 }})
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2009
- Messages
- 2,806
- Reaction score
- 4,306
- Points
- 318
- Alma Mater
The 1991 Football Season.
That was the last time the Washington Football Team played in the NFC Championship Game.
I was 7 years old.
Since then the Washington Football Team hasn't made it back, have only been in the playoffs six times and posted a 212-299 record (this may be off, I haven't had my coffee yet and it was a long night).
Until now.
I started with coaching last week and I am going to start the same way this week. Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt are getting the absolute most out of the talent that they have on both sides of the ball. It's been incredible. They are undertalented but that doesn't stop them from believing in the guys we have and using the talent that we do have to prop the others up and make this a true "TEAM". And the reason they are able to do that is because of Dan Quinn.
There has been a lot of hand wringing the last few weeks about when we should go for it or just take the points. I said it last week and I'll say it again this week: Ride the horse that got you to the show. Dan Quinn continues to go for it in short yardage situations. Is it always the statistical best choice? I don't know. But does it show his players he believes in them? Does he emphasize that is what we do and stick to the plan and get total buy in from everyone around him? Absolutely. So why change? Because we're uncomfortable? Because it's the playoffs? Because we're scared?
Dan Quinn doesn't care. He is going to do what has worked for us this entire season: Put the ball in Jayden Daniels' hands and watch the magic. And I couldn't be more on board.
Jayden Daniels... 22/31 for 299 and 2 TD, 16 carries for 51 yards. The numbers don't look massive - but they were. But more importantly, as we've said time and time again with this guy - he is completely unrattleable. That's not even a word. But it should be. He never gives up, never looks anything less than in control and his guys believe with him behind center. I could talk all day long about Jayden. In my opinion, as I've said many times, he is a top 3 NFL MVP candidate. But I am going to stop here - why? Well, he's gotten his share of flowers, will be pivotal if this run continues and I want to give some other guys some props.
Brian Robinson, Jr. This game didn't start great for him, either. Got a little cute on a fourth and 1 and he didn't know what he was supposed to do and went and got in the way of a pitch to Jayden Daniels. And then Brian Robinson decided to let all of his mistakes the last few weeks go and he became the Brian Robinson we saw early on in the season. He ran hard, he lowered his shoulder and got the tough yards at a 5.1 per carry clip and two touchdowns.
Austin Ekeler. He didn't do much. Aside for 6 carries, 47 yards (7.8/carry) and 4 receptions for 41 yards... and very explosive.
Dyami freakin' Brown - a guy who many of us thought may be on our roster next year has almost turned himself into a must re-sign. 6 receptions, 98 yards... He had a big drop and many were frustrated - and rightfully so, but that ball was knocked out by a defender on a great play. Dyami has very obviously invested in himself, put in the study time to learn the nuances of receiver play and has elevated his play tenfold. He was our leading target man with eight. Yes, more than 17. Oh, and he helped spring 17 for the 58 yard touchdown.
Speaking of 17... 4 receptions, 87 yards and a touchdown. Not much more to be said. He is our lifeblood.
Not to mention Zach Ertz - five receptions for 28 yards but they were a big 28 yards... and that includes a touchdown and John Bates with the game sealing rare reception.
And special shout out to Trent Scott - many thought that when Cosmi went out we were in trouble - I actually think, without watching in full detail, that the line looked even better after he went out. Props to him for staying prepared and ready to go.
Defensively we can say a ton. Dorance Armstrong had two sacks. One was a critical forced fumble.
Frankie Luvu was a walking hit stick from Madden.
Dante Fowler almost took a freakin' handoff from the Lions on one play.
Bobby Wagner is very clearly the leader we need in the middle of the field.
But there are three guys in particular that I want to shout out. Mike Sainristil - our rookie slot corner, turned into stud outside corner. He just plays with a dawg mentality. Two picks in big moments.
Quan Martin would NOT be denied on that pick six. He refused to go down.
And lastly, the guy I think is our defensive MVP despite tremendous contributions from many others - Jeremy Chinn. Every time the Lions got explosive plays it looked like it was Chinn who was laying the big hit on the play and essentially telling the Lions, "Ya, you got one. But I'm here. And every time you get one, I'll be here. When you wake up from a nap, I'll be there. When you get off the bus, I'll be there. There is no where to hide. I will find you."
