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Week 1: Superman at the Superdome

My excitement for opening day against the Saints was limitless. The early news that Rex Grossman was inactive gave me an added jolt. Even down to the very last minute, however, I was prepared to lose. I wanted to win, but I also wasn't putting anything past the Saints, who were undefeated at home last season and have a bone to pick with the NFL right now. In the end, however, I was left speechless, playing the Redskins fight song in the streets of DC and doling out high fives to every fellow fan I could find. 

Super Griffin
Wow, just wow. We knew he was special, but his performance was the stuff of legends. I had to check a couple times during the first half to make sure I was actually awake and not still lost in the rose-tinted fields of my dreams. Griffin was incredibly poised, showing no hesitation under pressure and running the offense like a seasoned hand. He took his time, went through his progressions, rolled out to find the open man and scrambled when when that's what was needed to move the chains. In answer to the Saints' first TD of the game, Griffin connected with Garçon for an 88 yard touchdown that was positively electric. Not only did it set the tone for the rest of the half, it actually got a smile out of Coach Shanahan. Griffin ultimately lead the team down the field on eight scoring drives, racking up 10 points in each quarter for a 40-32 victory, even without his number one receiver, Garçon, who was lost to a foot injury. He used all of the weapons at his disposal, with hand-offs to rookie RB Alfred Morris, big strikes to Moss, Robinson, Morgan, Banks, Paulsen, and a massive 26-yard throw across the middle to Fred Davis on the sideline. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun watching a football game. Griffin was mesmerizing. 

We Are Young
While Griffin is the leader of our offense and the youth movement in DC, it truly is a team revolution we have brewing. Rookie Alfred Morris won the starting RB job over injury plagued Evan Royster and Roy Helu, and he showed us exactly why he deserves to keep it. Morris had an incredibly strong outing, totaling 28 carries for 96 yards and two TDs in his first regular season start. He is strong, protects the ball and is slippery like an eel when he needs to be. I'd like to see the line opening up a few more holes for him, but there is no doubt he's making the best of every opportunity. Morris was not the only young stud to score his first NFL touchdown - Aldrick Robinson, a second year SMU product, caught a 5-yard TD pass from Griffin in the second quarter to put the Redskins up 17-7. He would've had a second TD had in not been for pass interference by the Saints. Robinson has stood out on special teams and is quickly proving to be a reliable threat among an already deep WR corps. Logan Paulsen also deserves high praise for his contributions to the win. In addition to a huge 22-yard Q4 reception, Paulsen put up some big blocks that contributed to Morris's success and almost single-handedly secured the first down for us on a 4th and 1 attempt. I've always believed in Paulsen's talent and he's trying really hard to make believers out of the rest of you too.

Shutting Down the Breesus 
For once, we were not the team starting 3 and out! Our defense wasn't perfect today, but, boy, did they surprise me with some huge performances. Our front seven are beasts and they were bringing the pressure non-stop. Our line made contact with quite a few passes and kept Brees scrambling. Not surprisingly, one of our two sacks came from second year stand out Ryan Kerrigan. Incredibly surprisingly, however, was the author of the first sack - none other than much maligned CB DeAngelo Hall. I mean, where did that come from?! I knew having him play closer to the line was a smart call, but I definitely was not expecting that. London Fletcher had a great game and some really fantastic strips. The real wow-factor on defense came for me in the secondary. I was not expecting much from a corps missing keys starters and known for their inconsistencies, but they put on a show. Josh Wilson doled out some big hits. Madieu Williams put receivers on notice that he will knock you out. Reed Doughty and DeJon Gomes both intercepted the Breesus. Yes, you read that correctly - Doughty and Gomes. I think the biggest stand-out for me this week though was Cedric Griffin. Griffin struggled a bit in the preseason but he had no trouble covering all 6' 4"of Marques Colston. Griffin broke up several crucial plays along the sideline and in the end zone, showing speed and consistency.

From the Sidelines
I'd like to give some serious props to our coaching staff (yes, even Kyle) for creating an outstanding game plan, managing the clock exceptionally well and for knowing when to let go of the reins. They prepared our boys well and then let them execute on their own, adjusting as necessary and using all the tools in the box. DBs Coach Raheem Morris truly deserves a special shout out for the moster showing by our depleted secondary. 

