Two In The Box

Welcome Back, Dale Hunter

2011-11-28T17:24:00.000-05:00

Getty Images

I developed my deep love for hockey from my 'Step-Dad', Roger. (He wasn't actually my Step-Dad, but might as well have been, so that's what I call him). He grew up in Boston in the 50s and 60s, and loved Bobby Orr.

Roger took me to my first Caps game. It was the day after Christmas, 1989. They beat Lemieux and the Penguins 6-3.

A few days later, we went back and saw the Caps lose to Gretzky and the Kings. Lemieux and Gretzky in my first two games...not a bad start to my live hockey viewing career!

My favorite player in those days was Dino Ciccarelli. Roger never thought much of Dino. Thought he was too much of a pretty boy. "Sister-elli" he'd call him...he thought Gretzky was too 'Hollywood' too. He liked his hockey players to be tough-as-nails Canadian farm boys...and Dale Hunter was his prototype hockey player.

Roger died in the Summer of 1998...a few months after the Caps made it to their first Finals. I wonder what he would think about this current incarnation of the Capitals. I think he'd love Knuble, Laich, Alzner, Carlson and and Chimera. He'd be disappointed in Ovi...and he'd straight up hate Alex Semin and Mike Green...but today, I think he'd be over the moon to see Dale Hunter taking over today as the Caps Bench Boss. I know I am. I find myself thinking of Roger a lot today, as I see posts and articles and video clips of Hunter. It's kind of like seeing my hockey life come full circle.

First, don't get me wrong. I hate to see Boudreau go. I think every Caps fan owes him a debt of gratitude. If Boudreau doesn't come in and turn this team around in 08...it could've been us who lost our team to Winnipeg. So thank you for setting the table, Bruce. Boudreau is an amazing coach, who will win his Cup(s) somewhere. And we should all thank him.

But I'm damned excited about Dale Hunter being the coach!

Dale was a straight up badass. Yes, he had a mean streak. But except for maybe 10 seconds of his career, he never crossed the line from mean into dirty. (You can't call that hit on Pierre Turgeon anything but dirty). I prefer to remember the OT Game 7 breakaway winner against the Flyers as his defining moment as a Capital.

He was our captain after Langway and Stevens had gone, the lone carry over from that mid-80s era...and it killed me to see him end his career in Colorado, chasing a Cup a la Ray Bourque.

Dale was a great player, and a great Capital...and now, the future of this franchise (immediate and long-term) are tied to its past. Dale has worn the same C that Ovechkin now wears. And he was a scorer (365 career goals and almost 800 assists in the regular season and playoffs) who liked to play a very physical game (4,000+ penalty minutes)...and that description pretty much fits Ovechkin perfectly. So hopefully he can get Ovi back on track.

I realize that the Caps never won anything while Dale was here. So it's not a slam dunk that he's going to walk in here and lead them to the Cup. But if Dale Hunter can't get Alex Semin to show up, then no one can, and you can write him off. We're going to learn a lot about this Caps team in the next couple weeks. I think they're built for a Cup run...and I think Dale will be a great presence behind the bench. Instead of losing his cool and flipping out with F-bomb after F-bomb, I expect that he'll give more of a "don't lose your cool...just go out and punch someone in the chops" kind of leadership. And that's just what they need.

I'm going to be honest. I'm glad Dale didn't win a Cup with the Avs. Because now, he has a chance to win his first as part of the Caps organization. But first things first...Game 1 of the Hunter era of Caps hockey is tomorrow vs the Blues...and then Thursday, Game 2 is the Pens with Sid. You think Verizon's not going to be a madhouse!?

Welcome back Dale. I know at least one Caps fan is smiling down on the team today from the great beyond.

D-Bag Jar: Week of 9/24

2011-09-24T21:26:00.000-04:00

The one good thing that the new Fox show, "New Girl" gave us...aside from the mental imagery of Zooey Deschanel wearing nothing but a gift wrap bow...was the Douchebag Jar.

Zooey's roomates have a rule...do something douchey, put a dollar in the jar.

We thought that was a great idea, so we decided to pick one person each week (usually in the world of sports) and make them put a dollar in the jar.

We took a vote over on our Facebook page, and have this week's douche...

Scott Cunningham (Getty Images)

The Atlanta Falcons' Dunta Robinson.

Last year, Robinson went helmet to helmet on the Eagles' DeSean Jackson. This year, he did the same thing to Jackson's fellow Eagle wideout, Jeremy Maclin.

What part of "Do not strike an opponent with any part of this helmet or facemask" do you not get, Robinson? It's right there on the sticker on the back of your helmet.

So, for repeated acts of douchbaggery, Dunta Robinson, "put a buck in the jar, pal."

As you watch the games this weekend, if you see someone worthy of the D-Bag Jar, jump over to our Facebook page and nominate them. We'll decide next week's "winner" and post it on Friday.

9/12/01 - The beginning of the Ovechkin era?

2011-09-12T11:37:00.000-04:00

As Facebook showed yesterday, almost everyone can tell you where they were 10 years ago on 9/11. But do you remember where you were the day after?

Me...I was watching the beginning of the near death and phoenix-like rebirth of the Washington Capitals.

In 2001, the Caps opened training camp on September 12, at Piney Orchard. I guess I just wasn't mentally or emotionally ready to go back into the office that day...so I took the morning, and went over to Piney Orchard Ice Rink to watch the Caps' first skate of the camp...and see their new big-gun, Jaromir Jagr up close. There were a lot of people there. I don't know how many were there just to see the Caps or Jagr...or who like me, were looking for something to take our minds off of the horror we'd spent most of the prior day watching.

I guess I was one of the few who didn't like the Jagr trade at the time. I loathed him as a Penguin, and didn't want to see him come to DC. Sports-wise, 2001 was a really lousy year. The Redskins signed Deion Sanders from the Cowboys and the Caps grabbed Jagr from the Pens. Everywhere I turned, there were hated enemies wearing my teams' uniform.

We all know how the Jagr thing turned out. The contract and trade were a disaster. Jagr phoned in his years in DC worse than Burt Reynolds did in Cannonball Run II and Stroker Ace. Jagr was disgruntled by the coaching staffs (Of course, who could blame him with Bruce Cassidy?!) and distraught about getting dumped by his girlfriend...and was a shadow of the Jagr that Leonsis had traded for.

The Caps went from back-to-back division championships to perennial basement dwellers, hemorrhaging cash...and there were even rumors of the Caps leaving for Winnipeg or Vegas.

Jagr was traded to the Rangers, and a pre-lockout fire sale saw many Cap favorites sent packing.

But the silver lining of the debacle that was the Jagr trade is that, had #68 come to DC and lit the ice on fire, the Caps probably would have been a playoff team, and would never have been low enough in the lottery to get the Ovechkin pick...nor would they have made the trades to get the other picks, which they would use to build the core of the team we now have such high hopes for.

So 10 years ago, Jagr took the ice at Piney Orchard, and started the Caps down the road to the team they are today...a team that will open camp next week on what will hopefully be an incredible season.

Thanks, Jags.

New Terps Unis: The Good, The Not-SO-Bad, and the Butt-Ugly

2011-08-23T12:42:00.000-04:00

So the Terps unveiled their new Under Armour uniforms yesterday. I had seen some of the designs already, playing NCAA 2012. They had the Red Jersey/White Pants and White Jersey/Red Pants in the game. As bad as some of the leaks (the yellow jersey) were, I thought that on the game, they looked good.

So the verdict...There are about 5 uniform sets I really like...there are a couple I'm 'Meh' on...and there are some that are just straight hideous.

Let's start with the helmets:

The script Terps is gone. (NCAA 2012 got that part wrong in the game).

They have given the team a white helmet with turtle-shell graphic, and a military black, neither with a decal on the side of the helmet. I can live with the no-logo on the helmet thing.

I don't mind the design on the white helmet. It's definitely unique. It isn't incredibly distracting or an eye-sore. The black is kind of bad-ass too.

What I love is the incorporation of the Maryland flag into the helmet stripe. The black/gold in the front, and the red/white in the back. Very cool.

Overall grade for the helmets - A

I think they really came up with something unique, that wasn't tacky or so obnoxious. I like the helmets.

Now the uniform sets. The Terps have 16 jersey/pants combinations...so 32 when you add in 2 helmets.

I think that the Red and the White jerseys are solid. Very straight-forward. They have the turtle shell print effect on the shoulder pad area (it's subtle, but it's there). I'm not crazy about the gradient on the numbers...or the font they used for the text. Bur over all, they're solid designs.

The Black jersey I don't care for...and the Gold jerseys are garbage. The gradient from black to red on the shoulder area of both is just ugly. It looks like Photoshop threw-up on a uniform template.

So Jersey Grades:

Red & White: B (Would be an A except for the gradient on the numbers, and that space-agey font)

Black: C-

Gold: F

So with all of the options available, I've broken them into 3 groups.

The Good

These are probably my three favorite of the options. The classic Red-on-White, The White-on-Black (with the Black helmet) and the new White-on-Gold.

I've never been a fan of white-on-white for away uniforms. It just looks like practice unis. So I like that they have a couple options to go with the white uni. (All the options they have...but 5 games are away, which will mandate white jerseys, so we'll probably see those more than any of the others).

These two, I can live with as well. I am not a huge fan of the black jersey...but I don't mind it paired with the white pants. I like the white helmet with the black jersey better than the black.

The Not-So-Bad:

Ok. These, I don't love, but they don't make me want to go all Oedipus and jab my eyeballs out.

The Black-on-Gold is not awful looking. But for my money, it's a little too 'Steelers' for me.

The White-on-Red is solid. I like it better than the all-white, but would still rather see the Black or Gold pants with the white jersey.

The White-on-White is boring. This is for practice, not games.

The Butt-Ugly:

The guy wearing all black looks like he's going to throw up. Kind of fitting. Hey Under Armour, solid color Unitards are for ballet, not for football. (see also: Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills). You know those awful uniforms in Any Given Sunday? This makes them look good.

The everything that was good about the Red-on-Black up in 'The Good' is lost when you flip it. Red Pants are for golfers and grandpas.

That's, uh...a lot of Red. They wear these, and you may want to watch on one of the non-HD TVs in the house...or a black and white if you can find one. In fact, any game they wear these in, may be a good one to turn on Johnny Holiday on the radio, and just not watch.

Unfortunately, we know we'll see this one on homecoming. They always rock the red-on-red for that one.

Looks like the Clown College has started a football team!

There really aren't any combos with the gold jersey that will work. That thing is beyond hideous. And I notice that up in the main picture, it doesn't even look like they trotted out a Gold-on-Red option. Even they know that one is too far.

I couldn't find a solo shot of the Gold-on-Black. But from what I can see of it in the main picture up top, it would belong right here in the Butt-Ugly group with the rest of the gold-jersey abomination combos.

I'm not a fan of the way they've ramped up the gold this year. I like the Black/Red/White...and then that little bit of Gold as an accent. The problem I have is that the Terps have a great, deep, rich red that they use. When you put that gold too close to it, it kind of pulls that red toward orange.

So the Verdict...

There are about 8, maybe 9 uniform combos I can live with...so I'd say it's a success.

But the problem is, Coach Edsall is planning on letting the players pick the uniform combinations. This is the same group that thinks that Jersey Shore is quality television. So I'm not banking too much on a bunch of 20 year-olds going with classy, traditional looks instead of flashy, gaudy crap. So my fear is, while they CAN look pretty good, they probably won't choose to.

Now before you get into the "Who cares what they wear...it's about how they play" I just want to say, "Bull!" If they wore pink and purple, you'd sure have a problem with that, wouldn't you? Yes, obviously, I care more about how the team plays. But I also care that they don't look ridiculous while they play. A football team is a brand...and that brand has a visual identity. Fans associate themselves with that visual identity.

While Miami and VT and Oregon and Boise State have allowed Nike to jerk them around and make them look at time rediculous (Paul Lukas on Uni Watch calls it "Corporate Douchebaggery," I liked that Maryland had stayed very traditional. I was proud of that. So, I resent Under Armour doing the same thing to the Terps.

You look at Auburn, Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame, USC...they don't mess around with their visual identity. I'd rather try to emulate those programs than Oregon's. (Well, minus the whole NCAA Sanctions things for a couple of those schools).

So I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. For the most part, I do like what they've come up with. But I loathe those gold unis. The hope is that when they do use an ugly combo...with 16 possibilities, it'll be a while before we see it again.

And heaven forbid if the Terps and Ducks ever made it to a bowl game against each other. It would be harder on the eyes and cause more nausea than watching The Blair Witch Project on IMAX.

So, what do you think?

(all photos from UMTerps.com)

Beck vs Rex

2011-08-08T13:09:00.002-04:00

Sonny vs Billy. Gus vs Heath. Weurffel vs Matthews!?...(don't even get me started)...Brunell vs Campbell. Redskins fans love their Quarterback Controversies.

So, here we are again.

For the 3 of you who've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I detest Rex Grossman. Whenever someone says "but he took a team to the Superbowl" I want to smack that person. NO HE DIDN'T. The Bears got to that Superbowl despite Rex...not because of him! They got there on the strength of an old-school possession running game and a great defense (and some great special teams play from Devin Hester). The bus driver who drove the team from the hotel to the stadium actually did more to take the Bears to the Super Bowl than Rex did!

This guy has never shown that he takes his position seriously. In college, he broke curfew before a BCS game and was benched for the first half. In Chicago, he decided that he didn't need to study the gameplan for the final game of the season because it was on New Years Eve and he didn't think he'd be playing much, in a Bears game against the PACKERS! (For the Skins, that's like a QB mailing it in against the Cowboys! WHAT?)

So it's pretty easy to tell how I'm hoping this QB battle will play out. Beck was a pretty highly touted QB coming out of BYU. His rookie stats with Miami can't really be held against him, because that was a historically bad football team. If it weren't for Billick's Ravens blowing a game late in that season, that Miami team most likely would have gone 0-16. That's not on Beck, or Cam Cameron...that was the weight of the mis-management of the Wannstedt/Jimmy Johnson/post-Marino era finally caving in.

Beck was a 2nd rounder who's had a chance to prepare for his opportunity. (There's that tricky word again, Rex. "Prepare"). His talent is enough that Cameron brought him to Baltimore with him when he came there as O.C. Beck has been running his own workouts and copying & teaching the playbook to his new receivers all off season. This guy is doing everything it takes to not just try to be the man, but to do it...meanwhile, Grossman comes into camp looking like "Sonny Jurgensen" according to one panelist on Washington Post Live. (His physique, not his ability). Where has he been training for the season, the Gainsville Krystals?

Beck's story reminds me of the Trent Green situation back in 98/99. Heath Shuler was finally gone. Gus was ineffective (that tends to happen when you scramble your brain running it into a building...just saying). So in the midst of the John Friese/Gus Frerotte debacle, Trent Green came off the bench and actually played really well. And I'm willing to bet that if his knee hadn't gotten shredded, he would have put up the same gaudy numbers with the Rams that Kurt Warner did.

I like the confidence and command that Beck has shown. And I really want to see him prove the nay-sayers wrong...more than that, I don't want to see Rex: The Crown Prince of Frat Boys win the gig.

I'm honestly really excited for the pre-season games to start. I want to see how this plays out.

RANDOMS:

-I love the Josh Wilson move. (Of course I love any move that brings a Terp back to the Skins or Ravens).

-I'm excited about Landry and Atogwe back in the deep secondary. Now they have someone else who can play Free and let Landry just seek & destroy.

-I'm glad Santana Moss is back. I hope that Hankerson can prove to be a big enough threat that it creates a lot of room for Moss & Cooley underneath.

-I think the Skins D is actually going to be better than average this year. The secondary is very strong (provided Landry comes back healthy), the resigning of McIntosh bolsters the LB corp...and Kerrigan and Jenkins are going to step right in and help Orakpo get some pressure on the opposing QB.

-I honestly don't think the Skins aren't going to be bad enough to be in position to draft Andrew Luck. I think they're 6 wins at worst?...maybe 10 at best?

So...how are you feeling Skins fans? Beck or Rex?

Tick Tock, NFL!

2011-07-05T12:28:00.001-04:00

So, generally, July 4 tends to be the time that I ramp up my Fantasy Football prep. I usually grab my first preview magazine and start figuring out which players I want to target. The week after July 4 is usually MLB's All-Star break...and that generally marks the "we made it" point of summer. Usually about a week and a half to 2 weeks after the All Star break is when NFL teams start reporting to camps...and then the daily parade of "this WR looks like he's set to break out" or "That QB is really sharp" updates from Peter King and Don Banks, as they make their way from camp to camp.

So get your sh*t together, NFL. None of us want to wait until August to see camps open! Don't stick us with baseball any longer than we have to!

As for fantasy football...I haven't even bothered to prep yet. There's like 300 free agents out there...until you know where those guys are going to land, what's the point?

Since I filed this under a "5 O'Clock Club" header, I guess I should talk some Skins?

QB, or Not QB. That is the question.

Is John Beck really the guy? If he is, is that a bad thing? I mean after the public castration that the Shanahan boys gave to McNabb, there's no way they can go into 2011 and say "he's our guy" right? They didn't draft anyone...Grossman's not under contract (but one would assume he will be, once free agents can be signed). In the meantime, you have John Beck who is flying rookies and receivers out to Cali to work out with him...copying his playbook for the rooks who haven't been able to talk to the coaching staff yet...and pretty much doing everything you would hope a starting QB would do in this situation.

Beck was Miami's QB of the future until the Favre debacle. Favre landed in New York, Pennington landed in Miami...and things derailed for the kid. He was a high 2nd round QB...and Shanahan had him rated pretty highly at the time...so maybe he could be the guy.

It's kind of a no-lose situation. If it works out, then the Skins have their guy now. If it fails...let's hope it fails miserably enough to give us a shot at Andrew Luck in next year's draft.

One wild card here is the possibility that the Skins could take a flier on Terrelle Prior from Ohio State in the supplemental draft.

