Week 16: To the Vikings, really?

I was lucky enough to score fourth row seats to this ultimately disastrous Christmas Eve outing against the Vikings so this post will be more brief than usual. We had a fun day, despite the heartbreaking loss and the rather obnoxious fan seated next to me, but would, of course, have preferred an early Christmas gift of a win...

Rex is Terrible
He doesn't protect the ball. He overthrows our receivers. Sometimes he just throws to no one. And the longer the throw, the more likely it will be picked off, batted away or caught by the invisible man.  

Paulsen Needs a Mentor
He has potential, but he needs a champion. His blocking continues to improve, though he must watch out for holding calls. Cooley never gets called (legitimately) for holding.

New Royster in the Roost
The rookie out of Penn State ran for over 100 yards in his first career start. Oh the power of our young backfield!

Whoa Gano
For all his missed and blocked kicks this year, he does occasionally nail a big one. This week it was a 53-yarder, right through the middle of the uprights.

I just love Kerrigan and Riley. Love. And even more so from the fourth row.

The clock management was terrible. 

Even Rex looked confused. Though I guess that really isn't all that unusual. 

PENALTIES! 

Poor Banks, not again... Not to mention the rest. 

Highlight

That Gaffney. Every week. But this week tops them all. His one-handed snag at the back of the end zone was pure Christmas Eve magic. And it looked effortless. Thank you, Santa, for letting that happen in the end zone right in front of us. 

There were a few exciting moments to hold onto in this loss, but perhaps that is just me grasping at the best of it so to make it a more worthy outing. We had fun. I just wish our team has as well. 

Week 15: Giant Surprise

I placed friendly wager with a Giants fan on the first Redskins-Giants game this season and was pleasantly surprised to win it. I never, however, would've taken a bet on this game. Low and behold, we were again surprised with a victory. I watched this game at neighborhood bar in New Orleans that was kind enough to give me one small screen for the NFC East match up. Maybe is was watching from a different city, but it felt like I was watching a different team.


What the heck was that opening play? 
Take it out of the book. Now.

Argh, A3
Armstrong saw more action this weekend, but I'm not sure he deserved to. He seems very disconnected from the rest of the offense and particularly out of synch with Rex. Armstrong slipped on some crucial opportunities. He lazily strolled back to the huddle, seemingly uninterested in the play calls. And he should have caught the would-be-TD-pass that Webster batted down. I won't be surprised or disappointed if we don't see him next season.

Valiant Veterans
With Cooley and Hightower on IR, our ground game is all about the young talent, but the air game this week was dominated by a few veterans relishing their opportunity to play. Gaffney has been our most reliable receiver all season. He is a playmaker and a joy to watch. Stallworth has not always proven as steadfast as Gaffney, but he has made big catches when we need them and proved this week to be excellent at pass protection. I think he is a class act and could be useful to retain for mentoring and depth.

Beastly Backfield
And now, to those young bucks. The Giants defense prevented us from ever really opening up the run, but that did not stop our rookie core from trying. Helu and Royster both made commendable pushes, showing great heart, strong legs and an unimpeachable persistence. Darrel Young deserves props for his first career TD. He is a fighter and shed Giants D-men as easily as brushing dirt off his shoulders. With Hightower hopefully back next season, we'll have a solid running core and one tough full back. Now if we can just get an O-line in place to open holes for them (actually, the makeshift one did all right this week)...

Dominant D
For once I think I can actually compliment the entire defense for their performance. As usual, our front core and linebackers put on a show, but the secondary actually seemed to be gelling too. Wilson, DHall and Atogwe all came away with INTs. Wilson had one of his better games, with batted balls and solid hits to compliment his second INT of the season. DHall's INT was one of those we've been longing for all season - a one-handed snag the likes of which we all wished we'd seen more than three of in 2011. Fletcher broke up the pass that opened the way for Atogwe's remarkable pick, also his third on the year. Needless to say, that was not Fletcher's only shining moment (we need to resign him ASAP). He forced a fumble off Jacobs and, per usual, made huge contributions throughout the game, tallying twelve tackles. Riley continues to impress and was the number two tackler this week with ten total. I think LaRon must have loaned him his cape, because he seems to be everywhere. Orakpo, Kerrigan and Bowen all got sacks on Eli. I do enjoy watching him get hit, only if because it means more Manning Face shots.    

Other Notables
I've always liked Lorenzo Alexander and have been glad the Shanny's found a place for him on special teams. He looked great this week and made a big contribution when he was brought in on D in Q4 for a goal line stop. Westbrook had quite the showing this week too. He has been a good practice squad retention for years. It's nice to see him contributing beyond special teams too.

Rex still had two INTs (not surprised). On the flip side, Gano made all his kicks (surprise).

We have two games left in the season. We're not playing for anything at this point but pride. This win is without a doubt one which we can all take great pride. Even if a Cowboys fan TSA agent thanked for the win on my way through security, it did still make for a much more pleasant trip home. 

Week 14: Pride in Defeat

What a game! It got off to a rough start, but our Redskins fought back and stayed in it to the bitter end. No doubt, it was not a perfect game, but our men looked good and played with a lot of heart. 

Credit Where Credit is Due

Grossman had a 92.2 QB rating today. No, that is not a typo. Other than the fumble in the end zone (Idiot! Get out of the end zone!), he had a fantastic game. There were a few overthrown passes and a sack for a loss, but he made big plays with crisp, tight passes to diverse targets. His 51 yard pass to Stallworth was electric and set a nice tone for what this team came prepared to do. And I absolutely refuse to put that INT on him. 

