2000-2009 Team of the Decade

The final Redskins game of the decade was forgettable, unlike the many players who gave fans something to root for during their time in Washington. Although the 2000-2009 decade will be remembered mostly for the arrival of Dan Snyder, the return of Joe Gibbs, and the death of Sean Taylor, I chose to pay tribute to my all-decade Washington Redskins.

Coach: Marty Schottenheimer. Marty compiled the only .500 or better record under Snyder in the decade. He finished 8-8 in 2001 after winning eight of the final 11 games. Most impressively, he did it with Tony Banks, Michael Westbrook, and Rod Gardner. Did I mention he got Vinny fired, even if for only a year?

QB: Brad Johnson. Wins, Pro Bowls, playoff appearances? Washington should have never got rid of him. He went on to win a Super Bowl in Tampa just two years later.

RB: Clinton Portis. Was he worth giving up Champ Bailey? Who knows, but CP's effectiveness in the decade was rivaled only by Stephen Davis back during the Norv Turner era.

FB: Larry Centers. Downright more talented and productive than Mike Sellers who was simply a product of Joe Gibbs's system.

WR: Santana Moss. Despite criticisms, he's an overachiever with game-breaking ability.

WR: Laveranues Coles. Eventually swapped for Moss, Lav was probably tougher and more consistent than his successor.

TE: Chris Cooley. Beat out Stephen Alexander in a surprisingly close competition.

T: Chris Samuels. 2000-2009's top Redskin hands down.

G: Derrick Dockery. Started 77 of 80 games in Washington despite leaving for two years.

C: Casey Rabach. Cory Raymer? I don't think so.

G: Randy Thomas. Tre' Johnson? I don't think so.

T: Jon Jansen. With Samuels, anchored the Washington offense up until last year. The void in leadership has yet to be filled.

DE: Marco Coleman. Pro bowls, productivity, class. Out-performed Bruce Smith in his last years.

DT: Cornelius Griffin. Possibly Washington's top defensive lineman of the decade. Strahan would have had 100 more sacks had NY kept him.

DT: Joe Salave'a. Narrowly edged out Kedric Golston in terms of effectiveness. Haynesworth just got here, Dan Wilkinson underachieved, and Stubblefield... well, yeah.

DE: Andre Carter. Consistent pass rusher, less effective in the run game but has reemerged following the acquisition of Haynesworth.

LB: LaVar Arrington. How'd such a bright career fall apart so quickly?

LB: London Fletcher. Most likely on the same list in previous stops St. Louis and Buffalo.

LB: Marcus Washington. Edged out Armstead, Trotter, Marshall, and Pierce. None played with as much as emotion. Washington is still trying to replace his spark on defense.

DB: Champ Bailey. Smoot, Bauman, Rogers, Tryon, and Barnes. None of the above draft picks even came close to touching Washington's best defensive back not named Darrell Green.

DB: Shawn Springs. Consistent in both the passing and run game. Sure tackler, shutdown corner, and teacher. DeAngelo has struggled to replace him in 2009.

FS: Sean Taylor. It's a shame game-changing collisions aren't officially recorded. R.I.P.

SS: Ryan Clark. Landry hasn't been worthy of a top-10 selection and Sam Shade fell victim to a poor supporting cast. Taylor and Clark, not Landry, formed Washington's top safety duo in years.

K: John Hall. Still waiting on the next Mark Moseley.

P: Hunter Smith. Likewise, little to choose from but Smith's two TDs this year gave him the nod.

LS: Ethan Albright. The Red Snapper even made a Pro Bowl.

KR: Chad Morton. 10 years later and Washington still can't replace Brian Mitchell.

PR: Santana Moss. Game-breaker but rarely used, much to the chagrin of Redskins fans.

Rookie of the Decade: Chris Samuels. Picked 3rd overall, one behind LaVar who left in 2005. Started 141 games and was elected to six pro bowls before a neck injury sidelined him in 2009. Will be a first ballot hall of famer and Redskins ring of fame honoree as soon as he's eligible.

Offensive MVP: Chris Samuels. See above.

Defensive MVP: London Fletcher. Pro Bowls aside, possibly the NFL's linebacker of the decade. Washington was fortunate enough to have him since 2007.

Happy New Year

Dallas debacle

Some images are worth a thousand words. The real question is what's Jason Campbell worth to the Redskins?

I doubt much anymore.

Neither the offense or defense played to win Sunday night. Washington's expended all the effort it possibly could this season sans the motivation from winning. Now they're running on empty and it's been self-evident in the last two games.

165 passing yards, 43 on the ground, out-gained nearly 2:1 in total yardage. But the stats aren't as pitiful as the glaring lack of emotion Sunday night at FedEx. Hell, fans lacked it too; I caught myself checking the weather channel halfway through the second quarter. According to the Post, fans at the stadium flushed out of the stadium like a toilet bowl long before the final seconds ticked off. A handful of players - Moss, Fletcher, and a few others - carried their weight but when the opportunity presented itself to carry each other, Washington fell short.

Some teams require success to stay focused; Cincinnati and Dallas unravel at the first sign of failure. When success is lacking, some teams stay competitive with good leadership; Philly and Indy rebound behind superstars McNabb and Manning. When teams lack leadership they bank on chemistry; NY and Baltimore both rely on rosters assembled and harmonized throughout the last decade.

The 2009 Washington Redskins lack all of the above. Hence, the massive turnover expected as soon as the shellacking in San Diego comes to an end Sunday afternoon. When Bruce Allen replaced Cerrato, it was thought the last three games of the season would act as a tryout for those whose status with the team had yet to be determined.

I think it's fair to say Zorn's out followed closely thereafter by Blache and several players. As for Campbell? it remains to be seen but it's looking more disheartening every day.

My New Year's wish: You stay merciful, San Diego.

Take your pick: best of the decade

Def. Coordinator Greg Blache joining Zorn?

It was inevitable. A 4-10 team routinely under astronomical expectations comparable to only a handful of other franchises in all of American sports had virtually resisted finger-pointing up until this point.

1. The offense-oriented head coach has already been stripped of play-calling duties.
2. The long-time executive VP of football operations has already been canned.
3. The QBs future with the team, despite impressive performances, is looking bleaker each week.

Now, the $100 million star tackle is calling out the coaching staff; infighting is just around the corner. It's official, the Washington Redskins are beginning to unravel less than two weeks shy of season's end.

Redskins Park's newest source of controversy: Scheduled for 10 rounds... Fighting out of the red corner, weighing in around 220ish I'd guess, your de-fen-sive coordinator, Greggggg Blache... And his opponent, fighting out of the blue corner, weighing in at 350 pounds... Albertttttttt Haynessssssworth!

"I'm still playing as hard as I possibly can. But you can only do so much within the system that's put around you. And I'm not talking about the players. The players have been great. I couldn't ask for any better guys. I'm talking about the system. And [the coaches] can say whatever they want about that [the reason he was sent home Friday]. The main thing it's coming from is what I said after the game about leadership and about the team."

Taking sides might seem juvenile but does anyone doubt that's exactly what new-sheriff-in-town Bruce Allen will be forced to do come offseason? With some admitted hesitation, I think I'm in Haynesworth's corner. Here's why:

Haynesworth, 28, is still in his prime, yet his production in his first year as a Redskin is visibly down from his final years as a Titan. He blames Blache's scheme, claiming it restricts the potential impact of defensive lineman so that linebackers can make more plays. He went on criticizing his coordinator for refusing input and seemingly rejecting change according to the Washington Post.

Greg Blache generally puts a top 10 defense on the field every year but this isn't the first case of a star player knocking the scheme in Washington. Big names seemingly have had trouble "fitting in" ever since Snyder took over in 1999. There's been Dana Stubblefield, Jessie Armstead, Jeremiah Trotter, LaVar, Adam Archuleta, Jason Taylor, and now Haynesworth. Even Landry seems to be playing the wrong position at times this season.

"We got great corners and safeties here that can play if they were used right. They make a million checks before the ball is snapped. Guys are sitting there thinking instead of reacting. Guys are sitting there thinking instead of playing. When you're sitting there thinking about what you're going to do when you're trying to run, you don't go as fast. When it's natural and it comes to you, you do it. You know? It's instinct. You know what I mean? What they want us to do is think and be robots. This is just ridiculous."

The Patriots are currently experiencing the same headache. Belichick holds his scheme above the players and thus seen names like Lawyer Milloy, Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, Rosevelt Colvin, Asante Samuel, Eugene Wilson, Ellis Hobbs, and soon-to-be Adalius Thomas leave through free agency. As a result, New England's so-called dynasty has seemingly come to an end.

Bruce Allen's in, Shanahan seems to be right behind him, and NFL Network reports he could be bringing his old defensive coordinator, Bob Slowik, with him. Ironically, Blache replaced Slowik in Chicago nearly a decade ago. The only certainty is that Haynesworth and Blache won't be playing for the same side in 2010.

