***Official*** 2009 Washington Redskins Thread (1 Viewer)

[DCThunder]

I was flipping back and forth between the game and Big Brother but every time I flipped, the Ravens were on offense (or there was a commercial) and they were gaining 10 to 15 yeards on off tackle running plays. If the Skins D didn't hold them to two FGs on their first two scoring drives, this thing would have been 35-0.

But the little I did see of the Skins offense was more of last year. Dinks, dunks, runs to nowhere. Did they take ANY shots down field? I realize you don't open up the playbook in pre-season, but sheesh, I hope we don't have a season of this to look forward to. All in all, Big Brother was way more exciting.

 

[Marvelous]

A First Half of Futility

Impressions from the first half of the Redskins' first preseason game...well, if you're a first- or second-year guy, it's been mostly bad.

Let's review: Second-year corner Justin Tryon, who has looked great in practice, has been beaten four or five times in the game. Rookie Kevin Barnes was beaten twice, including on the touchdown pass at the end of the half. Second-year tight end Fred Davis has fumbled twice, losing one, and second-year tackle Devin Clark was called for a false start.

Marques Hagans (two drops) has also not looked too great. And linebacker Alfred Fincher got lost in coverage and gave up a big gain.

Meanwhile, the Redskins' starting offense had two drives and punted both times. The first was a six-play drive that ended with Hagans letting a catch go through his hands. The second was three-and-out.

The Redskins' defense, meanwhile, has given up three drives of 67 yards or more.

Yikes

CB is definitely an area of concern. Hope Hall and Rogers manage to stay healthy or we're going to be in trouble.

Barnes is a rookie, so I don't know where he stands just yet. Tryon's offseason improvements with Darrell Green were a nice story, but he looks like nothing but a special teamer and a dime CB to me, at best. But yeah, if Rogers and/or Hall go down, I'm not going to be optimistic about our pass defense.

Wouldn't it be nice to have someone like Leigh Torrence on the roster? I just can't let this go.

 

[sinatravolta]

maybe the line is more excited to block for Portis?

The Ravens are typically one of the top 3 teams at stopping the run. They are a little more vulnerable to the pass. It doesn't shock me that the Redskins had a hard time running the ball or doing that much on offense. We were also playing without our top 2 players on offense - Portis and Moss. The Ravens also strike me as a team that is a bit of an overachiever - they have veteran leaders like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and generally set a very serious tone from day 1. The difficult thing this preseason is the next 2 games (typically the most playing time for the starters - especially week 3) are against Pittsburgh and New England - who going into the season appear to be the 2 top teams in the NFL. So I'm not sure it will get much better. More concerning to me is that the D gave up over 500 yards - even if it was mostly bench guys - to a team that is probably below average on offense. Hopefully this is a wake-up call to guys that helps them work harder in camp. I just hope the Steelers/Patriots games don't go the same and the team starts to lose hope before the season starts.

 

[T Bell]

Wouldn't it be nice to have someone like Leigh Torrence on the roster? I just can't let this go.

Absolutely. Still one of the dumber moves of the last two years, and pretty remarkable that we're saying that about a #4 CB too.

 

[Dexter Manley]

DVRing the game this afternoon, and won't have a chance to watch it until Sun/Mon.

Only 3 offensive plays I saw were the ones on sportscenter featuring Bettis and JC getting sacked. Not much push on 2 Bettis rushes, but these are the Ravens.

Don't like the fact that the Ravens offense drove the field on us twice, but at least the defense stiffened in the redzone.

Pissed that I didn't get home in time to place on bet on Bmore.

 

[Sebowski]

Many can say don't panic or over react to one game and I'm still not there yet. I will point out that it does seem that we are always on the downside of these situations. Yes, it's one preseason game, but so far the score of zero and under 200 yards of total offense shows that not much has changed in over a year...when many of the guys are supposed to know the "system" a lot better.

Remember when Spurrier trounced San Fran (I think) in his first preseason game? His offense looked incredible in the preseason. I'm not taking anything away from last night's game.

