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17Nov

getting defensive about redskins’ line

In blog, football by b murf / November 17, 2009 / 1 Comment

(photos by Brian Murphy)

We can’t help but laugh when we see supposed experts babble on about how defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth has somehow underachieved since joining the Washington Redskins.

Simply put, any person taking this stance is either a.) trying to say something sensational in hopes of drawing attention to himself or 2.) completely clueless.

That’s because anyone who is actually familiar with the Redskins over the last several years knows that there are several constants with this team.

Regardless of what scheme the coaches choose to run, this offense is at its best when running the football. The defense routinely ranks in the top 10, but struggles to get sacks or create turnovers. The special teams are awful whenever Antwaan Randle El is prominently involved. Okay, that last point has nothing to do with this, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

But back to the defense. Here’s a breakdown of the last five seasons:

In 2005, the Redskins defense, which ranked ninth overall, had 35 sacks on the year (tied for 20th in the NFL), and were led by defensive end Phillip Daniels with eight sacks. Linebacker Marcus Washington was second on the team with 7.5.

In 2006, the Redskins defense, which ranked 31st overall, had 19 sacks on the year (32nd in the NFL), and were led by defensive end Andre Carter with six sacks. Daniels was second on the team with three.

In 2007, the Redskins defense, which ranked eighth overall, had 33 sacks on the year (tied for 16th in the NFL), and were led by Carter with 10.5 sacks. Washington was second on the team with five.

In 2008, the Redskins defense, which ranked fourth overall, had 24 sacks on the year (tied for 28th in the NFL), and were led by Carter with four sacks. Defensive linemen Demetric Evans and Jason Taylor tied for second with 3.5.

Currently, the Redskins defense is ranked fifth overall and has 24 sacks through just nine games (tied for seventh in the NFL), led by Carter with eight sacks. Rookie linebacker Brian Orakpo is second on the team with seven.

Notice anything? Like the fact that the Redskins have already matched last season’s total of 24 sacks with seven games left on the schedule. That couldn’t be because of Fat Albert, could it?

People seem fixated on two things – the $41 million in guaranteed salary that the ‘Skins gave Haynesworth to come to D.C. and the percentage of plays Albert is in the game for (he’s second on the defensive line, behind only Carter). Okay, a third area folks pay attention to is the number of times per game Haynesworth is on the ground, apparently suffering from a catastrophic injury … or catching his breath. These things happen.

But here’s what we’re getting at – this defensive line is playing at a higher level than any other time in the last five seasons. Offenses have to double or triple team Haynesworth, which frees up guys like Carter and Orakpo to make plays. Look at the numbers:

Carter has registered seven sacks in the last five games. This from a guy who just one season ago had four sacks in 16 games. Orakpo is a rookie who has been forced to play out of his natural position because the team needs him to fill in for a thin linebacker unit.

That being said, Orakpo still has seven sacks this season, which is a new Redskins rookie record. Orakpo’s seven sacks are already the most in a season by any NFL rookie since 2006, when Chicago’s Mark Anderson registered 12.

In addition to his eight sacks, Carter also has 11 quarterback hits and 14 QB pressures this year. Orakpo has seven sacks, five hits and seven QB pressures. Throw in Haynesworth’s three sacks, eight hits and 10 QB pressures, and it’s readily apparent that Denver quarterback Chris Simms isn’t alone in looking like he’s running for his life against the Redskins’ new and improved defensive front.

“All season it seems we’ve been playing from behind,” said Orakpo, who is 10th in the league in sacks. “This game was a chance for us to really pin our ears back and go. As a defensive end, that’s our dream – to pin our ears back and create havoc.

“I’m just having fun,” Orakpo continued. “Everybody was playing with passion and enthusiasm, and it made everyone play well. Guys are really stepping up and making plays.”

With seven sacks in five games, we asked Carter if this is the best stretch of his career.

“Honestly, everything is a blur,” said Carter, who is tied for sixth in the NFL in sacks. “I just play hard. Maybe earlier in my career I’d think about that stuff, like ‘Okay, I’ve got to get there. I’ve got to make this play.’ But now, I just play hard for God, my family and the Redskins.”

We understand where you’re coming from, but at this point, we can put you down for a sack a game and know you’re going to get it …

(Laughs). “It’s just all about growth,” he said. “This is my ninth year. You’ve just got to turn it on and hope the football gods call your number. I’m just trying to make the best of this experience and whatever happens, happens.”

What about Orakpo? What have you seen from the rookie so far this year?

