And you weren’t as good as you thought you were.
Tag Archives: Mike Shanahan
The Real Quarterback Controversy. . .
Beck: Hey Rex, tough day out there huh?
Rex: Yeah, we just couldn’t get things going and I failed to execute on some key throws. But hey, you came in and did pretty well. You should get the nod this week.
“ . . . we interrupt this broadcast with a special announcement . . . Left Tackle Kory Lichtensteiger is out for the season with a torn knee and Left Guard Trent Williams has a high ankle sprain and will be out at least a couple weeks. . .”
“. . . the skins will be hard pressed to replace these players and provide the same level of support and protection that the backfield has had so far this season . . .”
“. . .that side of the line has really preformed well. I’d hate to be the one calling the signals out there for the rest of the season . . .”
Beck: Umm on second thought, you’re the starter and you just had a bad day. You deserve a second chance to prove yourself. You da man!
Rex: No, you da man!
Beck: No, you da man!
There are a few things guaranteed in life; Death, Taxes, a Washington DC QB Controversy and sports talk about the controversy all week regardless of the outcome. If fan opinion has anything to say about it, and it doesn’t, Beck should be worried.
But my guess is that his butt is safe for at least one more start by Rex the Hex this season. However, if things go from bad to worse, look for him to be the Redskins version of Tebowmania.
Judging by fan reaction, it has already started.
A Standup Guy
Tebow mania is in full swing. And either you are swinging at him to fail, or swinging for him to succeed.
Personally I am swinging for him to succeed.
I came across this post on the web about Tebow Desktop Figures that you can download, cut out, and put together for display where ever you like. Pretty Cool.
Of course I did just that and started putting him together.
Then I had an idea. . .
I could do this for the Redskins!
Now knowing my artistic abilities are challenged at best (I can draw a mean stick figure) I asked my talented wife and daughters (yes, my sons inherited my talent – I’m not being sexist) if they would be willing to improvise for me.
Soon my whole house hold was in full cutout and drawing mode. My youngest son, William, wanted to create his own Tebow, so I traced the just the outline of the cutout without any features and said “there you go – have fun”.
This is what he created.
I think he has captured the fact that football is a contact sport!
Meanwhile, my talented wife was having fun trying to re-create Shanahan for me. She came up with a cutout which looks awesome!
What a bunch of great standup guys Tebow and Shanahan are! They even got together to discuss their favorite sport!
If you would like our Shanahan Cut out Figure, you can download it here.
If you would like to special request someone, we probably would be willing to put one together for you for free if you asked nice.
– Except if you want someone associate with the Eagles, Cowboys or Ben Roethlisberger. Then we would be willing to do this for a great introductory price of just $599.
This was really a great way for the whole family to get together and have lots of fun and something tells me that we might be putting together a couple more in the next few days.
As always , be good , do well , have fun!
Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
Back in April of 2010 I posted this post ” Holy QB Pass Batman ”
Among other things, I talked about the “system” and having the right players for “the system”.
Folks have talked about the Redskins defense all season. About how we had/have excellent 4-3 players but they seem out of sync in a 3 – 4.
It now appears that perhaps Donovan was “out of sync” with the new system.
In a Washington Post Article “Rex Grossman might not be a star, but he might be what Mike Shanahan wants” Thomas Boswell makes the following points.
The Shannies want a strict “system quarterback,” someone who improvises only as a last resort, not as an agreeable alternative. They want someone who reads the field deep-to-middle-to-short, not short-to-medium-to-deep as McNabb did in Philly. In short, they don’t want the kind of quarterback McNabb has been all his life.
Grossman seems to understand the Redskins’ offense better than McNabb, run it more quickly, end up in the right play more often, go through his reads deeper and step up in the pocket as asked. He doesn’t have McNabb’s arm strength, ability to rip away from rushers to make plays, nor his career-long ability (until this year) to avoid interceptions.
Was Donovan a mistake?
Some are now saying that Shanahan, in his de facto GM role, wasted so much time and money, plus draft picks, with his McNabb mistake.
