Redskins vs. Ravens

So at 7-5 the Skins find themselves on the outside looking in on the playoffs right now. We have a key matchup in the beltway bowl this Sunday in prime time.

The key for the game seems pretty simple...win the battle at the lines. The O line needs to do better than they have over the last several weeks and give JC time to make plays. The Ravens have a solid defense so this is no easy task but they have to get the job done to allow JC to make the plays he is capable of making.

Similarly, the D line needs to get pressure on Flacco. The guy is a rookie and has been playing well and improving. Still, he is a rookie and we have to get pressure on him and rattle him and force a turnover or two.

The keys to the game are as simple as that. Win the battle at the line and we can win this game.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!

Jason Candle

Alright so the Skins are 1-3 over the last four games and the offense has been sputtering. There are some that are complaining that JC is off his game. I say bullshat. It's always very easy to point at the QB as the problem. However, you have to look at the offense as a whole. I'm not saying JC is not without fault. I'm sure he could have made some better decisions at times. However, we have to remember that he is still a young QB (this is his first full year as a starter) and he having to learn yet another offensive system (this time it is the west coast offense).

Not only that but the O line has been letting him down big time over the last 4 games. He has spent more time on his back or dodging defensive players looking to put him on his back. He is not getting the time or protection he needs to make plays. Also, he has had a number of dropped passes so the receivers are not helping him out much. Frankly, he doesn't have much of a receiving corps to work with. Moss is fine but Randle El is not a number 2 WR and Thrash is not a number 3 WR.

Jason Campbell is the 12 rated QB in the league. I am just fine with that. Overall, he has played well in my opinion. What he needs is some help around him to make him better. He is entering the prime of his career and to me he has matured a lot this year. I believe he is a franchise QB. I'm glad he is getting to learn the system this year. Hopefully we can help him out by drafting some O linemen in the offseason. Rinehardt seems capable and may end up filling in for the aging Kendall next year. We need more help at RG/RT. Additionally, we NEED for either Thomas or Kelly (preferably both) to become major contributors next year. They have the size and speed to be threats they just need to work hard and come in to camp in shape and learn the offense. They haven't been able to do that yet. If we get the line help and production from those young WRs, I believe Campbell can be a great QB in this league.

What I like from him this year, again, is that I can see that he has grown as a leader. He seems more confident in understanding the NFL and taking control of the game. I'm sure he has made mistakes but for all of the issues mentioned (his youth, lack of line help, lack of WR help), I believe he has played admirably.

Frankly, if we were to make a move in the offseason at QB it would be a big mistake. Who would we go with? Brennan? Yeah, right. Brennan played pretty well against 3rd stringers and guys that didn't make NFL teams in the preseason and he is the "sexy" pick but he is not ready to lead an NFL team particularly in the tough NFC East. He is small in stature and has the side arm throw. I'm not saying that he can't develop. All I am saying is that JC has done nothing in my opinion to warrant any type of change and to even consider a change in my mind would be ridiculous as it would set our offense back even further.

Skins (Zorn) Beat Seahawks!

Behind another great outing by C.P., the Skins come out victorious against the 'Hawks. Seattle's a tough place to play and we certainly have had our struggles there in the past so it was good to come out with the win. It was also a little interesting in that Seattle and us run similar offenses so we had to change some of the terminology to disguise our plays. It was a tougher than expected game but a win is a win and we are 7-4 and control our own destiny moving forward. Here are my thoughts in no particular order:

1. Great game by Portis again. That guy is a tremendous player and gains more of my respect with each passing week. He continues to get beaten up but only comes back each week to run even harder. He is a great team guy and probably the best RB blocker in the league. You don't see featured running backs of star quality block the way he does. He works on on every single play whether his number is called or not.

2. JC was solid in his performance. Made the plays he needed to and had a few crucial drops that could have jacked up his numbers (most notably Sellars catch for a probable TD and a deep ball to Moss on the sideline). Still, all in all a good game for him.

3. Moss had a decent game. He is good with the ball after the catch and made a couple of nice runs on short screens for first downs. We should utilize him more in these types of situations whether it is screens or crossing routes to better utilize his elusiveness.

4. Line play was better. After being porous the last couple of weeks, they gave JC a bit more time to allow plays to develop and let him make the passes. They still need to improve especially with the Giants D line coming to town this week.

5. We controlled the clock and racked up yards but we still have to score more points. FGs for TDs is not going to cut it.

6. Defense was okay. Was surprised that we had as much difficulty stopping the run as we did. Not sure if it was because we didn't respect their running game or what but that is going to be a huge issue when we play the Giants. Hopefully Jacobs will still be hurt but I'm not counting on it. We have been good all year stopping the run but we sucked yesterday.

7. Suisham normally has a strong leg but he seemed to be struggling yesterday. He missed a very makeable 43 yard attempt and most of his kickoffs were short.

8. What was up with Betts fumbling with a minute and a half left? The game was essentially over at that point as long as we hold on to the ball and the one thing you can't have happen (a turnover), happens! Unacceptable!

9. I liked the use of Sellars in the offense. Most of the season he has been used as a blocker but the last couple of weeks he has actually gotten his hands on the ball and he normally gets positive yards. I like seeing him get a few opportunities in the game. Hopefully that continues.

10. Finally, I'm happy we got the "W." I'm looking forward to getting the Giants at home. I expect a very tough and typical NFC East battle. Our offense has been stagnating and that is going to have to improve. If we can manage a victory against them, we will be in really good shape as the schedule lightens up after them with games against the 49ers, Bengals, and struggling Eagles.

For now, I am happy being 7-4 at this point of the season. Lets keep this thing going!

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!!

Best 5-5-1 team out there?

Looks like the McNabb era in Philly may be over and Kevin Kolb will get his chance. McNabb always tried to portray his team as better than they actually were. The fact is that they are an aging and mediocre team. McNabb is getting up there and we'll see what the future brings for him.

On one hand, I feel sorry for him as he had to deal with a lot up in Philly and never really seemed to get the respect he deserved. On the other hand, he never really seemed to take on the true leadership qualities of a top tier QB and seemed to let the fans/media get to him at times.

Not sure how much McNabb has left in the tank. Would be nice to see him go to a winner and get another chance. My guess is his career will end similar to a Culpeper or someone where he goes to a decent team and there will be high expectations but he won't deliver.

JMU ends season Ranked #1 - faces Wofford in Round 1

So JMU finishes the season with a 10-1 record and ends the season as the consensus #1 team. All of that means nothing now that the "second season" is starting this weekend. We face Wofford at home on Saturday and the season would be meaningless if we lost in the first round. I love the playoff system and it seems much more fair and realistic than the BCS shat.

GO DUKES!!!

Wizards fire Jordan!

After a 1-10 start, what do you expect? Sure, they haven't had Arenas and Haywood but 1-10 is 1-10. They have been in all of their games except for 2-3 but good teams know how to close out close games and a lot of that is due to good coaching.

I like Jordan but he seemed to have taken the Wizards as far as he could take us. We'll see what the change brings.

Skins sign Shaun Alexander

I'm fine with the move. I don't mind him sticking around until LEE-dell gets healthy. Alexander should be able to provide some relief when he comes in to spell CP. He also knows the system and the coaches so that is a benefit. It's also in his best interest to play very well so he can get a more permanent spot on a team. We'll see how he does. The good thing is that he is not a threat to CP and everyone seems comfortable with him joining the team.

Durant Brooks is cut!

Thank God!!!

How 'Bout Dem Cowboys?

So Romo has a broken pinkie and is out for a month. Pacman violated the terms of his agreement with the NFL and is out indefinitely. Felix Jones is hurt and they bring in malcontent Roy Williams. T.O. hasn't gotten the ball as much as he would like.

They have been going through a lot of substantial change recently. With all of the volatility they have on that team, they seem close to imploding if they lose a couple of games. I imagine T.O. will get even more ticked off because Brad Johnson won't get him the ball enough and they will lose a game or two and then T.O. will just sound off.

Strange how quickly they went from being the most talented team to one of potential implosion.

Skins Disappoint!

I know it's been several days since their loss but I have been too upset to write about it. I'm kidding -- just been busy. Still, the Skins blew it against the Rams. They had a chance to make another statement by winning big against that team but we didn't.

I actually missed the game so I can't comment too much. I saw some of the highlights and just seemed like we weren't meant to win that game. The Kendall fumble for a TD right before the half was a killer. If Kendall just bats the ball down or if he just catches it and falls down, maybe it's a different story. Also, Brooks became a liability (probably a good thing that we cut him). He was consistently bad. He is directly responsible for giving up points in that game and others. Seriously, I think I could punt just about as good as him. We outgained them in yards and CP had another outstanding game. Still, we didn't win and that is the only stat that counts.

