****OFFICIAL 2008 Washington Redskins Thread**** (1 Viewer)

[Sidewinder16]

I hope this pays some dividends:

For his part, Zorn has spent time in some defensive meetings, particularly with the defensive backs, breaking down what Hasselbeck does, giving them as many tells, tendencies and breakdowns as possible.

I feel like the 'Skins should handle the Seahawks easily, but the past 2 games have me doubting.

 

[dgreen]

I feel like the 'Skins should handle the Seahawks easily, but the past 2 games have me doubting.

They couldn't handle the Lions easily. I agree they should, but I don't see how that happens without some big improvement in the passing game. As Jaworski likes to say, "Points come out of the passing game," and we simply aren't getting points from there. When Campbell drops back, defenses can simply focus on Moss and Cooley. Nobody else seems to be part of the passing game. ARE is to an extent, but they need something else that can free up Moss and Cooley. I'm amazed Zorn hasn't incorporated the RBs more. It was nice to see that Sellers TD last week, but that was only his 4th reception of the season.

 

[Lowen1]

I feel like the 'Skins should handle the Seahawks easily, but the past 2 games have me doubting.

They couldn't handle the Lions easily. I agree they should, but I don't see how that happens without some big improvement in the passing game. As Jaworski likes to say, "Points come out of the passing game," and we simply aren't getting points from there. When Campbell drops back, defenses can simply focus on Moss and Cooley. Nobody else seems to be part of the passing game. ARE is to an extent, but they need something else that can free up Moss and Cooley. I'm amazed Zorn hasn't incorporated the RBs more. It was nice to see that Sellers TD last week, but that was only his 4th reception of the season.

Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, but I have a good feeling about Malcom Kelly, and his ability to stretch the field and open up the offense a little. I have a feeling that Zorn expects production out of Kelly right away - that is why he was never put on IR. Once he got healthy, I think Zorn thinks MK can contribute. Sure hope I'm right.

 

[dgreen]

I feel like the 'Skins should handle the Seahawks easily, but the past 2 games have me doubting.

They couldn't handle the Lions easily. I agree they should, but I don't see how that happens without some big improvement in the passing game. As Jaworski likes to say, "Points come out of the passing game," and we simply aren't getting points from there. When Campbell drops back, defenses can simply focus on Moss and Cooley. Nobody else seems to be part of the passing game. ARE is to an extent, but they need something else that can free up Moss and Cooley. I'm amazed Zorn hasn't incorporated the RBs more. It was nice to see that Sellers TD last week, but that was only his 4th reception of the season.

Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, but I have a good feeling about Malcom Kelly, and his ability to stretch the field and open up the offense a little. I have a feeling that Zorn expects production out of Kelly right away - that is why he was never put on IR. Once he got healthy, I think Zorn thinks MK can contribute. Sure hope I'm right.

Well, he's supposed to be active this week. Since Springs and Montgomery are also expected to be active (and Washington inactive), it will be interesting to see who else is made inactive to open a spot for Kelly. Thomas? ARE is supposed to healthy, so I doubt it's him. Will they dress 5 WRs?

 

[T Bell]

I feel like the 'Skins should handle the Seahawks easily, but the past 2 games have me doubting.

They couldn't handle the Lions easily. I agree they should, but I don't see how that happens without some big improvement in the passing game. As Jaworski likes to say, "Points come out of the passing game," and we simply aren't getting points from there. When Campbell drops back, defenses can simply focus on Moss and Cooley. Nobody else seems to be part of the passing game. ARE is to an extent, but they need something else that can free up Moss and Cooley. I'm amazed Zorn hasn't incorporated the RBs more. It was nice to see that Sellers TD last week, but that was only his 4th reception of the season.

Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, but I have a good feeling about Malcom Kelly, and his ability to stretch the field and open up the offense a little. I have a feeling that Zorn expects production out of Kelly right away - that is why he was never put on IR. Once he got healthy, I think Zorn thinks MK can contribute. Sure hope I'm right.

