rskinsfan10
09-21-2006, 09:01 PM
Let me not sugarcoat this. Quite frankly, the man is pissed. Sometimes, I think that many fans of the Redskins don't quite realize how many of those that have played for this team in the past, those that won championships with this team, those who have fell in love with the flavor of this town and its surrounding communities so much so that they have made the DC metro area their permanent home, how they bleed for this team after they have hung up their cleats and pads. Rick Walker has that passion, and it seeps out of him each and every time he and I get together and talk Skins football. So, you can imagine the mood after what could simply be deemed a travesty this past Sunday night down in Dallas. It wasn't jovial to say the least.....
rsf10- Point blank, where do we go from here? During conversations that you and I have had, and listening to you on the John Thompson Show, you have mentioned that Dallas Week in this area just doesn't seem to generate the same buzz as it once did. Elaborate on that for me if you would.
DW- Well, I was a little surprised based on the two victories from a year ago that the town and the team hadn't regained it's swagger in the interest of Dallas Week. I'm just constantly reminded that we have so many different players that are here now that haven't played in many of them, and I think that by not playing in the District and for the most part guys living way out in the Ashburn area, they really don't get downtown like the past teams did with much frequency. The District itself, whether or not you were down there in the clubs, bars, restaurants, etc. it just had a unique flavor. I just think that a lot of that has been splintered. With the new stadium, it's just a lot of change nowadays. They lost like twelve or so in a row, they win two; it just may take a little more time to brand some folks. I think that the old school Skins fan will always be there, but there are new fans that have not experienced a lot of success quite naturally over the last twelve or so years.. That era of the 70s and 80s was a pretty fruitful era as far as bragging rights. I think it's one of those things where the team, the fans, everyone involved has to reload and get on a streak.
rsf10- The defense is ranked 23rd I believe.....
DW- Whatever it is it isn't top five.......
rsf10- ..right. When compared to the defense last year, they seem to be allowing more first downs, more third down conversions, and even more startling is they seemingly are getting more costly penalties. Do you personally believe that it is time to worry about the defense?
DW- Oh yeah, it's time to worry about anything that creates more penalties then big plays. For starters, it has an anemic pass rush. You then look at Taylor's big hits and causing a fumble, but Rogers has a ball right in his chest and he doesn't make the catch. That INT would have been catastrophic for Dallas. So, that's twice now, including the playoff game, that he has had balls in catchable positions but didn't make the play. I thought that he played much better in week two then he did in week one. I expect a lot out of him. I think that he is a heckuva player and I have high expectations out of him because he played big time college football and was a first round pick. I don't think that we should be beating around the bush as far as what is expected of him being that he was a number one draft choice.
rsf10- Do you think that Mark Brunell is the reason why this offense is struggling, or do think that there is equal blame to be shared by others within that unit?
DW- It's always a collective problem, but he is at the tip of the problem. He has been under a lot of pressure, but you have your blitz and hot reads and to me he seems to be making the right reads, but he just doesn't have the accuracy that he once had. Santana Moss ran a slant and he flat out beat his man, but the ball wasn't there. We had a couple more balls bouncing at guys, and he's better then that. We have seen this guy play better then that. Now, he is also struggling from the after effects of this 700page playbook that to me may be good in theory, but you've now had a lousy preseason, and now a lousy first two games. So I hope that week three is the week that they start to scrap some of the things, water it down, and get some basics in that can help you keep drives alive. I mean, with this type of talent, your entire plan should not be based on tricking people. I think that they have to get back to NFC East football, which the Skins have been accustomed to doing. Attacking the line of scrimmage, running the ball and taking some shots downfield. If you didn't have a Randle El and a Santana Moss, I wouldn't say that. I would say "look, we only have one guy and we are limited". We aren't limited. They covered that in the off season. What they are limited in is taking the chances,and I know what Mark is, well I think that I know what Mark is trying to do. That is not hurt his team, not hurt his defense and not turn the ball over, but he's just got to let it go. I don't doubt whether or not he can do it, I'm just strictly dealing with the fact that he hasn't done it.
rsf10- I think that a huge mystery so far is why has Chris Cooley been so ineffective. It's especially baffling when you looked at the way that Saunders used Tony Gonzalez. I will add that we are talking about a perennial pro bowler in Gonzalez, so maybe that has some to do with it. Why do you think that is the case?
DW- First of all, in Gonzalez we are talking about a bigger, faster target. Cooley has been under utilized, as has Caveman Sellers. Both of those guys during the win streak were on fire. Remember though, that was a different offense. I think that everybody has to take a step back, and that includes Cooley. What really has surprised me is that with all of the talk about the OTAs and the perfect attendance, that we aren't further along then where we are. I mean, what were they doing? I can maybe understand if the running game suffered, but the passing game I would like to think would be much better then this. Something that comes to mind is the fact that Saunders this week said something along the lines that he hadn't seen enough of Brunell in the preseason. Well ,that's his fault. He chose not to play him. Now he has seen him play in two games and he is just starting to realize that there are things that he does well and some things that he doesn't do so well. That though is the evolution that all players go through when dealing with new staffs, but the Buffalo Bills have a new staff. Minnesota has a new staff. He's not the only new coach imploring a new system. He's a veteran coach man, and that's just not acceptable. I do respect the fact that he has to take the position of supporting his unit. When you play ball, part of the reason as to why you are good or you have a good team is your belief system. Team athletes have a different value system. They have to believe in the guy. There is no one that is going to look at the guy differently because he has a had a dad game. There are only a few elite players that don't have bad games, guys that play at such a higher level then everyone else. Other then that, the average guy is going to have a bad game. I'm not hard on anybody that I don't think has talent.
cont.........
rsf10- Point blank, where do we go from here? During conversations that you and I have had, and listening to you on the John Thompson Show, you have mentioned that Dallas Week in this area just doesn't seem to generate the same buzz as it once did. Elaborate on that for me if you would.
