The Washington Redskins Remember Sean Taylor

It’s something you want to forget, but take a moment to remember Sean Taylor.  The former Reskins safety was a promising young man and a rising star who was painfully snatched from his friends and family two years ago today.

Taylor emerged as the hard hitting face of the Washington Redskins defense, supplanting LaVar Arrington in that role. No one has replaced Taylor

Taylor was allegedly shot and killed in his home by a few degenerates who had taken advantage of his generosity to enter his home to rob him, according to charges brought by the Miami-Dade states attorney’s office.

The accused face trial in January 2010.

Taylor was Joe Gibbs’ first and best draft choice since returning to coach the Redskins in 2004. Gibbs passed up the chance to take Taylor’s Miami Hurricane teammate Kellen Winslow II with the fifth overall pick that year.

No one argued the choice but Winslow himself, who promised to make the Redskins pay for the snub. Joe Gibbs was the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers when Winslow’s father, the Kellen Winslow, gave lift to the Air Coryell Downfield Offense.

Young Winslow never made good on the threat on the field. Off the field, however, his rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns fed into Taylor’s heartburn about his deal with the Redskins.

Taylor would fire his agents and rehire Drew “Mr. Renegotiate” Rosenhaus, who he earlier dismissed.

Taylor had a rough start to pro football. He worked his way through missed rookie symposiums, late hit fines, trumped up traffic charges, a violent confrontation to recover stolen property and a famous incident where saliva escaped his lips onto Michael Pittman’s face.

Balancing the scales were Taylor’s big hits which induced fear, uncertainty, and doubt in receivers running anywhere near him.

In what has been called the Hand Of God game , Taylor snatched victory from certain defeat by those unwashed heathens from Dallas.

Taylor snagged a blocked field goal attempt  and returned it to the Cowboys 44 yard line to set up Nick Novak’s winning field goal. The Skins were helped by a face mask penalty against the Cowboys for grabbing Taylor’s face mask.   

In 2007, with fans clamoring for the Redskins to boost the defensive line by drafting DE Jamaal Anderson or DT Amobi Okoye, Washington selected LSU safety LaRon Landry to pair him with Taylor.

Only Joe Gibbs had the juice to make such a pick with little more than grumbling by the fanbase. But man, when the season began, we could see what Gibbs envisioned with Taylor and Landry. We could only dream of what was to come.

What did come was something worse. Just as Taylor and pro football were adjusting to each other, he was taken. Tragedy pushed Joe Gibbs and Daniel Snyder to their finest moments.

Gibbs held the team together and guided the players to channel love for Taylor to a playoff appearance in his honor. Snyder’s generosity was a text book case of how an owner should respond in the face of death.

The crises took a toll on Gibbs, who thought of what coaching was costing him in family time and eventually left the game. Snyder failed to show the leadership in 2009 that he did in 2007.   

Family, team, coaches, owner and fans have all been hurt by Taylor’s absence.

We don’t know what might have been had Taylor lived, but I am certain of this. There’s no damned way Tony Romo completes that pass  last Sunday if Sean Taylor were back there.             

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Why the Washington Redskins Will Play Quinton Ganther and Sit Marcus Mason

With more players in County General Hospital than at Redskin Park, Skins fans see players they don’t know well.

Introducing Quinton Ganther.

The Redskins signed the former Tennessee Titan to the roster in October. Andrew Strickert, a writer on the Total Titans Web Site, scouts Ganther for Redskin fans. Here’s Andrew’s assessment:

“Quinton Ganther is one of those guys every team needs. He’s a role player, who is multitalented, a jack of several trades type of player, able to fill several roles.

“As a running back, Ganther is a tough little runner. He’s not big or strong enough to gain many yards running off tackle or up the middle, but that’s still the best way to use him. He’ll mostly get a lot of one and two-yard gains. Ganther isn’t quite fast enough to run outside although he did have a long touchdown run in a preseason game a few years ago, when he bounced outside and then outran the bunched up defense.

