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22Sep

cardinals playlist

In blog, football, playlist by b murf / September 22, 2008 / 1 Comment

(photo by Brian Murphy)

1. “Happy?” by Mudvayne

“He’s not smart enough.”
“He can’t work in the West Coast offense.”
“He’s not Zorn’s guy.”
“He wasn’t the one who got them into the playoffs last year, Todd Collins was.”

That’s just a small dose of the crap more than a few Redskins fans were spewing about Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell after the season-opening loss to the New York Giants. You’d have thought Danny Wuerffel was back behind the center the way folks were bashing him. At that point I really had to question everything – sure, Campbell didn’t look great in New York, but neither did anyone else on the roster. Were people calling for LaRon Landry’s job after he got bowled over by Giants running back Brandon Jacobs? No. But people love a quarterback controversy in this town, so it became the trendy thing to do.

Let’s fast forward two weeks and strangely, none of those twits are anywhere to be found. The offense, still led by Campbell last I checked, has put up 53 points these last two games and, for the first time in a long time, is actually capable of putting together time-consuming drives and connecting for quick strike touchdowns.

Against the Cards, Campbell was nearly perfect, completing 22 of 30 passes for 193 yards and two touchdown passes. He connected on 73 percent of his passes for a downright nasty 112.2 quarterback rating. If that ain’t getting it done then I don’t know what is. Through three games (including the Giants game, mind you), Campbell has connected on 63 of 91 passes for 647 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and no fumbles. That’s 65.6 percent, ladies and gentlemen. That also translates to a quarterback rating of 100.1 for the year. Speaking of QB ratings, Campbell has had a better rating that each of his three opponents – Eli Manning, Drew Brees and Kurt Warner – this season. Looks like the haters are going to have to find someone else to fixate on.

2. “Bombs Over Baghdad” by Outkast

Redskins receiver Santana Moss scored the eventual game winner on a 17-yard touchdown from Campbell in the fourth quarter. That’s noteworthy because it marked the sixth straight contest, including playoffs, in which Moss has caught a touchdown, tying a Redskins record held by Bobby Mitchell, who did it back in 1964.

Through three games, Moss has 19 catches for 276 yards and three touchdowns – ranking Moss fourth in NFL in receiving yards. On a team that took something like 12 games to get a receiver a touchdown last year, it goes without saying that Moss’ contributions are greatly appreciated. A healthy Santana Moss will go a long way in helping the continuing development of Campbell and preventing defenses from stacking eight men in the box against running back Clinton Portis and the ground game.

3. “Hey Hey What Can I Do” by Led Zeppelin

With just under nine minutes remaining and the Redskins leading the Cardinals 24-17, Campbell rolled out to his right to avoid the pressure and connected on a 68-yard touchdown bomb to rookie wide out Devin Thomas to all but end the game. After being called for two offensive pass interference calls earlier in the game, Thomas went from the dog house to the penthouse. Just one problem though – the play was called back after offensive lineman Stephon Heyer was flagged for a blindside hit on Darnell Dockett.

Thankfully, the boneheaded play didn’t end up costing the ‘Skins the victory, but it did take away Thomas’ first career touchdown. The stat sheet shows Thomas finished the day with one catch for seven yards, but in an instant Redskins fans saw a glimpse of what the rookie receiver is capable of.

4. “Bring ‘Em Out” by T.I.

Last week, safety Reed Doughty missed the game because of a stomach virus. In his place, rookie safety Chris Horton stepped up big time – hauling in two interceptions and a fumble recovery, earning NFC player of the week honors in the process. This week, the only time anyone noticed Doughty was when he bit on a fake by Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who breezed by him for a 62-yard touchdown in the third quarter. If Doughty wants to avoid the ire of Redskins fans looking for a new whipping boy other than Campbell, he needs to step up his game sooner rather than later.

5. “How Do You Like Me Now” by Toby Keith

These Washington Redskins are a team fans can get behind. They can score points in bunches, clearly illustrated by their offensive production (26.5 point per game) these last two weeks. On defense, the philosophy is always bend, but don’t break. While no one is thrilled that Cardinals running back Edgerrin James rushed for more than five yards a carry, the Redskins (Doughty’s play aside) did a solid job of preventing the big plays the Kurt Warner-led Cardinals are capable of. In fact, the ‘Skins held the Cardinals to 17 points Sunday, ending a streak of 10 consecutive games in which Arizona had scored at least 20 points, the longest in the league.

