The Alex Smith Trade Proves Why The Redskins Are Still a Dysfunctional Franchise

Courtesy of USA Today

26 years ago, the Washington Redskins played in Super Bowl XXVI at the Metrodome in Minneapolis Minnesota. Redskins easily defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24 to clinch their third Super Bowl title in franchise history. 

26 years later, the Super Bowl has returned to Minneapolis at US Bank Stadium, which replaced the Metrodome. The Redskins have not returned to the Super Bowl since that day, nor haven't appeared in a NFC Championship game. Based on their recent trade, it appears that more mediocrity and dysfunction is still a realistic possibility going forward and deep playoffs in January is very unlikely.

Last night, the Redskins trade their third round draft pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller to the Kansas City Chiefs for quarterback Alex Smith. Smith was entering his last year of his contract with the Chiefs, so the Redskins extended Alex Smith's contract for five years $111 million with $71 million in guarantee money with injury. Therefore, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins will be a free agent this offseason and he will have plenty of teams to choose and spend his next phase of his NFL career.

While the Redskins saved $6 million with this trade and guarantee some stability at the quarterback position despite the four year age gap between Cousins and Smith, the mess they created will never be forgotten. Sure, they might have save themselves from another crisis by acquiring Smith, but this shouldn't never happen to begin with.

The Redskins could of easily avoided this drama if they just give a long term contract extension to Kirk Cousins. It was understandable to give him the franchise tag in 2016, but doing so again in 2017 was disastrous. The ongoing franchise tag or long term extension talks became too exhausting for the players, coaches, talk radio hosts, beat reporters, and fans. While the saga continue on, Cousins threw an average of 4,392 yards, 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in the last three seasons. Also, Cousins has let the Redskins to a NFC East title in 2015 and a winning record in 2016. In addition, he has broken the franchise record for single season passing yards in 2015 and 2016 despite dealing with an average running game and a bad defense.

Yes, I know there were some games that Cousins did not delivered in big games, but those loses were beyond the quarterback play. Bad coaching and defense/special teams play will make any quarterback look very bad. Football is a team sport, and all three phases of the game needs to play very well to win games consistently. The Redskins never did so, and they lost games in agitating fashion. The losses affected the morale of the fanbase so badly that seats were empty at FedEx Field and lower local TV ratings last December. 

It was clear that Kirk Cousins was a top 10 quarterback in the NFL and the best quarterback the Redskins have had since Brad Johnson in 1999. Yet, team president Bruce Allen still screw it up by using the expensive franchise tag in back to back years and given his history, he will find ways to screw it up with Alex Smith.

The Redskins already mess up by trading their third round pick and starting cornerback Kendall Fuller. Trading Fuller is a terrible decision because it weakens their pass defense that is already a bad unit. Fuller had a great 2017 season and while he's not the next Darrell Green, he was an upcoming and possibility future pro bowler in that position. Also, Allen never told Fuller personally that he was traded. Apparently, Fuller find out his own trade on Twitter. That alone is unprofessional and classless on Allen.

So for folks who I am too negative and pessimistic about the Redskins trade and future,  ask yourself this question. Do you trust Bruce Allen and his front office staff of actually reshaping the roster by improving the running game, defense, and special teams this offseason? Can they acquire the right type of players in the draft and free agency to make a major impact?  Can the coaching staff put the players in the right position to succeed and get the most of them? 

Smith had all of those working in Kansas City and it is no guarantee it will work in Washington.

However, it doesn't really make a difference. We all know how this is going to end. The Redskins management will do what they always do by finding ways to screw it all up. Even if they opted to go draft quarterback in first round or sign a free agent quarterback younger or with less credentials than Smith, the Redskins still wouldn't be able to rebuild this team with quality free agents and draft choices. They almost always draft poorly or pick guys who get hurt frequently or just quit. They never quite know when to negotiate a fair contract with a good player. They messed up the whole Cousins thing badly and overpaid cornerback Josh Norman. So, no matter how much cap money they may have or not have or the amount of talent on the roster, they will still struggle to put together a decent roster of players because the front office is incapable of creating a winning atmosphere. They put politics and ego over winning on the field.

On the bright side, Bruce Allen is a mastermind of "winning off the field!"

The Washington Redskins Could be a Dangerous Team in the Playoffs

Last Saturday Night, the Washington Redskins have completed one of their greatest turnaround seasons in franchise history by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 38-24, to clinch their second NFC East title in  three years. This was their 15th divisional title and their 600th win in franchise history. The Redskins, who were among the worst teams in the NFL during the last two years, have all of the suddenly look like a real likable NFL team.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 365 yards and four touchdowns, two of those came in the second half to give the Redskins a huge lead going into the fourth quarter. Tight End Jordan Reed continuous to be unstoppable and a coverage nightmare for defenses. The defense was able to shut down the Eagles offense , despite nearly giving up a big play at times, and the Eagles offense self imploded themselves. This road victory summarizes a major accomplishment for the entire organization. The entire season was all about football, not the endless starting quarterback drama and dysfunction that we all use to seeing from this organization.

Just like this season, the Redskins will enter the playoffs with little expectations and a major chip on their shoulders. Most national media NFL analysts see the Redskins being one and done in the playoffs. That will add fuel to the fire for the players and coaching staff. The Redskins will host a Wild Card playoff game next weekend at FedEx Field against either Seattle, Minnesota, or Green Bay.  In the NFL playoffs, we see upsets and surprises every year and the way the Redskins are currently playing, they can win a playoff game at home. The Redskins are 6-2 at home this season, and they play much better in front of their hometown fans at FedEx Field. Also, unlike in years past, the Redskins are a resilient team. They have overcome key injuries and setbacks all seasons. Anytime they were in a must win situation, they have delivered. Whether that helps in the playoffs remains to be seen, but it is a major step forward.

