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14Oct

a lot to laich

In blog, hockey by b murf / October 14, 2009 / No Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

Hockey fans have come to expect greatness from Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin. So it’s not exactly newsworthy when he’s atop the NHL leader board for points.

But when Caps forward Brooks Laich ranks in the top 20 in scoring … well … that’s a different story. We caught up with the popular forward this morning after practice to get to the bottom of this surprising trend.

With three goals and four assists in your first six games, you’ve started the season on a hot streak. To what do you attribute your hot start?

“Luck? I don’t know,” Laich said. “I’m playing with some good players, some offensive minded players. Our powerplay can be very dangerous at times, and I’m getting some time on that. When you’re out there with them you’re going to get opportunities to score.”

In years past you’ve spent some of your time on the checking line, but this years you’re logging a ton of minutes on one of the top two lines with more skilled linemates. That’s got to be nice, right?

“Oh yeah, it’s been nice,” he said. “Coming into camp, I don’t worry about goals and assists. I just try to improve myself every year. The main thing I look at is ice time and responsibility. If you can be on the powerplay and you can be on the penalty kill and in checking assignments or late in games to try and hold the lead, it means you’re a responsible player and a player that can help the team win. Those are the things that I focus on more than just goals and assists. That being said, the offensive production has been nice.”

No one can question the level of talent in the Caps locker room with high-flying players like Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom. But then you’ve also got grittier players like you, Mike Knuble and Chris Clark doing the thankless work in the corners and in front of the net. How important is it to have that kind of balance?

“You can’t just have a team full of guys who muck it up in front of the net or a team full of perimeter players,” Laich said. “You have to have a nice combination of both. I think with the guys we have, we’re starting to get that. If you watch games, goals are usually scored within 10-15 feet of the net off rebounds or deflections or a puck hitting off of a skate. There aren’t too many two-on-ones or backdoor tap-ins happening anymore because teams play so well defensively.

“We have a good mixture of both, and I think the way that Clarkey and Knuble play is infectious,” he said. “You see a guy like Eric Fehr just back from shoulder issues going to the net. Brendan Morrison plays in the tight zones and around the net too and other players see that, and the success they have and they start doing it as well.”

Obviously you’re going to line up with whoever coach Bruce Boudreau pairs you up with, but do you have a personal preference as to which forwards you enjoy skating with?

“The running joke around here is its musical chairs,” Laich said. “You can show up on any day and be lined up somewhere else. I’ve played a lot with Semin. I’ve played a lot with Morrison and Knuble. I’ve played a lot with Stecks [David Steckel] and Brads [Matt Bradley]. I know how all those guys play. I’ve been here five years now and have played with lots of these guys a majority of that time. You get familiar with how these guys play, adapt to their style and it makes the game pretty easy to play.”

This team got off to a hot start, with a couple of early victories, but you’ve lost your last four – two in overtime and two in regulation. What do you chalk it up to and how do you turn it around?

“Well, we’ve played some very good teams,” he said. “Look at all of the teams we’ve lost to – they’re going to be playoff teams and last year, they all finished first or second in their division. The teams we’ve played are very good and it’s not going to change tomorrow when we play San Jose.

“The other thing is, we’re not sneaking up on teams anymore,” Laich continued. “Teams get very excited to play us because there’s a lot of media hype around our team and obviously we have Alex Ovechkin, which teams really have to prepare for. We see other teams’ best every night and we have to be better than what we’ve shown. There’s no excuse for it. We’ll look for a better effort tomorrow.”

There have been a couple instances during this slide in which you guys haven’t been able to hold onto a third period lead. What do you guys need to do to close opponents out more consistently?

“If you knew that, you could make a million dollars a year coaching,” Laich said with a laugh. “It’s just been little mistakes here or there that have caught up with us. The good thing about it is we’ve had the lead in all of those games. If we were behind in all of those games, chasing and trying to catch up, then I’d say we have a major problem. But we’ve had the lead, and maybe we’ve taken a couple undisciplined penalties and had a few turnovers, but those are all correctable mistakes. That’s why there’s no reason to panic.”

Lastly, we wanted to talk about goalie Jose Theodore. While the numbers might not do him justice, he’s been playing really well of late – especially in overtime against New Jersey the other night. What have you seen from him so far this season?

