***Official*** Washington Redskins 2013 Thread (2 Viewers)

[RGIII HTTR]

Don't look now, but with TB and Jax winning lately and HOU having far better chance to win a game than us...we could be giving up the #1 overall pick to St. Louis. YIKES!!!!!

 

[Ted Mullins]

A point about Shanny that is not being discussed here that much, is his choice of lineup/roster positions. Fred Davis was out #1 TE, granted Reed began to show flashes and was understandable why he got more and more playing time. Shanny appears to harbor ill will towards players and seems to grind an axe, even when it's not in the team's best interest. Case in point, Paulson was the starter last night. Fred Davis being #3, okay can take it when Reed is out pass catching type of TE, so #2 is more of blocker...well, Reed is out, so what happens for the need of a pass catching TE??? If a person is sooooo entrenched into the doghouse, why not just cut them??? Just can't recall a person ever getting out of Shanny's doghouse once they got in it. Just seems like a very narrow minded approach and not getting the best of your roster, which is what a HC is supposed to do.

I completely agree with this. Seems like Shanny won't hesitate to bench someone he dislikes for an inferior option. Obviously Reed has worked out extremely well, but going into this season it looked like Davis would be their second best receiving option after Garcon - instead he's been a healthy scratch multiple times. I saw that Davis actually turned down a bigger offer from Buffalo to stay - I would assume that means something went sour after he resigned, unless he thought that Washington offered him a better opportunity to get stats before free agency?

This probably isn't a popular opinion, but I actually felt like Shanny could have handled the Haynesworth situation better - obviously Albert was pretty much a big turd the whole time in Washington, but to me it seemed like Shanny basically went out of his way to make that relationship go sour. Don't get me wrong, this isn't meant as a defense of Haynesworth, just that Shanny seemed to create a public **** swinging contest with the conditioning tests, etc.

Either way, considering this team isn't exactly flush with talent and Shanny's recent track record is pretty poor, I think he probably should have eased up on the "my way or the highway" attitude.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

A point about Shanny that is not being discussed here that much, is his choice of lineup/roster positions. Fred Davis was out #1 TE, granted Reed began to show flashes and was understandable why he got more and more playing time. Shanny appears to harbor ill will towards players and seems to grind an axe, even when it's not in the team's best interest. Case in point, Paulson was the starter last night. Fred Davis being #3, okay can take it when Reed is out pass catching type of TE, so #2 is more of blocker...well, Reed is out, so what happens for the need of a pass catching TE??? If a person is sooooo entrenched into the doghouse, why not just cut them??? Just can't recall a person ever getting out of Shanny's doghouse once they got in it. Just seems like a very narrow minded approach and not getting the best of your roster, which is what a HC is supposed to do.

I completely agree with this. Seems like Shanny won't hesitate to bench someone he dislikes for an inferior option. Obviously Reed has worked out extremely well, but going into this season it looked like Davis would be their second best receiving option after Garcon - instead he's been a healthy scratch multiple times. I saw that Davis actually turned down a bigger offer from Buffalo to stay - I would assume that means something went sour after he resigned, unless he thought that Washington offered him a better opportunity to get stats before free agency?

This probably isn't a popular opinion, but I actually felt like Shanny could have handled the Haynesworth situation better - obviously Albert was pretty much a big turd the whole time in Washington, but to me it seemed like Shanny basically went out of his way to make that relationship go sour. Don't get me wrong, this isn't meant as a defense of Haynesworth, just that Shanny seemed to create a public **** swinging contest with the conditioning tests, etc.

Either way, considering this team isn't exactly flush with talent and Shanny's recent track record is pretty poor, I think he probably should have eased up on the "my way or the highway" attitude.

I guess Shanny's arrogance is getting in the way and ultimately hurting the team.

 

[fatness]

A point about Shanny that is not being discussed here that much, is his choice of lineup/roster positions. Fred Davis was out #1 TE, granted Reed began to show flashes and was understandable why he got more and more playing time. Shanny appears to harbor ill will towards players and seems to grind an axe, even when it's not in the team's best interest. Case in point, Paulson was the starter last night. Fred Davis being #3, okay can take it when Reed is out pass catching type of TE, so #2 is more of blocker...well, Reed is out, so what happens for the need of a pass catching TE??? If a person is sooooo entrenched into the doghouse, why not just cut them??? Just can't recall a person ever getting out of Shanny's doghouse once they got in it. Just seems like a very narrow minded approach and not getting the best of your roster, which is what a HC is supposed to do.