It was nice to see us come back and take a lead near the end of the game but then we gave up the bomb at the end. Not sure where Landry was but we needed him to help. As the free safety, you cannot let anyone get behind you especially in that situation at the end of the game when you know they are going to have to throw the ball deep. Maybe Holt was running deep on the other sideline. Not sure but it's just too bad that the game ended the way it did.

If there is a bright spot it's that both the Cowboys and Giants lost so we didn't lose any ground in the division. However, with the Iggles winning, it only muddles the division even more. We have a must win game against the Browns this week who are coming off of a HUGE win against the previously undefeated Giants on Monday night. Hopefully we learned our lesson against the Rams and come out with a whole lot more intensity. We'll see.

CP - NFC Offensive Player of the Week

Congratulations to CP for being named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He had a great performance and really showed his leadership both with his play and leading the team on that critical fourth down play at the end of the game.

NFL's Hottest Team? More Redskin Thoughts

As a Skin fan, you have to feel good about the 4-1 record but you have to feel even better that we did it against the type of competition we have faced.

Every team we have played has an offense ranked in the top 10.

4 of the 5 teams we have played have defenses ranked 14 or better (2 or in the top 6).

Washington has the 6th ranked offense and the 13th ranked defense.

JC is the 8th ranked QB in the league and has a 96.7 QB rating.

CP is the second leading rusher in the league.

Despite not catching a ball yesterday, Moss is one of the top 10 WRs in the league.

Again, you have to look at the competition to really appreciate that 4-1 record. The NFC East continues to be the best division in football. The combined records of the various divisions are as follows:

NFC East: 14-5
NFC North: 6-12
NFC South: 12-7
NFC West: 6-12

AFC East: 11-6
AFC North: 7-11
AFC South: 9-9
AFC West: 8-11

Again, out of the 5 losses of those East teams only one game was lost to a team outside of their division (Chicago over Philly).

A week after gashing the Cowboys for 144 rushing yards, the Redskins picked up 203 against the Eagles. Philadelphia came into the game giving up 53.8 yards per game, but Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts combined for 70 in the first half alone. Portis finished with 29 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown.

What game was McNabb watching? In training camp, I listened to McNabb review last season's 8-8 record and talk about the NFC East games the Eagles should've won. He boldly stated that the Eagles were the best team in the NFC. But at some point, even McNabb's bravado can't cover up the fact that the Eagles are a mediocre team right now. And after observing Sunday's loss, maybe I'm being generous.

McNabb's comments after the game rang hollow to me, and I'm pretty sure they'll have the same effect on Eagles fans. "I was embarrassed these last two weeks," he said. "I mean [to lose] to two teams we shouldn't have lost to. There is no way that you can look at this game and say that, and not taking anything away from them, but there is no way that this team is better than us."

With that statement, the only person embarrassing himself is McNabb. The Eagles lost to a superior football team Sunday. This wasn't some nip-and-tuck game where the last team with the ball won. This was the Redskins scoring 23 unanswered points and running down the Eagles' throats.

The Redskins have to be considered the one of the hottest teams (if not THE hottest team) in football. Tennessee might have a case given they are undefeated. However, you also have to look at the difference in competition. The teams the Redskins have played have a combined record of 15-8. The Titans opponents have a combined record of 5-17.

I'm sure there are doubters and haters out there but again, as a Skins fan you have to feel real good with where they are right now.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!!

4-1, BABYYYYYY!!!!!!!

Much to Robs chagrin, the Skins are 4-1 and have looked very impressive over the last several weeks. Honestly, I don't think many people would have thought we would be 4-1 but I'll take it.

Great win yesterday against divisional opponent Philly. We started out terrible. We got down early 14-0 (even though Jackson's punt return for a TD should have been called back for an illegal block in the back) and the offense looked terrible in the first quarter. We knew we would be facing a blitzing/attacking type of defense and we didn't seem to be able to figure it out early on. However, what I really liked about this game is that we did learn and we did end up doing a great job against that defense. Honestly, after the first quarter, we dominated that game. It was another impressive game by the offense and JC. We have yet to commit an offensive turnover which is amazing. Here are my general observations:

1. Zorn and the coaching staff are doing an unbelievable job. I have to give credit to Danny boy and Vinny for selecting this guy because Zorn gets the guys prepared and put in the right position to win games. Not only does he get these guys in position but equally important, he gets these guys pumped up to play and that has been key. He has gotten these guys to believe that we can play and we can win. Winning is contagious and I certainly believe after winning the games that we have, that this team is believing and know that we are capable of competing against any team we play.

2. JC had another solid performance. He is making sound decisions and even bigger, not making critical mistakes.

3. Portis was huge. I think we are giving him more opportunities to run to the outside and make plays. He has really taken on his role as a leader on this team.

4. The defense came up big and basically shut down the Eagles from the second quarter on. The Eagles went nearly 30 minutes without getting a first down and had four straight three-and-outs until finally putting together a long drive where we stuffed them at the one yard line. London Fletcher is the backbone of this defense and it really begins and ends with him.

5. Keeping with the defense, the secondary has been stellar. Rogers has actually been much better. We have been playing a lot more man to man as Blache trusts the secondary and that opens more things up in terms of blitzing or disguising different packages. You really don't hear the names of our players in the secondary called out that much or the opposing WRs and that is a good thing because they are being shut down. Smoot and Springs have also been impressive and it is comforting to have Landry back there for insurance.

6. Didn't like McNabb's comments after the game saying that basically it was the second game in a row that they should have won. The Skins dominated the Eagles. It wasn't a fluke play or that we were lucky. We dominated the game.

Bottom line, is that this team has grown a ton this season and there is still plenty of room to grow. The great thing is that the team seems to be rallying around Zorn and each other and really believing in themselves. Again, we take big steps each week and I am impressed at how we adapt to the different teams that we play.

Everyone talked about how difficult the first 5 games were for us. We came through that with a very impressive 4-1 record. The main thing now is that we go into the next 3 weeks against teams with a combined 1-11 record. We cannot be satisfied with getting through that tough stretch and thinking things will all of a sudden get easy. We have to continue to grow and learn and play each week as if we are playing the toughest team in the league.

Again, I like the make up of this team. For the first time in a long time, we seem to be building on something and not just trying to find short cuts or patch things together. Hopefully we can keep this thing going.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!

JMU ROLLS!!!

56-0 nothing! JMU stomps over Hofstra and keeps their #1 national ranking. This team has many different ways to beat you and hopefully we can keep this thing rolling.

GO DUKES!!!

UVA Wins

UVA gets a much needed conference win against a decent MD team. It was a big win and might turn things around for them. We'll see which UVA team shows up next week.

Redskins vs. Eagles - Pregame thoughts

So another tough NFC East game for the Redskins. This time they go on the road (again!) to face the Eagles. I'm sure it will be a raucous crowd and they always talk about how physical these games are (remember the body bag game?). What I also find interesting is that every game the Skins play it is always another type of challenge that we haven't seen before. With the Cards it was the preciseness of Warner and their big WRs. With the Cowboys it was their superior talent and that they ran a complex 3-4 defense - something the Skins line had struggled with. Now, with the Eagles, it is their tough defense and complicated blitzing schemes so JC will have to watch out.

What I love is that we have managed to take on all of these challenges so far and perform well. Credit must go to the coaching for preparing the players for what is to come. We'll see how well we match up against the Eagles on Sunday. They may be without Westbrook their most exciting player but we will probably be without Jason Taylor and Shawn Springs. Injuries are part of the game and teams have to deal with that.

I must admit that I never thought we would be 3-1 at this point in the season. However, we are and we need to keep this thing going. We can't have a let down against this Eagle team. If we can pull of this win, not only will we be right there at or near the top of the division but we will have a ton of confidence and really would have served warning to the entire league that we are a legitimate contender. I think we have done that to some degree but this win would be huge. We would have already played all three divisional opponents on their home turf so we wouldn't have to worry about that and we would be in great position near the top of the division.

I expect a physical game. I expect JC to perform well again. He, along with the team and coaches, seem to be gaining confidence in each other and believing that we are a quality team. I expect short, quick passes to help JC avoid the variety of blitz packages but I still believe we will take one or two shots deep downfield. As always, we will need to keep giving it to Portis to keep the defense on their toes and lighten the load on JC.

On the defensive side it really all depends on if Westbrook plays. He single handedly hurt us last year. We will need to contain him. We did a great job on Bush when we played New Orleans and we didn't allow Barber much of anything when we played Dallas. However, Westbrook is a different type of back and we will need to make sure we can contain him. Also, we need to be aware of the deeper balls to the speedy DeSean Jackson. I like Landry back there so hopefully he doesn't allow anyone to get behind him.

I think we will do well and I like the Skins winning 27-16.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!!

What is up with UVA?