“The three hacks that [Zach] Parise had the other night – the first one, I said, ‘Ahh, it’s in the net.’ The second one, I said, ‘Ahh, it’s in the net, and the third on, I said, “Oh man, it’s going in the net,’” he said. “But Theo stopped all three of them. He’s been great. He’s come in and got refocused. He’s excited to be at the rink. He went through some off-ice troubles, but the team has really been here for him. He’s really come in with a good attitude and hasn’t let anything else affect him, and we’re so glad to see him doing well.”

13Oct

carter: we have to win games

In blog, football by b murf / October 13, 2009 / No Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

While 99 percent of the Washington Redskins should be doing some serious soul searching after this weekend’s 20-17 humbling loss to the Carolina Panthers, the effort of defensive end Andre Carter should not be questioned.

That because, unlike most of his teammates, Carter actually bothered to show up against the Panthers – finishing the day with six tackles, a forced fumble and two and a half sacks. Not bad for a guy who had just four sacks all of last season.

We caught up with the nine-year veteran after the game to talk about his big game, and more importantly, to search for answers to the questions that continue to plague the Redskins.

On an otherwise disappointing day, you were able to have some success getting to the quarterback. How were you able to cause so much havoc in the Panthers’ backfield all day long?

“For one thing, praise to God,” Carter said. “Without him, none of this would be possible. [Editor’s note: it’s true. We looked it up.] With a pass rush, you’re taught never to stop moving your feet. My old coach from college used to say that pass rushing is the second-most determined effort in football. It’s a battle of wills, that’s how I look at it. And I never stopped moving my feet.

“To be honest with you, I don’t know what I did to get those sacks,” he continued. “I just kept coming. And really, I wouldn’t have had so much success if I didn’t have 10 other guys out there with me doing what they were supposed to do.”

This game was different than what we’ve seen in the first four games, where you and Brian Orakpo have routinely been close, but for whatever reason, the quarterback has been able to get away or get rid of the ball …

“We were in synch,” Carter said. “We looked at the film from the past three games that Carolina had played and we knew the opportunities that were at hand. We tried to exploit them the best way we could.”

Both of the Redskins touchdowns came because of defensive turnovers resulting in a short field. With everything going on with the ‘Skins offense and the injury to Chris Samuels, did you guys feel like you had to do the heavy lifting to give this team a chance to win?

“As a defense you have to always expect the unexpected,” he said. “I always look at it like we’re going to have to do heavy lifting, regardless of whether our offense did score points or didn’t. Playing defense is probably the toughest part of this game because it’s a battle of wills and who wants it more. So when we were successful and able to make those plays, it was great. But in the end, this was on us because we have to be more disciplined. We have to learn our lessons.”

Tell us you’re tired of playing in games week after week that come down to the very last play. Wouldn’t it be nice for you guys to come out just once and blow someone out of the water?

“Of course it would,” Carter said. “Every team dreams of that. That’s no secret. But I think for us, you can say it so many times – who wants it more, who needs it more, who desires it more – we all desire it. It just comes down to execution.”

You’re one of the veterans in this locker room. Tell us what these guys are thinking and feeling right about now …

“Overall, there’s always a level of disappointment when you lose,” he said. “I think the most important thing is that we stick together. I’ve been on teams where we haven’t been successful and everybody just kind of drifts apart. Fortunately for us, we are a veteran team and we’re closer than we’ve ever been before. However, that being said, we still have to win games. That’s what it boils down to.”

When you hear reports of guys like Clinton Portis and Mike Sellers getting into it, you start to wonder about people pointing fingers and all of that …

“I wasn’t there, so I couldn’t tell you about that scene, but from the outside looking in, I’m sure it’s just a small argument,” he said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to play together. We’ve got to go out for one goal and accomplish that goal. You’ve got to push that drama aside, if there was drama.”

What does this team need to do to turn this season around?

“Four quarters of Redskin football,” Carter said. “Not just a half here or a half there. We’ve got to give four quarters, utilize the momentum when it’s in our favor and never back down.”

12Oct

panthers playlist

In blog, football, playlist by b murf / October 12, 2009 / 2 Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

1. “Ordinary People” by John Legend

The city of Charlotte is beautiful. The locals are ridiculously friendly. And because the Carolina Panthers are still a relatively new franchise, there are still an obscene amount of diehard Washington Redskins fans in the area.

So much so, that a handful of the local media members were convinced Sunday’s game would be a home game for the ‘Skins, with burgundy and gold supporters outnumbering disgruntled Panther fans still waiting for the team’s first win of the season.