Other say,
“Not so fast.” Grossman next faces two teams in playoff contention, not the Cowboys, who have given up more than 30 points eight times and rank 31st in points allowed. Grossman’s QB rating (93.6) was lower than McNabb’s a week before (100.7).
Up until the last game killing interception, and that is exactly what it was, Rex’s rating was actually better.
People around the league and multiple fan bases will say that there is good Rex and bad Rex. In the game against Dallas we saw both.
Good Rex: 4 TD’s , over 300 yds passing, and 30 points put up on the board.
Bad Rex: 1 lost fumble, 2 interceptions, and 5 sacks.
Though it might be argued that sacks are not always the QB’s fault.
But the fact still remains. That last interception was a killer.
Boswell also states:
Successful NFL coaches do what they’ve done before. Shanahan breaths discipline, demands control, weeds out everyone who isn’t totally with his plan (sometimes cruelly) and, when necessary, will take the lesser athlete for the sake of a superior attitude.
Others might also argue that other successful NFL coaches have adopted a system to play to their players strengths. I actually think Boswell is more right than wrong.
If you look at successful NFL organizations, you will find stability; and within that stability you will find a “system” , a “style” or a “plan”. The organization then finds players to fit that mold.
Shanahan didn’t wait to see the tape to glow: Grossman “executed the offense. We have a system. You’ve got to go through your reads. It’s very complicated to tell you what he did. He just executed. There’s a lot of different coverage, lots of different blitzes. We have routes called for different coverages. He performed like a veteran performs.”
For now it appears that Rex fits the mold more than Donovan. The question still remains.
Can an old dog learn new tricks?
Can Donovan learn to fit the new mold? Or is he better suited in a different system?
Like I said back in April…
Only time will tell.
Head Shot of the Week
Donovan McNabb is practically leading the league in 40+ yard plays so far this season.
This means he is the Reggie Jackson of Football. The home run and all or nothing cleanup hitter.
It makes for exciting highlight reels and lots of hair pulling near misses.
It also makes for a slightly less than perfect completion percentage.
Which is not what the Shanahans want.
They want a pro bowl QB who makes all the right plays, throws, completions and decisions to move his team down field, score points and win games every time on every play.
They want somebody to pick up the playbook and execute it to perfection. You know, just like they drew it up. But so far this season, Donovan has not been able to do that.
And it is not entirely his fault. Not all the good pieces necessary to make everything go as planned are yet in place.
Ever since the beginning of his tenure and the OTA’s, Shanahan has stressed his coaching style, work ethic and attitude. Nothing proved this more than the attendance and treatment of players, including everyones favorite 300+ pound diva, Albert Haynesworth.
This battle is well documented and actually had everybody guessing and offering advice from get rid of him to keep him and go back to the 4 -3.
But as we all know, AH is still with us and in fact is playing better than ever. But more on that later.
With this last though in mind, I think hindsight might prove Shanahans decision to bench Donovan McNabb to be good for the team in the long run.
But what does it do in the short term? It does carry a lot of risk. You introduce uncertainty into every players mind about your confidence in the starting QB. You know, the one you went out of your way to trade for and got rid of Jason Campbell for.
BTW, guess who now has a better QB rating so far this season?
But, guess who has given the franchise hope for success and a belief that we are better now than we were with the other guy.
And yet hope gets benched for book knowledge with only 2 minutes to go in the game and we hit the midpoint of the season in full turmoil and the possibility of winds of change coming.
It’s kind of ironic that we have mid term elections this week, mid point of the season, and change and uncertainty are everywhere.
But here is how I think things will play out.
I’ve heard more than one trainer, coach and advisor say that you do not practice on your weaknesses. Sure it is good to be critical and look to improve and correct your mistakes, but that is not how you achieve greatness.
You practice your strengths. You take what makes you good, what makes you stand out in the field and practice that to make it even better.
Look what has happened with the AH saga. He is now 100% committed to and behind the system. In exchange, the system is using his strengths to their best advantage. Yes he still lines up on the nose from time to time, but he is now playing the gaps much more and more importantly much more effectively because the coaches have adjusted the system to exploit what he does best.
