Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Pro Bowl MVP ' s the next season

This may or may not mean much but after DeAngelo Hall won the MVP award for Sunday’s Pro Bowl, I got to wondering how those who have won the award did the following season. So, I did the research for the Pro Bowls going back to 2000 (after the 1990 season) because, well, that’s what I do. None of the MVP winners suffered from a sharp decline in performance the next year. Seven of them went back to the Pro Bowl the following year and four earned first-team All-Pro honors. Place whatever significance on this you choose, I found it to be interesting is not particularly momentous. (Note: To make the discussion slightly less confusing, the regular season date is used in the list although the Pro Bowls were played in the following calendar years) 1999—Randy Moss, Vikings—Moss had a better season in 2000 than he did in 1999. He averaged 18.7 yards a catch and led the league with 15 touchdown receptions. That not only earned him a return trip to the Pro Bowl, he also was named first team All-Pro. 2000—Rich Gannon, Raiders—He earned this Pro Bowl MVP to cap a season where he was a first team All-Pro as he took the Raiders to the AFC title game. He didn’t make All-Pro the next year but he did take his team back to the playoffs, where they lost in the snow in the infamous (in Oakland, anyway) Tuck Rule game. 2001—Rich Gannon, Raiders—Gannon followed up this Pro Bowl performance with a 2002 dream season—Pro Bowl, All-Pro, and AP NFL Player of the year. The Raiders went to the Super Bowl for a nightmare ending as they were pounded by the Buccaneers. 2002—Ricky Williams, Dolphins—In his first year with the Dolphins, Williams had his career year in 2002 as he rushed for 1,853 yards. This Pro Bowl appearance was the only one of his career even though he had another strong season in 2003 as he rushed for 1,372 yards. 2003—Marc Bulger, Rams—He made the Pro Bowl this season primarily on the strength of his 12-3 record as a starter for the Rams. He threw 22 touchdowns but he matched that with 22 interceptions and gained a mediocre 6.2 yards per pass attempt. He actually had a better year in 2004 after his Pro Bowl MVP performance with 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions but he was just 8-6 as a starter and did not play in the all-star game. 2004—Peyton Manning, Colts—Manning earned the Pro Bowl MVP in the middle of receiving All-Pro honors three straight years. The 2005 season was great right up until the end. The Colts started out 13-0, made the controversial decision to rest their starters and stumbled to two losses in their last three games before the Steelers came into Indy and made the home team one and done in the playoffs. 2005—Derrick Brooks, Buccaneers—The only defensive player on this list, Brooks was a first-team All-Pro in 2005 as the linchpin of the 11-5 Bucs’ top-ranked defense. He did make it back to the Pro Bowl in ’06 although the Tampa Bay defense slipped to 17^th and their record fell to 4-12. 2006—Carson Palmer, Bengals—The ’06 season marked Palmer’s last Pro Bowl although his numbers weren’t significantly worse for the 2007 season. His interceptions did jump up for 13 to 20, the most in the NFL that year. 2007—Adrian Peterson, Vikings—After getting the Pro Bowl MVP award as a rookie, Peterson followed up with the best season of his career to date. In 2008 he was All-Pro as he rushed for a league-high 1,760 yards. 2008—Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals—Fitzgerald was an All-Pro in 2008 and even though he caught one more pass in 2009 his receiving yards slipped significantly from 1,431 down to 1,092. 2009—Matt Schaub, Texans—Schaub threw for 4,770 yards in 2009, the sixth-most ever in a single season. His 4,370 yards this year was certainly a respectable total but it did not get him back to the Pro Bowl.

Count Redskins out as Vince Young destination

It never seemed that Vince Young would be much of a fit for the Washington Redskins anyway. That did not stop speculation that the Redskins, who are in need of a starting quarterback, would consider bringing in Young. Perhaps what former Redskins GM, CBS Sports insider, and frequent Comcast SportsNet guest Charlie Casserly said will spike at least some of the speculation. This via the Twitter account of Todd Wright of Sporting News Radio:

Casserly is pretty definitive here. He is not hesitant to couch something in qualifiers when his information is not solid. This sounds pretty solid. Certainly, things can always change. But as of right now the Redskins will take their search for a starting quarterback in a direction other than that of Vince Young.

