Sunday, September 28, 2003

I'm really pissed about the last call the officials screwed up. It was obviously a catch by Coles with both feet inbounds. He clearly had possession of the ball the entire time. I don't know how the idiotic zebras missed that call AND they didn't reverse the obvious mistake in instant replay! I was in a sports bar watching and didn't hear the audio explanation. I find it incomprehensible that it wasn't overturned. It sure seemed to me that the replay was an irrefutable catch.

I was almost positive that was going to be the end of the Redskins and that Brady was going to drive the Pats down for a game-tying FG. It just seemed like that's been the pattern with these Skins games this year. The Skins, esp. Samuels, had just going backwards with penalties again. For a welcome surprise, though, the Skins D held tight for four and out.

After what was undoubtedly one of his worst games as a pro, Bailey turned in a very good performance with two turnovers -- an INT and a forced fumble. Not his best game because that had the be the game against the Cards a few years ago when he picked off Plummer thrice and returned one of them for a TD.

Ohalete had a solid game with some good stops, a key pick in the end zone and breaking up the Pats' fourth-down play.

Was it just me or did Arrington look slow out there? Was he hurt? He was awfully quiet. I think he only made one tackle. I wonder if it was Charlie Weis (the Pats OC) game-planning specifically for LaVar.

Not only did Bailey make a "statement" game but so did the entire defense with their turnovers. Canidate's fumble really could have killed them but the Skins were so lucky that Gardner was there to fall on the ball.

The bottom line is that the Skins walked away with a victory. But when are they going to be able to put a team away? These nail-biters are going to give me ulcers. And these three victories have all been "tainted" - the Jets without Pennington and the Jetskins providing insight into the Jets playbook, the Vick-less Falcons, and now these majorly banged up Patriots.

HUGE game next week against the Eagles. Another real test for the Skins. They failed last week against the Giants. We'll see how they fare against the rebounding Birds.

Friday, September 26, 2003

Patrick Ramsey.

The "kid" is the real deal. I put that in quotes because I'm only four years older than him. He's the same age as my brother. Ramsey's courage in the pocket, accuracy, and strong arm are going to keep him playing in the league a long time, assuming he stays healthy. On top of that, he's a smart guy. That will keep him playing even longer.

He's humble and not presumptuous yet willing to take on the role of a leader. He inspires his teammates and already (on only 8 starts) he's shown them that they can rally around him.

I was so wrong about him. After last year's draft, I was lamenting the fact that they chose Ramsey instead of choosing the top OG available (Andre Gurode). Well, I'm definitely not complaining now. I don't know anything about Gurode except that he's the starting RG with the Cowboys. Certainly, there's not as much hype about him as there is about Ramsey.

If, and this is a big if, Ramsey, Coles, Gardner, and Betts or Canidate can stick together for a long time, that is a great offensive nucleus to build around with each successive year. Actually Gardner's optional. He's a good receiver but other receivers can be just as good in the #2 spot. Betts and Canidate are optional as well. Neither of them has proven themselves as a star yet although I think they both have the potential. Maybe it'll be Sultan McCullough. Would love to see one of them shine.

Then on the OL, you've got Jansen re-signed for a few more years and new RG Randy Thomas. That is really a good foundation.

On the flip side, you see players that have a breakout second year but then regress in their third year. I think the only way that would happen is if Spurrier leaves but I don't see him leaving so soon. Spurrier should coach out his contract, and if he's tired of the NFL after his five years are up, then he can leave. In the meantime, hopefully, George Edwards will have matured as a defensive coordinator (he should still push the scheme more than he's doing -- witness the LaVar's lapse against Jim Finn's catch and run in OT). If Edwards is as established and respected as I would hope him to be, he could take over as head coach and leave the playcalling duties to Hue Jackson.

Anyway, back to Ramsey. He's got a lot of things going for him besides his own attributes that would make it doubtful that he would regress. He's a got a supportive wife so that he won't get into trouble, he's got a playmaker like Coles to throw to, he's got Jansen and Thomas protecting him for the next few years, and he's got a coach that is adapting to NFL speed and calling better and better games. It's still early but assuming things continue to go well and no freak injury (knock on wood!) occurs, Ramsey can be this team's franchise quarterback for the next 8-10 years. That would be a welcome change for DC and all Redskins fans. In the last 15 or so years, we have seen Jay Schroeder, Doug Williams, Rypien, Cary Conklin, Rutledge, Gannon, Humphries, Friesz, Shuler, Frerotte, Hostetler, Trent Green (doh!), Brad Johnson (a good one we let get away -- smart but weaker arm), Peete, George, Banks, Rosenfels, Matthews, and Wuerffel. Peete, Conklin, and Rosenfels don't really count but it's obviously a long list. To have someone be as durable and reliable as Favre or Manning would be a wonderful blessing.