I am aware the Redskins don't have an elite roster and talent compared to the teams in Carolina and Arizona, but if the Redskins play optimistic football, they have a chance to surprise everyone in the NFL. Kirk Cousins offense continues to move the football and avoided turnovers. The defense is very suspect to giving up big plays, but they are second in the league in forcing fumbles. Special teams continues to improve, but they will need to avoid penalties and improve their kickoff return coverage.

The Redskins will play their final road game of the season today at Dallas. Hopefully, no starters gets hurt today and only plays one full half of action. While today's game is meaningless, Kirk Cousins needs to throw 129 yards to set a single season franchise record for passing yards. Tight End Jordan Reed needs two more touchdowns to set a single season franchise record for the most receiving touchdowns in a single season.

Finally, finishing the season with a NFC East title and a 9-7 record is a great accomplishment going forward. It will solidify their first winning season in three years.

Image Courtesy of CBS Sports

Time to Blow Up The Entire Redskins Front Office

When I started this blog back in 2009, I wanted to bring a fresh new take on the Redskins and offer new ideas on how the fix the franchise and get back to winning ways.  I was very adamant on owner Dan Snyder to fire Vinny Cerrato and Jim Zorn. I was adamant on Snyder needs to not get involved on player personnel decisions. So, when they hired Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen in 2010 , it appears that the Redskins were heading back to their winning ways and the roster had to be overhauled. Seriously, they had a former Super Bowl winning head coach, an experience talent evaluator, and an experience general manager with salary cap experience. Finally, Snyder was taking a step back in football related decisions, and he focused on activities outside of football.

Five years later, and 10 months after the firing of Mike Shanahan, the entire Washington Redskins organization is still a absolute joke. The 2012 trade to draft quarterback Robert Griffin III in 2012, and the salary cap penalty has put the franchise in a bad spot. On a positive side, Griffin did led the Redskins to a divisional title in 2012, while the Rams haven't been to the playoffs since the trade.

However, the trade led to major holes on the secondary, safety, middle linebacker, defensive line, offensive line and special teams. As a result, the Redskins are one of the worst teams in the league.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins is a turnover machine and he's become the second version of Rex Grossman. Defense doesn't have any talent, can't make stops, and create turnovers. Special Teams is a disaster because they continued to set awful field position on a weekly basis. In the loss to the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, the offense had 15 offensive possessions. The Redskins best starting field position was their own 36. Their worst was their own seven. On average, the Redskins started at their own 20. The Redskins are on track to have one of the worst starting field positions in the NFL for the second straight year.

More importantly, the Redskins do not know how to win a football game. Going back to week 10 of last season, the Redskins have one victory in their last 14 games. These amount of losses can destroy the morale of the locker room and player confidence. Therefore, it's very easy to explain why the Redskins are 1-5 and in last place in a much improved NFC East.

Dan Snyder may have stepped back on football operations, but his football team is a complete mess.

If Snyder truly cares about the organization, he will need to overhaul the entire scouting department, personnel department, and the general manager after this season. That means Bruce Allen,Scott Campbell, AJ Smith, and Doug Williams will need to find new jobs with other NFL teams. Snyder does respect Allen and trusts him on football related decisions. However, Allen and his scouting department completely mismanaged the roster in the off-season by giving linebacker Brian Orakpo a franchise tag for $11 million. The Redskins could of use that money to acquire young gems in the draft or get a couple of offensive linemen in free agency. Instead, they committed $11 million to a linebacker who has a half sack this season with no force fumbles and interceptions. Also, the Redskins draft picks from this season and the last two seasons haven't really worked out at all. Rookie linebacker Trent Murphy is not an impact player, cornerback David Amerson can't stay healthy, and linebacker Perry Riley is an average linebacker on his best days.I Finally, Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett is still with the organization. How he kept that job for five years is absolutely amazing.

Allen is a great salary cap expert and he will not overspend on free agents, but he's not a talent evaluator. To be honest, I have no clue who's making the final decision on evaluating talent.

Snyder thought he learned his mistake five years ago, but right now, it feels like the Vinny era again.  As this season continues to get worse and sense of apathy settles on the fanbase, Redskins fans have to ask this question every week.

Will Dan Snyder ever learn his mistakes and hire a general manager with NFL talent evaluating experience?

Image: Courtesy of the Washington Times

A New Level Of Discontent Part 2: The Culture of the Organization

When the Redskins added Bruce Allen as their new general manager, and Mike Shanahan as their new head coach and vice president of football operations, everyone assumed that both of them will have the final say in football related decisions. However, that hasn't been the case. Shanahan has been doing the football decisions while Allen has been focusing on the marketing product of the team such as setting up alumni events.

Despite the change at the front office, the latest feud between coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Donovan McNabb shows that this organization hasn't really change at all even with the new regime. After the loss to the Lions, the coaching staff still hasn't given a clear answer on why they bench quarterback Donovan McNabb, nor they haven't answered why the offense is struggling in protecting the quarterback, and on 3rd down conversions.

Instead, they try to put the entire blame on McNabb. In fact, the rumors of his benching goes back into week. 4 according to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports.  Kyle Shanahan, the Redskins offensive coordinator considered benching McNabb against the Philadelphia Eagles. He even cut the Redskins offensive playbook in half to get McNabb have a better understanding of the offense.This tells me that the coaching staff isn't confident with McNabb as their starting quarterback despite trading two draft picks for him.

The McNabb vs Shanahan feud has added another level of dysfunction for this organization, and it has made the Washington Redskins one of the most talked about teams in the NFL for all the wrong reasons. There were headlines during the offseason with Albert Haynesworth skipping workouts, and today's its McNabb's benching. 

If you take away the Brett Favre and Brad Childress saga in Minnesota, the NFL new policy on limiting helmet-to-helmet hits, and the NFL trying to negotiate a new labor deal for next season, the Redskins will be the number one headline in the NFL nationally, not just locally. This team knew it will get the most attention ever since they acquired McNabb, and still they found even more ways to be dysfunctional. I know this team is at the midpoint of the season, but I don't really see any difference in a level of dysfunction between today and what has been during the last 11 years.

