Richard Crawford - HTTR4LIFE.com

Saturday Slop: Goldberg Predicts ‘Pain’ For Redskins Opponents; Can the Redskins Upset the Saints?

Posted on September 8, 2012

20 questions in 20 days: #1 Is RG3 the answer?

The NFL is a quarterback league and for the last 20 years or so the Redskins have been bringing a knife to a gunfight. They haven’t even enjoyed an extended period of competence at the most important position in sports. They have settled for a good season here, a nice stretch of games there. They gave up a record haul of high draft picks to try to solve that problem and they drafted Robert Griffin III. Can he be The Guy?

HomerMcFanboy ” 10 (semi-) bold predictions for 2012
Robert Griffin III will not make the Pro Bowl. This year.

Holden & Danny: Boomer Esiason Predicts 8-8 Season For The Redskins ” CBS DC
Boomer Esiason’s affinity for Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan have him convinced the Washington Redskins defense will be good enough to carry a significant load for Robert Griffin III’s inaugural season.

Redskins Notes and Quotes: Shanahan on Cooley; Hall High on Sproles ” CBS DC
Notes and quotes from the Washington Redskins’ final practice before their season opener against the New Orleans Saints.

Goldberg Predicts ‘Pain’ For Redskins Opponents, Recalls Playing For Jim Haslett ” CBS DC
One of the biggest names in pro wrestling history is predicting pain for the Washington Redskins opponents this season. And Bill Goldberg would know.

Joe Theismann says it’s ‘very conceivable’ the Redskins win 10 games – DC Sports Bog – The Washington Post
“The Redskins, to me, are the most underrated football team in the National Football League,” he said then. “People don’t know how good the Redskins are gonna be, and they’re gonna find out on Sunday afternoon.”

Bruce Allen on RGIII’s expectations – DC Sports Bog – The Washington Post
Redskins GM tells WTOP that the franchise has ‘an uncompromising commitment to be successful.’

The Redskins Blog | Redskins Players Recall First NFL Games
Eight rookies are on the Washington Redskins’ 53-man roster heading into Sunday’s 2012 season opener against the New Orleans Saints. And although all eight of those rookies — Jordan Bernstine, Kirk Cousins, Richard Crawford, Adam Gettis, Robert Griffin III, Josh LeRibeus, Alfred Morris and Keenan Robinson — received significant playing time in the Redskins’ four preseason games this year, each one of them is yet to taste the thrill of a regular-season football game.

Shanahan, Allen: Door is open for Cooley | WashingtonExaminer.com
When the Redskins cut Chris Cooley nearly two weeks ago, they left open the possibility for his return. Then, Friday, they increased that chance even more.

DeAngelo Hall ‘extremely confident’ in Redskins’ secondary
It doesn’t exactly appear to be a favorable season-opening matchup for the Redskins. Brees set a NFL season record for passing yards a year ago. But cornerback DeAngelo Hall said Friday he’s confident the Redskins can succeed.

Shanahan still refusing to name RB starter, but signs point to Alfred Morris
Washington Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan declined to say Friday which of his tailbacks will start Sunday’s season opener at New Orleans. “Not yet,” Shanahan said. “Keep them guessing.” There are signs that rookie Alfred Morris is likely to get the starting nod over second-year pros Evan Royster and Roy Helu.

Redskins-Saints: Five story lines to follow as Week 1 kicks off
“You’ve got to communicate, and it’s not easy,” says Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, who coached the Saints from 2000 to 2005. “It’s loud. Even when you’re on defense, it’s loud.

Redskins Music: “We Dem Redskins” (by Black Boo of Mambo Sauce)

Each week this season we will display a Redskins hype song/video by Black Boo ( @blackofmambo) of Mambo Sauce. “We Dem Redskins”

Chris Cooley returning to Washington Redskins? – NFL.com

When Chris Cooley was cut by the Washington Redskins a few weeks back, we came up with six potential teams he could wind up on. The Redskins were on the list, although we thought Cooley could do better by finding a starting job elsewhere.

Orakpo, Lichtensteiger listed as probable

Mike Shanahan said that both Brian Orakpo and Kory Lichtensteiger will be listed as probable for Sunday’s game in New Orleans.

Appeals panel overturns suspensions for Saints’ bounty scandal players – Washington Times

This week, the Washington Redskins have been preparing for an extra-motivated New Orleans Saints team, given this tumultuous offseason created by the bounty scandal and subsequent suspensions.

Cooler Talk: Can the Redskins Upset the Saints? | Cowboys Vs. Redskins

In the past 24 hours I’ve been reading tweets, statuses and messages from Redskins fans about the Cowboys stating, “It’s only one game,” “We beat the Giants twice last year,” “It’s not a big deal,” etc. However if the ‘Skins can win in New Orleans, the HTTR Family will celebrate just as much, if not more.

Redskins vs Saints, Pros and Con(vict)s

Prior to the week 1 Redskins vs Saint match up of the 2012 NFL Season, the NFL lifted suspensions placed on current and former Saints defensive players.

Saints bounty scandal: Players win appeal – Washington Times

The suspensions of Jonathan Vilma and three other players in the NFL’s bounty investigation were lifted Friday by a three-member appeals panel and the league reinstated those players a few minutes later.

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Washington Redskins Final 53 Man Roster Projections (2012)

Posted on August 30, 2012

So now that preseason has come to an end, the Washington Redskins will start cutting players to get from 75 (where the roster is at now) to the final 53-man roster, which will be set on Friday night. Since I posted my 53-man roster predictions (which you can check out by clicking here) a lot of things have happened to change the landscape of everything. Here is how I think the final 53-man roster will look.

Quarterbacks (3)

Robert Griffin III
Rex Grossman
Kirk Cousins

No surprise here, Cousins may pass Rex in the pecking order further down the road, but the backup spot belongs to Rex at the moment.

