Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Talking Points: Playing Rex's boys

By Rich Tandler

Here is what we will be talking about around Redskins Park this week:

--The emergence of Roy Helu—The kid got his chance to carry the load and he came through with 162 yards of total offense including 108 on the ground. His hurdle of a hapless Seahawk is not only one of the season’s few offensive highlights but it’s a sign that Helu could be something special. We’ll get the players’ impressions of him as well as Kyle Shanahan’s assessment.

--Finishing strong—The fact that the Redskins have won a single game after a six-game losing streak and are still on the fringe of playoff contention is more a sign of the weakness of the NFC than it is an indication of the strength of the Skins. Still, they do have a mathematical chance of getting into the postseason. More realistically, however, they could achieve such goals as not finishing with a losing record (would require a 4-1 finish) or improving on last years total of six wins (3-2 finish). We’ll ask around about how important these landmarks are to the players and what they think about still having an outside shot at the playoffs.

--Facing the Jets—Rex Ryan talks big but the Jets haven’t quite lived up to the coach’s billing as of yet. They get a lot of national media attention but in reality they are just a game better than the Redskins. Their vaunted defense is comparable with the Redskins’ less-heralded D in most statistical categories. Does it bother the Redskins that the Jets get all of the attention? Or are they just as happy to toil in relative anonymity? Also, the Redskins talked to Ryan about becoming their defensive coordinator in 2008, we’ll see what he has to say about that process.

 

Talking Points: New injuries to watch

By Rich Tandler

Here is what we’ll be talking about around Redskins Park this week:

--Trent Williams’ knee, Josh Wilson’s hammy—Another week, another injury report watch. Both Williams’ MCL and Wilson’s hamstring have grade one strains, which is the least severe. That doesn’t mean that the two players aren’t dealing with a lot of pain and there is a chance that one or both will miss Sunday’s game in Seattle. We’ll monitor the practice status of both players throughout the week. The status of LaRon Landry, who missed last Sunday's game with a return of his Achilles issues also will be watched closely.

--Offense finally scores, defense struggles—The Redskins scored 24 points against the Cowboys and that is not exactly an offensive explosion in the NFL. But if the Redskins had managed to post that many points in every game this year they would be 8-2. They gave up 27, however, the second most scored against them in a game this year. It wasn’t all on the defense as Dallas had a short field to work with on a few occasions but the defense had issues on third down. The Cowboys converted eight of 17 including several key plays. We’ll talk to Jim Haslett and the players about what went wrong.

--No running game—It would be great if this could go away as being part of the talking points every week but it just won’t. While the Redskins weren’t running into a brick wall play after play against Dallas as they have been some weeks, 24 carries for 60 yards (2.5 yards/carry) isn’t going to get improving the run game off of the to do list. The last running back to score a touchdown for the Redskins was Ryan Torain on Oct. 2. While there may not be much new to ask, we’ll continue to try to see if there is any explanation for the problems.

Talking Points: O-line shuffling back to 10-sack model?

By Rich Tandler

Here is what we will be talking about at Redskins Park:

There usually is not much revealed on Fridays as the coaches and players are anxious to finish up game preparation and get out of Redskins Park sometime in mid-afternoon. The hay is in the barn by then as far as game preparation goes so they want to enjoy a night off prior to going through the Saturday walk through and then checking into the team hotel in the afternoon. Last Friday Shanahan’s press conference lasted less than two minutes.

There is one big issue to be discussed and that is injuries. It has been so bad that for the past two days, Mike Shanahan has gone up to the podium with hand written notes on the multitude of injuries that will go on the report.

The big issue is the offensive line, the interior line to be specific. Left guard Maurice Hurt has not practiced all week with a knee injury. If he can’t go, the Redskins may have to go back to an alignment moving Will Montgomery into Hurt’s spot and putting Erik Cook (pictured) at center. The last time we saw that lineup the Bills piled up 10 sacks, the most every against the Redskins. Cook is the only backup interior lineman on the roster.

Right tackle Jammal Brown could miss his second straight game with a groin injury, although he did practice on a limited basis on Wednesday and Thursday. His backup, Sean Locklear, also has been limited in practice all week with an ankle injury.

There also is concern about LaRon Landry, who is having issues with the Achilles injury that has bothered him for over a year. He said yesterday that he will play but he hasn’t practiced all week so we will see.

 

Thursday Talking Points: Riley, Rex, O-line injuries

By Rich Tandler

The coordinators take the podium on Thursday and there is plenty of ground to cover:

With Jim Haslett, a major topic will be the third-down defense against the Dolphins. After being among the league leaders in third-down conversions, the Redskins allowed the Dolphins to get first downs on eight of 14 third downs, a 57 percent success rate. We’ll ask about what happened to cause that. Also, we’ll ask about the decision to start second-year linebacker Perry Riley, and about his play in the Jack linebacker spot.