DW- Well, I was a little surprised based on the two victories from a year ago that the town and the team hadn't regained it's swagger in the interest of Dallas Week. I'm just constantly reminded that we have so many different players that are here now that haven't played in many of them, and I think that by not playing in the District and for the most part guys living way out in the Ashburn area, they really don't get downtown like the past teams did with much frequency. The District itself, whether or not you were down there in the clubs, bars, restaurants, etc. it just had a unique flavor. I just think that a lot of that has been splintered. With the new stadium, it's just a lot of change nowadays. They lost like twelve or so in a row, they win two; it just may take a little more time to brand some folks. I think that the old school Skins fan will always be there, but there are new fans that have not experienced a lot of success quite naturally over the last twelve or so years.. That era of the 70s and 80s was a pretty fruitful era as far as bragging rights. I think it's one of those things where the team, the fans, everyone involved has to reload and get on a streak.
rsf10- The defense is ranked 23rd I believe.....
DW- Whatever it is it isn't top five.......
rsf10- ..right. When compared to the defense last year, they seem to be allowing more first downs, more third down conversions, and even more startling is they seemingly are getting more costly penalties. Do you personally believe that it is time to worry about the defense?
DW- Oh yeah, it's time to worry about anything that creates more penalties then big plays. For starters, it has an anemic pass rush. You then look at Taylor's big hits and causing a fumble, but Rogers has a ball right in his chest and he doesn't make the catch. That INT would have been catastrophic for Dallas. So, that's twice now, including the playoff game, that he has had balls in catchable positions but didn't make the play. I thought that he played much better in week two then he did in week one. I expect a lot out of him. I think that he is a heckuva player and I have high expectations out of him because he played big time college football and was a first round pick. I don't think that we should be beating around the bush as far as what is expected of him being that he was a number one draft choice.
rsf10- Do you think that Mark Brunell is the reason why this offense is struggling, or do think that there is equal blame to be shared by others within that unit?
DW- It's always a collective problem, but he is at the tip of the problem. He has been under a lot of pressure, but you have your blitz and hot reads and to me he seems to be making the right reads, but he just doesn't have the accuracy that he once had. Santana Moss ran a slant and he flat out beat his man, but the ball wasn't there. We had a couple more balls bouncing at guys, and he's better then that. We have seen this guy play better then that. Now, he is also struggling from the after effects of this 700page playbook that to me may be good in theory, but you've now had a lousy preseason, and now a lousy first two games. So I hope that week three is the week that they start to scrap some of the things, water it down, and get some basics in that can help you keep drives alive. I mean, with this type of talent, your entire plan should not be based on tricking people. I think that they have to get back to NFC East football, which the Skins have been accustomed to doing. Attacking the line of scrimmage, running the ball and taking some shots downfield. If you didn't have a Randle El and a Santana Moss, I wouldn't say that. I would say "look, we only have one guy and we are limited". We aren't limited. They covered that in the off season. What they are limited in is taking the chances,and I know what Mark is, well I think that I know what Mark is trying to do. That is not hurt his team, not hurt his defense and not turn the ball over, but he's just got to let it go. I don't doubt whether or not he can do it, I'm just strictly dealing with the fact that he hasn't done it.
rsf10- I think that a huge mystery so far is why has Chris Cooley been so ineffective. It's especially baffling when you looked at the way that Saunders used Tony Gonzalez. I will add that we are talking about a perennial pro bowler in Gonzalez, so maybe that has some to do with it. Why do you think that is the case?
DW- First of all, in Gonzalez we are talking about a bigger, faster target. Cooley has been under utilized, as has Caveman Sellers. Both of those guys during the win streak were on fire. Remember though, that was a different offense. I think that everybody has to take a step back, and that includes Cooley. What really has surprised me is that with all of the talk about the OTAs and the perfect attendance, that we aren't further along then where we are. I mean, what were they doing? I can maybe understand if the running game suffered, but the passing game I would like to think would be much better then this. Something that comes to mind is the fact that Saunders this week said something along the lines that he hadn't seen enough of Brunell in the preseason. Well ,that's his fault. He chose not to play him. Now he has seen him play in two games and he is just starting to realize that there are things that he does well and some things that he doesn't do so well. That though is the evolution that all players go through when dealing with new staffs, but the Buffalo Bills have a new staff. Minnesota has a new staff. He's not the only new coach imploring a new system. He's a veteran coach man, and that's just not acceptable. I do respect the fact that he has to take the position of supporting his unit. When you play ball, part of the reason as to why you are good or you have a good team is your belief system. Team athletes have a different value system. They have to believe in the guy. There is no one that is going to look at the guy differently because he has a had a dad game. There are only a few elite players that don't have bad games, guys that play at such a higher level then everyone else. Other then that, the average guy is going to have a bad game. I'm not hard on anybody that I don't think has talent.
cont.........