Halfback/Fullback (5)

In my previous roster prediction post, I talked about players on the bubble, well it just so happens that one of those players, Alfred Morris, has played his way onto the team. It should be real interesting what happens in terms of the Redskins running back position. Will they keep four halfbacks or only three? If only three, then who gets cut? I believe barring a last minute trade, that the Redskins will go with four. Not sure if a depth chart is truly needed as we all know Shanahan normally goes with whoever has the hot hand in the backfield at the moment.

Halfback

Tim Hightower
Alfred Morris
Roy Helu Jr.
Evan Royster

Fullback

Darrel Young

Wide Receivers (6)

The wide receiver race was possibly where the best competition of the preseason to make the final 53 occurred. The only change to this list that I think has occurred since my last breakdown is that Anthony Armstrong has lost his spot to Aldrick Robinson. Some may argue that the Redskins should keep seven receivers this year, I believe that may be the only way that Brandon Banks makes the roster.

Previous list:

Pierre Garcon, Josh Morgan, Santana Moss, Leonard Hankerson, Anthony Armstrong, Dezmon Briscoe

Final list:

Pierre Garcon
Josh Morgan
Santana Moss
Leonard Hankerson
Aldrick Robinson
Dezmon Briscoe

Tight Ends (3)

Well, a move that I myself was not expecting, but one that probably had to be made because of cap issues happened this week, veteran Chris Cooley was released. Beyond a re-signing by the Redskins, Cooley’s release answers the question that many had about how many tight ends should the Redskins keep, I predicted they would keep three. Logan Paulsen looks to benefit the most from this scenario.

Fred Davis
Logan Paulsen
Niles Paul

Offensive Lineman (9)

Jammal Brown finally found his way onto the PUP list last week after having surgery, so I believe my projections from before will come out right as far as the offensive line is concerned.

Tackles:

Trent Williams
Tyler Polumbus
Willie Smith

Guards:

Kory Lichtensteiger
Chris Chester
Maurice Hurt (Hurt can play tackle and guard)
Josh LeRibeus
Adam Gettis

Center:

Will Montgomery

Defensive Lineman (6)

Originally I had Chris Neild making the roster, since that time Neild had a season ending knee injury. In his absence, Chris Baker has certainly stepped it up during the preseason.

Nose Tackle:

Barry Cofield
Chris Baker

Ends:

Stephen Bowen
Adam Carriker
Jarvis Jenkins
Kedric Golston

Linebackers (8)

If the Redskins go with three running backs, it may be a move that leads to nine linebackers being kept, if that happens Bryan Kehl will be the extra man in. I almost penciled Kehl in, but I’m not sure Shanahan will take the chance of Keenan Robinson not clearing waivers and making it to the practice squad. Chris Wilson made his case with a solid showing this preseason, but I believe Shanahan will go with the youth of second year lb Markus White.

Outside:

Brian Orakpo
Ryan Kerrigan
Rob Jackson
Markus White

Inside:

London Fletcher
Perry Riley
Lorenzo Alexander
Keenan Robinson

Defensive Backs (10)

I predicted that this year Kevin Barnes would be cut, well he was traded to Detroit last Friday. I’m sticking with my original predictions here, it should be noted that I said Richard Crawford would make the team before preseason. I honestly have no clue how they will stack up on a depth chart at this point though, this unit worries me the most on the team.

Josh Wilson, DeAngelo Hall, Cedric Griffin, Madieu Williams, Tanard Jackson, Brandon Meriweather, Reed Doughty, DeJon Gomes, Brandyn Thompson, Richard Crawford

Special Teams

Last week this category got real different, real quick. Billy Cundiff was brought in after being released by the Baltimore Ravens, and Graham Gano and Neil Rackers were released.

Kicker:

Billy Cundiff

Punter:

Sav Rocca

Long Snapper:

Nick Sundberg

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Saturday Slop: Josh Morgan Excited to Make his FedEx Debut; Is RG3 Fast Enough to run Track in the 2016 Olympics?

Posted on August 25, 2012

HomerMcFanboy ” saying goodbye to clinton portis
“I never cheated myself, and I gave everything that I had to this organization and to this Redskins nation, to this D.C. nation,” Portis said. “I love this area, and I will always feel a part of this community.” Some might forget, but Portis won a national championship at Miami, earned rookie of the year honors in Denver and broke the Redskins’ single-season rushing record, all before he turned 25. For a few years, it appeared there was nothing the two-time Pro Bowler couldn’t do.

Redskins thoughts: Three things I learned | WashingtonExaminer.com
Santana Moss gets an assist for his development. Crawford, a seventh-round pick who emerged as one of the bigger surprises in camp, has worked hard on being patient in press coverage. It shows, too. Crawford mirrors receivers off the line, not opening up too soon and allowing his man to make the first move. Then he reacts. Credit Moss. Crawford covered him in the slot all spring and much of the summer. ”Santana was always talking to me and he was like, ‘You have to be more patient.’ I wasn’t always this patient… Santana is a real shifty guy; Pierre is different. He’s more speed release, muscle release. But it takes time to be patient and not go for the first move. So it took a while with me getting comfortable.”

Redskins, Cowboys did not collude on salaries, players union says – The Insider – The Washington Post
Court filing says the two teams were not full participants in an alleged conspiracy to restrict player salaries in 2010.

Fred Davis, London Fletcher, Lorenzo Alexander named Redskins’ 2011 players of the year – The Insider – The Washington Post
Fred Davis, London Fletcher and Lorenzo Alexander are honored at luncheon.

Clinton Portis says Dan Snyder is the best owner in sports – DC Sports Bog – The Washington Post
Retiring running back pays tribute to his former owner on Twitter.

Is Robert Griffin III Fast Enough To Run Track In The 2016 Olympics?
Is Robert Griffin III really a “world-class hurdler,” as ESPN called him? In this week’s Hang Up and Listen, Mike Pesca takes a look at RG3′s times from high school and college and finds that, well, maybe it’s not an exaggeration.

The Redskins Blog | Up In Lights: Robert Griffin III
The homecoming was made official last night when a 74-foot-tall image of Griffin III was projected onto the Newseum’s First Amendment Wall along Pennsylvania Avenue for four hours. The projection of Griffin III’s image on the wall was an effort to officially welcome the native Texan to D.C., said Cathy Trost, vice president of exhibits, programs and media relations at the Newseum.

