by Steve Shoup
Redskins Discussion Topics:
September 27, 2010 in Uncategorized by Steve Shoup
Here are my thoughts following the loss debacle catastrophe against the Rams. Post your thoughts on these questions in the comments:
1. Why did Clinton Portis only get one carry after the 1st quarter?
Last I checked Clinton is your starting running back and the guy you are paying almost $8 million this year, so you should probably try to get your money’s worth. I don’t mind giving Torain a couple of carries, especially after the nice run, but he ended up with as many rushes as your top tailback, and he was signed of the practice squad on Saturday. If Torain was the guy, then why wasn’t he on the 53 man roster from the get go, and why wasn’t he the one who was originally signed to replace Larry Johnson? If Portis wasn’t injured as he said he wasn’t, then he was being punished, ostensibly for falling down on that long run in the 1st quarter. Whether he fell intentionally or tripped/slipped on the grass, is your best idea for the team to punish your best running back when you are losing? I just don’t buy the whole game plan excuse, and thinks there needs to be further questions here. And also guess what Portis is under contract for another $25 million over the next 3 years, if they aren’t going to use him then they should trade him, because that money will just kill the cap (when there is one again) for basically a third down back.
2. Why is Devin Thomas not getting involved in the offense? And where are the rest of the receivers behind Moss?
Look I’ve been disappointed with Thomas’s overall play and lack of reaching his potential since being drafted, but enough is enough. I don’t know why he is seeing almost no snaps on offense, and zero targets. He seems to be showing himself well on special teams, not just with his pretty good kickoff return numbers, but pretty smart and heady play on other units as well. Thomas is also the only receiver on the roster who is 6′ or taller, and would give Washington a different look. Now I’m not going to say that Thomas is the be all, end all answer to their receiver woes. He very well could still be a bust, but he has a combination of size, speed and athleticism that no one else brings to the table. He might still be a bust, but will we really know if he doesn’t get the opportunity? To make matters worse its hard to find a logical reason why Thomas isn’t seeing the field more. Moss is no doubt the number 1 receiver, but behind him the results haven’t been too pretty. Joey Galloway and Roydell Williams each had a big catch against the Texans, but that has pretty much been their season. They have had about zero impact otherwise despite each having multiple balls thrown their way (now some have been over or under thrown, but still). And in general they aren’t getting open enough to see even more opportunities. Now 3rd receiver Anthony Armstrong has looked a little better than Galloway and Williams, but he hasn’t exactly taken the league by storm. And to make matters worse for yesterday’s game he was injured and inactive. So even though in weeks 1 and 2, when the Redskins for most of the game were leading, they used their top 4 receivers throughout the game. And the three receivers behind Moss were seeing a number of snaps and balls thrown his way. Now when you are losing to the Rams (by double digits no less) and are down a receiver, you only use three receivers on offense? I don’t understand this at all and really have a hard time believing that Thomas is that bad at receiver. If he can’t handle getting snaps to replace an injured guy, then why is he active or on this team at all? Yeah I get the special teams contributions, but you have got to be able to do more than that, especially when there is an injury.
3. Why do you not attempt to throw at the end zone on that last drive?
Now I realize your chance of tying the game and forcing overtime when you are down by 14, with no timeouts and 1:50 to go is about 1 in 10, 000 (maybe even worse), but can you at least try to win? Using the middle of the field would have worked if you only needed one touchdown since then you can take shots closer to the endzone. But in 6 plays (not counting the spiked ball) they threw at the endzone (and well out of bounds) 1 time and it was after they drove down to the 30, and had about 12 seconds on the clock. What good did that do, except help pad McNabb’s stats? The Redskins had nothing to lose by trying to throw deep, if the ball got intercepted so what, game is pretty much over anyways. The only way you tie in that situation is a quick score. Instead the Skins took a leisurely time to get down the field throwing (short) in the middle of the field. I realize not much is open deep, but at least try. Maybe you get a blown coverage, or a pass interference penalty, however unlikely it at least offers you a chance to score and kick the onside kick. And while I had no expectation to win at that point I wanted them to at least try to make something happen. That was just a joke to me, and they mine as well should have just taken a knee, because it was the same result.
What do you think? Also, check back later for further coverage on the Redskins loss.
1) Can’t figure what the Portis situation is all about. It might well be punishment for falling down. I think Shanahan is more interested in imposing his will and showing everyone who is the boss than he is in coaching! That may also be part of the answer to Question #2. I am not a big Portis fan – personally I think he is about done. Shanahan’ made comments that the plan was for Torain to be in on 1st and 2nd downs and for Portis to be in on third down passing plays. That seemed to be news to Potis. If that is true, Then Shanahan’s apparent belief that it is not necessary to communicate with players is going to eventually have an effect on the team’s confidence in him.