Here’s the kicker – regardless of which team you cheer for, it’s virtually impossible not to notice how similar these two teams are. Both have supremely talented individuals who, for one reason or another, don’t necessarily translate to team wins. Both teams are at their best when the running game is doing the heavy lifting and the quarterback doesn’t get in the way. Both defenses want to play aggressive and make the opposing signal callers uncomfortable.

And through the first month of the season, there are even more similarities. Neither team has been able to put together a full 60-minute performance. At times, both teams look careless with the football on offense, resulting in too many fumbles and interceptions. Neither team has much of a margin of error. The biggest difference between the Redskins and Panthers? Washington came in 2-2, while the Panthers were 0-3.

When running back Clinton Portis caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Jason Campbell it wasn’t a product of the Redskins offense doing anything special, rather it came courtesy of a Panther turnover on their opening drive. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the gift-wrapped touchdown was exactly what the Redskins did for Tampa Bay one week earlier.

If there was any justice in this world, this game featuring two mediocre teams still searching for an identity, would have ended in a tie.

2. “Tie My Hands” by Lil Wayne

Roughly three minutes into the game, the Redskins were dealt a stomach punch that would quickly alter the rest of the afternoon. Offensive tackle Chris Samuels collided with a defender head on and suffered a “stinger,” which is essentially numbness in his neck and shoulder. Team doctors felt it was best for Samuels to take the rest of the day off, which meant a guy you’ve never heard of – namely reserved offensive lineman D’Anthony Batiste – was thrust into action.

It should also be mentioned that before the game, the coaching staff decided to bench right guard Chad Rinehart in favor of “Big” Mike Williams, who was making his first start since 2005. So basically, 40 percent of the offensive line was comprised of people who never play. Kind of limits what you can do as an offense, right?

“It changed a lot,” said Campbell. “It changed the whole dynamic of our offense and what we wanted to do. It was a tough situation to lose Chris early in the game. It hurts our play-action game, it hurts our run game and it’s definitely a tough situation when you lose him that early in the game.”

Campbell wasn’t exaggerating. The ‘Skins offense was nonexistent without Samuels, a six-time Pro Bowler, in the lineup. Washington had a total of 10 possessions on the day – two touchdowns, one fieldgoal, five punts, one turnover on downs and one safety allowed. Their two touchdown drives came only because the Redskins defense created turnovers and put them so close to the endzone that they HAD to score. Combined, the two drives were three plays for 14 yards.

There was no rushing game. Campbell was sacked five times, compared to just eight sacks through the first four weeks. If you’re looking for a reason why the offense failed to show up on a day the team somehow managed to score 17 points, look no further. If you’re looking for answers as to why the team ignored upgrading the team’s biggest weakness, the aging and fragile offensive line, well … we hear the general manager has a radio show.

3. “Nothingman” by Pearl Jam

It goes without saying that the Redskins had to change up their gameplan without Samuels in the lineup. We understand that means sacrificing some receiving options to provide extra support for your pass blockers. But it’s simply inexcusable that tight end Chris Cooley didn’t have a single catch on the day.

In fact, Cooley didn’t have a single pass even thrown his way against Carolina. The only time he touched the ball was when he recovered a fumble by wide out Santana Moss in the second quarter. This from a guy who has been the one constant on the Redskins offense in 2009.

He came into the game with 22 catches for 254 yards and two touchdowns on the year and at least one reception in 75 consecutive games. Sadly, after this weekend, he’ll have to start that streak over again.

4. “Can I Kick It” By A Tribe Called Quest

It shall forever be known as “The Tough Muff.”

With the Redskins clinging to a 17-12 lead with roughly 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the game took a controversial turn when wide out Antwaan Randle El was back to field a punt. Cornerback Byron Westbrook was attempting to block his man while Randle El waved for a fair catch. Unfortunately for the ‘Skins, the punt was short and Randle El had no chance to actually make the fair catch.

Instead, what you saw was Westbrook, who was locked up with a Panther gunner, driven back into Randle El and during the chaos the ball bounced off of Westbrook’s foot. Carolina recovered the ball and scored moments later. Game. Set. Match.

When the team was up 17-2 in the second half, it didn’t look like it would happen, but fear not, in the end, the Redskins found the banana peel. And for the third time this season, a previously winless team leaves with victory number one courtesy of the burgundy and gold.

5. “Panic Switch” by Silversun Pickups

Even fans in denial about the current state of the Redskins know that coach Jim Zorn is on the hot seat right about now. Heading into the Carolina game at 2-2, it wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility to believe Zorn and friends would need to win at least two out of three games before the bye week to stave off his impatient owner and remain employed.

