Kirk Cousins (2012-2017) "Radioactive Man"
57 starts (26-30-1)
Completion % = 65.5% (1372/2096)
16206 yrds - 99 TD - 55 INT - 93.7 - 106 sacks
12 Game Winning Drives
The man who was drafted to be an insurance policy who turned into one of the most polarizing players the Redskins have ever seen. Kirk Cousins is "Radioactive Man" for creating a nuclear argument about his abilities throughout his career. It began the second he was drafted and he continued to cause outrage within the fan base for his entire tenure in Washington, most of the time simply by just playing his position. But big things have humble beginnings, and his early career did not point to him being the most sought after soon-to-be free agent on the market.
Cousins grew up in Michigan where he was a three sport athlete in high school. A broken ankle in his Junior year, though, caused Cousins to be over looked by many recruiters, and it looked as if his decision would be between playing quarterback at Toledo or Western Michigan. Luckily for Cousins there was a new coach in East Lansing that could not sign any of his target quarterbacks. Mark Dantonio decided to offer a scholarship to Cousins to play at Michigan State, and Cousins gladly accepted. Cousins would redshirt his first year and back up Brian Hoyer during the 2008 season. He was named the starter for the Spartans in 2009, and between 2010-2011 he would lead the Spartans to 22 wins, a share of the Big 10 regular season title in 2010, and he led the Spartans to the Big 10 Championship game in 2011. Cousins was rounding out a solid college career, but nothing could have prepared him for what was to come on Draft Day.
Mike Shanahan thought he needed insurance for Griffin, and Cousins was sitting there in the fourth round when Shanny apparently had him graded as a second round talent. Shanahan pulled the trigger on Cousins, Redskins nation went ballistic, and Radioactive Man was born. There was controversy abound for the next few months, but it was clear that Griffin would be the starter for the 2012 season. Griffin would ignite the world in 2012, but not without a little help from his fourth round understudy. Cousins would play in three games that season, including winning in relief against the Ravens where he led a game tying drive that required a two-point conversion that Cousins ran in on a QB sneak. The next week he would win in impressive fashion against Cleveland, but no one was about to anoint him over Griffin for beating the worst team in the league. Griffin returned and led the Redskins to their first division title since 1999 and all was looking up until Griffin was carted off the field after going down in the playoff game against Seattle. Redskins nation could only watch as Kirk Cousins was brought in amongst the carnage to try and salvage a win that never came. Cousins looked awful on the big stage, and he would carry this moniker of looking bad in relief for the next two seasons.
Cousins would only see the field as a starter in 2013 after Griffin was deactivated by Mike Shanahan for precautionary purposes. Cousins would lose all three of those games, and he would also lose his patron saint in Mike Shanahan as he and his son were let go by the organization. Jay Gruden was hired in 2014, and it was quickly implied that he was there to resurrect Robert Griffin. The project did not last long, however, as Griffin went down with a dislocated ankle in Week 2. Cousins came on in relief to beat the Jaguars, but the next two games showed Cousins's propensity for frustrating play in critical situations. He would have a masterful game against the Eagles until he threw a bad interception late that cost the Redskins the game, and the next week he inexplicably threw four interceptions in the second half against the Giants. It all came to a head in Week 7 against the Titans where Cousins was benched at halftime because of his poor play. Cousins would never see the field again in 2014, and his inconsistencies seemed to have him forever relegated to a backup position. Everyone assumed that the 2015 season would be Robert Griffin's last chance in Washington, but once again Cousins could never have imagined what was to come.
Before the 2015 season was to start, Jay Gruden shocked everyone and named Kirk the starter for the 2015 season. Radioactive Man was unleashed on the fan base yet again, and controversy encircled his debut as the Redskins starter on opening day. The beginning of the season was just as tumultuous as he led the Redskins on a 90 yard game winning drive in Philadelphia, only to throw a pick six in overtime against the Falcons. Cousins starting job was precarious at best, and down 24-0 in the middle of the second quarter at home to Tampa Bay in Week 7 made it look as if another season, and quarterback, would be lost yet again. We all know what happened. Cousins would lead the Redskins to the greatest comeback in franchise history, and his catch phrase would define the entire season for the Redskins. Cousins would lead the Redskins to another division title, and for one half he kept pace with Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs until the Packers masterfully changed their game plan to running the ball down the Redskins throat. Alas, the Redskins exited the playoffs without a win in 2015.
It is not worth going over the next two seasons because it has been rehashed ad nauseam. For all that has transpired over Cousins's career there are things worth noting that the Redskins are letting walk out the door on March 14. Cousins is the only quarterback to start every game for three consecutive seasons in the Dan Snyder era. Kirk is fourth in all time yards passing in franchise history (16,206 yards), and given three more season he would have been number one. Cousins's three seasons as a starter rank first, second, and fourth in passing yards in a single season in franchise history, and his 29 TD in 2015 ranks second only to Sonny Jurgensen's 31 TD in 1967. His stats over the last three years are comparable with some of the top quarterbacks in the game, and yet he could not deliver a playoff win or multiple playoff appearances as a starter. This coupled with the fact that he was the guy who replaced Dan Snyder's hand picked messiah, his contract dispute wore on the nerves of all involved, and his public statements that he wanted to stay in Washington now have soured a large portion of the fan base have caused a ground swell of resentment for Kirk Cousins as he leaves Washington. It seems ungrateful for these people to chide Cousins on his way out of town considering he arguably gave the fan base the three best consecutive quarterbacking seasons in the last 25 years. But Kirk's departure, and subsequent character assassination by Dan Snyder's minions, have shown that this organization has not learned anything over the last 25 years. Dan Snyder is letting the best quarterback he has ever had walk out the door, and he is kicking him on the way out to save face within the sphere of public opinion. I say godspeed to Cousins because his fate will forever be linked to that of the Washington Redskins. Maybe he pulls a Brad Johnson and wins a Super Bowl, or maybe he becomes Jason Campbell and fades into obscurity. Whatever happens, there is no denying that he gave the Redskins three solid seasons among the direst of circumstances, and everyone should be grateful.
Fun Facts: The top three quarterbacks from the 2012 NFL Draft currently are either out of the NFL or face serious concerns about whether or not they will come back from injury. They are Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin, and Ryan Tannehill. The sixth (selected 75th overall), seventh (selected 88th overall), and eighth (selected 102nd overall) quarterbacks selected have combined for two Super Bowl Championships and two could fetch high prices for their services this offseason. They are Russell Wilson, Nick Foles, and Kirk Cousins.
Cousins is 4-2 in his career against those fellow 2012 draftees. His four wins have come against Nick Foles, Russell Wilson, Brandon Weeden, and Brock Osweilier.
Cousins was able to face and defeat Brian Hoyer in the Redskins 2017 game against the 49ers. Remember that Cousins sat behind Hoyer at Michigan State.
Showing posts with label Kirk Cousins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kirk Cousins. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Monday, March 12, 2018
The Chronicles of Redskins Quarterbacks Part 13: Robert Griffin III
Robert Griffin III (2012-2014) "Darth Vader"
35 starts (14-21)
35 starts (14-21)
Completion % = 63.9% (679/1063)
8097 yrds – 40 TD - 23 INT – 90.6 – 101 sacks
5 Game Winning Drives
Part 12 was about who should start the 2015 season for the Redskins. If you want to have a laugh here it is. Since Griffin was still on the roster at that point he did not get his own page. He does now.
In Robert Griffin III, Dan Snyder had finally found his Darth Vader to his Emperor Palpatine persona. Just as Vader was Palpatine's third, and most powerful, apprentice, Griffin would be the third first round quarterback selected in the Dan Snyder era. And just like Vader, Griffin came from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful individuals in his sport, only to have it all come crashing down.
Robert Griffin III was born in Okinawa, Japan. His parents were both sergeants in the U.S. Army, and for the first few years of his life he would live all over the western United States. His family would eventually settle in Copperas Cove, Texas where Griffin would have an illustrious high school athletic career. Griffin was a ranked #1 in the nation in the 400 and 110 meter hurdles as a Junior, and he amassed over 3,000 yards passing, over 2,000 yards rushing, and 73 total TD's as his high school's starting quarterback his Junior and Senior season. All of these accomplishments led him to be ranked the fourth best dual threat quarterback coming out of high school. Griffin was sought after by many schools, but he committed to Art Briles at......Houston? That's right. Briles had been the coach at Houston since 2003, but in 2007 he left to take the coaching job at Baylor and Griffin followed him. It seemed to be the beginnings of stardom as Griffin was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2008, but Griffin tore his ACL three games into his sophomore campaign in 2009 and was out for the season. He was given a medical redshirt, so his sophomore season began anew in 2010 where he led Baylor to a 7-6 record. Griffin looked like your average spread option style quarterback for his first three years. And then it happened. Baylor's high octane spread offense, coupled with the Big 12's propensity to not play defense, led Griffin to gain almost 5,000 yards of total offense and account for 47 touchdowns. Griffin would lead Baylor to a 10-3 seasons, and Griffin would win the 2011 Heisman Trophy. Griffin electrified college football that season along with Andrew Luck, and the two of them were projected to be the top 2 picks that season in the NFL Draft. The only problem was that the Rams would end up in the second pick, and they seemed to be tied to Sam Bradford. It seemed as if someone would need to pay a king's ransom to move up to get that pick, and who better to give up draft picks than the Washington Redskins.
Two days before the new league year started in 2012, the Redskins shocked the world by trading up to the second pick in the draft in order to get Griffin. They gave the Rams three first round picks (2012, 2013, 2014), and their second round pick in 2012. Whatever the cost, Dan Snyder had finally found his Chosen One, but the Redskins fan base was skeptical that Snyder had once again mortgaged the future for something that would never pan out. One game into the 2012 season and all that was put to rest. Griffin's victory in New Orleans showed that he may be worth the price, and that the read option was a viable option in the NFL with Griffin at the helm. The Griffin euphoria would culminate in Week 6 as Griffin ripped off a 76 yard touchdown run to put the game away. Redskins nation was in a frenzied state the likes of which it had never seem before, but that excitement was put to rest when the Redskins lost their next three games. The last of those games came against a 1-6 Panthers team that led Mike Shanahan to make his infamous speech about the rest of the season being about evaluating talent. And then it happened. The Redskins crushed the Eagles in their next game, and shocked the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving that saw the Redskins score 28 points in the first half. All was humming until Haloti Ngata brought all of Redskins fandom's fears to life. Griffin was hit in the knee as he was rolling over a tackle in the open field and he did not return. Kirk Cousins came on in relief to win the game in overtime, and he would win the next week in Cleveland, but all eyes were on Griffin's knee. Griffin returned with questions surrounding his hasty comeback, but all of that was put aside when he led the Redskins to two more victories and their first NFC East Championship since 1999. It was still out of mind when he put the Redskins up 14-0 against the Seahawks in their opening playoff game; and then it happened. Griffin collapsed on the field and had to be carted off to the tightly held breath of all fans at Fed Ex Field. Cousins would come on in relief, but to no avail. The Redskins would lose the game, and it was uncertain as to how long they would lose their franchise quarterback.
Despite the injury, Griffin was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, and everyone was on pins and needles about his sophomore season. Griffin's motto was "All In For Week 1 [of 2013]", but again there were questions about whether or not he was coming back too fast. Griffin did not play in any preseason games that year, but he was the starter in Week 1, and the big question was whether or not he would be able to recreate the magic of 2012. The Redskins opened up the 2013 season 1-3, and it was apparent that Griffin was not the same dynamic player he was before the injury. The read option was not functioning due to defensive players not being as afraid of Griffin getting around the edge, and it was clear that Griffin had trouble avoiding the pass rush. Griffin would lead the Redskins to another 3-5 crossroads, but the Redskins took the other path in 2013 as they lost their next five games leading to Griffin being benched. Mike Shanahan called it a precaution to not have him get injured, but controversy began to surface as Griffin threw 16 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, and he did not rush for a single touchdown in 2013. Shanahan would be shown the door after the 2013 season and Jay Gruden took over.
