So instead of writing my weekly Redskins pre-game blog, I’d like to share with everyone and fellow Redskins fans my Redskins math.  So everyone around me thinks I’m borderline clinically insane for being hopeful for Redskins playoff chances every season.  While that may be true, this season with Shanahan & McNabb, I don’t think its AS crazy.

But that’s what we root for as fans right?  Your team to make the playoffs.  I’m the type of Redskins fan that literally does not give up on them until they are absolutely mathematically out of the playoff hunt.  So in my defense, I don’t think its crazy to believe… especially this season (I mean the Chiefs are 3-0 right now), anything can happen and I think the NFC East is anyone’s to take!   And I’d like to have playoff aspirations past Halloween this season!

So with the difficult schedule that lies ahead…this is my Redskins math.  We need atleast 9-10 games to make the playoffs, let’s say 10 to be safe and probably atleast 11 to win the division.  So I’m taking the season in 4 game increments.  See…

-If we can go 2-2 over the next 4 difficult games (Packers, Colts, Bears, Lions), then we’ll be ok heading into our bye week.

-Then we need to go 3-1 over the next 4 games (Eagles, Titans, Vikings, Giants).  This will be the biggest challenge in my mind because Giants and Titans are away and Eagles could have Vick back and Vikings will have better receivers by then.

-Finally, we need to go 3-1 over last 4 games (Buccaneers, Cowboys, Jaguars, Giants).  I think this is an attainable goal, as I think the largest hurdle will be Dallas in Dallas.

That’s how I’m looking at the season to reach our ultimate goal…playoffs, where anything can happen!  Now of course, I hope we do better than 10-6 and win the division and have a home playoff game…but baby steps!  Also, obviously if we have a lower record in any particular period of time, we’ll need to make up for it during the next period.  That or hope the NFC is weak enough to have a 9-7 or even 8-8 playoff record…its happened before.

And Redskins fans…like I said, this is a very attainable goal once you break it down like this.  It can happen…just believe in our Skinnies!

HTTR!

So after an incredibly dissapointing week, I’m wondering what on earth the Redskins can do to pull out an upset at the Linc tomorrow.  In the last 6 quarters, every phase of the team has let us down.  So I’m wondering is this a schizophrenic team or are they bad and played a good first 6 quarters or are they good and played a bad last 6 quarters?  It seems like we haven’t been able to identify who the 2010 Redskins really are.

So in this game against the Eagles, they’re going to have to show their true identity and I’m hoping it was the team that beat the Cowboys and was beating the Texans by 17 points!

To do that these are the keys to the game…

-Coaching- I think they are the most to blame lately!  So they need to A) use right personnel (not Heyer and not Roydell Williams) and B) gameplan/scheme better to pressure the quarterback and get in the endzone when in the redzone.

-McNabb – I think they 2nd biggest key to the game is how McNabb plays in his homecoming.  I hope he has the revenge game of the decade, better than Favre’s!

-Defense & Haslett and controlling Vick – Jim Haslett  needs to get his secondary in shape – they looked like a joke against the RAMS last week.  So hopefully we find a way to control Michael Vick.  I know we won’t completely shut him down (though I’d be the first to applaud his fall from grace…the reports on him are making me nauseaus!), but we need to atleast force him to beat us with his arm, not his feet.  But we can’t do it so much so that Jackson is already open.  This is the area of the game I’m most nervous about!

-Special Teams – NO blocked kicks or punts please!  And let’s not let Jackson run one back either!

Please get an upset Skinnies…your fans need it!  HTTR!

So how can the Redskins break their streak of playing “down” to teams that are worse than them?  They have been notorious for that in the past, losing to the Lions, Rams and Chiefs the past couple seasons.  I’m hoping Mike Shanahan (a real coach) is one difference, as I think he has a much more disciplined team.  I think to prove to everyone that the Redskins are indeed heading in the right direction, it would actually be nice to see the Redskins win today, but win convincingly.  Wouldn’t it be fun as Redskins fans to NOT be nervous the last 2 minutes of the game?!

