Mike Shanahan: 10 Bold Moves Needed to Fix the Washington Redskins
Considering the season is now pretty much over for Washington and Donovan McNabb has been benched—again—I think it might be time to look at some of the bold moves that could be used to fix the Redskins for next season.
I have previously written a couple of articles on draft picks the Redskins could look at in 2011 and how I would fix the Redskins with moves that could make sense, including the draft and free agents.
This list is completely personal opinion, and I look forward to all comments!
Cut Loose Old, Draining Contracts
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Cutting loose old, draining contracts will open up room to bring in necessary free agents and sign appropriate rookies as they are drafted.
Ryan Torain has taken over the running duties well in Clinton Portis' injury absence. Many believe this is Portis' last season in Washington, and if so there is over $8 million per season from 2011-2013 that could be opened up for additional players.
The Redskins could cut Portis and would not have to pay the final year of his contract.
Obtain an Indoor Practice Facility
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Earlier this month, the Redskins had to practice inside on a basketball court.
When snow forced the Redskins to abandon practice on Thursday, December 16, the Redskins were sent running for their cars.
Daniel Snyder has no problem sending millions of dollars at underproducing players, yet the organization is the only "cold" weather team that does not have an indoor practice area designated for bad weather days.
The Washington Post wrote a great article looking into this problem today.
Move the Team Back into Washington, D.C.
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The problems between the hometown team and the city's mayor have been no quiet secrets.
Let's face it though: It makes no sense to call a team the Washington Redskins, only to have them practice in Ashburn, Virginia and play in Landover, Maryland.
It defeats the purpose.
If that is the way the team has to operate, then they should be called the Maryland-Virginia Redskins. Sure, that doesn't have the same ring to it, but essentially that is what the team is.
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Use the Talent You Already Have Wisely
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The Redskins have, for years, used players in positions that they are not used to playing.
Example: Stephon Heyer has played pretty much every offensive line position.
Having players switch around and move from here to there does not allow a team to gel or get into any sort of groove whatsoever.
The only the way this team will actually become a team is if players can count on playing the same positions and knowing everyone else can do their job at their position. Until then expect the same results that the 'Skins have seen for years.
Use Someone Other Than Brian Orakpo to Rush the Opposing Quarterback
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Is there any question that Brian Orakpo is the Redskins' best pass rush threat?
No, he is by far the best.
The problem with that is every team in the NFL knows that, and he will always have a lineman and sometimes a running back assigned to him. Not to mention he will be held constantly.
Shake it up a bit.
Send London Fletcher one play.
Send Orakpo the next.
Send Rocky McIntosh the next.
Send Phillip Buchanon or Kareem Moore the next.
Other teams that shake up the blitzing player, like the New York Giants, have great success at flushing the quarterback from the pocket and usually have a very good defense.
Get Back to Redskins Football
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Ever since I was young, the only thing I can remember is the Redskins running smash-mouth football.
John Riggins started it, and it continued to the beginning of the Jim Zorn era.
Since then the pass-happy NFL and the personnel hired by Daniel Snyder have tried to change the culture of the team into a passing team.
The Redskins have had some of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, including Sonny Jurgensen, Joe Theismann, Sammy Baugh and, whether you like him or not, Donovan McNabb.
Why have most of them had success? Because teams respected the Redskins' ability to run the football.
Even McNabb's best games this season have come on the heels of a game where the running game was actually able to move the ball or make plays catching the ball out of the backfield.
Seek a Trade for Albert Haynesworth
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It should come as no surprise that Haynesworth ended up on my list.
Even if he is suspended, and the Players Association has filed an injunction against the Redskins for him, the 'Skins could seek out a trade for him at the end of the year.
At this point, anything that could be gotten for him would be an improvement over what the Redskins have. A draft pick or two would be nice.
HINT!
Get Chris Cooley More Involved in the Game Plan
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Why, when someone is the best offensive weapon you have, does he get used as a blocker for almost an entire game?
Statistically, Cooley is not having his worst year ever, but he needs to be looked for more around the goal line. He has some of the best hands in the receiving corps and is a bigger target than someone like Anthony Armstrong or Santana Moss in the red zone.
On the flip side, Fred Davis, Cooley's other side counterpart, is really coming into his own this year and showing that his worth is indeed worthwhile. Davis and Cooley both could be used more in the receiving world and less in the blocking world.
Cooley has five games so far this season, with three left to play, with four or less catches.
Hire an Appropriate Offensive Coordinator
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No offense meant to the head coach's son, but Kyle Shanahan's offensive scheme does not work with the talent that the Redskins have.
The Redskins, historically, have been a running team. The current trend of the NFL is to be a passing team, but hard-nosed running still wins in the cold weather.
Shanahan's offense in Texas worked very well when then team was more configured for passing with the help of Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and others.
Kyle Shanahan has a team in Washington that was set up to complement a running game around Clinton Portis.
The Boldest of the Bold
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This article was supposed to be about bold moves that could shake the organization to the core and get results.
The DMV's not so favorite homegrown son, Daniel Snyder, stepping down as the team's principal owner would cause an earthquake, much less a shake.
Snyder seems to have a never-ending amount of money to throw at the organization to try to make it successful. While some of his moves have been sketchy at best, Snyder is not a stingy owner by any stretch of the imagination.
Snyder would rank right up there with the Steinbrenners, Jerry Jones, Mark Cuban and Red Sox owner John W. Henry for people who are not afraid to throw any kind of money at people to bring in big names.
Losing someone like Snyder would open up a whirlwind in Washington and the NFL, but some would question whether or not having a different owner would allow the Redskins to create a better team, draft smarter picks and sign better, more useful free agents.
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