Another loss to another bottom dweller isn’t going to help anyone’s cause – especially when pretty much every mainstream outlet that covers sports has used the words “Mike Shanahan” and “Washington Redskins” in the same sentence over the last week.

If that’s the case, the ‘Skins would need to defeat the winless Kansas City Chiefs and divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles to save their head coach.

09Oct

caps have work to do

In blog, hockey by b murf / October 9, 2009 / 1 Comment

(photo by Greg Fiume)

For all of the talented individual players on the Washington Capitals, they’ve still got plenty of work to be done if the Caps are going to be considered legitimate contenders this season.

That’s been readily apparent in the last two games – losses to the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers.

Yes, the team can score goals with the best of them, as evident by their league-leading 18 goals through just four games. But they’ve given up 15 goals over the same span – which is tied for tops in the league.

Forwards Nicklas Backstrom (10 points), Alexander Semin (nine points) and Alex Ovechkin (nine points) are the league leaders in scoring, but there are still too many times when each player tries to do too much.

Sometimes they get away with the “cutesy” play, whether it be attempting to skate through multiple defenders or attempting a highlight-worthy pass instead of a high-percentage, by-the-books pass. But just as often, it results in a turnover and an odd-man rush in the other direction. We understand that the Capitals are going to live and die with this high-risk, high-reward mentality, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay for players to sacrifice team play.

And while we’re on the subject of scoring, it should be pointed out that aside from the Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin line, the only other goal scorers for the Caps this season comprise the second line – forwards Brooks Laich, Brendan Morrison and Mike Knuble.

For those keeping score at home, that means the team’s top six forwards have 18 goals. The other two offensive lines and the entire defensive rotation has zero. That will have to change, because it’s impossible to expect the top lines to continue to rack up points at such a ridiculous pace.

One player the team would love to see get going is offensive defenseman Mike Green. Against the Rangers, Green registered just two shots on goal. Unfortunately for Green and the Caps, he also had seven shots that were blocked and six others that missed the net entirely.

There’s an old saying about missing a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take, but misfiring on 13 out of 15 shot attempts ain’t much better.

Sadly, as a team, the Caps pretty much followed Green’s lead when it came to taking ill-advised shots against goalie Henrik Lundquist and the Rangers. Washington finished the game with 28 shots on goal, but had 22 shots blocked and missed the net 18 times.

Conversely, New York registered 29 shots on goal with just eight shots that were blocked and 11 that missed the net. And to take it one step further, the Rangers had 13 different players block at least one shot. The Capitals had just five players get in the way of the puck.

The numbers don’t lie. The Rangers were making smarter decisions on offense and their players were hustling and willing to sacrifice the body on defense in order to shut down the high-powered Capitals.

It doesn’t matter who you have in net, you’re not winning too many games when the numbers are this lopsided.

Now, that being said, Jose Theodore would love to have a do-over on both third-period goals he allowed. Just 18 seconds after Backstrom scored his second goal of the night, giving the Caps a 3-2 lead, Theodore ensured that any and all momentum in the team’s favor quickly vanished by allowing a “softie” to Rangers forward Marian Gaborik.

And then, it happened again less than three minutes later, with Gaborik scoring the eventual game-winner during a New York powerplay.

Speaking of the powerplay, it has not been kind to Washington during these last two games. Against the Flyers, the Capitals were called for nine penalties and allowed three powerplay goals. Last night, the Caps were given nine powerplay opportunities and scored just once on the Rangers. Not good times.

This team has the potential to be memorable. But it’s been said more than once, potential just means “ain’t done shit yet.” Players need to make smarter decisions, whether it’s avoiding taking bone-headed penalties or unnecessarily risky passes through traffic.

These players also need to understand that no team can win on offense alone. You want to watch a team that gladly abandons defense while attempting to run-and-gun past their opponent? Watch the Wizards win less than 20 games a year.

But that’s how the Capitals have looked in their own zone over the last two games. They don’t seem to care if the opponent scores, because they believe they can bounce right back and put points on the board on the other end.

This team doesn’t need to become a reincarnation of the 90’s New Jersey Devils, trapping opponents to death, but they could at least pretend to acknowledge that defense matters. Otherwise, this is going to be a long, long season.

08Oct

barnes, mitchell play waiting game

In blog, football by b murf / October 8, 2009 / 2 Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

The Washington Redskins made a subtle change to their lineup last week – inserting several younger players into action.

