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09/02/10--07:11: After the Nyjer Morgan brawl, what should the Nationals do with him? (chan 1477815)

Nyjer Morgan has been a bad, bad boy lately. TBD's Samuel Chamberlain has his docket sheet of recent transgressions, including charging the mound last night (video), but it boils down to his mouth and fists causing more problems for the Nats lately than his bat and defense have been worth.

Mark Zuckerman has the must-read on Morgan, and there are too many good points to summarize. He reports that Morgan's teammates are sticking up for him -- but, as William Yurasko points out, teammates have a tendency to stick up for each other (until they reach Albert Haynesworth levels, we guess).

From a baseball standpoint, Morgan has been a disappointment this year (stats). After an electric six-week debut with the Nationals last year, his on-base skills have dipped (.396 OBP to .317) and his power has disappeared (.435 SLG to a disturbingly low .318). Even his beloved speed has disappointed, as his 33 steals are more than offset by the 15 times he's been caught, which leads the league.

But he really was good after arriving from Pittsburgh last year. Does he have enough potential to remain part of the Nationals' future, or is he not worth the trouble?

 

 




09/07/10--07:44: Albert Haynesworth trade: Would you miss him? (chan 1477815)

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the Redskins and Titans are discussing a trade that would send Albert Haynesworth packing.

We won't bother revisiting the history here...you know it well. What we want to know: What would a Haynesworth trade mean to the Skins on the field? Would it damper your expectations for this year, or have you already moved on from expecting a contribution from him?

And if he does stay, what do you think the Skins will get out of him?




09/12/10--21:50: Did the Redskins win it, or the Cowboys lose it? (chan 1477815)

As the cliche goes, a win is a win. And a win over a hated division rival is even better. It doesn't get much better than taking down the division favorite in the season opener…especially when it's the Cowboys.

But we'll hear a lot of people saying – especially if they're Dallas fans but also a lot of Redskins fans – that the Cowboys beat themselves.

Yes, the Cowboys inexplicably handed the Skins seven points before halftime – but then, the Redskins took three of their own points off the board in the third quarter. And yes, the Redskins' offense never got much going, but there's no denying it was a great defensive performance, too.

So did the Skins earn this win? Or should Skins fans just be happy to take it?




09/14/10--07:04: Redskins vs. Cowboys: Should the Redskins have taken points off the board? (chan 1477815)

Call it a cliche, or call it a nugget of football wisdom supported by countless instances of regret: Never take points off the board.

Skins fans can be happy that this question doesn't truly matter today. Had Alex Barron not needed a hug on the last play of the game, it might be discussed a lot more.

To review: Graham Cano gave the Redskins three points in the third quarter, only to see an offsides penalty by the Cowboys give the Redskins a first down. The drive quickly stalled, and holder Josh Bidwell pulled a Romo on the next field goal attempt, leaving the Skins with nothing when they once had three points in hand.

We're aware that hindsight is 20/20. But what did you think at the time? And having seen the impact it nearly had, would you make the same decision if it happened again next week?




09/16/10--07:24: Redskins vs. Texans: Can Arian Foster be stopped? (chan 1477815)

The Houston "Potential Sleeper Team Since 2008" Texans' Arian Foster got the country's attention in Week 1, especially if you play fantasy football. A season debut of 231 yards and three touchdowns will do that.

Combined with a surprising takedown of the AFC champion Indianapolis Colts, the Texans are all of a sudden looking like as much of a challenge as Dallas, if not bigger.

The Cowboys managed 103 yards rushing against the Skins, putting the Skins' rush defense in the middle of the pack in the NFL at No. 16. For a larger sample size, that's exactly where they ended the 2009 season.

Are you confident the Skins can keep Foster from repeating his performance from last week?




09/20/10--03:00: Will the Redskins' running game appear? (chan 1477815)

When everyone's tired in the fourth quarter and your team is winning, there's nothing better than seeing a running attack that jams the football down the defense's throat, keeping the clock running and keeping the ball away from the other offense.

Sure would have been nice, huh?

But instead, the Skins mustered just 18 yards on the ground all game, and there was no running attack to speak of in the fourth quarter as the Skins held on to their tight lead. Instead, Donovan McNabb was trusted to keep the ball off the ground.

When McNabb is superhuman, the strategy might work. When he's merely human, not having a ground game could be a big problem (though Clinton Portis can be very valuable even without the ball for his blocking).