So the Cavs are down in the dumps. They are 1-3 and have been outscored in their three losses by a total of 128 points to 20 points. They were throttled by Duke last weekend 31-3 and allowed the Blue Devils to get their first ACC victory in like 25 games and their first conference win in like 4-5 years. They play Maryland at home next. Hopefully they will have a better showing because right now they look terrible.

JMU is the consensus #1!

After beating Maine on the road, JMU is the consensus #1 team in the country. Hofstra is next. Hopefully we can keep this thing going.

GO DUKES!!!

Danny Boy Chest Bumping!

Robs will love this. Actually, I think this is kind of funny. Danny boy trying to act like one of the guys in the locker room. Zorn kind of has a "silly Danny boy" look on his face after the hug.

SKINS BEAT THE COWBOYS!!!

HUGE game yesterday. It was another big step in the evolution of this football team. We took care of business at home against two quality teams (NO and AZ) but then went on the road against a divisional opponent and our arch rival and a team that many consider the most talented team in the NFL and we beat them. Also, we didn't steal this game, we won it. We took it to them. We shut down their run game and we shut down T.O. Great play by our defense. In particular, Shawn Springs, Chris Horton, Carlos Rogers and really our entire secondary for taking care of business.

Also, great game by Jason Campbell who continues to play very well. He made the throws he needed and then eluded tacklers to make his own plays. He is looking more and more comfortable and confident out there. The best part is that he has not turned the ball over yet.

It was just a total team effort from the players. Also, great game strategy and calling by Zorny. Again, I grow more and more horny for Zorny. This guy has brought a modern system to the team and the players seem to be enjoying the higher offensive production.

That's three in a row now and I can't be more pleased with the team right now. I figured there would be more in the way of growing pains and JC and Zorn and the entire offense having to learn the system and trust each other. It is happening much quicker than expected. There is still a long way to go but I am really liking this team. We seem to be building on something which is something that I feel that we haven't done in the past.

In the past, we have largely been inconsistent and sure we have made the playoffs two out of the last three years but we were always erratic. We seem to be showing signs of improvement each week and there is a growing sense of camarderie, confidence, trust, and belief. This has to be one of the better wins in the last several years that I can remember in that we proved a lot to everyone for not only winning the game but for winning it the way that we did.

Great win but now we can't have a let down going to Philly next week. Philly is coming off a tough loss to Chicago and they are in the cellar of the division and they won't want to go below .500 and lose to a division opponent. I expect Westbrook to come back even if he is injured because despite it being early, every NFC East game is considered critical.

For now, lets enjoy but tomorrow it's back to business and look forward to taking on Philly.

Finally, props to Deepie for showing the courage and foresight in picking the Skins to beat the Cowboys. Well done, Deepie.

Hopefully more of the same this year.

Dallas week!

The rivalry has become just a token rivalry now. There isn't the animosity that there was back prior to free agency. Still, I think the players get a little more pumped up for the game. It's going to be tough going facing a very talented team in Dallas. Here are the keys to the game:

1. Pretty simple -- the game will be decided at the line. Offensively, our O line needs to protect JC. The Cowboys have some big, strong guys that are talented up front. They run a 3-4 defense which we will struggle with. Ware and Ellis are essentially like two additional DEs. There strength and speed are going to really hurt us. Also, given that Heyer may be out and Jansen is going to play that is an additional factor.

To counter this, I think we need to try and get the running game going. We also will have to focus on short, quick routes because I don't think JC will have much time. We should probably employ the shotgun a fair amount to buy JC additional time. If we can manage to get JC time, it would be good to take a few shots down field because I think we can exploit their secondary.

2. The D line will need to get pressure on Romo. Again, the Cowboys have a huge, talented group protecting Romo. Also, it looks like it will be more challenging for us to get pressure since Jason Taylor will be out. Still, Demetric Evans and maybe Erasmus James and Chris Wilson are pretty decent so hopefully they can get some pressure. It will be key to knock Romo down a few times. However, if he is given time, he will pick us apart. We also cannot give up the deep ball. I know T.O. will be running some fly routes so we will have to watch against that. Too bad Sean Taylor is no longer here. He seemed to have a special relationship with T.O. and there is no question T.O. knew that Taylor was lurking around out there waiting to get a shot in on him. At least we have Landry who I think is faster than Taylor and certainly plays with an intensity and fearlessness that is similar to Sean. Landry will have to be quick and fast back there to get to some of those deep balls.

It will be a tough game, no question. However, I think we can compete and we will be solid. We'll see what happens.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!!

Millen Fired!

After a 31-84 regime under Millen and having never made the playoffs, the Lions finally decided to fire him. Best move the Lions have made. Would have been even better if they had done it like 5 years ago.

Good MJ Commercial

This is a good MJ commercial but it would also be a good lesson for VY. Especially the words, "That my game was built on flash and not fire. Maybe it's my fault that you didn't see that failure gave me strength. That my pain was my motivation. Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a God given gift and not something I worked for...every single day of my life."

VY has unbelievable natural abilities -- the kind we could only hope and dream for but he needs to feed that gift and become the QB he is capable of becoming. He needs to not get down and use tough times as motivation to get better. No question he has the talent. He just needs the heart and toughness.

The Beasts of the NFC East.

At this point of the season, I don't think there is any question which is the best division in football. Clearly, the NFC East is the toughest. The combined record of the 4 teams is 10-2 and the only two losses came from other teams within the division.

The East is the only division to have two 3-0 teams (Dallas and NYG).

They are also the only division to have all 4 teams with a winning record.

Last week, the NFC East teams knocked off the division leaders in the NFC North and the NFC West (Dallas beat GB and Washington beat AZ).

Playing in the NFC East is going to be the biggest challenge for the Skins this year. All the teams are stacked and considered playoff contenders.

Every one of these divisional games is a rivalry and every one of these games is hard fought. The Skins play two divisional games on the road in the next two weeks (Dallas and then Philly). If we can manage to split those two games, we are in great shape going into week 6.

Clemens snubbed at Yankee Stadium tribute

Rocket is an arse and apparently he was hurt for not being invited to the celebration or being included in the clips they showed of the all time great players/pitchers in Yankee history. The guy is a jerk and he got what he deserved. It's a shame that this guy went from one of the greatest pitchers to have ever played the game to one of its greatest jokes. I wonder if does get into the HOF if he will still want to go in as a Yankee.

JMU ranked #1 in coaches poll!

After a tremendous victory over consensus #1 App State last Saturday, the Dukes vaulted to #1 in the coaches poll. We are #2 in the Sports Networks poll. Certainly, we are one of the top teams in the country and positioned well for the playoffs right now. Still, our conference is very difficult so there is a long road ahead.

GO DUKES!!!

Redskins beat the Cards!!!

Great game on Sunday. It was a tough game against an improved Arizona Cardinals team. It was also another step for Jason Campbell, Jim Zorn, and the entire Redskins team as we look to continue to grow in this new look offense. Here are my thoughts:

1. JC had another good game. He is looking more and more comfortable back there and seems to be making better decisions. He also is limiting the mistakes. Last year, he fumbled a lot and had his share of INTs. He has yet to turn the ball over. He still has a ways to go but what you really like to see is the improvement. Apparently he is getting better at calling the plays and calling audibles at the line which is a requirement in the Zorn offense. He even "mush mouthed" Zorn (as Zorn said) on one play and called the right read. I like JC and hope he can continue his progress. You also are starting to hear the fans talk positively on JC's development. No "We want Colt!" silly banter...for now.

2. Portis and Moss are emerging as offensive leaders as well they should be. Each are having solid starts to the season so hopefully that will continue as they are much valued and needed.

3. Good to see Thomas get out there and get some playing time. He is still raw as we can see with his two pass interference calls but he needs work and he certainly has the size and talent to be a threat on this offense. Hopefully he and Kelly can emerge as solid options in this offense.

4. Cooley had a nice game and we need to get him to ball about 5-7 times per game. He is that solid option on 3rd and 5 that can get us the first down.

5. I like our aggressive play calling. We are not so one dimensional and conservative as we were the last few years. Zorn is not afraid to throw the ball to ensure the first down late in the game so that we can run out the clock. We have done that now two weeks in a row. We also seem to have opportunities to throw the ball deep. I expect more of this as JC and the rest of the offense get more comfortable with the system.

6. Defense was solid. AZ has a talented offense and we were able to hold them often. I didn't like that James looked much more effective than I think he is and also there were plays where it looked like Warner had all day back there but still we held them to 17 points and I am okay with that. I like that Jason Taylor got his hand on a couple of balls and we did get pressure on him. We are seeing more sacks and more turnovers this year. Our plus/minus turnover status has to be very solid and we all know turnovers can be difference makers in a game.

