Dan Snyder will win with Colin Kaepernick. Not the Redskins, the Redskins are screwed. They've lost all their quarterbacks, their defensive line still thinks they are at Alabama and are on break after Thanksgiving, and DJ Swearinger continues to surreptitiously call out the coaches for the team's lack of production on the field without looking in the mirror. The Redskins probably will not win with Colin Kaepernick, but Dan Snyder will.
All Dan Snyder ever wanted is for the Redskins to be at the forefront of the headlines. If that means because they are winning that is great, but if they are not they need to do outrageous things in order to be at the center of attention. Look no further than the Reuben Foster move last week to see Snyder's itchiness for being in the headlines. Will Kaepernick help the Redskins win? That question is irrelevant to Snyder. Snyder must see that the once promising Redskins season that brought him so many accolades is going down the toilet in a relatively inglorious and frustrating way. To exacerbate Snyder's feeling of inadequacy, he must watch his hated rivals take over first place in the NFC East after being left for dead six weeks ago. So with all the injuries to the OL and DL, a porous defense, and Mark Sanchez at the helm, what is Snyder to do? Make the singing to end all signings.
If the Redskins sign Kaepernick it will put the Redskins at the top of the "All Time Controversial Signings List" forever. Just think what will happen if the Redskins announce that Kaepernick will be starting this week for the team in our Nation's Capital with a racially charged nickname after being publicly called out by the President of the United States for his actions? If Josh Norman wanted people in the stands at FedEx Field he will certainly get it with Colin Kaepernick, and Snyder could hype the situation to his benefit. Do you support Kaepernick? Come on down to Landover and kneel with him as he makes his triumphant return to the gridiron. You hate Kaepernick's guts? Hide your foreign objects in secret pockets and let him know just how you feel live at FedEx Field on Sunday. The National Guard will need to run security, but who knows if they will show up to help a guy who has caused so much controversy within the armed services. And knowing Donald Trump, there is no way he passes on the chance to show up Kaepernick by being at the stadium in person.
The possibilities are endless and the coverage will be unstoppable. "What? Tom Brady killed a hooker, evaded police in a wild shootout in downtown Boston, and has Bill Belichick driving him to the Canadian border in a high speed chase with federal authorities? That can wait. KAEPERNICK IS PLAYING IN FRONT OF DONALD TRUMP IN DC!" OK, maybe that Brady situation is a little bit bigger, but sans that happening there is no denying the hoopla that will surround Kaepernick starting for the Washington Redskins, and the best part is they have nothing to lose. They already lost the PR battle on the Foster deal, their season is in turmoil, and if there is any team that could absorb the media blitz that would come with the signing it is the Redskins. And that is if Kaepernick is a bust. Just think if the Redskins sign him and he starts winning. The sports coverage. The political coverage. The wave of support on the streets. The level of hate throughout social media, all centered around the Washington Redskins and the biggest winner of them all in this scenario. Daniel Snyder.
Showing posts with label Washington Redskins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Washington Redskins. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Sunday, May 13, 2018
With Every Caps Win, The Redskins Lose
The Capitals Game 1 win over the Lightning is undeniable proof to all DC Sports fans that this team has what it takes to possibly bring the greatest trophy in all of professional sports to the Nation's Capital. It is also proof that Caps are winning over a new generation of DC Sports fans at the expense of the Washington Redskins. The Redskins are king when it comes to drawing the attention of DC Sports fandom, but for the first time their hegemony over the DC Sports landscape is under serious threat from a single entity. The Washington Capitals have stolen the show this spring as they ended Washington's Conference Finals drought, and with every successive victory the Caps win over another portion of the fan base that has become disillusioned with the product coming out of Ashburn, Virginia. The Capitals are winning over fans in all facets of the fan experience while the Redskins continue to rest on their laurels, and it begins with the team the Capitals have put together this season.
Everyone loves a winner, and the Capitals have certainly proven they can win, but people love a winner even more when they do it with resilience. The Capitals have been one of the best teams in the NHL over the last decade when it comes to winning in the regular season, but those teams were more high flying flashy type teams that wilted under pressure. The Caps this season have been more gritty. No one expected them to do much, and yet they find themselves three wins away from playing for the Stanley Cup because they have proactively persevered through adversity. They won the toughest division in the NHL this season. They came back from down 2-0 in the First Round to beat the Blue Jackets. They finally vanquished their nemesis without three of their top players playing for a majority of the series, and winning Game 6 on the road. They won Game 1 against Tampa in a convincing fashion which no one thought possible. The Capitals are winning with heart, but when was the last time that was said about any Redskins team? RG3's rookie year? Cousins' first year as a starter? It is hard to remember a Redskins team that was called gritty or resilient, and no Redskins team has done that and reached the level the Caps have this season. The Capitals are winning over fans by the level at which they play and the level they have reached in the playoffs, but signs of the Capitals take over of the Redskins' territory can also be seen in the fan experience over the past decade.
Forbes Magazine does an annual valuation of all professional sports teams, and a look at the Redskins and Capitals current value show signs that the Capitals are making headway into taking over a larger part of the DC Fan Base. The Redskins are obviously worth more than the Caps in absolute value, but the Capitals have outstripped the Redskins in growth rate within the DC market. Half of the Redskins value (54.5%) comes from the NFL revenue share, while only 19.9% can be attributed to market size and 7.3% can be attributed to their brand. The last two percentages may be good indicators of how well a team markets themselves within their own city, and if that is the case the Capitals once again outstrip the Redskins. The Capitals market size value is 41.3%, which makes sense considering they do not have a rival in Baltimore to contend with, but the Caps' brand value is also higher at 12.8%. Wouldn't it make sense for the Redskins to have a higher brand value when they need to compete with a team that is a 90 minute drive away? These values show that the Capitals are doing more to endear themselves to the fan base through promotion and savvy marketing techniques, and that they are making more of an effort to reach out to fans to try and draw them in. DC fans have responded by spending more money at Capital One Arena than Fed Ex Field.
Forbes Magazine also gives the numbers for net stadium revenue for each team, and the lack of growth in the net stadium revenue of the Redskins since 2010 is staggering. The Redskins have only seen a 36% increase in revenue since 2010, which is the worst in the NFL since that time and it is not even close. The Colts are the next closest to that number with a 45.1% increase, and the only other teams to have below 50% revenue increases are the Buccaneers and Raiders. So the Redskins have shown poor growth relative to other teams in their sport, and it has nothing to do with the large amount of money they already made. The only NFL teams in 2010 to have $300 Million or more in revenue were the Redskins, the Patriots, and the Cowboys. The Patriots have seen an 80.8% increase in revenue for obvious reasons, and the Cowboys have seen a 100% increase in revenue. The Cowboys increase has less to do with winning, and more to do with a new stadium being opened, but that goes to the notion that the Redskins stadium experience sucks. Redskins fans are unwilling to spend money on the team and it shows in the Redskins' lack of revenue growth. Compare those numbers to the Capitals who have seen a 78% increase in revenue since 2010 and it is not hard to see that the Capitals are providing a better fan experience at their stadium that fans have responded to in a more positive light through spending more money at Capital One Arena. In fact, the Capitals 78% growth is fourth best in the NHL behind the Penguins, the Kings, and the Predators. The Penguins and Kings have both won Stanley Cups in that time frame, but the Predators growth should be an omen to the Redskins of what could happen if the Capitals can just make the Stanley Cup Final.
Last year the Predators made the Stanley Cup Finals and put Nashville into a state of euphoria with their catfish and stadium experience. They did not win the Cup, but that run created an organic frenzied scene around the Predators that carried over into this season. Nashville was hungry for a winner and the Predators delivered, and the Capitals find themselves in a similar situation. A generation of DC Sports fans have come and gone without seeing a winner, and they are finally getting one with the 2017 Capitals. While the Capitals have slowly changed the gravitational fields within the DC Sports landscape through relentless marketing and a positive stadium experience, a Stanley Cup appearance would permanently draw the interest of everyone living in the DC Area. The Redskins would no longer be the automatic choice for kids who grow up in this area because the Capitals win, and win with a style and stadium experience the Redskins cannot duplicate. The Redskins have already been losing fans to the Capitals over this decade, and with every successive Capitals victory this year they draw more fans to a product that has a more likable team, a better fan and stadium experience, and a winning tradition. Seven more victories, and the Redskins will need to share the spotlight with the new kings of DC Sports.
