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tribeofjudah
tribe
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Posts: 5996
Location: SURF CITY, HB, CALI *** Occasionally flying into a SUPERNOVA
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 12:52 am Post subject: O.M.G.....at Tight End...? |
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Zo Alexander is at it again. He's dabbling at TE.
| Quote: | Alexander dabbling at tight end
The Redskins coaches apparently thought that Lorenzo Alexander didn’t have enough to do between preparing for his role as a reserve inside and outside linebacker and being the captain of the special teams. So they gave him another position to learn.
Alexander told 106.7 The Fan’s LaVar Arrington and Chad Dukes that he has been doing some work at tight end in the early phase of OTA’s at Redskins Park. His work on offense has been mostly “mental reps” from watching film and practice plays, the coaches want him to be ready to step in if there is an emergency.
In his five seasons in Washington, Alexander has played on the offensive and defensive lines in addition to both linebacker spots. His versatility has earned him the nickname “One Man Gang.”
I fill that niche as being that ‘One Man Gang’ and doing a lot of different things for the team,” Alexander said. “That’s why I’ve been in the league for eight years and hopefully I can play four or five more years doing the same thing, if not eventually become the starter.”
Alexander is not completely unfamiliar with lining up at tight end. Earlier in his career he occasionally reported as an eligible receiver in short yardage and goal line situations.
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1niksder
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Joined: 27 Mar 2004
Posts: 16570
Location: If I knew ... it would explain a lot but I've seen Homerville on a map, that wasn't helpful at all
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 1:19 am Post subject: |
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SouthLondonRedskin
Hog
Joined: 09 Jan 2012
Posts: 1113
Location: South London, UK
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 4:29 am Post subject: |
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They're covering for all eventualities. Having someone like Alexander on the roster to cover the position is a bonus as TE is a potential problem:
1. If he doesn't have an injury relapse, Cooley's future could still depend on the cap space outcome. Is he fully fit and is he able to contribute in a way that makes it worthwhile with the salary he's due...?
2. Paulson may be a concern, is he up to the job...? Perhaps they're thinking he wont make the grade this year.
3. Is Niles Paul really a serious option...? Maybe they've looked at him properly at TE and thought no.
4. Davis could get banned. He surely can't be that stupid, but you need to cover for all eventualites as a coach.
The balance of WRs and TEs on the squad this year could be interesting and may well depend on the type of offensive schemes Shanny has in mind for RG3.
If they plan to run RG3 a bit in certain situations then an extra TE could be useful for blocking purposes alone. Especially if our best blocking RB Hightower doesn't come back.
This is going to be one interesting season for the B&G that's for sure! |
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Redskin in Canada
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Joined: 08 Apr 2004
Posts: 10277
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 5:48 am Post subject: |
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Frankly, the versatility and athleticism of Lorenzo appear to be his greatest strength but also an impediment for him to grow as a starter on offense or defense in ONE position. While I like his versatility, I would have preferred to see him focus and become a starter in ONE position.
He would have been a GREAT starter on defense -and- offense, an every down player, a few decades ago. This is a different era with specialised players. I hope he finds a position where he shows his ability to become a starter.
His contributions to Special Teams are enormous already. |
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Chris Luva Luva
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Joined: 28 Jul 2003
Posts: 17794
Location: AJT
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 6:15 am Post subject: |
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This is getting old... Honestly, I'm sick of it at this point. It's almost like a lame parlor trick, that has done exactly what for the team? It's always a moral boasting article for forum dwellers, outside of that....what?
Give the man one position to focus on and let him be great at it. |
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UK Skins Fan
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Joined: 02 Mar 2005
Posts: 4437
Location: Somewhere, out there.
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 7:17 am Post subject: |
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| Chris Luva Luva wrote: | This is getting old... Honestly, I'm sick of it at this point. It's almost like a lame parlor trick, that has done exactly what for the team? It's always a moral boasting article for forum dwellers, outside of that....what?
Give the man one position to focus on and let him be great at it. |
Oh dear, bad night's sleep Chris? 
I'd be interested to hear what position you think #97 could star at for us? I just don't see a gap for him to be a starter anywhere in the positions that we've seen him in so far. The front seven on defence are all tied up, at least in theory. And there's no way he'll start anywhere on offence.