Gruden had to inherit Griffin who was seemingly in decline since his illustrious rookie season. Gruden had relative success in Cincinnati taking a spread quarterback in Andy Dalton and turning him into a serviceable NFL passer, and Redskins fans inferred that he was here to do the same for Griffin. Problems arose, however, when Griffin dislocated his ankle in Week 2 against Jacksonville. Kirk Cousins would win that game, but he would go 1-4 over the next five games and be benched at halftime of the fifth game against Tennessee in favor of Colt McCoy. McCoy led a game winning drive to beat the Titans, and he would win his infamous Monday night game against the Cowboys the next week, leading a significant portion of the fan base to back McCoy over Griffin. Griffin came back, however, but he would hear chants of "We Want Colt" at Fed Ex Field and he would be benched in favor of McCoy in Week 13. McCoy suffered a neck injury that kept him out for the rest of the season, however, and Griffin would finish out the 2014 season with the Redskins going 4-12. Skepticism was abound about who would get the start in 2015, but everyone assumed Griffin would get one last chance to prove himself. It was shocking when Jay Gruden named Kirk Cousins the starter for Week 1, and we all know what happened from there. Griffin could only watch as the guy drafted as the insurance policy won over the fan base through the 2015 season, and in March 2016 he was released by the Redskins.
Griffin would be signed by the Browns two weeks later, and he would start their 2016 season opener, only to be placed on IR after a shoulder injury in Week 1. Griffin returned to start the last four games of the season, and led the Browns to their only win that season, but even Cleveland had seen enough of Griffin at that point. He was released in March of 2017 and he has yet to come back to the NFL.
It is unbelievable that Griffin went from being the savior of a franchise to being out of the league all within four years. Redskins fans in 2012 stated that he was worth the price the franchise paid, and they backed that sentiment up with jersey sales. Griffin's #10 jersey was the highest selling jersey that season, and it set the record for most jerseys sold in one calendar year. It is hard to forget something like that, and the ghost of RG3 still haunts the fan base to this day. Everyone wanted to believe the hype because the hype was real. For the first time in forever the Redskins had a young player that struck fear into hearts of the opponent, and they were on the cutting edge of offensive schemes. All that came crashing down in that playoff game against Seattle, and with it went Robert Griffin's career. Maybe if Griffin had shown a little more humility, if he were a little more durable, or if he could handle adversity a little bit better he may have been able to overcome and succeed with the Redskins. But that 2012 season covered up all those deficiencies, and for one season it looked like Griffin and the Redskins were going to be the next big thing.
Fun Facts: The Rams parlayed the 4 picks the Redskins gave them for Griffin into 8 picks between 2012 and 2014. Only one of those eight players (Michael Brockers) is currently on the Rams roster, and three are out of the NFL.
Out of the eight players the Rams drafted from the Griffin trade picks, only one (Janoris Jenkins) made the Pro Bowl. In comparison, the Redskins drafted four players between 2012-2014 that eventually made the Pro Bowl. They were Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, Alfred Morris, and Jordan Reed.
The Rams traded the 6th pick in 2012 to the Cowboys for the 14th and 45th pick. They subsequently traded the 45th pick to Chicago who used that pick to draft Alshon Jeffery.
The Rams traded the Redskins 22nd pick in 2013 to the Falcons who selected Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant.
Griffin's comments after the Tampa Bay game in 2014 caused him to lose face with the fan base. Kirk Cousins endeared himself to the fan base after the "You Like That" quote came after the greatest comeback in Redskins history, against Tampa Bay.
Griffin is only one of two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks to start for the Redskins. The other is Danny Wuerffel.
5 Game Winning Drives
Part 12 was about who should start the 2015 season for the Redskins. If you want to have a laugh here it is. Since Griffin was still on the roster at that point he did not get his own page. He does now.
In Robert Griffin III, Dan Snyder had finally found his Darth Vader to his Emperor Palpatine persona. Just as Vader was Palpatine's third, and most powerful, apprentice, Griffin would be the third first round quarterback selected in the Dan Snyder era. And just like Vader, Griffin came from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful individuals in his sport, only to have it all come crashing down.
Robert Griffin III was born in Okinawa, Japan. His parents were both sergeants in the U.S. Army, and for the first few years of his life he would live all over the western United States. His family would eventually settle in Copperas Cove, Texas where Griffin would have an illustrious high school athletic career. Griffin was a ranked #1 in the nation in the 400 and 110 meter hurdles as a Junior, and he amassed over 3,000 yards passing, over 2,000 yards rushing, and 73 total TD's as his high school's starting quarterback his Junior and Senior season. All of these accomplishments led him to be ranked the fourth best dual threat quarterback coming out of high school. Griffin was sought after by many schools, but he committed to Art Briles at......Houston? That's right. Briles had been the coach at Houston since 2003, but in 2007 he left to take the coaching job at Baylor and Griffin followed him. It seemed to be the beginnings of stardom as Griffin was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2008, but Griffin tore his ACL three games into his sophomore campaign in 2009 and was out for the season. He was given a medical redshirt, so his sophomore season began anew in 2010 where he led Baylor to a 7-6 record. Griffin looked like your average spread option style quarterback for his first three years. And then it happened. Baylor's high octane spread offense, coupled with the Big 12's propensity to not play defense, led Griffin to gain almost 5,000 yards of total offense and account for 47 touchdowns. Griffin would lead Baylor to a 10-3 seasons, and Griffin would win the 2011 Heisman Trophy. Griffin electrified college football that season along with Andrew Luck, and the two of them were projected to be the top 2 picks that season in the NFL Draft. The only problem was that the Rams would end up in the second pick, and they seemed to be tied to Sam Bradford. It seemed as if someone would need to pay a king's ransom to move up to get that pick, and who better to give up draft picks than the Washington Redskins.
Two days before the new league year started in 2012, the Redskins shocked the world by trading up to the second pick in the draft in order to get Griffin. They gave the Rams three first round picks (2012, 2013, 2014), and their second round pick in 2012. Whatever the cost, Dan Snyder had finally found his Chosen One, but the Redskins fan base was skeptical that Snyder had once again mortgaged the future for something that would never pan out. One game into the 2012 season and all that was put to rest. Griffin's victory in New Orleans showed that he may be worth the price, and that the read option was a viable option in the NFL with Griffin at the helm. The Griffin euphoria would culminate in Week 6 as Griffin ripped off a 76 yard touchdown run to put the game away. Redskins nation was in a frenzied state the likes of which it had never seem before, but that excitement was put to rest when the Redskins lost their next three games. The last of those games came against a 1-6 Panthers team that led Mike Shanahan to make his infamous speech about the rest of the season being about evaluating talent. And then it happened. The Redskins crushed the Eagles in their next game, and shocked the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving that saw the Redskins score 28 points in the first half. All was humming until Haloti Ngata brought all of Redskins fandom's fears to life. Griffin was hit in the knee as he was rolling over a tackle in the open field and he did not return. Kirk Cousins came on in relief to win the game in overtime, and he would win the next week in Cleveland, but all eyes were on Griffin's knee. Griffin returned with questions surrounding his hasty comeback, but all of that was put aside when he led the Redskins to two more victories and their first NFC East Championship since 1999. It was still out of mind when he put the Redskins up 14-0 against the Seahawks in their opening playoff game; and then it happened. Griffin collapsed on the field and had to be carted off to the tightly held breath of all fans at Fed Ex Field. Cousins would come on in relief, but to no avail. The Redskins would lose the game, and it was uncertain as to how long they would lose their franchise quarterback.
Despite the injury, Griffin was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, and everyone was on pins and needles about his sophomore season. Griffin's motto was "All In For Week 1 [of 2013]", but again there were questions about whether or not he was coming back too fast. Griffin did not play in any preseason games that year, but he was the starter in Week 1, and the big question was whether or not he would be able to recreate the magic of 2012. The Redskins opened up the 2013 season 1-3, and it was apparent that Griffin was not the same dynamic player he was before the injury. The read option was not functioning due to defensive players not being as afraid of Griffin getting around the edge, and it was clear that Griffin had trouble avoiding the pass rush. Griffin would lead the Redskins to another 3-5 crossroads, but the Redskins took the other path in 2013 as they lost their next five games leading to Griffin being benched. Mike Shanahan called it a precaution to not have him get injured, but controversy began to surface as Griffin threw 16 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, and he did not rush for a single touchdown in 2013. Shanahan would be shown the door after the 2013 season and Jay Gruden took over.
Gruden had to inherit Griffin who was seemingly in decline since his illustrious rookie season. Gruden had relative success in Cincinnati taking a spread quarterback in Andy Dalton and turning him into a serviceable NFL passer, and Redskins fans inferred that he was here to do the same for Griffin. Problems arose, however, when Griffin dislocated his ankle in Week 2 against Jacksonville. Kirk Cousins would win that game, but he would go 1-4 over the next five games and be benched at halftime of the fifth game against Tennessee in favor of Colt McCoy. McCoy led a game winning drive to beat the Titans, and he would win his infamous Monday night game against the Cowboys the next week, leading a significant portion of the fan base to back McCoy over Griffin. Griffin came back, however, but he would hear chants of "We Want Colt" at Fed Ex Field and he would be benched in favor of McCoy in Week 13. McCoy suffered a neck injury that kept him out for the rest of the season, however, and Griffin would finish out the 2014 season with the Redskins going 4-12. Skepticism was abound about who would get the start in 2015, but everyone assumed Griffin would get one last chance to prove himself. It was shocking when Jay Gruden named Kirk Cousins the starter for Week 1, and we all know what happened from there. Griffin could only watch as the guy drafted as the insurance policy won over the fan base through the 2015 season, and in March 2016 he was released by the Redskins.
Griffin would be signed by the Browns two weeks later, and he would start their 2016 season opener, only to be placed on IR after a shoulder injury in Week 1. Griffin returned to start the last four games of the season, and led the Browns to their only win that season, but even Cleveland had seen enough of Griffin at that point. He was released in March of 2017 and he has yet to come back to the NFL.
It is unbelievable that Griffin went from being the savior of a franchise to being out of the league all within four years. Redskins fans in 2012 stated that he was worth the price the franchise paid, and they backed that sentiment up with jersey sales. Griffin's #10 jersey was the highest selling jersey that season, and it set the record for most jerseys sold in one calendar year. It is hard to forget something like that, and the ghost of RG3 still haunts the fan base to this day. Everyone wanted to believe the hype because the hype was real. For the first time in forever the Redskins had a young player that struck fear into hearts of the opponent, and they were on the cutting edge of offensive schemes. All that came crashing down in that playoff game against Seattle, and with it went Robert Griffin's career. Maybe if Griffin had shown a little more humility, if he were a little more durable, or if he could handle adversity a little bit better he may have been able to overcome and succeed with the Redskins. But that 2012 season covered up all those deficiencies, and for one season it looked like Griffin and the Redskins were going to be the next big thing.
Fun Facts: The Rams parlayed the 4 picks the Redskins gave them for Griffin into 8 picks between 2012 and 2014. Only one of those eight players (Michael Brockers) is currently on the Rams roster, and three are out of the NFL.
Out of the eight players the Rams drafted from the Griffin trade picks, only one (Janoris Jenkins) made the Pro Bowl. In comparison, the Redskins drafted four players between 2012-2014 that eventually made the Pro Bowl. They were Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, Alfred Morris, and Jordan Reed.
The Rams traded the 6th pick in 2012 to the Cowboys for the 14th and 45th pick. They subsequently traded the 45th pick to Chicago who used that pick to draft Alshon Jeffery.
The Rams traded the Redskins 22nd pick in 2013 to the Falcons who selected Pro Bowl cornerback Desmond Trufant.