Everyone loves a winner, and the Capitals have certainly proven they can win, but people love a winner even more when they do it with resilience. The Capitals have been one of the best teams in the NHL over the last decade when it comes to winning in the regular season, but those teams were more high flying flashy type teams that wilted under pressure. The Caps this season have been more gritty. No one expected them to do much, and yet they find themselves three wins away from playing for the Stanley Cup because they have proactively persevered through adversity. They won the toughest division in the NHL this season. They came back from down 2-0 in the First Round to beat the Blue Jackets. They finally vanquished their nemesis without three of their top players playing for a majority of the series, and winning Game 6 on the road. They won Game 1 against Tampa in a convincing fashion which no one thought possible. The Capitals are winning with heart, but when was the last time that was said about any Redskins team? RG3's rookie year? Cousins' first year as a starter? It is hard to remember a Redskins team that was called gritty or resilient, and no Redskins team has done that and reached the level the Caps have this season. The Capitals are winning over fans by the level at which they play and the level they have reached in the playoffs, but signs of the Capitals take over of the Redskins' territory can also be seen in the fan experience over the past decade.
Forbes Magazine does an annual valuation of all professional sports teams, and a look at the Redskins and Capitals current value show signs that the Capitals are making headway into taking over a larger part of the DC Fan Base. The Redskins are obviously worth more than the Caps in absolute value, but the Capitals have outstripped the Redskins in growth rate within the DC market. Half of the Redskins value (54.5%) comes from the NFL revenue share, while only 19.9% can be attributed to market size and 7.3% can be attributed to their brand. The last two percentages may be good indicators of how well a team markets themselves within their own city, and if that is the case the Capitals once again outstrip the Redskins. The Capitals market size value is 41.3%, which makes sense considering they do not have a rival in Baltimore to contend with, but the Caps' brand value is also higher at 12.8%. Wouldn't it make sense for the Redskins to have a higher brand value when they need to compete with a team that is a 90 minute drive away? These values show that the Capitals are doing more to endear themselves to the fan base through promotion and savvy marketing techniques, and that they are making more of an effort to reach out to fans to try and draw them in. DC fans have responded by spending more money at Capital One Arena than Fed Ex Field.
Forbes Magazine also gives the numbers for net stadium revenue for each team, and the lack of growth in the net stadium revenue of the Redskins since 2010 is staggering. The Redskins have only seen a 36% increase in revenue since 2010, which is the worst in the NFL since that time and it is not even close. The Colts are the next closest to that number with a 45.1% increase, and the only other teams to have below 50% revenue increases are the Buccaneers and Raiders. So the Redskins have shown poor growth relative to other teams in their sport, and it has nothing to do with the large amount of money they already made. The only NFL teams in 2010 to have $300 Million or more in revenue were the Redskins, the Patriots, and the Cowboys. The Patriots have seen an 80.8% increase in revenue for obvious reasons, and the Cowboys have seen a 100% increase in revenue. The Cowboys increase has less to do with winning, and more to do with a new stadium being opened, but that goes to the notion that the Redskins stadium experience sucks. Redskins fans are unwilling to spend money on the team and it shows in the Redskins' lack of revenue growth. Compare those numbers to the Capitals who have seen a 78% increase in revenue since 2010 and it is not hard to see that the Capitals are providing a better fan experience at their stadium that fans have responded to in a more positive light through spending more money at Capital One Arena. In fact, the Capitals 78% growth is fourth best in the NHL behind the Penguins, the Kings, and the Predators. The Penguins and Kings have both won Stanley Cups in that time frame, but the Predators growth should be an omen to the Redskins of what could happen if the Capitals can just make the Stanley Cup Final.
Last year the Predators made the Stanley Cup Finals and put Nashville into a state of euphoria with their catfish and stadium experience. They did not win the Cup, but that run created an organic frenzied scene around the Predators that carried over into this season. Nashville was hungry for a winner and the Predators delivered, and the Capitals find themselves in a similar situation. A generation of DC Sports fans have come and gone without seeing a winner, and they are finally getting one with the 2017 Capitals. While the Capitals have slowly changed the gravitational fields within the DC Sports landscape through relentless marketing and a positive stadium experience, a Stanley Cup appearance would permanently draw the interest of everyone living in the DC Area. The Redskins would no longer be the automatic choice for kids who grow up in this area because the Capitals win, and win with a style and stadium experience the Redskins cannot duplicate. The Redskins have already been losing fans to the Capitals over this decade, and with every successive Capitals victory this year they draw more fans to a product that has a more likable team, a better fan and stadium experience, and a winning tradition. Seven more victories, and the Redskins will need to share the spotlight with the new kings of DC Sports.
Sunday, May 6, 2018
The Caps Have Earned the Right to End the Curse
Be it in Game 6, or in Game 7, the Capitals need to be the team that cures the DC Sports Plague (Its not a curse, its a Plague). It seems counter intuitive, but the Capitals have done everything they can in order to earn the right to be the team that breaks the misery that DC Sports fans have had to endure over the past two decades. If the Capitals are able to finally make it to an Eastern Conference Final, and god forbid a Stanley Cup Final, they would ignite a DC Sports renaissance because of what they have come to symbolize for the DC Sports landscape. The Capitals have embodied all that is good and bad about DC Sports over their decade of resurgence, and it is this cornucopia of characteristics that gives them the right to be the ones to end the malaise that all DC Sports Fans have been under since 1998. The evidence for this argument falls within the answer to the question; Why are the Capitals more special than the other DC Sports teams? Let's answer that question in all of it's facets.
Because they were the last DC Sports team to make it to a Conference Final
It would be poetic justice. The last DC Sports team to make it to a Conference Final is the one that ends the plague (its not a curse, its a plague). The Caps need to win because it would connect the current sports fandom to DC Sports history, and in these times the average sports fan is not tied into what happened more than three years ago.
Because Alex Ovechkin was the original Chosen One
Before Bryce Harper, before John Wall, before Stephen Strasburg, there was Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin was taken number one overall by the Capitals in 2004, and it was not just because the Capitals were awful. They had given up all of their major pieces from that 1998 Stanley Cup Finals team, including the franchise's all time scoring leader Peter Bondra, in order to find themselves in the position to draft Alex Ovechkin. He was brought in to be the next coming, and he has fulfilled those obligations except for the one about team championships. It is time that he gets the right to play for one.
Because the Capitals have given hope to DC over the past decade
While the Redskins sucked, while the Wizards were dealing with the Gilbert Arenas fallout, and while the Nationals were reminding Washington DC what baseball looked like, the Capitals were putting together consistent playoff teams. The Capitals have made the playoffs every year since the 2007-2008 season except for one. No other DC Sports team even comes close to that consistency, and along the way they have built up their fan base organically through winning and savvy marketing. The Capitals have ingratiated themselves to a city that wanted a winner and a hip sports scene, and got it with the combination of Alex Ovechkin's play and Ted Leonsis's business acumen.
Because they stupidly traded away a superstar.
See Filip Forsberg.
Because they smartly traded for another.
See TJ Oshie.
Because they have endured a disappointment that no other DC Sports team has over the past 20 years
The Capitals were literally 1:41 away from defeating the New York Rangers in 2015 and going to the Eastern Conference Finals. Instead, the Rangers won three games in a row to defeat the Caps in seven games. In fact, the Caps have been eliminated from the playoffs in a Game 7 seven times since 2008. No DC fan knows playoff pain like Capitals fans.
Because they have tried to build a team of immeasurable talent and failed
See 2017. That team was hailed as the best team that had ever been assembled around Alex Ovechkin and they still could not get past the second round.
Because in the after math of that collapse they came out stronger
This year was supposed to be a rebuilding year at best, and some were heralding it as the beginning of the end for the Ovechkin era. But then something strange happened. Somehow these players that no one thought could come close to the accomplishments of 2017's super team began to gel. They pulled out tough games in the regular season. They fought through adversity. They gave Capitals fans something they have never seen before; a team that wins based on grit and determination more than talent level.
That determination was on full display Saturday night as the Capitals defeated the Penguins 6-3 in classic 2018 Capitals fashion. They fell behind early in the first period but took the lead late on a PPG and a successive hard working goal. They subsequently squandered that lead in the second period by taking massive penalties, getting horribly out shot, and looking like they had given up on life. But the Caps would not be deterred by those set backs, and like they have done all year, they found a way to win. The Caps once again find themselves in a position to end 20 years of DC Sports misery, and the Capitals have earned the right to be the ones to cure this DC Sports Plague. Twenty years of evolution has provided DC Fans with a sports team that has rarely been seen in Washington during that time. One that will not back down, that will not give up, that has been built organically to come to this point. The Capitals need to be the ones to end DC Fans' misery on Monday Night.
