Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Tandler on Comcast Post Game Live

I will be on Comcast's Post Game Live show following the Lions game on Sunday to discuss the in-game chat I'll be doing on their site. The show starts immediately after the game and runs until 6:00 Eastern. I'm not sure when I'll be on but if I find out I will pass it along either here or at some point during the chat. The chat will be here: http://www.csnwashington.com/pages/chat You can go there now if you want to set up an email reminder. I will repost it tomorrow. We'll get going at about 12:45. This is a one-time deal with Comcast. After this week the in-game fun will return here.

Bold Predictions: A weighted toss of a coin

[caption id="attachment_1713" align="aligncenter" width="336" caption="The Redskisn could go either way"][/caption]

The Washington Redskins are tight. They have been taking hits from the fans, from the local media, from the Detroit media and from the national media. Much of their week since the final gun on Sunday has been spent defending their performance in a win. Jim Zorn got into a verbal jousting match with the iconic Sonny Jurgensen. On Tuesday, Robert Henson's outburst on Twitter drew a lengthy rebuke by Mike Greenberg that, as I type this on Friday morning, is being replayed on ESPN yet again. Chris Cooley pushed back against the booing in the locker room after the game and later in the week in his blog he said that all of the criticism is barnyard excrement. Mike Sellers went off on the media while Clinton Portis said that Dan Snyder might be on the verge of losing the fans. Other than that, it was a normal week after a win at Redskins Park. The good news for the players is that it almost is over. There is an open locker room session with the media after practice today and then, for about 48 hours, the players and coaches will be insulated from the fans and media. Those 48 hours will be critical. The team can go in one of two directions during that time. They can either use everything that happened during the week as a motivational spur. Or they can wallow in it and get consumed by self-doubt. If the former happens, they will put away the Lions early and coast to an easy win. If they come out and play tentatively the Lions will hang around all game long and win on a late Jason Hanson field goal. There isn't much history to go on to determine which way the Zorn-coached Redskins will go. They faced such a firestorm from all angles when they suffered a nine-point loss at the home of the Super Bowl champion Giants in Zorn's very first game as head coach. For no rational reason members of the media were talking about the team getting the top pick in the draft. The message boards exploded with talk of Zorn being run out of town soon, to be followed by Jason Campbell. They bounced back from all of that to beat four pretty good teams in succession. The Skins rallied to beat the Saints, held off the Cardinals and then went on the road to beat Dallas and the Eagles. One would have to say that they bounced back from that set of adversity. Another low point came when Zorn declared that he was "the worst coach in America" after the Redskins lost to the lowly Bengals in December. The Redskins came out the following week and beat the Eagles in a game that Philadelphia desperately needed to control its destiny in the playoff race. In those two instances the team rebounded well. But that's not enough history to say with any degree of certainty that they will bounce back this week. It does however, weight the coin toss. The chances are slightly better that the Redskins will circle the wagons than they are that they won't. And if they do channel all of the tension from the week in a positive way, this game won't be close. Campbell will exploit the Lions' historically-bad pass defense. That will open up room for Portis' first 100-yard performance since last Nov. 23 at Seattle. The defense will have Matt Stafford's head spinning and will create multiple turnovers. And if the Redskins come out and play tight they will lose. While recognizing that there is a distinct possibility that that will happen, the call here is to go with the admittedly-scant evidence that says that they will come out firing. Redskins 31, Lions 10

Thursday Town Hall on now

Just click on the link and join in!

Join in the Thursday Town Hall

Thursday Town Hall and Game Chat from CSN

1. We will have our usual Thursday Town Hall meeting here at 7:00 Eastern. Are the Skins really on the verge of collapse? Is the season lost if they lose to the Lions? Can they lose to the Lions? Join us right here at 7:00 and we'll hash it out. 2. On Sunday, since it's an away game, we'll have our usual in-game chat. However, there will be a twist. When you click the link to start, you will be taken to the pages of Comcast Sports Net. They have asked me to host their weekly chat and I said, sure, as long as I can pile the usual group of crazies into the bus and drag them along with me. Of course, that was no problem and so it's merely a matter of going to a different URL. The cool part about hosting the chat for CSN is that during their Redskins Post Game Live show, I'll get a few minutes on the air in the studio to talk about the fan reactions during the game. So your comment could wind up on the air! The chat will start at about 12:45 with kickoff at 1:00. Just come by here as usual and there will be a link posted that will take you to the CSN Washington page with the chat window.