Five possible destinations for Albert Haynesworth

There always are a lot of unknowns going into an NFL offseason and with the CBA issues this year the picture is cloudier than ever. But there are some things that we know for sure. One is that Albert Haynesworth will not be a member of the Washington Redskins in 2011. Despite platitudes delivered by Bruce Allen a couple of weeks ago to the contrary, there is zero chance that Albert will be lining up for the Redskins whenever the season gets underway. There are 15 other teams we can eliminate from consideration as a 2011 home for Haynesworth. Those are the teams that run the 3-4 as their base defense. Haynesworth’s discontent with the Redskins’ switch to that defense was the genesis of all of his issues during the year. So, eliminated are the Broncos, Patriots, Browns, Chargers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Jets, Packers, Dolphins, Ravens, Bills, Cardinals, 49ers, Steelers, and Texans.

Go here to read the article on CSN Washington.

Point-Counterpoint-Take a QB at 10?

The Washington Redskins have the tenth pick in the upcoming NFL draft. That pick represents an opportunity. The team has a need at quarterback with the likely departure of Donovan McNabb leaving just Rex Grossman and John Beck on the roster. Should the Redskins take advantage of the opportunity of having a fairly high selection in the draft and utilize it to fill the need at quarterback? We take a look at both sides of that question in the return of the wildly popular Point-Counterpoint. Point—First, let’s get the “other needs” issue out of the way. Do the Redskins have other needs in addition to quarterback? Certainly, they do. But the other positions can be filled through other means. An outside linebacker can be found in free agency. You can shore up the interior of the offensive line in the later rounds of the draft. You can target a stout nose tackle with the 41^st pick. Good quarterbacks, however, do not hit the free agency market. If you need one the best way to get him is in the draft and, the occasional bolt out of the blue like Tom Brady aside, the earlier you draft one the better.

Go here to read the full article.

Hall starring in Pro Bowl

I know you're probably not watching the Pro Bowl. I am because I have absolutely no--well, never mind, that's beside the point. Anyway, DeAngelo Hall is having himself a game. With about 10 minutes left in the second quarter he has two takeaways. He intercepted a pass in the end zone and just a minute ago he wrestled the ball away from Wes Welker, picked it up, and ran it back about 30 yards for a touchdown. The AFC has turned the ball over four times. London Fletcher got the first one when he picked off a tipped pass. Update: Hall ended up being named the MVP in the NFC's 55-41 win. He will get a new Cadillac for his efforts along with the $45,000 winning player's share. Hall is the first Redskin to win Pro Bowl MVP honors since Joe Theismann in 1984. You can find the video of Hall's TD here.

Locker to Skins at number 10 talk should stop

A year ago, word was that Mike Shanahan was disappointed that Washington quarterback Jake Locker decided to stay with the Huskies for his senior year. It was said that the new Redskins coach would have given strong consideration to drafting Locker with the fourth overall pick. Fast forward one year to now and with the Redskins holding the tenth pick in the draft many mock drafts have had Shanahan picking Locker to start what he wanted to get going a year ago. After the week of practice leading up to Saturday’s Senior Bowl and the game itself, however, one has to think that Shanahan, along with the rest of the draft evaluators out there, has fallen out of love with Locker. It wasn’t that he played that horribly in the game itself; at least it didn’t appear that way on the surface. Locker was 6 of 10 for 98 yards doing the game and he was the signal caller during his team’s only touchdown drive. Locker, however, showed a little too much of what has scouts concerned about his ability to make it as an NFL quarterback. On his very first throw, he had Wisconsin tight end Lance Kendricks wide open for a first down but he misfired on the pass. Later on, he tried to thread a pass between two defenders to wide receiver Titus Young of Boise State but the throw was high, putting Young in a position to get crunched by the two defensive backs as he went up for it. And in the second half he fumbled, stripped of the ball as was running outside of the pocket. Now, having some shaky moments in the Senior Bowl is not necessarily enough to send one’s draft stock crashing. However, when such a performance follows a week of practice where the same flaws were on display it is a problem. Here’s what Adam Caplan of FoxSports.com had to say:

If you were in attendance and watching him during the practice sessions this week, you probably gasped at his inaccuracy. Locker rarely threw two accurate passes in a row, a sure sign that he has problems with his mechanics. Locker seemed to turn his right hand a bit during his release which could be part of the problem.

Others observed that Locker had issues holding onto the ball on occasion in practice as well. Caplan said that Locker still should get selected in the first half of the draft. Not the first half of the first round, mind you, but somewhere before the middle of the third round. It is one thing if a quarterback who had completed 65 percent of his passes in college has accuracy issues during Senior Bowl week. You can write that off to working with unfamiliar receivers, an off week, or any number of factors. Locker, however, completed just 54 percent of his passes in four years at Washington. His accuracy actually declined from 58 percent in his junior year to 55 percent as a snior. He came to the Senior Bowl in an attempt to show that he was better than that, that his mediocre completion percentage was more a result of the substandard talent around him (his senior class with the Huskies were just two years removed from an 0-12 disaster in 2008) than it was his abilities. The accuracy issues and accompanying criticism, however, were reinforced in Mobile. Although Locker has the combine, his pro day and whatever individual workouts teams may schedule with him to try to reverse the slide, it seems almost impossible that he could improve enough to warrant consideration in the top 10 of the draft. Jake Locker could well end up being a Washington Redskin. But it is safe to say that it won’t happen with the 10^th pick in the draft.

