we never new thee

Second!

thong panties!

6-10, here we come. Mathis was the X-Factor. He was the guy that was going to take us all the way. Fire Vinny! Fire Danny! Fire everyone! Trade Ladell Betts to Tampa Bay for a first round pick and some Cheetos!

Way to go, J-Den!

I believe this is the perfect thread with which to revisit the Rooney Rule.

So my short lived fame is gone.

I thought Johnny Mathis was a little old to be competing in the NFL anyway.

Another Skins Jersey for the graveyard...

Dear RI Shop,

I would like to purchase 1 Burgandy, Gold and Black eye-patch. Please make it a large, as my melon is empty and oversized. Please pay for the eye patch along with shipping, out of my bonus points account.

Thanks.

What on Earth is JLaC going to talk about in the middle of May?

Is he going to vamp for time by explaining offsides and icing in hockey?

I presume he's going to talk about a veritable Zornucopia of Skins-related subjects Diddy.

Watch out with the piracy thing Greg. Like what happened to you w/those bonus points, you may end up with a peg leg.

Posted by: Curzon417 | May 15, 2008 3:58 PM

No update, but I got one. That roster spot was opened for Mapu, defensive tackle. (redskins.com)

So my short lived fame is gone.

Posted by: Alex35332 | May 15, 2008 3:56 PM

Be thankful, because you got the "kid glove" treatment today. Guest bloggers are usually pounded into the ground relentlessly.

So does this mean that all the "ARE and/or Rock are certain to be traded" posts will have to cease now? I'm going to miss those.

Mathis is gone. Our entire 2008 free agent class is now a bust. Wow. I mean what else is there to say?

You know, if they'd liked Mathis, at all, they wouldn't have taken those two WRs in the second round. He must have been a complete bust.

So I order an eye patch from RI Shop, and instead of what I order, I get a friggin parrot.....and it costs me 20,000 bonus points....where do I send it back to, anyone know?

Good news! i'll be at the blog meet up!

I would like to purchase 1 Burgandy, Gold and Black eye-patch. Please make it a large, as my melon is empty and oversized. Please pay for the eye patch along with shipping, out of my bonus points account.

Thanks.

Posted by: Greg | May 15, 2008 3:59 PM

We have a fresh supply of Maroon/Yellow/Black eyepatches which just arrived, and you also get a free set of matching shoelaces with those, all for the low price of 10,000 bonus points.

Unfortunately, we are not able to process your bonus points for shipping charges. Please forward a Money Order of $9.95 immediately for shipping and handling to:

RI Shop
c/o The Washington Post
Washington, DC

Thank you for your business.

I'm putting a check in the mail today, but in the mean time, what should I do with this parrot?

So I order an eye patch from RI Shop, and instead of what I order, I get a friggin parrot.....and it costs me 20,000 bonus points....where do I send it back to, anyone know?

Posted by: Greg | May 15, 2008 4:07 PM

We're very sorry about the parrot, but mistakes do happen occasionally. We have credited the 20,000 bonus points back to your account. As for the parrot, just open the window and let him fly away. The parrots are trained to return here automatically when lost or abandoned.

Again, we sincerely regret the error.

Craigslist or eBay is probably best Greg.

Maybe if you paint the parrot maroon and black you could sell it to another Skins fan?

Good thing we wasted 1,000 posts a few weeks back blowing the 'Skins out of the water for picking up this dude.

BONG!

Good news! i'll be at the blog meet up!

Posted by: | May 15, 2008 4:08 PM

Bring your own damn lanyard and sit in the corner with your nameless buddies. Hope you don't mind if the rest of us just mostly ignore you.

just tie the check to the parrot and use it as a carrier pigeon.

Just thought I'd take a few moments to update my thoughts about the Spaghetti Gang (Danny and Vinny) so far this offseason

I feel good about ...
-not spending on FA, its time to get the house in order
-no Chad Johnson
-very little trading
-promoting Blache
-seeing B Lloyd leave town

I mixed on ...
-the draft (can never tell, I like 2 WRs, don't like failure to address OL, DL, LB)
-the turnover in the FO (purging of Gibbs guys)
-Jim Zorn
-Coaching staff changes in general (I don't know enough about any of these guys, though a few seem odd)
-West Coast offense (not what it used to be)

I didn't like ...
-coaching search
-getting rid of various scouting personnel AFTER the draft (if you didn't trust them to start with ...)
-no GM or any other hire that can stand up to the Spaghetti Gang.

I've gotta say that the Customer Service at the RI shop is top notch.

Where will all the nots be sitting?

Where will all the nots be sitting?

Posted by: not a not | May 15, 2008 4:17 PM

not with you.

Good thing we wasted 1,000 posts a few weeks back blowing the 'Skins out of the water for picking up this dude.

BONG!

Posted by: BigMurf08 | May 15, 2008 4:13 PM

Well, it's no worse than the 1000 brain cells you destroy with every bong hit. Nature is so symmetrical, n'est-ce pas?

I'm putting a check in the mail today, but in the mean time, what should I do with this parrot?

Posted by: Greg | May 15, 2008 4:11 PM

That isn't be a question that comes up often.

Was a stupid signing in the first place. Rock had just signed a new deal that included a signing bonus, when he should not have been paid a dime over the minimum, everyone knew he was the primary return man, and then they sign a turd that had never been worth a crap as a receiver when he was in Houston, was always hurt, and has questionable character AT BEST...but....he had been to a Pro Bowl as a KOR, so we know where that signing came from !!! Now they cut the guy? Stupid.

Mathis is gone. Our entire 2008 free agent class is now a bust. Wow. I mean what else is there to say?

Posted by: AL, Zeke, etc | May 15, 2008 4:03 PM

So does this mean the Skins just upped their chances in the compensatory pick sweepstakes?

Where will all the nots be sitting?

Posted by: not a not | May 15, 2008 4:17 PM

not with you.

Posted by: not not a not | May 15, 2008 4:19 PM

not nice, not not a not. not at all.

"a turd that had never been worth a crap"

Isn't that a bit of a mixed-metaphor p?

Pedantically yours.

In related news, the sky has not fallen. All the Chicken Little's that bemoaned the signing should learn a lesson to calm the hell down and wait for things to develop before crying and moaning.

not nice, not not a not. not at all.

Posted by: not a not | May 15, 2008 4:25 PM

i think you are confused not a not, i'm not not a not, not not nice, and certainly not not at all.

I think Al Zeke did a great breakdown there.

Sweet! I'm up to 12th on the depth chart! the phone will ring any time now.

not nice, not not a not. not at all.

Posted by: not a not | May 15, 2008 4:25 PM

i think you are confused not a not, i'm not not a not, not not nice, and certainly not not at all.

Posted by: not not a not | May 15, 2008 4:30 PM

I'm not conversing with myself again.

Jimmy Farris is the Milton Waddams of wide receivers. They finally worked out that 'glitch' in the payroll system, yet still he turns up to work....

Well that didn't take long. I wonder how much he got paid to do absolutely nothing.

So fyi for those who can't tell, I have been operating on very little sleep over the past few days, my dad was in SW China during the earthquake, I just found out today that he is alive and well, but I have had a very nerve-racking couple of days.

Yo, park my sh*t, b*tch, I heard ya'll looking for some wide-outs now that ya'll cut Mathis....

what this blog has become!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhEQ1E8XPp4&feature=related

Has????

I'm not conversing with myself again.

Posted by: not dcsween | May 15, 2008 4:36 PM

not so not sween.

In a show of faith, the redskins issued new signee Mapu #75, same as #3 draft pick chad Rinehart.

Can you say camp fodder?

Glad to hear the good news on your dad Alex. Can't imagine what it's been like for the survivors. There was a heart wrenching photo on the front page of the NYTimes today that made me cry.

Good thoughts and good mojo to China and Burma.

Greg - I just got the 411. You can cash in your bonus points and be signed by the Redskins as a punt protector for 2 weeks without having to actually ever be at the Park.

Speaking of zebras . . . sort of from last thread. . .

