Purging myself of the negativity as it relates to the Redskins

A post by "Blake the Megalomaniac" To see more posts click here

I haven’t read the papers or the blogs or listened to Sportstalk 980 or WFAN DC  all day purposefully because I wanted to write this post with my thoughts intact.  I ”kil’t” Devin Thomas in my previous post and I thought it a good time even with the loss to build him up now along with some of the other members of the team who I felt played, if not inspired, competitive football on Monday night.

The previous Monday night game you may remember the Steelers jukin’ and jivin’ into RalJon and making sweet sweet love to the Washington Redskins non consensually from behind accompanied with all the blood, torn orifices, and blown minds one might expect.  That Monday night last year was the tipping point for the downward spiral that was the 2008 season.

However, I think this year’s Monday night game could be the beginning of a sprinkle of competence and competitiveness for our beloved and begrudged Redskins.

How?

Well, from the vantage point of my 52-inch Sony Bravia (if you went to the game, shame on you) I saw a lot of good things and rather than dwell on Randle El practically screaming out that he doesn’t want to play in the NFL anymore or the fact that none of our offensive lineman could start for any other team in this league I’d like to dwell on the things I saw that I hadn’t seen previously in 2009 that were good.

1. At one: Although Jason Campbell can be frantic at times on the field, feeling a pass rush that isn’t there and succumbing to the pressure that is; has problems with ball security; hasn’t earned the right or doesn’t have the capability to audible out of obvious blitz situations;  AND is not, at this point in his career, the QB who can make “something out of nothing,” he shows league executives a lot with his doggedness, unwillingness to make a bad situation worse, and cannon rocket arm.  Unless the Redskins win the rest of their games Jason Campbell won’t be back next year but as one of my sources told  me (my sources are in no way affiliated with any facet of the NFL mind you), there are a dozen teams who would love to DEVELOP him.  My only hope is that the consummate professional that is Jason Campbell hooks up with a rock solid organization with a solid offensive line and real number one receiver and waltzes back into D.C. down the road and beats Daniel Snyder’s once proud organization.
2. Number two: Every time I see Rock Cartwright jog onto the field for kickoff returns I sigh because I feel like we could put someone else back there and get the same results or more out of them but Mr. Cartwright, the model of consistency, had a big kickoff return capped by an additional 15-yard penalty (that the refs initially called against us then backtracked to reversal) AND a rush for 11 yards on a draw out of the shotgun formation that was as much about the scheme as it was his nuttin’ up through the whole at max speed.  Why did Rock only get one rush again?  He pouts about the team bringing in other RBs.  Why not give him a chance to get 10 carries and see if he has any value outside special teams?
3. Three is me: Speaking of schemes — I have to give a nod to the play calling of Sherman Lewis.  It wasn’t so much of the play calls but more about the scheme and execution.  The NFL is a player driven league.  Get the ball to your best players right?  What the f*ck, this isn’t a novel idea, the Vikings do it; the 49ers do it; the Patriots do it.  The Skins came out and forced the ball to Cooley for two good gains.  He got injured so like something resembling a competent team we plugged and chugged.  Depth at tight end — Fred Davis, who cannot block in the NFL, proved he can catch.  He proved that he wants to play and only needs a chance. Well Mr. Davis here’s your chance.
4. Four hit the floor: Devin Thomas didn’t have a spectacular game but he showed more than in all his previous games combined.  He was targeted by Campbell which probably means he was schemed into the game plan.  Brilliant!
5. Five for the guys: Forget Carlos Rogers. He got beat and didn’t seem to care.  The defensive line and the two strong safeties played at or above expectations.  Reed Doughty, Chris Horton, Chris Wilson, Andre Carter, Brian Orakpo, Cornelius Griffin, and Albert Haynesworth beat the largest offensive line in the league, repeatedly.  Now if the rest of the team could play like them.  Also, how about LaRon Landry’s regression.  He might be more of a nonfactor than any one other player expected to contribute on the team including D. Thomas and Malcolm Kelly.

The only question now is will the overpriced players quit on the season like the Titans or will they fight the good fight.  If they would have played in the previous 6 games as they did last night, even with the 4 TOs they would have been 4-2 not 2-4.  One of remaining downfalls I can see is if the offense continues to improve and show signs of intelligent life then that will only validate Cerrato and appease Synder so that even after Zorn is fired and Campbell leaves in free agency the basic principles of the organization will not change.  So are we hoping for 8-8, which is probably the best case scenario or are we hoping Lewis tanks so the Snyder gets the MESSAGE that he’s the problem and that we need to bring subject matter experts in to run this football team? I’d be interested in your thoughts on the game yesterday.

udothedishes . . .

Related posts:

1. Washington Redskins 2009 Outlook
2. Attention Redskins Fans: Stop Bitchin’
3. The Washington Redskins: America’s Team
4. Sunday’s Food for Thought: Washington Redskins
5. The Redskins Rule
6. Rex Ryan Bellows, this Redskins’ Fan Envies
7. Washington Redskins: P.R.I.D.E.
8. Washington Redskins: 1st Quarter Thoughts and Beyond
9. Redskins > Cowboys
10. Fan Post: Redskins NFL Draft Grade

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