“He’s a decent receiver coming out of the backfield, although it’s usually been as a dump-off from the QB. (In the Titans’ offense the only designed pass plays to RBs are for Chris Johnson.)

“Ganther’s strong suit as a back is his blocking, particularly his pass-blocking. I recall one drill in training camp for the linebackers to rush the quarterback against running backs in pass protection. This drill was set up in a way which gave the linebackers the advantage, but Ganther was still successful in protecting the dummy QB. Ganther was one of only two backs who were able to protect the QB in this drill; the LBs did what they were expected to do against the other RBs.

“The area where Ganther has made the biggest contribution is on special teams. He’s effective as a blocker on the kick return and punt return units and can cover kicks and punts as well. Ganther can also be used as a wing on the FG/PAT team.

“Ganther has been the de facto backup fullback for the Titans and can contribute there for you if needed.”

“In my opinion, Ganther is a much better all-around football player than Chris Henry, formerly a second-round draft pick by the Titans, who was looked at by the Redskins earlier this season. You’re fortunate, you’re better off with Ganther than you would have been with Henry. Ganther would have made the Titans final 53-man roster after training camp if not for a leg injury in the final preseason game. We’ve missed him on special teams, which would have been his role again this year.”

Pass blocking and special teams are perceived weaknesses of Marcus Mason, who maintains a strong following in the DC area.

Ganther was first signed to the Redskin roster in October, about the time the Skins released Mason. Ganther, too, was cut only to be resigned November 11.

Mason is back on the roster for his third bite of the apple. The Redskins signed him for his familiarity with the offense. They’ve made their thoughts about Mason abundantly clear by twice releasing him.

So, we will see more of Ganther Sunday in Philadelphia than of Mason.

Roster moves are a test of the front office. Most of the NFL world has judged Redskin football czar Vinny Cerrato. In-season roster changes are another way to assess the guy.

Redskin fans have to hope Ganther does well even if it makes Cerrato look good.

I’d call that a quandary.

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BREAKING NEWS: Marcus Mason Returns To The Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins signed running back Marcus Mason to a new contract.  The Washington area native will be in uniform for Sunday’s game with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The signing is a “done deal” according to Chris Russel, Redskins beat reporter for 106.7 FM THE FAN who related the news on The Mike Wise Show this afternoon.

There are no other media reports about the Redskins and Mason yet, but the team has a clear need at running back. The Redskins reported on their Web Site that Ladell Betts and right guard Chad Rinehart are lost for the remainder of the season.

Starting running back Clinton Portis is expected to miss the game with Philadelphia.

Mason worked out for the New England Patriots this month, and he also spent time on the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets rosters.

Mason continues to be a local favorite but was unable to stick with with the team. Washington’s coaches have been concerned with Mason’s blocking abilities and his overall fit on special teams. He was released in October to create roster space for tackle Levi Jones.

But man, can Marcus run.

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Washington Redskins In Dallas: High Character, Low Scoring, Dumb Uniform

Dennis Green’s famous rant is the best summation of the Washington Redskins 7-6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

You know the one: they are what we thought they were and we let ’em off the hook and stuff.

I’m not going to focus on the two missed field goals—Shaun Suisam’s first two of the season—or the three first half turnovers the Skins could have made. There will be enough of that over the next few days.

The Redskin players haven’t quit on the season. For 57 minutes, the Redskins got the better of the Cowboys in Dallas. For 57 minutes while holding a thin lead, without Ladell Betts (knee) or Clinton Portis, or Chris Cooley, or Chad Rinehart (fibula), or a touchdown, Washington’s play gripped us. 

They just didn’t finish the job.

If Washington doesn’t have the quality of depth to win the game, they have the quality of character to be in it. That’s a carryover from Joe Gibbs that I like.

But as Green said, we let ’em off the hook.

The last two long drives of the fourth quarter says something about the ‘Skins and ‘Boys.