WR Josh Morgan excited to make his FedEx Field debut – The Insider – The Washington Post
Despite playing for Virginia Tech and the San Francisco 49ers, DC native has never played at Redskins’ current home.

Redskins-Colts: Five storylines to follow – The Insider – The Washington Post
Beyond the overhyped Griffin-Luck matchup, watch the running backs, the secondary and the offensive line.

With Helu, Royster out, rookie Morris in line for more playing time in Redskins’ third preseason game – The Insider – The Washington Post
Shortly after Redskins practice concluded Thursday, there was good news for rookie Alfred Morris and bad news for Evan Royster. But neither of them was the first to hear it.

Redskins 10 For 80 Winners Announced – Hail to the Redskins (Video Feature)
As most fans of the burgundy and gold already know the Redskins 10 for 80 contest for fans to determine who should be added to the all-time team took place this summer.

NFC East Top 20: No. 11 London Fletcher – NFC East Blog – ESPN
In the final 20 days before the start of the regular season, we are counting down the top 20 players in the NFC East.

Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin III: Rookie bout headlines Week 3 – NFL.com
As the first two picks of April’s draft, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will be linked forever. On Saturday, they face off for the first time. Daniel Jeremiah has storylines for all 13 weekend games.

Graham Gano, Neil Rackers seek chances to win Redskins’ kicking job – Washington Times
If Robert Griffin III leads the Washington Redskins on a drive that ends at the opposing 30-yard-line or so Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts, it won’t at all be a lost cause. That might be doing his team a favor.

Heartfelt thanks for selection as one of the 80 greatest Redskins – Hard Hits – The Washington Post

Selection to the list of 80 Greatest Redskins cements my bond with fans

Redskins sense a sound fit with Meriweather – Washington Times

The Redskins are two-time Pro Bowler Brandon Meriweather’s third team in the last calendar year.

Clinton Portis wanted to go to Maryland – Washington Times

Running back’s mother steered him toward Miami instead.

Robert Griffin III’s athleticism can be an asset, and a detriment, to the Redskins – The Washington Post

OPINION | The talented Redskins quarterback needs to know when to use his athleticism to break away, and when to cut his losses.

Redskins vs. Colts: Five Things To Watch For – The Burgundy Warpath

Here are five things to watch for in RGIII’s home opener against the Colts. Redskins vs. Colts

” Pre-Season Game #3

Week 3 of Pre-season is the most important of the non-important games. You get to see the starters play well into the 3rd quarter, there’s a slight bit of game-planning involve & it’s usually a gauge of how ready your team is for week 1.

Replacement officials continue to make a mockery of the NFL | Shutdown Corner – Yahoo! Sports

From the blog Shutdown Corner: “We expected going in, just like the players going through the preseason, that every week they would get better. The first week, we had some rough spots and we got better from the first week to the second week and…..

Upcoming Important Dates for NFL 2012 Season – Hogs Haven

Dates for cutting team rosters and making waiver claims listed.

Remembering Steve Van Buren, Hall of Famer for Eagles – NYTimes.com

Running back Steve Van Buren led the Philadelphia Eagles to three straight Eastern Division titles and their first two N.F.L. championships.

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Five Things to Look for: Redskins vs Chicago Preseason Game

Posted on August 18, 2012

Heading into the second preseason game tonight against the Chicago Bears, the Washington Redskins will look to give rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III a few more snaps (30-35). The following list consists of five things I will be looking for tonight as I sit-down and watch the game.

Robert Griffin III – Just how will Washington look to use this young talent in only his second preseason outing? That will be probably depend on just how well the offensive line performs. Griffin was excellent as far as going through his options on the last drive of the Bills game, so I think the Shanahan’s will start the offense off in the same spot it left off on the 14th play against Buffalo.
Orakpo and Kerrigan – Against Buffalo these two looked like they could be on the brink of being the best linebacker combo in the NFL. Look to see them shifting from strong-side to weak-side more often this week as it appears they want to move them around more this year. That should lead to more opportunities for Orakpo to get at the quarterback, I personally believe Ryan Kerrigan is going to have a monster season this year so I will be focused on him mainly.
Neil Rackers vs. Graham Gano – Last week these two didn’t get any chances at moving their chess pieces at all in their kicker battle. Let’s hope this week is different, just for the record I picked Gano to win this battle.
The Redskins Secondary of ‘Misfits’ – Now don’t think I’m bagging on the team, the ‘Misfits’ label is one the group came up with for themselves. Brandon Meriweather will be playing against his former team and there may be a little hostility between the two since the Bears cut him last year. Rookie Richard Crawford looked good in the preseason opener and he will look to shine again as he continues to try to make the 53-man roster (which I have him doing). With the group of guys still contending for the free safety spot it should be interesting to see who can step up and win the job this year.
The Offensive Line – Last week they didn’t look very good in run blocking but appeared to get it together on the final drive that Robert Griffin III played, in which they scored a touchdown. The line still is dinged up a bit but looks to try and improve over last weeks showing.

Click here for the Redskins injury report

Saturday Slop: Smoot says RGIII Will Get Better Every Game; Richard Crawford Quite Active in Debut

Posted on August 11, 2012

The weekend edition of the ‘Daily Slop’, as seen daily on Hogs Haven.

Redskins vs. Bills game review (offense) | WashingtonExaminer.com
Speed does make a difference on handoffs. It might not be much of one, but it exists. Granted, sometimes the landmarks might be a little different in these scenarios, but the overall difference was consistent. When Robert Griffin III handed off in a stretch zone run, it took him approximately 1.10 seconds to get it to the running back each time. When Rex Grossman did it, it took him nearly 1.25 seconds. That’s not a knock on Grossman, but it is an example of the speed. Oh, and it wasn’t just Griffin. Kirk Cousins’ times were about the same as Griffin’s.