Redskins defensive back Carlos Rogers recovered a fumble and picked off Warner yesterday. Linebacker Rocky McIntosh forced a fumble for the second straight game. Defensive end Jason Taylor batted three balls at the line of scrimmage. And most importantly, the Redskins are winning the turnover battle (they’re a plus five for the year in turnovers). As long as the Redskins avoid careless mistakes on offense and continue to make the one or two game-changing plays on defense, there’s a chance this team may make some noise this season after all.

19Sep

shock jock

In baseball, basketball, blog, football, hockey by b murf / September 19, 2008 / 2 Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

Chris Cooley’s nude study habits aside, the talk of the town this week is Vinny Cerrato, and the announcement that the Redskins’ executive vice president of football operations is ESPN 980’s newest radio host.

Starting today, Cerrato will host Inside The Red Zone With Vinny Cerrato, which is scheduled for two hours every Monday and Friday. Apparently, many folks in town feel that Cerrato, whose job description includes personnel decisions, directing the Redskins’ draft, identifying free agency needs and acquisitions, coordinating all pro and college player evaluations, and day-to-day football operations, should concentrate more on football and less on … well … anything else.

Honestly, I don’t get the big deal. ESPN columnist Bill Simmons completed a fantasy football trade on his podcast this week. How great would it be to hear Cerrato on the horn with the New York Jets or the Denver Broncos chatting about possible trade scenarios? If people are willing to listen to Clinton Portis and Brian Mitchell bicker on air, then they’d definitely tune in to hear Cerrato on the phone with player agents working out when would be best to fly in clients for the suddenly vacant punter position. There’s no real way I see this show not being a hit.

Actually, that’s not true. History shows that Washington-based general managers rarely succeed as radio hosts. Fans might not remember, but each of the other three local GMs had a short stint as a radio host, with all three shows failing to catch on in the local market. For those who don’t remember, here’s a recap:

Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden’s radio show never got off the ground because they refused to put any money into it. They showed up in a brand new market in the middle of the night, tried to get by on the cheap using a handful of nobodies off the street and expected a steady fanbase to appear over night. To read more about the show’s failures and terrible ratings, please read the next “kick ‘em while they’re down” piece by Dan Steinberg.

Washington Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld’s radio show never lasted because he continued to bring back the same mediocre cast season after season. Sure, it was offensive, but it didn’t bring much else to the table. If an angry caller ever phoned in with a negative opinion, there wasn’t anyone on the roster capable of coming to Big Ern’s defense.

Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee’s radio show failed because … um … have you heard the man? Whenever GMGM appears on the John Thompson Show they refer to him as the “Undertaker.” He might be able to put together a competent hockey team, but apparently personality costs extra. For what it’s worth, I hear his show always did well in Russia.

For more info on Cerrato’s new show, click here.

18Sep

note: not reggie

In blog, football, note to self by b murf / September 18, 2008 / No Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

As I stood on the sidelines watching New Orleans “running back” Reggie Bush taunt a rookie punter during his return for a touchdown this past weekend, I almost felt bad for the guy.

Here’s an athlete who was seemingly on top of the world when he elected to forgo his senior season at USC. He was a Heisman Trophy winner and the biggest name on the biggest program in college football, and yet, today he’s forced to grand-stand and pose for personal accomplishments while playing on a winless underachiever.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. At least, that’s what the overall consensus was when the 2006 NFL Draft rolled around and everyone just knew the Houston Texans were going to select Bush with the top pick. Sure, there were some rumblings that Bush and his family might have accepted gifts, cash and other illegal benefits, but so did Shaquille O’Neal, and he went on to become one of the greatest of all time. If Bush went on to accomplish half of what Shaq did, then it would have been a wise investment.

But a funny thing happened along the way – Texans general manager Charlie Casserly met with Bush and decided it was best for his franchise to go another direction. He never said why, but some suggested it was because of the salary demands by Bush and his representatives or possibly even character issues. While no one knows Casserly’s reasoning for sure, the Texans passed on Bush and selected North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams. Bush went second to the Saints.

