Redskins Rehash-- so you're telling me there's a chance?

So much for six weeks of slumber before the season ends... can you believe that FOX had the Skins listed as "in the hunt" this past Sunday? And a 23-17 victory over Seattle puts the team in position to get into position for the 2005/2007 late season playoff runs we've grown to know and love. What's helpful is that despite a 4-7 mark the team is 4-5 against the NFC-- so there's a chance to hold tiebreakers at 7-5 in the conference and 9-7 overall. As difficult as it sounds... a win over the consistently uneven NY Jets would place this team within striking distance of being within striking distance. So you're telling me there's still a chance? Drink up the burgundy and gold kool aid.


Turnoverasaurus Rex-- two interceptions? That was it? No pick sixes? No fumbles lost or safeties allowed? I'm so there it's not even fair. Grossman isn't the longterm answer for a playoff team-- that is obvious. But he's gives this team a chance to win more than any other QB on the roster. Like a restaurant makes room for spoons that get thrown in the trash in their budget-- the INTs are merely an accounting move. Except when they really cost you.

Channeling Jack Bauer-- 24 remains one of my favorite shows... taking the proud mantle from Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Dallas, Cheers and Happy Days. Last week Rex Grossman said that their goal was to match the 24 points scored against Dallas each and every week. If that were the case-- Skins scoring 24 points in every game-- they'd be 9-2. Granted, this is with opposing offenses putting the game plan in the freezer after jumping out to seemingly insurmountable 19-3 leads.

Finishing with a Flourish-- for an team that has had problems producing points this fall... it was nice to see the Skins come up huge in the fourth quarter. Trailing 10-7... they outgained the Seahawks 151 to 61 yards and put 16 points on the board. That outburst was more than 4 complete games since the bye week.


Holy Helu!-- one month after setting a Redskins record with 14 catches against San Francisco, rookie Roy Helu rumbled for 108 yard and a touchdown. He also led the team in receiving with 7 catches for 54 yards. Will he remain the primary producer from here on out or simply fall back into the runningback rotation like Ryan Torain?



Feeling Fredtastic-- Mr. Davis found the endzone for the first time since week two. His four catches for 58 yards keeps him on pace for 75+ catches and 1000+ yards... and he began with a bang-- notching 3 grabs for 53 yards and a score on the team's opening drive. But on that drive an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty while not costing the Skins certainly slowed them down... and after that possession #83 notched just one 5 yard reception.

Flags Flying-- talk about airing dirty laundry. The Skins were whistled for 10 penalties and 115 yards... as the Seahawks were flagged 9 times for 91 yards... leading to a day that was rather disjointed.

Safety in lack of numbers-- it's been nice to see Laron Landry and Reed Doughty make big plays and tally impressive tackle totals... but any coach will tell you they don't like it when their safeties are making a lot of stops. Not so the case against Seattle--linebacker Perry Riley led the way with 6 tackles and 8 assists while London Fletcher added 4 solo stops and 11 total tackles. One big reason Seattle went 6 of 16 on third down and saw 5 of 8 second half drives go three and out or end in a turnover.


Third and lost-- 3 of 10 when trying to move the chains isn't a way to take control of a game... and at 35.1% on the season the team ranks 22nd in the NFL. Now let the record show that the Skins second and third touchdowns of the day came on third down... so maybe there's progress.

Dissecting the Division-- Dallas takes over sole possession of first place (#4 NFC) after a Thanksgiving win over Miami... the New York Giants drop to second (#8 NFC) following their Monday Night loss to New Orleans... Philadelphia's third in the division and ninth in the conference after losing to New England... followed by the Skins in fourth place/tenth place thanks to their week six loss to Philly. They need to leapfrog the Eagles (with Vince Young at QB a definite possibility) and the Giants (slumping with 3 straight losses)... plus two of the following: Detroit (a definite possibility with the Suh suspension)... Atlanta (not likely with an easy December for the Falcons) and Chicago (with Bobby Douglass now a QB option--anything is possible).

Losing out in the Luck Lotto-- the win over Seattle does provide a major setback in the race to get a franchise quarterback... as the Skins would be drafting anywhere from 7th to 14th. Indianapolis remains the leader/loser in with five games remaining-- and a two loss advantage. St. Louis (2-9) has Sam Bradford and Minnesota (2-9) has Christian Ponder...(recent first rounders at quarterback)..so conventional wisdom says they pass on Andrew Barkley and Landry Jones (isn't that the kid from "Friday Night Lights" who hooked up with Tyra and then killed her stalker?). How far will those two fall? And does Indy once locking up the number one pick (it could happen as early as week 14) reverse it's previous post-clinching behavior and try not to "not to win"...?

Summer Bloggin- had me a blast...