They are practicing the strengths. The strengths of AH and the strengths of the defensive schemes.
Conversely on the other side of the ball. Reportedly The Shanahans have tried to adjust the play book for Donovan, by eliminating certain terminology, calls and plays.
They have tried to retrain him in his mechanics.
They have concentrated on the weaknesses and as a result, the Redskins have not gotten much better.
It appears to still be all about the Shanahan my way or the highway style of coaching and plan.
They have to start putting into practice what Donovan does best. Or at the very least, what he is used to doing best. Just as I think they have done on the defense with AH.
Until this happens, both the coaches and the QB will be just going around in circles and not really improving.
I actually thought benching Donovan might be worth while (I mentioned it last week here). He has a propensity for making bone headed throws and decisions. Benching him was the right decision, just that it was made at the worst possible time (with 2 minutes to go and your best hope for the franchise out on the field when and where it counts during the heat of battle. I just would have done it in between games or at the very worst at half time
By taking Donovan out, Shanahan has said “I don’t think you can help us win the big one yet”. They will take the next two weeks working on a plan to give the team the best chance to win. And Shanahan will give Donovan a chance to prove him wrong.
Hopefully the Shanahans will also get rid of this “my way or the highway” style of coaching the offense and mechanics of the game and play to everyone strengths just as they have with the defense.
But then again, I am not the coach of the redskins, nor am I being paid millions of dollars a year to restore this franchise.
So if they do not do this, I invite them to prove me wrong.
Favre vs Shanahan Round 1
Brett Favre bumped Mike Shanahan from Sunday Night Football
From the DC Sports Bog . . .
As if you needed any more reasons to be bitter about Brett Favre’s return, he managed to bump Mike Shanahan off NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcast.
The Redskins coach sat down with Bob Costas early last week to tape an interview that was scheduled to air during halftime of the 49ers-Vikings game. Then some stuff happened with Brett Favre, and the world was overcome with fumes, and Al Michaels scored an interview with the grizzled one, and so NBC Sports producers decided that would be the halftime spot.
No arguments here. If you’ve got the noble gunslinger, and the Vikings are playing, you have to go with that interview at halftime. And since the Shanahan interview was pre-taped, there wouldn’t be any new ammunition added to the Albert Haynesworth gunfight.
Still. Go ahead and add it to the list.
As for the lost Shanahan-Costas footage, an NBC Sports spokesman tells me it will air at a later date, likely during the Thursday night kickoff game.
Oh palease, Another Headline Ratings Op stolen by the Vikings.
Danny and Co. will have to come up with more “As Albert Turns” drama.
Guess I will just have to keep tabs and see what happens come Nov 28th!
Feeling the Heat
Albert:
“I was in a hot tub, felt dizzy, got sick. They told me it was just a headache. Probably wanted to make themselves look good and me bad.”
Them:
“I don’t think it has anything to do with his head.”
Shanahan and Allen have handled the whole Albert situation in such a way as to teach him a lesson.
Obviously he has not learned it.
Can we please do one of the following?
Cut, Trade, or place Albert on IR.
Too bad players who have accrued at least one season under contract can’t be placed on the practice squad.
Imagine tha irony of putting Albert on the practice squad . . .
That would be too funny.
Is it Thursday yet?
Just some thoughts running through my tiny little brain…
– How many carrots can the Redskins dangle out for draft picks?
Campbell, Haynesworth, McIntosh, Landry…
– Define Voluntary…
(See Mandatory)
The Mike Shanahan practices have started.
– When asked about Shanahans new rules…
The standard answers from the players are: “I Like it” , “It’s like a breath of fresh air” , “Just what the team needs”
I wonder if their answers are Voluntary?
– Everyone says “Defense wins Championships”
Can the Capitals prove them wrong?
Interesting Moves
LJ signed by the Redskins…
Pros:
He gets to keep his number.
We get him for only $3.5 Million and no draft picks or trades.
I believe he may still have more in the tank than CP.
He has less mileage and hits than CP.
