Brandon Banks and NFL Youngsters Clubbing at 3:00AM

By now, most Redskins fans have heard about what happened to Redskins' KR Brandon Banks.  If you have not heard the story, the version most commonly told to the media is that there was an altercation between a friend of Banks and a third party.  The third party pulled out a knife and Banks came to the aid of his friend.  Of course, this altercation took place at none other than an "upscale" nightclub at about 3:00AM on a Saturday.

At first, we were told Banks had only a scratch.  Now, the truth has come out that he has a collapsed lung.  Who knows what the truth is?  All I know is you can't return punts with a tube sticking out of your lung.

First, I certainly hope Brandon makes a full recovery.  He is a young guy who caught a break catching on with the Redskins as an undrafted free agent.  Then, he took that break and converted it into an impressive rookie year as a kick returner.  He had a 96 yard kickoff return for a touchdown and had a couple other big returns as well.  It would be a real shame if all that came to an abrupt end because of this incident.

I just have to ask myself what it will take to get it through the heads of some of these younger NFL players and NFL hopefuls to stay out of the nightclubs, at least after midnight.  I am not saying stay home and never go out, but be reasonable.  I know we would all love to go out and celebrate and be a big shot every once in a while, but you have to understand one thing if nothing else.  Nothing good happens in a nightclub after 2:00AM!

Generally, a lot of what happens after about 2:00AM includes some form of drugs, DUI, prostitution, sexual assault, and a whole lot of fist, knife and gun fights.  Even if you are completely innocent and are not involved in any of this, it will be all around you and you are putting yourself, your career, and ultimately your loved ones that count on you the most at risk.

I will say a prayer for Brandon, get well soon.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

2011 Redskins Offseason Overhaul

And so begins another offseason overhaul for our beloved team.  Like every other offseason since the Dan Snyder era began, the Redskins have a myriad of holes to fill on their team.  While we would love to fill all of those holes with long-term impact players, it simply cannot be done in one offseason so we have to prioritize those needs.

Here are a few of the most pressing needs the Redskins must address this offseason if they hope to improve in the 2011 season (assuming there is one).  These are not in order of importance, these are the positions that Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen simply must address and improve upon.

Quarterback - No big surprise here, we still need a QB.

• First Step:  Resign Rex Grossman - As painful as it may be, we should have at least 1 QB with some experience under the Shanahan's.
• Top Free Agent Targets:  Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks), Matt Moore (Panthers)
• Watch List:  Carson Palmer (Bengals), Kyle Orton (Broncos) - Both may be released for various reasons.

Running Back - The Clinton Portis era is over.  The team has too many other big holes to fill to go all out for a star RB.  We should stick with the 2010 combination of Torain and Williams and let them develop.  Add a little depth to round out the position.

• First Step:  Resign Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams;  Say Goodbye to Clinton Portis
• Top Free Agent Targets:   Darren Sproles (Chargers) - Excellent receiving back with kick returning skills, Ronnie Brown (Dolphins)

Full Back - With a weak offensive line, the running game would greatly benefit from a dominant FB blocker who can also catch a few passes.

• First Step:  Say Fond Farewell to Redskins' fan favorite Mike Sellers.
• Top Free Agent Targets:  Le'Ron McClain (Ravens) - McClain is one of the best FB's in the league and has also played RB. He would add stability and versatility to the backfield.  The Redskins should be All-In on McClain.

Wide Receiver - The annual search for a 6'0"+ WR continues.  Anthony Armstrong was a great find last season and he should be rewarded for his efforts.  Imagine if we did not have him and Joey Galloway and Roydell Williams played even more!  In any case, with Moss and Armstrong, the team has one of the smaller WR corps yet again and we need to add a taller possession and touchdown catching receiver.

• First Step:  Must Resign Santana Moss and Anthony Armstrong
• Top Free Agent Target:  Vincent Jackson (Chargers), James Jones (Packers), Chad Johnson (Bengals), Braylon Edwards (Jets), Mark Clayton (Rams)

Offensive Line - The biggest need this year along the offensive line is both the Left and Right Guard positions. An upgrade at Center would be helpful if one becomes available as Casey Rabach appears to be on the decline.

• First Step:  Resign Jammal Brown
  
• Top Free Agent Targets:  Logan Mankins (Patriots), Carl Nicks (Saints), Ryan Kalil (Panthers)
  
• Update:  Mankins was franchise tagged by New England.  There is no chance to trade for him with our lack of draft picks.

Linebacker - The team needs to add depth to the linebacker corp and they need to add players who are already familiar with the 3-4 defense.  No more converting players to new positions!

