Redskins sign S. Alexander (1 Viewer)

[Maven]

On the trade deadline day, the Washington Redskins made headlines of their own without trading a player.

The Redskins signed former NFL MVP running back Shaun Alexander to a one-year deal and punter Ryan Plackemeier. Both players will be reunited with Redskins coach Jim Zorn, whom they worked with in Seattle.

NFL BLOG - Adam Shefter

http://blogs.nfl.com/2008/10/14/redskins-t...ormer-seahawks/

 

[riverrat]

What? The Skins sign Alexander? I must immediately trade Portis for whoever I can get before this news comes out!

 

[JoeSteeler]

On the trade deadline day, the Washington Redskins made headlines of their own without trading a player.

The Redskins signed former NFL MVP running back Shaun Alexander to a one-year deal and punter Ryan Plackemeier. Both players will be reunited with Redskins coach Jim Zorn, whom they worked with in Seattle.

NFL BLOG - Adam Shefter

http://blogs.nfl.com/2008/10/14/redskins-t...ormer-seahawks/

Why?

 

[Rounders]

Question is why do they want him? Depth? Injury to Betts serious?

 

[B Maverick]

Question is why do they want him? Depth? Injury to Betts serious?

i am guessing this is the reason.. Betts may be out 2+ weeks. SA was with Zorn in Seattle so it shouldnt take long for him to be up to speed.

 

[cstu]

Question is why do they want him? Depth? Injury to Betts serious?

Must be. Lord help the Redskins if anything happens to Portis.

 

[Breesisdaman]

What? The Skins sign Alexander? I must immediately trade Portis for whoever I can get before this news comes out!

fixed

 

[toastedgnome]

Question is why do they want him? Depth? Injury to Betts serious?

Must be. Lord help the Redskins if anything happens to Portis.

why didn't they just hold on to Marcus Mason?

 

[shims3]

Question is why do they want him? Depth? Injury to Betts serious?

Must be. Lord help the Redskins if anything happens to Portis.

why didn't they just hold on to Marcus Mason?

Mason was a good runner, but made too many mistakes. He could not pick up the blitz and struggled on special teams. I think Alexander will secure the ball more than Mason would. It is a short fix until Betts gets healthy.

 

[dgreen]

Question is why do they want him? Depth? Injury to Betts serious?

Must be. Lord help the Redskins if anything happens to Portis.

why didn't they just hold on to Marcus Mason?

One reason would be because Betts wasn't hurt at the time they had to make that decision. That's the only reason Alexander is coming in right now.

 

[Garts]

Rock Cartwright >>>>> Shaun Alexander right now

 

[dgreen]

Rock Cartwright >>>>> Shaun Alexander right now

I realize you're saying this because Alexander is pretty much done, if not completely done, but Rock isn't someone I'd want taking 15 snaps a game on offense. The fact that they are bringing Alexander in shows us what the team thinks about Rock getting 5-6 carries and picking up one or two blitzes a game .

 

[T Bell]

Rock Cartwright >>>>> Shaun Alexander right now

I realize you're saying this because Alexander is pretty much done, if not completely done, but Rock isn't someone I'd want taking 15 snaps a game on offense. The fact that they are bringing Alexander in shows us what the team thinks about Rock getting 5-6 carries and picking up one or two blitzes a game .

Rock has also had fumbling problems at the RB position in the past. The bottom line here is that they needed another RB for a few weeks so they had to get someone, and Alexander is not a bad stop gap for that purpose. I can only assume that they'll cut him after Betts comes back.Personally, I think Portis' value goes up if anything, because he'll be less likely to come out of games.

 

[dgreen]

Personally, I think Portis' value goes up if anything, because he'll be less likely to come out of games.

I wondered about this the second it appeared that Betts injury was serious. Would they let Rock take Betts' place or will Portis just not come out very much. Well, two plays later, Rock is in, gets a draw, gains maybe a yard. Not sure if that's a sign of something or not. My guess is Portis' load will slightly increase and Alexander/Rock will get slightly fewer plays than Betts did.

