2nd

We want Dallas!

We want Dallas!

BAHAHAHA!

Amazing how the whole body of work wasn't analyzed with this team, only the last four games. Like Denny Green said..."They are who we thought they were!"

The 'Skins were a slightly above average team who got dominated for a large, large majority of the game yesterday. I'm not so sure they would have success next week in Dallas, no matter what the fans (and Fletcher after the game yesterday, WTH is that?!?!) said.

Looking forward: the only team over the cap, and they're over by $20 mil. Spin it how you want, but yikes...that's not good. Dallas is obviously better, as is Green Bay going into next season. And is Campbell the answer? Will Collins be back and, if not, who's the backup QB? Is Doughty the long term answer at safety (hint: pray not).

It was a good ride, but was destined to end sooner rather than later. Good luck to next year, the 'Skins will need it.

it was indeed an amazing run for these skins. As a fan for 35 plus years, I have always felt the Skins' were often short on talent but never in heart or character. I do believe, the 2 phases of the game where the coaches could have done a better job was in having a better plan to deal with kearney( maybe they underestimated him) and in not factoring in the wind. I believe they won the toss - I would have taken the wind at their back in the 4th qtr. The missed field goal as well as the deciding touchdown( int by trufant) were the result of the wind. I am surprised none of the analysts picked this up Reminds me of the other huge wind blown loss by the skins in the playoffs. 17-0 to the Giants when Jay Schroeder was QB.
Now the front office will need to be creative, and work hard to keep the key players in the fold, add one or two medium level free agents and draft a lock down CB, a right tackle and a defensive lineman/tackle to help the pass rush. Sean taylor is clearly not replaceable.
Go Skins- I cannot wait for Aug 2008
Shashi Kant( Cincinnati )

Let me just put this out there: I realize it's eight months or more away, but all RI blog peeps should seriously consider coming out to this fall's Skins game in Seattle.

Posted by: NateinthePDX | January 6, 2008 03:45 AM

I second both this motion and this emotion.

We already know we'll have a Pac NW contingent for Revenge-A-Thon 2008, but we could definitely use some extra-regional hamster blood for that game.

puttinforbird, you're on notice that we want you here again.

It'll be nice to hang with Jasno and hopefully the additional WaPo crew again, and Cindy, if you can find a way to start siphoning $2-3 a day into a non-descript line item in the travel budget, you'll have plenty of money for airfare and hotel next season. For realsies, you gotta make the trip next time.

I also think that at least us NW peeps should make plans for Skins/9ers in San Fran.

Posted by: freakzilla | January 6, 2008 11:39 AM

I am going to need six months to recover from the emotions of this season.

Right now I don't have a great feeling for next year. I see the Redskins needing about two year's worth of drafts to fill just some of the needs that are so glaring at this stage. This is a team that had a horrid percentage of making the crucial third and one or fourth and one all year long. I say spend all the draft picks on the offensive line positions because we are going to need two guards and two tackles to develop over a two year span.

On defense I am worried that McIntosh and Rogers won't be fully healed for next season so we immediately need a corner and linebacker. Fortunately, Gregg Williams can coach even if he does not have talent in all positions.

Ah well, I suppose I will be full of hope by next September, as usual.

I am so proud of this team. To lose Sean and come back and fight the way they did speaks volumes. Coach Joe had done a wonderful job. I haven't been a big fan of double G the last couple of years. However, he gain a lot of respect from me this year. May our brother Sean always be remembered.

Lame haters go sit on a pole.

We do lack talent but some will be back via not being hurt. Also many 1 and 2 year players will almost by defention be better next year. Skins had 11-5 ish talent this year but had a young QB, bad luck, and self destruction. Think what that game would be like with out fabini playing and Hayer and Alexander with more experence.

QB play will be better next year.

Anyway go back in your whole and come back next year.

Cooly and Moss did not play well. CP had no chance. And the O line looked like the GB game in the second half.