“Rak’s doing well,” Carter said. “Although, I have to tell him every time we get a half sack, he needs to stop taking my sacks. No … I’m very proud of him. He’s going to be a special player, and he’s coming along very well. He’ll be able to take over for me when I’m up and out of here. Hopefully, that’s not too soon.”

Even if you’re not a statistics junkie, there’s the eyeball test. Too often last year, quarterbacks had all the time in the world to make plays. This year … not so much.

“I made this comment before, and it’s hard to listen to, but last year I felt like we had some quarterbacks feel very comfortable in the pocket,” said head coach Jim Zorn. “This year we are making quarterbacks uncomfortable in the pocket. Now, you can see when a team has extended time [in the pocket] what they can do, even on that one overthrown deep pass, there was some extended time there that allowed him to see that throw. Now it was overthrown and we weren’t hurt by it, but we could’ve been severely hurt by it.

“The pressure we’re getting on the quarterback is creating the sense for the quarterback, ‘I’ve got to get rid of the ball sooner,’” Zorn continued. “We’ve created some inaccurate throws. We’ve seen this with ourselves, so we know what it does. I’m really proud of what our defense is doing this year, and I’m proud of those guys that are getting the sacks – there are some unsung heroes in that. I think the guys are working hard to get their sacks, but the team is working well.”

Zorn didn’t specifically mention Haynesworth, but then again, he didn’t need to. Anyone actually watching the Redskins week in and week out can see the impact the big man is having each and every Sunday.

16Nov

broncos playlist

In blog, football, playlist by b murf / November 16, 2009 / 2 Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

1. “Keep Ya Head Up” by 2Pac

Morale was at an all-time low. Fans spoke of staging protests, walkouts and any other form of demonstration to show their disgust. Bench the quarterback. Fire the general manager. Hell, sell the team. This is what Washington Redskins football had become in 2009.

On the field, things were just as dire. The Redskins stood 2-6 at the midpoint of the season, and even in their rare victories, there was little cause for celebration. Beating two of the league’s doormats by a combined five points does little to soothe the situation.

So it goes without saying that the Redskins 27-17 victory over the Denver Broncos Sunday was just what the doctor ordered. Not only did the good guys get a win in a season in which they’ve been hard to come by, but they did so in a completely satisfying manner.

Beating the winless St. Louis Rams 9-7 with a woeful “offense” consisting of just three fieldgoals doesn’t cut it. Beating the 6-2 Broncos in a game in which you trailed three different times and broke the 17-point barrier for the first time all year … well … that’s a different story.

Think back to the Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles last month. When Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson scored a 67-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the game, everyone in attendance pretty much knew the game was over.

Flash back to this week’s game and it was déjà vu all over again, as Denver wideout Brandon Marshall caught a 40-yard bomb just over two minutes into the game to give the Broncos the quick start that typically buries Washington.

“We’re not good enough to allow those kind of big plays,” defensive tackle Phillip Daniels said to us after the game.

Everything we’d seen up until this point backed Daniels up. And yet, the Redskins offense took over and promptly marched down the field with a 12-play, 78-yard touchdown drive. That drive said more about this team than anything else that’s happened this year. With every reason in the world to just give up, the Redskins “B Team” stepped up. They didn’t just put points on the board; they gave hope to a fanbase that was completely beaten down and in need of something, anything other than venom and negativity.

2. “Chillin” by Wale

If that first-quarter score was the single most important moment of the 2009 season, then who was the bona fide playmaker who made it happen? “Touchdown” Todd Yoder, of course. For the second time in as many weeks, Yoder stepped up to help fill the void created when Pro Bowler Chris Cooley was sidelined with an ankle injury during the Eagles game. His stats might not do him justice – two catches for five yards and two touchdowns – but that doesn’t mean he’s not getting it done.

Yoder is now tied with Cooley and wide out Santana Moss for the team lead in receiving touchdowns on the year. And if that doesn’t impress you, consider this – Cooley finished the 2008 season with just one touchdown catch. In two games since Yoder went Mohawk, he’s got two touchdowns. The 31-year-old has been so clutch since he changed up his hairstyle, that other members of the organization would be wise to make the switch (if you get our drift, Vinny Cerrato).

3. “You Can Do Better Than Me” by Death Cab for Cutie

Hey, remember back during the offseason when the biggest story in town was the Jay Cutler sweepstakes? Having tired of the situation in Denver, Cutler cried until the team decided to trade him and the Redskins, like several other teams, immediately contacted the Broncos to inquire about the situation.

At the end of the day, the Chicago Bears “won” the right to have Cutler throw five interceptions a game while the Broncos brought in Kyle Orton and the Redskins were left with Jason Campbell and his bruised ego. So it was fitting that Campbell and Orton squared off in a game we jokingly referred to as the Bridesmaid’s Bowl.

