Bleacher Report - Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins: For Ladell Betts To Star, He Must Score

Anthony Brown — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:23:42 -0500

One good game against Denver and people are ready to start Washington Redskin running back Ladell Betts over Clinton Portis. Shades of 2006.

Portis suffered a freak injury during a preseason game that year. He played hurt for eight games before going on the injured reserve list.

Betts stepped up to be the bright spot in a dismal season.

Fans called for the Redskins to bench or trade Portis in favor of Betts.

See if you can spot the anomaly in Betts' and Portis' 2006 rushing performance.

Betts: 16 games, 9 starts 245 carries, 4 TDs

Portis: 8 games, 7 starts, 127 carries, 7 TDs.

Portis was three times more productive as a scorer, with one touchdown for every 18 carries. Betts carried 62 times per score.

Offense-challenged teams cannot afford that production.

To his credit, Betts is more effective this year with two touchdowns on 52 carries. That promises one score per game.

But, is one good game enough to make line-up changes? Uh, no.

If they are smart, the Redskins will try to win games the Joe Gibbs way: run the ball and beat you up with defense.

Washington's next three opponents, the Cowboys, Eagles and Saints, are vulnerable on the ground. They rank eighth, ninth and 20th in run defense.

For Betts to put the star in starter, he must score against those guys.

There is a great reason to start Betts over Portis, though. But it isn't rushing. It's receiving.

In 2006, Betts caught 53 passes adding a touchdown and 443 yards to his total offense stats. He's not been a prominent part of the Jim Zorn-Sherm Lewis West Coast scheme yet. We have to hope that will come as soon as Sunday.

As for Portis, maybe Indiana Jones put it best: It's not the years. It's the mileage (Raiders Of The Lost Ark ).

Tiki Barber rushed 2217 times in his 10 year career with the New York Giants. Portis in 7.5 seasons has 2176 rushing attempts.

Wear and tear is the big factor with Portis, not any character issues tacked to him.

He isn't done yet. So Betts has to play his way into the starting line-up and take the debate off the table. Betts has to score more than Portis.

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Washington Redskins: Time To Bench Clinton Portis?

Adam Hankins — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:53:01 -0500

In the wake of Ladell Betts' 114-yard performance against Denver, this question has arisen: Has he surpassed Clinton Portis as the team's best running back?

While it may be too early to give a definitive answer to that question, the results speak for themselves (for at least one game). The Washington Redskins put on their best offensive performance of the year versus the Broncos.

Jason Campbell was not prolific, but he was efficient enough in the passing game to allow Washington to win. Denver was not able to apply constant pressure, because the Skins' running game was churning out yards.

Anyone who has watched Washington play this year would have to admit that Clinton Portis has been hesitant at times. He has also appeared slower, and unable to break off the long runs like he once did earlier in his career.

Ladell Betts, on the other hand, looked fresh against the Broncos. He ran with power, forced missed tackles, and showed good speed and quickness.

So, now come the Cowboys. With a better defense than Denver, Betts will have a more difficult time finding yardage. With that said, what if Betts has another good game? What if Jason Campbell actually has time to complete passes because Dallas has to respect the running game?

If Betts has another solid performance against Denver, Washington should not look back. Regardless of his huge contract, Portis should be benched in favor of the better running back.

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Top 10 Moments in Washington Redskins History

Ed Sheahin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:29:23 -0500

In what has been a down decade and half for Redskins fans, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on the history of the organization. With three Vince Lombardi trophies proudly displayed at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Virginia, this once proud organization needs to reflect back to a time that left us in a state of sheer unadulterated euphoria (as the late Jack Kent Cooke once emphatically described his emotions toward this team’s success). Over the next ten slides I will provide my 10 "Greatest Moments in Redskins History" and would welcome your suggestions to add to the list.

Begin Slideshow

Maybe Dan Snyder Isn't What's Wrong with the Washington Redskins

Josh McCain — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:37:35 -0500

Ok, maybe I'm over exaggerating with the headline, but when I hear players like Rock Cartwright say in an interview that Sunday's game in Dallas is just another game to the players, I've got to wonder if they have any heart.

Before I even touch base on the whole Washington Redskins-Dallas Cowboy rivalry, I'd like to remind Rock that they are at the very least a divisional opponent.

Sure the 'Skins have about as much of a chance of winning the division this year as I do throwing the decisive touchdown pass to win said division, but that doesn't mean this team can't ruin at least part of the Cowboys' season.

For those of you who don't know, here is a quick history on what Sports Illustrated has named The Greatest Rivalry in Sports .

In the late '50s, Clint Murchison Jr. wanted to bring an NFL team to Dallas. At one point, he almost bought the Redskins from George Preston Marshall. Let that sink in for a moment, Redskins fans. We were almost the Dallas Redskins. I don't know if its my Starbucks Coffee, but I suddenly have a bad taste in my mouth.

When that, and other teams Murchison was trying to buy, fell through he decided to just start his own team.

For that to happen, Murchison would have to get approval from all of the NFL owners. He had gotten approval from all but one owner, George Preston Marshall.

So, things got a little hot between the Redskin's owner and the future Cowboy's owner, but rivalries don't start because of heat, you need a fire.

And the Redskins' band leader was about to throw gasoline on the warming rivalry.

Band leader Barnee Breeskin decided to sell the rights of Hail to the Redskins to Murchison and Murchison would not let Marshall use the song unless he voted for the Cowboys.

I'm sure Rock Cartwright and many of the current Redskins and Cowboys don't know this story—they should, but probably don't. I won't fault them for that.

However, they should want to kick each other's teeth in because they are on opposite sidelines in this game.

Even without the rivalry, there should be hatred coming from the 'Skins to the 'Boys. In the last ten years the Redskins have won three playoff games. Not that impressive mind you, but do you know how many the Cowboys have won?

Zero! The Eagles and the Giants have both made appearances in the Super Bowl in that time, with the Giants winning one of their two attempts, yet the Cowboys get all the attention in the NFC East.

As a player for any other of the three teams in the division I would down right loathe the Cowboys for that.

Apparently, though, Rock doesn't see it that way. It's just another game to him. That's fine, he's just a kick returner and third-string back, and after hearing his comments yesterday, I think he and any player who thinks like he does should be shipped out.

I will admit that this rivalry is probably bigger for the fans, I mean, after all, players come and go but we're with this team from birth to death.

However, while these mercenaries for hire are here, I'd like them to at least pretend to hate the blue star on the silver helmet.

And just to prove to you that at one point the players cared about this rivalry I leave you with a quote from the great Joe Thiesmann.

"George Allen taught me to hate the Dallas Cowboys. He taught me to hate the star he taught me to hate their shiny uniforms. The Roger Staubuchs, the Danny Whites, the better than everyone attitude."

And frankly, Thiesmann has it right, and maybe one day this team will have that attitude again, and I assure you, once they do, they'll be winners again.

