Redskins Midseason Review: A Party in the House that Gibbs Built.

Here we stand...

6-2. If we don't hand the Rams their only touchdown of the game, its probably 7-1. The Redskins have proven that they belong in the discussion of the NFL's best.

So, how did they get here? The Redskins I have grown up with, led by the Norv Turners, Steve Spurriers, and Marty Schottenheimers, have been mediocre to bad with an occasional flash of good play.


It was a period that was painful for the fans of Gibbs' first era. The Redskins fan base is spoiled in tradition. The NFL Championships and Super Bowls of years past leave this loyal group wanting nothing but the best. And I believe that we are very close to getting it back.

In a desperate attempt to revive the franchise and return to greatness, Dan Snyder took a risk and went into the past, pulling Joe Gibbs out of retirement. And Redskins fans can thank Mr. Gibbs for the team they see out on the field today.

Despite going 31-36 (1-2 in playoffs) over his four years as head coach, Gibbs built a foundation for success and has put this team in position to win. Although I believe that his philosophies on the sideline held the team back, Gibbs made some key personnel moves in conjunction with the front office and built a base for a championship team.


Key move #1: Clinton Portis for Champ Bailey and 2nd Rounder (Tatum Bell).

At the time, many fans and media members were claiming we gave up too much for Portis. Some may still believe it. I don't. We got rid of Bailey, who wanted out, and brought in a player who currently sits at the top of the MVP discussion, and is on pace to have a seat reserved in Canton.

Clinton Portis has been the backbone of this offense since he got here. Since Portis' arrival, the Redskins are 21-4 when he runs for 100+ yards. He added some weight to his frame to fit into the Gibbs power-running game, and has become one of the most versatile backs in the league. He is the best pass-blocking back in the league, he can catch out of the backfield and out of the slot, he can run defenders over, and still has the speed to get to the edge. With the continued growth of Jason Campbell forcing defenses to respect the pass, Portis has been able to show how dominant he can be this season, leading the league in rushing and putting up 7 touchdowns in 8 games.


Key move #2: Moving Up to Draft Jason Campbell


He has had his ups and downs, like every young quarterback. He has been outperformed by Todd Collins (last season's late run) and Colt Brennan (this preseason). He has drawn criticism for being too slow (mentally) for the NFL, not accurate enough, a fumbler, a bust.

But it turns out that Gibbs was right in moving up to select this kid.

His performance this year has shed all those labels. While tackling yet another offensive system, this time with rookie Head Coach Jim Zorn, Campbell seems to have found his fit as a West Coast Offense quarterback. He is completing 66% of his passes, is on pace for 3400 yards, and hasn't thrown an interception. Those are all-pro numbers, and at this point he has to be included in the MVP discussion.

Along with his drastically improved mid-range accuracy, my number one concern with his game, Campbell has proven that he can win games with the deep ball. Against the Saints and the Lions, a pair of 50+ yard touchdowns to Santana Moss showed that if you give him a chance, Campbell can beat you with his big arm, as well as pick defenses apart underneath.

Record Watch: Campbell's 256 consecutive pass attempts without an interception leaves him 53 shy of breaking Bernie Kosar's record of 308 consecutive attempts without an interception.


Key Move #3: Laveranues Coles for Santana Moss

Like Champ Bailey, Coles was a player that wanted out of Washington. So the Redskins sent him back to New York in exchange for the return-specialist-turning-receiver with bad hamstrings. Moss had missed 13 games in the first four seasons of his career with nagging hamstring injuries.

But when healthy, Santana Moss changes the way opposing defenses have to play the Redskins.

Moss has proven to be one of the best deep-route runners and one of the fastest players in the NFL. His double moves leave even veteran corners looking foolish. He gives the Redskins a legitimate deep threat, which helps open up the running game and draws double coverage which gives our other receivers more room to make plays.


Key Move #4: Picking up London Fletcher.

In the Snyder era, the Redskins have been heavily criticized for their reliance on free agency. The countless busts (Adam Archuletta, Brandon Lloyd, etc.) and players brought in past their prime (Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, etc.) have made the Redskins a laughing stock in the offseason.