Sloppy Joe, Slop-sloppy joe

Generally the first 2 or 3 weeks of any NFL season are a bit sloppy. Timing in the passing game is off...blocking's and blitz pick-ups aren't quite up to speed yet. And you get some ugly, sloppy games. And that's with teams having a Spring and early summer full of organized team activities and OTAs and Passing Camps and mini camps. Right now you have teams having self-run workouts...you know they're not at the tempo or intensity of a practice run by the actual coaching staffs...and as soon as this lock-out ends they're going to jump straight into camp and try to get up to speed?

This kickoff weekend is going to be more of a mess than a Michael Bay script.

Randoms

I wouldn't hate to see the Skins give Plaxico a shot.

I'm thrilled to have a season without the drama of Clinton Portis.

I can't wait to see what Leonard Hankerson's got. I think we got a steal with him, that late in the draft.

It will be interesting to see what Malcolm Kelly can do if he can get on the field. The size that Kelly and Hankerson (and say Plaxico) could bring to the Skins passing game? Kind of scary.

Will one of the late RB draft picks be the new Terrell Davis? or will Torain?

If Beck is the starter...I put the over/under on 20 seconds after his first interception for some variation of "Beck's a Loser baby so why don't you kill him" to hit Twitter.

If the Skins try to re-sign Carlos Rogers, do they get a discount since he apparently is sold without hands?

Jarred Gaither didn't work out in Baltimore. If he's available, the Skins have to grab him. They need so much help on the line.

I really hope the Haynesworth garbage is over with. Cut him or trade him, but please don't bring that drama back and let it taint another season!

Hope everyone had a great 4th...we'll be around with random posts through the rest of Summer. Hopefully soon we'll be talking about the end of the lockout.

In the meantime, remember that most of our stuff is posted straight to our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/2inthebox . We do a lot of stuff too small for a blog post there. So check it out.

How would we fix the Caps?

2011-06-03T14:37:00.001-04:00

We all know the age old WWJD?...and the more recent WWJBD (Biebs)...well in Washington, we're faced with a new question this off season:

What Would (or should) GMGM Do?

Let's get some bracelets of that, huh? Because we're all asking it.

So, we posed the question to our writers. If you were George McPhee, how would you fix the Caps? What would you do?:

[Dan]:

I don’t think it’s time to blow up and start over…yet. At least 27 other teams would KILL to be in the personnel situation the Caps find themselves in.

Changes are needed. But not necessarily sweeping changes. So here are some of my thoughts/tweaks for how the Caps should approach the off-season.

Fire Bruce? No. Hell no. In his first year, Boudreau installed a new system after Thanksgiving, and took the team from worst in the league to division title in just over 4 months. This year, he installed a new philosophy even later in the season than in Year 1, and the guys bought in. These guys listen to him. They will follow him. The guy has won at every level…and he’s won with the Caps…just not in April or May. I think he’s still the right guy.

If I’m McPhee and Boudreau, the first thing I’m doing is telling my captain/the face of my franchise, “Hey. We need you in DC this Summer. Not back in Russia clubbing it up every night.” No one doubts that Ovechkin is working out back there. But he needs to be here. He needs to be organizing skates on his own with team-mates at Kettler…much like you see NFL QBs getting their guys together in Arizona or Florida to throw in the off-season.

Change the image: There’s an image problem with the Caps. When you hear rumors (not confirmed) of Mike Green being out in Georgetown (late) the night before a game...or when the big GQ article about Ovechkin talks as much about his clubbing and gangster-wannabe friends back in Russia as it does his on-ice exploits, it makes the team look like a bunch of immature, soft, poser rock-star party boys…not the gritty, all-business kind of championship teams that Steve Yzerman and Scott Stevens played on. (By the way, On Frozen Blog has run a great piece on this whole “Country Club Culture” of the Caps. A must read).

There needs to be accountability in the locker room…someone who, if I’m out late the night before a game, or if I’m not putting in the kind of training or focus that I should be, I know I’m going to have to answer to that dude in the room...or on the ice at Kettler. Does Alex fill that role? From all I’ve read about how Arnott came in and started taking people to task, and what they showed on 24/7 how it seemed that Knuble was more of a locker room presence than Ovi, I would say that I don't think so. (But, again...that's just my take. I'm not in that locker room. What do I know?) But based on that hunch, I'd say that re-signing Arnott is a must! Arnott, Laich and Knuble have to be the heart of the team. And Ovi needs to spend every waking moment hanging out with those dudes, and learning what leadership is from them…because that C is permanent on his sweater. There’s no way they’re ever taking that thing off, not without a media shitstorm…it would basically be a public shaming of the franchise’s identity, and it would guarantee that before 2013, Ovi would end up in NY/Chicago/Toronto...somewhere other than Washington. Not going to happen. So those guys need to help mold him into that leader. (I wouldn't hate to see them bring Chris Clark back, either.)

Wither Mike Green?: As for Mike Green…look, I’m just a fan. I’m not a hockey Xs and Os guy. But with his experience on the blue line, and his offensive game…I’d consider trying him out as a winger. The guy stick-handles great. He’s a great skater. He’s got offensive instincts…and he’d be an asset to the penalty kill as a defensive forward/short-handed goal threat. He could be what Kevin Stevens was to the early 90's-Pens. They’ve played with so many different pairings, trying to find that winger to play opposite of Ovi...Ovechkin-Backstrom-Green. That could be a freakin killer first line. I like Mike Green. I don’t want to see him traded. I just wonder if there might be a different position where he could be more valuable to the team.

The 3-headed Goalie: I’d say Neuvirth has won the job. I think the Caps should try to move Varlamov (if they can keep him from jumping to the KHL) and get as much as they possibly can for him. (We need a guy like Douglas Murray of the Sharks…or as Bob has mentioned in the past, Greg Zanon of the Wild. Guys who are just tenacious.)

The hard cuts: I hate to be dis-loyal…but I think it may be time to say goodbye to some of these guys that Boudreau loves from his days back in Hershey. Boyd Gordon? Eric Fehr? Jeff Schultz? Gone. There are still a bunch of solid, mega-talented guys in the pipeline. Demetry Orlov, Joe Finley (who could be our Zedeno Chara…but needs to go to Hershey first.), Matthew Perreault, and Andrew Gordon. We know what Shultz/Fehr/Gordon are capable of…it hasn’t made the difference. Time to give the other guys a shot.

Free Agents: Of the Caps un-restricted free agents, I think you have to re-sign Brooks Laich, Jason Arnott, and Scott Hannan. Of the Caps Restricted free agents, I’d like to see them keep Alzner (duh), Finley, Perreault and Varly (but with the intent of trading him, and calling up Holtby). And finally, I think you need to target one or two guys in the off-season. Someone like a Kevin Bieska would be a great fit, I think.

So what would all of that look like?:

Forwards:

Ovechkin - Backstrom - Green (moved from D)

Knuble - Arnott (re-sign) - Semin

Perreault - Johannson - Chimera

Andrew Gordon (call-up) - Laich - Bradley (re-sign)

Defense:

Carlson - Alzner

Bieska (FA) - Orlov

Hannan - Wideman

Sean Collins & Tyler Sloan for bench depth. (Is Poti ever coming back?)

(Joe Finley, call up as soon as he’s ready.)

Goal:

Neuvirth

Holtby

(Varly traded or goes to KHL of his own choice).

So that's my spin on tinkering with the Caps. Fellas?

[Bob]:

Honestly? I don't know. That's the damnable misery of it. I look at this situation and I just don't know.

Part of me wants to ship Semin and Green out on a slow boat to Vladivostok. But right now, neither has any value. Green is hurt, yet again, and when he played he wasn't effective. He's unlikely to ever match his earlier production again. The guy has peaked, and I think most hockey people know it.

Semin is one of these guys who gets red-hot, produces at what I think you could even say is an unnecessarily high level for a week or two (hat trick after hat trick for the better part of a month) and then you don't hear from him for three months. His year end stats look solid, but if I'm going to pay a guy millions of dollars, I want a 40 goal scorer that scores in 35-40 games, not 22. Because when Semin isn't scoring, he's not contributing much else. A stick infraction or two each game is all you notice. I'd love to trade Semin to the Rangers for Ryan Callahan, but I don't know if Sather is that stupid. It might be worth the phone call to find out.

I think we need to keep Bruce. I really do. There are not many coaches, in any sport, that could successfully teach an entire new system/mentality/doctrine to a team on the fly, in-season, and still get them to first place in a conference. I don't know if Phil Jackson could do it. I don't know if Joe Paterno could do. Bill Belichick probably could, and in a way, has.

Leonsis has preached, since the rebuild, patience and stability. If you dump Bruce, where do you go? We can't hire a Mike Keenan. He'd destroy all three of our young goalies. Larry Robinson? Maybe. If he'd take the gig. I don't see anyone out there available that I'd want more than Bruce.

One thing I do, though, I fire the assistants. I call a guy like Mike Keane. I call a guy like Claude Lemieux. I try to get assistants in here that were gritty, competitive, heart-and-soul locker room guys when they played that had big-time playoff success and infuse them into the team.

I also go heavy Xs and Os on the power play. I watch film from other teams and I hybrid what works and hammer into the guys come training camp. And I make it a 1-2-3 set-up. Pass, pass, shoot. Even if it isn't perfect, even if it gets blocked, even if you're at a bad angle. We shoot. Fact: Power plays are 67% more likely to be successful (aka a goal is scored) when you get 4 shots on goal than when you get 3 shots. So the emphasis, in my system, is get the puck on net with greater frequency. On top of this, I want more movement on the power play. Our guys are like trees. I want movement laterally across and through the slot on two levels. We're going to run essentially crossing patterns in the offensive zone. Make their D move with us. If they mess with us when we don't have the puck, it's a penalty. It creates shots, it creates mismatches, it makes the opposing goalie work his ass off to see the puck, and there is an opportunity for drop passes in the slot, side-to-side that will clear out the D.

I want an aggressive forecheck. I want a 2-1 split. Ovie is going to have to D up. This system requires the forwards to make good reads on the opposing D. When their D is trying to break out, The winger on that side and the center, in concert, drive right at him, down his throat. The other winger positions himself to either pin the other D back OR intercept the cross pass. This makes it very hard for the attacked D (the one with 2 forwards on him) to make an accurate pass. It creates turnovers. It limits flow out of the defensive zone. They can't use their speed trough the neutral zone. It does all sorts of good things for your team.

That's where I'd start.

[Steve]:

I agree with Bob that we should keep Bruce, however I'd like to see the team add an assistant known as a brilliant in-game tactician. I think the Caps have been out-coached in that regard the last two postseasons. Not only in-game, but in-series. If that guy isn't out there, I'd like the current staff to work in the offseason on upping that part of their game.

As for the roster, I'd trade Semin in the right deal. Maybe we can find a team that needs to upgrade their wow factor to attract fans ... probably a non-playoff team where his annual postseason disappearances wouldn't be a big deal. I'd like to get a player in the mold of Ryane Clowe back -- 20 goals, 30-40 assists and 100 PIMs (that didn't include 90 minutes of stick infractions).

So...those are our thoughts. We'd love to hear yours. What Would You Do?

Don't Blog Angry

2011-05-04T11:13:00.000-04:00

Ned!? Ned ~~Ryerson~~ Ovechkin!?

That's what the playoffs are for the Caps fans...Groundhog Day. Just waking up every spring with the same song playing...only instead of Sonny & Cher, it's Journey. "Don't Stop Believin."

Well you know what? I'm getting a little tired of belevin' in a team that doesn't seem to believe in itself. If they thought they were the team to beat, they freakin would be.

I really like Bruce Boudreau. Think he's a gritty, fun guy...and I like the personality he brings to the bench...but I have to ask: With all the talent on this roster, how many Cups would we already have if we had Dan Bylsma or Mike Babcock behind our bench instead of Bruce?

The 08 playoff run...going from last place at Thanksgiving to winning the division...that was the best, most fun time I've ever had as a hockey fan. And I will forever love Bruce Boudreau for bringing that to us...but what's happening now, repeated Too Many Men on the ice calls...mental lapses...bad line changes...a lack of killer instinct...the passiveness of the design of the Power Play (seriously? No one moves around? We're going with letting the Lightning keep their nice neat 4-man box in tact?)...I really feel like these REPEATED failings have to fall on the coaching staff. There's always excuses. You know what there never is? Just going out and blowing a team the hell out of the barn...just working them over from opening faceoff until final horn 60 minutes later, and leaving them a bloody, spent mess on the ice.

Yes, they won the Rangers series in 5 games. They could have lost it in 4 though...they were scratching and clawing through that entire series the way they are against the Lightning, now. The only game that was never in doubt was the finale Game 5. But the other 3 Caps wins could just as easily gone the other way. The only difference is that against New York, they got some lucky bounces...this time, those seem to be going Tampa's way.

I'm not giving up. I'd love nothing more than to see the Caps fire back into this series and see Game 7 next week in DC. I just can't shake that feeling that we're stuck in the same playoffs over and over...and I'm having a hard time not driving (or blogging) angry.

2intheBox Mock Draft

2011-04-26T10:42:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed that we haven't kept up with the Mock Draft this year. We had a confluence of events...first, the really lack-luster draft class...second, the apathy surrounding the NFL right now with the lockout/court battle, etc...and third, the Caps making a solid run in the playoffs. Our passion and attention has really been elsewhere.

We're not going to try to squeeze in 27 more picks before Thursday...this is one of those drafts where NO ONE knows what's going to happen.

I think what we'd all like to see from the Redskins is to get out of that #10 spot and slide back...get another lineman or pass rushing defensive lineman in the 1st and Jake Locker in the 2nd...and for the Ravens to address their secondary.

It's good to see that the courts stepped in and lifted the lockout...whatever that means with the owners appealing. What a mess.

Brandon Dubinsky's 'Stache Twin

2011-04-22T16:05:00.000-04:00

I think we've found Brandon Dubinsky's Moustache Twin...fellow New Yorker, Ross Geller. Only Schwimmer's stache doesn't look quite as geeky.

At least Ross got Jennifer Aniston. Best Dubinsky can hope for is maybe Avery's 'sloppy seconds'

Seriously, Dubinsky, that thing screams "hey little boy, can you hop in my van and help me find my puppy?"

Fred Sanford was a Caps fan?

2011-04-21T12:00:00.001-04:00

...Yep. That's about right. From the 3rd Period on, I felt like Fred Sanford.

For a team that claims to care so much about its fans, they sure like to put us through the emotional ringer! Maybe Lincoln Holdings has stock in the company that makes Diovan or Lisinopril?

At the beginning of the 2nd period last night, I was taking care of the bedtime process with my 6-year old. I paused the game, intending to catch up as soon as I got back down. 15 minutes or so later, I returned to what I thought was a 0-0 game and began to play (and occasionally fast forward through, to catch up to the live game).

Boom. 1-0 Rangers.

Boom. 2-0 Range...

BOOM 3-0 Rangers. (before you could even process the second goal.)

It was hard to process (especially for me, as I was playing catch-up at that point). I felt like one of the guys from The Hangover after the naked guy popped out of the trunk kicked their asses. What just happened?! I hate Godzilla too!

And then all the ghosts of blown playoff leads came screaming out of the night...Oh no...it's happening again. Listening to the Rangers fans shower taunts down on Boudreau and the boys, thinking, They're going to blow another one. How does this keep happening? That made for a long 2nd Intermission. I only wish I could be in the room and hear who stepped up and what was said. Based on the HBO 24/7, I'm assuming there were a lot of words that rhymed with "puck" and "ship-bums".

The comeback started so fast it was almost hard to take seriously. First Semin scored on a wild scrum at the side of the net, and it was Ok. At least we stopped the bleeding. There were 17 minutes or so left...thinking hopefully they can get another one before the last 2 minutes and then pull the goalie and try for the tie. Then the next thing you know, Marcus Johansson is tipping one in a minute or so later. 3-2!?

And that's when the heart palpatations really started. From that point on, the game was absolutely exhausting...surviving Rangers' scoring chances, Caps miscues, missed Caps shots. It was the awful kind of awesome that the Stanley Cup Playoffs is all about.

I don't know what had me more stressed out...the time between the 2nd goal and the tying goal...or the entire time it was tied 3-3 and into overtime. The Rangers had SO many chances. Particularly the 2-on-none break in which the referee ended up in Dubinsky's way. That one literally stopped my heart. As that started, I could just hear Bill Paxton from Aliens. "That's it man. Game over, man, Game Over!"

The Caps' Too Many Men on the ice call and subsequent Ranger power play, I don't think I was breathing that whole time. How does this team manage to get called for that same mental mistake playoff after playoff!? Gabby, come on. I think you're a great coach...but when it keeps happening over and over, that starts to fall on you. (It's like all the Delay of Game play-calling penalties Gibbs & Co. had in the most recent part of his tenure with the Skins).

Ovechkin's breakaway in OT had me out of my seat. Here it is! Couldn't believe he didn't bury that. As we crept closer and closer to the third OT, I became more and more worried about the Rangers Massengill Line. (Avery/Prust/Boyle...because they're all douches) Those three were wreaking havoc and creating chances...and still seemed fresh (like a Summer's Eve, you might say) late in the game. Every time they were on the ice, they seemed to be in Neuvirth's mug.

Speaking of Neuvirth, he is horrible at handling the puck behind the net, and at getting out of the way of his defenseman sweeping in to grab the puck. He nearly created 2 or 3 scoring chances for the Rangers with his awkward play outside of the crease.

Finally, when the winning goal was scored, there was almost a delay in reacting. Much like Semin's first goal it was kind of a What just happened? did that count? Are we good here?