7. Was disappointed in their bomb to Fitzgerald. Doughty does not have the speed to keep up with some of the more elite WRs so it was a poor matchup. I'm sure the coverage was right but we need Landry back there. He has made some really great plays in the last two weeks with his speed and aggressiveness.

8. Special teams was okay. Brooks was inconsistent but he did get that one big punt late in the game that was important. Hopefully his inconsistency is a result of his youth but he really needs to step up and play the way he is capable of playing because 35 yard punts are not going to cut it. Seriously, that is his career. That is all he needs to do. He doesn't have to do anything else. Given that, he has to do better than 35 yards a punt. I think I could punt 35 yards and I don't even practice that. I do like Suisham though. He seems fairly accurate and certainly has a big leg. The guy consistently puts the ball in the end zone on his kickoffs. We have to take Randle El off punt returns. The guy plays two hand touch. He dances around WAY too much and goes down at the hint of being touched. We need a fearless guy that can just take it up field and get us some yards. I don't like the idea of Moss back there unless it is an emergency.

9. Horny for Zorny. The guy is staying the course and even during the difficult stretch of late in the preseason and the first game, he has maintained his demeanor and not been shaken in his belief of his system or players. I like that.

Finally, all we can hope for is continued improvement. I think there will still be growing pains but I like that we have been making progress. We play in probably the toughest division in all of football so it will be hard to stay on top. The AZ game was a must win game given our tough division and we came out on top. We defended our home field the last two weeks and that is big. I said at the beginning of the season that the first 5 games were brutal and if we came out 2-3, I would feel pretty good. We already have our 2 wins so we are in good shape. We play Dallas and then Philly on the road in the next two weeks and if we can manage to some how split those games, we are in great shape.

Again, the NFC East is a beast. Right now, the combined record of the teams in the NFC East is 10-2 (by far better than any other division) and the only two losses have come against other NFC East teams. So we know it is going to be a tough road ahead. However, I like the direction and make up of the team and believe that we will continue to progress and that we can compete against any team we face. I'm looking forward to playing Dallas away. It will be a huge test -- we'll see how we do.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!!

JMU BEATS APP STATE!!!

In a true clash of titans Saturday night, #5 ranked JMU took on and beat 3 time national defending champion and consensus #1 ranked Appalachian State 35-32. The Dukes were looking to avenge last year's playoff loss to App St. when we had a chance to win it at the end of the game but we fumbled inside of their 5 yard line with seconds remaining. JMU was down 21-0 at halftime and it looked like we wouldn't be able to get our revenge but we stormed back outscoring them 35-11 in the second half. It was a great game in front of a record setting crowd in Harrisonburg and should give us a few #1 votes this week. JMU's QB, Rodney Landers, is proving to be a threat with his arm as well as his feet having scored a 62 yard run on the first offensive play of the second half. We have now beaten two top five teams in teh last two weeks and are certainly one of the perennial powerhouses in the nation. It's still early so a lot can change but I like our chances to secure a playoff berth already. GO DUKES!!!

CUBS CLINCH!!!

So the Cubs clinched the NL Central this past weekend and ensured their spot in the playoffs. It's been 100 years since their last championship. I don't want to put too much pressure on them but they look awfully good. They have good starting pitching (assuming Z is healthy) and they have one of the better bullpens in the league. They also have solid offense that seems to come from different guys every night. Lou is a great manager and seems to know what buttons to push to get the team going.

The best part about the Cubs is that they have been playing great team baseball for most of the season. Again, every night it seems like a different person is coming through to win the game. Also, even when they are down big in a game, they are never out of it. There have been several come from behind victories all season long. This is a team with a lot of talent but the emphasis should be on the word "team." They all seem to know their roles and seem to enjoy being around each other and they seem to know what the end goal is.

It's great that they clinched their playoff spot but once the playoffs start it's a new season and everyone is 0-0. I like their chances and it's theirs to lose in my mind. However, I know that these are the Cubs so anything can happen. Hold on to your hats -- the playoffs are just around the corner.

CP vs. B-Mitch

So these two guys got into it on the John Thompson show earlier this week (you can hear the argument on the Sportstalk 980 website). CP was annoyed that B-Mitch is always complaining about CP. B-Mitch is old school and believes that CP should play in every pre season game and play every down of every game and so forth. CP doesn't want to get injured in the preseason and is particularly sensitive to that given his shoulder injury in preseason a couple of years ago. He also pulls himself out because he does get fatigued and we have a very capable backup in Ladell Betts. CP is still a workhorse if you look at the number of carries he had last year.

B-Mitch was also bothered by the comments CP made regarding him wishing he could play behind another line and another scheme. I read that article and I actually didn't have much of a problem with it. CP has said that he loves being a Redskin and he is happy to be here. I have always felt that CP gives maximum effort when he is on the field and not just when he runs. The guy is a tremendous blocker and will run down the field to make blocks for receivers. He seems like a great team guy and a guy that is good to have in the locker room. He also was told by coaches before the start of this season to be more of a leader and really take on the face of the team role and he readily accepted. We all know that it is a long season and 5 preseason games only adds to that. Frankly, I had no problem with CP's workload in the preseason as long as it works for him. He is 27 years old and we need him for the duration of the season.

I like B-Mitch but I find some of his comments overly critical especially when it comes to CP. He gives some very good analysis but I have also found him to be somewhat of a typical fan. When the Skins lose, he'll rip them apart but when they win, he is a big fan.

He doesn't really believe the new offense should take this long to learn. He believes JC should be picking up things sooner. Again, I agree with some of his analysis. I think JC should be better at going through the progressions but I also think JC is still a young QB and we need to give him some time. We need to give him and the rest of the offense and coaches some slack to learn the system. Whatever. I enjoy the commentary of B-Mitch (don't necessarily agree with all of it) but I think CP is a solid back and a good guy to have on the team.

Redskins pregame thoughts

Tough matchup this week against the Saints. It's the home opener so it will be a packed house and there will be a lot of energy. The good news is that Saints top WR, Marques Colston, is hurt and won't be able to play. Also, Saints DT, Hollis Thomas, will be out. That will certainly help the Skins.

The critical part of this game is that we need to get our offense off to an early start. The fans will be energized but given the offensive struggles we have had, they will let the Skins hear it if they struggle early. Despite it taking time for a team to learn a new system, most fans are ignorant and want immediate results. I think the key will be converting the 3rd down plays. Last week, we consistently came up short. We have to do better this week. Also, Zorn has employed more shotgun formation to help JC have a bit more time to make the play. We'll see if that helps. Again, we need to get the offense moving some and show progress so we keep the fans in the game.

Another key will be stopping Reggie Bush. We should be able to handle his ground attack. However, he is most dangerous catching the swing passes in the flat where he has space to make something happen. He may very well be the toughest one on one player to take down in the league. Not sure how we plan to game plan against him but it will be a tough test for our LBs. Covering Bush on the outside will leave Shockey open in the middle. Again, I expect our LBs to be busy. It will be critical we get some pressure on Brees. Taylor is still nursing his sprained knee and is supposed to see less action. He may only come in on 3rd down passing downs. We'll see. I am confident in the Evans, James, Wilson combo so hopefully we can get that much needed pressure on Brees.

I expect Portis to have a solid game running the ball. He typically does well in the home openers and the Saints gave up a fair amount of running yards last week so we need Portis to have a good game. That said, we need to help Portis by spreading the defense with passing so hopefully that gets moving. I expect that to be improved from last week. We should take a shot or two down the field.

I expect the Skins to pull it out in a close, exciting game at home 24-17.

Dukes and Cavs

JMU is ranked #7 in the country and we go up against #3 UMASS. It's a tough conference game in Harrisonburg. Both teams are expected to compete for the National Championship. JMU stumbled in the second half of their season opener at Duke but came back with a big win last week. UMASS is 2-0 but will have to make the trip to the 'Burg. I like JMU at home. I expect a strong running game and our QB to be efficient but get plenty of yards with his legs. Both offenses are strong so I expect a higher scoring game. JMU wins 34-24.

UVA won a lot of very close games last year. I don't think that is going to happen this year. UCONN is a solid team but nothing special still it will be UVA's first away game and they will struggle. UCONN wins 20-10.

VinSANITY!

What is up with Vince Young? Coming off of a sub par year last year and an offseason when there was talk of VY retiring, he was looking to get off to a quick start last Sunday. Apparently he struggled and the crowd started booing him and he didn't want to return to the field. Jeff Fisher forced him back out there where he subsequently got hurt.

Now there is a report saying that Nashville police were asked to search for Vince Young on Monday evening after family members placed a call to the Tennessee Titans informing them of their concern for the quarterback's state of mind.

According to Nashville Metro Police spokesman Don Aaron, Young "abruptly" left his home in Williamson County at around 7 p.m. Monday without his cell phone. Those with him at his home, including family members, were "concerned with his emotional well-being," Aaron said.

