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Washington Redskins Fans: There’s No Crying In Football
Published: November 12, 2009
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One of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever witnessed in my adult life is a mid-season switch by a football fan. My buddy, we’ll call him Kevin because that’s his name, a former Redskins fan, made a mid-season switch to the New York Giants the year they won the Super Bowl.
How can he call himself a real Giants fan? Furthermore, how can he call himself a real man?
Yes, the state of the Washington Redskins is abysmal to say the least. No, there’s not much hope in the near future. But, as Redskins fans flee from fandom like a herd of antelope eluding a pride of lions, they’re missing the point of being a fan.
It’s a roller-coaster ride. There are ups and downs. But the agony of defeat only makes the thrill of victory all the more worthwhile.
I passed another Redskins fan in the grocery store yesterday. We both donned ‘Skins hats despite the ridicule we’ve undoubtedly received from the rest of the football nation.
As we passed, we made eye contact and exchanged a simple, solemn nod. Ah, a true fan, the pain was evident in his eyes.
As the resident sportswriter amongst my peers, I’m often called upon to offer some hope for the coming weeks. “What’s wrong with the (insert expletive) Redskins?”
I wish I could be more comforting, but I’m a realist. There are so many issues that need to be addressed. Jason Campbell is not a franchise quarterback. The offensive line is too old, too beat-up, and too much resembles a sieve.
Some big physical receivers would be nice to complement Santana Moss. Portis lacks the vision to make cuts when a rare hole is there. Let’s face it, he’s done. But hey, if Chris Cooley was healthy, they’d be in pretty good shape at tight end.
Defensively, the Redskins aren’t as lacking. Haynesworth simply wasn’t worth the money, nor DeAngelo Hall. There is a lack of depth at linebacker where London Fletcher seems to be the only Redskin that plays with heart every Sunday.
But on the bright side, Brian Orakpo has shown that he has the makings of a future perennial Pro-Bowler. Hey, there’s a plus!
Here’s what we know. At the end of this season, where four wins would be a surprise, changes are imminent.
Jim Zorn is gone. Poor guy wasn’t given much of a chance, but allowing him to finish the season as merely a figurehead was a gesture of good faith from owner Dan Snyder. “Gee, thanks Dan, you (insert another expletive, maybe two).
Snyder will go after a big name to take the reins. He seems to have pissed off Mike Holmgren enough to alienate him from the job. Jon Gruden is the most likely candidate because former Broncos coach Mike Shannahan would want control of the front office, something Snyder refuses to relinquish. Hmmm…interesting.
Campbell is hitting the free agent highway. I’m not sure he’ll ever have another starting job in the NFL. Todd Collins is ancient. So, there will be a new face behind center next year.
Knowing GM Vinny Cerrato, Washington will draft a quarterback next year, followed by a couple of unnecessary skill players on the defensive side. Ah, now we’re getting to the crux of the problem.
The only time Cerrato has drafted an offensive lineman in the first or second round of an NFL draft was in 1999 when Jon Jansen was scooped up as an early second-rounder. Somebody needs to tell this man that the battle is won in the trenches.
Snyder wants his fans to believe that he is doing everything he can to help this team win. If only he would shut up and listen for a second. Dan, take note.
The Miami Dolphins were 1-15 in 2007. Enter Bill Parcels and Tony Sparano. The Miami Dolphins went to the playoffs last year.
I admit, the immediacy of the turnaround is very unusual, but one can’t possibly argue against the impact that those two men had on that franchise. There is a bright future in Miami.
If Dan Snyder really wants to win, if he’s really true to his word, then he will find the right man to run the Washington Redskins, someone who can build a culture that breeds success. Then, he’ll sit back, listen, and watch the franchise return to its former proud self.
Until that day, Redskins fans will continue to suffer each and every Sunday, and sometimes on Mondays.
