Die Hard Sports Fan

Matt Terl’s update on the Official Redskins Blog captured my attention.

I have been navigating my way through the work day, picking and choosing my words and my thoughts of replacing Antwaan Randle-El as our primary punt return specialist.

“Zorn also acknowledged that they’re considering making a change at punt returner, mentioning Santana Moss and James Thrash as possibilities, although also emphasizing that Antwaan Randle El “isn’t just some [guy] back there.”

I agree with coach Zorn. Randle-El is no longer “special” when it comes to punt returns. While I respect his accomplishments in the past, I’m thinking that it’s time for us to move on. This idea has nothing to do with his fumble yesterday. Anyone can fumble the ball. Even John Riggins fumbled the ball…once, or twice. Rather, this has everything to do with his skills, abilities, and speed. While Randle-El is exceptional at catching the punt, I struggle to see any explosiveness after the catch.

Today, in his press conference, Jim Zorn admitted that he and the coaching staff have been seeing, or more accurately, not seeing the same thing. Zorn mentioned both Santana Moss and James Thrash as possible alternatives. Well, allow me to pontificate my opinion: Thrash is not the answer we need to return punts. I don’t think he’d be any more effective at the job than Randle-El.

With that said however, the idea of putting Moss back there makes me nervous. I can’t personally recall if Moss has those skills from his college days, or early NFL days. But, that aside, I do know that he is our primary weapon at WR these days. In fact, without him, and regardless of how Jason Campbell plays, Clinton Portis will be complaining about eleven in the box, instead of eight or nine.

Let’s face it: Until our rookie WR’s step up and step into the game, we don’t have any other deep threat.

So, I would encourage Zorn and Vinny Cerato to seek other alternatives. Until our rookie WR’s can step up, we need to step off the idea of putting Moss back there.

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As much as I urged us all to have patience with Jason Campbell after the Giants game, I continue to urge patience after the Saints game. While there is much to be excited about, my untrained eyes saw too many things that need attention. Thus, I’m certain that Jim Zorn will have much more teaching to do.

That said, there was enough from Campbells play yesterday that should send a clear message to Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas. It’s time to step up and get in the game. Personally, I can’t wait to see the effectiveness of the offense when we have more than just one explosive WR in Santana Moss. That’s not a ding against Antwaan Randel-El.

I’m just saying…

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1st Quarter

Very first impression: I love the fact that the New Orleans Saints allowed us to have the ball first. I know what Coach Sean Payton was thinking. He wanted to shut our offense down in the first possession. But, that didn’t happen. We got more first downs in the opening drive than we did the entire game last week against the New York Giants. I don’t what happened on the field goal attempt, but at the very least, we have improved.

As for the defense: Chris Horton!!! Wow. The kid got the start today over Reed Doughty, who called out sick today. Horton simply comes in and has a fumble recovery, and interception, and a key tackle. The rest of the squad played exceptional in my opinion. We’ve thus far shut down both Drew Brees and Reggie Bush. In fact, the Saints finished the quarter with zero yards rushing. It’s just one quarter, but I’m excited. Clearly, we’ve improved.

However, if I may, as I said last week, our running game still has vast room for improvement. I don’t like it.

2nd Quarter

Jason Taylor gets his first sack!!!

The euphoria didn’t last as we shot ourselves in the foot with a Antwaan Randle-El fumble on a punt return. That, in return, allowed the Saints to get their first score. On our ensuing possession, we once again failed to get a touchdown. And, just like a “young” team, we muffed our second field goal of the day. Still, it’s encouraging to not look as inept from the week before. It’s not enough, though. By any measure of the word, it’s definitely not enough.

Chris Cooley has shown up today. And, as I predicted, thus far he is outperforming Jeremy Shockey. Specifically, Cooley’s had a few catches and a good, tough run after the catch. The last offensive drive of the half by the Skins however, was puzzling. Not just to me, but it was also puzzling to the commentators of the game. Either Coach Jim Zorn is still trying to figure out the right play to call in the two-minute offense. Or, the offense is still struggling to execute the plays. Or maybe, it’s a little bit of both.

Jason Campbell looks so much better this week. But, he’s still holding on to the ball a bit too long on occassion. He should take notes from Brees. He is such a good QB. With less than a minute on the clock, Brees took the Saints down the field in order to kick a 49 yard field goal. Saints take the lead, again: 10-9.

