Subscribe
iTunes
Redskins Insider: November 2, 2008 - November 8, 2008
Two Takes On Torrence's Release
Had a chance to elicit some other opinions on the Leigh Torrence move, so I'm going to post a follow up here and then try to pretend like this really was a bye week for the schlubs, or at least this particular schlub. One guy I spoke to thought...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 8, 2008; 3:36 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (113)
Save & Share:
Torrence Shocked By Release
The Washington Redskins released cornerback Leigh Torrence to make room for corner DeAngelo Hall, a move that surprised many players. Hall's signing was looming, after he agreed to terms with the Redskins on Friday, but rather than release a little-used player or place injured receiver Malcolm Kelly on injured reserve,...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 8, 2008; 12:46 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (120)
Save & Share:
Skins Cut Torrence, Sign Hall
The Redskins have waived cornerback Leigh Torrence and officially signed cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Torrence joined the Redskins as a free agent on Dec. 27, 2006. He played in 16 games last season and in nine as a reserve this season....
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 8, 2008; 12:25 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (36)
Save & Share:
'The Jasons' Work through the Bye
It may be bye week, but "The Jasons" is not on hiatus. The new episode is airing all weekend on Comcast SportsNet and, of course, up here....
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 8, 2008; 9:51 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (18)
Save & Share:
Vote: Hall Joins the Redskins
DeAngelo Hall came into the league just a few years ago as a highly touted cornerback out of Virginia Tech. Yet he finds himself on his third NFL team in the past year. He has talent. But clearly, his attitude could use an adjustment. poll by twiigs.com...
By
washingtonpost.com Sports Editor
|
November 7, 2008; 6:05 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (98)
Save & Share:
Who Will Go to Make Room for Hall?
Assuming DeAngelo Hall passes his physical Saturday, which looks like a mere formality, the Redskins will have to make a roster move. To me the most logical move would be to place rookie wide receiver Malcolm Kelly on the injured reserve list, since he has not been able to do...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 7, 2008; 4:28 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (69)
Save & Share:
Fines From Monday Night
Redskins corner Fred Smoot was fined $5,000 for a uniform violation in the game against Pittsburgh, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, the only Skin who got nabbed for that. (Smoot was hoping the penalty would not exceed 5 grand, so he got his wish). Also, Pittsburgh...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 7, 2008; 3:54 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (42)
Save & Share:
Hall Agrees to One-Year Deal
Free-agent corner DeAngelo Hall has agreed to a one-year deal with the Redskins, according to sources. It is unlikely that the team will formally announce the move until tomorrow afternoon. As a rule, players must pass a physical before signing. Hall, a two-time Pro Bowler who had no medical problems...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 7, 2008; 1:54 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (204)
Save & Share:
Clark's Tribute: Individuality in Team Sport
Dan Steinberg asked Commissioner Roger Goodell earlier this week about the fine imposed on Ryan Clark for wearing eyeblack with the number 21 on it as a tribute to his late friend and former teammate, Sean Taylor. Steinberg also spoke with LaVar Arrington and other players on the matter. I...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 7, 2008; 12:03 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (61)
Save & Share:
For Collins, Only His Role Is the Same
While we see what's going on today ... Marc Carig caught up with Todd Collins recently. There's an interesting analysis by one of the football outsiders on the Cowboys' prospects for the last seven games. Mark Maske reports that the NFL and NFLPA are at odds over disciplinary actions the...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 7, 2008; 9:43 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (96)
Save & Share:
The Defense at the Bye
From Jason Reid: Greg Blache was promoted from defensive line coach to defensive coordinator, replacing Gregg Williams, during the staff shakeup that occurred after Joe Gibbs retired in January. A successful coordinator with the Chicago Bears before joining the Redskins, Blache for the most part has retained the scheme he...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 7, 2008; 7:30 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (66)
Save & Share:
Redskins Pursuing DeAngelo Hall
The Washington Redskins are among the teams free agent cornerback DeAngelo Hall is considering after clearing waivers Thursday, according to his agent, Joe Segal. Segal would not comment on how many teams are pursuing Hall, or specifics of offers, but said that Hall, a former Virginia Tech star, is intrigued...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 6, 2008; 6:47 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (111)
Save & Share:
The Offense at the Bye
From Barry Svrluga: When Jim Zorn was first hired by the Redskins, it was as an offensive coordinator, and whether he was named head coach or not, Washington would have transitioned from Al Saunders's timing-based scheme to some version of the West Coast offense. During training camp and after the...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 6, 2008; 2:00 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (71)
Save & Share:
What's Happening in Dallas...and Vegas
Out of Dallas comes the Romo update (aka Pinkie-gate). He was on the practice field yesterday for the first time since Oct. 16, is working out with a new splint on the finger and says he'd be surprised if he doesn't play Nov. 16 at FedEx. In his absence, a...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 6, 2008; 10:46 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (55)
Save & Share:
Special Teams at the Bye
The Redskins are a good team, but not yet a great one. Which means they cannot afford to have less-than-elite special teams units and thrive, for the most part, given that they are often locked in tight games dictated by field position. There is plenty of room for improvement. The...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 6, 2008; 7:34 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (44)
Save & Share:
Fashion Faux Pas?