It is a great shame Sean's life ended the way it did - esp. with Redskins nation not getting a chance to know the person that he was. I cannot help but think over this past month and a half that if you want a true picture of the man Sean was, and the man he would have become and made known to all of us, look at his dad. Nothing but class. Pedro is a great, great example of what it is to be a man. And I'm sure Sean was/would have been too.

Very well said jwlemons.

The ride came to an end last night,but what a trip its been.My heart goes out to these fine men,they left nothing out. They gave it there all. Iam proud to be a Redskin,I wear my colors of burgandy and gold and walk tall.Daring anyone to bad mouth my hereos. Even if this team finishs dead last every year,I will always love them !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a classic Skins team/season in my book. One I will remember and cherish as a fan forever.

F haters

Tampa is gonna punch Giants in the mouth today....

My nephew texted his father after the game yesterday and said the "gift" was the playoffs.
He was point on. We were on the road to another loser season and no playoffs. The death of ST and the team coming together to rally behind it and make the season worth something in his honor was accomplished. I know we as fans wanted more but I am not sad with how the season came around and turned out. It has made this team closer and more tight knit. Let's hope Synder works his cap cruching numbers and keeps the core togehter.

As a diehard Skins fan I'm rooting for the Giants today. I don't think TB can go into Dallas and win. I think the Giants can. So, Go Giants...

I like the heart and soul of this team. This offseason let's try to keep them intact best we can, while getting quality people and players to fill the wholes we need.

Same for coaching staff. They all have my respect, so let's keep them together and do much damage next year.

Hail to the Redskins! You guys are a great group and I look forward to next season. Our glory days are coming back.

I do believe the Giants have done wokened up.

Them guys is hittin' some guys.

Didn't Dallas beat the Giants twice? I can't see them beating Dallas in the playoffs.

i say TB matches up well against dallas...

but might not matter, Uncle Mo has switched families here...

who is this Eli kid?

While nursing my TREMENDOUS hangover, I started doing research about next years free agents.

Knowing we are cap-challenged ( not that this ever seems to be a problem ), I started thinking about where we can save money and not have to open the wallet.

What does everyone think about the OL?? Let's think about this. I know injuries happen to everyone, and can strike at the worst times, but we lost A LOT this year with Jansen and Thomas being out.

Is it the end of the world if we come back next year with...

T - Samuels
G - Kendell
C - Rabach
G - Thomas
T - Jansen

and back-ups Fabini, Heyer (valuable playing time), Wade, and whomever we draft?

Again, I know these guys looked bad yesterday, but, these guys were not supposed to be playing anyway...injuries forced the issue. Again, I know injuries happen, but I don't mind starting the season with this group.

What does e'rybody think about this??

Maybe, I should say .... Again, I know....one more time !!!! Did I actually start EVERY sentence with that??!!??

I'm proud of our guys, and Coach Gibbs for the gift they gave us. They should hold their heads high, and be proud of their season and far more importantly, the character with which they finished it. Yet, this is the Insider, so I have to speculate on next season. ;)

NEXT YEAR

Coach Gibbs has reminded us that sometimes a coach can't merely be judged based on Ws and Ls. Joe Gibbs has reminded us that he has always been, first and foremost, a leader of men. He won three championships and went to the big game 4 times in his first stint as our fearless leader. While two of those teams went 14-2 in the regular season and were dominant (true, our guys lost to the evil Radiers in the superbowl, but nobody could have predicted Riggo would really be out until 3am the night before the game!! haha), and two others prevailed in strike affected years. Never ever did anyone suggest those Redskins teams were the most talented in the NFL at the time - far from it. But what they had was the ultimate leader of men, who knew how to rally and lead. Joe Gibbs still has that touch, and that's the most important quality this franchise has lacked since he retired the first time. He still has a year left on his contract, and who knows, perhaps the Skins will announce an extension. Regardless, his return is the first thing that needs to be established this offseason.

