So.... the Washington Redskins have played hard the past two weeks. Last week it was a loss, but this week it is a win. Players are playing harder, selling out to make plays. There is a sense of one for all and all for one on the team. But it makes you start to question what is the real reason that the team has come together….
If you have been under a rock all season, let's do a brief rundown of everything that has happened over the past year. Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth joined the team. By far their two best players and hoping to build on having two players that have made multiple pro bowl & who are at their best MVP candidates when they are on top of their game. Shanahan is hired as the coach, and immediately problems arise between he and Albert Haynesworth. Mid-season, Donovan McNabb is benched for Grossman. There is a questionable reason that is used, saying that McNabb did not have the cardiovascular endurance to finish the game. Then changing it to Rex knew the 2 minute offense better than McNabb. Then comes the suspension of Albert Haynesworth for the remainder of the season. Finally Donovan McNabb is demoted to 3rd string QB behind Beck and Grossman.
........ Weird to say the least... I think so....
Now let's start from the beginning. Albert Haynesworth has a bad reputation to begin with. He signed a 100 million dollar contract, largest EVER for a DT. The defense finished 10th in the league in total defense. The addition of a premiere defensive lineman was supposed to give the redskins a pass rush without having to blitz multiple defenders and give their linebackers a free run to the QBs and RBs because Haynesworth commands a double team. The entire defensive unit was looking forward having Haynesworth in this already stout unit.
But with Shanahan, he runs a 3-4 scheme.
And this is where the problems came in. The organization feels that since Haynesworth is making 100 million dollars, if they ask him to line up at safety he should. Haynesworth should be more open to trying the position if not for the coaches, but for his teammates. But at the same time, management should have done a better job bringing in a coach that would implement a system that would enhance the talents of existing as well as new players. The Redskins were thriving in the 4-3 system. There was no need to adjust the defense. The skins defense finished 10th in 2009 in total defense. In 2010 they are ranked 32nd. So much for justifying the change, right?
Then comes the issues with Donovan.
Donovan McNabb is the best QB in the NFL when you look at the talent that was around him in Philadelphia versus the numbers that the put up. He had Owens that one year, but he made it to a Super Bowl, 5 NFC championship games, 6 pro bowls. All with at best mediocre talent. He was bought into Washington to revitalize the offense. But during the season, Donovan McNabb was pulled from the game. First citing cardiovascular conditioning, then citing Rex Grossman’s “knowledge of the 2 minute offense”. Now I am not a head coach, but let’s look at this logically. McNabb has more comeback wins, more completions, more touchdowns, and brings more athletic ability than Grossman. Enough said. And Shanahan could not even be man enough to state the true reason that McNabb was removed from the game. Interesting slap in the face to the QB that you signed to a 5-year $78 million contract.
And adding insult to injury there is NO ONE to throw the ball to in Washington. They were worst than the Eagle's receivers when they had James Thrash, Todd Pinkston, and Freddie Mitchell as starting WR's. The only reliable target they have is Chris Cooley. And even he has been dropping pass more lately. Clinton Portis is hurt. There is no run game. Yet McNabb has thrown for 3377 yards this year, which ranks eleventh in the NFL. Yet McNabb has not played in 2 weeks. Eerie. I think so. Shanahan was expecting to get an Elway. D Mac is good, but not an Elway. He doesn't have an amazing offensive line, an Ed McCaffery, a Rod Smith, and a Terrell Davis either. Amazing how just two years ago, McNabb was throwing a 4th down pass, (that was dropped by the way by Kevin Curtis) to make it to the Super Bowl. Now he is just trying to get on the field. Amazing.
McNabb has since been benched because he hasn't shown anything in 13 games. He is going to use the last three games to "evaluate Rex" and John Beck. Now McNabb, a future Hall of Famer, is taking snaps with the practice squad and yawning on the sidelines.
So you expect fans to believe that the skins are playing inspired football? Not because Rex has them going, or that Rex has taken over the team. But because no feels their job is safe because Shanahan has benched and suspended his two BEST players by far. Shanahan wake up. You're the head coach, you inspire your players. Don't let your Hitler-Like mentality keep the Redskins in the downward spiral that this organization has been in over the past 6 years.
KRTS
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