Additionally, if they want to get rid of the player it lowers that player's trade value, hurting the team. Chris Cooley was talking about that exact thing this afternoon --- Shanahan's "doghouse". Cooley said he'd never seen anything like it on any team, and that it didn't help the team in any way to bury a player permanently.

 

[fatness]

This probably isn't a popular opinion, but I actually felt like Shanny could have handled the Haynesworth situation better - obviously Albert was pretty much a big turd the whole time in Washington, but to me it seemed like Shanny basically went out of his way to make that relationship go sour. Don't get me wrong, this isn't meant as a defense of Haynesworth, just that Shanny seemed to create a public **** swinging contest with the conditioning tests, etc.

That's been my opinion all along about how he handled Haynesworth -- it hurt the team and made Shanahan look like a small **** trying to be big. Had he let Haynesworth practice he would have gotten more in trade for him.

 

[bulger2holt]

Don't look now, but with TB and Jax winning lately and HOU having far better chance to win a game than us...we could be giving up the #1 overall pick to St. Louis. YIKES!!!!!

Very possible if they go 0-4.

KC - loss

@ ATL - atlanta looks better and it's in Atlanta

Dallas - loss

@ NYG - tough game and on the road

 

[fatness]

Seasons Coaching the Redskins

Gibbs -- 16

Shanahan -- 4

Seasons Under .500 with Redskins

Gibbs -- 3

Shanahan -- 3

 

[TxBuckeye]

As far as the QB goes, I understand you're probably frustrated right now, but RGIII went 24/32 for 207 yards and a TD, zero turnovers. That's a completion percentage of 75% and a passer rating of 102. He also carried 12 times for 88 yards. If you consider that "just not good," perhaps your standards are too high?

Griffin was 16 for 17 at halftime, but he went 8 for 15 in the second half, and the Redskins managed only 95 total yards after halftime. He had a good half. He didn't have a good game.

 

[jbz]

The Giants adjusted at half and as usual the Skins didn't. The pass protection broke down and they basically ignored Alf and decided to run the option with RG3. Maybe Shanny is trying to hurt him. I say this in jest, but maybe I'm not. It's pretty clear RG3 cannot run like he used to and he never cuts inside. This is the safe play for him, but it's not the right read on a lot of his option plays. It makes defending it easier and still puts RG3 in harms way. They basically need to cut that play out of the playbook, it doesn't work enough to make it worth it.

They are also quite predictable. If Aldrick Robinson comes in and they run a reverse look, guess what, it's not a reverse, they are throwing it deep to #11, regardless of if he's open or not. When they bunch out Garcon with another WR, it's almost likely a screen. When they go 5 wide with Garcon or Robinson as the split end, it's the delayed WR "screen" play were they drag across and everyone else blocks. They have last year's playbook and so does everyone else. Shanny Jr's idea of mixing things up? Using Garcon or Jordan Reed as pitch men on the option. Woohoo.

 

[fatness]

They are also quite predictable. If Aldrick Robinson comes in and they run a reverse look, guess what, it's not a reverse, they are throwing it deep to #11, regardless of if he's open or not. When they bunch out Garcon with another WR, it's almost likely a screen. When they go 5 wide with Garcon or Robinson as the split end, it's the delayed WR "screen" play were they drag across and everyone else blocks. They have last year's playbook and so does everyone else. Shanny Jr's idea of mixing things up? Using Garcon or Jordan Reed as pitch men on the option. Woohoo.

This is a pretty good summary, thanks. You should do sports radio covering the Skins (just not on ESPN980 where everyone walks on tiptoes so as not to offend the "braintrust").

 

[fatness]

More information than we've had before on the Griffins and the Shanahans.

The source of the Griffins’ discontent over the whole episode wasn’t that a gimpy Robert was allowed to continue playing, especially because he did everything but beg to be on the field; no, it was the play-calling of Kyle Shanahan, the team’s offensive coordinator and Mike’s son, after Griffin was first hurt that they felt put him at further risk.

It was never just a personality difference between two overly competitive men from different generations as much as it was a clear divide over what Robert Griffin III thought was best for him and what Mike Shanahan thought was best for his starting quarterback.

The only way those trust issues were ever going to be resolved was with wins, and Griffin remaining relatively healthy given the usual pounding any quarterback takes in the NFL. Only the latter happened.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

Seasons Coaching the Redskins

Gibbs -- 16

Shanahan -- 4

Seasons Under .500 with Redskins

Gibbs -- 3

Shanahan -- 3

Nice, that puts things into perspective for sure!