Having said that, Coach Gibbs can't do it all. He's the President of the club, and the de facto GM. I think he's stretched too thin. It's no shame - how many other great coaches have failed to do it all? Mike Holmgren was stripped of his GM duties, and only after that went to the Super Bowl (as I recall). Ultimately, I'm not suggesting Coach Gibbs be stripped of anything...I simply hope he honestly reflects on his strengths and weaknesses and makes the decision to get a GM himself. While the common sentiment seems to be it would be a somewhat hollow position, as President Gibbs will be the new GM's boss, I don't necessarily agree. If there is any man who could hire his replacement in the GM field and allow him to do his job without interference, isn't it Joe Gibbs? So, a GM is the first order of business. Reinstituting the triumverate of Gibbs-GM-Owner as the final arbiter of disputes between Coach Gibbs and the GM is a matter of internal policy that all parties agree to abide by. I will keep my fingers crossed, and unless I'm mistaken, Bobby Bethard isn't in football at the moment. Snyder almost got him back when Spurrier came aboard, why not make another go at him?

The second most important decision President Gibbs needs to make is to release Al Saunders and replace him with Coach Gibbs. Al Saunders is a proven offensive mastermind, and two less than stellar seasons with the Skins doesn't take that away from him. This offense was built for a Joe Gibbs system, not a Saunders system, and it should be no wonder Al's offense still hasn't truly taken off. With more time to focus on offense sans the GM duties, I'd like to see if Coach Gibbs can get his offensive magic back. I'm a total homer, and I'll never give up on Gibbs - he could go 0-16 for the rest of his second round with the Skins, and I'll still have faith. I would just like to see him give himself the same opportunity to demonstrate his prowess he had in Gibbs I. Jason Campbell is still young, he's demonstrated he can deal with change in offensive philosophy, and Gibbs' offensive schemes - power, smart play, teamwork - are things I think the core group of players on this team may finally be able to execute.

Defense...Williams needs to stay put. I fear at some point he will feel the need to stretch his legs in the head coaching realm again, and if Gibbs signs an extension he may feel like his shot at running the club has been delayed unfairly. Obviously, no assistant head coach has a right to feel that way when Joe Gibbs is the head coach of the Skins, but you never know. I was touched by William's reaction to the loss of ST, and something tells me that as a coach he is benefitting more from working under Joe Gibbs than perhaps anyone in the organization...valuable learning that may really benefit the organization when Gibbs finally does decide to hang the clipboard up for good.

Talent...my views on Coach Gibbs/GM are my key thoughts at the moment, and if that gets sorted out, I'm sure they'll figure out what to do with the players. I still think the Skins need a really reliable, young 3rd receiver - that Art Monk type that finds holes 5-10 years out and makes those tough catches (and doesn't drop the ball!). I'd love to see CP back, even if he ultimately proves to be slowing down. We still have Betts, and CP is unmatched in his pass blocking prowess! He has also seems to be the heart and soul of this crop of players...and most of them will likely be back. On defense, we clearly need to do something about generating a pass rush. It just was not consitent enough, and while our secondary play was superior this year to last, a pass rush would make them phenomenal.

Looking forward to another offseason. ;)

If you're going to badmouth a team that lost six of its starting 22, played with a backup QB, endured the death of it's best player, played one of the hardest schedules in the NFL, and STILL made it into the playoffs, then you're not worth listening to.

This team is poised to make a run next year. It needs Soup to continue to develop, reasonably fewer injuries (short-term and long-term), a big-bodied possession receiver, and a freight train for the offensive and defensive lines. And, yes, maybe a safety.

Portis was hampered by injury and line play. He and Betts are sound.

Moss was hampered by injury. Cooley was hampered by extra attention when he went out on a route. Another receiving threat would open him up as well.

The pass defense was crippled, but still stayed strong. A threat on the D line would mean a world to the defensive backfield. We might get sacks with the front four, rather than always having to scheme them.

That's a pretty easy shopping list. You don't even need superstars, though just one would be tremendous.

