Business is Picking Up

In a short amount of time, everything in DC sports has changed. The biggest news being that the NBA and the players have come to an agreement and will have a basketball season.

In my heart, I didn't think there would be an NBA season this year. When news came out over the weekend, I was stunned. I have missed watching Wizards games already and after Christmas I will get my wish. While I don't expect these guys to be world beaters, I do think the young guys might be better than many believe.

The Capitals made a bold move, with the firing of Bruce Boudreau. Now I am not a hockey guy but I do want the home teams to win. From the looks of things, it was time for a change. hopefully Dale Hunter can get his best players to buy into his system and be team leaders. A team as talented as they are can turn things around. Just making the playoff isn't the goal. The goal it to play your best, or hit your peak,when you get to the playoffs.

If the rumors are true, and the Nationals are interested in Prince Fielder, then I will be a happy man. That is if this part of the whole plan. The plan that involves resigning Zimmerman, another starting pitcher, and a center fielder. Hopefully the pitcher will be a top of the rotation guy and the center fielder a top of the order guy. Add a few guys to the bench and bullpen and mix. Congratulations,  you have a good team. Just how good will have to been seen.

Seeing the Redskins win on Sunday was good. That long losing streak will be a blessing in disguise. The Redskins are not the team they had been the last few weeks. I am not saying they are good yet but the team is being rebuilt. Roy Helu showed that he should be the feature back. The more their young guys play well, the closer they are to being a good team. While my eyes are on potential future QB's, I can't hope for my team to lose. The benefit of having extra picks means you should be able to get almost whoever you want in the draft.

I believe the DC sports Landscape is being rebuilt. Hopefully these teams can get it together and DC fans can show their pride.

There's still a shot.

Half-Way through the season, Skins appear lost.

Facing the midpoint of this season, the Washington Redskins find themselves in familiar waters again - the brink of losing the entire season or delaying the inevitable....This is a common sentiment of many Redskins fans.

Who can blame us? Every year this team inspires many would be comedians. They've giggled through Snyder's impatience, Spurrier, Zorn, Gibbs II, coaching "searches", overpriced free agents, lack of respect for the draft...Vinny Cerrato! It's been brutal. 

With Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan aboard, it's been advertised as a new era for the Redskins. The team would be run as a first class organization versus the dysfunctional operation it had become. Old habits being hard to break, the McNabb fiasco had new comics appearing nationwide.

After a hot 3-1 start, the Redskins have dropped three straight and look to be in free-fall mode. 

Recent decisions appear to have taken positive momentum from this team and only new decisions can help
them. One recent decision is the signing of Tashard Choice, ex Cowboy. Maurice Hurt being promoted 
from practice squad to start at left Guard is another one.

Out of 12 drafted rookies this year, 9 are on the active roster with many of them expected to make huge 
contributions. Shanahan's talent evaluation will now be under spotlight. If these young guys look bad, 
Shanahan's regime becomes very shaky.Look for solid things from Sunday's game.

Time for a Reset

If you asked me before the season if I would be happy with a .500 Redskins team, I would have said yes. So as Skins are 3 - 3, I have to be ok with it. The thing is, injuries have crept up and this ship could sink real soon. In order to stop this, the team has to hit the reset button.

I know this isn't XBOX or whatever, but with so many new people on offense, it is a reset. Last week the offensive line, tight end, and quarterback reset. This week,the wide receivers and running back do the same thing. Santana Moss, the skins only reliable wide receiver for years is out for a month or more. Tim Hightower, who has been the teams workhorse, is out for the season.

As for the wide receiver position, expect Niles Paul and Leonard Hankerson to get plenty of opportunities. I know, I blamed that interception on Hankerson; but Beck takes the blame for that interception. Shanahan also made it a point to say  "Hankerson has been making some tremendous plays in practice". Hopefully, the messed up communication is behind them, so Beck and Hankerson can hook up for some big plays.

I am not as worried about the running back position. There will be a drop off in blitz protection, but Ryan has gotten better at that. We all know what Ryan "All" Torain can do, he showed us last year. With just him and Helu we are starting to get thin. Ryan has not been able to stay healthy, I am sure you remember last year.

So. it looks like it is time for the backup's and young guys to get their playing time. Only now, I am starting to think reaching .500 may be a pipe dream.

My Review of John Beck's Performance

To me the issue is simple. Who gives the Redskins the best chance to win games. In this short post I intend to lay out my thinking. Hopefully, by the end, you will agree with me. What we need to do first if look as some film.

This is Beck's first drive as the Redskins quarterback.

• On the first play, Beck avoids pressure and even though Fred Davis falls down he gets back up and takes his catch for a first down. A QB's best friend is his tight ends. Davis was that here.
• Play action to Ryan Torain. Would have been a good gain but pass was off.
• On this play Beck doesn't like what he sees and scrambles for a first down. I like that over aggressive defenses will have to worry about that.
• Play action pass to Jabar Gaffney. the pass is low and incomplete. would have been a good gain if it was on target.
• Next pass is too low for Fred Davis. I have to think that some of these off target throws are due to never playing much. I hope this gets better with practice time with starters.
• On 3rd and 15 Beck complete a pass to Moss for a first down. That is a big play there. Good to see, that was a 23 yard gain.
• Then we get a 10 yard penalty, a dropped pass, and a 3 yard pass. 
• It's 3rd and 17, he goes deep to Gaffney who gets a hand on it in the endzone but no catch. Another penalty gets them out of field goal range. 

I like what I saw in this drive. Looks like he was getting loose in this drive and too bad the switch didn't come sooner.

Next, lets look at Beck's other drive.

• First play of the drive isn't cover well in the video. Incomplete to Davis
• Pass to Gaffney for a first down. Skins are moving fast as they are down by 2 touchdowns and only 6 minutes to go.
• Shotgun pass to Moss dropped. He was hit as soon as ball got there.
• The skins are on there 30 and Beck goes deep to Stallworth but he can't make the catch. Would have been huge and could have made this game much closer. They would be at Philly's 20 if it connected. They do get a first down though on a penalty.
• Screen pass to Moss for a first down. Moss is so shifty he can do things like that.
• Pass to Helu for 8 yard gain. Then beck is sacked for an 8 yard loss. Now it is 3rd and 10.
• Shotgun pass to Gaffney, the announcers say it was a wobbler, whatever.  But Becks arm does hit Chester's helmet BEFORE the ball is released.
• Now Billick is claiming that beck is getting hit every play. Wild exaggeration there.
• 4th and 9 first down pass to Stallworth.
• Big pass to Terrance Austin to the 3 yard line. Beck can make big throws in big situations.
• Beck then takes it in for a TD.

This  would have been a different game with Beck in at the half in my opinion. I think he is our best chance to win. He can scramble, make the big pass, and buy time in pocket. It is pretty clear to me. John Beck for DC Quarterback.