WP:Live Nunyo chat starting now!

[chrisbcbu]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/05/12/DI2005051201251.html

Palmdale, Calif.: Nunyo,

Did the Skins acquire the 'right' receivers this off-season to support their offense this year?

Nunyo Demasio: That remains to be seen. Santana Moss and David Patten are smallish explosive receivers. They each were among the league leaders in yards per catch last season. In a down year, Moss still averaged 18.2 yards per catch last season with the Jets. The Redskins receivers last season averaged around 11. Gibbs intends to be more agressive this season so the explosiveness of the two new receivers should help.

[chrisbcbu]

Silver Spring, Md.: Everyone's talking about the QBs but no one's really talking about the offensive line. What's the status of the o-line? Is Jansen healthy yet? Will Gibbs use some new schemes to allow Portis to do his thing rather than have to wait for the guards to pull to open holes for him?

Nunyo Demasio: The line should be improved this year with Jansen back. His rehab went well -- so well, that he felt he could have played at the end of last season. One of the big changes in the offense is how Gibbs uses Portis. Portis showed last season that he is not patient enough to be a counter-trey runner. I think the team will use more zone blocks from the get-go this time, and Portis should have a better year.

I seriously hope this is true. We definately need to take advantage of Portis' speed to find the hole and i think zone blocking would help tremondously!

[S.Taylor36]

Getting Jansen back and adding Rabach can only help our running game. If we can control the line it makes a huge difference for our offense. Also Jansen is Ramsey's best friend on the team and you know he wants to help out his boy. I hope Gibbs makes the proper adjustments this year.

[The Skinsinator]

Getting Jansen back and adding Rabach can only help our running game. If we can control the line it makes a huge difference for our offense. Also Jansen is Ramsey's best friend on the team and you know he wants to help out his boy. I hope Gibbs makes the proper adjustments this year.

Tremendously help our running game. Brown and Raymer were our biggest offensive liabilities hands down last season.

[MONK_in_HOF]

Hopefully Buges can coach dockery up too and get some more worth out of that huge frame.

[akhhorus]

An interesting tidbit:

"How much will Sean not showing up to the workouts hurt him? Has anyone heard from him at all?

Nunyo Demasio: Taylor has spoken to some teammates. I'm not sure if he's spoken to some defensive coaches. Gibbs stopped calling Taylor after he didn't return a call or two."

I thought Taylor hadn't returned or answered a ton of calls from Gibbs, thats what some people were intimating here.

and:
"Seriously, can someone tell me what the deal is between Len Pasquerelli and this Redskins organization. I mean he has a serious personal vendetta against my team. And I hate it. Did someone in the organization shoot his dog or slap his Momma? This is important information, I need to know this stuff.

Nunyo Demasio: Pasquarelli like him or not is one of the hardest working and most plugged-in NFL writers around. There are theories that he has become anti-Redskin after Mark Maske and Len Shapiro broke the Gibbs returns story. (I think CBS Sportsline also got it.) Supposedly, Pasquarelli felt lied to by the Skins. But I can't confirm this. This is just some scuttlebutt. Still, as long as the Redskins lose, a lot of Pasquarelli's takes will be proven right."

[silverspring]

Nunyo Demasio: McCants is Washington's biggest receiver so that should give him a role if he sticks around. McCants still doesn't play special teams so he will have to come on strong in training camp to keep from another season of being regularly listed as inactive.

I can't believe that guy still has an embargo on playing ST, he makes it really hard to get on his bandwagon.

[The Skinsinator]

Nunyo Demasio: McCants is Washington's biggest receiver so that should give him a role if he sticks around. McCants still doesn't play special teams so he will have to come on strong in training camp to keep from another season of being regularly listed as inactive.

I can't believe that guy still has an embargo on playing ST, he makes it really hard to get on his bandwagon.

Based off his last apparent comments his attitude was much improved. Really couldnt get too much worse. Im not certain that he has stated recently he wont play st. Id like to see that confirmed before I concluded either/or.

[smoak]

I'm sick of Taylor. Period, end of story I hope the Skins treat him the way the Iggles are treating TO.