Overall, this game, from the Redskins perspective, can be summed up thus far as lost opportunities. We’ve had a number of opportunities to score touchdowns. But, as it stands, we’re only three of five for field goals.

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The Washington Post published an interesting article today that featured a number of quotes from Clinton Portis. For instance:

“I wish I could go to a team for one week with the best offensive line, or the team with the best scheme, and switch places with their back and see how others would do in this system,” Portis said, sitting on a couch the other day at Redskins Park. “I get a lot of touches with nowhere to run. I could see if I got all those touches and had some lanes, but there’s nine or 10 men in the box. “You know, I’m dodging all the people in the backfield, fighting just to get back to the line of scrimmage, and people [are] looking around like, ‘Oh, he just missed it.’ I’m dodging people getting the handoff, because nobody’s really respecting us as a passing team.”

WOW! I wonder, when I read that, if he really intended to slam his QB and offensive line like he did. But, a moment later, he expresses confidence in Jason Campbell by saying, “I believe in him.”

Lightly speaking, perhaps Portis was interviewed after watching tape of Reggie Bush from last week. That aside, without a doubt, his comments will spark another round of Jason Campbell criticism. But, in this context, I do believe Portis has a valid point. He’s right. He is being asked to do what is inherently unsuccessful in this league; run successfully against eight, nine, or even ten defenders in the “box.”

When Portis arrived in D.C., it was the start of the second Joe Gibbs era. They tried to make a slash and dash RB into John Riggins or any of the other big, bruising backs we’ve had. And, as late as last week, we were still trying to run some of those “legacy” run plays that Joe Bugel loves so much.

Clinton Portis is not a bruiser. Though he ran with “violence” last week, and will do whatever is needed, which includes putting his head down and fighting for three, maybe four yards per carry, Portis is best used in space.

I realize that we are trying to gradually phase in the “new” by maintaining some of the “old.” But, unlike my willingness to be patient with Jason Campbell, I’ve grown tired of our running game. I love Joe Bugel. He’s a great guy, based on what I know of the man. I loved watching the Hogs back in the day and dominating the opposing team with John Riggins. But, that was then. This is now.

We need to allow Jim Zorn and Sherman Smith to implement a running game that will create the space Portis needs to flourish, much in the same way that the New Orleans Saints are doing with Reggie Bush. Still, as he said during the interview, it begins with a healthy passing game; one that is respected by the defense.

And, yes, I concede that a healthy passing game begins with our QB, Jason Campbell. Our offense is predicated upon a quick drop and release. If Campbell continues to hold on to the ball too long, the entire offense suffers. Given that to be the case, Portis will continue to have a career that is inherently limited by the lack of opportunities to run to daylight.

I’m not an individual that likes to dwell on the question of, “what if…” And apparently, neither is Portis. But, it’s hard to not wonder what his career would look like today if he’d been able to continue doing what he had in Denver. All other considerations included, such as avoiding serious injury, his growth as a person and a leader of the team, his willingness to train in the offseason, Portis would be having an NFL Hall of Fame career.

As it stands now, we’re just shortening his career.

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The feedback on Jason Campbell and the entire QB situation, on this blog as well as on The Redskins Blog has been most vigorous. I’d like to offer my own comment for discussion and/or feedback that is in reference to a number of posts, like the one below.

‘JClarke’ / ‘Campbell Sucks’ says:

Did the Redskins magically get healthy in the 2nd quarter of the Bears game last year? Thats when Collins came in and the offense was playoff caliber. Most teams don’t give a QB this much time. 4 years is pretty much the limit. So we can’t wait till next year. When Campbell was drafted I said he would not be a skin in 09. Because he is not a NFL QB!

To that, I say let’s remember that Todd Collins had been in the same offense for like 10 years. He followed Al Saunders around the league and I’d bet he could teach that offense just as well, if not better than Mr. Saunders himself. So, I don’t believe it to be a fair comparison to judge Campbell’s performance last season to Collins performance during our playoff run.

Let’s have fun and extend this conversation a little bit…

If Saunders was still here as the O.C., I’d bet dollars to donuts that there would have been an open competition between Collins and Campbell for the starting job this year. Without fear of contradiction, I think everyone would agree that Collins would have won that battle. And, although I have nothing to base this on, I’d bet you even further that for that specific, and primary reason, Saunders was kicked out.