Orton was forced out of the game at halftime with an ankle strain, but still ended up with solid numbers, completing 11 of 18 passes for 193 yards, two touchdowns and an impressive 134.7 QB rating. Campbell wasn’t too shabby himself, completed 17 of 26 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown and a 100.3 QB rating. Campbell also completed passes to nine different Redskins receivers.

4. “The Fixer” by Pearl Jam

Campbell and Orton weren’t the only two players throwing passes at FedEx Field Sunday. When Orton was injured, Denver backup Chris Simms (minus his spleen) was called into action. In related news, the game quickly took a turn for the worse for the Broncos with Orton sidelined.

Simms completed just three of his 13 attempts for 13 yards with an interception. And with no production from the quarterback position, Denver quickly fell apart, as illustrated by their 36 yards of total offense after halftime.

On the flip side, we have Hunter “The Punter” Smith, who you might remember from such films as “I rush for touchdowns for fun” back in Week 1. Well, Smith was called into action on a 53-yard fake fieldgoal attempt in the second quarter that should have failed on multiple levels, and yet, somehow worked.

For starters, the Redskins faced fourth down and 20. The odds of converting that play are slim. They’re even worse when you take the field with only 10 men, as the Redskins initially did. Once the coaches realized they were missing a player, the team was forced to burn a timeout. The problem was – just before the time out was called, the Redskins shifted out of field goal formation, with kicker Shaun Suisham going in motion and lining up as a receiver.

So really, the Redskins showed their hand to the Broncos and then dared to run the play anyway. And somehow the second time was a charm. Smith took the snap and immediately rolled right. Inexplicably, the Broncos were still completely caught off guard and Smith had all the time in the world to scan the field for any possible options to throw the ball to.

Finally, in what seemed like an eternity later, Hunter found fullback Mike Sellers, who was completely wide open down the left sideline. The Redskins scored the backbreaking touchdown and from that moment on, had all the moment in their favor.

So while fans can debate whether the Broncos were wise to choose Orton over Campbell, there is no debate that they’d have been better off with Smith instead of Simms, who finished the day with an embarrassing passer rating of 7.5.

Hunter “The Punter” went one for one for 35 yards, a touchdown and a perfect 158.3 QB rating, which means he beat Simms by a mere 150.8 in the QB rating department.

Question of the day: what would you have said if before the season we told you that two of your most productive offensive weapons would be Todd Yoder and Hunter Smith?

“I’d have said you’re crazy, man,” admitted linebacker Brian Orakpo.

And you know what? We wouldn’t have blamed you.

5. “So Fresh, So Clean” by Outkast

As we were driving to the game, we couldn’t help but think of Bill Simmons, of ESPN.com fame. For years he’s touted something called the Ewing Theory, which is named after former New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing and claims that when a longtime superstar who has never won a championship leaves a team via injury, trade or free agency, and the media writes the team off, that team will actually play better.

With running back Clinton Portis out of action thanks to a concussion, coupled with an offensive line that has been routinely criticized all season long, we couldn’t help but think the Broncos game was the perfect opportunity for D.C. fans to see the Ewing Theory in action.

So the Redskins turned to running back Ladell Betts, who got his first start since 2006, and he responded with 114 rushing yards on 26 attempts, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and scored the game-winning touchdown. He wasn’t flashy. Instead Betts simply took the handoff and fought for as many yards as the Denver defense would allow him.

The Redskins finished the day with a season-high 388 total net yards. The team’s 174 rushing yards were also a season high, as well as the ‘Skins 35 minutes and 43 seconds in time of possession. Basically, Betts was everything the Redskins have lacked in the rushing game this season, and his effort helped fuel an offense that has been nonexistent for most of the season.

So now, the question becomes – what happens when Portis returns to the lineup? Do the Redskins stick with Betts or return to Portis?

Heading forward this is easily the most intriguing subplot in the second half of the Redskins’ season.

13Nov

everybody loves bondra

In blog, hockey by b murf / November 13, 2009 / 5 Comments

(courtesy photo)

In a previous incarnation, Peter Bondra was one of the most beloved players to ever lace up skates as a member of the Washington Capitals.

These days, Bondra has long since retired, but remains very much involved with hockey in his role as general manager for the Slovakian national hockey team.

When we spotted Bondra in the press box Wednesday night as the Caps took on the New York Islanders, we simply couldn’t resist checking in with one of the Capitals’ all-time greats.

First things first, how’s life as a general manager?

