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08Aug

recapping 2012: 21 redskins games in 21 photos

In blog, football, photos by b murf / August 8, 2013 / No Comments

(photos by Brian Murphy)

In a matter of hours, the Washington Redskins will officially kick of the 2013 campaign when they face the Tennessee Titans in their preseason opener. Like every other ‘Skins fans out there, I too am exciting to see what this season has in store for the burgundy and gold and it’s a safe bet most of the day will be spent staring at the clock, wishing it was time for kickoff.

To help pass the time, I’ve decided to take a quick look back at the roller coaster ride that was Washington’s ’12 season. The highly-anticipated debut of Robert Griffin III. The improbable emergence of Alfred Morris. The horrendous start, followed by the amazing second-half surge.

And best of all, I was on the sidelines for all 21 games — from the preseason opener in Buffalo to the heartbreaking postseason defeat at the hands of Seattle — it was easy the most compelling season I’ve been around the Redskins for since I began covering the team back in 2005. So without further delay, here is one final look back at the beginning of a new era of Washington Redskins football.

29Jul

getting to know xavier nixon

In blog, football by b murf / July 29, 2013 / 1 Comment

(photo by Geoff Burke)

It goes without saying that when the league takes away a large chunk of your salary cap space and you trade away multiple first-round picks to land a franchise quarterback, it requires you to get a little creative to round out the rest of the roster.

That’s the approach the Washington Redskins have had to take this offseason — with $18 million less to work with than other franchises and no first rounder this year or next thanks to the Robert Griffin III trade last year.

Which explains why there were no splashy acquisitions or no marquee free agent signings to tout at Redskins Park as head coach Mike Shanahan and friends prepare for the 2013 season. Instead, if the Redskins are going to defend their NFC East title, they’re going to have to do it largely with the same roster they had last season.

One of the new faces in town who is hoping to make a strong impression during training camp is tackle Xavier Nixon, an undrafted free agent who played his college ball with the Florida Gators.

“I grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina,” Nixon said. “Both of my parents are in the military. I didn’t do a lot of bouncing around as a kid though. I went to the University of Florida and I was a four-year starter.”

For those ‘Skins fans who don’t know much about you, how would you describe your game?

31May

dallas wasn’t impressed with redskins’ 2013 draft class

In blog, football by b murf / May 31, 2013 / 1 Comment

(photo by Brian Murphy)

By now, fans of the Washington Redskins are intimately familiar with the newest additions to the roster – the players the team selected in the 2013 NFL Draft.

As a quick refresher, here are the seven college players the burgundy and gold brain trust opted to select during this year’s draft:

Cornerback David Amerson (2nd round, 51st overall)
Tight end Jordan Reed (3rd round, 85th overall)
Safety Phillip Thomas (4th round, 119th overall)
Running back Chris Thompson (5th round, 154th overall)
Linebacker Brandon Jenkins (5th round, 162nd overall)
Safety Bacarri Rambo (6th round, 191st overall)
Running back Jawan Jamison (7th round, 228th overall)

This year’s draft class clearly didn’t have the same level of name recognition of others in recent history, but that’s to be expected when a team trades away its first-round pick and is simply looking to add depth to a roster returning 21 of 22 starters from a year ago.

My personal opinion is that the Redskins targeted high-risk, high-reward players in specific areas of need – believing the coaching staff can apparently bring out the best in talented, but flawed players while helping these seven players overcome some of the deficiencies that could have possibly scared off other teams.

Take, for example, Washington’s top pick – defensive back David Amerson, out of North Carolina State. Depending on your perspective, the ‘Skins landed one of the top ball-hawking defensive backs in the country … or a burnt piece of toast who lacks discipline and tries too hard to make the highlight reel.

14May

caps complete their annual postseason meltdown

In blog, hockey by b murf / May 14, 2013 / 3 Comments

(photo by Greg Fiume)

This is why we can’t have nice things.

It really doesn’t matter which D.C. sports team you root for these days. They all end in heartbreak and disappointment.

Long-time fans of the Washington Capitals know that this franchise has never really done well in the postseason. Whether we’re talking about multiple overtime games or going up three games to one in a series and being unable to finish off an opponent on the ropes, the Caps have historically tortured their fan base on a level that should be punishable by law.

Graybeards like me know playoff letdowns are an annual tradition, and are able to adjust their expectations accordingly. But I still feel for those relatively newer additions to the local hockey-loving community.