The pickup of Fletcher, however, was one I prayed they would jump on.

Fletcher has become the heart and soul of this defense. I look forward to watching him play every weekend. He seems to be magnetically attracted to the football, given the way he flies around the field. I have seen him run down the likes of Brian Westbrook and Calvin Johnson, which a middle linebacker in his 11th season should have no business doing. And perhaps most remarkably, he has never missed a regular season game in his career.



Key Move #5: Making the most out of the draft.


Much like their highly criticized free agency strategies, the Redskins had grown to disregard draft picks in the Snyder era. Despite giving away multiple picks with the approval of Gibbs, the Redskins have made some excellent picks that have helped build the foundation of this team, from the first round to the seventh.

2004: Chris Cooley, 3rd Round.

Cooley has transformed into an elite tight end. He is the only tight end in history to have 6 or more receiving touchdowns in his first three seasons.

2005: Carlos Rogers, 1st Round.

Despite having hands of stone, Rogers have finally started to emerge this season as an elite corner. He is extremely physical and a big hitter, excelling in the role of a Cover 2 corner roaming the flats. He has also drastically improved in downfield coverage. He is a top end #2 corner, and in Shawn Springs' absence, he has proven to be able to hold his own against #1 receivers.

2005: Jason Campbell, 1st Round.

The Redskins long awaited franchise QB appears to have arrived. Coming out of College with all the physical skills, a few years of coaching have transformed this raw talent into a top 10, arguably top 5, quarterback in the NFL this season.

2006:

Rocky McIntosh, 2nd Round. Rocky is slowly turning into an elite outside linebacker. At one point in 2007, he was leading the NFL in tackles and sacks. Injury cut his breakout season short, but he has bounced back well and continues to play at an extremely high level.

2006: Anthony Montgomery, 5th Round/Kedric Golston, 6th Round.

Montgomery and Golston are two parts of a solid DT rotation, and have proven to be two strong late round draft picks. Their competition for the starting spot has only heightened their level of play. Are they superstars? No, but few DT's are. But they were both great values in the later rounds.

2007: LaRon Landry, 1st Round.

At the time, it looked like Landry and the late Sean Taylor were going to be the best safety tandem in history. Since Taylor's death, Landry has taken Taylor's role as a ball-hawking free safety. He has elite speed and delivers punishing hits. Playing as much as 20 yards off the ball on most plays, he has the speed to go sideline-to-sideline and shut down the deep ball. The reason why you don't hear his name very much? Teams are avoiding him, plain and simple.

2007: HB Blades, 6th Round.

We haven't heard a lot from Mr. Blades yet, but he will more than likely be London Fletcher's replacement. And when he finally takes over as a starter, we will know him well. A preseason All-American, Blades reminds me a lot of a young London Fletcher. Just watch him in the Redskins' goal-line packages, where he gets the majority of his playing time and you will understand.

Blades dropped to the sixth round mainly because scouts said he didn't have the size to be a middle linebacker, and didn't have the speed to be an outside linebacker. He is listed at 5'10, 240 pound. London Fletcher is listed at 5'10, 245 pounds, and I think he has done quite well in the middle for the last 11 years.

Thank you Joe.

Joe Gibbs came in and turned this franchise from disaster to contender. The Redskins' personnel moves under Gibbs' control along with the innovative coaching of Jim Zorn have put this team in the position they're in today. Was Gibbs perfect? No. He gave away draft picks for busts, and had a conservative philosophy on the sideline that held what I believed was a talented team back.

But, he did what he could with what he had and built the foundation of a winning football team.

Hail.

Are we ready to believe?

I think it's fair to say that, with the exception of blind homers, the 2008 Washington Redskins have exceeded every one's expectations to this point.

When the preseason was over and I felt that I could look at the Skins' schedule and give the best assessment of it, I saw these first five games as a proving ground. All three road games against our NFC East foes, and two home games against a pair of good offenses.