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Setting the Record Straight: The End of the Clinton Portis Era in Washington

Eric Holmberg — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:00:35 -0500

As anyone in the glamorous world of used cars will tell you, age is irrelevant. The trusted used car salesman cares as much about the model year as he does buying a necktie made in the last 25 years or a properly fitting toupee. It’s the odometer that tells the truth, inescapable numbers in black and white.

Only a couple months past his 28th birthday, Clinton Portis’s odometer won’t roll over anymore. The truth has caught up with this road warrior.

In a decade where having a garage full of running backs has become the norm, Clinton Portis looks like a clumsy World War I tank. He has started every game of his career since Week Five of his rookie season (missed three games in 2003 and eight in 2006) and never had to split carries. In a full season, Ladell Betts has had the most carries backing up Portis with only 93 carries in 2007 (a year where Portis had 325).

While most players enter the NFL at 22 or 23 years old, Portis was an extremely young 21—his first regular season game was a week after his 21st birthday. For Portis, the running back maxim that life ends at 30 doesn’t apply. Since he started out two years younger, no one should be surprised he has lost a significant step at age 28.

This year, Portis’ lack of production is obscured by his numbers. He is still averaging four yards a carry for the year (124 carries for 494 yards).

But, Portis had one long 78-yard run against the Kansas City Chiefs on a day when he ran 15 times for 109 yards. That means his other 14 carries gained just 31 yards (an average of 2.2 yards per carry). Portis has only averaged over four yards a carry in one other game against the St. Louis Rams, who have one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

When you take that one 78-yard run out of his season totals, he is only averaging 3.38 yards per carry. That’s a whole yard per carry drop-off from last year.

The Offensive Line

For the first six weeks of the 2009 season, there were rumblings about Portis losing a step. He largely got off scot-free from major blame because the offensive line had been so bad and allowed so many sacks (30 to date).

The corollary was that bad pass blocking must equate to bad run blocking. The blame didn’t land on Portis; it fell at the feet of the offensive line.

The maligned Redskins offensive line has struggled in two areas this year: communication on blitz pickup and speed rushers. Their linemen (See: Mike Williams) are incredibly slow and have struggled to pickup a single blitz. But Ladell Betts has shown he is running behind some punishing run blockers who can get into the second level.

The most important aspect of the Redskins' last six quarters is that the success of Ladell Betts (with a worse offensive line) is a direct indictment of Clinton Portis. Without Chris Samuels and Randy Thomas, Betts has gained 184 yards (4.5 yards per carry) since replacing Portis.

The Future

The future for running backs past their prime is not good, given roughly the same chance for a comeback as pagers. But anyone who tries to predict what will happen in the uncapped 2010 NFL season comes off looking like the ridiculous and bespectacled Professor Trelawney from the Harry Potter series.

So, the quandary for the Redskins remains that Portis is guaranteed $6.43 million of his $7.195 million base salary in 2010 (source: profootballtalk.com). He will certainly not have much trade value around the league, so the Redskins will either cut him or try to get one more year out of him.

In studying the careers of other great running backs, Clinton Portis may bounce around for another year after that, but it’s not out of the question that in two years he will be out of the National Football League.

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Why Clinton Portis Shouldn't Rush Back

Josh McCain — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:49:08 -0500

Clinton Portis is a competitor and probably wants to get back out on the field as quickly as possible—especially after watching Ladell Betts run all over the Denver Broncos this past Sunday.

However, I would caution him not to.

A concussion is nothing to sneeze at, and unless Portis would want to have his career cut short like Steve Young or Troy Aikman, he shouldn't rush back.

Aside from not having a premature exit from the league, the Redskins aren't going anywhere this season. To even sniff the playoffs they'd have to run the table, and with two games against Dallas and one left with the Giants, Eagles, and Chargers, I just don't see a 7-0 stretch on the horizon. I could be wrong though. It has happened before, I think.

Furthermore, Betts is running the ball well. He's exploding through holes and running like it's his last chance in the league.

It may sound weird, but I'd tell Portis to take the rest of the season off. Show up for practice for some conditioning, like Chris Cooley, who could be back before the end of the season. Why risk further injury?

Hopefully the front office will put both of them on injured reserve for the rest of the season. The extra time off will allow them to get healthy and have productive years for the '10-11 season.

So get well soon, Portis and Cooley, but not too soon. If we are truly rebuilding next year, we'll need you at 110 percent just to squeak out a few wins.

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Washington Redskins: The Case for Ladell Betts Getting More Playing Time

Josh McCain — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:07:53 -0500

Don't get me wrong, I love me some Clinton Portis, but after watching the Washington Redskins defeat the Denver Broncos, I came to a conclusion.

Ladell Betts runs the ball like it's his last game in the National Football League.

Because he isn't the starter and has seemed to get few touches over the past two seasons, Betts tries to get the most out of every yard. He made several plays, including the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, because of his second and third efforts.

Despite being two years older and having the same number of years in the league as Portis, Betts takes far less of a beating. At this point in both of their careers, Betts's legs just seem to be fresher.

Compound that with the fact that Clinton tip-toes and puts so much of his weight forward while running through holes and the slightest nudge seems to send him tumbling to the ground.

Betts, on the other hand, runs more squarely and explodes through the hole. He is able to break tackles and bounce off hits that Portis just can't.

Dan Dierdorf pointed out that Betts hits the hole or hits someone, as where Clinton either makes it through the hole or gets knocked back. Frankly, with the line the Skins have right now, they need a back who hits people and can get one or two yards with nothing there instead of getting bounced back for no gain.

However, I don't think Portis should be relegated to the bench. He is probably the best blocking back in the league, and his outside speed is greater than Betts.

I think naming a starter is inconsequential because team should implement a two-headed monster approach, which most of the league does.

This would allow Betts to get more touches and save Portis's legs. Last season we saw what riding Portis does to his numbers. Believe it or not, through six games last season he was the top back in the league.

Will we see more Betts in Dallas on Sunday?

It's hard to say. First, the team has yet to state whether or not Portis will even play. Second, Portis does have the ear of owner Dan Snyder, and since our head coach is only a head coach in name, I'm pretty sure Zorn will have little say in the matter.

In the end, though, both of our backs are at that age of breakdowns. I don't think the Skins need to use a high draft pick to get a young back in the draft next year but a decent fourth or fifth rounder behind a stout offensive line could be a good mix.

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Washington Redskins: No Portis, No Problem...No Betts, Big Problem

K. D. James — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:10:03 -0500

Here is what embattled Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn said during the press conference at Redskins Park on Monday, when he told the local media who will be the team's starting running back for the rest of the season:

"I don't want a guy to…lose his job because he got a concussion. [Clinton Portis is] our running back…I don't want to take anything away from what Rock [Cartwright] did and what Ladell [Betts] did either. Our offensive line did a great job of creating lanes. I think we're all excited about that."

Wrong move, Jim.

If Zorn wants to hold on to the very slim chance of keeping his job after 2009-2010, then he should stop being Mr. Nice Guy and let Betts be the primary ball carrier for the remainder of the season instead of Portis.