Credit Where Credit is Due Part Deux

This one is even harder to write than Part One, but credit is certainly due to L'il Shanny this week for calling an even game and tapping into our depth at wide receiver. I must, however, question his red zone play calling. It is inconsistent and not terribly effective. Back to back unsuccessful run plays are not the way to get 6 points. 

Wide Reception

Our receivers saw the holes in the Pats secondary and used them to our full advantage. Last week I begged for more Gaffney and this week I got what I wanted. He is, without a doubt, one of our best off-season acquisitions who consistently produces. He has good hands and great ups to compliment his 6' 2" frame. I'll save the nice package jokes for the talking heads. Stallworth had a great game today. I am so pleased he was able to shine against his former team and to show our coaches that he is worth keeping around. We also saw nice catches out of Moss and Anderson. I'm not totally sold on Anderson and I'd have liked to see Armstrong get a few passes, but I support Kyle's spread-the-love approach. As for Santana... I am a Moss supporter and always have been, but that INT at the end of the game was all him. He bobbled the ball right into the hands of the Pats D. I'm still not totally sure that his TD should've been called back (ok, maybe I am), but I'm definitely sure that he should've caught that ball. 

Dynamic Duo

Helu had another incredibly impressive game, rushing for over 100 yards for the third week in a row - and he didn't even take all the carries. Helu was relieved several plays in the game by fellow rookie Evan Royster who also had a very strong showing. These two rookies give me great hope for the future of our run game. Both fit well in this system and Kyle is learning how to tap into their explosive production potential. If a healthy Hightower returns next year, which I hope he does, our backfield will be a force to be reckoned with. 

That Special Difference

That is what Special Teams are supposed to be. For the umpteenth week in a row, Gano showed why he isn't so special. He kicked the ball out of bounds. Again. No surprise there though. The real surprise of the game, what proved to be a pivotal shift in the momentum, was the emergence of Speedy Banks as QB2. What a play! Banks nailed a left-handed 49-yard pass to Moss who broke a tackle and took it in for six. That dude is 5'6". He's my size (plus some muscle). And yet he has an unending wealth of moxie, spirit, panache, verve, whatever you want to call it and we really shouldn't be surprised by the feats he'll attempt, and accomplish, to stay on this roster.   

Disappoint on D

Our defense was spotty at best on Sunday. A better showing by them, and the game may have had a different outcome. We were woefully underprepared for  the beastly Gronkowski. Much has been made of D. Hall standing by and watching Gronkowski carry and then shed two of his teammates along the sideline. Yes, that was an abysmal play on his part (tied in wretchedness with the 20 yards he cost us later - throwing a flag, really?!), but that was just one of the times we let the Gronk get the best of us. Unfortunately, we were also unable to stop the run. When you are playing an offense helmed by Tom Brady, you have to at least stop them on the ground. We were able to get pressure on Brady, which forced him to throw some un-Bradylike incompletions, and Fletcher, Bowen and Cofield all got solid hits on him. Josh Wilson snagged his first INT at an absolutely crucial moment in the game - I hope it is the first of many. The good news for our D, and really for the whole team, is that the young players are getting good playing time and learning from the veterans. Perry Riley could not have a better mentor than London Fletcher - skill, poise and a true class act. Gomes had another nice game, though I do wish he had a Fletcher of his own.   

Missing 99

Can someone please tell me why we couldn't find a place for Andre Carter on our D? I was always a Carter fan (it's no secret I'm partial to the D - hey, they are our better half). And Sunday he came back to town and showed us what we missed out on. I'm glad he found team that appreciates his talent and knows how to let him shine.

The Orange One

I have supported Papa Shanny on every ballsy challenge, 4th & 1 attempt, and 2-point conversion he has called this season. Until this week. That was a terrible challenge, Paps. Terrible. We all knew it. Better luck next time. 

Oy, the Refs!

Where do I even start? What a horrendous officiating effort. Both teams were the victims of terrible calls, which, of course, means both teams also benefitted from the bad calls. But not one call made me as stand-on-the-couch-and-yell-at-the-TV livid as the call against Fletcher for his hit on Brady. That was a completely bogus call against a player who brings the utmost integrity to every game. Not that we needed him to confirm it for us, but even Brady publicly stated that it was a legal hit and a very bad call by the refs.

There is no shame in that loss. At least not for the team (a few individuals should probably be questioning their performance. They know who they are). We held our own against a play-off caliber team and an elite offense. I have nothing but love for (most of) my Redskins today and nothing but optimism for 2012. 

Post Script: Props to @UKSkin1 for the title. Sums it up nicely. Check out his work for Hogs Haven.

Week 13: The Collapse

That was a game we could've and should've won. Unfortunately, the entire team conspired against themselves, against the hopes of the fandom, and collapsed mid-performance. There were few brights spots in a loss that has ultimately been overshadowed by the suspension of two of our most important offensive players.

False Start
For the second week in a row, our offense managed to put together an opening drive that culminated in seven points. Roy Helu put our first points on the board and went on to have a 100 yard game for the second week in a row. That was the best thing that came out of the game.

Freddy Delight
It was an awfully mixed bag for his last game of the season - and, no, I don't mean someone mixed the schwag and the nugs to ruin the spliff (first and only one, I promise). He had two great catch and runs for over thirty yards or more, breaking tackles a long the way and racking up 99 yards for the day. That is the tough and fast Freddy D we love to see. Unfortunately, he also made a rookie mistake on a very nice sideline pass from Grossman, not managing to drag his foot inbounds to secure the catch. I don't know where we'll see Davis on the field next, but if it is in Ashburn, he better have his head on straight and be ready to produce better results.

Ridiculous Rex
Other than the great sideline pass to Davis, Rex put on a performance that even his biggest fans can't defend. Thanks to some inattention and slippery fingers on the Jets D, he only recorded one INT, but there were almost many more. Some times I want to applaud his seeming obliviousness to distraction in the pocket, but, mostly, I want to ask him how his peripheral vision is and if doesn't see the blitzes and sacks coming or if he actually gets pleasure out of getting hit, losing yards and throwing the ball away. When he did manage to get passes off, he consistently overthrew the receivers, especially the receivers ready and waiting in the end zone. Our receivers can't do it all on their own, the QB has to at least give them a chance. And when Special Teams came away with the Riley fumble recovery on a punt return, Rex still couldn't produce, leaving us with three points courtesy of Gano. Ditto Banks's nice fourth quarter return.

Dependable No More
I can't say I blame them. Our defense has been carrying the weight this season and the burden became too much. We struggled to stop the run all game, most noticeably on the Q4 TDs. DHall had several opportunities for INTs, but couldn't complete the transaction. We need big plays on D, big plays like the Bowen bat-down, and lots more of them. Kerrigan and Riley both continue to impress, and Fletcher remains the leader, but, overall, it was an unimpressive outing for our D.

Meager Management
Back on my list again - Kyle the Wunderkid. The nice balance we saw in play calling last week went missing and we struggled to convert third downs. It was the red zone offense that got me most worked up. I just couldn't understand his decisions, especially when seven points were so close. But it is Pappa Shanny I'd like to take to the mat for the fourth quarter woes. We mismanaged the clock and took too much time when there wasn't any to spare. Rex proved once again he cannot run a no huddle offense, but that is old news, and the father-son super duo couldn't seem to dial up any remedy to give us even a fighting chance. And then came the final blow - a lost on-sides kick with two minutes left in the game. I usually admire Pappa Shanny's moxie - going for it on fourth downs and throwing challenge flags - but that call seemed like an admission that our defense could not be relied upon to stop the Jets or make the big play. While that may, in fact, have been true of the D, it seemed like a desperate, even foolish, act.

Other
Where was Gaffney? He's a spark when we need fire and yet was seen very little Sunday. Gano showed both good and bad, as usual, but my favorite performance of his was by far his sideline tackle of the Jets returner. A3 had a nice 30-ish yard return and then disappeared for the remainder of the game.

Bonus
The rest of the division lost this week as well. If the Giants can defeat the Cowboys this weekend, they'll be tied in both overall and division records, meaning there is still a chance that Dallas will won't see the post season after all.

Broadcast Miscasts
The CBS commentators proved far superior to the D-class slough Fox has been producing, but they weren't without their fair share of gems. There was a 30 second close up of Sanchez's Jets mouthguard that had them all aflutter. And later they noted that is was a good thing a player had a face mask or else he'd have a bloody nose. Well golly guys, it's a good thing the kickers wear shoes or they might stub their toes. Of course, it could've been worse, we could've had Troy Aikman announcing the game.

For the second rate fans out there who called for us to lose for better draft position, seems your wish is coming true. For the rest of us, that was a serious disappoint and an unfortunate regression from the efficient team we saw last week.   

Week 12: The Wild, Wild West

What a game. What a win. Wait, a win?! Heck yes! Something about the Seahawks gets us fired up. Weird, I know, but it was evident even before the first whistle that this game was being played with extra sparks. 

Gunslinging Start
For the first time in more weeks than I care to count, I am not having to write about starting a game with a 3 and out. We had an incredible first drive, minus some penalties (15 yards on Fred Davis alone), dominating the clock and starting big with seven points (courtesy of Fred Davis who made up for the penalty with both the catch and push to get to 1st and goal and, finally, with the TD). The play calling was even, logical and successful. Made me question if Kyle even made the trip to Seattle.

Moss is Boss
There was something about just knowing that Moss was back on the field that calmed me, that made me feel a little safer. Turns out the team felt the same way - Kyle Shanahan said this week that Grossman and other felt more confident have 89 back. It was not his best game, there were at least two passes he really should've had, but he was also hit helmet to helmet by Chancellor with no flag. What are you going to do? Having him back opened options and noticeably changed the tone of the offensive. Welcome back, Tana.

Hurdling Helu
Once again, Helu shined bright. This week he was our shooting star, literally leaping defensemen with a single bound. He had a fantastic day running the ball, finding holes and consistently getting the edge on the D. Even more noteworthy than his total yards are his yards after contact, ability to break tackles and his powerful blocks. It is spellbinding to watch him progress each week and assume more and more carries. He is our own Energizer bunny, seemingly get more powerful as the game goes on. And that hurdle! For a TD! Someone get this kid on the ProBowl roster.

High Fives
I give both Gaffney and Armstrong high fives. I'm a big Gaffney fan. That out of bounds step on the TD was a rookie move, but he rarely makes those and more frequently proves a steadfastly reliable  receiver no matter where he lines up. Armstrong has been quiet this year and I was starting to think we had seen the last of him. And then he saved they day with a skillful 50-yard TD catch that queued up the win.

Through Clenched Teeth
I hate to admit this... but the play calling was pretty darn good. We had a good game plan in place and Lil' Shanny called an even, efficient game. I hope this becomes the rule and not the exception.

Seeing the Future
I continue to love watching the young members of this team find their way and become playmakers for this team. Darrel Young is one tough cookie. I hated seeing him go out and hope he recovers well. Perry Riley has dominated since becoming a starter. He is a difference maker who is truly coming into his own and becoming exciting to watch. And how can I ever forget my favorite rookie of them all, the new team leader in sacks, Ryan Kerrigan. I love watching him play. He is a great compliment to Orakpo and may well prove the more electric of the two. Get your votes in now, Redskins faithful, let's send this kid to Hawaii.

INTs
The haunt us on both sides of the ball. After getting us out of a sticking situation when we started our drive on our own 5 yard line, Rex through an INT that was returned for a TD. It wouldn't be a Sunday without at least one INT courtesy of Rex. But our defense also struggles get the INTs - Josh Wilson had some balls thrown right to him and couldn't come away with the ball. DHall, however, after a bad press week, showed up in a major way, playing a great game and capping it off with an INT in the final minute. I do still think he should have more though...

Not-So-Special Teams
Special teams performance was the real downer of this game. We consistently started with bad field position. Banks gave good runs, but an illegal block took his best one back. On the other hand, we seemed happy to give them great field postion by kicking the ball out of bounds and blowing coverage on the returns. And for a little more kicking frustration, Gano had a field goal and an extra point blocked thanks to break downs on the line.

Contemptible Commentary 
My word, Fox, get some new talking heads. Once again, the Fox announcers failed miserably. I know this wasn't a prime game Sunday, but where did you find those hacks? "Hey, is that your boat out there?" "He has an 8-pack, just like you, right(while showing TJack injury.)?" "The entire Redskins bitch just exhaled." Pretty sure you meant bench. Yes, they really did call the coach's son Kyle Schottenheimer. Trust me that I have called him many names in his tenure here, but at least I do actually know his real one. Perhaps my favorite, however, was the solid two minutes they dedicated to talking about the size of Rex's hands. Speechless.

This certainly was not a perfect game on our part, but I only feel good about it. The penalties were crushing at times, but we overcame them. Rex played above average which made up for the Special Teams failures. All in all, it was a win that we needed badly, but it was also a win that looked pretty good. If the Eagles fall to the Seahawks Thursday, it is going to feel even better. 

Week 11: The Crusher

Oh, the pain. The agony. It was right there. A W was within our grasp. And then... Nobody likes a tease. We've all known them and, sure, they're fun for a little while, they get you all riled up with the anticipation of a score, of victory, of finally getting what you've been longing for... And then, burn. Crushed again.

Another Anemic Start
This week our opponent started with a 3 and out. So did we. But we capped ours off with a nice fumble. The first quarter continued down a pretty ugly path with Rex leading us 0-5 on 3rd down conversions well into the 2nd quarter. And where was Helu? The Shanny's really need to figure out the run system and stick with it.

Followed by the Unexpected
And then it happened. Not once, but twice! We scored in the first half of a game. Grossman ran. That alone is an accomplishment. It was only four yards, but those four yards were worth seven points. Rex then combined with my star of the day, Jabar Gaffney, for another seven and the lead going in to halftime.  Gaffney had a great day, with over 100 yards and some crucial catches. He wins my Week 11 Gold Star. And I still want that sideline catch in overtime, ruled out, reviewed. Donte Stallworth had quite a triumphant return to FedEx this weekend, winning hearts with the game-tying touchdown catch with 14 seconds left in the game. Logan Paulsen and Gaffney proved the stars in overtime, bringing us within field goal range to seal the victory. But we all know the familiar scene that unfolded thereafter...

Cement Galoshes
I think that is what Gano must be wearing during the game. For the second week in a row, he let us down. This week, however, it was against Dallas and he did it twice. The second miss, for the win in overtime, might now have some calling for him to wear cement galoshes off the field, near water.

No One is Perfect
It is almost as though we have two different defenses playing on the field at the same time. Our secondary had a bad, bad day yesterday while the D-line and middle linebackers held the defense together. D. Hall took enough of a beating on radio and Twitter that I'll mostly give him a pass, just not on the deja vu blown coverage against Bryant that put Dallas in position for the winning field goal. For that he should hang his head a little lower this week. Atogwe also had a very disappointing game. He should've had at least two INTs yesterday, if not more. And he totally blew the coverage on the third Dallas TD. He has yet to prove his worth to this team and he is running out of time.

But Some of Them Tried
Wow - the rest of our D put on a show. Rookie Chris Neild plowed over one of the Dallas O-linemen and hit Romo hard. That always feels good. Kerrigan became the second rookie to lay a hit on Romo. And then he did it again. I can't say enough about Kerrigan. He just makes me smile. The hits on Romo kept coming (let's face it, can there ever be enough?), with Bowen and Fletcher combing for back-to-back sacks. Electric. And the break out performance by rookie Gomes has me feeling better about the future of our secondary. I look forward to watching him develop. All in all, the run D was on point, containing Jones and Murray for most of the game, and they had incredible 3rd down stops. They did fail on 4th and 1, which was painful, but... no one is perfect.

Saving Banks
For ten weeks now we have been asking - What happened to Banks? Is it the knee? Did he lose his mojo? On Sunday, there were no questions, only cheers. He consistently gave us good field position and showed the fight and fortitude that made us all swoon last year. Let's hope he keeps up this new look.

Once again, Fox gets special recognition - for one of the worst plays on words ever: Romo-vember. Really!? Before the game was even over. Wretch.