Let's settle the whole burgundy-on-burgundy thing for the last time, with help from Dan Steinberg. "I feel like we needed a change," said Santana Moss, a strong backer of the team's first-ever use of that jersey combination. "Just a change of pace," Marcus Washington added. "We always kind of wanted...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 5, 2008; 4:59 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (63)
Save & Share:
Musings on Hall, Walker and KGB
If DeAngelo Hall is placed on waivers, I don't think the Skins would claim him. Yes, Vinny Cerrato explored trading for him with the Falcons over the summer, but that was at a time when Carlos Rogers's health was very much in question, and even then the Skins didn't pull...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 5, 2008; 1:30 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (83)
Save & Share:
Sean Taylor to Be Honored
The Redskins have issued this release: The late Sean Taylor will take his place among Washington Redskins greats when he is inducted into the franchise's Ring of Fame in a ceremony prior to the team's contest against the New York Giants on Nov. 30, 2008 at 1 p.m. It will...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 5, 2008; 11:23 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (80)
Save & Share:
Sean Taylor To Enter The Ring of Honor
The Redskins are announcing that the slain safety will be indicuted into the Ring on Nov. 30, when the Giants visit FedEx Field. More details of the ceremony are to come. Sean was shot and killed last November, and remains in the hearts and minds of his coaches and teammates....
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 5, 2008; 11:06 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (15)
Save & Share:
Setting up the Bye 'Week'
It's a late and kind of short bye week (really only five days of darkness in Ashburn), so we'll be dialing back with fewer posts until Monday, when the Sprint to Dec. 28 begins. Jason "Jasno" La Canfora will be chatting today, as will Mark "Mark" Maske. Maske is up...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 5, 2008; 8:18 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (56)
Save & Share:
Lessons Learned on Monday Night
This game brought to light issues we had already mentioned as being the most important of the second half of the season. The NFL's best defense has a way of taking some smaller fissures and making them appear huge. Few teams have the talent in the front seven to be...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 4, 2008; 3:00 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (160)
Save & Share:
Zorn on Play-Calling, Noise, the Bye -- and More
Jim Zorn spent a fair amount of time going over the seven sacks, visiting team crowd noise, protection problems, etc. At times he said the scheme and formations he chose failed to call for all of the blitzers to be picked up, and at other times his players lost individual...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 4, 2008; 1:49 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (29)
Save & Share:
Zorn Addresses Injuries
We'll break Jim Zorn's press conference into two parts - injuries and other stuff (pretty scientific, eh?). I'll start with injuries. We've covered most of this, but here's the take from the head hip-hip hoorayer: He expects corner Shawn Springs and end Jason Taylor to play against Dallas. He does...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 4, 2008; 1:21 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (11)
Save & Share:
D Line Hopes Sacks Are Harbinger
From Jason Reid: Frustrated about the focus on their lack of sacks, the Washington Redskins had a season-high five in last night's 23-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Washington's defensive line, which has not been as productive as coaches envisioned before the season, accounted for 3½ sacks, with defensive lineman...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 4, 2008; 12:17 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (49)
Save & Share:
Moss, Samuels and the Injury Report
WR Santana Moss was not on the field as much as usual last night, given his hamstring issues, and is looking forward to the bye. "It didn't get any worse," Moss said of the hamstring. "It pretty much held up." Moss said he plans to do "nothing" during the bye...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 4, 2008; 11:45 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (29)
Save & Share:
Fletcher Is Seeing Red (Zone)
From Jason La Canfora: Middle LB London Fletcher said there are no secrets about where the defense needs to improve after the bye week. "I think it's pretty obvious where we need to make our gains," Fletcher said. "We need to create more turnovers and we need to improve in...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 4, 2008; 11:30 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (7)
Save & Share:
Rogers Knows He Must Step Up
From Jason La Canfora: Cornerback Carlos Rogers takes full blame for dropping an interception that would have been an easy six points. He does not believe it cost the team the game, however (and I agree). "I gave up that touchdown, but did that cost us the game? No," Rogers...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 4, 2008; 11:00 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (26)
Save & Share:
Steelers Fans Forced Silent Count
From Jason La Canfora at Redskins Park: In what may be the saddest testament yet to the sight of the Steelers' fans taking over FedEx Field last night and dominating the lower bowl with all the terrible towels, the Redskins offense had to go to a silent count at times,...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 4, 2008; 10:23 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (57)
Save & Share:
Tuesday Morning H-Back
It's a quick turnaround as the coaches and players prepare to bolt today, so I'm going to make this snappy. We can discuss it more during the day. (I was one of the lucky ones whose car was not burned in the parking lot; that's a plus.) Overall, I didn't...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 4, 2008; 6:28 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (108)
