be considered a true dominant defense until they start capitalzing on these turnover opportunities they frequnetly squander.

sung to the tune of Angels We Have Heard on High

Redskins we have hurt on high
Dropping balls all o'er the field
And the Cardinals in reply
Score more points than they will yield
Chorus:
Poor Clinton Portis
Poor Santana Moss
Poor 'Ol "Two yards" Betts, no less
'Skins lose 'cause they've got no "O"

RB,

Packers had 4 fumbles...none recovered by Skins!!

We are wasting opportunities that may come back to haunt us down the stretch.

BFAP,

Skins may beat spread, but not a snowballs chance in he!! we beat the Pats right now.

This all sounds like baby makin music to me fellas.....

mark

i do believe that we have shot at NE. not a very good shot, mind you, but a better shot than any other team they've played so far this year. with taylor playing center field, this team does not give up much on defense. the only big plays this year have come from runs after the catch, which is not superstar moss' forte (unless he's already behind the defense). GG and ST won't let that happen. that being said, the offensive line must get healthy and santana must prove that his GB performance was an aberration (which i 100% believe it was). and andre carter will have to have the best game of his life to get pressure on brady. basically, we have to play the perfect game. but yes, i do believe we have a shot.

sung to the tune of Angels We Have Heard on High

Redskins we have hurt on high
Dropping balls all o'er the field
And the Cardinals in reply
Score more points than they will yield
Chorus:
Poor Clinton Portis
Poor Santana Moss
Poor 'Ol "Two yards" Betts, no less
'Skins lose 'cause they've got no "O"

Posted by: King Card | October 18, 2007 02:08 PM
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

KC,

Foget the hymns, you may need to brush up on your prayers after we kick your A$$es on Sunday!

A pass defender's first responsibility is to defend - cover the receiver and/or knock down the ball, if possible. Intercepting the ball is a secondary consideration, but an unexpected bonus when it happens. Being in position to defend does not always lend itself well to intercepting the ball. Trying to intercept the ball rather than defend properly is a risky proposition. (And just imagine the screaming by fans if every attempted interception resulted in a reception and touchdown for the offense. Enough said.)

Recovering fumbles is a similar issue. Defenders are paid to defend first, either by tackling, running, evading, or knocking the ball down. The closest person to a fumble is usually the person who fumbled the ball. Therefore, the odds of recovering a fumble are highest for that player. For everyone else, it is the luck of the bounce and relative position to the ball.

Yes, the defensive players can practice the art of intercepting passes and recovering fumbles, but there are no guarantees in game situations, since their first priority is to defend.

Great glog....this is how its done!

Diablo, yes Taylor can and will play center field against the Patroits and everyone else for that matter. The thing that worries me is all of the underneath space that is exposed in a cover scheme. I KNOW Tom Brady will not have any problem getting the ball in the crease. WR's like Wes Welker are perfect for breaking that cover 2/3 scheme.

I totally agree with the concept of building through the draft for multiple of reasons. Not only ecomnomics but also for depth. I also agree its not a given that by doing so your team will succeed. But I believe the odds are better. You still need the right people evaluating talent, that seems to be problem overall here. Adding a few key free agents is ok by me, but to rely heavaly in that direction is not a good model plan. As for the Portis/Bailey trade I think history will show that it was a mistake. Not that Portis is'nt a very good back, but the average football life of a running back as to a cornerback is extemely one sided. And I think we're seeing that in Portis, I hope history proves me wrong but I don't think so. In my opinion He has lost a step. Bailey just keeps on goin to Pro-Bowls.

even if we hold NE to say 24, we can not score enough to win anyway. they are beating teams consistently by 17 points at least

And in the NFL, when a pass defender gets both hands on the ball, in almost every case, it should be a pick.

Once the pick is made running the ball back is secondary, retaining possession is primary.

But you have to make the pick first.

Portis hasn't lost a step. He just has not been healthy since 2005. The only thing regrettable in that deal was the 2nd rounder thrown in. Champ was never the player for us he has become for the Broncos.

beep beep

"Champ was never the player for us he has become for the Broncos."

Nothing could be futher from the truth. Champ Bailey had a reputation for being a shutdown corner way before he was traded to Denver. No one threw on Champ then, and sure as hell don't throw on him now. This is why I could never understand the trade. I know in the world of sports 3 or 4 yrs ago is ancient history, but RB's are overrated, shutdown corners are very, very rare.