Well Wishes
A special note to two players who were injured during the game - Safety Jordan Berstine suffered a season ending knee injury (he injured "almost everything" in it) and Long Snapper Nick Sundberg broke his arm. Sundberg actually finished the game, taking nine snaps after the original injury. He wins the badass award for Week 1. 

I am still pinching myself. I just can't believe that was our team out there. The progress is phenomenal. I'm not making any playoff predictions or talking about the Super Bowl, I'm simply saying that they truly look like a new team. They actually look like a good team. It is one game, one win, but it was a big one. This team is just plain fun to watch right now. I'm always scared about playing the Rams (it often does not end well). For once, I'm more excited than scared. 

Preseason Week 4: A Fighting Chance

I had very low expectations for this game and had planned to watch from home while I conducted my first of several fantasy football drafts. Late this afternoon, however, @SimoneBett offered tickets and field passes for the game - and I am so grateful she did. It was a great night for football and a surprisingly fun game as players left everything on the field, fighting for a chance to play here, or anywhere.

First off, I love this uni combo, modeled here by Mr. Fletcher.

Big D Day
My praise for our defense is apparently limited only by my concerns at secondary. Last night proved there is no reason to be concerned about depth, talent development or lack of power. The guys showed great communication on the field, making adjustments on the fly, knowing their marks and executing cleanly. I lost track of the sacks at five, but each one seemed to come with more force than the one before it. The low 50's hit it big time all night too - Jackson, Wilson, Robinson, and Kehl were stand outs. The crowd went wild for Kehl's INT and big return. As down as I often am about the secondary, I thought Gomes and Jones both had good night, especially Jones who had some good break up and near-INTs (just need to make those actual INTs...). But the star of the night on secondary for me was again the rookie Richard Crawford. Crawford has speed, hits well and stays on his mark. I must also give a mention to Lorenzo Alexander, just for being himself.  Last word on D goes to the Doughty Doubters - the man will be here, if for nothing else than his reliability as a back up.

Beam Me Up, Kirk
I continue to enjoy watching Cousins on the field. He's not perfect. Tonight he had some bad deep throws and some throws into empty space, but he scrambles, he looks good on roll outs and when he nails a big pass, he really nails it. I also love that he is not afraid - he is patient and he takes chances.

Competitive Reception
The wide receiver position still remains very competitive. I won't spend much time analyzing the contenders, as I know many others will, but I'll share these few thoughts... Armstrong played well and had a huge sideline catch from Cousins. A good showing combined with value on special teams helps his case. Morgan will be on the team, just based on his paycheck, but I do really appreciate his efforts to gain yards after the catch. We have often chided our receivers for that of late and thus Morgan's extra pushes are even more appreciated. I wanted to see more Briscoe tonight. He had at least one big catch and I, for one, hope he makes the team. While Banks remains a fan favorite, evoking cheers with every appearance on the field, I still question his value. His punt returns continue to feature too much lateral running and he had some significant drops and fumbles tonight. Banks did shine on a few big plays, but I'm not sure they were enough to give him an edge at a position deep with bourgeoning talent. To that end, see Robinson and Austin.

Run Game Race
The competition at running back has heated back up as Royster and Helu both had monster nights. Helu showed us once again what we loved about him last season as he strong-armed and bulldozed the Bucs D. Royster found the holes last night and made some key plays. Both backs recorded TDs. When you put Morris and Hightower into the mix, and add a coach whofavors running back by committee, I like the cocktail we're stirring up here.

Up the River Niles
My concerns with Paul remain, but I trust the coaches are not leaving us up the tight end river without a paddle. His routes look good, he is getting open and the opportunities for catches are literally right at his fingertips. Unfortunately, he still has problems making the catch. His dropsies continued tonight and he completely missed a pass in the end zone. Paul did, however, make some catches and his drops are not for want of trying - the man went after every pass with vigor, often in double coverage. If he can get control of his hands, he may one day give Fred Davis a run for his money - there is no doubt Paul is the better blocker of the two.

