Redskins over Eagles 27-20, Christmas Eve Edition

Written by Anthony Brown on .

 

The NFL, as expected, flexed the Cowboys at Redskins game to prime time, 8:30 PM ET Sunday. The Redskins entered the season with an underwhelming TV schedule. The Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas was a highlight, but the league didn't see the pairing as anything special. It was just Washington's turn in the rotation. But then, Washington didn't do its part to make Cowboys and Redskins compelling drama. I still see Norv Turner as a Cowboys plant to destroy a great rivalry.  

The Redskins won in Dallas. Many saw it as an upset at the time. Now Cowboys at Redskins will be the last game of the regular season. The winner takes the division. Wow.

The football smarts, including Hog Heaven, projected six or seven wins for the Redskins. For the whole season. They just won their sixth-straight game in this streak. Wow. Wow.

For a great game recap, see Tom Jackson's piece Eagles come up short again... on the Eagles Eye blog. Yes, it's an Eagles blog, but Tom is an great writer and excellent football analyst who gives an even-handed treatment to the game.

I won't try to improve on it. Go take a look. We'll be here when you get back.

Tom's had a rough year following the Eagles. I'm sympathetic to a point. Eagles fans have had a great run since 2000, better than what Redskins fans endured through that time. Hog Heaven isn't gloating. we're too busy in joyous delirium at how the Redskins season is turning out.

Alfred Morris on the verge of breaking Clinton Portis' single season franchise rushing record set in 2005. Portis rushed for 1,516 yards and 11 touchdowns that year. Morris has 1,413 yards and 10 TDs with a game to go. It would be downright poetic if Morris breaks the record in the last game of the season against Dallas in prime time.

There are a lot of playoff scenarios involving the Redskins and the Cowboys. We don't want to mess with them. The Redskins should focus on one thing. Win the next game. As we've already said, they should just get plain mad dog mean to do it.

HAIL
 

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How the Redskins may fall into the Eagles' trap

Written by Anthony Brown on .

The Redskins burst another bad habit last weekend with a win over the Browns in Cleveland and while being led by back up quarterback Kirk Cousins. So often in the Norv Turner – Daniel Snyder era, Washington played up or down to the level of the opponent, beating Super Bowl contending Packers one day, then losing to a two-win team the next.

The Eagles game is not a must-win game. (Every game is "must win.") The Redskins can make the playoffs even with a loss. But a loss costs them control of their future.

It's hard to read the mindset of the Eagles. Their season has flamed out, but NFL teams want to go out with a flash. Beating the Redskins today, or the Giants next Sunday would be a feel good moment for a team destined to be blown up by next Draft day.

Does Washington know how to keep up its intensity for a team like Philadelphia? The Eagles will test them today. The Eagles are a trap. Beware.

The three stats worth watching point to a Redskins win.

QB Passer Differential
Redskins QBR 103.6, Opponents 89.2, Differential +14.4
Eagles (Nick Foles) QBR 77.6, Opponents 95.7 Differential -18.1

Hog Heaven thought it best to isolate Foles' passer rating from that of the team. It was a wasted effort because Foles' performance was not far off from Michael Vick's number (79.2). Of all the evils to beset the Eagles, none was so devastating as the season long injuries along the offensive line; more anecdotal evidence that the O-line causes 51 percent of the success of any team.

Advantage: Redskins

Turnover Differential
Redskins +9
Eagles -7

The football world "discovered" the Redskins defense since Washington's win streak began at the Bye. Yet, the Redskins have forced turnovers all season long. The biggest factor in the differential, however, is that the Redskins simply take care of the ball. Bobby Three-Sticks and Capt. Kirk have a mere seven INTs between them, and the Redskins haven't lost any fumbles. A good offense makes the best defense.

London Fletcher and DeAngelo Hall lead the Redskins in interceptions with four each. Rob Jackson has three. Jackson, Ryan Kerrigan and Madieu Williams each scored off of interceptions.

Eagles rushers LeSean McCoy and Brice Brown have lost three fumbles apiece.

Advantage Redskins

Third down conversions allowed
Redskins 44%
Eagles 40%

This one stat shows how well the defense makes stops. The Redskins aren't very good, but the Eagles are not much better. The inability of Philadelphia's defense to grow from last season to this is one of the great mysteries of the universe. Careers will be ruined by it.

Advantage: Eagles

The Magic 8 Ball don't lie, but it will break your heart

The Hog Heaven Magic 8-Ball called the correct outcome for the last six games. That's 6-0 since I started asking the question "Will the Redskins win."

Alfred Morris could break the Redskins franchise rushing record set by Clinton Portis in 2005.

Portis rushed for 1,516 yards that season. Morris has 1,322 yards with two games to go. Portis scored 11 touchdowns in 2005. Morris has eight, so far.