Did anyone watch the Battle at Kruger on National Geographic Channel? Holy shmoly it is awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjibWWTevdA

There are a million cool things about it but one thing I really loved was watching the lions tackle their prey. Maybe they should use it as motivational video for football players. (Yeah saying it out loud does make it sound really dumb.)

Uh-oh I seem to have broken the blog.

Code blue
Code blue

Love the battle in Kruger

In a show of faith, the redskins issued new signee Mapu #75, same as #3 draft pick chad Rinehart.

Can you say camp fodder?

Posted by: corkczar | May 15, 2008 4:56 PM

Well, I know I can say "Mapu" ... which will be much easier for Sam Huff (who had a hell of a time with "Vaka Manapuna").

I went to "MapU", like such as.

>>>

It's not like they signed Mathis to a contract that would hurt the team. Making low risk moves to see if a player is worth a roster spot is nothing to complain about.

Love Sam Huff, but the guy has trouble with any sentence beyond "I'll have a beer"

I hav truble with any sentnece beoynd sevearl beeers.

The guy was no good. They should have never taken the chance that maybe he would have got hurt during minicamp/OTA. That Pro Bowl on his resume was just 2 much to resist.

Yo' p. he wuz hear four a beer and then gone. no harm no fowl. kalm down and not wurries.
now i need to pee, p.

They have done a lot of that crap over the years....supposed "nothing signings" that fly under the radar but are dumb moves and make no sense at all.

Does anybody know when Jasno's last day as author of this blog is?

And where the party will be? Are we inviting him, since it is celebratory?

"Jasno" has been dead-on about a lot of things...open your eyes people....

Suposedly Cooley will be on Jim Rome's radio show on 106.7 WJFK

How much money did we throw away on this signing?

$3 and a box of Tacos

How much did Mathis cost? I'm guessing the cost of the ink. I believe the paper the contract was signed on has been recycled.

A tank of gas . . . which is serious money these days.

Alex, glad to hear your father is safe. That earthquake has resonated here as well. My girlfriend grew up in China and was in the deadliest earthquake in history, 30 years ago. She and her family had to live on the streets for 6 months -- the photos she is seeing are very 'close to home' for her.

That isn't the only 'Mother Nature' thing we are experiencing. The volcano erupting in Chile is where we spent one of the best weeks of our life. Gorgeous area, but not at the moment.

Al Zeke,
sounds like God is pissed don't it.

Sic's favorite Redskins of All Time-

Darryl Green
Art Monk
John Riggins
Kelvin Bryant (sorry, I like him)
Mike Nelms
Dexter Manley
Dave Butz
Charlie Taylor
Mark Mosely (the perm alone)

Sic's Favorite Redskin Moments-

-Brunell to Moss, twice (Classic)!!!
-Riggins, 4th and 1
-Ken Houston stop at the goal line
-Doug Williams' 4TD
-Sellars waving Portis around the corner
-Mark Mosley gamewinner against the Giants
- "We Want Dallas"
-Danny White getting Fu**ked up in NFC Championship
-Darryl Green against the Bears
-Sean Taylor fu*ks up the punter in the Pro Bowl

Too many more to name

sic,

I would have to add LaVar taking out Aikman

Good One Curz!!!

sic,

I would have to add LaVar taking out Aikman
Posted by: Curzon417 | May 15, 2008 7:49 PM

Oh Hell ya! Even all my Philly Buddies agree with that one

For your Memories:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BynBZNiE9EA

Sic's Worst Redskin Moments

-Patriots 52 Skins 7
-Ishmail's Touchdown in OT
-Raiders 38 Redskins 9
-Steve Spurrier Era (4 consecutive False Starts)
-Theismann's leg Break (Fangoria worthy)
-Fantasy Football (Carrier, Sanders, etc.)
-Death of Sean Taylor

Run run run run run run run run POP
End Career

LaVar is the Redskin I wanted to love but I couldn't.

I don't care what people say, LaVar will always be a No 1 because of that one play.

I will be watching that clip the rest of the night!!

Breaking Charlie Waters arm in the NFC championship games vs Dallas on the way to the first SB.

Sics Greatest Sports Meltdowns

-"We Talkin'Bout Practice" (So assanine...so funny)
- "Playoffs"...
-Hal McCrae (said what all managers want to say but can't)
-"You Play to Win the Game" (Simple But Funny)
-Jim Everett/Jim Rome
-Martinez fu**ks up Yankees Coach

Chharlie Taylor breaks 7 tackles on one play vs Pittsburgh ... gains 8 yards!!

Jurgensen vs Griese at RFK. Sonny in his first start throws 3 picks in the first half. Warming up. Second half, he is en fuego.

Griese throws for a go ahead TD after the 2 minute warning. Sonny leads the Skins 60 yards in 100 seconds, completes 6/7 passes (the inc was a blatant interference, even the Fins player said so). 20-17.

Sic's Greatest Sports Quotes

"I'm a bad Man"- Muhammed Ali
"I must be the greatest"- Muhammed Ali
"If Henry Cooper beats me, I'll banish myself from the United States for 30 days and that's final".- Muhammed Ali
"Kiss my Big Black Behind"- Larry Holmes
"Well...5-11, not very good"..Steve Spurrier
"I'm so fast, last night I turned off the lights and was in the bed before the room got dark."...Muhammed Ali
'Where's the Cake?- Abe Pollin

Any more?

Skins crush Lions in NFC playoff game in 1991, 41-10. In the season opener, Skins crushed Lions 45-0. Neither game was that close :)

Oh...I've got another All-Time Skins moment...

Remember Joe Jacoby's hand was wrapped up like a club? He was mutilating dudes with that thing...

I know this is kind of recent, but Andre Carter fuc**ed up that LT from the Lions in the end zone when he lifted him out of he way.

Skins at home, Rypien hits Monk on an out pattern for 10 yards. Catch 820 and Monk is the all time receptions leader.

Dallas tries game winning FG. Kick is blocked and Skins return it, get a face mask penalty and kick the game winner.

Might be the only time in NFL history that back to back plays were FG attempts!!!

Skins vs Chicago in 1986 playoffs. Monk burns da Bears twice for TDs. After one, there is video of Jacoby hugging Monk with that club of his. Monk is 6'3", but he looks really small next to Jacoby.

Skins vs Niners. Running play. Madden could care less about the results. Asks the guy to replay Jacoby blocking Fred Dean. They do, and Dean gets knocked backwards 7 yards!! Joe Jacoby belongs in the Hall.

Jacoby must be in the Hall!!!

Also, gotta love a bit of George Rogers

Listening to my aunt, a staunch Giants fan, saying, "What else do you need, you have Larry Brown"

Loved: John Riggins
Hated: Reggie Brooks

Loved: Darryl Green
Hated: Chris Dishman

Loved: Earnest Byner
Hated: Gerald Riggs

Loved: Clint Didier
Hated: Stephen Alexander

Loved: Curtis Jordan
Hated: Mark Carrier

Loved: Doug Williams
Hated: Jeff Rutledge

Loved: Charles Mann'
Hated: Bruce Smith (with the Skins)

Loved: Tony Hill (I respected him)
Hated: Butch Johnson

Love: Joe Gibbs
Hated: Steve Spurrier

Skins score 5 TDs in the 1st half vs NYG. Clock is running down in the 4th quarter. Sam Huff calls "time out". Skins send Charlie Gogolak on to the field for a FG attempt. Kick is good. Skins win 72-41 !!

love the ol' skool Al!!!

sic, Cris Dishman was the cornerback. Chris Dishman was an O lineman, and the 7:14pm comment was not submitted by me. For whatever any of that matters.

-Nate in the PDX

1973 vs SF. Kilmer drives the Skins to the 18, where he gets dinged up and has to come out for a play. Sonny comes, tosses the TD, walks off.

Sonny's stat line for the day:
A C Yd TD Int
1 1 18 1 0

Sorry Big Nate...

My spelling is not good after several dips of the Grey Goose

Hey Al...

Didn't Jurgenson and Kilmer both hate Theismann???