Griffin's comments after the Tampa Bay game in 2014 caused him to lose face with the fan base. Kirk Cousins endeared himself to the fan base after the "You Like That" quote came after the greatest comeback in Redskins history, against Tampa Bay.
Griffin is only one of two Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks to start for the Redskins. The other is Danny Wuerffel.
Friday, March 9, 2018
The Chronicles of Redskins Quarterbacks Part 11: The Shanahan All-Stars
John Beck ('10-'11) "Turd Sandwich"
3 starts (0-3)
3 starts (0-3)
Completion % = 60.6 (80/132)
858 yrds - 2 TD - 4 INT - 72.1
16 sacks
Rex Grossman ('10-'13) "Giant Douche"
16 starts (6-10)
Completion % = 57.4% (339/591)
4035 yrds – 23 TD - 24 INT – 74.4
34 sacks - 3 Game Winning Drives
John Beck and Rex Grossman were The Shanahan All-Stars. The two quarterbacks that the Shanahans tried to peddle on the Redskins fan base by intimating that their system was so superior that they could have anyone run it and be successful, and they were not too far off. But as the saying goes; almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. The Shanahans' system only worked as well as the talent level of their two starting quarterbacks, which they quickly found out was like voting for the new South Park School Mascot. But their talent had been fairly high at some points in their respective careers, so the Shanahans thought they could rekindle that magic.
Rex Grossman came to the Redskins with a much more storied resume. Grossman was redshirted at Florida in 1999 and won the starting job midway through the 2000 season. He would go on to throw for 9,164 yards and 77 touchdowns as a starter and lose the 2001 Heisman Trophy to Eric Crouch in one of the closest Heisman votes in history. He was drafted in the First Round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Bears, but his inexperience and injuries caused him to start only 7 games between 2003-2005. Lovie Smith named Grossman the starter for the 2006 season, and he would start all 16 games and lose to Peyton Manning and the Colts in Super Bowl XLI. The next two seasons, however, saw Grossman make only 12 starts due to injuries and poor ball security. He was released by the Bears after the 2008 season, but as luck would have it he was signed by the Texans in 2009 where his offensive coordinator was none other than Kyle Shanahan. He would spend one season with the Texans before following Kyle to Washington to back up Donovan McNabb in 2010, where he would take over for McNabb in the last three games of the season going 1-2.
John Beck's career was characterized by gaps in playing time. Beck went on his Mormon Mission after graduating high school in 1999, so he would be a true freshman at BYU at the age of 22 in 2003 and become only the second true freshman in BYU's history to start at quarterback. He would start for the Cougars every year after that attaining All-Mountain West honors along the way. In his senior season Beck led the Cougars to a 10-2 record and gave BYU it's first bowl win since 1996. He was drafted in the second round by Miami in 2007 but he would only get four starts with the Dolphins in two seasons, all of which he lost. Beck was released by the Dolphins and spent the entire 2009 season on the Ravens' bench. It looked like another year in Baltimore for Beck until the Redskins......traded?!........for John Beck in August of 2010 after Mike Shanahan was unimpressed with Colt Brennan. Beck was the third string quarterback for the entire 2010 season.
Enter 2011 with Grossman and Beck being the only quarterbacks on the Redskins roster after McNabb was unceremoniously traded, and Mike and Kyle Shanahan were ready to unleash their collective genius on the NFL. And for the first four games it was working. The Redskins went 3-1 in their first four games behind Rex Grossman, but Grossman showed his propensity for throwing bad interceptions at inopportune times that made the games closer than need be and costing the Redskins a victory against Dallas. Those interceptions caught up with Grossman after he threw four, that's right, FOUR interceptions before halftime against the Eagles in Week 6 and he was replaced by John Beck. Beck would lose that game, and the next three games, before Mike and Kyle realized they had to sit the Turd Sandwich and put the Giant Douche back in; but it didn't matter. Grossman would only win two of the next eight games and the Redskins would have yet another disappointing season.
The 2011 season was somewhat of a conundrum. The Shanahan apologists pointed to the season stats, and they did provoke some feelings that the Shanahans' system may have just been lacking a competent quarterback. As a team in 2011, the Redskins threw for 3773 yards which ranked them 14th in the NFL. They also ran for 1614 yards, of which 1489 of those yards came from four running backs. If that total came from one running back it would have been second only to Maurice Jones-Drew that season. The Shanahan detractors noted the hubris of the Shanahan's to think that this "starter by committee" on offense would work, and that we needed more focus on consistency and ball security.
Whatever the reason for the failure, after the 2011 season John Beck would be let go and sign with the Texans. He would be released in October 2012 and never be on another NFL roster having never won a single start in his NFL career. Rex Grossman would spend two more seasons as the Redskins third string quarterback, but he would never take another snap after the 2011 season. He was released by the Redskins after the 2013 season and he would follow Kyle Shanahan yet again. This time it was to Cleveland, but Grossman was cut before the season started. He is currently not on an NFL roster. The Shanahans knew they needed a consistent starter at quarterback, and all season long they had been hearing about one name that would fit the mold. One name that could turn the franchise around. One name that they had to have no matter what the cost.
Fun Fact: In 2011 the Redskins beat the eventual Super Bowl winning Giants twice in the regular season. That would be only the sixth time that happened in NFL history, and the second time the Redskins had done it. They beat the Cowboys twice in 1995 before they eventually won Super Bowl XXX.
16 sacks
Rex Grossman ('10-'13) "Giant Douche"
16 starts (6-10)
Completion % = 57.4% (339/591)
4035 yrds – 23 TD - 24 INT – 74.4
34 sacks - 3 Game Winning Drives
John Beck and Rex Grossman were The Shanahan All-Stars. The two quarterbacks that the Shanahans tried to peddle on the Redskins fan base by intimating that their system was so superior that they could have anyone run it and be successful, and they were not too far off. But as the saying goes; almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. The Shanahans' system only worked as well as the talent level of their two starting quarterbacks, which they quickly found out was like voting for the new South Park School Mascot. But their talent had been fairly high at some points in their respective careers, so the Shanahans thought they could rekindle that magic.
Rex Grossman came to the Redskins with a much more storied resume. Grossman was redshirted at Florida in 1999 and won the starting job midway through the 2000 season. He would go on to throw for 9,164 yards and 77 touchdowns as a starter and lose the 2001 Heisman Trophy to Eric Crouch in one of the closest Heisman votes in history. He was drafted in the First Round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Bears, but his inexperience and injuries caused him to start only 7 games between 2003-2005. Lovie Smith named Grossman the starter for the 2006 season, and he would start all 16 games and lose to Peyton Manning and the Colts in Super Bowl XLI. The next two seasons, however, saw Grossman make only 12 starts due to injuries and poor ball security. He was released by the Bears after the 2008 season, but as luck would have it he was signed by the Texans in 2009 where his offensive coordinator was none other than Kyle Shanahan. He would spend one season with the Texans before following Kyle to Washington to back up Donovan McNabb in 2010, where he would take over for McNabb in the last three games of the season going 1-2.
John Beck's career was characterized by gaps in playing time. Beck went on his Mormon Mission after graduating high school in 1999, so he would be a true freshman at BYU at the age of 22 in 2003 and become only the second true freshman in BYU's history to start at quarterback. He would start for the Cougars every year after that attaining All-Mountain West honors along the way. In his senior season Beck led the Cougars to a 10-2 record and gave BYU it's first bowl win since 1996. He was drafted in the second round by Miami in 2007 but he would only get four starts with the Dolphins in two seasons, all of which he lost. Beck was released by the Dolphins and spent the entire 2009 season on the Ravens' bench. It looked like another year in Baltimore for Beck until the Redskins......traded?!........for John Beck in August of 2010 after Mike Shanahan was unimpressed with Colt Brennan. Beck was the third string quarterback for the entire 2010 season.
Enter 2011 with Grossman and Beck being the only quarterbacks on the Redskins roster after McNabb was unceremoniously traded, and Mike and Kyle Shanahan were ready to unleash their collective genius on the NFL. And for the first four games it was working. The Redskins went 3-1 in their first four games behind Rex Grossman, but Grossman showed his propensity for throwing bad interceptions at inopportune times that made the games closer than need be and costing the Redskins a victory against Dallas. Those interceptions caught up with Grossman after he threw four, that's right, FOUR interceptions before halftime against the Eagles in Week 6 and he was replaced by John Beck. Beck would lose that game, and the next three games, before Mike and Kyle realized they had to sit the Turd Sandwich and put the Giant Douche back in; but it didn't matter. Grossman would only win two of the next eight games and the Redskins would have yet another disappointing season.
The 2011 season was somewhat of a conundrum. The Shanahan apologists pointed to the season stats, and they did provoke some feelings that the Shanahans' system may have just been lacking a competent quarterback. As a team in 2011, the Redskins threw for 3773 yards which ranked them 14th in the NFL. They also ran for 1614 yards, of which 1489 of those yards came from four running backs. If that total came from one running back it would have been second only to Maurice Jones-Drew that season. The Shanahan detractors noted the hubris of the Shanahan's to think that this "starter by committee" on offense would work, and that we needed more focus on consistency and ball security.
Whatever the reason for the failure, after the 2011 season John Beck would be let go and sign with the Texans. He would be released in October 2012 and never be on another NFL roster having never won a single start in his NFL career. Rex Grossman would spend two more seasons as the Redskins third string quarterback, but he would never take another snap after the 2011 season. He was released by the Redskins after the 2013 season and he would follow Kyle Shanahan yet again. This time it was to Cleveland, but Grossman was cut before the season started. He is currently not on an NFL roster. The Shanahans knew they needed a consistent starter at quarterback, and all season long they had been hearing about one name that would fit the mold. One name that could turn the franchise around. One name that they had to have no matter what the cost.
Fun Fact: In 2011 the Redskins beat the eventual Super Bowl winning Giants twice in the regular season. That would be only the sixth time that happened in NFL history, and the second time the Redskins had done it. They beat the Cowboys twice in 1995 before they eventually won Super Bowl XXX.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
The Chronicles of Redskins Quarterbacks Part 10: Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb (2010) "Batman"
13 starts (5-8)
13 starts (5-8)
Completion % = 58.3% (275/472)
3377 yrds – 14 TD - 15 INT – 77.1 – 37 sacks
2 Game Winning Drives
Out with the old and in with the older yet slightly more accomplished. When the Redskins traded for Donovan McNabb in the Spring of 2010 it spelled the end of Jason Campbell in DC, and the beginning of what most Redskins fans thought would be a harmonious relationship between McNabb and newly hired super coach Mike Shanahan. But McNabb's time in Washington was summed up by the line from the Dark Knight that said, "He is the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now". McNabb's track record was something that Redskins fans felt they deserved to have in Washington after a decade of despair and ineptitude, but their long time nemesis was not the hero Washington needed at that time. Redskins fans were so enamored with the signing that they failed to realize what they were getting when McNabb decided to take the 136 mile journey down I-95.
McNabb's career before Washington followed the career arc of Batman: An Anti-Hero whose accomplishments were accepted by the masses but never fully appreciated because of his propensity to get the job done in a sporadic, off-the-cuff, unorthodox, and dangerous manner. Just like Batman he came into a hostile city that did not want him, and openly booed him when he was drafted. They wanted Ricky Williams, as the obviously sober grown man with his face painted wearing a mock Ricky Williams Eagles Jersey mouths at the end of that clip. But McNabb would lead the Eagles to the playoffs in five of his fist six season, four straight NFC Championship games between 2001-2004, and coming within three points of defeating the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. Along the way, though, there were concerns about McNabb's decision making and propensity for throwing bad interceptions. These problems were exacerbated by the injuries McNabb would sustain over the next three seasons, causing the Eagles to draft Kevin Kolb in 2007 and putting McNabb's future in Philly in question. McNabb would stay another two years, however, and lead the Eagles to the playoffs both seasons, and lead them to another NFC Championship Game in 2008. Everything looked like it was turning around for McNabb, but then he was unexpectedly traded in the Spring of 2010 with the Eagles electing to go with Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick. Redskins fans were elated that they would have a guy who compiled a 12-7 record against them on their side, but skepticism was abound about why they Eagles would trade McNabb within their own division. The Redskins shortly found out.
