The DC Sports Page

Four More Years?

2010-08-31T19:27:35Z

In a move that shocked no one, the United States Soccer Federation chose to renew head coach Bob Bradley's contract for four more years.
How do I feel about this? Frustrated, to say the least.
In Bradley's first term he compiled a less than stellar 30-20-8 record, highlighted by the USA making it to it's first ever final in a FIFA competition (2009 FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP), beating #1 ranked Spain and topping the group at the 2010 World Cup for the first time in sixty years.
It's not as if Bradley doesn't deserve to be coach, but he already had his chance. The last US coach to repeat as manager was Bruce Arena, after a quarterfinal journey in 2002, Arena and the Yanks crashed out in the group stage of Germany 2006.
Bradley, it should be noted, also made terrible personnel decisions during the last World Cup. Going back to Ricardo Clark after he showed no reason to be on the pitch in the first place.
My main beef with Bradley is his blind loyalty to certain players. Deciding to start Clark over Feilhaber and Edu was ludicrous. It was a prime example of what could happen in the next four years. Certain guys need to hit the "dusty trail" and move on from international soccer, but will Bradley have the stones to tell them to go?
Bradley must also address a rapidly aging back line. As of now, Jonathan Bornstein and Oguchi Oneywu will be the only holdovers from the last World Cup.
Bradley must also solve two more riddles, first an overcrowded mid-field and second and probably the most important, he must find a world class striker.
The first problem will be easier to deal with. Micheal Bradley, the coaches son, was solid this past world cup as well as Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. Bradley however, failed to find a suitable partner for his son in his first four years giving me little hope he will this go around.
Finding a striker will be tough, unless Jozy Altidore breaks out of his shell and becomes world class. Let us not forget that Charlie Davies was tearing up the pitch with his pace and finishing prowess, but he was almost killed in an October car crash before the USA's last qualifier. If he can return to be 95% of the player he was, then he could be a huge boost.
It appears that coach Bradley has a long tough road ahead of him if he hopes to duplicate his success from 2010. Four years seems like a long time, but Brazil 2014 will be hear before he knows it. Can Bradley change his formula and create a team that infuses youth and skill with savvy veterans? Or will he be doomed to repeat the same mistakes his predecessor Arena made?

That's it and that's all....

2010 Fantasy Football Advice - RBs

2010-08-22T12:23:16Z

It's that time of the year again to grab those fantasy magazines, read all the same old websites, make your own evaluations, and start ranking players for your upcoming draft. Sure you can glean fantasy opinions just about anywhere these days so what's a little more information to add to the fold? Anyone that's followed The DC Sports Page advice over the years has probably done very well in their league - see previous advice.

Let's take a closer look at the top ten Fantasy RB's this season.

1. Chris Johnson: Chris Johnson tore up fantasy leagues last season and there's no reason he can't lead the way again this year for fantasy running backs...especially when playing for a better contract.

2. Adrian Peterson: Peterson plays for what many have said could be the worst coach in the NFL. His rushing yards may have taken a hit last season as the addition of Favre (the first real starting calibur quarterback in Minn. in his career) helped stretch the field and take them one step from the Super Bowl. Peterson is the most complete running back in the league and is taking a back seat for the good of the team to share the ball in order to bring home a title. Peterson's stats speak for themselves, so let them carry you to as Johnny Drama (from Entourage) would say, "VICTORY!"

3. Maurice Jones-Drew: Without Fred Taylor to carry some of the load, fantasy owners received exactly what they expected last season...a giant increase in already solid production. Expect similar numbers to last season.

4. Michael Turner: Turner began to break down last season...was it due to the strong load from the previous season? It appears that Ryan is also tied to Turner and as Turner went so did the Falcon's offense. Look for the Falcons to keep Turner more fresh and for Turner to make the most of his rushing attempts to prove that his numbers from two seasons ago weren't a fluke.

5. Ray Rice: Everyone took notice of Rice's small frame, huge heart, and aggressive running last season despite losing carries along the goal line to McGahee. It may not be realistic to expect Rice to duplicate last season's performance and with the addition of Boldin to help stretch the field Rice may lose more open field touches resulting in a decrease from last season's numbers.