In the afternoon it’s Kyle Shanahan’s turn. You don’t have to be an insider to figure out what we’ll talk about—the lack of offense. Four touchdowns over the course of the current five-game losing streak is rather pathetic production and we’ll see what is being tried to fix things. The late change at quarterback, with the team finding out only over the weekend that Rex Grossman would be starting in place of John Beck, also will be discussed.

From both Kyle and Mike Shanahan, we’ll see if there are any new developments with the injury situation on the offensive line. Guard Maurice Hurt was out of practice yesterday with a knee injury and tackles Sean Locklear (ankle) and Jammal Brown (groin) were limited. Just when the current group of starters are getting its timing down, another shuffle might have to take place.

 

Talking Points: Running game stuck in neutral

By Rich Tandler

Here is what we’ll be talking about this week at Redskins Park:

—The Redskins have put Leonard Hankerson and Kedric Golston on injured reserve. They replaced them with two very familair faces. Donte Stallworth and Darrion Scott, both of whom were cut a week ago, are returning to the team. While the roster spots are set, there is the matter of the wide receiver rotation. Hankerson was getting almost all of the offensive snaps over the past two games and Anthony Armstrong got very few. Will Armstrong be given a chance to show if he can beat press coverage?

—Rex Grossman, not John Beck, will conduct the usual Wednesday morning quarterback presser. The podium was Grossman’s for the first five Wednesdays of the season and then Beck has had it since after the Eagles game. We will see if he can shed any light on his performance against the Dolphins. Of particular interest will be the key interception he threw to linebacker Karlos Dansby.

—Grossman did pretty well passing when he was throwing to the guys in the burgundy jerseys. But the Redskins’ rushing game remains stuck in neutral. Is it the line, the backs, the play calling? We’ll talk to the players to see what answers they might have and see what Mike and Kyle Shanahan have to say about the situation.

—Sunday’s game was largely forgettable except for outstanding performances by two young linebackers. We’re used to rookie Ryan Kerrigan making big plays and he had two sacks and forced fumbles on both of them. We haven’t seen much of second-year linebacker Perry Riley, who saw his first extensive action in his first NFL start. He played like a veteran, showing great instincts while making four tackles for losses and getting a quarterback hit. In the locker room we’ll try to catch up with Riley and see what Jim Haslett and the other defensive players have to say about his performance.

--After a couple of nice Wednesdays it looks like we will be going back to cracking jokes about when the practice bubble that is under construction at Redskins Park will be done. The forecast for tomorrow calls for steady rain all day. At this point, it would be a major upset if a single 2011 practice was held in the bubble.

 

Thursday Talking Points: Where are they heading?

By Rich Tandler

Here is what we'll be talking about around Redskins Park today"

Mike Shanahan had some high praise for Leonard Hankerson on Monday and we’ll see if Kyle Shanahan gives an equally glowing review to the rookie receiver’s first start and what he did in practice to earn it.

The status of the three starters who missed practice yesterday will be monitored this afternoon. Jammal Brown, LaRon Landry, and Oshiomogho Atogwe were out yesterday and their outlook for the weekend is cloudy.

We’re also still trying to see where this team is headed after adding four new players to the roster. They clearly have started to cast an eye towards 2012 but they can’t let it seem like they will be punting half a season away. It’s a fine line and it will be not just one of the ongoing story lines today but through the rest of the season.

 

Talking Points: Lots of newcomers

By Rich Tandler

The Redskins announced a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday and there is at least one more coming. They added defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer, defensive back D. J. Johnson, and wide receiver David Anderson. We will meet the new players at some point during the day and we’ll ask Mike Shanahan about what each of these players might bring to the team.

John Beck will be first up on the podium at about 11. He will be returning to Miami to try to get his first NFL win against the team he was with for his first five NFL games. We’ll see what he is thinking about that as well as the possibility that he is running out of chances to get that first win.

In the locker room, talk will be of the four-game losing streak and what needs to be done to bring it to a stop. It appeared that Shanahan issued a challenge to Anthony Armstrong to do a better job of beating press coverage and we’ll ask Armstrong about that.

The status of Jammal Brown (groin) is the major injury question we’ll find out about in the afternoon. We’ll also find out if newly-acquired running back Tashard Choice was able to practice and if he has a chance of playing on Sunday. 

 

Talking Points: The rebuilding issue plus Brown's injury, stagnant offense

By Rich Tandler

Here is what we will be talking about at Redskins Park this week.

