Blogger Blitz: Washington at Detroit
October 28th, 2010 | by detfan1979 |I traded questions with Ryan who covers the Redskins for Fanball.com — my questions with his answers are first, followed by my responses to his inquiries.
DetFan1979: What is your take on the Washington Redskins so far this season?Ryan: Better than expected. They haven’t earned much in regards to style points, but have found ways to win. The offense needs some work, a lot in fact. McNabb could be more accurate. The defense could give up fewer yards, but the intangible for winning is never to be discredited. I’d rather have a 4-3 team winning squeakers than a 1-5 team scoring tons of points.
DetFan1979: Who is your offensive and defensive MVP so far?Ryan: Offensive MVP would have to be Santana Moss. He is top receiver this year based on his stats and he continued to be the go-to guy for Donovan McNabb.
The defensive MVP would be Laron Landry. He has significantly improved his game and has been effected in his natural position at strong safety.
DetFan1979: Do you think Haynesworth will continue at the high level of play he showed against the Bears, or go back to same old same old?Ryan: I personally think he will get better week to week. The reason he played well this past Sunday was the coaching staff allowed him to be himself and he caused the disruptions we all expected him to create. He came mostly on 3 downs and passing situations, but when he was in immediate impacts were made.
DetFan1979: What concerns you about this Lions team the most?Ryan: Their youth and talent. They have a good team on paper despite what the record says. They could have won a few games here and there (i.e. the Bears game) but for the most part they played hard and hung in there. They have also been able to score some points so that is something to watch out for.
DetFan1979: How confident are you that Redskins can come to Ford Field and come away with a win?
Rams: Normally I would predict this as a loss, but the Rams already took away “gimme-win of death” the Redskins face every year. I feel the Redskins should win, but the Lions will make it tough.
DetFan1979: Do you feel McNabb has been the game-changer Washington was hoping for and how will he handle the Detroit pass rush?Ryan: McNabb can be a game changer but it will be based off the way the line plays. Against the Bears McNabb felt pressure but was only sacked one. He was however pressured into making bad throws, and that came with a price (two picks). I think Detroit has good defensive line. Ndamukong Suh, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams, and Cliff Avril will be a challenge. However, I do not consider them in the class of a Dallas, Philadelphia, Green Bay or Indianapolis. With pass rushers such as DeMarcus Ware, Clay Matthews, DeMario Williams, Robert Mathis, Dwight Freeny, and Julius Peppers already getting their shot at this offensive line, I think they should be ready. The Lions pass rush will win some battles, but they will not dictate the pace of the Redskins offensive game. {I disagree about the Lions not being in their “class” in pass rushing. As per Football Outsiders the teams listed rank as follows in pass rush: Eagles 4th ranked, 21 sacks; Green Bay 7th ranked, 22 sacks; Detroit 10th ranked, 16 sacks; Dallas 17th ranked, 13 sacks; Indianapolis 21st ranked, 11 sacks. Detroit is in the middle of that class — to the better end. As for rushing defense rank, well…that is a totally different story. ~ DF79}
DetFan1979: Both teams have been in close games this year, the difference being Washington winning a couple of theirs. If this game comes down to a 17-13 winner, who will it be?Ryan: Washington, that is their game, and that is the kind of game they win. (vs. Dal 13-7, Phil 17-12, GB 16-13, Chi 17-14).
To be fair, if the game goes into the 20’s I sense the Lions did their part and the Skins ended up having to catch up. A game I see the Lions winning is a 24-20 game.
But I will go with 17-13, Skins.
Here is my email interview with Ryan that you can find over at Paint it Redskins:
Ryan: What is your take on the Detroit Lions so far this season?DetFan1979: The Detroit Lions are a team that has performed admirably under adversity while simultaneously shooting itself in the foot. The Lions played the Giants, for example, with their 3rd string QB and Calvin Johnson nursing an injured shoulder, and down to their 4th string MLB and 3rd String OLB (the 2nd string OLB was filling in at MLB). Injuries have been devastating thus far. HOWEVER – The Lions had chances to solidly win every game but the one at Minnesota and repeatedly committed stupid penalties at the worst time. Stupid personal fouls, offsides, late hits – usually on 3rd and long, or first and goal. Situationally at the worst time possible. Just plain dumb penalties cost them winnable games against the Giants and Eagles.