Deacon Jones kicks an extra point which its the upright and goes thru.

Now that is ol skool ... just wish I could remember what I was supposed to be doing ...

Don't know. I recall Theismann wasn't that popular. Kilmer and Sonny were friends.

I recall once watching Sonny talking to Theismann on the sidelines. After the game, the interviewer asks Sonny what he was telling Joe. Sonny says, "on a sweep or end around, follow the ball carrier in case there is a fumble, you will be there to fall on it"

Fast forward to 2007. Santana Moss sweeps left against GB, the ball pops out and GB returns it for a TD. I'm thinking, Campbell should have been there to fall on it.

Loved the 35 point 2nd quarter in SB XXII!

"Good thing we wasted 1,000 posts a few weeks back blowing the 'Skins out of the water for picking up this dude.

BONG!

Posted by: BigMurf08 | May 15, 2008 4:13 PM

Well, it's no worse than the 1000 brain cells you destroy with every bong hit. Nature is so symmetrical, n'est-ce pas?"

I learned a long time ago I was more smarter than most people - do you know how frustrating it is to be more smarter than most people? Therefore, I am just trying to bring myself down to everyone else's level.

I'm having trouble meeting my goals.

LaVar's Interception return for a TD against the Panthers which sparked a 5 game win streak - first time ever that a team had started 0-5 to win 5 in a row....

That was an extremely exciting moment. You could just feel that something special was bound to happen.

With that said :

BONG! (pass left, just like driving - easy to remember that way - you know pot heads forget everything)

I know I may be in the minority, but Santana Moss loss some cool points with me with that Green Bay game. I know He won the Dallas game for us, but damn that Green Bay Game!!!!

The ball hit him in the face mask at the Two yard line

count me in with the lavar fans.

even though he left the way he did, the guy had some epic hits. he made a ton of big plays in a redskins era that didn't have many other bright spots.

when the drafted him, everyone thought he'd be an instant hall of famer. he obviously missed the mark on that, but take away those expecations and he's a decent player.

i'd consider him a good redskin for sure.

and i also loved kelvin bryant.

My take on everything Redskins:

http://redskins101.blogspot.com/

My sports website:

http://sportsclass.spruz.com/main.asp

I too loved Kelvin Bryant, he was a hell of a runner and pass catcher, he was awesome for Philadelphia I beleive in the old USFL before he signed with the Skins, great career at University of NC, knee injuries did him in Washington, wish he could have stayed healthy he was very talented. Wonder what in the hell he's doing now?

If Kelvin Bryant was in the West Coast Offense.....

Whooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Kelvin Bryant was a football coach at Smith high school in Greensboro, NC in 2001. Also listed as a Christian motivational speaker for hire.That's all i saw on him.

Nobody likes you, GO.

Please just go blog elsewhere.

Please?

Hey Al...

Didn't Jurgenson and Kilmer both hate Theismann???

Posted by: sicwidit | May 15, 2008 8:49 PM

EVERYONE hates Theismann except for Theismann. I wish they interviewed someone other than him for the '82 Skins on America's Game...

If Kelvin Bryant was in the West Coast Offense.....
Whooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Posted by: sicwidit | May 15, 2008 10:33 PM

...and able to play in more than 6 games a year. Woooooooo!

Id have much love for KB, my self. Oddly, Kieth Griffin is another one of my all time faves. Riggo isn't. go figure.

Sorry, thad should read: "I have much love for KB myself." It's a little early for typing.

that was a random shout down to GO who hasnt posted anything in a while.

By the way anon, from the last thread of you are out there, my father is 70 this year, just retired, owned his own accounting firm with his brother for 40 years.

So when 'my daddy says so' on tax matters, yeah... I listen

wow... glad I left the blog when I did yesterday.

ITA friends, ITA.

I'm a little afraid to go back and check out all the comments above... does Mathis get anything from his contract or was it all based on him making the roster?

Zebra, swap emails with him and battle in an exclusive environment.

Quit chumming the waters.

My dad was a Captain in the Navy and the CO of a LA class nuclear submarine. When he talks about The Hunt For Red October, Crimson Tide and Down Periscope...

I listen.

Dorf, he probably got a little signing bonus, and maybe he'll get a teeny tiny bit of pro-rated salary, plus a couple of ham sandwiches for the road. But I dunno.

What was he on the team for, about 40 days? Heck of a run.

-Nate in the PDX

...and I never got to say "And Jerome Mathis as the Beaver."

Damn.

Count me as a Theismann fan; he was the best QB in the league for about 2 years in 82 and 83. Dare I say even better than Montana was at the time. I actually like him as a commentator. I loved the old SNF team of Patrick, Theismann, and Maguire......good stuff. The reason people may think he was not liked on the team was because early on, he was apparently pretty vocal about wanting playing time with both Kilmer and Jurgy on the roster....he evn returned punts to get in the games. The big reason, I think, was the time that Kilmer kicked him out of the huddle......

Oddest Moment in Redskins History

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZBJTXyDL7g

Lurn haow tou spale furst

I just everyone to be aware of the fact that there is ALOT of promise with the roster we have, plus the draft picks. I guarantee we will see some surprise players this year stepping up huge. I almost enjoy that more, ie Heyer!!

I am a HUGE Joey T fan, one of my all time all times...I don't get how any skinz fan can be a hater on him!

Sic: Love the list...I love me some K-Bry as well...only slight bit of disagreement in that I dug gerald riggs...

Jacoby and Grimm should be in the Hall...no doubt...Grimm should be HC...but hey don't want to lead us down that road....

**Non Football Talk**

Lost was pretty awesome last night

**Spoilers Discussion to follow... maybe**

Zebra...

I feel like they are setting us up for a "Find the Island" season next year...

things are starting to make more sense now.

"I always have a plan!"

** Spoiler Alert**

I agree dorf. Dont know if it has been theorized but Widmore is Bens constant... thats why Ben cant kill him...

Jin is dead in the present/flash forward

So is everyone else who gets to the freighter except Sun and Arron.

James and Locke stay behind and become part of the 'new' others.

Some theorize moving the island is moreso in time not space

**End Spoiler**

Pat Kirwan has an excellent article this morning that essentially describes the Skins' offense when they are at their best, and seems consistent with the current roster plus the guys drafted.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80854ee1&template=with-video&confirm=true&campaign=ec0005

zebra,

i posted the thing about windmore being bens constant a couple weeks ago. glad you agree... as far as your theories about moving the island, i think we have been reading the same blog:

THE TEASE!

The season finale is upon us! (Was that a tear that just escaped your eye?) ''No Place Like Home'' kicks off a two-part, three-hour event that concludes a fast-paced, hard-rocking season. The big twist you may have heard about -- codenamed ''Frozen Donkey Wheel'' by Lost producers (possibilities: a steam-powered time machine; a metaphor for the celestial clockwork of the universe paralyzed by quantum catastrophe; what a pile of mule dung looks like) -- will occur in the two-hour giant-sized wrap-up airing on May 29. Tonight, however, you will see, at long last, the Oceanic 6 return home via Hawaii -- our westward ''sea-washed, sunset-gate,'' in the words of a famous poem that links Lost to a certain iconic American statue. (Don't worry: I'll explain this in a minute.) And according to executive producer Damon Lindelof, you will also see this:

''Press conferences, funerals, and surprise parties.... Oh my!''

(See, because ''No Place Like Home'' is a Wizard of Oz reference. Get it?)

Programming note: Even though part 2 of ''No Place At Home'' won't air until two weeks from now, there will be a new Doc Jensen column next week. With the season almost finished, I'm looking for answers to the following question: With the departure of the Oceanic 6 imminent, what happened to the other castaways? Keep your responses brief -- 70 words, tops. Here's my guess:

Locke and his fellow Left Behinders escape Keamy and the freighter mercenaries by using the Dharma time machine to quantum leap into the Island's past, where Locke finds himself the leader of the Hostiles. The other castaways? Members of the Dharma Initiative! And guess what? They can't remember who they are! (Now you know why Sawyer was so dazzled by Room 23 last season: déjà vu!)