I'm optimistic about Kelly too - aside from his health - but I'm not sure about "stretching" the field. I'm not sure he's got the speed for that. The good news is that he doesn't need to with Moss there. If he can get separation on short and intermediate range routes, that would be a huge asset to the team because Cooley is basically they only large possession receiver at the moment.

 

[fatness]

When Campbell drops back, defenses can simply focus on Moss and Cooley. Nobody else seems to be part of the passing game. ARE is to an extent, but they need something else that can free up Moss and Cooley. I'm amazed Zorn hasn't incorporated the RBs more. It was nice to see that Sellers TD last week, but that was only his 4th reception of the season.

I don't disagree with what you wrote. But I think it's also accurate to say that when Campbell drops back, defenses focus on getting to Campbell. That more than anything else is disrupting the passing game. It doesn't matter who is open when the QB is getting hit.I don't know why Heyer is not on the field. Samuels is hurt, Jansen is lousy at pass protection, they're both becoming more and more like turnstiles.

 

[dgreen]

Link

Gibbs cheering on Redskins from afar

November 13, 2008 10:17 AM

As the Redskins prepared to square off with the Pittsburgh Steelers on "Monday Night Football," their Hall of Fame former coach spent the day fishing in Texas. For Joe Gibbs, retirement from football may have finally taken.

He's still heavily involved with his NASCAR team, but his days of spending the night at the office are behind him. When we talked before the Steelers-Redskins game (Week 9), Gibbs sounded like any other fan (who happens to own three Super Bowl rings). He'd remained in Dallas for an extra day after a race at Texas Motor Speedway, and he'd made sure that one of his close friends had a leather sofa and plenty of soft drinks on hand.

"I've always been a good fan of football," he said. "In general, I don't drive myself crazy and get too technical with what's happening on TV. I can sort of sit back and enjoy football like anyone else."

Gibbs said he's thoroughly enjoyed seeing his former players have success under Jim Zorn, but he thought it was important to distance himself from the organization for a while.

"I'd been around so long," Gibbs said. "I just felt like it was important that a new coach not have me hanging around all the time. I think coach Zorn has been fantastic. He kept a lot of our guys together, and I think that's been really important. But I didn't want him asking, 'Is Joe looking over my shoulder?'"

Sunday races have prevented him from watching every game, but he's looking forward to attending a couple of games when the NASCAR season ends this weekend. Gibbs said he still leaves occasional voicemails for players and former assistants, but he's careful not to spend a lot of time talking football.

Zorn reached out to Gibbs soon after taking the job, and the two had breakfast together before a preseason game in Charlotte. Some of you might recall that the Redskins lost that night to the Panthers, 47-3, and Zorn's doubters began to emerge. But from the start, Gibbs made it clear that he wouldn't be offering any unsolicited advice.

"We didn't talk about strategy," Gibbs said. "I asked him if there's anything he wanted to know about the organization. There was no reason to get technical with football stuff. He's very much his own man, so we just sat there and talked about a lot of different things."

When Gibbs retired last January, he talked about spending more time with his 3-year-old grandson, Taylor, who was receiving treatments for leukemia. Being away from his family during such an intense time had taken its toll on Gibbs, and the tragic death of safety Sean Taylor on Nov. 27, 2007 was something he never could've prepared for.

The Redskins were 5-7 when they attended Taylor's funeral in Miami. Gibbs somehow kept the team together, though, and it rallied to win four games and qualify for the playoffs.

"The end of the Buffalo game [that dropped the Redskins to 5-7] was a disaster," said Gibbs. "Then we beat Chicago, Minnesota, New York and Dallas to get in the playoffs. Personally, those may have been the most gratifying four games of my entire career."

Gibbs thought he'd finally shut the door on his coaching career, but his son, J.D., volunteered him to serve as offensive coordinator for his grandson Jackson's 10-and-under football team. As you might imagine, Gibbs took his new role seriously. One day in practice, he walked into the White Storm's offensive huddle and showed them some cards on which he'd drawn several plays.