Portis has been a great asset to the team since the 2004 trade, although he's still regarded as one of owner Daniel Snyder's pets.

He also seems like the type of athlete who decides when to take himself out of games, rather than when the head coach decides to do that.

Plus, Portis relies on his God-given talent, and not on practicing most weeks in between games when he's too nicked up, before lacing 'em up for the next Sunday or Monday game.

Coupled with playing an instrumental role during the team's last two playoff runs under former head coach Joe Gibbs and breaking the franchise rushing record with 1,516 yards in the 2005-2006 season, Portis has been quite valuable to the team.

Through strong will, determination and football smarts, he's been an excellent pass-protection back, also, providing timely blocks and knocking bigger defenders off the ground, in order to save quarterback Jason Campbell from getting knocked around more than Campbell already has.

At this point in time, Portis is possible trade bait, or not worth starting anymore. He's a relentless ball hawk, but possibly damaged goods, too. More importantly, according to the Redskins medical staff, No. 26 is still suffering from dizzy spells and blurred vision, side effects from his concussion in Atlanta. So, he should be out for another week. Stay tuned.

Betts and fullback Mike Sellers will be fine on their own. They'll be a good tandem in the backfield.

No, I am not fooled by that one game last Sunday, where the stars aligned and the current, makeshift offensive line solidified all worries and held up throughout the home game against Denver, allowing Betts, Cartwright, and Quinton Ganther to collectively amass 174 rushing yards on 40 carries.

All teams in the NFL are suspect to the ebb and flow of fortune and misfortune: A star wide receiver may catch three touchdowns and have 160 yards passing one week, then get doubled-teamed and become a non-factor the next; or an ox of a left guard could start all 16 games for four straight years, only to be upended by a defensive end, have his tibia broken and be placed on injured reserve after a Monday Night Football game.

These things do happen, as we saw Portis go down in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome, suffering that earlier mentioned concussion when two Falcons knocked him out cold. Although the Redskins lost that game 31-17, Betts came in and stepped up ably with 70 yards.

Even when Portis was healthy and played behind one, constant offensive line in a full season, you noticed that how he operates and how the huge men in front of him operate have been two, completely different styles of play from the time he came from Denver, where the linemen there gave him tons of room to scamper in the AFC West.

Portis's style (zone-formation back, looking for big holes to dash for 20, 30, 40 yards) is not the same as Betts's downhill style (slobber-knocker, Mid-West/Big Ten play of moving the chains on little but important five-yard gains, no more than 10), which complements the line better.

No sole running back can thrive on his own without an able-bodied back-up, a fullback and a dependable line to bail him out in times of need, true. This has been the case for the Redskins, who relied on Betts to run for 1,000-plus yards when an injured Portis was sidelined a few years back.

On the negative side (to offer a fair analysis), in situations where Betts was used as either a starter, back-up, or check-down receiver, he can be careless with the ball, having a case of fumble-itis ever so often.

It's natural for a secondary running back like Betts to not always have his A-game, or not be efficient all the time, when he gets only a few reps per game when subbing in for Portis as he's done several times in the past.

This switcheroo scenario could eventually lead to an uneven rhythm for both backs, a situation that can often turn into chaos at any point on the field.

Yet Betts has been solid when he's been the first-team halfback so far, and he should remain behind Campbell (and sometimes Sellers) if this team wants to beat Dallas and make up for an already sloppy season.

The very good teams in the league find ways to win the crucial games in November and December to make the playoffs. At 3-6, the Redskins are far off from being considered contenders right now.

But the Redskins can save Snyder (from the scrutiny he deserves) and Zorn (from losing his job this offseason) by staying with the always reliable Betts to lead the team back to a respectable record and a promising outlook for 2010.

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NFC East Recap, Week 10: Redskins and Giants Come Through As Winners

Dan Parzych — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:40:18 -0500

In Week 9, the Dallas Cowboys took control of first place in the NFC East with a 20-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The team appeared to be in good shape as contenders for the division title after an impressive four-game winning streak.

One week later, it's clear the NFC East title is still up for grabs and could be won by any team at this point.

The division may not be living up to the "NFC Beast" name from a few years ago, but it's clear the winner of the division will most likely be determined in Week 16 or 17. Here's a recap of all four teams from Week 10 of the 2009 NFL regular season.

Dallas Cowboys

Prior to Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo previously won 13 straight games in the month of November. While all good things must come to an end, he can still rally his team for next week's matchup against the Washington Redskins.

The Cowboys failed to find the end zone against the Packers until there were 38 seconds remaining in the game. Even though wide receiver Roy Williams had the team's only score of the day, he had a few costly plays that could have helped the Cowboys stay in the game, including a fumble after a 42-yard reception.

Instead of taking advantage of the Eagles' loss to the Chargers, the Cowboys still remain just one game ahead in the NFC East standings.

However, give credit to the Packers, who may have needed this win more than the Cowboys. The defense stepped it up big to prevent the team from falling below .500 on the season, a place nobody expected them to be even close to in September.

Packers cornerback Charles Woodson had his best game of the season and did everything he could against the Cowboys—including a sack, an interception and two forced fumbles.

New York Giants

With a 5-4 record entering Week 10, the New York Giants could not have asked for a better time to have their bye week. Despite not even playing, the Giants may have had arguably the best week overall out of all the teams in the NFC East.

After beginning the season 5-0, the Giants have lost their last four games to the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Eagles and San Diego Chargers.

At 5-4, the Giants found themselves entering Week 10 two games behind the first-place Cowboys. With losses from the Cowboys and Eagles, the Giants now find themselves in better shape to climb back near the top of the division. Not only do they share the same record with the Eagles, but are now just one game back of the division-leading Cowboys.

Their upcoming game in Week 11 against the Atlanta Falcons may be seen as a playoff game by some considering how important the outcome is for the Giants to stay in the hunt.

This team has performed well in the second half of the season before. It shouldn't be a surprise if they make another late-season run for the playoffs again.

Philadelphia Eagles

No team in the NFC East is more difficult to figure out after 10 weeks than the Philadelphia Eagles.

Some weeks, they look like a team determined to be a strong playoff contender. Other weeks, they look horrendous and struggle against teams they would beat nine times out of 10—such as the Oakland Raiders.

Last week against the Chargers, the Eagles offense failed to find the end zone until the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, their two touchdowns by wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and tight end Brent Celek were "too little, too late" considering the team was already down 28-9.

The Eagles are capable of having one of the top offenses in all of football. For some reason, they struggle to perform well on a consistent basis. Last week's game against the Chargers was the perfect example. McNabb was forced to throw the ball 55 times in the losing effort.

Washington Redskins

Who would have thought the Washington Redskins were the only team in the NFC East to come away with a victory?

A few weeks ago, the Denver Broncos were considered one of the top teams in football with a 6-0 record. Now, they have to deal with losing to a Redskins' team that failed to score over 17 points until Week 10 of the regular season.

It may have taken 10 weeks, but the Redskins finally managed to score more than 17 points in a game en route to their 27-17 win over the Broncos on Sunday.