6. Frank Gore: Has there ever been a more quiet running back in recent memory that just shows up week in and week out without much hoopla? Gore may not be as powerful as ironhead Heyward used to be or as fast as DeAngelo Williams, but he effectively gets the job done and produces consistent fantasy numbers...and The DC Sports Page likes consistency.

7. DeAngelo Williams: It's all about the running game in Carolina. Somehow the Panthers have two starting running backs where both can eclipse over 1,000 rushing yards and plenty of TDs. It's too bad that there isn't a capable QB or #2 WR to help stretch the field and back off the S & LBs to open up more of the running game.

8. Shonn Green: Green should flourish in the Jets run heavy offense. Don't worry about LT stealing carries as there'll be lots to go around. It will also help keep Green fresh. His fantasy numbers should be less erratic then others further down the rankings due to the large volume of rushing attempts.

9. Steven Jackson: Jackson's numbers have tailed off from his last spectacular year four years ago, but still racks up impressive numbers at season's end. Expect some games for Jackson's numbers to drop off the map with a couple of giant fantasy game stats.

10. Rashard Mendenhall: As the Steelers leaned more on the running game and their 2nd year running back, Mendenhall should fans exactly what he was capable of doing. He has the ability to rack up huge fantasy stats as he can run short yardage and make plays in the open field. With Big Ben on the bench to start the season, Mendenhall will be expected to shoulder more of the offense.

Most Overvalued:

Cedric Benson:

Benson had a career year last season. He's the classic high risk high reward pick. Can he handle the full load through an entire season and without any off the field issues? These issues land Benson just out of the top ten.

Most Undervalued:

Jonathan Stewart:

Has the NFL and Carolina seen the best that Stewart has to offer? No. Stewart has yet to be completely healthy and splits carries with Williams yet has found a way to co-exist and keep fantasy owners and teammates happy, Imagine a healthy Stewart shouldering a majority of carries. A strong pick in hold over legues.

Sleepers:

Jamaal Charles: Charles quietly amassed huge numbers towards the end of the season on a poor offensive team. As the Chiefs rebuild the OL, Charles numbers can only improve. As the OL improves Charles yards per attempt should increase. He's an elusive runner to tackle in the open field. Even with Jones pouching carries, Charles should be more fresh for some explosive runs.

Ryan Matthews: Matthew was drafted to fill the starting role left open by the departure of LT. He's a quick & strong rb with size. Norv likes to run and look for a lot of opportunities for Matthews.

Deep Sleepers:

Ronnie Brown: Brown may fall of the radar due to his return from injury. When healthy Brown has shown the ability to be a top ten fantasy rb. Bide your time and look for a steal in mid to late rounds by drafting Brown.

Felix Jones: The hits are piling up and so is the mileage on Barber. Although Jones has yet to make in through an entire season, this explosive runner is sure to take more touches from Barber and threaten him for the starting role.

Jahvid Best: Kevin Smith is slowly returning from injury. Best is making the most of his opportunities and adds dimension of speed that Smith lacks. The first few games Best plays and performs (as Smith works his way back into the fold) may determine the rookie's fate this season.

Arian Foster: Tate could be done for the season. Slayton's season ended early last year with a neck injury and all of a sudden the name Foster moves up the depth chart. Keep an eye on this young rb in late rounds.

One Last Helpful Hint: Too much is made of drafting a starting RB's handcuff (i.e. their back up running back on the depth chart.) The real strategy should be drafting starters as reserves and ensuring that you have the best reserve running backs that can come in and start for you when needed. The only handcuff that should be drafted over another starting running back is Jonathan Stewart who garners as much yardage and TD's as a back up compared to other starting running backs.

Once all the starting running backs are off the board, then consider the fantasy potential if they became the starter for their team for a significant part of the season. McGahee, Sproles, & Bradshaw move towards the top of the list.

Good luck and feel free to send your questions to any of the team here.

2010 Fantasy Football Advice - QBs

2010-08-19T12:00:20Z

Let's take a closer look at the top ten Fantasy QB's this season.

1. Payton Manning: Most sites and publications will rank Payton 2nd or 3rd, but not here. How can you deny that Manning has been one of the most consistent and durable fantasy players for almost a decade.