Those who have only been here for the “Rock the Red” era of the Capitals clearly had no idea what they’d signed up for. They simply saw dynamic playmakers on the ice and larger than life personalities off of it and decided to give the Caps a try.

Little did they know they had just entered into an abusive relationship.

But really, their first clue should have been that this franchise was located in Washington, D.C. That alone should be enough at this point to make people proceed with caution.

Take, for example, the Nationals.

13May

caps find themselves in a familiar situation

In blog, hockey by b murf / May 13, 2013 / 2 Comments

Welp. Here we go again.

Longtime fans of the Washington Capitals know this feeling. They know that while 87 percent of all NHL teams that take a 2-0 series lead go on to win, the Capitals are just 2-4 in the same situation.

Those same longtime Caps fans probably also know that this franchise is 0-6 when leading a series 2-1 and then dropping Game 4.

Hell, even newer fans of this franchise – the ones who have only been around for the “Rock the Red” era – know by now that nothing is guaranteed in the postseason for this snake bit hockey team except eventual heartbreak and disappointment.

Which is why, with the possible exception of the gentlemen in Washington’s locker room, every single hockey-watching sports fan on the planet is fully expecting the Capitals to fall flat against the New York Rangers at home in Game 7 Monday night.

In football, the Buffalo Bills have a well-earned reputation for losing Super Bowls. In baseball, for more than 100 years, the Chicago Cubs have been known as loveable losers because of their inability to win a World Series.

And in hockey, the Capitals are labeled as “choking dogs” after years and years of jumping out to a quick start in a playoff series and then failing to finish off a vulnerable opponent.

If the Stanley Cup playoffs were played under the same “one and done” format as March Madness or even “best two out of three,” the Capitals wouldn’t be considered hockey’s version of Charlie Brown.

Unfortunately for everyone involved though, that’s simply not the case, so Caps fans must now hold out hope this is finally the year Lucy finally lets Charlie Brown kick that damned football.

07May

no need to panic after capitals fall to rangers in game 3

In blog, hockey by b murf / May 7, 2013 / 2 Comments

Yes, the Washington Capitals lost 4-3 to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden Monday night.

And yes, the Capitals squandered a perfect opportunity to take a commanding three-games-to-none lead in this best of seven series.

But before Caps fans begin to hyperventilate and overreact, let me say this – the Rangers simply aren’t very good.

Look, I’ve been a fan of the Washington Capitals my entire life and am painfully aware of the countless number of playoff collapses and heartache this franchise has doled out over the years.

As a defense mechanism to cope with being a D.C. sports fan, I always keep my guard up. Hoping for the best, while simultaneously preparing for the worst-possible outcome is honestly the only way I know how to root for a team like the Caps.

Whether we’re talking about blowing a three-games-to-one lead against the hated Pittsburgh Penguins one more than one occasion during the 90’s or dragging things out to triple overtime before falling flat, history shows the Capitals are more than capable of self destructing in spectacular fashion.

And yet, for some reason I am remarkably calm at the moment.

05May

photos from 2013 redskins rookie camp

In blog, football, photos by b murf / May 5, 2013 / No Comments

(photo by Brian Murphy)

One year ago, the Washington Redskins held a rookie camp that represented the debut of Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Considering how many decades it had been since the Redskins had anything that remotely resembled a franchise quarterback on the roster, the entire D.C. metro area was eager to see RGIII don the burgundy and gold for the first time.

Needless to say, things are much more subdued in 2013.

With no first-round pick this season, Washington simply aimed to add depth to the roster during the ’13 NFL Draft. Those seven draft picks, as well as 12 undrafted free agents and 48 players in town on a tryout basis participated in the team’s three-day rookie camp.

Consider the Redskins are the reigning NFC East champions, roster spots are going to be hard to come by for the majority of these hopefuls.

It’s an introduction to our system, both offensively and defensively,” said head coach Mike Shanahan. “We don’t work on special teams in this camp, but we will in our OTAs. But they get a feel for what we’re trying to do. We get a chance to take a look at them, what type of athletes they are, what type of quickness and speed. And that was very impressive to see our draft choices out there and to see their size and their quickness and their speed and things we were hoping for. Their ball skills were very evident out there over the last few days. So it was a good practice.”

For those who are interested, I was out at Redskins Park covering the rookie camp. Click here for the full gallery of photos from the 2013 rookie camp.