Because they were the last DC Sports team to make it to a Conference Final
It would be poetic justice. The last DC Sports team to make it to a Conference Final is the one that ends the plague (its not a curse, its a plague). The Caps need to win because it would connect the current sports fandom to DC Sports history, and in these times the average sports fan is not tied into what happened more than three years ago.
Because Alex Ovechkin was the original Chosen One
Before Bryce Harper, before John Wall, before Stephen Strasburg, there was Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin was taken number one overall by the Capitals in 2004, and it was not just because the Capitals were awful. They had given up all of their major pieces from that 1998 Stanley Cup Finals team, including the franchise's all time scoring leader Peter Bondra, in order to find themselves in the position to draft Alex Ovechkin. He was brought in to be the next coming, and he has fulfilled those obligations except for the one about team championships. It is time that he gets the right to play for one.
Because the Capitals have given hope to DC over the past decade
While the Redskins sucked, while the Wizards were dealing with the Gilbert Arenas fallout, and while the Nationals were reminding Washington DC what baseball looked like, the Capitals were putting together consistent playoff teams. The Capitals have made the playoffs every year since the 2007-2008 season except for one. No other DC Sports team even comes close to that consistency, and along the way they have built up their fan base organically through winning and savvy marketing. The Capitals have ingratiated themselves to a city that wanted a winner and a hip sports scene, and got it with the combination of Alex Ovechkin's play and Ted Leonsis's business acumen.
Because they stupidly traded away a superstar.
See Filip Forsberg.
Because they smartly traded for another.
See TJ Oshie.
Because they have endured a disappointment that no other DC Sports team has over the past 20 years
The Capitals were literally 1:41 away from defeating the New York Rangers in 2015 and going to the Eastern Conference Finals. Instead, the Rangers won three games in a row to defeat the Caps in seven games. In fact, the Caps have been eliminated from the playoffs in a Game 7 seven times since 2008. No DC fan knows playoff pain like Capitals fans.
Because they have tried to build a team of immeasurable talent and failed
See 2017. That team was hailed as the best team that had ever been assembled around Alex Ovechkin and they still could not get past the second round.
Because in the after math of that collapse they came out stronger
This year was supposed to be a rebuilding year at best, and some were heralding it as the beginning of the end for the Ovechkin era. But then something strange happened. Somehow these players that no one thought could come close to the accomplishments of 2017's super team began to gel. They pulled out tough games in the regular season. They fought through adversity. They gave Capitals fans something they have never seen before; a team that wins based on grit and determination more than talent level.
That determination was on full display Saturday night as the Capitals defeated the Penguins 6-3 in classic 2018 Capitals fashion. They fell behind early in the first period but took the lead late on a PPG and a successive hard working goal. They subsequently squandered that lead in the second period by taking massive penalties, getting horribly out shot, and looking like they had given up on life. But the Caps would not be deterred by those set backs, and like they have done all year, they found a way to win. The Caps once again find themselves in a position to end 20 years of DC Sports misery, and the Capitals have earned the right to be the ones to cure this DC Sports Plague. Twenty years of evolution has provided DC Fans with a sports team that has rarely been seen in Washington during that time. One that will not back down, that will not give up, that has been built organically to come to this point. The Capitals need to be the ones to end DC Fans' misery on Monday Night.
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Redskins 2018 Draft Special Round 1 (Pick 13)
Is it Guice? Is it Vea? Is it James? Is it Ward? Do the Redskins trade up? Will the Redskins trade down? Will all 12 teams in front of the Redskins have aneurysms right when they pick and let Fitzpatrick fall to 13? There are so many questions about who the Redskins will draft in the first round. The idea that they will take Guice is gaining tons of traction, as is the notion that they can trade back to recoup the third round pick they gave up for Alex Smith. Wherever they draft in the first round, the Redskins should heed the old boxing adage of "it's not about how well you throw a punch, it's about how well you take a punch" and draft this DT that will help them stop the run.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 1 (13th Overall Selection): Da'Ron Payne DT (Alabama)
Height: 6'2" Weight: 311 lbs 40 yrd: 4.95 Reps: 27 Cone Drill: 7.58
Vita Vea looks like the no brainer pick at 13, but all indications coming from Redskins Park make it seem as if the Redskins' front office may be lukewarm about the underdeveloped nature of Vea's game. Payne is the more polished pick, and with Jonathan Allen and Ryan Anderson already on the team it makes sense that Bruce Allen would want to take a page out of Lefty Driesell's playbook and make Redskins Park the Alabama of the North. Payne would bring the run stopping presence and mentality the Redskins need in order to allow Alex Smith the time to operate an offense. Payne was a Top 20 national high school recruit who weighed in at 350 pounds before slimming down at Alabama. That may have been a good thing since he started the past two seasons at nose tackle for the Crimson Tide amassing 33 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT, and 4 passes defended during that time. Scouts note that Payne already plays like a professional, with an impressive level of natural strength and high leadership qualities. Scouts also highlight his ability to eat up blocks, and teams will need to scheme for him due to his ability to anchor the defensive line and command double teams. Payne has a high level of athleticism for the position, and he showed signs this past year that he is honing that athleticism into better pass rushing skills. He also displayed an ability to beat linemen with both power and skill, and he has the ability to range beyond his assignment in order to make plays. Payne is not without his downsides. His biggest issue is that he does not always get a good jump off the snap, which causes him to lose leverage at the line of scrimmage. Scouts also note his pedestrian pass rush skills that are easily contained if his first move does not work. This could limit Payne to playing solely on early downs in order to stop the run. All players have downsides, however, and Payne's upsides would be a worthy investment of a first round pick by the Redskins.
The Redskins need an answer in stopping the run in order to prevent Alex Smith from having to whip the ball up and down the field to keep pace with the other team. While Vita Vea may be literally, and figuratively, the bigger name on the DT Draft Board, Payne may be more of what the Redskins are looking for in a nose tackle. He has a high level of strength and athleticism for a guy his size, and while Vea has about 20-30 pounds on Payne, Vea lacks the consistency found in Payne's game. There may be less of a learning curve with Payne and Allen having played together at Alabama, and that collective camaraderie is something that has been lacking on the Redskins defensive line for some time. That sense of unity will be needed to stop a daunting list of running backs this season that includes David Johnson, Ezekiel Elliot, Mark Ingram/Alvin Kamara, Leonard Fournette, Jay Ajayi, Devontae Freeman, a rejuvenated Derrick Henry, and possibly Saquon Barkley if the Giants get froggy with their second pick. The Redskins will need to win the battles up front in order to prevent these backs from dictating the pace of the game, and drafting Payne to bolster the D-Line will do just that. It may be tough to justify taking Payne with the 13th pick so there may be a trade down in order to regain the 3rd round pick the Redskins lost in the Alex Smith trade. But the Redskins should not let perception get in the way of drafting the player that they need. If no good offer comes the Redskins way to trade out of 13 then they will need to pull the trigger on Da'Ron Payne and have him finally be the anchor of that 3-4 defensive line they have been looking for or so long.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 1 (13th Overall Selection): Da'Ron Payne DT (Alabama)
Height: 6'2" Weight: 311 lbs 40 yrd: 4.95 Reps: 27 Cone Drill: 7.58
Vita Vea looks like the no brainer pick at 13, but all indications coming from Redskins Park make it seem as if the Redskins' front office may be lukewarm about the underdeveloped nature of Vea's game. Payne is the more polished pick, and with Jonathan Allen and Ryan Anderson already on the team it makes sense that Bruce Allen would want to take a page out of Lefty Driesell's playbook and make Redskins Park the Alabama of the North. Payne would bring the run stopping presence and mentality the Redskins need in order to allow Alex Smith the time to operate an offense. Payne was a Top 20 national high school recruit who weighed in at 350 pounds before slimming down at Alabama. That may have been a good thing since he started the past two seasons at nose tackle for the Crimson Tide amassing 33 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT, and 4 passes defended during that time. Scouts note that Payne already plays like a professional, with an impressive level of natural strength and high leadership qualities. Scouts also highlight his ability to eat up blocks, and teams will need to scheme for him due to his ability to anchor the defensive line and command double teams. Payne has a high level of athleticism for the position, and he showed signs this past year that he is honing that athleticism into better pass rushing skills. He also displayed an ability to beat linemen with both power and skill, and he has the ability to range beyond his assignment in order to make plays. Payne is not without his downsides. His biggest issue is that he does not always get a good jump off the snap, which causes him to lose leverage at the line of scrimmage. Scouts also note his pedestrian pass rush skills that are easily contained if his first move does not work. This could limit Payne to playing solely on early downs in order to stop the run. All players have downsides, however, and Payne's upsides would be a worthy investment of a first round pick by the Redskins.