Let everyone else take Brees or Rodgers while Manning slips right into your lap. That's right, if you're drafting at the end of the first round you'll have as close to there is for a lock for 30 TDs and 4,000 yards passing. Manning isn't a feast or famine fantasy player that racks up huge numbers in a couple of games to skew a season's average. He does it for 16 games!

So finish the end of the 2nd Round knowing you have a top RB & QB. Why take a 2nd & 3rd tier RB and allow Manning to slip back in the 2nd Round to someone that already has a top tier RB. (Know you're scoring system and whether QB TDs are 6pts or 4 pts)

2. Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers numbers spiked up again last year to 30 TDs while his INTs fell to 7. It's hard not to like numbers like that. GB's OL didn't do Rodgers many favors early in the season as the hits piled up, but after a decision to switch from a more max protections scheme to a spread offense with quick throws the passing game opened back up and Rodgers found his receivers again.

The GB offense is loaded with talent at the skill positions however they didn't bolster the OL much. Rodgers has the potential to single handedly vault your team into the playoffs, but will his stats help you in the playoffs when GB plays in the cold windy arctic tundra in the final weeks of the season?

3. Drew Brees: Brees is slowly winning fans over with his steady numbers and demeanor leading the Saints to their first title last year, but will he see his first drop off this season? Even Manning and Brady reverted to their statistical averages after their spectacular TD seasons and many QB's face an uphill challenge as defending Super Bowl Champions. As the defending champion, every team is attempting get to the QB and dump Brees to the ground quicker to disrupt the passing game. As a result, the risk increases for injury and a drop off in numbers due to rushed throws, incompletions, fewer big plays, and turnovers. Oh, and Brees lost some key depth along the OL as two time Pro Bowl OT Brown was traded to the Redskins in the offseason.

4. Rivers: The LT era is over. All that remains is Rivers & Gates and the near 30 TDs, 4,000 yards passing, and limited number of INT's. Rookie RB Matthews should fill in nicely for LT, but as the Chargers hit some bumps along the way look for Rivers to pass their way out of it.

5. Brady: Don't count Brady out. Much like a SP two years after Tommy John surgery, Brady's repaired knee should be fine and so should his confidence in it. Welker's return should ease some of the pressure Brady will feel as his intermediate and 1st down receiver returns and allows Moss to do what he does best - run straight down the field for big plays. Look for Brady's 2nd half numbers to exceed the first half (due to Welker). Also, factor in the likes of what some in The DC Sports Page like have called "Fragile" Fred (Taylor at RB) to help stabilize the running game and should bring a balance (run/pass) back to the Pats similar to the earlier parts of the decade.

6. Favre: Favre had one of his best years last year as he eclipsed the 30 TD mark (at 33) while throwing only 7 INTs - while playing for what many believe to be the worst coach in the NFL. Not only did Favre limit his INTs, but developed two young receivers, too. Let's see what another year for the combination of Favre to Rice/Harvin can do.

7. Romo: Barber is older and fighting for playing time with Felix Jones (who has yet to play a full season) and Austin Miles steps into the #1 receiver role. Romo can rack up huge numbers, but with the possibility of so much inconsistency for him to navigate through there remains the possibility for a drop off in numbers. An increase in key decisions and situations will occur for Romo as the team looks to answer many questions at WR & RB.

8. Schaub: Schaub should probably be rated higher after last season's performance, but The DC Sports Page isn't sold yet. When you factor into the equation that last season was also Schaub and Andre Johnson's healthiest season together it makes you question can they both make it through the season together again. Toss in that their Offensive Coordinator left for Washington and their draft pick RB Tate may be lost for the year even before the season started and the signs don't look good for this high risk high reward pick in a draft.

9. Flacco: Comparisons between QB Flacco & Ryan occur frequently as to who's the better QB, but it's not much of a debate when looking at fantasy stats and Flacco now has WR Boldin to throw to which only increases Flacco's fantasy value.

10. Manning: The other Manning is quietly getting his due respect...fantasy wise even after winning a Super Bowl. The Burress era ended as Manning developed two young receivers. Look for Manning, Smith, and Nick's numbers to slightly increase this year.

