September 12, 2006
Redskins Thwarted by Vikings, Lord Xenu
Coach Joe Gibbs, despite having posted a career win-loss record that is just to die for, has never once won an opening week game on a Monday night. It makes you wonder why he’d willingly go through it again, especially after last night’s dispiriting loss to the Minnesota Vikings and their newly befuglified uniforms—squandering both a home game and a match against a very beatable team.
In a game set against the backdrop of September 11th and attended by no less than Tom Cruise and his fiancee, Washington’s offense played in fits and starts. They did not look as inept as their lowest point of the past year, but neither did they look entirely comfortable with the new offense. Quarterback Mark Brunell demonstrated that he could still throw with strength and accuracy, but he just didn't look like he had mastered the offense and he struggled to involve his most effective weapons of last year, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley. Brandon Lloyd, an all-pro when it comes to talking the talk, had a couple critical moments of Taylor Jacobean drops. And Clinton Portis may have oversold his “93.9 percent” status—perpetually looking like he might find his higher gear, but never quite getting entirely loose.
Most critically, Washington found itself unable to capitalize in the red zone all night, including one critical occasion in the second half that would have given the team the cushion they needed to win, and these red zone failings provided the Vikings—a team that’s still putting itself together—with the critical advantage of being allowed to remain with their game plan. Viking quarterback Brad Johnson’s deep tries in the first half pulled Washington’s safeties back and paved the way for a patient running attack in the second.
The Vikings cause, it should be noted, was abetted by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Sean Taylor that was nothing but bogus, prompting Tony Kornheiser—on one of the occasions he dared add his two cents—to wonder aloud if Taylor’s rep, both as a savage hitter and as a man who will gun you down if you don’t return his ATVs on time, contributes to the penalties he draws. Taylor and teammate Adam Archuleta followed this bogus call with legit face mask infractions, all of which directly contributed to the defense’s inability to shut down Minnesota on third down throughout the game.
Despite it all, Washington had the opportunity at the end of the game to forge a tie, but kicker John Hall missed his 48-yard try wide left. Perhaps Danny Six Flags should open the wallet to get Hall some Time Track Shifting, because it was pretty clear watching him walk onto the field that the man was chock full of Thetans.
Washington travels to Irving, Texas this Sunday to rechristen their rivalry with the hated Cowboys, and, with any luck, will face the walking interception factory known as Drew Bledsoe.
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I do not understand why Washington kicked a field goal on that fourth down. It was clear to everyone watching that he was going to miss. I would have gone for it there, even if it was fourth and ten. There was no way when that kicker walked on the field that the Redskins were still in the game. I commented as much to my wife.
But what really gets me is that short throw on the first down (or was it second). How does five yards help you? You are still short of his range and all you are doing is wasting time. These guys are paid so much money. Isn't one of them thinking strategically at all? I know, take what the defense gives you. Sometimes, however, it is time to make a play. And that is where the Redskins came up short.
"Wide left" was the easiest prediction I've ever made. Too bad I didn't have any money on it!
I blame the defense. If the defense had stopped the Vikings on their field goal drive and not forced the Redskins to use up the timeouts....but as Dandy Don used to say, "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas.
What about fan favorite Randel-El? He could have gotten a first down if he'd been a little more alert.
This article echoes the other cliche, garbage excuses being tossed around in this town about the 'Skins so far.
Brunell didn't look like he had "mastered the offense." What exactly does that look like. The man's been playing football for years; he understands the offense and how to run it. This "new offense": excuse is bunk.
He may not have gotten Moss or Cooley involved a lot, but that has a hell of a lot more to do with the pathetic pass blocking than Brunell's lack of offensive scheme mastery. (And is it just me, or is the quick out to Moss becoming the most predictable play in the 'Skins playbook? You can see it coming a mile away)
This stuff about Portis not being 100%: "perpetually looking like he might find his higher gear, but never quite getting entirely loose." Uh, his SHOULDER is injured, not his legs. He ran with plenty of speed when he was in the game. Showed good burst. Just didn't have the blocking last night.
And, finally, go figure, 'Skins fans are crying about the refs again. This town is host to the biggest bunch of Monday-morning cry-babies I've ever seen. It's always the refs with "you people." The "bogus" late-hit penalty was obviously going to come. He's got the Lavar problem of not knowing the right time to ring someone's bell. That play was clearly out of bounds, and he did come in late (about 4 feet out of bounds) for the hit. If you want to argue that the hit wasn't late, how about taking a look at the replay and discussing the blatant helmet-on-helmet hit that it was - lead with the helmet, too. Kornheiser even said Taylor's got to be smarter than that and understand that he's going to be under greater scrutiny on plays like that than others because he's got a dodgy past with hits like that. Learn from Lavar, Sean. Also, Kornheiser got in plenty of comments, and actually took Theisman to task several times on various issues.
Taylor's facemask penalty was also legit.
Quit crying foul about refs and try blocking and tackling - two things the 'Skins didn't do well in the preseason and didn't do well last night.
And don't expect a whole lot out of Brandon Lloyd (who nobody heard of before he got here) and Randle El (a good special teams player and playmaker, but not even remotely a top receiver) - two pretty bad free-agen pickups when you look at the cost vs the rewards.
It's going to be a long season, ladies.
i don't really have a problem with the penalty on taylor. he's the new mark carrier and the refs will treat him accordingly. that being said sinclair must be describing a different play. replays clearly show taylor did not lead with his helmet, he did not hit the receiver's helmet and he did not come in late.
That is the funniest headline I've ever seen on DCist.
How can the Redskins be so glib?