Something to consider about the defenses performance

^^ Any thoughts on the nap he took on the field while Vick scrambled around forever?

I hate to defend that kind of play, but man, down 30 points in the fourth quarter, and AH gets knocked on the ground in the middle of the field and watches Vick start sprinting to the sideline... it's not too hard to empathize with a guy not getting back up.

But that's just the problem; the 3-4 isn't working, yet he has the personnel for a dominant 4-3. If all you've got is potatoes and carrots, quick trying to force hamburgers down people's throats and start making some stew!

I honestly dont think that is Hasletts call. Shanny wants this and he gets what he wants. Hell Haslett had to beg Shanny to let him play AH certain ways. His ego will not let the team switch back to the 4-3 fronts because one he will have to play AH more frequently and he is bound and determined to play with out him. Plus it would admit he made a bad decision on switching this year, which he isn't going to admit making any mistakes. EGO is just that big.

and they lost Rod Woodson, Deon Figures, and Chad Brown to free agency after 1996

Who cares what he did back then? So far I don't think I've seen this guy make an in game adjustment yet.

I hate to defend that kind of play, but man, down 30 points in the fourth quarter, and AH gets knocked on the ground in the middle of the field and watches Vick start sprinting to the sideline... it's not too hard to empathize with a guy not getting back up.

On the 50yd. touchdown run by Jerome Harrison that made the score 28-0, I saw multiple payers laying down. Our old standard whipping boy just happened to stand out. My little league team tackles better than # 23. Oh! that's right I forgot, he wasn't brought here to tackle, just to get INT's. Great job.

I honestly dont think that is Hasletts call. Shanny wants this and he gets what he wants. Hell Haslett had to beg Shanny to let him play AH certain ways. His ego will not let the team switch back to the 4-3 fronts because one he will have to play AH more frequently and he is bound and determined to play with out him. Plus it would admit he made a bad decision on switching this year, which he isn't going to admit making any mistakes. EGO is just that big.

From one of J. Reid's insider posts, he said something to the same effect, that Haslett had to convince Shanny that AH should play in the nickel. Given the poor state of this D, particularly the d-line, I would love to see AH start at RE & move around per the down situation.

I agree that it's Shanahan sticking to his guns, he got in the standoff w/AH & won't give in. I understand why, he's in the process of changing the team culture. I think the same rationale explains why Galloway is playing & D. thomas got cut.

From one of J. Reid's insider posts, he said something to the same effect, that Haslett had to convince Shanny that AH should play in the nickel. Given the poor state of this D, particularly the d-line, I would love to see AH start at RE & move around per the down situation.

I agree that it's Shanahan sticking to his guns, he got in the standoff w/AH & won't give in. I understand why, he's in the process of changing the team culture. I think the same rationale explains why Galloway is playing & D. thomas got cut.

Just put Albert in the game and let him play any position he want's on the D/L.

In order for Shanahan to change the culture, he first has to know and understand a little history and that may take a while. Right now he has no idea.

From one of J. Reid's insider posts, he said something to the same effect, that Haslett had to convince Shanny that AH should play in the nickel. Given the poor state of this D, particularly the d-line, I would love to see AH start at RE & move around per the down situation.

I agree that it's Shanahan sticking to his guns, he got in the standoff w/AH & won't give in. I understand why, he's in the process of changing the team culture. I think the same rationale explains why Galloway is playing & D. thomas got cut.

Changing the culture is one of the most bullshit excuses I've ever heard. We jettisoned a good deal of old vets and could have jettisoned Haynesworth too, but Shanahan wanted to keep him on board as a pet project to turn him into a nose tackle. However, the thing is that defense has never been his specialty, and he changed things waaay too much.

As for everyone besides Portis(and he's been a good soldier this year), who on the current roster was suffering from the evil "culture"? Lorenzo? Moss? Fletch? Hall(who felt loved here)?

Our D is pretty much rated last what is there to figure out?

Boy if teams figure out our O then we are really in trouble.

Whats to figure out? our OL cant hold a rush of 4-5 . You can double Moss and shutdown our WR's, our RB's are too bruised/battered and if we fall behind early/often we will abandon the run.

Probably the smartest thing any team can do is contain Banks, keep pressure on McNabb and take away his only 2 targets (moss/cooley). Eventually, the skins will have to take 2-3 yard routes or dumpoffs and 3 and out it b/c we cant do squat on 3rd downs.

Someone was mentioning all the Skins' defenders who could "start for virtually any D in the league" and then mentioned:

Landry: You think he starts in Pittsburgh over Polamalu? I don't. How about in Baltimore over Ed Reed? Not this week... Bottom line here is that Landry is better than average but his role as an "impact player" usually is to give up a long TD to the opposition.

Orakpo: Agree here. No team in the league has two OLBs better than Orakpo.


Fletcher: Can he start for either Baltimore or Pittsburgh? No. Would he start over Bradley in Philly? Perhaps but not certainly. Can he start in Chicago or Minnesota? I doubt it.


The Skins' defense has some good players - - but they are not good enough to overcome the lack of skill in so many other players on that unit.


BTW, listing McIntosh here as one of the stalwarts on the defense could set you up for disappointment later on - - because his deal is up this year and I don't know that the Skins even want him back.

Someone was mentioning all the Skins' defenders who could "start for virtually any D in the league" and then mentioned:

Landry: You think he starts in Pittsburgh over Polamalu? I don't. How about in Baltimore over Ed Reed? Not this week... Bottom line here is that Landry is better than average but his role as an "impact player" usually is to give up a long TD to the opposition.

Orakpo: Agree here. No team in the league has two OLBs better than Orakpo.


Fletcher: Can he start for either Baltimore or Pittsburgh? No. Would he start over Bradley in Philly? Perhaps but not certainly. Can he start in Chicago or Minnesota? I doubt it.


The Skins' defense has some good players - - but they are not good enough to overcome the lack of skill in so many other players on that unit.


BTW, listing McIntosh here as one of the stalwarts on the defense could set you up for disappointment later on - - because his deal is up this year and I don't know that the Skins even want him back.

I said "virtually" any team in the league, and I stand by that. There are a few teams where these folks wouldn't start (and I generally agree with your identification of such teams, with the possible exception of the LBs in Minnesota). But my overall point is that there is SURELY enough talent on this D to avoid being last in the league. They're at least a middle-of-the-pack squad (and perhaps better; it isn't as though we lost key players last off-season).