Do you have hope they'll get it together? Or do you see this as a year-long problem for the Skins?

 

 

 

 




09/21/10--03:00: Should DeAngelo Hall always cover the top receiver? (chan 1477815)

In a not-so-delicate suggestion – in fact, it wasn't a suggestion at all – DeAngelo Hall assigned himself to the opposition's top receiver for the rest of the season. He hadn't run it by defensive coordinator Jim Haslett yet, but he didn't hesitate to tell reporters about his plan.

Bold, to be sure. But did he have a point?

The Texans' top receiver, Andre Johnson, ended up with 12 catches for 158 yards, and Hall rarely covered him. Most importantly, Johnson won a jump-ball touchdown that allowed the Texans to force overtime.

There's little doubt that Hall is the most talented corner on the Skins roster. But should the defensive scheme be redrawn to put Hall on the top receiver at all times? Or do you trust in Haslett's scheme and the other talent on the roster?

 




09/21/10--15:44: Did Larry Johnson deserve to be cut? (chan 1477815)

Larry Johnson, who proved against the Texans that he is not Barry Sanders by taking a brutal 10-yard loss on an unnecessary backward loop, was cut by the Redskins today. His final line as a Redskin: 5 carries, 2 yards.

It looked to be an exciting offseason at the running back spot, as Johnson was one of two former Pro Bowlers the Skins signed. The other, Willie Parker, was cut during training camp.

Johnson has never been known for his cheerful locker room attitude. And he's certainly been on a long, steady decline since 2006, when he ran for 1,789 yards and 17 touchdowns.

But to give up on him so quickly was a surprise. Knowing that the running game has been perhaps the Skins' biggest weakness so far, do you think the Skins should have tried to get more out of Johnson? Or do they simply need new blood at the position?




09/23/10--13:56: Stan Kasten resigning from the Nationals: Good or bad news? (chan 1477815)

Nationals fans may have been prepared for President Stan Kasten's announced resignation by this morning's Thomas Boswell column in The Washington Post. Boswell didn't break the news that Kasten will be leaving at the end of the 2010 season, but it sure was a finely timed column examining the issue.

Now, fans are speculating on the Nats' future, and revisiting Kasten's legacy. Will he be missed as an advocate for the owners opening up their wallets, or was he just as responsible for all the Nats' misery as anyone else?

No one has bowled Kasten over with praise, but there's a widespread fear that the replacement will be worse.

Kasten has been seen as an advocate of a higher payroll, and fans have appreciated that he has stayed in the ear of the Lerner family, which owns the Nationals. In a post headlined "Dear Stan Kasten, please don't go," Nationals Enquirer wondered: "Without Kasten around, who will protect Nationals fans from the Lerners, and the Lerners from themselves?"

But you also won't find widespread mourning. Fire Jim Bowden was decidedly gloomier:

This franchise has dark days ahead. Nevermind Stan's happy talk and MLB.com's silly cheerleading. The decisions made under Kasten's watch will keep the team in the cellar for the foreseeable future. And for that reason Stan Kasten's regime in Washington should be regarded as nothing but a failure. It's time for new blood, and Nationals fans shouldn't be sad to see him go.

There are also still some hurt feelings over, among other things, an Opening Day debacle in which he invited Phillies fans to invade. The Washington Examiner's Rick Snider said it "never seemed like he knew local fans."

Do you see this as a setback for the Nats' future, or does the team need new leadership? 

UPDATE 4:33 p.m.: Tom Bridge weighs in with a "Stanecdote" of good responsiveness to fans.




09/26/10--17:38: Will the Redskins win in the next three weeks? (chan 1477815)

Just as fan confidence is at its lowest, Washington will have to deal with a brutal schedule in the three weeks ahead: at Philadelphia, followed by home games with Green Bay and Indianapolis.

The Eagles didn't seem like an overly imposing opponent until recently, when Michael Vick got the keys and made the offense suddenly lethal. Green Bay is 2-0 going into its Monday night game with Chicago, and has looked awfully good on the way. Indianapolis rebounded from its Week 1 loss to Houston by throttling the Giants and Broncos.

Meanwhile, we don't have to tell you that Washington is struggling. With a different weakness each week, it's hard to know which team is going to show up each week.

So what will the Skins' record be after Week 6? Will they still be in the running for a playoff spot?




