With the Redskins, it starts up front
One topic of debate surrounding the Washington Redskins’ recent troubles is their talent level. On one hand we have Clinton Portis claiming that the Redskins are the most talented team in the NFL. On the other we have analysts and fans who believe that the team is devoid of talent and that it will take years to rebuild.
As usual, the truth lies somewhere in between the extreme statements. What I am presenting here is a very rough attempt to evaluate how much talent the Redskins have right now and how it fits together.
Yesterday in Part 1 I introduced a system to break down the talent level of the Redskins’ primary players and take a stab at seeing how they stack up. Today in Part 2, where I look at what it all means.
Here is how I broke down the Redskins talent level yesterday, looking at the 22 starters, special teams performers, and key role players:
Above replacement: (12) Samuels, Moss, Cooley, Portis, Sellers, Haynesworth, Orakpo, Fletcher, Landry, Hall, Rogers, Smith
Replacement: (11) Dockery, Rabach, Golston, Griffin, Carter, Tryon, Suisham, Horton, McIntosh, Daniels, Doughty
Below replacement: (9) Rinehart, Heyer, M. Williams, Kelly, Randle El (WR), Campbell, Cartwright (KR), Randle El (PR), Betts
There were some quibbles in the comments, especially about LaRon Landry, but we’ll us this as is for the purpose of discussion.
The issue that jumps off of the page to me is exactly the one that’s been bandied about lately—they have their share, perhaps more than their share, of top-shelf players but almost a third of the regulars wouldn’t have a role anywhere else.
Every team has below-replacement players. That was the case in the pre-salary cap era and it’s the case now. But the key is how the lesser players are distributed through the lineup.
As you can see, the below-replacement players are concentrated along the offensive line and in the receiver corps (especially if you look at Betts, the third-down back, as a receiver). And the offense scores as infrequently as a lounge lizard in a leisure suit.
This isn’t a matter of the old proverb, “For want of a nail, the shoe was lost/for want of a shoe the horse was lost. . .” This is a case where the horse is missing one leg and another is broken so the horse can’t get around at all.
The defense has been playing well but one could argue that it is underperforming. The unit has six above-replacement starters and all of the below-replacement players are on offense. They should have been strong enough to stop those late, clock-killing possessions in the Detroit and Carolina losses.
There’s nothing wrong with having defense be the strength of the team. But you have to have an offense that is at least moderately competent to win like that. And, as noted above, that description does not fit the current bunch.
To go back to the original question, are the Redskins a talented team? The answer is yes, they have a good number of very good football players. But the fatal flaw of the weak offensive line has those talented players (those who are speaking with the media, anyway) talking about what’s wrong and about their coach’s job security rather than their play on the field.
I also don’t have to point out who is responsible for the imbalance. It wasn’t Jim Zorn. He was given that gimpy horse and told he had to ride it.
“And the offense scores as infrequently as a lounge lizard in a leisure suit.”
Just had to see those words in writing again:
You have “hit the nail on the head”, the defense is underperforming but performing well enough as a young unit which will become better as it becomes a team of players…playing up to it’s stacked lineup but I digress as that is another issue of building a team.
The Offense does perform most likely due to the level of interior and WR short comings, but an exceptional coach is able to maximize that talent which I am not seeing from Zorn. IMO it is a combination issue which all starts with the Front Office, who has elected to not address the offensive line and selected “up and coming” (maybe) obscure coaches who cannot perform the needed miracles with the limited offensive talent.
You make an excellent point about the D: “They should have been strong enough to stop those late, clock-killing possessions in the Detroit and Carolina losses.”
For the last couple of years, the D has been very highly ranked statistically while never managing to seem like a particularly dominant unit in action. I have found this vexing. The numbers might paint them as a top-5 defense, but they don’t seem to come through in the clutch like a top D. And, until very recently, they haven’t seemed to come up with the impact plays — sacks and turnovers — that characterize truly scary defenses.
I do find it remarkable that the D fares so well (statistically, anyway) given how much time it spends on the field. With the offense unable to sustain lengthy drives, the D must be exhausted by the ends of games and of seasons.
I just want to say that I have been a TRUE Redskin fan since I was 6 years old. Once a fan always a fan!
When I first really started getting into the Skins, they were rarely on TV and I would listen to games on the radio( awesome, high stakes contests) with Steve Gilmartin and Mal Campell. We had such stars as Harry Theophiledes and Gerry Allen on the field.
Point is, that Skins fans are some of the most rabid, knowledgable fans in the country. And we have seen both sides. Thus, our high criticisms!