Police issued a bulletin to all on-duty officers to be on the lookout for Young and negotiators were also placed on standby, a procedure that is common in such situations, Aaron said.

Someone contacted Fisher out of concern for Young, and Fisher contacted the police department, police said.

After the cops, Fisher, and VY all met, it was determined that the concerns were unfounded and VY was allowed to return home by himself.

Still, all this can't be sitting well with the team. The guy clearly has issues and when he is able to physically return from the injury will he have the respect of the team to be the QB? The last thing you want your team to question about you is your toughness. VY is coming across as a fragile guy that can't take the heat. It reminds me of Tim Couch when the fans booed him and he cried in the locker room in front of the media wanting to be accepted. That was the beginning of the end for him. I wonder if the same thing will happen here. VY will have a lot to overcome to regain the respect of the fans and team.

Redskins WRs

I have pretty big concerns with the Redskin passing game. Sure the team needs time learning the WC offense and JC is still developing but another issue is the WRs. Moss drops his fair share and Randle El has never appeared like a #2 WR. I like James Thrash and think he is a good special teamer and a good guy to have in the locker room but he isn't talented enough to be the #3 in my opinion.

I am pretty disappointed with how Kelly and Thomas have not been able to contribute. They both came in to camp out of shape and both suffered injuries in training camp that have caused them to miss extended time learning the offense. They have the size and tools necessary to be successful in the league but it's pretty imperative to get them on the field for us to have success. What's even more disappointing is you look at guys like DeSean Jackson in Philly and even Eddie Royal (local kid) in Denver and the types of games they had in Week 1. Thomas and Kelly were considered by many to be the best WRs in the draft. We need them to produce. Hopefully they will be able to contribute at some point this season. Apparently Kelly is ready to return to practice full speed this week. Again, we need one or both of these guys to step up.

The Pack win!

Good game last night. I watched most of the first half and a little of the third quarter and I am pretty happy for Aaron Rodgers. He played well and really seemed to have the support of the fans. On their opening drive on a third down, Rodgers scrambled for a first down and the fans really let him hear it. I don't know if there has ever been a more pressure filled start. The guy is stepping into some large shoes and is the first GB QB to start for the Pack since 1992. He stepped up to the pressure and had himself a very good game. He seems like a good guy and seems to have won over the team. Last night's win helped him win over the fans.

I don't like the way Favre flip flopped and handled the whole retirement/off season with the Pack. I lost a lot of respect for him so I am just happy that Rodgers came out and had a good game. I think he will have a solid year and he will help the Packer fans forget about Favre pretty quickly.

BTW - the Vikings are pretty good but Tavaris Jackson is going to hold them back. 16 yards passing in the first half is not going to get it done. Glad the first week is over. There are a number of impressions after the first week. As mentioned, it typically takes a few weeks for things to shake down. We'll see which teams/stories hold up and which ones fall apart.

Dukes and Cavs win!

Dukes rebounded from a difficult loss at Duke to post a a 56-7 win in their home opener against North Carolina Central. Next up is a tough test against UMASS.

Cavs struggle but pull out the win against Richmond. The game was 3-0 UVA going into the fourth quarter. Next up for them will be UCONN away.

Fantasy Football!

So I am in three leagues this year and in two of the leagues pulled off very close victories -- one was by 4 points and the other by a mere 1.5 points. The difference between victory and defeat is ever so slight and could be as little as a defensive player making a single tackle. I LOVE FOOTBALL!!!

BTW - I am leading in the third league but my opponent has several players playing tonight (including Cutler and Adrian Peterson) so I am not expecting my lead to hold up (although I have Ryan Grant).

Redskins Lose!

What can you say? The first 27 minutes of the game was an absolute embarrassment. Our offense was ridiculous. We could not move the ball if the Giants weren't even on the field. It was pretty pathetic. The numbers were pretty ridiculous in the first half. Thoroughly beaten in time of possession, first downs, yards gained and pretty much every other offensive statistic.

Defensively we couldn't stop them either in the first half. The good thing is that we only limited them to one TD in that half despite them having their way with us.

Still, we managed to keep the score 16-0 late in the first half and then we put together a nice drive right before the half scoring a TD to make it 16-7 going into the half with us getting the ball to start the second half. I was actually feeling pretty good. Momentum was starting to shift and you have to feel good only being down 9 points after the type of first half that we played.

The second half was better. The defense did not allow them any more points and tightened up. Still, we had opportunities to get some INTs and missed out on those. However, the thing that really killed me was how often on third downs we made a play but came up just short of the first down. It seemed to happen on nearly every drive. Now I don't know if that is poor play calling, poor route running and not knowing where the sticks are, poor decision making on JC, or what but it just can't happen. We needed to convert some of those third downs.

Here are some general thoughts:

1. Defense was pretty bad the first half.

2. Offense was pathetic in the first half.

3. Special teams actually had a decent game. Brooks was fine. Cartwright was good (he had some nice kickoff returns and a nice tackle on a punt). Sellars had a good tackle on the opening kickoff.

4. Need to convert those third downs in the second half. I can count three off the top of my head (Moss coming up just short when he lost his helmet, Thomas coming up just short on his one catch, Portis coming up short on a third and short). That has to change.

5. Defense played pretty well in the second half.

6. What was up with the play calling in the final minutes? We were down 9 points and needed two scores and there wasn't much urgency. We ran the ball a few times. I just didn't understand it.

Finally, let me finish up with JC. It's kind of hard to evaluate his performance because I honestly don't know how much was his fault and how much was the play calling and route running and WRs just not getting open. I do know that the first play of the game when he was sacked was his fault. The protection wasn't bad but he walked right into the DL who got the easy sack. I personally don't think he was great but I don't think he was given much help with his receivers and coaching. Still, as is the NFL today, the focus will be on him. The interesting thing is that people may get upset with JC but you really don't hear the clamoring for Todd Collins. That may change. In fact, you will probably hear a lot of screams for Colt which would be just plain nonsense and bad for Colt, JC, Todd, Zorn, and the entire team. Again, I don't think JC did anything to catch the sole blame for the offensive woes yesterday (although he will be the focus of the fans ire). He didn't fumble or throw poor INTs. The offense as a whole was just anemic. Without seeing and understanding the game film, it is hard to put the sole blame on him. From my perspective, it seemed like the entire offense (all players AND coaches) were just off.

Hopefully they can get this cleaned up. Frankly, Robs and I talked about this earlier that we should expect growing pains with a new head coach, new offensive system, and a young QB. I still believe we will be fine but there will be some growing pains. It will be interesting to see next week's home game against a tough NO team.

Redskins Pregame thoughts

First, I am just excited that football's back. I'm excited to see the regular season and see how things start off for the Skins agains the Giants. Here are some general thoughts on my predictions for the game:

1. No question it will be a tough game against a divisional rival and reigning Super Bowl champions on the road.

2. I expect mistakes on both sides of the ball for both teams. That is typical for the first couple of games.

3. I think the Skins offense has a lot to prove given the lack of production the last two preseason games. The O line will have to be solid against a tough Giant D line. That will be key. If JC can get the time, I think he will deliver. However, if he is pressured, I think he will make some bad mistakes...especially if we are down.

4. I think the offense will be interesting to watch given the installation of the WC offense and being called by Zorn. How Zorn calls the game will be one thing I will be looking at.

5. I think our defense will step up -- especially if Jason Taylor can play. I am a bit concerned about Landry given that he hasn't played at all in the preseason. I do think that his speed and aggressiveness in the rover spot will be key this season and if the Giants try to throw a deep ball, I expect Landry to get an INT or at least break it up.

6. I expect a very physical game with both teams and the battle will be won in the trenches.

All in all, I think it will be hard fought. I think the Skins are going to be prepared and going to pull out the win. I think JC will perform well and have solid numbers and the defense will step up. Portis will carry the ball for 20+ times and get over a 100 yards rushing. Defense will get a couple of sacks on Eli and force him into a couple of turnovers. Skins will get a big win 24-17 on the road.

UVA AND JMU get trounced!

UVA never had a chance and were beaten badly. It was one of their worst drubbings in history. I'm glad they took the chance rather than opting to go against Heygivemebackmyjockstrap high school. Still, rather poor performance all around. We'll see if they can bounce back against Richmond this week.

JMU got it handed to them pretty good too against Duke. We held close in the first half. It was 7-7 late into the first half but I am not sure what happened in the second half but I believe the final score was 31-7. I really expected to win this game and maybe on another day, we could have performed better but it is what it is and it's time to move on.

Jansen out, Heyer in!

I like the move. Now I don't think that Heyer is an All Pro or anything but Jansen is clearly struggling. He seems to have real difficulty in pass protection and as difficult as it may be, it was time to make a move. Apparently Jansen is a solid run blocker and has been practicing at Guard. It may be a way to extend his career. I also know Jansen has a lot of pride and probably expected that the RT job was his but too bad.