The Pulse on Paulsen
I've always been a Paulsen fan, if for nothing more than his size and blocking skills. He continues to develop into an even more versatile player, finding ways to get open and improving his catching skills. I think he has better hands than Paul does right now. And I really loved it when he chased down one of the INTs like I chase down beer vendors at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Farewell, Old Friend
And of course I cannot have all of this tight end talk without a note about one of Washington's favorite sons, Chris Cooley. I was not surprised to hear he was released. Caught off guard a little, yes. Surprised, no. I was, however, tremendously sad to see him go, very emotional while watching his presser and have goosebumps as I type. He is without a doubt one of the greatest Redskins of all time - a bright light through difficult franchise years and an incredibly talented player. Cooley will be missed. One fan at the stadium tonight was shown on the big screen for her seat upgrade and took the opportunity to wave a Cooley jersey she'd brought with her. The stadium erupted in cheers and then into the familiar "Coooooooooooooooley".

Preseason Week 2: Blacked Out

Week 2 of the preseason, I found myself in Texas, mid-way through a road trip to Arizona. En route to Fort Worth, we stopped in Arlington to pay a visit to Jerry World. That, sadly, was the highlight of my football experience in Texas. The NFL Network listed the Redskins vs. Bears match-up on the schedule until just before kick-off when the broadcast disappeared. Blacked out. And so I sat in a sports bar in Fort Worth, surrounded by Cowboys fans while my Twitter feed (and texts from my mother of all people) shared the news of our terrible performance in Chicago. Perhaps it is better the game was blacked out... At least my consolation prize was having the Nationals and Orioles games on side-by-side. 

Notes from Camp: Camp Crushes Volume III

Before the regular season starts and the team is cut down to the final 53-man roster, I present the final installation of Camp Crushes: Volume III - the Honorable Mentions & Hall of Fame. 

Who doesn't love Lorenzo Alexander? I dare you to find someone in the DMV who isn't a fan of this perennial contributor. From his work on special teams, to his development at outside linebacker and off-season rumors of him training at tight end, #97 is both a fan and coach favorite. Not to mention, he is, by all accounts, a really nice guy.

Unlike his numerical predecessor, #98 is not without critics. Despite complaints that he has not progressed quickly enough and that injuries have held him back recently, Orakpo is a crucial element in our defense and I believe he will one day be remembered as an elite player and a Redskins ring of famer. 

I don't know who this trainer is, but hello! Thanks for taking care of our boys. 

And for the Hall of Fame entry... who else but the ever so charming locker room leader whose off-season contract negotiation delays sent all of Redskins fandom into a panic. London Fletcher, the inspiration behind my London Calling t-shirt, is respected throughout the league in which he led in tackles last season and, at 37-years old, shows no signs of slowing down. 

My parting shot, this image made me incredibly happy - seasoned veteran and second year stud, I cannot wait to see them both on the field this year.

Preseason Week 1: Progressions

At the end of the game, we came away without injuries and with some good on-field experience. For me, that is a win. I wanted to see more, but I appreciate that we didn't lose anyone in the name of points. I call it progress.

First Things First
Dear Robert, Please don't chase down fumble recoveries in the preseason. Pretty please. I love the heart, but I'm pretty sure there was a collective gasp across Redskins Nation as we watched it. I think I stopped breathing. I did, however, like the end zone jump with Garcon after the TD. Just please be careful. I would've enjoyed seeing Griffin air it out a little more, as I'm sure most people would have, but he looked calm and in control on the field, comfortable in the pocket and confident his O-line would keep him safe, which they did (thanks for that). And to no one's surprise, he held a fantastic presser after the game, poised as usual with all the right answers. I'm so happy to have this guy in Washington. 

Secondary Defense
No news here, I love our defense, but they were a secondary story line. I couldn't wait to see them on field because I knew I would see the power and strength they embody and I was excited to watch the new additions. And they delivered, with some noticeable flashes along the way. The scab refs still won't call holding for Orkapo (thanks @_JakeRussell), who continues to get held like a baby - of course that didn't stop his partner in crime, second year stud Ryan Kerrigan, from sacking Fitzpatrick. The secondary looked fine, with DHall looked better closer to the line and Merriweather and Barnes both getting hands on balls without actually coming away with the INT. I wanted push-ups right then and there. Oh well. The biggest story on D for me was the performance by rookie CB Richard Crawford - he returned punts, laid out big hits and had the only INT of the game. He gives me great hope for the future of our secondary. I'd also like to give shout outs to nose tackles Baker and Neild and to our goal line D - great performances by all.