So here are the keys to today’s game (some may be obvious)…

-Running Game – The Redskins need to get this running game going this season.  The passing game will never be as good as last week if they cannot get the running attack to be effective.  Hope the Shanahans open up their playbook and Portis has a succesful day.  If so, McNabb too will have a good day!

-Red Zone – They’ve got to score in the Red Zone and not settle for field goals…that was obviously are problem last week.

-Pressure on Bradford – We need to take advantage playing a young quarterback and get pressure on him.  I think if we sack him a couple times and pressure him, he’ll throw an interception or two!

-Secondary – They looked awful last week, so hopefully they are angry and have something to prove this week.  Hopefully the don’t make the Rams offense look like Pro Bowlers.

Hopefully by tonight we will be a convincing 2-1 team!  HTTR!

So to continue my Redskins Gameday blog posts, here are my thoughts on the Redskins first game of the 2010 season…a season that should be much improved!

Its been Cowboys week or Rivalry week and we as Redskins fans are hopeful for a great game and exciting season!  I think with McNabb, Shanahan, improvements to the offensive line, the 3-4 defense featuring Orakpo and hopefully Haynesworth, and some young hopefuls, that the Redskins can return to a team that expects to make the playoffs!  I joke around, but I honestly think they can go 10-6 this season and make the playoffs!

Its starts tonight, and these are the keys to the Redskins winning tonight’s game and starting the season shocking the NFL and the Cowboys…

-Offensive Line: They need to show that they are an improved, cohesive unit and keep McNabb healthy and on his feet.

-McNabb: He needs to stay healthy this year and have a statement game tonight and show that the Eagles were wrong from moving on from him.

-Defense WITH Haynesorth: They need to utilize Haynesworth effectively to cause Romo and the Cowboys to make some crucial turnovers tonight!

-Special Teams: Let’s hope keeping Branden Banks was a good move and that we have some good returns tonight (a return for a touchdown wouldn’t hurt either).  Graham Gano needs to have a consisent game, even with the inclement weather.  Even though we need touchdowns, not field goals, he needs to make the most of every field goal opportunity because every point will count tonight!

Go Skinnies!  HTTR!

In getting back to my weekly Redskins gameday blogs…I wanted to give some pre-season stream of thoughts, if you will…

These are my top 5 reasons I’m excited about Redskins preseason…

#1 – REDSKINS football is back!!  I KNOW its JUST Pre-season, HOWEVER, we as Redskins fans FINALLY have A LOT to be excited about!  I don’t care about wins and losses the next few weeks, I just want to see how are starters are playing, if we have depth, and what rookies or surprises might make the team.

#2 – Speaking of rookies and surprises, I really want Brandon Banks to make the team.  I know it was one punt return but Washington hasn’t had that in years (returns for touchdowns).  And he seems to be truly a playmaker and we need that kind of explosiveness!  I think he will be similar to a Darren Sproles or what Dexter McCluster may be.  I’m excited and I’m rooting for him!

#3 – Thing I’m most excited about…improvement on the Offensive Line.  No, its not perfect or the best Offensive Line in the league by far, but its significantly improved and hopefully will keep Donavan McNabb on his feet and healthy.

#4 – Speaking of #5, I’m on the side that’s really excited about him!  We’ve had poor to mediocre quarterbacks for 20 years now, its time to have a quarterback that’s a proven winner, with also a lot to prove (Eagles fans, Jerry Jones, etc.).  I just hope he stays healthy for the whole year.

#5- I’m concerned about our wide receiver position and will find it interesting the rest of preseason to see who makes this team to help support Moss.  I feel obviously really good about our 2 tight ends and like the promise at runningback.  I think Clinton Portis will have a comeback year so to speak, but I don’t want them to keep the other 2 oldies…I’m interested to watch the two young runningbacks and I hope they get jobs on this team over Willie Parker and Larry Johnson.

HTTR!