Ryan: Who is your offensive and defensive MVP so far?DetFan1979: Offensively, Shaun Hill stepping in for Matthew Stafford comes to mind. He played very well filling in for Stafford, and was not the main reason they didn’t win. Defensively, I’m just going to say the defensive line. They as a unit have worked very well together allowing the singled up guys to consistently make plays and get pressure while forcing teams to take steps to counteract the pass rush. Corey Williams in particular is having a monster year. Suh, Avril, and Vandenbosch have been far from slackers, but Williams has been just that good.
Ryan: Do you think the return of Matthew Stafford will be enough to spark a second half run that should make them competitive in second half?DetFan1979: Yes. But it won’t just be Stafford’s return – the Lions are getting several key players healthy that have been out injured or dinged up. They held out 19 starters from their first two bye week practices just to give you an idea of the magnitude. So Health will be key to a run in the last 10 games. Another key will be limiting mistakes – the Lions are close to or leading the league in penalties and they need to stop beating themselves before they can beat their opponents. Finally, they had 4 of their first 6 on the road – including all three division road games in the first 4 weeks. That is a brutal schedule by any means. They have 6 of ten at home and the away games – Bills, Cowboys, Bucs and Dolphins are all winnable games. So yes, I think Stafford’s return along with a combination of other factors will spur a nice second half run that could see 5 or possibly six wins.
Ryan: What concerns you about this Redskins team?DetFan1979: Toughness and self control. The Redskins haven’t been particularly impressive, but they have been playing very disciplined football. First rule of football is don’t beat yourself and the ‘Skins haven’t been, while the Lions have. An injury decimated linebacking corps has helped teams run the ball well against Detroit, and the Ryan Torain led rushing attack could be in for a scary big day.
Ryan: How confident are you that Lions will beat the Redskins for the second year in a row?DetFan1979: I’m not. No one should be confident either one of these teams will be beating the other – While the Redskins have a better win column total right now, both teams have been playing tough football and match up well. It could be anyone’s game.
Ryan: Last year for at least one game versus the Skins, he (Stafford) played with the swagger of a seasoned veteran, will he have that same game changing ability this year?DetFan1979: He will have that and more. Stafford has started to grow into his potential. How much? That is what his game against the Redskins will show. The offense was clicking with Hill under center and there is no reason to think that with two weeks to get back into the swing of things that Stafford won’t fairly quickly merge with traffic and keep it rolling. Shaun Hill is an excellent backup and borderline starter. Stafford is that at minimum right now, with a better long ball and loads of potential.
Ryan: The Skins have played well in close games this year. If this game comes down to a 17-13 winner, who will it be?DetFan1979: If the game is that low scoring I’ll go with Washington. If it’s a higher score than that – into the 20’s or 30’s then I’ll swing around and say the Lions win the shootout at the last minute.
Ryan: Game prediction and footnote?DetFan1979: I think this will be a close fought game that comes down the last few plays. It should be an exciting, intense game. Unfortunately, unless some miracle happens here in the local market it will be blacked out once again just like last year – meaning I’ll be watching it online come Tuesday evening via NFL Rewind. Sunday for me will be a day filled with trick or treating and visiting relatives in costume with the little pink lions. Too early to know who will get the trick, and who will get the treat come Sunday.
By motownmann on Jul 22, 2009
awesome article detfan!!! much love from one of the MLIVE crew!!!!
By detfan1979 on Jul 22, 2009
Here is Nubsnobber’s comment — Please note on this new site you need to click comment at the top of the post, versus the bottom or it will end up on the next story down. Here it is:
By nubsnobber on Jul 22, 2009 | Edit
Martz? Martz is your example of a bad coach? He had a terrific offense, won a Super Bowl as a coordinator, went 14-2 as a head coach and got to the Super Bowl.