Another week, another new Redskin—According to reports, the Redskins have signed veteran receiver David Anderson to a contract. This happened last night well after Mike Shanahan’s press conference so we’ll ask him about that acquisition on Wednesday afternoon. Anderson is a former Texan so there is a Kyle Shanahan connection and we’ll find out what the offensive coordinator has to say about his new player on Thursday. And, of course, we will get a chance to talk to Anderson and find out a little more about him in the locker room on Wednesday or Thursday.

Rebuilding—The definition of rebuilding was extensively discussed with Mike Shanahan yesterday and that will spill over into the locker room this week. The focus will be on the veteran players and if it matters to them whether or not the word is actually used by the coaches and what they think of the process that, not matter what it is called, is underway.

Offense improves but still . . . –When the best you can say about the offense is that at least they didn’t get shut out again, there are still issues to be resolved. A 59-yard field goal and a garbage time touchdown do not constitute an NFL-caliber offensive attack. The 14 completions to running back Roy Helu aren’t a good sign either. We’ll talk to John Beck on Wednesday about how he thinks he is progressing and what he needs to do to take the next step.

Brown’s injury—Shanahan was vague yesterday when asked about the injury that forced right tackle Jammal Brown (pictured) to leave the 49ers game in the second quarter. He did say that it was a groin injury and not a hip injury. We don’t know how much time Brown will miss, if any at all. We do know that Sean Locklear is a better fit at right tackle than he is on the left side so the line should be in better shape than it was when left tackle Trent Williams was out.

Ryan O’Halloran and I will be at Redskins Park all week to bring you these stories and whatever else pops up, keep a browser tab open at www.CSNwashington.com. Follow me on Twitter @Rich_Tandler and catch up with Ryan @ryanohalloran.

 

Talking Points: Awaiting injury news on a trio of Redskins

By Rich Tandler

Friday Talking Points

The big news of the day will not come out of the locker room or the podium It will come out of the training room. This afternoon we will find out the status of a few injured Redskins.

Fred Davis (pictured) and Trent Williams both practiced on a limited basis on Thursday. Williams sustained a high ankle sprain against the Eagles and has missed the last two games. Davis suffered a grade 1 sprain of his ankle at some point during the Redskins’ game against the Bills. Grade 1 is the least serious sprain but that doesn’t mean that the injury can’t cause some problems. Oshiomogho Atogwe was out of practice on Thursday with a knee injury.

We’ll find out who is probable, questionable, and doubtful this afternoon when Mike Shanahan addresses the media and a little later on when the injury report is released.

Shanahan has hinted that the status of Williams will be the key to other possible moves along the offensive line. That could mean moving Will Montgomery from left guard back to center, where he was effective earlier this year. If Williams can’t go, Sean Locklear will stay at left tackle.

With Chris Cooley out for the year, the status off Davis is critical to the offense. Backup Logan Paulsen is on the roster more for his blocking skills than his pass-catching ability. The other tight end on the roster is Dominique Byrd, who was just signed on Oct. 25. He told me yesterday he would be ready to go if called upon but you would expect a player to say nothing different.

Reed Doughty would fill in for Atogwe if he can’t go.

Reading the tea leaves, the best guess is that it would be surprising if Davis was out and it also would be surprising if Atogwe played. Williams seems to be a coin toss. 

 

Talking Points: Awaiting injury news on a trio of Redskins

By Rich Tandler

Friday Talking Points

The big news of the day will not come out of the locker room or the podium It will come out of the training room. This afternoon we will find out the status of a few injured Redskins.

Fred Davis and Trent Williams both practiced on a limited basis on Thursday. Williams sustained a high ankle sprain against the Eagles and has missed the last two games. Davis suffered a grade 1 sprain of his ankle at some point during the Redskins’ game against the Bills. Grade 1 is the least serious sprain but that doesn’t mean that the injury can’t cause some problems. Oshiomogho Atogwe was out of practice on Thursday with a knee injury.

We’ll find out who is probable, questionable, and doubtful this afternoon when Mike Shanahan addresses the media and a little later on when the injury report is released.

Shanahan has hinted that the status of Williams will be the key to other possible moves along the offensive line. That could mean moving Will Montgomery from left guard back to center, where he was effective earlier this year. If Williams can’t go, Sean Locklear will stay at left tackle.

With Chris Cooley out for the year, the status off Davis is critical to the offense. Backup Logan Paulsen is on the roster more for his blocking skills than his pass-catching ability. The other tight end on the roster is Dominique Byrd, who was just signed on Oct. 25. He told me yesterday he would be ready to go if called upon but you would expect a player to say nothing different.

Reed Doughty would fill in for Atogwe if he can’t go.

Reading the tea leaves, the best guess is that it would be surprising if Davis was out and it also would be surprising if Atogwe played. Williams seems to be a coin toss.