Tony McGee thoughts on Colts

Tony McGee on The Redskins/Colts….

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well after a tough loss for the Redskins last week. One of the observations from this game, is I’m not sure the Redskins actually thought they could win the game until the game was over. What I mean by that, is they knew they had the defending AFC Champions, and maybe the leagues best team in the past ten years coming into FedEx Field, and while they played hard the whole game, and there was no question with the effort, I am wondering if they really thought they could win the game until the game was over. When they are looking at it now, they had a lot of chances to win the game. I did not like the play call on 4th and 10 when they got the ball back with two minutes and all of their time outs to go. That sequence of play calling ended up being the difference in the game in my opinion.


My thoughts on Ryan Torrain at this point? I think he brings an awful lot to the table, and he is running extremely well right now. I still don’t think that he brings everything to the table in terms of being a complete player like a healthy Clinton Portis would, but Torrain is running very well and he is much more patient that Clinton is running the ball right now. I think there is a very good chance he is the starting running back for the rest of the year.


My thoughts on Jamal Brown? I know he has been hurt off and on a little bit, but I think he’s been playing well. You need to remember that this is a former pro bowl tackle, coming off a pretty devastating injury. I’ve always said it takes guys about a full year to really get their legs back under them after a major injury, and I don’t think that’s any different with an offensive lineman. He’ll continue to get better as he plays more with the Redskins and gel with the other members of the line. The one position on the line that I really look at is the left guard. I know Mike Shannahan thinks Kory Lichtensteiger fits the system better, but I think Derrick Dockery should be playing in that position. I’ve seen Lichtensteiger get blown up a number of times; and I’d like to see the whole interior of the line upgraded in the off season.


With Graham Gano, I know he is a young guy, I think 23 years old, but he’s missed a few big kicks. When you look at the special teams for the Redskins, you can really argue that special teams have won/lost all the Redskins games this season. In Dallas, Gano made a big kick at the end of the game to put the Redskins up 6. Against Houston they missed a field goal that would have likely put the game out of reach (blocked), against Houston they had a punt blocked which put them down big early, against Green Bay, Gano hits the game winner, and then the miss last week is the difference in the game going into overtime. For me, he’s still missed too many big ones, and I look at the year we went to the Super Bowl in the 80’s and had Mark Mosley, and he was just automatic and we don’t make it that far without him. I think Gano is kicking much better than Suisham was last year, and all of his misses have been from a pretty good distance. However, if he continues to miss a few more big ones, people will begin to notice.


Looking at the game against Chicago, it’s no secret how to win this game. Look at the two Bears losses so far this season, and the blue print is right there. If you can get consistent pressure on Jay Cutler, specifically with your front four, the Bears are a beatable football team. They have a very good defense, but if the Redskins can pressure Jay Cutler, I like their chances this weekend.


Thanks everyone!
Tony

Thank you Tony!

I disagree on the win part, the B&G stayed with the Colts, played hard and had their chances. KFed Shani hasn't figured out that our O doesn't have the right kind of WRs yet. Cutting big guys for old guys doesn't work. Give us a couple of NFL Drafts.

Agree with you on Torain. Good, to vg, but not a Portis.

Agree with you on Brown, but he has also been moved to the right, which also affects his game.

I neither agree or disagree on Lichtensteiger and Dock. Insert either, and there may be a possibility of a problem, and maybe less of a problem with Dock out there, but you forget the biggest problem is Rabach. He has caught the S. Heyer bug. Best at the swinging door play.

Disagree with you on Gano. Yes, he is much better than Swishy, but no one in today's game is a Mark Mosely.

On DaBears, you are correct about the blueprint, but I have a hard time seeing our pourous D doing much against DaBears O. Have you seen the yardage our new 3-4 has given up? And don't get me started on that terrible ameoba D Coach Haslett fielded last week. He fails to see that we don't have the LBs to use that yet. In fact, we don't have the LBs to field a 3-4.

My problem with the way the Redskins play is that I am never sure if the Redskins won or if the opponent lost? We give up insane offensive yardage and can't get off the field but have somehow kept some of the best offenses (somewhat) bottled up. I don't know how much of that is us and how much is just the other team not executing.

This team is rebuilding and it's promising but I still feel as though we are at least a year or two away from being a solid and consistent team unless there's some major change(s)

Thank you Tony! That was enlightening, as always.

I hope everyone is doing well after a tough loss for the Redskins last week. One of the observations from this game, is I’m not sure the Redskins actually thought they could win the game until the game was over. What I mean by that, is they knew they had the defending AFC Champions, and maybe the leagues best team in the past ten years coming into FedEx Field, and while they played hard the whole game, and there was no question with the effort, I am wondering if they really thought they could win the game until the game was over.

Interesting observation. Could be one of those games where even though they lost, they learned a lot about themselves.