RayNAustin wrote:
Mark, you know that I generally make statements that I can back up with facts ... and the fact is, not one receiver on this 2012 roster is on pace to pass Armstrong's production in 2010 ... not one. And Armstrong was the #3 receiver for the Redskins in 2010 ... here's the stats:
(2010)
Moss - 93 rec - 1115 yards - 12.0 yard average - 6 TDs
C.C - 77 rec - 847 yards - 11.0 yard average - 3 TDs
A.A - 44 rec - 871 yards - 19.8 yard average - 3 TDs
Morgan is on pace for about 6 or 7 more receptions than than Armstrong had ... but not yards, and not scoring (Morgan has Zero TD) and he is our #1 receiver this year. Here's a comparison with projected totals (current totals in perens)
(2012)
Morgan - 51 rec (29) - 549 yards (309) - 10.7 yard average - 0-TDs (0)
Hanker - 46 rec (26) - 608 yards (342) - 13.2 yard average - 1.7 TDs (1)
Moss - 42 rec (24) - 556 yards (313) - 13.0 yard average - 8.8 TD (5)
Robins - 16 rec (9) - 213 yards (120) - 13.3 yard average - 1.7 TD (1)
Briscoe - 3 rec (2) - 39 yards (22) - 11.0 yard average - 0 TD (0)
Now Armstrong hardly saw the field last year ... he had a grand total of 7 receptions .... guess what ..... 2 of them were TDs ... which will exceed the projected scoring of the other receivers this year, except Moss ... including Garcon who has 8 receptions and 1 TD this year.
So when I say it was an idiotic thing to cut Armstrong and keep the other guys ... it's not just an opinion or speculation ... it is based on factual statistical data and tangible production. He was better than Banks, Hankerson, Briscoe, Robinson ... hands down .. and just another example of an inexplicable use and discarding of productive players by the Shan-a-clan.
I understand that AA had better numbers, but numbers aren't everything. I don't like AA because I didn't think he was skilled. I didn't see him as consistent. I also thought he had "peaked" and couldn't get any better than he already was. He isn't extremely fast and didn't think he was an efficient route runner. He didn't get separation as well as I would have liked. He wasn't a slot receiver and not good enough to be a starter. That is why I didn't like him; not really his numbers.
I agree that he is better than Robinson, Briscoe, etc. but he wouldn't have made a significant difference in this offense. That is why I don't consider this a huge loss or something to be upset over like the Gaffney ordeal.
In terms of his numbers, I do think it would be important to look at a couple of things to compare apples to apples; such as run attempts, passing attempts that RGIII elected to run / OL couldn't protect, and the frequency were had to come back from behind.
RayNAustin wrote: Gaffney was a head scratcher, along the same lines as the Cundiff deal. Made no sense whatsoever. Now, call me a conspiracy theorist if you must ... but ever think that players like Landry and Rogers might have copped an attitude based on the fact that the Shanahans discard players like an irrational 3 year old who grabs for the next shiny toy in the pile? Do you not think that these types of maneuvers don't affect player attitudes? They saw how these two disrespected McNabb ... and it was uncalled for the way they treated him ... they saw them sign Larry Johnson and then cut him after 2 games and 5 carries ... these players see and they know the difference between "players" coaches, and coaches that will slit their throats without pause or a moment's thought. They see that production doesn't buy you anything with Mike Shanahan .. and he'll cut a productive player for another player that has proven nothing. Mike Shanahan isn't exactly well loved by many past players ... ask Jake Plummer what he thinks of Shanahan ... and be prepared for an earful. But ask players what they think of Joe Gibbs, and you have a hard time finding too many who don't love and respect him ... because he was always a "players coach" and always treated them with respect, and FAIRNESS .... things that are a foreign concept to the Shanahans. Heck, Kyle didn't want McNabb, and I think he intentionally sabotaged him, because McNabb didn't bow to the boy wonder, since he knew more about being a QB in the NFL than the boy genius ever will know.
I do agree with your "conspiracy theory" for CR and LL. In fact, I was thinking the same thing as I typed my thoughts and almost included a caveat saying as much.
But regarding MS' disregard for players and cutting them at a moments notice --- it's not good, but other successful coaches do the same thing. Belechik is notorious for it. That said, MS is no BB --- so he doesn't have the "respect" factor that many cut players give BB. It also hurts that the cut decisions MS commonly makes can be head scratchers, while the ones BB makes are typically dead one or justified.
But I totally agree with you regarding many of the roster moves. Initially I was happy with the MS signing for the soul reason I thought he could bring stability to the organization and took the football decisions out of the hands of Danny. I would take MS and KS over Danny any day of the week and twice on sunday. However, over time I have found myself scratching my head over a number of personell decisions. In particular, I found myself very upset over LL, Atogwe (more or less), Gaffney, Cundiff,

ey, Rinehart, Rodgers, not to mention his QB misses. I have to say though, that I have always agreed with MS and his RB decisions. He does know his RBs.
In terms of McNabb, I don't think that KS sabotaged him. It was obvious from the second game that McNabb was past his prime. I personally don't think he put forth the effort and really worked to understand the new offense. MS and KS thought McNabb could come in and provide veteran leadership at the QB position, but didn't produce and wasn' the leader they expected. It feels like forever ago, but remember all the horrendous passes McNabb was throwing at peoples feet and his inability to see the field and how he just would dump the ball off..... While I fault MS/BA for not knowing that before trading for him, I don't fault them for transitioning so quickly from him.
RayNAustin wrote: I'm betting you're wrong. I think it would be easy to find a good coach that wold love to have RG3 as their building block .... like Gruden.
Snyder has kept his hands off ... he's got an open wallet ... and aside from the fan's perspective, that's all head coaches want ... an owner that will give them what they ask for, and let them manage and coach the players they choose.
As a side note: do you know that among the 14 Redskin assistant coaches, 11 of them have no NFL playing experience? Kyle doesn't even have playing experience at all ... and is just a very young understudy, still wet behind the ears. He's far from a seasoned, or proven commodity. The Texans offense actually improved after Kyle left.
I hope I'm wrong, but not sure I will be. If I were a coach, I would be hesitant to trust the Danny given his prior history. He is quick to pull the trigger and is tempermental. I do believe he has learned his lesson, but not sure that if in fact things turned around --- his arrogance would reemerge and the cycle would start over.
In terms of the assistants and NFL experience --- I don't see that as an issue at all. Joe Gibbs had no NFL experience; nor did Mike Tomlin or Belichick or Parcells or Coughlin or Payton (well played 3 games as a replacement player) or Crennel or Philbin or well, the list is rather long. That is an overrated characteristic. A good coach or assistant (since all the coaches above were at one time assistants) doesn't have to be a former player; I would take a guy who is smart, passionate, knows the game, good analyist, etc.
With all these things being said, I want to make sure something is clear. I do not believe that MS or BA has been doing a good job. They have made some serious mistakes that have cost this team tremendously. I agree they have not met expectations. That said, I am more afraid that if Danny fires MS that he will hire another puppet. I would rather have MS than a puppet like we did with Vinny/Zorn. If they can go out and get a guy like Mike Tomlin or Coughlin then great. But most importantly we need a GM. I have always maintained that BA wasn't exactly a huge success in TBay. We need a GM ---- a really good one.