9/27/10

Coffee's For Closers



Say what you want about whether Haynesworth has earned his paycheck so far this season, but, there’s a guy yesterday that will definitely need rear view mirrors to pick up his paycheck this week. The sad part is he never set foot on the field in St. Louis.  He was on the sidelines, monitoring the debacle. I’m hard pressed to believe that Mike Shanahan is not accountable for how the B and G played against St. Louis. When a team is dispirited and loses energy, particularly to a team, they were superior over, it reflects poorly on the person charged with their preparation.
As can happen, Washington started poorly, but from the outset I could see St. Louis was waiting for that moment of “here we go again”.  And, it happened right before the half with Washington blocking a field goal after St. Louis held the ball for seven minutes. So, how did Washington allow the Rams to overcome them in the second half without the Ram’s best player on the field? Washington was not properly prepared to play, and that job falls on the head guy.
I watched Coach Shanahan’s press conference immediately following the game; he seemed delusional. He referenced how his team fought back to take control of the game. No, St. Louis was a lame duck team waiting for its opponent to set the pecking order, instead the Rams dictated to Washington. He did not want to acknowledge the fact that his team played with no energy, when it counted, or that they lost focus in the crucial moments of the second half. Washington players seemed fatigued, both mentally and physically.
I don’t think the saga of Albert Haynesworth is all on Shanahan; I think there are external forces at work that Shanahan is powerless to control. But, this lingering malady has to have some affect on this team’s ability to prepare, if only in its collective subconscious. Shanahan should know better, and after this monumental loss now is the time to embrace Haynesworth or send him on his way.
The scary part of this is Shanahan appeared after the game to be someone that had had an omen, and this vision did not please him. It’s as if his last year in Denver was revisiting him, when the team collapsed and lost the last three games to finish 8-8. He seemed to be a man reconciling the truth that only he knew. That, as a coach, he might have lost it. 
They are only three games into the season, and in a weak division this year, but as this team corrects the mistakes of yesterday and looks forward to the Eagles, it’s not just the players that have to reenergize themselves. Now is when a coach earns his keep. Coach Shanahan has a vast field of opportunity in front of him. But, Coach; you know the rules, the Glengarry leads are only for closers.

12 comments:

  1. Same crap; different coach. Sometimes I wonder if the entire roster needs to be replaced.

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  2. That game certainly left me scratching my head....I agree with you on all points....It starts at the top....

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  3. I said right at the beginning that Shanahan was NOT the right coach for this team. They need a no bullshit, kick em in the ass coach, and it ain't him!!! He's too mealy-mouthed.
    Fat Albert......get rid of him. He is a distraction and a media menace, and if Portis doesn't keep his mouth shut.....get rid of that has been too!!! Just a couple quick moves will make the rest of the team sit up and take notice......you either flippin perform, do your job, keep your mouth shut, stay the hell out of trouble......or you too will be gone
    !!!!! The fans around DC are fed up with all the BS. It shows in attendance!! At one time you couldn't buy or even steal a Skins home ticket. Now they are every where, and CHEAP!! Wake up Dan Snyder.......YOU ARE THE MAIN PROBLEM!!!!! Get rid of him and you will have a better team!!

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  4. its rediculous to me that we dont put albert in there on first and second down, when our d line is getting NO push. also he needs to get over himself and play devin thomas, there is no defending those decisions.

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  5. and ridiculous that he's taken an elite defense and turned it into an embarrassment - what is he doing?????????????

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  6. I was watching the game at the Redskins fan Club in San Diego, I am a lifelong fan and found myself for the first time questioning that fact. I have put up with this for way too long. Put a decent product on the field or get rid of the team. After last season little danny better be sweating. I'm done with this shit !!!!!!!!!!

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  7. I think I know the problem. Everyone knows that Snyder likes to throw money around so they come to Washington to get the paycheck and then not produce what they really can. This has been from the coaches to the players and I'm sick of it.

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  8. I think Jack Kent Cooke must have put a curse on this team when he was on his deathbed. Time for the fans to own the team like Green Bay. We need a bruising RB like Riggo beatin' up the D to force more men in the box and play action deep to Moss! Go back to a 4-3 D!!!

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  9. I watched Sunday's game in horror! I couldn't believe letting St.Louis score in the first 7 minutes.Even Joe Gibbs couldn't fix this team so how is Shanahan going to do it? I think there is a Snyder curse on the Skins. As long as he is owner they'll never have a good season much less a Super Bowl appearance. Start at the top. Snyder should do the fans a favor and sell the Redskins.

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  10. Riggo;
    Interested in a Head Coaching Position? If this keeps up I think there will be a position opening. Lifelong Redskin Fan since 61' and I am thoroughly lost.

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  11. Interesting stats over the past 2 losses....in 9 potential game winning or tying drives against mediocre defenses in the Texans and Rams, Donovan McNabb is 14-26, 135 yds, 1 int, 3 sacks, only 7 total 1st downs, and ZERO points. Those 9 drives led to 7 punts, a missed FG, and a blocked FG. I am a Philly fan and I love McNabb, but I was happy to see him leave, because his MO over the past few years was his inability to lead a 4th qtr game winning drive...a prerequisite for a QB on a championship caliber team in my opinion. I'm glad to see that much hasn't changed...if you haven't noticed it yet...you will!

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  12. Redskins DBs and secondary can't cover IMHO. Poor personel. Only Landry has earned his keep in the secondary. The rest have performed like amateurs, IMHO.

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