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.

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.

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…

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.