As an added bonus, next year you're going to have a bench that's loaded with experiences young guys who played this year. I think there will also be a year-long sense of urgency in it being Gibbs fifth year. Does he come back for six? Probably not.

Should he come back for five? I've always said that only he knows that. He seems to have gotten his mojo back these last few games, but he absolutely seemed to have lost it for a while prior. So only he knows where he's at and what he should do.

But I think he comes back and finishes his five years, because I think he agrees with me that this team is in position to be a contender next year. We were in the top 12 this year, and we're only going to be better next year.

Hail to the Skins for a great run in 2007!

OldmanGibbs, I believe Gibbs will retire. Before Sean's murder, I never doubted he would honor the last year of his contract but now I can totally see him leaving....which would be a shame.

If I hear Michael Strahan on this NFL SuperBowl Ad commercial say.. 'throw down some pancakes, bacon and some eggzzz' ONE MORE TIME....I might throw up some pancakes, bacon, and some eggzzz

Pointless Musings of a Non Skins Fan

First, kudos to the Skins for overachieving this season. My prediction for them at the start of the year was 7-9/8-8 and not in the playoffs. That the Skins surpassed this despite losing numerous offensive and defensive players to injury and tragedy is a remarkable feat.

Looking into the future, if I were a Skins fan, my main concern would be that this is an aging team that will need to replace a significant amount of players in the next 1-2 years. It needs additional help on the offensive and defensive lines as well as 1-2 additional solid (if not high quality) DBs to augment its pass defense. While there certainly were some younger players who stepped up in 2007 (Heyer is a nice find, and HB Blades and Reed Dougherty look to be at minimum, solid defensive contributors), this team will need to replace older OLs (insert many names here), Philip Daniels and Marcus Washington (most likely in 2008), and Cornelius Griffin and Shawn Springs (2009), as well as hope for successful and speedy recoveries for Carlos Rodgers and Rocky McIntosh (probably not back to 100% until mid 2008 or even start of 2009). While 2007 showed the FO taking a smarter, more prudent approach to free agency and player development, this trend will need to continue in 2008 and 2009 for the Skins to maintain and improve their current position.

Finally, even after 4 years, I'm not sure how to evaluate JG 2.0. On the one hand, his leadership was critical in pulling the team together for successful playoff pushes in 2005 and 2007 when it would have been easy for the team to fracture and fall apart in the last weeks of both seasons. However I wonder why the Skins can't play the start or middle of the season with the passion and inspired play they show at the end of the season when in dire situations. If they were to do so maybe they wouldn't be in so many late season predicaments that required end of the year heroics.

Cheers, kudos to the whole organization for the class and grace showed during/after Sean Taylor's death, and good luck (save for 2 games) in 2008.

Adam

Adam

I thought about that Lisa, but I don't think so/hope not. Sure, he could decide that having proven he still has those ultimate qualities that made him a great coach now is the time to retire again. But I think, ultimately, Joe Gibbs would want to go out knowing he's shown he can put together a solid campaign from start to finish at least...no need for miraculous winning streaks, etc. Just steady, consistent, dominant play. Who knows, but I hope the end of the season reinvigorated him a bit.

Let's talk D Line

Keepers--
A Carter
D Evans (backup only)
K Golston
A Montgomery
C Wilson ( nice 3rd down rusher)

???? --
C Griffin
P Daniels

So who is out there, free agent wise that will not command TOP dollar

Mike Rucker, Carolina
Paul Spicer, Jax ( big ol run stuff dude)

This is one mock draft....they have us taking at ( of course ) #21...

DE Derrick Harvey of Florida

http://www.footballsfuture.com/2008/prospects/derrick_harvey.html

cej--

Picking #21, there's no way to predict who they take. Depends on what happens (a) in free agency and (b) in the first 20 picks. A DE would be nice, but it's more important to get younger on the O line, and faster/taller in the WR corps. They'll take the best available player, so if a DB or LB slides down, he'll be a Redskin.

I'd be pleased if Gibbs stepped aside. He's not the future of the franchise, but the past. He has underachieved in his four years, and it's time to move on. On the other hand, we could sure do a lot worse than to have him back for a fifth.