And to be honest, I didn't see them coming out of it with a winning record. After the Skins' performances in their last two preseason games, where they were dominated on both sides of the line of scrimmage, I was really worried. Anyone that knows anything about football will tell you that the most important battle to win in this game is the battle in the trenches (see: 2007 Super Bowl champion Giants).

I had doubts about our aging offensive line and our pass rush to begin with, and the last two preseason games were proving my worst nightmares to be true. This was a team that was going to get dominated on the lines, giving our playmakers no chances to make plays.

After the week one loss to the Giants, it appeared we were on that track. I witnessed it first hand, travelling from North Carolina to New York, only to watch my beloved Skins get handled. The defending Super Bowl champs pushed the Skins around all night, allowing only seven points and dominating the clock.

The offense looked completely inept. The defense improved as the game went on, but were dominated on the ground. The head coach looked like he was about to be on the hot seat.

What a difference a month can make.

The Redskins team that sits at 4-1 today is not the team that was dominated in week one. Let's take a look at a few impressive numbers.

• The Redskins have played the toughest schedule in the NFL through the first five weeks. Their opponents are a combined 15-9. Excluding the games against the Redskins, these teams are 14-5. Despite having the toughest schedule in the league, and three division road games in the toughest division in the NFL, the Redskins are 4-1.

• All five of the Redskins opponents thus far have a top ten offense. Before the Eagles game, all five our opponents had a top six offense. So, how has the Redskins defense and first-year coordinator Greg Blache responded to facing off against the NFL's offensive elite? They have held each opponent below their average in total yardage and points and, in most cases, to their lowest total of the season in both of those categories.

• New York - Held to their lowest yardage (354 vs. Skins, 431 Avg.) and point total (16 vs. Skins, 31.8 Avg.) of the season

• New Orleans - Held to their lowest yardage (250 vs. Skins, 406.4 Avg.) and point total (24 vs. Skins, 27.6 Avg.) of the season.

• Arizona - Held to their second lowest yardage (313 vs. Skins, 376.8 Avg.) and lowest point total (17 vs. Skins, 29.4 Avg.) of the season.

• Dallas - Held to their lowest yardage (344 vs. Skins, 407.4 Avg.) and lowest point total (24 vs. Skins, 30.2 Avg.) of the season.

• Philadelphia - Held to their lowest yardage (254 vs. Skins, 342.6 Avg.) and second lowest point total (17 vs. Skins, 25.4 Avg.) of the season.

Offensively, the Redskins have succeeded in controlling the football and winning the fourth quarter battle.

• The Redskins are the only team in the NFL without an offensive turnover. Their only turnover of the season was on a fumbled punt return by Antwaan Randle-El

• The Redskins have outscored their opponents 34-10 in the fourth quarter this season, with three fourth quarter shutouts. They have only been outscored once in the fourth quarter (7-6 against Dallas).

• In the Redskins' four victories, they have won the time of possession battle by an average of just over ten minutes per game. (140:13 to 99:47, ~35:00 to 25:00)

• The Redskins rushing offense has been dominant. They are ranked fifth in the NFL, and Clinton Portis is the NFL's second leading rusher, a mere 29 yards behind NFL leader Michael Turner. Coming into the game against the Redskins, the Eagles rush defense was ranked first in the league with under 60 yards allowed per game. The Redskins came in to Philly and put up over 200 yards rushing on them.

With three should-win games against the Rams, Browns and Lions coming up, it is within reason to think this team should be 7-1 at the halfway mark. Head Coach Jim Zorn and Defensive Coordinator Greg Blache have created a formula for success. The offense eats clock, has big play capability and doesn't turn the ball over. The defense, while still lacking a dominant pass rush, plays great in coverage and stuffs the run. And to date, they have done it against great competition.

As a fan growing up after the glory years of the Redskins, when Joe Gibbs was leading them to Super Bowls, I have become used to the mediocrity of the Norv, Marty, and Spurrier years. Even the Gibbs II playoff teams didn't feel like true contenders. They felt like what they were: a team that squeaked into a wildcard spot. Even now, with a team that has proven to be a force in the NFL, I have had trouble accepting how good they really are. I kept thinking that it was too good to be true. That it will eventually fall apart.