Chad Ocho Cinco?!

This guy has lost all sense of reality. So he changes his name to Chad Ocho Cinco?! Great idea. This guy has become like a old reality star who is trying to stay in the spotlight. His talents seem like they may be waning but he wants to continue to stay in the news. The best part is that he is on one of my fantasy teams. He better perform.

Redskins lose.

Largely uneventful game. First team offense didn't do much. Here are a couple of thoughts in no random order:

1. JC didn't really have much of a chance to do much. However, I wasn't thrilled with his play. His first pass seemed like it needed to come out sooner. He often fake pumps and then releases which may cost him time and the WC offense is predicated on timing. The pass got to the WR a little late allowing the DB to get a hand in there that led to the INT. His pass to Cooley was dropped by Cooley. JC did a role out but didn't deliver a very good ball to the WR. Then on a third and long, he threw underneath for minimal gain.

2. JC's play will no doubt garner discussion on his effectiveness. No question if he doesn't perform well in the first couple of games, he will hear it from the fans/media.

3. Tryon seems to be getting beat left and right all preseason. Every time the other team completes a pass, it seems like Tryon was in coverage. I know he is a speedster and I believe he was a 4th round pick and he likes to talk but the guy is small and always getting beat.

4. To exacerbate the JC situation, Brennan's numbers looked decent. Again, he is the "sexy" pick and I'm sure he will get calls to start if JC struggles. It's a mistake. Colt has become the darling of the team for his name and background and his preseason play but he is not ready to be a starter in the league. Putting him in may make him take a step back. He may end up being a great QB but we need to be patient with him.

5. I don't put a whole lot into preseason so I am not worried yet. Many of the Skins said the same thing after the game. JC, Cooley, and Pete Kendall all said that they wished they had moved the ball but there is no reason to panic yet and that there are a number of things that they haven't shown so far. They sounded like they were ready and eager to get the season started so we'll see.

I didn't watch all of the game so my final thoughts going into the season are I won't worry until we see how they perform in the first few games and then I will assess. However, I am not thrilled with the way the preseason finished out. The good thing is that we are less than a week away from the season.

JMU football ranked in top 5 in all polls

So coming off of a playoff year in which we should have beaten 3 time defending national champion Appalachian State in the playoffs, the Dukes are ranked in the top 5 nationally in all major polls (ranked #1 in one of the polls).

They start their season this weekend against Duke. Should be an interesting game. The schedule is tough as we play 5 teams that start the season ranked in the top 25. The goal is to get to the playoffs and then anything can happen.

GO DUKES!

USC vs. UVA

Interesting matchup this weekend. Good to see Groh not make his first game against College of MyBallsItchaaaahhhhwhogivesashataboutus.

We'll see how well UVA can matchup against them. I actually hope that UVA pulls off the upset. I don't like USC or Pete Carroll. USC will be traveling across country and first games are difficult so you never know. Aaahhh, who are we kidding? UVA will get trounced. Either that or they will compete and lose it in the end on some UVA dunderhead doing something ghastly!

Hillary ROCKED THE HOUSE!!!!

I gotta hand it to her. She really brought some energy to the crowd yesterday. I thought she did an excellent job of rallying the troops and trying to convince her supporters to vote for Obama. I liked that one of the very first things she said was that she supported Obama. I also REALLY liked about midway through her speech that she tried to make it clear to her supporters not to resent Obama for winning when she asked her supporters that during her campaign were they supporting her or supporting all the people in this country that need help? Whether she likes Obama or not, I thought she did a tremendous job of trying to send the message to her supporters to not resent him and that he is the guy that can bring change and make the country better and that she supports him.

I also thought it was good that she mentioned that she is friends with McCain but he is not the guy. The underlying tone of her speech was do not make this personal but rather be objective and what is best for the country. I liked when she said at the end that it was fitting that the RNC would be held in the twin cities because right now it would be hard to distinguish b/t Bushie and ole' man McCain.

Again, a great job of energizing the audience and being selfless in letting her supporters know that she harbors no ill will for losing the campaign and that the right thing to do is to vote for Obama. I think her speech will go a long way.

Kurt over Leinart.

I don't typically waste space on the Cardinals; however, I don't like Leinart. He seems like a spoiled little guy who had success at USC and won the Heisman and kind of expected he would be a star in the NFL. He's in his third year and by now he should be firmly entrenched as the starter. He has been inconsistent in his training camp and his last perforance against the Raiders was ghastly. Warner, who seems like he has been around forever, has been fighting for the job and makes no bones about wanting to be the starter.

I'm curious if Matty likes Warner. I imagine he goes home and whines every night about being better than Kurt and the coaches are treating him fair and he is better than the world and blah, blah, blah. I'm glad Matty is out.

Redskins DEMOLISHED!!!

Final score was 47-3. The score pretty much says it all. The Skins were thrashed in every phase of the game and were thoroughly humiliated. In what was supposed to be a dress rehearsal for the starters for the season, they came out and got whipped. Now, I drank a fair amount and was distracted by a variety of things so I didn't pay close attention to the game so I can't really comment too much on individual performances but again, the score says it all. The offensive line apparently played poorly not giving JC much of an opportunity. Zorn called the QB play, "insignificant" which speaks volumes. The defense was missing tackles left and right giving up huge yards on the ground. All in all just a good ole fashion beat down.

I understand it is preseason and I also know that everything that could go wrong did so I know we are not as bad as that score. However, there is concern. Again, that was to be our dress rehearsal and we stunk it up. Based on that performance, I am curious if Zorn will have the starters play some in the final preseason game. Typically, starters won't play in that final game so they can rest for the season opener but things may change. I was just disappointed as a Redskin fan to see that debacle and we better get things corrected quickly.

On a positive note, the Jason Taylor injury which looked pretty bad when you watched it just turned out to be a sprain and he is supposed to be out for 10-14 days. That looked like it was going to be season (maybe even career) ending.

Hopefully we can use that beat down in our favor and use it to humble us and let us know that the season is upon us and it isn't going to get any easier. Now it's going to be very interesting to see how we play.

Bears beaten by the 49ers.

Okay. So the Bears lost to the 49ers last night; however, there were some positives. I was able to watch most of the first quarter and part of the second quarter and then some of the end of the game. Here are my thoughts in no particular order:

1. Bears O line looked much better. They actually gave Orton some time to throw. Hopefully for them this will continue.

2. Orton looked pretty good. Had some nice throws and led some nice drives. He also threw downfield which is good because he pretty much limits his game to shorter passes. Also, I think it was important for him to have a strong performance in front of his home crowd the first game after being named the starter. You don't want to blow it and not give the home crowd much confidence. I think his performance was important for both himself and Lovie. He also seemed to develop some chemistry with Rashied Davis. Again, hopefully for them this develops.

3. Rexy again blew. His performance only strengthened Lovie's decision in going with Kyle. Rexy's days in Chicago are done. It will be VERY difficult for him to ever win the Bear fans over. Fair or not, that is the case. He would be better served leaving and starting new some where else. I'm sure he is regretting coming back right now and probably wishes he had gone some where else.

4. The Bear special teams looked decent. Manning had some nice returns (although he fumbled on his second long one). Wolfe fumbled on another kickoff return deep in Bear territory but it was good for them to get some long returns which has been a big part of their game the last couple of years with Hester.

5. Bear defense looked terrible. They missed tackles and a ton of yards and some big plays. They also got called for some untimely penalties. Their defense was supposed to be their strong point of their team but they have been largely unimpressive in the preseason. That is going to have to improve if they expect to do anything this year. It was good for them to make that one goal line stop after Tillman's pass interference penalty; however, they needed to build off of that and improve but they didn't.

All in all, not a terrible performance. Again, it was good that the O line, Orton, and the offense in general put together a decent performance. Sadly, it was offset by the poor defensive performance.

Bottom line, I still think the Bears will struggle this year.

Karate Kid II

So I was flipping channels last night/this morning and got sucked into watching Karate Kid II. What a piece of shat! All that movie is doing is trying to rake in more money from the success of the Karate Kid. The acting was pathetic and the story is just plain silly. Sato has spent his entire adult life focused on one thing...destroying his former best friend, Mr. Miyagi. Miyagi finally agrees to fight Sato but the night of the fight, there is a typhoon and everyone needs to find safe shelter. The house in the village that Sato is staying in collapses under the storm and he is stuck under a wood plank. Miyagi and Daniel (why does he go by Daniel?) go out there to rescue him but Sato is yelling at Miyagi saying he is a coward for wanting to fight while he is incapacitated.