It was a positively crushing day, yet, oddly, I wasn't nearly as crushed as I had been the last few games. I wanted that win. I wanted it badly. It was our Super Bowl. Somehow, despite the loss, just putting up a good fight made the sting less harsh. There was plenty not to like - Armstrong's misses, Freddy D's dropsies, an INT, run call on 2nd and 25, Gano, Gano, Gano - but there was a lot more to like than we'd seen in a long time. And for that, at least, I am grateful. In week that is about giving thanks, I'll give thanks for not getting blown out, and hope that, come Sunday, I can give further thanks for a win in Seattle. 

Week 10: Devastation Continues

This week was another heartbreaker. Somehow I knew going into it that the Dolphins would find a way to top our crumbling offense. There truly are times I hate being right. 

Rex. Oy.
I recognize that our QB situation is tenuous at best, but I didn't see that one coming. The Sunday morning announcement that Rex was back in as starter had me in fits. And the rest of the day didn't get much better. He had two INTs in the game, one of which may or may not have been his fault. He did absolutely zilch in the red zone. And I can't stand looking at him. At least his muffin top is shrinking.

Just Plain Offensive
How many weeks in a row is it now that we have started with a 3 and out? Too many to be worth counting. And to top it all off, on 3rd and 2, Kyle called a 5-step drop. You can guess how that turned out. And what exactly does Kyle have against the run game? Was he bad at it in high school and teased for it? Did he ask it on a date and get stood up? Whatever it is, Kyle, get over it. Run the damn ball. We don't have a QB. You don't have another option. For yet another week, we couldn't put points on the board. Yes, Torain scored a touchdown on an outside run. But that came back thanks to the Paulsen hold. I like Paulsen, but that was a big mistake and it cannot happen again.

Week 9 Gold Star Rescinded: Gano x2
Deja-vu?

Hail Helu
Our boy Helu had another stellar showing this week. Yes, he had decent runs, but the real beauty of his game was in the blocking and the blitz pickups. Some out there won't like this comparison, but I do (after all, my first custom Redskins tee, the ones I wear on game day, was "Clinton is my Homeboy"). Helu is reminds me of a young, healthy Portis. He has the legs, and he also knows when he is needed to protect the QB/ballcarrier and help secure the execution of the play.

Defensive Exception
I've been begging and pleading for more turnovers on D and this week we managed a few. Kevin Barnes and the INT! My boy Kerrigan! Once again nominated for Rookie of the Week! Two forced fumbles and + sacks. Love it! I don't, however, love penalties. And I really don't love how he is being held like a baby and double-teamed by jersey-pulling O-linemen. Perry Riley was a rockstar. I love the development we are seeing from him this season and I look forward to seeing him continue to progress. I do have one gripe with our D this week though and it is with the secondary. We did not do nearly enough to shut down Brandon Marshall. He is the Dolphins only major threat which means the secondary had one job. They failed.

Hankerson Heartbreak
My wish came true, we saw more of him. A lot more. Man, oh, man. Other than the fall that contributed to one of the INTs, he had a great game. He was a shining star, one bright spot in an otherwise dark, dark day. He had his first 100+ game as a pro. He was showing the progress we'd hoped for. And then he went down. You could feel his pain. And I was hopeful when he limped off that it wasn't anything too serious. When the news came out Monday, I almost cried. That combined with Golston's injury made for a rough, rough Monday in Redskins Nation.

Hot for Flipper
What was with the announcers verbally humping the Dolphins?

It was brutal. Just brutal. And this week we get the Cowboys at home. Burgundy Blog may have said it best today on Twitter - @BurgundyBlog: Draft position now crucial but if there's one win left I still crave at all costs it's Dallas. This week is our Super Bowl

Week 9: Too Little Too Late

And so the frustration continues. That was a tough game to watch. The trend of the late-game-too-little-too-late-to-matter surge of efficiency rears its ugly head again.

The Young & the Restless
We saw Helu, Hankerson, Young and Austin on the field and making plays. They may not be rockstars yet, but I am thrilled they are getting the chance to play on Sundays. As I've said before, they need the opportunity to develop in situations that matter, to play against first team D's, and to help create plays when the one called falls apart. Hankerson is one of the rookies we have been waiting on to bloom. He had a great game, reliably pulling in the passes that came his way. I wish we'd seen more of him.

Hello Helu
Helu had a pretty decent game. Surpassing Art Monk's record for catches in a game is a statistic that I prefer not to taught, as it is in no way an accurate reflection of Helu's performance or the game and it invokes the name of an all-time great in a comparison that belittles his legendary career. Just one more reason I hate statistics. Helu had good, solid runs. He found the holes and proved a decent receiver when Beck couldn't seem to find others. He did, however, play receiver too much for my taste. And then there was that 3rd down drop.

Special Teams Need Special Help
Brandon Banks, once a bright spot in dark times, has been unable to produce this season. Sunday was his worst performance yet. First, Banks fumbled the return on the 3 yard line, giving us almost impossible field position. Then he dropped again, and this time it was almost recovered by the 49ers. All in all, we had pretty miserable field position for much of the game.

Special Teams Gold Star of the Week
I never, ever, ever thought I would say this, but Graham Gano was the hero of the game on Sunday. He made not only a career long, but a franchise record-setting 59-yard field goal. Those three points were our first of the day and our only until it was too late to matter. To top it off, he ended the game with a beautiful, textbook on-sides kick. If only we had been able to recover it...

Mixed Defense
They did not let Frank Gore run wild over FedEx Field. He had one long run at a tough time in the game, but for the most part we contained him and prevented explosive plays. Yes, I know, he still had an over 100 yard game, I'm just saying it could've been a lot worse. After a week when people were calling for Landry's cape, he stepped and recovered a fumble. I am nowhere close to giving up on him yet.