But don't forget defensive backs coach Jerry Gray. A four-time pro bowl corner himself, Gray coordinated a defense in Buffalo from 2001-2005 that finished 2nd in the league twice before joining Washington's staff under Gregg Williams. Earlier this year, he turned down an offer from the University of Memphis and was recently reported to have interviewed for the head coaching job when Zorn is eventually dismissed.

"They don't want to take input. They don't," Haynesworth said. "[Blache] . . . doesn't want to change. I mean, I'm watching film, it's like, 'Dude, this day and age, you get killed the way that we're running stuff.' And we've got way more talent [than the Titans]."

Gray, 47, young, intense, and in tune, might be the answer.

R.I.P. George Michael

Worthwhile reading/viewing

"Those guys were prepared," Moss said. "They knew everything. I remember guys calling my routes off of my alignments. It's very interesting."

Redskins Notes 12.23: Moss Says Giants Knew Routes

by Rich Tandler

“I’ll be honest. I used to be one of those guys who tries to beat around the bush a little bit,” Campbell said. “But I’ll be honest, I think some guys have [quit].”

"Inner part" of Campbell keeps him going

By Rich Tandler

The origin of 45-12.

Preparation: F

Execution: F

Effort: F

Attendance: Absent

Washington's report card would most likely mirror that of Ferris Bueller's so let's scratch grades this week.

Instead, focus on the clear differences between the Redskin and Giant franchises that materialized on the field Monday night at FedEx.

#1: Depth

Washington's favorite defense for their poor play this season has been the injury bug. On the offense, Randy Thomas, then Cooley, Samuels, Portis, Betts, and Rhino have all cashed out. Sellers has been nonexistent, Campbell consistently needs medical attention, and Mike Williams and Heyer are struggling to start back-to-back games. On the defensive side, Chris Horton and Jeremy Jarmon are out while Haynesworth, Griff, and DeAngelo Hall have all missed considerable time.

"So what," says New York. The Giants have been without starting DT Jay Alford, S Kenny Phillips, and linebackers Antonio Pierce and Gerris Wilkinson. Plaxico "Chedder Bob" Burress is currently serving time for weapons charges. The Giants secondary is sutured together on a weekly basis. Both RBs Jacobs and Bradshaw have been battling injuries and veteran OT Kareem McKenzie sat out on Monday.

The difference is the drop off in talent once second and third-stringers are called upon.

In part, the blame falls on ex-GM Vinny Cerrato. Excluding players such as Levi Jones, Fred Davis, Kedric Golston, and H.B. Blades, the drop off from starter to backup in Washington has been alarming. Case in point: D'Anthony Batiste, Stephon Heyer, and [Enter any Washington RB not on IR].

But some of the blame falls on the players because Vinny can't be held wholly accountable for Campbell's 38 sacks. The difference on Monday between NY and DC was visible. New York replacement RT Will Beatty held Redskin defensive ends without a sack, replacement LB Jonathan Goff impressed, and replacement defensive backs Aaron Rouse and Terrell Thomas accounted for 7 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 2 interceptions and a TD.

Washington new kids on the block Fred Davis and Devin Thomas have risen to the occasion, few else. Enter Bruce Allen.

#2: Leadership

There's no denying the Giants are Tom Coughlin's football team. He runs the show, he enforces the rules, and if you don't like it then you'll most likely be watching the game from the sidelines much like recently benched DE Osi Umenyiora. His authority trickles down to Eli Manning (forget his demeanor), Antonio Pierce, and Justin Tuck. They lead the Giants on the field, mentor rookies [case in point: Giants' young WRs], and get in players' faces if need be.

As for the Redskins, Zorn fails miserably at this particular head coaching responsibility; his authority was undermined weeks ago. Campbell can barely walk back to the huddle after being pummeled the last 15 weeks, and the rest of the offense maintains a backseat role. Offensively, the Redskins lack a true honcho.

Defensive veterans Andre Carter, Griff, and Fletcher seemingly lead by example rather than as hype men, but still fail to connect with younger players when the game begins to get out of hand. Hall, Haynesworth, Landry, and Smoot (surprisingly) were all caught in a 3rd quarter scuffle that saw punches thrown, a direct result of frustration and lack of composure.

#3: Stability.

Snyder's apparent kryptonite. The bottom 9 NFL teams this season are each led by coaches in their first or second year. 7 of those 9 teams have had multiple QBs start a game this season.

Coughlin has been with the Giants for the last 6 years. So has Eli. In comparison, during that time, the Redskins have brought in Gibbs, Al Saunders on offense, and Zorn who is undoubtedly coaching his last two games in Washington. They've been quarterbacked by Mark Brunell (ugh), Patrick Ramsey, Todd Collins, and Jason Campbell who also appears to be on his way out.

It's easy to see and, therefore, hard to understand why frequent house-cleaners Dallas and Washington have such a hard time realizing how to keep up with Philly and NY in the NFC East. Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb have led the Eagles since 1999. During that same decade Dallas brought in Dave Campo, Bill Parcells, and Wade Phillips who, much like Zorn, might be on his way out. At QB, they've started Aikman, Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson, Testaverde, Bledsoe, and Romo.

Dan Snyder and fans alike both want improvement, yet they're unwilling to give a coach or QB time to establish himself in Washington. Everyone was so quick to denounce how significant the fact Campbell had as many coordinators as years played but his recent improvement in a scheme finally stable suggests he's a legit NFL quarterback.

Stability at head coach and QB allows a franchise to concentrate their offseason efforts on lineman then skill players. Look what Drew Brees and Sean Payton brought to New Orleans. Mike Smith and Matt Ryan seem to be doing the same in Atlanta much like Harbaugh and Flacco in Baltimore.

That being said... I vote dump Zorn, keep Campbell, and bring on Señor Shanahan. My rationalization? 4-10 and 45-12.

Giant reality check

On December 17th, almost a week ago, the Washington Redskins announced the sudden resignation of Vinny Cerrato. Even more unexpectedly, Snyder announced his overnight successor Bruce Allen, son of the late Redskins coach George Allen. Consequently, local media outlets and prominent analysts seemingly became amnesic to the 4-9 record, the slew of injuries, Zorn's future, and the grocery list of roster needs (and question marks) across the board. Case in point...

ESPN- The hiring of Bruce Allen signifies change in salary-cap management for Washington.

USA Today- Jon Gruden: Bruce Allen 'will be a huge asset to the Redskins.'

Washington Post- Bruce Allen returns to Washington, ready to build on experience.

Washington Post blog- Jaworski on Allen: "I think it's a good move."

Redskins fans readily followed suit. An undeniable, yet superficial, newfound aura of hope (excuse the cliché). However humiliating, Monday night's blowout at FedEx was a much needed wake up call for an oblivious fan base, myself included.

Speechless...

Check back later.

The end of an era of error

Early Thursday morning, it was reported that Executive VP of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato had resigned.

Hallelujah. Looks like Christmas arrived about a week early for Skins fans this year. But before I look on to his replacement Bruce Allen, son of late Redskins Hall of Fame coach George Allen (1971-1977), I'd like to take a minute to reflect on Cerrato's near decade-long tenure with Washington.

Shortly after Snyder bought the team in 1999, Cerrato was hired. He succeeded Charlie Casserly as GM and immediately went to work by signing past-their-prime veterans Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, Irving Fryar, Jeff George, and Mark Carrier.

In the two drafts during his first stint with the Redskins (1999-2001) he notably selected LaVar Arrington, Chris Samuels, Rod Gardner, Fred Smoot, and Sage Rosenfels. However, his run was short-lived. In 2001, following another 8-8 season, Marty Schottenheimer was hired as head coach and GM, therefore, relieving Cerrato.

In 2002, Marty (the only coach under Snyder with a .500 record or better to this day) was undeservingly fired by you know who and replaced by "ol' ball coach" Steve Spurrier. Vinny was brought back and has been in charge of all personnel moves ever since. In that time he's drafted 40 players, only 20 of which remain on the roster:

In 2003, he traded away Washington's 1st (for Lav Coles), 4th, 5th, and 6th round picks. Most regrettably, he teamed with Snyder and Spurrier to draft Taylor Jacobs over Anquan Boldin and Osi Umenyiora in the 2nd round.

In 2004, Vinny traded arguably Washington's best player Champ Bailey to Denver for Clinton Portis. He then redeemed himself in the draft when he took Sean Taylor over Kellen Winslow Jr., then Cooley in the 3rd round. However, Washington was again shorthanded on draft day after Vinny traded away their 2nd (for Portis), 4th, and 7th round picks.

In 2005, Vinny drafted Carlos Rogers 9th overall then Campbell later in the first round. He gave up Washington's 2nd round pick to move up and get Campbell, and Washington's 3rd rounder was sent to Denver. His 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th round picks never started an NFL game.