As he was explaining a running play, a 9-year-old interrupted to ask, "Did you draw those or buy them somewhere?"

Even Hall of Fame coaches get stumped every now and then.

"That was a great experience," said Gibbs. "I was used to messing up 30-year-olds, not 10-year-olds."

Gibbs still loves talking about his former players. In one 20-minute interview, he told stories about Gary Clark, Art Monk, Ricky Sanders, Santana Moss, Jason Campbell and Clinton Portis. He's especially proud of the season that Portis is having.

"When we made the deal with Denver, I realized right away that when you got [Portis] to game day and he put the pads on, he knew what football was all about," said Gibbs. "And that's what the team respects so much about him. He's the best running back in the league in terms of protecting the passer.

"Without the ball, he's the most impressive player I've ever been around. When you have a physical player at running back, it carries over to the rest of the team. I always felt better on game day when I looked over and saw him getting ready."

Gibbs spent the rest of our conversation reeling off names of people in the organization whom he misses. But there wasn't a hint of regret in his voice about walking away.

"It's one of those things where you're closing in on the end of your life at some point, it's not going to be, 'I wish I spent more time coaching a football team,'" Gibbs told the Washington Post.

That is, unless you're talking about the White Storm.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Link

Gibbs thought he'd finally shut the door on his coaching career, but his son, J.D., volunteered him to serve as offensive coordinator for his grandson Jackson's 10-and-under football team. As you might imagine, Gibbs took his new role seriously. One day in practice, he walked into the White Storm's offensive huddle and showed them some cards on which he'd drawn several plays.

As he was explaining a running play, a 9-year-old interrupted to ask, "Did you draw those or buy them somewhere?"

:(

 

[Sidewinder16]

I don't know why Heyer is not on the field. Samuels is hurt, Jansen is lousy at pass protection, they're both becoming more and more like turnstiles.

They face Daryl Tapp this week who has a lot of speed on the end. I think he's a LDE. I fear that he'll be running circles around Jansen (almost literally) all day. I would much rather see Heyer going against Tapp than Jansen.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Matt Terl posts an in-depth interview with some of the training staff. Some particularly good info regarding the injury report and Portis' knee, pre-Dallas.

Obviously, there’s a level of gamesmanship in the injury report. There’s internal info, there’s public info, and so on. How much more do you guys know than what the general public does, or even than people upstairs in PR or wherever?

L: We don’t try to get too technical and medical in the internal injury report, because we know it’s going to coaches and PR and people like that. We try to stick to a level of summary – “this guy’s jogging today” or whatever. But if you look at our notes, it’s going to say, “This guy’s strength is a 4.5 on manual resistance, his range of motion has increased by 90 degrees, he’s asymptomatic,” things like that. When I design the injury report to send upstairs, it’s basically just an overview to say if a guy’s progressing or not progressing.

But, say a guy like Clinton Portis prior to the Dallas game: did you guys have a really good idea of if he was going to play or not during that whole week?

E: I think we probably had a decent idea.

L: We never rule a guy out too early, unless it’s a fracture or something where the doctor just says “No way.” We’ll take it down to the last day if we have to.

Clinton had a second-degree MCL sprain, which is what knocked Tomlinson out of the playoffs last year. Why couldn’t we just assume that meant Portis would be out just as long?

E: By definition, if you look in a book, there’ll be a book definition of a grade 2 sprain of a ligament. But if the MRI, which gives you that grade 2 MCL sprain, doesn’t match the clinical presentation and what you feel physically, then that grade is just a book definition. It’s what he can do functionally, what his range of motion is, what his strength is, what his pain tolerance is … so there’s a lot of factors that go into it.

L: Bubba’s been saying for years, “No two sprains are the same.” You can’t judge one person’s injury by someone else’s injury.

It was that disconnect between the "book definition" and what Portis was actually presenting clinically that created all the hubbub. Everyone outside the organization become so myopic with the book definition.

 

[cstu]

I feel like the 'Skins should handle the Seahawks easily, but the past 2 games have me doubting.

