Vision Quest A weekend to remember

It is rare that I get to write an article with the live experience as the background. Usually I am surrounded with a few skin fans at a local Sports Bar here in sunny Syracuse (note the sarcasm) or holed up in my Redskin room at home trying to avoid my daughter and wife’s call for me to do chores. When Gibbs returned to coaching my wife and I got married in the same year and as a honeymoon present we went to Fed Ex for the Giants game. Despite car problems that caused us to miss most of the first half we had such a great time we decided to try and get to one game in Fed Ex a year. Last year we went to the Oakland game which was a tough game but we had fun hanging out with some hr members in the parking lot. So much fun we vowed to go to the official hr tailgate the next year.

And that turned out to be one of the best decisions of my football life.

The weekend was already incredible. My wife and I drove down the day before and spent the night walking around the National Mall. It was a beautiful night and though we were tired from the drive down, we walked for hours. As we strolled by the WW II memorial we decided to get a late dinner and sit by the duck pond near the reflecting pool and relax. As we were eating out of the woods appeared one of the strangest things….a wild fox.

The fox scampered about its business ignoring every tourist and walker in its path as it chased squirrels and ducks in search of a late night snack. I scampered after it trying to get a picture (which I will post the best one of on the hR tailgate picture thread). And I wondered who was this fox scurrying through DC and where did he come from. But the fox was probably wondering the same thing. He had confidence and was determination as if this was his town and we were the interlopers.

Later that night we went back to our hotel, the lovely Greenbelt Marriott. Big props to Axegrinder for suggesting this to us as last year. It is the player’s hotel and you will run into a few in the lobby every now and then. It is a little expensive but for once a year it is about right. While we were waiting for some drinks at the bar I noticed that if I stood in the corner of the room I could look in on the coach’s dinner in one of the banquet rooms. Gregg Williams and Danny Smith were clearly visible eating dinner together and if I craned my neck I could see I was just two panes of glass away from my hero, Joe Gibbs. I kept pretending to lose my cell phone signal so I could wander over to the corner and see if they were drawing up special plans for tomorrow’s game. That is until my wife caught on and brought me to my senses.

As we were waiting for the Elevator to I noticed that I walked obliviously right by a long line of fans. From around the corner appeared Don Breaux with a gentle demeanor and pleasant grin. I must have mistook him for Santa Claus with his white hair because I felt like a 5 year old as I nervously approached him and shook his hand, he asked where we were from. “New York” I said and explained how I come down once a year to watch the game. He said that he hoped we brought the team good luck. I sheepishly replied that we wouldn’t need luck and he said “Yeah but we will take it!!!”

I got up early and the wife and I prepared to go to the game. As we drove into the tailgate and walk parking lot that Smoak clued us into I pulled up right next to Pgiddy, Akh, and Becky. (And how about those two lovebirds Akh and Becky, an hR romance!!!). It was great partying with all of my hR friends before the game. It was already a good day and we are definitely planning on the hR tailgate for next year already. On top of that I got to get my picture with SuperSkin defender of the Burgundy and Gold which is going right into the Redskin room.

As we went into the stadium I picked up a brand new hat and settled into my seat early way up in section 431. I once again marveled at what a great Stadium Fed Ex is. The upper level is almost perfect for watching football and the excitement and energy of the crowd was amazing. Every drive fans were standing up and cheering, People I barely knew were high fiving me and hugging when Moss zipped into the end zone for that last wonderful TD.

I could talk about the game more but I doubt I can add that others have not already said. One note for the future. My wife and I were sitting among 5 kids all under the age of 10 with three different families. Most of the kids did not know each other but you could see the excitement as they celebrated each score. One of the littlest kept giving me High fives (or rather extremely low fives) every time I jumped up and started screaming. It was his first ever football game and what a game. These kids will remember that day for a long time and they are the future of Redskin Nation.

After the game the wife and I hung out for awhile chatting it up with so many of our friends at the tailgate. We didn’t want to leave but we had a long ride home to Syracuse ahead of us so eventually we decided to mosey on back to the car and make our way home. As I was crossing the PA state line with my wife asleep besides me I was still stoked about how wonderful this weekend was and reliving it a little.

