Washington Post: Redskins vs. Cowboys: Shanahans lose a game, but win Donovan McNabb

[BGO]

ARLINGTON, TEX. It wasn't a ballgame so much as a referendum on who was right. All week there were undercurrents of resentment and blame among the Washington Redskins over the benching of Donovan McNabb . Was he the problem, or was the problem Coach Mike Shanahan and his junior partner Kyle ? The...

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[Boone]

A scathing, and sadly, mostly accurate assessment by Sally Jenkins.

Ouch!

 

[servumtuum]

It burns when someone you don't like tells you a truth you don't want to hear.

 

[stevenaa]

I liked what I heard. It wasn't working as hoped so the change was made. I particularly liked the following which is quite a departure for this team. Doesn't quarentee future success, but I like it. Mediocrity is not going to be accepted. We'll see if it applies to coaches, cough-Haslett-cough.

"Shanahan is going to blow up the roster until he gets the right players for his system in house. There's not a single player whose return is assured, now that Shanahan has shown himself willing to chuck the highest-profile star on the team. He's tearing up his own script and starting over. And he clearly doesn't care if the locker room is divided - half of them might not be back next year anyway.

"We're going to learn how to win," Shanahan said. "It's going to take some time." "

 

[the Omniscient]

I said something similar, 'who cares what the players think, most won't be back next year.' As of right now, I really do not care what any of the players think, I want a change in culture and I think we are seeing it.

I think it is only fair to give Haslett another chance stevenaa. I know that is not a popular opinion. I do not think Haslett calls a good game, which is mandatory for a 3-4 system. However, in his defense he has not had the personnel he needs to run this scheme properly. That alone should buy him another year.

Now we do not know the conversations between Shanny and Haslett. Maybe Haslett said that we had the right personnel. Don't know why he would say that, just hypothetical. If he had said that, he might need to find a new job. If Shanny forced the 3-4 and Haslett had to deal with it, then it is not entirely on Haslett and he still recieves another year.

Plus, with the organisation wanting more consistency, it would be bad practice to fire a coach. Of course there is a flip side to this as well. Shanny's main undoing in Denver was refusing to fire his defensive coach and friend Bob Slowik (who is now our defensive backs coach). At least that was one of the reasons reported at the time.

Maybe Shanny will fire Haslett based on his own past, but I think he will stick around and be allowed to perform next year. If we do not see improvement next year, he may look for another job.

 

[servumtuum]

I liked it too, stevenaa. My comment was actually a half-tongue-in-cheek jab at those complaining about Shanahan being as arrogant a$$.

Yeah he is, and makes some mistakes too-but on this one-he nailed it.

I also think that the discipline he's installed is a vast improvement over what we had.

He sometimes acts like a little tyrant-but unlike some we've had in the past-he treats everybody like that. Nobody's "privileged"-that drove me absolutely nuts in the past.

It's gone-and I thank him for that.

 

[Henry]

"Maybe it was just a bad fit."

The Redskin battle-cry.


Good article. I'm not the biggest Sally Jenkins fan but she got this one right.

 

[Yusuf06]

I liked what I heard. It wasn't working as hoped so the change was made. I particularly liked the following which is quite a departure for this team. Doesn't quarentee future success, but I like it. Mediocrity is not going to be accepted. We'll see if it applies to coaches, cough-Haslett-cough.

"Shanahan is going to blow up the roster until he gets the right players for his system in house. There's not a single player whose return is assured, now that Shanahan has shown himself willing to chuck the highest-profile star on the team. He's tearing up his own script and starting over. And he clearly doesn't care if the locker room is divided - half of them might not be back next year anyway.

"We're going to learn how to win," Shanahan said. "It's going to take some time." "

Agreed Steve. While there was an element of "What we do works" in Shanny's comments, it was encouraging to realize that unlike the last time we heard that from our coach, it's actually true this time around. The fact that genuine football guys are running our team for the first time in a decade is what gives me hope for the future. No matter how bad things appear right now.

The grudging respect now being shown Jenkins and other writers these days is pretty ironic. I remember a time that some were calling Jenkins the "C" word and saying that she, like everyone else in the media hated the team. It's amazing how the final recognition that the Emperor was in fact naked has changed views about alleged media bias against the team. Well, a little anyway.

 

[Ax]

I remember a time that some were calling Jenkins the "C" word and saying that she, like everyone else in the media hated the team. It's amazing how the final recognition that the Emperor was in fact naked has changed views about alleged media bias against the team. Well, a little anyway.

No, she's still a worthless ****, writing about a DC team while sitting on her fat ass in New York. Much of what she says is usually articulated by folks on this message board. Just as timely and accurate, yet they don't get paid for it.

 

[fansince62]

I especially like the last sentence. been arguing from day 1...unpopular as that theme was...that the team needed to be blown up.

so...what I think happened yesterday...was that Shanahan demonstrated the scheme works. however, I still maintain Grossman aint even close to being the answer. Jenkins missed the key point other than his tendancy...documented over his career....to turnovers: he throws an air ball....especially in the long game.

 

[Bulldog]

Here is the most significant comment coming out of Shanahan:

We're going to learn how to win," Shanahan said. "It's going to take some time".

Hallelujah!

No more quick fixes, no more 30 year old retreads for big dollars.

Time to find reasonably priced veterans who can still play and NOT give away April draft choices for expediency.

Measured improvement.

No more herky-jerky, 1 step ahead, 2 steps back philosopy.

Finally!

 

[Goaldeje]

You're giving him a lot of the benefit of the doubt, BT. I hate being debbie downer, but he traded away two relatively high draft picks for an aging, ineffective QB less than 8 months ago.

If he has truly learned his lesson and we will not be doing those things, then you cry of "Hallelujah" fits the bill, and I will add an "A-men".

I guess I'm in Show-Me mode.

 

[fansince62]

Here is the most significant comment coming out of Shanahan:

We're going to learn how to win," Shanahan said. "It's going to take some time".

Hallelujah!

No more quick fixes, no more 30 year old retreads for big dollars.

Time to find reasonably priced veterans who can still play and NOT give away April draft choices for expediency.

Measured improvement.

No more herky-jerky, 1 step ahead, 2 steps back philosopy.

Finally!

let's hope so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Special K]

Unfortunately, that was a good article

It'd really be nice to see fans exercise a little trust in a patience with Shanahan. It's going to take time to turn this train wreck and a half around, but I really think we have the right HC and GM in place now to do it.