In 2006, Vinny traded out of the first round to take Rocky McIntosh early in the 2nd. Washington was again without 1st, 3rd, and 4th round picks. He added Anthony Montgomery, Reed Doughty, and Kedric Golston in the 5th and 6th round but both his 7th round picks never made the team. During the same offseason he brought in Al Saunders (ugh), Brandon Lloyd (double ugh), Randle El, Adam Archuleta (triple UGH), and Andre Carter.

In 2007, Vinny drafted LaRon Landry 6th overall, his third selection of a defensive back in the first round in 4 years. Adrian Peterson was selected 7th overall. He again traded away Washington's 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round picks. Excluding H.B. Blades, his other 4 draft selections never saw the field. Stephon Heyer was signed immediately after the draft.

In 2008, Vinny again traded out of the first round for additional 2nd round picks. OT Sam Baker, and RBs Rashard Mendenhall and Chris Johnson were overlooked. Neglecting the need for offensive lineman, he used all 3 second round picks on pass catchers. Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, and Fred Davis have combined for 96 catches for 1,063 yards and 9 TDs. WR DeSean Jackson of the division rival Eagles (passed on twice by Vinny in the 2nd round) has 112 catches, 1,859 yards, and 11 TDs in that same time.

With his obvious intent on drafting offensive skill players, one can only wonder what he didn't see in 2nd round selections Jordy Nelson, Eddie Royal, Matt Forte, DeSean Jackson, and Ray Rice. Selecting a punter in the 6th round epitomized Vinny's decade-long cluelessness on draft day.

However, his 10 selections in the 2008 draft were the highest total in recent franchise history. In later rounds, he commendably found less known players such as Rhino in the 3rd, Tryon in the 4th, Kareem Moore in the 6th, and Chris Horton in the 7th.

In 2009, Snyderrato attempted to replace Campbell with Cutler in free agency then Sanchez through the draft but both fell through. He instead signed DeAngelo Hall and Albert Haynesworth to lucrative contracts. When Orakpo fell to the 13th pick, Vinny made one of his best draft day decisions by selecting him without hesitation. However, Washington was left without a 2nd round pick from the flopped Jason Taylor trade with Miami. Excluding Marko Mitchell in the 7th, Vinny's 5 other selections have failed to pan out. Jeremy Jarmon was selected in the 3rd round of the supplemental draft which means Washington will again be without an early round pick come April 2010.

Vinny Cerrato, despite selecting talented Redskin players such as Samuels, the late great Sean Taylor, Cooley, and Jason Campbell, has crippled this franchise by neglecting to address the offensive line adequately since taking Derrick Dockery in 2003. Excluding Orakpo in 2009 and Samuels in 2000, Cerrato never drafted a lineman - offensive or defensive - in the first 2 rounds. Inexcusable. As a result, the offense has underperformed for years and the statuses of Zorn, Campbell, Portis, and several lineman and pass catchers have come into question.

With free agency and the 2010 draft just months away, and rumors already beginning to circulate of Snyderrato taking an offensive player other than a lineman, this move should bring Redskins fans a breath of fresh air. The days of the GM position in Washington acting as merely an extension of owner Dan Snyder is history. Bruce Allen, 2002 NFL's George Young Executive of the Year, is the perfect answer for a team needing and anticipating change. Maybe now, whoever coaches for Washington next season will get that "playoff-caliber roster."

R.I.P. Chris Henry

Washington Post articles worth taking a look at

D.C. Sports Bog - Schottenheimer on Cerrato

by Dan Steinberg

Campbell makes the best of a bad situation

by Mike Wise

Race for April's #1 draft pick

Positive side: the Redskins defeated the 4-9 Raiders by 3 touchdowns for their first win of the season away from FedEx. Negative side: their potential draft position dropped after defeating one of the league's worst teams.

Who does this concern most? Surprise, surprise: Snyderrato, two men who are salivating at the chance to draft unproven Jimmy Clausen, oft-injured Sam Bradford, or overrated Colt McCoy.

Who does this concern least? Jim Zorn and Co. who, despite losing 7 of the last 8 games, showed up in Oakland Sunday and knocked off a franchise that's surprised the Eagles, Bengals, and Steelers in recent weeks.

These last few weeks of the season are seeming tryouts for 2nd and 3rd string slots in next year's roster. However unfair, considering most replacements have outperformed their overpaid predecessors, that's the way Snyderrato's franchise operates especially with a potentially uncapped year looming.

Let the post-game grades transpire regardless.

Run offense: B-

No Portis. No Betts. No problem. 'Dat Dude' named Ganther carried the load in his first career start amassing 50 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mason added 32 and all-but-forgotten Rock Cartwright bummed one carry out of Zorn for zero positive yards. The sudden disappearance of Rock in recent weeks is plainly upsetting considering the special teams captain seems to do everything the coaches ask of him. But to Rock's displeasure, it seems to be working so I can't complain. Washington topped the 100-yard mark, averaged nearly 4 per carry, but most importantly, converted 7 first downs on the ground and both goal line situations.

Pass offense: A

Dear Mr. Snyder, Vinny Cerrato, and the rest of the fan base who maintain the belief Jason Campbell is unfit to lead this team,

Get a clue.

Sincerely,

Sam Foster

...Campbell, for the 3rd consecutive game, posted playoff-worthy numbers (106.5 rating) and played a direct role in every positive offensive play Washington ran on Sunday. Near 60% completion rate, 222 yards, 2 touchdowns, and zero turnovers. Although sacked 3 times, he turned a half-dozen other potential sacks into 20 rushing yards, 2 first downs, and several late reads through the air, once finding Fred Davis in the corner of the end zone.

At the beginning of the season, it was said Campbell's best attribute was avoiding the turnover. Now, I'd say he avoids pressure and finds the deep receiver as effectively as anyone not named Peyton this season.

The WR corps similarly continues to thrive under Campbell, a sign of improvement and understanding in Zorn's west coast offense. Moss caught 4 balls (his longest went for 30). Davis continues to exceed expectations catching 3 balls for 2 scores (long of 27). Ganther caught 3 (long of 42). DT caught 2 (long of 29). Campbell distributed the football among 8 different WRs and 5 of those WRs averaged over 10 yards per catch. Campbell makes drafting a QB in April look increasingly birdbrained each week. It's a shame Snyderrato lacks sane good sense.

Run defense: A

Stonewallers. That's what this unit has turned into since allowing the Falcons to run freely 5 weeks ago. Both Oakland starting RBs averaged less than 2.7 yards per carry. They fumbled twice and only Fargas found the end zone on a goal line leap at the end of a short-field possession. The Raiders managed just 3 first downs rushing in the game and 17 total yards on the ground in the second half.

McFadden's trivial impact should lead those to reconsider drafting a RB with Washington's presumably high first round pick in April.

Pass defense: B+

No Haynesworth. No Hall. No problem. Beginning to spot a trend? It wasn't the 8 sacks that impressed me most- that's what happens when the Snyder/Davis breed neglects to address their offensive line. It wasn't the interception or even the 3.9 yards per pass that led to Oakland's 27% 3rd down efficiency. It was seeing Landry at strong safety even if for only a few snaps.

Occasionally, Landry was split wide at corner- McFadden burned him for 48 and 26. At times, he lined up deep and was similarly beat by Zach Miller and Louis Murphy. But when he lined up in the box at his natural position, he was as effective as he's been all season. He blew up lead blockers, wrestled ball carries to the ground before they could get any momentum, forced a fumble, exhibited form tackling, and even resisted the temptation to celebrate despite making several big plays.

Blatche's reasoning for moving DC's best strong safety to free was simple: he's their best free safety too. Maybe Brian Orakpo is DC's best strong side LB but he registered 4 sacks when he put his hand on the ground Sunday. Hey Blatche, square peg in the square hole, round peg in the round hole.

Special teams [excluding Antwaan Randle El]: A-

Graham Gano? 6 for 6 (FGs and XPs), welcome to Washington. Hunter the punter? Keep doing what you're doing buddy. Devin Thomas? Slashy, but you'll have to break one before you can call the job yours. Randle El? If your status as punt returner wasn't already in question, it must be on life-support now.

Seemingly, the coaches' reasoning as to what ARE brings to the table as a punt returner is reliability. It was assumed he'd make the catch every time, fair catch when appropriate, or let it bounce when need be. But this year alone, he's muffed 2 and let countless others bounce resulting in field position lost for an offense needing every advantage it can muster.

He averages 3.9 a return, and even that is hard to believe. He's second in the NFL in fair catches with 18, 3 more than he's actually returned. In 13 games, Randle El has moved the football just 58 yards on punt returns, basically the length of one good punt. With names on the roster such as Moss, Thomas, and Hall, one can only wonder what's keeping special teams coach Danny Smith from switching punt returners days after making the same move at kick returner.