Most Overvalued:

Matt Schaub:

break out

Most Undervalued:

Eli Manning:

Deep Sleepers:

Kolb: Kolb has shown he can make the same passes as McNabb, but can he make the same throws after being knocked down repeatedly at the NFL level. McNabb also had the ability to make others look better around him, while Kolb is still growing. Kolb's numbers may tail off as the season progresses and the hits take their toll.

Henne: Miami will continue to be a run first offense but with the addition of Marshall the team now can have a closer run/pass mix of plays pulling some of the safeties away from the line.

One Last Helpful Hint: Don't be the one that waits to be the last person to draft a QB and then finds themselves with one of the worst starting QB's and a bad back up too.

If you draft Schaub, then consider drafting a backup QB much earlier. If you're drafting a QB with injury concerns or a low fantasy producer then pick a back up within the next two rounds before everyone else circles back on drafting reserve QB's. Don't panic and continue to take mediocre receivers that may never start or pan out and take the QB. If you have a Flacco why not turn around two picks later and take Manning to deprive someone else of a talented back up. Why should you have the worst set of QBs in the league.

Also, if you're going to draft a Schaub then you probably shouldn't be taking a flyer on Kolb or Henne because they may soon become your starter.

Avoid taking a QB late as a starter and as a reserve to sure up voids at other reserve positions. All The DC Sports Page can say is that you'd better have a two top five RB's, one top three WR, and Gates at TE to start with.

Good luck and feel free to send your questions to any of the team here.

Shanahan/McNabb Pre-Era Begins

2010-08-16T19:31:14Z

On Friday night, the Redskins started the Mike Shanahan and Donovan McNabb Era. Make that the Pre-Season Era. And they won, 42-17. Unfortunately it was against the Buffalo Bills, hardly a strong opponent. Still the win was a good start.

While the hype was about seeing McNabb on the field for the first time in Burgundy and Gold, another one of the several first-time in Redskins uniform players got his "tryout". That would be Rex Grossman. Explanation in a minute, but first his stats. 11/18, 140 yards and 2 touchdowns. Pretty decent stats, though again we need to be mindful, only against the Bills. He looked comfortable, if not sharp on the field.

Now here's where I explain why I think it was Grossman's tryout. When he was first signed months ago, he was insurance to Jason Campbell. Then when McNabb arrived and Campbell shipped off to Oakland, Grossman was the clear backup. But the arrival of John Beck via trade with the Baltimore Ravens, one had to question if Grossman is really in the plans for the Redskins. Shanahan has carried 2 QB's at times. While Beck came at a little cost, trading for him showed that there was some value the Redskins placed on Beck. That did send Colt Brennan packing, but it did not solidify Grossman's role. His play on Friday may have sealed the deal though. In his good showing, Grossman proved that he's got something, though it might only be valuable against lesser defenses. Let's face it, Grossman is the type of QB anyone can pick up anytime during the season. But being in camp and pre-season gives him advantages over Average Joe QB. Beck may compete for the #2 and maybe even win it. But Grossman's performance from Friday coupled with similar or at least non-deteriorating play in the remainder of pre-season may earn him a permanent spot on the roster this season.

The Haynesworth Conditioning Test

2010-08-03T02:06:06Z

OK, just to make it clear, that was not Albert Haynesworth. The man who kind of passed the shuttle test was ESPN Radio Mike & Mike co-host and 16 year retired NFL player Mike Golic. Sure, he kind of jumped the gun and didn't exactly go "line to line", but he substantially finished it. Lindsay Murphy of Fox 5 also completed it. Ivan Carter of Comcast SportsNet also did it. But Haynesworth has yet to complete it.

Now granted, it does not look easy. I'll volunteer that it's highly unlikely I could complete the test. But I'm not a trained athlete. And from the results so far, we should question whether Albert Haynesworth is either.

Sure, I'm piling on. Haynesworth's contract is the fault of the Redskins, in particular owner Daniel Snyder and former yes man Vinny Cerrato. But Haynesworth, while living up to the "letter" of his contract, is not being a team player. He should have showed up for some of the off-season workouts. He claims he did his own plan, and appears lighter. But as this test proves, he's not in condition. So what does Mike Shanahan do now? I say make him run it until he makes it. Sure he took that huge roster bonus, but it's done. Make Haynesworth work for it. Have him run the shuttles everyday until he passes. Then run him to the ground in practice. He'll either live through it and be a better player or he'll end up weakened. Frankly at this point, as a Redskins fan, I don't care which Haynesworth comes out of it.

