Haynesworth is Behaving Selfishly

Even under Gibbs 2.0 things were a little laxed at Redskins Park. Again, Jason Reid was talking about how under Jim Zorn players would be in the weight room very chatty and not really into it. Under Shanny it's more intense, focused, and the climate has definitely shifted. I don't think anyone is suggesting that players didn't workout under Zorn or Gibbs, but I get the sense that they were going through the motions and just punching the clock.

The one thing that I keep hearing over and over again is that for the first time in a long time, perhaps since Snyder has owned the team, there is an air of professionalism at Redskins Park. They are actually run like an NFL organization from top to bottom, and they're not doing things and bringing in players by the seat of their pants. Bruce Allen has plan in place; Shanahan has a plan in place.

Agreed. Its a nice starting point.

well, if we are going to switch to a 3-4, i think it is going to take a year or so to implement the system and turn over the personel to fit the 3-4.

its going to take atleast a year to make the switch, so why not do it this year when we are in a full flux of change. That way, next year, we already went through the transition period and am ready to roll full steam with the 3-4 in 2011.

plus, it seems we are going to ease our way into the 3-4, not commit fully to the scheme this year.

well, if we are going to switch to a 3-4, i think it is going to take a year or so to implement the system and turn over the personel to fit the 3-4.

its going to take atleast a year to make the switch, so why not do it this year when we are in a full flux of change. That way, next year, we already went through the transition period and am ready to roll full steam with the 3-4 in 2011.

plus, it seems we are going to ease our way into the 3-4, not commit fully to the scheme this year.

good points

Even under Gibbs 2.0 things were a little laxed at Redskins Park. Again, Jason Reid was talking about how under Jim Zorn players would be in the weight room very chatty and not really into it. Under Shanny it's more intense, focused, and the climate has definitely shifted. I don't think anyone is suggesting that players didn't workout under Zorn or Gibbs, but I get the sense that they were going through the motions and just punching the clock.

The one thing that I keep hearing over and over again is that for the first time in a long time, perhaps since Snyder has owned the team, there is an air of professionalism at Redskins Park. They are actually run like an NFL organization from top to bottom, and they're not doing things and bringing in players by the seat of their pants. Bruce Allen has plan in place; Shanahan has a plan in place.

I'm paraphrasing, but I read a NFL.com chat the other day with JLC and he said the Skins are a real organization again from the top down thanks to Allen/Shanahan. He said the sleeping giant is awake.

yeah this is an exciting time. for the first time in 11 years our coach is not 1) an interim coach (robiskie) 2) a lazy college coach trying to make the transition to the nfl (spurrier) 3) has not been out of the nfl in every capacity for a decade (gibbs) 4) is not a last resort option and placeholder (zorn).

really marty was the only legit coach we had. while he went 0-6, he did go 6-0 to end the season.

im really really excited. coaching is huge in the nfl imo. more so than hockey, baseball and basketball combined.

well, if we are going to switch to a 3-4, i think it is going to take a year or so to implement the system and turn over the personel to fit the 3-4.

its going to take atleast a year to make the switch, so why not do it this year when we are in a full flux of change. That way, next year, we already went through the transition period and am ready to roll full steam with the 3-4 in 2011.

plus, it seems we are going to ease our way into the 3-4, not commit fully to the scheme this year.

I guess that's my main issue. Given our current roster, switching to a 3-4 now makes no sense. Switching to a 3-4 makes sense when a team is young. However, the vast majority of our defense is at or past its prime.
In three years, when the "real" part of Haynesworth's contract is up, and Andre Carter, London Fletcher, and Phillip Daniels have all retired would seem to be the ideal time to siwtch... if we even decided to switch. I know the 3-4 defense is "trendy" right now, but its not like the 4-3 defense is obsolete.

To me, it seems like we're forcing the 3-4 just for the sake of having it. With the potential exception of Orakpo, every single defensive starter and the majority of our backups from 2009 is a prototypical 4-3 defensive player. Whereas before, we had great depth with guys like Lorenzo Alexander, Chris Wilson, and Jeremy Jarmon, now I wonder if any of these guys will even be on the team in 2011. Seems like an awful waste of existing talent to me.

However, I do agree that we will probably not run as much 3-4 as most "3-4" teams. I honestly wouldnt be surprised if we pretty much only play 3-4 when Haynesworth is "injured" or taking a breather.

well, if we are going to switch to a 3-4, i think it is going to take a year or so to implement the system and turn over the personel to fit the 3-4.

its going to take atleast a year to make the switch, so why not do it this year when we are in a full flux of change. That way, next year, we already went through the transition period and am ready to roll full steam with the 3-4 in 2011.

plus, it seems we are going to ease our way into the 3-4, not commit fully to the scheme this year.


We don't have the personnel yet so net year when we go out and get the personnel we will have to teach the system again.

idk, i dont think anyones opinion on this is wrong. but i do believe shanny, allen and haslett have personally placed a 3-5 year window of achieving success here.

if they believe that the 3-4 is the superior D scheme, i understand their interest in implementing it right away (or atleast starting to ease into it) so that 2-3 years from now they can reasonably expect success vs waiting 2-3 years when fletch, Ah are gone then trying to implement the 3-4.

From day one when allen got here it was apparent we are working and will do everything we can to be a consistent contender in a year or two, if not right now.

waiting 2-3 years for the older vets on our roster to be gone would waste 2-3 years orakpo, jarmon and others could be learning. orakpo is going to be a cornerstone of our D for years to come, getting him used to outside 3-4 is important.

i dont see why we cant introduce the scheme, use it soemtimes in real live action and make methodical decisions re. the new players we bring in.

I'm paraphrasing, but I read a NFL.com chat the other day with JLC and he said the Skins are a real organization again from the top down thanks to Allen/Shanahan. He said the sleeping giant is awake.

I guess what I'm most encouraged about, as weird as this may sound, is that even if we don't have a stellar season, it won't be due to incompetence. I have a feeling that teams will actually have to outplay the Redskins to beat them this year. You have to figure this team is at least 3 games better than last years squad.

We'll have our share of injuries, set backs or what have you, but we'll also go into game more prepared and ready to compete. Last year it was anyone's guess which Redskins would show up from one week to the next. To me that was most frustrating thing about the Zorn era, and to a lesser extent the Gibbs 2.0. We were never Detroit or Oakland bad, but we struggled with those bastards week in and week out. Along those lines, I think Donovan McNabb brings a dimension of game day readiness that we've lacked for years at the quarterback position. There's not too much that's going to surprise this guy in the NFC East this year.

We don't have the personnel yet so net year when we go out and get the personnel we will have to teach the system again.

We aren't going to get all the personnel on defense next year, and the ones who succeed and stay will help those coming in grasp the concept.

I have no idea about the rightness/wrongness of transitioning to a 3-4, and I'm waiting to see about Haslett. BUT, Green Bay last year was in the exact same predicament, and they went ahead with the transition, and had a pretty good D. We have some players on our team, and regardless of system, they are going to bring it every game, Orakpo, Fletch, (I say) AH, Rodgers will stop the WR, Hall will pick some balls off. Our D can be effective, in transition, and then we will re-evaluate after our last game in February :)