The O-line is really lacking in depth, and I think it is a legitimate concern.

[akhhorus]

Nunyo Demasio: McCants is Washington's biggest receiver so that should give him a role if he sticks around. McCants still doesn't play special teams so he will have to come on strong in training camp to keep from another season of being regularly listed as inactive.

I can't believe that guy still has an embargo on playing ST, he makes it really hard to get on his bandwagon.

It says more about D-Mac than any stat. He has been given an opportunity to win the confidence of Gibbs and a second chance, and he seems to be blowing it.

[CNYSkinFan]

I thought the chat was interesting. not much meat theare. I do think Holdman's signing means Barrow is going to be let go.

[RedHokieSkin]

Nunyo Demasio: McCants is Washington's biggest receiver so that should give him a role if he sticks around. McCants still doesn't play special teams so he will have to come on strong in training camp to keep from another season of being regularly listed as inactive.

I can't believe that guy still has an embargo on playing ST, he makes it really hard to get on his bandwagon.

Did I misread this? Where does it say that McCants chooses not to play ST. Maybe there is more to it than most people seem to think. Maybe he just sucks on ST.

[The Skinsinator]

Did I misread this? Where does it say that McCants chooses not to play ST. Maybe there is more to it than most people seem to think. Maybe he just sucks on ST.

I thought about that as well. Id wait till the mini camps and July to totally call the McCants/special teams situation. In my opinion although respectable Demasio only knows so much.

[skins111111]

Washington, D.C.: How much will Sean not showing up to the workouts hurt him? Has anyone heard from him at all?

Nunyo Demasio: Taylor has spoken to some teammates. I'm not sure if he's spoken to some defensive coaches. Gibbs stopped calling Taylor after he didn't return a call or two. That's a shame, but I guess Taylor is letting Rosenhaus handle everything. A few guys have heard from Taylor but he's kinda gone underground. He was even working out on his own, instead of working out at the University of Miami with former Hurricanes like Portis and Moss.

The last line has gotten me worried......Moss worked out with the boys and came back in great shape......ST is working out all on his own?????? doesn't sound all that reasurring to me.............I was hopping he was at least getting mentored while he was getting in shape.........a rich unstable kid alone is in bad company

[CowboyKilla]

The guy still rubs me the wrong way.

The comment he made that, he's not negative and that if he was so negative the players and coaches would run the other way.

They just wait till he leaves before they say "That guy is a Putz."

I just don't like the guy. I miss Mark Maske, the absolute best.

[NamVet4]

Nunyo Demasio, who covers the Washington Redskins for the Washington Post lists for FLORIDA TODAY five positives and five negatives the Redskins can take from the NFL Draft and into next season.
Here is the LINK (http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050516/SPORTS/505160322/1002/sports) to the write up that features Nunyo Demasio's views on the good and bad of our Beloved Teams 2005 draft !


Enjoy and comment.........

[whitskins]

I hope the Skins treat Taylor just like the Eagles are with TO, we're loaded up on safeties so if Taylor wants to sit we have plenty of guys who can play instead. I'm tired of his crying, this guy makes it really hard to like him when he's not on the football field.

[BurgundyNGold]

Herndon, Va: Sorry, I think I meant Sally Jenkins, my fault? You are not that negative.

Nunyo Demasio: Sally is only one of the greatest sportswriters in the world. (I wouldn't mind being called Mr. Negative if I could write like her.)
If you aspire to be Sally Jenkins, you probably should be working at Pizza Hut.

[The Skinsinator]

If you aspire to be Sally Jenkins, you probably should be working at Pizza Hut.

Of course hes going to be complimentary to Miss Jenkins. She is far beyond criticism in her perennial critical tone towards our team.

[BurgundyNGold]

Of course hes going to be complimentary to Miss Jenkins. She is far beyond criticism in her perennial critical tone towards our team.
Yeah, but to call her "one of the greatest sportswriters in the world"??? That's just "S"ing her "D".

[LuvSkins17]

Nunyo Demasio: McCants is Washington's biggest receiver so that should give him a role if he sticks around. McCants still doesn't play special teams so he will have to come on strong in training camp to keep from another season of being regularly listed as inactive.