Chinn was our leading tackler with 12 and had the game sealing interception.
Shout out to Tress Way who worked overtime this week - he actually had to punt once.
This is special. We are playing with house money and there is no sad ending to this story. All of the scenarios are so far fetched and otherworldly that no matter what happens this will be a story that none of us will ever forget.
Having said that... this team isn't done. The Football Diety has followed us around with a magic wand the entire season, and they will continue to watch over us. We have been chosen for something special, I think.
I think the thing that I'm happiest about in this whole thing is that even some of the "hard to win over" fans who felt so jaded in their hearts they've had trouble embracing this team have started to cross over into this world of believing.
Thank you Josh Harris.
Thank you Adam Peters.
And thank you Major Tuddy.
Studs:
Jayden Daniels - ***
Terry McLaurin - ***
Brian Robinson - ***
Jeremy Chinn - ***
Mike Sainristil - ***
Quan Martin - ***
Dyami Brown - ***
Austin Ekeler - ***
Dorance Armstrong - ***
Zach Ertz - **
Frankie Luvu - **
Bobby Wagner - **
Trent Scott - **
John Bates - *
Dante Fowler - *
Jer'Zhon Newton - *
Season Total:
Studs:
Jayden Daniels - 19x*
Terry McLaurin - 18x*
Jeremy Chinn - 14x*
Frankie Luvu - 11x*
Mike Sainristil - 11x*
Bobby Wagner - 8x*
Olamide Zaccheaus - 6x*
Dyami Brown - 6x*
Zach Ertz - 5x*
Quan Martin - 5x*
Marcus Lattimore - 5x*
Dante Fowler - 5x*
Jer'Zhan Newton - 4x*
Daron Payne -3x*
Marcus Mariota - 3x*
Brian Robinson - 3x*
Austin Ekeler - 3x*
Dorance Armstrong - 3x*
Nick Allegretti - 2x*
Trent Scott - 2x*
Chris Rodriguez - 2x*
Tyler Biadasz - 2x*
Jamison Crowder - 1x*
Jalyn Holmes - 1x*
Clelin Ferrell - 1x*
John Bates - 1x*
Duds:
Austin Seibert - 3x
Michael Davis - 3x
That was the last time the Washington Football Team played in the NFC Championship Game.
I was 7 years old.
Since then the Washington Football Team hasn't made it back, have only been in the playoffs six times and posted a 212-299 record (this may be off, I haven't had my coffee yet and it was a long night).
Until now.
I started with coaching last week and I am going to start the same way this week. Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt are getting the absolute most out of the talent that they have on both sides of the ball. It's been incredible. They are undertalented but that doesn't stop them from believing in the guys we have and using the talent that we do have to prop the others up and make this a true "TEAM". And the reason they are able to do that is because of Dan Quinn.
There has been a lot of hand wringing the last few weeks about when we should go for it or just take the points. I said it last week and I'll say it again this week: Ride the horse that got you to the show. Dan Quinn continues to go for it in short yardage situations. Is it always the statistical best choice? I don't know. But does it show his players he believes in them? Does he emphasize that is what we do and stick to the plan and get total buy in from everyone around him? Absolutely. So why change? Because we're uncomfortable? Because it's the playoffs? Because we're scared?
Dan Quinn doesn't care. He is going to do what has worked for us this entire season: Put the ball in Jayden Daniels' hands and watch the magic. And I couldn't be more on board.
Jayden Daniels... 22/31 for 299 and 2 TD, 16 carries for 51 yards. The numbers don't look massive - but they were. But more importantly, as we've said time and time again with this guy - he is completely unrattleable. That's not even a word. But it should be. He never gives up, never looks anything less than in control and his guys believe with him behind center. I could talk all day long about Jayden. In my opinion, as I've said many times, he is a top 3 NFL MVP candidate. But I am going to stop here - why? Well, he's gotten his share of flowers, will be pivotal if this run continues and I want to give some other guys some props.
Brian Robinson, Jr. This game didn't start great for him, either. Got a little cute on a fourth and 1 and he didn't know what he was supposed to do and went and got in the way of a pitch to Jayden Daniels. And then Brian Robinson decided to let all of his mistakes the last few weeks go and he became the Brian Robinson we saw early on in the season. He ran hard, he lowered his shoulder and got the tough yards at a 5.1 per carry clip and two touchdowns.