Mixed Offense
We started with a weak three and out that included two back to back bad run calls. But we did score a touchdown and convert for 2 points. That is progress. But, again, it was too late... And can someone please tell me where Fred Davis was? Rolling him out in the 4th quarter is... you guessed it... too darn late. When he is our primary offensive weapon, he needs to be on the field running routes from the start. At least the O-line showed up this week and protected their QB. But Trent Williams needs to control his temper. Period.

Lil' Shanny
I'll go easy on him this week, but I do have to call him out for a few pretty darn bad ideas. 3rd and 12 we threw well short of the 1st down marker. 3rd and 23 became a short shovel pass to Helu and a punt. And finally, on 4th and 2, Kyle called a pass play. I recognize that plays fall apart and what we see on the field isn't always what was intended, but week in and week out Kyle continues to give us reasons to question his play calling.

It was a sloppy game. No two ways about it. And what little we could produce was too little, too late. 

Week 8: Speechless

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet. Ok, maybe not sweet. But I'm too disappointed this week to muster much. 

Great Start
Two three and outs in a row. Awesome.

My Buddy Kyle
Continues to throw short of the down and on a day when our O-line is having a meltdown.

Major Meltdown
What the heck happened to our O-Line? Beck was sacked 10 darn times. 

Major Meltdown Dos
Defense, really? Where was the secondary on that first touchdown? Or for the rest of the game for that matter? I didn't like the Fletcher-Landry scuffle, but I do understand that people appreciate the players holding each other accountable.

One Brief Shining Moment
Hankerson and Paulsen got time. I like seeing the young guys on the field.

Ball Hog
Beck held the ball way too long. He just hung out in the pocket. And that was a terrible idea considering the O-line played like they were hanging out in a bar.

Miserable, just miserable. 

Now is the Time

This morning I listened to the Junkies debating whether Shanahan would be here through the end of his 5-year contract and discussing how badly he has managed the QB situation. I'm no Shanahan apologist, but I do tend to disagree with them.

Shanahan inherited a team fraught with the misgivings of Vinny and Zorn. He didn't believe in Jason Campbell and, frankly, neither did this city. So he did what he thought was best. He brought in a veteran at QB1 and backed him up with two journeymen(-ish). It seemed liked a safe move, one that would buy some time while they worked through changes and challenges on the rest of the roster and prepared for a big 2011 draft.

Unfortunately, the plan imploded. McNabb was not in peak condition. He paid lip service to the media but showed very little progress in learning our playbook and becoming a team leader. We now know we had him midway into what is clearly the downward spiral on which he will end his NFL career. He got the bench and we got Rex.

For all intents and purposes, it seemed clear that Rex got the start because he and Kyle had a relationship from their time in Houston, he knew the offense, and had more on-field experience than Beck-the-Unknown. Ultimately, however, Rex played like Rex plays and we ended the season 6-10.

Enter the 2011 Draft and cue commentary that Shanahan missed an opportunity by not drafting a QB. It is hard to argue against such claims, but I believe he was right to continue to build a core of young players, on both offense and defense, who will have a year to learn the system and develop as professionals in the NFL, making us a better team and a better place for a young QB in the future. We needed positions on both sides of the ball, a lot of them, and trading down for more picks was the unpopular, but healthy decision.

And all of that is to say, now is the time.

In addition to great defensive additions, we now have two classes of offensive players with potential - Austin (2010), Paulsen (2010 Undrafted), Hankerson, Helu, Paul, and Royster. Now is their time to show us what they've got.

Cooley is on IR, possibly having seen his last snap as a Redskin (though I, for one, hope not). Hightower is also on IR, with no guarantees for a return to the Redskins next year (one year contract, though, if healthy, I'd like to see him back). Moss is out for 5-7 weeks, possibly the next candidate for IR depending on his progress (is it worth bringing him back in week 10?).

Now is the time to let our young guns have at it. Put them out there. All of them. Give them their chance. Give them time with the first team and lots of it. We need to take time to develop these guys. We'll need patience, but we have the veterans on the squad to help them along.

Beck has a year and a half with this offense, runs the team efficiently, and can spread the ball around to give opportunities to all the young studs. Our QB situation is bad, no doubt about it, but I like that we have this time to build a stronger team for a new QB. I know a rookie won't solve all our problems, but any rookie will fare better with teammates that are more comfortable in their roles, routes and responsibilities. 


And yes, I understand that if we had drafted a rookie, he too would have an extra year under his belt, but would it have been worth it at the expense of draft picks at other positions and depth chart issues in 2012? A QB may be a team's offensive leader and the key component of any winning offense, but where are we without talent and depth on the rest of the team? I'll tell you where - St. Louis. 

Week 7: The Heartbreaker

We knew this was going to be a challenge, especially with the versatile rookie Cam Newton leading the Panthers. But we had also hoped their sad D would give our offense opportunities to score... 

Beck Wagon
Weak start, but warmed up and moved well. He made mistakes, and I do wish he would take a little more time, but, behind a make-shift O-line and making his first start since 2007, you have to give him some credit for a fairly solid performance. I also love his humility and candor. It is refreshing to have a QB at the podium who takes responsibility for his performance - good, bad or otherwise.

Oh My, O-Line
Make-shift it may be, but I think the line deserves a round of applause. They need work, no doubt, but Beck was mostly well-protected and our backs were given lanes. I look forward to seeing their progress next week.