The Redskins need an answer in stopping the run in order to prevent Alex Smith from having to whip the ball up and down the field to keep pace with the other team. While Vita Vea may be literally, and figuratively, the bigger name on the DT Draft Board, Payne may be more of what the Redskins are looking for in a nose tackle. He has a high level of strength and athleticism for a guy his size, and while Vea has about 20-30 pounds on Payne, Vea lacks the consistency found in Payne's game. There may be less of a learning curve with Payne and Allen having played together at Alabama, and that collective camaraderie is something that has been lacking on the Redskins defensive line for some time. That sense of unity will be needed to stop a daunting list of running backs this season that includes David Johnson, Ezekiel Elliot, Mark Ingram/Alvin Kamara, Leonard Fournette, Jay Ajayi, Devontae Freeman, a rejuvenated Derrick Henry, and possibly Saquon Barkley if the Giants get froggy with their second pick. The Redskins will need to win the battles up front in order to prevent these backs from dictating the pace of the game, and drafting Payne to bolster the D-Line will do just that. It may be tough to justify taking Payne with the 13th pick so there may be a trade down in order to regain the 3rd round pick the Redskins lost in the Alex Smith trade. But the Redskins should not let perception get in the way of drafting the player that they need. If no good offer comes the Redskins way to trade out of 13 then they will need to pull the trigger on Da'Ron Payne and have him finally be the anchor of that 3-4 defensive line they have been looking for or so long.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Redskins 2018 Draft Special Round 2 (Pick 44)
A lot of Mock Drafts have the Redskins taking a skill position player in the second round, but what will those players do if they don't have the protection up front to be successful? The Redskins need to go O-Line in the second round.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 2 (44th Overall Selection): Billy Price C (Ohio State)
Height: 6'4" Weight: 305 lbs
It is concerning that Billy Price suffered a torn pectoral muscle while warming up for the bench press at the NFL Combine. The injury is said to be minor, though, and the Redskins should heed that advice and take a long hard look at Price if he is available at the 44th pick. Price was Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a high school senior in Ohio, but he was moved to offensive line when he got to Ohio State. He began his career as a Guard where he started all 15 games as a freshman on the 2014 National Championship Team. He filled in at left guard his sophomore year where he garnered Third Team All-Big Ten honors, and he moved to right guard the next year and was First Team All-Big Ten. Last year he was moved to center where he won the Remington Trophy as the Nation's top center and was First Team All-American. His meteoric rise throughout his college career is due to an impressive set of skills. Scouts note his incredible strength and ability to move defenders off the line of scrimmage. He has the ability to play in space and to hold his position on the line, and he has significant experience at both guard positions and center. Price sets a strong anchor in pass protection, and he plays with a mean streak to compliment his physicality. It is this mean streak, though, that brings the negative side of Price's game. Price tends to be too aggressive at times, and gets himself out of position by over lunging at the defender. Scouts note that Price may rely too heavily on his brute strength, which causes his footwork to go dead and allow more athletic rushers to get by him. Finally, his mean demeanor has given him the moniker of being a tough personality to deal with, but the Redskins need high level depth on the offensive line after what happened last year.
The Redskins offensive line became a MASH Unit by the end of last season, and it was a big reason why the Redskins had trouble running the football and protecting Kirk Cousins as the season progressed. Guys like Derrius Guice, Courtland Sutton, and Christian Kirk are good, but what happens if the offensive line cannot provide the protection to make these skill players successful? Price is the answer for people who wonder if Arie Kuandjio is up to the task of starting at Left Guard, and it gives the Redskins interior line a jolt of high level starting talent. Price's over aggressiveness is a concern, but that can be remedied through coaching. It is harder to coach up desire than it is to teach temperance, and Bill Callahan seems to be just the guy to work with Price on fixing some of the holes in his game. Alex Smith will need protection, and whatever running back starts for the Redskins will need holes to run through. Price brings all of that to the table, and he should be the guy the Redskins select with the 44th pick if he is there even if Guice is still available.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 2 (44th Overall Selection): Billy Price C (Ohio State)
Height: 6'4" Weight: 305 lbs
It is concerning that Billy Price suffered a torn pectoral muscle while warming up for the bench press at the NFL Combine. The injury is said to be minor, though, and the Redskins should heed that advice and take a long hard look at Price if he is available at the 44th pick. Price was Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a high school senior in Ohio, but he was moved to offensive line when he got to Ohio State. He began his career as a Guard where he started all 15 games as a freshman on the 2014 National Championship Team. He filled in at left guard his sophomore year where he garnered Third Team All-Big Ten honors, and he moved to right guard the next year and was First Team All-Big Ten. Last year he was moved to center where he won the Remington Trophy as the Nation's top center and was First Team All-American. His meteoric rise throughout his college career is due to an impressive set of skills. Scouts note his incredible strength and ability to move defenders off the line of scrimmage. He has the ability to play in space and to hold his position on the line, and he has significant experience at both guard positions and center. Price sets a strong anchor in pass protection, and he plays with a mean streak to compliment his physicality. It is this mean streak, though, that brings the negative side of Price's game. Price tends to be too aggressive at times, and gets himself out of position by over lunging at the defender. Scouts note that Price may rely too heavily on his brute strength, which causes his footwork to go dead and allow more athletic rushers to get by him. Finally, his mean demeanor has given him the moniker of being a tough personality to deal with, but the Redskins need high level depth on the offensive line after what happened last year.
The Redskins offensive line became a MASH Unit by the end of last season, and it was a big reason why the Redskins had trouble running the football and protecting Kirk Cousins as the season progressed. Guys like Derrius Guice, Courtland Sutton, and Christian Kirk are good, but what happens if the offensive line cannot provide the protection to make these skill players successful? Price is the answer for people who wonder if Arie Kuandjio is up to the task of starting at Left Guard, and it gives the Redskins interior line a jolt of high level starting talent. Price's over aggressiveness is a concern, but that can be remedied through coaching. It is harder to coach up desire than it is to teach temperance, and Bill Callahan seems to be just the guy to work with Price on fixing some of the holes in his game. Alex Smith will need protection, and whatever running back starts for the Redskins will need holes to run through. Price brings all of that to the table, and he should be the guy the Redskins select with the 44th pick if he is there even if Guice is still available.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Redskins 2018 Draft Special Round 4 (Pick 109)
Hopefully moving up four spots in the fourth round from the Su'a Cravens trade allows the Redskins to draft this RB that may not be getting as much run as all the others
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 4 (109th Overall Selection): Kalen Ballage RB (Arizona State)
Height: 6'1" Weight: 228 lbs Reps: 15 40 yd: 4.46 Cone Drill: 6.91 Broad Jump: 122
Just hear me out on this one. I know everyone is fawning over the running backs in the first and second round, and I know I have stated that it is not worth taking a running back outside of the second round, but Kalen Ballage (pronounced BA-Lahj) should be a guy the Redskins consider taking in the fourth round and leaving the first and second round picks for other needs. Ballage was a four year player at Arizona State where he split carries with another back his Junior and Senior Year. Even with splitting time over the pats two seasons, Ballage was able to amass 20 rushing TD's and over 1700 yards from scrimmage. These two stats highlight Ballage's value to the Redskins. He is a versatile back that has run out of read option formations, single back formations, I-formations, and wildcat formations. He is a talented receiver out of the backfield, who can also line up in the slot, and he has kick returning ability. Ballage is also extremely fast with a 4.46 in the 40, and you have to imagine a 6'1" 228 lb running back who ran a faster 40 at the combine that Guice can wreck people in the open field once he reaches top speed. The problem is he had a little trouble with that this past season due to teams stacking the box against him. Ballage is not a shifty type back, and he is somewhat tentative at the line of scrimmage which caused him to miss open running lanes. Scouts also note that he lacks the vision and sharp cutting ability to find tight seems when running to the edge. So where's the upside to drafting another running back in the fourth round? The answer is insurance.
