Season Starts Anew
It's been a long time between posting. It has been tough to recover from the embarrassing 5-11 that was last season. In addition, the team has done little to bring cause for hope during the offseason.
Needs:
(1) General Manager - not addressed
(2) D-line - not addressed
(3) LG-replacement for Derrick Dockery - TBD
(4) Bolster secondary - addressed
(5) Overall team youth/depth - not addressed
(6) Get rid of Brandon Lloyd - not addressed
(1) Gibbs and Gregg Williams should focus on coaching not personnel, as the Washington Post clearly pointed out in a series of January articles. With Gibbs having title of team president and seemingly oblivious to the need for a top-notch personnel man (Cerrato is not even close to working), it doesn't look as though this will change in the next few years.
(2) All subsequent needs relate to (1). Williams doesn't feel the need to have a premier pass-rusher because he gets pressure from blitzes. The downside is that blitzing to create pressure is a high-risk strategy and regularly ineffective at stretches last year. A front four capable of collapsing the pocket without extra rushers is worth its weight in gold.
(3) The Skins were right not to give Dockery the ridiculous amount of money the Bills threw at him. Good to him for being able to get that kind of cash but he wasn't an elite player with Pro Bowls under his belt. On the flip side, no one stepped up during the offseason. Now fans have to pray that 34-year old Pete Kendall is the answer. This is a guy who was solid for the Jets but is playing his last season or two, has not yet lined up with Chris Samuels, and is just now starting to learn the playbook.
(4) The Skins did well here with Laron Landry, Smoot, and David Macklin. Springs' durability was a major factor in the Skins' success the past two seasons. Macklin has been a starting corner in the league and to have him as the 4th corner provides a lot of necessary depth because the first three are likely to be banged up at some point in the season. The question might be: was Laron Landry really necessary given the return of Pierson Prioleau? Could that pick have gone to better use on the D-line? Again, back to the lack of a GM.
(5) Again, the lack of a GM hurts the team. The Skins have made draft-day moves that have hurt them like sacrificing multiple picks to get Jason Campbell and leaving the team with only the single first-day pick during the 2007 draft. HB Blades was the only other draft pick to make the team.
(6) Lloyd is a waste of roster slot who the Skins never should have signed. He was a headache for the 49ers. Inconsistent at best, undisciplined at worst. I don't understand why Corey Bradford or Todd Pinkston didn't beat him out but then again, I wasn't in training camp.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Insightful Articles
Over the past week, the Washington Post has produced some superb articles on why this past season was so tough. The pieces provide keen introspective writing into the Redskins organization, thanks to unrivaled access to coaches and players.
The Post identifies a few key areas that led to unraveling:
General Manager - This has been brewing for years. Mention of a hiring of a true general manager seems a promising development, as a number of issues are deeply rooted in the fact that personnel duties are being ineptly handled by cronie Vinny Cerrato.
The issues are around high-priced busts, letting core guys go, and losing respect from players that do stay who watch the soon-to-be busts get rich contracts.
This also manifests itself in unwise personnel decisions from coaches -- arrogance of the coaches about belief in their systems rather than maintaining core players (Antonio Pierce, Ryan Clark) and solid depth (Walt Harris, no up-and-coming draftees).
Al Saunders - Although both originating from Don Coryell, Gibbs' offense is much more conservative than Saunders' high-octane version (like Martz). A ball-control style complements an aggressive and tough defense (think early 90's Giants, late 90's Tampa Bay Bucs and Baltimore Ravens). A high-flying offense is often accompanied by a leaky defense that doesn't get sufficient time to rest (Martz' Rams and modern-day Chiefs and Colts). Starting over with a brand new huge playbook was a big frustration to the offensive personnel.
Also, it is frustrating to Saunders to not have complete control that he thought he was going to get.
