Week 1: Redskins Recap

Here we have Mario Manningham bitching DeAngelo Hall for a 30 yd TD...

Well, week 1 of the 2009 season is in the books, as the Skins once again drop the season opener to the New York football Giants. What started with a optimistic 34-yard Clinton Portis scamper ended in a failed onside kick recovery, and the disappointment of an inter-divisional loss. The Redskins will look to regroup next week when the host the St. Louis Rams. The game against the Giants gave fans hope in some areas, but some facets of the game felt all too familiar.

Starting with the quarterback, Campbell looked somewhat uncomfortable for most of the game while failing to protect the ball. Campbell threw a bad interception and lost a fumble (which was returned for a touchdown) in the first half. Zorn needs to work on his pocket presence and teach him how to protect the ball before he throws. This has been an on-going problem for Jason, as the defense rarely has trouble stripping the ball from his pre-release stance.

The defense showed a familiar bend but do not break mentality as the Giants seemed to move the ball with ease all afternoon. But, after a few New York struggles to get into the end zone, the Redskins stayed within striking distance. DeAngelo Hall, even though he got a pick, was pretty bad in coverage, could not make a tackle, and had a bonehead penalty. You need better production from your "big-time" cornerback. If the Redskins could of simply tackled better and protected the ball, they could be traveling back to DC with a W.

Redskin of the Week: ANTWAAN RANDLE EL - He consistently made himself available to Campbell and picked up several key first downs. Even though he was named WR3 behind Malcolm Kelly, he made a much greater impact. Honorable mention goes to Hunter the Punter who scored a TD on a fake field goal run. Portis beware.



Play of the Game: Mario Manningham somehow scored a 30 yard TD by making D-Hall and others miss while tippy-toeing down the sidelines.




FINAL SCORE: GIANTS 23, REDSKINS 17

Redskins @ Giants: Top 10 Questions Answered

#10: Santana meets up with brother Sinorice, who will be the bigger factor? I would say neither, but Santana actually had 2 catches for 8 yards compared to baby bro being shutout.

#9: How will the Redskins use Fred Davis and Chris Cooley if they play together? Eh, not really at all.

#8: How much will Devin Thomas see the field? I don't remember seeing him play at all.

#7: How many carries will Portis lose to Betts? Final count, 16 for Portis and 2 for Betts. The Redskins barely had the ball enough to get Portis 15 touches.

#6: How will the Redskins use Orakpo? Exclusively at linebacker? Can he cover TE's? He had 2 tackles and he was disappointingly quiet.

#5: Will Zorn's playbook be razor thin or Al Saunderseque? I though the playcalling was a decent mix, even with a few trickaration plays.

#4: Plaxico Burress, Redskins killer....now behind bars...huge factor? Giants WR's step up? Yes, the Giant's cast of wideouts stepped up and they were the difference in the game!

#3: Will the Redskins young WR's step up to the plate? They really did not have the chance to do that. Kelly played a good deal, but the majority of the air attack seem directed at Randle El and Cooley, who each had 7 catches.

#2: Will Albert Haynesworth clog up the middle of the field and allow others to put Eli on his back? Yes and no. He was effective, but he gets winded fast and was off the field on at least 1 very key play.

#1: Can the offensive line give Campbell time against a stiff pass rush? I think the line did a pretty good job considering the circumstances. The blame lies with Campbell on a couple game changing turnovers.

Stay tuned for the Week 1 Recap.

Speed Read Player Profile #1

Name: Marcus Mason

DOB: 06/23/84

High School: Georgetown Prep (Bethesda, MD)

College: Youngstown State



Facts:

• All-time leading rusher in Maryland High School Football history (5,700 yards).
  
• Had 23 touchdowns his senior year at Youngstown State where he was a First Team All-American in the NCAA FCS (former 1-AA).


• Made the Redskins 53 man roster in 2007, but was moved to practice squad to make room for another player.