But it’s the perfect example of someone who lets his ego enter a doorway before he can go through it, then follows it as it gets kicked out of town. He’s maniacal. But he got things done. He’s “Brain”.
Norv Turner is another one. Good coach, just chokes in the big ones.
If I were citing “flops”, I would think of Romeo Crennel and Chris Palmer. I would think of Lane Kiffin and Herm Edwards even.
But this is why we love this guy. Welcome detfan to your new address! This writer is absolutely terrific, he writes great articles that are factual, well thought out and truly take you outside the box with his metaphors and symbolisms. Glad I get to see the transformation and I like it so far. Congrats, you work very hard to make a bunch of knuckleheads feel welcome!
By DetroitSims on Jul 22, 2009
Great article!!! New website looks great! This couldn’t have happened to a better person. You do a hell of a job comming up with these stories and giving us a glance of hope that is being a Detroit Lions fan!!!! Keep up the good work
By detfan1979 on Jul 22, 2009
I should have written a little more about Martz. He was a great OC when there was someone to keep him focused and in check. He did fine as a head coach W-L at first, but he wasn’t able to manage his coaches and keep things together as the overal Coach of Coaches. I cited him only because he embodies the person who is OK as a HC, but who really excelled as an OC — however, Ego doesn’t allow him to go back to doing just that without trying to take over and be promoted again. Todays best paid coordinators make just as much money as the lower paid HC do so it was about prestige, not money.
Romeo Crennell is a great example on the defensive side of the ball. I don’t think Lane Kiffin was in a situation to really judge in Oakland as he couldn’t even choose his own coordinators, but my gut says great recruiter and thus college coach, but not NFL HC material.
Great comments and keep them coming! At this point I have to moderate comments, so there may be a delay. I’ll see if I can change that later, so bear with me.
By Swive on Jul 22, 2009
Couple of things, Detfan. First, please please please consider a darker font for your blog. Light blue against pure white is a recipe for a headache.
Second, your writing makes it worthwhile to get that headache. Coherent and cogent, I like how you tied current management principles to the recent (mis)management of the Lions.
One thing I would add is that it would seem that Marinelli and Millen both won their positions by force of their personalities, not by an honest assessment of their skill sets for the work at hand. I would posit that they should have first been judged by a set of established skills necessary for the GM and the Head Coach positions, and then judged for their intangibles. Instead, the entire process seemed to be based on those intangibles. I can only hope that Coach Schwartz was evaluated against a much more stringent set of requirements.
By detfan1979 on Jul 22, 2009
Swive — thanks for the suggestion; I’m still working on layout and hope the change to black helps.
As for your point about personality, I agree wholeheartedly. I’m hoping that there was more than personality to his hiring as well — evidence right now suggets there was more. However, only time will tell IF he was the right hire…
By chiefger139 on Jul 23, 2009
I agree with nubs-martz and turner are sucessful nfl coaches and shouldnt be brought up as bad ones but your right many dont turn out to be good coaches, but many do, basically you have 3 choices, hire a former coach, a assistant or coordinator or a college coach. All three methods have both worked and failed. I do think though, you need to go the pittsburg steeler approach, once you get someone half way decent stick with them for a long time, the constant changing of coaches and schemes seems to go nowhere in the rebuilding process.
By ararjaync on Jul 23, 2009
Both Millen and Marinelli were actually victims of the same error…..they hired poorly and then didn’t listen well which resulted in the strengths they did have being compromised. Millen ran his own draft using gut feel after he fired Tobin. Marinelli tried to be the Dline coach and head coach. Schwartz and Mayhew are already way ahead of their predessors because they hired strong, experienced people and listen to them!
By detfan1979 on Jul 23, 2009
Turner was actually a flop in his first two head coaching gigs. Even as it is, the Chargers are loaded with talent; However, Norv has always been an excellent OC. As a HC, he has been average with the Chargers at best. His prior head coaching stops were disasters (including Oakland)
He may have learned from what he did wrong, and figured out how to correct it or — more likely — hire people to cover his weaknesses (which as ararjaync pointed out so correctly, is what great leaders do.)