Carefully look at the small picture in the upper left of this article if you would. Notice anything? (via Agent Steinz)
Monthly Archive for September, 2007
I was at the win on Sunday and one of the things I noticed almost immediately, and kept pointing out to my Dad throughout the game, was that Shawn Springs was being used as the 3rd CB. Smoot seemed to be out there on every play with Rogers and Springs would come in on 3rd downs. The best football beat writer in the world, Jason La Confora, addressed this yesterday in his Monday Morning Half-Back:
I am baffled that in the fourth quarter, while Chris Chambers was picking about Smoot and Rogers, that Springs was on the bench. I guess I get the fact the Skins want to look at their younger corners, and it’s been pretty clear to all parties for a long time that this is probably Springs’s last season here anyway. But still. The dude was making plays and Smoot came real close to costing the Redskins the game on several occasions and was rough all around.
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And all the while I can’t help but be baffled by Spring’s standing on the sidelines. Gregg Williams says he wants to keep the guys fresh and rotate and all of that jazz, but ain’t no way I don’t have Springs out there. Heard that after the game Trent Green was asked some of the Skins players what was up with that, ’cause the Dolphins went into the game hoping to pick on the guy not on Shawn’s side, and ended up only facing Springs in the nickel package for the most part. Springs is healthy, and I’d be playing him like heck now.
I too find this weird. If Springs is healthy, and he says he is, then put him out there. Are the coaches saying Rogers and Smoot are better then Springs? That would be news to many I think. Things are not cleared up in Jason’s Redskin Notebook today:
Gibbs said that Springs was not breaking full speed as he normally would and was “holding up a little bit,” although he practiced fully. “I felt better going into that game Sunday than I have in four years,” Springs said. “I don’t know what Coach Gibbs is talking about.”
Well that explains…nothing. Springs says he’s healthy, Coach Gibbs says he doesn’t look like it. I guess the only reasonable conclusion to draw from this is that the coaches think Springs is the 3rd best CB on the roster. Even if he is making $5 million this year.
The Calvin Booth era here in Washington has come to a close (for the second time).
The guy is an idiot. I dropped my bat. It kind of freaked me out. I was upset they took him out of the game. He is good to hit. He’s 9-15. The guy [stinks].
–Dustin Pedroia, to reporters, on Daniel Cabrera who nearly hit him in the head with a fastball causing benches to clear in last night’s Red Sox win over the O’s
UPDATE: As noted in the comments by the man himself, Chris Mottram, not brother Jaime, actually wrote the preview. My deepest apologies sir.
…..but when Chris Mottram (the sports blogging Godfather) rounds up Unsilent Majority, Skin Patrol and Agent Steinz, why even compete? Read it, its good. For the record I’ve got the Skins going 10-6.
The Big Lead is one of my favorite sports blogs…..but saying the Skins might win only 6 games is insanity.
Alright, first game of the year is tonight, here’s how I see the season playing out.
NFC North:
1. Bears - Grossman will be better, defense is already sick
2. Lions - Passing offense should be amongst the best in the league
3. Vikings - Like the running back tandem, QB is total question mark
4. Packers - Nice defense but Favre is done
NFC South:
1. Saints - Great offense, hopefully the D catches up
2. Falcons - Addition by subtraction, Michael Vick hurt them last year more then he helped
3. Bucs - Jeff Garcia played well in Philly and he’ll improve everyone on offense
4. Panthers - QB situation is not good
NFC East:
1. Eagles - If McNabb stays healthy….
2. Redskins - Defense will be more like 2005 then 2006, key is Campbell
3. Cowboys - Tony Romo might be the most overrated player in the NFL
4. Giants - Eli sucks and Tiki is gone
NFC West:
1. Rams - Like the offense, D will be improved
2. Seahawks - Shaun Alexander has a big comeback year
3. Cardinals - Don’t trust Matt Leinert yet, or the D for that matter
4. 49ers - Over-hyped, WR’s are weak and so’s the D despite adding Nate Clements
NFC Wild Cards: Redskins, Seahawks
NFC Champion: Redskins
AFC North:
1. Ravens - Love McGahee addition, its all about what McNair has left
2. Bengals - Going to win a fair amount of shootouts
3. Steelers - The grace period for Big Ben is over, time to produce
4. Browns - Brady Quinn will be a NFL bust
AFC South:
1. Colts - Lots of loses on D but Manning and Co are overpowering
2. Texans - Matt Schaub shows Houston how QB’s are supposed to play
3. Jaguars - David Gerrard leads them to mediocrity
4. Titans - Do not like the offense, Vince Young notwithstanding
AFC East:
1. Patriots - So stacked its not even fair.
2. Jets - Thomas Jones is a good addition
3. Bills - Set at QB, WR and RB but too young to compete in this division
4. Dolphins - Trent Green is not the answer people
AFC West:
1. Chargers - Perhaps most talented team in the NFL….but Norv Turner scares me
2. Broncos - Would be one of the 3 best teams in the NFC easy
3. Raiders - Way to waste a #1 pick guys
4. Chiefs - Not a good team at all
AFC Wild Cards: Jets, Broncos
AFC Champion: Patriots
Super Bowl Champions: Patriots
Book it.
The Sports Guy is doing a pre-season power poll and he puts the Skins 24th. Here’s his take:
Coming off an injury-riddled 2006, the Skins have Sleeper Potential for a variety of reasons — multiple impact guys, a full season from Jason Campbell (who’s not bad), an impact rookie (safety LaRon Landry), an impact free agent (London Fletcher), an easy first six weeks (Miami, at Philly, NY Giants, bye, Detroit, at Green Bay), and even a full year for everyone to absorb Al Saunders’ 700-page playbook. Does any of this change the fact Joe Gibbs is starting to look and act like Uncle Junior during the final season of “The Sopranos?” No.
(Random note: The recent trend of successful athletes with conventional first names that start with “La” — like LaMarcus Aldridge and LaRon Landry — has me more excited than ever to name my first son “LaBill Simmons.” My wife is less excited.)
I like Bill…but he’s wrong on this one. Skins make the playoffs, book it.
Andrew Perloff names Rocky McIntosh as one of his predicted breakout stars of the season.
Will Leitch is right, this does make me feel a little better about the soul-crushing loss on Saturday.