But not now. What this team has done over the first five weeks, the toughest part of their schedule, has made me ready to believe that this team is the real deal. That they should be there in the end, competing for the NFC title, and maybe even the Super Bowl.

Hail.

It's Dallas Week!

I have the butterflies in my stomach already.



The Washington Redskins are headed to Irving to face the "almighty" Cowboys this week. If there is a team in the NFL that the media rides harder when they have some talent, please let me know. Even though they haven't won a playoff game since, what, 1995?



But, maybe it is justified this year. It's hard to argue that there is a better team on paper than the Dallas Cowboys. Their lines are solid, they have a quarterback in Romo that seems to have the "it" factor and makes plays downfield. They have a hard-nosed runner in Marion Barber, a future hall-of-fame receiver in Owens, a top 3 tight end in Witten, and talent at the corners. They were the class of the NFC during the regular season last year, and at 3-0, look to be back on the same track this season.



In the same light though, since the 2005 season, when the Redskins became a legitamite threat in the NFC East and put the losing tradition of the Turner and Spurrier eras behind them, they have given Dallas all that they could handle, and more.



It started with the Monday Night Miracle in September of 2005. We all remember it. After being dominated for 56 minutes, two long bombs from Brunell to Moss with less than four minutes to go gave the 'Skins a shocking 14-13 win.



Redskins-Cowboys since 2005: 1-0



Then, in December of 2005, we handled the Cowboys 35-7 on the back of Chris Cooley's three touchdowns.



Redskins-Cowboys since 2005: 2-0



In week two of 2006, The Redskins carried a 17-10 halftime defecit into the fourth quarter, where on the first play of the quarter Drew Bledsoe connected with Terry Glenn for a 40 yard touchdown, blowing the game open 24-10. A field goal later, the Cowboys would take home a 27-10 victory in Irving.



Redskins-Cowboys since 2005: 2-1



In week nine, the Redskins would pull of one of the craziest wins in the rivalry's history. With the game tied at 19, Nick Novak missed a long go-ahead field goal and gave Dallas the ball back with a short field. After driving down the field, a strike from Romo to Witten over the middle left Mike Vanderjact with a short field goal attempt for the win.



When the ball was snapped, 15-year vet Troy Vincent, who had just been signed, came through the line virtually untouched. He blocked the field goal, and the ball was eventually picked up by Sean Taylor (RIP). After returning it just past midfield, a facemask penalty was called, moving the 'Skins from outside of field goal range to leaving Novak with a 47 yard attempt. He squeaked it in, with about 6 inches to spare from the right upright, and gave the Redskins a 22-19 upset.



Redskins-Cowboys since 2005: 3-1



Moving on to week 11 in 2007. The Redskins played one of their best halves of the season in the first half of this game, and took a 10-7 lead into halftime. Then the Cowboys decided to exploit the void left by Sean Taylor, who was out with an injury, and take shots down the field. The result was three touchdowns of 30 yards or more from Romo to Owens in the second half.



Despite a 28-16 defecit late in the game, the Redskins would drive down the field and cut the lead to 28-23. Again with the ball, and about two minutes to go, Campbell would drive the Redskins into the redzone before throwing a game-ending interception.



Redskins-Cowboys since 2005: 3-2



In week 17 of 2007, the Cowboys came to FedEx with little to play for, and faced Washington team with everything to lose. Riding a 3-1 record since the death of Sean Taylor, and a 3-0 record on the back of backup quarterback Todd Collins, the Redskins dismantled the Cowboys 27-6, holding them to one yard rushing. The win put the Redskins into the playoffs for the second time in three years.



Even though the Cowboys sat most of their starters in the second half, the Redskins controlled the entire game, even when the Dallas starters were in. They looked to be on fire heading into the playoffs.



Redskins-Cowboys since 2005: 4-2



Looking at this, it's hard to believe that the Redskins are, for the most part, being completely written off by the media in the upcoming game. While it hasn't always been pretty, the Redskins have found a way to beat the Cowboys, or at least keep the games close, over the last three years. The one exception being a 27-10 loss where the Redskins were painfully moving out of the Mark Brunell era.