They couldn't handle the Lions easily. I agree they should, but I don't see how that happens without some big improvement in the passing game. As Jaworski likes to say, "Points come out of the passing game," and we simply aren't getting points from there. When Campbell drops back, defenses can simply focus on Moss and Cooley. Nobody else seems to be part of the passing game. ARE is to an extent, but they need something else that can free up Moss and Cooley. I'm amazed Zorn hasn't incorporated the RBs more. It was nice to see that Sellers TD last week, but that was only his 4th reception of the season.

If they can get the offense going a little more, I think they end up making the playoffs at 10-6 (they have the conference wins tiebreaker against the Cowboys) with this schedule leftSea - W

NYG - L

@Bal - L

@Cincy - W

Philly - W

@ SF - W

 

[dgreen]

I feel like the 'Skins should handle the Seahawks easily, but the past 2 games have me doubting.

They couldn't handle the Lions easily. I agree they should, but I don't see how that happens without some big improvement in the passing game. As Jaworski likes to say, "Points come out of the passing game," and we simply aren't getting points from there. When Campbell drops back, defenses can simply focus on Moss and Cooley. Nobody else seems to be part of the passing game. ARE is to an extent, but they need something else that can free up Moss and Cooley. I'm amazed Zorn hasn't incorporated the RBs more. It was nice to see that Sellers TD last week, but that was only his 4th reception of the season.

If they can get the offense going a little more, I think they end up making the playoffs at 10-6 (they have the conference wins tiebreaker against the Cowboys) with this schedule leftSea - W

NYG - L

@Bal - L

@Cincy - W

Philly - W

@ SF - W

SEA, CIN, and SF are the must wins. After that, they just need to win one of NYG, BAL, and PHI to get to 10-6 and probably a playoff appearance. No, I don't think they can win all three, but here are some reasons they can win each individual game:NYG - They'll be inducting Sean Taylor into the Redskins Ring of Fame pregame and, being the one year anniversary of his death, it will be an emotional week leading up to the game. This should be a much different emotional ride than the Buffalo game last year just after Taylor's death. Also, they hung close with the Giants week 1 despite a pitiful offensive performance. If, as you say, they can get their offense going, I think they have a shot against NY.

BAL - It will definitely be a tough, tough game. But, the Ravens aren't anything special. They're simply a solid team. They've only beaten one team so far with a winning record (Miami). Also, the Redskins should have a large fan base of their own in the stadium, so it won't be your typical road game.

PHI - I think there is a good chance things start to fall apart in Philly. This may end up being the easiest of these three games and the most winnable.

 

[{Syrus}]

LOL @ skin fans calling a game against the Seahawks a "key game." Problems in DC?

 

[dgreen]

LOL @ skin fans calling a game against the Seahawks a "key game." Problems in DC?

All games involving 6-4 teams are key this week.

 

[{Syrus}]

LOL @ skin fans calling a game against the Seahawks a "key game." Problems in DC?

All games involving 6-4 teams are key this week.

The skins are finally off cloud 9 and playing to their talent level.

 

[dgreen]

LOL @ skin fans calling a game against the Seahawks a "key game." Problems in DC?

All games involving 6-4 teams are key this week.

The skins are finally off cloud 9 and playing to their talent level.

So it's not a key game for them?

 

[Todd Andrews]

We need to stretch the field more, IMO, and I hope Kelly helps. I like Zorn's playcalling in general but he has been too cautious lately. I know O line play dictates a lot of what he can do but Moss called him out on it this week after the last game and he was right. We need to go downfield more. This year we are taking less shots than last year's team which is a real problem. I want to see them really go after Seattle.

 

[Sidewinder16]

I feel like the 'Skins should handle the Seahawks easily, but the past 2 games have me doubting.