Redskins Training Camp 2010

2010-08-01T19:56:54Z

Redskins Training Camp started this past weekend. While there is much focus on the Albert Haynesworth situation, it's worth taking a look a what else is going on.

This morning, I went out to Redskins Park. For the hour or so, they ran passing drills, blocking drills, and then some actual plays with offensive vs defense. The passing drills were not there to impress, but simply to make sure timing between the QB and receiver were in sync. The above picture had Donovan McNabb in the passing drill. After one attempt, the QB rotated out so all four had decent shots. To the left is McNabb speaking with coach Mike Shanahan after one of his attempts.

The blocking drills were more interesting to watch. We heard yesterday that TE Chris Cooley was upset about a hard hit against him. In the drills today, it seemed that they hit hard, but didn't "chase". At one point TE Fred Davis should have been stopped after about 12 yards, but the defense let him run for 30 yards.

While the visit was the hope to see NT/DE Haynesworth out on the field, well all have to wait for another day to pass before that might happen.

Nationals Receive Boos For Pulling Strasburg

2010-07-29T17:04:41Z

The sensational phenom and savior of the Nationals (Stephen Strasburg) felt tightness in his shoulder as was pulled from his start on Tuesday to a chorus of boos.
Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post expressed that she hoped it was only due to disappointment.

Of course, the boos were due to disappointment. If it's fair to say that in the four games Strasburg doesn't start (along with discounting games played vs. Philly & NY team fans) the Nationals draw slightly under 20,000 fans while attendance spikes up to an estimated 40,000 fans for home games when he pitches, then it illustrates just how powerful a draw Strasburg has become. Fans chart out Strasburg's day in the pitching rotation. He even draws higher attendance for the teams when the Nationals travel for road games.

Fans have every right to vent their disappointment and frustration for one of the few games they honestly wanted to invest their hard earned time and dollars into seeing Strasburg only to have the rug pulled out from under them for a fill in starter. It's not like Riggleman came out on the jumbotron to announce that as a precautionary measure to ensure that the franchise and fans can enjoy many more Strasburg games that he would be pulled due to concern over a shoulder injury.

It's probably fair to assume that if most fans had the knowledge about Strasburg's arm they wouldn't have sent boos to Batista and the home team.

The point Hamilton appears to be missing is the 40,000 in attendance actually cared enough to plot out Strasburg games to witness something special. The fans wanted to see a true home team legend in the making type player for a city that hasn't had too much to cheer about come playoff time in any sport other then college basketball.

The boos should ring in the Lerner's ears as a message to become buyers and not sellers in the trade deadline market or at least stand pat with the top tier players such as Dunn, Willingham, and Capps. This is a time to excite the crowd even more by showing a willingness to spend and encourage fans to show up in droves to more than just one game out of every five.

Caps Re-Sign Schultz

2010-07-07T16:35:36Z

The Washington Capitals re-signed defenseman Jeff Schultz this afternoon to a 4 Year $11M contract. He led the NHL in +/- ratio with a +50 (a + is given to being on the ice for each time an even strength goal is scored and a - for every even strength goal allowed).

The Caps have all but announced their top six starting defensemen - Alzner, Carlson, Erskine, Green, Poti, & Schultz. Whether Schultz grows into his large physique on defense remains to be seen, as does how much unseen potential has left to be played on the ice.

The Caps could conceivably move Schultz coming off of a career year (for a gritty defensive defenseman or a center) if they believe that his offensive skills won't surpass that of teammates Green or Carlson. Schultz has yet to play as big on defense as his frame and stature would lead one to believe.

Knocked Out

2010-06-28T18:35:26Z

It was a good run. Right?

A hollow feeling blanketed US soccer as the final whistle blew in the USA's 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ghana. So much promise, waisted.

The USA seemed to start the match flat, like may be just may be too much positive press had inflated their egos. In doing so the USA fell behind early, and I mean early, like the first 5 minutes. It was an odd personal decision that lead to the early hole. For some reason Ricardo Clark, the man partially responsible for Steven Gerrad's early goal in the England match was back in the starting eleven. Clark once again looked terrible, and let Ghana take the ball from him in the defensive third and score. Clark was subbed out twenty-five minutes later.