Samaje Perine and Rob Kelley do not have the pass catching skills of Chris Thompson, and Thompson does not have the size to run through the tackles to get the tough yards. Ballage has both, and if any of these backs were to go down the Redskins could plug in Ballage and not miss a beat. Ballage has the power to gain tough yards in short down or goal line situations, and he can be a home run hitter in catching passes out of the backfield. Just watch some of his highlights. Ballage can do it all, and he would not have to be THE guy right away. He has spent the past two years sharing time at Arizona State, and he could play the same role to begin his career in Washington with the ability to move up if he shows promise. Taking Ballage after the second round also allows the Redskins to spend a high pick on the offensive line in order to open up better holes for the running game. Yes, Guice and Penny may be the hotter picks, but Ballage has similar running skills and better pass catching ability. He is someone who would add versatility to an RB corps that is one injury away from becoming one dimensional. Just look at what happened last year. Ballage is someone the Redskins should seriously consider taking outside the second round, and he may even be worth trading into the third round to get. Think David Johnson playing for the Redskins without a wrist injury and that is Kalen Ballage. Lets go get him.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 4 (109th Overall Selection): Kalen Ballage RB (Arizona State)
Height: 6'1" Weight: 228 lbs Reps: 15 40 yd: 4.46 Cone Drill: 6.91 Broad Jump: 122
Just hear me out on this one. I know everyone is fawning over the running backs in the first and second round, and I know I have stated that it is not worth taking a running back outside of the second round, but Kalen Ballage (pronounced BA-Lahj) should be a guy the Redskins consider taking in the fourth round and leaving the first and second round picks for other needs. Ballage was a four year player at Arizona State where he split carries with another back his Junior and Senior Year. Even with splitting time over the pats two seasons, Ballage was able to amass 20 rushing TD's and over 1700 yards from scrimmage. These two stats highlight Ballage's value to the Redskins. He is a versatile back that has run out of read option formations, single back formations, I-formations, and wildcat formations. He is a talented receiver out of the backfield, who can also line up in the slot, and he has kick returning ability. Ballage is also extremely fast with a 4.46 in the 40, and you have to imagine a 6'1" 228 lb running back who ran a faster 40 at the combine that Guice can wreck people in the open field once he reaches top speed. The problem is he had a little trouble with that this past season due to teams stacking the box against him. Ballage is not a shifty type back, and he is somewhat tentative at the line of scrimmage which caused him to miss open running lanes. Scouts also note that he lacks the vision and sharp cutting ability to find tight seems when running to the edge. So where's the upside to drafting another running back in the fourth round? The answer is insurance.
Samaje Perine and Rob Kelley do not have the pass catching skills of Chris Thompson, and Thompson does not have the size to run through the tackles to get the tough yards. Ballage has both, and if any of these backs were to go down the Redskins could plug in Ballage and not miss a beat. Ballage has the power to gain tough yards in short down or goal line situations, and he can be a home run hitter in catching passes out of the backfield. Just watch some of his highlights. Ballage can do it all, and he would not have to be THE guy right away. He has spent the past two years sharing time at Arizona State, and he could play the same role to begin his career in Washington with the ability to move up if he shows promise. Taking Ballage after the second round also allows the Redskins to spend a high pick on the offensive line in order to open up better holes for the running game. Yes, Guice and Penny may be the hotter picks, but Ballage has similar running skills and better pass catching ability. He is someone who would add versatility to an RB corps that is one injury away from becoming one dimensional. Just look at what happened last year. Ballage is someone the Redskins should seriously consider taking outside the second round, and he may even be worth trading into the third round to get. Think David Johnson playing for the Redskins without a wrist injury and that is Kalen Ballage. Lets go get him.
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Redskins 2018 Draft Special Round 5 (Pick 142)
The Redskins keep winning in the short term with the Su'a Cravens deal. The Redskins original 5th round pick was number 149, but Cravens moved the Redskins up all the way to 142 in order to draft his potential replacement. Maybe.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 5 (142nd Overall Selection): Godwin Igwebuike S (Northwestern)
Height: 6'0" Weight: 205 lbs Reps: 19 40 yd: 4.44 Cone Drill: 6.56 20yrd Shuttle: 4.12
Admittedly, this would be an ideal scenario for the Redskins to be able to draft Godwin Igwebuike (ig-weh-BYU-kay) at this pick. It is possible he goes earlier than this due to his impressive combine performance. But if he is there, and the Redskins have not already drafted a safety, they would be crazy to pass on a player of his caliber. Igwebuike was a three year starter at Northwestern where he garnered Second Team All-Big 10 honors as a junior and senior, and he was voted team captain his senior year. Scouts highlight his high intelligence level and his physical demeanor that made him a successful run stuffer as evidenced by his combined 7 TFL's his junior and senior season from the safety position. There are concerns that he may be limited to strong safety due to his deficiencies in man coverage, his lack of ability to anticipate and read routes in zone coverage, and the overall stiffness with which he plays in covering receivers. His combine numbers, though, leave room for speculation that Igwebuike's down sides can be remedied with coaching. His 40 time was fifth among safeties at the combine and his Cone Drill was tied for first. These physical skills, coupled with Igwebuike's positive production on special teams and his familial relationship to Christian Okoye, should make him an ideal candidate for the Redskins to draft and develop over the next few seasons.
The Redskins need depth at safety after trading Su'a Cravens, and while Igwebuike may not be a starter that will make an immediate impact, he has the tools that could give the Redskins some options in case anything happens. You know. In case anyone gets injured. In case Montae Nicholson's injury status remain precarious. In case DJ Swearinger's rants become too out of hand this season. In case Deshazor Everett can't cut the mustard. In case we have to rely on some guy named Fish to fill in at safety. Igwebuike could be there waiting to help in case those things happen, and in the mean time he could be a valuable addition to special teams while honing his skills as a cover safety. He definitely has the physical skills to do so, and with his already polished run support capabilities the Redskins should look to take Igwebuike if he is still on the board at 142.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 5 (142nd Overall Selection): Godwin Igwebuike S (Northwestern)
Height: 6'0" Weight: 205 lbs Reps: 19 40 yd: 4.44 Cone Drill: 6.56 20yrd Shuttle: 4.12
Admittedly, this would be an ideal scenario for the Redskins to be able to draft Godwin Igwebuike (ig-weh-BYU-kay) at this pick. It is possible he goes earlier than this due to his impressive combine performance. But if he is there, and the Redskins have not already drafted a safety, they would be crazy to pass on a player of his caliber. Igwebuike was a three year starter at Northwestern where he garnered Second Team All-Big 10 honors as a junior and senior, and he was voted team captain his senior year. Scouts highlight his high intelligence level and his physical demeanor that made him a successful run stuffer as evidenced by his combined 7 TFL's his junior and senior season from the safety position. There are concerns that he may be limited to strong safety due to his deficiencies in man coverage, his lack of ability to anticipate and read routes in zone coverage, and the overall stiffness with which he plays in covering receivers. His combine numbers, though, leave room for speculation that Igwebuike's down sides can be remedied with coaching. His 40 time was fifth among safeties at the combine and his Cone Drill was tied for first. These physical skills, coupled with Igwebuike's positive production on special teams and his familial relationship to Christian Okoye, should make him an ideal candidate for the Redskins to draft and develop over the next few seasons.
The Redskins need depth at safety after trading Su'a Cravens, and while Igwebuike may not be a starter that will make an immediate impact, he has the tools that could give the Redskins some options in case anything happens. You know. In case anyone gets injured. In case Montae Nicholson's injury status remain precarious. In case DJ Swearinger's rants become too out of hand this season. In case Deshazor Everett can't cut the mustard. In case we have to rely on some guy named Fish to fill in at safety. Igwebuike could be there waiting to help in case those things happen, and in the mean time he could be a valuable addition to special teams while honing his skills as a cover safety. He definitely has the physical skills to do so, and with his already polished run support capabilities the Redskins should look to take Igwebuike if he is still on the board at 142.