With running back Clinton Portis resting on the sidelines from his concussion, Ladell Betts stepped it up, rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown.

They may be at the bottom of the NFC East standings with a 3-6 record, but the Redskins have to be satisfied that their four-game skid is finally over. With an important division game coming up against the Dallas Cowboys this week, it should be interesting to see if the Redskins can keep this "winning attitude" going.

Dan Parzych is the founder of the new NFCEastFootball.com

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Vote For Brian Orakpo, NFL Rookie Of Week 10

Anthony Brown — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:07:30 -0500

I love it when Brian Orakpo writes my stories for me.

The Washington Redskins rookie defensive end/linebacker is up for Week 10 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week following his five-tackle, one-and-a-half sack performance against the Denver Broncos. He has seven sacks on the season. (H/T to David Elfin, Redskins 360 for the pointer.)

Fan votes are tabulated on NFL.com through noon on Friday, Nov. 20.

It is the second consecutive week Orakpo has earned the nomination (which lets me recycle last weeks story).

Orakpo is up against Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin, Cardinals running back Beanie Wells, Bengals return man Bernard Scott, and Packers linebacker Clay Matthews.

Tell me again, when does Pro Bowl voting open?

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Washington Redskins: Scratch Gruden From Redskins Head Coach List. Zorn To Stay?

Anthony Brown — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:18:19 -0500

Scratch Jon Gruden from the wish list of potential head coaches for the Washington Redskins.

Gruden found a new voice on Monday Night Football and signed a lucrative multi-year contract with ESPN to continue.

That development might be good news for current Redskins head coach Jim Zorn.

I suspect that Daniel Snyder's adolescent rage over the Redskins performance last month was a huge turn-off for the big name coaches Snyder targeted as replacements.

Snyder's entreaties to Mike Shanahan after the third game of the season must have reeked of Al Davis to Shanahan. Davis fired Shanahan as Los Angeles Raiders head coach after the fourth game of the 1989 season following a 1-3 start.

Mike Holmgren, another dream candidate, said in a recent Chicago radio interview that he did not like the way Washington was treating Zorn. Holmgren implied that he would not be as nice about it as Zorn if he were treated the same.

Gruden signed the ESPN deal after taking a good look at Cleveland (1-8) as he did with Washington for a Monday night game in October.

Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay by Al Davis in 2002 for two first round draft picks. The Raiders have been in a decline so steep that even Norv Turner could not save them.

Gruden's enthusiasm and unique speaking style begs for a Frank Caliendo impression as John Madden and Howard Cosell once did. The broadcast booth feels like fun to him.

With Gruden off the list, Bill Cowher and Tony Dungy firmly retired and Shanahan and Holmgren sure to demand intolerable assurances from Snyder, Zorn may be the only man standing for Redskins coach in 2010.

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Redskins Special Teams Coach Danny Smith Is a Keeper, No Matter What

Dan Yoke — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:12:55 -0500

Who saw this coming?

At roughly the midway point of the season the race for team MVP is a dead heat between punter Hunter Smith and kicker Shaun Suisham.

Hunter Smith has more touchdowns than Clinton Portis!

Shaun Suisham has made every field goal he has attempted this year (he missed ten last season and his percentage was the worst in the league).

The punt- and kickoff-coverage units remain near the top of the league statistically and Rock Cartwright has been very solid on kickoff returns.

If the Skins could get a punt returner to run north-south instead of east-west there would be nothing to complain about.

Watching Hunter Smith's deep spiral Sunday, that quite frankly looked better than most of Jason Campbell's bombs this year, confirmed a belief that has been growing among football experts for some time.

Danny Smith is one of the elite special teams coaches in the NFL!

Smith is the common thread that unites this unit. He is the driving motivational force and a source of positive enthusiasm on the Redskins sidelines.

Smith has persevered through adversity and kept his unit performing well.

When Hunter Smith was injured early in the season it was Danny Smith who put his trust in the leg of Shaun Suisham. Suisham then turned in a valiant performance in spot duty, including a downed punt inside the 20-yard line to help preserve a win late in the game.

In fact, it was Danny Smith who put his support behind Suisham after an intense kicker roster-battle during the preseason. Suisham has rewarded Smith's faith by being perfect so far in field goal attempts.

His kickoffs (with the exception of two out-of-bounds kickoffs Sunday) have even improved. Last season they barely reached the five-yard line. Now they quite often make it to the end zone.

After last season's punter debacle the Redskins aggressively pursued free agent Smith. When healthy, Smith has lived up to the hype with his solid kicking and trick-play skill set.

However, injuries have limited his playing time. Despite using four different punters this season, Danny Smith has kept this unit functioning at a consistently high level.

His game savvy has been evident in game management situations as well. It was Danny Smith, not defensive coordinator Greg Blatche, who ran down the sidelines earlier this year to keep coach Jim Zorn from making a bone-headed decision during a late game situation.

This victory was a well needed respite for the Washington Redskins. But it is not a cure all. Most likely there will be many coaching changes taking place at the end of the season.

But if the Redskins management has any sense (and I stress the word if) the first coach that they bring back will be Danny Smith. He would be a real asset in any organization, and if he is let go he won't go more than a week before he finds a new employer.

Redskins Nation is crying for change. This is one area where change is not needed.

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Foolish Thoughts: Turner, Benson, Brown, Westbrook Struck by Fantasy Jinx

Jacob Sloan — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:03:34 -0500

It’s all your fault, you know. Yes, you, the one who pointed out how few injuries had struck fantasy owners thus far this season. You’re the reason we lost Cedric Benson, Ronnie Brown , Michael Turner , Julius Jones , and Brian Westbrook (again).

You jinxed three of the top backs in fantasy…and Julius Jones just happened to go down the same week.

I would say you cost us Kyle Orton, too, but it seems he won’t even miss a game despite his ankle injury. His neckbeard can take a twist of the ankle and a crushing in stride. There’s something else that Orton and cockroaches have in common.

It’s hard to say who got it the worst. Westbrook owners have been dealing with this all season. Much like Jon and Kate of “plus eight” fame, no one expected this to last all season.

Benson owners got a bargain rate on him to begin with in the draft this year, which makes it hard for me to feel sorry for them. Give your fantasy gift-workhorse a breather. Stop being so needy.

While “Wildcatting” his way into the fantasy hearts of fantasy owners, Brown still shared carries this season with Ricky Williams. Owners could have locked Brown up as a second running back in the draft and might have even stashed Ricky Williams as a precautionary measure.

You may be in a bit of hot water if you were relying on Brown at this point in the season, but I’d expect you to have a backup plan.

Julius Jones ? Well, is anyone missing him?

Is that crickets I hear?

Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that Jones got injured. I wish the guy the best, but now we can all get a serious look at Justin Forsett, and that’s all we really wanted out of Seattle this season anyway.

But Turner owners, poor Turner owners, you just lost your first round pick. A high ankle sprain is no tiny injury, and it could be several weeks before Turner gets back on the field.