What I particularly enjoyed in this game was the way the Caps recognized that Mark Staal was gassed and really pressed on him. Having Chimera on the line that Staal is always matched up against really took advantage of his dead legs late in the game...and it was great to see the one series where Girardi blocked like 3 shots in OT (I think on the Rangers' Delay of Game penalty?) Those shots weren't simple deflections off a shin-pad. The Caps got the puck up, into the soft parts of the padding...kind of a You want to stand there, pal? You're going to pay with some internal bleeding, then. That's had to wear him down as well. Also, the Caps, for the most part, were very smart with the puck. Getting lose pucks up and out of the danger zones...not blindly chipping it where a streaking Ranger could collect it and fire it (with one or two exceptions). Once they got back even, the Caps played some smart hockey.

What an exhausting up and down night! It took me a good 40 minutes afterward to wind back down and be ready to go to sleep.

And now the real worry can begin. Here we are, once again, staring down the barrel of a Caps 3-1 series lead. I can't stress how important the game on Saturday will be. They can't give the Rangers a moment of breath. This series needs to end now. 5 games and out. Drop the mic, stomp the foot, 'Sexual Chocolate,' and get the hell off stage! No trip back to Madison Square. No chance for the Rags to force ANOTHER Game 7. The Caps need this. They need to know what it feels like to deliver the kill shot. Closing out this series would be the next step in the evolution of this team...the ability to take care of business as soon as possible.

You know Tortarella is going to be preaching that the Caps are vunerable. The old playoff failures of the Caps franchise aren't relevant...but this squad...Ovi/Backstrom/Green/Laich/Semin/Fehr, the core group that this team is made from, they've blown 3-1 leads to Pittsburgh and Montreal each of the last two Springs. The Rangers will come in on Saturday and play their asses off. I really hope the Caps are ready. Not sure my heart can handle another blown 3-1 lead.

Caps - Rags Playoff Bingo

2011-04-13T16:56:00.000-04:00

2011 2intheBox Mock Draft: Pick #5 - Arizona Cardinals

2011-04-12T16:13:00.002-04:00

So with Cam Newton to Cincy, another team with a major need for a QB comes up at #5. What looked at a steal a few years ago with the Cards in Matt Leinart in the middle of the first round, turned out to be an epic fail...not only was he unable to lead the team following Kurt Warner's retirement...they straight up cut him instead of dealing with his attitude. When you're a first round pick, and the team would rather roll with Derrick Anderson and Max Hall, you know you're a bust.

As we said earlier, we don't expect either Newton of Gabbert to actually still be sitting here at #5. (most likely Newton's going to Carolina and Gabbert will be grabbed by the Bengals at #4). But in our draft, he's on the board...and none of us see him getting past this pick:

[RB] They take Gabbert. No doubt.

photo by J. Squire - Getty Images

[DF] In this scenario, I definitely agree. QB is without a doubt their most pressing need. You can't have a talent like Larry Fitzgerald and not get him someone who can get him the ball. I can't say that I watch a lot of Missouri football...in fact I hate watching them (and all of the other teams who run that spread option where the whole offense lines up on the ball and looks to the sideline for the coach to signal the adjustments. 'please coach, can you wipe my hiney after I go twosies, too?') But from all I've read, Gabbert would at least give them better play than the trifecta of suck they went into last season with at QB.

I still think Zona's best best is to trade with Cincy to get Carson Palmer. Palmer to Fitzgerald and Breaston would just be sick. And in that weak division, it could mean playoffs immediately.

[SB] Gabbert sounds like the right pick here to me too. Watching Cardinal games last year, I half-expected Fitzgerald to go under center, take the snap, drop back and fling the ball as high as he could, then run downfield to catch it.

"I'm pissed off now, Max Hall. Look, I go to you. I stick up for you. You don't help me now. I say 'Fuck you,' Max Hall, I do it myself."

photo by J. McDonough - SI

[2itB] So this one seems pretty straight forward on our end. With Gabbert on the board, he doesn't get past Arizona.

With the 5th pick in the 2011 2intheBox Mock Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri.

Next up...Cleveland.

Playoff Beards and Hockey Zombies

2011-04-11T14:32:00.000-04:00

Before the puck drops on the 2011 playoffs, a quick look back at 2 of our pre-playoff pieces from last Spring. Something to get you through the 2-day drought before the playoffs open.

In a Head to Head debate, Bob and I argued the merits of the Playoff Beard. Bob for it, and I very, VERY against.

And we also chronicled the Annual plague of Hockey Zombies. Those

weary souls with blood-shot eyes who are barely able to function

through the first couple rounds of the playoffs, thanks to the endless (and glorious) multi-OT Western Conference games.

2011 2intheBox Mock Draft: Pick #4 - Cincinnati Bengals

2011-04-08T16:30:00.000-04:00

So far it's been a Defensive minded draft. Again, we don't expect that the Bills and Panthers will actually pass on the QBs when the time comes, but that's what they've done here.

Now we move on to Cinncinati. Somehow, Marvin Lewis survived the hatchet man this off season...Ocho Cinco is playing in the MLS right now, and may be cut before this the next season...and now Carson Palmer has publicly stated that he will retire if he isn't traded. This team has so many questions that when you look up Bengals Team Needs, Google just replies "...yes."

[RB] I believe if Mike Brown has his way, they'll take A.J. Green. If Marvin Lewis makes the pick, it's Fairley.

[DF] In the scenario we're presented, with Newton and Gabbert still on the board, and Palmer saying "Hell No" to Cincy...you think they'd pass on one of them?

[RB] for our purposes, if Gabbert and Newton are still both there, the Bengals will pick Newton because they're the Bengals and he's exactly the kind of morally ambiguous enigma with work ethic issues they tend to favor in the first round.

[DF] A lot of Mocks have them taking Green from Georgia. One good thing about playing in Cincy...you won't have to worry about him selling off any of his jerseys. Who would want one?

Heeeey Preppy

I just don't think that would make sense...not if Palmer is truly out of there.

So do you take Cam Newton here or AJ Green...or AC Slater.

[RB] I think they'd go Newton. Mike Brown loves character issue guys, because he's under the impression they'll sign for less $$$ and he's a legendary cheapskate.

[DF] If they get to this pick and Newton is on the board, there's no way they'll pass him up.

[RB] Probably not. And Newton will be guaranteed to flame out and fail inside of three years. That place is blackhole.

Carson Palmer - Fonzie fan

[SB] Yeah, if it is a call between Newton, Gabbert or Green, I think they take Newton considering Carson's threats to retire if he isn't traded.

Is it me or is this draft very thin on elite talent? The choices we're discussing don't seem all that exciting.

[RB] It's like I said at the beginning. There's no game-breaking, franchise saving player in this draft. I'm hoping, though, that the middle rounds produce some solid pros. Pros that Ozzie [Newsome] snags throughout the draft. Pros who know how to negotiate a set of stairs in the dark.

[DF] If they get Newton, they can work on trading Carson Palmer...maybe to Arizona, who picks next and is in desperate need of a QB. Send them Carson Palmer for the next pick as well...then grab Green. Arizona is notorious for not wanting to pay. So I'm sure they'd rather take Palmer at his current contract than pay some rookie whatever it'll take to sign him at the #5 pick price.

[RB] They have to deal Carson, or risk him retiring and getting NOTHING for him. Mike Brown might just be obstinate enough to let that happen, but he needs to be dealt.

via ESPN.com

[2itB] So with the 4th pick, the Cincinnati Bengals select QB Cam Newton from Auburn. How well does Cammy Cam Juice go with Cincy style Chili?

Can he be the centerpiece for the Bengals rebuild? Who knows. It's not likely that Marvin Lewis survives another season there. Had there been no lockout coming, he probably wouldn't be there now. Bringing a rookie QB into a team with an unsettled coaching situation just stacks the deck against him. So we'll see.

The Cardinals are up next.

2011 2intheBox Mock Draft: Pick #3 - Buffalo Bills

2011-04-07T15:34:00.001-04:00

So, with Bowers (which is looking worse and worse of a projection on our part as we get farther removed from that pick) and Dareus off the board, we get to the Buffalo Bills. Most Mocks project the Bills to be in love with Cam Newton. We welcome in Chris Ostrander from the other Two in the Box blog, which is centered around the Bills and Sabres, who brings a different opinion on what the Bills need and will do.

So let's go inside the Bills Mock War Room:

[DF]: In our Mock, we present Buffalo with a scenario they won't likely encounter on Draft night...a decision between Gabbert and Cam Newton.

In last year's draft, we had the Bills taking Jimmy Claussen. Obviously, they didn't. They can't let this need go another year without being filled.

The Bills have a guy in place, Fitzpatrick, who is decent enough to keep the seat warm (although, it's not really easy to keep anything warm in Buffalo) so they could take Newton and give him time to develop before taking over. But let's face it, Fitzpatrick is basically Gus Frerotte (minus the self-concussing)...a guy who will play a long time in the NFL because he can grasp offenses. He's a quality back-up, not the QB1.

They have to address line in this draft, but it doesn't look like this is the draft to grab one early.

In all honesty, I think they'd be better off letting someone else get in here at #3 to take Newton, and then falling back in the 1st and grabbing a lineman (like an Anthony Castonzo from BC), and maybe a Christian Ponder or Jake Locker in the 2nd.

[RB]: If Gabbert is still on the board, I take Gabbert. Not nearly the baggage or "project" stigma.

[DF]: Newton would definitely have to take a pay cut going from college to Buffalo. (I'll be here all week. Try the veal).

[CO]: I have to say Von Miller is the guy I would grab here with the though that either Christian Ponder or Colin Kapernick is available in the second round. I don't like Newton, he comes across as a very greasy person off the field (see stolen laptops and pay for play) and the ghost of JaMarcus Russell looms large here. Also the last "one year wonder" the Bills selected, Aaron Maybin, may be on the streets next season. Gailey had Miller in the senior bowl and saw his skills up close So I would take Miller expecting him to be the game changer they need on defense and get a solid QB in the second round.

As it has been said already, Fitz is good enough to maintain and I am of the school of grooming your future QB behind an intelligent veteran. Ponder and Kapernick (to a lesser extent) have the ability to gel in an pro style offense. They also both offer the athleticism to escape the daunting pass rush the Bills porous o-line often yields.

It is just Buffalo's luck that they bottomed out for a draft that is thin on top end talent. The ultimate need for this team is QB and OL but I don't see a player worthy of the 3rd pick at either position. Buddy Nix showed he won't reach for a need position when he took CJ Spiller last year.

I would certainly explore trading down to gain more picks but taking Von Miller at three and getting a QB who can learn under Fitz in the second round is the route I would take....Go Sabres.

[RB] Can't argue with the logic. Miller strikes me as a better choice than Newton, at any rate.

[SB] (Only logic I can argue with is "Go Sabres" -- if they meet the Caps or Habs in the playoffs.) I agree that if you have to "groom" a QB, you don't want to spend a top pick on him. If Gabbert or Newton were "can't miss" QB prospects, this is a no-brainer. But since that player doesn't exist in this draft, take another dynamic player and pick your "QB of the future" in a later round.

[CO] It is really too bad that there isn't a can't miss prospect out there. This is a deep draft but one with out a whole lot of cream cloying on the surface.

Nick Fairley was also on my short list but the personality issues raise some red flags for me. The last thing the Bills need is a top flute prospect who doesn't want to play, for some reason I don't honk fairly has that drive to win that a guy like Ndamamamananakong Suh had last season.

[DF] I think that's a great idea. Just seemed to me that QB was what they identified as their first round need so long ago that when this discussion started, it was Jake Locker who's name was in that top QB spot. SO I figured this is a team that probably should go QB in the first.

To be honest, I don't see Gabbert or Newton being worth these top 5 spots (and they both will go Top 5.) Newton brings so many intangibles that he could be a genius pick. I don't think he'll be JaMarcus or Ryan Leaf. I worry that he could end up like his fellow Auburn Tiger Jason Campbell...on a bad team, facing multiple coaching and scheme changes, and never amounting to more than a middle of the road QB. But he could be another Steve Young, or what people always hoped Mike Vick would evolve into, a legit dual threat. If that's what Newton will truly end up being, then I think he's absolutely worth the #3 pick...but that's a big damn gamble.

Ok...so we have an option to do what we think Buffalo's going to do and take Newton...or go off the menu and take one of the defensive guys like Von Miller, and save QB for Round 2, as the distinguished gentleman from Buffalo proposed.

[RB] I'd take Miller now and take Andy Dalton, the QB from TCU, in the second.

[CO] Miller would be my guy based on who has come off the board thus far. Leave QB for the second round whether it be ponder, Dalton or Kapernick

[DF] Miller it is. It's a good thing the NFLPA isn't letting these kids go to the draft...because at this point, Newton and Gabbert would start getting into that awkward, 'uh, I was supposed to go by now' territory.

[CO] Haha so true. You won't see too much of that 'fake smile' if newton gets the Brady Quinn treatment

[RB] That would be awesome; to see Cam Newton go all "Chris Brown GMA" on live TV at the draft.

[DF] "Dammit Robin Roberts! I said I didn't want to talk about the Mississippi State thing!"

The scary thing here...unlike Chris Brown, Cam Newton would probably hit whatever/whoever he was throwing the chair at.

[CO] No he would have his dad do it and claim to have no idea what was going on

[DF] The sad part about this is that people of thge Buffalo area will be denied the opportunity to drink their Cammy Cam Juice while eating their Flutie Flakes.

[CO] I can get over that, I'm not a fan of newton to begin with so I'm hoping that the bills pass either way.

[DF] So to wrap it up...we're going with Von Miller...but who do we think they'll actually take? Seems that most of the experts expect them to take Newton.

[CO]: Gailey and Nix have been all smoke and mirrors this offseason. They made comments in January about needing to fond a gamebreaker, that made me think that Patrick Peterson was the likely choice. But then there have been reports that they love Newton as well. There are also many who see the glaring need on the defensive front seven. I would not be thrown off by a trade, to be honest. I like that big Talyor kid out of Baylor at NT and you can add another second round pick in there if you deal properly. Then you're looking at Taylor (low 1st) a QB at 34 and another defensive pick with your extra second rounder.

via ESPN.com

[2itB]: So, with the 3rd pick, the Buffalo Bills select Linebacker Von Miller, Texas A&M. Thanks to Chris Ostrander for dropping in on our War Room.

The Cincinnati Bengals are on the clock. We'll have that one coming tomorrow.

...and maybe, in the near future a little cross blog wager (depending on the NHL match-ups).

2011 2intheBox Mock Draft: Pick #2 - Denver Broncos

2011-04-04T15:39:00.000-04:00

To quote Mars Blackmon, "must be that mountain air"

We got a little sidetracked on the Mock Draft. Our apologies. [Part of that due to the fact that two of us were at the National Opening Day game last Thursday, when this post was supposed to be published].

In last week's episode, we had the Carolina Panthers bucking all of the Mock Drafts out there and taking Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson. Now we move on to the Denver Broncos. Steve [SB], Bob [RTB] and I [DF] are joined by Eric [EL]...who actually started this whole Mock Draft thing here on Two in the Box.

[2itB]: So let's go inside our 2010 Denver Broncos Mock War Room for Pick #2:

[EL]: I could probably write a ten page dissertation on why the Broncos should select Marcell Dareus here, assuming they can't trade down to acquire more draft picks, but I think the prudent thing to do is throw out my vote to start the discussion. Basic reasoning: best talent available AND fits the biggest need. Denver hasn't been able to stop anybody in the running game for YEARS, and it's always been because of a sieve up front.

[RTB]: I concur with the pick. Marcell Dareus blew the doors off his closest competition [Auburn's Nick Fairley] at the Combine. He comes out of the SEC, he played for a coach [Saban] the NFL respects, and doesn't have any glaring weaknesses in his game. He can be a guy the Broncos can begin to build a defensive front seven around.

[DF]: Hey, I know how much the Broncos and Redskins like to do player swaps...as Washington's GM for this Mock Draft, I'd gladly give you Albert Haynesworth for like a 6-pack of Yeungling and a pizza.

[SB]: I'd hold out for Malcolm Kelly if I was you Eric.

[DF]: Throw in Kelly? That'll cost you at least pepperoni and sausage on that pizza...and now we're up to a 12-pack.

[RTB]: He could always just take the keg that's attached to the front of Haynesworth's torso.

[DF]: Pretty sure Haynesworth's keg is skunked. Maybe that's the weird face Shanahan's always making...Bitter Beer Face!

[RTB]: It's the "I can't believe this slug makes more than me" face.

[DF]: So I think we're all pretty well in agreement on this one? Looks like our picks is the same as what we expect the Broncos will do? Sound about right?

[SB]: Yeah ... though on moral grounds it pains me to pick an Alabama guy over an Auburn guy.

[RTB]: Fairley's not as big, as quick, or as strong. Other than that, he's EXACTLY the guy you'd want.

[SB]: And yet in the Iron Bowl he was easily the more dominant defensive presence. Just saying.

[RTB]: Oh, I know. The Combine is what did in Fairley. That and the perception (accurate or not) that he's a one year wonder.

[DF]: Which one fits better for what John Fox wants from his defensive tackles?

[EL]: I think they're both similar styles - 1-technique in a 4-3 defense - but Dareus is by far the safer pick. Has a much better reputation and doesn't have the one year wonder stigma attached. I'm pleasantly surprised that none of you has suggested Von Miller or Robert Quinn or any of the DE possibilities like so many mock drafts I've seen. For the record, those people are nuts. With Dumervil coming back from injury and Robert Ayers going back to his natural position at DE - as opposed to OLB in the 3-4 where McDaniels put him - the Broncos HAVE 2 starting DE, unproven though 1 may be. No reason to take another one.

The only other pick I could argue for at #2 is Patrick Peterson - just because he could pair with/learn from Champ Bailey for the next few years and be elite in short order. But that would mean hoping Stephen Paea or the like falls to the second round or just addressing the DT position - and run-stopping - next year. Not the best strategy, especially since Jimmy Smith or Brandon Harris will probably still be there in the second round. CB might not even be a "need" at all if Perrish Cox avoids jail time. Not that I'm a fan of guys getting off easy because they're on my time - if he's guilty, toss his butt in prison.