Save & Share:
Skins Lose, Go into Bye Week at 6-3
We talked a lot on the blog this week about the need to protect the passer above all else against this particular defense, and, well, that was the ballgame. Dick LeBeau abused Jim Zorn on this night, and the Redskins got worked. This offensive line needs more help in pass...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 3, 2008; 11:41 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (31)
Save & Share:
Skins Down 16-6 after Three
Pittsburgh's QB pressure has been too much. The Skins never adapted and keeping Jason Campbell healthy had better become the priority here. Byron Leftwich threw a perfect pass to open the half and the Steelers seem to be going in for the kill here. This smelled like the wrong team...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 3, 2008; 10:59 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (112)
Save & Share:
Skins Trail 10-6 at the Half
Each team has been given some outstanding field position by special teams or their defense; the Steelers were the only team to get into the end zone after the blocked punt, and thus they lead, 10-6. The Skins have to make some adjustments, obviously, after getting 66 net yards in...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 3, 2008; 9:28 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (179)
Save & Share:
After a Quarter, It's 6-0 Skins
Well, we all figured on a defensive struggle, right? Skins settled for field goals and wasted unreal field position. That could come back to haunt them ... or not, considering how ineffective the Steelers appear to be on offense. I'm surprised Jim Zorn has been spreading the field this much...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 3, 2008; 9:22 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (112)
Save & Share:
Samuels Will Start
Starting left tackle Chris Samuels has been getting treatment and will start. Corner Shawn Springs (calf), RB Ladell Betts (knee), De Jason Taylor (calf), WR Malcolm Kelly (knee) are out. (Brief aside: Look for Carlos Rogers to line up on Santonio Holmes, Fred Smoot on Nate Washington with a lot...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 3, 2008; 7:04 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (174)
Save & Share:
No Sign of Samuels
Chris Samuels is not on the field. That's not a good sign for the Pro Bowl left tackle, and if Stephon Heyer does have to play, it could get ugly (Jason Campbell was nearly seriously hurt in the preseason against Pittsburgh last year with Samuels out and Heyer in). Meantime,...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 3, 2008; 6:45 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (16)
Save & Share:
Moss and Samuels; KGB Update
I hear that it's looking good for Santana Moss to be out there. Tackle Chris Samuels will be a game-time decision as well, and some teammates are expecting him to play. Right now, no one is doing much of anything out there - no warmups yet. Also, wanted to update...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 3, 2008; 6:16 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (22)
Save & Share:
Campbell Ready for Bye-Week Sleep
From Jason Reid: Quarterback Jason Campbell was pleased with Washington's performance in the first half of its schedule, though not satisfied. The team has seven games remaining, and Campbell hopes the Redskins continue to work hard and finish strong. This week, however, Campbell plans to rest. After five preseason games...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 3, 2008; 5:36 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (34)
Save & Share:
A Burgundy-on-Burgundy Night
There are alot of Steelers fans here -- more than I have seen from an opposing team before. Lot of rumors going around that this will be the Anchorman game - Skins in burgundy on burgundy. And indeed it's true. We will all be seeing red tonight. To me this...
By
Jason La Canfora
|
November 3, 2008; 4:44 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (30)
Save & Share:
The MNF Crew Meets Steinberg (Updated)
Warning: this video has more politics 'n' football talk. But it also has Kornheiser (does that qualify for a 'but ...' ?) UPDATE: As promised, the second video is a Ron Jaworski Xs and Os breakdown of tonight's game....
By
Jon DeNunzio
|
November 3, 2008; 2:22 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (84)
Save & Share:
Unrestricted: Steelers-Redskins Preview
Jason Reid breaks down tonight's game, with special emphasis on injury and pass rush questions:...
By
Jon DeNunzio
|
November 3, 2008; 12:54 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (65)
Save & Share:
Who Wins Tonight -- and Who Wins Tomorrow?
You may have heard of the "Redskins Rule," which correlates the fortunes of Washington's football team just before election day with the fortunes of the guys campaigning to shake up Washington, D.C. If you haven't, the D.C. Sports Bog has a whole new post on the 'Redskins Rule' here. With...
By
Jon DeNunzio
|
November 3, 2008; 11:18 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (75)
Save & Share:
Zorn, the CIA, the View from P'burgh
Gameday...Time for a fresh thread while we wait for a game that's gonna tell us alot about the Redskins, the AFC and the NFC... Mike Wise has a column today on the director of the CIA, who happens to be a big Steelers fan...And by CIA, I don't mean this...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 3, 2008; 7:26 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (80)
Save & Share:
Monday Night Countdown...
A coupla procedural things as we get ready to watch some non-Redskins fubball.... The Capital Weather Gang has the forecast for Monday night; looks like it'll be a nice night (and nice Election Day, too). Because of the Monday game, my chat will move to Tuesday at 11 a.m., with...
By
Cindy Boren
|
November 2, 2008; 11:57 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (148)
Save & Share:
