Am I starting to believe that Zorn isn't the coach for this ball club? It's starting to appear that way, don't get me wrong. How can a man look so detached and so nonchalant despite his underachieving, seemingly apathetic ball club's disappointing performance week in and week out?
That's another question for another day (most likely tomorrow, that is, if he still has a job). On another note, here's 3 reasons you can't blame Mr. Popular for Sunday's 4th quarter flop in Carolina:
#1: FAIR CATCH INTERFERENCE?!? HELLO?!? I might be missing something here, but I was under the impression that no player, especially one being deliberately blocked into the return man, can impede the return man's attempt to fair catch the football on a punt.
A Carolina player unmistakably blocked #34 Byron Westbrook into Randle El after he signaled for a fair catch. As a result, the ball ricocheted off Westbrook's foot and was recovered by Carolina. 2 plays later, Carolina scored the winning touchdown. Am I missing something here?
Upon review, referees declared that the ball had indeed touched a Washington player and was, therefore, live. BUT THAT WASN'T WHAT WAS IN QUESTION! The play should have been ruled dead immediately and a 15-yard penalty for fair catch interference should have been awarded to Washington. What happened?
#2: Devin Thomas dropped a perfect ball, I repeat, a PERFECT ball from JC midway through the 4th quarter that would have undoubtedly changed the outcome of Washington's final drive. On 1st and 10, JC faked the handoff, turned and threw a gorgeous ball up the left sideline to Thomas who had beaten his man by a few steps. The 2nd year, 2nd-round-pick put both hands out and watched what little chance DC had at a comeback fall right through them.
If caught, the Skins would have surely been in Suisham's range for a tying field goal. Considering there was over 5 minutes remaining, Washington could have even possibly retaken the lead. Who knows? But before we move on, everybody thank Devin for further contributing to the idea that Campbell can't lead this team under pressure.
#3: DeAngelo Hall... 3rd and 8... over 1:30 remaining... fake handoff, naked bootleg right... do you see where I'm going with this? Never in my life, in my 20ish year history of watching football, have I seen a more pathetic effort by a defensive player to tackle the QB. Not to mention on the most pivotal play of the game. Not to mention when the defense needed a stop. Not to mention IT WAS JAKE-FRIGGIN'-DELHOMME!
Defenders are supposed to relish... no, salivate at the sight of a QB running in the open field with no blockers. Fletch would have crushed him. Orakpo would have flung him. Sean Taylor would have beheaded him had he not had the smarts to slide. What did $40 million DeAngelo Hall do? He got dragged 7 yards for the 1st down. Game over.
I don't care how much money has been invested in him. I don't care how many passes he's intercepted (they've all basically been handed to him to be honest). DeAngelo looked like a scared freshman high school player petrified of contact and, as a result, gave Washington's last chance for a comeback away. Way to show your true colors my friend.
All in favor of benching #23? Aye
From reading the rule, my interpretations is that you are technically allowed to block a player into someone attempting a fair catch. It is the return team's responsibility to avoid the person making the fair catch. I'll be honest, I agreed with you when I first saw it, but upon reading the rule, there is nothing addressing the particular situation.
ReplyDeleteAlso, while agree that Thomas should have caught that deep ball, 145 yards through the air in an NFL game is subpar. Just saying.
Can someone get Shanahan on the line?
ReplyDelete