Skins Sign Shaun Alexander

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:53 pm

Hopefully Alexander has healed up from his previous injuries and is healthy. I think that this is a good move for the Skins. he probably isn't in top form, but does he really need to be? He is going to run what maybe 7-10 times a game? He is already familiar with the offense so he needs a crash course on the Zorn identity offense. Don't be surprised if he makes a minor splash and shows some signs of life.

RedskinsFreak · Post by **RedskinsFreak** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:57 pm

If all he's going to be is a "while Betts is injured" replacement, I can't see how there was a better move available.

Bring back Mason? There was probably a reason he was cut in the first place.

Give more carries to Rock? Shows how much value they put in him in the KR role.

I don't think he provides as much of a change-of-pace as Betts does (vs. Portis) but it should suffice.

An opinion based solely on raw statistice is no opinion in the first place.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:00 pm

CanesSkins26 wrote:When a running back average only 3.6 and 3.5 ypc in back-to-back seasons, it's usually a pretty strong sign that he doesn't have much left in the tank.

Injuries do not come up in those stats.

I am not saying that he will be back immediately to his older shape three years ago. I am saying that it is worth the try. Quite frankly, it is more in his BEST INTEREST to show that he has still value that in ours. We'll have Betts back in 2 to 4 weeks, he may or may not have his acreer back depending on his performance.

The more I look at it, the more I agree that this was not done by our beloved Front Office. This is Zorn.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:05 pm

If this works well, it has the potential to be an awesome 1-2 punch. Really, I'm excited.

hawaiiantribe · Post by **hawaiiantribe** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:11 pm

Warmother wrote:I think signing Alexander is a good move. He's not here to start, he's here for Portis to catch his breath. He won't take 2 weeks to learn the offense and can help out right away.

If Mason had signed to the Redskin practice squad instead of the Rasin's maybe he would have been the replacement.

Maybe we'll be going through the playoffs with the 1st 2-MVP back field! (when do they announce the MVP?)

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:57 pm

This move has decent potential and almost zero downside.

In the long run, though, we are going to need a KR / PR who isn't Rock so that we can keep a workable, replacement RB at 3rd string. I don't like that we had to trade for someone the moment our number two back was hurt for more than a couple of weeks. We should have had someone competent at the number three slot, which means that one of our WRs should be a competent return man.

Kinks to work out for next year, IMO. (And yes, I do love Rock.)

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:34 pm

FFA - I'm not sure what you mean when you say "I don't like that we had to trade for someone the moment our number two back was hurt for more than a couple of weeks." - I'm not sure that we would have made a trade - we needed a back and Shaun was both available and willing to lower his asking price to play :lol:

I think its all good - IF this does not work then we can consider what we need to do - to me this looks like a win/win he wants to show what he is worth and we had a need :wink:

83skins46721 · Post by **83skins46721** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:38 pm

Is it just me, or is Zorn trying to sign any free players from HIS Seattle teams?

SKINFAN · Post by **SKINFAN** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:42 pm

83skins46721 wrote:Is it just me, or is Zorn trying to sign any free players from HIS Seattle teams?

he did ask Steve Largent if he's available

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:57 pm

83skins46721 wrote:Is it just me, or is Zorn trying to sign any free players from HIS Seattle teams?

Better ex-Seahawks players than ex-Florida Gators (remember Spurrier's Gator Revolution? Blah!)

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:19 pm

PulpExposure wrote:
83skins46721 wrote:Is it just me, or is Zorn trying to sign any free players from HIS Seattle teams?

Better ex-Seahawks players than ex-Florida Gators (remember Spurrier's Gator Revolution? Blah!)

I finally stopped having that nightmare, why must you bring it up again?

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 6:39 pm

Fios wrote:
PulpExposure wrote:
83skins46721 wrote:Is it just me, or is Zorn trying to sign any free players from HIS Seattle teams?

Better ex-Seahawks players than ex-Florida Gators (remember Spurrier's Gator Revolution? Blah!)

I finally stopped having that nightmare, why must you bring it up again?

We all like to hear you scream, especially when you get that high pitched girly whine going. I would think that's why he did it. There is probably no truth to the rumor that we paid him. :nana:

KazooSkinsFan · Post by **KazooSkinsFan** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:11 pm

VetSkinsFan wrote:There surely was a reason why Alexander watched the first 6 weeks of football from his couch...

Unless I missed something, we are only talking about people who could have been signed by anyone at any time. Alexander's not eligible for a practice squad, and not sure why anyone would want a known commodity anywhere. Were you thinking we were going to sign LaDainian Tomlinson?

KazooSkinsFan · Post by **KazooSkinsFan** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:14 pm

SCSkinsFan wrote:I rue the day the Pussy-Cats were awarded an NFL franchise.

Tell me about it. The Skins get lots of press here, but on Sunday TV the Panthers rule. If there were no Panthers I'd save about $400 a year for the Sunday Ticket & Superfan packages.

Thundersloth · Post by **Thundersloth** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:59 am

I have a question about this whole SA signing. I hear people saying how much SA can help CP in this offense? Didn't we keep the Joe Gibbs running game?
It seems like CP would have to help SA more doesn't it???

SKINFAN · Post by **SKINFAN** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:17 am

KazooSkinsFan wrote:
SCSkinsFan wrote:I rue the day the Pussy-Cats were awarded an NFL franchise.

Tell me about it. The Skins get lots of press here, but on Sunday TV the Panthers rule. If there were no Panthers I'd save about $400 a year for the Sunday Ticket & Superfan packages.

aint that the truth. :cry:

SCSkinsFan · Post by **SCSkinsFan** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:33 am

SKINFAN wrote:
KazooSkinsFan wrote:
SCSkinsFan wrote:I rue the day the Pussy-Cats were awarded an NFL franchise.