He can take over for CP when CP gets injured (and he will) or gets his bell rung again (and did I mention he will get hurt again).
We now have 4 TE’s and 2 RB’s to block and catch for Campbell.
Cons:
Character issues.
Off field issues.
All in all, I think this is a good business decision for the skins.
IMHO there are no other free agents out there potentially this good for this price.
LJ knows his options are running out and we are willing to give him a chance to prove himself. He will not be expected to be an every down back, nor will CP, which should help both of them stay healthier longer.
LJ gives the skins a chance to not gamble on any one player in the draft and hopefully find and build up a good back through the draft over the next couple years.
And before I hear any more silly talk about LT and Westbrook let me just say this.
Both think they are way too important and carry too big of a price tag.
And from what I hear, Westbrook’s head is even worse than CP’s.
Yes, we still need an OL that can block and protect. But hopefully we should be able to address that through the draft.
LJ is a risk, but a legitimate risk.
Now on to our other free agent pick ups.
Maake Kemoeatu
Ok, we have one beast man on the defence by the name of Albert Haynesworth. We all know that Albert is NOT an every down player and that he tends to get nagging injuries. So, the logical thing to do is find another beast of a man who is not an every down player and also needs to monitor his playing time to be healthy and most effective.
Maake is a risk because he is coming off of a major injury, but he did pass the physical. And, like LJ, we got him at a reasonable price.
Gee, I’m beginning to see a pattern here. Decent veteran talent that can compliment what we already have at a reasonable price.
Artis Hicks
I’ll give you three guesses about how to describe him and the first two don’t count.
Good, versatile, veteran, at a decent price who provide talent and skill anywhere on the OL. Which is exactly what we need.
I really am beginning to like Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen’s approach to managing an NFL team. It is not splashy, its not $tar $truck, but it is measured, calculating and they stick to the plan.
Of course only time will tell how good they really are but so far this has been a refreshing change.
Then again…
If worse comes to worse, we can always rely on LJ to spin up the twitter and media coverage if things go bad.
Example:
Announcer– Campbell drops back to pass…gets pressure up the middle…SACKED for a loss.
Announcer– Campbell drops back to pass…gets pressure from the outside…scrambles…hit as he throws…INTERCEPTION!
Shanahan– Hey LJ we need you to distract folks from Jason…get folks off his back.
LJ on Twitter– Poor JC, how come the D gets all the running lanes?
LJ on Twitter– The only holes I ever see are when the line … over..
I believe in aliens
And I believe that when they come and visit they “inhabit” one of us.
Trouble is, I can’t decide if, when they “inhabit” somebody, that person becomes irrational or incredible smart. And when they leave that body the person reverts back to the other condition.
This is the only way I can explain Dan Snyder’s behavior over the past 6 months.
Either an alien left Dan Snyder, or one came for a visit.
Either way, I say THANK YOU!
Over the past 6 months, he has not only hired two great football minds to run the Redskins organization, but he is actually stepping back, at least out of the spot light, and allowing them to do so.
And these two minds, Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan, are showing remarkable poise and reason in this crazy free agency market.
Maybe they are all aliens?
But so far they have cleaned house of players who a couple years from now will be either past their prime and/or too old and expensive to keep on the roster.
They have placed agency tags on those they need to have while setting a price tag not too high so as not to scare away any and all potential offers.
Case in point, Jason Campbell. They tendered an offer of 3.1 million dollars and a first round pick. A worthy salary for a decent QB, which should keep him happy, yet at the same time just low enough to say, hey, maybe we might negotiate for the right opportunity.
Oh, and speaking of QB’s and opportunities, and organizations I am beginning to like more and more.
The Baltimore Ravens and Joe Flacco just got a whole lot better with a good bold move acquiring Anquan Boldin. This too is an organization which is really really smart with the draft and free agency. They tend to be able to find the gems in the draft, know which key players to acquire and keep, while not loosing sight on their goals and sanity.
So far, I am actually liking and enjoying this free agency period and still look forward to the upcoming draft.
Fumbled Returns 