As someone on Extreme Skins pointed out, last night marked the first time in 15 years that our Redskins got swept by the entire division. 0-6 in the NFC East. And we did so by getting shut-out by Dallas at home, on national television. It doesn’t get much worse. Fortunately having been completely resigned to the fact that we’re awful this year for so many weeks now, the blow was softened a bit and I find myself not nearly as devastated as I should be given these grim circumstances.

I’m actually sitting in a hotel out in Pittsburgh at the moment. I had a family event I was compelled to attend so I ended up giving my tickets to last night’s game away to another ‘Skins fan (who I now feel obligated to apologize to). I was the only Washington fan in the hotel bar, standing there in my Orakpo jersey; shaking my head and killing my beer a quite a bit quicker than I should have been. A few people over the course of the game patted me on the back, offering meager consolation and throwing out their opinions on whats gone wrong with the team (one vote for Campbell, one for Zorn, and two for Randle El; apparently they still can’t believe that he’s not running back a kick for a TD every week in D.C.).

I thought about it for a bit though; trying to, if I could, put my finger on one aspect of the team that most contributed to the failures of the 2009 season. It’s tough because there are so many weaknesses. The departed Vinny Cerrato cutting out Zorn’s legs from under him. Campbell and his poor decision making and hesitation. Landry and his inability to tackle. Poor run defense in general. If I had to settle on one thing though, it would have to be our offensive line play. Shocking, I know.

Using the most precise possible scientific method of measurement possible, I counted in my head between swigs of beer the number of seconds that Jason had from snap to when he was getting hit, hurried, harassed, harangued, and other H words last night. I ended up in the neighborhood of around 2.6. Now, I’m no expert but that doesn’t seem to me to be nearly enough time to let any sort of play short of a quick screen or dump-off to occur. How can routes develop or patterns emerge when your QB is being forced to get rid of the ball or take a sack in less than 3 ticks? The single most common random comment I heard in the bar last night regarding our offense was, “Wow, he has no time”. And they were right, he doesn’t.

Now is it all the players’ faults on that unit? No. They were sort of thrown together haphazardly out of necessity because of injuries and poor planning. The late Cerrato, whether taking direction from on-high or not, largely ignored the offensive line in the draft. An inordinate amount of picks traded away over the years meant we had very little in the way of quality depth or young talent to develop. While several of the guys on the line could be really good players, they were driven into a no-win situation by force of circumstance. No continuity, very little time in together. Being shifted around constantly with no chance to build cohesion with their linemates at their positions. All resulting in a nightmare for Jason Campbell specifically and Redskins fans in general.

So now what? The season is lost and it’s time to look ahead to next season, right? What do we do? Do we use our first round pick (now higher than ever!) on a top-tier offensive lineman? A tackle to replace Samuels, maybe? Or do we snag a new QB to replace the one that we ruined? I personally say the former. We need to build a line with quality young players and we need to give them a chance to develop together as a unit. We need to let them win together and we need to let them fail together, having faith and not shuffling them around whenever poor streaks of play occur. Build the line, let it gel. Sign developmental players with potential and allow them to work with and behind your core unit so that a random injury doesn’t tank your entire season.

Until our neglected line is built back up into a respectable unit, we’ll continue to struggle and we will ruin any quarterback that we throw behind it. We can lose with a QB on the roster or a first rounder that we overpay for, it makes little difference. What we can’t do is win without quality play within the most important unit on the field. Build it, give it time to come together, then decide on what QB you are going to entrust to it’s care, whether that be a shiny new first rounder or someone already on your roster who turns out to be not quite as bad as everyone wants to think when protected properly. Otherwise we’re just going to continue to be mediocre and continue to be the joke of the NFC East.

- Rick

Someone should have let the Redskins know.

I swear, that was the most pitiful game that I’ve ever attended. Words can’t express how embarassing that atrocity of a contest was. And the worst part is that I can’t even begin to figure out a place to appropriately direct my anger and frustration.

Every phase of the game was horrid. The defense looked lost. Landry still can’t make a proper, well-executed football tackle to save his life. We gave New York the medium routes all day. The line got no pressure of any real measure. Offensively it didn’t seem like anyone could hang on to a thrown ball. The O-line did its best turnstile impression and Jason Campbell looked flat out confused and lost the entire game, with nonsensical interceptions, overthrown passes and just putrid decisions left and right. As for the coaching..does it even need to be said? It boggles the mind just how utterly unprepared and outplayed this team was from top to bottom.