Sure, maybe you wore a tin foil hat all season and picked up Jason Snelling to hedge your bets, but if not, you’re probably looking for a solid replacement this week. Good luck to you.

For the savvy few who stocked up on young backs poised to break out at some point this year…and who stuck out the weeks upon weeks where they did next to nothing this season, this week also marked the emergence of several young backs that owners had been stockpiling all season.

Was Sunday some special holiday or rebirth and renewal? No, I’ll stick with the jinx hypothesis.

Jamaal Charles —Nice of you to finally come to the party. I only had to pick you as a solid start for two weeks in a row . I know 103 rushing yards, a touchdown, and four receptions for 14 receiving yards may come easy against the Raiders, but I’m looking forward to how this carries into next week. If you become reliable, I might even start you in the fantasy playoffs against Buffalo and Cleveland.

Beanie Wells —That’s the kind of game we’ve expected from you all season, scoring twice and looking like a real champ. You even got some work in the passing game. Are Tim Hightower’s days numbered? I’m not so sure. But I do know you are getting your fair share of the work from here on out. That’s promising.

Justin Forsett —In Julius Jones absence, you racked up 123 yards, a touchdown, and five receptions for 26 yards. I love surprises, but it sure would have been nice to know you were going to take over this week.

And just because the Raiders have to screw fantasy owners that find themselves relying on them when it matters most, it was Michael Bush, not Darren McFadden, running for more than 100 yards against the Chiefs. Oh, Al Davis, so old-persony cute and so very evil.

It may be frustratingly impossible to predict who gets the bulk of the Raiders’ running game now that all three are back in the fold. Most weeks, you shouldn’t touch them. Same rule applies to Al Davis.

I know the hot story out there is that Maurice Jones-Drew took a knee at the end of the game rather than running it into the end zone. Some fantasy owners may be furious, but as a MJD owner and supporter, I’m not.

The guy already gave you a touchdown and over 100 yards. I think we can let him off the hook just this once for not getting two scores in a crucial time management situation. We should just be glad he’s not Michael Turner . If you owned him, you’d be much more angry.

Now back to watching the Browns circle the toilet bowl. I keep expecting their offense to take the field at some point, but it doesn’t seem like they have one. Just tragic.

Read more Washington Redskins news on BleacherReport.com

Supreme Court Won't Hear Washington Redskins' Trademark Lawsuit

Jarrett Carter — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:34:11 -0500

Of course they won’t . After all, they can still afford their season tickets to FedEx.

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to revive a lawsuit on behalf of Native American activists who claimed that the Washington Redskins’ team name is so offensive that it does not deserve trademark protection.

The court without comment refused to get involved in the long-running dispute. The decision essentially lets stand a lower court ruling that the activists waited too long to bring the challenge.

In other words, “we won’t deny that the name is racist, but we just can’t create action on something that’s been in effect for so many years.”

I guess I shouldn’t complain. Might have been just as easy to look the other way on slavery and Jim Crow back in the day.

Technorati Tags: Supreme Court , Washington Redskins

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Washington Redskins: A Sunny Day for a Stormy Franchise

Keith Smooth — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:19:48 -0500

On Wednesday the remnants of Hurricane Ida slammed into Virginia. Storms of this nature generally move fast. Not Ida. She lingered for three days. Cities such as Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Richmond were battered with torrential rain and 50 mph gusts that knocked down trees, flooded streets, and made driving as treacherous as white water rafting. Homes were destroyed, 18-wheelers were toppled, and schools were closed. The Governor Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency. The rain was icy cold and it fell at a 45-degree angle due to the wind, making it especially cruel for those poor souls who had to travel by foot.

Close your eyes and try to imagine a monsoon in Siberia.

That was Hurricane Ida in Virginia.

A metaphorical hurricane has lingered in Northern Virginia, the eye of the storm centered at Redskin Park in Ashburn where Daniel Snyder lords over Team Turmoil. After yet another off-season shopping spree, local fans were optimistic about the prospects of their beloved team. They began the NFL season with outsized expectations and some NFL experts (let's call them meteorologists) were even whispering playoffs. But then the season started, and the team's sunny outlook abruptly changed. A loss to the Giants was to be expected. But then came a shoddy win over the Rams, a shocking loss to the Lions, and a spectacularly unimpressive win over the punchless Bucs. Redskin fans wanted to stand strong. They wanted to keep the faith, but the barometer was already dropping and dark clouds began to appear on the horizon.

And then without further warning, the Category 5 made landfall.

Four straight losses, four straight ugly losses that didn't just knock the wind out of this team, it rocked this franchise to its very foundation. A state of emergency had been declared.

Washingtonians had seen losing before. After all this is a city that is home to the Washington Wizards. But never had they seen their beloved Redskins lose in such an embarrassing way. The team looked horrible. They played St. Louis, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Kansas City in consecutive weeks. When someone is handed a task that is easy, they call it "gravy". Those five teams were indeed gravy. The only thing that was missing was the mashed potatoes which those five teams were, in fact, much softer than. The tough part of the schedule wasn't supposed to begin until the Monday night game at FedEx Field against Philadelphia. However, by the time the hated Eagles arrived in town, the storm that no one saw coming had already morphed into the proverbial Category 5 hurricane.

A four-game losing streak, coupled with two wins that felt like losses, had pushed this team to the brink.

A head coach was stripped of his power. A retired offensive playcaller was dusted off and given the reins to a struggling offense. A quarterback's confidence was shaken and so was the patience of the team's fanbase. Where was the leader in the clubhouse who demanded accountability on the part of his teammates? Where was the leadership in the front office who would assure fans that everything would be done to right which is now wrong? How did we get here? How did this team regress so fast? They were no longer competitive. They were an embarrassment. So naturally, the fans piled on. The national media (also known as the storm chasers) began to pile on.

The defense blamed the offense. The offense blamed the head coach.

And EVERYBODY blamed the owner.

The Washington Redskins had now morphed into Team Turmoil.

This is what made today such a welcome relief. Today, the surprise team of the league, the Denver Broncos came to FedEx Field on a suspiciously warm, 70-degree day. And on this day, for once, everything clicked. The Redskins Offensive Line, wracked with injuries and at this point held together by electrical tape, held on long enough for backup running back Ladell Betts to gain 112 yards. Jason Campbell played steady, turnover-free football. He completed a pass to 10 different receivers and he was a perfect 9-for-9 passing in the second half. The defense knocked Bronco quarterback Kyle Orton out of the game in the first half and held Denver to just 36 total yards in the second half. And Hunter Smith, the punter who had just returned from injury, threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Mike Sellers in a moment of clever trickery.

When the smoke cleared and the storm clouds lifted, the Washington Redskins had ended their four-game losing streak, defeating the Broncos 27-17 in front of 85,000 ecstatic fans. It was the most points the team had scored since 23 games ago when the Skins scored 29 points in the second game of the 2008 season.