With 11:58 in the quarter and Washington holding a six point lead, the Skins went for balance with five passing plays and four running plays. They converted a first down by passing and gained one on a pass interference call.

Washington played the percentages at the end of the drive: three runs for eight yards to set up a down the middle 50 yard field goal attempt. Make it and we steal a win at Jerry’s house. But Suisam missed for the second time in the game.

The Skins didn’t take a single shot in those three calls to score a touchdown or to get closer for Suisham. Who decides those things?

Jerry Jones criticized Cowboy playcallling for going away from the run. Why else would you dump Terrell Owens except to lean more on the running game?

The Cowboys rushed 33 times for 153 yards and got nothing from it. They won the game by doing what Jones criticized them for–passing the ball. Tony Romo completed seven of eight passes and made a key scramble for a first down on the winning scoring drive. Aggressive.

Whatever you think of Tony Romo, he’s a gunslinger. That’s what I like about him. He has 15 touchdown passes after today’s game. Few will praise Jason Campbell for his 24 of 37 performance when he’s scoreless. 

Cowboy fan frustration with Romo is qualitatively higher than Redskin fan frustration with Campbell.

The Redskins’ focus since Gibbs II is to take care of the ball. That’s understandable after the Fun ‘N’ Gun days, but it’s a Gibbs II carryover I do not like.

The point of football is to score touchdowns.   

No touchdowns today, but Redskin players didn’t quit.

Extra Point No. One: Flush that burgundy on burgundy look. The Redskins are 0-2 in that uniform. The Redskin Retro uniform would have been better. When I say Retro, I mean the arrowhead look, not that pseudo-Packer Circle R.   

Extra Point No. Two: Clock management and play calling at the end of the half and the game may indicate too many cooks in the kitchen. Sherman Lewis will have to work that out with Jim Zorn and Sherman Smith. Preseason is the time to do that. This is a no-win situation for Lewis, Smith and Zorn because we’ll be into December before the process is refined.  

Extra Point No. Three: ESPN 980 “Redskins Radio” reports that Ladell Betts has both a torn ACL and MCL. Have the Skins texted Marcus Mason yet?

 

 

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Jason Campbell: How Do You Like Me Now, Josh McDaniels?

The Washington Redskins’ unexpected win over the Denver Broncos must have been especially sweet for Skins’ QB Jason Campbell.

Campbell was rejected by rookie Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels last spring in Daniel Snyder’s aborted trade offer of a Campbell for Jay Cutler swap.

In a public embarrassment for Campbell, Snyder was not able to entice any other team to give up a second round draft pick for Campbell that might have sweetened the offer to Denver.

Doubts are still the issue for Campbell who never-the-less established himself as a mid-tier starting quarterback. But Campbell must have circled the Broncos date for his “I’ll show you, Josh McDaniels” game. (I know I would have.) 

Campbell may deny it. That would be just like him. But anger, properly channelled, is a powerful motivator. Jason Campbell has to be the spark that ignites the team.

The Washington Redskins may yet finish 8-8.  

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Phillip Daniels Is My Favorite Redskin Friend

Of all the athletes I friended on Facebook (to friend is a verb on Facebook), Washington Redskins DE Phillip Daniels is my favorite.

Daniels does what friends do, introduce themselves, and invite you into their personal space.

Daniels proudly shares the exploits of his football playing son, DeVaris, a junior wide receiver at Vernon Hills (Illinois) High School. Daniels’ Facebook entry today linked to a profile of DeVaris in Sporting News Today (Nov 8, 2009).

You don’t see coverage of Chicago high school sports in the DC Metro area. Facebook lets a proud poppa to share the news with his friends, all 1,106 of them on Facebook in Daniels’ case.

The Redskins non-pass rushing defensive end doesn’t get much press outside of games. Yet I know him, though we’ve never met, because of what he shares on Facebook.  

Daniels thanked his fans who congratulated him on Facebook for winning the Ed Bloch Courage Award. He announced on Facebook his intent to play through a torn bicep injury about the time that news was released through NFL channels.