They couldn't handle the Lions easily. I agree they should, but I don't see how that happens without some big improvement in the passing game. As Jaworski likes to say, "Points come out of the passing game," and we simply aren't getting points from there. When Campbell drops back, defenses can simply focus on Moss and Cooley. Nobody else seems to be part of the passing game. ARE is to an extent, but they need something else that can free up Moss and Cooley. I'm amazed Zorn hasn't incorporated the RBs more. It was nice to see that Sellers TD last week, but that was only his 4th reception of the season.

Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part, but I have a good feeling about Malcom Kelly, and his ability to stretch the field and open up the offense a little. I have a feeling that Zorn expects production out of Kelly right away - that is why he was never put on IR. Once he got healthy, I think Zorn thinks MK can contribute. Sure hope I'm right.

I'm optimistic about Kelly too - aside from his health - but I'm not sure about "stretching" the field. I'm not sure he's got the speed for that. The good news is that he doesn't need to with Moss there. If he can get separation on short and intermediate range routes, that would be a huge asset to the team because Cooley is basically they only large possession receiver at the moment.

This goes along with what Lowen was thinking. The team worked on plays specifically for Kelly this week:

Rookie wide receiver Malcolm Kelly completed practice this week without experiencing knee problems and said he hopes to play against the Seahawks.

"We'll just have to see," Kelly said. "I got in some formations just for me, some little plays here and there just for me, so we'll just have to see.

"Coach [Jim] Zorn talks about the plays and then he says, 'If you're activated, then we're going to do this and do this.' It is a pretty good sign, but you never know."

...

"I anticipate getting him involved if he's active," Zorn said. "But how much?

"He's going to be a part of the group if he's active, and then we'll see how much he can actually go. We have some veteran receivers and he hasn't been out doing a whole lot [this season], so I'm just trying to get him involved."

 

[{Syrus}]

Saying it now. Redskins don't even make the playoffs. There. Deal with it.

 

[T Bell]

LOL @ skin fans calling a game against the Seahawks a "key game." Problems in DC?

All games involving 6-4 teams are key this week.

The skins are finally off cloud 9 and playing to their talent level.

@ the trolling Cowboys fans. How's that "Super Bowl favorite" team of yours doing? Are they going to get another playoff bye that you can try to argue is actually like a playoff win? Keep us posted, genius.

 

[fatness]

This goes along with what Lowen was thinking. The team worked on plays specifically for Kelly this week:

I'd like to see Kelly on short and midrange patterns over the middle. A reliable passing option over the middle would do a lot for their passing game.

 

[thayman]

Saying it now. Redskins don't even make the playoffs. There. Deal with it.

It's very possible. SEA, SF, and CIN should all be wins, if they can beat one of PHI, NYG or BALT that takes them to 10-6 of course I'm not completly sold that either Washington or Dallas will be in the playoffs this year. Both teams have a very small margin of error the last 6 games.

 

[dallas428]

im feeling oh so zornie...anyone else?

 

[southeastjerome]

Saying it now. Redskins don't even make the playoffs. There. Deal with it.

It's very possible. SEA, SF, and CIN should all be wins, if they can beat one of PHI, NYG or BALT that takes them to 10-6 of course I'm not completly sold that either Washington or Dallas will be in the playoffs this year. Both teams have a very small margin of error the last 6 games.

Yes, SEA, SF and CIN should all be wins, but all the games are away. Traveling across the country like that is no gimme against any team. And Cincy has played every NFC East team tough thus far. I think they end up going 2-1 in those 3 games. It's a stretch to think the Redskins can beat the Giants even at home with the way they're protecting the QB and with the way the Giants rush the passer. I think the Eagles and Ro all ravens games will be the key to all this.

 

[T Bell]

im feeling oh so zornie...anyone else?

One thing's for sure, we can rely upon Dallas fans to tell us what a good head coach looks like.

 

[Bankerguy]

im feeling oh so zornie...anyone else?

One thing's for sure, we can rely upon Dallas fans to tell us what a good head coach looks like.

.....that is funny!

 

[dgreen]

This goes along with what Lowen was thinking. The team worked on plays specifically for Kelly this week:

I'd like to see Kelly on short and midrange patterns over the middle. A reliable passing option over the middle would do a lot for their passing game.