From there, things went from bad to worse for the Texans – with Casserly being crucified for the pick and Williams seemingly blamed for events that were out of his control, simply being drafted ahead of “Saint Reggie.” Some morons even suggested the move was one of the biggest blunders in the history of the NFL Draft.

And while Williams has gone on to have a solid career, Casserly is no longer with the Texans. He resigned as general manager and now does work as a television analyst, with the “blunder” tag still hanging over his head, even if history shows that wasn’t really the case.

Click here for the full article.

Note to self is a weekly sports column written for HoboTrashcan.

16Sep

stepping it up

In blog, football by b murf / September 16, 2008 / 3 Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

Last week was like no other for Homer McFanboy.

After attempting to take an in-depth look at the first 21 starts of Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell’s career, I was called a “hater” and accused of having some sort of anti-Redskins agenda.

Even though I started off the entry by reminding folks that I’ve been called a “Campbell apologist” for years, cranky fans automatically assumed I was lobbying for a gig at the Washington Post, where negativity is always encouraged. Next thing I know, Larry Michael accused me of using unnamed sources. The Todd Collins Fan Club and “Cult Brennan” started sending me Evites to their weekly support groups. All because I had the audacity to suggest this was a make-or-break season for Campbell.

So it’s with great pleasure that I remind everyone exactly where my loyalties lie, as I gladly recount the events leading up to JC’s first step towards becoming The Franchise.

With 3:38 left to play in the game and his team trailing the New Orleans Saints 24-22, Campbell headed onto the field for what very well might have been the ‘Redskins final chance at victory Sunday.

Campbell stepped up to the Redskins 33-yard line, immediately recognized that the Saints were planning to “send the house” with a blitz and changed his pass protection at the line of scrimmage. What came next was easily the biggest play of Campbell’s young career – a 67-yard touchdown strike to speedy receiver Santana Moss, who caught the ball in stride for the game-winning score.

“They showed a blitz look, and we’d been working on it all week,” said offensive tackle Chris Samuels, as he walked off the field moments after the win. “Jason made the right check – Jason did it. Jason made the right throw – Jason did it. And Santana made a big play.”

Anyone within earshot could easily hear Samuels’ emphasis on Campbell deserving all the credit for the play of the day. But he wasn’t alone in his praise for the fourth-year quarterback out of Auburn.

“We didn’t do that a year ago,” said center Casey Rabach of Campbell’s change at the line. “This is all new to him in the West Coast offense. For him to make that call it shows his maturity and evolution in this offense.”

While Samuels points to last week’s practice as a large reason for the offense’s preparation in this scenario, others took a broader view.

“There was a subtle thing on the play to Santana Moss, where he stepped up into the pocket,” said middle linebacker London Fletcher of Campbell. “I don’t know if many people saw it, where he was able to avoid the outside rush and buy himself some more time and hit Santana deep. That was something I saw Coach Zorn, him and the quarterbacks working on early in the offseason. It’s something you don’t realize how important it is back during OTA’s and things like that, and that was the difference in the game.”

The game-winning touchdown pass might be the most memorable, but it wasn’t Campbell’s only big play of the game, according to head coach Jim Zorn.

“I think he grew this whole week,” said Zorn of Campbell. “He just continued what he was doing from the first half into the second. He didn’t hit every throw that was there, and I was frustrated because I want him to hit 100 percent of his throws, right?”

Campbell might not have completed 100 percent of his passes against the Saints, but he did complete 24 of 36 for 321 yards. The heat index at FedEx Field was 105, and Campbell responded with a QB rating of 104.1. But most importantly, Campbell was perfect in the fourth quarter – going seven for seven for 160 yards and the previously mentioned touchdown. Here’s what Campbell had to say about the play:

“Santana was the second option on the play,” Campbell told Peter King after the game. “[Antwaan] Randle El was the first. But at the beginning of the play, I saw they had no middle safety over the top, so I knew Santana would probably be open deep if he could get a step on his guy. I knew I was running out of time and I was going to get hit, but I also knew Santana was going to get it if I laid it out for him.”

While one play during week two of the regular season doesn’t automatically launch Campbell into Joe Montana territory, it does show that the guy who was been called everything from “not smart enough” to “ill-equipped to play in the West Coast offense” shouldn’t be discarded just yet.