ESPN Mock Draft has the #21 pick as

WR Limas Sweed , Texas
6'4" 214lb..runs 4.45

If I hear Michael Strahan on this NFL SuperBowl Ad commercial say.. 'throw down some pancakes, bacon and some eggzzz' ONE MORE TIME....I might throw up some pancakes, bacon, and some eggzzz

Posted by: cej75024 | January 6, 2008 02:32 PM

Post of the day?

It's still early, but I think we have a front-runner. :)

How about Gibbs one more year, then give a boat-load of money to Bill Cowher(sp?)

Thank you 'zilla....that is quite an honor coming from such an experienced and tenured RI poster such as yourself.

My guess is that Nate, or Barno, or PDiddy will arrive shortly and one-up me!!

cej - Assuming he's even available. Looks like the Ravens are working hard to get him. Besides, if Williams is still around I'd almost rather go with the familiar than yet another completely new coach. The one things Gibbs has brought is stability, results aside. It would be kind of nice not to see the entire organization plunged into yet another round of wholesale change with a completely new head coach. Just my thoughts...

Holy Cow...Eli is just a confusing, frustrating, maddening, talented, ridiculous, bi-polar QB.

If I were a Jints fan I would pull my hair out. Then glue it back on...then pull it out again.

By the way....I JUST WANT MY WHOPPER !

This is true Oldmangibbs-- If Cowher is here, Double G is probably gone.

Does anybody know if the rumor is true that if/when Gibbs leaves, GWilliams was promised the head job?

Skins just got some love from Troy Aikman.

That was pretty gracious of him.

I have a hard time disliking Aikman, even though he was a Poke. There are a lot of NFL commentators who are obvious homers for their former teams, but he's definitely a fair-minded dude.

I'm with you Freakzilla. I actually like Aikman and find him pretty even in his comments - Joe Buck? Not so much.

'Zilla...I live in Dallas, and people here think Troy is too hard on the Cowboys. They think he bashes them all the time. I agree with you, I think he is really good. Poke or not!

This is how EVERY Fox game begins...

Buck: "Welcome to (insert city). Joe Buck here. Troy Aikman in a moment." Because anything I have to say is MUCH more important than a HOF QB. "

Seriously, he begins every game like that...Tryo Aikman in a moment

f cowher as coach of skins, would be nightmare hire....

cowher good coach no doubt but not for skins...

this game is over by the way....

I was ready to jump through the TV at him during the Dallas game (at Dallas). I have never seen someone so excited by Romo connecting two passes for 12 and 13 yards a piece - too bad then he sputtered out and we scored first. If the Romo Lovefest (by Buck!) continued, I was going to have to listen to the radio.

cej75024, it is my understanding that when Gibbs leaves, if Williams is not made the head coach, Snyder will pay him a ton of $$$$.

Wow...look at those damn G-men go. So far, road teams are doing well this weekend...Giants look like a win, Jax won, and we....um...well...2 road teams have won so far this weekend :(

Thanks Lisa!!

So Chrislarry, just curious, why do you think Cowher would be a nightmare hire??

Not that I am 100% sure he would be great !! Just curious why feel that way?

Great post by argh. I too think the 'Skins need a GM more than anything going into the next season. This season being what it was (on the field and off), I think it is extremely easy to develop emotional attachments to the current players and perhaps hang on to one longer than they should. They need a person who is not involved in day to day operations with the players, especially now, who can make those tough decisions. One need for the 'Skins that I haven't seen posted is a Punter. Frost has had plenty of time to develop some consistency, but he stinks.

Also, someone posted that Saunders should go. I hope that is not the case. It would only bring more inconsistency and another year of learning another system. We saw these last four games what Saunders' system can do when effectively run. It ran very effectively for 4 weeks with a patched-up line and back-up QB. Lets hope Campbell learns how to run it in the offseason.