Still, and for whatever reason that is still unclear to me, we insisted on paying top dollar for Collins to backup Jason Campbell this season, even though Collins has ZERO experience in this offense, too. So, if Campbell goes down, what do we really have in our backup? Is he capable, sure. I believe he is. But, at the same time, I think he would be struggling just like Campbell.

Now, let’s walk down memory lane…

Steve Spurrier brought a no blocking, no structure offense to town. Nearly everyone, including me, thought that he was overmatched, especially after the Eagles emasculated us on Monday Night Football. But, as I recall, he said that with the right QB, his offense would be proven to work. And, you know what, he might have been correct. If Danny Wuerffel could have been more physically ‘gifted’ and sturdy, Spurrier may have proven us all wrong. When Wuerffel was in the game, limited as it was, and when he wasn’t running around scared, he knew how to get the offense in the right play, get the ball out of his hands, and move the team down the field. But, one hit from a LB or a DE and he was done.

What’s my point - the knowledge of the offense is the number one key for any QB to be successful. Regardless of physical ability, if a quarterback knows the offense and can stay healthy, they can manage the game successfully. Case in point: Wuerffel. And, even another example: Trent Dilfer with the Baltimore Ravens.

Jason Campbell doesn’t know much of anything, relatively speaking, right now with regards to how Jim Zorn wants his offense executed. Personally, I’d like Zorn simplify things. And, perhaps that is exactly what he is trying to do by allowing Campbell to play from the shotgun. As he becomes more comfortable in the offense, his natural abilities, such accuracy, arm strength, intelligence, intuitiveness, recognition, etc., should take him to the ‘franchise QB’ level. At least, that’s the hope.

If the argument is that “Campbell sucks” because he hasn’t shown us anything, I’d continue to say, be patient. If the argument is that Campbell is lacking the natural abilities to be a QB in this league, well that’s a matter of subjective opinion.

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Earlier, I made the case for having patience with regards to Jason Campbell. But, is there a strong case to be made for the urgency of now?

When Dan Snyder bought the team in May, 1999, it would be safe to say that Mr. Snyder felt an overwhelming sense of the urgency of now. He is a man that was and remains accustomed to dancing to the beat of his own drum. And that drum beats to a rhythm that says, “I want what I want, and I want it now!”

One of the first moves he made was to offer the naming rights to the stadium to corporate bidders. He was one of, if not the first owner to do this. Today, it is common place. But, what Snyder is best known for today is his rapid and continuous hiring and firing of head coaches. When he purchased the team, Norv Turner was in place. Who can forget the exuberant Snyder giving Norv a big bear hug that first year? But, soon thereafter, perhaps after losing to the Cowboys (I’m not sure), Turner had to go. Next, in comes Marty Schottenheimer. After one season, he was fired and then came Steve Spurrier. You see, Snyder thought that Schottenheimer’s offense was too boring. It didn’t score enough points. So, I’m sure Mr. Snyder thought that Spurrier would light up the scoreboard, just like he did in college.

Who can remember Spurrier being lit up by the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football and showing his frustration with the longest lip slappin’, fish pucker ever recorded in history. It was no surprise then, that after two years, Spurrier was gone. In comes the return of Joe Gibbs. Moreover, it wasn’t just Joe Gibbs. It was the most expensive coaching staff in the NFL. Having outgrown his penchant for accumulating star players, like Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith, Mark Carrier, etc., Mr. Snyder assembled an “all-star” coaching staff. It’s what Joe Gibbs wanted and needed in order to be both head coach and president of the team.

Now, much has been written about Gibbs and his second stint with the team. It’s sufficed to say, it wasn’t as successful as most Redskins fans had hoped when he came back to town. Today, we have Jim Zorn. And, contrary to what others in the blogosphere have already suggested, I believe Snyder will stick with Zorn for at least four years. Why? Because if nothing else, I think Snyder learned discipline from Gibbs.

So, what is the benefit of the urgency of now? What have we attained as a team and an organization through our urgency? Not much.

That said, I understand the lack of patience in many fans. It’s been a long time. We’re thirsty, like a man dying in the desert. We’re looking for a tall, cool drink of water that a franchise QB will provide. I don’t know if that QB is Jason Campbell, Colt Brennan, or someone else. But, I’m willing to allow Campbell to at least learn what he’s supposed to be doing before we determine that he can’t do it.