Redskins vs. Bills game review (defense) | WashingtonExaminer.com
Linebacker Brian Orakpo lined up in a four-point stance the entire first series (all of three plays). There are some NFL coaches who still think he’d be best used as a 4-3 defensive end, so it makes sense to have him play with his hand in the dirt on occasion. Orakpo likes doing this and it works at times. Like on the first play when he badly whipped the left tackle with a terrific get-off and speed around the edge. That forced Ryan Fitzpatrick up in the pocket. However, thanks to Adam Carriker collapsing the pocket with power, Fitzpatrick had nowhere to go. He sort of slid to his left, but that’s where Ryan Kerrigan was waiting. Kerrigan had looped all the way around, going behind the QB and to the other side. When the right tackle bumped into the left tackle in the backfield, it enabled Kerrigan to get home for the sack. But he got there thanks to the initial work of others.

Need to Know: Practice time changes – Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins
Here is what you need to know on this Saturday, one week before the Redskins travel to Chicago for their second preseason game: Time changes The Redskins announced just a few days ago that today’s “TBA” practice time was going to be 2:00. That was changed yesterday when they said that the practice has been moved up to 12:55. The session is open to fans. Monday’s practice schedule will remain the same as it has been for most days of…

Holden & Danny: Fred Smoot says RGIII Will Get Better Every Game ” CBS DC
Ex-Redskins Cornerback Fred Smoot joined Holden and Danny to break down Thursday’s pre-season opener.

HomerMcFanboy ” redskins-bills playlist
*After defeating the Redskins, Buffalo went on to lose seven of their final eight games of 2011. The good news is, since last we saw these two teams, the Redskins have undergone a pretty serious facelift. No longer are local fans subjected to the Rex Grossman-John Beck “pupu platter” — not after the franchise traded away a bevy of high draft picks for the right to select Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.

Robert Griffin III’s Redskins Debut Delivers Record TV Ratings ” CBS DC
Robert Griffin III’s debut delivered record television ratings Thursday night.

The Redskins Blog | Was Griffin III Robbed Of Perfection?
Last night against the Buffalo Bills, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was credited with four completions on six attempts, for 70 yards and a touchdown. Using whatever convoluted system they use to factor QB ratings, NFL mathematicians credited Griffin III with a 145.8 rating–an NFL best among preseason performances. But videographic evidence seems to suggest that during the opening drive, receiver Pierre Garçon actually had two feet in-bounds on his reception, before going out of bounds. The play was incorrectly ruled incomplete on the field, leading to a Sav Roccapunt. Had the call gone in the Redskins’ favor, Griffin III’s final line might have been five-for-six for 84 yards and a touchdown, which calculates out to a perfect 158.3 QB rating in his Redskins debut.

Former Redskin Tony Banks On RGIII’s Debut: “Preseason Is Nothing Like Real Thing” | NBC4 Washington
Did anybody ask for his opinion? Oh well!

Redskins-Bills: Another rookie, Alfred Morris, had a pretty good game too – The Insider – The Washington Post
Most of the attention in the Washington Redskins’ preseason opener Thursday night in Buffalo was on quarterback Robert Griffin III. But a couple pf other rookies, running back Alfred Morris and cornerback Richard Crawford, also helped themselves with their performances during the Redskins’ 7-6 win.

Robert Griffin III shines in exhibition debut for Washington Redskins – Peter King – SI.com
Griffin, the reigning Heisman winner from Baylor and second overall pick in April’s draft, looked as composed and sharp as he did against one of the league’s best defensive fronts. Maybe the best: Mario Williams making his Buffalo debut at left end, Kyle Williams and Marcel Dareus at tackle, and Chris Kelsay and ex-Patriot Mark Anderson at right end.

Redskins-Bills: Five observations from Thursday night’s game – The Insider – The Washington Post
Pierre Garcon may fit the part – Garcon looked like a much more complete receiver than he did in Indianapolis. With theColts, he primarily was used as a deep threat. When the play wasn’t designed for him, Garcon would take the lid off the defense and open up things underneath for Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark.

Redskins-Bills: Richard Crawford quite active in debut – The Insider – The Washington Post
“I like Crawford. He loves football,” Haslett said on Tuesday. “He works. He’ll do anything. He’ll play nickel, corner, dime and he’ll punt return, so he does a lot of different things.” Crawford wiped out Buffalo’s hopes at a scoring drive late in the second quarter, when he intercepted a Tyler Thigpen pass at the Washington 22-yard line. In the third quarter, he posted his punt return. Crawford fielded another punt but didn’t return the kick after waiving for fair catch.

Observation deck: Redskins-Bills – NFC East Blog – ESPN
Trent Williams made the most impressive play of the game. The Redskins’ mercurial left tackle got downfield quickly and blocked two defenders at once on the Garcon touchdown catch. Williams is fast, athletic and as talented as any left tackle in the league, and the sense in Redskins camp is that he’s more focused and motivated than he’s been in his first two seasons. He looked tremendous on that play and is capable of dominating at the point of attack and at the second level. Williams injured his foot on the extra point, but Mike Shanahan said after the game that X-rays were negative. It would be bad for Washington if Williams were seriously injured. He is by far the best thing the Redskins’ offensive line has going for it.

Reaction To Redskins Preseason Opener – Hogs Haven

Notes and reaction from the Redskins preseason opener against the Bills.

Officially, it’s getting to be a mess

The regular season is about a month away, and there’s no end in sight to the NFL’s two-month old lockout of its officials.

Starting defense pressured Fitzpatrick into mistakes – Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins

The Redskins first team defense played 12 snaps against the Bills on Thursday night, here are some notes and observations from those plays. —Carriker and Bowen just pushed the pocket back on the Bills’ first snap from scrimmage. Ryan Fitzpatrick was immediately looking at a human wall when he set to look for a receiver. That allowed Kerrigan, who initially had run past the QB, to keep after it, loop back around, and drag down Fitzpatrick from behind. —On third…

Analyzing Robert Griffin III’s Redskins debut – Washington Times

Here’s some thoughts and observations about QB Robert Griffin III’s preseason debut, in which he completed 4 of 6 passes for 70 yards, threw for a touchdown and posted a passer rating of 145.8.