Send your thoughts to JeffJensenEW@aol.com. I'll run as many as I can next week.

MRS. DOC JENSEN'S FIRST LOST THEORY

My wife, the lovely Amy Jensen, doesn't really share in her husband's theory-making hijinks. In fact, a small part of her is rejoicing that the annual obsessive attention-suck that is Lost -- the one that has me in a perpetual state of zoned-out, mind-spinning distractedness (sample: Are the fans right? Was there an implied Dalai Lama connection in last week's episode?) -- is almost over. But the other day, she made me fall in love with her all over again when she sprang this idea about Smokey on me, and I have to say, I dig it.

Amy's theory is that whenever someone or something -- ''stuff'' -- is sent from the present into the future or past via the Island's (unseen; still hypothetical) time machine, then ''stuff'' from the past or future is displaced into the present. It could be that this kind of substitution is necessary to prevent paradox. After all, only so much matter or energy exists in the universe at any single moment. So the insertion of space to a particular moment of time would require a reciprocal removal of space/time. Enter the Monster. Smokey serves as displacement -- subtracted stuff from past or present that allows for time travel to happen without violating various physical laws.

NEXT PAGE: We're off to see the Wizard!

So why does Smokey act so pissy? Because Smokey is actually a supernatural solution to the time-travel problem. And it is a ''problem,'' because the designer of the universe didn't want people to time travel. So to discourage time travelers from time traveling, Smokey brings the promise of punishment. Remember how Keamy motivated Lapidus to fly him to the Island last week by killing the doctor? The implicit threat was that Keamy would keep killing until Lapidus was properly motivated. This might be how Smokey thinks, too. You're going to time travel? Fine. But it's going to cost you. Don't like the price? Then don't time travel.

My wife's theory. Her first. I'm so proud, I'm having it bronzed.

''MOVING THE ISLAND''

The war of the world(views): A political interpretation of Lost. Or: Why I'm going to get audited next year.

''No Place Like Home'' -- which promises to elaborate upon John Locke's stated ambition to ''move the Island'' -- is not the first time Lost has referenced The Wizard of Oz. Ben's origin story episode last year was dubbed ''The Man Behind the Curtain.'' And in season 2, there was ''Henry Gale,'' Dorothy's poor, catastrophe-rocked uncle and the alias Ben used during his Hatch captivity. Given the strong Ben/Oz link, we can presume the former uber-Other will figure prominently in the season finale.

In boning up on Oz arcana in order to properly recognize any allusions that may pop up in tonight's episode, I made the following discovery: According to Wikipedia, ''Uncle Henry'' is an Oz-derived term that economists use when describing the tumult created by a massive disruption to a ''core set of values,'' otherwise called a ''paradigm shift.'' (Presumably, it was inspired by the livelihood-wrecking havoc caused to Henry's farm by that Dorothy-tossing twister.) Wikipedia's choice of words certainly evokes Lost mythology: According to The Lost Experience, the Dharma Initiative was attempting to alter the ''core values'' of an equation that predicted the end of the world. (Those values? The Numbers.) Regardless, the ''Uncle Henry'' concept corresponds nicely to Lost's essential theme: the tumultuous journey of transformation. On a personal, character-based level, that theme is encoded in Lost jargon like ''the Others'' (evoking Hegelian master/slave dialectic) and ''the Hostiles,'' which has a more robust, complex meaning than mere ''anger.'' Psychologist George Kelly defined ''hostility'' as (again in Wikipedia's words) ''the willful refusal to accept evidence that one's perceptions of the world are wrong.'' Kelly's theory of ''constructed personality'' was a hot topic in the late-'60s/early-'70s -- the same span of time during which Dharma came to the Island. If Dharma is ultimately exposed as some big psych experiment -- if the hermetically sealed, interconnected Dharma stations were actually a panopticon designed to erase all frames of reference in pursuit of unbiased psychological investigation -- it wouldn't surprise me to learn that they were trying to test Kelly's ideas.

But ''moving the Island'' has a lot of big picture political resonance, too, especially in our election year. This brings us back to Oz. Many commentators believe that L. Frank Baum's book was deliberately encoded with references to the early century transition from the silver standard to the gold standard, a turnover that created new fortunes and destroyed old ones. The plethora of philosophers cited by Lost are linked to revolutions of thought (Enlightenment and Marxist) that were met with Kelly-esque ''hostility'' and precipitated paradigm shifts in organization of society. This season's book club selection of authors -- H.G. Wells; C.S. Lewis; Lewis Carroll; Philip K. Dick -- all sought to create sc-fi/fantasy that captured and commented upon the ''Uncle Henry'' upheaval produced by the ideological forces that formed the 20th century. Among them: industrialization; Darwinism; quantum physics; industrialization; Communism; women's suffrage and civil rights; Existentialism; all things post-modernism.

NEXT PAGE: The H.G. Wells factor

Similarly, Lost channels our current moment, although in a more fuzzy, abstract fashion than, say, Battlestar Galactica. Set in a world mired in ambiguity and possibly adrift in both time and space, Lost fancifully reflects the perplexing state of flux that currently exists in almost every corner of culture: social, scientific, political, economic, moral, and spiritual. Don't take my word for it: According to last week's Newsweek -- the one with the Statue of Liberty on the cover, back turned to the reader -- the geopolitical meta-narrative of the 21st century is currently up for grabs. More locally, season 4 has been about election. In fact, recent episodes have made me wonder if the show has become a proverbial Trojan horse, hiding pointed political commentary, or at least a rousing ''remember to vote!'' exhortation. This year's ninth episode was named after H.G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come, a feverish vision of a so-called utopian future run by a religion-purging science cabal based in Basra, Iraq. But there was another Wells reference embedded in the episode's unforgettable scene in which Ben rouses a woozy, nightmare-plagued Charles Widmore from slumber. In 1910, Wells published a book called The Sleeper Awakes, which some consider a prequel to The Time Machine. The novel concerns a 19th-century socialist radical named Graham who falls into a mysterious trance and awakens 203 years later to find that he's so stinkin' rich, he's considered the most powerful man in the world. But while he snoozed, his wealth was leveraged by a corrupt trust known as the White Council to transform the world into an industrialized dystopia of oppressed workers -- the opposite of Graham's ideals. The parasitical White Council tries to keep its fat-cat host oblivious to this sad state of affairs by keeping him sequestered. But eventually, there is a revolution, and the White Council is overthrown. Yet the new regime proves to be just as rotten as old. Graham leads a new revolt, assisted by a woman named Helen. The story ends with the hero hopeful that his new rebellion has succeeded, though he meets an uncertain fate himself, as he falls from the sky in a crashing airplane.

[''Shape'' may have included another hidden reference in the moment that preceded the Ben/Widmore confrontation. Remember when Ben told the doorman that he was there to see a ''Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick''? This could be a wink at John Kendrick Bangs, a contemporary to Wells and the originator of a genre known as ''Bangsian Fantasy'': stories set in the afterlife, featuring characters named after famous historical and fictional persons. Sound like a show we watch? Fun Fact! Bangs was a New York political player who was tight with Teddy Roosevelt. He even ran for mayor of Yonkers once, losing by 207 votes.]

What could this mean for Lost? Perhaps a dramatic rethink of Widmore's ideology and ambition, PRESUMING you correlate Awakened Sleeper Graham to Awakened Sleeper Widmore. Last week, I asked: What more could a mega-wealthy man like Widmore want from life that he desperately covets the Island? But the connection to The Sleeper Awakens might mean that Widmore may not be happy with his riches; may have never wanted his riches; and, if you believe that Ben has tampered with time via Dharma quantum leaping magic, he may not have been destined to have riches at all! Like all the men in Lost -- even the villains -- Widmore may be as much a victim of fate as anyone.

NEXT PAGE: Give me your tired, your poor, your plane-crash survivors...