Players like cornerback Justin Tryon and safety Kareem Moore, who typically see limited action outside of special teams duty, played far more frequently against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

They joined other youngsters, such as linebacker Brian Orakpo, defensive lineman Jeremy Jarmon and guard Chad Rinehart, giving the ‘Skins an infusion of youth that many believe is sorely needed.

While this youth movement is a step in the right direction for the NFL’s oldest roster, it is also bittersweet for a guy like rookie cornerback Kevin Barnes, who finds himself inactive each Sunday.

How tough is it to be stranded on the sidelines while your teammates go into battle each week?

“Man, it hurts real bad,” Barnes said. “Especially for the home opener. I realize its part of the process and that you’ve got to earn your keep, but I’ve got to keep myself from breaking down at the beginning of every game. When the national anthem is playing, I get really emotional. I’ve got to keep my composure and realize the coaches know what they’re doing. All I can do is keep working hard in practice and wait for my time.”

Playing with some emotions isn’t necessarily a bad thing though, right?

“Yeah, but seeing as I’m not playing, there’s no way for me to release it,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep positive because everything is eventually going to work out. I’ve got to keep working at it every day and know that, when I get my chance, I can’t give it back.”

What feedback are you getting from the coaching staff?

“My biggest thing was learning how to practice and play at this level,” Barnes said. “At college, it’s a little different, as far as the way they do practices and everything. Coach [Greg] Blache told me that I’m practicing very good now. I’m going hard every play and trying to show them that they can trust me when I get out there on the field.”

So what do you do during games when you know you’re not going to be active?

“Basically, I take mental reps,” he said. “I mean, I’m in every meeting during the week and I know what we’re doing, just like the starters do. So I’m on the sidelines, standing next to Coach [Jerry] Gray most of the time, looking at formations and the plays they’re calling – stuff like that.”

How sweet is it going to be when you finally crack the lineup and get out on that field?

“Whenever I get out there and whatever spot I get, I promise I’m not giving it back,” Barnes said.

Another player relegated to the sidelines each week is rookie receiver Marko Mitchell. With guys like Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El, Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly ahead of him on the depth chart, Mitchell is also stuck playing the waiting game.

How are you feeling these days, man?

“You know, we’re coming off a big win, so I’m feeling good. Feeling real good,” Mitchell said.

Since you were inactive, the Redskins opted to put the ball in Chris Cooley’s hands early in the third quarter and he responded with a game-changing touchdown. How important was that score?

“Oh, it was huge,” he said. “It was like a huge morale boost for the team. Once he made that catch, it got the crowd and everyone on the sideline back into it. The defense came right out and stopped them, and then when the offense got back out there, another big play happened.”

What can you learn from a guy like Cooley?

“He just does his job,” Mitchell said. “He comes out and plays hard, and shows people why he’s one of the best tight ends in the league.”

You alluded to the big bomb to Moss. What did you think of that play?

“It was real big,” he said. “They’d been double covering him all day and we weren’t able to get him a lot of balls. They finally freed him up and got him one-on-one, he ran a perfect route and Jason threw a perfect ball and you saw the end result.”

How tough is it to watch all this going on knowing you can’t get out there and help your teammates?

“Mentally, I’m paying attention to all the details that go into everything,” Mitchell said. “I’m trying to learn as much as possible from the veterans while I’m waiting for my opportunity to come.”

Both Barnes and Mitchell seem to have the best attitude possible, given their current situation. The coaches are going to go with the players they feel best give the Redskins a chance to win right now. There’s no use bitching or moaning about it. Instead, they’re quietly doing anything and everything to prepare themselves for their moment. Once it comes, you better believe these two guys are going to do everything they can to shine.

07Oct

horton handles adversity

In blog, football, predator by b murf / October 7, 2009 / No Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

This has been an up-and-down season for Washington Redskins safety Chris “The Predator” Horton, to say the least.

In the Week 1 loss to the New York Giants, Horton was benched in the second half, even though he finished the game second on the team in tackles, with nine. No explanation has been given.

One week later, on third-and-goal against the St. Louis Rams, Horton caused a fourth-quarter fumble that cornerback Carlos Rogers recovered to preserve the 9-7 win in the team’s home opener.

During Week 3, Horton was whistled on a 47-yard pass interference call in the deciding moments of the stomach-punch loss to the Detroit Lions. Adding insult to injury, it was then announced that Horton would be removed from the starting lineup in favor of Reed Doughty.

This week, defensive end Jeremy Jarmon caused a fumble with a pivotal third-down strip and Horton pounced on the loose football to hold off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That means that, even though Horton has been relegated to a reserve role, he’s made the play to seal both Redskins victories this season.