Sean Taylor ' s hit in the Pro Bowl

Watch this clip through to the end to see how it translates into Japanese.

Jan 30, 1983: Riggins, Redskins hog it all

Another game that needs no introduction:

Sunday, January 30, 1983

Rose Bowl Pasadena, California

It was a classic matchup of size versus speed. The Miami defense was nicknamed “The Killer Bees,” a reference to both their quick, swarming style and the fact that the last names of six starters started with the letter B. Washington countered with the Hogs, who cleared the way for the Diesel. In the end, size would defeat quickness, but it took three quarters for the Redskins to seize the advantage. The Dolphins struck quickly. Receiver Jimmy Cefalo took advantage of a coverage mixup and turned a little sideline pattern into a 76-yard touchdown on Miami’s second offensive series. Two possessions later, Miami was driving in Redskins territory at the 37 when Dexter Manley sacked David Woodley, forcing a fumble that Dave Butz chased down at the Miami 46. The Redskins started the process of wearing down the Bees with Rigging carrying five straight times to set up a 31-yard Mark Moseley field goal to make the score 7-3. Whatever momentum the Redskins had gained in scratching the scoreboard Miami quickly seized back. In a foreshadowing of a coming event, Fulton Walker returned the kickoff 42 yards to the Miami 47. Using a combination of short passes and quick-hitting runs, the Dolphins moved to the Washington three. From there, Woodley missed Cefalo in the end zone, and the 13-play drive ended in an Uve von Schamann field goal to make it 10-3. After the ensuing kickoff resulted in a touchback, Joe Gibbs put aside the power game and pulled out his back of tricks. Theismann threw to tight end Rick Walker for 27 yards and then it was Walker again carrying on a reverse for six. After Riggins converted a third and one, it was Theismann to Charlie Brown on a screen and then, after faking a screen left and spinning 360 degrees, the quarterback found Riggins all alone on the right side and the Diesel rumbled for 15. After a Theismann scramble and a couple of Riggins runs, Washington faced third and one on the Miami four. Earlier in the week, in the wee hours of the morning, Gibbs and his offensive staff came up with the Explode package, a set that had all five eligible receivers in motion before the snap. The idea was to create a moment of confusion in the defense. The Explode worked on the Rose Bowl turf just as well as it had on Gibbs’ chalkboard. On that third down play, the shifting left the Miami defenders unsure who was covering whom, helping receiver Alvin Garrett slip past cornerback Gerald Small to catch Theismann’s high, arching pass in the right corner of the end zone. Moseley’s PAT tied the game at 10 with 1:51 left in the half. Walker promptly untied it with a 98-yard kickoff return. He started left, found a block, cut up the middle and left the Redskins coverage team in futile pursuit. A Theismann scramble and pass interference call gave the Redskins a shot at some points before halftime, but Garrett couldn’t get out of bounds after catching a pass inside the Miami 10. The half ended with Miami leading 17-10. In the third quarter, a 44-yard reverse to Garrett set up a 20-yard Moseley field goal to pull the Redskins within four midway through the third. The teams then exchanged punts, interceptions and near interceptions for the next twelve minutes of play. One near INT was a big turning point in the game or, rather, a turning point averted by the Redskins. Late in the third quarter, on first down from the Miami 18, Theismann threw into the right flat. Defensive end Kim Bokamper tipped the ball high into the air and was about to catch it at the four and stroll into the end zone to give Miami an 11-point lead that would have taken Riggins out of the game plan. But Theismann reacted quickly, recovering to bat the ball out of Bokamper’s waiting arms. Disaster averted, the Redskins drove into Miami territory, but they got a little too fancy. On first and ten from the 43, Theismann handed to Riggins who turned and lateraled back to the quarterback. Theismann’s pass intended for Brown was picked off by safety Lyle Blackwood at the one. The next time they were at the Miami 43, the Redskins would use a more basic play. As was the case most of the second half, the Redskins defense put the clamps on Woodley and the Miami offense. Woodley threw incomplete on third and seven from the four, forcing Miami to punt. Woodley was 0 for eight passing in the second half and the Dolphins mustered just two first downs in the final two quarters. After an illegal block penalty, the Redskins had possession at their own 48 and three plays later faced a fourth and one at the Miami 43. Gibbs didn’t hesitate in his call to go for the first down. The call was Seventy Chip, run from goal line formation. As he had been doing all game, Gibbs added motion to the play to try to create just a moment of confusion in the Miami defense. On this play, the motion caused more than confusion. From the tight, jumbo formation, tight end Don Warren went in motion from the left side of the line to the right. Dolphins’ cornerback Don McNeal shadowed Warren. When Warren got to the right end of the line, he reversed his direction. McNeal slipped slightly and was a step or two behind Warren as the ball was snapped. The Hogs exploded off the line, blocking back Otis Wonsley sealed off the end, and Riggins easily had the first down after taking Joe Theismann’s handoff and going off left tackle. McNeal was left unblocked and his attempted arm tackle was useful only to provide a snapshot that adorned the dens of thousands of Redskins fans. After brushing aside McNeal, Riggins easily rolled into the end zone for the TD. The extra point made the score 20-17. After the defense forced another three and out, the Redskins drove for the kill. From the Miami 41, Riggins carried five straight times to the 23. Five plays later, the Diesel gained the last of his 166 rushing yards to get the Redskins down to the six. Two plays later, right after the two-minute warning, Theismann rolled right and fired it to Brown, who managed to keep both feet in bounds in the right side of the end zone, and the celebration could begin.