[DF]: For the teams I don't follow as closely, I tend to rely on walterfootball.com's Off-season guides for team needs.

They have D-End at the #6 need for the Broncs. (1- multiple defensive tackles, 2- Cornerback, 3- Strong Safety, 4- LB, 5- Right Tackle, 6- Ends.)

They've re-signed Champ Bailey to 4 years, $43M ($22M guaranteed)...so I doubt they want to pay 2nd overall pick money to a rookie corner. I figure they're going D Tackle here.

[RTB]: Patrick Peterson does the Broncos little good, anyway. No one is going to pass against a team they can easily run on. If you add ANOTHER talented corner, you just encourage them to run it MORE. The Broncos need to address the interior of their line, and the best player to fill that need is Dareus.

[2itB]: Ok, it seems that we have our player. With the #2 pick in the 2011 Two in the Box Mock Draft, the Denver Broncos select D-Tackle Marcell Dareus, Alabama.

Thanks to Eric for joining us for this pick. He'll be back for the Houston Texans pick as well.

We'll get back on the pick-per-day pace, now. On the clock for tomorrow is the Buffalo Bills. We'll be joined by Chris Ostrander of the Buffalo based Two in the Box.

2011 2intheBox Mock Draft: Pick 1 - Carolina Panthers

2011-03-30T11:22:00.000-04:00

Well, we're a month out from the NFL Draft, so it's time to tap the keg on our annual Two in the Box Mock Draft.

We're changing up our format a bit this year. Since there are fewer of us here in the Box now. Instead of having each of us take a team and go through the draft...the three of will be holding a War Room for each team via e-mail. So the post that follows will be the transcript from that discussion over who that day's team should pick, and then the eventual pick. We thought that might be a bit easier on the three of us...and hopefully more fun for you.

For some of the teams, we're bringing in other bloggers or friends of ours who are fans of that day's particular team. So we'll have guests on an off throughout this process.

For the next month, we'll be working our way through the first round. As a reminder, this isn't a Mock Draft of how we think the NFL teams will actually pick. You can't log onto the web without finding at least 10 of those these days. Our Mock Draft is who we would pick, if we were the ones making the decisions.

[2itB]: So, off we go. The Carolina Panthers are on the clock...The winners and then eventual losers in the Andrew Luck Lottery. Defensive guru Ron Rivera takes over a team that had an abysmal 2010 season, finishing 2-14. There are many needs on a team that only managed 2 wins. So let's pop into the Two in the Box Carolina Panthers Mock War Room: [FYI, [DF]=Dan, [RTB] = Bob, and [SB] = Steve]

[RTB]: I want to say, to begin with, that I think the top of this draft stinks to high heaven. I don't think there is a single "game changing" franchise saving player in this draft. There are some very good players, but nothing to get overly excited about. If I were the Panthers, I'd trade out and stockpile picks. They have more holes than a homeless man's jacket, and being able to fill more roster spots with later picks [see "cheaper"] would serve them well. The problem is, there's nobody in this draft that anyone is going to be truly desperate to trade up to get.

I think we saw enough of Jimmy Clausen to know he is NOT the answer at quarterback, and I believe, almost by default, that the Panthers are going to draft Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert. He has the physical measurables NFL teams look for and I think Rivera wants to have a QB that's "his guy".

[DF]: I honestly don't think that Clausen was given a fair evaluation period. That coaching staff knew they were lame ducks, there was an awful offensive line, no receiving corps and a running back committee decimated by injury. (is all of this sounding familiar to anyone in the DC area?)

Rivera is a defensive guy, and his O.C., Rob Chudzinski, was the guy who got that great season out of Derrick Anderson in Cleveland. I think that you roll the dice that whatever you do in this draft, you're probably right back here near the #1 pick again next year, with a shot at Andrew Luck. Let's face it, in that division, Atlanta and New Orleans will compete for the top seed in the NFC, and Tampa Bay is years ahead in their re-build. Carolina will be last in the division, and at the bottom of the entire league. So what will it hurt to keep Clausen, see what you can get out of him in your system...and look, instead, to grab one of the Defensive studs. Nick Fairly from Auburn, or Da'Quan Bowers from Clemson, or Marcell Dareus from Bama. Start to build the foundation for the kind of defense that Rivera has run in Chicago and San Diego in the past...someone who can get after Drew Brees and Matt Ryan for the next 10 years.

All of that being said, if there's any team that can afford to take Cam Newton with the full understanding from ownership and fans that there is no quick turn-around in the future, it's this team. They could easily grab Newton, and stash him on the bench behind Clausen for the year.

[RTB]: I think Fairley's stock has fallen to a point where he's no longer in the discussion for first overall. Da'Quan Bowers is a possibility.

[DF]: I can't see Fairley's name in these Mock Drafts without thinking of Chris Farley. If he were allowed to GO to the draft (suck it NFLPA) then he should wear a small sports jacket and be the Fat Guy in a little coat.

[SB]: I've always subscribed to the belief that you build or rebuild your team from the inside out. With no dominant offensive tackle available, I think the choice comes down to Dareus and Bowers. And at number one, I think you pick a d-end over a tackle.

[RTB]: I think Bowers' speed and pass-rushing abilities translate better to the pro game. You invest dollars in QBs and guys who hit QBs. I think you take Bowers. I'm satisfied that I'd take Bowers 1st overall. But I think Carolina's picking Gabbert in RL.

[DF]: I agree that they'll probably blow this pick on a QB. Somewhere along the line, I think Clausen will be a solid NFL QB and make them regret that decision.

But for the purposes of OUR draft, they're taking Bowers.

[2itB]: So, with the first pick in the 2010 2intheBox Mock Draft, The Carolina Panthers take Defensive End Da'Quan Bowers from Clemson.

The Denver Broncos are on the clock. We'll be back with that pick, tomorrow.

Who do you think the Panthers will pick? Would you do something different with this pick? Let us know in the comments section.

Two in the Box on Facebook

2011-03-24T11:18:00.000-04:00

We know things have been a bit quiet here on the actual blog...but we have had a lot of shorter, quick-hit posts regarding the NCAA tournament and the Caps over on the Two in the Box Facebook Page.

Make sure you hop over there and 'like' the page (and please spread the word!)

We're gearing up for our annual Mock Draft here in the next couple of weeks. We're going to change the format a bit...and hope that we can get some of you involved as well. So watch for that to start up in the next week or so.

Terps need some mojo

2011-03-11T12:13:00.000-05:00

Ah, the Glory of ACC Championship Games past.

As a father, my heart breaks for this poor kid, devestated over his team's loss in the ACC Championship game...however, as a Terps fan, I get an almost perverse level of joy every time I see it. (NO, this pic wasn't tacked to the side of my cube wall for about 3 years after that game! Why do you ask?)

Anyway...more than ever, the Terps need a little something...a little spark to make some magic happen. Right now, they're on the bubble...for the NIT! That would just be a devastating blow for the program, to not even qualify for the Not In the Tourney.

Tonight they face Duke for the 3rd time. They've played them hard each game this year. That team back in 2004 wasn't expected to do anything in the ACC tourney, and got super hot behind John Gilchrist. Can Terrell Stoglin and Jordan Williams catch a little magic and make another Dukie tyke cry on his daddy's lap? Can the Terps guard the 3 ball today? (Can they ever?) Does Noaln Smith still see Dave Neal when he closes his eyes? Will Nik Canner-Medley punch someone in a Maine bar during the game? So many questions!

With Stoglin, PeShon Howard, and all the young talent on this roster, a strong run in the ACC tourney this year, could really set the table for a great season next year. This is a huge game for the next 2 years of Gary's program.

"downright filthy"...

2011-03-08T09:48:00.000-05:00

...that's how one friend on my Facebook feed described this game-tying wrister by Alex Semin. Love it.

He's got the nastiest wrister I think I've ever seen. Puts so much torque on it that when it finaly lets go, it's got a vapor trail on it.

Now that's what I'm talking about.

2011-03-07T11:58:00.001-05:00

The Caps are back up on top of the Southeast Division. That's more like it boys...And now a chance tonight to put a little more space between themselves and Tampa. To quote Dr. Turk, "That's what I'm talking about!"

Tonight's going to be a great game. The kind of game the Caps need. It's been a long time since divisional games really meant anything around here. Sure...there's some nastiness between the Caps and Thrashers & Canes, no matter where they are in the standings. But the way the Capitals have owned their division for the two years prior, they really haven't played any late-season divisional games that mattered...not since that magical run from last place to division winners in 2008. This is a good thing. These are the kind of games which give the team a sense of urgency and set the tone for the playoffs.

This is what a stretch run is supposed to feel like. Not that sinking feeling of, 'uh, guys...are you going to be able to turn it back on in the playoffs?'

It's that time of year ...

2011-02-18T15:58:00.003-05:00

Pitchers and catchers have reported and as a long-suffering Orioles fan, I have to ask myself one question: When did Earl Weaver get promoted to supreme general manager? Mark Reynolds, Derrek Lee and Vlad Guerrero? No small ball in Charm City this year. The Orioles will be serving up plenty of Earl Weaver Specials.

A lineup of 2B Brian Roberts, CF Adam Jones, RF Nick Markakis, DH Vlad Guerrero, LF Luke Scott, 1B Derrek Lee, 3B Mark Reynolds, C Matt Weiters, SS J.J. Hardy will play plenty of long ball, but at the same time will be hard-pressed to manufacture many runs.

The key beneficiary of the additions – aside from fans in sections 74-87 – has to be Nick Markakis. The sweet-swinging Markakis will see more hittable pitches by Memorial Day than he saw in all of 2011. He’s gonna feel like pitchers, especially left-handed ones, have turned into JUGS machines (side note: google-searching “JUGS machine” while at work is fraught with peril, so make it quick – but be careful of the auto-complete).

As a fan, I’m excited about the lineup, but the aughts have made me skeptical. I can’t envision the Orioles contending – especially with the youth in the rotation and the holes in the bullpen – but I’m hoping we’ll see the end of the sub-.500 streak of futility.

So, what do you think? Predictions for the Orioles record in 2011?

Please Stand By

2011-02-08T14:58:00.001-05:00

Yeah...we know. We suck.

Cardinal rule #1 of a blog...much like radio...is that there should never be dead air. Update daily, right? Well...I kind of blame the Redskins. They killed my ability to care enough to sit down and put together coherent thoughts on them.

We will be kind of re-organizing Two in the Box in the next couple weeks. In the meantime, make sure to check out our Twitter feed. We're still pretty active over there, as well as on our Facebook page.

It's gonna be alright...

2010-12-10T14:56:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged for a while. Partially because life has been way to hectic since about Halloween, and I haven't had time...partially because the circus of this Redskins Season has been covered and covered and covered so well elsewhere...and partially because the way this team has played, I just haven't cared that much...at least not enough to put the time and effort into a 5 O'Clock Club post.

It's frustrating. It's disheartening...watching the Redskins fail to show up against divisional rivals.

But I saw this clip (courtesy of Hogs Haven) and it lifted my Redskin Fan Spirit. This is the future of our franchise...and he's pissed. Just like the rest of us. He's had it to the point of wanting to kick things...JUST LIKE THE REST OF US!

Between this, and reading the way that Philip Daniels spoke from the heart about the Haynesworth situation...it's really nice to see that the guys on the field are feeling this too. There have been a lot of times in the past where it hasn't felt like they gave a flying (dirty word) about how retched their play has been.

My guess...this kid goes OFF against Tampa Bay on Sunday, and the rest of the defense, now free of its 100-million-dollar-rain cloud, will follow his lead. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Skins put up their best defensive performance of the season this weekend.

The Mad Men are in my head!

2010-11-18T12:22:00.000-05:00

Going to take a little break from sports (sort of) and talk about some advertising today.

Over the weekend, I saw two commercials that just made me smile. One was the Chad ~~Johnson~~ Ochocinco commercial for NFL's Training Camp video game and the other was for Target. Whoever wrote these ads must be specifically targeting me...and probably most of you who read this site. (Those of us who grew up in the 80s)

They tapped two of the most iconic montage songs in movie history. "You're The Best" from the tournament scene in the original Karate Kid is in the Ochocinco spot, and the Training Montage song from Rocky IV (where Rock and Ivan Drago are both getting ready for the big fight) for the Target spot.

Thank you Ad execs...nice to know I'm still included in the key demo for your campaigns.

So now I'm just waiting for one of them to use 'Number One' from Real Genius and complete the 80s Hat Trick.

5 O'Clock Club - Week 9: Bye Bye Bye Week

2010-11-08T18:34:00.002-05:00

We’re gonna need a bigger cooler.

I didn’t get a chance to write a 5 O’Clock Club after the Bears win…and just needed a week to decompress after the Lions loss.

So here we are at the bye week, 4-4. I’m not going to lie…it was refreshing to have a Sunday/Monday not watching this team. This bye week was that typical “I just think we need a little space…maybe we should see other people” period…(or for you FRIENDS fans, “we were on a break!”)

But even on that break, the giant steaming turd that the Shanahan boys laid on Redskin Nation at the end of the Lions game by benching Donny Mac in the final, critical moments…down only one score soured the week off. The loss would have been bad enough on its own to send us into the bye…but to set a tone of complete disarray and basically castrating the starting QB…it doesn’t make me feel that excited to come back for the 2nd half of the season.

So while the Haynesworth thing seems to have run its course…it’s now replaced with a QB controversy. Let me just say that when you have a QB controversy, and one of those QBs is Rex Grossman, go ahead and make tee times for early January…because you’re not going to need to keep those Wild Card weekend playoff dates open. I wouldn’t bench Ryan Leaf for Rex Grossman! I wouldn’t even play Grossman ahead of Kyle Boller!

So the Redskin Roller Coaster is definitely in full swing. Beat the Bears – Playoffs Baby!...loss to the Lions – Rome is burning while Nero (Shanahan) fiddles! Christ, it’s exhausting! I just don’t know how many more ‘ups’ we’re going to get out of this ride.

I hate to be all Doomsday/The Sky is Falling…but the last half of the season may only hold 2, maybe 3 wins for the Skins. (I think 4 at BEST!)

Let’s take a look:

Week 10- Home vs Philly (Monday Night) – Philly just beat the Colts. Skins got lucky stealing one from them at the Link…I think they come to FedEx and put down a beating.

Week 11- @ Tennessee- Skins can’t stop the run. Chris Johnson plays for the Titans. Unless the Randy Moss effect distracts the Titans…this is a loss.

Week 12- home vs Vikes- possible win. Vikes barely beat the Cards yesterday…they’re in a bit of a mess too.

Week 13- @ Giants- The Giants and Ravens maybe the best teams in the league right now...and on a collision course for a Super Bowl rematch...Can the Skins win this game, Tracey Morgan?...

...nuff said.

Week 14- home vs TB- a winnable game. But the Bucs seem to have their sh*t more in order than the Skins do…so I’m going with a L here.

Week 15- @ Dallas- Boys are circling the drain. Should be a Skins win…but when do we ever sweep the Boys? I’m putting this as a win…but not holding my breath on that.

Week 16- @ Jacksonville- A win?? Since I booked the TB game as a loss, I’ll give the Skins a win here. (I think they’ll split the TB/Jax games…not sure which they’ll win. This one seems more likely).

Week 17- Giants- see: Week 13.

...So, best case scenario (beating Vikes, Dallas and the Jags) we’re now looking at 7-9.

7-9. No playoffs…getting nothing in return for Albert Haynesworth - who they’ll cut this off-season…and needing a new franchise QB. (I swear to Christ if Shanahan thinks that Cutler is that QB I’m going to lose my mind.)

Does Shanahan even want to be here? He seems very surly and unhappy. I’d hate to see another Schottenheimer situation, where he’s one and done…but let me just float this out there. Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck. Say that Shanahan decides that coming back to coach wasn’t the best idea in the world…John Harbaugh is killing it in Baltimore, and Jim is going to be the next big thing, I think. You could get him AND his star QB in the same off season?

No…I don’t want more upheaval and change…but I wouldn’t hate that scenario.

Scary Thought: Dallas will be in the market for a new coach AND have a top 2 (maybe 3) pick. They could land both Harbaugh and Luck. Nightmare scenario for Skins fans!

No Twitter feed this week. Although at any time you can check out our Twitter 5 O’Clock Club list and find some great Redskins tweets.

As bad as it might get, just remember...it could be worse. We could be Cowboys fans! Good news for Jerry Jones though...the Cowboys 2010 season is eligible to be nominated for Best Comedy Series in this year's Emmys...the bad news for Jerry- God wants them to close the hole in the roof. The Cowboys, it turns out, actually aren't his team.

So what do you all think? As bad as it seems? Worse? How do you see it playing out?

5 O'Clock Club - Week 6: Look Ma No Hands

2010-10-22T13:04:00.005-04:00

I want to thank Steve for subbing in for the 5 O’Clock Club last week, while I was on vacation. Great job…A fun read on the Packers game, if you haven’t seen it yet.

Ok. So let’s pop the cooler and talk about that Indy game.

After the Skins were completely lifeless in losing to the Rams and facing a murder’s row of Philly (AT Philly), Green Bay and the Colts, I’m pretty sure that even the most optimistic Redskins fan couldn’t imagine coming out of that 3-game stretch winning 2 and only loss being by 3 points.

To quote Dennis Green, the Redskins "are who we thought they were." They play up to the level of the tough teams…and play down to the level of the dogs.

The Skins had multiple opportunities to beat the Colts, if the secondary could hold on to the ball. Carlos Rogers dropped multiple interceptions. Rogers drops so many potential interceptions that Maryland should have named it’s new “Hands Free” cell phone law after him, because he’s been hands free his whole career. When Rogers takes the field, they should play Fuel’s, “Hemorrhage (In My Hands Again)”.

Redskins fans are busy trying to find a nickname for Ryan Torain...Gravy Torain, All Torain Vehicle/ATV, and my personal favorite, Freight Torain. It appears that broodingdude and GarretOhm have settled on Power Torain (you can find both of those guys on the 5 O'Clock Club Twitter list.)...but while we're handing out Redskin nicknames, I think we have a new one for Carlos Rogers: "BlueTooth"...because he is a "Hands Free" device.