 

[Bankerguy]

Good move for the Skins. Can't hurt and the price was right.

 

[T Bell]

Good move for the Skins. Can't hurt and the price was right.

It's fine and a move like this was certainly necessary, but I still kind of wish they'd resigned Marcus Mason from the Ravens practice squad. I have little respect for Alexander as a RB given his demonstrated lack of toughness and his poor pass blocking. Mason at least showed he'll lower his shoulder and grind for an extra yard. His shortcomings elsewhere in pass blocking and special teams simply mean to me that he's no worse than Alexander in that regard. And who knows, maybe Mason impresses and shows he needs to be on the roster next year. Meh, it's probably not a big issue, but those are my thoughts on the matter.

 

[TommyGilmore]

Good move for the Skins. Can't hurt and the price was right.

It's fine and a move like this was certainly necessary, but I still kind of wish they'd resigned Marcus Mason from the Ravens practice squad.

If they had signed Mason, they would have been required to keep him on the active roster for 3 weeks. With Alexander, they can cut him tomorrow if they want to.

 

[dgreen]

Good move for the Skins. Can't hurt and the price was right.

It's fine and a move like this was certainly necessary, but I still kind of wish they'd resigned Marcus Mason from the Ravens practice squad.

If they had signed Mason, they would have been required to keep him on the active roster for 3 weeks. With Alexander, they can cut him tomorrow if they want to.

3 weeks shouldn't be a problem since Betts is expected to be out about 4 weeks.

 

[T Bell]

Good move for the Skins. Can't hurt and the price was right.

It's fine and a move like this was certainly necessary, but I still kind of wish they'd resigned Marcus Mason from the Ravens practice squad.

If they had signed Mason, they would have been required to keep him on the active roster for 3 weeks. With Alexander, they can cut him tomorrow if they want to.

3 weeks shouldn't be a problem since Betts is expected to be out about 4 weeks.

 

[Steelnation]

Good move for the Skins. Can't hurt and the price was right.

Knowing what Danny Boy throws around, I doubt it was a good value

 

[T Bell]

Good move for the Skins. Can't hurt and the price was right.

Knowing what Danny Boy throws around, I doubt it was a good value

He was signed for the veteran minimum.

 

[Steelnation]

Good move for the Skins. Can't hurt and the price was right.

Knowing what Danny Boy throws around, I doubt it was a good value

He was signed for the veteran minimum.

Did not see that....

 

[Ripleys]

Jerry Jones is the new Dan Snyder. Thank you.

 

[Bankerguy]

Good move for the Skins. Can't hurt and the price was right.

Knowing what Danny Boy throws around, I doubt it was a good value

He was signed for the veteran minimum.

Did not see that....

apparently

 

[dgreen]

Observations from practice today:

Rock Cartwright runs really hard, and I think he’s determined to prove something if he gets the chance on Sunday — which is possible, as Coach noted, “Rock Cartwright could be the first guy in, so let’s not count out Rock.” Marcus Washington agreed, noting after practice, “Rock runs hard, he practices hard, he works out hard … he does everything hard. Even his name is hard. ROCK. He’s a guy you want on your side.”

Shaun Alexander looks good. After the negative press he’s gotten over the years, I half expected him to practice wrapped in bubble wrap at a slow walk and to go out of bounds on every play, but he looked quick and engaged. “He’ll be ready to play on Sunday,” said Coach Zorn after practice. He also did acknowledge Alexander’s less violent running style (although, surprisingly, that wasn’t the term he used). “Shaun has an interesting style of running,” he said, explaining that he didn’t always hit the hole with a second effort like Portis and Betts do. “Those are things we’re hoping will grow on him here.” Asked if it was too late to learn such things, Zorn explained that being released and not finding a team tend to make a guy think, and then he shrugged. “The proof will be in the pudding,” he said.