Post Game Thoughts (if anyone cares)
Skins fought until Suisham's MFG, that was a back-breaker and is inexcusable. Seattle down by 4 with no momentum would have been huge. Nevertheless, it was excellent season. I am biased so I predicted an 8-8/9-7 season, competing for a wildcard. So I am happy with what we did, it was a successful season.
I am hoping they blow things up the way they did after the '05 playoff loss. We have a solid team that just needs maybe 1 or 2 FA, along with a decent draft and we can be back in the playoffs next year.
I hope Gibbs returns. This is his team. If he leaves, someone else will come in and blow it all up again. Not to mention, we have some success under Gibbs the last few years. Anyone who has been a fan long enough remembers the Pettibon/Turner/Marty/Spurrier years that produced only one playoff season.
As for FA, I like the WR Bryant Johnson out of Arizona. He plays the slot well, as both size and speed, filled in well for Boldin & Fitzgerald when they were hurt, and shouldn't cost much. He could be what Lloyd was supposed to be. I also like DB Nnamdi Asomugha from Oakland. He would be less expensive than Asante Samual, and has excelled in the man coverage scheme they play out in Oakland. He would be a great fit here with Springs while Rodgers recovers.
One final note (sorry for the long post), WSUMichael is a scumbag. He should be ignored, but it is so difficult. He is yet another example of what is wrong with sports today. Looking to pick a fight with insensitive remarks about a deceased man is disturbing. I also find it ironic to single out Redskins fans as classless when you make the types of statements that he makes. I think his posts should be removed from the blog, even though that is a gross form of censorship. I just believe he is a filthy human being and Redskins/Football fans should not have to waste our team reading his words.

cej75024, I agree with your assessment re: our O-line. I'd been thinking the same thing for the past couple of weeks -- that with Jansen and Thomas back, we'll have good depth on the OL now, because of the playing time that their replacements have gotten.

cowher would be a "typical snder fantasy football" hire...

1. would mean all new staff and philosophies, unlike a williams/grimm hire.

2. it would be for huge cash so huge unreasnable expectations.

3. would be quick fix solution that wont work

4. his heart wont be in it and he will only be motivated by money.

5 will mean he will also be gm, thats never good and he has no exp doing that.

6. he will not get along with snyder.

7. he is not a dc type guy.

8. would mean we pass over homegrown options.

9. would mean no grimm, who is the logical next HC

Why would Cowher even consider coming to Washington? We've had two seasons of developing and drafting players rather than trying to buy out the store, but overall Washington's owner is still going to be a big negative and a coach with Cowher's record doesn't need to work for such a tarnished organization.

"I am hoping they blow things up the way they did after the '05 playoff loss."

Sorry, meant to say I am hoping they DO NOT blow things up the way they did after the '05 playoff loss.

and for the record, i like cowher....it just is the dead wrong hire for skins...or cowher...

anyway he is the next HC of the panthers...

I agree with Chris Larry....Cowher would be a nightmare here and the players would not respond to him at all.

Also, he has adamantly stated he is NOT returning to coaching in 2008.

since it's a major talking point, i suppose it bears more talking about...

what do people think about campbell versus collins next year?

my feeling on this was what a bunch of people had been saying: collins for this year and then campbell to start next year.

however, thinking about it some more, it won't hurt campbell to have another season on the bench learning the offense if collins is the better short-term answer. even if campbell sits all of next year, he'll probably have another 7-8 years of starting at a high level. at the very least, it might be helpful for the team to have an open qb competition. if it turns out that collins can run the offense as smoothly as it has been running the past 4 weeks (maybe better with a couple more weapons and the o-line back) and campbell can't run it that efficiently yet, maybe you give collins the keys to the porsche

however, i agree fully that campbell is the long-term qb for this franchise

JC has to be the starter, TC is to slow. JC was close, and they handcuffed him some early last season..

also imagine JC's athetism in yesterdays game? Could have made it a different game.

sure, but what about collins' ability to find the whole in the defense and throw the ball before the receiver even makes the cut?

campbell may have made more plays with his feet, but it's not a gimme that he would've known where to make all the throws

No Cowher, no way.