Ok enough of that. Let's just 'drop' it. (see what I did there?)

That's what an INT looks like Carlos
(photo by J. Newton - Wash Post)

McNabb’s last pass to Joey Galloway looked to be tracking perfectly, except for an amazing play by the Colts defender to make a 1-handed INT. If that guy misses, it looked like that ball would have hit Galloway in stride and possibly been a winning TD.

What surprised me the most is that with less than 2 minutes left, and the ball in Peyton Manning’s hand, I didn’t think the Skins were going to ever get the offense back on the field…but the D got the ball back TWICE!

So how do we look at this team?
Half Full?:

The Skins can be competitive with anyone they play. The Colts, Packers, Eagles and Texans are three of the top maybe 10 teams in the league, and they’ve beaten 2 of them, and played the other two close enough to win.

With 2 divisional wins already…The Redskins will likely be in position to compete for a playoff berth this season. (as long as the offense continues to improve).

Half Empty?:

Against the Cowboys, the Skins got a holding call on the last play of the game, negating Dallas’ winning TD….Against the Eagles, Jason Avant had a winning TD in his hands on the last play, before dropping it….Against the Packers, Mason Crosby bounced a winning field goal off the uprights at the end of regulation.

The Skins are literally 3 plays away from 0-6. So let’s temper all the “We’re Back” optimism a little bit.

Like Bush said, "It's the Little Things that kill"

From 2002 – 2008, 45.9% of NFL games were decided by 7 points or less…22.9% by 3 or less! (ESPN, Len Pasquarelli)

That means that on average…roughly 7 games on the schedule for each team will be close. For a team with .500-talent, the ability or inability to take advantage of those little breaks or bounces in a game can mean the difference between 7-9 and 9-7 (and a possible Wild Card).

I have a feeling that most of the Redskins games are going to be close nailbiters this season. They don’t seem to have that mentality where they can just pour it on…put a lead on a team and just keep pounding them. Their defense seems to let other teams back into games…so this is what we’re going to be looking at. A lot of last minute field goals…or having to defend desperation passes into the endzone. That’s going to be the difference in this season.

The Skins still have 2 games with the Giants, 1 more with the Eagles and Cowboys, and the Dolphins, Vikes and Titans still ahead. All tough games…but if they’re capable of playing the way they did against the Colts and Packers (who are as good, or better than any of those teams) then they should be in all of those games.

This season very well could come down to that last home game against the Giants for a playoff spot.

"Hey Hey Hey!" -Fat Albert
Ok. So the trade deadline has come and gone. We still have Albert Haynesworth. It’s time for Shanahan to get over this pissing contest with the big man. He can help. With the way Manning was fast-tracking the offense, I don’t think that Albert would have been much of a help last week. But going forward…the Skins and Haynesworth need each other. He wants out…so he’s going to play like it’s a contract year…because his value to other teams as a free agent when the Skins cut him this off-season will be higher. And the Skins need to take advantage of that. Let him wreak havoc. If he’s in there trying to audition for other teams with solid play…we benefit from it!

Bench the egos…and just work together to get through this season. Then shake hands and part ways.

I understand the decision to sit him for the Colts game. Fast paced offense…hasn’t worked out in a week due to a real tragedy in his family…but the way it was done? It seemed like another attempt to belittle him. I just don’t like it. We need all hands on deck right now. And by not trading him…we’re all in with him. Play the man!

"Baby Hold On To Me" - Eddie Money

On nearly every snap last week…maybe all season…it’s seemed like Brian Orakpo has been held and hog-tied. The guy is a freak. He comes off that edge so fast and at such a hard angle that Tackles have no choice. I realize that refs can call holding on every play…so they have to pick and choose. But when they hold Orakpo coming off the edge on a passing play like they did on Sunday Night, it impacts the game. You have to call it. I realize that the refs of the league are afraid of offending the Golden One in Peyton Manning…and risk facing one of his tantrums. But they have to make that call.

5 O’Clock Club Twitter Feed:

Going to start calling Carlos, "Bluetooth." Doesn't use hands.
(photo by J. Newton - Wash Post)

Carlos Rogers’ continuing case of the dropsies seemed to dominate the Tweets early on:

2intheBox Carlos Rogers' stonehands-itis strikesagain. We need a George Clooney telethon to raise awareness and help find a cure! #Redskins

redskinsblog It took an instant replay to confirm that Rogers didn't make that INT. That's progress, right?

BramWeinstein Things Carlos Rogers never hears: Can you please go get the fine china? Do you want to hold my newborn? Want to try juggling with chainsaws?

2intheBox Every 10 min. in the US Carlos Rogers disease causes a dropped interception. Text STONEHANDS to 22222 to donate $10 to the search for a cure

redskinsblog An excellent positive look at Rogers' drops. RT @ecs26: Better than completions by Manning.

2intheBox Now Kareem Moore drops an int. Call Dustin Hoffman and Renee Russo, the Carlos Rogers Disease is spreading! #Redskins

BroodingDude I believe the #NFL should stop fining studs for awesome hits and start fining Carlos Rogers for playing with prosthetic metal hooks.

MatthewBerryTMR So weird. Who would think if you drop 3 INT that Peyton would make you pay. #disgusted

Following an amazing 1-handed catch by Pierre Garcon:

redskinsblog So Garcon is, essentially, the anti-Carlos Rogers?

After an injury to Carlos Rogers:

hogshaven Fans: Hopefully it's a hand injury with Carlos. He doesn't need em anyway.

DCCheapSeats Colts have made a couple of amazing one-handed catches tonight...and the Skins can barely catch with TWO hands. How is this game so close?

2intheBox That last int makes me want to punch babies...or Carlos Rogers.

And some other non-Rogers tweets from the game:

michaeljenk Ryan Torain is running like he wants to personally end CP's career with the #Redskins.

savetheskins Dear Clinton Portis: thank you for your service as the #Redskins feature back. Your work here is done.

2intheBox 20 years from now, if Orakpo is heading into Canton, his bust needs to portray him being held by an o-lineman.

(and in reply)...GarretOhm @2intheBox Will Collinsworth still call him OraPKO? #Redskins

2intheBox @GarretOhm the way Indy is holding, somebody better be bleeding or dead before they call holding on us. They owe us a call.

chaddukes ZOMG. Chris Collinsworth just called Orakpo: "Orockoh." Then he said 98 was a superstar. Then why don't you know his name, Chris?

sethmeyers21 Nobody runs the two minute drill in three minutes better than McNabb.

GarretOhm They are who we thought they were. #Manning #JustManning

Last Call:

This is usually the part where I look ahead to this weekend and try to figure out what the next game will hold. Uh...You tell me. I have no damn idea.

A couple weeks ago, Jay Cutler was getting hit so much, it was like Oprah was giving them away. “You get a sack. YOU get a sack. EVERYONE gets a sack!” I’d think that Orakpo and Philip Daniels are going to have a field day on Sunday.

And I’d think that McNabb would light it up. But these are the Bizarro Skins. When you expect them to lose, they win…and when you expect them to win, bad things man…bad things.

So I’m going in with no expectations. (and a lot of beer!)

But a win in Chicago, and then the Lions looming?...the possibility of 5-3 before the bye? Not hating that. Just saying.

So, that's it for this on. Please remember to recycle your beers (and this post. A few 'Retweets' or 'Shares' wouldn't suck.) And enjoy the game on Sunday.

Comments are below. Feel free to 'drop' some in.

5 O’Clock Club – Week 5: The Doink that Saved D.C.

2010-10-16T15:41:00.006-04:00

Doink! What a wonderful sound – one made more beautiful after the ‘Skins were able to take advantage of Mason Crosby’s near miss in OT.

Unfortunately, we can’t crack open any cold ones this week. My one time filling in for Dan and the cooler remains closed – the shed having been converted into a trainer’s room for Trent’s knee, Jamaal’s leg and Derrick’s ego.

So grab your platelet-rich-plasma centrifuge, hyperbaric chamber and Stuart Smalley DVDs and let’s get down to business:

I keep hearing people use the word “luck” when describing this win. Who cares? If memory serves, at the end of the season, the NFL’s first playoff tiebreaker isn’t “games you deserved to win” or “games you were fortunate to win.”

Still, there is cause for concern. The defense yields more yardage than the French at (fill in any World War II battlefield here). The run game has had one good outing, and that was against a Philly defense geared to stop the pass. And McNabb took a beating Sunday behind an offensive line whose lack of quality depth shone through when injuries struck both tackles.

But hey, the team hasn’t played more than a good half in any game yet and they have a winning record. Using a glass-half-full outlook, if they put together four good quarters, they can play with anyone – especially in the 2010 NFC where there aren’t any dominant teams after five weeks. I’m still not convinced the ‘Skins are one of the best six teams in the conference, but at this rate they might not have to be to qualify for the postseason.

I did see some encouraging things on Sunday. First, Anthony Armstrong might be that third receiving option the team has been looking for. I’ve heard about his speed and that he runs great routes, but that TD ball showed something else. The young man elevated and levitated to make that grab, and showed concentration and strong hands as Charlie Peprah arrived late to break it up. Now he just needs to work on that endzone dance.

Second, the defense registered four sacks, including two from Brian Orakpo. Who could’ve imagined? Two sacks and no one got flagged for holding him. Enjoy it #98 – my guess is that next week you’ll be seeing more laundry at the feet of linemen tasked with blocking you. I also could gush about LaRon Landry, but that’s been done. Sideline sources tell Two in the Box that Landry comes off the field after each defensive series and tells Jim Haslett, “your scheme completes me.”

Looking ahead:

A Sunday night tilt with the Indianapolis football franchise is on deck. The Mayflowers are off to a 3-2 start, but have looked far from the dominant offensive team we’ve seen in recent years. D-Hall failed to walk the walk after all his talk following the Texans game, but he gets another chance Sunday night – this time against Reggie Wayne.

A ‘Skins win would be big and give them some momentum heading into the two-game roadtrip before the break. I’m expecting a high scoring battle in this one, which virtually guarantees the game will end up something like 13-10. Hopefully Ryan Torain and the offensive line can take advantage of the Colts’ weak run D and put the ‘Skins on the winning side of that score.

Final thought:

(You can picture a contemplative-looking, spectacled Jim Zorn looking into the camera.) Five weeks into the season and the maroon and black is 3-2 and in a three-way tie for first in the NFC East. And the one team missing from that equation? I think you all know, so I don’t need to spell it out here (besides, I’d need a 60-yard, high-def scoreboard to properly display it). Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other.

Here We Go!

2010-10-08T09:50:00.000-04:00

Possibly the most important season in Caps history?

Or another roadmap to the corner of High Hopes Lane and Disapointment Ave. (That's one block over from the corner of "Get a Map and F*** Off")

it starts tonight!

Drop The Puck!!!

2010-10-07T10:18:00.000-04:00

2010 - 2011 Season...It's ON!

Caps 2010: Back to the Future?

2010-10-04T13:20:00.002-04:00

photo: Ben Cooper

The planets aren't due to come into alignment until sometime in the 2800's.

For Caps fans, there have been times where it has felt like maybe it would take that long for things to line up for us too.

But something feels different this year...like maybe something special might be brewing. Like maybe the planets, or the stars are lining up for our Red Army.

It just seems like the vibe around the team both here and outside of the beltway has taken a very positive, anticipation-filled tone this off-season. ESPN, SI, TSN...most previews you read list the Caps as the #1 team in the league...and warn that this team with a chip on its shoulder will be very scary.

They've been selected for the NHL's marquee in-season event, the Winter Classic this year...and to host another in the next 3 years. And 16 of their 82 games will be carried nationally on Versus or NBC.

Ovi has become a legit marketing figure for the NHL, CCM, and Capital One. That's a long way from cheesy Easterns Motors spots. Definitely more along the lines of the endorsements that Sid has.

Ovechkin in Old School Caps gear
photo: Mark Gail - Washington Post

This past weekend, the Caps Convention served as a Homecoming of sorts, with Rod Langway, Yvon Labre, Peter Bondra, Olie Kolzig all in attendance. Bondra and Kolzig both ended their Caps careers in less than ideal circumstances...but have now re-connected with the team.

And then you've got the Captain...the Star of the Caps present/future, rolling out the Caps Winter Classic throwbacks along with Labre and Langway...every era of Caps hockey represented...and the throwback uni tying it all together.

And all the young talent that is so highly touted (Alzner, Carlson, Varlamov, Johannson...) sticking with the club. Clearly a 'the future is now' move.

Add to the mix that fan-favorite, Dino Ciccarelli will go into the Hall of Fame this year, and the team will honor him in February, wearing those same throwbacks.

It kind of has that Scrooge feel to it...Ghosts of Capitals Past, Present and Future coming together to change the way things have been for so long.

Puck drops on Friday. Buckle up. Going to be one hell of a season!

5 O'Clock Club - Week 3: Not Ram Tough

2010-10-01T13:03:00.000-04:00

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Or…simply put, rooting for the Redskins.

I’m not going to lie. After that Rams game, I really didn’t have the motivation to write a 5 O’Clock Club. I’ve been unable to listen to the local sports talk radio for more than a few minutes at a time.

To paraphrase Jaws, The 5 O’Clock Club is gonna need a bigger cooler.

Grab a cold one and let’s do this:

Friday was jersey day at my son’s school…he wanted to wear his #47 Chris Cooley Redskins jersey…and I almost feel like a bad parent for allowing him to be a Skins fan. Just because I’m stuck rooting for this team, doesn’t mean he has to be. (I tried to get him to wear his Caps, Ovechkin jersey, but he wasn’t feeling that today).

So, I don’t have a lot to say about the loss to the Rams. Since the start of the 2008 season, the Rams have won only 4 games. Two of those have been against the Redskins. (And in that same period, they’ve also lost to the Lions, who only have 2 wins since 2008. 6 wins in the past two years for these 2 retched teams…and the Skins have provided half of them!)

I had hoped that the strong outings against the Cowboys and Texans meant that the Skins were ready to compete at a higher level. But it’s clear that they still play to the level of their opponent. They play a dog like the Rams…and they might as well put on a flea collar.

I’m not going to dwell much on this game. It’s really not worth it.

screenshot by Dan Steinberg (DC Sports Bog)

The one major takeaway I have is annoyance with this idea that Clinton Portis is soft because he hit the deck at the end of that long run. All week long the calls on the radio when I have listened to the shows, that’s all I’ve really heard about. (by the way...we have some really unbalanced football dummies who call themselves Redskins fans…and it seems like those are the only ones who call into the radio shows and make it on air). He’s soft, He’s tanking it because he's pissed at Shanahan, etc… The guy’s got a bum wrist (that’s what cost him time at the end of the Houston game. Fox showed him on the sideline at the end of that game, trying to see if he could grip the ball enough to keep someone from stripping it).

The way Portis throws his body into oncoming defensive ends and linebackers when he stays in the pick up the blitz? That's a head-to-head collision. The worst that Portis would have taken on this run would have been being pulled down. No real impact (you can see in the picture that no one really had him lined up for a punishing shot). So let me get this straight...people praise him for being able, willing, and really good at blocking the blitz...but he's soft because he shied away from a low impact hit? Yeah, sure...that makes sense.

He had 4 Rams defenders closing in on him, and chose to hit the deck, instead of risking turning over the ball because of his injured wrist. It was a smart move, in my opinion. These clowns are calling him soft…but if he’d have fought for 2 or 3 more yards and been stripped of the ball, these same callers would be crucifying him for not being smart and protecting the ball.

I don’t get to listen to Overtime on 106.7 very often. (It doesn’t start until 7, and by then, I’m usually long-since home, and starting the war that is putting the kid to bed each night). But the other night, I was working late and caught the show. They were talking about the Redskins fans having a misguided concept of who the Redskins are, these days. They made a great metaphor- Redskins fans are that bald 30 year-old guy with the beer gut who still wears his high school varsity jacket. The good days are SO far in the rear view mirror, but we Skins fans still seem to hold on to them, as if they were just yesterday.

The landscape of the NFL has changed so much. Think about it…since 2000, the Skins have been in the playoffs two times, both the result of Joe Gibbs-led miracle runs where they had to win every game down the stretch and pray for tiebreakers to get in. In that same time…the New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New Orleans Saints (all teams that were laughing stocks when the Skins were last a dominant team) have won 5 Super Bowl titles combined!

As a group, we Skins fans need to temper our expectations. Stop making every 2-game winning streak a prelude to a Super Bowl run.

I think we do have good leadership in place with Mike Shanahan. And I think things will get better. But based on the egg they laid in St. Louis, I don’t see it happening this season. I get the feeling this season plays out just like many in the last 8 or so years…some wins that give you hope…and some unforgivable losses that crush it.

5 O’Clock Club Twitter Feed:

The Feed was a depressing place on Sunday…and much of this week.

CindyBoren Jim Mora's mic isn't working and Fox thinks this is a bad thing? #Redskins

funnydanny I just got a call asking if I could play 'some guard' RT @CindyBoren @funnydanny You worry too much.

Portis balance = Lohan at last call.
screenshot by Dan Steinberg (DC Sports Bog)

2intheBox At the end of runs, Portis always seems more off balance than Lindsay Lohan at last call. #Redskins

chaddukes There is nothing (and I mean nothing) the Redskins like doing more than giving sh*tty teams their first win on the season. Unreal.

BroodingBlog One day, when the equipment staff replaces Portis's rollerblades with actual cleats, he will once again run like the Portis of old.

hogshaven TD Redskins. I guess the Rams decided not watch film from our HOU game w/ misdirections.