2) Both the last coaching regime and this one have suggested that Thomas struggles to learn the playbook. So I think it is legitimate to think that he is lazy or just dumb as a brick. So his lack of offensive playing time may again be Shanahan’s way of teaching him a lesson. In this case, perhaps that is the correct approach. But having said that, I think it might be time to get him out there and see what he can do. He really can’t be much less productive than Galloway and Williams. Truth is, there are maybe only 3 winnable games left on the Redskins schedule (and after yesterday, I’m not sure that any game can be considered winnable). So what do you have to lose in putting Thomas out there to see if he will sink or swim?
3) The fact that you don’t have multiple receivers who are at least mediocre may be part of the reason they weren’t more aggressive. Plus, I don’t think McNabb has ever been a good deep ball passer so there may not have been much confidence in his ability to hit the “homerun” in that situation. I remember a few years ago he beat the Redskins in overtime by throwing a short pass to Westbrook who ran for 60 some yards for the TD. Granted, it was a different scenario, but perhaps they were thinking that they had a better chance of hitting on a couple of those!! Oh wait, we don’t have any backs the caliber of Westbrook! And for that matter, there is very little top-tier talent at most of the positions.
I agree with all 3 points made. I’ve been happy with having Shanahan as our new coach, but lately the debacle with Albert Haynesoworth and now maybe Clinton Portis are ridiculous. What good is it to punish your best players if it only hurts your team’s chances to win?! So I definitely didn’t understand Portis not playing much.
I really don’t understand the Devin Thomas decision…give him a chance…how much worse could he be than Roydell Williams? And like you said atleast he’s tall and brings something different! What about cutting Williams and bringing back Banks? Atleast he adds an explosiveness.
The end of the game may have been the worse part to watch (the whole thing was awful), because as you said they may as well just taken a knee. I think McNabb has potential to have the homerun throw…so why not try? Would it have been worse than basically giving up?!
They were disgusting to watch and it makes me sick to think how hopefully I was after the first 6 quarters they played. Last 6 quarters makes me wonder when they’ll win again?
They need to stop punishing players, bring in players that COULD make a difference (Banks, Thomas, etc.), take more chances to get in the endzone and totally revamp their defense! Their defense was the one thing we’ve had over the last couple years and now they just plain suck!
@Willypops I just don’t get the Portis situation, and can’t by that using Torain was all apart of the game plan, since they didn’t sign him until Sat. Now I understand him there b/c newly signed Chad Simpson isn’t going to know the plays, and if you are going to be there for special teams you need to be able to help on offense as well (except of course if you are Devin Thomas, who it is ok to have him just as a special teamer). But I can’t believe that Torain was really part of the overall game plan (and if it was the game plan I think it is time to throw it out the window). Also in the first quarter Portis was in there on 1st and 2nd downs, but later mysteriously the game plan was Torain all along. Something doesn’t compute and while I don’t want to make this into the the “Magic Game Plan Theory” I’d like to hear better answers from the coach. I don’t love Portis as much as I used to, I still thing he is not only the most complete back on the Redskins, but that he is still the best runner. He might not have the same giddy-up he used to, but he still has been the best running back each game this season. And I agree completely it was pretty obvious that Portis wasn’t really told of this so called game plan.
And I think this communication thing needs to get worked out pretty quickly, because already we have seen it turn things sour with Haynesworth (this whole saga started out b/c the coaches wouldn’t let him know his role would be more than being a typical run stuffer), now Portis, they didn’t tell Dockery until late that he wasn’t playing, and made the decision on Torain late Fri. night. And that is just what has come to the surface.
The Devin Thomas thing is just shocking, while in the past his work ethic has been questioned, he seemingly has really picked up his special teams role (which isn’t easy to learn either) so I don’t know if work ethic is the issue anymore (or at least as much of one). The fact of the matter is Devin Thomas and I should not have the same number of catches 0, or even targets 0 after three games into the season. They have to start using Thomas some in the passing game, b/c guess what it isn’t really working as is. Maybe Thomas doesn’t make a difference, but it is worth a shot. And while we are at it let’s have Fred Davis get more involved as well. He is barely seeing the field or balls thrown his way, despite being a good young quality tight end (not to mention another big target).
@Meg08 I don’t see them cutting Roydell Williams and picking up Banks but for me it would be worth a shot. I’m guessing the Roydell Williams waiver market isn’t exactly bristling with activity.
@meg08