LT Trent Williams injures foot in preseason opener – Washington Times

Trent Williams might miss time with a sore left foot.

Burgundy Bites – Burgundy Blog [On the World Wide Warpath]

Burgundy Bites Couldn’t care less about the final score but I’m pretty satisfied with the Redskins’ performance last night. A few impressions, first on RGIII: • Griffin’s (awesome) QB Rating is pretty…

Washington Redskins: Live From My Couch: 10 Observations : Washington Redskins

DVOA 7.0: Best Teams by Pass and Run : Football Outsiders
In Football Outsiders Almanac 2012, and recently on the website, we introduced the latest iteration of our DVOA formula, which we are calling DVOA v7.0. The biggest change in the new formula is that all years are normalized so the league average equals 0%, and that moves players and teams up and down our all-time rankings depending on how strong offense was league-wide that season. Today, we’re going to continue looking at what the new version of DVOA does to our all-time rankings by looking at the best teams split into offense and defense by run and pass.

NFL to teams: No complaining about the replacement refs! | Shutdown Corner – Yahoo! Sports

NFL teams can be fined or otherwise sanctioned if the league feels like it for taking after officials based on in-game situations, but it seems as if the league is just a bit more sensitive about the issue of public criticism of its officials while the actual refs are locked out in a labor dispute.

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Saturday Slop: Brandon Banks Says he’s Faster Than RGIII; Redskins’ Secondary of ‘Misfits’ Putting the Pieces Together

Posted on August 4, 2012

hogs haven daily slop gfx medium Saturday Slop: Brandon Banks Says he’s Faster Than RGIII; Redskins Secondary of Misfits Putting the Pieces Together

With camp in full swing, and the first preseason game being next Thursday, Redskins news is at a premium right now. Here is the weekend edition of the ‘Daily Slop’ as seen daily over on Hogs Haven.

Redskins Practice Report: Aug. 3 | WashingtonExaminer.com
Tight end Chris Cooley worked at fullback with Young sidelined, as he did early last season. If something happened to a fullback during the season, Cooley would need to be the guy who took over. Don’t think you want Fred Davis in that role and Niles Paul said he’s not comfortable at fullback (yet). Logan Paulsen? Who would you rather have there – Paulsen or Cooley? Paulsen is better on the line. Cooley did run the ball once from fullback and also caught a pass

Redskins training camp observations: Aug. 3 practice – The Insider – The Washington Post
Today marked another shaking outing for the Redskins’ offense. At one point, the mistakes persisted so much that Coach Mike Shanahan stopped practice, huddled all the offensive players and told them to shape up, in so many words.

CAMPBELL: Redskins practice report 8/3 – Washington Times
Early in team drills, Griffin threw behind WR Aldrick Robinson over the middle after he faked a draw to the running back. Again, the mechanics of faking and then resetting to throw are a work in progress for him. There are several elements involved, including footwork, timing and throwing mechanics.

Practice report: Good start, shaky finish for RG3 – Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins
Shanahan huddles them up Things started off sharp but they went downhill after that. They started off their 11 on 11 drills as usual but then shifted to different situations—red zone, goal line, starting from you own one-yard line, and two minute. There was some poor offense and some pretty well-played defense and a lot of sloppiness. The offense was a comedy of errors featuring interceptions, two safeties and a few false starts. After Fred Davis committed a false start,…

Redskins practice report (8/3) – Washington Times
Griffin later overthrew TE Logan Paulsen in the end zone during goal-line work. He had time to throw and had drifted to the left from the pocket. Paulsen was fairly well covered. Griffin tried to lead him but threw it too far. Griffin’s arm strength is fine, but the sharpness isn’t always there – even in QB-WR drills without a defense. Some passes are behind receivers; others are a bit high; others are on target. I’m eager to hear his take on his progress when we finally get to meet with him on Monday.

Friday Training Camp Practice Notes
One of the standout performers today was rookie defensive back Richard Crawford, who has quietly inserted himself into the competition in the Redskins’ secondary. Crawford flashes impressive speed–which could make him an asset in the return game–and is unafraid to cover receivers or tight ends. Crawford made an uncontested interception during one-on-one drills, staying with a play even after receiver Samuel Kirkland fell down on his route.

The Redskins Blog | Training Camp Video: Quarterbacks
We continue our look at the offense today with some video of the Redskins’ four quarterbacks working with the running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.

The Redskins Blog | Training Camp Video: Tight Ends
The Redskins’ tight ends are one of the more interesting storylines this season. You’ve got a Pro Bowl veteran in Chris Cooley, a up-and-coming star in Fred Davis, an all-around, solid football player in Logan Paulsen, converted wide receiver Niles Paul and draft picks Richard Quinn and Beau Reliford.

RGIII Report: Aug. 3 | WashingtonExaminer.com
You can sometimes see the finished product when watching Robert Griffin III. There are times in practice, and we saw it Friday, when he throws in rhythm and it’s a pretty completion. Griffin drops back, quickly reads the defense, throws the ball before the receiver breaks. Life, for the Redskins, at that moment is good. Griffin, who has held the ball too long at times, made a quick decision on an out route to Pierre Garcon. It’s exactly what I wrote above: the ball arrived as Garcon turned around. Pretty.

HomerMcFanboy ” royster on hello kitty, penn state and more
Since training camp begin a little more than a week ago, Washington Redskins second-year running back Evan Roysterhas done his best to make those in attendance take notice. Even though the 24-year-old is in a crowded backfield with no clear-cut leader, he’s done a respectable job of forcing his way into the discussion as the Week 1 starter.

Anthony Armstrong says shoulder injury not serious but timetable for return unclear – The Insider – The Washington Post
Wide receiver Anthony Armstrong said Friday his shoulder injury is not serious but he wasn’t certain when he’ll be able to resume practicing.

Josh Morgan unsure when he’ll return from hamstring injury – The Insider – The Washington Post
Injured Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan expressed encouragement over how his strained left hamstring has progressed, but said that he doesn’t want to return to the field prematurely. Morgan, signed as a free agent from San Francisco in the spring, suffered the injury during Monday’s practice, and hasn’t practiced since. He is competing for the starting receiver position opposite Pierre Garçon, but this week can only watch while Leonard Hankerson gets the bulk of the reps at that position.