“Life is good,” Bondra said. “I have more of a chance to watch games, not just at home on TV, but going to games. I have a coach from the Slovak national team with me, and we’re going to go see [forward Marian] Gaborik and the New York Rangers next. We also have plans to see [Lightning defenseman Andrej] Meszaros versus [Los Angeles Kings center Michal] Handzus in Tampa this weekend. So yeah, we’re pretty busy. More than usual. It’s a big year for us – for pro hockey, for the Olympics, for all of the sport – and I’m excited about it.”

Regardless of where your new role takes you, you will forever be one of the fan favorites in this town. How much of the Caps have you been able to see this year?

“This is maybe my fourth or fifth game,” he said. “I have more of a chance to see them on TV. The only time I really get to come here is when a Slovakian player is in the building, like Milan Jurcina. He’s always here, but if other Slovakian players are here, I have a chance to watch him and maybe talk to him a little bit after the game to remind him how big of a year it is for the Slovakian team.”

We’re curious. How does your perspective change when you go from watching hockey as a fan to watching as a general manager? Can you just sit back and watch a game anymore?

“I wish I had all of the knowledge that I have now back when I was 18 or 20 years old,” Bondra said with a laugh. “I think it’s really easy to watch games. I will always love the game and follow the Caps. I really like the way they play. They’re a really exciting team to watch for any hockey fan.”

Have you ever pulled Capitals general manager George McPhee aside and asked for some tips?

(Laughs). “My job is easy,” he said. “You can’t compare an NHL GM to my position. George has to deal with problems on a daily basis, with contracts and other issues. My job is just to put the right people in the right spots for the national team.”

Fair enough. But that’s not going to stop us from asking you to play the role of McPhee for a moment. They’ve got some tough decisions coming up, with guys like center Nicklas Backstrom and forward Alexander Semin closing in on free agency. If you were running the Caps, how would you handle the situation?

“I think they might need to change the last couple players on the roster,” Bondra said. “But they’ve picked up guys like Mike Knuble and Brendan Morrison, guys I know and that I played against. They’ve both been a good fit, so far. I don’t think they need to improve too much on defense – maybe adding depth for the playoffs. Maybe they could go that direction.

“Goaltending? The goaltending came into question last year in the playoffs,” he continued. “Hopefully the situation will play itself out during the season, but I don’t think this team has many issues. It’s a really solid team with a lot of young players and good depth. They’re getting a lot of experience from the last few years and they’re continuing in the right direction. If they can’t win it this year, then they’ll definitely be in it for next year. They’re very close to being ready to do some damage in the playoffs.”

So you’d be comfortable giving an up-and-down player like Alexander Semin a long-term contract?

“You’ve got to sign those guys,” Bondra said. “Semin is a big positive for this team because he forces teams to focus on someone other than just Ovi. When they spread them out, there’s a lot of depth. When Semin is healthy and has his mind in the game, he’s a big part of this team. You’ve got to lock up guys like that. They did it with Mike Green because he’s a Norris Trophy candidate, and you have to take care of those guys. They’re your players. You can’t let them go.”

Last time we saw Ted Leonsis, we asked him when he was planning on retiring your number. He said as far as he’s concerned, you could still play for the Caps today. So what’s it going to take to get you back out there?

“A couple surgeries,” Bondra said. “I still enjoy playing and can still play, but obviously my priorities have changed from when I was 22 or 23. My family and my health are most important now. Of course I miss the game and I’d love to come back, but it’s not possible for me to play anymore. It’s too bad.”

12Nov

thanks to varlamov, caps outlast islanders

In blog, hockey by b murf / November 12, 2009 / 1 Comment

(photo by Greg Fiume)

The Washington Capitals sure know how to put on a show. That much is clear after their 5-4 shootout win over the New York Islanders Wednesday night at the Verizon Center in a game that had it all.

Anyone familiar with these two teams knew this would be a tightly-contested game – especially considering the fact that five of the last six matchups have required overtime. But this epic encounter somehow managed to up the stakes.

There was no shortage of offense early, as evident by the combined five first-period goals, and yet, this game somehow needed an 11-round shootout to determine the winner.

Caps forward Alexander Semin tied the franchise record for the fastest goal to start a game (held by left wing Gaétan Duchesne), scoring just eight seconds in to put Washington ahead 1-0 before many fans had even taken their seats.

The Capitals have thrived in the first period all season long, scoring first in 15 of 18 games while outscoring opponents 20-6 coming into this game. So it came as a bit of a shock when the Islanders scored three goals on their first five shots, taking a stunning 3-1 lead before the game was even seven minutes old.

“I still have no idea what happened in the first five minutes,” said Caps forward Tomas Fleischmann. “We didn’t come out ready to play.”