• First Step:  Resign Rocky McIntosh
• Top Free Agent Targets:  Lamar Woodley (Steelers), Tamba Hali (Chiefs), Barrett Ruud (Bucs), Paul Posluszny (Bills)
• Update:  Both Woodley and Hali have been franchise tagged as expected.

Cornerback - The end of another era, the disappointing Carlos Rogers era.  He is not a bad corner, but he has not lived up to the First Round draft pick expectations that were expected of him to say the least.  And he simply cannot make interceptions.  If you cannot catch the football and make interceptions, you will never be a top CB.

• First Step:  Let Carlos Rogers depart as a free agent.
• Top Free Agent Targets:  Champ Bailey (Broncos) - A Reunion?, Johnathon Joseph (Bengals), Antonio Cromartie (Jets), Brent Grimes (Falcons), Richard Marshall (Panthers)

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

So Long Devin

It is official. After not even being listed on the wide receiver depth chart for several weeks, Devin Thomas has been released by the Washington Redskins.

The Redskins have had some painfully memorable top draft pick busts in the past, such as Desmond Howard, Heath Shuler, Michael Westbrook, Patrick Ramsey, and Rod Gardner to name a few.  However, Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly have joined to become the team's first "pair" of busts in recent memory.

Since the Dynamic Duo were drafted in together in the second round of 2008, it has been one disappointment after another. Between showing up for training camp out of shape, showing off lackluster efforts in practice, and an inability to run routes, this duo has not only gone down as a pair of complete busts, but they have also gone down as two of the fastest busts in a long time.  There are only a very special few first and second round draft picks that actually get released by their team in only their third season.  Welcome to the club boys.

So long Devin. You should have stayed in school for your Senior year.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

Week 4 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia - Chalk up another ugly win. Ugly, may very well become the theme the Redskins 2010 season.

Early on, it looked like Michael "The Dog Beater" Vick was going to run and pass all over the Redskins. Fortunately, the Redskins caught a break when Kareem Moore and DeAngelo Hall slammed into him from both sides at the end of a 27 yard run and knocked "The Dog Beater" out of the game.  If it weren't for that play, this could have been a very long day for the defense.

The Redskins managed to get their running game going early and looked fairly impressive.  Clinton Portis reeled off 55 yards before having to leave the game and then Ryan Torain took over and ran for another 70 yards and a touchdown.

The most surprising aspect of this game was that Donovan McNabb only completed a mere 8 passes for 125 yards.  McNabb finished the day 8/19 with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

The defense stuck with the same "Bend, but Don't Break" scheme that we have come to know and love over the last decade giving up 201 yards passing to Keving Kolb and 4 yards per carry to LeSean McCoy.  Andre Carter did manage to squeeze in for his first sack of the year, but the defense again generated very little pass rush.

LeSean McCoy had the best day of anyone running for 64 yards and catching 12 passes for a whopping 110 yards.

The good news is that, in the end, the Redskins won the game.  The bad news is that they did not look like they deserved to win. Even worse news is that Kevin Kolb and LeSean McCoy look like Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook from 12 years ago.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

Week 3 vs. St. Louis Rams

St. Louis - The ugliness has officially begun. If there was a list of the Redskins up and coming most hated teams, the St. Louis Rams would have to be near the top of the list.  The Rams have been one of the worst teams in the NFL for several years now, just above the Detroit Lions. Yet, every time the Rams and Redskins meet, it is the Redskins that look like the weaker team.

In 2008, the Rams finished a paltry 2-14.  One of those wins, as fans well remember, was a 19-17 victory over the Redskins.  This was the worst loss of the year and left Redskins' fans completely deflated for the remainder of the year.

In the 2009 rematch, the Rams finished a humiliating 1-15.  Yet, in week 2, it was the Redskins that barely squeaked by with the win connecting on 3 field goals in a 9-7 snorefest.  Even with the win, the ugliness of the victory left fans feeling like they were scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Back to the future in 2010 with Mike Shanahan on the sideline, the ugliness returned. The Redskins traveled to St. Louis and not only lost the game, but were soundly defeated 30-16 by a team with a rookie quarterback in his third game, below average wide receiving corp and a very average offensive line. Once again, Redskins' fans have to be held back from throwing in the towel for the entire season.

With the exception of 2 long plays, the Redskins could not run the ball at all.  Donovan McNabb did manage to throw for 236 yards, but outside of Santana Moss and Chris Cooley, there was virtually no one to throw the ball to.

The defense continued the same trend putting up lackluster numbers.  Brian Orakpo had one sack and continues to look like a man among boys.  However, the defense as a whole is generating very little consistent pass rush. Albert Haynesworth is still a mystery lurking in the shadows on the sideline. We can only hope it gets better than this.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

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