Receiving Wide
Dude, I am really upset we didn't see more Hankerson. Really. I understand that, while Griffin was in, we focused on the run, but I was so excited to see #85, who has looked great in camp, in action during a game. The man we did, however, see a lot of is our new #1 receiver, Mr. Pierre Garcon. Griffin connected with Garcon on a 20 yard pass for the only TD of the night. It was a nice, solid scoring play, but I didn't see fireworks. What I did see is that he and Griffin have a great synergy and camaraderie both on and off the field and I really like that. Oh, and can we please save the somersaults for regular season scores? Thanks in advance. Love, the fans who don't want to see you get injured. As for the young guns, I thought Robinson and Austin both played well last night. They are powerful and you can see the effort they are putting into it.

Run, Morris, Run
Wow - what a break out performance by the rookie out of Florida Atlantic (Where? Do they play Mike Sellers's alma mater?). Alfred Morris was a stud last night. He made big hits, powered through tackles and found the holes. Morris is a player to watch this year, especially in a system that highlights multiple RBs. I was fairly disappointed in Royster and Helu, though the latter a little less so. Royster just didn't get the yardage and couldn't seem to find the holes. He picked things up a little before Helu took over, but I'll be hoping to see improvement next week against the Bears.

Paulsen over Paul?
I'm sad to say that the butterfingers Niles Paul had in camp seem to have joined him in Buffalo. Last night, Paul either dropped the ball or missed it all together. He got a lot of looks, too, but he just couldn't seem to make anything of them. I like Paul and I want to see him succeed, but he's going to have to show a lot of progress over the next few games if he is going to be a play maker on this team. Logan Paulsen, who has often been criticized for the same  issue, is showing progress and continues to provide solids blocks. He's not a star and Paul certainly still has the advantage over him, but Paulsen is a known quantity and I like having him around to maintain depth at TE.


Taking it to the Banks
Brandon Banks was all over the field last night, returning kicks and trying to prove his worth as a receiver. You can't say he doesn't give it his all, but I'm afraid he is going to have to dig a little deeper if he wants to stay on the roster as a WR. Banks had some drops, some slips and failed to stay in bounds on one good catch, but the real problem I saw was his inability to create separation. On too many plays, Banks was tangled up with the player covering him, not focusing on getting open until it was too late to make a difference.


Scabs
I know they are the second string (Third string? Practice squad?) of refs, but wow. There is a penalty in the NFL known as holding. Please look into it.

I'm not talking about Rex, who was in a familiar position last night (thanks @HomerMcFanboy for the pic).

And so, it is progress. And it will continue. And then oh, the places we'll go. 

Notes from Camp: Camp Crushes Volume II

Without further adieu, I present Camp Crushes Volume II, the hotties of Redskins Training Camp 2012...

A hometown boy - product of Episcopal High School and University of Richmond - with a 1,000 watt smile, Tim Hightower is a favorite of mine on and off the field. While injuries have plagued him, he remains the best pass rusher in our RB corps and seems to be recovering well him his latest knee injury. I have high hope that he will stay healthy and remain active with the team for several seasons to come.

Pardon this gratuitous shot of Hightower with one of the stars of Camp Crushes Volume I, Niles Paul, but how could I resist?

Hightower seems to be moving well on the field, if somewhat limited and not always with the first team. We know he won't be on the field against Buffalo tomorrow, but the most recent depth chart showed him as our number one back. 

While there are a lot of storylines to follow this offseason, I think it is safe to say that one of the players fans are most excited to see in action, other than the obvious, is Leonard Hankerson, who suffered a devastating hip injury last season right after putting on a breakout performance. He is a fan favorite who gives as much love to them as they do to him.

He certainly seems to have recovered well from the surgery and is showing flashes of becoming that receiver we all so desperately hope he can be. It seems all but certain that Pierre Garcon will be our number one receiver, but there is plenty of room for Hankerson to shine in our offense and I think he will. 

The controversial Cousins... I was a fan of the Cousins pick in the 4th round of this draft. Hindsight is 20-20, sure, and, with the current state of our O-line, people are starting to once again decry his selection by the Redskins, but I still believe in the wisdom of it. He is not a big QB, but, by all accounts, he is smart, agile, eager to learn and should develop into a reliable back up - not to mention potential trade fodder down the line. I like his attitude and he's cute. And let's face it, no one wants to see Rex here indefinitely. 

Don't you worry, Camp Crushes Volume III is up next.