Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Enemy Intel: Ware should play but will be limited

Cowboys linebacker and sack master DeMarcus Ware was listed as probably for Sunday’s game against the Redskins but it seems unlikely that he will play a lot.

Ware, just selected to his seventh Pro Bowl, will be wearing a harness to keep his shoulder from popping out of joint during the game. He is also still feeling the effects of a hyperextended elbow and a strained hamstring.

“I think we’re going to have to watch how many plays we give him, pick our spots and play our other players,” defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. “We’ve got good payers here so we’re going to play them.  There’s only one DeMarcus Ware . . . We’ll do the best we can.  I know DeMarcus will play his heart out when he’s out there, and we’ll just see how much he’s able to give us.”

Alex Albright is listed as Ware’s backup. Presumably Victor Butler, who has 11 career sacks in four seasons, could move over from the left side to fill in for Ware. 

Enemy intel: A look at the Cowboys' draft needs

When we want to know more about what is going on with the Dallas Cowboys, we call on Rafeal Vela, the editor and lead writer at Cowboys Nation. Here he gives us his take on what the Cowboys will be looking for next week in the NFL draft.

The Cowboys bought in bulk during the free agent period, adding seven players to a roster which is strong in some areas and very weak in others.  The Cowboys have eight potential names in play for their first pick at 14, but I think that three positions factor into their thinking.  

The team's thinnest unit is the defensive line.  Marcus Spears, Jason Hatcher and Kenyon Coleman were signed at low cost one week into last year's camp.  They played down to their salaries.  Spears has disappointed, never living up to his draft slot (18th overall in '05).  Coleman did a second tour in a Cowboys uniform and underwhelmed.  Hatcher had strong games in September but injured a calf and lost his burst. He's always been injury prone. 

The lack of talent at DE puts Fletcher Cox high on Dallas' radar.  I've heard the Cowboys have interest in LSU's Michael Brockers, though he may be destined for Carolina, who has not hidden its admiration for him.  

Safety is another spot the team has tried in vain to fill since Darren Woodson's back gave out in '04.  Mark Barron may be the pick, though there is concern that he's a strong safety type, where the team needs a free safety who can ballhawk from deep centerfield.  Barron may be better than Roy Williams, but the fear is that he could be closer to Williams than to Earl Thomas or Ed Reed.

Many Cowboys fans are not sold on the two guard signings, Mackenzie Bernadeau and Nate Livings.  The belief is that Dallas might draft a David DeCastro or a Cordy Glenn if they're the best available players on the team's board.  

In the 2nd, the Cowboys will again look for offensive line depth and to perhaps tap the deep cornerback class.  Brandon Boykin, Jamell Fleming and Casey Hayward are possible targets.  Dallas may also look for an outside linebacker to take Anthony Spencer's place.  Oklahoma's Ronnell Lewis is the prime target, though Dallas might explore a trade up if Shea McClellin fell into the early 2nd.  Virginia's Cam Johnson could also fill that need. If Dallas passed on DeCastro and Glenn, it may look at Kevin Zeitler or Amini Silatolu in the 2nd.

In the later rounds, Dallas will look to fill the spots not filled in the 1st and 2nd, and may also look for a 3rd receiver to challenge for Laurent Robinson's vacated spot.  Marvin Jones, Marvin McNutt, Brian Quick and Juron Criner fit the team's big-target profile, though Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles may be a target if they look for a smaller type.

 

NFC East Reset: Giants survive first test of gauntlet

By Ryan O'Halloran

The Giants (6-2): Re-surviving (made-up word).

Big Blue got a huge win at New England on Sunday and have won six of their seven games since the Week 1 loss to the Redskins (how did that happen, in retrospect?).

The Giants have a brutal schedule. The next five games: At San Francisco, home to Philadelphia, at New Orleans, home to Green Bay and at Dallas. Yikes.

But the Patriots win showed why it’s OK to think New York can “re-survive” – it got healthy around the bye week and Sunday’s win against Tom Terrific showed just how fearsome the pass rush can still be.

 

NFC East Reset: Cowboys face key stretch of games

By Ryan O'Halloran

The Cowboys (4-4): Re-grouping.

Dallas has lost linebacker Sean Lee for the season and receiver Miles Austin for the next few weeks. The Cowboys are averaging 400 yards per game, but just 18 points. They have to re-assess the offense and find ways to get into the end zone.