The 2010 season became the search for why Donovan McNabb did not work in Washington, and the ultimate conclusion pointed to McNabb and the Shanahans not being able to get along, but for the beginning of the season it seemed to work. McNabb led the Redskins to a 4-3 record that included wins over the Cowboys and Eagles, but his passing was erratic from game to game and Skins fans never knew which McNabb would show up. Was it the one who could throw for 300 yards and beat the Packers at home, or the one who would throw for 222 yards and a late interception that cost them the game against the Colts? Was it the one who could beat the Eagles and Cowboys while throwing for 124 and 161 yards in those games, or the one who could throw for 400 yards and lose to the Texans? Redskin fans were beginning to see how frustrating it was to have McNabb at the helm, and the fissures widened during the next two games.
McNabb was benched in the last two minutes at the end of the Week 8 game against the Lions, which led to Rex Grossman fumbling his first snap that was returned for a touchdown and a myriad of explanations from the Shanahan's as to why they benched him. McNabb did not have the cardiovascular endurance to run the two minute drill. Grossman knows the two minute drill better. McNabb was told in advance he might be pulled. The Redskins endured this controversy for two weeks but ultimately McNabb was named the starter for the next game against the Eagles, and he was signed to a long term contract. Unfortunately, Michael Vick had his coming out party against the Redskins on Monday Night Football scoring 28 points in the first quarter and burying the Redskins on national television by a score of 59-28. It was one of the hardest games for any Redskins fan to watch, and it spelled the beginning of the end for Donovan McNabb. McNabb would go 1-3 in his next four games, and be benched for the last three games of the season with the Shanahans electing to go with Rex Grossman. McNabb would be traded to Minnesota after the 2010 season.
McNabb's time in Washington was tumultuous, and most of if had to do with his relationship with Mike and Kyle Shanahan. Jason Reid told the story about the reluctance of Kyle Shanahan in trading for McNabb and of Mike Shanahan's determination to reinvent McNabb, but ultimately it came down to the fact that McNabb was not what the Shanahans wanted. McNabb would spend one year in Minnesota where he would start the first six games, but be benched in favor of Christian Ponder due to rumors about his poor work ethic. He would retire after the 2011 season, but he will always be remembered for all the accomplishments he had in Philadelphia. The Redskins deserved a winner, but McNabb was not the one that they needed. The Shanahans needed someone they could mold an offense around and McNabb was clearly not going to change the way he played the position. Mike and Kyle would continue their search for their ideal quarterback, but they would not get him right away.
Fun Facts: Only five quarterbacks hav been to more conference championship games than Donovan McNabb in NFL history. They are Tom Brady, Joe Montana, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw, and Roger Staubach. McNabb is tied with Brett Favre, Ken Stabler, and Jim Kelly with five appearances.
McNabb was traded to the Vikings for a 6th round pick that became Alfred Morris.
2 Game Winning Drives
Out with the old and in with the older yet slightly more accomplished. When the Redskins traded for Donovan McNabb in the Spring of 2010 it spelled the end of Jason Campbell in DC, and the beginning of what most Redskins fans thought would be a harmonious relationship between McNabb and newly hired super coach Mike Shanahan. But McNabb's time in Washington was summed up by the line from the Dark Knight that said, "He is the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now". McNabb's track record was something that Redskins fans felt they deserved to have in Washington after a decade of despair and ineptitude, but their long time nemesis was not the hero Washington needed at that time. Redskins fans were so enamored with the signing that they failed to realize what they were getting when McNabb decided to take the 136 mile journey down I-95.
McNabb's career before Washington followed the career arc of Batman: An Anti-Hero whose accomplishments were accepted by the masses but never fully appreciated because of his propensity to get the job done in a sporadic, off-the-cuff, unorthodox, and dangerous manner. Just like Batman he came into a hostile city that did not want him, and openly booed him when he was drafted. They wanted Ricky Williams, as the obviously sober grown man with his face painted wearing a mock Ricky Williams Eagles Jersey mouths at the end of that clip. But McNabb would lead the Eagles to the playoffs in five of his fist six season, four straight NFC Championship games between 2001-2004, and coming within three points of defeating the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. Along the way, though, there were concerns about McNabb's decision making and propensity for throwing bad interceptions. These problems were exacerbated by the injuries McNabb would sustain over the next three seasons, causing the Eagles to draft Kevin Kolb in 2007 and putting McNabb's future in Philly in question. McNabb would stay another two years, however, and lead the Eagles to the playoffs both seasons, and lead them to another NFC Championship Game in 2008. Everything looked like it was turning around for McNabb, but then he was unexpectedly traded in the Spring of 2010 with the Eagles electing to go with Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick. Redskins fans were elated that they would have a guy who compiled a 12-7 record against them on their side, but skepticism was abound about why they Eagles would trade McNabb within their own division. The Redskins shortly found out.
The 2010 season became the search for why Donovan McNabb did not work in Washington, and the ultimate conclusion pointed to McNabb and the Shanahans not being able to get along, but for the beginning of the season it seemed to work. McNabb led the Redskins to a 4-3 record that included wins over the Cowboys and Eagles, but his passing was erratic from game to game and Skins fans never knew which McNabb would show up. Was it the one who could throw for 300 yards and beat the Packers at home, or the one who would throw for 222 yards and a late interception that cost them the game against the Colts? Was it the one who could beat the Eagles and Cowboys while throwing for 124 and 161 yards in those games, or the one who could throw for 400 yards and lose to the Texans? Redskin fans were beginning to see how frustrating it was to have McNabb at the helm, and the fissures widened during the next two games.
McNabb was benched in the last two minutes at the end of the Week 8 game against the Lions, which led to Rex Grossman fumbling his first snap that was returned for a touchdown and a myriad of explanations from the Shanahan's as to why they benched him. McNabb did not have the cardiovascular endurance to run the two minute drill. Grossman knows the two minute drill better. McNabb was told in advance he might be pulled. The Redskins endured this controversy for two weeks but ultimately McNabb was named the starter for the next game against the Eagles, and he was signed to a long term contract. Unfortunately, Michael Vick had his coming out party against the Redskins on Monday Night Football scoring 28 points in the first quarter and burying the Redskins on national television by a score of 59-28. It was one of the hardest games for any Redskins fan to watch, and it spelled the beginning of the end for Donovan McNabb. McNabb would go 1-3 in his next four games, and be benched for the last three games of the season with the Shanahans electing to go with Rex Grossman. McNabb would be traded to Minnesota after the 2010 season.
McNabb's time in Washington was tumultuous, and most of if had to do with his relationship with Mike and Kyle Shanahan. Jason Reid told the story about the reluctance of Kyle Shanahan in trading for McNabb and of Mike Shanahan's determination to reinvent McNabb, but ultimately it came down to the fact that McNabb was not what the Shanahans wanted. McNabb would spend one year in Minnesota where he would start the first six games, but be benched in favor of Christian Ponder due to rumors about his poor work ethic. He would retire after the 2011 season, but he will always be remembered for all the accomplishments he had in Philadelphia. The Redskins deserved a winner, but McNabb was not the one that they needed. The Shanahans needed someone they could mold an offense around and McNabb was clearly not going to change the way he played the position. Mike and Kyle would continue their search for their ideal quarterback, but they would not get him right away.
Fun Facts: Only five quarterbacks hav been to more conference championship games than Donovan McNabb in NFL history. They are Tom Brady, Joe Montana, John Elway, Terry Bradshaw, and Roger Staubach. McNabb is tied with Brett Favre, Ken Stabler, and Jim Kelly with five appearances.
McNabb was traded to the Vikings for a 6th round pick that became Alfred Morris.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
The Chronicles of Redskins Quarterbacks Part 9: Todd Collins
Todd Collins (06-09) "Quetzalcoatl"
3 starts (3-0)
Completion % = 61.7% (79/128)
1032 yrds – 5 TD - 0 INT – 100.1 – 9 sacks
SweetDCSports is giving a little lesson in Meso-American mythology. Quetzalcoatl (pronounced "Ket-zal-quatl") was a deity that was represented by a feathered serpent and was worshiped as the bringer of civilization and protector of craftsman by the Aztecs. The story goes that Quetzlcoatl brought forth humans onto this earth by collecting their bones from the underworld, and gave them the knowledge to create calendars and books. The myth states that he left the lands, but some legends state that Quetzlcoatl would return from across the ocean because he was associated with the winds and the sea. This myth fits the story of Todd Collins' Redskins story perfectly because it almost seemed as if Collins was destined to become a starter of the Washington Redskins, and his accomplishments would give every Redskins fan hope that we could comeback from 5-7 every season after that. (Destiny Side Notes: Any bolded names or phrases mean to check the Side Notes at the end of this article. Collins had so many ties to the Redskins before he came here they require their own section.)
Collins went to Michigan from 1990-1994 where he would be the starter his last two years. Collins set the Michigan record for career completion percentage (64.28%) that still stands today, and he is still one of the top 5 quarterbacks in Michigan history in many statistical categories including yards and passing efficiency. He was drafted by the Bills in 1995, and he was the guys who replaced Jim Kelly after Kelly retired in 1996. He spent the 1997 season as the Bills starter after beating out Alex Van Pelt and Billy Joe Hobert, but the Bills would replace Collins with Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie in 1998. Collins signed with the Chiefs where he would be third string behind Rich Gannon and Warren Moon. Collins did not take another snap in an NFL game until 2001 when he was the backup to Trent Green. Collins would appear in 12 games for the Chiefs between 2001-2005, but never got to start until the Redskins came calling.
Even though the Redskins made the playoffs in 2005, their offense with Mark Brunell was anemic and Snyder thought they needed an offensive mind that had not taken a decade off from football to implement a more dynamic offense. Enter Al Saunders. Saunders was tagged as the new offensive guru, but the problem was that his playbook was apparently the equivalent of a "How to Build and Sustain Your Own Nuclear Reactor" manual. Saunders felt that he needed a quarterback who knew his system and could teach the other quarterbacks how to run it. Luckily, Saunders had come from Kansas City and Todd Collins was just the guy. Collins was signed by the Redskins in 2006, but he would not see any game action until his magical 2007 season.
Campbell was the unquestioned starter in 2007, and it looked like Collins would continue to be the career backup QB after he won the role from Mark Brunell in the offseason, especially after the Redskins began the season 5-3. The Redskins, though, would lose their next three games and on November 27 Sean Taylor died in Florida. Football took a backseat to real life at that point, but the Redskins played on and lost their subsequent home game to the Bills after Joe Gibbs called two timeouts in a row that moved the Bills' final field go from 51 yards to 36 yards. Jason Campbell would injure his knee in the next game against the Bears, and all seemed lost for the 5-7 Redskins. But little did they know that Quetzlcoatl would save them.
Todd Collins would finish that game and win the next three to lead the Redskins into the playoffs for the second time in three years. The stats listed above are from the four games he played that season, and everyone was in a frenzy about the unbelievable run the Redskins had to make the playoffs and how a big part of that was due to the play of Todd Collins. The Redskins, though, would once again lose to Seattle in the playoffs in a wild game that saw the Redskins come back from down 13-0 to go up 14-13. On the ensuing kickoff, the Seahawks let the ball hit the ground at the 10 yard line and the Redskins recovered it at the Seattle 14. The Redskins had all the momentum, but they failed to even get a field goal out of that drive, and Collins would throw two pick-sixes to seal the deal for the Seahawks. Collins would stay on the Redskins' roster for the next two seasons, but he would never get another start after the playoff game in Seattle, much to the dismay of a large part of the fan base. Collins would leave the Redskins after the 2009 season, and play one more year with the Bears before retiring at the end of the 2010 season.