Therefore, little has change in the organization as of right now. But who knows?? The only way this feud ends is when the Redskins put together a winning streak, but that's hard to do when this football team is inconsistent every week.

So Many Missed Opportunities (UPDATED)

Last Sunday night, the Washington Redskins let their golden opportunities slip away as they fall to the Indianapolis Colts 27-24. This was a tough game to lose since the Redskins had several opportunities to win the game, but their secondary struggled to catch an interception. Before I'll analyze on what could of been a season defining victory, let's look at the positives and negatives from this tough lost.

The Positives: The ground game finally became effective. Running back Ryan Torain had his best game of the season last Sunday. He had 20 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Torain is the first Redskin running back to run for 100 yards or more since week 9 of last season. The defense and special teams find ways to kept the Redskins in the game. They continue to play physical, and committed 3 turnovers. Despite the defense giving up 469 total yards of offense, they found ways to keep the game relevant.

The Negatives: The offense was never consistent in critical situations, despite the defense helping them. Quarterback Donovan McNabb was still inaccurate in most of his pass attempts, and it was evident in the Redskins first offensive series. When the Redskins were inside Colts territory and about to take a early lead, McNabb under thrown a quick slant pass to Santana Moss and it was intercepted by Colts cornerback Jerraud Powers. That interception led to Peyton Manning's 57 yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon. The Colts had a 7-0 lead and never trailed the rest of the game despite their mishaps. The secondary could of easily give the Redskins the victory if they had good hands to catch the football. Cornerback Carlos Rodgers dropped two interceptions, and Kareem Moore drop one also. Rodgers has always been a great cover player, but he struggles to catch an interception. I think its a mental problem for Rodgers, and its so frustrating  to see him drop easy picks that can change the momentum of the game.

Overall: At least the Redskins made the game interesting, and they had plenty of chances to upset the Colts. They are good things to build upon from this game. The defense continues to create turnovers and gives the offense a chance to score with excellent field position. The Redskins might have found a decent running back, and the passing game should be effective as McNabb adjusts to the new play-calling schemes from offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. However, the defense is struggling to stop the running and the passing game. It will be nice of Albert Haynesworth was active last week, but unfortunately, he was watching the game from the owner's box. So the Redskins are 3-2 in games that are decided by 6 points or less, and 3-3 overall. Not a bad start considering that the Redskins had a brutal stretch to begin the 2010 season.

Next Week's Game:  Week 7 @Chicago
Time & Network: 1p.m. on FOX
Commentators: Thom Brennaman and Troy Akiman

It is homecoming weekend for McNabb and Shanahan as they return to their hometown city of Chicago Illinois. Both of them played high school football in the Chicago metro area, and McNabb has a 4-1 record at Solider Field. It is also a matchup against one of Shanahan former starting quarterback from Denver, which is Jay Cutler. Cutler will be dealing with a bad offensive line, so look for the Redskins front seven to create even more havoc for Cutler. I also don't expect Torain is have a big game because the Bears are ranked thrid in the league in run defense. So Torain could have problems finding any holes in the ground game. This should be a close contest, but I think Redskins defense will win this game because of the Bears offensive line issues, and McNabb always find ways to win in the windy city.

Redskins: 20, Bears: 17

Week 6 Preview: Colts vs Redskins

The Washington Redskins host the Indianapolis Colts in a primetime matchup of division leaders tonight at FedEx Field. The Redskins are coming off a comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers, while the Colts are coming off a home victory over the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. The Redskins are facing another top rated quarterback this week in Peyton Manning.

For the Redskins to have any chance of winning tonight, they will need to be consistent on offense. Quarterback Donovan McNabb needs to be more accurate on this pass attempts. I've seen him overthrow too many of his open targets. If McNabb corrects his accuary, then this offense can easily score a lot of points against a very weak Colts secondary. Also, the Redskins need to establish the ground attack, and the offensive line needs to perform better. The offensive line will not face a feared defense unlike last week's beating against the Packers, but the Colts defensive line is very solid led by Dwight Freeny and Robert Mathis. Tackles Trent Williams, and Jammal Brown, who were injured last week, should be ready to go tonight. Also, Ryan Torain needs to have a decent game on the ground in order for the Redskins to control the clock and keep Manning off the field.

Finally, the offense needs to score a touchdown FIRST in this game because the Colts are a hard team to come from behind. Once the Colts establish a early lead, they tend to control the clock, and the game essentially. Last week, the Colts opened the game with a 3-0 lead, and never trailed the entire game. They went on to defeat the Chiefs 19-9. The Colts had four field goals and a touchdown, and they still won by double digits. Therefore, it is extermely important for the Redskins to score as early as possible. I know that games aren't really decided in the 1st quarter, but they are playing against the Colts, and they rarely blow early leads against their opponents.

The defense has been playing very well this season, despite their only bad performance against Houston and St. Louis. The Redskins have held the Cowboys, Eagles, and Packers to under 20 points per game. They are ranked in the top-10 in fewest points allowed, even though the defense is ranked last statistically. However, the defense will have a tough challenge in containing Peyton Manning. Manning is one of the best quarterbacks to ever to play in the NFL. If he sees a flaw in coverage, or the defense isn't properly set, Manning will pick them apart and find a open target easily. Still, the Redskins will need to tackle better, do a solid job in pass coverage, and play physical for a full 60 minutes. If LaRon Landry has another superb performance, the Redskins may have a chance tonight.

Prediction: The major difference this week is the Colts. They rarely beat themselves, and Manning always find ways to win under any circumstance. The defense is their only weak spot because of their injuries in several key areas. Still, unless Manning throws for four interceptions, it is hard for me to pick against them. The Redskins are terrible in pass defense, and I think Manning will take advantage and have another huge performance tonight. However, a Redskins victory could put them in the driver seat as a early favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Colts: 21, Redskins: 16

Week 5 Preview: Packers vs Redskins

The Washington Redskins return to FedEx field this Sunday as they host the Green Bay Packers in a intraconference matchup. Both teams are coming off big divisional victories. The Redskins had a road victory last week at Philadelphia, and Green Bay escaped a close contest against the Detroit Lions.

The next two home games for the Redskins are against two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL; Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning. For the Redskins to win tomorrow's game, they will have to continue establishing the run game.

Running back Ryan Torain will get the start this Sunday, and he will need to have a big game on the ground to control the clock and keep Rodgers off the field. That could be possible because the Packers are ranked 24th in run defense, so I expect Torain to get the bulk of the carries. Also, the offense needs to be consistent and productive for a full 60 minutes. Last week, the Redskins had 17 points in the 1st half, but none in the 2nd half. That will not work against a explosive Packers team.

The Redskins need to have a balanced attack, and let Donovan McNabb create some plays down the field. So far, their passing game is the best I've seen in 11 years, and McNabb has proven that he can put up big numbers. Also, the offensive line could face a big challenge as they face the Packers front seven led by linebackers A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews, who leads the league with seven sacks. The good news is that Trent Williams will back in the starting lineup, but the offensive line is very thin, and Matthews could create more problems for the run and pass protection.

Finally, this could be the game that rookie Brandon Banks has a breakout performance. The Packers have already given up a good amount of punt returns for touchdowns so far, and Banks could have enough firepower to change the momentum of the game. Sometimes in the NFL, games are won and lost on special teams. Hopefully, Banks can single-handily change the outcome of the game.

The defense will have another difficult task in defending Rodgers. The Redskins will have to create pressure on Rodgers, and make sure he isn't comfortable in the pocket. If Rodgers has enough protection, then he will no problem finding his receivers. The Redskins are last in the league in pass defense, so the secondary will face a major challenge in covering Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. But the Packers don't have a decent running back in the roster, so I expect the Packers to throw more often in this game, and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to continue using the deep zone cover two formation.

Prediction: This game could be a shootout in the making. I think both quarterbacks will probably throw close to 350 yards in this game. However, the Redskins ground attack, and special teams, will be the major difference. Torain will run for over 100 yards and two touchdowns, and Banks will have a punt return for a touchdown. McNabb will continue to spread the ball around with his receivers, and more importantly, they will control the time of possession by running the football, and keep Rodgers in the sidelines. This will lead to a impressive victory for the Redskins against a perennial Super Bowl contender.

Packers: 28,  Redskins: 31

Note: Skins Take sends our condolences to Albert Haynesworth and his family, who lost his brother in a fatal motorcycle accident last Thursday. Haynesworth will not play on Sunday as he attends his brother's funeral in Nashville Tennessee.

Clinton Portis Could Be Done As A Redskin

Before the season started, there had been numerous reports on Clinton Portis in regards to having his best offseason of his NFL career. Portis was attending the offseason workout program instituted by Head Coach Mike Shanahan. After the Redskins brought in two veteran running backs, it appeared that Portis's starting job was in jeopardy. But Portis regain his starting running back job after intense competition during training camp.

After two forgettable years under former Coach Jim Zorn, Portis appeared to be rejuvenated when Shanahan arrived. Portis had a great relationship with Shanahan dating back to his first two seasons in Denver. With the offseason over, Portis entered the 2010 season in football shape and motivated to have a comeback season.

However, there were questions whether if Portis would stay healthy for the rest of season? Apparently, it didn't take long to answer that question.

This past week, the Redskins announced that Portis suffered a third-degree separation of his left groin and he will be out for 4-6 weeks. This means that third year running back Ryan Torain will get the starting job. So, does this mean that Clinton Portis just played his last game as a Redskin?

It could be the case for two reasons. First, Torain has proven he can carry the load and be an effective tailback along the way. He rushed for 70 yards and had one touchdown against Philadelphia last week. Torain has the potential to elevate his game this Sunday against Green Bay, and possibly solve the Redskins running game issues.

Secondly, and most importantly, Portis is getting old. He just turn 29 last month, and typically running backs tend to be at the tail end of their careers. Also, since he signed the contract extension in 2008, Portis has been gradually declining in term of production on the field. He fell short of 1500 yards two seasons ago, and he missed the rest of the 2009 season with a concussion. Portis hasn't really been a really productive back since 2007, the last time the Redskins made the playoffs. Therefore, this injury he just suffered is sadly not a surprise given his age.

So I expect the Redskins to sideline Portis for the rest of the year, even if he is technically ready to play late in the season. That is too bad, considering that Portis is one of the best run and pass blockers on the roster. But injuries will take its toll eventually on a older player. The good news for Portis is that he's getting $7.7 million in guaranteed money, but his contract for 2011 isn't guaranteed.

So, there is a good chance that Portis will not return to the Redskins next season, and it could be the first of a major overhaul for the entire 53 man roster. There is also a chance that Portis could have a successful rehab procedure and return in week 12, but I just don't see that happening because of his history of injuries and his declining performance on the field.

So bye bye CP #26!!! Thanks for seven memorable seasons!!!

Video of the Day: Albert Haynesworth Thoughts on Mike Shanahan and the Redskins

Albert Haynesworth has been a frequent visitor to the media lately. Last weekend, he was on "the Kevin and Rock" show on 106.7 the fan making his idiotic slave comment, and last night on Sportscenter, he had some thoughts on his relationship with Mike Shanahan, and the treatment he received during training camp last summer.  The interview was ironically conducted from ESPN reporter Sara Walsh, who used to cover the Redskins and other D.C. sports teams for WUSA-TV. Enjoy the video clip!!!

Better To Be Lucky Than Good

Last Sunday night, the Washington Redskins hosted the Dallas Cowboys in front of a epic atmosphere at FedEx Field, and a record crowd of  90,670 people were treated to a heart-stopping finish.  Before I do the recap of the game, let's go back to the last play of the game.