Gregg Williams - Williams has demonstrated that he can be successful. To me, most of the shortcomings on the defensive side of the ball are due to personnel decisions. If a general manager high on Pierce, Clark, and even Smoot kept all of them, the Skins would have played at a much higher level this past season. Keep Williams coaching his hard-nosed style and out of player acquisition input and Washington produces a first-rate defense.
Hands on vs. Hands off for Gibbs - This particular issue was less expounded on by the Post writers and is more my own perspective. All was looking well and good when the Skins improved from 6-10 to 10-6. Gibbs moving to a backseat CEO role seemed like a comfortable way for Dan Snyder to see how the sports franchise could be run. Gibbs could ease his way out of it by handing the reins to others. Snyder, learning from Gibbs, could stay removed. The problem is that this team was definitely not ready after two years the transition for Gibbs to be hands off. After three straight years in the playoffs with stability, a gradual transition would have been effective. It transpired far too quickly the way it happened.
Over the past week, the Washington Post has produced some superb articles on why this past season was so tough. The pieces provide keen introspective writing into the Redskins organization, thanks to unrivaled access to coaches and players.
The Post identifies a few key areas that led to unraveling:
General Manager - This has been brewing for years. Mention of a hiring of a true general manager seems a promising development, as a number of issues are deeply rooted in the fact that personnel duties are being ineptly handled by cronie Vinny Cerrato.
The issues are around high-priced busts, letting core guys go, and losing respect from players that do stay who watch the soon-to-be busts get rich contracts.
This also manifests itself in unwise personnel decisions from coaches -- arrogance of the coaches about belief in their systems rather than maintaining core players (Antonio Pierce, Ryan Clark) and solid depth (Walt Harris, no up-and-coming draftees).
Al Saunders - Although both originating from Don Coryell, Gibbs' offense is much more conservative than Saunders' high-octane version (like Martz). A ball-control style complements an aggressive and tough defense (think early 90's Giants, late 90's Tampa Bay Bucs and Baltimore Ravens). A high-flying offense is often accompanied by a leaky defense that doesn't get sufficient time to rest (Martz' Rams and modern-day Chiefs and Colts). Starting over with a brand new huge playbook was a big frustration to the offensive personnel.
Also, it is frustrating to Saunders to not have complete control that he thought he was going to get.
Gregg Williams - Williams has demonstrated that he can be successful. To me, most of the shortcomings on the defensive side of the ball are due to personnel decisions. If a general manager high on Pierce, Clark, and even Smoot kept all of them, the Skins would have played at a much higher level this past season. Keep Williams coaching his hard-nosed style and out of player acquisition input and Washington produces a first-rate defense.
Hands on vs. Hands off for Gibbs - This particular issue was less expounded on by the Post writers and is more my own perspective. All was looking well and good when the Skins improved from 6-10 to 10-6. Gibbs moving to a backseat CEO role seemed like a comfortable way for Dan Snyder to see how the sports franchise could be run. Gibbs could ease his way out of it by handing the reins to others. Snyder, learning from Gibbs, could stay removed. The problem is that this team was definitely not ready after two years the transition for Gibbs to be hands off. After three straight years in the playoffs with stability, a gradual transition would have been effective. It transpired far too quickly the way it happened.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Unbelievable Win!
The win against Dallas was without a doubt, the most thrilling last minute reversal of fortunes I have ever witnessed. The 14-13 win in Texas Stadium felt like a better win because it got the Skins to 2-0 whereas the team is currently 3-5. However, Moss' 2 TDs in that game came while there was still a few minutes left on the clock.
Why is this blog so infrequent? Why only after wins? One, we moved -- so we have been busy packing and relocating. Second, maybe I am too much of a fan for my own good. It's too depressing to write about the team after they lose. And losing three straight was tough to stomach, especially that gut-wrenching loss to the Titans and Vince Young.