 

[Bizkiteer]

Many can say don't panic or over react to one game and I'm still not there yet. I will point out that it does seem that we are always on the downside of these situations. Yes, it's one preseason game, but so far the score of zero and under 200 yards of total offense shows that not much has changed in over a year...when many of the guys are supposed to know the "system" a lot better.

Remember when Spurrier trounced San Fran (I think) in his first preseason game? His offense looked incredible in the preseason. I'm not taking anything away from last night's game.

True, but our offense didn't show a history of trouncing on other teams the previous season either. Yesterday's game (offensive wise) was like looking into the mirror and having the previous seasons stare right back at us.

 

[T Bell]

Many can say don't panic or over react to one game and I'm still not there yet. I will point out that it does seem that we are always on the downside of these situations. Yes, it's one preseason game, but so far the score of zero and under 200 yards of total offense shows that not much has changed in over a year...when many of the guys are supposed to know the "system" a lot better.

Remember when Spurrier trounced San Fran (I think) in his first preseason game? His offense looked incredible in the preseason. I'm not taking anything away from last night's game.

I knew Spurrier was an illusion even at the time because if you recall, those points were always run up against backups, never in the 1st quarter vs. starters.

 

[dgreen]

It's bizarre to me that the OL did well in the area that we worried most about - pass protection - while failing in the "easier" area of run blocking. I'm not sure what that means.

I don't know. They didn't even really try to run. It doesn't appear it was something they were trying to work on in this game. 35 pass plays and 16 run plays.I thought it was interesting that Rock was getting carries late in the game. Almost as if they are trying to decide if he'll make the team or not.

 

[fatness]

Zorn says they played too soft.

And then there was the word "soft." He used it at least five times in Friday's postmortem news conference at Redskins Park.

"We missed tackles, we were soft in other areas, both offensively and defensively, soft playing with that kind of intensity," he said. "I thought there was a lot of guys out there playing, but they didn't realize how difficult a game this really is and we paid for it in some of the situations."

If you're an NFL player, or hoping to be an NFL player, "soft" is not a word you want your coach to use when referring to you. Which made Friday a bad day to be among the young men trying to make this Redskins team.

So muted was the normally upbeat second-year coach that he was asked whether he was okay.

"I'm good; I'm fine," he said, then added, "not scoring points, not sustaining drives, it's irritating. I've got to call a better game and put our guys in a position to score, that's number one. Number two, our young guys kind of figured out that they've watched this game all their lives, they finally get a chance to go out there and play it and think it's going to be just like it was before. It's not just like it was before. It is intense. It is exact. It is passionate. It is emotional. I felt like some of the young guys saw from some of our veterans who played great that they're going to have to pick things up. We played guys who quite honestly need to improve, need to play better in the coming weeks."

Coming from Zorn, that qualifies as a tongue-lashing.

When he singled out cornerback DeAngelo Hall for praise, saying "I thought he was very much into the game, just playing Redskin football," that was not only a justified compliment, that was a message.

When he said he saw some good things on the videotape Friday morning but qualified that by adding, "We scored zero points," that was a message.

When he said of the Ravens, "This is a team that went to the AFC championship game last year" -- long pause -- "and we didn't," that was a message, too.

Not all of his messages were that subtle. He singled out the defensive line, particularly rookie Brian Orakpo, for kudos, but added that "the backups need to be better. Some of it was just age; some of the young guys out there getting a feel for the NFL. You could see hesitation; you could see us playing soft. It was kind of . . . a player on any particular play not having a plan. Just out there playing, not having a plan. You've got to have a plan."

 

[Ripleys]

Best thing I know to do after such an ulgy outing is remember that 2 of our SB teams went winless in the preseason. So you're saying there's a chance?!?

 

[fatness]

Portis

"Only thing we can do is improve after scoring no points," the eighth-year running back said.

After watching film of the game, Portis said it wasn't the Ravens who held the Redskins scoreless as much as it was the Redskins committing too many mistakes.

"They didn't do anything spectacular," he said. "We missed a lot of open reads, we missed a lot of blocks, just being in place. If we get to our assignment and do things we're supposed to do, I think that game's totally different."

Portis and his teammates were in pads Sunday morning for the first time since Thursday's game. They began practice with a rotation of punt returns, a group that briefly included Portis.