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Bobby Three-Sticks heads list of clever nicknames for Redskins heroes

Written by Anthony Brown on .

Clever nicknames are a sign that our local Redskins heroes are crossing into the public realm as cultural icons. Do any of the current Redskins have a handle that rivals Capt. Chaos that shall forever be tied to Chris Cooley?

Here are a few candidates that arose with Washington's current winning streak.

Bobby Three-Sticks – Robert Griffin III. Donovan McNabb was the first to call Griffin III "Bobby Three-Sticks," not irreverently, by the way, on the NFL Network several weeks ago. Since then, it's cropped up on several other sites. Griffin goes by his full name. He was not the originator of "RG3," but he was savvy enough to trademark "RGIII" and use it as his Twitter handle. But this is sports, so that's not enough for beer-fueled chatter in sports bars. Bobby Three-Sticks could have legs, just like the player it describes.

Alfred Morris, Redskins vs. Giants
Amtrak Al – Alfred Morris. Hard running, forward falling Morris is the new John Riggins, the most famous fullback in Redskins history until Alfred Morris. The Diesel described Riggins running style. Amtrak is just as descriptive for Morris. Mike Wise coined the term for a story published in The Washington Post this week. I wish the Redskins would allow use of air horns at FedEx Field like they once did at RFK. The train's a-coming and you're gonna be wrecked.

Capt. Kirk – Kirk Cousins. This play on words to Cousins' first name is too easy. But as long as we are using a reference to starship heroes, lets recall this dialog between Kirk and Dr. McCoy from The Search for Spock:

Kirk: My God, Bones...what have I done?
McCoy: What you had to do. What you always do: turn death into a fighting chance to live.

Applies to Cousins, don't you think?

??? – Pierre Garcon. Garcon answered all of Hog Heaven's doubts about him. He deserves a nickname, too. We're not clever about these things, so Hog Heaven nominates a placeholder nickname that combines Garcon's French-Haitian heritage with cartoon legend Savoir Faire. Readers of a certain age know that "Savior Faire is everywhere" and too damned fast to be caught.

The Redskins are young. It's stars are new. We'll track other player nicknames as they emerge.

Image: Alfred Morris, Redskins vs. Giants via zimbio.com.

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The secret message from Mike Shanahan to Robert Griffin III, protect yourself, or we will

Written by Anthony Brown on .

 

Redskins quarterbacks Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins

The message was unspoken, hidden, yet plainly obvious. It was couched by all the right words by all parties. But Robert Griffin III's pouty demeanor during the Browns game said it all. Griffin expected to play. Da coach had other ideas.

Was Mike Shanahan sending a subtle message to the savior of Redskins football? Did RGIII get the point?

Hog Heaven never agreed with others who think the Redskins coaching staff is mistaken to run Griffin. On the contrary, Griffin's elusiveness paired with accurate passing makes him the most dangerous man in football. Cut down the running, and you cut down the effectiveness of the offense.

Shanahan wants Griffin to run. He just doesn't want him to take hits..., because Griffin healthy is more important to Washington than that last yard on a play.

There was a huge sigh of relief when Cousins started against Cleveland. Getting the last yard is Alfred Morris' job. Griffin's main role is to befuddle defenses.  

Coaches deliver messages by benching players. If Griffin doesn't run out of bounds, or take to ground when defenders are within three yards of him, maybe he should sit awhile.

We know now that the Redskins have to luxury of losing Griffin for a game or two and can still win big. You've heard the cliché how nothing speeds a player's recovery like seeing your back-up play well. So let's paraphrase that Prilosec tag line to "slide, and don't give your coach heartburn in the first place," Robert.

The beauty of Kirk Cousins is that the coach doesn't have to say anything for that message to get through.  

Image: Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins from Washington Redskins official Facebook page.

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Kirk Cousins heads list of Top 10 MSU Spartans to play for the Washington Redskins

Written by Anthony Brown on .

 

Kirk Cousins, Redskins, vs. Atlanta

I can't say Sparty has a glorious history with the Washington Redskins, but 27 former Michigan State Spartans rocked the Burgundy & Gold. Here, in reverse order, is the official Hog Heaven list of Top Ten Spartans to play for Washington. Kirk Cousins is No. 1 on this list, of course.

RANK

PLAYER

POS

YEARS

COMMENTS

10.

Ralf Mojsiejenko

P

1989-1990

Averaged 41.4 yards per punt in the twilight of the Gibbs I era, but he is listed here to keep Devin Thomas off the list. If I were doing a list of former Michigan players Ali Haji-Shiek would go here. But I'm not, so kick me.

9.