Well, they certainly had a few plays called for Kelly. He was clearly the first read on some passes and some of them were actually more than 5 yards downfield. Hopefully he can get better and better each week and help some more.

 

[dgreen]

What's with Suisham? Not that he ever had the strongest leg, but it appears to be getting weaker.

 

[Bankerguy]

What's with Suisham? Not that he ever had the strongest leg, but it appears to be getting weaker.

I noticed this as well and mentioned it in the game recap. He has been short twice now from 40-45 yards.Was wind a factor?

 

[fatness]

According to Kevin Sheehan this morning the wind was a factor. And he's also guessing Suisham's leg is getting tired.

 

[dgreen]

What's with Suisham? Not that he ever had the strongest leg, but it appears to be getting weaker.

I noticed this as well and mentioned it in the game recap. He has been short twice now from 40-45 yards.Was wind a factor?

Mare had no trouble getting kickoffs to the endzone and hitting a 45-yarder in the same direction as Suisham's short FG.

 

[Bankerguy]

He was really short on one against Dallas I believe.

 

[dgreen]

He was really short on one against Dallas I believe.

Yep. From about the same distance.Takes me back to Eddie Murray coming up short in back-to-back weeks from about 40 yards in 2000. Those ended up getting Norv fired.

 

[fatness]

Well, they certainly had a few plays called for Kelly. He was clearly the first read on some passes and some of them were actually more than 5 yards downfield. Hopefully he can get better and better each week and help some more.

I think Kelly is ahead of Thomas in terms of his understanding of the game, so if he avoids injury I'd expect to see him out there more.

 

[T Bell]

Well, they certainly had a few plays called for Kelly. He was clearly the first read on some passes and some of them were actually more than 5 yards downfield. Hopefully he can get better and better each week and help some more.

I think Kelly is ahead of Thomas in terms of his understanding of the game, so if he avoids injury I'd expect to see him out there more.

Agreed. People forget that Thomas was a junior college player with one year of Div 1 football before he was drafted. He may have the higher ceiling than Kelly - some have contributed his style/profile to Boldin - but Kelly was recruited and played all his college career for an elite program. It's not that surprising that Kelly is more polished.

 

[fatness]

Portis is back in the league lead for rushing, again a frontrunner for MVP honors, and set to smash his career high for yardage. His current pace would give him about 1,750 yards; he's never passed 1,600. And he's done it without practicing the past two weeks because of a variety of injuries.

"He really has been banged up, and he shouldn't have played a few games," Sellers said. "He gets through it. I don't know how he does it, but as long as he keeps doing it, I'm not going to complain."

You might have seen where Portis said after yesterday's game that both his legs and both his arms were bleeding. I asked Sellers about that, and he said that he also was bleeding all over his body, pointing to a massive shiny gash on his left shin and another bandage on his left knee. He said the turf at Qwest Field was the worst he had ever seen.

"I don't know what was wrong with that turf, but that was the first time I ever got burned like that," Sellers said. "Me and Clinton were both after the game in the training room, just like "aiiiigh," because we had turf burns everywhere.... I mean, I had a big old chunk of skin gone."

JLC

 

[fatness]

Old pictures of Jim Zorn re.

 

[fatness]

Springs played some safety (and didn't look too good on running plays). Jason Taylor played some LB. Deangelo Hall played cornerback a good bit.

 

[dgreen]

Springs played some safety (and didn't look too good on running plays).

I remember a couple nice plays against the run. One, they left a huge gap between the C and the LT, begging Seattle to run there. Hasselbeck audibled to a run in that gap and Spring perfectly hit that spot and made the tackle for a short gain.

Jason Taylor played some LB.

I noticed that early on. It looked like they were playing a 5-man DL on Seattle's first possession. It's really about time Taylor does something. Isn't this around the time Andre Carter started to excel his first year here?

Deangelo Hall played cornerback a good bit.