To see how many people braved the ice and the freezing temperatures to be out there to support this team and then to see them just completely phone it in like this..I’m just disgusted.

Hot dogs and sausages? Check.
Buns? Check.
Soda? Check.
Rum and beer? Check.
Chips and salsa? Check.
Grill, table, chairs and ladder golf set? Check, check, check aaaaand check.

The parking lots at FedEx open at 4:30. I’m hoping to be there waiting for the gates to open by about 3:30-3:45. The lots might be confusing tonight with gray and copper lots being directed into green because of the snow so get there super early to give yourself time to get through any parking drama. Also for everyone going; be prepared. Triple layer everything. Socks, pants AND shirts. Gametime temperature will be below freezing, and nothing tempers a good time like frozen toes and fingers. Stay warm and stay safe everyone!

IT’S SNOWIN’ SIDEWAYS!

Thanks, Ollie.

In a move that many are seeing as Christmas come early for Redskins fans; Vinny Cerrato has RESIGNED as Vice President of Football Operations!

I heard it first on 97.5 ESPN Radio up here in Philly. Its a move that has been long yearned by Redskins faithful around the country. A few questions arise in the wake of the announcement – Will Dan Snyder hire an actual football GM? Who will it be? Why did this happen now and not at the end of the season? Does that mean that there is already a person in place? Or that they don’t believe that The Guy will be available come the end of the season?

I don’t know the answers to any of those questions, but damned if I haven’t felt this kind of mixture of relief and anticipation for a long time. If nothing else this news will make the tailgate chatter this Monday night a lot more interesting.

In the first of what will certainly be many awards going forward into his career, Brian Orakpo was selected as Week 14′s NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his 4 sack performance against the Raiders this past Sunday.

I was at the draft day celebration at FedEx when they announced the Orakpo draft selection. The cheer that went up when his name was called for the ‘Skins was something special. People were expecting great things and he hasn’t disappointed. Brian has been one of the consistent bright spots on a largely dismal season. Here’s to many more honors and a long, healthy career of making opposing offenses scared to face the Burgundy & Gold. Congratulations, ‘Rak.

I posted a twitter on 10/6 that read as follows:
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@thecooleyzone Not to jinx it, but gratz on the streak – “[CC] has started 68 consecutive games, the NFL’s longest streak at his position.”

1:11 PM Oct 6th from web in reply to thecooleyzone
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Less than 3 games later on 10/26 against the Eagles, Chris had his ankle busted and the streak ended. I’m sorry Chris.  I will never congratulate you on a record again. :(

Thread picked up from Matt Terl’s Redskins Blog

Career stats comparing perennial Pro-Bowler Ray Lewis and London Fletcher:
Lewis: 159 games, 1,434 total tackles, 29 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 9 Pro Bowls
Fletcher: 172 games, 1,446 total tackles, 30 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, 0 Pro Bowls

^^ That’s absolutely absurd, to me.

Is it because, as he has indicated in frustration in the past, he doesn’t talk smack, act like a fool after every tackle and get himself on SportsCenter? That he just does his job quietly and does it really, really well? Never missing a start in his career, strapping on his gear and going to work every day?

Probably the most under-recognized player in the modern era. And he’s in the conversation with the best LBs in the League again this year. All ‘skins fans as well as any fan of pure, solid fundamental football need to be voting repeatedly for this man.

Other players that are, in my opinion, deserving of your vote: Brian Orakpo, Andre Carter

So the ‘Skins look good in a 34-13 win over the Oakland raiders on their turf. The offense had another stellar day, putting up points and moving the ball with confidence. The defense held it down and made a miserable day that much worse for Gradkowski and Russel with 8 sacks on the day. Sure, you could say “Its the Raiders”, but c’mon. These Raiders beat the Steelers, they beat Cincinnati, and they beat the Eagles. There are no “easy” wins in the NFL in my opinion, and our boys looked good today.

Congratulations to Brian Orakpo who moves into the top 10 in sacks in the League with the addition of 4 more today, extending his lead over all rookies!

Oh and Dallas lost. This has been a good weekend.

Please excuse the dust while we get things configured and rolling here.  Going forward you’ll find a blog featuring the hopefully interesting experiences, insights and opinions of one fan of the Washington Redskins (stranded in Eagles territory).  I hope you enjoy it. ;)