Redskins Hall of Fame nominess--1st of a series

Ten players who played a major chunk of their careers with the Washington Redskins and two off-field contributors were selected as preliminary nominees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the first of a series, here's a look the four of them. Bobby Beathard, General Manager, 1978-1988—He is listed as an "Administrator", which puts him up against the likes of Gil Brandt and Art Rooney. While he has a solid list of accomplishments—architect of three Super Bowl teams (two with the Redskins, one with the Chargers) with a hand in a few others—there's only one man in the Hall as a GM, Jim Finks. There has been talk of opening up a slot for such contributors, perhaps going with one veterans' committee nominee every few years and having some sort of team architect in the mix instead. 2010 chances—0% Eventual chances—10% Gary Clark, Wide Receiver, 1985-1992—Clark's primary resume entry is that he was a prime contributor on two Super Bowl champions. Statistically, he is in the same ballpark with Hall of Fame receivers Lance Alworth and Paul Warfield. Alworth played most of his career in the AFL, a league not known for stout defense, and was a star player on one championship team (he won another with Dallas as a role player). Warfield was a key player on the Dolphins' back to back title teams in 1972-1973. Clark's case is diminished by his relatively few appearances in the Pro Bowl (4) and AP All-Pro selections (1) and the fact that he never led the league in any statistical category. 2010 chances—0% Eventual chances—20% Jack Kent Cooke, Owner, 1974-1997—The criteria for getting in as an owner are rather fuzzy, especially since we're getting to the point where most of the team founders who are going to get in are in. I don't think that owning three Super Bowl winning teams is enough, there has to be some other contribution. While Cooke was respected by other owners he wasn't the kind of mover and shaker within the ranks to warrant Hall consideration. 2010 chances—0% Eventual chances—5% Russ Grimm, Offensive Lineman, 1981-1991—Of the five offensive linemen chosen to the NFL's 1980's All-Decade Team, only Grimm and Jimbo Covert of the Bears are not in the Hall of Fame. Grimm did not pile up as many Pro Bowls (4) or AP All-Pro selections (3) as some others but he was the best player on one of the best—and certainly the most famous—offensive line units in history. He was a force on two Super bowl champions and was a part-time player on a third (1991). He has made the cut to the final ten five times, including last year. Although he isn't clearly the best offensive lineman who has been waiting for a while—Bob Kuechenberg, a six-time Pro Bowler in Miami, has been a finalist eight times without getting in—this could be Grimm's year. 2010 chances—50% Eventual chances—90% You can let your voice be heard by voting at Fan's Choice, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's official site for Hall discussion among fans.

Guest Blog: Going for it

I occasionally run guest blogs, especially when it's a subject that I don't have time to post about myself. This one is from Loren Smith, a longtime reader and commenter here on Real Redskins.