But, there’s no excuse to leave the fandom. Be a man. Stand by your team. Wait out the storm. And remember, there’s no crying in football.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Washington Redskins Will Benefit from Competition at Cornerback
Published: July 29, 2009
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It’s hard to really determine how good the Washington Redskins secondary was in 2008. The word solid comes to mind—Washington ranked seventh in the league in passing yards, giving up just over 193 yards per game, and allowed only 16 touchdowns through the air.
The word opportunistic does not come to mind, however. The Redskins accumulated a measly 18 turnovers last year. That number could have been marginally higher if it were not for a case of the drops in the secondary. Some of those drops could have been game changers.
On the flip side, it’s only fair to point out that the secondary operated without much help from a pass rush. It doesn’t take a defensive mastermind to understand that the pass rush generates turnovers and turnovers lead to wins.
The Redskins organization understands this; thus the acquisition of Albert Haynesworth and the drafting of Brian Orakpo. They also grabbed Jeremy Jarmon in the supplemental draft. The offseason gains will drastically improve the pass rush.
That may be the necessary component to catapult the Washington defensive backs from solid to dominant. They should have plenty of help from the safety position as well.
Chris Horton was a certifiable stud as a rookie last year and LaRon Landry continues to make strides towards becoming one of the elite safeties in the league—it’s a shame Sean Taylor can’t still be there to alligator-arm receivers across the middle.
Nevertheless, a good pass rush will allow the corners to play aggressive, physical man-to-man defense, something they weren’t able to do effectively minus a menacing pass rush.
There shouldn’t be any speculation as to who the starting cornerbacks are. The Redskins spent a bundle to keep DeAngelo Hall in town, signing him to a six year, $54 million contract. Hall’s reputation had him billed as a problematic player after his release from the Raiders organization.
His time with the Redskins last year was apparently a test in which he passed—the question is: Will he continue to perform at a high level after signing the major deal?
Hall has playmaking ability, there’s no question about that. It will be interesting to see what he is capable of playing for a defense that is loaded with talent all over the football field.
Carlos Rogers has shown the ability to be one of the better cover corners in the league; however, his play has been inconsistent at times. Picking off passes is not his forte either; he has only six interceptions in his four-year career.
But if Rogers can stay healthy, he is perfectly capable of being a shut-down cornerback, even more so with the upgrade to the pass rush.
With Shawn Springs’ departure, the third spot on the depth chart is up for grabs, although all indications point to veteran Fred Smoot as of now. His playing time declined slightly last year, but Smoot is a fan favorite and a leader in the clubhouse, not to mention one of the best trash talkers in the game. But age may be sneaking up on him.
Kevin Barnes should challenge Smoot for the nickel corner spot. There has already been some mild, hopefully friendly trash talk between the two. The Skins’ third-round pick out of Maryland has been impressive in OTA’s, markedly with his ability to get his hands on the football, and more importantly, hang onto it.
Good hands is not his only major asset. At 6’0”, 190 lbs, Barnes can match up well with some of the more physical receivers in the league. If he continues to progress, there’s no question that he will compete for playing time this year, and may overtake Smoot on the depth chart.
Justin Tryon, the Skins’ fourth-round pick out of Arizona State last year, is in the mix as well. He didn’t see the playing field last year but has track-star speed and a chance to compete for a top-four spot on the roster. At only 5’9”, he will really need to impress in camp and preseason in order to outmaneuver Barnes.
Byron Westbrook and Doug Dutch are both undrafted free agents who hope to make a roster spot. Westbrook has spent the last two years on the practice squad, but could sneak his way on with his special teams play.
Dutch is a converted wide receiver rookie out of Michigan. With the talent ahead of them, both will need to garner serious attention with their play to rise up the depth chart.
Fierce competition in training camp can only be a good thing for the Washington Redskins. Barring serious injury, the cornerback position is deep and talented. If competition serves its purpose appropriately, the level of play should make this one of the best secondaries in the NFL.
