Comments on The Om Field: Redskins vs Patriots Preview - Meaning, Expectatio...

I think we're on the same page, Aston. In the ...

2009-08-28T19:21:20.050-04:00

I think we're on the same page, Aston. In the piece I referred to these affairs not having meaning anything "beyond the context of individual performances by certain players about whom the jury is still out ..."

To me that's what preseason is useful for---for the coaches to evaluate where certain players are physically and mentally, so they can use that information to cover said weaknesses once the gameplanning starts as needed, and/or make roster decisions on those few slots per year that are actually undecided.

Coaches can use the "game" situation films to supplement what they see every day in practice ... and those of us watching from the stands or our living rooms can form impressions of players as well, even if they are without the context in which the plays are run.

All of which, as it happens, goes to my premise that the Week Three hype is nothing but that.

Partially agree with preseason meaning nothing. I...

2009-08-28T15:24:58.608-04:00

Partially agree with preseason meaning nothing. In terms of stats, results, and it's "projection" capability, I agree that all of that is essentially meaningless. But that's not what I focus on.

You hear the word "vanilla" a lot during preseason, typically when describing the offense. Most defenses are pretty vanilla too, and so to me, preseason is nothing more than a tool to measure the fundamentals of individual players.

In general:
How well do they block/shed blocks?
How well do they tackle/break tackles?
How well do they cover/get open?
How well can they catch/throw?

Among other things, I've learned that Kelly has hands that be depended on, Tryon is not fit to be a man-on-man corner, Orakpo is the most talented end we've had in a decade, Doughty isn't as bad as I once thought, and Chase Daniel seems to have more natural skill than any other QB on the roster.

Anon, Very dramatic. And completely missing the m...

2009-08-28T14:16:49.597-04:00

Anon,

Very dramatic. And completely missing the mark.

On your fist question--what the Redskins 2-6 finish had to do with either the 6-2 start OR the preseason--the answer is ... absolutely nothing. Which was the whole point.

On the second part, you have bought into what the media, sportstalk radio and message boards have been selling. I have not. The offenses you see the Redskins and Pats running tonight are not the offenses they'll be running in two weeks. Same for the defenses.

Buy the hype at your peril.

Sean,

Way I see it Jason has between 4-8 games to make the case. If he and the team are faltering and his play is clearly contributing to that, I think Zorn will pull the plug. At that point we would see Collins, and, depending on how he fares and the season goes after, whoever is left standing b/w Colt and Chase.

And head into spring looking still looking for The Man. Maybe Colt, maybe Chase, maybe someone from outside.

If Jason plays well, then he, Zorn and the FO will have a tough spring trying to hammer out a contract that satisfies both sides. If they can, woot. If they can't, and he ends up leaving, the Redskins will head into spring in the same boat they've been since 1985---looking for The Man.

Agree with you about Brennan and Daniel. Brennan l...

2009-08-28T13:50:09.306-04:00

Agree with you about Brennan and Daniel. Brennan looked great before the interception. Daniel just looked great.

But where does that leave Campbell. He's entering the last year of his contract. The team is wavering about re-signing him. So he performs well and leads the team to the playoffs, team wants to re-sign.

But what if Campbell doesn't? Draft? Brennan/Daniel? Too inexperienced?

Remember, Campbell didn't perform as well against backups in his first preseason as Brennan and Daniel are performing.

Strange times.

"After the requisite Week 3 buildup last year...

2009-08-28T13:09:36.952-04:00

"After the requisite Week 3 buildup last year, the Redskins marched off to Carolina, where the Panthers handed them asses, 47-3....
The Redskins proceeded to start the regular season 6-2."

Uhhh... how'd they finish the season? The Skins are likely to start hot again this year against very week competition -- the Lions, the Rams -- but age and the schedule will catch up with them. By midseason, Vinnie Cerrato will be calling up 450 pound washouts to plug in his offensive line. Wait, he already did. When Samuels, Rabach, and Thomas miss time -- and at their ages and injury histories, all likely will -- the Skins go straight down the toilet. Midseason also happens to coincide with the tough part of the schedule.

But let's get back to tonight's game: the preseason is very important. It's time for the offensive line to play together. It's time for QBs and receivers to work out the bugs. It's time to test young players. And it's time to install pieces and parts of your offense and defense. Preseason is glorified practice. Do you think practice is unimportant? Maybe if you're Allen Iverson (who never won jack, incidentally), but not if you're the Skins.

And tonight's game is the biggest practice of all. The last chance to make any changes before it matters. The last chance to establish an identity. This game means nothing to the Pats -- they know who they are. This game means everything to the Skins. They are bottom-feeders hoping to climb to respectability.

Ignore it at your peril.