Heath Shuler on Redskins drafting RGIII: ‘I was so excited’ – The Insider – The Washington Post
Making his first visit to Redskins Park since 1996, for Redskins QB Heath Shuler praises the team’s first-round pick.

Redskins’ secondary of ‘misfits’ putting the pieces together – Washington Times
Continuity has been the theme for the Washington Redskins on defense. Barring injury, they should have the same defensive line and linebackers as they did at the end of last season, and coordinator Jim Haslett’s 3-4 scheme remains in tact.

Brandon Banks says he’s faster than RGIII – DC Sports Bog – The Washington Post
Redskins return man also says he’s giving up Twitter to help him concentrate on football.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS | Andy Benoit Previews the Redskins
For years, the Washington Redskins have battled an addiction to signing free agents. Like most addictions, it has left a trail of destruction in its wake: no playoff wins in 11 of the last 12 seasons, wasted money, a disgruntled fan base, boxes of unsold Donovan McNabb jerseys, and so on. Dan Snyder tried to straighten things out by hiring two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Mike Shanahan in 2010, but that’s yet to pay off; the Redskins are coming off a third consecutive season of double-digit losses.

The Redskins Blog | Rookie Spotlight: Alfred Morris
“I like taking notes,” Morris said this week after a walk-through morning practice at Redskins Park. “Like going over a play, I like writing notes on that play — if we’re talking about a certain play — I like writing notes on that play so I can come back to it, so I know where it’s at and I can flip through and find it whenever I need a refresher.” It’s that simple approach that has pushed Morris — sought more as a linebacker than a rusher out of high school — into the Redskins’ training camp rotation of running backs.

Quick hits: Shanahan says Redskins ‘can’t have lapses’ – The Insider – The Washington Post
The Redskins’ head coach stops practice briefly after a series of mistakes and sloppy play by his offense.

Redskins training camp: Early injuries along offensive line leave time to recover – Hard Hits – The Washington Post

Either the starters will be back or the backups will have time to step up.

Legendary QB Joe Theismann joins the Fix to give his thoughts on Camp – especially compared to how it ran when he played! Plus his thoughts on RG3
Interview

Jackson Ready To Battle For Safety Spot
Head coach Mike Shanahan knows the Jackson will need time to adjust to the 3-4 defense, but is pleased with Jackson’s knowledge of the playbook. “He’s been there learning the defense,” Shanahan said. “He’s got some playing experience and I think he feels very comfortable with the defense.”

Davis Seeking Redemption On One-Year Deal
While many tagged players holdout in hopes of a long-term deal, Davis isn’t concerned with anything past this upcoming season. “I’m not thinking about that,” Davis said after practice. “I’m fine with what I got. I’m just going to keep working, that’s what it’s all about. I want to win, so I’m not really worried about that.” “It’s showing them that I’m here and that I’m focused.

Santana Moss wants to be ‘dominant’ – NFC East Blog – ESPN
Santana Moss was expecting a call from the Washington Redskins coaching staff this offseason. When his agent called him and told him the team wanted him to lose weight, he chuckled. Way ahead of you guys, he thought to himself. “Honestly, before they even called me, me and our strength coach already had our plan when it came to what I wanted to do in the offseason,” Moss said after Monday’s practice. “So I was like, ‘You know what? If that’s what they want, I’m going to give it to them.’ Because I already had my mind made up on that anyway. I feel like, the last few years, I played heavy.”

Hogs Haven Round Table – Breakout Players – Hogs Haven

With camp being open now for a week I thought it was a good time to get a grasp on what everyone was thinking about possible breakout players heading into the season.

ProFootballWeekly.com – Redskins CB Hall looking to improve

Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall aims to improve upon his 2011 play.

Williams: ‘I want to be the best, not just better’

Trent Williams says that he is getting down to the business of turning his massive potential into great performances on the field.

Early Surprises of Redskins 2012 Training Camp – Hogs Haven

Redskins 2012 Training Camp is just one week in, but there are already some good story lines brewing. I wanted to focus on the positives(no offense to Jammal Brown’s hip), and some of the surprises thus far in camp.

It will be business as usual for RG3 in preseason

The Redskins will not play their rookie quarterback any longer than they typically play any of their starters during the preseason.

RG-3 will get 12 to 20 snaps in preseason opener | National Football Post

Shanahan likes how QB is coming along

Jarvis Jenkins eager to make impact for Redskins – Washington Times

After being selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft, Jarvis Jenkins had everything laid out in front of him. The former Clemson Tiger was set to have a big impact on the Washington Redskins’ defensive line.

Redskins linebacker Riley coming into his own – The Washington Post

Linebacker has better understanding of system and schemes under tutelage of London Fletcher

Redskins Draft History Shows A Lack of…Something

Take a look at the problem with the Redskins draft history over the last decade.

Kentwan Balmer’s whereabouts are a mystery to the Redskins and everyone else | Shutdown Corner – Yahoo! Sports
Kentwan Balmer, (likely soon to be ex-) defensive end for the Washington Redskins, is missing, at least to the Redskins coaching staff. He hasn’t shown up for training camp practices two days in a row. Redskins officials found his hotel room cleared out, save for one Redskins sweatshirt. Teammate Lorenzo Alexander says that Balmer simply “decided to leave.”

The Redskins Blog | Rookie Spotlight: Adam Gettis
“You don’t think it’s going to happen,” Gettis said Monday after the Redskins’ morning walk-through practice. “Being a two-star guy, you don’t think those guys are going to make it, but it’s all about work and opportunity and you have to take advantage of those types of things.” ‘Everybody’s pumped’ On Monday, the team participated in its second practice with shoulder pads, giving a much more physical feel to things.

2012 NFC East Predictions
Predictions for the NFC East, including RG3′s impact on the Redskins and record predictions for every team in the division.