Mid-July means you wake up from a month-plus of napping by the pool only to realize that the majority of the year is in the lower half of the hourglass (cue MacDonald Carey)... summer reading included "Rawhide Down" (about the Reagan shooting) and "Black Swan Green" (once you get past the British colloquialisms, David Mitchell's writing is dynamic).


Football frenzy-- so I guess after four months of the non-story story... there actually is NFL Labor progress. I'm looking forward to seeing which teams are able to make better snap free agent judgements once the lockout ends. Back in the 70's, the NFL held its draft in late January and the front offices that had their act together (Dallas, Pittsburgh, Oakland) were able to take and maintain their personnel lead over the rest of the sad sacks that couldn't get out of their own way (New Orleans, New York Jets, Kansas City). Let's see if the Redskins make smart or silly moves this July-- Bruce Allen will earn his paycheck this month.


College Corner-- Kudos to Maryland for getting games in Baltimore again-- especially with 7 home games a year now the Terps can play one of their games in their home state's largest city. Sad thing-- it's probably easier for me to get from my home in Arlington, Virginia to M & T than Fed Ex Field... can't wait for Terps-Notre Dame this November. Meanwhile, the ACC has long tried to become "bigtime" in football... as the purging of the Big East last decade brought the conference to 12 schools and an anti-climactic championship game. Another move to bridge the gap between the ACC and the SEC: PROBATION. Because you know, if you aren't cheatin' you aren't tryin'. I'm not saying Georgia Tech's the SMU of 2011... but the Yellowjacket sanctions mean a vacated championship in a league that's always held itself above others when it comes to running clean programs (Clemson football in the 80's and North Carolina State basketball in the 70's notwithstanding).


British Open-- Youth and age were served in round one with 20-year old amateur Tom Lewis and 40-year old Thomas Bjorn capturing the Thursday headlines... followed by Lucas Glover and Darren Clarke surging on Friday. So much for the Rory McIlroy era of extreme dominance(the curly-haired one is 6 shots off the pace entering the weekend). I've always likened the British Open to tennis' French Open-- odd conditions that often steal the headlines from the actual competition... and a slew of clay court/links specialists like Gustavo Kuerten and Paul Lawrie outshine the mainstream elite.


Swing and a miss-- by the prosecution. For twenty-plus years, Roger Clemens intimidated hitters with a blow-by fastball and often caught them swinging while looking for the heater. Yesterday federal prosecutors pulled a hamstring in the first inning while swinging for the fences-- as the ignorance of an evidence ban set in motion the mistrial of Clemens' perjury case. Really? You messed this thing up on day two? Hopefully they'll send those attorneys down to AA Traffic Court in Anchorage.


All Star Blah Blah-- The buzz coming out of Phoenix was as lukewarm as you could get. Lower TV ratings than last year. And the impression that more than a few players would have liked to have been anywhere else. How do you fix this potential July juggernaut? Make the starting position players go at least six innings. Pitchers toss two innings each through the sixth and no dugout dumping of reserves onto the field. Remember how Oscar nominees say just being nominated is an honor? Well just being an All Star reserve should be honor enough. Unless you're Timmy Lupus, as a reserve you don't have an unalienable right to appear in the game. Sorry-- that's what you get when the game is for home field advantage in the World Series. And as far as players skipping the event-- if you have an all star incentive clause and don't show up to the game, you shouldn't pick up the check. Ninety percent of success is just showing up-- and if you can't make it to the All Star Game-- you shouldn't get your All Star Bonus.


Turning off Friday Night Lights-- I don't watch much television... and haven't tuned into NBC's red-haired stepchild since the season two murder plot (coupled with the musician turning into a game-winning wide receiver after 3 weeks of practices) led me astray. But one of TV's best network programs in the last ten years leaves without the mass over celebration that marked Lost's overrated final season. Friday Night Lights had a certain groove and feel that felt genuine-- more so than the three-camera sitcoms and flashy dramas where they actually clean the sets in between takes. From lunatic booster Buddy Garrity (unintentionally funny fake TV ads for his dealership make one scream) to consistent foul-up Tim Riggins (ironically the onetime onscreen boyfriend of Minka Kelly's character racked up the most impressive run of hookups since, um, Derek Jeter), not everybody comes out a winner-- just like the actual games. Well done TV is hard to find-- and the network didn't make it easy for Friday Night Lights to find the audience it deserved. Now there were blemishes... from all the last-second game-winning touchdowns to the coaching carousel (West Dillon had 5 coaching regimes over 4 fictional seasons)... but for the most part like a quality football program this one delivered and leaves the airwaves a winner-- making room for more repeats of "The Marriage Ref". Thanks, NBC...I'm buying another David Mitchell book today.