Collins' magic gave every Redskins fan hope that we could do it again. Collins was only here for a brief time (like Quetzlcoatl) and when the Redskins would be below .500 with four or five games remaining at the end of the season they would say "Well, Todd Collins won four games in a row, so we can do it again". Redskins fans assumed that the spirit of Todd Collins would return (like Quetzlcoatl) but it would be another 5 years before the Redskins would make a run like that again. Still, every Redskins fan who is old enough will remember that Todd Collins run forever.
NFL Side Notes: When Collins made his first start with the Redskins on Dec. 16, 2007 against the Giants he made NFL History. Collins set the record for longest time between NFL starts (10 years and 2 days) with his last NFL start being on Dec. 14, 1997.
Destiny Side Notes: Collins was the starting quarterback for Michigan when Kordell Stewart threw his famous Hail Mary pass to beat the Wolverines. The man who caught that pass? Michael Westbrook, who would be the Redskins first round draft pick later that year. Billy Joe Hobert played alongside Mark Brunell at the University of Washington, and replaced Brunell for most of the 1991 season when Brunell was injured. Collins' last start for the Bills came against Mark Brunell and the Jaguars, which would be the last start he would have as a professional until he came to Washington. Rob Johnson would replace Collins on the Bills' roster after being Mark Brunell's backup in Jacksonville. Collins replaced Mark Brunell as the Redskins' backup in 2007. not take another snap in an NFL game until 2001: In fact, Collins would only appear in one game that season and throw 4 passes. That game was against Tony Banks and the Washington Redskins. Trent Green and Rich Gannon were starters in Washington at one point before being the starter in Kansas City. Collins would be the backup for both before coming to the Redskins.
SweetDCSports is giving a little lesson in Meso-American mythology. Quetzalcoatl (pronounced "Ket-zal-quatl") was a deity that was represented by a feathered serpent and was worshiped as the bringer of civilization and protector of craftsman by the Aztecs. The story goes that Quetzlcoatl brought forth humans onto this earth by collecting their bones from the underworld, and gave them the knowledge to create calendars and books. The myth states that he left the lands, but some legends state that Quetzlcoatl would return from across the ocean because he was associated with the winds and the sea. This myth fits the story of Todd Collins' Redskins story perfectly because it almost seemed as if Collins was destined to become a starter of the Washington Redskins, and his accomplishments would give every Redskins fan hope that we could comeback from 5-7 every season after that. (Destiny Side Notes: Any bolded names or phrases mean to check the Side Notes at the end of this article. Collins had so many ties to the Redskins before he came here they require their own section.)
Collins went to Michigan from 1990-1994 where he would be the starter his last two years. Collins set the Michigan record for career completion percentage (64.28%) that still stands today, and he is still one of the top 5 quarterbacks in Michigan history in many statistical categories including yards and passing efficiency. He was drafted by the Bills in 1995, and he was the guys who replaced Jim Kelly after Kelly retired in 1996. He spent the 1997 season as the Bills starter after beating out Alex Van Pelt and Billy Joe Hobert, but the Bills would replace Collins with Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie in 1998. Collins signed with the Chiefs where he would be third string behind Rich Gannon and Warren Moon. Collins did not take another snap in an NFL game until 2001 when he was the backup to Trent Green. Collins would appear in 12 games for the Chiefs between 2001-2005, but never got to start until the Redskins came calling.
Even though the Redskins made the playoffs in 2005, their offense with Mark Brunell was anemic and Snyder thought they needed an offensive mind that had not taken a decade off from football to implement a more dynamic offense. Enter Al Saunders. Saunders was tagged as the new offensive guru, but the problem was that his playbook was apparently the equivalent of a "How to Build and Sustain Your Own Nuclear Reactor" manual. Saunders felt that he needed a quarterback who knew his system and could teach the other quarterbacks how to run it. Luckily, Saunders had come from Kansas City and Todd Collins was just the guy. Collins was signed by the Redskins in 2006, but he would not see any game action until his magical 2007 season.
Campbell was the unquestioned starter in 2007, and it looked like Collins would continue to be the career backup QB after he won the role from Mark Brunell in the offseason, especially after the Redskins began the season 5-3. The Redskins, though, would lose their next three games and on November 27 Sean Taylor died in Florida. Football took a backseat to real life at that point, but the Redskins played on and lost their subsequent home game to the Bills after Joe Gibbs called two timeouts in a row that moved the Bills' final field go from 51 yards to 36 yards. Jason Campbell would injure his knee in the next game against the Bears, and all seemed lost for the 5-7 Redskins. But little did they know that Quetzlcoatl would save them.
Todd Collins would finish that game and win the next three to lead the Redskins into the playoffs for the second time in three years. The stats listed above are from the four games he played that season, and everyone was in a frenzy about the unbelievable run the Redskins had to make the playoffs and how a big part of that was due to the play of Todd Collins. The Redskins, though, would once again lose to Seattle in the playoffs in a wild game that saw the Redskins come back from down 13-0 to go up 14-13. On the ensuing kickoff, the Seahawks let the ball hit the ground at the 10 yard line and the Redskins recovered it at the Seattle 14. The Redskins had all the momentum, but they failed to even get a field goal out of that drive, and Collins would throw two pick-sixes to seal the deal for the Seahawks. Collins would stay on the Redskins' roster for the next two seasons, but he would never get another start after the playoff game in Seattle, much to the dismay of a large part of the fan base. Collins would leave the Redskins after the 2009 season, and play one more year with the Bears before retiring at the end of the 2010 season.
Collins' magic gave every Redskins fan hope that we could do it again. Collins was only here for a brief time (like Quetzlcoatl) and when the Redskins would be below .500 with four or five games remaining at the end of the season they would say "Well, Todd Collins won four games in a row, so we can do it again". Redskins fans assumed that the spirit of Todd Collins would return (like Quetzlcoatl) but it would be another 5 years before the Redskins would make a run like that again. Still, every Redskins fan who is old enough will remember that Todd Collins run forever.
NFL Side Notes: When Collins made his first start with the Redskins on Dec. 16, 2007 against the Giants he made NFL History. Collins set the record for longest time between NFL starts (10 years and 2 days) with his last NFL start being on Dec. 14, 1997.
Destiny Side Notes: Collins was the starting quarterback for Michigan when Kordell Stewart threw his famous Hail Mary pass to beat the Wolverines. The man who caught that pass? Michael Westbrook, who would be the Redskins first round draft pick later that year. Billy Joe Hobert played alongside Mark Brunell at the University of Washington, and replaced Brunell for most of the 1991 season when Brunell was injured. Collins' last start for the Bills came against Mark Brunell and the Jaguars, which would be the last start he would have as a professional until he came to Washington. Rob Johnson would replace Collins on the Bills' roster after being Mark Brunell's backup in Jacksonville. Collins replaced Mark Brunell as the Redskins' backup in 2007. not take another snap in an NFL game until 2001: In fact, Collins would only appear in one game that season and throw 4 passes. That game was against Tony Banks and the Washington Redskins. Trent Green and Rich Gannon were starters in Washington at one point before being the starter in Kansas City. Collins would be the backup for both before coming to the Redskins.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
The Chronicles of Redskins Quarterbacks Part 8: Jason Campbell
Jason Campbell (04-07) “Count Dooku" aka "Darth Tyranus"
52 starts (20-32)
Completion % = 61.2% (1002/1637)
10860 yrds – 55 TD - 38 INT – 82.3 – 109 sacks
7 Game Winning Drives
The second hand picked apprentice to Palpatine was Count Dooku, whom he gave the title of Darth Tyranus when he turned to the Dark Side. Jason Campbell was the second first round quarterback the Redskins drafted in the Dan Snyder era, and just like Count Dooku he came into his job with an impressive resume. Campbell was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2004 as he led the Auburn Tigers to an undefeated regular season. Campbell would lead the SEC that year in yards per attempt, completion percentage, and in number of first round NFL running back talent playing behind him in Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams. Unfortunately for Campbell, Auburn did not have as high of a pedigree at that time as USC or Oklahoma, both of whom also went undefeated in the regular season, and the BCS being what it was gave Oklahoma another chance to lose in the national championship game. Auburn was relegated to the Sugar Bowl where they beat Virginia Tech and Campbell was named MVP. Despite missing his chance to be a National Champion, Campbell entered the 2005 NFL Draft as a three year starting quarterback who had played in 48 games in his college career and had not lost a game in over a year. Still, no one could have predicted what was going to happen to him in the Draft.
Gibbs and Snyder decided that Patrick Ramsey (Darth Maul) was not cutting the mustard and Snyder needed a new dark apprentice. And hey, why not trade away three draft picks to get him because that is kind of the Redskins' thing. You may have forgotten that after taking Carlos Rogers with the ninth pick the Redskins traded up to the 25th pick to acquire Campbell, for which they gave up their third round pick in 2005 and their first and fourth round pick in 2006 (The Alex Smith deal is not looking so bad now, is it?). A hefty price for a quarterback that was efficient but who had two of the best running backs in the nation helping him to that undefeated season, and a quarterback who had a different offensive coordinator every year at Auburn. Still, Campbell had upside to him and Snyder trusted that Joe Gibbs could get it out of him. The problem for Campbell, though, was that he would have to wait his turn.
The 2005 season was the pinnacle of the Brunell vs. Ramsey controversy, so Campbell would not see any playing time that year as Brunell short-armed his way to the playoffs. The next year saw the end of Brunell's tenure as the starter, and Campbell would take over as starter for the last seven games of the season going 2-5. Campbell showed promise that Snyder had finally made a wise choice in his quarterbacking decision, and it gave the fan base hope that 2007 would be a banner year for the Redskins. For Campbell, it almost was over before it started when he injured his knee in the preseason. Campbell would be able to start the regular season, and he led the team to an impressive 5-3 record. The Redskins would lose their next four games, and the season looked over when Campbell went down again with a knee injury against the Bears that would keep him out the rest of the season. The Redskins, though, would win that game and the next three games to once again miraculously make the playoffs on the back of Todd Collins, but the Seattle Seahawks would send the Redskins home yet again in the first round. Things looked bleak for Jason Campbell, especially when Joe Gibbs called it quits after the 2007 season, but an unexpected coaching choice led to some unexpected short term results for Campbell and the Redskins.
Jim Zorn came on as the Redskins' new offensive coordinator after turning Matt Hasselbeck into one of the premier passers in the league in Seattle, and Snyder figured he could do the same with Jason Campbell. What Snyder did not expect was that no one wanted to be head coach for that Redskins team, so he promoted Zorn before he even took the field. Skepticism ran wild in that offseason, but all of that was put to rest when the Redskins began the season 6-2 and Campbell was being touted as one of the better passers in the league. Campbell would not throw one interception in those eight games, and Zorn's version of the West Coast offense was sending HTTR Nation into a frenzy. What goes up must come down, though, and Zorn was unable to adapt his offensive play calling once defenses made adjustments to stop it. The Redskins would go 2-6 in their last eight games with Campbell only managing to throw 5 TD's in those eight games. He still managed to throw for over 3,000 yards in 2008, but the Redskins would miss the playoffs after an unbelievable start to the season. The depressing end of the 2008 season would bleed over into the 2009 season as the Redskins actively looked to sign Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez to replace Jason Campbell, but the Redskins were unsuccessful in that arena and they rolled with Campbell for a second straight year. While Campbell would have the best statistical season of his career in 2009 starting all 16 games and throwing for over 3,600 yards and 20 TD's, the Redskins would finish a lowly 4-12 with Zorn being stripped of all meaningful authority after it was clear that the players were not responding to pretty much anything Zorn said. The Redskins would do something that season that will live on forever, but it would not be Jim Zorn or Jason Campbell. Zorn was fired in favor of Mike Shanahan, and Campbell was traded after the Redskins finally found a replacement for him in Donovan McNabb.
Campbell became the starter in Oakland in 2010, and he would stay there for one more season before becoming a journeyman backup. The next three seasons saw Campbell in Chicago, Cleveland (where he would start eight games), and Cincinnati before retiring after the 2014 season. Campbell will go down as getting somewhat of a raw deal in Washington. Aside from that miraculous first half of 2008, his teams were not very good and he could never find consistency within the organization or any luck with being able to prove himself a winner in the NFL. He was on both teams that made the playoffs in the mid 2000's, but he did not take a snap in either of those appearances. Campbell threw for the 6th most passing yards in Redskins history, but two of his seasons were ones where the head coach left or was fired at the end of the season due to poor performances. The only consistency Campbell could find was in his starting role. Campbell started every game for the Redskins between 2008-2009, making him one of only six Redskin quarterbacks in 83 years who started every game for two or more consecutive seasons. The others are Mark Rypien, Joe Theismann, Sonny Jurgensen, Norm Snead, and Kirk Cousins. Jason Campbell carried the franchise for the four seasons that he was a starter, and he will be remembered for his consistency and that magical first half of the 2008 season.
Coincidental Side Notes: Denver would turn the 2006 fourth round pick they got from the Redskins in the trade up to get Jason Campbell into Brandon Marshall. It was Mike Shanahan who made that trade, and he would ultimately execute the trade that sent Jason Campbell to Oakland once he became the head coach in Washington.
Green Bay selected Aaron Rodgers one spot ahead of Washington selecting Jason Campbell in the 2005 Draft. I'll let George Costanza speak for everyone on that one.
Jason Campbell is one of five quarterbacks to start for the Redskins who were also named SEC player of the year while in college. The others are Shane Matthews, Heath Shuler, Danny Wuerffel, and Rex Grossman.
Once Campbell left Washington he would go on a reunion tour. He would play for three former Redskin coaches; Al Saunders who was the OC in Oakland, Norv Turner who was his OC in Cleveland, and Marvin Lewis who was the head coach in Cincinnati. In Chicago he backed up Jay Cutler whom he beat twice in 2002 and 2003 when Cutler played for Vanderbilt.
7 Game Winning Drives
The second hand picked apprentice to Palpatine was Count Dooku, whom he gave the title of Darth Tyranus when he turned to the Dark Side. Jason Campbell was the second first round quarterback the Redskins drafted in the Dan Snyder era, and just like Count Dooku he came into his job with an impressive resume. Campbell was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2004 as he led the Auburn Tigers to an undefeated regular season. Campbell would lead the SEC that year in yards per attempt, completion percentage, and in number of first round NFL running back talent playing behind him in Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams. Unfortunately for Campbell, Auburn did not have as high of a pedigree at that time as USC or Oklahoma, both of whom also went undefeated in the regular season, and the BCS being what it was gave Oklahoma another chance to lose in the national championship game. Auburn was relegated to the Sugar Bowl where they beat Virginia Tech and Campbell was named MVP. Despite missing his chance to be a National Champion, Campbell entered the 2005 NFL Draft as a three year starting quarterback who had played in 48 games in his college career and had not lost a game in over a year. Still, no one could have predicted what was going to happen to him in the Draft.
Gibbs and Snyder decided that Patrick Ramsey (Darth Maul) was not cutting the mustard and Snyder needed a new dark apprentice. And hey, why not trade away three draft picks to get him because that is kind of the Redskins' thing. You may have forgotten that after taking Carlos Rogers with the ninth pick the Redskins traded up to the 25th pick to acquire Campbell, for which they gave up their third round pick in 2005 and their first and fourth round pick in 2006 (The Alex Smith deal is not looking so bad now, is it?). A hefty price for a quarterback that was efficient but who had two of the best running backs in the nation helping him to that undefeated season, and a quarterback who had a different offensive coordinator every year at Auburn. Still, Campbell had upside to him and Snyder trusted that Joe Gibbs could get it out of him. The problem for Campbell, though, was that he would have to wait his turn.
The 2005 season was the pinnacle of the Brunell vs. Ramsey controversy, so Campbell would not see any playing time that year as Brunell short-armed his way to the playoffs. The next year saw the end of Brunell's tenure as the starter, and Campbell would take over as starter for the last seven games of the season going 2-5. Campbell showed promise that Snyder had finally made a wise choice in his quarterbacking decision, and it gave the fan base hope that 2007 would be a banner year for the Redskins. For Campbell, it almost was over before it started when he injured his knee in the preseason. Campbell would be able to start the regular season, and he led the team to an impressive 5-3 record. The Redskins would lose their next four games, and the season looked over when Campbell went down again with a knee injury against the Bears that would keep him out the rest of the season. The Redskins, though, would win that game and the next three games to once again miraculously make the playoffs on the back of Todd Collins, but the Seattle Seahawks would send the Redskins home yet again in the first round. Things looked bleak for Jason Campbell, especially when Joe Gibbs called it quits after the 2007 season, but an unexpected coaching choice led to some unexpected short term results for Campbell and the Redskins.
Jim Zorn came on as the Redskins' new offensive coordinator after turning Matt Hasselbeck into one of the premier passers in the league in Seattle, and Snyder figured he could do the same with Jason Campbell. What Snyder did not expect was that no one wanted to be head coach for that Redskins team, so he promoted Zorn before he even took the field. Skepticism ran wild in that offseason, but all of that was put to rest when the Redskins began the season 6-2 and Campbell was being touted as one of the better passers in the league. Campbell would not throw one interception in those eight games, and Zorn's version of the West Coast offense was sending HTTR Nation into a frenzy. What goes up must come down, though, and Zorn was unable to adapt his offensive play calling once defenses made adjustments to stop it. The Redskins would go 2-6 in their last eight games with Campbell only managing to throw 5 TD's in those eight games. He still managed to throw for over 3,000 yards in 2008, but the Redskins would miss the playoffs after an unbelievable start to the season. The depressing end of the 2008 season would bleed over into the 2009 season as the Redskins actively looked to sign Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez to replace Jason Campbell, but the Redskins were unsuccessful in that arena and they rolled with Campbell for a second straight year. While Campbell would have the best statistical season of his career in 2009 starting all 16 games and throwing for over 3,600 yards and 20 TD's, the Redskins would finish a lowly 4-12 with Zorn being stripped of all meaningful authority after it was clear that the players were not responding to pretty much anything Zorn said. The Redskins would do something that season that will live on forever, but it would not be Jim Zorn or Jason Campbell. Zorn was fired in favor of Mike Shanahan, and Campbell was traded after the Redskins finally found a replacement for him in Donovan McNabb.
Campbell became the starter in Oakland in 2010, and he would stay there for one more season before becoming a journeyman backup. The next three seasons saw Campbell in Chicago, Cleveland (where he would start eight games), and Cincinnati before retiring after the 2014 season. Campbell will go down as getting somewhat of a raw deal in Washington. Aside from that miraculous first half of 2008, his teams were not very good and he could never find consistency within the organization or any luck with being able to prove himself a winner in the NFL. He was on both teams that made the playoffs in the mid 2000's, but he did not take a snap in either of those appearances. Campbell threw for the 6th most passing yards in Redskins history, but two of his seasons were ones where the head coach left or was fired at the end of the season due to poor performances. The only consistency Campbell could find was in his starting role. Campbell started every game for the Redskins between 2008-2009, making him one of only six Redskin quarterbacks in 83 years who started every game for two or more consecutive seasons. The others are Mark Rypien, Joe Theismann, Sonny Jurgensen, Norm Snead, and Kirk Cousins. Jason Campbell carried the franchise for the four seasons that he was a starter, and he will be remembered for his consistency and that magical first half of the 2008 season.
Coincidental Side Notes: Denver would turn the 2006 fourth round pick they got from the Redskins in the trade up to get Jason Campbell into Brandon Marshall. It was Mike Shanahan who made that trade, and he would ultimately execute the trade that sent Jason Campbell to Oakland once he became the head coach in Washington.
Green Bay selected Aaron Rodgers one spot ahead of Washington selecting Jason Campbell in the 2005 Draft. I'll let George Costanza speak for everyone on that one.
Jason Campbell is one of five quarterbacks to start for the Redskins who were also named SEC player of the year while in college. The others are Shane Matthews, Heath Shuler, Danny Wuerffel, and Rex Grossman.
Once Campbell left Washington he would go on a reunion tour. He would play for three former Redskin coaches; Al Saunders who was the OC in Oakland, Norv Turner who was his OC in Cleveland, and Marvin Lewis who was the head coach in Cincinnati. In Chicago he backed up Jay Cutler whom he beat twice in 2002 and 2003 when Cutler played for Vanderbilt.
Saturday, March 3, 2018
The Chronicles of Redskins Quarterbacks Part 7: Mark Brunell
Mark Brunell (04-07) “The Checkdown Champion"
33 starts (15-18)
Completion % = 57.0% (542/951)
6033 yrds – 38 TD - 20 INT – 80.6 – 54 sacks
5 Game Winning Drives
Dan Snyder's first foray into trading for an older starting quarterback whose old team seemed too eager to try and get something in return for him. Mark Brunell was the original Brett Favre backup to make something of himself. People may forget that he was drafted by Green Bay in 1993 and spent two years as Favre's backup before the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars traded for him in 1995. Brunell would make the playoffs in 4 out of his first 5 years in Jacksonville, and he even took the Jags to the AFC Championship Game. TWICE. Once in 1996 where he lost the Apple Cup Rematch (See reference below) to Drew Bledsoe and the Patriots, and again in 1999 to the Tennessee Titans. The turn of the millennium, however, saw a turn in Brunell's fortunes in Jacksonville. Although he started all but 2 games for the Jags between 2000-2002, all of those were losing seasons and by 2003 the Jags had drafted for the future in Byron Leftwich. Brunell would start only 3 games in 2003, but lucky for him the perfect storm was brewing 700 miles to the North.
The 2004 season for the Washington Redskins saw the return of the Burgundy and Gold Messiah. Joe Gibbs had finally returned to save the franchise from the depths of despair, and the first player he coveted was Mark Brunell. While there were rumors that Jacksonville was going to cut Brunell, there were too many potential suitors for his services for Gibbs and Snyder's liking so they gave up a third round pick for the 11 year veteran (sound familiar?). Brunell was tagged as being the savvy veteran Yin to Patrick Ramsey's reckless interception throwing Yang, but what the Redskins got was a quarterback controversy between their young quarterback that was drafted by the team but not by the coach and the "Checkdown Champion".
Brunell vs. Ramsey was a big thing in 2004 and for good reason. Brunell got the start over Ramsey who had figured he had proven himself over the past two seasons despite being injured for the last half of the 2003 season. Brunell, however, would be benched mid season due to a nagging hamstring injury and Ramsey would start the last 7 games in 2004. Both were able to only win three games each in 2004, but Ramsey's wins were the three highest scoring games of the season for the Redskins and the offense did not seem as dynamic with Brunell at the helm. This would lead to Ramsey getting the start in 2005, but Ramsey would be injured in the first game of the season against the Bears and Brunell took advantage of the situation. The next week would be the famed "Santana Moss Cowboys Game" where Brunell seemingly threw passes in the dirt for 56 minutes until connecting with Moss on passes of 39 and 70 yards in the last four minutes to win the game in Dallas. HTTR nation was jacked up, but their admirations would wax and wane their way to an eventual 5-6 record after Week 12 with the season looking lost yet again. Brunell, however, would channel some mid 90's magic and win the last 5 games of the season to secure the Redskins' first playoff berth in 6 years. Brunell would actually beat the Buccaneers in the first round, but lose The Brett Favre Backup Bowl (see reference below) to Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks in the second round. The luster of that 2005 run would not last, however, and in 2006 Brunell was benched in favor of Jason Campbell after going 3-6 in the first nine games. Brunell would stay on the Redskins roster through the 2007 season, but he would never take another snap for the Redskins after his benching midway through the 2006 season.