I'd much rather see the 'Skins promote from within or take a chance on a promising young coach, like Grimm, than to sign another superannuated old fudd.

It's JC's team. No question.

I agree witht eh vry first post, this was an average team that way overacheived. . .

but then, again, calling this team average says something given all the circumstances. . .

how would the pokes have done w/o Tony Romo and their starting right tackle and guard? Could they overcome losing 3 first selections in the draft. . .

like I said, calling this team average when it lost 6, count them SIX, impact starters during the year say VOLUMES!

yeah, this is disappointing, but this time it's playoff disappointment, savor that for a while. . .

8K

I'm not saying jc shouldn't be the starting qb next year. However, what's wrong with having an open qb competition?

If they think jc is head and shoulders above collins, then give him the job without going through the uncertainty and drama of an open qb competition. But, I don't think that's the case, at least not yet.

What is it with people misspelling "hole" today?

we need to have competition everywhere. . .

where's DCsween with who we're going to pick next year?

he called for dubL early and often, but then again, we were talking about the draft on RI in november last year . . .

teams were figuring out collins. JC was hitting players as well, his issue was the kiler turnover.

My gut tells me yesterday JC makes enough reads and uses his legs to keep seahawks rush at bay.

meant, could anyone overcome losing 3 top draft choices on defense who were impact starters?

I am 100% totally in favor of bringing in Russ Grimm as our next head coach. If Gibbs decides to fulfill the last year of his contract, fine. Bring Grimm in the year after. He's a Redskin at heart and he is a young up and comer who will be looking to prove himself as the head man. We don't need a retread that has been successful in the past just looking for that big payday. Grimm all the way. Plus with Grimm you have someone with the same philosphy as Gibb so a total overhaul of the roster won't be needed (ie. changing from run first offense to West Coast style or going from 4-3 Def to a 3-4).

I have a concern about the coming week.

Nate is going on a business trip.

Nate, I am concerned about your potential lack of bloguctivity this week, what with being in a different city doing who knows what.

I expect to hear a story about how someone went looking for you and found you hiding behind a box of cleaning supplies in a janitor's closet, with a laptop and a wireless connection.

Cindy, thanks for all the hard work to provide our daily football bread, and the knowledge, dazzlingly displayed in your absolutely correct prediction that the Redskins would be 8-8 going into the final game for a playoff berth. To the game, our young line was tasked with stopping the pro-bowl bound league-best 14 1/2 sacks db, our defense was held on every play, including the first draw-play touchdown where the score depended on a hold that pulled the jersey off the shoulder pad of the Redskin he passed on the way to the goal line, our receivers were interfered with until it got so obvious that the refs had to call it, and this remarkable Gibbs-coached team was one Cooley catch away from burying the Seahawks at home. Not bad. Not bad at all.

CL: agreed. . .

that s'hawks D sure seemed for real. . .

maybe it was the noise and all. . .

but they seem to be young, fast across the board, line, LBs and secondary. . .

that was probably the worst matchup for us given all of the folks we are missing. . .

methinks we could have handled the jints, the pokes, the pack and bucs anyday, anywhere. . .

but that QB w/ at least 3 guys who can consistently catch the ball and that D in tha ballpark, that was tough . . .

even so, it seemed all so plausible with about 10 mins left in the 4th qtr. . .

CL, you may be right and I hope you are. However, we can't really tell unless we see
Campbell next year.

However, there's no way that the offense was not much smoother and efficient with Collins in there. Campbell was beginning to get it, but Collins got it and then some

redskinlaker34, I am with you !00% about Grimm whenever Gibbs steps aside...

Grimm in 09 with Gibbs in Prez of FB role...

Jay Glazer of foxsports is reporting that Greg Williams is a candidate for the Dolphins head coaching job. He did say that Sporano is probably the leader with Rex Ryan as the darkhorse. But G-dub is being considered.