What draft picks do the Redskins have?

In response to many inquiries and to correct some misstatements that are floating around out there: The Washington Redskins have at least six and probably seven picks in the draft Here is the breakdown: Round 1--Their own pick, the 10th overall. Round 2--Their own pick, 41st overall. Round 5--Their own pick (position of the rest of the picks to be determined) Round 5-- The Saints' pick from the Jammal Brown trade. Round 6--Their own pick Round 7--Their own pick Round 7--From the Colts for Justin Tryon A couple of caveats are in order here. I have read in some places that the pick from the Saints in the Brown trade was a sixth-rounder. That is in conflict with what I originally understood about the parameters of the trade. I'm fairly confident that it is a fifth but that could change. Also, the pick for Tryon could be a sixth or it could possibly be in another draft. The only information that anyone could find is that he was traded to the Colts for an undisclosed draft pick. We won't find out for sure until the entire official draft order is released. Most assumed at the time that the trade was for a seventh-round pick. But if there were any conditions attached they should be favorable to the Redskins. Tryon played in 12 games for the Colts, starting six. The third-round pick went to the Saints in they Jammal Brown trade, meaning that the Redskins acquired him for a swap of draft picks. Washington will end up dropping about 80 spots to get Brown. If he does not sign a new contract, the deal will end up being a one-year rental. The fourth-round pick will close out the Donovan McNabb deal. It is likely that the Redskins will, once again, see one of their draft picks used by another team that was traded away for a player who no longer is on the team. The Redskins could acquire more picks either by trading down or by trading away players such as McNabb or Albert Haynesworth.

Enemy Intel: Fisher not headed to Eagles

In the hours after the Titans fired Jeff Fisher there was speculation that Fisher could return to the Philadelphia Eagles, who still are looking for a defensive coordinator. Fisher cut his teeth as an NFL coach there, working there for five years from 1986-1990 including the last two as defensive coordinator. However, it does not appear that he will be back in Philly for an encore. It is unlikely that he will be coaching anywhere in 2011. Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean pass along the following from Fisher via Twitter:

"It's time for me to rest, and fish," Fisher said. "I have total peace about this right now."

Meanwhile, the Eagles' search for a defensive coordinator continues. Their season ended Jan. 9. In his press conference next day Andy Reid said that Sean McDermott would be retained as the defensive coordinator despite a sub par performance by the defense. Less than a week later, McDermott was out. A few days later defensive line coach Rory Segrest was shown the door out of the Novacare Complex. The slow-motion purge continued earlier this week when linebackers coach Bill Shuey was fired. Two of the three positions remain vacant. Philly did well in getting the highly regarded Jim Washburn from the Titans to be their defensive line coach (an event that may have been part of the reason for Fisher's departure from Tennessee). But almost three weeks after McDermott was fired the coordinator and linebacker spots remain vacant. Ruben Frank at CSNphilly.com has a good recap of where the situation stands now. There has not been much movement lately, indicating that the Eagles could be waiting to talk to assistant coaches on one of the Super Bowl teams. In particular, Frank mentions that Ruben Moss, Packers linebackers coach, could be on the list. Also under consideration is Todd Bowles, who played for the Redskins from1986-1990 and again in 1992-1993.