By Loren Smith Real Redskins Guest Contributor Redskins head coach Jim Zorn went for it twice on 4th and 1 during the Redskins' crucial 76-yard, seven-plus-minute drive late in the fourth quarter.  The first time was at the Rams' 20 with 4:15 remaining, the second was at the Rams' 3 with 2:00 remaining.  The public consensus appears to support the first call, but not the second. The numbers guys at Football Outsiders have done in-depth research showing that coaches should go for it on 4th down more often.  Without attempting to replicate that research, I thought a bit about the pros and cons of the specific scenario in the second 4th down play, with a chip-shot field goal to put the team up five points balanced against winning the game on the spot. Having decided to go for it, whether Zorn then called the right play is a separate argument.  However, public comments by the team (and a review of the game footage) suggest that it wasn't a much-derided stretch play; LG Derrick Dockery simply got steamrolled and Portis tried to kick out to the left, unsuccessfully.  We'll never know what the precise play was; frankly, I hope Zorn starts to keep a lot more secrets about what plays are being called or what players are being targeted, etc.  Part of Zorn's lovableness is his open personality, but he can be open without telling us (and the other NFC East scouts) anything about his gameplan. My conclusion is that the prize of ending the game on the spot makes the call to go for it the right one.  I'm glad he went for it; more to the point, I hope that the widespread criticism of the various other questionable issues surrounding the team doesn't make Zorn shy away from continuing to go for it on 4th down. To Kick the FG: Pro: -A 5-point Redskins lead means the Rams have to score a touchdown to win, as a field goal does them no good. -Though the distance is similar - the Rams have to drive 60-70 yards in either scenario - advancing the ball in the red zone carries an elevated difficulty factor, as the Redskins sadly showed all day. -Take the field goal option away from the Rams, and they're really in the soup - aside from one long Steven Jackson run, the Rams offense piled up a whole lot o' nothin'. Con: -The Redskins field goal attempt could be blocked; worse, a blocked field goal could be run back for a touchdown. -If Suisham nails the field goal, the Redskins have to kick off to the Rams.  A kickoff return for a touchdown is possible; or a long return giving the Rams a short field.  While a squib kick is likely, the Rams almost certainly get the ball up at least as far as their own 30. -Either way, in the field goal scenario, the Rams get the ball back, forcing our defense to win the game for us again, risking more injuries with more live plays. To Go for It: Pro: -If Portis makes the half-yard but is tackled short of the goal line, the game is over, period.  Victory formation; the defense doesn't have to return to the field, no further risks of injury, the game simply ends. -If Portis scores a touchdown, with the extra point the Rams are in a two-score hole with 1:50 to play, no timeouts and an ineffective offense. -If Portis doesn't make the half-yard, the Rams are backed up inside their own 5 yard line, having to go roughly the same distance (60-70 yards to field goal range) that they would in the other scenario, having to drive 60-70 yards for a touchdown.  But being backed up in your own endzone creates different pressures on an offense - a sack or a holding call ends the game on a safety, and there's simply less room to run around. Con: -Losing to the Rams again by a field goal would be crushing to team morale - a lot more crushing than winning ugly the way they did. -The Rams have a good kicker - while they'd want to reach at least the Redskins 30 for insurance, Josh Brown could make a credible effort from much further out.  His career-long is 58 yards (i.e. from the 41 yard line) and last year he hit a 54-yarder (i.e. from the 37 yard line). -On a busted stretch play, if Portis fumbles, the risks of a touchdown run back are high.  Worse, the defender who recovers it might have the sense to run the ball back into field goal range and then out of bounds, allowing the Rams to run the clock down to almost nothing before kicking the game-winning field goal. -And of course, if the Redskins don't convert the extra point if Portis scores, it's still a one-score game. There are other factors to consider - the relative percentages of each of these scenarios, slight injuries we can't know about, and marginal tendencies of the sorts NFL scouts are paid to uncover.  But I think this review shows that Zorn is making credible, gutsy decisions - the sort we loved him for during the fast start in 2008.  Let's hope for more and better.

Skins Sign Aldrige (not breaking news here)

Here's some breaking news--to anyone who doesn't frequent this site: LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA – The Washington Redskins announced today that they have signed running back Anthony Alridge to their 53-man roster off the Houston Texans’ practice squad.  To make room on the roster, the team placed guard Randy Thomas on Injured Reserve. Alridge spent the 2009 preseason with the Redskins and totaled 10 rushing attempts for 46 yards (4.6 avg.) and added three receptions for 34 yards (11.3 avg.).  He also returned two kickoffs for 35 yards (17.5 avg.).  The Redskins originally claimed Alridge off waivers from the Denver Broncos on February 12, 2009. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound, Alridge spent last season on Injured Reserve after signing with the Broncos in 2008 as a college free agent from the University of Houston. As a senior for the Cougars, Alridge rushed for 1,597 yards (6.2 avg.) and 14 touchdowns and caught 42 passes for 428 yards and five touchdowns. Thomas, an 11-year veteran, sustained a right triceps injury in the second quarter of Washington’s 9-7 win over the St. Louis Rams last Sunday.  Thomas has started in all 143 career games he has played in for the New York Jets (1999-2002) and Washington Redskins (2003-2008).