The second half was better, but it was too little too late. Ghana scored a sparkling goal early in overtime sealing the USA's fate.
It's too early to decide if Bob Bradley should remain coach. He made a huge error in starting Ricardo Clark, but he was man enough to admit it.
Literally a tough pill to swallow, to be so close to catching the imagination of a nation, to being sent home. The ebb and flow of high level futbol proved to be too much for a US squad that conceded early, scored late and had no attack from their forwards.

Moving on... The Cup has entered it's most exciting portion....KNOCK OUT ROUND. That's right America, you finally get a winner, NO MAS TIES!!!

So we're on Day 3 of the round of 16, here's a brief re-cap...

Controversy: In group play it was the Jubalani ball that was causing all the problems. Now it's technology or lack thereof. England and Germany played on day two, down 2-1, Frank Lampard scored a goal that wasn't. It clearly fell a foot over the line on replay, but not to the line judge and referee, who both said no goal. Then in the nightcap of Day 2, Carlos Tevez of Argentina was more than a foot offsides on the games first goal.

FIFA doesn't want goal-line replays because they are worried it will tarnish the games image. So what about blown calls doesn't tarnish the image of FIFA? I'm in favor of goal-line replays, but not full replay. Replay slows the NFL to near stand stills, I would hate for a game with no stoppages to become stagnant.

Otherwise the group stage has been exciting, with lots of goals so far. Argentina scored three, highlighted by a brilliant strike by Tevez. The kind of goal that could be the goal of the tournament. The Germans put four goals on England. Argentina will meet Germany in the next round and that has me drooling. What a match-up! If Brazil can take out Chili, they will face the Netherlands, who won 2-1 early today. A Brazil v Netherlands match has the potential to be extremely free flowing and full of goals.

The World Cup may be done for team USA and the casual followers, but us futbol die-hards are in heaven. This is when the cream rises to the top, it time to sit back and enjoy the beautiful game....

That's it and that's all....

Vasquez in the NBA Draft

2010-06-25T02:49:19Z

Greivis Vasquez was drafted 28th overvall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA draft tonight. Oh yeah, the Washington Wizards drafted John Wall overall number 1. Of course Wall is the story of the NBA, but when will Vasquez get more national attention than tonight?

Vasquez, the former Maryland Terrapin, was one of the most passionate players under the guidance of Coach Gary Williams. Via Twitter, Williams said "I have no doubt Greivis will continue to work hard and will do everything to accomplish his goals in the NBA." Based on his years at Maryland, I believe that as well. Vasquez was never one to give up. His work ethic and intelligence showed prior to this past season when he entered and left the 2009 NBA Draft. Clearly the best choice as he would have been a 2nd round pick at best then, and now he's a 1st rounder. Congratulations to Vasquez.

Do You Believe in Miracles? Part II

2010-06-23T21:50:39Z

It was intense. It was torture. Then in the waining moments of the game, it was pure ecstasy!!
Few moments in US Soccer have felt like that one did. A last minute goal in the final minutes of a must win game and in the World Cup non to less.
Insert any cliche you want, it felt like the world was against us.
Then like many games over the past eight years, the game went the way Landon Donovan did.
With all the weight of a nation on his shoulders Donovan cleaned up a loose ball and slotted it home for the win.
As Donovan slid on to the pitch and awaited the dog pile a huge monkey was lifted off his and the US National teams shoulders. The USA had not only advanced, but it had won it's group. The screw jobs were over and no one could deny the US their spot in the knock out round.
For awhile it felt like the soccer gods were hell bent on denying the US Soccer team and it's fans any joy. Then in one frantic moment everything including the terrible call from the game before was forgotten.
As a life long fan of the beautiful game I must say that today is one of the best days of my life. My team, playing my sport, hiked up their boots and fought like dogs scratching and clawing and refusing to quit.
Today I'm am proud to be an American!!
Piss off to everyone who has ever said that soccer players are soft or that the game is boring, if you can't realize the moment that we are in right now then don't call yourself a sports fan. Because you're not.
But I digress. Big ups to my boys Landon, Clint, Jozy, DeMerit, Cherundalo, Bradley, Gooch, Howard and even Bornstein.
I'm going enjoy this one for a few days, watch the highlight of Donovan streaking towards the ball over and over again.
On Saturday June 26th, the United States of America will field a team of eleven men who have proven themselves worthy of playing with the best the world has to offer.
USA!!! USA!!!
That's it and that's all!!