It appeared Smoot was the odd man out on quite a few plays.I thought Sellers had a really good game. I remember one run in particular where he took out two defenders, leading Portis to an 8-yard run. I loved the screen to Moss with Sellers out in the slot. Beautiful design. And, it was nice to see the ball in Sellers' hands some. They threw him a designed screen and even gave him a carry. It would have been an A++ day for him had he not dropped that one 3rd down TD pass.I don't remember seeing Shaun Alexander on the field. Hallelujah!

 

[fatness]

I may not have watched Springs often enough during the game to have seen the running plays where he did well. And I agree with you about Jason Taylor --- he's had no impact at all so far.

One thing I noticed was that Blache blitzed a lot more than he usually does, using cornerbacks and safeties.

And with Deangelo Hall on the field that much, maybe signing him and cutting Torrence was not such a bad idea. The plays where I watched Hall he was where he should be, and I remember him batting one pass out of a receiver's hands.

 

[dgreen]

One thing I noticed was that Blache blitzed a lot more than he usually does, using cornerbacks and safeties.

The commentators mentioned that Zorn knew how much Hasselbeck hates when a LB is up close in the A gap. They were really able to disrupt him for big chunks of the game. Then, after going up 17-10, they seemed to go back to a 4-man rush for some reason. And, shocker, Seattle marched down and scored a TD.

 

[roadkill1292]

Since we poor few Baltimorons don't have a team thread of our own, thought I'd mention in here that the Skins-Ravens game on Dec. 7 has been moved to Sunday night.

Here's hoping the game will still be meaningful for our felonious Ratbirds. Looking forward to discussing the game with my neighbor, fatness. (tutus optional, gb)

 

[Sidewinder16]

I don't remember seeing Shaun Alexander on the field. Hallelujah!

The gamebook confirms he was a DNP.

 

[fatness]

Since we poor few Baltimorons don't have a team thread of our own, thought I'd mention in here that the Skins-Ravens game on Dec. 7 has been moved to Sunday night.Here's hoping the game will still be meaningful for our felonious Ratbirds. Looking forward to discussing the game with my neighbor, fatness. (tutus optional, gb)

We probably should get together and watch it. But that's risky. One of us will be elated, highstepping through fields of daisies out by the Pork & Beans Outlet Store, and one of us will walk away a broken and bitter man, a shell of his former self, alone under the bridge on Rte 140 with a bottle.

 

[dgreen]

And, it was nice to see the ball in Sellers' hands some. They threw him a designed screen...

From Zorn's PC today:

"There were a couple of times when Ladell should’ve been in there or Clinton should’ve been in there – like the screen. We were gonna use him on third down, but nobody knew I was calling the screen. So I called the screen and Mike’s in there, and everybody’s going, ‘Oh no! Mike’s in there!’”

 

[fatness]

‘Oh no! Mike’s in there!

 

[dgreen]

Link

Remembering 21: Taylor's Greatest Hits

I asked two of the men who worked most closely with Sean Taylor, and who studied a ton of his film, to think back on a couple of his most memorable plays. Both Gregg Williams, the Redskins' former assistant head coach - defense, and safeties coach Steve Jackson pointed to massive blows Taylor delivered in his rookie season, and Williams recalled another play from early in Taylor's career when he made a play based on his mere presence alone.

Nov. 14, 2004: Against Cincinnati RB Rudi Johnson at FedEx Field.

"I have a lot of plays, but one particular play and one particular game was versus Cincinnati," Jackson said. "Rudi Johnson ran an outside sweep and they were in the lead, I think just really running out the clock. Sean came from the other side of the field and clotheshung [sic] him and you could see on the field their whole team looking like, 'Where the [expletive] did he come from?' And Rudi looked up and that was just Sean."

Said Williams: "I vividly remember the play. He sniffed out that play. it was a pitch to Rudi and not only did he arrive at the point of contact, he clothes-lined Rudi Johnson and at the last second Rudi saw it ... and was trying to duck out of the way."

Nov. 28, 2004: Against Pittsburgh RB Willie Parker at Heinz Field.

