Smoot Lays The Smack Down (Redskins vs. Colts)

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

This isn't really a thought about a player or unit that needs improvement, but here' goes:

This team, through two preseason games, does not strike me as talent deficient. It actually strikes me as talent-laden. Perhaps a team that could compete for a playoff spot if it had gone after Chad Henne or Vince Young in the offseason. I think it's lacking in *young* talent, but not talent overall. The Redskins could surprise some folks this year if Kyle keeps calling good games that benefit his quarterbacks and Mike stays the f out of the way.

Over 16 games, there are far too many issues here that will get exposed: the QB, the secondary, the offensive line, Rocky Mac, the defensive scheme, and some young players being forced into premier roles before they are ready (Kerrigan, for example). I think a team like that can start strong, but it's going to be tough to finish strong with that many real issues. But in a perfect would, a 5-3 start and an 8-8 finish isn't totally out of the question, with some early luck (similar to last year).

But I like what I've seen from Tim Hightower, Jabar Gaffney, Donte Stallworth, Terrence Austin, Brandon Banks, Anthony Armstrong, Santana Moss, Roy Helu, Evan Royster, Rex Grossman, John Beck, Fred Davis, Logan Paulsen, Darrel Young, and Kory Lichtensteiger. And you know what, that's a lot of players who know what the f they are doing (and all Shanahan acquisitions, except Davis, Young, Armstrong, and Moss!) to expect this offense to be worse than last year.

The biggest improvement to date however, (and its been just two preseason games so take it as a grain of salt) has been Kyle Shanahan. He's called two great preseason games after being a liability for us last year. Hope it continues.

young or henne? have you seen them play? no thanks. henne is a great backup. are we sure it was kyle and not mcnabb and guys like galloway and the lackluster RB stable the held the O back last year? that OL was also pretty awful, and all that figures into calling and executing plays.

btw, i'd argue that kerrigan will start slow and become better when he figures out wtf he's doing 8 games in... there's still the week 12 rookie wall, but i think he'll be alright.

we're missing an ILB and #1 CB right now though, with no hier to fletcher's spot either. rocky wouldn't be out there if we had a better option. still need 2 OL and a QB too , but i guess no team is perfect.

I don't think QB is necessarily the bottleneck though. our entire top 22 is fairly middle of the pack.

as far as that game - (in general, not at you GTripp) just dont bandwagon too hard when you realize that the colt's D operates best when the know your offense HAS to scor 14 TDs to keep up with peyton. that is not a dink and dunk grind it out defense.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by NLC1054

There's a reason we didn't stretch the field last night.

The Colts play a Tampa 2 defense. The strength of that defense is defending the deep ball. Two deep safeties, one deep linebacker, and rush with the front four. The weakness in the Tampa 2 defense is short and intermediate, particularly over the middle. Which is the part of the field the Redskins attacked over and over again.

You guys don't remember the Colts game last year? The go route with Banks? The deep pass attempt to Armstrong? They're always ready to defend the deep ball. They could've tried it, but the chances of completing it wasn't much. So why take a shot deep when they're giving you the short stuff and leaving the middle of the field open for you, not to mention they're having trouble stopping the run?

I guarantee you, if the Ravens try to crowd the box to stop the short passing game, Beck will have no problem chucking one deep, provided he has the time. The weakness of the Ravens defense is still in their secondary; they bought in Bernard Pollard, but he's like Landry and has issues covering, and they'll likely be starting Jimmy Smith, who was worked on by Dwayne Bowe.

As for red zone production, if Sellers doesn't get accidentally tripped up, it's a touchdown. I think there's like, five teams who made the playoffs last year that had an even worse red zone conversion rate than we did. I saw some good red zone plays called in the regular season at the end of the year, particularly with Fred Davis. You don't want to tip your hat to that too much, though.

But we didn't have much of a vertical dimension to the offense against the Steelers, either. If memory serves the longest completion was a catch-and-run and generally shots were not taken down the field. Maybe this problem is an artifact of circumstance. But if we don't take occasional shots, over 16 games safeties will cheat towards the line and the running game will suffer thereby.

[rbanerjee23]

Henne or VY? I would rather give the helm to Grossman after his decent performance last year or take a chance with Beck than chase known failures.

[SmootSmack]

Tripp and I are probably the only Redskins fans who care about the Dolphins QB battle: Henne vs. Moore

[GusFrerotte]

I don't see how a Beck bandwagon can be formed yet with him only playing one preseason game against a team that just screws around during the preseason, and will be lucky to make the playoffs this year. If Beck does start against the Ravens and does well, I will raise my eyebrows and gain interest. All he has done thus far in my mind is show me he does have some potential and so far is serviceable. Whether or not he is starting caliber is another matter though. He shows promise, but one preseason game does not a season make.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Tripp and I are probably the only Redskins fans who care about the Dolphins QB battle: Henne vs. Moore

Naturally the airwaves down here are a battle ground for this. Henne is not a real popular guy and if Moore gives any serious indication that he can deliver the goods week after week...he's hired.

[rbanerjee23]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

I don't see how a Beck bandwagon can be formed yet with him only playing one preseason game against a team that just screws around during the preseason, and will be lucky to make the playoffs this year. If Beck does start against the Ravens and does well, I will raise my eyebrows and gain interest. All he has done thus far in my mind is show me he does have some potential and so far is serviceable. Whether or not he is starting caliber is another matter though. He shows promise, but one preseason game does not a season make.

I'm sure Beck is waiting with bated breath to see your eyebrows raised and your interest piqued lol but yeah, one preseason game is nowhere near enough to make a call on a qb but for his limited action, he played well and gave us something to look forward to ... that is the extent of the beck bandwagon right now

[NYCskinfan82]

Since we all agree Beck is not a pro-bowl QB, then what does it matter what he does against the ravens they make most QB's look bad. I just want to see a good team effort.

[rbanerjee23]

Originally Posted by NYCskinfan82

Since we all agree Beck is not a pro-bowl QB, then what does it matter what he does against the ravens they make most QB's look bad. I just want to see a good team effort.

Exactly, JB's responsibility is to manage the game and not make mistakes

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by NYCskinfan82

Since we all agree Beck is not a pro-bowl QB, then what does it matter what he does against the ravens they make most QB's look bad. I just want to see a good team effort.

If the Ravens make QB's look bad, what if he looks good?

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Lotus

If the Ravens make QB's look bad, what if he looks good?

Then it's just another meaningless preseason game.

[NYCskinfan82]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Then it's just another meaningless preseason game.

Exactly, the game only means something when we look bad.

[Chico23231]

im gonna be fairly disappointed if Beck doesnt start agains the Ravens. Ravens gonna bring a really good test.

[rbanerjee23]

Originally Posted by NYCskinfan82

Exactly, the game only means something when we look bad.

Not only that, in games that we play well -- the only things that matter are what the skins did poorly. Yeah, sure beck was 14 for 17 but he didn't throw a TD.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

im gonna be fairly disappointed if Beck doesnt start agains the Ravens. Ravens gonna bring a really good test.

He almost has to start.

We know what we have in Grossman, if Shanahan is serious about starting Beck 9/11 he has to give him the nod this week.