mikmak

Shanahan would have pissed off a lot of people by putting in Cousins but it would have been the right call. Clearly RGIII wasn't right. Agree with HerculesStrong, why did Morris carry the ball so few times?? In the end inury or not the Seahawks are a more balanced team and I'm not surprised to see them go on.

Thanks. I have little doubt that the Giants wont be right up there next year. Cowboys just said they have all the faith in the world with Tony Romo so I dont see them doing much. Sad year for Andy Reed all around. I think he needs a year to clear his head.

Thats a valid critique. The option opens up the quarterback to injuries. Once you become a runner all that protecting the quarterback stuff is out the window other than the sliding rule. I think saying he'll end up crippled is pretty overblown though. I see him running less as his career goes on.

You said "tons of needs". Pretty much the same thing right? The pistol isn't the centerpiece of the Redskins offense but it's worked well for us. It's a combination zone blocking scheme, mixed with traditional Shannahan schemes and some read/option pistol stuff thrown in as well. RGIII hardly ran the pistol in college anyways. Funny how some people think something is a gimmick simply because it's new. Look at the teams in the playoffs and many of them are employing similar new wrinkles. Interesting article on some of these new looks. http://www.sbnation.com/longform/2012/12/27/3792740/pistol-offense-nfl-redskins-rg3

I already said I don't see us going far in the playoffs. Our defense is too easy to exploit and there's a lot of teams in the NFC that are really balanced. I simply commented on a post where someone claimed the Redskins are nowhere as good as the Giants. I don't recall ever coming in here and gloating. I don't think the Redskins look like a superbowl caliber team but they definitely look like a playoff caliber team and have the makings of a super bowl team in the coming years. As for RGIII being another Michael Vick. That's your opinion and I guess we'll find out if you're wrong. Other than both of them being able to run well I don't see much of a comparison.

Our offensive line has only one pro bowler but I could care less about that. It's about playing well together within a scheme and they do that great. It's not like Shannahan hasn't created well working offensive lines before. He's been to that pony show before so it's not just a weird coincidence that he's done it again. I'm perfectly happy with our line. Could use some more depth, some upgrades maybe but I'd be happy with what we've got now. You don't need a line of big names to have a great line. We're first in the league in rushing so I'm content there. Don't buy you're tons of holes on the offensive line. Receivers. Sure they could be better but we've got numerous guys with over 500 yards receiving so the ball is getting around. Tight ends with Logan Paulsen and Fred Davis (who was out all year) are above average. LB's you didn't mention Ryan Kerrigan who's almost as good as Orakpo. I'd said just as good maybe. Hall covered Bryant man to man all night last night and was a big reason Dallas didn't do much. He gets burned on occasion but he's a good corner. We'll have our two starting safeties back next year. But yeah we could improve our secondary. Getting Orakpo and Carriker back next year will also improve our pass rush. Wilson is just fine as a corner. Don't know where the nickel thing comes in? The only really valid claim you made was in regards to the secondary but it certainly ain't tons of holes. We didn't give up 3 years worth of picks for RGIII either. We swapped number one picks (number 6 to number 2). We also gave 2 years worth of number ones and a second round pick. No one is laughing at that trade now. College pistol offense? Just because you saw it a few times that's all of a sudden the only offense the Redskins use? Just because something is new doesn't mean it can't continue to work. Some people seem to think the only type of offense that can be run is old boring types that have been used for years and years. When the west coast offense came out everyone was saying the same thing. Just because it's a new offense it doesn't mean you can simply "figure it out". If you've got guys that can execute it it will continue to give teams problems just like any other offensive scheme. What makes RGIII so dangerous is he can drop back and throw great in the pocket as well.