2intheBox Love that sprint out bootleg/throwback...reminds me of 'Sprint Bomb' that Rypien always used to hit Sanders on. #Redskins

2intheBox Those of us who are both Redskins and Terps fans have been subject to some horrible defense this weekend.

funnydanny I love awkward games vs terrible teams. Thanks #Redskins! #ThisIsWhoWeAre

MatthewBerryTMR As a #Redskin fan, I wish I had more hair to pull-out. #arghhhhh

riggo44 Big Al is on a first name basis with the Oxygen bottle

BroodingBlog Just had my annual sobering Week 3 epiphany: we're not as good as I thought, and much worse than I'd hoped. #Redskins #killingmeslowly

tannercooley Why does being a Redskins fan have to be this way??

funnydanny Let's go Caps! #Redskins

hogshaven Skins are 1 holding penalty away from being 0-3. #soundsright

BroodingBlog Fellow #Redskins fans: this is football purgatory. You and I will be here, together, forever. Help yourself to a cup of lukewarm Kool-Aid

savetheskins #Redskins are 1-2 with Eagles, Packers, Colts coming up next. This could get really ugly, really fast

savetheskins There are 7 stages of grief. For #Redskins fans, 2009 was "anger," and "depression" usually is next. 2010 sure feels that way right now

Looking Ahead:

Not that this team has done much to make any of us look forward to Sunday.

McNabb’s return to Philly. Gee, you’d think that would be a storyline this week…surprised the radio stations haven’t spent more time on this one. [sarcasm]

Who frakkin knows? You’d expect the Skins to get rolled…which probably means they’ll win.

Either way, stock up on beer ahead of time…win or lose, you’ll likely need it.

Runnin On Fumes Chase Race 2

2010-09-26T12:48:00.002-04:00

Last week I made some predictions based on stats. Here are the predictions for Dover. This week, I'll do a recap and see how my stats measure up to the actual finishes of the first two chase races:
Edwards 9
Kyle 10
Kenseth 10
Biffle 10
Burton 11
Gordon 12
Harvick 13
Hamlin 14
Johnson 14
Bowyer 16
Kurt Busch 19
The predictor is for finishing order for the chasers, not necessarily the finishing position.
Based on this I think Edwards has the best chance to win...Kyle looks strong because of the win in the spring. Hamlin, and Harvick dropped a few intangibles points for their dust up yesterday and Bowyer gained a few based on his win and the NASCAR sanctions of the past week....

Ravens Reflections Volume #4 - Week 3

2010-09-26T02:18:00.006-04:00

Welcome back to Raven Reflections. Sorry this is up a little later than normal, but work has been crazy lately and I just didn’t have energy enough to write a column Friday night. And really, as ugly as that Week 2 game was for the Ravens, who could blame me for not being psyched to delve into it in greater detail.

So what can I say about last week, huh? The Ravens offense stunk. It is very difficult for a football team to endure four interceptions against a quality opponent and emerge victorious. Flacco looked uncomfortable in the pocket and unable to deal with the pressure the Bengals were generating upfront.

I don’t understand Cam Cameron. I can’t comprehend why he calls the plays he does. Ray Rice, the most important guy on the field in the Ravens offense, got 16 carries, eight in each half. It

has to be more, Cam. You run Ray until he can’t breathe. Then you run McGahee until he collapses. Then you run Le’Ron. Flacco throwing the ball should come as a byproduct of the running game. The Ravens aren’t the ’84 Dolphins. Stop trying to turn Flacco into an air-it-out quarterback. The Ravens need to establish the run. Ram the ball right down their opponent’s throat. Then, when the safeties creep up and begin cheating into the box to help stop the run, call play-action. Then mix the run in again with draws. Ravens football. Cam Cameron wants to be Don Coryell or something and it doesn’t work for this team. Ravens football is about leaving cleat marks on the opposition’s chest, imposing the offensive line’s will on the other team, and pounding them into submission. Ravens football is about throwing when necessary, on third down; not electing to throw on first down. Get your head out of your @$$ and run the ball, Cameron.

There were two penalties called on the Ravens, both of which were ridiculous. First, a Bengals ball carrier fell over Ray Lewis’ leg and Ray was called for tripping. Then Terrell Suggs hits Bengals QB Carson Palmer while Palmer still has the ball in his hand. Suggs hit Palmer in the chest, and his not lead with his helmet. Suggs was flagged because he apparently put his full weight on Palmer. Ugh. I won’t blame the calls for the loss, because if the Ravens offense had done its job, they wouldn’t have mattered. But something has to be done at the league level to get all these officiating crews on the same page so that every crew calls every game the same way. Consistency may be the hobgoblin of little minds, but it sure would improve football officiating.

But there is good news on the horizon. The Ravens play the Browns this week in Baltimore. This could be just the tonic the Ravens need to regain their swagger. They’ll need a little boost, too, because the Steelers loom large in Week 4.

The home crowd is going to be amped for this. Home opener, divisional opponent, and coming off a hard loss on the road. That sell-out crowd is going to be like the mob at the Roman Coliseum. The Browns can’t contend with that, and hopefully it will rattle them into many early mistakes. If the Ravens control the clock and win the turnover battle, there’s very little chance of not coming out of this game with a “W”.

Simple keys for this week’s game. First, run the ball. Second, put a bunch of pressure on Browns back-up quarterback Seneca Wallace. Third, cut down on the penalties. And last, but most importantly, eliminate or greatly reduce the impact Josh Cribbs has on this game. Avoid him completely, if possible. You know in zombie flicks, there’s always one guy who gets bitten and someone else, rather than put two bullets in his head tries to

comfort and nurse the doomed S.O.B? Everyone else in the group of survivors is trying to convince the caretaking character to avoid the infected guy, but the goody-goody won’t listen. And by the time the goody-goody figures out it’s a lost cause it’s too late? Well, Josh Cribbs is the infected guy. And the Ravens need to avoid him like the plague. Because if they mess around with him, he will eventually hurt them. It’s not a matter of if, only when. Kick away from him, slide Landry down into the box when Cribbs is in the backfield, do whatever it takes, but force the Browns to rely on someone else. Because really, with the Browns, there is no one else.

Let’s all hope the Ravens have this one wrapped up by halftime. It would certainly be a refreshing change. I’ll be back next week. Enjoy the games, everybody.

5 O'Clock Club - Week 2: The Hangover

2010-09-23T16:53:00.002-04:00

So, yeah. It’s Thursday again…and I’m just getting to the 5 O’Clock Club. I swear…these will eventually move closer to the day after the game.

Ok. So let’s crack open the cooler, grab a cold one, and get this thing underway.

Some weekend…definitely a Hangover kind of weekend between the Terps, Ravens and Skins. One of those that you WISH you woke up on Monday and couldn’t remember.

Saturday the Terps went up to Morgantown and were treated by the Mountaineers like an out of state cousin at a WV family reunion. Needless to say, they got worked over. Sunday at 1, Joe Flacco threw more picks than we’ll see at Wizards camp next month (of course, I realize that many Skins fans aren’t too upset about the Ravens’ misfortune. I get that)…So Sunday afternoon, I was hoping for something a little less frustrating.

In Week 1, Arian Foster blew up against the Colts. (can I just say that it’s hilarious to me that there a brother named Arian playing in the South. That’s got to drive those backward-ass Klansmen Krazy!) The Skins Rushing Defense hasn’t looked great in the pre-season…so I was definitely worried more about the Texans running the ball all day long than throwing it. (Yeah, how’d that work out?)

This was a wild game. 497 passing for Shaub, 426 for McNabb…900+ passing yards! Wow.

For me…it’s hard to be THAT upset about this one. Houston is a really good team. They might only lose 3 or 4 games total this season. So…to have been up 17 on them, and except for that crap-ass Timeout call by Kubiak that took Gano’s winning FG off the board in OT, really should have won that game.

It’s hard to be upset, because what have the Skins done in the last 4 years to give us any reason to think they could be on that level…to play with the league’s top teams? The Dallas win was a fluke. We all know it. So you can’t really look to that and say, ‘hey…we might have hopes for the playoffs’ But with the team the Texans have become…that gives hope for the rest of the season.

Don’t get me wrong…I know this isn’t our year. (Say it with me, “THIS IS NOT OUR YEAR”) It's easy to get all excited with Shanahan and McNabb and beating Dallas in Week 1...but this isn’t a year where we go on a magical run and roll on to the Super Bowl against all odds like the Pats did in 01/02...or the Seahawks did in 05/06. But the ablility to play with the big boys like this...this can definitely be a Wild Card playoff run kind of year - a foundation year to build on for next year (if there is a next year).

Here are some of my takeaways from the game:

McNabb keeps throwing like that, Danny will have to
buy another jet and call it Redskin Five

Downfield passing!?!? It’s probably been since Mark Rypien that we’ve really seen the Skins chucking the ball down the field with that kind of success. Hell in the last 10 years, the only part of the Redskins franchise that’s had much success in the air is Dan Snyder’s jet, Redskin One…usually only on the first night of Free Agency.

No, I’m not ignoring the Mark Brunell game at Dallas with the 2 bombs to Santana to win (’05?) and the Jason Campbell game against the Saints with the late bombs to come back (08?)…but for Mark and Jason, those were more the exception than the rule. With Campbell, more often than not if he threw deep, he overthrew his receiver.

Donovan threw for 426, and had a drop by Sellers that would have been a BIG gainer…and a drop by Joey Galloway on a big bomb that would have probably sealed the game. Kyle Shanahan and the Old Man are not afraid to stretch the field…and this is going to be a fun offense to watch.

Run. The. Ball.
(via Jay Wescott)

Close the deal. Think about it. When was the last time the Redskins had to try to hold on to a 17 point lead? That concept is completely foreign to this team. 18 minutes left and a 17 point lead…you HAVE to chew the clock. Period.

Following the Cooley TD w/ 3:51in the 3rd quarter to put the Skins up 27-, the Texans got the ball back FIVE times. 5 offensive series…3 of which resulted in scoring drives. Are you freakin’ kidding me? The Redskins offense managed 3 3-and-outs, and a had a field goal blocked (which probably would have also sealed the game).

You have to run the ball in this situation. You have to do whatever you can to pick up some first downs. If the Skins can even pick up 2 first downs on those 3-and-out drives, the Texans probably only get enough time for 2 or 3 offensive series instead of 5…and the game probably doesn’t go to OT. Definitely need to figure out how to get some ground yardage going. That was the difference in the game.

Timeout Rule. I loathe this thing. I understand the rule…and why you want a coach to be able to call time-out directly to the ref…but it’s created a scenario that is annoying as hell. Not just in the NFL, and not just because it cost my team a win this week…I hate it in college. It’s just a crap tactic…and needs to be taken out of the game. It wastes time, it results almost every time in the play being run (because the sideline judge can’t get the T.O. relayed in quick enough to stop the snap) and that means players are flying around trying to block a kick/risking injury on a play that doesn’t exist…and it’s just straight up whack. Gano crushed that first kick through. Game over. Kudos to Kubiak for working the rule…but it’s a sh*t rule. (I was sure Gano…as well as ne nailed that first one…was going to get the second one).

Doughty one-on-one with Johnson?
Really?
(via E. Vucci - AP)

Madden. You know when you’re playing Madden and there are those games where it just seems like, despite OWNING a team for 3 quarters, the computer just decides that you aren’t going to win…period. And suddenly, you can’t tackle, can’t cover, can’t do anything but watch the other team come back and beat you? Sunday was like that for the Skins. Every pass Schaub threw seemed to be caught. They could do no wrong…and you just had to sit there and watch the Skins hemorrhage their lead. That’s tough to sit through. ...Of course, when you have a defensive scheme in, which allows Andre Johnson…arguably the best wide receiver in the game right now…to end up one-on-one with 5’10” Reed Doughty on 4th and THE GAME, you’re probably going to lose that match-up. You call that D in Madden and he probably asks you "You really wanna do that?"

We’re going to be “Aiight” That’s a damn good football team, the Texans. Hard to lose one like that…especially when there were so many opportunities to close out the win. But knowing that the Redskins are capable of keeping a good team on the ropes like that…has to give the them more confidence. These first 2 weeks have really been good, I think, for the psyche of the Redskins players. They’re going to start to expect to play at a high level…and that’s going to result in some pretty damn good football.

Donny Mac. So, Philly…how’s the McNabb’s-washed-up-nothing-left-in-the-tank-so-let’s-trade-him-and-go-with-Kolb experiment working out for you?

Gold pants. Wondering if they’ll wear them on the road, with the whites…or if that’s strictly a home uniform combo. LOVE IT!

The 5 O'Clock Club Twitter Feed:

We set up the 2intheBox 5 O'Clock Club list. We'll continue to add the people who's gameday takes we enjoy to that list. So please check it out and follow it.

Before we get into the Game Day tweets...we of course have to share this one:
@funnydanny I'm going to say something: I am stoked to be part of @2intheBox's List: 'The 5 O'Clock Club'.

Thank you to Danny Rouhier for that shout! Danny is the co-host of Overtime with Bill Rohland from 7 - 11 each weekday on 106.7 The Fan. He's also the star of the great weekly Redskins videos that we shared a bunch of times last year. Here's his video from the Week 1 win over Dallas (with a cameo by Captain Chaos, #47).

So, Danny...thank you. There's always a cold one waiting for you in the 5 O'Clock Club.

So on to the Gameday tweets:

This tweet came somewhere around 3:51 left in the 3rd quarter...

GarretOhm: Wow #Redskins. I haven't had this feeling in a while.

...and these came about an hour later...

GarretOhm: I want to puke. As usual. #Redskins

GarretOhm: That hurt Redskins

more from during the game...
sportspickle: Steve Slaton's kick return makes me question the quality of a West Virginia education.

redskinsblog: LaRon Landry and Reed Doughty are really beating each other up today. That doesn't seem like a good plan.

CindyBoren: In a collision between Doughty and Landry, I would not have expected Landry to be the last one to get up.

michaeljenk: That Texans play was called, "Just throw it near Johnson and let him do the rest." #redskins

RickMaese: Trent Williams still on trainers table. I cant see him returning to this game. Fans should cross their fingers and find some rosary beads

I really love this one...
chaddukes: Hopefully he's trading house keys with Vincent Jackson RT: @dhellie wonder where Albert is watching game

before the Game-winner by Rackers...
hogshaven: Scott Norwood. Ray Finkle RT “@FO_BBarnwell: Rackers has the leg for this kick, but has anyone missed more clutch field goals in the past?”

and the after-game dumps...
DailyActor: Redskins lose. Time to kick some puppies and pee in a Houston fans beer while he's not looking #fb

BroodingBlog: #Redskins: New coach. New QB. New attitude. Still killing you slowly, like lead poisoning, one devastating fourth-quarter meltdown at a time

savetheskins: RT @wellsonemedia: It was kind of like watching a movie where you know everyone's going die in the end but you hope you're wrong

savetheskins: Weeks go way too quickly after your team wins. And seem to take forever after your team loses. #Redskins

2intheBox: That #Redskins game was like on Madden where you get up early and computer says Hell No and defies laws of physics to beat you.

and then the attention turned to the Manning Love Fest '10 on NBC...

GarretOhm: Did I mention I was depressed? Yeah. Depressed. Only thing that will ease the pain would be a Giants loss.

michaeljenk: If you're taking a drink every time Archie, Olivia or Connor Manning is mentioned on SNF, you should have alcohol poisoning by now.

Random Thought

Jason Campbell was benched in Oakland for Bruce Gradkowski. Let me say that again...Jason Campbell was benched...IN OAKLAND!!!

I like the kid. I do. And I really wanted him to go out there and have success...and he still may. But it's hard not to wonder what the last 5 years would have looked like if the Skins hadn't traded back into the 1st round to pick Campbell...if they would have spent more time developing Pat Ramsey or taken Aaron Rodgers earlier in the 1st round (They took Carlos Rogers with their own first round pick at #9, then they traded with Denver to get that extra first rounder to take Campbell...Aaron Rodgers went one pick earlier).

How would the Joe Gibbs era have played out? Just curious how much time was wasted because Joe and Vinny fell in love with Campbell's measurables.

Last Call

In past years...generally, when the Skins would play up to the level of a good opponent, they would follow it with a loss to a lesser team. (See the Rams loss in Zorn: Year 1). The Rams should not even be close to the Skins on the scoreboard Sunday. So it'll be interesting to see if they can shake the Hangover from Sunday and not take the Rams lightly.

The Larry Johnson expirament has ended. It should have ended before they actually had him sign the contract back in the summer...but I'll take Week 2. Portis and Keiland Williams are the 1-2 now...and I expect that the Skins will really focus this week on getting the running game healthy. Get up early...deny the Rams the ball by grounding out the clock...and then get the key guys out so they can be healthy for Philly in Week 4. That's my gameplan...

"...not at the table Carlos."

See you all next week.

Return of the MonkeyPoll 9/19/10

2010-09-19T10:56:00.003-04:00

Every weekend, I plan to post my own running top 25 College football rankings list called the "Monkeypoll" and chat about my reactions to the games. Feel free to reply!!Since I've been spurned by the AP just because I am "not an official member of the Associated Press" and I can't vote in the ESPN poll because I am "not an employee of ESPN", I'll just start my OWN list! And none of them can vote because they ARE NOT MONKEYS! So just chew on that one until you acquire a real nice taste for it, pollster jerks! :-)
Enjoy, The Monkey

1. Alabama --- The tide have been invincible so far, but the next three weeks look challenging: @ Arkansas, home for Florida, then @ South Carolina. Don't be surprised if they drop one of these games!

2. Ohio State --- The Buckeyes look like they will be undefeated at least until they play @Wisconsin on October 16th. Easy breesy so far....

3. Boise State --- The Broncos survived looking at Wyomings AWFUL uniforms long enough to win 50-6. I'm sure Wyoming is thrilled that the Broncos will deal them an annual whipping each year when the Broncos join the MWC next season. Oregon State next week!

4. TCU --- Another day, another blowout for TCU. Still think their game at SMU on Friday night will be closer than expected....

5. Oregon --- The Ducks have outscored their opponents 189-13 so far this season! We'll see if game @ Arizona State next week will be a real game or not....

