Was Shanahan Wrong Deactivating Haynesworth vs. Indy

[over the mountain]

Albert Haynesworth: I Was Ready to Play Against Colts -- NFL FanHouse

i dont know if this has been posted yet. Adds alil more insight to the AH deactivation. I do have sympathy for AH with regards to showing up to the team locker room on gameday and finding all your stuff packed away indicating your not playing while the other players stuff are neatly organized and laid out in their lockers.

I also feel for him in that he said, while cliche, that footbal is his escape and he was looking forward to playing. For Shanny, i think it was safe to assume that even a player like AH could have used footbal for him to get his recent trajedy out of his mind, at least for a few hours. Lots of players,almost all of them, say football is an escape when they confront real life drama. Shanny sure as hell knows this, even if shanny thought AH playing would hurt the team with not knowing the scheme, man, you stil find ways for the guy to suit up and atleast play some snaps.

i think shanny robbed AH of his right as football player to turn to the comforts of the gridiron with the recent and unexpected passing of his brother.

man, im a sentimental dude, shanny failed on the human side of things with this regard.

he should have talked with AH in closed doors and asks AH what he wanted to do, what AH needed from the team. If AH said he would like to play to help him get his mind off things, his wish should have been granted.

[12thMan]

I have a hard time believing after playing against the Peyton Manning and Jeff Saturday for twice a year, for seven years that Albert Haynesworth couldn't have a made a difference last night. He could have a made difference just on reflex knowledge alone; recognizing audibles, etc.

And the part about him not being conditioned enough is a bunch of hooey. If Trent Williams could miss most of practice and hobble his ass out there to start against Dwight Freeney, I don't see what's the difference with a healthy Haynesworth doing the same. Sure you don't have to play him the ENTIRE game, but you're telling me this guy isn't good for 10, 20 snaps last night? Not buying it.

[over the mountain]

I know, I know but come on matty. Are you telling me that you wouldnt have called AH into your office, have haslett come in, close the door then ask AH if he wanted to play? The when he said he would like to play to help him escape from the off field stuff, you would still let him show up sunday expecting to play but find your stuff packed up? (idk if or when he was told he was not playing. the article makes it seem he wasnt told but figured it out when he showed up sunday)

Im just sayin, shanny knows that players want to play football in times of tragedy to help them get their mind of things.

from a human aspect, shanny failed.

you get my point thoo i think - players turn to the comforts of the gridiron to escape their mourning and thoughts, even players like AH. All things past taken into account, as a head coach you find a way to have him suited up atleast and active for a couple plays. you cant take away football from him at that point, football to these guys is the normal, it gets them back to what they know and love, the act on instinct not thinking about the off field trauma.

to my surprise i thought he would be indifferent - maybe he is but just gave the cliche sound bite and im the fish on the hook.

[SBXVII]

^ Again I wonder how much of it was changes made to the blocking scheme which would not have worked had AH been out there? In other words it probably had nothing to do with AH's health or stanima but more the issue that AH wouldn't know which way to block or which gap to run through on certain plays.

Shanahan said they needed to see what type of football shape AH was in. That statement alone does not mean the coach's felt AH would be out of shape after just one week. It could refer to his mental status after having a loss, or if he could handle picking up the new plays for the week fast enough. There is no use putting him out there if he's a detriment.

As far as Trent goes I think he was around for the meetings so he would understand the plays being used and play calls. All he had to do was do a walk through mid week and play on Sun. Thats a lot different then AH being completely away from Redskins Park not sitting in any meetings and showing up on Wed/Thurs. for the walk through.

[MTK]

I could really care less about Al's feelings. I'm guessing this was strictly a football related decision, and not about ego or some sort of personal vendetta that some fans think Shanahan has with him.

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

Because perhaps the coaching staff felt Mannings pass ability was more important to stop vs. the run? cut back on the DL and throw in more CB's or safeties? I'm just guessing.

I agree that could have been a reason, but Manning is so efficient at his position that you have to "force" him into making mistakes. Chances are better at accomplishing that with pressure than with coverage simply because it's so difficult to confuse him with coverages. Last night we tried to confuse him and wound up confusing ourselves.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by over the mountain

I know, I know but come on matty. Are you telling me that you wouldnt have called AH into your office, have haslett come in, close the door then ask AH if he wanted to play? The when he said he would like to play to help him escape from the off field stuff, you would still let him show up sunday expecting to play but find your stuff packed up? (idk if or when he was told he was not playing. the article makes it seem he wasnt told but figured it out when he showed up sunday)

Im just sayin, shanny knows that players want to play football in times of tragedy to help them get their mind of things.

from a human aspect, shanny failed.

you get my point thoo i think - players turn to the comforts of the gridiron to escape their mourning and thoughts, even players like AH. All things past taken into account, as a head coach you find a way to have him suited up atleast and active for a couple plays. you cant take away football from him at that point, football to these guys is the normal, it gets them back to what they know and love, the act on instinct not thinking about the off field trauma.

to my surprise i thought he would be indifferent - maybe he is but just gave the cliche sound bite and im the fish on the hook.