• Spent time with the Ravens and Jets on their practice squad the past few seasons.

Redskins @ Giants: Top 10 Questions

#10: Santana meets up with brother Sinorice, who will be the bigger factor?

#9: How will the Redskins use Fred Davis and Chris Cooley if they play together?

#8: How much will Devin Thomas see the field?

#7: How many carries will Portis lose to Betts?

#6: How will the Redskins use Orakpo? Exclusively at linebacker? Can he cover TE's?

#5: Will Zorn's playbook be razor thin or Al Saunderseque?

#4: Plaxico Burress, Redskins killer....now behind bars...huge factor? Giants WR's step up?

#3: Will the Redskins young WR's step up to the plate?

#2: Will Albert Haynesworth clog up the middle of the field and allow others to put Eli on his back?

#1: Can the offensive line give Campbell time against a stiff pass rush?


Don't miss it....4:15 EST on FOX baby!

2009 Redskins Roster Review

OFFENSE

QB1: Jason Campbell
QB2: Todd Collins

RB1: Clinton Portis
RB2: Ladell Betts
RB3: Rock Cartwright
RB4: Marcus Mason

FB1: Mike Sellers

WR1: Santana Moss
WR2: Malcolm Kelly
WR3: Antwaan Randle-El
WR4: Devin Thomas
WR5: Marko Mitchell

TE1: Chris Cooley
TE2: Todd Yoder
TE3: Fred Davis

OT1: Chris Samuels
OT2: Stephon Heyer
OT3: D'Anthony Batiste
OT4: Mike Williams

OG1: Randy Thomas
OG2: Derrick Dockery
OG3: Edwin Williams
OG4: Chad Rinehart

DEFENSE

DE1: Andre Carter
DE2: Phillip Daniels
DE3 : Reynaldo Wynn
DE4 : Lorenzo Alexander
DE5 : Jeremy Jarmon

DT1 : Albert Haynesworth
DT2 : Cornelius Griffin
DT3 : Kedric Golston
DT4 : Anthony Montgomery

OLB1 : Brian Orakpo
OLB2 : Rocky McIntosh
OLB3 : Chris Wilson

MLB1 : London Fletcher
MLB2 : H.B Blades
MLB3: Robert Henson

CB1: Carlos Rogers
CB2: DeAngelo Hall
CB3: Fred Smoot
CB4: Justin Tryon
CB5: Kevin Barnes
CB6: Byron Westbrook

SS1: Chris Horton
SS2: Reed Doughty

FS1: Laron Landry
FS2: Kareem Moore

SPECIAL TEAMS:

K: Shaun Suisham

P: Hunter Smith

LS: Ethan Albright

There you go folks, your 2009 Washington Redskins!!!!!!

I was somewhat surprised that Mike Williams made the team. It is a great story that he shed 100 of his closest friends, but he is a human turnstile at tackle. I would be horrified to see Justin Tuck matchup against him if Chris Samuels went down with an injury. I was somewhat surprised that the skins kept 6 CB’s, but I think Westrbook is a great special teams guy who knows the defensive scheme and can be trusted to hold his own. I am also glad that Marcus Mason and Marko Mitchell made the team. Mason is a better runner than Rock, but Cartwright is such a great special teams player. Marko Mitchell looked so smooth at natural at the wide out. He showed me more this year already than Kelly or Thomas did last year.

My official prediction for this season is 9-7 with a wild card berth. I hope they can stay healthy, keep their offensive line intact, and surpass my expectations. I think the could have a killer defense, it may be all up to SI cover boy Jason Campbell.

BB is back....

Yes, Beltway Braves is alive.....bookmark the page and visit throughout the season!

Cutler, Sanchez, and Campbell.....

When it comes to Redskins and the media coverage, could you possibly hear the names of these three quarterbacks anymore this off-season?

Jay Cutler was supposed to save the Redskins franchise, but he was shipped to the Bears.