Goodell: NFL not interested in on-uniform advertising | ProFootballTalk
The NFL is not interested in following the NBA’s lead in selling advertising on uniforms. While NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said in July the league was “likely” to approve small advertising patches on uniforms by 2013, the NFL has generally considered himself above such a shameless…

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Washington Redskins 53-man Roster Projections (2012)

Posted on August 2, 2012

As camp is now a week in the books, I figured I would take a moment to preview the 53 man roster as I see it panning out. Some questions are still open in my mind on if we should keep more than 3 TE’s, 6 defensive lineman, 10 defensive backs or seven wide receivers, so I’m going to give a 52 man projection and have the last spot be sort of a wildcard. Look for the section titled “bubble players” at the bottom.

Quarterbacks (3)

Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, Rex Grossman

After Mike Shanahan made it known very early on that Robert Griffin III would be the starting quarterback of the Redskins this year, any thought of a battle for the number one spot was gone. But there is an interesting battle that is on-going in camp between Grossman and Cousins for the backup spot. Cousins has been getting a lot of the second team reps in practice but I would be highly surprised if Rex doesn’t start the year off as the backup. I do however believe Cousins will be the backup by mid-season as Rex is destined to hold the clipboard and ride the pine this year.

Cuts

Jonathan Crompton

I think we all know that Crompton is nothing more than a camp body.

Halfback/Fullback (4)

Tim Hightower, Roy Helu Jr., Evan Royster, Darrel Young

If Tim Hightower is healthy I believe the starting job at running-back is his to lose. While Hightower has been recovering from his knee injury suffered last year, Evan Royster has been getting a lot of the first team snaps in camp and he and Helu look to get a fair amount of carries this year. Darrel Young has been a little banged up so far this year but his spot is all but locked up on the roster.

Cuts

Alfred Morris, Antwan Bailey, Lennon Creer, Stafon Johnson,Tristan Davis

The interesting name in this cut list is Alfred Morris who I believe could make the team if Hightower is unable to go, otherwise I see him starting the year on the practice squad. Should also be noted that Tristan Davis is currently on the PUP list. (UPDATE: Tristan Davis has been activated)

Wide Receivers (6)

Pierre Garcon, Josh Morgan, Santana Moss, Leonard Hankerson, Anthony Armstrong, Dezmon Briscoe

This will ultimately be a battle all the way through preseason but I believe that the top four are set in Garcon, Morgan, Moss and Hankerson. From there I believe Armstrong knows the playbook well enough to be a decent five or six and Briscoe gives the Redskins a red-zone threat if he can keep his head on football.

Cuts

Terrence Austin, Aldrick Robinson, Brandon Banks, Darius Hanks, Sam Kirkland, Lance Lewis

Reports have been saying that Austin has been having a really good camp and that Robinson has not. There is still a very good possibility that Austin, Robinson or Banks could beat out Briscoe or Armstrong or the team could keep 7 receivers. So who knows yet fully, but I’m thinking Banks may not make the roster this year. (see bubble players)

Tight Ends (3)

Fred Davis, Chris Cooley, Niles Paul

First and foremost, I think we can all agree that this is Davis’s job to lose. Cooley is on the outside looking in at this point and will need to have a strong camp and an injury free preseason to make the team. Niles Paul is making the transition to tight end and could surprise some this year with some decent production in his first year at a new position.

Cuts

Logan Paulsen, Richard Quinn, Beau Reliford

The tight end position could be tricky this year, some think that Shanahan may go with four tight ends, in that situation, Paulsen will make the team.

Offensive Lineman (9)

Trent Williams, Willie Smith, Tyler Polumbus, Maurice Hurt , Will Montgomery, Kory Lichtensteiger, Chris Chester, Josh LeRibeus, Adam Gettis (Jammal Brown?)

Offensive line poses a difficult situation as Lichtensteiger recently had his knee scoped and will miss the preseason in a move so that he doesn’t re-injure himself. A few days ago I would have had Jammal Brown penciled down in this list, now I’m left with that not so sure feeling inside about him since he is currently on the PUP list. Polumbus has been taking a lot of the snaps with the first team in camp in place of Brown, but obviously what most would want would be for Polumbus to be a depth piece instead of a starter. I believe the key here will be how well the rookies can step in when needed as Gettis and LeRibeus could end up playing vital roles if injury strikes. An argument could be made that keeping ten offensive lineman wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Cuts

Tom Compton, Jordan Black, Nick Martinez, James Lee, Grant Garner, Cole Pemberton, Erik Cook (Jammal Brown?)

Again Brown will be a deciding factor in this as I am unsure of his availability at this moment. I for one would really like it if Tom Compton could step up and make the team and be effective in a situation we need him in (right tackle), but I believe he will need at least a year on the practice squad before being ready for the NFL.

Defensive Lineman (6)

Barry Cofield, Stephen Bowen, Adam Carriker, Jarvis Jenkins, Kedric Golston, Chris Neild

Cuts

Kentwan Balmer, Chris Baker, Darrion Scott, Doug Worthington, Delvin Johnson

Balmer has apparently gone AWOL from camp, which is highly peculiar to say the least, but I don’t believe he would have made the roster anyways. Scott and Baker could perhaps make a push towards a roster spot.

Linebackers (8)

London Fletcher, Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan, Perry Riley, Rob Jackson, Markus White, Lorenzo Alexander, Keenan Robinson

Cuts

Bryan Kehl, Chris Wilson, Brian McNally, D.J. Holt, Monte Lewis

Defensive Backs (10)

Josh Wilson, DeAngelo Hall, Cedric Griffin, Madieu Williams, Tanard Jackson, Brandon Meriweather, Reed Doughty, DeJon Gomes, Brandyn Thompson, Richard Crawford

I think the bigger question here is who can the Redskins keep that can help the team, I must admit some of the names above would not strike fear in me as an opposing fan but I believe the idea is to use our strength (front seven) to put pressure on the quarterback, which will disrupt timing in the play. If Meriweather can return to the way he played in New England, this unit will be a lot better than most have given them credit for. The word out of camp is that D. Hall is enjoying playing the nickel back so far, that’s worth keeping an eye on.