 

[RGIII HTTR]

The Giants adjusted at half and as usual the Skins didn't. The pass protection broke down and they basically ignored Alf and decided to run the option with RG3. Maybe Shanny is trying to hurt him. I say this in jest, but maybe I'm not. It's pretty clear RG3 cannot run like he used to and he never cuts inside. This is the safe play for him, but it's not the right read on a lot of his option plays. It makes defending it easier and still puts RG3 in harms way. They basically need to cut that play out of the playbook, it doesn't work enough to make it worth it.

They are also quite predictable. If Aldrick Robinson comes in and they run a reverse look, guess what, it's not a reverse, they are throwing it deep to #11, regardless of if he's open or not. When they bunch out Garcon with another WR, it's almost likely a screen. When they go 5 wide with Garcon or Robinson as the split end, it's the delayed WR "screen" play were they drag across and everyone else blocks. They have last year's playbook and so does everyone else. Shanny Jr's idea of mixing things up? Using Garcon or Jordan Reed as pitch men on the option. Woohoo.

Very good summary! It appears you have watched this team more than once.

RGIII made be very good at the read option, but he is not a very good option QB. He needs to learn how to draw the defensive player to him and then pitch or make immediate cut and go. Too much running east-west opposed to north-south.

 

[dgreen]

As far as the QB goes, I understand you're probably frustrated right now, but RGIII went 24/32 for 207 yards and a TD, zero turnovers. That's a completion percentage of 75% and a passer rating of 102. He also carried 12 times for 88 yards. If you consider that "just not good," perhaps your standards are too high?

Griffin was 16 for 17 at halftime, but he went 8 for 15 in the second half, and the Redskins managed only 95 total yards after halftime. He had a good half. He didn't have a good game.

With drops by Garcon, Paulsen, and Davis and an incorrect route by Garcon that should have been a touchdown.

Also, we need to keep reminding ourselves (for some reason we forget) that Griffin is less than 11 months removed from a torn ACL (among other damage). There was a belief back in January that he might not play this season or that he'd, at least, start the season late. Now, we can argue all we want whether he should be playing, but the real point here is that it's reasonable to assume his performance is impacted by this and it's unreasonable to expect him to be performing much better. Most of the season, he's shown a difficulty being consistent. He can have a really good half or even a good game and that doesn't carry over. I'm kind of expecting next week to be a stinker with a lot of inaccuracy and some turnovers. I'll be pleasantly surprised if he can play well again.

I do think it's fair, though, to question his leadership during some of this. The apparent jabs at coaches and blaming teammates for their performance is something I'd like to see eliminated.

 

[PinkydaPimp]

As far as the QB goes, I understand you're probably frustrated right now, but RGIII went 24/32 for 207 yards and a TD, zero turnovers. That's a completion percentage of 75% and a passer rating of 102. He also carried 12 times for 88 yards. If you consider that "just not good," perhaps your standards are too high?

Griffin was 16 for 17 at halftime, but he went 8 for 15 in the second half, and the Redskins managed only 95 total yards after halftime. He had a good half. He didn't have a good game.

With drops by Garcon, Paulsen, and Davis and an incorrect route by Garcon that should have been a touchdown.

Also, we need to keep reminding ourselves (for some reason we forget) that Griffin is less than 11 months removed from a torn ACL (among other damage). There was a belief back in January that he might not play this season or that he'd, at least, start the season late. Now, we can argue all we want whether he should be playing, but the real point here is that it's reasonable to assume his performance is impacted by this and it's unreasonable to expect him to be performing much better. Most of the season, he's shown a difficulty being consistent. He can have a really good half or even a good game and that doesn't carry over. I'm kind of expecting next week to be a stinker with a lot of inaccuracy and some turnovers. I'll be pleasantly surprised if he can play well again.

I do think it's fair, though, to question his leadership during some of this. The apparent jabs at coaches and blaming teammates for their performance is something I'd like to see eliminated.

This is pretty much where i am. I hope in the offseason he speaks with some vets or other high profile athletes and learns how to handle the media better and be a better leader.

 

[jbz]

I think he will. RG3 has shown he's a smart guy and is aware of what's going on. He's also probably never experienced failure or scrutiny like this before every in his life. He's always been the stud, a winner, etc. What Skins fans can hope for is that this year has been a learning experience and even a humbling experience for him. I think it will. The question then becomes will it be an offseason with the Shannys or do the Skins move in another direction.