Friday, April 13, 2018
Redskins 2018 Draft Special Round 5 (Pick 163)
The Redskins actually got something for Su'a Cravens. We'll see if trading Cravens was a bad idea, but in the short term, and in the spirit of sunk costs, this 5th round pick is a boon that could turn into a solid player.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 5 (163rd Overall Selection): Darius Phillips CB (Western Michigan)
Height: 5'10" Weight: 190 lbs Reps: 9 40 yd: 4.54 20yrd Shuttle: 4.18
The Redskins defensive worries cannot all be remedied by beefing up the front seven. There needs to be added talent in the secondary in order to defend the pass, and Darius Phillips out of Western Michigan fits the bill perfectly. A disciple of PJ Fleck's "Row the Boat" philosophy, Phillips was a big in state signing for the Broncos in 2014 as a wide receiver/kick returner. Phillips has modest success as a freshman wide out, but he was moved to cornerback in 2015 where he was an All-MAC Conference Player the last three years. Now, it is easy when you play against a bunch of rejects in the MAC, but in those three years Phillips racked up 35 PD's, 12 INT's, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks, 5 defensive TD's, and 6 return TD's (5 KR, 1 PR). Phillips may have played against perceived inferior competition, but he sure beat their brains in with a talent level that should pique the Redskins interest. Scouts note that he has a quick backpedal and fluid turn and sprint skills. They also note his impeccable ball hawking skills, his instinctive ability to diagnose routes, his ability to play both man and zone, and his experience as a returner. The big knock on Phillips is that he is very soft against the run where he can be exploited if he is to play the slot in the NFL. Unfortunately, most scouts project that he needs to play in the slot in order to maximize his strengths as a man corner. He is also undersized at 5'10", and being undersized and soft is not a good combination, but his skills as a cover corner are what the Redskins need.
This pick may seem redundant since the Redskins drafted Fabian Moreau in the third round last year. Moreau was hurt most of last year, though, and with the departure of Kendall Fuller the Redskins need a reliable cover corner in the slot. Maybe that is Moreau. Maybe that is another converted receiver in Quinton Dunbar, but it is always good to have an insurance policy considering the only other corner on the roster is Josh Holsey. Phillips seems to have the talent in coverage that could replace Fuller, and his abilities as a returner would make him more versatile on this roster. His 4.5 speed leaves something to be desired, but at his Pro-Day he ran a 4.40. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but that is a good middle to have and think if the Redskins could finally have a true punt returner that allows Jamison Crowder to focus on catching passes. Phillips's deficiencies in run support are a red flag for a team that was one of the worst against the run, but Phillips could be used sparingly in obvious passing situations in order to develop him at a more modest pace. There are other pressing needs at higher picks, but cornerback depth is something the Redskins cannot neglect with the injury status of Fabian Moreau. Phillips would be a great addition if he can be acquired with this pick.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 5 (163rd Overall Selection): Darius Phillips CB (Western Michigan)
Height: 5'10" Weight: 190 lbs Reps: 9 40 yd: 4.54 20yrd Shuttle: 4.18
The Redskins defensive worries cannot all be remedied by beefing up the front seven. There needs to be added talent in the secondary in order to defend the pass, and Darius Phillips out of Western Michigan fits the bill perfectly. A disciple of PJ Fleck's "Row the Boat" philosophy, Phillips was a big in state signing for the Broncos in 2014 as a wide receiver/kick returner. Phillips has modest success as a freshman wide out, but he was moved to cornerback in 2015 where he was an All-MAC Conference Player the last three years. Now, it is easy when you play against a bunch of rejects in the MAC, but in those three years Phillips racked up 35 PD's, 12 INT's, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks, 5 defensive TD's, and 6 return TD's (5 KR, 1 PR). Phillips may have played against perceived inferior competition, but he sure beat their brains in with a talent level that should pique the Redskins interest. Scouts note that he has a quick backpedal and fluid turn and sprint skills. They also note his impeccable ball hawking skills, his instinctive ability to diagnose routes, his ability to play both man and zone, and his experience as a returner. The big knock on Phillips is that he is very soft against the run where he can be exploited if he is to play the slot in the NFL. Unfortunately, most scouts project that he needs to play in the slot in order to maximize his strengths as a man corner. He is also undersized at 5'10", and being undersized and soft is not a good combination, but his skills as a cover corner are what the Redskins need.
This pick may seem redundant since the Redskins drafted Fabian Moreau in the third round last year. Moreau was hurt most of last year, though, and with the departure of Kendall Fuller the Redskins need a reliable cover corner in the slot. Maybe that is Moreau. Maybe that is another converted receiver in Quinton Dunbar, but it is always good to have an insurance policy considering the only other corner on the roster is Josh Holsey. Phillips seems to have the talent in coverage that could replace Fuller, and his abilities as a returner would make him more versatile on this roster. His 4.5 speed leaves something to be desired, but at his Pro-Day he ran a 4.40. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but that is a good middle to have and think if the Redskins could finally have a true punt returner that allows Jamison Crowder to focus on catching passes. Phillips's deficiencies in run support are a red flag for a team that was one of the worst against the run, but Phillips could be used sparingly in obvious passing situations in order to develop him at a more modest pace. There are other pressing needs at higher picks, but cornerback depth is something the Redskins cannot neglect with the injury status of Fabian Moreau. Phillips would be a great addition if he can be acquired with this pick.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Redskins 2018 Draft Special Round 6 (Pick 205)
The Redskins finally did it. Move over Colt McCoy because Kevin Hogan is now here to take your backup job from you. In return for Hogan's services the Redskins had to swap the 188th pick for the Browns' 205th pick this year, where hopefully they can still draft this wide receiver.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 6 (205th Overall Selection): Steve Ishmael WR (Syracuse)
Height: 6'2" Weight: 210 lbs 40 yd: 4.59 Vert: 32.5 Cone Drill: 6.84
What if a receiver was a down field threat because he could catch anything that was thrown to him rather than being a burner? Steve Ishmael is the answer to that question. Ishmael played in 47 out of a possible 48 games for Syracuse with 39 starts between 2014-2017, and his senior year numbers are eye popping. Ishmael hauled in 105 receptions for 1,347 yards and seven TD's in 2017, which garnered him unanimous First-Team All ACC honors and a big Stone Cold Steve Austin Salute from the NFL Combine representatives. That may be good for the Redskins considering that scouts have noted his ability to adjust quickly to the ball and make sudden catches, especially on downfield throws. He is a big receiver who can wall off smaller DB's and he plays with a nasty intensity. His lack of speed, though, is a concern because it has caused him to have a low YAC, slow route speed, and a lack of separation from his defender. Scouts also note that despite his size, Ishmael has trouble beating press coverage off the line. His upside may not be what HTTR nation is looking for, but it may be what they need if they consider a few points.
First, Ishmael's 105 receptions are second all-time in ACC single season history behind.......wait for it.......Jamison Crowder who had 108 receptions in 2013. Second, which receiver do you trust to make those tough catches in traffic or one-on-one coverage? Not Crowder. Doctson has proven to be soft, Jordan Reed is too injury prone, and Richardson was brought in to be the burner. Ishmael is the guy that we need to get the tough yards, and someone Alex Smith can trust will get the ball by winning his one-on-one battles through physical play and intelligence. Just watch his tape and tell me you don't see Pierre Garcon. Redskins fans are calling for a burner, but I say we go with a guy who can catch anything that is thrown to him, create separation at the last minute, and make catches in tight spaces to gain tough yards. Steve Ishmael is that guy who could command safety help because one defender just won't cut it in denying him the ball. A 6th Round pick may be ambitious considering most outlets have him going undrafted, but it may be wise for Bruce Allen to add some edge to the receiving corps before someone else does.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 6 (205th Overall Selection): Steve Ishmael WR (Syracuse)
Height: 6'2" Weight: 210 lbs 40 yd: 4.59 Vert: 32.5 Cone Drill: 6.84
What if a receiver was a down field threat because he could catch anything that was thrown to him rather than being a burner? Steve Ishmael is the answer to that question. Ishmael played in 47 out of a possible 48 games for Syracuse with 39 starts between 2014-2017, and his senior year numbers are eye popping. Ishmael hauled in 105 receptions for 1,347 yards and seven TD's in 2017, which garnered him unanimous First-Team All ACC honors and a big Stone Cold Steve Austin Salute from the NFL Combine representatives. That may be good for the Redskins considering that scouts have noted his ability to adjust quickly to the ball and make sudden catches, especially on downfield throws. He is a big receiver who can wall off smaller DB's and he plays with a nasty intensity. His lack of speed, though, is a concern because it has caused him to have a low YAC, slow route speed, and a lack of separation from his defender. Scouts also note that despite his size, Ishmael has trouble beating press coverage off the line. His upside may not be what HTTR nation is looking for, but it may be what they need if they consider a few points.