Brunell would leave the Redskins in 2008 and go on to back up Drew Brees in New Orleans for the next two seasons. He even got a Super Bowl Ring in 2010 with the Saints. In 2010 he signed with the Jets to back up Mark Sanchez, and he would stay there until the end of the 2011 season. His career officially ended in 2012. Brunell's time in Washington will always be remembered for the Dallas win, the improbable five game winning streak to make the playoffs, and for his propensity for throwing the checkdown pass that made him "The Checkdown Champion" here in DC. Yes, he benefitted from having a stout defense in 2004 and 2005, but whatever you may think of his Redskins career Brunell is the only quarterback other than Brad Johnson to win a playoff game in the Dan Snyder era.
Fun Facts: Mark Brunell set an NFL record at the time for most consecutive completions in a single game (22) with the Redskins in 2006 against the Houston Texans. The only other quarterback to complete more passes in a row was Donovan McNabb in 2004, but his was over a two game span.
Apple Cup Rematch: This is a reference to the fact that Mark Brunell and Drew Bledsoe played each other three times in college in the annual Apple Cup Game played between Washington and Washington State. Brunell led Washington to two victories over Bledsoe and the Cougars between 1990-1992.
Brett Favre Backup Bowl: Remember that both Mark Brunell and Matt Hasselbeck had backed up Brett Favre in Green Bay at one point in their careers. Even more coincidental was the fact that Mike Holmgren had drafted both quarterbacks while he was the head coach of Green Bay, and he was the coach for the Seahawks in their playoff meeting with Brunell and the Redskins.
5 Game Winning Drives
Dan Snyder's first foray into trading for an older starting quarterback whose old team seemed too eager to try and get something in return for him. Mark Brunell was the original Brett Favre backup to make something of himself. People may forget that he was drafted by Green Bay in 1993 and spent two years as Favre's backup before the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars traded for him in 1995. Brunell would make the playoffs in 4 out of his first 5 years in Jacksonville, and he even took the Jags to the AFC Championship Game. TWICE. Once in 1996 where he lost the Apple Cup Rematch (See reference below) to Drew Bledsoe and the Patriots, and again in 1999 to the Tennessee Titans. The turn of the millennium, however, saw a turn in Brunell's fortunes in Jacksonville. Although he started all but 2 games for the Jags between 2000-2002, all of those were losing seasons and by 2003 the Jags had drafted for the future in Byron Leftwich. Brunell would start only 3 games in 2003, but lucky for him the perfect storm was brewing 700 miles to the North.
The 2004 season for the Washington Redskins saw the return of the Burgundy and Gold Messiah. Joe Gibbs had finally returned to save the franchise from the depths of despair, and the first player he coveted was Mark Brunell. While there were rumors that Jacksonville was going to cut Brunell, there were too many potential suitors for his services for Gibbs and Snyder's liking so they gave up a third round pick for the 11 year veteran (sound familiar?). Brunell was tagged as being the savvy veteran Yin to Patrick Ramsey's reckless interception throwing Yang, but what the Redskins got was a quarterback controversy between their young quarterback that was drafted by the team but not by the coach and the "Checkdown Champion".
Brunell vs. Ramsey was a big thing in 2004 and for good reason. Brunell got the start over Ramsey who had figured he had proven himself over the past two seasons despite being injured for the last half of the 2003 season. Brunell, however, would be benched mid season due to a nagging hamstring injury and Ramsey would start the last 7 games in 2004. Both were able to only win three games each in 2004, but Ramsey's wins were the three highest scoring games of the season for the Redskins and the offense did not seem as dynamic with Brunell at the helm. This would lead to Ramsey getting the start in 2005, but Ramsey would be injured in the first game of the season against the Bears and Brunell took advantage of the situation. The next week would be the famed "Santana Moss Cowboys Game" where Brunell seemingly threw passes in the dirt for 56 minutes until connecting with Moss on passes of 39 and 70 yards in the last four minutes to win the game in Dallas. HTTR nation was jacked up, but their admirations would wax and wane their way to an eventual 5-6 record after Week 12 with the season looking lost yet again. Brunell, however, would channel some mid 90's magic and win the last 5 games of the season to secure the Redskins' first playoff berth in 6 years. Brunell would actually beat the Buccaneers in the first round, but lose The Brett Favre Backup Bowl (see reference below) to Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks in the second round. The luster of that 2005 run would not last, however, and in 2006 Brunell was benched in favor of Jason Campbell after going 3-6 in the first nine games. Brunell would stay on the Redskins roster through the 2007 season, but he would never take another snap for the Redskins after his benching midway through the 2006 season.
Brunell would leave the Redskins in 2008 and go on to back up Drew Brees in New Orleans for the next two seasons. He even got a Super Bowl Ring in 2010 with the Saints. In 2010 he signed with the Jets to back up Mark Sanchez, and he would stay there until the end of the 2011 season. His career officially ended in 2012. Brunell's time in Washington will always be remembered for the Dallas win, the improbable five game winning streak to make the playoffs, and for his propensity for throwing the checkdown pass that made him "The Checkdown Champion" here in DC. Yes, he benefitted from having a stout defense in 2004 and 2005, but whatever you may think of his Redskins career Brunell is the only quarterback other than Brad Johnson to win a playoff game in the Dan Snyder era.
Fun Facts: Mark Brunell set an NFL record at the time for most consecutive completions in a single game (22) with the Redskins in 2006 against the Houston Texans. The only other quarterback to complete more passes in a row was Donovan McNabb in 2004, but his was over a two game span.
Apple Cup Rematch: This is a reference to the fact that Mark Brunell and Drew Bledsoe played each other three times in college in the annual Apple Cup Game played between Washington and Washington State. Brunell led Washington to two victories over Bledsoe and the Cougars between 1990-1992.
Brett Favre Backup Bowl: Remember that both Mark Brunell and Matt Hasselbeck had backed up Brett Favre in Green Bay at one point in their careers. Even more coincidental was the fact that Mike Holmgren had drafted both quarterbacks while he was the head coach of Green Bay, and he was the coach for the Seahawks in their playoff meeting with Brunell and the Redskins.
Friday, March 2, 2018
The Chronicles of Redskins Quarterbacks Part 6: Tim Hasselbeck
Tim Hasselbeck (03-04) “Elizabeth's Husband”
5 starts (1-4)
Completion % = 53.7% (95/177)
1012 yrds – 5 TD - 7 INT – 63.6 – 9 sacks
Matt's brother. Elizabeth's husband. Poor Tim Hasselbeck could never be his own person as a football player. He grew up in Massachusetts where he was an All-American high school quarterback. He attended Boston College where he spent his first two seasons backing up his older brother Matt. He finally got his shot as a redshirt junior in 1999, and he would go 15-9 as the Golden Eagle's starter over the next two seasons. The Bills would sign him as an undrafted free agent in 2001, but Hasselbeck would find himself on Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad in 2002. It was at this time that his brother Matt was making rumblings in Seattle after most people acknowledged that he had taken the starting role from Trent Dilfer and looked to be the quarterback of the future in Seattle (which he was). Dan Snyder took one look at Tim Hasselbeck's resume and said, "Hey, Matt Hasselbeck is kicking ass in Seattle after being traded out of obscurity in Green Bay. Surely his brother can do the same thing for us. We need to sign him.", and sign him he did.
Tim Hasselbeck came to Washington in 2003 in the aftermath of the Shane Matthews/Danny Wuerffel debacle, from which Patrick Ramsey came out as the unquestioned starter. Ramsey would start the season 3-1, but he would only go 1-6 over the next seven games, and he would leave the Miami game with a bruised foot that kept him out the rest of the season. It was Tim Hasselbeck's time to shine, but he could only muster one win against the Giants in his five starts, and he actually put up a 0.0 quarterback rating in a 27-0 loss to the Cowboys in Week 15. His line in that game was as follows: 6-26 for 56 yards and 4 interceptions. He played the entire game without anyone else taking a snap.
Despite his poor performance, Hasselbeck actually stayed on as a backup in Washington for one more season, but he would never see the field again for the Burgundy and Gold. He played the next two seasons as Eli Manning's backup in New York, and he would end his playing career with the Cardinals in 2007 appearing in only one game that year. During all this time he was better known for his wife's accomplishments on TV, but he now has carved out a nice little niche for himself as an ESPN Fantasy Football Analyst. Kudos to Tim for reinventing himself as a TV personality and finally stepping out of his wife's shadow, but we will always remember him in Washington as the husband of that woman on The View.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
The Chronicles of Redskins Quarterbacks Part 5: The Florida Gators Reunion Tour
"Sugar" Shane Matthews (02)
7 starts (3-4)
Danny Wuerffel (02) aka "Danny Woeful"
4 starts (2-2)
Completion % = 63.0% (58/92)
719 yrds – 3 TD - 6 INT – 70.9 –11 sacks
Steve Spurrier was the new game in town in 2002. The Redskins' 70th Anniversary season was set to go off with a bang once Spurrier's "Fun 'N Gun" offense was unleashed on the league. The only problem was that there were no quarterbacks on the 2002 roster that had played in such a system, but Spurrier decided to get the band back together for one more go 'round by luring Shane Matthews and Danny Wuerffel to Washington.
Both Matthews and Wuerffel played at Florida under Steve Spurrier. Matthews started for the Gators from 1990-1992. He led the SEC in passing in all three years as a starter, and he led the Gators to their first ever SEC Championship in 1991. Wuerffel, though, would take the Gators to the next level. Wuerffel would be a four year starter and set countless school and conference records during his Florida career, culminating in 1996 with a National Championship for the Gators and a Heisman Trophy for Danny Wuerffel. The NFL, however, was not so kind to these Gator Boys.
Matthews was signed by the Bears in 1993, but he would not even play in a game until 1996. The next two seasons saw Matthews back on the bench in Carolina where he never took one snap in those two season. Luckily for Matthews the Bears came calling again in 1999, and he would start in 15 games for the Bears from 1999-2001 going 8-7. If Wuerffel had the more decorated college career, he had it harder in the pros. Drafted by the Saints in the 4th round in 1997, Wuerffel would only start in 6 games for the Saints between 1997-1999. He would dress in only 2 more games over the next 2 seasons for the Packers and Bears, but he would win the NFL Europe Championship in 2000 for the Rein Fire. In 2002, though, the Ole Ball Coach came calling and the stage was set for the Florida Gators Reunion Tour 2002.
Matthews was the starter at the beginning of the season, but was pulled by Spurrier in the third game against the 49ers in favor of Wuerffel. Wuerffel made his first NFL start in 4 years the next week against the Titans, but he would only last one series due to a shoulder injury. Patrick Ramsey came on in relief and won the game, but the credit for the win goes to Wuerffel because he was the official starter. From that point on it was quarterbacking medley that would see Matthews return, only to be replaced by Wuerffel again and ultimately both would be replaced by Ramsey who started the last 4 games of the season.
Spurrier should get some credit for somehow going 7-9 in a season where his quarterbacks were going through a baseball pitching rotation. The starts by game number are as follows: Matthews games 1-3, Wuerffel game 4, Ramsey games 5-6, Matthews games 7-10, Wuerffel games 11-12, Ramsey games 13-16. The "Matthews-Wuerffel-Ramsey" rotation went through two full cycles in 2002, but by the end of the season the Reunion Tour had ended. Danny Wuerffel retired from the NFL after that season and Matthews left for Cincinnati. He would retire in 2005 after two season with the Bills, but he came back for a swan song with the Dolphins in late 2006 to fill a roster spot left open by an injured Daunte Culpepper. Matthews would retire for good in March 2007. Both players' last NFL start came with the Redskins on The Florida Gators Reunion Tour, and Redskins fans will cherish those memories for a lifetime.