"I could still do it, so I'm trying out for it right now," said a smiling Portis, who fielded the final punt of the morning and sprinted through the coverage.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Notes from yesterday's practice:

3:59:05 pm Rookie LB/DE Brian Orakpo has worked with the LBs exclusively in both practices today. Orakpo has seen very little work with the defensive linemen the last week.10:37:42 am The Redskins continue to go 11-on-11 and the offense has outplayed the defense. QB Jason Campbell and TE Chris Cooley have picked apart the defense.10:22:28 am You wanted to see more intensity from the Redskins, well CB DeAngelo Hall and WR Marko Mitchell provided some. The two slugged it out after a play in the 11-on-11, with each throwing multiple punches.10:06:55 am RB Clinton Portis broke one for a 70-yard touchdown run in the 11-on-11.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Brennan's first response to the rumors that he and Jessica Simpson are an item (he has since denied the rumors):

So what's the truth? Should Redskins fans worry about a Jessica Simpson curse spoiling their team's chances?

"My life coach Chris Cooley said I should neither confirm nor deny it," Brennan said after Saturday morning's practice.

Brennan first caught wind of the rumor Friday morning and immediately called Cooley. "I just told him, 'That doesn't sound like a rumor that I'd want to deny,' " said Cooley, declining to reveal the nature of Brennan's relationship with Simpson.

@ "My life coach Chris Cooley"

 

[Bizkiteer]

Hey guys...I thought it might be fun if we 'Skins fans on FBG maybe played in a league. It would be an online league since most of us area scattered across the country. A re-draft ppr league (no IDP) and we can make it a low cost, so that it can give a little back at the end, but not make it a serious enough league that we have to think twice about playing each year. I'd be willing to commish or co-commish it. Depending on the site we use, that helps determine cost.

Anyone interested?

So far interested/committed:



Bizkiteer

nittanylion

ChrisCooleyFan

 

[nittanylion]

Man, I'm interested, but I can't be involved as much of anything but an Owner. I'm in 12 National High-Stakes Leagues, 2 Local High-Stakes Leagues, and a few other small money and free Leagues. I have so much invested in FF right now that between that and funding my Offshore Account, I think I could maybe afford $25 for this...I'm pretty sure between all of us, there's someone with enough 'pull' to get us set up with a free or reduced cost League at mfl. If that cost is out of the way, there's not really any need to play for anything other than bragging rights, but I'm down for anything.

 

[fatness]

I'd be in for splitting the cost of an MFL league. Bragging rights seems like enough of a prize for winning --- we'll all be here next year, and the year after that, etc.

Isn't MFL something like $65 for a league?

 

[dgreen]

Man, I'm interested, but I can't be involved as much of anything but an Owner. I'm in 12 National High-Stakes Leagues, 2 Local High-Stakes Leagues, and a few other small money and free Leagues. I have so much invested in FF right now that between that and funding my Offshore Account, I think I could maybe afford $25 for this...I'm pretty sure between all of us, there's someone with enough 'pull' to get us set up with a free or reduced cost League at mfl. If that cost is out of the way, there's not really any need to play for anything other than bragging rights, but I'm down for anything.

Please send me some sort of cheatsheet for our Survivor draft tonight.TIA

 

[Bizkiteer]

I'd be in for splitting the cost of an MFL league. Bragging rights seems like enough of a prize for winning --- we'll all be here next year, and the year after that, etc. Isn't MFL something like $65 for a league?

Yeah, it's somewhere around that. If it were, like nittanylion said, $25 x 12 owners = $300. We'd pay for the league site (MFL) with that and payouts to like the 1st place, 2nd place guys...maybe highest scoring team get small %. The payouts and entry fee would not be big (not looking for making this a killer $ league, but enough interest to not abandon their team), but help someone w/ the x-mas time. Since we all come here, it's no secret and would just be for fun. We are all FF savy enough, so it should be decent in that none of us are too much of a dummy...unless the homer gets the best of us. Sorry, again...I'd say $25 is about right. Also, 10 owners is not enough as 10 or less makes rosters too stacked. If we can get 12 of us...then we can make it happen.