Reputation being the key word there. He was and is a very good CB. But there were enough times he got beat deep or fell down in crucial situations. He is not as good as Deion was in his prime.

In regards to Portis being hurt the last few years,that just cements my argument about the longevity of running backs. And trust me he has lost a step due to all the injuries. As for Bailey periodically getting beat deep, yes that happens. He is a reactionary dback and he gambles,but more often than not he guesses correctly! As for not being as good as Deion in his prime, WELL DUH!! Who did'nt know that!

thanks cindy for the correction.

i was saying that we should borrow the journalist cuz he would use words like "BAM!" "BOOM!" "SPLAT!!!" "DOH!!" to describe the skins D play.

he could be the madden of print.

There are no super corner backs in the NFL. There use to be 2-4 a year. Green being one of them. There are 5-8 good running backs a year.

Champ can not cover elite recivers constantly. Also not good in run support. Had one bad year when he got burned a lot.

He had 10 int last year which means they were trowing at him, not like when that wast Sanders was playing opposite. He sure tricked Danny out of some money. Also Champ was a little prisy and did not want to be here.

He never could cover the Giants for some reason. He can shut down pure speed guys and number 2 guys.

CP ran for 1300 plus and 1500 yards then got hurt. We would not have gotten to the playoffs if he was not playing with us. CP should have 2 more good years and so should Champ. But CP might have spent everything at 26.

We have to stop living in the past!

Bring on RAT.

I agree with alot of what m&m said. Sad to say that Portis's best day's are behind him. And like I said earlier, I'm a Portis fan. But for the type of runnung style that Coach likes to run, for me he was'nt a good fit here. Is Bailey gods gift to cornerbacks-no, but he is someone that you could put out there game after game,year after year and be pretty well set.

I'm a "skins" fan that lives in the ATL. Now you wanna talk problems,You guy's don't know how well you got it!!! Can I get a "AMEN"

I'm coming late to the FA vs. Draft debate but I have to chime in. I don't buy the whole "Redskins have no depth because they use their cap room on free agents" argument. This offseason alone, the Redskins brought in Smoot, Macklin, and Stoutmire to address depth in the secondary and in Smoot's case, they were willing to shell out a hefty sum to bring him back as a 3rd corner. I think Snyder and company have found away around the cap by guaranteeing and renegotiating contracts.

On the negative side though, one thing that I think gets missed is the gun-for-hire culture that gets created when the team is full of free agents who've finally received their big payday. Not only do you run the risk of having players with less desire and less ambition, you also have a culture where there are very few players who have come up through the system, listened to the coaches, bought into the program there, and then reaped the rewards. The success stories of players like Chris Cooley and Ladell Betts can't help but have to have an impact on the young players drafted in the later rounds playing for the league minimum. The problem with the Skins is that those stories are too few and far between so there's probably less organizational loyalty than you'd have in an organization where there might be a tradition of players developing into stars with the team. The young player's role model is a free agent who put his time in elsewhere, then left to get paid so their loyalty is to the eventual paycheck, not the organization.
I would rather see the team have a collection of young players who are still raw, but have been around the team and are working through the program to get better.

I'm really sick of descriptions of the Champ Bailey-Clinton Portis trade that only consider the players and draft choices but not the cap room created or contract status of the players involved.

Everything else being equal, Bailey and Portis were roughly equivalent in value and probably could have been traded even up -- or close to it. But everything wasn't equal because Bailey wasn't under contract and Portis was. The only reason the Redskins were able to trade Bailey at all was because they had franchised him -- at a rate that would have prevented the team from addressing other areas in free agency.

In short, Denver had more leverage in the deal than the Redskins did. That's why we had to put up more.

Also, even after giving Portis a new deal, the Redskins still had more cap space than they would have had they kept Bailey on his terms. This enabled the Redskins to sign Shawn Springs.

In effect, the Redskins traded Bailey and a draft choice, which the Broncos used on Tatum Bell, for Portis and Springs.

When you look at it like that, is it so one-sided a trade? For better or worse, the old days when a trade could be evaluated strictly in terms of who came away with the better player disappeared with free agency and the salary cap.

If this was supposed to an interview from the perspective of someone that doesnt watch a lot about football, it was ok, I guess. But, I mean..every question and answer was pretty much obvious to anyone that follows the NFL or the team.