DeAngelo Hall - It was a must to re-sign this top-notch corner. Hall will likely play at a Pro Bowl level next season. The only question mark was that it seemed the offer was much higher than it needed to be. The Skins probably would have been able to keep him by matching any equivalent offer on the open market.
Derrick Dockery - Good move to go younger on the O-line with by bringing Dock back as a guy that has succeeded in the Redskins' run game. Buges must love him and be glad to get him back. The question is, he will already be 29 by the start of the season. It probably would have been wiser to address through the draft. Hopefully Rinehart and Heyer will be solid enough depth.
Albert Haynesworth - I don't like this move because it's too risky. So much money tied up in a single player sacrifices for other positions. Knowing the Redskins' luck, he'll suffer a ruptured Achilles by the third game of the season. Andre Carter and Jason Taylor should play at a much higher level alongside Haynesworth, for however long he lasts. Daniels had a surprisingly good season in 2007 but at 35, and after suffering a season-ending injury, he's probably done.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
The Pain Was Too Great
Just as wonderful as a 6-2 start was, so too was the pain of the 2-6 finish. As mentioned in a post about a year ago about moods affecting reading and blogging. I'd resolved to be more consistent but obviously couldn't do so. I wasn't surprised in the least by the weak second half of the season.
In the first half, Zorn's offense was new and he was a risktaker. Everyone was healthy. By the second half, the linemen were getting banged up. Zorn got more conservative. And defensive coordinators had accumulated game footage to be able to analyze him.
How much more can Campbell continue to develop under Zorn?
In the first half, Zorn's offense was new and he was a risktaker. Everyone was healthy. By the second half, the linemen were getting banged up. Zorn got more conservative. And defensive coordinators had accumulated game footage to be able to analyze him.
How much more can Campbell continue to develop under Zorn?
Friday, November 07, 2008
DeAngelo Hall = Perfect Signing
Signing DeAngelo Hall is a great move. Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot have been hurt all season. He adds superior depth in a troublesome spot. I had been disappointed that the Redskins hadn't drafted Aqib Talib in the first round but Hall is a considerable upgrade. Best of all, he comes at low risk and minimal cost. Chances are that he will play well, the Skins will part ways (unfortunately) with Springs, and the team will reward Hall with a multi-year contract.
Hall had trouble in Oakland because they play a lot of man-press coverage whereas Hall was a successful zone corner in Atlanta. He will be re-energized by playing for his boyhood favorite team. Plus, anyone would be re-energized by leaving the black hole that is the Oakland Raiders. The Skins' locker room has enough leaders that any issues he'd otherwise bring will not be any kind of distraction. Kudos to the Danny and the Vinny for signing DeAngelo Hall.
Weak Nine
Obama wins! Tough sacrifice for diehard Redskins fans but one that almost anybody would be willing to make.
All comedy aside, though, the Skins were in for a rough night when they could only scrounge 6 points in the first quarter. Dick LeBeau showed exactly how to handle Jim Zorn's offense. As the Washington Post noted, quarterback Jason Campbell was the one who paid the price, suffering seven sacks and his first two interceptions. Portis was bottled up and the Redskins couldn't sustain any drives. Now every team will have a blueprint of how to frustrate the Midwest Coast Offense. In the humble opinion of a fan who's never played or coached football at any level, Zorn needs more rollouts, bootlegs, and backside runs to keep the defense guessing. Adding in more misdirection plays will be key.
Dallas will come in with a major chip on their shoulder after being embarrassed at home. Will Zorn and company be able to adjust their gameplan after their weaknesses were exposed? I believe so.
All comedy aside, though, the Skins were in for a rough night when they could only scrounge 6 points in the first quarter. Dick LeBeau showed exactly how to handle Jim Zorn's offense. As the Washington Post noted, quarterback Jason Campbell was the one who paid the price, suffering seven sacks and his first two interceptions. Portis was bottled up and the Redskins couldn't sustain any drives. Now every team will have a blueprint of how to frustrate the Midwest Coast Offense. In the humble opinion of a fan who's never played or coached football at any level, Zorn needs more rollouts, bootlegs, and backside runs to keep the defense guessing. Adding in more misdirection plays will be key.
Dallas will come in with a major chip on their shoulder after being embarrassed at home. Will Zorn and company be able to adjust their gameplan after their weaknesses were exposed? I believe so.
Week Eight
Again Washington played down to their level of competition. This game proved that the Skins were not an elite team. Even though they dominated, their errors and inability to close the game kept the game in doubt. An elite team would have destroyed the Lions with its no-name quarterback. It's nice to have the luxury of Santana Moss as a secret weapon on punt returns. It's also unfortunate that the punt return was the necessary difference in putting the game away.
The extremely slow development and minimal contribution of the top three draft picks is ridiculously frustrating. Nine catches for 69 yards between the three players with Malcolm Kelly on the verge of IR.
The extremely slow development and minimal contribution of the top three draft picks is ridiculously frustrating. Nine catches for 69 yards between the three players with Malcolm Kelly on the verge of IR.
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