MVN - Most Valuable Network

Quick hits on the Redskin win

Fans in the stands

For some reason, everyone — and I mean everyone — in the lower bowl of FedEx Field stood throughout the game last night. It’s not as though there was a movement, with one section starting it and other sections copying it. It was spontaneous.

You can tell season ticket holders from first timers at Redskin games. Newbies are so excited to be there that they want to stand for every play and are extra enthusiastic. They think there is something wrong with anyone else who isn’t as hyper as they.

Seasoned fans sit through the game, but stand for critical plays for a better view or where their crowd noise might have an impact. Single game newbies who want to stand throughout are annoying.

But, there was none of that last night. Everybody was up because everybody wanted to stand. Same thing in the second half when I expected people would take to their seats. Nope, everyone was up.

Landry to center field

Gregg Williams adjusted the defense in response to the loss of No. 21. LaRon Landry and Reed Doughty flipped roles, with Landry playing free safety and Doughty on the strong side.

Williams reverted to the pressure defense of 2004-05. He blitzed more. Strong safety Doughty played in the box more, with Landry in cover-1. I haven’t checked the stats on this. It’s just the way is looked from the stands.

Part of this scheme was to game plan the Bears, but elements of it will carry through the rest of the season. Landry will succeed Sean Taylor at free safety. Without Taylor’s considerable ability, look for Williams to moderate that “better coverage improves the pass rush” concept. I expect to see more pressure from the front seven now.

Shawn Springs played a hell of a game; his best of the season.

Sean Taylor

By coincidence, the player pictured on the ticket to last night’s game was Sean Taylor.

The Redskins continue to carry Sean Taylor on its active roster. It’s a nice sentiment, and better than that “missing man” formation that opened the Buffalo Bills game.

There are real dollar implications, though. Under the collective bargaining agreement, players must be active for four seasons to be vested for retirement and insurance benefits. Taylor will not complete his fourth season in life. But, what if he’s carried on the roster for the entire season.

Lee Gibbons at The Redskin Report examines the issue in Open Question about the future of Sean Taylor’s daughter.

There are real dollar issues at stake, and another example of how Daniel Snyder stepped up in a big way. The team already announced that profit from Sean Taylor merchandise will benefit Taylor’s daughter, Jackie. 

QB Controversy

Todd Collins has one outstanding game and whiners and boo birds on radio call-in shows want to make him the permanent starting quarterback.  

I’m not surprised by Collins’ fine showing. Coming off the bench can be an advantage for a quarterback. Just look at A.J. Feeley, or Clint Longley [grrr]. Collins also played very well during pre-season and beat out Mark Brunell for the No. 2 slot. He knows the Saunders offense cold. But making him the No. 1 guy? 

Jason Campbell has youth and ability on his side. Collins is on the wrong side of 35. As it turns out, Campbell’s knee injury will knock him out for the season, most likely, so Collins should finish out.

No, the real QB controversy is why Collins wasn’t the starter for the 2006 season. His skills are the equal of Mark Brunell and he had a much better grasp of the offense. The better Collins plays, the more that question will be asked.

Last ride of the Gibbs gang?

Clinton Portis’ recent play calls to mind his preseason comments that pressure on him to perform was high and that failure to do so would result in his separation from the team. That whole concept seemed absurd at the time. Now, I don’t know.

LaVar Arrington told a New York newspaper before the season that Portis and Chris Samuels would not be with the team in 2008. The Redskins are unlikely to pay Portis or Chis Samuels the next bump in their contracts. That’s how they do business concluded the cynical Arrington, who implied that neither player would be inclined to restructure their deals.   

Shawn Springs is playing out his contract. He already declined to restructure and will enter the free agent marketplace. Brandon Lloyd, Mark Brunell and Sean Taylor won’t be back. Brunell, Portis and Taylor were the first three player moves of the Gibbs II era.

 Next year could be the one when the offense line finally gets “too old.”

The 2008 Redskins will be a very different team in the fifth year of Joe Gibbs five year contract. I’ve been pretty steadfast that Gibbs would serve out the full term of his contract. With everything that’s happened to this team, the pending roster changes, and a disappointing won-loss record, I wonder what Gibbs is thinking now?

Making big changes on the team is something Gibbs could start, but not finish unless the 67 year old extends his deal — and separates his roles. Thinking through the domino effect of roster changes is a full-time, full year job by a real personnel guy. It hurts the organization when the chief decision-maker [according to the owner] is the full-time coach and part-time GM.   

The mini-bye

Lots of concern about the Redskins sandwiching Sean Taylor’s funeral between a Monday and Thursday game. But, now we are on the good side of that situation. The team has ten days before its next game. It’s a mini-bye and well timed .

Pride

Predictions are hard for a group that’s gone through what the Redskins have. So, I’m making no predictions. I’ll tell ya that I will be extra proud of this team if they go 2-2 or better in their last four games. I’ll be proud of them if they don’t.

I’m also proud and very grateful for the way the MVN writers stepped up for the game. Rick Schwartz did a live game thread for those without access to the NFL Network. Greg Trippiedi [I always want to spell his name “Gregg”] was quick to come out with a game recap. Bo Vandy, who covers the Bears for MVN at From the Midway, gave the other side of the story before and after the game.

Great writers!

This entry was posted on Friday, December 7th, 2007 at 11:02 am and is filed under Sean Taylor, LaRon Landry, Redskins, Jason Campbell, Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins, LaVar Arrington, Joe Gibbs, Chicago Bears, Game Review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.