“It was just one of those things,” Horton said. “One of our linemen got a hand on the ball and when it came out; I was just running to the football. I truly believe that when I go to the ball, good things happen for me.

“As far as starting, yeah, I was a little disappointed,” said Horton. “But my job here is to do whatever I can to help this team win. Whether it’s me starting or Reed, I know I’m going to get playing time, and when I’m in there, I’m going to do my job. I’m not sitting around like, “Aw, man. I’m not starting, so I don’t have anything to look forward to.’ Guys are still counting on me.”

If you keep making these clutch fourth-quarter plays, you’re only making it tougher for coaches to keep you off the field, right?

“I’m always going to try and make it hard for them,” he said. “I’m going to come out each week, practice hard and compete. If every game from here on out Reed is the starter and I’m the backup, then so be it. I’m going to live with it, come out and give it my all and continue to make plays.”

We’ve got to ask you about an ugly situation involving a blogger on your website calling out Greg Blache, Albert Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall. Can you explain what the hell happened with that?

“I still haven’t seen what was written,” Horton said. “But to sum it up, I had a contest for fans during the preseason to pick my in-season blogger. We found a guy who did a great job in the preseason, and now, obviously he said some things that I don’t feel that way about. It’s his opinion, but at the same time, once I got word of it I had it taken down immediately. That’s not how I feel, and that’s not the kind of attitude I want to promote.”

Hopefully this is something your blogger will learn from, because something like this is only going to cause an unnecessary distraction to a team already struggling for wins.

“Hopefully,” he said. “Because if not, he definitely won’t be blogging for me anymore. I want to keep my site as positive as can be. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but if he wants to do that, then put it on your own website. These are my teammates. I care about these guys and I’d never say something like that about them. If I had something to say about them, I’d say it to their face, not on a website.”

06Oct

cooley compares redskins to viagra

In blog, football by b murf / October 6, 2009 / 2 Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

The Washington Redskins’ offense would be hard pressed to look worse than they did in the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In six possessions, the ‘Skins were truly offensive – punting three times and turning the ball over three times.

The hometown crowd quickly grew restless as they helplessly watched a sorry Bucs team that couldn’t even gain a first down until the third quarter one week earlier head into halftime with a 10-0 – despite the Bucs being on the road with a virtually unknown quarterback making his first career start.

But thankfully, the Redskins turned to tight end Chris Cooley early and often in the third quarter and order was restored. We caught up with the rockstar tight end after the game to, first and foremost, thank him for saving the team’s season.

We’re going to be completely honest – that first half was awful. But then this Pro Bowl tight end came along and caught a crucial touchdown pass early in the second half and showed this team that it’s okay to put points on the board. How big was that catch?

“I think it was big in a lot of ways because we really worked on a great drive to get the ball down the field, we had some good conversions and got over a huge hump as far as getting in the red zone and made a big play for a touchdown,” Cooley said. “So I think it was big for us.”

And to follow that up with the first-down bomb to Santana Moss …

“That was an outstanding call,” he said. “Momentum was in our favor. We make a big play defensively. We come out and go play action on them and give it to our best playmaker. It was just such a good call and a greatly executed play.”

With points being so tough to come by, what do those two plays do for the confidence of this offense?

“It’s so frustrating when we come out and score zero points in the first half and have no yards,” Cooley said. “We all look around and it’s like, ‘Fuck. We practiced our asses off this week. What the hell is going on right now? We’re better than this.’ I think it was just a relief that we CAN score points. We are a good football team.”

Was the first half a result of the Redskins not getting it done or the Buccaneers doing something right?

“No, we weren’t executing,” he said. “We were throwing balls into coverage. We weren’t winning on routes. We were giving up too much pressure. We didn’t have a great running game. We were not executing and we were doing what we did in Detroit. It was the players. Put it on us.”

Well, if nothing else, this team is learning to win ugly, right?

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve gotten used to winning ugly,” Cooley said. “We’re like Viagra – we always make it hard.”

People can say whatever they want about Cooley, but there are two indisputable facts – he’s always entertaining and he truly cares. His brutal honesty about the offense failing on every level in the first half is truly appreciated – especially after hearing his coach try and tell fans the Redskins are improving moments after giving the Lions their first win in two seasons.

No one knows for sure how this season will play out, but if the Redskins are going to be successful on offense, it will be because they wisely opted to put the ball in Cooley’s hands as often as possible.