MIA
Where was our defense in the first half? Was that the cheerleading squad lined up out there? I had to stop counting the missed tackles when there were more than there were beers in the bucket on our table. Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. They let both Cam and the Panthers run game run all over us. Not to mention they let Smith light up the scoreboard like the Vegas Strip. We needed them to show up and they really let us down. Atogwe not playing hurt us, but one player does not a defense make. I did not see nearly enough Landry for my tastes and our other playmakers seemed dazed and confused. It was, however, nice to see Reed Doughty on the field making good, clean hits.

The Run! The Run!
It was back and it was looking good.We've been begging for it all season and it was nice to see. It was nice to see my Holes for Hightower campaign take flight and carry us down the field. But one trick ponies never win. Especially not when they call a run play on 3rd down after being backed up by a penalty. Kyle the Wunder Coach at it again. The calling started off well, but fell flat. I know they want to protect Beck and keep the ball on the ground as much as possible, but today's league requires passing to be competitive.

Injuries, The Encore
I knew the moment I saw Hightower on the ground that he was suffering, suffering bad and was not going to be able to walk this one off. The news today that he tore his ACL was devastating, but, unfortunately, not unexpected. I truly feel for him and wish him a speedy and successful recovery. He has been a great addition to this team and I hope to see him back next year in full health. With Moss's broken hand sending him out for 5-7 weeks, I would be surprised if we see him back this season. We will miss him, but I do believe this is an opportunity to get our young receivers some reps and some real time on the field. We will never know what kind of talent these players have if we don't give them a chance to show us against first team Ds. And then London Fletcher injured his hamstring - I won't even begin to think what playing without him might mean for us in Toronto. I can only hope we left the injury bug in Carolina. We cannot afford to lose any more starters.

Fried Butter at Warm Ups?
That's the only thing I can think of that would explain all those dropped balls. Unacceptable. Gaffney, Armstrong, Moss, Davis... No one was safe from the dropsies this week. Beck claimed full responsibility for Hankerson's disappointing debut, but that kid does need to get his head into the game if he hopes to play a role in narrowing field of offensive targets.

The Young Bucks
Both Paulsen and Austin made nice showings this weekend. I hope to see more of both of them next weekend as we continue to adjust and deal with the losses of Cooley and Moss.

Discipline
The penalties, drops, misses, more penalties. We need to reign it in and get back on track. 4-3 works for me, but 3-4 is a bore.

Traveling to Toronto against a burgeoning Bills team will be a big test. We've got work to do this week. I'll leave it at that. 

Week 6: The Missed Opportunity

When your first drive ends in an interception, you know it is going to be a long game. And boy was it. Grossman earned his nickname InterceptasaurusRex.

I was incredibly nervous going into this game, knowing all too well from years past how it can turn out, but I did maintain a bit of my unabashed optimism. It's masochistic really.

Gross
23.7 QB rating says it all. Or not. I have been waiting for him to get benched since he was named the starter. I just wish it had come sooner in the game. I have listened to all the arguments for keeping him and I just cannot support them. At his absolute best, he is 50/50. At his worst, well, let's hope tomorrow is the worst we see this season and that all we see going forward is his overweight tuckus on the bench. I'm not optimistic about it, but a girl can dream.

Kyle the Wonder Kid
Who is responsible for him? The best call he made all game was the flea flicker. The worst call was keeping Grossman in long enough to lead that play. And what does he have against our running corps?

Injuries We Can't Afford
Ouch. Those are going to haunt us. Our O-line doesn't have the depth to lose two men. Shifting the tackles around, moving Brown back to the left should help, but we'll still need to put a QB who can move behind them, and that is not Rex. Cooley got rocked. I feel horrible for him having to go out again and I do think it could have been avoided.

Penalties
For the second week in a row, we have let penalties shift the momentum of the game to our detriment. We started the season strong as one of the most disciplined teams in the league and we need to get back to that place - fast. And we need to focus on making slightly lower, legal hits - no more 15-yard helmet to helmet calls, accidental or not.

Offensive Defense
Where was our defense in the first half? Did they forget it was Sunday and that they were facing a desperate division rival? They were late, sloppy and let both Vick and McCoy chew up too much turf. They were on the field a lot and our offense certainly wasn't providing any reprieve, but we need them to show up strong and they let us get four scores down before the half.

Defense Rides Again 
The halftime trip to the locker room reminded the D where they were. Oh, hey, it's game day! They came out in the second half with more gusto and gave me what I've been waiting for all season - INTs courtesy of D. Hall and Atogwe. Of course, with Rex at the helm, both were wasted effort.

Beck!
I've been on the Beck Wagon since the pre-season. He is agile, thoughtful and can hit his targets. Yesterday he had a few wobbly tosses, but he was coming off the bench without any reps with our starters in over 5 weeks. You have to give the guy credit for playing as well as he did. I also loved what Cooley said this morning on the Junkies about his huddle style - how he really steps up as a leader and provides a strong presence on the field. With the injuries to the O-line, we need a QB who can move and is reliable out of the pocket. I hope to see him out there next Sunday, but I worry the Shannys are going to disappoint me... again.

Return of Tight Ends
It was nice to see the tight ends getting some love. We've got talent there, and talent there deep. When deep balls are dangerous, as they always are with Rex at the helm, they are sturdy, reliable options. Fred Davis, despite some drops, was one of the few offensive producers this week. And he should not have taken blame for any of those INTs. Rex has other options and should have exercised them instead of throwing bad balls. Watching Cooley go out was excruciating. And,yes, I blame Rex for that too. Even Sonny does.