After watching Campbell struggle week-after-week, it was a relief to see the quarterback on the other side of the ball get knocked around like a pinata. Any chance the Broncos had to win this game ended the second Kyle Orton was declared inactive due to the ankle injury he suffered at the end of the first half. And in Orton's place stepped Chris Simms who was completely overmatched by a team that, for the first time all season, played inspired football. You could see it on their faces, especially in the 4th quarter when the Redskins knew that victory was within reach. They could smell it. The fans could smell it. It is moments like this that makes sports so captivating. It is the collective moment when the players and the fans both can sense when they are on the verge of an improbable accomplishment.

Or was it improbable? Maybe we had the Broncos wrong. Maybe they are overrated. Maybe Josh McDaniels isn't the boy wonder.

But that's a question for the storm chasers, the members of the national media, to answer. Because today belonged to the much maligned trio of Jim Zorn, Jason Campbell, and yes, Daniel Snyder. Today was a day when everything went right. Today was a day when the fans cheered instead of jeered. Today was a day when even the most outspoken Redskin critic of them all, John Riggins, could finally crack a smile.

I don't know what weather tomorrow will bring. But I do know that for one day, the hurricane went away and the storm clouds parted like the Red Sea.

Today the sun shined. And it was a beautiful day indeed.

Read more Washington Redskins news on BleacherReport.com

You Gotta Have Heart: Washington Redskins Shock Denver at Home

K. D. James — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:41:47 -0500

The ’Skins got off the schneid! For now.

I’ll be honest and admit that I’ve been very critical of the performance of the Washington Redskins this season. I and many others in the Bleacher Report and Washington, D.C., communities, including my colleagues J.W. Nix and Keith Smooth, have seen better days from this franchise.

For ten-plus years, under the poor control of majority owner Dan Snyder, the ’Skins have stunk up the joint, only to be granted some relief in former head coach Joe Gibbs’s second stint here.

Despite my constant misgivings, I am PROUD (please let that be shown in all caps) to see Washington win—and win convincingly!—over the Denver Broncos, 27-17, at FedEx Field Sunday afternoon.

In doing so, the Redskins were able to snap a four-game losing streak, and, in what seemed an eternity, scored more than 17 points since last season.

I must say that for the first time the Washington Redskins played a decent, very decent, game with tons of heart, resilience and, yes, luck.

The Broncos, though, seem a bit shakier after their third consecutive loss. At one point, with new head coach Josh McDaniels at the helm, the team was off to an auspicious start at 6-0, especially with wins over Dallas and New England. After losing to the Ravens, Steelers and Redskins, Denver will face San Diego in an expectedly tough AFC West match-up next week.

Even with some high, inaccurate throws by Washington's Jason Campbell and a few, mishaps in the secondary that allowed two, big bombs from Denver quarterback Kyle Orton to star wide receiver Brandon Marshall, the ’Skins kept the game close throughout, and they should be applauded for their efforts.

After groaning when Marshall ran a nice slant route en route to a 40-yard touchdown pass from Orton, with 12:47 left in the first quarter, I thought that this would be a long day for the Redskins at home.

My hopeful-thinking, good conscience tapped me on the shoulder at that point and said to me (like commentator Lee Corso), “Not so fast, my friend!”

Lo and behold, the Redskins charged right back in the first quarter with aplomb, ending the drive on a Campbell two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Todd Yoder.

Interesting!

The Redskins defense seemed to give the offense even more hope than expected early in the afternoon with a forced fumble that was recovered by strong safety Reed Doughty.

However, not long after Denver got back the ball with time remaining in the first quarter, miscommunication and poor coverage in the secondary allowed Orton, who had great protection at the time, to strike another bomb to a wide-open Marshall, who was streaking long and hard on the right side of the field for a 75-yard touchdown.

According to ESPN, Marshall’s two, first-quarter touchdown passes of forty-plus yards made him only the eleventh player in the NFL to reach that record since 1940.

Even though the Broncos could have stretched the lead to 21-7 (if Orton didn’t overthrow the ball to the Broncos’ other fast wide receiver, Eddie Royal) in the second quarter, the defense and its anxious defensive staff did not allow Denver to pass at will for the rest of the game.

In fact, it’s possible that the Redskins could have had a closer contest in the second half, if Kyle Orton were not hurt on that necessary tackle made by Redskins defensive tackle Andre Carter late in the second quarter.

Deep in the red zone (within the five-yard line perimeter), with good coverage on all Denver receivers and possibly no one open, Orton scrambled and hurt his ankle as Carter rushed close behind to clip the Broncos quarterback on that decisive third-down play.

Orton left game with a sprained ankle, never able to return in the second half.

If Orton had been able to score, or had he left that play unhurt, who knows how the game would have ended. But minutes after the fake field-goal pass by Washington’s punter Hunter Smith to Mike Sellers, all the Broncos could do was close the first half on a chip shot of a 24-yard field goal. Broncos 17, Redskins 14.

As the game resumed after halftime, the Redskins defense remained solid, forcing Denver’s back-up quarterback Chris Simms to throw faster than anticipated almost every time he had the ball. Also, with the rookie running back Knowshon Moreno running and getting timely first downs on a few occasions, the Broncos were never able to sustain the pace and attack mode after that frenetic first quarter.

Given that Moreno rushed for 97, tough yards rushing was commendable; but Ladell Betts, Washington’s long-time, dependable number two halfback, was even better.

Betts, who started in place of Clinton Portis (concussion last week in the Atlanta game) bore through holes that the offensive line provided for him, got a handful of first downs when he needed to, and finished with 114 yards on 26 carries, including the game-winning, one-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter with 2:44 to go.

The defense should be congratulated for wising up and not breaking down after the two, early gifts to Marshall. It clamped down, applied pressure on Orton and Simms, forced a key fumble and covered better, with Washington’s DeAngelo Hall intercepting an ill-advised Simms’ pass, which led to Betts’ score.

The offensive line should also be given a standing ovation, for adding in a solid replacement for left tackle Chris Samuels in Levi Jones, and staying steady throughout most of the game with guards Derrick Dockery and Will Montgomery, center Casey Rabach and right tackle Stephon Heyer.

The line still allowed a few sacks, although Campbell caused some of them himself. I really think, even with confusing pass rushes and blitz packages from Denver defensive coordinator Mike Nolan coming his way, Campbell, when his line collapsed, could have thrown the ball out of bounds on some downs.

I’m trying hard not to knock Campbell in those situations, but I feel that he should throw the ball away, instead of repositioning and trying to wait for something positive to happen after plays break down, routes are not run correctly, or receivers are heavily covered. Campbell played hard, did not throw an interception or fumble the ball, and like the rest of the squad, did a more than serviceable job.

Overall, though, the offensive line did above average, creating lots of room and spaces for three running backs—Betts, special-teams stalwart Rock Cartwright and newcomer Quinton Ganther.

And they should be awarded game balls, along with Betts and Sherman Lewis.

Yes, Lewis. Here’s a guy who weeks ago was enjoying retirement and doing Meals on Wheels in Detroit. Now as the main offensive play-caller, the team has looked more comfortable under him.