If they move in another direction, first guy I call is the OC from Seattle. I love how they use Wilson. They still run the read option, but it's not a primary part of the base package like it is in Washington. They utilize the power running which the Skins are obviously equipped to do. Maybe he could even get some of that defensive philosophy over here as well. What's great about the Seahawks too is that they are not built on 1st rounders. They are built how Carroll wants his teams to be (fast, aggressive) and they go out and find the right players and develop them too. One thing that has lacked IMO is player development under Shanny.

 

[jbz]

The Giants adjusted at half and as usual the Skins didn't. The pass protection broke down and they basically ignored Alf and decided to run the option with RG3. Maybe Shanny is trying to hurt him. I say this in jest, but maybe I'm not. It's pretty clear RG3 cannot run like he used to and he never cuts inside. This is the safe play for him, but it's not the right read on a lot of his option plays. It makes defending it easier and still puts RG3 in harms way. They basically need to cut that play out of the playbook, it doesn't work enough to make it worth it.

They are also quite predictable. If Aldrick Robinson comes in and they run a reverse look, guess what, it's not a reverse, they are throwing it deep to #11, regardless of if he's open or not. When they bunch out Garcon with another WR, it's almost likely a screen. When they go 5 wide with Garcon or Robinson as the split end, it's the delayed WR "screen" play were they drag across and everyone else blocks. They have last year's playbook and so does everyone else. Shanny Jr's idea of mixing things up? Using Garcon or Jordan Reed as pitch men on the option. Woohoo.

Very good summary! It appears you have watched this team more than once.

RGIII made be very good at the read option, but he is not a very good option QB. He needs to learn how to draw the defensive player to him and then pitch or make immediate cut and go. Too much running east-west opposed to north-south.

That's the problem. He's either afraid or has been trained to avoid the contact so he never presses the D inside anymore. It's made the read option play rather ineffective and it should be scrapped until he shows otherwise. He should be developing into the type of QB that doesn't need the read option as his base offense

 

[Ted Mullins]

Watching Griffin closely last night it seems like he can be a serviceable QB in the NFL. Not a top 10-12 guy, but a middle of the road starter. Griffin is going to need a lot of help though to even get to that point. With the Redskins trading away the high picks to get Griffin it is going to be a difficult road. Still concerned about the punishment he takes on that frail frame.

This is a legitimate concern, he was getting thrown around last night like a rag doll. Even though he is getting up, all those hits will take their toll over time...they have to.

I'm not sure I'd relegate him to mid-tier just yet, Luck seems to be hitting a patch too. Been said many times, but RGIII having to spend all off season getting healthy hurt is immediate growth as the offseason is one of the crucual growing points for young QB's. That said, I agree that he needs much more help around him though as middle of the road guys or very isolated/limited talented players will not suffice.

Watching MNF last night, it really stood out to me how well Russell Wilson is able to run and get what's there without getting killed. The threat of the QB running is a wrinkle that is extremely effective - it definitely can't be all that you can do, but in an already effective offense it helps even more, especially with sustaining drives and making the defense adjust.

Seems like this has pretty much been the perfect storm of roadblocks for RG3 really - he has to focus on rehab instead of football all offseason, then comes back probably not completely healthy to an offense that has required him to be more of a pocket passer (both due to the injury and playing from behind so often) after presumably not getting to practice enough in the offseason. While trying to become more of a pocket passer, he is playing behind an O line that does not pass protect well throwing to a pretty underwhelming group of receivers, and is being pressured (while likely less able to get away) more than last year when teams were playing hesitant up front due to the read option. And then you add in D coordinators having the offseason to look at what the Skins were doing last year, and it kinda seems like RG3 was basically bound to be at least somewhat of a letdown compared to the amazing year he had last year.

RG has disappointed big time this year, but I definitely wouldn't give up on him yet (not that there is really a push for that in here anyways). Considering how the offense has still been fairly good with how often they have been playing from behind and RG3 still looking limited, I am actually not convinced the offense from last year has really been "figured out" by defenses either - although that won't matter if there's a new staff next year.

 

[fatness]

If the Redskins lose the rest of this season's games, Shanahan will have the same winning percentage with them as did Spurrier and Zorn.

 

[dgreen]

John Keim on the Redskins' young guys and playing time.