Disappearance of the Run Game, Continued
The Eagles were shutting us down and then we got so far behind that we were forced to throw, but we really could've used some All-Torrain pushes in the second half. Not to mention that our passing game was giving the Eagles D a lot to celebrate. Seems to me our RBs were lined up to receive shovel passes more than they were lined up in the back field. Even if just to give us more time on the field and draw more time off the clock, we cannot simply abandon the run. Kyle, can you hear me?

I don't know what Mike will do on Wednesday, but I do know that sending Rex back in will be a very unpopular decision. And it is a decision I cannot support. 

Week 4: A W is a W, but...

Kyle, Kyle, Kyle
That opening drive was a joke. And not a good one. Playing the worst run D in the league and you pass, pass, pass, pass. We have weapons with legs. Use them. Run the ball. Move down the field. Steady pace. I hope one week to be able to stop writing about this, but it's not looking promising. From now on, and until someone smacks him into line, he'll be Kalamity Kyle to me.

Return of the ATV 
Welcome back, Ryan. What a treat! 135 yards and one triumphant touchdown marked Torain's return to the field and what a return it was.

Capitalizing on a Turnover 
It's about damn time. I almost didn't believe it. We need to make sure this trend continues.

Rex
Ugh. Intentional groundings. Bad throws. Typical. I'm so over him. A 48.5 QB rating? Embarrassing.

Pathetic Penalties 
We had been doing so well but this week we had several costly penalties. 10 penalties for around 100 yards is unacceptable. I will say that I don't think Riley deserved the call for his hit on Pettis, but that was one of the lesser infractions in terms of impact on the game. We held ourselves to only 10 total penalties in first 3 games. We must get that discipline back.

Defensive Domination 
Our saving grace. Other than the penalties, they saved us once again. Only 45 rushing yards allowed today - outstanding. Not to mention my personal favorites Orakpo and Kerrigan each had 2.5 sacks, despite not getting calls for some fairly obvious holds by the Rams.

Late Game Laziness?
Whatever it is that makes us let our opponents surge late the in the game, stop it. Stop it now. We cannot continue to do this and expect to keep winning games. The Cowgirls showed us just how bitter it can be. Let's make them the last team to do so.

Hogtied Home Team
I genuinely felt bad for Bradford after a certain point. His receivers had the dropsies and Kerakpo had his number. He's a good young QB without the resources and protection to highlight his talents.

Fox's Fail
Fox fell down on the job today. The feed was spotty, the camera work was a snooze and the announcers made golf announcers seem lively.

Tight End Fade Away
If it is the latest scheme in Kyle's offense, it is another rotten egg. Davis and Cooley can be game changers when given the chance. Where have they been these last two games? Mike, in getting Kyle back on track, get these guys back in the game plan.

Pleasant Surprise
Today we sit atop the NFC East thanks to collapses by Dallas and Philly against the Lions and the 49ers respectively. Something about those games makes this slightly sloppy win a little sweeter. 

Week 3: Debacle in Dallas

Despite the headline, I'll start with the positives.

The Big D in the Big D

Our defense looked (mostly) great. What a pleasure it is to have LaRon Landry back on the field. I swear that man has wings. He made some hard hits, but he also reigned it in and avoided causing Romo any further damage on what could've been a nasty tackle.

I was seriously impressed with both Josh Wilson and Kevin Barnes. Neither had a perfect game, but both made big plays when we needed them. I will, however, start calling Josh "Carlos" if he doesn't start catching some of those balls.

As always, London. Enough said. Rocky had a great game as did Orakpo before the cramping. Kerrigan was stretched further outside his normal role and didn't shine like he has the last two games, but I still love that rookie. And how about Bowen's big tackle in his first trip back to Dallas. That man has heart.

Williams vs. Ware

In a game in which Trent Williams needed to show he is an NFL starter, he did it and did it against one of the scariest linebackers in the league. That is, however, the only nice thing I have to say about our O-Line.

Seeing Red

I love Shanahan's chutzpah. Even from the broadcast you could clearly see that Barnes never touched out of bounds while touching the ball. Great challenge and great coverage by Barnes & Wilson.

The negatives are just too long to list, but my real gripes are...

Not-so-Sexy Rexy

Hardly worth my words. I was on the Beck Wagon in pre-season and continue to question the Grossman choice week after week. He's just too inconsistent.

The offensive Offensive Line

Rex had time, I'll give them that. But they couldn't open a gap for Hightower or Helu. They got dominated on the run. My new campaign for them is called "Holes for Hightower" - we have a great running core, give them room to remind us.

Redzone Deadzone

Same old, same old. Fix it.

Li'l Shanny

What is with Kyle's play calling? I have been shouting about this since last year. Junior needs more oversight. The first Cooley run was interesting. The second was stupid. You have a corps of offensive weapons - learn how to use them.

Hazmat Haslett

I like Jim Haslett and I will drop the moniker after today, but that 3rd and 21 call was a disaster. Dez Bryant had been waiting all game for a chance like that. And, yes, he needs to shut his mouth, but D. Hall was left on an island. Unfortunately his only defense against intruders involved an ill-advised almost (he never actually latched on) face mask that probably shouldn't have been flagged.

Romancing Romo

Yes, he played a tough, tough game. Yada, yada. I won't argue that. But those ESPN announcers were drooling a little too much. Nothing new there though.

In the end, 2-1 isn't so bad. The Rams are next. Hopefully plenty of holes for Hightower there. Hail.