Caps coach Bruce Boudreau had little choice at that point but to pull goalie Jose Theodore and insert Semyon Varlmov into action – even if the move caught Varly by surprise.

“It happened so fast, all I can remember is me looking at the coach and him saying ‘Go in,’” Varlamov said through an interpreter. “As I was going into the game, I didn’t even understand what was going on. I didn’t even have time to gather my thoughts.”

But in an effort fitting of Veteran’s Day, the Caps were able to battle back against the scrappy Islanders, scoring three straight goals to take a 4-3 lead in the second period.

“Even when we were down, I never thought that we were out of it,” Boudreau said. “It was too early. There were 50 minutes left in the game. We were down 3-1, but I thought we had a good chance of coming back.”

For the night, the Caps got two goals from Semin, as well as tallies from Fleischmann (who now has six goals in seven games this season) and Eric Fehr (who scored on the hockey equivalent of a no-look shot). Add in the shootout clincher by captain Chris Clark and the Caps have a three-game winning streak – even without forward Alex Ovechkin in the lineup.

Scoring aside, the Caps were only able to earn the victory because of a stellar performance by Varlamov, who stopped 25 of 26 shots in regulation and 10 of 11 shots in the shootout, on a night when Theodore was off his game.

“I don’t like to do that, especially so early,” said Boudreau of pulling Theodore, “He looked a little rattled and he looked a little down. It’s not like pulling him when the game is out of reach; we had so much time left. The last time he was pulled, Varly came in and shut the door, so I thought he could do it again.

“Theo has played so well for us,” he continued. “He had a rough outing and he’ll come back this week and play another game and he’ll be great for us.”

Varlamov, on the other hand, was lights out in relief on Theodore. And while he looked solid in net the entire evening, no save stands out more than his effort in the shootout against Islanders forward Trent Hunter.

Hunter came in at full speed and fired a shot low and hard, which Varlamov was able to trap between his pads. Things got dicey though, as Varlamov’s momentum nearly caused him to slide back into the net with the puck. In a moment of pure instinct, Varlmov grabbed the crossbar and somehow managed to keep himself and the puck from crossing the goal line.

“I was just skating back into the goal very fast,” he said. “I just grabbed the first thing I could to stop my movement into the net.”

It was a heads up play by the young netminder and one of the main reasons the Caps were able to walk away with two points on a night when they started about as poorly as possible.

This game illustrated why the Caps are currently atop the Eastern Conference standings.

They feel they have two number-one goalies, so when one is off his game, Boudreau has no problem turning to the backup. Semin, on nights when he feels like playing, can still score some of the prettiest goals imaginable. And without Ovechkin in the lineup, secondary scoring has not been an issue – with 10 different Capitals players registering a goal since Ovi was sidelined with an upper-body injury.

When the Caps avoid mind-numbing penalties and careless turnovers, they can play with anyone. And because they’re routinely involved in high-scoring affairs, thanks to their high-risk, high-reward style of play, they feel no pressure being down 3-1 so early. While every other local team struggles to achieve mediocrity, the Caps continue to put on the most entertaining games in town.

11Nov

let the kids play

In blog, football by b murf / November 11, 2009 / 1 Comment

(photo by Brian Murphy)

With tight end Chris Cooley out of the lineup, Washington Redskins coaches and fans get their first extended look at second-year player Fred Davis.

The next month or so will serve as an impromptu evaluation period to see what strengths and flaws Davis, who won the Mackey Award as the country’s top tight end his senior year at USC, has in his game at the pro level.

You never want to lose a player to injury, especially not Cooley, who was the team’s most consistent offensive performer at the time of his injury, but this trial period will finally begin to answer the question – is Davis a player you can build around?

In the last season and a half, opportunities have been few and far between for Davis, as well as fellow second-year pass catchers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly. Throw in rookie wide out Marko Mitchell and you’ve got a quartet of potential playmakers.

But while young players like Miles Austin in Dallas, DeSean Jackson in Philadelphia and Steve Smith in New York all thrive this season for NFC East teams, no one can say with any certainty what will come of Davis, Thomas, Kelly and Mitchell.

At 2-6, the season is over for the Redskins. Sure, the schedule still says they play eight more games, but any realistic chance at the playoffs was crushed when offensive linemen Randy Thomas and Chris Samuels were put on the shelf.

So if this team is simply playing for pride the second half of the season, why not up the stakes? Why not throw all four of these young players into heavy rotation and give them a baptism by fire? What harm would it do to play “The Future Four” to see who can be counted on and who, out of the group, is a bust?

With that in mind, we set out to talk to the youngsters about the situation.

