Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Redskins vs Cowboys)

Good points on AC. I think he's playing well, the sacks just aren't coming. As you say, you can't confuse the lack of sacks for him being ineffective.The fear of this effect is what led us to trade for Jason Taylor. In this case, Vinny correctly diagnosed the need (which is more than a lot of GMs in the NFL are good for), but under the pressure of time, he made the wrong decision to solve it.

This is actually a very significant trend with Cerrato's moves. If the move is made under stress, or is time-sensitive, Ceratto's track record is awful.

EXAMPLES: Jason Taylor, Shaun Alexander, passing on DJ Hackett, the 2008 draft second round, DeAngelo Hall?

Can we put TJ Duckett here, or is that one on Gibbs?

But if he sticks to his plan, and has ample time to evaluate a move, he's actually very good.

EXAMPLES: Pete Kendall, trading out of the first round in 2008, a great first round track record, and recently uncovering gems in late rounds on defense.

OL - Pitiful. Disastrous. Back to back games now where our pass protection was non-existant. Our offense won't go anywhere unless we fix this. Any team with a half decent pass rush will continue to send the house just like Pitt and Dallas did. No matter how good our run game it is it will not offset this glaring deficiency. Stop wasting our draft picks on receivers and punters, we need linemen.

Springs - I think you are great when healthy (top 5 CB in the NFL). I have defended you for missing games and can live with you missing games like Detroit and Cleveland. But to miss this Dallas game was unacceptable. You were the main reason we won the 1st Dallas game and we needed you more than ever last night. I will not accuse you of being soft because I don't know enough facts about your injuries. But you are either soft or injury-prone, and either way you are not worth the big money we are paying you. As far as I'm concerned your days as a Skin are over and it's a shame.

Offense/Coaching - Let's get organized!! I've never seen a team take a delay of game penalty THEN waste a timeout, all to come up with a useless play. Then there was the inexcusable sack to turn a 35 yard FG into a 48 yard FG on a windy night. These are the little things that good teams don't do. Every game (especially NFC East games) comes down to a few plays here or there and we can't afford to waste opportunities when they arise. We could've won last night and we even coulda won the Pitt game if we put them away early. Get organized!!

Look, even when the guys on ESPN (or any other network) are saying positive things about the Redskins, I just don't care to listen to it when all I'm doing is waiting for next week's game...which I hope is a merciless blowout of the Seahawks.

Instead I'll just subject myself to another week of "Whither the GOP now?"

I'm the same way...and here is why. I don't care if they say something bad about us...belive me, this week I'm going to be saying lots of bad things about us...what bothers me from the national media....is I know more about this team than they do, and alot of what they say is wrong. Plain and simple. Its perfectly understandable, because they have 32 teams to cover, and all I watch is the Skins'. Thats not to say my knowlege about the sport of football is better than theirs, or that they dont have access to information I dont...but when it comes to the Redskins, unless its an interview, I feel like its not doing anything for me, or it just pisses me off, so I dont really watch much either.

EXAMPLES: Jason Taylor, Shaun Alexander, passing on DJ Hackett, the 2008 draft second round, DeAngelo Hall?


Jason Taylor at this point looks questionable, at best and I've hated the 2008 second round since April. But DeAngelo Hall? He looked good in his one game with us and he's paid very little (compared to other NFL nickel backs). He actually held onto an interception so Hall could be a great pickup. Shaun Alexander came in knowing the offense which makes him better than options at the time. And passing on DJ Hackett could be the best move of the offseason. With Carolina he has a whopping 11 catches for 144 yards and a lost fumble. By contrast, Devin Thomas, who none of us are really happy with, has 11 receptions for 77 yards and has been great on ST.

The fear of this effect is what led us to trade for Jason Taylor. In this case, Vinny correctly diagnosed the need (which is more than a lot of GMs in the NFL are good for), but under the pressure of time, he made the wrong decision to solve it.

This is actually a very significant trend with Cerrato's moves. If the move is made under stress, or is time-sensitive, Ceratto's track record is awful.

EXAMPLES: Jason Taylor, Shaun Alexander, passing on DJ Hackett, the 2008 draft second round, DeAngelo Hall?

Can we put TJ Duckett here, or is that one on Gibbs?

But if he sticks to his plan, and has ample time to evaluate a move, he's actually very good.

EXAMPLES: Pete Kendall, trading out of the first round in 2008, a great first round track record, and recently uncovering gems in late rounds on defense.

Not sure those examples are the greatest. I agree Taylor is worth questioning. Alexander was a low risk move as was Hall. What exactly has Hackett done this year to make us regret not picking him up?

But DeAngelo Hall? He looked good in his one game with us and he's paid very little (compared to other NFL nickel backs). He actually held onto an interception so Hall could be a great pickup.

My impression was that Hall played decent, but that is really based on nothing since I haven't seen the coaches tape. My other impression is that he will likely turn out to be a better player than Smoot, but that might be a bigger indictment of Smoot's poor coverage than anything else. I was also very excited about Hall's interception, but let's be honest here, Hall was actually beaten very badly on the play. Romo made an absolutely horrible pass that was a yard behind Owens (which happened to be where Hall was trailing after being beaten on the slant). Now Hall held on to the ball, which for Redskins fans is (understandably) quite a feat to behold. I think Hall does help in the short term and was an upgrade over Torrence in coverage. The real proof will come in the offseason when the Redskins think about re-signing him and we see if they back the Brinks up for the guy. That will be where the potential mistake could come.

My impression was that Hall played decent, but that is really based on nothing since I haven't seen the coaches tape. My other impression is that he will likely turn out to be a better player than Smoot, but that might be a bigger indictment of Smoot's poor coverage than anything else. I was also very excited about Hall's interception, but let's be honest here, Hall was actually beaten very badly on the play. Romo made an absolutely horrible pass that was a yard behind Owens (which happened to be where Hall was trailing after being beaten on the slant). Now Hall held on to the ball, which for Redskins fans is (understandably) quite a feat to behold. I think Hall does help in the short term and was an upgrade over Torrence in coverage. The real proof will come in the offseason when the Redskins think about re-signing him and we see if they back the Brinks up for the guy. That will be where the potential mistake could come.
Good assessment. I said during the gameday thread that he was out of position on the pick but he did have other plays where he had good coverage. I hope they don't break the bank to resign him, unless of course he is the SB MVP with a 5 pick performance.

Jason Taylor had one pressure the whole game. Unacceptable. I understand his problem with stopping the run but If he can't get pressure, we might as well put in a guy who can stop the run.

When we look back on this period in 'skins history, JT and Bruce Smith will be thought of in the same instant. What a waste. Jason--im sending out bad vibes towards you. You stink!

When we look back on this period in 'skins history, JT and Bruce Smith will be thought of in the same instant. What a waste. Jason--im sending out bad vibes towards you. You stink!

Jason's comments about being in a different role now were really insightful.
Taylor a Situational Pass Rusher? - Redskins Insider (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/11/jason_taylor_-_situational_pas.html#more)
I think he has a strong heart and the ability, unfortunately for our team there may not be enough time for it to pay off for them.

Yes Hall was beat but he made the play. Rodgers wouldn't come close to making a play like that. He has 4 interceptions already and if he continues to get more comfortable in the scheme he will anticipate those plays quick. This offseason is going to be interesting because we might have to sign Rogers and Hall.