Tandler on ESPN 980 4:25 P. M. Tuesday

I'll be appearing in studio with The Sports Reports, Czaban and Pollin, this afternoon starting at about 4:25. The main topic of discussion will be my book The Redskins Chronicle but we might get into some other topics as well.

You can tune in on the air at 980 on your AM dial or you can listen live online at ESPN980.com.

Tuesday Take: Booing, Thomas, play calling

[caption id="attachment_1269" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Randy Thomas may have played his last down for the Redskins."][/caption] 1. Booing—Here's the bottom line on booing: Paying fans have the right to boo the team for whatever reason they choose, whether the team wins or loses. But, by the same token, players like Chris Cooley have every right to say that the expressions of displeasure are unwarranted. Now, Robert Henson did go too far is disparaging peoples' professions and he was justifiably blasted for that. But don't get all up in arms if you boo and the target of your dissatisfaction comes back at you. Freedom of expression goes both ways. If you can dish it out, you have to be able to take it. 2. Randy Thomas—Happy trails, perhaps forever, to a warrior on the field and a good guy to talk to off the field. He probably could have gone to a couple of Pro Bowls in the prime of his career but the team's lack of success held him back. If, as expected, there is no salary cap in 2010 he could well be released as his contract runs through 2013 with cap numbers in the $5 to $6 million range. The word is that they are confident that Chad Reinhart can get the job done, although his performance in the preseason belies that confidence. Will Montgomery, who has started six NFL games, played fairly well after Thomas went out on Sunday and he's a decent Plan B. In either case, a Redskins line that had five players well north of 30 last year will have just two thirtysomething starters this Sunday. 3. Play calling—Jim Zorn is taking some heat for his play calling against the Rams and it's justified. In particular, the Portis option pass and the stretch play on fourth and less than one appeared to be less than inspired calls. The heat turned up yesterday when he defended the calls, saying that they were good calls but the execution was lacking. On the option pass he said they didn't sell the run. Well, it was third and goal at the five. From 120 yards away, when I saw two tight ends, a fullback, and one wide receiver in the lineup I knew something was up. The Rams aren't very good but they're not stupid. If I can recognize that something's up then they can, too. They also overloaded the left side on the fourth-down play, so they knew that was coming, too. But Zorn also did the right thing in defending the calls. There's no point in tipping off the Lions that he's going to do anything different in the same situation this Sunday. That is, assuming that he does adjust and figure out plays that have a better chance of success even given a margin of error for missed execution.

Aldrige back, perhaps?

[caption id="attachment_1671" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="Anthony Aldrige"][/caption] With Randy Thomas going to injured reserve, the Redskins have a roster spot to fill. The usual move would be to sign another offensive linemen, either a veteran free agent or someone who was here in camp. That's not necessarily the case. Larry Weisman, who is a pretty well-placed source since he gets paid by the Redskins, had this to say on Redskins Rule about the roster spot.

The vacant roster spot won't necessarily go to an 0-linemen though. The team would consider a running back with some quickness and speed or a player of extraordinary special teams value.

Hmmm, a running back with some quickness and speed? Wasn't there one of those around Redskins Park last summer? Oh, yeah, that would be Anthony Aldrige, the speedy first-year running back who turned some heads during camp and in the final preseason game. Could he be coming back? It wouldn't necessarily make much sense to add a fifth running back when there are only six linebackers on the roster including the two hybrids in Orakpo and Chris Wilson. Linebackers usually are good on special teams so that would fill the second possibility. But, who knows? It's unlikely that Weisman made up the possibility of a running back off the top of his head. There's a little bit of Aldrige smoke out there, we'll find out in the next couple of days if there is any fire to go with it.