In a discouraging season, Daniels shares his disappointment in the outcome without ever going negative. He’s one of the few players to reach out directly to Washington’s camp followers. 

He is believable when he says he feels badly for the fans because of his active, personal relationship with them. 

Daniels hopes to build a sports agent business after his playing days (I learned that on Facebook) that could be launched by the time DeVaris Daniels leaves college.

Pro teams start scouting prospects when they are in high school. The Skins are still looking for a super star receiver to draft. With their track record, they’ll still be looking when DeVaris turns pro. I wouldn’t count on any family discounts from Daniels, but maybe he will say something about it on Facebook.

Chris Cooley is the king of blogs among football players. Daniels and Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald have this Facebook thing down pat.

I know because they are friends of mine. 

Daniels’ post about DeVaris reminds me that former Hog Russ Grimm’s son, Cody, is a senior strong safety for Virginia Tech . He is credited with 72 total tackles, one sack, and three forced fumbles so far this year. 

So lets say, in the wildest dreams of the Redskin faithful, that Russ Grimm is head coach next season. How does that play out when comes time to draft a strong safety?

I’ll check that out on Cody’s Facebook profile.

Russ Grimm–still one of the football names ever.

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Vote for Brian Orakpo: NFL Rookie Of The Week

Washington Redskins rookie defensive end/linebacker Brian Orakpo is up for Week 9 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week following his four-tackle, two-sack performance against the Atlanta Falcons. (H/T to Redskins.com )

Fan votes are tabulated on NFL.com through noon on Friday, Nov. 13.

Orakpo is up against Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman, Detroit receiver Brandon Pettigrew, Pittsburgh receiver Mike Wallace, and Indianapolis cornerback Jerraud Powers.

Um, we know quarterbacks get all the love in these things and Wallace made a good showing on Monday Night Football.

Brian’s going to need every vote he can get, so get thee to NFL.com and cast thy vote right now.

Tell your friends.

When does Pro Bowl voting open?

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What Mike Holmgren Really Meant Was….

Maybe we’ve got Mike Holmgren all wrong.  What if he wasn’t writing off Washington as his next coaching home, but instead was opening negotiations with the Redskins on working conditions? 

Take a second look at Holmgren’s statement criticizing the Redskins’ treatment of head coach Jim Zorn and try to read between the lines.

Holmgren closed his discussion of the Redskins on ESPN Radio Chicago by saying:

“Jim Zorn is one of the nice people.  I’m a nice guy, but I’m not that nice .  Jim Zorn is really a nice man.  What they did, I did not like it at all.” (Emphasis mine.)

Now, here’s what Holmgren might have meant:

If those clowns and their idiot lawyers try that [crap] on me when I’m in Washington, I will crush them.

I’m not yet sold on Holmgren, especially for anything more than head coach.  He did not succeed in Seattle until the Seahawks made him give up his general manager role.

But Holmgren is not a man to be trifled with.  It counts in his favor that he would dominate the football discussion in Redskin Park in ways that Zorn cannot.

That’s something to think about.

Daniel Snyder may someday feel as bad for Zorn as he does for Redskin fans.  By now it must have sunk in even to him the damage done by his October antics.  Zorn is a member of Holmgren’s large coaching family.  He will find work as offensive coordinator or position coach somewhere in the Holmgren network next year. 

A Holmgren disciple might view the Skins with reluctance after the treatment of their brother.  And they might have second thoughts about running the West Coast Offense with Washington’s talent after watching Zorn struggle.

What exactly would they do that Zorn hasn’t tried?  They will ask Zorn about that.

So, the Danny has some cleaning up to do.  Yesterday’s psuedo-sympathetic offering to fans was a half-step. 

(Hey Danny, you feel sorry for someone when you were standing on the corner and witnessed an accident.  You apologize to someone when you were behind the wheel and caused the wreck.)

