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.
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