Lastly, recent comments in the blogosphere suggest that Campbell didn’t look that good last year after having multiple years in Al Saunders offense. Well, it should be noted that as late as this past weekend, another notable QB struggled in the same Saunders offense: Marc Bulger. Maybe there is a reason why we released Saunders as a coach. After all, if he was really that good, why was he passed over for the Kansas City Chiefs job.

It has been said, “patience is a virtue.”

But, it has also been said, “time is the fire in which we all burn. And, patience is for those that don’t understand the concept of time.”

Getting it right is a delicate balance between patience and urgency. Right now, however, we need to be disciplined enough to be patient. We’ve planned our work for the future. Now, let’s have the patience to work our plan. This is not to suggest that anyone has an open ticket to take as much time as they need. But, in order to alleviate ourselves from having to second guess our decision later, we deserve the privilege of taking the time to make an intelligent decision, based on a body of knowledge and relevent experience; not just gut feelings.

Hail to the Redskins!

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By: Vedder of the Die Hard Eagles blog.

After last week’s dismal offensive performance against the defending Super Bowl Champs, the New York Giants, it is hard to get motivated to discuss any Washington Redskins as potential starters for your fantasy football team.  It is arguable to claim, but last week did provide some hope with the output from RB Clinton Portis.  WR Santana Moss indeed did have a TD, but it was not a productive day for the team’s number one receiver.  With Washington down the entire game, it gave the passing game an opportunity to post better than average statistics and only Antwaan Randel El could be considered as benefiting from that opportunity but his numbers weren’t anything to make fantasy owners happy.  Whether it was the offensive game plan or the Giants stingy defense, TE Chris Cooley was a huge week 1 disappointment as he only hauled in one catch.

Going forward, this could be a good game for the Washington offense to prove their critics wrong.  The New Orleans Saints have a decent but inconsistent defense.  The run defense in particular is suspect.  To protect QB Jason Campbell and put him in the best position to succeed, I look for the head coach, Jim Zorn, to run the ball as much as possible.  I see Clinton Portis getting the majority of the carries, with RB Ladell Betts giving him some rest and changing up things a bit with his different style of running.  Portis is definitely worth starting this week versus the Saints and I look for him to benefit from playing against a suspect run defense as well as a game plan looking to keep the ball out of Campbell’s hands along with keeping the Saints high octane offense off the field as much as possible.

With a solid running game performed, it could open up things for Campbell and the passing game.  I expect Campbell to throw for around 200 yards and potentially one TD. So, I would look elsewhere for a fantasy football QB.  TE Chris Cooley should bounce back and have at least foru to five catches as I expect Zorn to make amends for last week and get Cooley back into the attack.  WRs Santana Moss and Antwaan Randel El might get lucky and break one for a score. But, I would not recommend making either one a starting receiver this week unless you are short on WR options.

On the other side of things, the Saints have one of the most interesting offenses in the NFL.  Led by QB Drew Brees, the offensive could provide fireworks at anytime.  Brees is a sure thing starter each week, especially against a questionable Redskins defense and secondary.  The Saints have a very good running game, but since it consists of multiple players (Bush, Thomas, McCallister etc), I would not recommend starting any Saints RBs this week unless you want to start Reggie Bush as your 2nd RB or a Flex player.  I would also start Bush as a RB if your league rewards points for receptions as he has the potential for 90-100 catches this year.  Top WR Marquis Colston should always be in your starting lineup even though he had a less than average game last week.  TE Jeremy Shockey is a top five TE in fantasy football. So if you have him, I believe he should be capable of a very good game, from a fantasy perspective. 

All other Saints offensive players should be on your bench.

It’s not an easy game to analyze. Clinton Portis, Drew Brees, and Marquis Colston are the only sure fire starters this week from this game. Both Cooley and Shockey should put up comparable numbers. Good luck.

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It’s old news, but with regards to Zorn’s biking excursion with the President of the United States this past Sunday morning:

Who else could give Zorn the kind of encouragement he needs to keep his mind focused while the entire world believes that he is in deed out of his mind?

Who else could give Zorn the understanding of what it takes to do his job when everyone else around you thinks that you’re incompetent?

Who else could help Zorn process his emotions when his approval rating drops beneath a comfortable threshold?

George W Bush, that’s who.