Fixing the front office by naming a respected general manager with independence of action might entice Holmgren or Mike Shanahan to DC. 

There’s only a 33 percent chance of that happening, so I’m warming up to the idea of hiring consultants out of retirement.

Lets hire former New York Giants GM Ernie Accorsi for a few weeks this offseason to be another set of eyes for Vinny Cerrato.

We won’t ask Accorsi to do much, just light duty work like evaluate players, clean up the salary cap, run the draft, and fix all the sacks and stuff.

What’s good for the goose is sauce for the gander.

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Vinnie Cerrato Needs a Good Answer for Mike Holmgren

What will Vinny Cerrato say now?

The Washington Redskins executive vice president lambasted Steve Largent after the Hall Of Fame receiver and former Congressman spoke up in support of his friend Jim Zorn. 

Today, Super Bowl coach Mike Holmgren said the Redskins were “very unfair” to both Jim Zorn and Sherm Lewis.

“You can be upset with me as a play-caller or how the team’s going, [then] fire me,” Holmgren said. “But don’t do that. Don’t pull the rug out from under me, tie my hands, make me look foolish…take away what I came there for to do in the first place. Don’t do that.”

Holmgren made his comments today on the Waddle and Silvy Show on ESPN 1000, serving the Chicago market.

Most of Holmgren’s interview covered Brett Favre and Jay Cutler. The portion on Zorn comes at 8:14 of the interview found on Waddle and Silvy podcast of the show.

Jason Reid transcribed Holmgren’s comments today on Redskins Insider .

So, Little Danny Snyder’s adolescent rage against Zorn could have big time consequences if Homgren interviews for a 2010 Redskin head coach vacancy.

Tell me Daniel, how do you react to adversity during the season? Do you fix problems, or fix blame?

As Ricky said to Lucy, Snyder and Cerrato have a lot of ‘splainin’ to do.

Forget about any big name coach here next year. Holmgren and Mike Shanahan will have five or six options if they want to return to the sideline in 2010. All of them will be more attractive than the Redskins.

Tony Dungy and Bill Cowher are firmly retired.

Marty Schottenheimer declared that he would never work for Daniel Snyder—a year before he actually worked for him—so anything goes. But after 10 years, everybody knows that Snyder can’t change his spots.

Snyder is likely to find a young, hungry, and pliable assistant coach you’ve never heard of to take the job.

Don’t exclude Jim Zorn either. If the Redskins manage seven wins or better, Zorn likely stays. That would be the fitting end to a bizarre season.    

 

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Chris Cooley, We Feel Your Pain

The way the Internet brings fans into the player’s world is magical—especially when the hero-player opens the door.

Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley opens up wide on his chriscooley47 blog, mostly written by his brother, Tanner.

Chris reached a new high today by sharing a career low point—his broken ankle suffered Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cooley had corrective surgery today. He and his family shared the experience, pictures and all, on his blog. I’ll just send you there and let Captain Chaos speak. (Or rather wife Christy and Tanner speak for him.)

First thing’s first, Chris. Get well and come back healthy. There’s no rush. It’s not like we are going to the Super Bowl or anything.

In the past, I’ve said that Chris Cooley blocking is Chris Cooley wasted, speaking of the too-frequent need for the tight end to stay in and block rather than run a pass pattern.

Fred Davis filled Cooley’s shoes against the Eagles, catching eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. He was the leading receiver in the game.

That was great to see. However, color analysts Ron Jaworski and future Redskins head coach Jon Gruden pointed out repeated breakdowns in Davis’ blocking game.

I guess there’s no satisfying fans, because now I miss Cooley’s blocking.

Washington’s wounded reads more like a casualty list than an injury report. Davis has to get better at blocking in the next two weeks. The state of the offensive line demands it.

So let’s wish Davis well as he develops that part of his game. He showed Monday night that he can be a beast. We need to see more of Davis and Devin Thomas catching touchdowns in the same game.

That goes for you, too, Malcolm Kelly.

 

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