I agree that he could reach a higher level of performance at one single position if he could just be allowed to concentrate on it, but the coaches seem to value his ability to play a number of positions very well above his potential to play just one of those positions very, very well!
The man himself seems to be fine with his role, mainly because he also seems to be the consummate team player. I'm just happy to see him playing for us rather than the opposition, regardless of the exact position he plays. |
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Chris Luva Luva
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 7:24 am Post subject: |
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I actually had a great nights rest for a change.
| UK Skins Fan wrote: | | I'd be interested to hear what position you think #97 could star at for us? |
If I could give you an answer I would.
| UK Skins Fan wrote: | | I just don't see a gap for him to be a starter anywhere in the positions that we've seen him in so far. |
Me either, but that has as much to do with the team NEVER allowing him to focus on one position. It's not fair.
| UK Skins Fan wrote: | | I agree that he could reach a higher level of performance at one single position if he could just be allowed to concentrate on it, but the coaches seem to value his ability to play a number of positions very well above his potential to play just one of those positions very, very well! |
I agree and I understand. I just think that it's old at this point. Yay, he's playing another position...,for the 10th time...
| UK Skins Fan wrote: | | The man himself seems to be fine with his role, mainly because he also seems to be the consummate team player. I'm just happy to see him playing for us rather than the opposition, regardless of the exact position he plays. |
What would it matter if he played for the opposition, according to you....
| UK Skins Fan wrote: | | I just don't see a gap for him to be a starter anywhere in the positions that we've seen him in so far. |
LOL
I'm not mad about it, it's just more yawn inducing than anything else at this point.
Lorenzo switches positions, the sun rose this morning..., same thing. |
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UK Skins Fan
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | What would it matter if he played for the opposition, according to you.... |
Well, it would matter because, if he wasn't playing for us, then the opposition would be getting the benefit of one of the very best special teams players in the league. And one of the most versatile back ups. And one of the best leaders.
I understand where you're coming from - every year, we seem to have the same story about the guy. But his primary position hasn't changed - he'll be special teams and back up linebacker (albeit inside rather than outside!). I just see this as the coaches trying to cover as many bases as possible. Chances are, 20 years ago, we'd never have heard about it. Just another example of the 24 hour news microscope that we have now.
Oh, and I'm glad to hear you got a good night's rest  Unless you were hoping for a more active night, of course! |
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Chris Luva Luva
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 8:08 am Post subject: |
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| UK Skins Fan wrote: | | Oh, and I'm glad to hear you got a good night's rest Unless you were hoping for a more active night, of course! |
LOL, I've been getting more action that I've been expecting at night the past couple of months. LOLOL
Aside from that, I'm glad you realize that I'm not knocking Lorezno was a player/person. It's just the constant movement and celebration of it. LOL |
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The Hogster
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Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 6999
Location: Washington D.C.
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 10:31 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | I'd be interested to hear what position you think #97 could star at for us? |
I know you didn't ask me, but I'll add this to the discussion anyway. 
I think OMG's best position would have been Nose Tackle. He began as a D-Lineman with us. He's got quick feet (as shown by his versatility to play standing up) and he's strong. He's mean ( as shown by his ferocious hits on ST).
If we allowed him to play in the 325lb range, stay strong, and on the D Line, I think he could have been a Casey Hampton type player at NT. He's got the mentality and skills to play it. They were similar in stature before these mutations.
Casey 6'1 325
Lorenzo Alexander 6'1 300+ a few years ago
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riggofan
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Joined: 13 Jan 2004
Posts: 2940
Location: Montclair, Virginia
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 10:46 am Post subject: |
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Yeah I'm just confused by this stuff now. If he's been good enough to play six positions now, why wouldn't coaches expect him to be awesome if they just allowed him to grow into one position.
Its hard to be good at anything when you're dabbling in everything. |
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UK Skins Fan
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 11:30 am Post subject: |
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| The Hogster wrote: | | Quote: | | I'd be interested to hear what position you think #97 could star at for us? |
I know you didn't ask me, but I'll add this to the discussion anyway.