So Alex Baron's third holding call of the game gives the Redskins an 13 to 7 win over the Cowboys. This was the Redskins first victory within their division in two years even though they didn't even score a touchdown against Dallas for the third time. As usual, the rivalry provided another wacky ending, and it was only fitting that the Cowboys, who committed 12 penalties for 81 yards, blow this game on a holding call. While Redskins fans savior this victory against their hated rival, there were some key concerns and positives on both sides.

The defense had a mixed performance, but they were largely responsible for the Redskins first take-away and six points of the season.With three seconds left in the 1st half, the Cowboys, who had the ball at their own 30 yard-line, decide to run a screen pass to thrid string running back Tashard Choice. Choice was tackled for a minimum gain, and then gets the ball strip from a Redskins defender, which lead to De-Angelo Hall returning 32 yards for a touchdown. The Redskins went to halftime with a 10-0 lead.  Not many coaches will run a screen to close the 1st half while having possession at your own territory. But this is Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett. They are known for making stupid calls on offense.

Anyway, the defense did had trouble stopping the run from Cowboys running back Marion Barber. Also, quarterback Tony Romo had a field day throwing screen passes to Felix Jones, Choice, Barber,  Miles Austin and Dez Bryant and the defense had no answer to stop them. The Cowboys ended up with 380 total yards on offense, but luckily, they only scored seven points. If the Redskins defense doesn't get their act together on the stopping the run and the screen , they could have serious problems next week against Houston.

The offense however, couldn't score a touchdown during the contest, but they face a very good Cowboys defense, and the Redskins have historically  struggled against Dallas on offense. But Donovan Mcnabb had several opportunities to score. Early in their 3rd quarter, Mcnabb tried two fade passes to rookie wide receiver Anthony Armstrong, and it failed. Even worse, the Redskins couldn't score at all because of failed snap by place holder Josh Bidwell.  Other then that, Mcnabb seems to have very good chemistry with wide receiver Santana Moss and tight end Chris Cooley, and he made some nice throws to other receivers as well. I think this offense should improve over the course of the season, but they will have to score touchdowns if they have any chance to win.

Mcnabb did finished the game with 15 of 32, for 171 yards. Either way, the offense got a big break  because their defense got a turnover and fumble return for a touchdown, the Cowboys committed too many penalties, and horrendous play-calling from Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett. This victory is also great for long suffering Redskins fans, who endure a rough two years. Finally, it is great to see FedEx Field rocking again, and it's a great start to the Mike Shanahan first game as Redskins head coach. This victory will re energized this fanbase that is hungry for change and getting a competitive team on the field.

Next Game: Week 2: Vs. Houston
Time & Network: 4:15 P.M. on CBS
Commentators: Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts


The Redskins face another high powered offensive Texans team led by Matt Schub, Andre Johnson, and rookie standout Aaron Foster. The defense will have their hands full on stopping not only the Texans aerial attack, but on the ground game from Foster. Unlike Dallas, Houston will not abandon their run game if it works to their advantage. However, their defense is still their Achilles heel, and the Redskins can easily get some points on board and try to get the running game going. Let's see how Mike Shanahan orchestrates his offense since he seen a lot of Texans last season since his son Kyle was the offensive coordinator last season.

Season Predictions For 2010

As the 2010 season starts in two days, it was good time for me to post another prediction for the Washington Redskins after watching some of these preseason games. I'm not gonna be one of those crazy Redskins fans who picks them to go to the Super Bowl because we have Mike Shanahan and Donovan Mcnabb, sorry!!  However, I will be as realistic as possible with these predictions. Here is the 2010 schedule with my predictions of their wins (W), and losses (L) on each game.

Sept. 12: vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night Football) 8:20pm (W)
Sept. 19: vs. Houston Texans: 4:15pm (L)
Sept. 26: at St. Louis Rams :4:05 (W)

Oct. 3: at Philadelphia Eagles : 4:15pm (W)
Oct. 10: vs. Green Bay Packers : 1pm  (L)
Oct. 17: vs. Indianapolis Colts (Sunday Night Football) 8:20pm (L)
Oct. 24: at Chicago Bears : 1pm (L)
Oct. 31: at Detroit Lions: 1pm (W)

Nov. 7: BYE

Nov. 15: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Monday Night Football) : 8:30pm (W)
Nov. 21: at Tennessee Titans : 1pm (L)
Nov. 28: vs. Minnesota Vikings: 1pm  (L)

Dec. 5: N.Y Giants: 1pm (L)
Dec. 12: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers :1pm (W)
Dec. 19: at Dallas Cowboys: 1pm (L)
Dec. 26: at Jacksonville Jaguars :1pm (W)

Jan. 2: vs. New York Giants: 1pm (W)

As you can see, I think the Redskins main goal should be going 8-8 this season for two reasons. First, not many teams in the NFL go to the playoffs following a 4-12 season. Thomas Boswell from the Washington Post pointed out a good statistical reference for teams switching coaches following a bad season.

"Is there even a chance the Redskins could make the playoffs? Sure, there is. Unfortunately, it's just not much of a chance - less than 20 percent. Since '90, there have been 54 teams that lost 11 or more games, then got a new coach before the next season. How many made the playoff the first year? Ten of 54, or just 19 percent."

So there is a 19% chance that the Redskins make the playoffs this year. That's a pretty low chance, but it can happen. The 2008 Miami Dolphins won the AFC East following a 1-15 season a year ago. The 2008 Atlanta Falcons won the NFC South following their dismal 4-12 record in 2007, and the 1992 San Diego Chargers did the same as well.

However, Boswell then shows another daunting statistic.

"In the last 20 years, 115 NFL teams have changed coaches after the season. Just 17 of them - or 14.9 percent - improved by five wins. That should be sobering. But it gets worse. Of the 17 teams that showed big jumps, how many went backward in the new coach's second season? Answer: 13 of the 17. So prepare yourself. Get your mind right. This is going to take time. Enjoy a respectable losing season or celebrate a .500 year. Call it progress. Don't wake up screaming every time the Redskins lose 23-3." 