Looking Ahead to Philly
It doesn't look good. The Eagles have come off three straight losses and are hopping mad. Not only that, but it is at Lincoln Field, the Eagles have had an extra week to both fume about those losses and to game-plan especially for the Skins. You get Donovan McNabb, who's been passing like a madman thus far, ready to carve up the woeful Skins pass defense. If Gregg Williams can dial up the right way for the defense to contain McNabb and boost the beleaguered unit's ranking, it's a step in the right direction. Plus, Moss still may not be back. If he is, he won't be at 100%. As much as I hate to predict it, the Skins will probably fall to a tough-to-recover-from 3-6.
The win against Dallas was without a doubt, the most thrilling last minute reversal of fortunes I have ever witnessed. The 14-13 win in Texas Stadium felt like a better win because it got the Skins to 2-0 whereas the team is currently 3-5. However, Moss' 2 TDs in that game came while there was still a few minutes left on the clock.
Why is this blog so infrequent? Why only after wins? One, we moved -- so we have been busy packing and relocating. Second, maybe I am too much of a fan for my own good. It's too depressing to write about the team after they lose. And losing three straight was tough to stomach, especially that gut-wrenching loss to the Titans and Vince Young.
Looking Ahead to Philly
It doesn't look good. The Eagles have come off three straight losses and are hopping mad. Not only that, but it is at Lincoln Field, the Eagles have had an extra week to both fume about those losses and to game-plan especially for the Skins. You get Donovan McNabb, who's been passing like a madman thus far, ready to carve up the woeful Skins pass defense. If Gregg Williams can dial up the right way for the defense to contain McNabb and boost the beleaguered unit's ranking, it's a step in the right direction. Plus, Moss still may not be back. If he is, he won't be at 100%. As much as I hate to predict it, the Skins will probably fall to a tough-to-recover-from 3-6.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Snyder Rewrites Pro Sports
Dan Snyder is changing the face of professional sports franchises. He brought his media and marketing savvy to sports and is showing other owners how to make money. He was not content to rest on his laurels after buying his favorite team. It is quite impressive to see what Snyder has done to grow the business and team's value.
Many professional sports teams are family owned and have been that way for many years. They don't treat the franchise as the media business it truly is and therefore haven't realized its financial potential. Dan Snyder is doing just that.
Dan Snyder is changing the face of professional sports franchises. He brought his media and marketing savvy to sports and is showing other owners how to make money. He was not content to rest on his laurels after buying his favorite team. It is quite impressive to see what Snyder has done to grow the business and team's value.
Many professional sports teams are family owned and have been that way for many years. They don't treat the franchise as the media business it truly is and therefore haven't realized its financial potential. Dan Snyder is doing just that.
Thrilling Victory
The Skins did an amazing job against a strong defense. It's very clear now what a difference Clinton Portis makes. Things are starting to click between Portis' return to health, confidence building from the win against the Texans, and familiarity with Saunders' offense.
Santana Moss did an excellent job with the overtime catch. If he didn't go up to snatch that ball thereby changing his momentum, the safety coming across would have knocked both his head off and probably the ball loose from his grip. Instead, Moss snagged it right at the moment he was open between the two defenders and sprinted home. Brunell really put it on the money. Boy was I wrong to write Brunell off. While he can't carry the team in Portis' absence, he has shown the last two weeks that he knows how to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers after all. Sorry Mark, I was wrong!
The Skins did an amazing job against a strong defense. It's very clear now what a difference Clinton Portis makes. Things are starting to click between Portis' return to health, confidence building from the win against the Texans, and familiarity with Saunders' offense.
Santana Moss did an excellent job with the overtime catch. If he didn't go up to snatch that ball thereby changing his momentum, the safety coming across would have knocked both his head off and probably the ball loose from his grip. Instead, Moss snagged it right at the moment he was open between the two defenders and sprinted home. Brunell really put it on the money. Boy was I wrong to write Brunell off. While he can't carry the team in Portis' absence, he has shown the last two weeks that he knows how to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers after all. Sorry Mark, I was wrong!
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