Brandon Banks: From Kansas State to Redskins Park, But What’s Next?

I first saw Banks in a game between Nebraska and Kansas State. It was November 15, 2008. In That game Banks returned a kick 98 yards for a TD. That kickoff return tied for the fifth-longest in school history. Oddly enough, on the other side of the ball Nebraska’s Niles Paul was busy garnering his own attention as a wide receiver and special teams player. He returned 2 kicks for 38 yards in that game as well as recovered a Deon Murphy fumbled punt which led to a Nebraska TD. Oh yeah, and Roy Helu rushed for 72 yards and 2 touchdowns. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Brandon Banks, Niles Paul, Redskins, Roy Helu

Putting Things In Perspective

We swept the Giants this year, with a very solid game against the Giants yesterday, following up on a very good performance in a shootout against one of the best teams/offenses in the league in New England. That was following a decent performance through 50 minutes against the Jets with Rex having a very off day. And that’s following a very good win against a young Seahawks team who just seems to give everyone fits.

Rex Grossman’s play has been up and down, as expected, and he still makes way too many mistakes, and some of them crucial. But under Rex Grossman, this offense seems to take a little flight. It’s true that receivers like the ability to go deep and not have to get smacked around in the middle after a 5-yard slant. It’s also true it opens up those 5-yard slants to keep defenses honest to the threat. Rex Grossman gives us a chance to be a lethal offense… but that’s it… a chance. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Barry Cofield, Brian Orakpo, Chris Chester, chris cooley, DeAngelo Hall, Donte Stallworth, fred davis, Jabar Gaffney, Jammal Brown, Jarvis Jenkins, Kyle Shanahan, Leonard Hankerson, london fletcher, Mike Shanahan, O.J. Atogwe, Perry Riley, Rex Grossman, Roy Helu, Ryan Kerrigan, santana moss, Trent Williams

Thoughts on Washington Redskins vs. Seattle Seahawks

First of all, for all the people shocked at the chippyness of this game, and how these two teams could possibly be rivals, I’ll say to you that you can look no further than any other game we’ve played against the Seahawks. They’ve all been chippy, and they’ve all been tough. While Trent Williams was the key guy in a lot of the video getting into it, and while it’s documented that the Seahawks may have started it by taking offense to a Redskins huddle at midfield, I wouldn’t count out veterans like Mike Sellers and Santana Moss having a lot to do with it before the game on our side.

On to the game, the opening drive was refreshing. It’s been a long time since this team has started a game with a long drive, and even longer since scoring (a touchdown at that) on the opening drive. It was a bit disappointing following up that drive with drives that just fell short, or ended early due to penalties in this chippy game, but my biggest praise goes to Kyle Shanahan for sticking with the run. There were definitely times we didn’t run enough still, but the early influx of the run definitely kept the Seahawks honest enough. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Anthony Armstrong, Brian Orakpo, DeAngelo Hall, fred davis, Jim Haslett, Kyle Shanahan, laron landry, Mike Shanahan, Perry Riley, Rex Grossman, Roy Helu, Ryan Kerrigan, santana moss, Trent Williams, Washington Redskins

Analysis of the Washington Redskins and Fans

Okay, it’s finally time I present this long-winded rant about the Redskins. Just a quick disclaimer, there may be some foul language, I may target some people, and this is not going to be a rant all about the team or coaches… “fans” are as open a target as any. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Brian Orakpo, Bruce Allen, John Beck, Kyle Shanahan, laron landry, Leonard Hankerson, london fletcher, Mike Shanahan, Rex Grossman, Roy Helu, Ryan Kerrigan, Ryan Torain, Tim Hightower, Washington Redskins

Review of Washington Redskins vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Washington Redskins lost to the San Francisco 49ers 19-11 yesterday. 8 of those 11 points for the Redskins came in trash time when the 49ers weren’t playing a pressure-based defense. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: art monk, Brandon Banks, Brian Orakpo, fred davis, Graham Gano, John Beck, Kyle Shanahan, Leonard Hankerson, Mike Shanahan, Reed Doughty, Rocky McIntosh, Roy Helu, Ryan Kerrigan, Terrence Austin, Washington Redskins

What’s Really Wrong With Washington Redskins’ Offense?

Okay, so by the numbers, the Redskins offense overall ranks 17^th in the 3 major categories (yards per game, pass yards per game, and rush yards per game). They rank 22^nd in the league in yards per play. They’re tied for 19^th in yards per carry, and 12^th in attempts per game. They’re tied for 25^th in plays from scrimmage with 327, of which 180 are passing attempts. That’s 55%, which is respectable.

But let’s break down into more numbers. On first down, the Washington Redskins (with Rex Grossman) have attempted 67 passes. Ryan Torain has run on 15 first downs, Hightower 38 times, and Roy Helu 15 times. That’s 68 attempts on the ground vs. 67 attempts through the air. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Kyle Shanahan, Rex Grossman, Roy Helu, Ryan Torain, Tim Hightower, Washington Redskins

22-21. The good… and the bad…

The Skins dominated possession.  It was a good win, one that, in prior seasons, would have been a loss…  but, there was good and bad to be gleaned from yesterday’s victory over the Cards. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: DeAngelo Hall, Roy Helu, Sav Rocca, Tim Hightower, Washington Redskins

By The Numbers: Colts

Numbers don’t always tell the story, especially in the preseason; but they can still be fun to look at. Here are some of the more telling numbers from the Redskins 16-3 thrashing of the Indianapolis Colts on Friday night: Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Indianapolis Colts, Roy Helu, Terrence Austin, Tim Hightower, Washington Redskins

Colts Preseason: Make or Break Time

When the Redskins line up against the Indianapolis Colts tonight at Lucas Oil Stadium, there will be a few guys that not only want to make an impression, but need to make an impression. With just a few short weeks left before the regular season, coaches are going to have their fingers on the eject button, and will start jettisoning players after every game. So who is on the bubble, and needs to play well to land on the Redskins 53 man roster? Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: chris horton, Horatio Blades, John Beck, Kevin Barnes, Leonard Hankerson, malcolm kelly, Mike Sellers, Roy Helu, Washington Redskins

RB Davis Skips Practice

If you haven’t already heard, Redskins roster hopeful James Davis was a no-show at practice today, and his whereabouts are unknown. Davis fought his way on to the Redskins active roster in 2010, and was going to have to do the same again in 2011. Perhaps Davis thought he was fighting a losing battle with two rookie running backs, Roy Helu and Evan Royster, as well as recently imported Tim Hightower all coming in to vie for time in the backfield. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Evan Royster, james davis, Mike Shanahan, Roy Helu, Washington Redskins