 

[nittanylion]

12 Teams is ideal, IMO...agreed about stacked Rosters when Leagues are smaller (although measures can be taken to alleviate this by making Starting Lineups larger)...

...but anything over 12, and IMO we'd have to resort to an Auction, as I think the ol' Snake loses it's effectiveness as a fair distribution tool with more than 12 Teams. Auctions, unless held live and in person, are very difficult to conduct properly, especially if Fantasy Auctioneer is out of commission like I think it might be...

 

[nittanylion]

Man, I'm interested, but I can't be involved as much of anything but an Owner. I'm in 12 National High-Stakes Leagues, 2 Local High-Stakes Leagues, and a few other small money and free Leagues. I have so much invested in FF right now that between that and funding my Offshore Account, I think I could maybe afford $25 for this...I'm pretty sure between all of us, there's someone with enough 'pull' to get us set up with a free or reduced cost League at mfl. If that cost is out of the way, there's not really any need to play for anything other than bragging rights, but I'm down for anything.

Please send me some sort of cheatsheet for our Survivor draft tonight.TIA

All Favre. all the time. All you need to know...

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

12 Teams is ideal, IMO...agreed about stacked Rosters when Leagues are smaller (although measures can be taken to alleviate this by making Starting Lineups larger)......but anything over 12, and IMO we'd have to resort to an Auction, as I think the ol' Snake loses it's effectiveness as a fair distribution tool with more than 12 Teams. Auctions, unless held live and in person, are very difficult to conduct properly, especially if Fantasy Auctioneer is out of commission like I think it might be...

For 25 dollars I would be in.

 

[Bizkiteer]

12 Teams is ideal, IMO...agreed about stacked Rosters when Leagues are smaller (although measures can be taken to alleviate this by making Starting Lineups larger)...

...but anything over 12, and IMO we'd have to resort to an Auction, as I think the ol' Snake loses it's effectiveness as a fair distribution tool with more than 12 Teams. Auctions, unless held live and in person, are very difficult to conduct properly, especially if Fantasy Auctioneer is out of commission like I think it might be...

For 25 dollars I would be in.

Excellent!!! We now have the beginning of a list (interested/committed):

Bizkiteer

nittanylion

ChrisCooleyFan

 

[Sebowski]

I can't add another league.

I'd do a survivor draft though.

 

[Ripleys]

Count me in. But anyone touches Portis in this draft and I kills ya.

 

[dgreen]

Count me in. But anyone touches Portis in this draft and I kills ya.

1.01 Portis1.02 Cooley1.03 Moss1.04 Brennan1.05 Campbell1.06 Thomas1.07 Kelly1.08 Betts1.09 Randle El1.10 Davis1.11 Sellers1.12 Ocho Cinco - honorary Redskin

 

[sinatravolta]

I would do it and am pretty flexible on rules and fee. Have not done a league with all FBGs (nor all Redskin fans) so should be interesting.

 

[TankRizzo]

12 Teams is ideal, IMO...agreed about stacked Rosters when Leagues are smaller (although measures can be taken to alleviate this by making Starting Lineups larger)...

...but anything over 12, and IMO we'd have to resort to an Auction, as I think the ol' Snake loses it's effectiveness as a fair distribution tool with more than 12 Teams. Auctions, unless held live and in person, are very difficult to conduct properly, especially if Fantasy Auctioneer is out of commission like I think it might be...

For 25 dollars I would be in.

Excellent!!! We now have the beginning of a list (interested/committed):

Bizkiteer

nittanylion

ChrisCooleyFan

I may be interested

 

[DCThunder]

Can't do it. Sorry.

 

[dgreen]

10:06:55 am RB Clinton Portis broke one for a 70-yard touchdown run in the 11-on-11.

I always wonder about these type of claims in practice. When there's no tackling, ball carriers always continue to run until they are in the clear (and sometimes just all the way to the endzone). Sometimes, there are plays that look like big gains that actually would have been tackled earlier if there was actual tacking in the practice.Here's John Keim's comment on that play (I assume it's the same play):

RB Clinton Portis. Had a long run in 11-on-11 work; might have scored in a real game.