Defensive MVP: ______?

Personally, I'd like to give this award to London Fletcher each and every week, bye week included. I'd like to give every award to Fletch to be quite honest. Not only is he the NFL's second leading tackler, but he makes countless other plays that elude the box score.

However, it's impossible not to split this between Orakpo and Carter. The NFL's top sack duo combined for 6 on Sunday bringing their total to 22 on the season (11 each) and leapfrogging Indy's Freeney and Mathis. Orakpo added a forced fumble and Carter a few laughs as he completely muffed a sure recovery-TD (Note the hilarity of Redskin miscues when leading by 18).

Offensive MVP: Jason Campbell

Ganther scored twice in his first start. Davis also had 2, furthering his team-high to 5. But few NFL QBs do for their team what Campbell is doing for Washington. He takes more hits than most, yet he's beginning to mirror Aaron Rodgers's ability to avoid pressure, keep his eyes downfield, and find the open man. He's ridiculed more than any other Washington athlete in the post-Suisham era, yet he exhibits McNabb's ability to block out the noise, fuel the fire, and improve each week.

Close-minded fans scapegoat him and compare him to young guns Ryan and Flacco, and near-replacements Sanchez and Cutler. Let me save you the effort: Campbell tops them all in QB rating, completion percentage, yards per attempt, and all but Cutler in TDs this season. What's more, Campbell complied those numbers while playing with, undeniably, a less talented supporting cast than those 4 QBs.

The Redskin offense saw both their pro bowl lineman go down for the season, Rhino followed soon after. Their top 2 backs went down and so did their pro bowl tight end. Their pro bowl fullback has all but disappeared in Sherm Lewis's west coast play-calling and their starting pass catchers have been more inconsistent than MLB's drug testing policy. Yet, there has been one constant over the last month during which everyone agrees the Redskins have improved...

Addressing headlines

Despite dropping one of the most bizarre gut-wrenching games I've witnessed in all my years as a Redskins fan just days ago, it seems the media and fans have moved on. Filling the void are several interesting headlines I felt the need to address.

#1: Let's start with the running backs.

Clinton saw specialists in Pittsburgh earlier in the week for the concussion he suffered nearly a month ago in the Falcons game. What'd they say? Exactly what you'd expect a Steelers doctor to say (hey, they cleared Roethlisberger a week earlier). So he's done for the year, his worst year as a professional. Now, whispers of CP's career in DC being over are beginning to circulate.

Here's my story: I'm not one to gamble with head injuries. Been there, done that. But Portis's story goes deeper. In no way am I calling him soft. Far from it. He's arguably one of the most punishing pass blockers at the RB position. Just ask Mathias Kiwanuka (MUTE FOR LANGUAGE):

The dude can bring it... on game day. But during the week, he rarely practices. Likewise, his work habits in the offseason are reportedly no different. Phillip Daniels, in comparison, came back stronger than ever after his leg injury and now he's merely playing for pride with torn biceps. Would I be sad to see CP go? Sure, he's still our best back and can still contribute in the running game... as long as it's by committee.

Since he went out, Betts stepped in nicely then stepped out swiftly after tearing major knee ligaments in Dallas. Now Rock, preseason all-star Marcus Mason, and 'dat dude' named Ganther are picking up the slack. But that's it, they're just picking up the slack, not significantly impacting games and the Post is now reporting the possibility of drafting RB in the first round.

My opinion? If Portis wants back, then OK, but if he can't play anymore or wants to play elsewhere, let him go. Start Betts and rotate Rock and Ganther because drafting any player besides an offensive lineman would put this franchise back another year. The house's foundation has to go down before you can start talking plasma screen TVs.

#2: Suisham? Dish 'em.

Only 3 misses on the year? Not bad. But each one having a direct effect on the outcome of 2 back to back games? Good riddance. He's a 72% career FG kicker. How'd this guy beat out the others in preseason? As always, Vinny was focused on the big names. Now, instead of 5-7, they're 3-9. Sure Campbell threw a late pick. Sure Sellers fumbled in OT. But it would have never come to that had Suisham put it out of reach earlier on.

His replacement? Graham Gano and his story is kinda promising. As a senior at Florida State last year, he won the Lou Groza awarded to the nation's best kicker. He was a first team All-American and won the Champ Sports Bowl MVP trophy in FSU's win over Wisconsin. After college, he was undrafted then beat out in Ravens camp by some dude named Hauschka (since been cut).

He signed with the UFL's Las Vegas Locomotives who currently employ former NFLers J.P. Losman, Teddy Lehman, and Tony Parrish. Vegas recently won the UFL championship in October and guess who kicked the game-winner? Sounds like the dude's simply a winner.

#3: Lastly, someone finally got it right...

London Fletcher, football's most underrated and under-appreciated player, was finally recognized for his play. Earlier this week, the decade's leading tackler was named to Sports Illustrated writer Peter King's All-Decade Team and USA Football's All-Fundamentals Team.

It's about damn time.

Fletch played college ball at D-III John Carroll University. No surprise, he set the school record for tackles his senior season (202) and was named D-III national linebacker of the year. After college, he was undrafted but immediately joined the St. Louis Rams. Since then, he's never missed a game, he's led his team in tackles every year he's played, and owns the season records in tackles for every team he's played for. Yet, he's never been named to the Pro Bowl.

Pro Bowl ballot: http://www.nfl.com/probowl/ballot?icampaign=PB_topheader. If you haven't yet, do it. If you have, do it again. Keeping Fletch out of the Pro Bowl is like keeping Hef out of The Mansion.

Oh when the Saints, go marching out...

I've thought about it over the last 24 hours and I still can't figure it out: should I be content with Washington's admirable 3-point overtime loss knowing midway through the fourth quarter they'd predictably find a way to ruin arguably their best performance of the season? Or should I be heartbroken after watching a lost, injury-plagued, downward-spiraling team come so close to pulling off football's greatest upset since the 2008 Super Bowl?

The unbiased observer in me realizes the inferior team (eliminated from the playoffs seemingly decades ago) ultimately made the same mistakes that led to their dismal 3-9 record: 4 turnovers (however bizarre), over 450 yards allowed, and countless opportunities squandered.

But, the fanatic in me pities the Redskins... excluding Suisham and probably Landry too, the Redskins' best impression of All-World bust Kwame Brown.

For the last year, seemingly, Redskins fans have been calling for Campbell's head. Zorn's been on the hottest seat this side of Mars, the offensive line has been lampooned, and all of it has sadly overshadowed the defense's superhuman performance all year despite constantly fighting an uphill battle. But Sunday, the Redskins did something that no one could foresee. When the same team who ended the Lions' 19-game losing streak in week 3 went up 10-0 on the undefeated Saints, all was forgotten.

Campbell haters momentarily forgot about the possibility of drafting Jimmy Clausen (ugh, double ugh, triple UGH) in April's draft. The Fire Zorn Contingent commended his aggressive game management matching the fast-paced Saints blow for blow. And all those (myself included) who've nitpicked our bowling-pin-like offensive line all season were silenced as Campbell was kept vertical on 39 of 42 drop backs. ZERO SACKS.

As the FG team took the field with the opportunity to stretch the lead to 10, therefore putting the game all but out of reach in the final 2 minutes, my reaction was candid: "Damn, go get 'em Skins."

But then Dead Kicker Walking shanked the unshankable kick. 23 yards, at HOME. It was like peeing off a boat and missing the ocean. Landry gave up a big play over the top soon after, then the Saints closed the curtains minutes into overtime.

The 12-0 New Orleans Saints are arguably the best team in the NFC, if not the entire NFL. They absolutely embarrassed Tom Brady's Patriots the week before much like the 11 opponents they faced before them. But on Sunday, the Skins gave them their best test of the season to date. Maybe they weren't the better team but they were equal.

And maybe finger-pointing Redskin fans and those named Snyderrato should think twice before turning over the roster and coaching staff following the season's end. Sure, I have a short list of players I'd like to never see don the burgundy and gold after this season. But not anyone not named Suisham.

Over the last 4 games, these lesser known players are stepping into starting roles and challenging Vinny's commitment to invest in big names. Had a few balls bounced in the Skins favor, the Washington "replacements" could be 6-6 riding a 4-game winning streak against opponents with a combined 36-12 record (the last 3 losses have been decided by 7 points combined with Washington leading in the 4th quarter of each).

Campbell, Cartwright, Ganther (who?), even the forgotten 2008 second rounders and ragbag offensive line are laying the foundation. These disregarded stand-ins, however less talented, are revealing the difference between heart and hype. If I was Snyder, I'd go and get a GM and some young draft picks to build upon it.

Just ask the Saints. They were 3-13 just 4 years ago before Sean Payton was brought in. Then he went 25-23 in his first 3 years.

Zorn said it took 3 years in Seattle. I say give it to him.