09/29/10--06:36: Was Wednesday Adam Dunn's last home game as a National? (chan 1477815)

Jokes about home games against the Phillies actually being road games aside, there's a significant chance this could be Adam Dunn's last game as a National inside Nationals Park. MASN's Ben Goessling reports that sources have told him it's unlikely the Nats will resign the first baseman.

Fittingly, Dunn was the hero in last night's 2-1 win over the Phillies. Sam Chamberlain reports Dunn didn't have his mind on nostalgia after the game.

"I'm not going to go in tomorrow going, 'This is my last home game ever,' and cry and hand out Adam Dunn baseball cards," he said. "I'm going to go into tomorrow like we have a chance to win the series against the National League East division champs.

Chamberlain has made a strong case for why the Nats should keep Dunn, but we don't know yet if management agrees. So what's your prediction? Will we see more towering home runs from Dunn next year?

 

 

 

 

 

 




10/04/10--03:00: Who was the Redskins' MVP against the Eagles? (chan 1477815)

Though the actual game ball went to Donovan McNabb in the locker room, there's no clear choice for MVP after the Skins' 17-12 victory over the Eagles.

McNabb didn't play his finest game, but did come up with some big first downs with his legs and tossed a few big ones. Meanwhile, Clinton Portis and Ryan Torain were effective on the ground, the secondary shut down the Eagles' dangerous receivers, and some big hits were administered all night.

Who does your game ball go to? Let's discuss it in the comments.

 

 




10/06/10--13:55: Clinton Portis injury: The beginning of his end in Washington? (chan 1477815)

Remember when the Redskins had an overabundance of running backs? Those were the days.

We've come a long way since training camp. Back then, we debated Larry Johnson v. Willie Parker for the back-up spot to Clinton Portis, and Keiland Williams v. Ryan Torain for the third spot. How times have changed.

With the news that Clinton Portis will be out four-to-six weeks, Ryan Torain moves into the starter's role. Keiland Williams, who was cut last week to make room for Brandon Banks, was added to the Skins' practice squad, TBD's Mike Jones reports. He thinks Williams will be added to the 53-man roster to be Torain's backup, with the recently signed Chad Simpson also in the mix.

Consider this an extended audition for Torain, who was indispensable in the victory over the Eagles. He pounded the Eagles' tired defense in the fourth quarter, draining the clock and keeping the ball out of Kevin Kolb's hands until it was too late.

If Torain impresses, does this spell the beginning of the end for Portis? Can Portis return to form in DC?




10/07/10--11:46: Is Riggo's rushing record safe? (chan 1477815)

Clinton Portis entered the season with 6,597 yards as a Redskin and within 875 yards of John Riggins for first place on the franchise’s all-time rushing list.

During the training camp, with Portis slimmed down and showing good quickness and explosion, it looked as if Riggo -- the most beloved Redskin of all time for many fans -- just might be unseated.

Portis struggled in the first two games of the season, then got off to a strong start in Week 3 before falling down and being replaced as the primary runner by Ryan Torain. Then last week he again started strong while facing the Eagles, and after picking up 55 yards on 11 carries, Portis suffered his groin pull in the third quarter.

 The Redskins say that Portis should be out four to six weeks, but that’s optimistic. A significantly younger Fred Taylor in 2001 was coming off of a 1,399-yard season but suffered a bad groin pull in the second game of the 2001 season. He ended up not coming back at all that season for the Jaguars.

Portis now has 6,792 rushing yards, and taking his injury into account, it appears that Riggins’ record is safe for this year. And given the fact that next season he is due to make $8.3 million, it’s highly unlikely that Portis would be brought back next year, meaning Riggo’s mark might be good for a very long time.

There’s still a slim chance for Portis. If the Redskins’ best-case scenario of him missing only four weeks is correct, Portis would return with eight games left and would need to average 85 yards an outing to pick up the remaining 680 yards needed to tie Riggins. If the six-week projection is correct and Portis is out another two weeks and returns with six games left in the season, he would need to average 113.3 yards a contest.

Portis has only 195 yards in four games (48.8 yard per game average). It will take him a while to regain his form even if completely healed by either of those dates. Also by then, if all goes well for the Redskins, Torain will be firmly established as a quality back and will be hard to unseat. So, it looks like a long shot.

Nothing is impossible, however. Right?

What’s your prediction on Portis? Does he come back in time and pass Riggins? Does he face too much of an uphill climb even when he does return? Or, does he not even make it back?




10/11/10--05:14: Are the Redskins a playoff team? (chan 1477815)

It's been a long time since we've seen a team that has so violently yanked around its fans' expectations from week to week.

One week they're a bunch of bums, the next they're beating one of the NFL's hottest teams. Actually, one half they're a bunch of bums, the next they're beating one of the NFL's hottest teams. As DC Pro Sports Report pointed out, the Skins have yet to put together a full four-quarter game.

Yet here they are with victories over three strong NFC contenders: Dallas, Philadelphia and Green Bay. They've been frustrating to watch, but the results are there.

So are you back on board, convinced by the good parts? Are the Redskins making the playoffs this year?




10/14/10--02:00: Gilbert Arenas: Are you bothered by his lie? (chan 1477815)

Gilbert Arenas, who can never seem to find any ways to get attention from the media, found himself in a new one: He faked a knee injury before a preseason game, claiming he did it so backup Nick Young could play more.

TBD's Samuel Chamberlain likened it to Allen Iverson's famous rant about practice (not a game, not a game), arguing that you can wake him up when it happens during the regular season. But Coach Flip Saunders was less amused, fining Arenas an undisclosed amount.

Arenas' biggest mistake may have been opening his yapper. If he hadn't willingly revealed his plan to The Washington Post's Michael Lee, he likely would have avoided the whole episode. And generally speaking, lying to your boss probably isn't a good idea, no matter where you work.

So the question is: Do you consider this something that brings you any actual alarm? Or do you just shake your head and move on?




10/17/10--03:00: Is the Colts loss Donovan McNabb's fault? (chan 1477815)

In TBD's in-game live chat, which you should check out during next week's game, Jon Kelman of DC Landing Strip asked: "What did McNabb do today that was better than mediocre?" No one had an answer.

McNabb has occasionally looked dynamic this year, but Redskins fans have also seen the spells of inaccuracy that McNabb was often known for in Philadelphia. He had an opportunity to lead the Skins down the field for a game-winning drive but came up short.

Not that we're giving up on him. But we have to wonder: How much do you hold McNabb accountable for the Colts loss? And has your opinion of him changed after six games in a Redskins uniform?




10/25/10--03:00: Ugliest win in Redskins history? (chan 1477815)

Unless you really, really like interceptions, Sunday's 17-14 win over the Bears was about as ugly of a Redskins win as you'll ever see. There were three turnovers, six fumbles, many bad decisions by Donovan McNabb, wide receivers dropping easy passes, 2-13 on third down conversions, a missed field goal, squandered field position, and seven penalties. If the Bears weren't that much worse, all that would have almost certainly led to a loss for the Redskins.

But the defense showed up, likely saving this game from being the worst win the Redskins have ever had. Just for fun, let's think back: Can you think of any games in which they played worse, but somehow came away with a win?




11/01/10--05:43: Will Donovan McNabb get a contract extension? (chan 1477815)

It was assumed Donovan McNabb would be the one deciding whether or not he'd be the Redskins' quarterback for years to come. Now, a lot of fans are debating whether the Skins should even offer him an extension after his contract runs up after this year.

Skins fans knew they'd be getting an upgrade over Jason Campbell, but they thought they'd be getting more than this. We've seen many people saying that they finally understand why the Eagles traded him.

Even with his struggles and his fourth-quarter benching against the Lions, do you still think he gives the Redskins their best chance at winning that they've had in years? Or do we not believe that anymore?

And would you be comfortable seeing him lead the Skins for the next three or four years?

 




11/01/10--13:10: Randy Moss waived, Redskins a fit? (chan 1477815)

We haven't even heard the story of why it happened yet, but the Minnesota Vikings have waived wide receiver Randy Moss, according to reports all over the place.

It took just seconds for fans to start imagining him in a Redskins uniform, and it makes sense in a lot of ways. Danny Snyder loves his big names. Though Anthony Armstrong has made several big plays, the Skins don't have a reliable second receiver behind Santana Moss. And Donovan McNabb had his best year throwing to Terrell Owens, so he's ready for just about anything.

What do you think? Should the Skins take a chance on him?

 




11/02/10--10:06: JaMarcus Russell and the Redskins: Bad idea or terrible idea? (chan 1477815)

As you know, there are only two sides to any issue. And we like to present both of them here at TBD, so after hearing that the Redskins are giving a tryout to JaMarcus Russell, let's look at the X's and O's of the possibility. We'll get to the bottom of whether this is a terrible idea, or merely a bad idea.