I can't believe that guy still has an embargo on playing ST, he makes it really hard to get on his bandwagon.
I honestly think that he may not be able to earn a spot on ST. McCants is a good reciever but he maynot be able to upstage the talent on ST. We have alot on quality depth on the roster now. I hope he can hold his own. I would really like to see what he has this season.

[The Skinsinator]

I honestly think that he may not be able to earn a spot on ST. McCants is a good reciever but he maynot be able to upstage the talent on ST. We have alot on quality depth on the roster now. I hope he can hold his own. I would really like to see what he has this season.

So would all of us no doubt. I think with Darnerian its really quite simple. If he shows Coach Gibbs that he is willing to do whatever it takes to help the Redskins win (including special teams) he will have an excellent opportunity for next years campaign. If he dogs it at all or shows any means of his sometimes prevalent attitude he will probably may not play and may not have a job. Gibbs wont care that he is our only large receiver. Hope he shows up 100% come July.

[whistleandthumb]

I've said it the whole offseason, and, based on Nunyo's comment, I'll say it again: The key to our season is the OL. If Jansen and Rabach play like the killers they are, then everything should go our way. The running game will work, which, in turn, will make the passing game work. And with our defense being at least a top 10 defense, we are only going to need to score 7 to 10 more points a game than last year to win the majority of our games.

[Redskin006]

i'd agree with whistleandthumb. our o-line is key. if they don't play up to par, then we are heading nowhere this season and ramsey will look like crap. if they play well, then we should be easily in the playoffs (althought the other components of the team must live up to expectations.) wutever the case, it is imperative that we have a dominant, healthy o-line.

[smoak]

I've said it the whole offseason, and, based on Nunyo's comment, I'll say it again: The key to our season is the OL. If Jansen and Rabach play like the killers they are, then everything should go our way. The running game will work, which, in turn, will make the passing game work. And with our defense being at least a top 10 defense, we are only going to need to score 7 to 10 more points a game than last year to win the majority of our games.

Couldn't agree more. With the lack of depth, they better stay healthy, and come with the hard hat and lunch pail.

[darksome]

Sheesh! More fodder for the Sean Taylor execution! You gys don't give up easy huh? I didn't get a negative from the ST questions. I know he burns some of you guys to the core, but trust me, since this guy can play ball with a fiery intensity and skill, HE WILL NOT HOLD OUT OR BE RELEGATED TO THE BENCH!

P.S. - Don't even think about quoting me if he does! :Peace:

[redwolf1218]

I honestly think that he may not be able to earn a spot on ST. McCants is a good reciever but he maynot be able to upstage the talent on ST. We have alot on quality depth on the roster now. I hope he can hold his own. I would really like to see what he has this season.
exactly. i never heard him or anyone else say that he refused to play special teams. on the contrary, he said he wanted to play special teams and has played on special teams in the past. i think Danny Smith picks who he wants on ST and within reason, the coaches let him put together the best units possible, and he didnt think McCants fit that role for whatever reason, or he just had too many other better guys to choose from.

[redwolf1218]

i disagree with all of the negatives in that article, so that's great!
1. By passing on Mike Williams, who was still available with the 9th pick, the Redskins failed to obtain a talented wide receiver at a position of need.

apparently this was not deemed a position of need.

2. The Redskins have too much money tied up to their quarterbacks.

not true. Ramsey is not making a lot. Campbell wont make a lot. Brunell restructured. compared to other teams' QB's, we're fine.

3. The Redskins gave up too much -- three picks including a first-rounder in 2006 -- for Jason Campbell to be a No. 3 quarterback this season.

maybe. we did give up a lot, but it's not over yet. we might have plans to recoup some of those picks.

4. Despite six draft choices, the Redskins didn't choose a pass-rusher, another position of need.

apparently here again, this was not seen as a position of need. from what i saw last year, we had a total jail break in the other team's backfield many times.

5. Joe Gibbs is 65, meaning he doesn't have much time left to wait for Campbell to mature.

this only shows Joe Gibbs is putting the franchise first, building for the future.