I agree with Boswell 100%, and every Redskins should agree with him too. This season is about making progress since they have a lot of new players on the roster this year. There will be games that the Redskins could lose by 10 or 20 points because they playing a brutal schedule. The Redskins will face 11 of their 16 games are against teams that won 8 or more games last year, that includes seven games against teams that had 11 or more wins.  So there could be some weeks that the Redskins have a rough day, and that's okay since they are playing perennial playoff contenders this year and they adjusting to the new schemes on both sides. Also, I think Shanahan is more then capable to lead this team to the playoffs in 2011 because he has done it before in Denver, but I will save that for another time.

Anyway, another reason is that this team had so many issues on both offense and defense last season. The defense was okay, but never created turnovers and making a big stop in the 4th quarter. The offense was just pitiful and non-existent. Despite some free agent acquisitions in the offseason , staying healthy will be a key once again. How long can Mcnabb stay healthy with a sprain ankle he suffered 3 weeks ago? Can the offensive line avoid key injuries? Can the defense successfully transitioned to the 3-4 defense and make big stops in the closing minutes? And how effective the running game will be?

For the Redskins to be a playoff contender, so many things have to go their way, such as the team itself being injury free, Mcnabb making big plays on offense, and the defense still playing at a high level, but creating key turnovers to change the momentum of the game. Either way, this team will be fun to watch and much more competitive then in the last two seasons.

What do you think? How many wins do you see the Redskins winning in 2010? Do you see them making the playoffs, or remain at .500?

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Of The 53 Man Roster

After two months of training camp and preseason action, football season is finally here, and the world seems to be right once again. Redskins fans have every right to be excited with Mike Shanahan kicking off his regime this Sunday Night, and what better way to do it aganist their long time rival, the Dallas Cowboys. With the final 53 man roster and practice squad intact, there is the good, the bad, and the ugly news as the Redskins prepare for the 2010 season.

The Good: The Redskins will be well coached, very disciplined, and much improved on the field. After 10 years of mediocrity and poor personnel decisions, owner Daniel Snyder finally listens to the fans and hires Mike Shanahan and General Manager Bruce Allen. Both Allen and Shanahan completed a major organizational change in the front office and the team is currently run more professionally then in recent years. Shanahan's optional and mandatory offseason conditioning programs, and extended training camp sessions should help the players to stay in football shape for entire season, something the Redskins did not see with the previous incumbent Jim Zorn.

Also, the Redskins improved their weak spots on offense such as the offensive line by adding  veteran tackle Jammal Brown and drafting tackle Trent Williams in the NFL Draft. They also solidified the quarterback position by adding veteran quarterback Donovan Mcnabb. Mcnabb should add leadership and improved an offense that has only averaged 16.6 points per game last season.

The Bad: Despite adding key pieces, the Redskins still remain one of the oldest teams in the league and has done really nothing to improve in most key areas. For example, the Redskins don't have fresh young players at running back. Clinton Portis may be in the best shape of his career, but at age 29, I'm not really sure how much has left in the tank. The same can be said for Larry Johnson. Running backs tend to be at the tail end of their career once they reach their late 20s to early 30s. This means that undrafted rookie Keiland Williams as their 3rd string back. That's a risky move given the age of the top two running backs. The offensive line could be a disaster again if two or more starters get injured this season, and the defense needs to stop the run under the 3-4 scheme.

The Redskins also could have one of the worst wide receiving core in the league. They virtually have no weapons on offense except Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, and Fred Davis. Veteran receiver Joey Galloway is 39 years old and he will start this Sunday along with Moss, but only has 12 receptions in the last two seasons. Devin Thomas continues to be inconsistent, and Roydell Williams hasn’t played an NFL game in three years. The good news is that rookies Anthony Armstrong  and Brandon Banks could provide a spark on offense and special teams and should give some youth on the receiver core.

The Ugly: The Mike Shanahan Vs. Albert Haynesworth saga continues to be a major distraction with the team. It seems like everyday, there is a report that the Redskins are working a trade with Haynesworth to Tennessee, or the team is ready to let Haynesworth play this weekend. Either way, the result will have a bad ending, and Shanahan is either going to suck it up and let Haynesworth start this weekend, or keep giving him hell until the Redskins find an attractive trade offer. Knowing how he handled disgruntled players in Denver, Shanahan is likely to continue the second option until a trade is finally finalized.

What do you think?? What is the positives and negatives of the final 53 man roster for the Redskins?? Can they improved from the 4-12 record last season? Will Albert Haynesworth stay on the Redskins roster for the entire season?

Redskins Cut 21 Players To Fit The 53 Man Roster

Last night, the Washington Redskins announced that they released 21 players to reduce the final roster to include 53 players. Among the notables cuts were Willie Parker, Chad Rinehart, and Terrence Austin (surprisingly). Also, the Redskins did cut their final four players which were selected in this year's NFL Draft. Here is the list of the final cuts:

Terrence Austin	WR
Richard Bartel	QB
Selvish Capers	OT
Tyrone Carter	S
Erik Cook	G/C
Carey Davis	FB
Curtis Gatewood	LB
Howard Green	NT
Robert Henson	LB
Shay Hodge	WR
Rob Jackson	LB
Clint Oldenburg	OT
Willie Parker	RB
Chad Rinehart	G/T
Ramzee Robinson	CB
William Robinson	OT
Anderson Russell	S
Darrion Scott	DE
Ryan Torain	RB
Lee Vickers	TE
Bobby Wade	WR

Couldn't Ask For A Better Start

The Washington Redskins couldn't ask for a better start to their  2010 preseason opener. Last Friday night, the Redskins dominated the Buffalo Bills for 60 minutes leading them to a 42-17 victory. The Redskins got off to a great start when quarterback Donovan Mcnabb threw a touchdown pass to rookie wide-out Anthony Armstrong to conclude a 11 play-80 yard drive to give the Redskins a 7-0 lead.