Reasons why it is a terrible Idea: He is JaMarcus Russell. In nine starts and 12 games overall in 2009, he threw three touchdowns, 11 interceptions and lost six fumbles.

Reasons why it is a bad idea: He was a former No. 1 overall pick, so maybe there's a tiny bit of talent in there somewhere? Perhaps he has exemplary cardiovascular conditioning?

That's the best we can do. We're not sure what he offers that Rex Grossman and John Beck couldn't should Donovan McNabb go down. Are we missing something here?




11/09/10--07:49: Is Alexander Ovechkin missing his spark? (chan 1477815)

TBD's Dan Rowinski has noticed that Alexander Ovechkin seems to be missing a bit of his spark this year, writing that "the cocky thump that has defined the Russian superstar to start his career does not seem to be present 14 games into this season." He says the team-high four hits Ovie registered against the Flyers Sunday were deceptive, as he passed on hits he would have made two years ago.

Ovie is statistically doing fine, as he's third in the NHL in points with 18 (eight goals, 10 assists). But for those who have watched the games, are you seeing what Rowinski has seen? And do you think it'll impact the Caps as the season goes on?




11/10/10--14:17: Did Ryan Zimmerman deserve a Gold Glove? (chan 1477815)

Did Ryan Zimmerman get snubbed for the 2010 National League third base Golden Glove award?

The Reds’ Scott Rolen took home the honors, his eighth overall. Rolen has now won the award with three different teams with 2010 his first since 2006.
Rolen may be the modern day Brooks Robinson, but did he really deserve to win this year over other worthy candidates in Zimmerman and San Diego’s Chase Headley?

TBD's Sam Chamberlain thinks both Zimmerman and Headley have a complaint. Let’s break down the numbers.

The top of the class in the National League, Headley and Zimmerman, were head and shoulders above the rest of the league in the advanced statistical categories. The common sabermetric standard these days, Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) which accounts for runs saved by position, had Headley and Zimmerman far ahead of Rolen. Headley led the NL with a 16.5 UZR with Zimmerman a close second at 13.9. Rolen was third at 10.6.

Another common sabermetric defensive rating, Range Runs Over Average (RngR) also had Headley and Zimmerman far ahead of Rolen, with Zimmerman leading the way with an impressive 15 RngR (Headley was second at 14.1 while Rolen was fourth at 4.1).

In the standard statistical department, Rolen and Zimmerman were tied in the errors, both with six apiece. Headley had nine. In the old stalwart for defensive statistics, fielding percentage, Rolen was second in the league at .977 (behind Placido Palanco at .987. Headley was third at .967 while Zimmerman was much further down the list, 10th with .951.

The impressive thing about Headley is that played many more innings (1404) in the field than both Zimmerman (1189) and Rolen (1074).

But voters do not tend to look at these things. Gold Gloves are often “legacy” awards, given to past recipients who may not be worthy just because they held up their position in the waning years of their career (see: Derek Jeter). Headley has never won a Gold Glove. Zimmerman was the defending third base National League winner.

What say you? Does Rolen deserve one more shiny metal mitt to put on his mantle or did Zimmerman (or Headley) get hosed on an award they had every right to claim?




11/15/10--12:35: Donovan McNabb extension: Are you in favor? (chan 1477815)

It wasn't that long ago that we wondered if Donovan McNabb's benching during the fourth quarter of the Lions game meant he wouldn't resign with the Redskins after his deal ended at the end of the year. Wonder no more.

He got a five-year, $78 million extension, making clear that the Redskins have no doubt who will be their leader for years to come. Yet even before the Lions game, some Redskins fans have questioned whether they even wanted him under center beyond this year.

What do you think? Is this a positive move for the Redskins' future?




11/24/10--08:44: Clinton Portis injury: Is he done in Washington? (chan 1477815)

With the news that Clinton Portis has been placed on injured reserve, officially ending his season, it leaves him close to several significant marks. He's 77 rushing yards away from 10,000 in his career, 649 away from becoming the Redskins' all-time leading rusher.

But even before the IR announcement, Dan Daly wondered if the 29-year-old Portis had played his last down for the Skins. Running backs don't age well, as Larry Johnson and Willie Parker can attest.

Do you want the Skins to give Portis another chance next year to get the records? Do you think he can still be a starter?