First, Ishmael's 105 receptions are second all-time in ACC single season history behind.......wait for it.......Jamison Crowder who had 108 receptions in 2013. Second, which receiver do you trust to make those tough catches in traffic or one-on-one coverage? Not Crowder. Doctson has proven to be soft, Jordan Reed is too injury prone, and Richardson was brought in to be the burner. Ishmael is the guy that we need to get the tough yards, and someone Alex Smith can trust will get the ball by winning his one-on-one battles through physical play and intelligence. Just watch his tape and tell me you don't see Pierre Garcon. Redskins fans are calling for a burner, but I say we go with a guy who can catch anything that is thrown to him, create separation at the last minute, and make catches in tight spaces to gain tough yards. Steve Ishmael is that guy who could command safety help because one defender just won't cut it in denying him the ball. A 6th Round pick may be ambitious considering most outlets have him going undrafted, but it may be wise for Bruce Allen to add some edge to the receiving corps before someone else does.
Monday, April 9, 2018
Redskins 2018 Draft Special Round 7 (Pick 231)
In a 3-4 Defense you can never have too many linebackers, and this one may be hard to pass on if he is there at 231.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 7 (231st Overall Selection): Keishawn Bierria LB (Washington)
Height: 6'2" Weight: 230 lbs 40 yd: 4.79 Bench Press: 16 reps Vert: 30.5
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 7 (231st Overall Selection): Keishawn Bierria LB (Washington)
Height: 6'2" Weight: 230 lbs 40 yd: 4.79 Bench Press: 16 reps Vert: 30.5
Not the flashiest pick, but someone who can get the job done. Keishawn Bierria was actually one of the mid to lower performing linebackers at the combine, but his skill set lies outside of pure athleticism. Bierria is noted as having a high football IQ after playing in a majority of every season since 2014 at Washington. Scouts note his ability to diagnose plays and see things before they happen. He is good at reading misdirection, and he possesses good closing speed and aggressiveness at the point of attack that allowed him to be around the ball more often than naught (5 fumble recoveries in 2016 and 7 for his career). The most important feature that the Redskins should covet this late in the draft is his work ethic and his high leadership qualities. Bierria was only the fifth player in 110 years to win Washington's Guy Flaherty Most Inspirational Award twice. The trade off is that Bierria is low on the athletic spectrum. Scouts note that he can be beat on the edge by pure speed, and that he is more reactive than aggressive. This gives him a small margin for error that will get even smaller at the NFL level, and it makes it so that he may need to be moved inside to play more to his skill set. Despite these athletic shortcomings, the Redskins would be crazy to pass on Bierria at this pick.
You either need to draft for skill or intangibles, and Bierria is the latter. A shot of work ethic may be what the inside linebacking corps of this team needs considering what has transpired over the past year. Zach Brown needed a little more time to think about coming back than Redskins fans would have liked, and lets not forget that Mason Foster's little rant after he was shut down for the season back in October made people think he did not want to come back here. With these two players being the starters this season it may be beneficial for the Redskins to choose high character over high skill set at this pick. Bierria brings much more than character, though, and the Redskins should take him as someone who can progress from a college playmaker to an NFL playmaker.
Saturday, April 7, 2018
Redskins 2018 Draft Special Round 7 (Pick 241)
It is that time of year again. The time where the NFL reminds all other sports why it does not matter how many CTE lawsuits come at them, their Draft will outdo any other Spring sports programming. The NFL Draft is less than three weeks away and for the Redskins fan base this year's Draft will be quite a conundrum. The first 12 picks in this Draft will dictate the Redskins strategy, but it is insane how many iterations there are of those first 12 picks that continue to keep all of HTTR nation guessing. Will Minkah Fitzpatrick fall to 13? Derwin James or Vita Vea? Is Derrius Guice worth the 13th overall pick? Should we trade back to get an RB later in the first round? Do we try to recover the 3rd round pick we lost in the Alex Smith trade? Whatever the answers, it will be a crazy Draft and I attempt to guess who the Redskins will select. Remember that I assume there are no trades and the Redskins keep all of their picks. Maybe you should take note because last year was very, very good to me. I called the Josh Harvey-Clemons selection, albeit one round early. I said they would go D-Line in the first round. I said they would choose an RB in the fourth round and not the second, and I said they would go with a center late in the draft. Some would call that luck, I would call it......luck, but here's hoping this year's choices are just as good.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect. Without further ado lets begin the 2018 Redskins Draft with the gift that keeps on giving....Derrick Carrier. Earlier this year, the Redskins traded Derrick Carrier to the Rams for a 7th Round pick that turned into the 241st overall selection and hopefully into this gem out of Army.
Round 7 (241st Overall Selection): Brett Toth OT (Army)
Height: 6'6" Weight: 291 lbs 40 yd: 5.14 Bench Press: 16 reps 20 yrd Shuttle: 4.75
If you haven't noticed, the Redskins two starting tackles will not be at OTA's due to injury. Trent Williams and Morgan Moses still need time to heal, and in the meanwhile the Redskins could draft an insurance policy with this pick. Brett Toth is an athletic tackle that fits well into a zone running scheme. He looks to move towards the second level, and he has the agility to redirect blocks when they try to come off the edge. Scouts note his toughness at the point of attack, and they note that he shows good hustle in space. His 20 yard shuttle time is from his pro day, but that time would have been first by 0.2 seconds at the combine. There are major concerns with his size and lack of pass protection experience due to Army's offensive scheme, but who better to mentor him than Bill Callahan? Toth is the perfect 7th Round project pick that could turn into a much needed short term backup for the Redskins.
Trent Williams is not getting any younger, and the only legitimate replacement we have for him is Ty Nsekhe. Toth will not be ready to replace either of them this year, but he can learn from the best and develop his skills and size to hopefully be ready by next season. Toth has the intangibles needed to be successful in Jay Gruden's system, and he will have the time in Washington to learn at a more steady pace. The Redskins desperately need more bodies at the tackle position, and Toth gives some sense of competition to guys like TJ Clemmings and John Kling. He may not be ready this year, but they do not need him to be. They just need a return on the investment in 2-3 years, and Toth's skill set may turn out to be a steal for a 7th Round pick.
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect. Without further ado lets begin the 2018 Redskins Draft with the gift that keeps on giving....Derrick Carrier. Earlier this year, the Redskins traded Derrick Carrier to the Rams for a 7th Round pick that turned into the 241st overall selection and hopefully into this gem out of Army.
Round 7 (241st Overall Selection): Brett Toth OT (Army)
Height: 6'6" Weight: 291 lbs 40 yd: 5.14 Bench Press: 16 reps 20 yrd Shuttle: 4.75
If you haven't noticed, the Redskins two starting tackles will not be at OTA's due to injury. Trent Williams and Morgan Moses still need time to heal, and in the meanwhile the Redskins could draft an insurance policy with this pick. Brett Toth is an athletic tackle that fits well into a zone running scheme. He looks to move towards the second level, and he has the agility to redirect blocks when they try to come off the edge. Scouts note his toughness at the point of attack, and they note that he shows good hustle in space. His 20 yard shuttle time is from his pro day, but that time would have been first by 0.2 seconds at the combine. There are major concerns with his size and lack of pass protection experience due to Army's offensive scheme, but who better to mentor him than Bill Callahan? Toth is the perfect 7th Round project pick that could turn into a much needed short term backup for the Redskins.
Trent Williams is not getting any younger, and the only legitimate replacement we have for him is Ty Nsekhe. Toth will not be ready to replace either of them this year, but he can learn from the best and develop his skills and size to hopefully be ready by next season. Toth has the intangibles needed to be successful in Jay Gruden's system, and he will have the time in Washington to learn at a more steady pace. The Redskins desperately need more bodies at the tackle position, and Toth gives some sense of competition to guys like TJ Clemmings and John Kling. He may not be ready this year, but they do not need him to be. They just need a return on the investment in 2-3 years, and Toth's skill set may turn out to be a steal for a 7th Round pick.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Alex Smith Is Not Good At Anything Except for Winning
Alex Smith's press conference this Thursday finally put the charade of pretending there was a possibility of the trade not going through to rest. Alex Smith is the quarterback for the Washington Redskins for at least the near future. His introduction by Doug Williams, however, had some portends that every Redskins fan should have taken as a sign that there is still a lot to be done in this offseason to make sure there is no regret about letting Kirk Cousins walk out the door. Williams alluded to the fact that there are still holes on this roster that need to be addressed in order to make the team more complete. What he meant was that the holes needed to be filled in order to make Alex Smith a winner here in Washington. It may be hard for Redskins fans to accept, but Alex Smith is statistically inferior to Cousins over the last three seasons in almost all major categories except for one. And it is the one that has the most factors attached to its execution. Winning.