May Ramsey's star continue to shine! And shine brighter with each game!

Thursday, September 25, 2003

The Patriots are up next. I have a bad feeling about this game. Even more so since the Pats picked up Wilbert Brown off the waiver wire and are undoubtedly picking his brain about the Skins offense.

Spurrier should throw Belichick off guard by coming out running the ball straight down their throats non-stop. If they can keep churning out first downs, they should keep running it. Even on third and long, they should run draws. Belichick will undoubtedly try to smother Coles and blitz confusingly and relentlessly with the good 3-4 scheme they have set up.

What would be also be interesting is to see Ramsey avoid Coles completely and throw solely to Gardner and McCants in one-on-one coverage. I would love to see them win those battles against smaller corners. Coles can draw the safety running decoy routes out on the wing and Gardner and McCants should do their best to take advantage on the other side. I can see a pump fake to Coles on the left sideline and then go the other way to Gardner on the right sideline.

What I used to love about Gibbs were his rollouts that gave the WRs time to develop their routes. It was a great way to make up for inadequate protection. Of course, it tends to limit the amount of the field the QB can throw to, but I think it would still be effective. Ramsey has a strong enough arm to make any throw, even across the field. Unfortunately, I don't think the rollout is in Spurrier's playbook. I also would love to see Spurrier bust out all the gadget plays in this game -- option passes, fake reverses, double reverses, flea flickers, you name it.

This is going to be a huge chess match with two coaches with good schemes going at it. I would just hate to see Spurrier feel that his pride is on the line and feel that he can force the passing game no matter what Belichick might throw at him. Smash-mouth running might be a great way to mix it up initially. Or even start off with no-huddle. It'll be interesting to see how creative (hopefully) Spurrier can get.

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Smoot played. He ended up killing them.

Bailey too. Not only is Ike Hilliard a capable receiver but he caught 2 TD passes. Bailey surrendered 2. Argh. That was amazingly frustrating. Bailey is supposed to be a shutdown corner but when he surrenders TDs like that, he shows he is not the top cover corner in the league. He's one of the better ones but the best, in my opinion, is someone who won't give up 2 TDs in the same game. He doesn't have the leverage to be asking to be the highest paid CB in the league anymore, not after a game like that.

The Skins deserved to lose that game. The ridiculous penalties, over and over again. And I was just thinking on that 3rd and 24 play -- the only way the Giants can get a 1st down is that the Skins have some boneheaded personal foul penalty that keeps their drive alive, because it had happened in other games. And then it happened in the Giants game. Trotter is such an idiot. All those penalties are a matter of keeping cool, maintaining discipline and thinking about the best interests of the team.

Even the previous heros had bad days. Hall missed two FGs but that's excusable because they were very long. Coles was even dropping passes! And this came only a week after Spurrier was praising him for all balls sticking to his hands.

Although the Skins deserved to lose, losing a divisional game is the worst kind. There are only 6 divisional games now and they are all critical. The Skins do not have an easy schedule in front of them, with games against the Pats, the Seahawks, the Bucs, and the Bills. Parcells has made the Cowboys into worthy contenders so they are no pushover either. The Skins have the talent to go 10-6 but if they play as stupidly and undisciplined as they did against the Giants, they will finish 6-10.

A loss like that is just so painful to relive. We'll see how they fare against the supremely well-coached Patriots. If any opponent is paying attention, the players should be pulling Dennis Rodman routines and goading the Skins into stupid penalties that will be difference makers.

Thursday, September 18, 2003

Smoot is out.

Wow, that's huge news. Bailey can blanket Amani Toomer but Ike Hilliard is a very capable #2 receiver. Losing Smoot hurts big time, no matter how much criticism he received. He's looked good so far this year and there's a significant dropoff when you put in 5'8" Rashad Bauman. Even worse, the fourth corner is Ade Jimoh and he's the one that easily surrendered the last-minute TD to the Falcons. In a 2 WR, TE set, Bauman is going to need coverage help on every play, which opens up the middle of the field for Shockey. Edwards may prefer to play more zone but I think you have to keep Champ on the opponent's best receiver to take him out of the game.

David Terrell was a decent CB and I'd prefer to see him out there rather than Jimoh. The question is, how much have his CB skills eroded by not playing that position regularly over the last two years? Can he still cover one-on-one?