My keys to victory:



Offense:



1. Control the line of scrimmage. We need to establish the run and give Campbell protection so that he can get into a rhythm. With the West Coast offense being so dependent on timing, we need to give Campbell a chance to feel comfortable and find his recievers downfield. The Cowboys' defensive front seven is about on par with the Giants', and we struggled mightly in the trenches with them in week one. It is an area that needs to improve if we want to win this week.



2. Take some shots downfield. The Dallas defense is very solid, and if we don't keep them honest, they will shut down the run, short pass and screen game. We need to take at least half a dozen shots down the field to back them up and give Portis some room to run, and Campbell some room to cut them up underneath.



3. Control the clock. The Dallas offense is explosive, and they need to be off the field as long as possible. The Redskins should try and keep this game low-scoring by establishing the run and executing the short passing game of the West Coast Offense.



Matchup to exploit: TE Chris Cooley vs. MLB Zach Thomas. While Thomas was once one of the greatest middle linebackers in the game, he is getting up there in age. He is still a solid player, but not near the domninant force he once was. Cooley should be able to find space over the middle of the field when the Cowboys are in zone coverage, and abuse him if he gets lined up one-on-one.

Defense:

1. Pressure from the front four. Without Jason Taylor, this task is going to fall on the shoulders of Andre Carter, Chris Wilson, Demetric Evans, and Erasumus James. The Cowboys offensive line is one of the biggest and strongest in the league, so our defensive line has their work cut out for them. If we are able to get sufficient pressure from the front four, our secondary and linebackers will be able to roam and make plays. While Romo has proven to be a threat at quarterback, he has also shown that when he is pressured, he is very prone to make mistakes and throw interceptions. He already has three interceptions through three games this season.

2. Take away the big play. Last season we got killed by Terrell Owens on three big touchdown plays. They all happened in the second half when the Redskins had switched to primarily a zone defense. In the first half, Shawn Spings did a great job staying with Owens man to man, and has even called him out before this game. If we take away the big play, and keep this game low-scoring, the Redskins will have a better chance to win.

Matchup to exploit: LG Cory Procter vs. Redskins' interior.

Proctor is coming in for the injured Kyle Kosier. While he may be a decent backup option, this is a matchup that a starter should be drooling over. I expect big plays from the interior line on his side in run defense and for Blache to target Proctor with interior blitzes on passing downs.

The Bottom Line:

This is going to be a very difficult game for Washington. We are 1-11 in the last 12 games in Dallas. The Cowboys are a very talented team that would love to push themselves further into first place in the NFC East with a win over their arch rivals at home.

I see the line, which has Dallas favored by 11, as a little high. The games between these two teams are always hard fought and usually very close.

In the end though, I think the Cowboys will come away with a win. I think their offense is just a little bit too much for the Redskins defense at this point, and they win a close game that is a little more high-scoring than the 'Skins needed it to be.

Although the Redskins may walk away with the loss, the country will take notice at how hard they played and how they were able to keep pace with the class of the NFC on the road.

Final score: Cowboys 27, Redskins 20.

A little about me.

Hey guys.

I'm new to the whole blog thing, so I figured I'd just start out by saying what's up and introducing myself. My name is Galen and I'm a 21-year-old college student living in Wilmington, North Carolina. I moved to this beautiful, sunny beach town from the sprawling suburbs of DC in Northern Virginia to go to school.

At the time, I had no idea what I wanted to do. Then, one day, it hit me.

I love sports (particularly DC sports). I love writing. I work at my best under pressure.

I put those things together, my passions and my skills, and decided that I wanted to become a sports journalist.

Since that day I have focused my studies towards journalism and I even have my first writing opportunity lined up with a local magazine. I'm really excited about it and will keep you all updated.

This blog will, for the most part, be focused on the Redskins. I hope one day to be a blogger or writer for the Redskins or a major DC publication. I'll be giving analysis of games, plays, players, coaching, etc. All elements of the game. I'll also write about all my Redskins related journeys and the trials and tribulations of fanhood.


Hail.