Funny pictures

A graphic from Sunday's game. Trend?:

I couldn't have put it better myself Riggo:

How'd Brady beat out this stud for the GQ cover?

Grading Sunday's performance in Philly

Washington fell to 3-8 Sunday after losing to division rival Philadelphia 27-24 and I must admit I'm finding it increasingly difficult to find new and different things to say about a team that simply makes the same mistakes over and over again.

Washington forfeited an 8-point lead late in the fourth. Already seen it. Landry went for the kill-shot and missed a crucial open-field tackle that led to a pivotal touchdown. Surprise, surprise. The offense carelessly turned the ball over multiple times early in the game resulting in 6 easy points and an uphill climb to get back in the game. Story of the season.

This week, in spirit of finals week looming, I'm giving out grades.

Run offense: C

Rock had 38 yards on 15 carries. Ganther added 32 on 5. Campbell would have contributed a few more had holding penalties not wiped out impressive scrambles. It's hard to scrutinize a unit composed of backups in the wake of injuries to Portis, Betts, Samuels, Thomas, Cooley, Rhino, Mike Williams, and now Sellers. That's why I left off the minus. Credit the Philly run defense for stopping Washington's ground attack but 82 total yards minimizes time of possession and sabotages any possibility of play action. Most alarming stat: four first downs rushing. Nothing to be thankful for.

Pass offense: B-

The 2 second quarter INTs were devastating. But the Skins were leading 14-10 and 14-13 when they were thrown so some of the blame falls on the play-calling for not protecting the lead. Excluding those 2 throws, Campbell played well. He again extended plays with his feet and threw an accurate deep ball. He found nine different WRs and completed passes of 27, 29, and 35 yards. Most importantly, he engineered 2 different 80-yard scoring drives - noteworthy of any 21st century Redskins QB. Sad.

Washington allowed 1 sack but Campbell was hit 5 times and pressured countless more. Levi Jones struggled against a faster, quicker Trent Cole and Stephon Heyer appeared to have been playing with headphones on after being called for 2 false starts. It goes without saying what I think needs to be primarily addressed in the offseason regardless of whether Samuels returns or not.

Run defense: C-

There's a reason why Washington's pass defense is ranked tops in the league: why throw when you can run? With Haynesworth out of the lineup for the second week in a row, Washington surrendered 123 yards on the ground. Starters McCoy and Weaver averaged 4.5 and 7.3 YPC respectively and recorded runs of 12, 12, 18, and 19 yards. Unacceptable. Success in the running game led to success in the play-action game and the Redskins secondary just isn't good enough at staying disciplined on double moves. It's amazing to me that Fletch played as well as he did without Haynesworth in front of him. $100 mill? It's too early to tell but the ineffectiveness of Carter and Orakpo during Big Al's absence in the past 2 weeks substantiates his value.

Pass defense: C+

As the season goes on, the secondary's play is beginning to cause some concern for those who felt the entire summer could be focused on improving the offense. Now it seems to need to be addressed come February. Hall's out for a few weeks. Horton's out for the season. Rogers can't cover. Landry can't tackle and Barnes and Tryon, well, have proved Vinny to be the judge of talent we all know he is (see earlier posts for further Vinny-bashing).

Washington's secondary made McNabb and Co. look like the 2000 Rams. Even after Fletch knocked out Jackson, Maclin and Avant were effective in moving the chains against an increasingly suspect pass defense. It seemed their only chance of stopping the big play was getting to McNabb before he could deliver it. Hence, Tryon's interception off Chris Wilson's tip.

Special Teams: B

This one was tough. Sure Suisham made his only attempt from 25 out and Washington dominated on both sides of the kick return game from the opening kickoff, but Hunter the punter kicked 2 balls into the end zone wasting critical field position. When he wasn't sailing balls out of the end zone, he was outkicking his coverage; Jackson returned one punt 29 yards.

Washington's defense forced 5 Sav Rocca punts but the special teams only notched one return yard. Although admittedly reliable, the Redskins special teams generates zero big plays. No blocks, no big returns, few punts within the 5 yard line, and only recently have they executed game-changing fakes. The Redskins have ended up on the losing side of close games seemingly the entire decade. It leaves me wondering how many games would have gone the other way had Washington consistently sent out Santana or DeAngelo Hall rather than Randle El, Cartwright, or journeyman James Thrash.

Coaching: B-

Because of the injuries and, thus, the JV squad Washington sends out every week, it's hard to accurately grade the coaching staff. The play-calling system is ludicrous. Coach X calls the runs, coach Y calls the passes, coach Z calls the pizza guy at halftime.

The game management is laughable. The Redskins again found themselves without timeouts to stop the clock at the end of the game. Up 14-13 with less than a minute ago in the first half, Zorn neglected to run the clock out resulting in an INT that gave Philly the lead and the ball at half.

That being said, I applaud the coaching staff for finding ways to motivate their players into playing the way they do this late in the season with nothing to play for. Sure the playoffs are out of the question. So is the division and, realistically, a .500 record. But some haven't forgot who they play for: the fans. I think Zorn understands that and that earns my respect.

Offensive MVP: the 2008 second rounders

10 catches, 139 yards, and a TD. Thomas added a few nice kick returns on special teams. If/when the offensive line's shortcomings are ever adequately addressed, in my opinion, the next unit that needs to be confronted is the receiving corps. However, on Sunday, it seemed as if they had arrived. For the first time since being drafted, it seemed as if they knew their assignments, ran good routes, and capitalized on those opportunities. Maybe it was a fluke, maybe we'll never see this much Fred Davis again when Cooley returns to the lineup next season, but on Sunday, they all got open, some got deep, and one scored. And that's a start.

Defensive MVP: London Fletcher

... duh. Peep this box score: 12 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass deflection, 1 QB hit, and one knockout of DeSean Jackson, not to mention the countless other times Fletch "ear-holed" Philly offensive players.

Here's the link for Pro Bowl voting: http://www.nfl.com/probowl/ballot. Do it now. The man is 3rd in the league in tackles (7 behind 1st place), and is the undisputed leader on a top 10 defense. When all else fails, London doesn't. While others point fingers, London is already thinking about next week. And if anyone is going to finish the season, it's London Fletcher.

After the game, in the locker room, rookie LB Brian Orakpo was overheard mentioning the Skins have nothing left to play for but pride. Washington has 5 games remaining, the next of which is against undefeated New Orleans. It would be indescribable for this dispirited franchise and its fans if Washington was the one to hand them their first loss.

Fletcher's reply: "Next week, we'll be playing hard."

November 27, 2007

2 years ago to the day, Redskins all-pro safety Sean Taylor died from critical injuries from gunshot wounds after a bunch of teenage nobodies broke into his home. He was 24.

The following game against the Bills, the Redskins put together this video and played it before kickoff in front of 90,000 fans at FedEx Field:

Subsequently, Washington played its first defensive snap with only 10 men in his honor. Following the regular season, he became the first player named to the Pro Bowl posthumously.

Rest in Peace Sean Michael Maurice Taylor. Receivers will always hear your footsteps.

Adding insult to injury... but there's a kicker

57 minutes into Sunday's game, I wasn't mad at Shaun Suisham. He'd missed 2 of 4 kicks despite making all 14 of his previous tries this season.

But then Tony Romo evaded the worn down DC pass rush and found Patrick Crayton in the back of the end zone. Nick Folk's extra point made it 7-6 Dallas. And then the fat lady sang.

Now for the most part I'm a firm believer in the team concept of football: equal credit, equal blame. But not Sunday.

The Redskins had finally generated some kind of momentum. The running game had reemerged, Campbell was protecting the football, and young pass catchers were filling in adequately for injured starters.

The defense had been steady all year aside from a few lapses. Even so, they were 4th in yards allowed and 6th in points allowed.

Suisham had been reliable and Hunter the Punter had placed the 3rd most balls inside the 20 yard line not to mention adding 2, I said 2, touchdowns off successful fakes.

This simple, yet, difficult to maintain formula beat the Broncos and should have beaten the Cowboys but something was lacking: Suisham's trusty right leg.

12 points would have won it. Geeze, nine would have won it too. He missed from 50 (forgivable) and from 39 (unforgivable) and now the Skins are 3-7 and even the biggest optimists such as myself are beginning to murmur on April's NFL draft.

Aside from Suisham who failed to swish 'em, some Redskin players deserve props:

From the offense, I thought Campbell played well. He completed 65% of his passes for 256 yards with one INT that came in panic time after Dallas's late score. He moved well in the pocket, distributed the ball evenly among 7 targets (especially on 3rd down: 7 for 15), and threw several deep balls accurately.

The WRs also played better than usual. Santana and ARE each caught 5 balls and the 2008 second rounders split 6 catches for 93 yards. But MVP goes to Rock.