T.J. Duckett

RB

2006

Speaking of Gibbs, Duckett's time with the Redskins is sad proof of how Snyderrato changed Gibbs instead of the other way around. Duckett is revered in East Lansing, and he was a Red Zone scoring machine for the Falcons with 27 rushing TDs in the prior three seasons. Clinton Portis' preseason injury sent Gibbs and Snyderrato scurrying for an "insurance policy."

In a weird three-team deal, Mike Shanahan snookered the Redskins and the Falcons by receiving a Draft pick from Washington and sending WR Ashlie Lelie to the Falcons who sent Duckett to Washington. Ladel Betts was right there on the Redskins' roster all along. Shanahan used the Draft pick on OT Ryan Harris.

The 'Skins hardly used Duckett even in the Red Zone where they had a hard time converting touchdowns. Betts chewed up yards, but he was not a scoring machine like Portis, or Duckett. What a waste.  

8.

Ron Hatcher

FB

1962

Hog Heaven saw his first live Redskins game in 1962. Hatcher makes the list because he was the lone Spartans on the roster that year. It's my blog and I can do what I wanna.

7.

Fran O'Brien

RT

1960-1966

Any Spartan who blocked for Sonny Jurgensen must make the list. It's a Hog Heaven rule. O'Brien also played for Cleveland and Pittsburgh, but stettled in Washington after his NFL career. His restaurant, Fran O'Brien's Stadium Steakhouse, was a famous watering hole for DC's political elite. O'Brien garnered enormous goodwill by serving free steak dinners to wounded veterans. Struck by a heart attack in 1999 while at his restaurant, O'Brien died at nearby George Washington Hospital.

6.

Sherman Lewis

Playcaller

2009

Sherm Lewis is a laughing stock in Washington and that's both a crime and a shame.

Lewis was an All-American halfback at Michigan State who placed third in voting for the 1963 Heisman Trophy. He is an acorn from the Bill Walsh coaching tree who learned from the master himself. After nine years with Walsh, Lewis spent eight years as Packers offensive coordinator with Mike Holmgren. When he retired from football, Lewis volunteered some of his time calling BINGO at a senior center. The news media saw it as a human interest angle. Sadly, pundits and fans made more of that than his coaching pedigree, his 221-97-1 overall coaching record or four Super Bowl teams. His expertise as a West Coast Offense guru was the reason the Redskins brought him out of retirement to mentor Jim Zorn. That move would have been better made in 2008 when Zorn was named accidental head coach.

By 2009, relations between Zorn and the Redskins were beyond repair. Vinny Cerrato didn't trust Zorn to call the plays from his own game plan, not without reason. He asked Lewis to do it, which added to the circus act that had become the Redskins.

When people wrote that African-Americans could not be hired as NFL head coaches, Lewis was always the prime example. NFL owners looked in the mirror and agreed. They promised to at least talk to a minority candidate before naming a head coach.   

When I was on campus, co-eds twice confused me for Sherman Lewis. I was tempted to say, "why yes, I am Sherm Lewis," to see where the conversation would go. But, my momma didn't raise me to do stuff like that. Dammit.  

5.

Lemar Marshall

LB

2002-2006

Won the starting role as SAM linebacker when LaVar Arrington was injured in 2004. In 2005, he moved to the MIKE position when former Giant Mike Barrow proved far more injured than the Redskins knew.
Washington foolishly let Antonio Pierce walk away by then. Pierce stepped in for Barrow in the '04 season. Marshall had a great year in 2005 filling in for Pierce who had a great year with the Giants filling in for Barrow. Knee and ankle injuries slowed Marshall in 2006, but he managed a career-high 104 tackles. The Redskins did not re-sign Marshall. Instead, they went bargain hunting for a cap casualty off of the Bills' roster, some guy named London Fletcher.  

4.

Tony Banks

QB

2001

Are you laughing? I hear you laughing. I cannot say I cheered for Banks. As a Spartans alum, I refused to boo him. Here's the thing. Banks was 8-6 for the 2001 Redskins. He might have improved on that if Mr. Snyder hadn't fired Marty Schottenheimer.

3.

Lonnie Sanders

DB

1963-67

Sanders is one of the Redskins of the 60's in a decade when the 'Skins lost a lot of exciting games because Jurgensen and the offense couldn't outscore opponents who the defense could not stop. The Redskins' record of consecutive sellouts and the Cowboys rivalry were born in that decade with Sanders, Pat Fisher and Johnny Sample in the defensive backfield. Sanders scored nine interceptions in his Redskins career. Sanders is here for the happy memory rather than football exceptionalism. Good times.

2.

Ron Saul

OL

1976-1981

Saul began his pro career with the Houston Oilers until he was old enough to join George Allen's Over-The-Hill Gang. He played at a high level on the O-line. Before there were The Hogs, there was Saul.

1.