How tough is it mentally to go into a game having no clue how much or how little you’re actually going to play that week?

“It’s hard,” admitted Davis. “It’s definitely not easy. It’s one of those experiences that you just have to work through and make the best out of the situation. Some people it works out, some people it doesn’t. It’s all about getting that opportunity. You never know when your time will come, you’ve just got to be ready and do the best you can.”

As an outsider, you see Kelly getting the bulk of the snaps one week and then the next game he’s glued to the bench while Thomas gets all the snaps, and you wonder if it isn’t hurting both of them …

“Yeah, it’s hard,” Davis said. “Because you never know what’s going to happen. It catches you off-guard a little bit, kind of like when I went in [after Cooley’s injury] and gave up two sacks. You’ve just got to prepare the best you can. But for them, it’s definitely been hard.”

You never want to completely give up on a season, but wouldn’t this be the ideal time for the four of you to get in there and show everyone what you’ve got?

“I think it would be,” said Davis. “Marko looked good catching the ball. I thought I was going to get a few more touches [against Atlanta], but I didn’t. I mean, I was ready to make plays …”

Davis’ words trailed off, but his message was loud and clear. If the coaching staff calls his number, he feels he’s more than ready to step up. All he needs is that opportunity.

“When people are finally put in situations where they have a chance to make a play, they usually make the plays,” Kelly said.

But if you can’t get into any rhythm because you honestly don’t know from week to week whether you’re going to see any action …

“You’re right, man,” said Kelly. “It’s just kind of like, when you do get a chance, you’ve got to go out there full speed and make the best of it. It’s just one of those things. When things aren’t going well, people tend to over-examine everything. They think if this person can help on one play, we want him in, so they switch you in and out. It’s just kind of what you go through.”

With the team at 2-6 and the offense struggling to put points on the board, wouldn’t this be the ideal time to put you guys in and see what you’ve got? What’s the worst that can happen, the team continues to struggle scoring points?

“I don’t really have a definite answer to that question,” Kelly said. “But I think that the young guys have to get out there, so you can see if they can or they can’t, you know. Most of the time, when we’ve had time to get plays off, we usually make plays.”

Seeing both Thomas and Davis get their first NFL touchdown catches in the same game, against the Eagles two weeks ago, seemed to confirm this line of thinking.

“We just need opportunities, man,” Thomas said. “It’s tough when you only get one shot. Sometimes we might drop a ball or something because we’re so eager to make that play. But you’ve got to keep feeding us the ball.”

In that same Eagles game, we saw a guy like DeSean Jackson making plays in the passing game and on returns for Philly. Even if this team can’t find more than a handful of snaps in the passing game, you think they could try to use you to spark a struggling punt return unit, right?

“I mean, I try every day in practice,” Thomas admitted. “Every day in practice, I’m catching punts and doing something. Even Vinny [Cerrato] has asked if I should be getting back there. You know, one of these days, they’re going to give me the opportunity – give me that chance – and I’m going to showcase what I can do. I’m just waiting for that chance.”

Although he only played 12 snaps against the Falcons, Mitchell got his first real taste of NFL action this past weekend. We wondered how he’s feeling after the experience.

“Oh, I’m hungry,” he said. “Real hungry. I’m a competitor who tries to do anything I can to help my team win.”

It goes without saying that Mitchell, along with Davis, Thomas and Kelly, can only help this team win if they are given a chance. The time is now for ‘The Future Four.” They all know it. Hopefully, people calling the shots at Redskins Park are smart enough to see it too.

10Nov

the freeing of marko

In blog, football by b murf / November 10, 2009 / 1 Comment

(photo by Brian Murphy)

Since the season began, we’ve been standing on desktops yelling at anyone and everyone in our vicinity that the Washington Redskins should be utilizing rookie wide out Marko Mitchell.

(So much so, that we even created the “Free Marko” t-shirt in support of our cause).

Regardless of the fact that it came in the preseason against players who are no longer in the league, Mitchell made plays whenever he took to the field (he finished the preseason with 113 yards and three touchdowns).

After sitting helplessly while his teammates on the offensive side of the ball struggled to score points, Marko was finally called into action this past weekend against the Atlanta Falcons. So how did the rookie fare?

Say this about him – if nothing else, the man is consistent. Mitchell caught two passes in his first real NFL action. Both were in traffic. Both were for 11 yards and both gave the otherwise struggling Redskins offense a new set of downs. It might not be the type of production that makes national headlines, but it’s enough to catch the attention of his teammates.