I think OMG's best position would have been Nose Tackle. He began as a D-Lineman with us. He's got quick feet (as shown by his versatility to play standing up) and he's strong. He's mean ( as shown by his ferocious hits on ST).
If we allowed him to play in the 325lb range, stay strong, and on the D Line, I think he could have been a Casey Hampton type player at NT. He's got the mentality and skills to play it. They were similar in stature before these mutations. |
No, I didn't ask you, but that's never stopped you before
I don't know enough about the nuances of the nose tackle position to argue the case either way. However, given how desperate we were for a walking nose tackle 2 seasons ago, the staff MUST have considered #97 for the job. After all, they've considered him for every other position - to the point that we might have seen him at QB next season if Cousins hadn't been drafted, lol.
So, we were desperate, he was available, and they still didn't try him there, as far as I can recall. I guess they didn't see him as a good fit, not even as a project. |
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The Hogster
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 11:36 am Post subject: |
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| UK Skins Fan wrote: | | The Hogster wrote: | | Quote: | | I'd be interested to hear what position you think #97 could star at for us? |
I know you didn't ask me, but I'll add this to the discussion anyway.
I think OMG's best position would have been Nose Tackle. He began as a D-Lineman with us. He's got quick feet (as shown by his versatility to play standing up) and he's strong. He's mean ( as shown by his ferocious hits on ST).
If we allowed him to play in the 325lb range, stay strong, and on the D Line, I think he could have been a Casey Hampton type player at NT. He's got the mentality and skills to play it. They were similar in stature before these mutations. |
No, I didn't ask you, but that's never stopped you before
I don't know enough about the nuances of the nose tackle position to argue the case either way. However, given how desperate we were for a walking nose tackle 2 seasons ago, the staff MUST have considered #97 for the job. After all, they've considered him for every other position - to the point that we might have seen him at QB next season if Cousins hadn't been drafted, lol.
So, we were desperate, he was available, and they still didn't try him there, as far as I can recall. I guess they didn't see him as a good fit, not even as a project. |
The year we switched to the 3-4 was the first year of Haslett. In the prior year of Blache, they had already converted Zo from DL to LB to backup Andre Carter. He spent the prior offseason shedding 25lbs and learning a new position. So, he was too light to be considered at NT when the need for one arose.
Had we just left him on the DL, and let him play in the 300lb range, he would have been a more viable option at NT. But, he was already down to 265-270 when we went to a 3-4, and they assumed Fat Albert would actually want to work--which of course he didn't. It was a timing thing that kept him working with the LBs. It would have been too much to ask him to go from 265 to 320. But, if we'd let him stay at 300+, the transition would have been more feasible. |
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1niksder
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Joined: 27 Mar 2004
Posts: 16570
Location: If I knew ... it would explain a lot but I've seen Homerville on a map, that wasn't helpful at all
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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| riggofan wrote: | Yeah I'm just confused by this stuff now. If he's been good enough to play six positions now, why wouldn't coaches expect him to be awesome if they just allowed him to grow into one position.
Its hard to be good at anything when you're dabbling in everything. |
He's one of the best special teams players in the NFL. You might even call him Awesome on teams. Everything he does on defense or O is for the team. His special teams play keeps him on the roster or would earn him a spot on some other team. Most players wouldn't want to play multiple spots for the reason that have been mentioned but he's a team player. |
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SkinsJock
08 Champ
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Posts: 11504
Location: New England
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| Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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| 1niksder wrote: | | riggofan wrote: | Yeah I'm just confused by this stuff now. If he's been good enough to play six positions now, why wouldn't coaches expect him to be awesome if they just allowed him to grow into one position.
Its hard to be good at anything when you're dabbling in everything.[/ |
He's one of the best special teams players in the NFL. You might even call him Awesome on teams. Everything he does on defense or O is for the team. His special teams play keeps him on the roster or would earn him a spot on some other team. Most players wouldn't want to play multiple spots for the reason that have been mentioned but he's a team player. |
I'd be interested in how you think a player can be a part of any NFL roster when he's 'dabbling in everything' 
as 1niksder points out - it could be said that #97 is a 'starter' as a part of the Redskins Special Teams
any NFL franchise would be better if all their players made the same effort #97 does 
Last edited by SkinsJock on Fri May 11, 2012 2:03 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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