Moreover, they’re scoring not only field goals but touchdowns as well in the red zone, resembling more of a team that used to drive far and get lots of points in the area, 20 yards or fewer, under the second Gibbs era.

Although still wet behind the ears, receivers other than Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El came through for embattled Campbell, too.

It was pleasing to see second-year guys Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas and Fred Davis to not only catch but gain first downs when the team had to maintain its momentum. I’m especially happy for Davis and Thomas.

Thomas caught a key pass deep in Broncos territory that eventually led to Betts’ one-yard touchdown, with his running past the first-down marker, juking on a slipping defender, breaking a tackle, slipping through and spinning on another Bronco before being brought down by he five- or six-yard line. Go for three and end up with more than 25 yards on a screen pass? Nice work, Devin!

The sky’s the limit on Davis’ potential. If he can consistently play at the level he played at when he was a USC Trojan in college, then I only foresee a productive, Cooley-Davis, two tight-end combo only causing headaches for opposing defenses.

My sole concern of the Washington Redskins’ win is that it’s both bad and rewarding at the same time for Redskins head coach Jim Zorn, who has finally won since the narrow win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 4. Unfortunately for Zorn, he cannot call plays anymore and often resembles a magazine model (or a mannequin) with Redskins gear on at a Dick’s Sporting Goods store.

But it was good for the team, who desperately and badly wanted to win in order to give their long-starving fans something good to look at.

The Redskins, thanks to special teams (placekicker Shaun Suisham is 12/12 on field goals, and Smith has scored on two, fake field-goal plays so far!), offense and defense, played like a cohesive unit for the first time in long while, and because of that, they won a good, good game.

I don’t know what to expect of the Redskins after such a stunning win, but they obviously have tremendous upside when facing their ultra-nemesis Cowboys at Dallas next week, at 1 p.m. on Fox November 22.

Even if the final outcome for Washington’s professional football team remains murky, how it played Sunday was a great start, with the Redskins looking hopefully to go nowhere but up.

Read more Washington Redskins news on BleacherReport.com

Jason Campbell: How Do You Like Me Now, Josh McDaniels?

Anthony Brown — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:40:25 -0500

The Washington Redskins' unexpected win over the Denver Broncos must have been especially sweet for Skins' QB Jason Campbell.

Campbell was rejected by rookie Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels last spring in Daniel Snyder's aborted trade offer of a Campbell for Jay Cutler swap.

In a public embarrassment for Campbell, Snyder was not able to entice any other team to give up a second round draft pick for Campbell that might have sweetened the offer to Denver.

Doubts are still the issue for Campbell who never-the-less established himself as a mid-tier starting quarterback. But Campbell must have circled the Broncos date for his "I'll show you, Josh McDaniels" game. (I know I would have.)

Campbell may deny it. That would be just like him. But anger, properly channelled, is a powerful motivator. Jason Campbell has to be the spark that ignites the team.

The Washington Redskins may yet finish 8-8.

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Bleacher Report Exclusive: An Interview With Karl Mecklenburg

Jack Gorman — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:14:43 -0500

Karl Mecklenburg was the 310th pick in the 1983 NFL draft, and wasn’t expected to last through training camp. He defied the odds and went on to a long and fruitful NFL career, retiring in 1995 with 79 sacks to his credit.

He defined versatility in the NFL, playing all seven defensive front positions, at times in the same game.

I got a chance to speak with Karl today about his life since the NFL, his new book, and his thoughts on the NFL today. He also shared some information about Super Bowl XXII, and why he thinks the Redskins beat the Broncos that day.

My questions are in bold; Karl’s responses follow in regular text.

What have you been doing since you retired from the NFL?
I am a motivational speaker. I travel around the country inspiring long-term positive change in teams and individuals. I talk about keys to success for associations, corporations, schools, and churches.

How did you begin your career as a motivational speaker?
I kind of got pushed into it. It’s interesting; a client of the local speaker’s bureau kept asking me to speak. I kept saying “No, I don’t do that,” and eventually they offered me enough money that I said “Yes, I do do that.” I went, and I loved it.

The thing I miss most from football is the adrenaline (the whole pre-game rush) and I get that when I get up there to speak. And I can do it on bad knees.

Did you give any consideration to a career in scouting or coaching when you retired from the NFL?
I thought about it briefly, but one of the reasons I retired is that I wanted to have more time with my family. Coaches and scouts have even less time with their families than players.

It was time for me to be home; I had two kids at the time and [have since] added a third.

I love the game. I loved playing. I love talking about it. I love watching it. But, at that time in my life, it wasn’t time to do that.

Tell us about the REACH foundation.
REACH is an acronym for Rewarding Experiences for All CHildren.

The REACH foundation is something that I’ve dreamed about doing for years. When I was playing, I was involved in [a lot of] charities. I looked at the underlying theme with all these charities I was involved with and they all involved kids.

Our top program right now is a reading program in the Denver public schools. This program [which is in elementary schools], kids are incentivized to read. When they read 100 minutes a week throughout the reading period, they get a pizza certificate, or some other sort of incentive.

When they are [among] the top two readers at their school, they get invited down to a big event we have in the spring every year at Invesco Field. The mayor spoke at it one year. [The kids] get all kind of presents and accolades for reading.

Statistics say that 85 percent of all high school dropouts are functionally illiterate. [We need to] reach the kids in elementary school.

I have dyslexia myself; reading was not easy for me. But it’s opened so many doors down the line. I know that if you just stick with it, you have a chance to be successful.

Tell us about your book.
The book is Heart of a Student Athlete: All-Pro Advice for Competitors and their Families.

One of the things I talk about when I’m out speaking is having the courage to try new things. I had a book; it was ghost-written back when I was playing in 1987, but this is the first book I’ve written. It was a challenge [especially] with the dyslexia and with my schedule speaking. But I worked at it.

My speaking business is about inspiring long-term change. That long-term piece is always a challenge. When you’re a key-note speaker, you talk with a group for an hour, and they get all fired up and have some great take-home ideas.

But I know six months later that they don’t remember what I said exactly. But the book will allow them to go back and refresh their memories about the stories that I used and bring it all back. That was [one part] of the impetus.

The other part was I have coached a lot. I’ve coached high school, girls soccer, t-ball and all kinds of stuff for my kids. Young families have been coming up to me all through the years and asking me, “How do we get our kids to the next level?”

Everyone has dreams of a college scholarship and a professional career and that type of thing. I think there’s a huge misunderstanding about a parent’s role in a child’s advancement, and the child’s role too.

There’s so much information out there about various workouts and diets and such; all this peripheral stuff that really comes down to teamwork, courage, dedication, desire, honesty and forgiveness. These are the universal, unchanging keys to success that the kids need to apply.

What can today’s student athletes learn from your life experiences?
First of all, [they need to learn] that they are in control of their own destinies and that it’s not all about talent. You’ve [seen] my keys to success; talent wasn’t one of them.

I wasn’t a very gifted athlete, especially as a child. There are so many other factors that enter into your ability to be successful. If it’s a passion, if it’s a mission, don’t give up.