But in light of last week's cryptic business in which Richard Alpert tried to awaken young John Locke to his true self, it makes more sense that John Locke is our resident Graham. What has emerged over the course of the past 13 episodes is the story of two rich and powerful candidates, Ben and Charles Widmore, battling for control over the Island, and perhaps the course of history itself. Their fates rest on the shoulders of a single super-delegate, John Locke. Judging from ''Cabin Fever,'' they have clearly spent considerable resources over the span of his troubled life to influence the kind of man that will one day make the defining choice of their lives. And it appears that day has arrived. Step into the box and pull a lever; it's time to move the Island.

In light of this political subtext, the old speculation that Lost's four toed statue = The Statue of Liberty now seems relevant to me. Inside Lady Liberty you will find a poem written by a woman with a great Lost name: Emma Lazarus. ''Emma'' is close to Emily, a name shared by Ben and Locke's respective mothers; the name means ''universal.'' ''Lazarus'' evokes the dead man raised to life by Jesus in the New Testament. The famous poem linked to the monument is called ''The New Colossus,'' a swipe at another Four Toe possibility, the Colossus of Rhodes. Her poem reminds us that America is a lot like the Island: a home to ''the homeless,'' to ''exiles,'' to ''the tempest-[tossed],'' and to ''huddled masses'' yearning to ''breathe free'' from old, oppressive circumstances. But specifically, the poem speaks of paradigm shift; this statue, this symbol, this country, Lazarus says, signals a change in what has come before. The poem:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
''Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!'' cries she
With silent lips. ''Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!''

Will Locke lead his fellow exiles in a revolution that will save the Island and renew its magical promise? Or will Keamy follow through on his threat to ''torch the Island'' and bring it to ruin?

Hmmm....

''Torch the Island.'' You know, the Statue of Liberty has a torch. And as it happens, ''Emma'' is also the name of the Buddhist god of death. And did you know that ''Keamy'' sounds like the Mayan word ''Kimi,'' which means...death? If the Island = America, then is Lost trying to suggest that, like Lazarus, it's time for our country to be born again?

I'm getting audited for this one, aren't I?

See you at the recap tomorrow,
Doc

Future Lock is Jacob of the Past. I have a headache.

dam scskins...I was hoping to never see that again......

For me, the Spurrier years were the darkest years in my skins fandom....

"Grimm should be HC"

Still can't shake those ghost, huh? New time, new team, new coach, new fanbase, new stadium...

Shall I continue?

Let's get out of the past folks. That's why this team can't see in front of them. They're too busy reliving the "glory days".

"That day is dead dog" - Alonzo character from the motion picture "Training Day".

Sorry if I'm coming across as too new school, but they're more fans out there that think like this.

whateves Orvil, sorry we were having a bit of fun down memory lane....it is possible to talk about past teams/players and respect the new....some of us can handle multiple thoughts..

And Grimmm will/would be a good HC canidate if he had never worn the burgundy and gold, dudes a great coach...

But whateves....

Re: 9:43am post (Length)

I know that is your friend and you're trying to enlighten him on whatever, but there is this thing called electronic mail, often reffered to as 'email'.

Learn it. Know it. Use it.

TSH, i do usually read Jensen. Only read his first paragraph, I didnt go into his wifes theories or beyond that.

whateves?

to the poster at 9:54,

i dont know this person or his email. its a blog i get e-mailed to me. does the long post ruin your day or something?

Normally, cutting-and-pasting content from another site is tolerated (1) when it relates to football and (2) when its for Greg, who cannot link through links at work.

Cutting-and-pasting from a blog about Lost ... not sure what to say except to provide a reminder that a simple link would have had the same effect and go easier on my carpal tunnel syndrome to scroll through it. [insert flame].

to the poster at 9:54,

i dont know this person or his email. its a blog i get e-mailed to me. does the long post ruin your day or something?

Posted by: talkshowhost | May 16, 2008 10:00 AM

[insert more virulent flame]

"some of us can handle multiple thoughts.."

Is this suppose to be some backhanded insult or something? IF it is, I don't see how discussing old fossils constitutes being able to "handle multiple thoughts".

And FTR, I wasn't trying to diss or anything. Just would like to see the fans focus on what we have NOW, instead of 15 or more years ago.

Thanks Barney Fife

Has anyone else noticed that whenever talkshowhost is posting, GreatOne is nowhere to be found, and vice-versa? And they look like they could be twins, except TSH wears those corny glasses and combs his hair really neatly......

to the poster at 9:54,

i dont know this person or his email. its a blog i get e-mailed to me. does the long post ruin your day or something?

Posted by: talkshowhost | May 16, 2008 10:00 AM

Normally, cutting-and-pasting content from another site is tolerated (1) when it relates to football and (2) when its for Greg, who cannot link through links at work.

Cutting-and-pasting from a blog about Lost ... not sure what to say except to provide a reminder that a simple link would have had the same effect and go easier on my carpal tunnel syndrome to scroll through it. [insert flame].

Posted by: dcsween | May 16, 2008 10:00 AM

need i post more?

Also, the Skins wiki site (thanks again, cL!*) allows people who are registered up there to send personal messages to individuals who are also registered up there.

* F chRIs larrY

Orvil, you sort of backed up my insult. Its fun (especially in news deprived late May) to talk about history, connect with memories, laugh at old mistakes, while still getting pumped for this season....

Why is THE PRESENT ONLY....yes week three when were in the thick of the season, talking about Jacoby's hand club seems weird....but instead of multiple comments on Mathis, or a million speculations of how fred davis will be used which can get a bit dull, people just trying to tie into the long legacy that is the skins...

also considering the weird side tracks, and bizzare fights up here lately a little bonding over some good memories and skins lore seemed fun...

But whateves, what do I know. I love your popcorn though....

We all need to go to happy hour together. Or a Nats game.

I'll bring the beers. I'll bring the beers.

zebra, i'll summarize:

windmere and ben are in a struggle over the timeline. the whole show is about this. which brings us to the relationship/duality between ben and locke. its really neat stuff if you read the other blogs. basically, locke was originally meant to have the role on the island that ben now has. however, since locke failed richard alperts test, they had to go to a backup plan. that backup plan was ben. years later, windmere manipulates events to send locke to the island... either to restore events to how they are "supposed to be" or to throw everything off course...

lockes moving the island results in everyone dying.... in a sense. when locke moves the island, the plane no longer crashes on the island and people do not survive due to the islands "magic."
that OTHER oceanic 815 at the bottom of the ocean... thats lockes doing. This either restores the timeline or messes it up.

in any event, the oceanic six are not part of the same "reality" or dimension as everyone else in the flashforwards. they do not belong there. they should be dead. there alternate selves are in fact dead on the bottom of the ocean in the same reality in which they now cohabit. that is why hurley wants to get back to the island. its also why they are unable to kill themselves... because they are already dead - atleast in that reality.

just scrolling through that 9:43 post made me all light headed. a whole lot of blah, but not much else.

get "lost" on your own damn time. on your own damn forum. mkay?

Dorf, are you in?

Getcha popcorn* ready!

* Not a fan of T.O.'s popcorn ... unless and until he chokes on it.

dcsween, as i said before, i get the blog emailed to me.

i dont have a link to it. i don't know if there is an actual website where this is posted, or whether its just emailed out to people who subscribe to a newsletter.

i apologize for the two extra times you had to click your mouse on the right side of the screen to pass the post. feel free to send me your medical bills for CTS haha.

I'm in there like swim wear.

just scrolling through that 9:43 post made me all light headed. a whole lot of blah, but not much else.

get "lost" on your own damn time. on your own damn forum. mkay?

Posted by: me dizzy thanks 2 nine forty thrizze | May 16, 2008 10:12 AM

-------------------------------------------

no need to be a (insert explicative of choice here). i didn't bring up the off-topic discussion of lost, but thought i would add info for someone who was evidently interested. aside from that, there is enough off-topic nonsense on here all day, how can you tell me not to talk about it? its certainly no different than all the political crap that gets discussed here fairly regularly. if people want to participate in a conversation, they will. if no ones interested in a topic, then no one will talk about it and it will go away.

get over yourself.