If the Skins win this one without Smoot, the victory will be so much sweeter. It'll really legitimize the team as a force to be reckoned with.

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

A crazy but very exhilirating win by the Skins over the Vick-less Falcons. I was having nightmares of last year's Saints game all over again. The 3-4 obviously with linebackers coming from all directions obviously threw the Skins OL off.

Despite that comedy of errors, I thought it was amazing that, at 17-0, the Skins could drive down to score when the team was seemingly on its heels. Better yet, they were able to cut the lead down to a touchdown by halftime on that awesome FG by Hall. What a stud. I guess any reliable kicker is a stud compared to the carousel of players that have been in and out of that position.

Better yet, Spurrier made excellent adjustments in playcalling and the protection scheme with an extra body staying in to block. I'm surprised that they only called one HB screen. I guess WR screens are just as effective if you can block the CB and the defense's LBs take themselves out of position to make the tackle when they blitz. I found the adjustments VERY encouraging.

The upside is that the Skins came back and looked on a roll in the second half. They had the resilience to bounce back and not count themselves out. The downside is that the Falcons were without Vick and Finneran, and their secondary is very average. The Skins will have a much tougher going against a REAL team with all components in place and operating on a playoff level, like the Giants.

Well, the Giants lost to the Cowboys, but given four rematches, the Giants would beat the Cowboys all four times. Plus, the Giants will be pretty pissed about losing to the lowly Cowboys and "couldn't" suffer another divisional defeat. It will be a real test to see how far the Skins have progressed.

Wednesday, September 10, 2003

ESPN.com: NFL - Redskins: Second time around

The analysis by ESPN comes across as skeptical. It's still early in the season but I would change the grades thusly:

QB : C+ to B- (Ramsey will make mistakes but he's much better than an average QB.)

RB : C to B- (ESPN evidently didn't see the power Betts runs with but it's understandable that they underrate the position.)

WR : B to B

OL : B to B (They're a strong group but they didn't look as stellar against the likes of John Abraham.)

DL : D to C (So far so good with the no-name DTs.)

LB : B+ to A- (Arrington and Trotter looked great but this grade could go back down if they both start freelancing too much and get victimized.)

DB : B to B (Bailey is impeccable. Smoot is good but still makes mistakes. Bowen brings a strong physical presence. Ohalete still needs to be battle-tested.)

ST : C to B- (Hall looked great. Barker looks average and Morton is capable with the occasional home-run threat.)

Coaching : Not graded by ESPN. I give it a B so far. Edwards made the right defensive calls and gave his guys some freedom. Spurrier didn't let his ego get in the way to pound the ball in the second half. The concern, though, is that he wasn't able to counter the Jets' defensive adjustments with effective mix-it-up playcalling after the half.
In Week 2, the Skins face off against a Michael Vick-less Atlanta Falcons. How winnable is this game? On the downside, they have to face a pretty good defense. They also travel to play Atlanta in their home stadium. Finally, they face a team that feels confident that they can hold down the fort until Vick gets back. Alge Crumpler is a weapon and the Skins need the right way to contain him.

On the upside, Vick is out, of course. That makes the biggest difference because Doug Johnson doesn't threaten the same kind of athletic mismatch with his feet. Second, Warrick Dunn doesn't scare anyone. Finneran, their most consistent receiver last year, is out. Bailey should be more than enough of a match for Peerless Price. I don't enough about their defense. I think they are good but largely anonymous with the exception of LB Keith Brooking. I'm hoping the Skins exploit weaknesses like a suspect D-line.

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

I rushed home well in advance of the 6pm PT kickoff for the first game of the 2003 NFL season. The first half started wonderfully. Patrick Ramsey looked sharp and Coles was a beast. He was seemingly open on every play.

I was a bit worried in the second half when the offense sputtered big time. Cottrell, the Jets DC, must have made some great adjustments in the locker room. It made me worried about the ability of Spurrier to adjust to the other DC's adjustments. I guess he did so by running the ball more.

The good news is that our wonderful defense held up. Granted, Vinny really limited their offense. It would have been a completely different story if Pennington was in there. Those times when Trotter and Arrington stuffed Martin could easily have been huge first downs on bootlegs or play-action passes with Pennington at the helm. The Jets D-line is ferocious and probably not mentioned often enough as one of the best in the league. They really did a great job against a very good O-line in Samuels, Fiore, Moore, Thomas, and Jansen.

How sweet it is to have a kicker like Hall that was able to seal the deal against his former team.