 

[fatness]

John Keim on the Redskins' young guys and playing time.

The offensive line cupboard seems pretty bare. So does the WR cupboard.

Someone mentioned last week on ESPN980 that either Gettis or LeRibus was projected as a possible starter this year but showed up at training camp 60 pounds overweight.

 

[MattFancy]

John Keim on the Redskins' young guys and playing time.

The offensive line cupboard seems pretty bare. So does the WR cupboard.

Someone mentioned last week on ESPN980 that either Gettis or LeRibus was projected as a possible starter this year but showed up at training camp 60 pounds overweight.

Was LeRibus. We definitely need to build up some OL depth during FA and the draft.

 

[Swing 51]

Redskins allegedly view WJFK’s parodies as a personal foul

By Paul Farhi, Published: December 3

Yes, insists the Washington Redskins’ chief spokesman, the team can take a joke.

But perhaps the frustrations of a 3-9 season got the better of the football organization, given its initially testy reaction to a series of parody broadcasts that made the Redskins, their owner and their play-by-play announcers the butts of comedy bits.

In the series of dead-on weekly parodies, which began last month, Washington sports-talk radio station WJFK-FM (also known as “106.7 The Fan”) has fun at the expense of the Redskins and their radio broadcasters, Larry Michael, Sonny Jurgensen and Chris Cooley.

The bits, performed by host Danny Rouhier and produced by Ajay Atayee, are a mock play-by-play of a Redskins game, voiced primarily by Rouhier as a fake Larry Michael and fake Jurgensen. Actual clips of Cooley — like Jurgensen, a former Redskin — are included in the routines.

In addition to mocking the team’s poor play, the routines have skewered everything from long waits and high prices at FedEx Field (“This score means all fans in attendance can wander the parking-lot wasteland and sit in traffic. All that for 50 bucks!”) to Snyder’s occasional litigiousness (one segment is fake-sponsored by “Michaels, Michaels, Michaels & Michaels — official suing partner of the Washington Redskins”).

Actual Redskins games are broadcast on a network of stations headed by ESPN980 (WTEM-AM), a station owned by Snyder himself. So WJFK’s parodies are triple-edged: a shot at the woebegone team, its owner, and a chief radio rival, ESPN980, which, like WJFK, has a sports-talk format.

The parodies may have cut a little too close to the bone.

Team spokesman Tony Wyllie complained about them to WJFK’s Redskins beat reporter, Grant Paulsen, last week. According to station sources, Wyllie said the routines were malicious — so malicious that they could prompt legal action by the Redskins.

The station sources asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation; Snyder has sued before — in 2011, when he brought, and later dropped, a defamation suit against the Washington City Paper over an article that chronicled his alleged failings as team owner.

Wyllie’s anger over the broadcasts prompted Chris Kinard, WJFK’s program director, to call time out. He met with Wyllie on Tuesday to discuss the comedy routines.

Kinard declined to comment, but Wyllie insisted after the meeting that peace was at hand.

“All we did was ask questions about what they were doing,” he said in an interview. “Once they said it was all in jest, we were fine with it.”

He added, “I have a sense of humor, like everyone else. It’s a joke, and I take it as a joke. Once they said it was all a joke, that’s all there was to it.”

The irony, if any, is that WJFK was for years the flagship radio station for Redskins games. Michael, a Redskins senior vice president who replaced longtime play-by-play broadcaster Frank Herzog in 2004, was heard on the station until Snyder purchased a string of local stations in 2006 and moved the team’s broadcasts to his stations. He added ESPN980 to his portfolio in 2008.

WJFK said it intends to continue with Rouhier and Atayee’s weekly parodies.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/redskins-allegedly-view-wjfks-parodies-as-a-personal-foul/2013/12/03/77686ac8-5c6a-11e3-be07-006c776266ed_story.html

 

[dgreen]

What else would it be other than a joke?

The worst thing about losing isn't the losing. It's the nonsense that captures headlines during losing times, 99% of it having nothing to do with on-the-field matters. That's why - as I've probably said a million times - I love John Keim. He's all about the football, win or lose.

 

[MattFancy]

What else would it be other than a joke?

The worst thing about losing isn't the losing. It's the nonsense that captures headlines during losing times, 99% of it having nothing to do with on-the-field matters. That's why - as I've probably said a million times - I love John Keim. He's all about the football, win or lose.

Yup. When things aren't going right, people will dig anywhere for a story.