So, it's possible it was a legit long TD. I don't remember reading things like that the last couple years, so this could be a good sign. I don't believe Clinton's speed has been the main problem recently. Sure, he's probably not as fast as he was when he was 22, but he still has enough speed (see his race against Landry last year). I don't recall seeing him being chased down from behind in recent years. Could the problem have been downfield blocking by WR/TE? Are OL not getting to the second level enough? Or, I could be wrong and maybe Clinton just can't break really long runs anymore?

 

[T Bell]

Can't do it. Sorry.

 

[pablito]

12 Teams is ideal, IMO...agreed about stacked Rosters when Leagues are smaller (although measures can be taken to alleviate this by making Starting Lineups larger)...

...but anything over 12, and IMO we'd have to resort to an Auction, as I think the ol' Snake loses it's effectiveness as a fair distribution tool with more than 12 Teams. Auctions, unless held live and in person, are very difficult to conduct properly, especially if Fantasy Auctioneer is out of commission like I think it might be...

For 25 dollars I would be in.

Excellent!!! We now have the beginning of a list (interested/committed):

Bizkiteer

nittanylion

ChrisCooleyFan

I'm in if this comes together, but will be outa town 8/20 through 8/30. ETA: Mostly 'cause I just love whuppin' up on NL...

 

[dgreen]

Seen the post, made comments about other things in thread, but haven't replied to question

dgreen

No thanks.

 

[Sidewinder16]

NO / Scaredy Cats

DCThunder

T Bell

Sebowski

dgreen

Color me scared, too.

 

[fatness]

I just checked the Fatness Recession Budget Forecast. If the league's free or 10 bucks I can do it; I'm already in enough money leagues. If it's more than that you guys will just have suffer through the year without me beating the snot out of your teams.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

I'm in if you need another. Entry fee no object

 

[Bizkiteer]

Is there anyone left of the 'Skins group?

Dexter Manley

Buster c

tobias funke

thayman

southeastjerome

lowen1

jurb26

ecv

 

[Bizkiteer]

I just checked the Fatness Recession Budget Forecast. If the league's free or 10 bucks I can do it; I'm already in enough money leagues. If it's more than that you guys will just have suffer through the year without me beating the snot out of your teams.

If we do a $10 fee, then...we'd have to use a free website host like yahoo. 12 x $10 = $120, which MFL costs in the ballpark of $70...so, that would only leave about $50 to payout. I think payout should not only go to winner, but runner-up and maybe even more. That way the incentive is not just to win it all in regards to muhla.Basically, if we pay less then we are bound by the free sites and have less ability to create it as much as we want. Now that is not a problem at all, if that is what the others want too.Would you be able to to do $20 and not $25? 12 x $20 = $240, MFL = $70...$170. Example of payouts could be:1st place = 50% = $852nd place = 30% = $513rd & 4th place = 10% each = $17 eachThis way, at least 4 people get paid and basically the 3rd & 4th place guys almost get back what they put into it. So, 1/4 of the league walks away with their fees back in their hand and 2 of them a little more. Thus, it's doable in $ for fun with the fellow 'skins guys, but not overly driven by $$$.

 

[fatness]

I'm as accustomed as you are to playing in money leagues and paying attention to payouts. But why do we need one for a friendly league? We'll all be here year-round for bragging purposes (or shaming ) and that's the main purpose of the league.

10 bucks covers a MFL league with a few bucks left over. Why make it more complicated than that?

 

[nittanylion]

I agree with fatness on this - playing for bragging rights in the Thread is plenty of incentive, and it might just lure a few of the fence-sitters and/or pansies to actually join in the fun...

...If we were to set it up as a Survivor League, we could eliminate the cost entirely by holding our Draft in the MDRU Forum, and then asking Twilight if he'd be willing to set it up as an extension of his Message Board Survivor League Site...

...just some more things to consider while we're in the formative stages.

 

[Lowen1]

Is there anyone left of the 'Skins group?Dexter ManleyBuster ctobias funkethaymansoutheastjeromelowen1jurb26ecv

I retired from Fantasy Football this year (or at least I'm taking a one year break), so put me in the scaredy cats group.