“Marko had two great catches,” said quarterback Jason Campbell, who somehow had time to see Mitchell make a few plays in between beatings at the hands of the Falcons defense (or should we say, courtesy of the Redskins offensive line?) “He’s a big target, a big body. I’d say some guys are just gamers. He’s just one of those guys who’s just a gamer.”

Campbell wasn’t alone in praising the seventh-round pick out of Nevada.

“Two catches, both in traffic, he was solid,” said tight end Fred Davis. “That’s definitely what needed. We need to get first downs and he came up big with two of them. Marko is ready. He does it in practice every week. He’s just got to keep working hard and good things will happen.”

Mitchell’s solid showing shouldn’t come as a surprise, according to second-year receiver Malcolm Kelly.

“He’s just doing what he’s been doing, man,” said Kelly, who routinely stays after practice with Mitchell and Campbell. “When people are finally put in situations where they have a chance to make a play, they usually make the plays. He’s a dude who has got real strong hands and they know he can catch the ball. So it’s nothing for him to come into the game and them to throw it to him.”

We heard that had tight end Todd Yoder not caught that touchdown pass in the second half, the next play was going to be a fade route in the corner of the endzone for Mitchell …

“Yeah, it was,” confirmed Kelly. “They just put a new package in there where me and him go out there. He’s on one side and I’m on the other. They’re starting to do a whole lot more of that, as far as gameplanning for us during the week.”

And with that, it was officially time to talk to the man of the hour.

Okay Marko, you promised us that once you made your way onto the field, you were going to make the most of it. Well, you had two catches for 22 yards and both moved the chains. Tell us about the plays.

“You know, they were both just your typical three-step drop slant routes,” Mitchell said. “My job is to catch the ball, and that’s what I did.”

How did it feel to finally see some action after sitting out most of the first half of the season?

“It felt good to have my first NFL catch and get on the stat sheet or whatever, but I think I would have felt more excited about it if we got the ‘W,’” he said.

Before the game you told us that you would primarily see the field in the redzone. We were looking for you out there, but didn’t see much of you. Were you standing next to the coaches in hopes they’d see you and send you out there?

“Yeah, for sure,” Mitchell said. “The play that Todd Yoder scored, the next play was going to be a redzone fade route. But he scored the touchdown, so it’s all good.”

Are you saying you want us to have some words with him?

(Laughs). “Nah, hopefully I’ll have lots more opportunities to make plays,” he said.

Finally, we caught up with Yoder. We didn’t bring up the touchdown, for fear of slipping up and accidentally telling the mohawked one that he cost the rookie a chance at his first NFL touchdown. Instead, we simply asked him to evaluate Mitchell’s showing against Atlanta.

“Marko is a great player,” Yoder said. “Obviously in the preseason he did some good things for us, and I think he’s worked really hard in practice to keep improving his game. I think we’ve got a really talented young guy there, and I think as we push forward, you’re going to see more and more from Marko.

“The way this league is, you have to earn your way, earn your reps and kind of earn your respect,” Yoder continued. “This week, Marko obviously earned it. Next week, hopefully he’ll get rewarded for it.”

09Nov

falcons playlist

In blog, football, playlist by b murf / November 9, 2009 / No Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

1. “Intervention” by Arcade Fire

The Washington Redskins came into Atlanta with the opportunity to make people forget about all of the recent off-the-field headlines and turn the conversation back to football. The suddenly-vulnerable Falcons were in the midst of a two-game losing streak and the Redskins, coming off of a bye week, had two weeks to prepare for this matchup.

If the Redskins were able to come out the gate quickly and makes some plays early, they might just find themselves on the road to respectability. So what happened? The exact opposite, of course.

The ‘Skins looked overmatched on both sides of the ball and the game was over by the end of the Falcons’ first possession. Seemingly everywhere you looked things looked downright awful. Washington trailed 24-3 at halftime, thanks in part to 69 yards of total offense. Redskins running back Clinton Portis was knocked out of the game with a concussion after picking up just four yards on four carries.

If that’s not bad enough, quarterback Jason Campbell continues to look like a battered spouse running for his life behind that porous offensive line. He was sacked five times in the first half (which tied a Falcons franchise record) and pressured countless other times.

On the rare instances when he wasn’t being sacked, Campbell was still running for his life – he had to leave the game twice, once for a chest injury and once because of an ankle injury. It almost got to the point where you hoped someone would pull him aside and beg him to sit out for fear of a Campbell suffering serious bodily harm. But, as they say, injuries are a part of the game.

The first half of the Redskins-Falcons game illustrated an issue on a much larger scale. Coupled with the opening halves of the Tampa Bay and Kansas City games, it’s evident that something is not right. For the third time this season, the Redskins looked completely unprepared and outmatched in the first half of a game, which is bad. But when you have two weeks to prepare for the Falcons and cannot muster anything remotely resembling a professional offense, that’s inexcusable.