Starting Sunday, Dallas has a key stretch – three games in 15 days: Home to Buffalo, at the Redskins, home to Miami (Thanksgiving). Win all three and the Cowboys are in good shape because the end-of-season schedule includes Arizona (terrible) and return NFC East games at home against the Giants and Eagles (way to win tie-breakers).

Rookie running back DeMarco Murray has demonstrated that his smashing starting debut against the Rams, when he set a team record with 253 yards rushing, was not a fluke. He has posted 213 rushing yards in the two games since his big game. It appears that Felix Jones will have a hard time getting carries when he returns from an injury.

NFC East Reset: Redskins on the slow build

By Ryan O'Halloran

At the halfway point of the season, we do a quick reset of the teams in the NFC East. 

The Redskins (3-5): Re-building.

Why is that such a bad word? The team Mike Shanahan inherited nearly two years ago was in shambles. Too many old guys. Too many old guys who couldn’t play. Too many old guys who were making too much money.

As Shanahan  related on Monday, he knew right away this wasn’t a quick-fix process (even though he gave that very impression by trading for Donovan McNabb).

The final eight games are about seeing who can help the Redskins in 2012 and the biggest regret should be not drafting a quarterback in the late rounds the last two years.

The Redskins are a four-point underdog Sunday at Miami and it will be surprising if they’re favored in Vegas again this year.

Next: The Cowboys Re-grouping

Enemy Intel: Davis should have opportunities

By Rich Tandler

I took a look at the Bills’ loss to the Giants and at their win over the Giants. Here are some quick observations:

—Look for a big game from Fred Davis. Giants’ tight end Jake Ballard had a big day with five catches for 81 yards. The just couldn’t cover him and Davis is a much better player.

—The Redskins can’t let Freddie Jackson get into the open field on them. He had an 80-yard run and he made the last 20 by changing direction seemingly by feeling defenders approaching from behind. And he is fast getting to the edge.

—Brian Orakpo should get his track shoes on. The Bills are not in good shape on the left side of their line. If the defensive backs can keep with their receivers for just a couple of seconds, that will be enough time to disrupt the play with pass pressure.

—They try to get a little too cute from time to time. On third and less than a yard, they went Wildcat and Brad Smith went up the middle and got stuffed.

—If John Beck keeps his feet under him and doesn’t try to make any heroic throws he should be OK as far as not turning the ball over. When Vick threw four picks he was just trying to do too much.

—Conversely, Ryan Fitzpatrick will throw it up for grabs if he’s rattled at all. They lost a chance to tie or beat the Giants in the last minute when he just threw a terrible pass that Cory Webster easily picked off inside the five.

 

Enemy Intel: Bills (and opponents) lighting up the scoreboard

By Benjamin Standig
CSNwashington.com

With wins over the Raiders, Patriots and Eagles, that little engine of a football team from upstate New York known as the Buffalo Bills have shown they are not to be (think of Glenn Close's inflection in Fatal Attraction when reading the next word) ignored no matter what recent history suggests. 

Fantasy football players know that running back Fred Jackson is tearing it up, but what else is working for coach Chan Gailey's 4-2 squad and what weaknesses can the Redskins exploit?

Offensively, the Bills are scoring like Charlie Sheen during an epic Vegas weekend. Behind Jackson and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Bills are averaging 31.3 points (3rd in the NFL), 141.0 rush yards (4th) and 378.5 total yards (10th) per game.

The all-purpose Jackson has consistently produced at an MVP level, though Fitzpatrick's numbers have dipped after a hot start. Through three games, the Harvard alum tossed nine touchdown passes, had a 3-to-1 TD to interception ratio and averaged 280 passing yards per contest.

Over the next three games - the last two coming against the Eagles and the Giants - Fitzpatrick has thrown an equal number of touchdowns (3) and interceptions while his yardage output has dipped dramatically to 212 yards per game.

Stevie Johnson paces a surprisingly effective group of receivers with 33 receptions (15th) for 332 yards and four touchdowns. I say surprisingly because nobody really has a clue who these guys are, or at least did not before they started making plays each week. However do not be fooled into thinking tight end Scott Chandler is a talent simply because he has four touchdowns. His fluky three-week stretch to start the season has been followed up by a trio games with a combined four receptions for nine yards and zero scores.

