rskinsfan10
09-20-2007, 10:38 PM
Hey, pay attention!! Doc Walker has something to say!!
KS-Well Mr. Walker, why don't we start off with an overview of your thoughts on the win against the Eagles on Monday night.
DW- I thought that it was a quality win. Anytime you win on the road against a perennial division champion along with it being on Monday night, despite losing Pro-Bowl talent like Randy Thomas says a lot about the character and makeup of this team. Considering that defense and the talent along the Eagles defensive line, it was a great win.
KS- I'm glad that you touched specifically on the loss of Thomas. That's twice in 2 weeks we have lost major talent along that offensive line. Todd Wade seemed to play well and Fabini held his own. What are your thoughts on their play?
DW- I thought they played well. That's my whole point when I mentioned going up against the likes of Javon Kearse and you don't render a sack. Now, Kearse isn't 100%, but he is still better then most defensive ends in the league. I thought that the offensive line again proved that if you are going to be a really good football team, your offensive and defensive lines have to be the strongest units on your team. Now, this defensive line was much maligned and questioned in the off season, and there were times when Donovan had too much time. There were also times when he didn't have enough time. They had 3 sacks, and they nearly had a turnover and one potential INT. You still have to look at the overthrow to Santana which would have been ball game, along with the drop by Cooley and think what could have been. We aren't New England, we're not Indianapolis, but we are so far ahead of the game with the threat of the passing game that it was enough to get a win. That is a game that Washington loses 2yrs ago. It was not a perfect win, but it was a big time win.
KS- The rest of the country was able to get their first extensive look at Jason Campbell. What do you like or dislike in regards to how he is progressing to this point?
DW- I like everything about him because in his 9th game he is able to make mistakes, have another turnover, yet in the 4th Qt play his best football. I thought that McNabb played his best football in the 4th Qt as well, and he's a former MVP. He's obviously not 100%. As far as Jason goes, it was huge because it builds confidence. You have to keep in mind that was Jason's 9th start in this league. I think what he has done so far is pretty doggone good. There is still plenty of work to be done, don't get me wrong, but I like winning while you are improving. These early wins are big because it almost makes you better then you really are.Then eventually, you will become as good as you think you are. Right now I think that he is schedule, along with the rest of the team. The worst thing that could happen to them is to be .500 in September at this point. That's always been my goal is to be .500 in September because this month now serves as the new training camp for most veteran starters. On most teams, their starters haven't played a lot since last year.
KS- Last week we touched on Brandon Lloyd and his lack of playing time and production. Perception is that James Thrash has leapfrogged him on the depth chart. You mentioned needing to see something positive out of him against the Eagles. Has anything changed in your mind about him?
DW- Jason joins me every Tuesday on SportsTalk980, and he told me that they had a play in to get Brandon the ball down field, but the defense didn't allow them to do it. The match ups at that time wouldn't allow it to happen, so they lost that opportunity. I'm not giving up on Brandon Lloyd. I'm disappointed so far, but in one game he can turn everyone back into Brandon Lloyd fans if he could simply make some plays. I still believe that he's capable of doing that. Eventually, Caldwell will be up to speed and he will have lost his chance, but I think it's too early for that. This offense is still evolving and maturing.
KS- Another one of our young players that seemed to impress was Rocky McIntosh. Has this guy made that much progress in one off season, or does this speak more of it being a ridiculous decision by former LB coach Dale Lindsay not to play him more?
DW- There was clearly a disconnect between the staff including Dale Lindsay and Rocky McIntosh. I think both sides had to improve, but for the life of me I will never understand why he sat for 12 weeks. He simply couldn't have been that bad. That's old news however. The new news is that Lindsay is gone, and this kid had a super off season. He is a terrific player, and he is healthy. I just think it's better to move forward and concentrate on that then to move backwards.
KS-Well Mr. Walker, why don't we start off with an overview of your thoughts on the win against the Eagles on Monday night.
DW- I thought that it was a quality win. Anytime you win on the road against a perennial division champion along with it being on Monday night, despite losing Pro-Bowl talent like Randy Thomas says a lot about the character and makeup of this team. Considering that defense and the talent along the Eagles defensive line, it was a great win.
KS- I'm glad that you touched specifically on the loss of Thomas. That's twice in 2 weeks we have lost major talent along that offensive line. Todd Wade seemed to play well and Fabini held his own. What are your thoughts on their play?
DW- I thought they played well. That's my whole point when I mentioned going up against the likes of Javon Kearse and you don't render a sack. Now, Kearse isn't 100%, but he is still better then most defensive ends in the league. I thought that the offensive line again proved that if you are going to be a really good football team, your offensive and defensive lines have to be the strongest units on your team. Now, this defensive line was much maligned and questioned in the off season, and there were times when Donovan had too much time. There were also times when he didn't have enough time. They had 3 sacks, and they nearly had a turnover and one potential INT. You still have to look at the overthrow to Santana which would have been ball game, along with the drop by Cooley and think what could have been. We aren't New England, we're not Indianapolis, but we are so far ahead of the game with the threat of the passing game that it was enough to get a win. That is a game that Washington loses 2yrs ago. It was not a perfect win, but it was a big time win.
KS- The rest of the country was able to get their first extensive look at Jason Campbell. What do you like or dislike in regards to how he is progressing to this point?
DW- I like everything about him because in his 9th game he is able to make mistakes, have another turnover, yet in the 4th Qt play his best football. I thought that McNabb played his best football in the 4th Qt as well, and he's a former MVP. He's obviously not 100%. As far as Jason goes, it was huge because it builds confidence. You have to keep in mind that was Jason's 9th start in this league. I think what he has done so far is pretty doggone good. There is still plenty of work to be done, don't get me wrong, but I like winning while you are improving. These early wins are big because it almost makes you better then you really are.Then eventually, you will become as good as you think you are. Right now I think that he is schedule, along with the rest of the team. The worst thing that could happen to them is to be .500 in September at this point. That's always been my goal is to be .500 in September because this month now serves as the new training camp for most veteran starters. On most teams, their starters haven't played a lot since last year.
KS- Last week we touched on Brandon Lloyd and his lack of playing time and production. Perception is that James Thrash has leapfrogged him on the depth chart. You mentioned needing to see something positive out of him against the Eagles. Has anything changed in your mind about him?
DW- Jason joins me every Tuesday on SportsTalk980, and he told me that they had a play in to get Brandon the ball down field, but the defense didn't allow them to do it. The match ups at that time wouldn't allow it to happen, so they lost that opportunity. I'm not giving up on Brandon Lloyd. I'm disappointed so far, but in one game he can turn everyone back into Brandon Lloyd fans if he could simply make some plays. I still believe that he's capable of doing that. Eventually, Caldwell will be up to speed and he will have lost his chance, but I think it's too early for that. This offense is still evolving and maturing.
KS- Another one of our young players that seemed to impress was Rocky McIntosh. Has this guy made that much progress in one off season, or does this speak more of it being a ridiculous decision by former LB coach Dale Lindsay not to play him more?
DW- There was clearly a disconnect between the staff including Dale Lindsay and Rocky McIntosh. I think both sides had to improve, but for the life of me I will never understand why he sat for 12 weeks. He simply couldn't have been that bad. That's old news however. The new news is that Lindsay is gone, and this kid had a super off season. He is a terrific player, and he is healthy. I just think it's better to move forward and concentrate on that then to move backwards.