Kirk Cousins

QB

2012-

DC-area Redskins fans don't often watch Big Ten games (soon to be corrected), so Cousins was a mystery to them when Mike Shanahan drafted him. I watched Cousins win games for four years. His rescue mission in the Ravens game and outstanding showing against the Browns is typical of him. I'm ready to declare greatness in advance – though if all goes as planned, we won't see much of Cousins on the field.

By now, at least six NFL teams ought to be kicking themselves for sleeping on Cousins in the 2012 NFL Draft. Their loss is our gain. If other teams are not offering a first round pick, the answer is "no."

Image: Kirk Cousins vs. Atlanta via zimbio.com.

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Jets' Woody Johnson is the new Daniel Snyder, laughter follows

Written by Anthony Brown on .

 

There's a new sheriff in town and his name isn't Daniel Snyder.Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Johnson

Hog Heaven readers know we respectfully refer to the Redskins team owner as "Mister" Snyder ever since he went along with Mike Shanahan's blockbuster trade to position the selection of Robert Griffin III.

Fans in other places take an occasional potshot at Snyder, but that has become rare as Washington's playoff prospects has improved, and as New York Jets owner Woody Johnson fills the void vacated by Snyder.

While researching a story about the Jets mess, I came across this piece that posted to NJ.com last October:

"The Jets have taken 21 players since 2009, tied for lowest in the league, and not one of them has reached a Pro Bowl, something 19 other teams accomplished during that stretch. Only one, defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson, has shown potential to become a star.

"It’s not just the draft, either. Tannenbaum is the one who insisted, after the Jets missed the postseason last year, that the Jets locker room is 'filled with' guys like Victor Cruz, the undrafted free agent who became a star with the Giants."  

Bloggers wrote the same of the Redskins for most of this century. Yes, Virginia, there was a time when Snyderrato paid too much for other team's stars, traded away middle-round Draft picks, let contributing players walk away to playoff teams, yet somehow overvalue the talent on the bottom half of the roster.

Nobody recalls the Albert Haynesworth signing, but Johnson's decision – yes, it was Johnson's, not head coach Rex Ryan's – to trade for Tim Tebow was s dumber idea than the Redskins signing Haynesworth. The Redskins had a plan to use Haynesworth, at least. It must be clear to everyone who watched the Jets-Titans game last night that New York had no earthly idea what the heck to do with Tebow.

Who needs to talk about Mr. Snyder when you have Woody Johnson to laugh at?
 

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Is Rob Jackson the Alfred Morris of the Redskins' defense?

Written by Scott Hirsch on .

 

Rob Jackson, OLB, Washington Redskins
Many people, including myself, thought that Brian Orakpo's injury was a curtain call for the Redskins season.  Although we may have seen that a great pass rush is 40% of a good pass defense, I for one did not see the Rob Jackson freight train coming.
 
After all, Rob Jackson was a 7th round draft pick 4 years ago.  He was drafted at a time when throwing darts at a list of names would likely yield better results than what the Redskins' staff were picking at the time.  In addition, he has been relatively quiet as the Brian Orakpo backup, on the roster last year essentially for the first full year.
 
Compared to Orakpo, Jackson at draft time could bench 225 around once for every three times Orakpo could bench 225.  Jackson's vertical jump is 11 inches under Orakpo's astonishing 39.5 inch vertical jump.  His speed though was just slightly slower than Orakpo, not bad for a big defensive end on the eventual verge of conversion to an outside linebacker.
 
A review of Jackson's first start earlier this year posted on Hogs Haven has Jackson being superior to Orakpo in pass defense and stopping the run.  On pass rushing he was far far inferior to Orakpo.  Let's just say that Jackson has made a heck of a lot of progress on pass rushing.  
 
What the numbers miss and first game performances often miss, is the sheer determination in a player's heart.  Redskin fans see oodles of that every time Morris runs.  It's like watching a mini-rumble; a bona fide tornado on the field.
 
Something has definitely changed on the Redskins defense during this win-streak, and I believe the biggest change is the pass rush improvement of Rob Jackson.  Number 50 has been simply on fire with an incredible knack for turning in the key defensive momentum play of each game.  As Lorenzo Alexander said after the Brown's "[Jackson] has been balling out of his mind.  And he's only going to get better."
 
To be sure, a lot, but not all, of the players on the defense have moved it up a notch.  Jackson has moved it up a few notches, and he is the guy that is on fire every play now like Alfred Morris.
 
Keep your eye out for No. 50 these next two games. Let's see if he can crank up his pass rush a bit more each game.  And while you are at it, please make sure Mara (the Giant's owner) doesn't spike Jackson's Gatorade with Adderall while he is on the field.
 
Link: Rob Jackson's stats on Pro-Football-Reference.com.
 
Image: Rob Jackson found on Redskins.com here.
 
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