(quick aside - remember when everyone felt bad for Lee Evans, the supposedly good receiver on a bad team whose talents were allegedly being wasted because the Bills passing game was keeping him down? Well, now that the injured Evans is sitting out for the Ravens and the Bills passing game has stepped up, maybe we had that one wrong.)

Buffalo's scoring has benefitted greatly from a ball-hawking and opportunistic defense, one that has picked off 12 passes (2nd) and returned an NFL-leading three for touchdowns (insert your "imagine if Rex Grossman was still the Redskins starting QB" joke here). However...

That level of production has generated several high-scoring wins for the Bills, but the defense's inability to slow the opposition when it does not create a turnover has allowed the other side to score as well. Since week 2, the Bills have allowed 23 or more points per game.

Whether teams attacks on the ground or with the aerial game, the Bills defense gives up the yards; 30th against the run (135.7), 30th against the pass (284.8) leads to 31st in total yards allowed (420.5).

Both the Bills and their opponents average over 5.0 yards per carry, which bodes well for a Redskins ground game looking for a spark after two straight weeks of struggles. Then again, the Eagles and Panthers had little trouble moving the chains via the hand-off.

Therefore, by the numbers, this figures to be a game highlighted by the running backs and it is the AFC East squad sporting the guy playing like an MVP candidate...

*C.J. Spiller was a top-10 pick by the Bills just last year. Now? With Fred Jackson's MVP level of success and Spiller's inability to shine, the former Clemson running back is seeing more and more time at wide receiver. (BuffaloBills.com)

*It was lights out for former Maryland star and current Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman's season as he was placed on injured reserve. (BuffaloBills.com)

Enemy Intel: Is Eli elite?

I invited Dan Stack to share a little insight on the team that he covers so well for the Giants Football Blog. Here is our Q&A, thanks to Dan for the inside look at Sunday’s opponent.

Rich Tandler: The Giants strength over the past several years has been their lines on both sides of the ball. Then, after the lockout ended, they released O-line stalwarts Shaun O’Hara and Rich Seubert and they will be without star defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who always gives the Redskins fits, for at least the opener and perhaps beyond. On top of that, the reliable Barry Cofield is now a Redskin. Who is taking their places and what is the confidence level that the lines will be in good shape?

Dan Stack: The defensive line is the least of the Giants’s concerns, and to some extent so is the offensive line. Yes, losing Osi stings, as he has the experience and tenacity to pressure quarterbacks ferociously. However, Giants fans are salivating over the potential of last year’s number one pick in one Jason Pierre-Paul. He is a beast in the making. Pierre-Paul is freakishly athletic and has one of the biggest wingspans you'll ever see. He has shown in the preseason that he can attack the QB with relative ease. Then we also have old reliable in Justin Tuck (which we’ll discuss later). Up the middle is another story. Some fans were upset Cofield left, but the Giants do have capable tackles in Chris Canty, Linval Joseph and Rocky Bernard.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Giants have a new center in David Baas (from San Francisco), and in limited time he has caught on quite well. A perceived weakness might be at left tackle where Will Beatty will be thrown to the wolves. He has some promise, but it may take time for him to develop.

RT: Eli Manning’s (pictured) assertion that he is an elite quarterback on par with Tom Brady was met with snickers by many NFL fans and media types. What was the reaction among Giants fans to those statements and in your opinion where does Eli rate among NFL quarterbacks?

DS: Most Giant fans have Eli’s back. My thoughts were, ‘since when is a little confidence such a bad thing?’ Yeah, most Giants fans know that he is not on par with Tom Brady, or his brother Peyton, but he has one thing in his favor: A Super Bowl ring.

The most pressing issue fans have with Manning is his ability to turn the ball over. Take away his interceptions (as well as fumbles), and you’d have a stud quarterback. But, I’ll call a spade a spade here. Eli is good, but not necessarily great. I think he is somewhere in the 7-10 range of NFL quarterbacks.

RT: I know that Justin Tuck has been to a couple of Pro Bowls, but to me he doesn’t seem to get the attention and acclaim that one would think a truly elite defensive end should get, especially one playing in New York. What makes Tuck special?

DS: His attitude and demeanor are two attributes that you just can’t coach. Tuck has a great combination of speed and power that goes unmatched by most defensive ends. What helped Tuck a lot was the guidance Michael Strahan bestowed onto him. Tuck is no doubt the heart and soul of the Giants defense, and is a great leader.