 

[Swing 51]

It could be nothing but I thought it was petty that the 'Skins would complain about it - if they did actually complain. Rouhier and WJFK have been doing it all season.

 

[Ted Mullins]

What else would it be other than a joke?

The worst thing about losing isn't the losing. It's the nonsense that captures headlines during losing times, 99% of it having nothing to do with on-the-field matters. That's why - as I've probably said a million times - I love John Keim. He's all about the football, win or lose.

Yup. When things aren't going right, people will dig anywhere for a story.

The local media definitely likes to pile on and embrace the drama surrounding the Skins, but IMO a lot of times they don't have to do a lot of digging - the organization seems to have a circus atmosphere on its own much of the time. Though admittedly, I am a fairly jaded Skins fan.

 

[fatness]

Redskins allegedly view WJFK’s parodies as a personal foul

By Paul Farhi, Published: December 3

Team spokesman Tony Wyllie complained about them to WJFK’s Redskins beat reporter, Grant Paulsen, last week. According to station sources, Wyllie said the routines were malicious — so malicious that they could prompt legal action by the Redskins.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/redskins-allegedly-view-wjfks-parodies-as-a-personal-foul/2013/12/03/77686ac8-5c6a-11e3-be07-006c776266ed_story.html

Snyder got like this the last time the Redskins were losing a lot and were a joke on nationwide TV broadcasts. I remember Vinnie Cerrato and Larry Michaels disparaging and making fun of critical fans on the radio. I doubt ESPN980 saved that one in their radio vault. Remember the fans being escorted out of the stadium for critical T-shirts and signs?

The way to deal with fan mockery is to put a good team on the field, coached well. Instead Snyder sends lapdogs like Wyllie to intimidate people.

Remember that Donovan guy?

 

[Swing 51]

What else would it be other than a joke?

The worst thing about losing isn't the losing. It's the nonsense that captures headlines during losing times, 99% of it having nothing to do with on-the-field matters. That's why - as I've probably said a million times - I love John Keim. He's all about the football, win or lose.

Yup. When things aren't going right, people will dig anywhere for a story.

The local media definitely likes to pile on and embrace the drama surrounding the Skins, but IMO a lot of times they don't have to do a lot of digging - the organization seems to have a circus atmosphere on its own much of the time. Though admittedly, I am a fairly jaded Skins fan.

Especially true with the Wash Post. They seem to have it out for Danny.

 

[TxBuckeye]

PFF's "tackling efficiency" ranks combined - out of 52 players Rank Player Team Attempts Missed tackles Ratio/Metric

48 Manti Te'o Chargers 55 9 6.1

49 Mychal Kendricks Eagles 90 15 6.0

50 London Fletcher Washington 83 14 5.9

51 Moise Fokou Titans 53 10 5.3

52 Colin McCarthy Titans 47 11 4.3

Looks like it might be time for London to hang them up. Third from the bottom in tackling efficiency among inside LBs.

Edit: Sorry, formatting disappeared for some reason.

 

[dgreen]

Yep, not a good season for London. I think Riley is a decent player and belongs as a starting LB in the NFL, but they need someone else next to him. Most of defensive $ should go to DB next year. I think they can get away with spending low at ILB. Just need someone decent.

 

[fatness]

Fletcher has been noticeably missing from the defense this year. He's been on the field, yeah, but usually is occupied with a blocker he can't shed any more or is chasing a receiver he used to be able to cover.

Great guy, but past his prime and past even being average.

 

[fatness]

Mike Shanahan, by hiring his son Kyle, has created an untenable situation

You don’t have to be an astute NFL observer to realize Washington Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan could be on the verge of losing his job. The Redskins’ embarrassing collapse and Shanahan’s poor overall record in Washington (there’s no sugarcoating 24-36) have stirred speculation that team owner Daniel Snyder may fire Shanahan after the season.

Coaches with uncertain job security often dump coordinators in an effort to placate owners demanding change. And if Shanahan returns for the final year of his contract in 2014, defensive coordinator Jim Haslett likely will not. But don’t expect Shanahan to oust the team’s offensive coordinator because no father wants to fire his son.

Snyder fired Schottenheimer after the 2001 season and vowed never to permit another Redskins coach to hire his son for a significant coaching role, a former Redskins official recalled before the Shanahans joined the franchise (Coy Gibbs was a low-level assistant during Joe Gibbs’s second stint with the team). Why did Snyder change his mind? He needed Mike Shanahan to coach the Redskins.

