I’m sorry, but it’s time to just let go. It’s become a running joke with this guy.

Sadly I am going to miss the first hour or so of the game. My sons both play for the PYAA Football Program and have practice tonight from 6-8. I’m also a coach on my younger son’s team, making my presence a must. Compounding the problem is that being out of market (we’re in the Philadelphia television market) I can’t exactly set TiVO to record it. So I’ll miss the first hour and watch the rest at my leisure, streamed online. I’ll be relying on you fine people to fill me in on anything significant I may have missed.

Let’s go, Redskins. Show me something tonight.

Now, about the on-field happenings. I saw a lot I liked. I also saw a few things that worried me. I know it’s pre-season and we shouldn’t read too much into things, but there are some key items that I think need to be pointed out, good and bad.

• McNabb is McNabb. He makes plays. He makes you feel that you have a chance in any situation, on any down or distance. He’s streaky though. For two series he’ll be on fire, then he’ll have 4 passes in a row where the ball is in the dirt or thrown behind the receiver. You never know which McNabb you are going to get, but the potential of the former makes the latter worth the frustration.
• Our offensive line, which seemed to be ready to rock against the Bills, looks surprised and confused against the Ravens pass rush. Actual sacks, there weren’t many. But it seemed that every other play the QB was getting hit, hurried or otherwise impeded. Suggs made Trent Williams look like the rookie that he is. Not a great performance from this unit across the board, but hopefully this game will be a lesson taken to heart about what it takes to stop a real, focused pass rush.
• Anthony Armstrong is ridiculous and if he hasn’t earned himself a roster spot with his play through the pre-season so far then I don’t know nearly as much about football as I like to think I do. The kid has “it”.

At the end of the day, aside from the score off the fake punt which I lay at the feet of special teams, the ‘skins were in a 3-3 slug fest with a quality team by the time the starters sat and the competitive portion of the evening was over. The offense moved the ball well, but just couldn’t complete drives. The defense was swarming and even creating turnovers which is something we haven’t seen in awhile. Overall I’m satisfied through pre-season week 2.

Things I’m Hoping to See Tonight
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1. No serious injuries.
2. Noted improvement in pass protection.
3. What does this new defense we’re installing look like? Is it still as effective as before, with the added benefit of more turnovers or have we just figured out another way to bend without breaking?
4. No serious injuries.
5. I need to see some flash from our wide receivers. I believe we have some playmakers, but they really need to step up and prove me right.
6. NO SERIOUS INJURIES.

1 hour and 10 minutes to go until Redskins football. *wills the clock to move faster*

On a side note, a thread over on ExtremeSkins clued me in to the fact that the ticket office may be selling standing tickets for the new “Party Decks” on Club Level. I’ll have to call my guy to find out. This has the potential to make the Club concourse more frustrating than it already is.

I’m choosing to ignore it all and just relax. I’m going to enjoy the beginning of summer by running, playing with the kids, and dreaming of what the atmosphere is going to be like that first Sunday at FedEx Field this fall. No point in stressing out about anything else. At least not until we have something really, really worth stressing over.