Moments later, cornerback De-Angelo Hall got an interception and return it to the Bills 10 yard line to set up the first of two touchdowns passes from backup quarterback Rex Grossman. Grossman could be a viable backup for this team since he knows kyle shanahan's offense. Devin Thomas, who was placed as a thrid string wide receiver, also had a good game with 3 receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown. The offensive line did a good job protecting both Mcnabb and Grossman and also limited  false start penalties.

The defense perform very well in their first game under the 3-4 defense. They only held the Bills only to three points in the first half. Albert Haynesworth created havoc with the Bills offensive line, leading a sack from rookie linebacker Perry Riley. Haynesworth said he is comfortable with the 3-4 scheme and he is ready to move on from his offseason controversy.

However, the play of the game came from the special teams unit. Early in the 3rd quarter, rookie wide receiver Brandon Banks return a punt 77 yards for a touchdown. Can you imagine what the Redskins record will be  if Antwan Randell El provided that spark last season? Plays like this on special teams can really make a bad or mediocre team look like a good team. If Banks continues his electrifying role on special teams, he will make the team.

So far, the Redskins wide receiver core, which had questions during training camp, has a very good mix of veterans ( Moss, Galloway, Wade, Williams), third year players (Thomas), and rookies, (Armstrong, Banks). Head Coach Mike Shanahan will have a tough time deciding who will make the roster and the practice squad, but he will have three more preseason games to evaluate.

Next Preseason game: vs Balitmore Ravens
Date: Saturday August 21st,
Time: 7:30P.M.
Game Coverage: CSN Washington,WRC-TV (NBC 4), WDCW-TV 50, WBAL-TV 11
Redskins Broadcasters: Mike Patrick and Joe Theismann: on CSN Washington and NBC 4
Ravens Broadcasters: Gerry Sandusky, Rob Burnett, and Stan White: on WBAL and DC 50

The Ravens come into town this weekend, and we will find out the pros and cons of the Redskins for the upcoming season.  The Redskins secondary will be tested since the Ravens will display their best receiving core in franchise history. The Ravens are also coming off their thrid straight playoff appearance under head coach John Harbaugh, and the team is poised to make a Super Bowl run.

Coming up later, my experience of my first Redskins game at FedEX Field.

Training Camp News & Notes

Two Players Out For The Opener: Redskins wide receiver Malcolm Kelly and offensive tackle Jammal Brown will not play in the preseason opener versus the Buffalo Bills on Friday. Kelly has missed all of training camp due to a hamstring injury he suffered three weeks ago in Arizona while working out with Donovan Mcnabb. Brown suffered a hip injury and he hasn't practiced since last week.

Haynesworth: Albert Haynesworth did finally past the conditioning test on Saturday, and was able to practice with the team. Unfortunately, Haynesworth mostly practiced with the second team instead of the first team. Currently, there is no report whether Haynesworth will be in the starting lineup on Friday or even play a series or two.

Depth Chart: The Redskins release their first depth chart of training camp which includes 11 new players on offense and five new players on defense. Among the new starters are Joey Galloway, Adam Carriker, Maake Kemoeatu, and Kedric Golston. Haynesworth, Kelly, and Thomas, who were starters in 2009, are listed as backups.

Daniel Snyder Needs To Cut or Trade Albert Haynesworth ASAP!!!

Dear Daniel Snyder, Owner of the Washington Redskins,

Please cut or trade Albert Haynesworth and admit your major mistake on another free agent signing.  I know you just give him a $20 million dollar check last April, but his actions prove that he doesn't want to be in the team anymore.

It is becoming clear that the Albert Haynesworth versus Mike Shanahan saga will continue on until Haynesworth passes his conditioning test. Haynesworth is getting embrasssed everyday from his coaches and the media, and it appears that he's trying to holdout longer so he can be traded elsewhere. 

Despite his alleged holdout, Haynesworth has proven continuously that he is the biggest scam artist in the history of professional sports. It seems like every day I'm reading reports from the Washington Post, twitter feeds, and pro football talk that Haynesworth has either failed the test, did not participate due to a swelling knee, or not completing the test altogether because he's out of shape.

This player is being paid $100 million dollars to play nose tackle or  right defensive end for the Washington Redskins, not to complain on his knee, skipping mandatory workouts, the transition to the 3-4 defense, or being out of shape.

Head coach Mike Shanahan not only wants Haynesworth to be in football shape, but he wants him to be healthy enough to play all 16 games, something Haynesworth hasn't accomplished since his rookie season.

Also, this whole conditioning ordeal isn't a new thing for Haynesworth. He failed the same exam twice during his playing career in Tennessee. If Haynesworth can't run 300-yard shuttle runs, then he is in the wrong sport. Anybody can lose 30 to 40 pounds and still not be in shape.

Even local and national sports reporters are having a field day with Haynesworth. Washington Post Live host Ivan Carter, ESPN NFL analyst Mike Golic, and Dave Feldman and Dave Ross from FOX 5 all passed Haynesworth's conditioning test on their first try. Neither of these media personalities are not in football shape, but they still pass.

Therefore, it is hard to blame Shanahan on handling the Haynesworth situation. He has missed the mandatory offseason workouts and he is suffering the consequences.

But for you Mr. Snyder, you deserve to get blamed for this mess. Everyone knew that Haynesworth had issues on the field and yet still you give him the big contract offer. Yes, he is one of the best defensive players in the league, but he is healthy for only half the season. Did you really think that Haynesworth will play all 16 games and be a difference maker for the Redskins?

However, you given huge contracts to big time free agents in the past and it still didn't work out. Did you learn your past mistakes Mr. Snyder? What was the difference between Haynesworth's deal and Deion Sanders?, Jeff George?, or Dana Stubblefield?

Those players had back-loaded contracts and they never produce winning results on the field. This also led to a ten year period of mediocrity for the Redskins.

So Mr. Snyder, it appears you haven't learned anything on your past mistakes, and continue to ruin the franchise. However, you have made some good offseason acquisitions in the front office in terms of hiring a respectable general manager and a head coach.