During the 2009 season, the Redskins appeared to hit rock bottom. At 4-12, the team was a national punchline under the overmatched Jim Zorn, and hiring Shanahan, a two-time Super Bowl winner, restored desperately needed credibility. So Snyder gave Shanahan everything he wanted, including permission to hire his son as his top lieutenant on offense.

 

[fatness]

From that previous article: "At 4-12, the team was a national punchline under the overmatched Jim Zorn"

I think we're there again.

 

[Marvelous]

John Keim on the Redskins' young guys and playing time.

The offensive line cupboard seems pretty bare. So does the WR cupboard.

Someone mentioned last week on ESPN980 that either Gettis or LeRibus was projected as a possible starter this year but showed up at training camp 60 pounds overweight.

I was hoping Compton and Gettis would be in line for some additional playing time. The starting OL is struggling is pass protection. It's not good if Shanahan is that sure that the backups can't do as well.

 

[Marvelous]

John Keim on the Redskins' young guys and playing time.

The offensive line cupboard seems pretty bare. So does the WR cupboard.

Someone mentioned last week on ESPN980 that either Gettis or LeRibus was projected as a possible starter this year but showed up at training camp 60 pounds overweight.

Was LeRibus. We definitely need to build up some OL depth during FA and the draft.

LeRibeus probably got an extra year because he was a high draft pick. But he needs to get his act together if we wants to stick around another year.

 

[Marvelous]

Yep, not a good season for London. I think Riley is a decent player and belongs as a starting LB in the NFL, but they need someone else next to him. Most of defensive $ should go to DB next year. I think they can get away with spending low at ILB. Just need someone decent.

Thinking things over, I think the Redskin's top issue is that the DL and OLB don't generate enough pass rush. The secondary will never look that great with so little pass rush pressure. I don't know if they need better players there or the scheme just isn't working, but they really need a better pass rush.

The second biggest issue is OL pass protection. If you want RGIII to be a pocket passer (and I think that is the ultimate goal), you need better pass protection.

 

[MattFancy]

Yep, not a good season for London. I think Riley is a decent player and belongs as a starting LB in the NFL, but they need someone else next to him. Most of defensive $ should go to DB next year. I think they can get away with spending low at ILB. Just need someone decent.

Thinking things over, I think the Redskin's top issue is that the DL and OLB don't generate enough pass rush. The secondary will never look that great with so little pass rush pressure. I don't know if they need better players there or the scheme just isn't working, but they really need a better pass rush.

The second biggest issue is OL pass protection. If you want RGIII to be a pocket passer (and I think that is the ultimate goal), you need better pass protection.

I'd agree with that. A could pass rush and mask a bad secondary. But a bad secondary looks much worse if you can't get to the QB consistently.

If we can add some OL and some defensive guys, I still believe this team can be competitive. There's guys here to build around, we just need to get the complimentary pieces in place. Would also add another WR to take heat off Garcon and Reed.

 

[fatness]

Yep, not a good season for London. I think Riley is a decent player and belongs as a starting LB in the NFL, but they need someone else next to him. Most of defensive $ should go to DB next year. I think they can get away with spending low at ILB. Just need someone decent.

Thinking things over, I think the Redskin's top issue is that the DL and OLB don't generate enough pass rush. The secondary will never look that great with so little pass rush pressure. I don't know if they need better players there or the scheme just isn't working, but they really need a better pass rush.

The second biggest issue is OL pass protection. If you want RGIII to be a pocket passer (and I think that is the ultimate goal), you need better pass protection.

Regarding the defense, I think the scheme is not working and hasn't in fact worked for 4 years now except for brief stretches. In a 4-3 alignment I think the D-line is automatically better, since it puts Orakpo and Kerrigan at DE and allows Cofield, Bowen, Baker, and others to hold down the middle. Using the 4-3 throws more emphasis on building the LB group since only Riley would be starting in a 4-3 next year (Kerrigan and Orakpo at DE, Fletcher no longer effective). And the secondary needs major work regardless of scheme.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

Fletcher has been noticeably missing from the defense this year. He's been on the field, yeah, but usually is occupied with a blocker he can't shed any more or is chasing a receiver he used to be able to cover.

Great guy, but past his prime and past even being average.