Cuts

Kevin Barnes, Morgan Trent, David Jones, Jordan Bernstine, Michael Hamlin, Travon Bellamy

In a perfect world Bernstine would make this team, of course in the world we live in he will have to spend a year on the practice squad. I believe the long needed cutting of Kevin Barnes will happen this year.

Special Teams

Graham Gano, Sav Rocca, Nick Sundberg

Cuts

Neil Rackers

I think most Redskins fans were happy to hear that Rackers was brought in to push Gano, but I just don’t think Rackers has the leg to beat Gano out for a roster spot this season. As a matter of fact, I believe Gano will have the best year of his career this season.

Bubble Players

Terrence Austin, Aldrick Robinson, Brandon Banks, Alfred Morris, Chris Baker, Bryan Kehl, Logan Paulsen, Kevin Barnes, Tom Compton, Jammal Brown

The list above could very well hold the names of players who will make the 53-man roster but at this point I believe they need to show more in either camp or preseason to be able to make the team.

I will give another update on this after week two of the preseason.

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Monday Mailbag: How Many Rookies Make the Team/Who Will Return Kicks in 2012

Posted on June 25, 2012

This week in our Monday Mailbag we have four questions from from different readers.

J. Chester from Va. asks:

The Redskins reportedly are almost 7 million under the cap, can you envision any signings before camp?

That number is a bit deceiving, the Redskins still have yet to sign Robert Griffin III and Josh LiRibeus to their rookie contracts. RG3′s contract should be a cap hit of somewhere close to the five million dollar range and LiRibeus should get somewhere near $700,000 – $800,000. That will bring us down to probably just over the million dollar mark (around 1-1.4 million). Barring injury don’t expect anything, even then I wouldn’t be surprised if Shanahan goes with what he already has.

J. Minor from Maryland asks:

Who is going to return kicks for the Redskins in 2012?

That certainly could be a wide-open contest right there. Brandon Banks is the incumbent, but Mike Shanahan has said recently that in order for Banks to make the team he must be able to return kicks and contribute at wide receiver. To be honest, I’m not sure if Banks, at his size, will step up and ever become a NFL level receiver or not. Banks has some competition this year as well, Aldrick Robinson and Terrence Austin both can return kicks, and play the slot. It should be interesting to say the least to who the Redskins keep and who they cut if they intend to only suit up six wide receivers this season. If I was a betting man, I would go with Robinson.

S. Cochran from Florida asks:

Can you give us an early win/loss prediction for the season?

I can try, even though I loathe making win/loss predictions because I always feel like an idiot if the Redskins don’t meet them. I have looked over the schedule a few times and the number I keep coming up with is 9-7. I will however say that that record could stray to one side or the other depending on a variety of things. It’s always tough to call when we haven’t even seen them practice in pads yet. I will revisit this subject after a couple of preseason games…

D. Melton from DC asks:

How many players from this years draft will make the opening day roster?

I’m thinking six out of the nine will make the team this year. Griffin, LiRibeus, Kirk Cousins, Keenan Robinson, Adam Gettis and Alfred Morris. Gettis or LiRibeus could push to start depending on how fast/good they pick up on the system. Tom Compton could make the team as well depending on just how much he needs to develop (camp/preseason will tell that story), I believe with the amount of players that the Redskins picked up in the secondary this year in free agency that Richard Crawford and Jordan Bernstein will start the season off on the practice squad.

If you have any questions that you might want to ask and have published, email us at mondaymailbag@httr4life.com

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Change We Can Be Proud Of

Posted on May 8, 2012

The Washington Redskins have taken huge steps towards a valid rebuild in the last few weeks. The biggest and most obvious upgrade was at the quarterback position, where they not only added Robert Griffin III, but they also added a quality backup prospect when they drafted Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins in the 4th round of the draft. The Skins were then able to cut career backup quarterback John Beck, a player who in my opinion, had no business wearing the burgundy and gold to begin with.

The Redskins have also had a major shortage of yard producing wide receivers in previous years and added Josh Morgan and Pierre Garcon to the mix in free agency this off-season. Signing Garcon gives the Redskins a young, up and coming receiver who is no stranger to the YAC (Yards After Catch) that they desperately need to aid the offense in scoring more points. Morgan has been near the top of many discussions the last few years thinking the young Virginia born receiver was near a break out season, last year was a shortened one for him due to a ankle injury early on.

While the offensive line was nothing to write home about last season, injuries showed the world that not only was our 0-line painfully mediocre, it was also painfully thin with hardly no depth. To address the depth issue head on, a pair of guards were drafted in Josh LeRibeus from SMU and Adam Gettis from Iowa as well as tackle Tom Compton from South Dakota. LeRibeus has already been used at rookie camp in a center role, showing his versatility at multiple positions could lead to him being used early and often.

All fans of the Redskins know that we have a strong front seven on the defensive side of the ball, though some could point out that the depth at the ILB position was very thin with only Lorenzo Alexander listed as a backup to London Fletcher and Perry Riley. The ‘Skins addressed that need by signing linebacker’s Jonathan Goff and Bryan Kehl, and then drafting Keenan Robinson from Texas with their second pick in the 4th round of the draft. Robinson has the skill set to be groomed as a possible replacement for Fletcher in a couple of seasons.

The secondary may present the biggest problem/question mark on the entire Redskins team. Since last season the ‘Skins have added Brandon Meriweather, Tanard Jackson, Madieu Williams, Cedric Griffin, Leigh Torrence and drafted Jordan Bernstine from Iowa and Richard Crawford from SMU. Not to mention the signing of former UVa star corner-back Chase Minnifield, who went un-drafted after being looked at as a third round pick before surgery in January. Minnifield could very well be the steal of the draft.

Last year was focused on fixing a problematic defense, this year it appears as if the main focus has been providing depth at key positions and upgrading at the major skill spots. Coach Mike Shanahan has already announced that RG3 will be the starter from day one (as if we needed to hear that to know it). Those who wanted change in DC…it is here, and I for one think it’s change we can be proud of!

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