"There was another play everybody talked about when we played Pittsburgh in 2004, his rookie year," Jackson said. "[QB Ben] Roethlisberger scrambled out and we've got Sean playing the half field on the other sideline, and he took off running, and by the time he got the ball in the air and when Willie Parker caught it, Sean hit him so hard that the ball went flying one way, and his helmet went flying the other way. And then (Taylor) got up and he did Joey Porter's little kick thing right on that sideline, and everybody looked like, 'Who is this guy, and where did he come from?' Those were the things his rookie year when everybody recognized how special he was."

"I recall that play, definitely. I recall that hit," Williams said. "Sean traveled - we measured it - about 40-42 yards back across the field and was able to cover that ground and in that little time. And the hit was so violent that it blew out [Parker's] cheek pads and his chin strap and knocked his helmet off."

Dec. 11, 2005: Against Arizona RB J.J. Arrington at Sun Devil Stadium.

"I remember another play when we went to Arizona in 2005. It was a fourth-down play and it was a toss play to running back J.J. Arrington. They needed that play and Sean had put so many of those violent collisions on film that J.J. went down to get away from the hit that he knew was coming from Sean on that play. And he was short on the play, and he did not make an attempt to make that gain, because of the intimidation that he had already seen on him."

That was a must-win game for the Redskins that December, when they won five in a row to finish 10-6 and earn a playoff berth.

 

[fatness]

Link

Dec. 11, 2005: Against Arizona RB J.J. Arrington at Sun Devil Stadium.

"I remember another play when we went to Arizona in 2005. It was a fourth-down play and it was a toss play to running back J.J. Arrington. They needed that play and Sean had put so many of those violent collisions on film that J.J. went down to get away from the hit that he knew was coming from Sean on that play. And he was short on the play, and he did not make an attempt to make that gain, because of the intimidation that he had already seen on him."

That was a must-win game for the Redskins that December, when they won five in a row to finish 10-6 and earn a playoff berth.

I remember this one. Arrington just melted into the ground rather than absorb the hit. The Cardinals really needed that play but Arrington's self-preservation instincts just took over.Man I wish Taylor was still alive. And playing. There are very few times in a lifetime when you get to watch football like he played it. Even if they were losing by 28 points, if he was on the field it was a riveting game because you knew you might see something you'd never seen before.

 

[dgreen]

There are very few times in a lifetime when you get to watch football like he played it.

I loved this from London Fletcher:

His favorite memory of Taylor occurred during the final moments of a game against the New York Jets last season. The Redskins were driving for the winning score in overtime, and Fletcher said he was enjoying the moment when he felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Taylor.

"'Man, don't you wish we could go back out there,'" Fletcher recalls Taylor saying. "He was so competitive that he was a little bummed we had to stop playing. That's the type of guy he was."

 

[T Bell]

Link

Dec. 11, 2005: Against Arizona RB J.J. Arrington at Sun Devil Stadium.

"I remember another play when we went to Arizona in 2005. It was a fourth-down play and it was a toss play to running back J.J. Arrington. They needed that play and Sean had put so many of those violent collisions on film that J.J. went down to get away from the hit that he knew was coming from Sean on that play. And he was short on the play, and he did not make an attempt to make that gain, because of the intimidation that he had already seen on him."

That was a must-win game for the Redskins that December, when they won five in a row to finish 10-6 and earn a playoff berth.

I remember this one. Arrington just melted into the ground rather than absorb the hit. The Cardinals really needed that play but Arrington's self-preservation instincts just took over.Man I wish Taylor was still alive. And playing. There are very few times in a lifetime when you get to watch football like he played it. Even if they were losing by 28 points, if he was on the field it was a riveting game because you knew you might see something you'd never seen before.

I pointed out that play on this board just after it happened in a thread about Arrington. That pretty much ended the discussion about him ever being a good player.And on the rest. You didn't have to watch Taylor play for very long to realize that you were watching greatness. It's a pretty rare athlete and player that can stand out like he did, especially on defense, among an entire league filled with supremely gifted players.