Fun Fact Side Notes: Danny Wuerffel was the first Heisman Trophy winning quarterback to start for the Redskins in franchise history.
In Shane Matthews' three wins for the Redskins he beat Peyton Manning, Jake Plummer, and Matt Hasselbeck. In Danny Wuerffel's two wins he beat Steve McNair and Kurt Warner, although he did not throw one touchdown pass in either of those games.
7 starts (3-4)
Completion % = 52.3% (124/237)
1251 yrds – 11 TD - 6 INT – 72.6 –
9 sacks
1251 yrds – 11 TD - 6 INT – 72.6 –
9 sacks
Danny Wuerffel (02) aka "Danny Woeful"
4 starts (2-2)
Completion % = 63.0% (58/92)
719 yrds – 3 TD - 6 INT – 70.9 –11 sacks
Steve Spurrier was the new game in town in 2002. The Redskins' 70th Anniversary season was set to go off with a bang once Spurrier's "Fun 'N Gun" offense was unleashed on the league. The only problem was that there were no quarterbacks on the 2002 roster that had played in such a system, but Spurrier decided to get the band back together for one more go 'round by luring Shane Matthews and Danny Wuerffel to Washington.
Both Matthews and Wuerffel played at Florida under Steve Spurrier. Matthews started for the Gators from 1990-1992. He led the SEC in passing in all three years as a starter, and he led the Gators to their first ever SEC Championship in 1991. Wuerffel, though, would take the Gators to the next level. Wuerffel would be a four year starter and set countless school and conference records during his Florida career, culminating in 1996 with a National Championship for the Gators and a Heisman Trophy for Danny Wuerffel. The NFL, however, was not so kind to these Gator Boys.
Matthews was signed by the Bears in 1993, but he would not even play in a game until 1996. The next two seasons saw Matthews back on the bench in Carolina where he never took one snap in those two season. Luckily for Matthews the Bears came calling again in 1999, and he would start in 15 games for the Bears from 1999-2001 going 8-7. If Wuerffel had the more decorated college career, he had it harder in the pros. Drafted by the Saints in the 4th round in 1997, Wuerffel would only start in 6 games for the Saints between 1997-1999. He would dress in only 2 more games over the next 2 seasons for the Packers and Bears, but he would win the NFL Europe Championship in 2000 for the Rein Fire. In 2002, though, the Ole Ball Coach came calling and the stage was set for the Florida Gators Reunion Tour 2002.
Matthews was the starter at the beginning of the season, but was pulled by Spurrier in the third game against the 49ers in favor of Wuerffel. Wuerffel made his first NFL start in 4 years the next week against the Titans, but he would only last one series due to a shoulder injury. Patrick Ramsey came on in relief and won the game, but the credit for the win goes to Wuerffel because he was the official starter. From that point on it was quarterbacking medley that would see Matthews return, only to be replaced by Wuerffel again and ultimately both would be replaced by Ramsey who started the last 4 games of the season.
Spurrier should get some credit for somehow going 7-9 in a season where his quarterbacks were going through a baseball pitching rotation. The starts by game number are as follows: Matthews games 1-3, Wuerffel game 4, Ramsey games 5-6, Matthews games 7-10, Wuerffel games 11-12, Ramsey games 13-16. The "Matthews-Wuerffel-Ramsey" rotation went through two full cycles in 2002, but by the end of the season the Reunion Tour had ended. Danny Wuerffel retired from the NFL after that season and Matthews left for Cincinnati. He would retire in 2005 after two season with the Bills, but he came back for a swan song with the Dolphins in late 2006 to fill a roster spot left open by an injured Daunte Culpepper. Matthews would retire for good in March 2007. Both players' last NFL start came with the Redskins on The Florida Gators Reunion Tour, and Redskins fans will cherish those memories for a lifetime.
Fun Fact Side Notes: Danny Wuerffel was the first Heisman Trophy winning quarterback to start for the Redskins in franchise history.
In Shane Matthews' three wins for the Redskins he beat Peyton Manning, Jake Plummer, and Matt Hasselbeck. In Danny Wuerffel's two wins he beat Steve McNair and Kurt Warner, although he did not throw one touchdown pass in either of those games.
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
The Chronicles of Redskins Quarterbacks Part 4: Patrick Ramsey
Patrick Ramsey (02-05) “Darth Maul”
Ramsey came to the Redskins with an impressive resume. A Louisiana high school state champion javelin thrower, Ramsey would play for the Tulane Green Wave where he would lead the third best passing offense in the nation in 2000. But just like my man says in the Sandlot, “It’s easy when you play against a bunch of rejects”. Conference USA was not exactly a Murderer’s Row of defensive prowess, and there were concerns about his decision making and propensity for throwing bad interceptions, but Snyder had a good feeling that the Ole Ball Coach could mold him into a winner. Ramsey’s first season with the Redskins, however, was fractured by having to endure the “Florida Gators Reunion Tour” as he split time with Shane Matthews and Danny Wuerffel. In 2003 he was one of the better statistical QB’s in the NFL, but that also included being one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the league. He would be sacked a total of 30 times in 12 games before being placed on IR due to a season long foot injury and a concussion. Tim Hasselbeck would finish out that season with the promise that Ramsey would be back to lead the Redskins again, but the physical punishment he took over his first two seasons coupled with a regime change would forever doom Patrick Ramsey’s career in Washington
Coincidental Side Notes: Ramsey was traded to the Jets for a sixth round pick in the 2006 Draft where the Redskins selected perennial starter Reed Doughty. Ramsey would have the last laugh with Mark Brunell as he signed a one year contract with the Saints in 2010 after they chose not to resign Brunell following the 2009 season. Ramsey would eventually lose his backup position at the end of camp in 2010 to another former Redskins quarterback, Chase Daniel.
24 starts (10-14)
Completion % = 55.7% (480/861)
5649 yrds – 34 TD - 29 INT – 75.0 – 75 sacks – 2 game winning drives
Darth Maul was Emperor Palpatine’s first apprentice in the Star Wars Saga; so Patrick Ramsey was the Darth Maul of this Redskins quarterback saga. People forget that Ramsey was a first round draft pick. The Redskins selected him with the last pick of the first round in the 2002 draft making him the first of three first round quarterbacks to be drafted in the Dan Snyder era. And just like Darth Maul he was young with a bevy of raw talent, but ultimately he would meet the fate of Darth Maul as an apprentice sent on too many missions that got him beat up both physically and mentally that ultimately led to his downfall.
Completion % = 55.7% (480/861)
5649 yrds – 34 TD - 29 INT – 75.0 – 75 sacks – 2 game winning drives
Darth Maul was Emperor Palpatine’s first apprentice in the Star Wars Saga; so Patrick Ramsey was the Darth Maul of this Redskins quarterback saga. People forget that Ramsey was a first round draft pick. The Redskins selected him with the last pick of the first round in the 2002 draft making him the first of three first round quarterbacks to be drafted in the Dan Snyder era. And just like Darth Maul he was young with a bevy of raw talent, but ultimately he would meet the fate of Darth Maul as an apprentice sent on too many missions that got him beat up both physically and mentally that ultimately led to his downfall.
Ramsey came to the Redskins with an impressive resume. A Louisiana high school state champion javelin thrower, Ramsey would play for the Tulane Green Wave where he would lead the third best passing offense in the nation in 2000. But just like my man says in the Sandlot, “It’s easy when you play against a bunch of rejects”. Conference USA was not exactly a Murderer’s Row of defensive prowess, and there were concerns about his decision making and propensity for throwing bad interceptions, but Snyder had a good feeling that the Ole Ball Coach could mold him into a winner. Ramsey’s first season with the Redskins, however, was fractured by having to endure the “Florida Gators Reunion Tour” as he split time with Shane Matthews and Danny Wuerffel. In 2003 he was one of the better statistical QB’s in the NFL, but that also included being one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the league. He would be sacked a total of 30 times in 12 games before being placed on IR due to a season long foot injury and a concussion. Tim Hasselbeck would finish out that season with the promise that Ramsey would be back to lead the Redskins again, but the physical punishment he took over his first two seasons coupled with a regime change would forever doom Patrick Ramsey’s career in Washington
Coincidental Side Notes: Ramsey was traded to the Jets for a sixth round pick in the 2006 Draft where the Redskins selected perennial starter Reed Doughty. Ramsey would have the last laugh with Mark Brunell as he signed a one year contract with the Saints in 2010 after they chose not to resign Brunell following the 2009 season. Ramsey would eventually lose his backup position at the end of camp in 2010 to another former Redskins quarterback, Chase Daniel.
Monday, February 26, 2018
The Chronicles of Redskins Quarterbacks Part 3: Tony Banks
Tony Banks (2001) “The Guy Who Sucked the Least”
14 starts (8-6)Completion % = 53.5% (198/370)
2386 yrds-10TD-10INT-71.3-29 sck-1gwd
Good old Tony Banks. The man who you thought was going to fumble the snap every time he lined up under center. Drafted by the Rams in 1996 out of Michigan State, Banks quickly became “The Guy Who Sucked the Least”. Beating out quarterbacking legends such as Steve Walsh, a 35 year old Mark Rypien (I know. Sad as it is to say, Rypien was the other quarterback on the Rams roster in 1997) Steve Bono, Jamie Martin, Scott Mitchell, and Stoney Case, Banks was the starter for the Rams and the Ravens from 1996-2000. The 2000 season, though, saw Banks lose his title to Trent Dilfer, and at the end of the 2000 season Banks took his newly acquired Ravens Super Bowl Ring to…………….Dallas? That’s right. Banks signed with Dallas at the end of the season, but one look at Banks and the Cowboys said “thanks but no thanks, we’ll go with Quincy Carter”. Banks never took a snap for the Cowboys. Banks had lost his title as “The Guy Who Sucked the Least” yet again, but lo and behold Ole’ Danny Boy came knocking and Banks found himself getting another opportunity to reclaim his title backing up Jeff George at the beginning of the 2001 season for the Washington Redskins.
Banks’s fortunes would prove to be fruitful as George played so bad the first two games of the season that the Redskins released him and Banks was once again “The Guy Who Sucked the Least”, but who knew that he would make NFL history in the process. The Redskins would be the first team to lose their first five games of the season and win their next five. Banks would be responsible for the last three losses of that five game losing streak, but he was also responsible for the next five wins (with a little help from Kent Graham against Denver), and he would finish the season going 8-3 in his last 11 games. Marty Schottenheimer should have received a medal for the feat he accomplished that season with Tony Banks, but both he and Banks were rewarded with pink slips by Dan Snyder at the end of the 2001 season.
Tony Banks will go down as one of only two quarterbacks under Dan Snyder to start more than four games for the Redskins and leave Washington with a winning record (8-6). The other was Brad Johnson (17-10). Think about that for a minute. The Redskins have not had a quarterback end his career on this team with a winning record since 2001, and that quarterback was Tony Banks (remember Kirk Cousins' overall starting record is 26-30-1). Banks would only last one season with the Skins, and would eventually sign with the Texans where he ended his career in 2006. The only thing Redskins fans had to hope for was that the last two teams Banks started for won the Super Bowl after he was removed as the starter (The Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV and the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV). Alas it was not to be here in Washington as Dan Snyder would bring who he thought would be the next Jimmy Johnson to the Redskins, and he had his own ideas about who should start at quarterback.
Coincidental Side Note: In his one season with the Redskins, Banks played against two future Redskins quarterbacks (Todd Collins and Donovan McNabb), the two quarterbacks who replaced him on his two previous teams (Trent Green who replaced Banks in St. Louis but was the starter for the Chiefs in 2001, and Trent Dilfer who replaced Banks in Baltimore but was the BACKUP in Seattle in 2001), and he played against the guy who replaced him before the season started in Quincy Carter. Weird. Even weirder was the fact that Collins and Dilfer were backups that season, but they were able to take snaps in their games against the Redskins.
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