Thanks! I've been hearing that all my life. Its bad enough to have 'Reden' as your first name, but I had to have the whole nine. Oh and its not pronounced RED-en, but RE-den, like Reid and den

So glad at least Orville wasn't considered.

tsh, you can send personal email through this site ... http://redskinsinsiders.wetpaint.com/

Ah CL, good times, good times....
Just the other day watched SB 17 again....Dick Enberg called Riggo's run something like this:
"Riggins with the carry....he's going to go all the way unless Blackwood can catch him and he can't"....he said that long before Riggo crossed the goal line. I was thinking that this is how Bryant Mumble would have called it had it been an NFL Network game:
"John Reagan gets the ball..... looks like he has a first down.......... and what would appear to be an apparent touchdown"
Thank god he quit.
I love the old games where Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen are calling them. Nothing beats a good Curt Gowdy game from the 70's though.

dude RE-den, your parents have some sense of humor! Maybe not to the extent of "CoCo Crisp" or "Milton Bradley" in MLB...but still!

Actually I think ist kind of cool...and I do love popcorn!

So, focusing on the present, I ask you: Which O-Player is going to respond best to knew Chesepeake version of WCO?

um, I know my spelling and Grammar usually makes Janso look like an English Prof, but G-Dam I am tard today! (friday...)

"knew" "ist"

F me

Oh...I forgot a couple of my favorite Skins

Joe Washington
Jumpy Gathers
Fred Smoot
Danny Buggs

Which O-Player is going to respond best to knew Chesepeake version of WCO?

Campbell, then cooley then CP or other running backs catching the ball.

WR's will be lot different and it will fit their style better, but sine they will rotate it seems as if the people who touch the ball the most (rb and QB) will benefit the most

Dlhaze, I am with you. I am glad Byant gumble quit, got fired whatever, he was terrible

My fave "unheralded" skin:
Monte Coleman - 16yrs, 215 games as a skin

Dlhaze, I am with you. I am glad Byant gumble quit, got fired whatever, he was terrible

Posted by: Great One | May 16, 2008 10:32 AM

Technically I believe he quit. Just like Nixon.

"... Chesepeake version of WCO? ..."

Posted by: chris Larry | May 16, 2008 10:24 AM

cL, THIS is what I was driving at by posting the link to the Kirwan article (which you might not have seen when your eyes glazed over with a multi-screen, emailed blog about Lost).

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80854ee1&template=with-video&confirm=true&campaign=ec0005

After talking about the rise of the "speed" defense over the past few years, Kirwan predicts the return of the power offense ... which is what I think the Skins have been building:

" ... It was suggested to me that a few teams may be considering an old-fashioned offensive mentality that might be more from the Vince Lombardi school than the spread offense of 2007. It just might be time to send two big in-line tight end types out on to the field with a big old-fashioned fullback and a power runner. It might just be time to punch these quick defenses right in the nose with some smash-mouth power football. ..."

I think the Skins currently HAVE that power offense ... and making it the focus for THIS season is, to me, the reason they went after Fred Davis. [Assuming that Jason Campbell is going to get a short reprieve in the demand for top performance b/c he is starting on yet ANOTHER offensive scheme ... which itself is currently a working draft in progress ....]

I also think that it is going to be interesting to see how they keep the same running game but have WC passing attack.

CP would have a better time in a WC run game, zone blocking, slant runs etc. But now he will be catching balls a lot more so Betts will factor in much more than he did last year.

It would be nice to see the split back set with two RB's.. betts and portis.

cL, I'll nominate the Norval era + ownership limbo period as the darkest period of Skins fandom. Spurrier was only two seasons, and then poof! he was gone. Brutal but brief.

It seemed like Norv's tenure would never end, mediocrity with just enough moments of goodness that you'd have this temporary insanity where he looked like a genius again and you Believed in him... and then when the Squire passed away and he had not handed the reigns to his son and the league got involved and the whole Milstein thing happened and we STILL didn't have an owner and nobody wanted to sign with us... it was such a mess, such a mess...

0 TCCLs for Norv
0 TCCLs for Spurrier
1 TCCL for linking to that shot of Spurrier's bizarre lip-flapping expression of get-me-back-to-college-football-where-my-schtick-works disgust

-Nate in the PDX

Look here Maury, Phil, Oprah, or whatever of those personalities you're trying emulate here, but obviously I'm not the only one who found your 9:43 gobbledygook long winded simply not fitting for THIS forum. It isn't your blog and I'm not trying to tell you what to post. But understand, if you post something that long, that ISN'T football related then you're going to be needled and picked at.

Face it. Now go have a warm glass of milk and take a kleenex. You appear to be very irritable right now as evident by your excessive crying.

I'm still trying to get over you and your post. Myself? Not so much.

0 TCCLs for that super-long Lost paste
4 TCCLs for pop culture-related jibba jabba up here, which is a surefire method to keep the conversation going in the offseason, and beats the tar out of politics.

3 TCCLs for Walter Brennan
4 TCCLs for Andy Devine
5 TCCLs for Divine

5 TCCLs for today's being Friday

-Nate in the PDX

I think the Skins currently HAVE that power offense ... and making it the focus for THIS season is, to me, the reason they went after Fred Davis. [Assuming that Jason Campbell is going to get a short reprieve in the demand for top performance b/c he is starting on yet ANOTHER offensive scheme ... which itself is currently a working draft in progress ....]

Posted by: dcsween | May 16, 2008 10:36 AM

The fundamental question is how do you mesh power running with WC passing? The formations are so much different we could easily telegraph what we are going to run.

A WC tenet is to pass to open the run. So how then do we keep defenses honest? JC struggled when he faked a hand off and then had to find his recievers down field. WC predicats a 3 to 5 step drop, so that doesnt leave room for the play action fake. So Anytime JC turns to look at the rb we will be tipping the run.

And a WC o doesnt really work that good with one WR and a jumbo or elephant package.

Hope it works

So, focusing on the present, I ask you: Which O-Player is going to respond best to knew Chesepeake version of WCO?

Posted by: chris Larry | May 16, 2008 10:24 AM

That's simple, Clinton Portis. Usually RB's have good numbers under the WCO, when given the ball (I'm thinking Westbrook in Philly). If the Skins play some type of spread WCO, like in Green Bay, then Portis should put up HUGE digits.

Sadly I think Mike Sellars role in the offense will be minimized, if they run the spread system IMO.

[tsh, might be best to ITAnon].

On the new Chesapeake Coast Offense that Zorn is building, I have to believe that The Owner (as much as he may have been salivating over Chad Johnson) could have been referring to the basic offensive successes when he said "continuity" and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" (though I think the latter was a quote in a different context).

The Skins best games were when they ate up the clock with time of possession with the power running game (plus various flirtations with the short passing game, see e.g., dink and dunk for three years, as well as the short passes for first downs this past season). Portis on the Sellers dog sled is and always has been the bread-and-butter of that offensive attack.

Add some quick passing opportunities with BIGGER receivers, and quality at tight end, and speed defenses are on their heels.

Score point for optimism.

Sween, the problem is if you have a quick passing system and a power running game, eveything the qb drops back without faking the hand off, it is a quick pass and all CB's jump the routes.

If he does turn then it is a run and the safties will be in the box in no time...

I disagree that you can not have a power running game in the WCO, and you do not have to tip of the defense. there is no reason for mike selleres role to decrease. mack strong has gone to the pro bowl for his role as a fullback in the WCO. seattle has the perfect blend of WCO passing and running game to keep you honest. at least a couple of years ago they did

This could be wishful thinking but I don't see the doom and gloom for Sellers.

1. Mack Strong was huge in the Hawks O, can't sellers fill that role?

2. Most good coaches (crossing fingers) will recognize that a dude like sellers, while maybe not initially in their schemes, needs to be on the feild b/c of FB intangibles. Sellers will make Zorn a believer.

3. The season will be significantly less fun if he rides the pine...and I think it will be a f-u-n season!

The fundamental question is how do you mesh power running with WC passing? The formations are so much different we could easily telegraph what we are going to run. ... A WC tenet is to pass to open the run.