Mark Sanchez was supposed to be the guy with the intangibles that the Skins were enamored with, only to be drafted by the Jets quite early.

Then we have Jason Campbell. It seems like everyone wanted to kick him to the curb and trade him in for someone that could be a "superstar" and has more potential. Now he is "our guy", and will be the starter this fall.

Since these three have all been talked about a ton lately, lets see if you can pick each ones chick out of a lineup???

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SOLUTION: Campbell is with the hot miss DC sister....cutler is with the pale chick....sanchez gets dirty with the hot blondie.

DeAngelo Hall Interview on WJFK's Junkies

Listen to this interview and tell me if you think this is the same guy the media has portrayed as a malcontent and knucklehead throughout his football career. It looks like he is in the right place here in DC.

http://www.wjfk.com/pages/1460207.php

Go to 5/14 - Segment 10.

Hall seems like he is ready to help this defense own the league. I can't believe he is only 25 years old, seems like he has been around a while. I am glad the Skins ponied up and kept him and let Springs go.

Skins Win Court Battle

A 17 year legal escapade in which some Indians are claiming the name is racist and they want it removed. A bunch of rubbish if you ask me....

"The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has ruled in favor of the Washington Redskins in a 17-year battle against a group of American Indians who claim the football team's trademark is racially offensive.

The court upheld a judge's decision that Mateo Romero, an artist from the Cochiti Pueblo reservation in New Mexico, and six other Native Americans waited too long to file a claim. The suit, involving six of the Redskins' trademarks, asked that the National Football League franchise’s name be canceled due to complaints from American Indians.

In 1994 a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office appeals panel ruled that the trademarks should be canceled based on the complaint. Pro-Football Inc., the closely held parent company of the Redskins controlled by Dan Snyder, was granted the trademarks in 1967. The group sued in 1999 to overturn the finding."

Roster Review, Part 1, Quarterbacks

Welcome to the first part of the Roster Review series where we take a look at each position and how it could play out next season.

QUARTERBACKS

QB1: Jason Campbell - After surviving a flurry of off-season rumors, Jason is clearly the number one guy under center for the Redskins. He needs to advance his game and take ownership of this team if he wants a big contract for next season. If he is healthy, he will play every game. This is a make or break year, as I feel the Redskins are looking for him to make progress before committing to JC for the long term. It is obvious that his position here in Washington is not set in stone beyond this year. In order for this year to be successful, it all rides on the shoulders of the former Auburn quarterback.


QB2: Todd Collins - What a difference a year makes. After the Redskins playoff run of 2007, everyone loved the journeyman signal caller. The Redskins ended up overpaying for a backup that does not fit their newly instituted West Coast offense. Collins will only see the field in mop up duty. I honestly think that if Campbell suffers a long term injury in 2009, the Redskins will debate handing the reins to Colt if they think he can handle it. With that said, if the Skins need a QB to fill in for a drive or something, Toddy Boy is your guy.


QB3: Colt Brennan - Although quite impressive playing against third team defenses last pre-season, Brennan is still a work in progress and is still a questionable NFL QB. This years OTA's and training camp will be key in showcasing his stuff to the coaching staff. Colt is really going to gun for the backup job this year, but I see him coming up a bit short when he is stacked up against the Vet.


QB4: Chase Daniel - This somewhat squatty QB from the Big 12 is clearly a Zorn project. Even when he was putting up huge numbers last year, I did not know if his game could translate to the NFL. He is a gunslinger somewhat like Colt, and definately has some tools, but he does not look like Peyton Manning. I think Chase intrigues Zorn and he is a toy for the QB guru to develop and possiblt reap rewards down the road. Chase does have a shot to make the practice squad.....but I do not think he will make the team over Brennan.

The next installment will jump over to the defensive side of the ball and cover cornerbacks!!

What do you think of this years QB situation? Like it? Hate it?