Austin Ekeler. He didn't do much. Aside for 6 carries, 47 yards (7.8/carry) and 4 receptions for 41 yards... and very explosive.
Dyami freakin' Brown - a guy who many of us thought may be on our roster next year has almost turned himself into a must re-sign. 6 receptions, 98 yards... He had a big drop and many were frustrated - and rightfully so, but that ball was knocked out by a defender on a great play. Dyami has very obviously invested in himself, put in the study time to learn the nuances of receiver play and has elevated his play tenfold. He was our leading target man with eight. Yes, more than 17. Oh, and he helped spring 17 for the 58 yard touchdown.
Speaking of 17... 4 receptions, 87 yards and a touchdown. Not much more to be said. He is our lifeblood.
Not to mention Zach Ertz - five receptions for 28 yards but they were a big 28 yards... and that includes a touchdown and John Bates with the game sealing rare reception.
And special shout out to Trent Scott - many thought that when Cosmi went out we were in trouble - I actually think, without watching in full detail, that the line looked even better after he went out. Props to him for staying prepared and ready to go.
Defensively we can say a ton. Dorance Armstrong had two sacks. One was a critical forced fumble.
Frankie Luvu was a walking hit stick from Madden.
Dante Fowler almost took a freakin' handoff from the Lions on one play.
Bobby Wagner is very clearly the leader we need in the middle of the field.
But there are three guys in particular that I want to shout out. Mike Sainristil - our rookie slot corner, turned into stud outside corner. He just plays with a dawg mentality. Two picks in big moments.
Quan Martin would NOT be denied on that pick six. He refused to go down.
And lastly, the guy I think is our defensive MVP despite tremendous contributions from many others - Jeremy Chinn. Every time the Lions got explosive plays it looked like it was Chinn who was laying the big hit on the play and essentially telling the Lions, "Ya, you got one. But I'm here. And every time you get one, I'll be here. When you wake up from a nap, I'll be there. When you get off the bus, I'll be there. There is no where to hide. I will find you."
Chinn was our leading tackler with 12 and had the game sealing interception.
Shout out to Tress Way who worked overtime this week - he actually had to punt once.
This is special. We are playing with house money and there is no sad ending to this story. All of the scenarios are so far fetched and otherworldly that no matter what happens this will be a story that none of us will ever forget.
Having said that... this team isn't done. The Football Diety has followed us around with a magic wand the entire season, and they will continue to watch over us. We have been chosen for something special, I think.
I think the thing that I'm happiest about in this whole thing is that even some of the "hard to win over" fans who felt so jaded in their hearts they've had trouble embracing this team have started to cross over into this world of believing.
Thank you Josh Harris.
Thank you Adam Peters.
And thank you Major Tuddy.
Studs:
Jayden Daniels - ***
Terry McLaurin - ***
Brian Robinson - ***
Jeremy Chinn - ***
Mike Sainristil - ***
Quan Martin - ***
Dyami Brown - ***
Austin Ekeler - ***
Dorance Armstrong - ***
Zach Ertz - **
Frankie Luvu - **
Bobby Wagner - **
Trent Scott - **
John Bates - *
Dante Fowler - *
Jer'Zhon Newton - *
Season Total:
Studs:
Jayden Daniels - 19x*
Terry McLaurin - 18x*
Jeremy Chinn - 14x*
Frankie Luvu - 11x*
Mike Sainristil - 11x*
Bobby Wagner - 8x*
Olamide Zaccheaus - 6x*
Dyami Brown - 6x*
Zach Ertz - 5x*
Quan Martin - 5x*
Marcus Lattimore - 5x*
Dante Fowler - 5x*
Jer'Zhan Newton - 4x*
Daron Payne -3x*
Marcus Mariota - 3x*
Brian Robinson - 3x*
Austin Ekeler - 3x*
Dorance Armstrong - 3x*
Nick Allegretti - 2x*
Trent Scott - 2x*
Chris Rodriguez - 2x*
Tyler Biadasz - 2x*
Jamison Crowder - 1x*
Jalyn Holmes - 1x*
Clelin Ferrell - 1x*
John Bates - 1x*
Duds:
Austin Seibert - 3x
Michael Davis - 3x
