Albert Haynesworth and Mike Shanahan: An unlikely win-win situation?

[SirClintonPortis]

It's real clear to me that that SOB doesn't want to try and with his loser talk of "I can't" or "I can only play nickel" he pretty much said as much. The mark of a great player is the ability to adapt and they don't have the words "I can't" in their vocabulary. Again, fck him...I hope he chokes on a hot dog.

As shown in the link, even Sapp had trouble adjusting to not NT, RE. NT is even more demanding the RE. So it seems that Haynesworth is not the only one suffering from such a inability to be beastly when taken out of the 3-4.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by saden1

I don't have to paint, he's doing a fine job painting a hideous self-portrait. Being a nose tackle doesn't mean you can't rush the QB. Look at Jay Ratliff of the Cowboys or any decent nose tackle in the league...they are getting after the QB as much as a 4/3 tackle.

It's real clear to me that that SOB doesn't want to try and with his loser talk of "I can't" or "I can only play nickel" he pretty much said as much. The mark of a great player is the ability to adapt and they don't have the words "I can't" in their vocabulary. Again, fck him...I hope he chokes on a hot dog.

A true nose tackle's job is not to get to the QB, their job is to plug the line and let everyone else get to the QB. Wade Phillip's style is a bit different, but obviously Haslett wasn't planning in running that here. If you look at true 3-4 NTs like Casey Hampton and Vince Wilfork, they average about a sack a year.

The way Haynesworth carried himself through the offseason is inexcusable. However, if you can put that aside, anyone with some football knowledge should realize that this guy is designed to be a pass rushing defensive tackle.

Personally, I want the team to continue to use him as a pass rusher. The team is paying way too much money for him to be in a position where he doesn't fit. And by looking at this...



It seems that Haslett is doing a good job at using him.

[skinsfan_nn]

RI:

Posted at 9:19 PM ET, 10/28/2010

Albert Haynesworth fined $7,500 for hit vs. Bears, report says

The NFL has fined Albert Haynesworth $7,500 for a hit the Redskins defensive lineman delivered during DeAngelo Hall's 92-yard interception return last Sunday at Chicago, according to an ESPN report.

Haynesworth was penalized by the league office Thursday for unnecessary roughness on a block of Bears offensive lineman J'Marcus Webb, which occured about 11 yards behind Hall as the cornerback streaked down the sideline.

Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan said he hadn't seen a review of the hit from the television broadcast, but he commended Haynesworth for his effort on the play.

"If a guy's 25 yards back, and a guy kills somebody, they say, 'Hey, that's a cheap shot,' " Shanahan said Thursday. "If he's got a chance to catch him -- if he's within 10 yards, maybe it's 12 yards --, they determine if he had a legitimate chance to make a play."

Haynesworth's block did not draw a flag on the play. However, Webb was not happy with the hit because his reaction on the field drew an 15-yard personal foul.

Shanahan said he might discuss the hit with league office.

[mlmdub130]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

One thing left out/overlooked in the whole AH/Shanahan dramedy.

Anyone, anywhere, see Snyder's name mentioned as trying to influence the outcome?

Anyone believe, prior to this year and w/ the exception of Gibbs' tenure, that Snyder would have been a non-factor in the resolution of the issue?

he has a really good new pr guy this year, and he is making strides but one season doesn't make a decade dissapear overnight, hopefully we are on the right track now, we as a fan base deserve it, although we bitch and moan about every detail we still show up every sunday

it's nice to hear some good news about albert though, after watching him carry that lineman into cutler you could finally see what he is capable of. i really hope he pulls his s together and finsihes the season strong and finds his place on this team.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by saden1

I don't have to paint, he's doing a fine job painting a hideous self-portrait. Being a nose tackle doesn't mean you can't rush the QB. Look at Jay Ratliff of the Cowboys or any decent nose tackle in the league...they are getting after the QB as much as a 4/3 tackle.

It's real clear to me that that SOB doesn't want to try and with his loser talk of "I can't" or "I can only play nickel" he pretty much said as much. The mark of a great player is the ability to adapt and they don't have the words "I can't" in their vocabulary. Again, fck him...I hope he chokes on a hot dog.

Word to this. Truly great players learn how to adjust and still be among the best. Ray Lewis switched from the 4-3 to the 3-4 and remained arguably the best LB in the league. I'm sure Dlineman have switched between the schemes and been dominant both ways. Kris Jenkins, apart from his proneness to injury, is an example, tho maybe not the best you could find out there.

AH is an underachiever. I agree w/ those who say he's gone after this season.

[saden1]

That SOB is 6-6 and 335lbs. Don't anybody fcking dare tell me he can't play nose tackle. He can play it, and be the best at it...he just doesn't want to. What puzzles me even more is the fact that he doesn't want to get double teamed as NT but as a DT he almost always gets double teamed. He is one of the most selfish player in the game...he could have been a hall of famer.

[JoeRedskin]

Does anyone doubt that. if Kedric Golston or Lorenzo Alexander had AH's physical abilities (including his "instincts"), not only would they play NT they would be All-Pro's at the position? AH ain't worth what he's been paid and is a selfish player.

