Shanahan's message: Redskins aren't there yet

By Rich Tandler

While discussing the third and 21 play call in the Cowboys game, Mike Shanahan took what seemed to be an odd detour back to the past. He related a story from when he was the offensive coordinator for the 49ers in 1994 as they prepared to play in Super Bowl XXIX:

[49ers tight end] Brent Jones said it best, we’re in the Super Bowl getting ready for San Diego and I sat down there with Steve Young and we’re going through all of the scenarios that exist – going through first down situations, second down situations and third downs. Brent Jones came over to me and says ‘it really doesn’t matter what you call. You couldn’t screw up this game. We’re ready to win.’ We went on to score 49 points. I think Brent was right. No matter what, I could not screw up calls in that game.

This seemed to be a random reference to something that happened over 17 years ago. However, Shanahan rarely saying anything without a purpose. So what reason could he have had for pulling out a scrapbook from the 1990’s?

What Shanahan was saying was that the players on really good teams, championship teams, will execute whatever the coaches call and will make it work. He also was saying that while the Redskins may be improved and that they may be on the right path towards becoming a championship team, they are not there yet.

The flip side of the coin here is that players on championship teams rarely are surprised by what the coaches call. They are in sync with thinking of their coordinators and with the head coach. The next time a third and 21 comes up in the fourth quarter, no player on the Redskins defense should be surprised by a call for an all-out blitz. They should know that it is coming and focus on executing it.

There has been a lot written about what DeAngelo Hall thought about the blitz call after the game. What is of greater importance is what he thought about it between the time it was called in the huddle and when the ball was snapped. Hall admitted he did not execute the play well. Was that because there was doubt in his mind that Jim Haslett made the right play call?

Shanahan and the Redskins have assembled some very good, high-character players. That is the easy part. Molding them into a team capable of lifting the Lombardi Trophy is another matter and, as Shanahan likes to say, it’s a process. It is one that is likely to take some time.

(h/t to @LaVar_Arrington, some on-air thoughts of his are borrowed here.)

 

Comments

[PremiumSeater]

On D Hall 1) I like his passion. Sure he vented, unfiltered and may have ruffled some feathers. I'd like to think that his team mates look at this as being the actions of someone who desperately wants to win every game. 2) Once the heat of the moment has subsided, if he continues to echo the same sentiments, then maybe you have a problem which will affect the locker room, his and the team's play in the future in a negative way (Haynesworth.) But that does not seem to be the case. D Hall was able to talk to his coaches, listen to their reasons for the call, understand and even acknowledge that he might have done the same. 3) Given the make up of the team prior to this year, I'll take a passionate player, who can recognize mistakes and understand the reasons for those mistakes. If he then uses those mistakes to his and the teams advantage in playing winning football, what's not to like? I say let's see which way things go before making final judgement, but I'm liking what I see so far and expect it to result in a lot more positive than negative play. We'll see.

[TroyLok]

I give Haslett the benefit of the doubt on calling for a blitz, but I have to say his blitz packages look like pure vanilla when compared to some of the stuff Ryan was calling in that game Monday night. It seems the Cowboys picked up almost every blitz thrown at them and with an offensive line as junior as the Cowboy's offensive line, I have to believe the blitz packages were just a wee bit too predictable. I also don't understand the premise of blitzing and not trying to bump a receiver off their route. Our corners were playing five yards back and Romo was dinking and dunking under the coverage a lot. So, what I am saying is Haslett needs to make his philosophy a little more clear to everyone or he needs to change his approach...

[TroyLok]

One more thing, and this is about the offense. The next time Washington plays Dallas I hope the Shanahans review the importance of a no huddle offense against Ryan's defense. He makes substitutions all over the place and it would trip thme up if you moved at a pace that wouldn't allow that.

[Kevin]

For once I agree.