Tell me about it. The Skins get lots of press here, but on Sunday TV the Panthers rule. If there were no Panthers I'd save about $400 a year for the Sunday Ticket & Superfan packages.

aint that the truth.

Glad to hear the support from the Creek, and other fellow Skins fans in the area.

What's really bad is when the P-Cats aren't on TV and they still give us some innocuous game nobody cares about. :cry:

Anyway, back on topic. After watching the SA Interview vid on Redskins.com I have to say I like his attitude. Now if he can just back that up with his performance on the field we might just be in really good shape in the backfield. As always, time will tell, like this Sunday.

VetSkinsFan · Post by **VetSkinsFan** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:38 am

KazooSkinsFan wrote:
VetSkinsFan wrote:There surely was a reason why Alexander watched the first 6 weeks of football from his couch...

Unless I missed something, we are only talking about people who could have been signed by anyone at any time. Alexander's not eligible for a practice squad, and not sure why anyone would want a known commodity anywhere. Were you thinking we were going to sign LaDainian Tomlinson?

<sigh> ...keep to the examples given. LT is not in this discussion. :roll:

Lat time I checked, he was still under contract and I don't think we can afford him.

I was simply arguing <5 pages ago> that Mason cannot be DISqualified due to not given the chance to prove himself vs 1st stringers. He is an unknown, I'll give that, but he's not proven <by his own production> that he can't cut it beyong a reasonable doubt due to him never getting a chance.

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:53 am

VetSkinsFan wrote:
There surely was a reason why Alexander watched the first 6 weeks of football from his couch...

Certainly; for the exact reasons given numerous times in this thread. His production started to fall off the last time he played, he hasn't played in over a year, his injury was to his foot (which is no good for a running back), etc....

Most of the teams that I saw who expressed intrest in him were looking for a number 1. No one would risk him as a number 1.

He's even a little shaky as a number 2, but given our unique situation (our number 1 and 2 backs are already secured, plus we have his former running-backs coach who is already familiar with him) it could be a situation that works.

And if it doesn't we can cut him with little impact to the salary cap.

VetSkinsFan · Post by **VetSkinsFan** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:41 pm

Bob 0119 wrote:
VetSkinsFan wrote:
There surely was a reason why Alexander watched the first 6 weeks of football from his couch...

Certainly; for the exact reasons given numerous times in this thread. His production started to fall off the last time he played, he hasn't played in over a year, his injury was to his foot (which is no good for a running back), etc....

Most of the teams that I saw who expressed intrest in him were looking for a number 1. No one would risk him as a number 1.

He's even a little shaky as a number 2, but given our unique situation (our number 1 and 2 backs are already secured, plus we have his former running-backs coach who is already familiar with him) it could be a situation that works.

And if it doesn't we can cut him with little impact to the salary cap.

There's been a lot of content since I made that comment. I'm not completely opposed to this signing; I liked Mason in pre-season and just hoped that he would get his chance. With the information presented (including interviews/articles), I'm on board with this signing(like it mattered if I wasn't).

On a related note, I was watching channel 4 yesterday and CP said he's gonna get a little retribution on the guys who now are on the skins and were on the hawks team when we got knocked out of the playoffs. CP said he,"Hasn't gotten a chance to catch any of them coming out of the bathroom." When he does, he says they're getting punched in the gut.

Sounded to me like CP is welcoming them in nicely.

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:51 pm

VetSkinsFan wrote: CP said he,"Hasn't gotten a chance to catch any of them coming out of the bathroom." When he does, he says they're getting punched in the gut.

Sounded to me like CP is welcoming them in nicely.

I certainly agree :twisted:

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:49 pm

SkinsJock wrote:FFA - I'm not sure what you mean when you say "I don't like that we had to trade for someone the moment our number two back was hurt for more than a couple of weeks." - I'm not sure that we would have made a trade - we needed a back and Shaun was both available and willing to lower his asking price to play

You are right, I misspoke and that's a pretty big difference (between trading and a FA pickup). What I'm getting at though is we need a 3rd string backup we believe in who can become our #2 when Betts gets hurt.

Rock is great as a return man and in coverage on special teams, but that roster spot is very valuable to a team which uses the #2 back so often. If we had a competent WR / return man it would be a more efficient use of the roster IMO.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:27 pm

no worries FFA - I see your point.

I may be wrong but during the pre-season I think that this position was considered one of our strengths - I am sure that there must have been something about Mason that must have concerned our staff - he looked like he would make the roster in September and then in October, even though we needed someone and he was on the PS with the ravens they still brought in Shaun.

Depth is so important and players in the NFL can only help themselves by being able to play well at different positions or with different parts of the team.

chiefhog44 · Post by **chiefhog44** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:33 pm

Thundersloth wrote:I have a question about this whole SA signing. I hear people saying how much SA can help CP in this offense? Didn't we keep the Joe Gibbs running game?
It seems like CP would have to help SA more doesn't it???

I've been wondering this myself. I'm pretty sure the running game is the same, but the passing game is new. Maybe he'll only come in on passing downs. You would think the other teams would pick up on that though if I just did.

HEROHAMO · Post by **HEROHAMO** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:25 pm

I think if Alexander is fully healthy he may return to the way he was before.

I dont mean to bring up the past but it could be like when Earnest Byner came to the Skins. LOL

Maybe , maybe not but I dont see any reason why he cant be productive here. Also Ive always wanted to trade Betts.

Betts just seems to never make the first down when we need it. Hand it to Betts on third and short and we are punting. Remeber the Cowboys game? If not for the penalty we would have been punting and the Cowboys would have gotten the ball back with plenty of time. There are plenty of times I can recall when Betts does not convert.