6. Texas --- Longhorns have looked shaky, but keep winning. I still think this team is gonna lose 2 or 3 times this season....

7. Nebraska --- Cornhuskers on a roll right now! Would enjoy seeing them run the table on their way out of the Big-Not-So-12 conference this year.

8. Oklahoma --- A 4 point win over Utah State and a 3 point win over the Air Force?!? Both at home!?? Geez....may still run the table, but looking more and more doubtful.

9. Florida --- It hasn't been pretty, but still effective. In the process of re-inventing itself as a run-first team that wins 10-7 with great defense....at least for this season!

10. Arkansas --- The Hogs NARROWLY beat Georgia last week! Now Alabama comes to town, so their top-ten ranking may be really brief....

11. Wisconsin --- The Badgers have sputtered the last couple of weeks in narrow wins, but they get Austin Peay at home this week. Give the game ball to the schedule maker!

12. LSU --- The Tigers are going into a tough 3-week stretch where they play West Virginia, Tennessee and Florida. Later has road games against Arkansas and Auburn, and home against Alabama. Nobody could survive this stretch undefeated!

13. Arizona --- The Cats blew a HUGE lead against Iowa and than eeked out a win; but dont let that fool you because the Wildcats are a strong team this year. Could possibly win 10 games and even go to their first Rose Bowl.....

14. Utah --- The least publicized ranked team in the country just keeps on winning. Really no tough games until October 30 @ Air Force, but then November will be a challenge....

15. South Carolina --- They've been great so far, but here come the big boys: @ Auburn next week, then home for Bama, and then @ undefeated Kentucky.

16. Auburn --- The War Eagles STOLE that game from Clemson last night, but they all count. As dad used to say "I'd rather be lucky than good!"

17. Stanford --- If you have not seen this team, check them out! They are blowing out EVERYONE they play right now! And Andrew Luck will be a part of the Heisman conversation by the end of the year....

18. USC --- This team is actually kinda lousy, but you would not know it when they play Hawaii, Virginia and Minnesota to start the year. The Trojans will have massive troubles against the Ducks, Cardinal and Wildcats in Pac 10 play, I predict....

19. Miami (FL) --- The only ACC team in the rankings has a tough game at Pittsburgh Thursday night. A loss could leave the whole conference outside of the MonkeyPoll! Say it isn't so!!

20. Iowa --- A heartbreaking loss in the desert last night, but this team will be heard from. Would not be surprised to see Iowa get to 10 wins this year.....

21. West Virginia --- The only Big East team in the rankings goes to LSU this weekend....hard to tell which team in the Big East is the best at this point.

22. Michigan --- They REALLY need to stop scheduling FCS teams at home!! But the narrow victory means they now have an all-time record of 1-1 against lower division teams LOL

23. Penn State --- Not a lot of offense on this team, but defense looks strong. I suspect they'll be in the bottom of the monkeypoll much of the year....

24. Michigan State --- I couldn't help myself after the AWESOME CALL to SHOCK Notre Dame last night!! Wisconsin comes to town in 2 weeks; we'll see what the Spartans are made of....

25. Oregon State --- The Beavers have a big chance to take down Boise State up on the blue turf next Saturday, but NOBODY goes into Boise and wins on the smurf turf!! Not expecting the Beavers to be ranked next week.....

Pick A Winner - Week 2

2010-09-19T10:41:00.004-04:00

...and when Jason Bourne picks his nose, someone ends up dead.

Ok, we're doing the quick version here this week.

SCZEPP and BalmerHon both had 11 last week, and lead our ESPN group.

As far as the 2intheBox crew,...Benny, Steve, Eric and I are all at 10...and Bob and Tony right behind us with 9.

So let's jump right into Week 2:

Sunday-

Baltimore @ Cincy:
Ravens: Dan, Eric, Steve,
Bengals: Benny
[Dan] This just in from the Discovery Networks. Shark Week has been replaced by Ray Lewis Week. "It's come to our attention that sharks are no longer the most fearsome predator on the planet" said a network spokesman.
[Steve] Dustin Keller picked against the Ravens once … once.
[Benny] Ravens have the better team, but the Bengals need this game soooooooo badly!

Arizona @ Atlanta:
Cards:
Falcons: Eric, Steve, Benny, Dan
[Dan] Steelers cut Byron Leftwich for a couple days to sign a lineman. They're expecting to re-sign him...but if I'm the Cards, with that crap-tastic QB situation, I'm shooting him a quick offer while he's on the market.

Kansas City @ Cleveland:
Chiefs: Benny, Dan, Steve, Eric
Browns:
[Dan] Interesting matchup. One of these teams is a perfect example of how to use the draft to rebuild your team...the other is the Cleveland Browns.
[Benny] Chiefs look like a young, fast, interesting team. Boy did they draft well last year!!

Chicago @ Dallas:
Bears: Eric
Cowboys: Steve, Benny, Dan
[Steve] Jason Garrett spotted reading “Game Management for Dummies” at practice facility this week.
[Benny] Bears needed a blown call to beat the Lions at home. Pretty bad.

Philly @ Detroit
Iggles: Dan, Benny, Steve, Eric
Lions:
[Benny] The Lions can't beat any team in the league without Matthew Stafford.
[Dan] So they call the Lions the kitties. There's a Mike Vick - dog joke there...I'm just not sure i want to find it. [Really want to see Sean Hill light it up for the Lions!]

Buffalo @ Green Bay:
Bills:
Packers: Eric, Steve, Benny, Dan
[Steve] Giant picture of Billy Packer will be painted at midfield for this game.
[Benny] Winning teams draft guys like Aaron Rodgers, losing teams draft guys like Trent Edwards
[Dan] Bills should just go ahead and let Ryan Miller start at QB. He single-handedly carried the Sabres and Team USA last year...worth a shot.

Pittsburgh @ Tennessee:
Steelers:
Titans: Dan, Benny, Eric, Steve
[Benny] I'm really liking this Titans team
[Eric] This was the hardest game for me to pick. I’m a believer in Dennis Dixon, and I’m a believer in Troy Polamalu. But The Titans were in midseason form last week, and that’s not going to go away overnight. I expect a really good game here.
[Steve] Tennessee reportedly reluctant to add a bottle of sweet tea to current offer of ham sandwich for Haynesworth.
[Dan] I thought I was going on a limb picking the Titans in this one...then everyone else sent me their picks. I'm not sure if it that we all like the Titans that much...or that we all just hate everything Pittsburgh.

Dolphins @ Minnesota:
Fins:
Vikes: Benny, Dan, Steve, Eric
[Steve] Hutchinson, Longwell and Allen spent the last week flying around the country talking to recently retired receivers.

Tampa Bay @ Carolina
Bucs: Eric
Panthers: Benny, Dan, Steve
[Dan] We had a week and not one of us came up with anything interesting to say about this game...feel bad for the poor bastard stuck having to talk about this one on tv for 3+ hours!

Houston @ Washington:
Texans: Eric, Steve, Benny
Skins: Dan
[Steve] Love that LaRon Landry was flying to the ball Sunday night. Now if only he’d take a cue from London Fletcher and realize it’s his job – no need to mouth off after every tackle.
[Dan] Gameplan...LaRon Landry: Seek and Destroy Arian Foster.
[Benny] Texans may be this year's New Orleans .

Seattle @ Denver:
Seahawks: Dan
Broncos: Benny, Steve, Eric
[Benny] Is that THE Mike Williams starting at WR for Seattle!??!? UGH!
[Dan] I'm buying what Pete Carroll is selling.

St. Louis @ Oakland:
Rams: Eric, Benny, Dan
Raiders: Steve
[Eric] Yes, I really think the Raiders are still this bad.
[Steve] Ticket sales doubled when fans learned that Rage Against the Machine’s “The Battle of Los Angeles” would be played during breaks in action.
[Benny] Two good reasons why Los Angeles doesn't seem to miss having an NFL team

New England @ NY Jets:
Pats: Eric, Benny, Dan
Jets: Steve
[Benny] Jets look like the biggest Broadway flop since "Dance of the Vampires"; Patriots win big
[Steve] Belichick plans to stock Pats sidelines with hot Latin reporters.
[Eric] I didn’t give Butler and McCourty a snowball’s chance of covering TO and Chad. When a team’s weakness turns out not to be so weak, it’s scary. The Jets have no shot.
[Dan] The Jets have to have harassment training. Wish the hard Knocks cameras were still there. I imagine it would be a lot like the Diversity Day episode of The Office...I just can't figure out if Rex Ryan is Michael Scott or Dwight Schrute.

Jacksonville @ San Diego:
Jags: Eric
Chargers: Steve, Dan, Benny
[Benny] Chargers win, but this game will be really close
[Dan] The Jaguars are so insignificant that after years of not selling out their own stadium and being blacked out in Jacksonville...they're now causing blackouts when they travel. Why is this team not in LA yet?

Sunday Night-
NY Giants @ Indianapolis:
Elis:
Peytons: Benny, Dan, Steve, Eric
[Benny] Could the Colts REALLY start 0-2?!?
[Dan] Otherwise dubbed, "The Battle of Archie's Loins"

Monday Night-
New Orleans @ San Francisco:
Saints: Dan, Benny, Steve, Eric
Niners:
[Dan] "And starting at quarterback, Alex Smith"...ad with that, the game is already over.
[Benny] 49ers play better than last week, but are outmatched

And those are our picks. Enjoy the games!

Comments below. Let us know what you think of the this weeks games!

Runnin on Fumes New Hampshire Predictions

2010-09-18T21:35:00.002-04:00

As Promised here are my predictions for the first race in the chase based on the data in the previous post. I will attempt to predict the rest of the chase prior to next week's race and the chase winner:
Johnson 8th
Gordon 9th
Stewart 9th
Kurt Bush 10
Hamlin 11
Harvick 11
Bowyer 12
Kyle Bush 13
Burton 14
Kenseth 16
Biffle 17
Edwards 19
Remember this is based on average, subjective and previous finish compiled to come up with the prediction...before the next 9 I will compile the average, last and subjective for the rest of the season and make a prediction on the eventual winner of the Chase.

Ravens Reflections Volume #3 - Week 2

2010-09-18T00:16:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Week 2, Ravens fans! It’s great to get that initial victory out of the way, and shutting Rex Ryan’s pie hole makes it all the sweeter. Last week in this space, I identified what I felt were three keys to the game against the Jets. Without further adieu, because we have lots to cover this week, let’s see how your humble scribe performed.

Quarterback play: After taking what looked to me like a helmet-to-helmet shot from Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis that resulted in a fumble on the Ravens opening snap, Joe Flacco recovered to put together a solid if unspectacular effort in the hostile Meadowlands environment. Flacco finished 20 of 38 (52.6%) for 248

yards. Tight end Todd Heap dropped a sure touchdown pass and Flacco misfired on two other end zone opportunities in what was a defensive slugfest.
-

On the first, a misread by Flacco resulted in an interception by cornerback Antonio Cromartie that the defensive back returned for 66 yards. To his credit, Flacco chased Cromartie and brought him down. Not many quarterbacks with Flacco’s size (notorious pylons such as Drew Bledsoe and Dan Marino) could successfully rundown an NFL corner. On the second, Flacco floated a pass way over the head and beyond the reach of a wide open Le’Ron McClain in the end zone. And when I say wide open, I mean the closest Jet was so far away that McClain looked like a one-man “No Fly Zone”. Should have been six. But a win is a win, and Flacco was good enough to seal a victory in the type of game that the Ravens have been known to let slip away.

As for the Jets, second year quarterback Mark Sanchez was putrid, and that may be too kind a description. Sanchez’s stat line for the evening; 10 of 21 (47.6%) for 74 yards. That’s right. Seventy-four WHOLE yards. The kid looked confused, rattled, and worst, ill-prepared. For a guy that faces a Rex Ryan defense every day in practice, Sanchez didn’t seem ready or able to handle what he was seeing on the other side of the line of scrimmage. The Jets’ game plan seemed poorly conceived, too. With Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed out, and the Ravens secondary considered iffy going into the game, I expected the Jets to test the pass coverage deep early and often. Didn’t happen. The Jets ran a combination of short ins, slants, and screens. Receiver Braylon Edwards’ (1 catch, 9 yards) name wasn’t mentioned after the opening introductions. The ball linebacker Bart Scott threw at Ravens running back Ray Rice during a pregame pissing contest may well have been the farthest pass attempted by a Jets player all night. Instead of running fly and post patterns right at the Ravens, they chose to test the Ravens’ ferocious and dominant front seven. Shonn Greene had a disastrous night; 2 fumbles and a pivotal drop. He spent the majority of the game on the sideline in Rex Ryan’s doghouse. The Jets converted only one of eleven third downs, and their successful attempt didn’t come until the 4th quarter. The end result for the Jets offense is two key young players in Sanchez and Greene who’ve had their confidence ripped out of them after humiliating individual performances. Good stuff!

Secondaries: The difference between these two units was like night and day. The Ravens defensive backs communicated well and took the Jets out of their passing game. Chris Carr and Fabian Washington played well at corner, Tom Zbikowski and Dawan Landry took away the deep routes and supported the run defense, and Haruki Nakamura covered the slot very effectively. The Jets, on the other hand, seemed satisfied to eliminate Derrick Mason by covering him with Darrelle Revis while allowing Anquan Boldin to take Cormartie and rookie Kyle Wilson behind the woodshed. Together, Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh used, abused, and embarrassed the Jets secondary. Wilson was mugging Ravens receivers throughout the game and got flagged for big yards at critical times, including on a 3rd and 28 that resulted in a Ravens first down. Poor Jim Leonhard, a former Ravens safety, was asked to cover Todd Heap one on one, and it was like watching a lawn gnome guard Dwight Howard. Boldin had 7 receptions for 110 yards and Heap gathered in 6 for 72. Heap also had the drop on what would have been a long completion down the seam for a score.

Fullbacks: With two teams built around the running game, I was certain two of the leagues most prominent lead blockers, Jets fullback Tony Richardson and the Ravens Le’Ron McClain, would figure in the decision. I was right, but not for the reason you might expect. To their credit, the Ravens stuck with the ground game even though it wasn’t amounting to much. Rice carried the ball 21 times for only 43 yards, but his efforts served to keep the Jets defense honest. Predictably, Willis McGahee (6 carries, -2 yards) spelled Rice for goal line carries and scored the game’s only touchdown. McClain was not able to spring Rice for any long runs, but he had on critical carry to convert a third and one and was targeted for that should-have-been touchdown pass.

We already covered Shonn Greene’s evening (5 carries, 18 yards). LaDainian Tomlinson carried the mail for the Jets, taking on the majority of the work load (11 for 62). On a big third down carry, Ray Lewis knocked Richardson back into Tomlinson and LT was brought down for a loss. Ray Lewis and the Ravens defensive line were in the Jets backfield all night, and both Richardson and “Hard Knocks” poster boy John Connor were forced back on multiple occasions.

While the score was only 10-9, the Ravens dominated the Jets. Time of possession was as lopsided as a one-legged man in a gale and the Ravens were able to move the ball consistently, either via the pass or by drawing timely penalties.

And so we turn the page and leave the Jets to wallow in their well-deserved misery. Up next: the defending AFC North Champion Cincinnati Bengals. Once again, the Ravens will be on the road, one of only two teams in the NFL to not have a home game in the first two weeks (Miami being the other. Thanks, league office).

The Bengals didn’t stand pat during the offseason. They added Terrell Owens and rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham, the top prospect at his position in the draft. Cedric Benson has been reborn since coming over from the Chicago Bears, and the Ravens will be looking to avenge last year’s season sweep. With that being said, let’s get to this week’s keys.

Stop Cedric Benson: While the headlines will glorify Ochocinco, Owens, and Gresham, Benson is what makes the Bengals offense tick. By establishing the run game, the Bengals enable Carson Palmer to utilize play-action that can lead to long strikes. I expect the Bengals will try to use their receiving corps to spread the Ravens defense out and allow Benson to run to daylight. The Ravens front seven has to play with the same intensity and physicality they displayed against the Jets. The Ravens need to bring pressure up the middle to force Benson out wide where the linebackers can cut him off and to make Palmer move. The Bengals quarterback is much better when he can set up in the pocket and scan the coverage. If the Ravens can force him to move and scramble around, they will have taken Palmer out of his comfort zone.

Ravens receivers have to play their size: Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh will have to muscle up against the Bengals corners. There will be lots of jamming and jostling, but Housh knws these guys, and Boldin displayed incredible body control against the Jets. These two big receivers are going to have to give Flacco something to throw at, because the Bengals corners are tough, opportunistic, and well-coached.

Churn the turf: Run the ball, run the ball, run the ball. And then run it some more. Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and Le’Ron McClain need to carry the Ravens in this one. It helps negate the Bengals talented corners and keeps Palmer and those high-profile receivers off the field.

I expect the Ravens to play well, especially since Flacco seems to enjoy playing on the road. I think we’re looking at 27-17 Raven victory, or thereabouts. Enjoy the game, everyone. Check back next Friday when we’ll wrap up this game and preview the Ravens home opener against the lowly Cleveland Browns. Until then…Go Ravens!!

Litmus Test - Terps Head to Morgantown

2010-09-17T13:46:00.005-04:00

Last year, the Terps won 2 games all season.

Just last week, the Terps won 2 games.

On Monday, they survived a thriller (and 400+ yards rushing) against Navy...and then on Saturday, they took all of the frustrations of last year's season out on poor Morgan State, dropping 62 points on them. (The guy who fires the cannon at Byrd Stadium probably needs to put in a workers comp claim for hearing loss!)

So now...on to Morgantown to face the #21 Mountaineers...renewing the rivalry that took a 2-year break while the Terps played Cal in a home and away.

When our side had Scott McBrien and Steve Suter, Maryland dominated the rivalry 4-0. Then those guys graduated, and the Pat White/Steve Slaton combo rolled off 4-straight wins over Maryland...in the process making the Terps D a laughing stock.