As I was smiling I remembered the fox that seemed to come up and greet us on the National Mall. I realized that the Redskins were that fox. They came out of hiding to do what they needed to survive this year. A win against the Jags a so-called “superior” team to pull to 2-2 and erase the bad memories of the first two weeks. The swagger was back and sure there are problems we need to address. But for last weekend it was clear. Redskin football was back in town. And now the season really begins.

5 Things We Know Now

I am so glad that I can write the 5 things we know now this week instead of the 5 things we don’t know that I usually do after a loss. After each win we learn a little bit more about our team. Here are the 5 Things We Know Now

Clinton Portis is the Fire engine If the Houston game was not proof enough then the Jacksonville game was the definitive point. Ports can flat out play. The Redskins called the same running plays in Houston and Against the Jags as they did the previous two weeks. Portis is quick and can find the holes faster which makes our line look better and block harder. The Redskins will win if we continue to feed Portis the ball. He may not be the best Running back in football, but he is in the conversation. Doubt that…look at what he did on Santana’s first touchdown. He laid two blocks 55 yards apart to spring Santana free. Go ahead and hope for a different back, I will take Portis every day of the week over anyone else.

Santana is the Smoke Have you ever tried to catch smoke with your hands? That is how frustrated Jacksonville must be right now. Moss’s 3 TD performance, including 2 over 50 yards, is the kind of game you only see in Madden 2007. There were so many jockstraps left on the field that you would think it was Mark Foley’s bedroom. Seriously this is a phenomenal talent and I have said it before and will say it again, best player for player trade in the Snyder era.

Rock Cartwright is a legitimate Kick Returner Boy I had no idea what Danny Smith had in mind here when it started but Rock is proving me wrong. This former fullback is really impressing me with his ability to get positive yardage on every kickoff. He sees the blocks well and his diminutive size makes it hard for opponents to find him in a crowd. And there is no arm tackling the rock, he is as tough as it comes. I look forward to seeing him progress throughout the season.

Derrick Frost still needs work on his punts I had just come around to this guy. Before the game I was actually defending his recent play. Then he goes ahead and shanks two straight punts when punting from deep in our territory in a tight game. We may not be able to do anything about it now, but if we don’t bring in legitimate competition for him next year (and no an Australian who never played football at a high level does not count) I may have to start wondering if Frost has kidnapped a coach’s wife.

The Pass Coverage will get better with Springs back, but it will miss Prioleau all season long One slightly bad note in the game is the absolute mess in our pass defense. Sure Leftwhich is talented but no way should he have been able to pick apart the defense. Whether it is lack off pass coverage or pass rush, we just are not getting the job done. And Although most expect it to get better when Spring’s return I think the team may miss Prioleau more. Without p squared Arch has to be more of a cover safety then he is used to and is getting abused each time out. Also Prioleau would have replaced Holdman on many 2nd down situations and right now Holdman is getting killed by the TE any time he is pass coverage. Mike Rumph may be able to fill that role once Springs is happy so here is to Springs health.


Looking ahead

I always get scared going into the meadowlands. The team never seems to play well in the meadowlands and our last two outings there have been pitiful. The Giants are in many ways where the Redskins were right before the Jags game. They are desperate for a win to turn around the year after a rough few weeks. Also the Lavar and Pierce will be looking to prove things against their former teams.

If the Redskins are to win this game they must control the clock, and that means Clinton Portis. Getting him going early will open up the passing game for Mark Brunell and Santana Moss. We also have to get Cooley involved in the middle of the field to keep their safeties honest and prevent them from double teaming Moss every play. On Defense we have to focus Lemar Marshall on Jeremy Shockey. The only other player that cover the boisterous TE is Taylor who we need leveling wood in the backfield. Rogers and Wright should be able to help contain the wide Receivers but our front four needs to get Pressure on Manning to make him make as many mistakes as possible.

That’s it. Until next week hail to the Redskins!!!!