However, when the ownership shows such horrible intelect and instinct, it is very hard to seriously follow the team. There is hope- but it is far on the horizon. Snyder means well, but maybe he has too short a leash on his checkbook. Maybe, a certain( high) percentage of these overpaid players have lost their passion for excellence due to Snyders generous paychecks.
In any case, we Redskins fans have some serious problems- if we demand excellence…
The only hope we really have is if Snyder sells one of the NFLs most profitable franchises; or if by some miracle Mr Snyder finally gets it. Its not Zorns fault. Partially Gibbs fault though. But Joe is still beyond criticism in my book! We need a TOUGH football man in DC. Until that happens, we are pissing in the wind…
As for me, I now live in Atlanta. And the Redskins are rarely on the TV( except the sports bar).
So I listen to Sam and Sonny on the radio. And it is painful. I think they must be getting shitfaced during the games( or before) . But they are old warriors that call it just like they see it! And this may be their last year. Cant imagine Snyder re- upping their contracts after some of their comments. But they are a true legacy and I love them as true Redskins!!! I have given up on this season but Sam and Sonny make it all worthwhile.
And, just when you thought football was over, there is a guy who plays running back for Va Tech- his name is Ryan Williams. He’s on TV every week.
He wears no. 34 and idolizes Walter Payton.He even has a nickname- Lil Sweetness!
This guy runs the ball like only 1 person I have ever seen. That mans name was Larry Brown no. 43 on the Skins. So I get to watch no. 43 run the ball every Saturday.
And dream of what I wish the Redskins could become- again…
Quote: “I do find it remarkable that the D fares so well (statistically, anyway) given how much time it spends on the field. With the offense unable to sustain lengthy drives, the D must be exhausted by the ends of games and of seasons.”
You must remember the old saw.. “Statistics are for losers” so apply it to the team not only this year but in past years.
*They’ve got no pass rush so QB’s can take their time to find the open receiver.
*The defensive backs are playing 15 yards off the receivers so they’re open pretty much from the get-go.
*The linebackers while serviceable are not good in pass coverage OR blitzing. Too many times while blitzing they get caught up in the OL scrum. While is pass coverage they’re too slow to keep up with backs and tight ends.
*The safeties are 20-30 yards down field except when they are going to blitz or fake the blitz which is not often.
When you couple all that with the anemic offense it’s a recipe for disaster which is what we look at every week. But for five points this team would be 0-5. Last week they were handed two TD’s on a silver platter for a grand total of 15 yards of offense. Other than that they spent the rest of the game amassing another 183 yards.
Since it seems obligatory to provide bona fides in these types of posts, 1) fan since ‘70, 2) favorite all-time player – Pat Fischer, 3) favorite memory – watching the Cowgirls go down in flames while RFK rocked the Redskins to the Super Bowl. I still support my team in public and watch while my liver dies but this is truly awful. As bad as the Norv years, if for different reasons.
Great defenses need catalysts, guys who get their teammates fired up and inspire fear in offenses. We had ours (LaVar before his knee/Postons incident and Sean T. before his murder) but now we don’t. Anyone think we give up that kind of end-game garbage with a young LaVar or Sean T. prowling the field? Hell no.
Our best defender is on his last legs in Fletcher. With a rare game-to-game exception he is not a rally-cry type player. He is a very, very good MLB. He just doesn’t exceed the bounds of his uniform the way game-changers do.
Offensively (in both senses), of course its the O-line. The Redskins announced as much to the press just after the season ended last year. Is Joe Flacco any better than Campbell? Nope. But behind a pro-quality O-line and throwing to pro-quality receivers, executing pro-quality plays, he is good enough.
A hell of a lot of Super Bowls have been won with QBs who were good enough, including all three of our wins. Mark Rypien was asked to “drive the Cadillac”. Jason Campbell is told “you’re not my preferred chauffer but try not to scratch the Yugo”. Is there a QB in the league capable of making a silk purse out of this hog’s ear? My money says no.
Last, Santana Moss is a bust with no heart and no hands. He has been top three in the league in drops season after season for years. He quits on routes. And he is still better than every other receiver on the team but Cooley – who is a great TE but not exactly a deep threat.
Vinny and Danny deserve every ounce of blame and ridicule that comes their way and more. Unfortunately, it is everyone else who has to suffer for their lack of competence.
This is a late reply, but the file itself is an attempt to be objective about the Skins offensive linemen compared to other teams.
Talent Evaluation Factors for Offensive Linemen (OL)? -
http://home.comcast.net/~fwroy/NFL%20OL%20Talent.html