Sure, there will be growing pains along the way, but if everyone within the Redskins locker room is convinced Campbell’s the best man for the job, shouldn’t ‘Skins fans give him the same benefit of the doubt?

16Sep

caption this III

In blog, caption this, football by b murf / September 16, 2008 / 16 Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for everyone’s favorite game – caption this.

Twice before we’ve played the game (here and here), and both times we’ve had strong turnouts and solid reader-submitted captions. So let’s keep the streak alive. You might not win any cool prizes, but you’ll be formally recognized for being better than your peers and will get some love here on the blog.

Here’s my humble offering to get folks started:

“You know what? I think we’ve really got a chance to catch the Saints with their pants down today. I should remember to post that on my blog later.”

Think you can do better? Leave a comment below with your best caption.

(And for those individuals who are completely lost, here’s a link that might help explain my caption).

[Update: We have a winner, and his name is Jimbo. “Oh well, at least MY ‘blog’ is bigger than Murf’s.” Thanks, as always, to everyone for playing along.]

15Sep

saints playlist

In blog, football, playlist by b murf / September 15, 2008 / No Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

As is tradition around these parts, here are five songs in honor of the Washington Redskins 29-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

1. “Hot in Herre” by Nelly.

Feeling more like July than September, the conditions on the field at kickoff were downright brutal with a heat index of 105 degrees at FedEx Field. And while the heat could have made a lesser man falter, quarterback Jason Campbell rose to the occasion. The football gods gave him a 105 degree day, and he responded with a 104.1 quarterback rating.

Campbell haters will not be pleased to hear that J.C. went seven for seven in the fourth quarter for nearly 160 yards and a game-winning 67-yard touchdown to Santana Moss. Nearly as big as the touchdown was the gutsy completion to Moss again, this time on fourth and two with roughly two minutes to play. For a guy labeled as a quarterback who won’t ever make it in the West Coast offense, he sure did play the part today – completing 67 percent of his passes and finishing with that sparkling QB rating.

2. “No Leaf Clover” by Metallica.

Redskins starting safety Reed Doughty was so sick with flu-like symptom Sunday morning that he texted his backup, rookie Chris Horton, at 8 a.m. to tell him there was no way he would be able to take the field against the Saints. Coach Jim Zorn said after the game that the team took Doughty to the hospital to try and calm his stomach, but that every time Doughty even tried to jog, he threw up.

No one knew what to expect with Doughty sidelined and a seventh rounder making his first NFL start against New Orleans high-powered offense. And even in their wildest dreams, ‘Skins fans couldn’t have envisioned Horton exploding onto the scene with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. While that’s great news for Horton and Redskins fans, it’s not so good for Doughty. While he probably won’t admit it, watching a seventh-round compensatory pick claim his job while he had an upset tummy couldn’t have made his day any brighter.

3. “Forgot About Dre” by Dr. Dre (featuring Eminem)

Thanks in large part to nagging injuries last season, Redskins receiver Santana Moss barely resembled the game-changer ‘Skins fans had come to know and respect. Instead of choosing to give Moss the benefit of the doubt for trying to play while hurt, folks began to whisper that maybe his best days were behind him and if the Redskins wanted big plays out of the receiving corps again, they should probably consider finding someone else to get the job done.

Fast forward to yesterday, when the ‘Skins were down by nine points with around six minutes to play. If someone didn’t step up and make a play, then the home team would have found themselves in the unenviable position of 0-2 against a stacked NFC East. We already mentioned the 67-yard touchdown, but just as vital was Moss’ eight-yard catch when the ‘Skins opted to go for it on fourth and two. For the day, Moss finished with seven catches for 164 yards and the touchdown. Good thing rumors of Moss’ demise were a bit premature.

Here’s something ‘Skins fans can relish from the post-game news and notes:

Moss’s 67-yard touchdown from Jason Campbell marked the fifth straight contest, including playoffs, in which he has caught a touchdown. He is the first Redskin since Charlie Brown in the first five weeks of 1982 to record a touchdown reception in five straight games.