Alex Smith has been able to win 31 regular season games over the last three seasons. His regular season win total in that time span is only eclipsed by Cam Newton and Tom Brady. A look at his total stats over that time frame, however, should make Redskins fans wonder how he achieved that feat. Alex Smith has 46 regular season starts over the last three seasons, and when comparing his numbers to the 20 other quarterbacks with 40 or more starts (plus Aaron Rodgers who has 39 starts over the last three seasons) his numbers are fairly pedestrian if not concerning. Alex Smith has thrown for only 11,030 yards over the last three seasons which ranks him 13th out of this group. He has only thrown 61 TD's over the last three seasons. The only quarterbacks lower than Smith in that area are Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota, and Tyrod Taylor. Looking at that stat in another light would be to compare Alex Smith's 61 TD's to those quarterbacks who have had a comparable amount of attempts. Smith has 1464 attempts over the last three seasons. The other quarterbacks who have between 1400-1499 attempts are Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, and Andy Dalton. Rodgers and Dalton both have less attempts (1420 and 1445) and more touchdowns (87 and 68) than Alex Smith, and Cam Newton has thrown 76 touchdowns on only 33 more attempts. What is even more staggering is that all three of these quarterbacks have less total completions than Alex Smith, with Newton having 119 less completed passes than Smith over the last three seasons. Even if you factor in Smith's 8 rushing touchdowns, he ranks with Flacco, Mariota, and Taylor as the only quarterbacks out of this group who have accounted for less than 70 touchdowns over the last three seasons. So how is Alex Smith the third winningest quarterback since 2015? The answer would be in his supporting cast.
When Doug Williams stated that the current holes on the Redskins roster need to be filled, he was subconsciously indicting Alex Smith's record as a winner in the NFL. Alex Smith has had the luxury of having a Top 10 rushing offense in yards per game twice over the last three seasons in Kansas City, and he has had a Top 10 scoring defense (in points per game allowed) twice as well over that same time frame. To give perspective on that stat, Tom Brady is the only other quarterback with 40 or more starts who has had teams be Top 10 in both those areas over multiple seasons since 2015. Doug Williams is, or should be, keenly aware of this fact considering that the Redskins never gave Kirk Cousins either of those luxuries over his three years as a starter on this team. In fact, Kansas City's worst performances in these categories since 2015 (109.3 rushing ypg in 2016, and 21.2 ppg allowed in 2017) were better than any season the Redskins have in those categories over the same time frame. This means that Alex Smith has not been relied upon to be the primary provider of wins over the last three seasons in Kansas City, and he is walking into a situation that is the exact opposite. Kirk Cousins had to be the main guy the Redskins turned to in order win games over the last three seasons, especially last season where his offensive line single-handedly kept the sports medicine trade open in DC, his most talented receiving target played in only 6 games, and his defense went through countless iterations due to injury. The Redskins roster is much worse than the one Alex Smith left in Kansas City and Doug Williams knows it. Williams also knows, or should know, that the only way Alex Smith has been successful is when the supporting cast around him has been successful as well, which makes this a pivotal offseason for the tenure of all who are invested in the Redskins success.
The Redskins do not have Kareem Hunt's productivity, or Tyreek Hill's speed, or Travis Kelce's durability, or Justin Houston's sack production, or Eric Berry's coverage ability at safety. Most people in the know have stated that the Redskins current personnel does not have the talent the Chiefs had when Alex Smith was their quarterback, and it has only gotten worse for the Redskins so far in free agency. It will be up to Doug Williams to remedy the situation by putting the necessary pieces in place to make sure that Alex Smith has the necessary tools to be successful this season. It will be up to Jay Gruden to make sure that Alex Smith can use those tools to keep the Redskins win total comparable to what it was under Kirk Cousins. Alex Smith has proven that he can be a winner with the right supporting cast, and given that his best statistical season of his 13 year career came last year shows that he may be able to take on the challenges that the Redskins roster poses. But this season will be a test of front office acumen as mush as it will be about quarterback play. Doug Williams will need to acquire the right pieces, and Jay Gruden will need to position them so that Alex Smith can do the only thing he has been good at over the last five years of his career. Winning.
Alex Smith has been able to win 31 regular season games over the last three seasons. His regular season win total in that time span is only eclipsed by Cam Newton and Tom Brady. A look at his total stats over that time frame, however, should make Redskins fans wonder how he achieved that feat. Alex Smith has 46 regular season starts over the last three seasons, and when comparing his numbers to the 20 other quarterbacks with 40 or more starts (plus Aaron Rodgers who has 39 starts over the last three seasons) his numbers are fairly pedestrian if not concerning. Alex Smith has thrown for only 11,030 yards over the last three seasons which ranks him 13th out of this group. He has only thrown 61 TD's over the last three seasons. The only quarterbacks lower than Smith in that area are Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota, and Tyrod Taylor. Looking at that stat in another light would be to compare Alex Smith's 61 TD's to those quarterbacks who have had a comparable amount of attempts. Smith has 1464 attempts over the last three seasons. The other quarterbacks who have between 1400-1499 attempts are Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, and Andy Dalton. Rodgers and Dalton both have less attempts (1420 and 1445) and more touchdowns (87 and 68) than Alex Smith, and Cam Newton has thrown 76 touchdowns on only 33 more attempts. What is even more staggering is that all three of these quarterbacks have less total completions than Alex Smith, with Newton having 119 less completed passes than Smith over the last three seasons. Even if you factor in Smith's 8 rushing touchdowns, he ranks with Flacco, Mariota, and Taylor as the only quarterbacks out of this group who have accounted for less than 70 touchdowns over the last three seasons. So how is Alex Smith the third winningest quarterback since 2015? The answer would be in his supporting cast.
When Doug Williams stated that the current holes on the Redskins roster need to be filled, he was subconsciously indicting Alex Smith's record as a winner in the NFL. Alex Smith has had the luxury of having a Top 10 rushing offense in yards per game twice over the last three seasons in Kansas City, and he has had a Top 10 scoring defense (in points per game allowed) twice as well over that same time frame. To give perspective on that stat, Tom Brady is the only other quarterback with 40 or more starts who has had teams be Top 10 in both those areas over multiple seasons since 2015. Doug Williams is, or should be, keenly aware of this fact considering that the Redskins never gave Kirk Cousins either of those luxuries over his three years as a starter on this team. In fact, Kansas City's worst performances in these categories since 2015 (109.3 rushing ypg in 2016, and 21.2 ppg allowed in 2017) were better than any season the Redskins have in those categories over the same time frame. This means that Alex Smith has not been relied upon to be the primary provider of wins over the last three seasons in Kansas City, and he is walking into a situation that is the exact opposite. Kirk Cousins had to be the main guy the Redskins turned to in order win games over the last three seasons, especially last season where his offensive line single-handedly kept the sports medicine trade open in DC, his most talented receiving target played in only 6 games, and his defense went through countless iterations due to injury. The Redskins roster is much worse than the one Alex Smith left in Kansas City and Doug Williams knows it. Williams also knows, or should know, that the only way Alex Smith has been successful is when the supporting cast around him has been successful as well, which makes this a pivotal offseason for the tenure of all who are invested in the Redskins success.
The Redskins do not have Kareem Hunt's productivity, or Tyreek Hill's speed, or Travis Kelce's durability, or Justin Houston's sack production, or Eric Berry's coverage ability at safety. Most people in the know have stated that the Redskins current personnel does not have the talent the Chiefs had when Alex Smith was their quarterback, and it has only gotten worse for the Redskins so far in free agency. It will be up to Doug Williams to remedy the situation by putting the necessary pieces in place to make sure that Alex Smith has the necessary tools to be successful this season. It will be up to Jay Gruden to make sure that Alex Smith can use those tools to keep the Redskins win total comparable to what it was under Kirk Cousins. Alex Smith has proven that he can be a winner with the right supporting cast, and given that his best statistical season of his 13 year career came last year shows that he may be able to take on the challenges that the Redskins roster poses. But this season will be a test of front office acumen as mush as it will be about quarterback play. Doug Williams will need to acquire the right pieces, and Jay Gruden will need to position them so that Alex Smith can do the only thing he has been good at over the last five years of his career. Winning.
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
The Chronicles of Redskins Quarterbacks Part 14: Kirk Cousins
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.
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.
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.
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