To continue to blindly head into the remaining eight games of the season with the very distinct possibility that your offense might not arrive until after halftime is downright embarrassing. Something needs to change, sooner rather than later. Otherwise we could be in store for the darkest days in franchise history.

2. “Just Give it to Me Raw” by Busta Rhymes

We mentioned the Redskins had 69 yards of offense at the half. Well, they also had 69 yards in penalties at intermission, thanks to an undisciplined defense. On their very first snap of the game, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was penalized for encroachment, politely informing ‘Skins fans of what was to come.

And let’s be completely honest – was there a single Redskins fan either in attendance or watching at home that didn’t know safety LaRon Landry was going to get called for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty when Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was simply trying to run out of bounds in the second quarter?

At this point, there are three things Landry does very well – dumb penalties, taking bad angles and poor tackling. People continually use the Sean Taylor tragedy as an excuse – “Landry is playing out of position … blah, blah, blah.” But the truth is, the Redskins used the sixth-overall pick on a guy who continues to hurt his team because of selfish penalties. Throw in the fact that he continually tries to go low when tackling opposing players in the open field because Giants running back Brandon Jacobs ran him over a year ago, and Landry is as likely to hurt the Redskins as he is to actually help them.

3. “Do What You Want To Do” by Adema

Speaking of running backs having their way with Landry and the rest of the Redskins defense … how about that Michael Turner? The artist formerly known as LaDainian Tomlinson’s backup had his way with the burgundy and gold, rushing for a season-high 166 yards and two touchdowns on just 18 carries. For those of you scoring at home, that’s more than nine yards per carry.

The one constant we’ve had this year was that while the ‘Skins offense struggled, the defense remained the lone bright spot. Well, that wasn’t the case Sunday. Turner scored on a 30-yarder and a 58-yarder, and both times Redskins players could do nothing to stop the man. Guys like Landry or cornerback DeAngelo Hall harmlessly bounced off of him, while Turner scored with ease. Ryan threw for just 135 yards on the day, but that was simply because the Falcons didn’t need to do anything other than hand the ball off to Turner.

4. “Whoa Now” by B-Rich

We’ve mentioned Landry’s ill-advised unnecessary roughness call against Ryan in the second quarter, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t bring up the ensuing aftermath. In addition to being unwise because it cost the Redskins field position, the play was downright stupid because Landry decided to take the cheapshot on Atlanta’s franchise player … on the Falcons sideline.

As expected, the play didn’t sit well with Ryan’s teammates. Falcons linebacker Tony Gilbert in particular showed his displeasure by shoving Landry from behind. That was enough of a reason for Hall to come to Landry’s defense, as he tried to go all Chuck Norris on his former team. Even Atlanta coach Mike Smith during the commotion, to the point that Hall claims the second-year coach put his hands on him and threatened him.

“I ran over there to pull my guy away. Next thing I know one of the strength and conditioning coaches put his hands on me and started to pull at me and grab at me and various other guys were pulling at me, grabbing at me,” Hall said to reporters after the game. “Through the whole time I’m trying to get the guys hands off of me. Later on coach Mike Smith came over and grabbed me, talking shit to me saying he’ll kick my ass. I definitely stay in Atlanta in the offseason. If Mike Smith wants to see me he definitely can find me. He definitely can find me. He definitely can find me because that’s some bullshit right there. We’ll save that for a different day.”

While it’s great that someone on the roster is still showing some fight as this season continues to unravel, this isn’t exactly what we had in mind. Hall, if you want to make headlines, please do so on the field. Whipping some old dude’s ass isn’t going to change anything. Instead, please focus on picking off a few more passes and taking over punt returning duties full time. Thanks.

5. “Over and Out” By Foo Fighters

Portis is out with a concussion. Campbell somehow remains upright, even after chest and ankle injuries. Safety Chris Horton, who was already battling a knee injury, suffered an injured toe. Fellow safety Reed Doughty came out of the game with a leg injury. Offensive lineman Mike Williams suffered an ankle injury. Wide out Santana Moss was knocked silly on play he didn’t even remember after the game. Add in previous injuries to guys like Chris Cooley, Chris Samuels and Randy Thomas and it’s tough to see the already-bleak situation getting better for the Redskins.

The team had trouble keeping up with opponents when everyone was healthy, as evident by their 4-12 record over the last 16 games. With the casualty count quickly rising, it’s not impossible to envision the Redskins failing to win another game this season. Sorry to end on a downer, but honestly, there’s not much in the way of positives to take away these days.