I guess that would explain why you're not in the playoffs. LOL It's not a one read spread offense although that's what been used a lot against defenses like the Cowboys and Giants who are very aggressive. It works great against aggressive defenses that commit early. They show their hand early and end up leaving gaping holes. Not sure where the TONS of needs comes in or the 5 years worth of picks? Be interested to hear the logic behind that. The guys who got us into the playoffs are young, many of them rookies. I don't see us going particularly far in the playoffs but this team will be better next year and much of the talent is made up of young players. Eagles are going to need to rebuild but I would't be surprised if they are able to do that relatively fast. They do have good players and a new coach with some freshness might do wonders. Cowboys are going to have to give up on the Romo experiment. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Jerry needs to step down as GM (not going to happen) Giants. pretty much the same as always. Capable of playing really good or really bad. I think your offensive line needs some retooling. I can never figure out the Giants though. It's like certain skill positions are lights out or non existent even with the same players. strange. Must come down to coaching but you've won two super bowls with that approach so I guess it's not a bad trade off. Eli is the perfect example. He'll go long stretches where you start thinking of him in a Tom Brady, Rodgers etc. etc. type of category and than he'll play stretches where he looks like Rex Grossman. Redskins. Up and coming. A lot of young talent and much of it from lower round draft picks. Secondary is the biggest weakness. Having our two top safeties out for the year didn't help. We need more CB depth. Perry Riley is heir apparent to London Fletcher. I like our LB depth. Really like our quarterback situation and depth. It's foolish to think Cousins is a better passer than RGIII because of the numbers he put up against Cleveland. They basically committed to stopping the run and dared Cousins to beat him passing the ball. He's certainly a good backup to have though and could be a legitimate starter. I hope we don't trade him unless someone offers up a number 1 for him. Perfect game plan for last night. The Cowboys defense was really banged up so running the ball and keeping our suspect defense off the field made perfect sense. Especially considering RGIII's knee is still kind of messed up. His throws were off most of the night and you could see he wasn't setting up properly.

Not really although I admit when we play you guys it is. I think it just happens to work really well against the Giants style of defense.

Thought you meant Deion and on that I'd have to agree. I love's me some Monday Night Football but I live on the west coast so it starts earlier. The more football days the better.

Actually the option isn't used in Washington nearly as much as it would seem from that last game. I think the Redskins used it more due to the style of defense the Giants have which is very aggressive. The option works pretty good on a defense that shows their hand early. A lot of teams would try and counter an aggressive pass rush by either calling some quick slant or use some maximum protection scheme. The option simply reacts to whatever type of attack the defense employs and runs a play off of that. Also I think stretch running plays (Shannahan's bread and butter) work well against the Giants. I'm not going to argue with you about a good running game helping out a quarterback. Works the other way as well. A good passing game helps a running game. If we didn't have a good running game I'm sure RG3 would have a lower completion percentage. It's never one guy. Need to have receivers, a line etc. etc.. Regardless RG3's unique abilities give the Redskins the ability to do things a lot of teams can't. He's like a Michael Vick with a brain and a work ethic.

great argument :38 1:05 2:55 to name a few. And that's not even showing the game against the Cowboys and Eagles where the threw four touchdowns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU5ZJUUz1zU

And a key 4th quarter drive to take the lead. But I agree, Alfred Morris was our biggest weapon last night.

You weren't over matched by the Redskins. We're a team with some definite holes, especially on defense in the secondary. Big difference with Smith and Griffin. Playing to Smith's strengths involves taking away things he can't really do. Playing to Griffin's strengths is having him do things other quarterbacks can't. It's not like Griffin can't drop back, go through a progression and throw it to a receiver. He can make all the throws. Smith can't. Yeah, he can't read a defense like Peyton, Brady, Rodgers but he's a rookie. Luck can't do that either. We have the number 1 running offense so passing constantly ain't the best idea. Especially since we have a crappy defense and the less they are on the field the better. If your defense sucks and you run the ball very well than being pass happy doesn't seem like the wisest strategy.

My guess is "points a game" is what Shannahan is most concerned with when it comes to offense. Currently 8th and that's with our number one receiver out for most of the year and Fred Davis out for the year.