Arguably Washington's most passionate player and special teams captain, Cartwright, listed at 5'8,'' totaled 67 yards on the ground (5.2 ypc) and added 73 yards on 7 catches out of the backfield. After witnessing Betts and Cartwright flourish in Portis's absence, it's puzzling as to why the coaches maintain Portis get the bulk of the carries when healthy. Because according to the players, their recent performances are no surprise. Supposedly, they run like that every week in practice.

I say split the carries when Portis returns. It'll keep him fresher and might even force him to work harder seeing as the spoiled Miami product has been unjustly handed the majority of the carries since being swapped for Champ in 2004.

Apart from Rock, I thought Sunday's lone bright spot was the defense. Despite ESPN attributing Dallas's substandard offense to the disappearance of Miles Austin, it was no doubt Blatche's top 5 defense that shut down Jerry Jones's baby.

Romo was held to 158 yards passing. Despite 13 targets, Dallas WRs only totaled 5 catches. Marion Barber was hit and fumbled and Romo was intercepted. Rocky and London both had INT opportunities early in the game off tipped passes but couldn't capitalize. Ugh.

Fletch had 13 tackles and Carter and Griffin filled in reasonably in Haynesworth's absence although Dallas did move the football on the ground at times. Landry finally showed Skins fans why they drafted him 6th overall and Smoot helped shutdown overrated Dallas WR Miles Austin.

Washington plays Philly at Philly on Sunday. They're 0-5 on the road and 0-3 in the division. But, even if they reach the 8-loss mark by week 12 this season, I will NOT start mentioning April's draft 5 months before the bell rings.

Cough cough. Russell Okung. Cough cough. Left tackle. Cough. out of Oklahoma State.

Swine flu, sorry.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The high and low points of Sunday's win

First, the high: Newly acquired OT Levi Jones.

Big number 76. 6 feet 5 inches. 307 pounds. But you probably didn't notice him on Sunday.

That's the point.

The ex-Bengal/almost-Lion was signed October 20 following a shameful 14-6 loss to the Chiefs in which the offense, minus Portis's 78-yard scamper, tallied just 187 total yards, 6 first downs, and allowed 3 sacks.

But, even then, the former 1st round pick wasn't immediately inserted into the starting lineup. He sat quietly and watched as lame-duck replacements (Heyer, Batiste, Williams) mirrored turnstiles allowing Campbell to be sacked 6 and 5 times in consecutive weeks.

Eventually, with no other options, Jones's number was called.

The Redskins sat at 2-6 sporting a pathetic offense that was insurmountably crippled by its undermanned line. Even worse, they'd be hosting Denver soon, a top-5 defense led by NFL sack leader Elvis Dumervil. Having been dismissed from Lions training camp, of all teams, Jones couldn't have asked for a tougher assignment heading into Sunday.

60 minutes later, it was official: Levi's baaack.

Jones visibly dominated Dumervil and every other pass rusher that lined up across from him on Sunday. Dumervil did register one sack in the game but it was attributable to Campbell's lack of pocket presence - Jones had clearly held him off long enough for Campbell to get rid of the football.

Not only does Jones' arrival solidify the left tackle position but it allows Heyer to return to right tackle, a position he feels far more comfortable in and is less-tested. It was no coincidence the Skins' offense put up season highs in points, first downs, and rushing yards.

Now the low: the Redskins pass defense.

Greg Blatche's unit, for the majority of the season, has undeniably carried this team. On Sunday, disturbingly, the offense carried them.

In the first half alone, Washington's traditionally "bend-don't-break" defense fractured for plays of 28, 40, and 75. Orton could have had Marshall for a certain 69-yard TD had he not overthrown him.

Just 2 weeks ago, the Skins gave up similarly big plays to the Eagles' DeSean Jackson. Horton was replaced, then brought back, and is now on injured reserve. Smoot has been losing time to Tryon. And now Rogers has recently been benched after displaying his emphatic gullibility for the stop-and-go on the fourth play from scrimmage.

But there was more.

It wasn't just one player exploited on Sunday. On more than one occasion, Washington's entire defensive backfield looked duped. Smoot, the closest defender to Marshall when he crossed the goal line, was nearly 20 yards away when the receiver first caught the football. Later, DeAngelo Hall let known-deep-threat Brandon Marshall sprint by him untouched.

It seems as if the Redskins, under Snyderrato, have personified the "1 step forward, 2 steps back" expression. This year's team, already lacking talent, can't afford to lose focus at this point in the season.

Will the real Redskin defense please stand up?

That's the ticket...

... and that's the closest thing to a complete game the Redskins have played since Zorn took over back in February of 2008.

• 27 points, the most scored in over 14 months.
• 22 first downs, tied for most on the season.
• 8 of 16 on 3rd down, considerably better than DC's 35.6 season average.
• 174 rushing yards, tops on the season.
• 2 penalties, ZERO turnovers.
• 35:43 time of possession, who's your daddy?

The Redskins, including the 2nd half of the Falcons game, have put together 6 commendable quarters uninterrupted. I believe that qualifies as momentum (perfect timing for Dallas week). And they've done it with the same basic formula that has left fans wondering what took so long to figure out.

Despite a few permissible inaccurate throws, Campbell showed his ability to protect the football and manage the game when given a running attack. Betts and Cartwright filled in nicely for Portis for the second straight week and, again, proved more effective than the alleged star tailback (35 carries, 155 yards).

Newly acquired OT Levi Jones made the Bengals and Lions look foolish for passing on him in the offseason after completely neutralizing NFL sack leader Elvis Dumervil. Fred Davis led all receivers with 4 catches for 50 yards and has arguably proved to be the most beneficial 2008 draft pick in Cooley's absence. However, 9 other receivers caught passes on Sunday, demonstrating Campbell's vision and Sherman Lewis's scheme.

On the defensive side of the football the Redskins have regrettably seemed to digress of late, allowing big plays early and often. Sunday was no different as Orton connected with Brandon Marshall on 2 long TD catches. Orton nearly made it 3 had he not overthrown a wide-open Marshall.

But Washington weathered the storm in the second half by continuously hurrying Orton's backup, Chris Simms, into make ill-advised throws leading to 2 turnovers. Doughty, Horton's replacement, led the way with 10 tackles and a fumble recovery, but it was Carter and defensive rookie of the year candidate Brian Orakpo who largely disrupted the Denver backfield. The 2 combined for 13 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and 6 QB knockdowns. Not a bad day at the office.

Lastly, and most unexpected, was the special teams. Hunter Smith, recruited by Notre Dame to play QB over a decade ago, hit Sellers on a 35-yard bomb for Washington's second score. Despite 2 illegal procedure penalties, Suisham continued his perfect season by connecting on both FG attempts.

Those who have neglected to pay any attention to the Redskins thus far into the season might skim through this recap and wonder, "A balanced offense, a sound defense, and a few big plays on special teams? That's not such an unfathomable blueprint for success."

Those who have followed the 3-6 Redskins would simply reply, "What took so long?"

Sunday's 3rd quarter? Not too shabby

Washington lost its fourth straight game Sunday in Atlanta dropping to 2-6 halfway into the season. Ironically, that's the same record they finished with last season.

Even so, the Redskins, if only for 15 minutes Sunday, finally played like the team many expected to see take the field in early September. The team that finally had a full season of experience in Zorn's west coast offense. The team who spent over $140 million in free agency to significantly upgrade its underachieving roster. The team that was finally expected to show off its young talent at wideout, linebacker, and corner. Yada yada yada.

But the Redskins finally looked the part, at least for a quarter:

• Total plays: Atlanta-3, Washington-22
• Total yards: Atlanta-9, Washington-134
• Campbell: 9 for 13, 102 yards passing, 26 yards rushing, 1 touchdown
• Betts and Cartwright: 17 carries, 72 yards, 1 touchdown
• Time of possession: Atlanta-2:15, Washington-12:45

It seemed as if the Redskins haven't scored 17+ points in a decade. On Sunday, they scored 14 in a quarter.

I'm not saying these are the real Redskins when they play the way they're supposed to because they're not. They're simply overpaid and underachieving. The inspired team that took the field after halftime Sunday is simply the Redskins when they play their best - something no owner, GM, or coach has been able to consistently galvanize since Gibbs's first go-round. The Z-man seemed no different.

But something must have snapped in Zorn's head, whether it was one play or the weight of the entire season, because several players interviewed after the game claimed the lambasted head coach "went off" at halftime.

Good. What took so long?

Every time the camera showed Zorn with his play sheet on the sideline following another missed opportunity, he outwardly resembled a 90-year-old just handed an iPhone. Confused. Flummoxed. Downright stupid. It's not composure, he just seemed to have no idea where to begin to fix it all.

But whatever he conjured up on the walk back to the locker room at halftime finally got through to the players. And they finally responded. The oft-criticized Oline showed no trace of the ineffectiveness they've displayed all season. They kept Campbell upright, opened up holes for Betts and Cartwright, and stayed off the referee's laundry list, excluding a forgivable hold on Mike Williams.