I just hope Zorn doesn’t continue to need these pep talks that are presented as bike rides.

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How many Redskins fans can recall the plight of the New Orleans Saints QB, Drew Brees?

Drew Brees came in to the league as a second round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers, after having played college ball at Purdue University. While in college, Brees enjoyed significant success by setting a number of Big 10 Conference records, bowl games, the Maxwell Award for the nations most outstanding player, and a two-time finalist for the Heisman Trophy. But, his entry to the NFL game was not smooth, to say the least.

In his rookie season, Brees stepped on the field one time. After a coaching change to Marty Schottenheimer, Brees became the starter. Yet, by his third year, Brees found himself sharing the position with Doug Flutie. In his third season, he was named the starter. But, the team went 4-12 that season and thus earned the top pick in the following draft, in which they acquired Philip Rivers. But a funny thing happened along the way of on the road of public sentiment to run Brees out of town. Philip Rivers held out of training camp over a contract dispute and thus, wasn’t ready to replace Brees as the starter when the season began.

Ooops!

What happened next is truly the upside of being patient. In his fourth season, and one that he really wasn’t supposed to have, Drew Brees achieved the third best QB rating of 104.8, was elected to the Pro Bowl, and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. At the end of the following season, and another strong performance, he was traded to the New Orleans Saints to make room for Rivers.

In his first season with the Saints, Brees threw for more 4,000 yards and once again earned a position in the Pro Bowl. He has continued to grow as a QB and has led the Saints to the playoffs, and even the NFC Championship game against the Chicago Bears on January 21, 2007.

Redskins fans might want to sit up and take notice of the upside of being patient with Jason Campbell. Drew Brees, as well as other QBs, have had at least two or more years in the same offense before they began to have real success. Matt Hasselbeck needed almost five years before the light came on; before he understood what he was supposed to be doing. Jason Campbell, by comparison, has had seven months! That’s it.

Now, I realize that I could capture a great deal of attention if I bash the Redskins, Jason Campbell, Jim Zorn, and especially the front office. But, I’m not going there. I fully believe that Mr. Daniel Snyder has grown tremendously as an owner and is beginning to figure it all out. It only took him about 9 years, coupled with one-on-one tutoring from Joe Gibbs.

Imagine what the Skins offense will look like once the light comes on in JC and the entire offense. Let’s be patient and allow him time to grow. The current chatter in the media, and fan comments on other blogs, about bringing in Todd Collins, and prepping Colt Brennan for next year is only going to hinder the process.

So, I’m calling all Redskins fans: Let’s remember the journey of Drew Brees and remember, there is an upside to being patient.

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It would appear that Jason Campbell and Jim Zorn have already agreed on some adjustments for next week. Namely, JC and JZ have agreed on utilizing the shotgun formation to ease Campbells comfort level in the new offense. The Washington Post quotes JC, saying:

“I was really happy to hear him say that, because I like the shotgun,” Campbell said. “The shotgun gives me the chance to do some different things than when you’re under center. Right now, we’re all still learning this new offense and adjusting to it, so anything that can help us get to where we want to be, I’m all for it.”

When I think of West Coast offense, I think of Joe Montana and Steve Young. I don’t recall either of them using the shotgun formation. They may have. I just don’t remember. It seems a bit odd. That aside, however, Whatever is needed to facilitate comfort in JC is a good thing at this point. But, both he and Zorn have to be careful to not telegraph to the defenses what they are trying to do.

Specifically, I can’t imagine our running game working out of a shotgun formation. When Steve Spurrier was here, that seems like all we did run…at least effectively. Campbell acknowledges that could be a problem.

“But we can’t go from a shotgun all the time,” he said. “Some plays are just designed to start under center, and defenses would start keying on certain things if you tried to do it all the time.

“You’d have to start running out of the shotgun to keep the defense guessing, and that’s not really what this offense is set up to do. Down and distance are really going to determine when we can use it, and the feel of the game, too. Coach Zorn is going to leave it up to me to decide, but it has to work in the offense. It can’t be outside of what we’re trying to do, and it won’t be, it’s just something that can help us get into the things that we want to do . . . until we get everything down as a group.”

The bottom line is that we need to figure out what we do best within the framework of this offense. And, based on the comments by JC, it sounds like the shotgun, at least for now, may be a workable concession to facilitate our objectives.

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