RT: This will be an emotional game on the anniversary of 9/11. The Giants have owned the Redskins for a while, winning six straight and nine of the last 10. Is there any reason to think that the domination won’t continue? Who will win and why?

DS: You’re right.  It should be an emotionally charged atmosphere. Both teams have something to prove, as both squads have been neglected in all the preseason hoopla surrounding the Eagles, and to some extent the Cowboys. That, and all the negative feedback the Giants have gotten about their lack of free agent moves and subsequent injuries they have sustained have given this team an edge. They have a chip on their shoulders, as should the Redskins, and the game should make for a grueling battle. I expect a close win by the Giants, say 20-17. I just don't think Rex Grossman will put enough fear in this team.

My friend Kevin of Hogs Haven and I both answered questions for the Giants Football Blog. You can find that exchange here. 

 

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.

Enemy Intel: Andy Reid at a crossroads

Andy Reid is at a crossroads as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Or at least that what it says in this article on Philly.com. Rich Hofman of the Philadelphia Daily News says that now that the Eagles have retooled on the fly and have transformed into one of the youngest teams in the NFL, the Eagles need to show some progress.

He is signed through the 2013 season, which means that he is going to be the coach here at least through 2012, unless he were to decide that he'd had enough and walk away himself. You have to think that everybody involved believes that the Eagles will be in the championship conversation by then - really and legitimately in that conversation, not just a wild-card-and-a-prayer kind of team - and if they aren't, well, it's going to be time.

After discussing Michael Vick’s future, Hofman turns to the defense:

The second point is this one, and it again has to do with the notion that the transition phase for the franchise is over. Specifically, this defense needs to be vastly improved the next time it takes the field.

That article was written before Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and defensive line coach Rory Segrest were fired over the weekend. The performance of the Eagles defense spoke for itself, according to Ray Didinger of CSNphilly.com.

It is hard to argue against the numbers. The Eagles allowed 31 touchdown passes this season, the most in franchise history. They were the worst red zone defense the league has seen in decades. They were picked apart by geriatric quarterbacks (Kerry Collins) and rookies making their first start (Joe Webb). There certainly was a case to be made that the Eagles defense needed changing.

In his blog on Philly.com, Sheil Kapadia says that Segrest may have been the victim of some personnel moves made by Reid and the Eagles’ front office. In particular, he discussed the trade of former Redskin Chris Clemons and the Eagles allowing Jason Babin to go to the Titans in free agency. Babin had 12.5 sacks and Clemons had 11.

Trent Cole led the Eagles with 10 sacks, and Juqua Parker was second with six. The question that's tough to answer is: Why didn't Babin and Clemons have similar success with the Eagles? Maybe it had something to do with the system. Maybe it had more to do with the coaching. Or perhaps it's as simple as Babin and Clemons just played better in 2010. But whatever the reason was, the Eagles look bad - all the way from the personnel department to the coaching staff. At one point, they saw enough in Babin and Clemons to bring them in. But neither was an impact player here. Meanwhile, the non-existent pass rush from the front four was a major issue down the stretch as the Eagles lost to the Vikings in Week 16 and came up short against Green Bay in the wild-card round.

Didinger gets to a key issue here:

Still, it came as a surprise when the team announced Saturday that it was parting ways with Sean McDermott. I took Andy Reid at his word Monday when he said McDermott would be back for a third season as defensive coordinator. Reid said on Monday that McDermott would be back but, according to some reports, the decision was made on Wednesday, two days after Reid’s pronouncement.

This comes after a spring during which Reid said that Donovan McNabb would not be traded. After McNabb was traded, Reid said that Kevin Kolb was the starting quarterback. That pledge lasted until Michael Vick showed some flash, promoting Reid to pull the rug out from under Kolb. If Reid doesn’t have a credibility problem, he has the beginnings of one. This is not to say that this will cause the Eagles to implode and that the team’s best days are behind it. Still, if the players and coaches start to think that they can’t believe what the head coach says, things can begin to erode. Stay tuned. Update: I just read a report that said that Andy Reid is on vacation. While the organization is deciding on a new defensive coordinator and a new defensive line coach. All coaches need and deserve some R&R after a tough season but you'd have the think the timing could be better, right? Very strange. Again, stay tuned.