But cutting Albert Haynesworth will be the icing on the cake because it will eliminate any training camp distractions for the team and they can finally focus on football. Players can finally focus on who's making the roster, and what is the team's pro's and con's headed into the season. Currently, the biggest storyline out of Redskins Camp is Albert Haynesworth and that's a big distraction for the players.

So Mr. Snyder, if you really want the Redskins to be an improved team in 2010, you will find a way to either cut Albert Haynesworth. If you can trade him for a mid level draft pick, that's fine too, but please, do anything to get rid of this fat bum off your roster preferably before the start of the preseason.


Sincerely,

Skins Take

The Cult Is Gone

Despite being a fan favorite for the Redskins on the practice field, blogs, and in the media, Colt Brennan had no job security and today it was evident. The former University of Hawaii quarterback was released today  following the Redskins made a trade with the Baltimore Ravens. The Redskins got quarterback John Beck from the  Ravens in exchange for cornerback Doug Dutch.

It appears that Coach Mike Shanahan wants an experience third string quarterback in the roster. Beck did start four games for the Miami Dolphins in 2007 and Brennan had a brief history of knee problems. Beck will most likely backup starter quarterback Donovan Mcnabb and veteran Rex Grossman.

So Brennan was cut before he even takes his first snap in NFL regular season game. However, here is a brief video tribute for Redskins fans who believed that Brennan will start in the NFL. Unfortunately, that could happen with a different team. Anyway,enjoy Brennan's  preseason highlights from the past two years.

Three Bold Predictions Before The Start of Training Camp

With training camp only three days away, skins take will have three bold predictions for the 2010 Washington Redskins. Some of these predictions could be absurd, reasonable, or just plain out of the ordinary. Anyway, here is my three bold predictions.


1) Albert Haynesworth will be traded at the deadline: I'm not sure how Haynesworth will look like physically, but I'm betting on him being very effective during training camp and impress a good amount of his teammates and coaches. I'm also betting that Haynesworth will continue to be a locker room cancer and players will have some confrontation with him. That should be enough for the Redskins to consider trading him. However, it won't happen until October 19th, which will be the NFL's trade deadline, and the Redskins should be around .500 by then.

2) Donovan Mcnabb will have another superb season: Mcnabb should have another good season for the Redskins in 2010. He has a lot to prove to his critics, the Redskins fans, and the Philadelphia Eagles organizations who traded him last spring. I think Santana Moss, Larry Johnson, Clinton Portis, Chris Cooley, Fred Davis, and Devin Thomas will emerge as a better players and receivers under Mcnabb's leadership. Mcnabb should also throw for at least 30 touchdowns this season, and it will be the most for a Redskins starting quarterback since Brad Johnson in 1999.

3) The Redskins will win 8 or more games in 2010: I'm not sure how the Redskins will perform in 2010 due to a massive roster turnover. However, it should turn out for the better. Coach Mike Shanahan isn't willing to keep the status quo on certain players. Every roster spot will be up for grabs during camp, and players will have to work hard to earn their starting role. That something the Redskins haven't seen since Joe Gibbs's first regime in the early 1980s. Therefore, this team will be well-coached and much improved in all areas. But it doesn't mean that the Redskins will go to the Super Bowl. I think 8 wins will be realistic since the Redskins have a brutal schedule this year, but it won't be surprising if they get 9 or 10 wins and earning a playoff berth. The Redskins have most of their tough games at home.

There are my three bold predictions. What are your thoughts? Will the Redskins be a playoff contender or finish around .500 in 2010?

Clinton Portis Is Trying to Keep His Starting Job

I've always tried to like Clinton Portis as a player during his tenure in Washington. But his approach to the coaching staff and his teammates led to questions about his character. I sometimes feel that Portis is a cancer to this team in terms of how he treated Mike Sellers last season, his dislike of former coach Jim Zorn, his royal relationship with owner Daniel Snyder,  his approach to practice and offseason workouts, and his goofy-looking costumes to attract media attention. I think Portis never really cared about the team and only cared about himself. His statistics doesn't show it, but his body language and attitude goes a long way.

However, the former Miami Hurricane has a new sense of motivation. The Redskins have a new head coach in Mike Shanahan, Portis' former coach in Denver. The team has a new General Manager in Bruce Allen, and Snyder is apparently backing off on football related decisions. Shanahan also declared competition in all starting roster spots. To add even more frustration for Portis, the Redskins signed two veteran running backs; Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker.

For Clinton Portis, he realized that his starting running back job was on the line this offseason, and now he is determined to keep his starting role.

Portis begin attending most of the optional offseason workout programs, something he never did when Jim Zorn were at the helm.  Portis also lost 13 pounds after weighing about 230 last season.

Headed into training camp, Portis is the favorite to start at running back once again. Shanahan has been impressed with Portis's approach to offseason workouts. Whether his conditioning can translate into big numbers for Portis in 2010 remains to be seen. Portis will turn 29 when the season begins in September.

What do you think?  Can Clinton Portis return to being a elite running back this season?

Mike Wiliiams Done For The Season

There is only three weeks left until training camp, and the Redskins already have a player done for the year. According to the Washington Post, veteran offensive linemen Mike Williams will miss the season due to blood clots near his heart. The condition is serious enough to cause major concern for the organization. There is a possibility that Williams's condition could end his career. Williams has a history of weight problems before coming toWashington.

This injury is a huge blow to the Redskins' offensive line. Williams is trying to resurrect his NFL career in Washington after a two year absence from football. Williams was supposed to be a valuable backup to a much improved offensive line that features two returning starters and newcomers Trent Williams, Artis Hicks, and Jammal Brown. With this injury, Chad Reinhart will likely backup Hicks at the right guard position or Mike Shanahan could get a veteran offensive linemen from the waiver wire.

But for now, let's hope Williams recovers from his blood clot condition and returns to the football field in 2011.