Posted by: Zebra | May 16, 2008 10:43 AM

OK about fundamental tenets, but I'm saying it doesn't have to be "pass to open the run" or that the fundamental question is how to mesh power running with WC passing.

I say that this season's fundamental question is how to mesh WC passing with power running.

Look, every so often, something comes along that changes the game ... some flash or light bulb that goes on in the head(s) of some team's coaches ... witness the Gibbs' H-back offense or the Tampa 2 defense. Gibbs' H-back offense was a modification of Bill Walsh's passing attack.

Zorn's head is (or at least should be) steeped deeply enough in the mechanics, what works/when/how, in the passing game that he should be able to layer it on top of a basic, power running game (see O-coordinator from Titans, who had to rely on a POWER RUNNING game -- LenDale and the other guy -- who was an RB coach ... with whom Zorn actually played the game), as well as the RB coach he pilfered from Seattle. Then this MoneyBall offensive assistant (Meidt ... QB coach?) who has a head for statistically sound offensive thinking.

I'm saying that the passing game will be layered on top of the running game ... and I think cL named it for what is will be ... Chesepeake Coast offense ... or maybe Western SHORE offense...

Norf Turnah? No Fuhrag! No Fun!
Spurrier? No Fuhrag! No Fun!

Long Lost Post? Too long. One Fuhrag! Little fun!

Friday Night? Six Fuhrag! Lots fun!

[tsh, might be best to ITAnon].

Posted by: dcsween | May 16, 2008 10:46 AM

Here is your first "reach around" post of the day. I think he's a big boy, he can handle himself, without the BPD (Blog Police Department) getting involved. Sit down, mind your business, and keep posting whatever, Officer asscrumb.

GO;

Power running vs WC is not the FB. I agree sellers should be fine.

But Seattles running game was WC, just with a lead blocker since their runner was not the speed demon.

Alexander is a power back, but the pitch and slant runs where their Bread and Butter.

Power Running will be off tackle, 40 gut and pulling guards.

Seattle had a good enough line to not always need a TE in along the line. So they could have 5 lineman a full back and RB to run the ball.

We dont have that line, or the big back. CP would be well served to use his speed.

1. Mack Strong was huge in the Hawks O, can't sellers fill that role?

Posted by: chris Larry | May 16, 2008 10:55 AM

My recollection about Sellers as a RECEIVER was that he had a dropping problem, but it seems more like it was an issue of him turning upfield rather than bad hands, so maybe they can work on that. Under Saunders' O, it didn't seem like there was much intention of using the FB as a receiver.

I'm saying that the passing game will be layered on top of the running game ... and I think cL named it for what is will be ... Chesepeake Coast offense ... or maybe Western SHORE offense...

Posted by: dcsween | May 16, 2008 10:56 AM

This could be true since we know he will not be doing a traditional WCO, just WC passing.

Either way, Having our smallish recievers catch a 5 yard slant is much better than having them do 15 yard ins into the teeth of the d. I hated seeing 82 having to duck down as soon as he caught the ball.

He and Moss are punt returners... get them the ball in space so they can make moves. Let the big boys catch over the middle and rumble.

We dont have that line, or the big back. CP would be well served to use his speed.

Posted by: Zebra | May 16, 2008 10:57 AM

Agree to disagree. Skins' backs (other than Rock) are no shorter or lighter than Seattle's ... all around 5'11" to 6'. Looking at the rosters though, what stood out to me is that Seattle has FOUR FBs on the roster, 6'0" - 6'2" (the tall on is the kid from WVU, Owen Schmitt).

You know I think that we make football way more complicated than it has to be. regardless of personel you can still have a power running game and a west coast offense. power running is not always the plays you run but how you run. you can have a spread power game. you can have a WC pass offesne out of an I-form or power set. it is how you play not what you play.

Wow! How could I forget Mack "He So" Strong. Dude was a beast for years! Mike Sellars would fill in nicely in THAT scheme.

But if they're running a spread WCO, isn't the FB expendable? Me thinking they're running the spread rather than the traditional WCO is due to the receivers on the team. A five wide set could have:

Moss
Randel El
Thomas
Kelly
Cooley

Two TE sets:
Davis
Cooley
Moss
Randel El
Portis

3 WR sets:
Moss or Randle El
Thomas
Cooley or Kelly
Portis
Sellars

Of couse these are only the backs and receivers they'll be potentially lining up.

Scary.

He and Moss are punt returners... get them the ball in space so they can make moves. Let the big boys catch over the middle and rumble.

Posted by: Zebra | May 16, 2008 11:05 AM

Agree to agree ... no one can deny those speedsters once they get their hands on the ball.

In other news, I was thinking about Rock v. Devin Thomas a return guys ... and body types, like whether Thomas is too tall or whether height might make a difference. Josh Cribbs (Browns) has the same body type as Thomas (and I still say Cribbs is superior to Devin Hester). It just feels like Rock's days are numbered as one of the "core Skins" ...

I guess I see the Chesapeake Shore Offense looking a lot like Seattle's which combined power running, spread, use of FB...

All of which skins personnel lines up nicely with.....

Thats the positive spin anyway!

GO, that makes sense, however they said they were keeping the same running game, so no power spread I assume.

Of course we dont know what they will do. Hopefully Zorn will recognize if something isnt working early enough to fix it befroe we get into a "too late to start our offense over now" situation

Of the Skins three FBs, I forgot that Sellers is 6'3" (Sellers = core Skin with longest projected longevity). Nemo is 5'11" and the guy they brought back, Pete Schmitt (who I recall Jasno pimping in training camp 2007) is 6'1". Schmitt seemed to me a little light (250ish) for a FB, but all of the Seattle FBs are right around there. Sellers is 285!

Hopefully Zorn will recognize if something isn't working early enough to fix it before we get into a "too late to start our offense over now" situation

Posted by: Zebra | May 16, 2008 11:12 AM

Between Zorn (raised as QB), his O-coordinator (raised as RB), and his RB coach, one would hope that AT LEAST Joe Bugel* would quickly recognize if/when/why a power spread isn't working.

*I don't think Joe Bugel gets enough love for having himself been a head coach.

I don't want to brag, but, I've got my eye patch on....and it looks sweet....

However, whomever made the comments yesterday about, "aggressive driving", and "corporate piracy", well if you combine the two of them, it gets REALLY hard. I mean, driving with a patch over one eye is hard enough.....now try and drive 'aggressively'....its rough...

that was me greg

One caveat for most of what I posted this morning, when I typed "will happen", I should have typed "could happen" or "should happen."

Sometimes I need to remind myself about the three things that determine who wins on any given Sunday (or Monday night) ... (1) injuries, (2) officiating, and (3) the coin toss.

(4) who scores more points

Zeb, just make sure you get the eye patch over the weaker of your 2 eye's.

Arr....matey.....I'd like to schedule a meeting then matey....

How was that for corporate piracy?

Close.... but waaay off

NJ Star Ledger says Renaldo Wynn had a "visit" with the Giants yesterday and his agent (surprise!) says both sides seem interested.

dcsween says "insurance for depth" behind Stahan at most.

Greg & Zebra,

How about "Arrr, matey, you see your cursor moving by itself on your screen? That's me. Arrrr."

close...but not so much

Rumors here in NYC is Giants might sign Strahan to 8 Mil/1 year new contract

or...

That he retires...

but have that divorce settlement he might need to work!

Renaldo Wynn, the only reason they brung him in is because he is still familiar with the redskins scheme and we play the Giants Week 1. if they sign him they will cut him after week 1.
Anybody else think we should bring in Takeo Spikes for depth and inside info on the Philly D-fense. Doesnt seem like anyone wants him and he could fill a void like posey did last year. not youth but experience in situational roles and goaline defenses.

The Skins have stated they plan to keep the existing smashmouth, zone blocking run offense and integrate it with a west coast style passing offense. I think it will be awesome to watch. It should also be more effective against the NFC East (smallish, speed) defenses. The strategy could be to negate the blitz by wearing the opposing defense down with run and out quick the front seven with the pass.