First, it's ridiculous that Sato thinks Miyagi wants to fight him like that. Then when Miyagi gets him out of the predicament and takes him to safety, all of a sudden the lifetime of hate and vengeance is gone and Sato becomes the nicest guy around. Also, the love story between Kumiko and Daniel (again, why does he go by Daniel?) is so awkward. Daniel wouldn't know how to get a girl if she fell naked out of the sky, landed on his face, and started wiggle.

The last battle scene between Sato's nephew and Daniel is silly too. In Karate Kid I, we were led to believe that there was no defense to the crane technique. This is a lie since clearly the crane technique was defended against in part deaux. Also, I guess the new technique is the drum technique which is basically clasping your hands together and swinging them back and forth. Apparently it is so technical that the nephew can't see it coming and can't defend it and he ends up getting pummelled.

There are a number of silly and awkward moments throughout the movie. The thing I love is that I stayed up until like 1:30 am watching this shat. The thing I love even more is that once this was over, I started flipping around some more and was able to find Predator. NOW THERE IS A MOVIE!!!!

This is about how I feel about the Bears this year...

What's worse than worst?
Bears' offense might find out after abysmal showing in Seattle

BY RICK TELANDER Sun-Times Columnist
First of all, remember NFL preseason games are little more than glorified practices.

Keep telling yourself that, and maybe it will help.

But the Bears' second exhibition contest of the preseason, Saturday night against the Seattle Seahawks, was painful to watch, no matter what it was.
''Offensively, we didn't get a lot done with our first group,'' Bears coach Lovie Smith said after the 29-26 overtime loss.

Yeah, didn't get much done with the second group, either. Or third.

Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton, 22-year-old Caleb Hanie -- the quarterbacks for the Bears all look like run-of-the-mill, pick-one-out-of-a-hat guys, featureless crash-test dummies who will do a little of this, a little of that and not much of anything.

Of course, the quarterbacks are mere rag dolls in an offense so devoid of focus and firepower that simply to take a snap behind center is dangerous to one's health.

Grossman, making his first start, got splattered so badly on the first series of the game that you had to wonder if he's the slowest human on the planet or if the Bears' offensive line moonlights as a sieve.

That first series -- which started on the Bears' 20-yard line and ended on their 15 -- had the smell of a long, sad season to it.

When your first draft pick happens to be a left offensive tackle -- the most important lineman for a right-handed quarterback -- and that draft pick is already deep-sixed from back surgery, you have a potential mess.

Chris Williams, that 6-6, 312-pound alleged savior from Vanderbilt, right now is a dud of epic proportions.

(Excuse me, but did Williams ever practice with the Bears, or was he injured hot-tubbing?)

Does it matter who the QB is?
Forget Grossman getting plastered by blitzers. Forget Orton looking anonymous and just ... blah. I mean, how many times have we seen these things before?

And if young Caleb from Colorado State thinks he can count on young tight end Kellen Davis from Michigan State to make leaping, one-handed catches in coverage for the lone offensive touchdown of these contests, good luck, Cowboy.

The issue is the Bears' offense, the whole offense, with any quarterback at the helm. It looks like a stink bomb set to explode.

Winning these quasi-practices is irrelevant. The New York Giants went 1-3 in the preseason before winning the Super Bowl last February. The Indianapolis Colts went 1-3 the year before en route to the 2006 Super Bowl crown.

(Incredible, isn't it, to think the Bears were the Colts' foes down there in rainy Miami?)

But you want to look like you at least have a clue!

The Bears' offense generated 205 net yards, what good teams get in a half.

If there is a Bears running game, it vanished in a bowl of smoke along with Cedric Benson.

Grossman is so not the answer to the Bears' offensive woes that no more comment is needed.

''I was not pleased with what many of our offensive guys did,'' Lovie said in his perfected coach-speak. ''We didn't play well, and Rex was part of that.''

Nuff said.

But Orton?

He was 5-for-9 passing for 43 yards.

Which is like having two pennies and a lint ball in your pocket.

No, the Bears' offense can perhaps be best measured by the greatly skilled players on it. After Devin Hester, there are none. And Hester's credentials as a wide receiver, not just a kick returner, are still under construction.

And the offensive line? Dear God, has Jerry Angelo let that one slip away.

To line up behind the patchwork group of aging and sluggish men is to invite sudden death.

Numbers are down in the dumps
Everything is up for grabs on this offense.

How did this happen?

The Benson and Williams and Grossman busts are a start. But there seems to be a trickle-down of cluelessness.

What's special about a quarterback derby when you've got one at every position?

Last year, the Bears finished tied for 28th in interceptions thrown, 27th in first downs, 27th in total yards, 29th in third-down efficiency and 30th in rushing yards.

Grossman is showing signs of flustering and being ready to demand a ticket out of town.

Smith hasn't even declared his starting quarterback for the ''important'' third preseason game Thursday against the 49ers at Soldier Field.

''This will be my fifth year with this coaching staff,'' Grossman said after the game Saturday. ''I think they should know.''

They probably do.

There are 32 teams in he NFL. The Bears' brass might be wondering if an offense can rank 33rd.

Kyle Era to Begin!

Rexy is out and Kyle is in. It was announced today. Probably the right choice given the options. Kyle should give them a little better decision making and more accurate short game which given the pathetic state of the O line, will suit that team better. Still, Kyle is not the long term answer to that team.

I suppose it is good for Rexy as when Kyle sucks it up and the Bears lose a couple of games, the fans might be more forgiving of Rexy when he takes over. There would be lower expectations for Rexy and less pressure.

Skins beat the Jets.

I admit I didn't get a chance to really watch this game but a win is a win. I did see the highlights of the end where the Jets had a chance to win the game and that WR dropped the ball right in his hands with about 5 seconds to go (he'll probably get his walking papers this week). It's preseason and I don't know why Mangini wanted to go for a tie but their kicker ended up hitting the post on the chip shot allowing the Skins to pull out the victory.

From what I did see and have read, the team was pretty inconsistent. JC and the first team offense didn't look as crisp and sharp as they had the previous two weeks. JC threw a couple of balls high which has been an issue in the past. The good thing is he was able to sustain one longer drive that did lead to a field goal. Another positive is that the running game looks better. It seems like more of a cutting/slashing type of running attack as opposed to Gibbs slower, wait for the hole to open up running game.

Again, I didn't see much but it didn't seem like that great a performance. I imagine the next game will be a little more time for the starters and then they will won't see too much work in the final preseason game as they will want to rest for the season opener especially since it will be played on a Thursday. ONLY 17 MORE DAYS!!!!

Bears Struggle

Seems like there is a growing frustration in Chicago with the offense and the uncertainty of the QB situation. Rexy got the start on Saturday and was largely unimpressive. Much of his performance can be attributed to the pathetic offensive line that caved under the pressure. Rexy seems frustrated with the line, his play, and not knowing who the QB is going to be. In some ways, it seems like Rexy feels like he should be given the job because he has been with the same coaches and system for the last 5 years and they know what he can do.

Apparently Orton fared better in Seattle and led a good 2 minute drive to end the first half. I didn't watch the game and only saw limited highlights but from what I have read, the Bears are struggling.

The line was horrible last year and apparently they haven't improved this year so far. Forte couldn't get any running lanes and the QBs were under constant pressure. The way it is shaping up right now, it looks like it could be a long season in Chi-town. Get ready for the boo birds, Bears.

Rocky and Carlos are back and Thomas to debut

Good to have Rocky and Carlos back healthy from their ACL injuries last year. Rocky showed a lot of promise last year and proved to be a force at the weakside LB spot. Carlos showed improvement as well and I think has matured over the last couple of years and hopefully he will be the player we expect him to be. Both players will see very limited action against the Jets but I think they will just be excited to get out there even if it is for the the expected 4-5 plays.

We will also get a chance to see 'Skins top draft pick Devin Thomas. Ideally it would be great to see Thomas or Kelly take on the #2 WR role. Randle El has been surprisingly effective in that role but to have a big, strong, physical receiver like Thomas or Kelly in that position would be ideal. Moss has speed and is a playmaker but he too is small so it would be good to have that guy that in one on one coverage would have the physical attributes that would give you confidence he would come down with the ball. It will be interesting to see Thomas out there and I'm sure Zorn will find a way to get him the ball to see what he can do.

We'll see how it all shakes down against the Jets and newly acquired old man Favre.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!!

Rexy needs good showing on Shatterday

Rexy will be starting for the Bears in their second preseason game against the Seahawks in Seattle. The good news is that he has had success against the 'Hawks in the past and that he will be playing away so he won't have to deal with the "boos" and "jeers" from his home town crowd. The bad news is that he is Rexy. Which Rexy will show up? All he needs to do is show some consistency and if he can make a play or two, he might provide a bit of separation between himself and Orton.