This game definitely worries me. Navy ran the ball at will against the Terps. The spread option is WVUs bread and butter...and the Terps have yet to show that they can defend it. So that definitely scares me.

But the Terps have a running game too. The 2-headded monster of Da'Rel Scott and Davin Meggett just got some company with DJ Adams joining the mix this past week.

And then there's the new weapon in Coach Franklin's arsenal...the arm of Danny O'Brien. His first 3 completions of his college career were TDs. Now we have a QB competition. Hopefully that gives the Terps options, and not distraction on Saturday. (Let's not forget, Jamar Robinson also threw 2 TDs in the win over Morgan State, and was praised all off-season for his poise and leadership.)

The Washington Post ran a great article about O'Brien today. (via Testudo Times) And it would appear that the Terps finally have a guy who will come in and play as a Freshman...and may have that long Philip Rivers/Matt Schaub/Matt Ryan type career.

The Terps have some great linebackers in Adrian "Party At The Ball" Moten and Alex Wujciak and safeties in Kenny Tate and Antwine Perez...and those guys are going to be put to the test, chasing down Mountaineer running backs.

What's at stake for the Terps is an opportunity to really make this a sleeper season. After WVU, the Terps host Florida International and Duke. A win Saturday would give the Terps a legit shot a 5-0 heading into the meat of their conference schedule. That would help remove the big question-mark hanging over Ralph Friedgen's head (there's nothing like starting out strong with a new School President and Athletic Director in town)...and show 2009 to be more of a fluke than a return to mediocrity.

Runnin on Fumes Chase Edition

2010-09-17T11:40:00.002-04:00

I know its been like 4 months since I posted anything on the NASCAR season. Its not that the racing wasnt worth watching, its just that one can only say so much about the Brad-Carl-Kyle feud until everyone is sick of it. The main topic of conversation on the radio shows the last few weeks, besides the racing, has been about how to fix the Nationwide series....talk about a dead horse.
Now finally we have something to write about, The Chase field is set and I want to make my bold (ahem) predictions on how it will end up in 10 weeks.
Here is my methodology:
1. Get the average finish of each of the contenders at each of the up coming tracks and assign a point value based on that being their finishing spot. 40% of my ranking
2. Take their finish at each track from earlier (except Miami obviously) this season and assign that the appropriate point value 40%
3. Assign a value 1-5 based on intangibles: momentum coming into the chase, guys who are owed payback, championship experience, team strength and my gut. 20%
Add it all up and let the numbers show what my predictions will be. I might be way off at the end but at least I have a system.
Look for that post before the race begins at New Hampshire on Sunday.

The road starts here...

2010-09-17T10:02:00.006-04:00

Rookie camps has ended (with a win over the Flyers). Now it's time for the real thing...for the Caps vets to open camp...and with it, possibly a very historic season of Capitals hockey.

[and you thought we'd gotten so caught up in football that we'd forgotten, didn't you!?]

11 Things - 2010: Week 1

2010-09-15T21:07:00.006-04:00

Why 11? because it's more than ten.

So, we're into another NFL season. Our blog's 4th anniversary. (Happy birthday to us!)

Those of you familiar with it...each week, we offer the 11 (sometimes more) things that we took away from that weekend's games.

Now, as you know...most of our bloggers live in the DC/Baltimore area...and a couple others are in Michigan. So as I'm sure you could guess...with the Skins/Dallas and Lions/Bears game coming down to such crazy endings...those two games dominated our staffs 'takes' this week.

So, let's get into it...Week 1:

1- According to NFL rules, a "catch" means holding onto the ball in the end zone, getting 2 feet down, a knee down, carrying the ball down the tunnel into the locker room, taking a shower with it, drawing a smiley face on it and naming it Wilson, loading it into your car, driving home, feeding the ball microwave popcorn before bedtime, and then putting the ball under your pillow so that the football fairy can leave you a shiny f**king nickle in the morning!! F**K!!! [Benny]

1A- Even when the Lions win, they still don't win! [Bob]

2- I’m not afraid to admit that I have a super-sized man crush on #59 of the ‘Skins. Some people might name their kids after their favorite player – that’s literally child’s play in my book. I’ve had my wife’s name legally changed to London Fletcher. Yep, I can honestly tell people London Fletcher loves me too – at least until she finds out what I did. [Steve]

3- Cowboys OT Alex Barron had more yards in penalties (78) than any single Vikings receiver had in receptions (Visanthe Shiancoe had 76). Shocking that both teams lost, huh? Great line regarding Barron. Of the right tackle's performance, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, "“He held his own out there pretty good." It's okay if he holds his own, Jerry. It's when he grabbed on to Brian Orakpo's that cost you the game. [Bob]

3A- I found out last night after Alex Barron's holding call that kicking a Hungry Hungry Hippos game across the room into a chair makes a loud noise. Hey, David Buehler, I think I was good from about 34 out. [Jason]

3B- I don't care how desperate you are for offensive line help, you DO NOT go out and get the most penalized person in the NFL!!!!!!! The late Mark Tuinei would've done a better job last night. Yeah, I'm talking about you, Alex Barron. [Jason]

4- How many years has it going on? How many people have fallen victim to the foolish mistake of pissing off Ray Lewis. Two years ago, Rashard Mendenhall tweeted to Ravens rookie Ray Rice that he was going to have a big day in his first start against the Ravens. One hit from Ray Lewis, and Mendenhall lay broken on the field. You don't tug on Superman's cape. Rex Ryan of all people, should know that you don't give Ray Lewis a reason to bring the pain. Ray hit Dustin Keller so hard (video), he broke his soul. [Dan]

4A- After the shot he took from Ray Lewis, I think that Dustin Keller thought that the sideline was the endzone when he went out on 4th down, short of the 1st Down marker. [Dan]

5- You know how the fans always boo a team for taking a knee before halftime? Maybe they'll keep quiet after that Cowboys -Redskins game from now on. [Benny]

5A- If your team hasn't scored any points in the first 29:56 of the first half, what makes you think you're going to score with 4 seconds left in the half while on your own 35 yard line??? This is why Wade Phillips sucks as a coach. I also blame Tony Romo for trying to make something out of nothing. He should've went to the ground and to the locker room only down 3-0. One of the dumbest bonehead decisions ever made by those two. [Jason]

6- The way to run for big yardage against the Colts? Run right at safety Bob Sanders. He'll hit you the first time, but then he'll be hurt and the middle of the field is yours for the taking. Arian Foster demonstrated this technique Sunday, and it worked like a charm! [Bob]

6A- ESPN's Tom Jackson picks the Houston Texans for the Super Bowl on Gameday, and then they go out and spank the Indy Colts to start the year?! Have the Texans arrived?! [Benny]

7- I know I touched on it in the 5 O'Clock Club post...but those Skins unis were SMOKIN'! If there's anything the current incarnation of the Redskins can use, it's a connection to their past. That's the uniform of Charlie Taylor, Sonny and Billy...When George Allen took over the team, they were a mess. Years upon years of mediocrity. Not much different than the situation these current Skins find themselves in. This is the uniform they wore the last time they climbed out of the pit...and now it's returned. I dig! [Dan]

8- What is the point of having 4 preseason games when all the starters do during these games is stand on the sidelines and slap each other with towels for a month? These opening NFL games are way sloppier than the first weeks of college and high school football, where there is NO preseason at all. Funny, huh? [Benny]

9- I would like to ask Matt Moore how an NFL quarterback can make such a horrible red zone throw – and then another less than five minutes later! I guess the Panthers should've known what they were getting ... on the Rorschach portion of the QB evaluation, Moore's responses were: "open receiver, open receiver, open receiver, butterfly, open receiver, open receiver" [Steve]

10- On that play where Mike Vick scrambled all around the backfield to avoid the pass rush, then popped out, and tore up the left sideline...that looked like the old Michael Vick...the pre-prison one. Philly's going to need him. [Dan]

11- Jay Cutler is a complete and utter FAIL. He puts out more turnovers than a bakery!! [Benny]

And that's 11 things for Week 1. See you after Week 2.

5 O'Clock Club - Week 1: Texas HOLD Em

2010-09-15T15:20:00.009-04:00

So I took the last week of the pre-season off. There honestly wasn’t that much going on to merit a 5 O’clock club. And I’d have liked to get this up on Monday…but that game took a little time to process.

But the cooler’s open. Grab a cold one, and let’s get our Week 1 5 O’clock Club under way:

Wow.

Just wow.

There’s one thing for sure…in this modern era of Redskins football, they never let you just enjoy a game. They let teams hang around and hang around…and then let leads dissolve, so that we’re sweating every last second of the game. Twice…not once…TWICE, in the last Dallas drive, the game could have been sealed. Carlos Rogers dropped a game clinching interception. His attempt to catch the ball looked more like a baby seal clapping it’s fins as a dude with a big ass bat is walking up to it. And then LaRon Landry had a Romo pass bounce off of his chest. He didn’t even try to catch it…probably was figuring out how to throw a bone crushing hit on the ball as it flew into his kill zone. If either one of those guys catches the ball, Donny Mac is kneeling out the clock, and we probably don’t know who Alex Barron is.

When they say “play 60 minutes” that doesn’t mean that the outcome of the game has to be in doubt for the entire 60, fellas. It’s ok to play 60 minutes and build a 20, 25 point lead. Seriously.

A big win….Pretty? No. Perfect? FAR from. Did Dallas check the Skins gift registry at Crate and Barrel, and gift wrap Game 1? Abso-frickin-lutely…

But guess what. They don’t keep a separate column for “gift wins”…just wins and losses. And right now, the Skins are 1-0, and the ‘Boys are 0-1. Gift or no.

It’s ironic that Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking started the game for the Cowboys with a very WWE, Ultimate Warrior speech…because Cowboys tackle Alex Barron ended the game with a Sergeant Slaughter choke hold on Brian Orakpo. I mean seriously…MMA doesn’t see many submission holds that good…Once he got Orakpo to the ground with the choke hold, I was half expecting Barron to climb up on Romo’s shoulder pad and give Orakpo the Supa Fly Jimmy Snuka kill shot.

(By the way. Can we pause for a moment on Brooking's pre-game thing? When Drew Brees or Ray Lewis do it...there's something primal about it...Ray takes you to church! Brooking's seems very desparate. Almost poser-ish. Ends up being more laughable than badass. Fail)

It seems, though, that Dallas fans are complaining about the correct call. Not the call at the end that closed out the win for the Skins…because how could you argue that hold? Stevie Wonder saw that one...They’re mad at the bonehead call at the end of the half to try a hail mary…which turned into a scramble toss from Romo to Tashard Choice…which was then swarmed and stripped by DeAngelo Hall and taken for a TD. The Skins first fumble recovery for a TD since Sean Taylor!

The beauty of this…you know that if Jerry Jones had pulled the trigger on firing Wade Phillips, he’d have been in the hunt for Mike Shanahan. Seeing a play like that with Shanahan on the other sideline…just had to burn old Jerry’s backside.

Take Aways from Week 1:

Confidence. That Defense definitely showed up. They held a team considered the front-runner to win the division, with aspirations of playing a Super Bowl, to one single touchdown. (well, one that counted anyway). That’s got to give that unit some swagger…And I don’t mean the Old Spice scent that Ray Lewis is pimping.

In fact, it’s got to give the whole team a bit of swagger. Seeing that kind of defensive capability against one of the better teams in the NFC…the offense has to realize that if they can just put up 20 points, they’re going to have a shot to win way more games than they’ll lose!

The Education of Trent Williams. In the last few weeks of the pre-season and now week 1, Trent Williams has faced Terrell Suggs, Vernon Golston and Jason Taylor…and Demarcus Ware (in a game that counted). Ware had 1 sack. Kid’s not going to face better edge rushers than those. He’s held his own against the best the league has to offer…and should be ready to dominate the mid-tier ends that he’ll face.

Turn Up the Pressure. For as much as Michaels and Collinsworth talked about the Skins putting on blitzes and pressure…they only managed to drop Tony Romo once. (Maybe because Alex Barron was holding anything wearing red). They need to get to the QB more. Romo didn’t seem to be rushed much at all during the game.

Like the brotha said to Superman, “That is a BAAAAD OUT. FIT! WOOOOO!” The Skins looked DAMN sharp breaking out the George Allen era Burgundy on Gold combo. (My wife disagrees. Said the pants were to shiny. But this is my blog, not hers.) That uniform looked like something out of the late 60s and early-mid 70s. I loved it. I hope it’s here to stay. (sidebar…with the Cowboys still in their traditional look…and the Giants already wearing a throwback-ish uniform…and the Eagles returning to the Kelly Green that they wore until the mid-90s…this was a DAMN FINE looking weekend of football in the NFC East).

Salvaging Devin Thomas? Devin Thomas, the 2nd round bust (so far) at wideout has probably found a new home at kick returner. He returned 2 kicks for an average of 38 yards. (a long of 42). That’s hellacious starting position…and if he can give that regularly, he may make up for the slow start to his career.

I’m so happy about the game, I don’t even want to bring Albert Hanynesworth up this week…so on to…

The 5 O’Clock Club’s Twitter Feed:

…Before the game-

GarretOhm: I concur with this statement-Esp Romo with his shit eating grin RT @TheOnion F### the Dallas #Cowboys and every f###ing thing they stand for

BroodingBlog: shanny just flexed a scowl and it vaporized a gatorade jug. this is the real deal, people #Week1

TheOnion: #Redskins Weakness: Receivers, running backs, offensive line, defense, but, um, this is the year they really turn it around #OnionNFL #NFL

…With the news that Cowboys fan LeBron James was in town watching the game-

LeBronJamesEgo: AT SKINS VS COWBOYS GAME BECAUSE I'M A LOYAL FAN OF WHICHEVER TEAM IS GOING TO WIN. HAAAA

(after LeBron tweeted about the crazy play at the end of the 1st Half).
chaddukes: You know what loses games? You in the playoffs. RT: @KingJames That play right there loses games!! Wow

sportspickle: RT @gramsci72 @sportspickle @KingJames That wasn't a hold, it was a CRAB BLOCK!

…Tweets about the announcers/broadcast-

2intheBox: Collinsworth: "usually the Cowboys like to hit that pretty hard"...blonde country singers?? just sayin

(after Collinsworth commented on McNabb’s slimmed down look for 2010…)
DCCheapSeats: "Does body fat show up in your cheeks?" Well...only for people whose cheeks are connected to their body, sir.

Sean_Leahy: I'd say Bob Costas can get off his soapbox now, but he needs that to see the game

…On the Hold & Ending of the game-

funnydanny: Heart attack. F### dallas. Wow.

dchesnokov: This #71 for the #Cowboys had more penalties called on him than Brashear on his worst day. A good game.

MattBowen41: Anyone who has ever worn that Redskins' uniform has to be smiling right now.... still love seeing Washington beat Dallas.

BroodingBlog: tomorrow morning, i will apologize to my young daughter for the five years of life expectancy i just traded for that game #skinsfirst #HTTR

danfranko: Between Terps-Navy finish on Mon and Skins-Dallas tonight, this season is already stressing me out-and it's only a week in!

…Other related Tweets-

CBSSportsNFL: Larry Johnson not only doesn't gain any yards but manages to get out of bounds. He's the best player Dallas has tonight.

hogshaven: I'm sitting behind skins bench. Hayensworth has no friends. He's stood solo the last 15 mins.

michaeljenk: LeRon Landry should make more than one play a game before acting like he's an All-Pro. #redskins

DCCheapSeats: That's it. I'm instituting a rule that all hockey players must celebrate needlessly after routine plays, like making a pass to a linemate

ReynoldsSBN: Oh, snap! RT @RandBall: If Americans are truly getting dumber, then the Cowboys -- more than ever -- are America's team.

greggrosenthal: Clinton Portis with an improved attitude runs a lot like Clinton Portis as a pain in the ass.

BroodingBlog: mcnabb has thrown the ball further than ten yards downfield more times tonight than i witnessed in sum over campbell's entire Skins career

Some great people to follow in the Feed, there. They definitely make game day more fun! By gameday this week, we'll have a Twitter List on our Twitter account that listes every person who we've featured in this section...and we'll add to that as the season goes on.

Last Call:

So, now what? No matter the circumstances, it ALWAYS feels good to beat Dallas.

The Skins held Dallas to a net gain of 103 yards rushing and 277 passing. This week, they face a Houston team with running back Arian Foster who dropped 231 yards rushing and 3 TDs on the Colts! (And they have Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson!) So the Skins D is going to have their hands full. The only glimmer of hope is that Redskins Offensive Coordinator, Kyle Shanahan held the same post with the Texans…and will hopefully be able to prepare the Skins D for some of the wrinkles they’ll face.

The Skins Run D hasn’t been that impressive thus far through the pre-season. This will definitely be a HUGE test. Getting Haynesworth to buy in and carry his weight this week would be a huge help in stopping that run game.

But so far…stressful as it may be, the season’s off to a great start. Loving the new look and the big win. There’s a reason to smile as a Skins fan for the first time in almost two seasons. (Of course there’s that nagging voice…”how long will it last?”…)

...and if we needed more of a reason to smile, The Caps open camp this week as well!

That’s all for the 5 O’clock Club this week. Catch you next week.

Two In The Box: My VERY last-minute NFL Playoff pre-season predictions.

2010-09-12T11:11:00.000-04:00

Two In The Box: My VERY last-minute NFL Playoff pre-season predictions.

My VERY last-minute NFL Playoff pre-season predictions.

2010-09-12T11:00:00.002-04:00

My last-minute NFL predictions:
AFC Division Winners:
Baltimore, Tennessee, New England, San Diego
AFC Wild-Cards:
Houston, Indianapolis

AFC Championship: Baltimore over Tennessee

NFC Division Winners:
New Orleans, Green Bay, NY Giants, St. Louis
NFC Wild-Cards:
Philadelphia, Atlanta

NFC Championship: New Orleans over Green Bay

SUPER BOWL: New Orleans over Baltimore.