W/ that said, I am all for whatever ends the drama and lets everyone move on.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by saden1

That SOB is 6-6 and 335lbs. Don't anybody fcking dare tell me he can't play nose tackle. He can play it, and be the best at it...he just doesn't want to. What puzzles me even more is the fact that he doesn't want to get double teamed as NT but as a DT he almost always gets double teamed. He is one of the most selfish player in the game...he could have been a hall of famer.

I don't think it's a stretch to say a player isn't cut out for a certain position and/or scheme.

And if he was truly the most selfish player in the game, wouldn't he be demanding to be the starter? A guy that's willing to help the team and admit he's not the best choice for a position doesn't strike me as selfish.

Of course it may have helped if he was here for all the offseason work, but for now this is a pretty good solution for both sides as he continues to get up to speed at the nose.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by saden1

I don't have to paint, he's doing a fine job painting a hideous self-portrait. Being a nose tackle doesn't mean you can't rush the QB. Look at Jay Ratliff of the Cowboys or any decent nose tackle in the league...they are getting after the QB as much as a 4/3 tackle.

It's real clear to me that that SOB doesn't want to try and with his loser talk of "I can't" or "I can only play nickel" he pretty much said as much. The mark of a great player is the ability to adapt and they don't have the words "I can't" in their vocabulary. Again, fck him...I hope he chokes on a hot dog.

I think we've found someone less mature than Haynesworth!

[SmootSmack]

I'm not sure what to make of Haynesworth really. But it seems to me like his biggest concern has always been that as a NT he has to sacrifice certain stats, namely sacks. Like it doesn't matter if playing NT gives say Orakpo room to roam and adds 5 more sacks to Orakpo's stat sheet but that Haynesworth isn't getting those 5 stats. So AH would rather come off the bench as a pass rusher and get those 5 sacks himself. I'm guessing he wouldn't be as keen to come off the bench if it was to clog the middle

[Hog1]

Well....at the least perhaps we can use him in a positive way for the remainder of this season and showcase his talents for a useful offseason trade?
Who knows.....maybe he likes it and begins to make a statement, becomes a great TEAM player, great locker room guy............
and maybe I win the Lottery three times and spend the weekend with Scarlett Johansson.......
Maybe a nice offseason trade?

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I'm not sure what to make of Haynesworth really. But it seems to me like his biggest concern has always been that as a NT he has to sacrifice certain stats, namely sacks. Like it doesn't matter if playing NT gives say Orakpo room to roam and adds 5 more sacks to Orakpo's stat sheet but that Haynesworth isn't getting those 5 stats. So AH would rather come off the bench as a pass rusher and get those 5 sacks himself. I'm guessing he wouldn't be as keen to come off the bench if it was to clog the middle

^^ This. I see no evidence that AH is trying to "get up to speed" on playing the nose. His comment that someone else is better at playing it was not conditioned by a "for now" or "until I show the coaches I am can play it better". AH wants his stats, wants to play his way. If, to do that, he is happy sitting on the bench, and the coach's are happy to have him sit there, fine.

Is he ever going to be an All-Pro that way? Nope. Could he be one if he worked hard at learning the new position and being willing to do what the coaches told him to do? Yup. Could he really improve the team by sacrificing stats? Yup. Is he willing to do those things? Nope.

Again, Shanny and he have reached a mutual peace (I guess) and now we can just (hopefully) move past the drama.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by Hog1

Well....at the least perhaps we can use him in a positive way for the remainder of this season and showcase his talents for a useful offseason trade?
Who knows.....maybe he likes it and begins to make a statement, becomes a great TEAM player, great locker room guy............
and maybe I win the Lottery three times and spend the weekend with Scarlett Johansson.......
Maybe a nice offseason trade?

Let's hope so. He makes too much to just be a nickel pass rusher, so unless things change I can't see him sticking around at season's end.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I don't think it's a stretch to say a player isn't cut out for a certain position and/or scheme.

And if he was truly the most selfish player in the game, wouldn't he be demanding to be the starter? A guy that's willing to help the team and admit he's not the best choice for a position doesn't strike me as selfish.

Of course it may have helped if he was here for all the offseason work, but for now this is a pretty good solution for both sides as he continues to get up to speed at the nose.

That's BS...most player don't wants to play nose tackle and you've heard this many times in the league in the past. Playing nose tackle doesn't take a genius...they just want to get at the QB.

London Fletcher said he's selfish. I'm sure there's a more selfish player out there in the NFL but I can't think of one right now....he's definitely the highest paid selfish player. It's nice to not show up for the off-season practices and then claim to be not good enough to play nose tackle collecting major money.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

^^ This. I see no evidence that AH is trying to "get up to speed" on playing the nose. His comment that someone else is better at playing it was not conditioned by a "for now" or "until I show the coaches I am can play it better". AH wants his stats, wants to play his way. If, to do that, he is happy sitting on the bench, and the coach's are happy to have him sit there, fine.

Is he ever going to be an All-Pro that way? Nope. Could he be one if he worked hard at learning the new position and being willing to do what the coaches told him to do? Yup. Could he really improve the team by sacrificing stats? Yup. Is he willing to do those things? Nope.

Again, Shanny and he have reached a mutual peace (I guess) and now we can just (hopefully) move past the drama.

He's still taking snaps in practice at the nose, and Haslett is still convinced that he can play there.