That's like saying a defender pretending to blitz but dropping back into coverage is a gimmick etc. etc.. And it ain't like the triple option is the only play the Redskins use. We seemed to use it more against the Giants since you're defense is very aggressive and commits to plays. The Redskins use a versatile offense because they've got a guy who can make use of it. It would be kind of a waste not to take advantage of some of the special skills RG3 has. Have him simply drop back and pass or hand it off. Dude's thrown for 2,660 yards with only 4 interceptions so it ain't just him running around the field all day. You make it sound like he's Tim Tebow or something. The guy is a straight up baller. http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/quarterbackRating/year/2012/seasontype/2

Haslett does something similar with continually going to prevent types of defense which is ridiculous considering how poor our secondary is. Any quarterback worth a salt can complete passes against us if we don't get a pass rush. Cornerbacks are supposed to have short memories but coaches aren't. If you see a scheme continually getting torched it's time to do something different.

flee flickers, onside kicks in the first quarter are gimmicks. Having options and reacting to defensive movement after the snap isn't a gimmick. Just because it's not the standard drop back three steps, get enough time to go through progressions and throw the ball doesn't make it a gimmick offense. Hell when the west coast offense came about you could have called that a gimmick offense. RG3 has a 104.4 quarterback rating and is completing 67% of his passes for the year. You don't put up those numbers by running a gimmick offense.

Way more than a few. Orakpo and Carriker out for the year = very mediocre pass rush. The secondary is close to being a joke. Both starting safeties are out for the year which routinely leaves gaping holes. I have no idea why the Giants decided to run the ball late in the game. One of the few areas the Redskins defense excels. Big head scratcher there. Haslett tries to make up for the horrible secondary by using a lot of different looks etc. etc.. That may be enough for us to slip into the playoffs somehow but this ain't a superbowl winning defense. Giants have issues as well and a bit of a tougher schedule so we could pull ahead. It will be an interesting four games to watch. You guys are up a game so the balls in your court.

He's the reason I don't get so pissed when we lose this season because he's a glimpse of what's to come. Plus it's like watching a god damn video game when he has the ball. I mean he's no Rex Grossman but I'm liking what I'm seeing.

I thought the feces on the naked body was simply camouflage used to blend in with that crappy city.

A bit early to be writing Cam Newton off me thinks. Big difference with RGIII he is one of the quarterbacks that studies and plans. He has all the tools to play like a traditional pocket quarterback and many of the plays are geared that way now. The pass to Moss was a perfect example. In the pocket, notices the one on one with Moss, guy in his face and he throws an absolutely perfect arching pass for a touchdown. Dude has a 70% completion average and only 3 interceptions. You don't do that without studying and playing smart. Compare that to Vick and Newton there first years.

I'd agree with you except I've seen too many games where I've had to say that about other teams we've played this year. At a certain point I just started accepting the fact that our secondary really is that bad.

Actually I think keeping it in Alfred's hands will be key. Our offense is one of the better offenses in the league right now so our best bet is to keep them on the field as long as possible. What you saw yesterday from the defense is pretty much the norm. Secondary routinely gets torched so teams have the ability to score fast on us. The game pretty much unfolded like I thought it would. The front 7 is fine, actually better than fine but the secondary just kind of floats around back there hoping they are in the right spot. It's not a pretty thing. That secondary is the one thing holding us back from being a really good team. Particularly the safeties.

I'm pretty old school. When I started watching football Billy Kilmer was our quarterback (I'm 42 now) so I remember the days when the Hogs were dishing it. It was always the Cowboys that I hated but it certainly ain't the same rivalry at all these days. Now it's kind of a meaningless one since I can't remember the last time the Cowboys and Redskins had a game that really meant a lot. The days when R.F.K. was bouncing up and down with "WE WANT DALLAS!!!" are a long time gone. If there's one team I really don't like in the division now it's the Eagles. Classless fans and a quarterback who murdered dogs.

Yeah, i imagine we'll resign Cooley now. Really with our secondary there's only so far we'll be able to go this season anyways. Regardless I'm enjoying the games and watching RGIII mature. I think he's going to be a special player and we've got quite a few good young players that are fun to watch. If we go 8-8 I'll be happy. Two many holes in the secondary to really have any kind of postseason even if we somehow snuck in. As it is I think were capable of beating any team and losing to any team without there being a big surprise.