[When] I was a junior in high school, I played JV football and was cut from basketball and cut from baseball. As a senior, I was an all-state player, but I was still considered too small to play major college football.

So I went to Augustana College, a Division II school in South Dakota, on a one-third scholarship. After two years, they took that away.

Then I walked on at Minnesota. I earned a scholarship, but then I had an injury and they tried to take that scholarship away.

I was the 310th pick of the NFL draft and [wasn’t] anyone that people expected to make it [in the NFL]. If you believe in yourself and it’s a passion and a mission of yours, there’s a chance that you can make it, but you have to believe that you can make it.

What are your thoughts on today’s NFL?
It’s a great game.

Truthfully, if you look at the teams that are successful, those keys to success that I’ve talked about are there. The teams that end up successful year after year are built around a structure of teamwork and leadership, much more so than just talent.

I know that out there in Washington, D.C. they keep bringing in talent [via] free agency. Year after year, they keep bringing in the same type of guys who seem to be more concerned about themselves than about the team. When that happens, you’re not going to be successful.

When you have players who are more concerned about the team, when it’s all about we instead of me, then you have a chance to be successful.

Are there any players in the NFL right now who stand out to you as exceptional role models?
There’s a lot of them. The NFL is full of role models.

Unfortunately, the press seems to focus on the wrong things, on the guys who make the mistakes.

When parents and young athletes look at the newspaper they read about the guys who are in trouble with the law, or who is dating Jessica Simpson or crazy stuff like that.

[But] 90% of the guys have the kind of qualities that you wish your child would emulate, but that’s not in the news.

[For example, if I were to] go speak at a church or a school, it’s not in the news. [But if I were to] get a DUI driving home from one of those things, it would be everywhere.

That’s unfortunate, because there are great guys [in the NFL]; guys that you would love to have as a neighbor or a friend and as an example to your young athletes.

You are a member of the Broncos Alumni Association; how much interaction do you have with the team today?
I don’t [have much interaction]. I am asked to do some marketing stuff with the team, but it’s all outside of the actual [players].

I’ve spoken at chapel sometimes, so I’ve met a few of the guys. But they have 30 new guys this year so a lot of the guys I was speaking to are gone.

Do you think these Broncos have a chance to take on teams like the Colts and the Patriots in the AFC?
I think they do. Obviously there are peaks and valleys in an NFL team’s season. Baltimore and Pittsburgh pointed out some challenges with the team, and everybody copies everybody else.

Everyone will look at film [of those games, as I’m sure] the Redskins did, and they will see where those weaknesses lie and exploit them. You have to be able to adjust and fix those types of issues.

If it’s a personnel issue, if they just don’t have the guys to fill the roles, then the Broncos are in trouble.

But if it’s more of a scheme issue or if there’s a way they can put a backup in and straighten it out, then they’ve got a chance. Obviously they’ve beaten the Patriots already this year, so yes, they can compete.

Do you have any hard feelings against the Redskins from the Super Bowl?
Not at all. When you get a chance to read the book, I have a section in the book about that Super Bowl. That was our fault. When you’re playing 10 on 11 (**see below**), it’s pretty tough, no matter how good you are, and they came out and played well.

Coach Gibbs had a great plan with the counter tre and bringing the h-back over. We always played the counter tre the same way; it didn’t matter what defense were in.

The way we played it, the strong safety was always free. They brought the h-back over to take care of him and we didn’t adjust from there.

**In his book, Karl has a section on Super Bowl XXII with the Washington Redskins. He discusses how one of the defensive players froze, how Karl believes that it was possible the player was high on drugs during the game, and how the player did not make any adjustments to shut down the Redskins’ strong counter tre, so the team played 10 defensive players to the Redskins' 11 that day. **

Who is going to win on Sunday; the Redskins or the Broncos?
I think the Broncos will win. The Broncos need this win more than the Redskins do. From what I’ve seen, the Redskins have all kinds of issues and things going on [including] Clinton Portis not being involved in the game.

[Portis is] kind of a wild-card. For some reason, when a player gets traded and then they play against their old team, they’re always playing at their best. He is a guy who has great talent; always has.

He’s had a bit of a lack of motivation at times, but he would definitely be motivated playing against the Broncos. It would have been very interesting to see how he would have reacted, especially playing them out there in DC.

For more information about Karl Mecklenburg, his speaking and to purchase Heart of a Student Athlete: All-Pro Advice for Competitors and their Families, visit www.studentathlete.us.

Read more Washington Redskins news on BleacherReport.com

Clinton Portis's Injury Could End His Season

kevin roberts — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:40:35 -0500

The Washington Post is reporting the possibility that Clinton Portis could miss the remainder of the 2009 season after sustaining a concussion in Week Nine.

Portis has been ruled out for Week 10's action after lingering effects and headaches persisted, giving back-up Ladell Betts the starting role until he returns.

However, there is speculation that Portis's injury is severe enough that he might not be able to play for two to three weeks, which could render him a candidate for injured reserve with the Redskins already playing in a lost season, standing at 2-6.

There isn't any official word from Washington's front office, but the idea is more than just a rumor, as the same thing happened to Portis a few years ago with a shoulder injury. Betts took over for him then as well, as performed quite well, topping 1,000 yards in just half of a season.

Fantasy Perspective: Now is the time to shop Portis for anything you can get, or at the very worst, package him in a deal to get rid of him before you face the possibility of having to drop him for nothing.

We're not completely buying the "out for the season" rumor, but it's a strong threat to his fantasy status, and you're still probably looking at him missing a couple more weeks, regardless.

Pick-up Ladell Bets for the long-term, but start thinking about trading for another RB soon, or keep a very close eye on the waiver wire for the next few weeks.

For more breaking news and fantasy updates, head over to NFLSoup.com

Read more Washington Redskins news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Football Update: All Ladell Betts Are Off

kevin roberts — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:17:23 -0500

You may have to replace Clinton Portis' replacement.

Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn is now leaning towards a RBBC approach for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos, as back-up running back Ladell Betts has been dealing with foot and ankle issues.

Betts was in line for the majority of the carries for Washington after Clinton Portis was knocked out of last week's game on a helmet-to-helmet hit, and was then ruled out of Week 10 's action.

Even Betts admitted that he was only "75 percent" due to a foot sprain, and the carries will reportedly be distributed among Betts and two other backs on Sunday, unless he feels up to the task.

The other two running backs who could be looking at some decent grind this week are long-time kick returner Rock Cartwright, and back-up running back, Quinton Ganther.

However, Betts is the only back with great value or experience, and neither Cartwright or Ganther should be added to your fantasy roster, even if just for this one game.

Fantasy Perspective: It looks like the Redskins' running back position is a complete wash with Betts ailing, which basically means if you were a Portis owner and were depending on Betts to bail you out, you better start looking for a new replacement, and fast.

A couple of guys that could be available on the waiver wire and hold decent value are...

Head over to NFLSoup.com for the top guys who are available on your waiver wire and could help you in a pinch this week.

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