Sellars will probably play more of an H-back role in this offense -- lining up as either a TE or FB on certain plays...

Siris, that thought is what made remarked about the Kirwan article. The NEXT sentence from the clip above made me think that Kirwan could well have been talking to Zorn:

"One coach told me his team's divisional opponents dictate this switch -- tighten the line splits down so quick defensive linemen can't penetrate a gap, and roll a short-yardage philosophy out in the middle of the field."

SKIPPY RESPLAINS "LOST"

Last night's "Lost" begun with a Fish Forward which found the "Crash Boom Six" on a C-130 Hercules being flew to Hawaii. The Survividors include:

+A fat guy so nice, they named him twice: Hurley and Hugo
+Jack the Appendix Guy
+The Korean Woman of her dead husband
+The Hot chick and her Care Baby
+The Iraqian Red Guard, Right Said Fred.

Then it flushed back in time where everyone is in a pickle in the Island.

Michael, who is still black, and Desdemona Tutu are still on the boat. Said, having had to take his powdered dingy, traversed back to the Island. Using an unlimited supply of invisible gas, he sets up a shuttle relay to bring people to the freighter who don't know it could blow up real good.

Then there's a flush forward where the Oceanic Sex announce plans to end the War in Iraq by 2013.

Meanwhile, about 150 bad guys have been brung to the Island in one tiny chopper and are looking for Orchids. The fat guy is sweating and everyone is going to and from the beach like it's a potato sack race. The only one missing is the Smoke Monster who has been detained by the EPA.

Ben Kingsley, who says "I always have a plan, even if our writers don't," feeds Hugo a snack and then surrenders to the bad guys, who also captured Kate and Alley. Later they detain two ABC execs sent to the Island in a desperate attempt to stem runaway casting overages.

During another flush forward, Cheech, of Cheech and Chong, gives Hurly a car. Cheech has also been giving "Lost's" producers an unlimited supply of Weed. If Skippy's wrong, YOU explain these plot twits and turns.

The show ends with a tease for the upchucking seasoned finale, which includes:

+The Oceanic Six sign a product placement deal with Nike.
+The ABC Suits are waterboarded to death; judge rules it justifiable homicide.
+Hurley Hugo gets a new name, "Hey Lard A$$!!"
+The Island moves to New York harbor, renames itself Staten, buys a lovely smock.
+Complications lead Jack to self-Lobotomize, as do dmany iehard fans trying to keep up.
+Ben calls his agent, says he needs a plan to ditch this turkey while he's still hot.

Sween, the article on teams going to a power game interested me. For years, I ahve had this theory. If you open the NFL rulebook, right there on page 1, it says "to win, you must pass the football". And the rest of the rulebook goes on to favor the passing game.

So teams have gone out and developed their teams around passing the ball and defending the pass. Which means speed over power. And guys who can cover over guys who can tackle.

The real issue with a power approach is that you must commit to it. You must invest in guys who can power run block, but might not be great at pass blocking. Tight ends who aren't good receivers but are excellent blockers, etc. If it doesn't work, you will lose game after game.

Now I could tell you about my offense, which would bring championships to whoever uses it, but hey, why take the chance

Folks, don't worry about Mike Sellers. The guy can also play tight end, so if our 2nd round "gem" doesn't feel like getting out of bed in the morning, Big Mike can be the blocking TE. At 285, the guy blocks like a guard anyway. Besides, the guy made a ton of catches in the red zone back in 2005 and was a big reason for the playoff run that year. All the more reason why I HATED the Fred Davis pick...

Skippy,
Who gives two shi*s about lost???

Anacostia Coast Offense?

-Nate in the PDX

I was one of the people that wrote on behalf of Monk. Among Monk's HOF critics was Zimmerman of SI who favored the deep threat guys. But the evidence is that reliable receivers are more effective. Deep plays are high risk/high reward. Turns out that concept of a first down makes lower risk, lower reward plays MORE effective. Which is why those who tried to diminish Monk by calling him a possession receiver were just wrong.

The power run game is the ultimate low risk, low reward game. But if you get 4 yards a carry, every carry, and don't make a mistake -- you score a TD every time.

I say sign Takeo Spikes! Not sure why the eagles let him go. We could prolly get him for a reasonable price at this point. We certainly could use more depth at LB, and he's a guy who could actually remain a starter when Rocky comes back.....

we dont really have the players (referring to skill positions) to run a power offense.

our offense for the past couple years has been best suited to a WCO game. we need to ditch this power running game approach and not look back. gibbs set us back years by installing that nonsense. it simply doesnt work CONSISTENTLY in the NFL anymore. it certainly doesnt work in harmony with a WCO. we can't straddle the fence. we need to pick a philosophy and stick to it. we are either a power running offense that uses the run to set up the deep ball or we run a WCO.

brown, Sellars does turn 33 this July. I think they may have picked up Davis a little too early. They could've drafted a FB and/or TE in the later rounds. But for some reason I like EVRY pick the Skins made after being very skeptical at first.

TSH, I am vehemently agreeing to disagree....

See: Seattle Seahwaks for recent combo of Power R and WCO....

Talkshowhost -- you are correct. Power running does not work in today's NFL. Why? In part, because no one is willing to develop an innovative power run game and put the bodies in that are 'run oriented'. If I had 5 Joe Jacoby's, I'd never pass the ball. But look at how OL are looked at for the draft. Its almost always about pass protection.

It is easier to pass the ball in 2008.

The worst is trying to do too many things. Find an identity and get good at it.

cL;

I dont know if I classify seattles running game being the skins version of power running.

I didnt see them doing as much guard pulling, as someoone stated it was more of a spread power O. When we say we are sticking with our version of power O, i think of that as different.

But we dont know until we know

right, we will know in November!

disagree to agree.

F cL

In Gibbs1 we had very few plays that were run from multiple formations. What the Skins back then were able to do was their job. Opponents knew what the Skins were going to do yet could not stop us. It's about execution.

This team needs to not be cute. In Gibbs2 we could not execute to save our lives (or score a touchdown). Our line can definitely run block. And that part of the game/players are still here. We need to build our passing game from there. And learn to execute. Have a few plays that we run really well coming from multiple formations than to try and be cute doing many things, ala saunders, that we are not able to execute.

I believe the GO alluded to this earlier.

tsh

here is the link to the Jeff Jensen recap of Lost on ew.com

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20200751,00.html

f anon

watch it slap nuts

zebra, thanks for the link! now if my friend is out sick, i can still get my lost fix! best dramatic show on tv right now hands-down.

F interleague play....oh wait, nevermind.

F home court for the Cavs...yeah, thats it.

Funny how such a big deal was made when Mathis was hired. Give the F.O. some credit, they lost nothing in the Mathis deal and got a shot to see if he had any gas in the tank. That's right, $0 in bonus money was paid out.

random thought regarding mathis:

i dont think we ever intended to keep him. i think he was signed merely to make teams think we wouldnt draft receivers... or atleast not as many.

looking back, we didnt make ANY moves to strengthen our defense in the offseason even though we had opportunity to sign atleast one or two low-mid grade free agents. why not? to make other teams feel CERTAIN we would use high picks on our weak defensive line.

i think the plan all along was to get two receivers in the first 3 rounds regardless. trading down, having three 2nd rounders, getting thomas, davis, AND kelly... THAT certianly wasn't planned. but i think our general strategy of fixing our offense this year was set a long time ago.

Don't think that JLaC overreacts? Check out:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/04/why_sign_jerome_mathis_dont_as.html

Amazing how just a little blurb was said about the release.

Skewed blogging? hmmmmm...

"... The power run game is the ultimate low risk, low reward game. But if you get 4 yards a carry, every carry, and don't make a mistake -- you score a TD every time. ..."

Posted by: AL, Zeke, etc | May 16, 2008 12:26 PM

... and the defenders are exhausted, opening up the passing game ... and the explosive oppositio