I'm pretty sure I heard or read that Shanahan said when asked about AH on Tues., after it was mentioned that AH would be back this week, that he was unsure if AH would be playing cause they needed to see if he was in football shape. So if it was announced mid week how on earth did AH not have a clue that he might not be playing?

Plus why is it all the coach's fault. Is AH not a man? can he not go to the DC and ask if to make sure if he would be playing considering he was gone for a week? See the problem with AH is in his mind because he makes so much money he's automatically the starter and he gets all upset when he learns otherwise. Heck the fans get upset when they learn otherwise.

If nothing else we fans should have learned by now that just because you the best at your position or make the most money does not equal that your the starter.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

I agree that could have been a reason, but Manning is so efficient at his position that you have to "force" him into making mistakes. Chances are better at accomplishing that with pressure than with coverage simply because it's so difficult to confuse him with coverages. Last night we tried to confuse him and wound up confusing ourselves.

I have a problem with that, simply because we had 4 clean shots at INTs, and got a strip fumble from him. That certainly says to me that the "plan" worked, it was the execution that failed. (channeling my inner zorn).

[SmootSmack]

Some talk that Haynesworth was supposed to return on Wednesday but didn't show up until Thursday. Don't know if that's true

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I could really care less about Al's feelings. I'm guessing this was strictly a football related decision, and not about ego or some sort of personal vendetta that some fans think Shanahan has with him.

I also think this was purely football related, what is best for our team. Just a real cold football decision.

Unlike you I do care about AH's feelings with regards to this particular matter.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

I agree that could have been a reason, but Manning is so efficient at his position that you have to "force" him into making mistakes. Chances are better at accomplishing that with pressure than with coverage simply because it's so difficult to confuse him with coverages. Last night we tried to confuse him and wound up confusing ourselves.

I see your point, given time Payton will pick anyone apart so lets get a good rush on him and force mistakes. I understand.

The other way is to take away his biggest threat, his passing ability. It sounded like the run was not the Colts best attribute this year and the bigger threat was the pass. So take away the pass and he's left with a mediocre run. That alone should have helped. Problem was the Colts run game was better then we thought and Payton still found away to get his WR's the ball. Although it's not hard when the CB's are running down field not looking for the ball even after the WR turns to look for the ball. I'm so glad Hall said he had a bad day cause he is guilty of this many times over yesterday.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

I have a problem with that, simply because we had 4 clean shots at INTs, and got a strip fumble from him. That certainly says to me that the "plan" worked, it was the execution that failed. (channeling my inner zorn).

I also really don't think we confused ourselves. Yes it looks like our DL is confused and not sure where to line up and not getting into 3 point stances but I believe that was designed just for Manning. Make it look like we are confused, don't show what our plans are, hope he doesn't change the play call to suit his offense better, and fake the blitz periodically.

The problem is Payton is just so good at what he does. Then there was all the plays I felt the Colts offense held that were not called. But whatever.

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

I'm pretty sure I heard or read that Shanahan said when asked about AH on Tues., after it was mentioned that AH would be back this week, that he was unsure if AH would be playing cause they needed to see if he was in football shape. So if it was announced mid week how on earth did AH not have a clue that he might not be playing?

Plus why is it all the coach's fault. Is AH not a man? can he not go to the DC and ask if to make sure if he would be playing considering he was gone for a week? See the problem with AH is in his mind because he makes so much money he's automatically the starter and he gets all upset when he learns otherwise. Heck the fans get upset when they learn otherwise.

If nothing else we fans should have learned by now that just because you the best at your position or make the most money does not equal that your the starter.

I dont think Shanny saying on tues he is unsure if AH will play = a mid week announcement AH isnt playing.

But your point about him going to Haslett is taken, I wonder what communication Haslett had with AH and Shanny.

im not saying AH should have played b/c he makes the most money or that he is the best, i am a 100% AH hater. hes lazy, doesnt give a crap and just tried to take us for 32 mil over 13 months, when that didnt work b/c bend-me-over-vinny was gone, all this drama ensued.

my opinion is one based off a what would joe gibbs do?

Football players turn to football in a time of tragedy. AH wasnt given that option. Shanny failed in the human aspect of being a head coach with this particular case IMO.

[SBXVII]

This was 7pm on Sat the 16th...

Jay Glazer: Skins strongly leaning towards deactivating Haynesworth..

but I was sure Shanahan also addressed this issue mid week when asked by the media if AH would play when it was learned AH would be back mid week.

[SBXVII]

Here is the direct quote from AH and MS.

Haynesworth participated in the Redskins’ jog-through practice, which was moved to an airport hangar due to heavy rains in the Washington, D.C., area.

Head coach Mike Shanahan said that Haynesworth’s availability for this Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts would be a “game time decision.”

“Anytime you’re away for six days, there’s a loss of conditioning obviously,” Shanahan said. “We’ll want to see where he’s at both physically and mentally. We understand what happened, and we understand the crisis that he was dealing with. Hopefully he can get back in shape.”

That was written Oct. 14th. Even if the team had no plans to use him why tell him so he can go to the media and blab that he's mad he's not going to play? Then the Colts can game plan around that. No, let the player keep guessing cause it keeps the opponants guessing.

News & Notes: Haynesworth Rejoins Redskins