The defense held steady forcing the Atlanta offense to go 3 and out on their only possession of the quarter. Lionized free safety LaRon Landry even made the crucial 3rd down stop, a play Redskins fans hoped the 6th overall pick would make more consistently at this point in his career rather than his usual careless and out of control attempt at tackling.

It is said that one learns most from failure rather than success. Despite the losses, the miscues, the inconsistency, the lack of offensive production, and the shameful (lack of) character from alleged "team leaders," some coaches and players are still fighting and, consequently, proving their worth to this team.

3 conclusions made from Sunday's game

Some thought the outcome of week 9 would most accurately define the Washington Redskins and provide a realistic glimpse of what to expect from a team that has appallingly failed to meet expectations. Down 24-3 at halftime, having allowed 5 sacks, and having witnessed their starting RB knocked out with a head injury, the Redskins conceivably seemed to mirror the infamous "deer in headlights" look.

This season alone, Washington has trailed at halftime 7-17, 6-7, 0-13, 0-10, 0-3, and 10-27. They've trailed in every game so far with the exception of the Carolina game in which they surrendered a 10-2 lead. For fans, it has reached that painful point when constant incompetence fails to surprise anymore. Desensitization.

That's why fans merely rolled their eyes when Washington went sack 3-and-out on their first possession following Atlanta's penalty-aided 74-yard opening scoring drive. That's why fans merely shook their head when Fred Davis let an easy catch slip through his hands and into Tye Hill's for a 62-yard INT return touchdown. And that's why fans merely closed their eyes each of the 5 times Campbell was drilled to the ground barely able to continue playing.

That was merely the first half and those were merely the Redskins fans have become accustomed to watching.

But the second half proved different. The second half validated 3 noteworthy things that affect not only the rest of the 2009 season, but also the future of this franchise.

#1 Four weeks ago change was suggested. Now change is mandatory and players have proved themselves expendable.

Clinton Portis, age 28, has failed to return to his early 2008 form when he led the NFL in rushing. Seemingly, he is never 100% and has proven incapable of turning the corner, breaking the tackle, or making the move needed for a big play. After he went down with a head injury, Betts and Cartwright not only adequately filled in but actually proved more effective than Portis. Portis is 15th in the NFL in rushing yards, 27th in YPC and 45th in TDs. Expendable.

Santana Moss, age 30 and alleged top WR for the Redskins, dropped 3 crucial passes in Sunday's game. He dropped a sure TD against the Eagles. He has 33 catches on the season, 2 TDs, and it's time his questionable hands gave way to younger WRs such as Marko Mitchell who impressed in his first action of the year. Excluding his punt return ability, expendable.

Lastly, and most overrated, is DeAngelo Hall. $40 million dollars? That money would have been better used if Snyder just refunded all the neglected season ticket holders. Hall can't cover. Hall can't tackle. And Hall can't keep his mouth shut even when trailing 21-3. The Redskins defense surely upgraded when they added Haynesworth and Orakpo, but they visibly downgraded when they attempted to replace Shawn Springs with Hall. Expendable, with talent and team chemistry considered.

#2 LaRon Landry wasn't worth the 6th overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. Especially considering players such as Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, and Darrelle Revis were drafted immediately after.

Don't be fooled by his Pro-Bowl-alternate selections, those were based purely on hype. The 3rd-year combine standout has failed to live up to expectations and comparisons to the late, great Sean Taylor. On Sunday it was unmistakable. On three separate occasions he failed to tackle the Atlanta running back resulting in 2 TDs. On another play he foolishly speared Matt Ryan out of bounds drawing a 15-yard unnecessary roughness flag and sparking a sideline brawl. And following his only respectable play of the game, down 24-10 in the 3rd quarter, he posed by himself after stopping Aaron Stecker on 3rd down.

Whether it's because he was forced to change positions following Taylor's murder or it's merely the unwarranted comparisons to the late defensive star, Landry is playing scared, stupid, and substandard. Expendable.

#3 Some of the Redskin players still genuinely give a damn.

Backstabbed in the offseason (twice, Cutler and Sanchez), benched in week 6, and scapegoated by nearly every fan and critic, Jason Campbell has seen every side of disloyalty and faithlessness imaginable. He's the 3rd-most sacked QB in the league, 11 in the past 2 games, yet he never complains. He never points the finger at another teammate nor does he ever badmouth a coach. And on Sunday he never quit despite the 5 sacks and 8+ hits he took on just 22 drop backs (that means he was hit over 50% of all pass plays).

Jason Campbell exemplifies how a Redskin player should handle himself after all that has occurred this disappointing season. If he can play, he will. He'll give 110 % and he'll never thrown in the towel.

As Redskins fans begin to consider quitting on their once-proud team, they should be appreciative and take note that at least some players haven't quit on them.

Bye week, where have you been all season?

2-5, 5th-worst in the NFL. Debatably ranked 25th in ESPN's power rankings.
0-3 on the road, 0-2 in the division.
28th in points/game (13.7), 24th in total yards/game (296).
25th in rush yards/game (93.4). 27th in rushing TDs (2).
3rd-most sacks allowed (23).
10th-most penalty yards (347).
28th on 3rd down (29%).
30th in time of possession/game (27:44).
29th in turnover margin (-8)...

That's out of all 32 teams that make up the NFL.

It goes without saying that the Washington Redskins have nosedived to the bottom of the league. Over the course of the easiest 7 weeks in NFL history, they've proved themselves incapable of executing standard tasks such as snapping the football, tackling an immobile QB in the open field, or defending against 3rd and 22.

The QB has been benched (then brought back), the play-caller has been replaced, the star RB and DT are calling out their teammates, the GM is sidestepping questions concerning his defective roster, the owner is attempting to muzzle the disgruntled fans, allegiance is turning into apathy, and no one has any clue on where to begin to fix it all.

You couldn't ask for a better time for a bye week.

What needs to change? What can be changed midway though the season without furthering this franchise's descent to despondency? Only one man can realistically right the ship and that's the head coach. Regardless of recently being stripped of his play-calling duties, JZ is still the head coach of this football team and, therefore, is still responsible for leading this team.

As Julius Campbell asserted in Remember the Titans, "Attitude reflect leadership, captain."

It's no secret. The dispirited attitudes of these players stick out like a sore thumb on game day. Watch Campbell walk with his head down after another sack. Watch Portis throw his helmet in frustration. Watch Chris Horton drag his feet back to the huddle after giving up a 57 yard TD.

The Redskins are hemorrhaging and to make matters worse, their upcoming schedule is hardest in the league- only the Raiders have a losing record.

Likely 2010 first round pick Sam Bradford can't help them now. Neither can a new play-caller or another $100 million acquisition. Zorn must confront his players and explain to them that the only way out of this hole is the same way they got here. The only reason Snyder and Cerrato are being held accountable for the Redskins' fiasco is because the franchise now relies on them to fix all their problems with big names and new faces in the offseason.

The season is far from over but the end is looming near for the seemingly anemic Washington Redskins. It's time the players and coaches put an end to the "offseason champs" reputation during the season.

Officially ending the "Need for a new GM" debate

Executive VP of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato was recently asked if he thought management had provided Jim Zorn a playoff-worthy roster. Cerrato simply replied, "Yes."

What? Vinny, have you resorted to hallucinogenic drugs to cope with this season's debacle or are you just in denial? There is only one appropriate way to debunk this downright delusion. Here's a list of players drafted by the Washington Redskins in the past 5 years that are still with the team:

Rogers, Campbell, Rocky, Anthony Montgomery, Doughty, Kedric Golston, Landry, H.B. Blades, Devin Thomas, Fred Davis, Malcolm Kelly, Chad Rinehart, Justin Tryon, Kareem Moore, Colt Brennan, Rob Jackson, Chris Horton, and then most recently, Orakpo, Kevin Barnes, Eddie Williams and Marko Mitchell.

How many pro bowlers from those 5 draft classes? One, Landry has been named an alternate twice in his 3-year career. Moreover, Cerrato has continually neglected to address Washington's most glaring weakness dating back to the first post-Gibbs era. Here's a list of lineman Cerrato has drafted in his 2 controversial stints with the Redskins (in which they've gone 52-65):

Jon Jansen, Derek Smith, Chris Samuels, Michael Moore, Reggie Coleman, Derrick Dockery, Mark Wilson, Jim Molinaro, and only Kili Lefotu and Chad Rinehart in the past 5 years.

Cerrato has been in charge of drafting players for the Redskins for 9 years and he's drafted just 10 lineman, only 3 of which have had any success in the NFL. Unacceptable? That's inconceivable. According to anyone that knows anything about football, the offensive line is the foundation of a franchise. Joe Gibbs won 3 super bowls with pedestrian skill players playing behind hall-of-fame offensive linemen.