4. “Ugly” by Bubba Sparxxx

How about those Redskins special teams on Sunday? The rookie punter averaged 33 yards a punt for the game and botched a hold on a field goal attempt. Saints returner Reggie Bush returned a punt for a 55-yard score. And if that’s not enough to make special teams coach Danny Smith lose it, Antwaan Randle El continued his quest to drive Smith to an early death with his play as a punt returner. We’ve been subjected to his patented “one step to the left, one step to the right, fall forward for a two-yard gain” since he came to town, but on Sunday he decided to also throw a fumble into the mix. Of course that blunder resulted in a touchdown for New Orleans. If not for a solid day defensively and the heroics from Campbell, Moss and the offense, today’s story would be all about the horrid play of the Redskins “special” teams.

5. “Testify” by Rage Against the Machine

This one goes out to me. Turns out that in addition to patrolling the sidelines while watching my favorite team come from behind for a much-needed victory, I also managed to win $100 yesterday. I bought four squares in the office pool and won the first and third quarters, turning my eight buck investment into 100. That means today I get to pick up Rock Band 2 with my winnings, and will gladly enjoy thrashing to some Rage this evening.

15Sep

how soon they forget

In blog, football by b murf / September 15, 2008 / No Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

You’d be hard pressed to find another eight-year veteran as underrated as Redskins receiver Santana Moss. Even though he’s been a Pro Bowl receiver and possesses game-changing abilities, critics call him injury-prone or a one-hit wonder. Since Moss doesn’t care what the critics think, I’ll gladly speak up on his behalf and remind folks exactly what he’s brought to the table since moving to Washington.

Sept. 19, 2005 – The Redskins seemed overmatched and were outplayed for the first 56 minutes of this Monday night affair against their rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. Down 13-0 on the road with less than four minutes to play, there was little reason to think the ‘Skins would make a game out of it until Moss shocked the world. With a 39-yard touchdown and a 70-yarder just over a minute apart, the Redskins stole the game, 14-13, in what Joe Gibbs called one of the biggest wins of his Hall of Fame coaching career. Moss finished the day with five catches for 159 yards and two scores.

Dec. 24, 2005 – On Christmas Eve, plain and simply “Santana Claus” stole the show. Touchdowns of 17, 59 and 72 yards by Moss put the Redskins in the holiday spirit as they defeated the New York Giants 35-20. Moss finished the day with five catches for 160 yards and three scores.

Oct. 1, 2006 – The Redskins surprisingly find themselves in a shootout with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who came into the game with the number-one ranked defense in the NFL. Both offenses traded blows throughout and fans get the sense that whoever got the ball last would walk away victorious. Whenever the Redskins need a play they turn to Moss, who hauled in touchdowns of 55, 8 and 68 yards. The final strike, that 68-yarder, was in overtime, sending the FedEx Field faithful into a frenzy as the good guys were victorious 36-30. Moss finished the day with four catches for 138 yards and three scores.

Dec. 30, 2007 – Needing a victory to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, the Redskins once again turned to Moss against the Dallas Cowboys. While the ageless wonder known as Todd Collins was still working into a rhythm after finding himself on the field again for the first time in ages, he increased his chances for success by going to Moss early and often. The knockout punch came early in the fourth quarter when Collins and Moss connected for a 42-yard touchdown and the ‘Skins cruised to a 27-6 win. Moss finished the day with eight catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.

Sept. 14, 2008 – With a rookie head coach and an unproven quarterback, the Redskins found themselves perilously close to an 0-2 start, trailing the Saints by nine points with just over six minutes to play. Instead of panicking went to old reliable, and Moss didn’t disappoint. A 67-yard strike by Jason Campbell to Moss with 3:29 left to play in the game propelled the Redskins to their first win of the Jim Zorn Era and hushed critics for at least a day or two. Moss finished the day with seven catches for 164 yards and a touchdown.

In these five games, touchdowns were thrown by a slew of different quarterbacks – Mark Brunell, Patrick Ramsey, Todd Collins and Jason Campbell. The one constant? Santana Moss. When healthy, there isn’t much room for debate – Moss is clearly one of the elite receivers in the game.

Heading into week three, Moss finds himself fifth in the NFL in receiving yards with 201, but anyone who has ever talked with Santana knows he doesn’t concern himself with stats or personal accomplishments. Wins are what matter first and foremost to the diminutive wideout. History shows that if the Redskins continues to call Moss’ number when the game is on the line, chances are they’ll be victorious more times than not.