Toddball was season saver, no doubt. But the seahawks game showed us what a full 16 of toddball would look like....

JC's upsides are huge...look a Garrard (A dude very similar to JC)yesterday, he looks to pass first but when play breaks down and rush is in quick he picked up 30 yards and won game o one play..

Oh, forgot that Troy Aikman said in the Cowboys game (I think) that Clinton Portis is his favorite NFL player because he is a great team-mate, a great blocker, a great runner, plays through pain, and has a great sense of humor.

I don't think the Seahawks game was representative of anything. They're 8-1 in their house. Our o-line was decimated. We averaged less then 3 yards per run. There were crucial drops. There was someone in Collins' face the entire time. No one could hear anything. And the Skins still got over 300 yards of offense, and Collins was one shy of a 60% completion percentage. I'm not sure why people are so close to dismiss Toddball.

If Campbell can do those things (and he was beginning to), then start him by all means. But, he hasn't shown that yet

If Double-G leaves, I will cry. Literally. I love the guy.

beep beep

As far as head coaching opportunities go...

I don't think Man Boobs (I love that nickname so much, I'm going to stick with it :-) ) is going anywhere. Of course he's being considered for jobs around the League, but we haven't heard of him being interviewed yet.

The next HC of the 'Skins is Gregg Williams. I think the 'Skins would interview Blache and possibly some outside candidates, but when Gibbs 2.0 concludes, Man Boobs is the guy. I'd bet a whole dollar on it.

Let's face it. Gregg Williams has proven that he is a stellar defensive coordinator and that he deserves the opportunity to be an NFL head coach once more. His ability to set aside his ego and alter his own defensive philosophy (per Jasno's article a couple of days ago), tells you that the inflexibility and arrogance that were purportedly hallmarks of his stint in Buffalo have been mitigated during his tenure in DC.

Sporaro, our sources say, is most likely to get the Miami gig. He's a Parcells guy.
Thanks, Patteagape, for the kind words. When the schedule came out, I told my boss, "8-8 and I could be off by a game either way." Sadly, I had no money on that. It's been an interesting year -- the offseasonis really going to be fascinating.
No Nate this week??????

All of you who think Todd could be a starter need to go back and read Jasno's post on the subject --

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/01/the_collins_conundrum.html#comments

Collins is a backup. Jason is the future of the franchise.

Diddy,

Do you recall what happened to Gregg Williams in Buffalo? Why didn't that gig work out for him?

Just for the record, it was The Governor and AMTTS who were calling for the Redskins to draft LaRon Landry as early as Nov. 2006. Others jumped on later.

Also, just for the record, we first called for the Redskins to draft Derrick Harvey (DE, Florida)in 2008, beginning in January 2007.

We hate to point out the obvious, but Russ Grimm isn't exactly a "young up and comer" anymore. While he may be an excellent O-Line coach, he is not a proven play-calling O-Coordinator, meaning that you would have to ask Big Al or someone else to be the OC for Grimm to be the HC. Nor is he particularly young as coaches go. (He'll be 49 before the 2008 season begins.)

The trend is for new (to the position)head coaches to be selected in their 30s or early 40s. It may be that for Grimm and the HC opportunities, time has passed him by.

Re: the discussion on whether Joe Gibbs stays or leaves -

It would not surprise us to see Joe bow out very soon. Considering the combined stresses of this past season, the illness of his grandson, and the death of Sean, it may be that Joe is not up to coming back for more.

That being said, the succession plan seems obvious: Gibbs stays as Team President; Gregg Williams is promoted to Head Coach, but continues to focus primarily on the defense; Greg Blache gets promoted to D-Coordinator; and Gregg cedes all control of the offense to Al Saunders. Gibbs can focus on the team and personnel issues; Williams and Saunders will run the operation on the field. Continuity is assured, and the overall direction of the franchise remains in place.

Based on the early season struggles on offense, we would bet that G. Williams is just dying to unleash the entire Al Saunders offense.

Last!