The difficult thing about the whole situation is that regardless of who is picked as the starter, if they falter early and lose a game or two early, you can bet the Chicago media and crowd will be all over the Lovie clamoring for him to make a change. The starter is going to get very little leeway from the fans. Right or wrong, the starter will have to perform and have very thick skin.

Pretty Chilling McCain Video.

Oh Moose!

So former Bear WR, Muhsin Muhammad, took a cheap shot at his former team by telling SI's Peter King that Chicago is a wide-receiver's graveyard. Not really sure what prompted that statement but I'm sure it doesn't make Orton or Rexy feel real great.

I suppose the Bears will get a chance to get at Moose in Week 2 when they face the Panthers. Hopefully the Bears have solidified their QB situation and that QB has a good game to stick it to Moose.

I personally don't think Chicago has a very good QB situation and don't think too much of Orton or Grossman but I don't like the cheap shot by Moose.

ABHINAV BINDRA!!!!!

Can we give a brother a hand for winning the gold at the Olympics in the 10m air rifle event. Prior to the 25 year old's victory, India had only won four individual medals, none of them gold, since sending their first team to the Summer Games in 1928. India is a force to be reckoned with in the Olympics. This time it is the 10m air rifle, next time it may very well be men's basketball. Okay, that might be a bit ambitious but how about men's badminton!!!

Redskins beat Bills 17-14.

Good win on Saturday night. Once again, the offensive unit looked good. Campbell was impressive out there and certainly looks like he is in command and more comfortable being the leader of the offense. Here are my notes, again in no particular order:

1. Campbell looked good. Looks like he is picking up the offense well and executing well. There were a couple of times when he looked like he could have released the ball a second quicker but it may be because he saw something that we couldn't see. Still, his numbers were solid and more importantly, he is looking the role of starting QB. Looks much more confident than last year. Seems like he is ready for that breakout year. Hopefully he starts out hot and Snyder begins negotiations and signs him by mid year.

2. Portis looked good. Seems like the WC offense will spread the defense and open up more running lanes for our backs. I expect Portis to have a big year this year. Good to see him get the TD.

3. Defense looked good. Nice that they held Buffalo to a FG when Mason fumbled the opening kickoff deep in our territory.

4. Todd Collins had solid numbers but, as should be expected, doesn't look as comfortable in the WC offense as he did in Saunders offense.

5. Justin Tryon, the loud mouth 4th round pick, seems to be having difficulty covering man to man. He was beat a couple of times last week and a couple of times this week. I know he has speed but maybe less talking and more playing will do him good otherwise he may have to look for another profession.

6. Jon Jansen is a concern. Not sure how good he is after his injuries and his age. We'll see how that plays out.

7. Rinehart looks like a keeper and should fill in nicely at LG when Kendall retires.

8. Suisham made a nice 45+ yarder with plenty of leg. Nice bounceback from missing last week's short kick.

9. Zorn looked more comfortable on the sidelines and calling plays. I am really starting to like him. The more you listen to him, the more it sounds like he is very confident in himself and his system and conveying the system.

Bottom line, I am really liking what I am seeing. This is the first time in years where I feel like we have a true direction and I like that we have less chaos with all the coaches and have streamlined things quite a bit and made things less complicated. I like the intensity of our coaches (Zorn and Blache) and I like that the players seem excited playing for these guys and learning their systems. Everyone seems to be picking things up and enjoying the direction of the team. That is key at this point. You really want to see all the pieces start to come together and things to start to make sense and that camarderie to shape here in the preseason. Hopefully it continues over the next couple of weeks and translates into good things when the season starts up.

Bears lose to Chiefs.

Again, it's the first preseason game so you can't put much stock into anything. Teams typically run very basic, vanilla type of plays just to get their teams used to game situations and they don't want to show what they will pull out in the regular season.

Still, the Bears have some concerns. Their first round pick that was supposed to anchor the left side of the line had surgery on a herniated disk in his back and is out indefinitely. Terrence Metcalf is out as well having arthroscopic surgery. John Tait who was supposed to move over to RT with the signing of Chris Williams looks like he is headed back to LT. Now the Bears are looking to resign some of the O linemen they cut from last year in a desperate effort to get some semblance of a line put together. They are trying to resign old guys that were terrible last year. That is how desperate they are.

Also, neither of their QBs made a case for themselves as starters. I didn't see the game but from the highlights, the numbers, and what I have read, neither one of them separated themselves. Orton seemed to manage the game pretty well but stalled a decent drive by inexplicably fumbling while scrambling forcing the Bears to go for a FG. Meanwhile, Grossman, booed often at Soldier Field since the Bears drafted him in the first round in 2003, was greeted with near-silence when he trotted onto the field late in the first half. The jeers came on the opening drive of the second half when he threw an incompletion to finish a drive that went nowhere. He finished 4-8 for 44 yards with most of the yards coming off of a short pass to Garret Wolfe who turned it into a 25 yard TD.

We'll see if they can pull themselves together but they got a long way to go if they expect to compete with the Colts on opening night.

BTW - regarding RobsObs claim that the Bears QBs are fine and passed for more yardage than the Skins. I put my reply to that in the other subject post if he cares to read it.

Favre to the Jets.

I'm glad that everyone is moving on. I personally think Brett is going to stink it up this year. NY is completely different than GB and given that he will be under a microscope and expectations are high with the amount of money the Jets spent in the offseason, I think he is going to fail. I think he will have difficulty adjusting to the new scheme, coaches, players, locker room, uniform, media, etc. By midseason, I think he will be questioning his decision to come back and it will all be over. He will hear the boo birds and there will be tons written about him. Favre is a small town country boy and GB fit him nicely. Going to the big apple and being a private kind of guy won't suit him well. He will regret his decision and sadly he will have ruined some of his legacy and greatness.

Bears hur-TING!

So the Bears #1 pick has missed almost the entire training camp with muscle issues in his back. Seems like Lovie is getting a little annoyed at the youngster as the more time he misses, the less likely he will be able to pick up the offense. Also, hurting is LG Metcalf who is going to get arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and most likely will be out a few weeks. They have few options to replace these guys and given that their O line struggled last year, this could be devastating given that they have a rookie starting RB, brand new receiving corps, and are still undetermined at QB.

On that note, Orton will get the nod to start in their first preseason game.

Interesting note, the Tribune had a poll on who should be the starter and leading the vote with nearly 30% was "Who cares, they both stink"

Good luck Bears fans!

Favre is a jerk!

So Brett Favre will be back in camp this week. I am curious what the feelings are among the players and coaches in GB. Despite saying that the QB job was Rodgers all along, the team is now saying they will have an open QB competition. I am curious if they are sincere in that or if that is just P.R. bullshat. Even if they don't intend to give it to Favre, it puts Rodgers in a very tough predicament. If he ends up the starter but doesn't produce and they have Favre sitting on the bench, you can bet the fans, media, team mates will want Favre inserted quickly.

It's going to be a circus over there this week and it will be interesting to see how this plays out. I really lost a lot of respect for Brett Favre in how he handled this whole thing. I'm also curious if McCarthy and Thompson will "black ball" Favre and make training camp miserable for him. I wonder what the relationship will be b/t Rodgers and Favre and if the locker room will be divided. I'm just glad I'm not a Packer fan and have to deal with all of that.

Redskins look good in HOF game.

Now I understand that it is the HOF game and it is very preliminary. That said, for what it was, the Redskins looked very good out there. Campbell and the first team offense were sharp and the offense the entire game looked good. Here are my thoughts in no particular order:

1. Campbell and first team offense looked crisp and on the mark.

2. Defense was okay. My issue with them was that on their first drive they had the Colts on at least three 3rd and 5s and every time the Colts would run a short out in the flat and we couldn't defend it. We just didn't learn so that was bothersome. Still, they held when they needed and did an okay job.

3. Colt Brennan had a great game. Despite his size and delivery seems like he can develop into a nice back up for us.

4. Chris Horton had a huge game. He looks like he can be a solid special teamer and good backup.

5. Chad Rhinehart looked good on the O line. That is a good sign as we will definitely need to address the aging O line next year.

I knew that not many of the starters would play and those that did play wouldn't play for long. I wasn't so much watching the game for individual play but more how did they look and feel overall and how would Zorn handle the offense/coaching responsibilities. By yesterday's showing, he handled it very well. He looked very comfortable, confident, and in charge. I really liked that the team didn't have many penalties and were in and out of the huddle and executed well. I also liked that the team seemed to really rally around one another and played with fun and confidence. When that guy intercepted the ball for the TD, I liked that many of the veterans were running on the field and laughing and high fiving. That is a good sign. To me, it is the sign of a team that is coming together and having fun and feeling good about where we are at.

Again, I know it is early and things will change a lot b/t now and the season opener and then change even more a few games in but I did like what I saw. Again, I was looking more from a higher level and I liked how the team played and executed and seemed to be having fun out there. Those are all good signs to me.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!