Die Hard Sports Fan

For all of you Giants fans who still have a man-crush on Jeremy Shockey, I am pleased to inform you that he will be out 3-to-6 weeks getting surgery because of a sports hernia according to the AP. Ahhh…poor baby. I’m sure that this is another injury that he will blame on Tom Coughlin for making him block because he is a child in a man’s body who whines and screams and blames the world for everything that happens to him. So Shockey would be out for 6 weeks again if he was still in New York.

He had 16 receptions for 151 yards during the Saints’ first three regular season games. He always has good numbers, but they don’t include the dumb penalties in the red zone that negate the reception and back them  up even more.

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Sean Payton, head coach of the New Orleans Saints came out from watching film today, and according to the The Baton Rouge Advocate, praised our physicality during the game. In short, using Jim Zorn’s words, the team played violent.

I didn’t think we were the most physical team yesterday and that concerns me some,” Payton said. “When you watch the film from the end zone copy, I thought they played more physically than we did and when you start looking at the numbers, I think it indicates that, starting with rushing yards.

The Road to the Super Bowl comes through the NFC East this year!!

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You know, when I was growing up in Silver Spring, MD, we used to say all the time, when the Skins when, it makes the upcoming week go so much better. Well, not much has changed.

There is much I could say about the second half. I could talk about how it appears Jason Campbell took a major step forward. Naysayers would say, no he didn’t. He just had the opportunity to have Santana Moss playing against a rookie. But, it was a huge heads-up play to audible at the line of scrimmage when he saw the matchup he wanted, and executed it even while under strong pressure from the Saints rush. You could almost see a sense of relief from Jason as the ball fell safely from the sky into the waiting arms of Moss. It was beautiful. I wonder if he heard his coaches words in his ear during the play: “Avoid, reset, and throw.” He was 24 of 36 for 321 yards, a touchdown, and no turnovers!! Hail, Jason.

I could also speak about Clinton Portis. He had a strong game. He has not had the flashy, home run scamper yet. But, where Ladell Betts would get a few yards, Portis has the vision to get a few and more yards. He had 21 carries for 96 yards and two touchdowns; both of which were fantastic examples of using his vision and agility. Hail, Clinton.

And, I should also mention Chris Cooley. Remember, earlier this week I said it would be Cooley to win the matchup against Jeremy Shockey. Mission accomplished. Cooley had five receptions for 72 yards. As for Shockey, two catches for 22 yards, less a critical fumble to start the game. Cooley is a weapon that we should continue to showcase.

The defense was fantastic today. They held the Saints to 55 total yards rushing, and only 216 yards passing. If my math skills haven’t faded too bad since graduating from Montgomery Blair H.S., Campbell had more yards than the entire Saints team. That is a testament to some serious thumping from our defense.

LaRon Landry played some really good defense too, especially on two back to back pass plays that denied the Saints of extending their lead. But, more so than anything else, the one thing I must speak about is Chris Horton. The rookie was all over the field today with interceptions, recovering fumbles, and making a key tackle to stop the Saints short of a first down in the fourth quarter, and thus forcing them to punt. I’m sure Greg Blache will find something wrong with his game tomorrow.

But today, Chris Horton gets the Die Hard Redskins Game Ball.

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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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As the final preparations are made for the New Orleans Saints this weekend, I’m drawn to the TE production stats from last week that was provided by Chris Cooley. And, more specifically, I’m thinking of the match up between him and the legend of his own mind, Jeremy Shockey.

Last week, Shockey caught nine passes for 54 yards; average of 6 yards per catch. But, if you take that one catch that was over 20+ yards away, and exclude it from his stats, his average drops to five yards, or less. Now, overlooking the fact that Cooley only had one catch the entire game against the New York Giants, he had a seven yard average!

Hmmm…I conclude that Cooley is the better TE and that he will win the match up this weekend.

Now, I realize there are some who would question the completeness of my analysis and projections. To them I say, I’m an optimist…and biased too. Get some wood, build a bridge, and get over it.

Hail to the Redskins!!

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In order to not just win the game on Sunday, but to place ourselves on the right track, we need to keep our hearts and minds on the following key areas of the game when the Saints come marching in.

1. Offensive line – Without a doubt, this is perhaps the most important key to the game this Sunday. If we can’t control the line of scrimmage, Jason Campbell will have a very long day. That said, Campbell needs to trust the education he’s been receiving in this offense and not hold on to the ball. Tempo, tempo, tempo!In addition, we need to help our QB by getting Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts through the running lane and into their secondary. If we do that, we have a chance to make yardage in chunks. Thus, Campbell will find it easier to settle down.
2. Guard against the big play – Drew Brees can strike his WR’s at anytime on the field. With Marques Colston out for this game, and the next four weeks, one of his weapons is former Redskins receiver David Patton. I don’t know what caused Patton to falter in his play while he was with us, but he seems to have figured it out.On the other side is Devery Henderson, who can flat out play ball. Believe. These two guys can make like difficult for either of our CB’s. Shawn Springs, Carlos Rogers, and Fred Smoot will be running up and down the field all day. That said, after the first half of the Giants game, we seemed to shut Plaxico Burress down. Whatever scheme Greg Blache called to make that happen, needs to be called again this week.
3. Get to the QB - To help the defensive secondary, we have got to get to Drew Brees, quick, fast, and in a hurry! We need Jason Taylor, Erasmus James, Andre Carter, and company to get penetration and put Brees on his behind. That is the most effective way to keep him from taking over a game.
4. Trim the Bush – I can’t emphasize this enough. It appears that over the course of the spring and summer, Sean Payton has come to realize what everyone else has known for some time. Reggie Bush, getting the ball in space with opportunities to make people miss, is an extremely scary concept to consider for a defense. I don’t know of anyone of our team that can run with Bush. He’s an amazing talent when used properly. And, based on what I saw last week, the Saints appear to get it. Our best defense against him is to keep him from getting the ball. Short of that, I hope our defense remembers that real basic concept that they teach in pee-wee ball; everyone run to the ball. No doubt, Bush is gonna get the ball. How we respond is the key.
5. Shadow Shockey – Jeremy Shockey is one of those guys who likes to have fun and runs his mouth. He’s a very good option for Drew Brees and if we’re not careful, he can keep the chains moving for the Saints all day.

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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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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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Based on what I saw today, the Saints are going to present a “unique” challenge for the Redskins defense. For the past two years, the Saints have been acting like Reggie Bush is a “regular” running back. Not!

Bush is best when he has the opportunity to use his speed and elusiveness. Today, the Saints lined him up all over the place. They allowed him to be both a running back, and a wide receiver. It reminded me quite a bit of Marshall Faulk.

Now, in my humble opinion, I don’t ever believe Bush can be compared to a real, feature running back. In fact, his rushing numbers were very pedestrian: 14 for 51 yards. But, he had 112 yards receiving, including a touchdown that spanned 42 yards and highlighted the moves and speed that made him famous at USC.

If the New Orleans Saints come to town and remember this formula, Greg Blache will need to cook up a special defensive scheme to hold Bush in check.

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