Redskins Resolve OL Issues:Trade For OT Brown

2010-06-20T03:25:51Z

Through all the Albert Haynesworth issues, the Redskins made another significant stride towards improving the offensive line by trading for Jammal Brown from the New Orleans Saints. Brown, a two-time Pro-Bowl OT was limited in playing time last year due to a sports hernia. He signed a $3.62M tender offer to pave the way for the trade.

His signing almost ensures that Artis Hicks now moves back to a more natural position of guard (along the right side) as Brown takes the RT position. The move brings more talent, depth, and flexibility along the offensive line and was speculated in April (see final paragraph on The DC Sports Page). Should Trent Williams become injured Brown steps in at LT and Hicks moves to RT, as well as a situation where Brown succumbs to injuries Hicks could slide to RT.

The offensive line with the addition of Brown, 29, now has most of the offensive line set to turn 30 or slightly over with the exception being Trent Williams. Although the unit should still be a target for an upgrade in the draft, the Redskins have drastically improved enough to ensure that McNabb shouldn't become close friends with the turf.

The move that is tied to the McNabb trade for the following reason - if a 3rd Round pick goes to the Eagles the Saints receive a 4th Round pick and if the Eagles garner a 4th Round pick the Saints receive a 3rd Round pick. The Skins also pick up a 5th or 6th depending upon which way the higher pick falls.

The addition of Brown signals what many fans have come to realize over the years and a verdict that the front office has finally reached - Stephon Heyers isn't a starting tackle in the NFL. Trent Williams was drafted and immediately inserted into the lineup as a starter, as was Jacoby, Grimm, Samuels, and Jansen. Heyers couldn't even push Jansen out of the line up on his own. At this point Heyers is what he is - a journeyman reserve tackle.

One more move could be made before the final roster is set. Washington could re-sign Levi Jones as further depth. He may not be the answer at tackle, but was the unsung hero along the offensive line last season providing the stability the unit needed. Jones would be an upgrade as the first tackle coming off the bench over Heyers or at least push him in camp if competition is what the coaches really want, but rookie Capers (OT) may also have something to add to the equation and warrants watching in training camp. It now appears that tackle could be a position of strength and versatility on the line while the interior part of the line could stand an infustion of upgraded skills over the current reserves.

Game 7 Anyone?

2010-06-16T14:26:54Z

Lost in the insanity of the World Cup is the fact that a game seven looms on the horizon. For those who complain that the NBA season is too long, that it starts in the fall and goes through the winter and spring and summer, fear not. There's only one game left and what a game it is. Game 7.
Thursday night will mark the first Game Seven in finals history since game seven of the Knicks and Rockets series from 1995.
Nothing in sports is better than a game seven for all the marbles. Not to mention that it's a rivalry for the ages.
Do the Celtics have one more push in their brittle old bodies or can Kobe prove once again that he doesn't need Shaq?
You really couldn't have written a better script. I'm literally drooling as I type this.
Few things in sports can be as exciting as a game seven. There's a desperate feel in the air, the realization that this is it.
The Celtics may be without Kendrick Perkins who left game 6 with a knee sprain and may have to rely on "Big Baby." If Baby can play like he did in game four, then the Celts will hoist banner 18. Man that is a lot. Unless you are Phil Jackson and you could have 11 when the night is over.
I can guarantee that Kobe will put on a magical performance since he hasn't been able to be stopped yet, but can Lamar, Ron and Gasol match that intensity? So much will be answered tomorrow night. Don't set your tivo or dvr. Watch this one live, because there is a real good chance they will talk about this for awhile.
That's it and that's all.
P.S. I LOVE THE WORLD CUP!!

Goodbye Haynesworth?

2010-06-16T03:13:08Z

Well, we all saw this coming didn't we? Albert Haynesworth's agent has informed the Washington Redskins that he will not be reporting to the mandatory training on Wednesday. This is a very fitting final jab from the Vinny Cerrato era. Granted, we all know Dan Snyder was behind many of the moves, Cerrato was supposedly the master in the plan.