He's done and the only reason he is starting over Barnett is because out of respect or loyalty from coaching staff. RB's are infamous from having a serious drop off in production after 30 yrs old, but here is a case of a LB who was productive one year and did absolutely nothing the next year. It's shame, but his play is so absent that I doubt anyone would even sign him as a back up at this point.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

Yep, not a good season for London. I think Riley is a decent player and belongs as a starting LB in the NFL, but they need someone else next to him. Most of defensive $ should go to DB next year. I think they can get away with spending low at ILB. Just need someone decent.

Thinking things over, I think the Redskin's top issue is that the DL and OLB don't generate enough pass rush. The secondary will never look that great with so little pass rush pressure. I don't know if they need better players there or the scheme just isn't working, but they really need a better pass rush.

The second biggest issue is OL pass protection. If you want RGIII to be a pocket passer (and I think that is the ultimate goal), you need better pass protection.

One could argue that it also has to do with ineffective blitz packages being called (currently). 3-4 DL are never world beaters and have any high pressure or sack totals, but they have to be strong and bog to hold their respective lanes that allow blitzing LB'ers to come through and make the play. We could use an upgrade in the depth dept for DL for sure though, love his heart, but Golston should not be rostered at this point.

Here is the real issue, we need several new starters and importantly depth:

DL

ILB

CB

S

WR

OL (every position other than LT)

That is a lot to fill and even though we get a nice chunk of change for FA, there is only so much FA and draft can do in one year. Add that for the draft to add a contributor sooner than later, which is not always the case with 2nd rounders or later. The holes and ranks are many and thin, so we might get some help, but the Redskins have many more needs than can be filled in a short period.

 

[Swing 51]

The Jacksonville Jaguars have more wins than the 'Skins.

 

[fatness]

The Jacksonville Jaguars have more wins than the 'Skins.

The Redskins might have beaten the Texans last night but they would not have beaten the Jaguars. That's where we are -- same place we were 4 years ago. A bad team and a laughingstock.

 

[Todd Andrews]

The Jacksonville Jaguars have more wins than the 'Skins.

The Redskins might have beaten the Texans last night but they would not have beaten the Jaguars. That's where we are -- same place we were 4 years ago. A bad team and a laughingstock.

Record is similar but I dont think we are in the same place. RGIII and Morris significantly improve our situation even though we arent winning. I think with some seasoning, coaching improvements and free agent upgrades, this offense can do what it did last year in the future. Stress on the word "can" of course.

 

[Ted Mullins]

Yeah, for a Jags vs Skins comparison I feel like you have to consider a huge difference in momentum and atmosphere. Still embarrassing though. I actually think the Jags have a good group of leaders from owner down to coaches though, I think they will get it together.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

Kubiak was fired today. If the Shanny stays next year, maybe HOU makes a play for Shanny Jr.??? Hey, one can hope...right?

 

[dgreen]

The Jacksonville Jaguars have more wins than the 'Skins.

The Redskins might have beaten the Texans last night but they would not have beaten the Jaguars. That's where we are -- same place we were 4 years ago. A bad team and a laughingstock.

Record is similar but I dont think we are in the same place. RGIII and Morris significantly improve our situation even though we arent winning. I think with some seasoning, coaching improvements and free agent upgrades, this offense can do what it did last year in the future. Stress on the word "can" of course.

Yeah, I'm down on the team currently, but I'm not down on their future. I still think the future is promising.

And I'm not sure we're a laughingstock. We're just...bad.

 

[dhockster]

Kubiak was fired today. If the Shanny stays next year, maybe HOU makes a play for Shanny Jr.??? Hey, one can hope...right?

As a Texan fan, all I can say is "NO.......GOD NO!"

Actually McNair has already said he wants someone with Head Coaching Experience. That leaves Kyle out.

 

[RGIII HTTR]

Kubiak was fired today. If the Shanny stays next year, maybe HOU makes a play for Shanny Jr.??? Hey, one can hope...right?

As a Texan fan, all I can say is "NO.......GOD NO!"

Actually McNair has already said he wants someone with Head Coaching Experience. That leaves Kyle out.

Ok, I give in...you can have both Shannys for the price of one.

 

[fatness]

Kubiak was fired today. If the Shanny stays next year, maybe HOU makes a play for Shanny Jr.??? Hey, one can hope...right?

As a Texan fan, all I can say is "NO.......GOD NO!"

Actually McNair has already said he wants someone with Head Coaching Experience. That leaves Kyle out.

Ok, I give in...you can have both Shannys for the price of one.

We'll throw in Haslett, Burns, and some pizzas!