 

[Lowen1]

Is there anyone left of the 'Skins group?Dexter ManleyBuster ctobias funkethaymansoutheastjeromelowen1jurb26ecv

I retired from Fantasy Football this year (or at least I'm taking a one year break), so put me in the scaredy cats group.

 

[Lowen1]

Is there anyone left of the 'Skins group?Dexter ManleyBuster ctobias funkethaymansoutheastjeromelowen1jurb26ecv

I retired from Fantasy Football this year (or at least I'm taking a one year break), so put me in the scaredy cats group.

 

[Sidewinder16]

I agree with fatness on this - playing for bragging rights in the Thread is plenty of incentive, and it might just lure a few of the fence-sitters and/or pansies to actually join in the fun...

This fence-sitter/pansy would definitely give this a go if bragging rights were all that was at stake. Free sites have come a long way, IMO, over the past 5 years or so if there was interest in a "traditional" league format. I'd be down with a free Survivor league, like nittanylion suggested, too.

 

[Bizkiteer]

Well, we can surely do a $10 fee and pay MFL and have a smaller payout, if that is what others want. $50 pot we can pay out the winner the entire winnings or $40 to winner and 2nd place gets $10 to cover the cost. If that is what is wanted, then that is fine.

The other idea could be to use something like yahoo (w/ no website fee) and then we have $120 to divide between 1st ($65), 2nd ($35) and maybe 3rd ($10) & 4th ($10) place teams.

Does that sound doable?

If so, which one do you prefer?

1. $10 fee, pay for MFL, payout to 1st place

2. $10 fee, use yahoo (free), payouts to 1st - 4th place teams

Also, we'd make it a standard ppr type performance league that involved waivers and such. We'd want it to be interactive, so that bragging rights would be legit.

 

[Bizkiteer]

Let's see now...the list (interested/committed) stands:

IN

1. Bizkiteer

2. nittanylion

3. ChrisCooleyFan

4. pablito

5. sinatravolta

6. Ripleys

7. Brunell4MVP

8. TankRizzo??? (on the fence)

9. Fatness (only if fee drops to $10)

NO / Scaredy Cats

DCThunder

T Bell

Sebowski

dgreen

lowen1

Maybe

sidewinder16

PM sent, waiting for response

Dexter Manley

Buster c

tobias funke

thayman

southeastjerome

jurb26

 

[JAM]

I'm up to my eyeballs in leagues, but if you need another manager I'm in.

Don't post a lot because I'm physicaly challenged when it comes to keyboards. Been a 'Skins fan a long time , a very long time, saw my first game at Griffith Stadium, Eddie LaBaron was QB.

 

[pablito]

Well, we can surely do a $10 fee and pay MFL and have a smaller payout, if that is what others want. $50 pot we can pay out the winner the entire winnings or $40 to winner and 2nd place gets $10 to cover the cost. If that is what is wanted, then that is fine. The other idea could be to use something like yahoo (w/ no website fee) and then we have $120 to divide between 1st ($65), 2nd ($35) and maybe 3rd ($10) & 4th ($10) place teams.Does that sound doable? If so, which one do you prefer? 1. $10 fee, pay for MFL, payout to 1st place2. $10 fee, use yahoo (free), payouts to 1st - 4th place teamsAlso, we'd make it a standard ppr type performance league that involved waivers and such. We'd want it to be interactive, so that bragging rights would be legit.

Much prefer MFL and less $... I'm OK with Survivor too.

 

[Ripleys]

REALLY want MFL for the hosting site, and willing to do as much as you guys want. With so many leagues already, I'd personally rather do at least $25 or $50, have a nice pot at the end of the season. But I'll go with the flow.

 

[fatness]

If so, which one do you prefer? 1. $10 fee, pay for MFL, payout to 1st place2. $10 fee, use yahoo (free), payouts to 1st - 4th place teams

1. $10 fee, pay for MFL, payout to 1st placeMFL is an easier place to chat, talk trash, check stats, make trades, etc. We can load up threads with Redskin images, trash the other NFC East teams. We could make this a lot of fun. Maybe I'll name my team Irvin's Crackheads. If others want to do a survivor league I'd do that but they're not much fun. You draft and it's over. There's nothing to talk about all year except "oh, you're out now".