Last pre-season, the NFL was trying to figure out who would sign Haynesworth. It came as little shock the Redskins were the winners (or maybe losers) in the race. But at what cost? Now that the player's intentions are public, his value with potential suitors go down because they know the Redskins have to unload. Then there's the thing about a disgruntled employee. That might turn off a few teams. Ultimately this is the biggest free agent bust the Redskins have signed. His out of shape, out of breath 2009 campaign only help usher Cerrato and Jim Zorn out the door. Then again, maybe that's not so bad.

Are The Redskins Sending A Mixed Message (Mitchell/Haynesworth)?

2010-06-13T16:41:06Z

The Redskins, under new direction by Head Coach Mike Shanahan, have stressed the importance of competition at all positions on the team. The release of WR Marko Mitchell underscores a similar thought process throughout the Dan Snyder owned Redskins. It's a process that has weighed a team that has invested large salary figures on free agents over the development of its young existing players to the bottom of the division.

Mitchell became a fan favorite upon reading reports that he was lighting up practice and torching his counter parts on defense similar to starting receivers the Redskins faced on game days. His tall stature and likeable demeanor endeared him to the fans. The question during the season was if Mitchell had developed to the point where he could not only provide a good test for the starting secondary, but beat them on routes why wasn't he further ahead on the depth chart.

The answer was simple. Mitchell didn't consider himself a special teams player and preferred not to participate on the special teams squad...or at least that was the scuttlebutt.

Taking the following points into consideration a strong case could be made that the Redskins have fallen back onto a similar path when evaluating and making personnel decisions.

]]> Special Teams & The Roster Size Game:

11 starters line up on offense and defense for a total of 22 players. If you toss in the long snapper, punter, and kicker there's a total of 25 noted starters. This leaves 20 active players plus a pool of starters that are often available and selected for special teams assignments. Mostly linebackers, running backs, and defensive backs comprise special teams with a receiver or two sprinkled on the team. How often do you recall Art Monk, Gary Clark, or Ricky Sanders on the squad?

Is it really necessary to take a promising young talented receiver not making the cut on special teams and force him on special teams duty over a player that may never see significant time on a playoff bound team but is willing to throw his body around with reckless abandon (that's necessary on special teams), because if the thought process is to maintain a roster spot for a player bound only for special teams over a player with a bright and promising future in the NFL wouldn't most teams find a way to retain the young player?

Competition at WR:

Mitchell's hands were never in question nor was his route running skills. Considering that no reports of 2nd Round Picks Kelley or Thomas routinely beating their defenders ever surfaced, then the feat that Mitchell was able to accomplish was pretty impressive. Impressive enough for the Detroit Lions to scoop him off of waivers the next day.

If competition is considered good at all positions why cut Mitchell? Doesn't McNabb's statement that signing TO would be fine by him. Not to belabor the point, but it also expresses publicly what others may have said privately that the quality at the receiver position is severely lacking. Is the talent at WR so bad that McNabb would rather deal with TO the lesser evil than forge ahead with the receivers in place?

Mitchell's size and ability would make for a great intermediate and goal line threat. More time was devoted to Thomas (who has difficulties running routes) and Kelly (who's had difficulty staying healthy) - both top draft picks. If beating defenders and moving the chains is a top goal why not put the players in place that give you the best chance to do so?

Anytime a team is desperate enough to go after the likes of Galloway and Porter it should instantly provide a position grade of "F" to the receiving core.

Mitchell showed up for practices, but apparently a likeable guy that shows up and performs in practice isn't enough. When the Haynesworth can defy a coaching staff's suggestion and fester team resentment but is allowed to venture forth on his own due to his talent than shouldn't Mitchell receive the same treatment or vice versa?

If Mitchell is able to upend Thomas and Kelly in practice doesn't that alone make a statement warranting more playing time and not less for the sake of "competition"?

Could another young talented Redskin player be cast aside to become a starter on another team like Antonio Pierce or is it another case of a coaching staff setting the rules...but marked with plenty of caveats when it fits the need to send a message they want to deliver. With Haynesworth scheduled to appear for the mandatory OTA, it will be intersesting to see what direction the coaching staff goes after taking a look at how well he's worked out on his own.