But then Cerrato went on to say that he's made the effort to improve the O-line. Here's a list of offensive lineman drafted after the Redskins' first selection in the past 5 draft classes that are currently flourishing in the NFL:

Jamaal Brown (Saints), Alex Barron (Rams), Chris Spencer (Seahawks), Logan Mankins (Pats), David Baas (49ers), Nick Kaczul (Pats), Chris Kemoeatu (Ravens), Winston Justice (Eagles), Deuce Lutui (Cardinals), Daryn Colledge (Packers), Marcus McNeill (Chargers), Jeremy Trueblood (Bucs), Eric Winston (Texans), Max Jean-Giles (Eagles), Jahri Evans (Saints,) Chilo Rachal (49ers), Mike Pollak (Colts) Jeremy Zuttah (Bucs), Joe Staley (49ers), Ben Grubbs (Ravens), Aaron Sears (Bucs), Justin Blalock (Falcons), Tony Ugoh (Colts), Ryan Kalil (Panthers), Ryan Harris (Broncos), Alex Mack (Browns), Michael Oher (Ravens), Eric Wood (Bills), Eben Britton (Jags), Max Unger (Seahawks) and Phil Loadholdt (Vikings).

No talent, huh Vinny?

If that wasn't enough to chew on, as Mike Wise so eloquently put in Tuesday's Post, "DeSean Jackson, who danced in the Redskins' end zone twice, was drafted after Devin Thomas [and Fred Davis] in the second round." I rest my case.

Redskins fans can only hope that it won't take as long to rebuild this essential unit as it did for Cerrato to completely dismantle it.

Change in the nation's capital

Obama promised it, fans wanted it, Snyderrato made it happen.

To list a few offensive changes from this young but memorable season:

-Change on the offensive line. RG Randy Thomas is out for the year. LT Chris Samuels is done for at least that. Undrafted RT Stephon Heyer has been moved to LT. Back-up RG Mike Williams has taken Heyer's original spot so 3rd-string RG Will Montgomery (who?) is filling the void originally left by Thomas. Why not? And Campbell had the nerve to say he wasn't entirely sure of his O-line during the Chiefs game. Psshhh.

-Changes at quarterback. Statistically, JC has been Washington's best offensive player through the first 6 weeks, yet he was benched at halftime of the Chiefs game trailing 0-3. Why not? 74-year-old career back-up Todd Collins played the entire second half and showed no signs of improvement so Campbell is back in the starting lineup this week.

-Changes at WR. 2nd-year wideout Malcolm Kelly was named starter after an impressive preseason. 6 weeks later he's totaled 7 catches for 73 yards and no touchdowns so Devin Thomas will start opposite of Santana this week. Oh yeah, Thomas has 4 catches for 26 yards and no scores either this season but why not?

-Lastly, changes at play-caller. Zorn's offense ranks 26th in the league in yards and 29th in points scored so recently unemployed Sherman Lewis has been handed any and all play-calling duties. Why not? So what if he mistakenly calls out B-11 on 3rd and 15?

Lewis's promotion is only one of many examples of the embarrassing mess that is the Washington Redskins football franchise. In a league where consistency is coveted, the Redskins have successfully managed the opposite. 6 head coaches in over 10 years. Why not? And Zorn looks to be on his way out followed shortly thereafter by Jason Campbell. Hey, maybe if we're lucky we can swap Portis for some other overpaid RB on the downside of his career. Why not? That way we can completely start over from scratch once again with a new coach, a new offense, a new QB and maybe a new RB.

Oh wait, the offensive line desperately needs extensive rehabilitation but Snyderrato could surely delay that another few years, couldn't he? Why not?

My thoughts on Z-man

Jim Zorn. Geeze, where to begin?

Z-man was hired during the 2008 offseason, the same offseason that saw Gibbs retire and successful defensive coordinator Gregg Williams leave only to take the same position with Jacksonville. He was originally hired as offensive coordinator, an upgrade from quarterbacks coach, his previous position with the Seahawks. But when no other candidates filled the vacancy left by Gibbs, Zorn was promoted.

At first, I felt the move was chancy, perhaps ignorant, considering the history of Snyderrato decision making. But witnessing another disappointing season/era under another failed Redskins coach, results from the unexpected move seemed imaginable.

Young coaches appeared to be the direction the league was moving in and Gibbs's foremost criticism had been he was too old and the game had passed him by. Zorn was 55, an ex-QB and had aided in the development of pro bowl QB Matt Hasselback in Seattle. The possibility of morphing young Jason Campbell into the second coming of Doug Williams spurred optimism.

The charismatic, candid and genuine Jim Zorn led the Redskins to a 6-2 record halfway through his first year. Washington had beaten Dallas and Philly, both away, in consecutive weeks and the offense was clicking on all cylinders. That would be the high point of Zorn's career.

Since week 8 of last year Zorn has gone 4-10. The last six games (2-4) have come against winless teams, the easiest 6-game streak in NFL history. The worst part of it all is Zorn's offense has been predominantly to blame.

The running game has been a non-factor. QB Jason Campbell, Zorn's top responsibility when he was hired, has seemingly plateaued. The receiving weapons drafted, in spite of needs on the offensive line, have been busts. But without question, the paramount knock on Zorn has been his offense has proved unable to score points.

For me, Zorn's roller-coaster career hit rock bottom Sunday when he replaced Campbell for Todd Collins after an ineffective first half. Not because I believe Campbell is not to blame for the offense's lack of production but because it was the first time James Arthur Zorn showed weakness, vulnerability and doubt.

No matter his record or success as play-caller, I always admired Zorn's unwavering confidence in himself and his plan for this team. The Washington Redskins fan base has thrown every possible criticism and insult at this man, yet, until halftime of the Chiefs game he never faltered.

When it was announced that Todd Collins would replace Campbell for the remainder of the game it proved Zorn had finally given in. To yellow-bellied Snyder. To impatient fans. To fault-finding SportsCenter anchors whose words influence the opinions of impatient fans. When Zorn lost what always made him worthy in my eyes, he proved himself incapable of coaching my favorite team.

Immediately after the game, Cerrato "suggested" Zorn give up his play-calling responsibilities, his last significant obligation as head coach. That was his last chance to save face by refusing to admit his convictions were flawed like everyone around him had concluded.

But he agreed. And with his stripped play-calling duties went my respect.

Adios Jimbo.

Worst case scenario arrives in DC by week 7

Change.

After struggling through the easiest 6-game streak in NFL history, the time has come for change. Choice? Never. Not under Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato's totalitarian regime.

In the offseason before the 2008 year, change came in the form of a new coach. At halftime, change came in the form of a new QB (ugh). And after the game, change came in the form of a new play-caller. Now, the Redskins find themselves the most dysfunctional franchise on the planet.

Fans are on suicide watch. Who's to blame?

Players play. Coaches coach. Top front office executives put it all together and 7 weeks into the season, it has entirely fallen apart.

In my opinion, as a front-office exec, the only sure-fire way to claim respect in the game of football is to make a decision and stick by it. It could be referred to as loyalty or commitment or just plain accountability. Whatever you call it Dan Snyder lacks it and in the 10 years of owning this franchise he has successfully infected it and allowed it to trickle down all the way to coaches and players.

Snyder brought back Cerrato after he gave Marty the boot (undeservedly). Snyderrato, together, continually neglected to address the O-line in the offseason resulting in the current defective unit (3 sacks, 5 TFL and a safety to the league-worst Chiefs). Snyderrato brought in Spurrier then Gibbs and now Zorn. Snyderrato most likely pressured Zorn into making the QB change at halftime. And Snyderrato stripped Zorn's play-calling duties in favor of Sherman Lewis, a man they felt the need to bring in overlooking the fact he was calling out bingo numbers at a Michigan senior center just 2 weeks ago.

The changes these 2 men have collaborated to make in the last decade have crippled this franchise and leave it in a position that could result in more unwarranted firings. Jason Campbell might never earn another starting job in the NFL. Jim Zorn's reputation as a head coach might relegate him to the college level for some time. Todd Collins and Sherman Lewis are the newest men to be thrown into the gauntlet but only Snyderrato should be held accountable for sending 53 men into a gunfight wielding only knives.

It was rumored that Shanahan, Holmgren, Cowher, and Gruden were all addressed about possibly taking over the Redskins when Zorn is inevitably fired. My advice to them? No matter how man zeros spineless Dan Snyder offers you to coach this team, sign NO contract that doesn't include the following clause:

Vinny Cerrato will be terminated immediately as Executive VP of Football Operations and Dan Snyder will in NO way be involved in ANY football-related decisions.

Only one good thing will result from this year's underachieving and dysfunctional squad: finally the finger will be pointed at the men who are truly at fault. Which finger is up to you.