It's been a long time since I've posted on here -- Ken, Kevin, Parks and everyone else have done a great job -- but I wanted to take some time out to make a point I'm surprised not to have seen on this website recently.

Many fans, including our own Ken, continue displaying patience with this franchise that would make Orioles' fans blush. I have seen a ton of arguments on this site for drafting an OL in the upcoming draft, or trading down to garner extra picks and building from there.

I possess a completely different opinion, and I believe there is ample logic to back me up.

I believe the Redskins need to take an elite QB in this draft -- by any reasonable means necessary.

Looking at this NFL season, it is clear that there is no more important characteristic of a football team than the caliber of its quarterback.

The Super Bowl will be a duel between two of the four best QB's this year: Tom Brady and Eli Manning. Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees single-handedly led their teams to unbelievable seasons despite weak defenses. Matthew Stafford may have been outside the top 5 NFL QB's this year, yet still hit 5,000 yards -- and the Lions made the playoffs. Matt Ryan caught a lot of flack this year -- but still passed for 29 TD's and 4200 yards, leading the Falcons back to the playoffs.

The teams who made the playoffs this season -- from the Giants to the Falcons to the Patriots to the Bengals -- got there at least in part because of strong play at the quarterback position. Even the 49ers, Ravens, and Broncos received strong play from usually-maligned quarterbacks.

Not because of amazing offensive lines. Not because of amazing defenses (right, New England/NO/GB?). Because of outstanding quarterbacks.

So my proposition is this: If your scouts and coaches believe someone can be the next Eli/Peyton/Rodgers -- and you DON'T do what it takes to get them? You are going backwards.

I believe the elite quarterback the Redskins will have a chance at is going to be Robert Griffin, the Heisman winner out of Baylor. And I believe he's completely worth several future draft picks, given his talent and the state of our franchise.

(Yes, I did just say we should get a QB by any means necessary. The No. 1 pick may not even be for sale, and if it is, the price would have to be one of the most lopsided and indefensible trades in NFL history. As much as we would all like to see Luck in consideration as well, the package required to get Luck at No. 1 would be asinine compared to what would be required to move up to No. 2. So I'm discounting that option. Bear with me.)

I am arguing the Redskins do whatever is necessary to get their QB of the future (and present) in this draft, and that doing anything else should be viewed as an abject, irresponsible failure -- one that could ultimately cost Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen their jobs.

And that man is going to be Robert Griffin III.

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Hey Hogs Haven, it's my first football season in New York city and I'm sure there's a Redskins bar somewhere. Anyone have any recommendations? Hopefully there are some New Yorkers in the house that go out to watch games on Sundays...

I've been able to locate Ravens, Steelers, Lions and 49ers bars, so I'm pretty sure DC is represented somewhere in the city. Haven't yet found it yet, though. 

If anyone knows a good spot, let me know and I'll probably see you there. Guidance is most appreciated. Thanks!

Hail... 20-10 Skins vs the Rams. 

Sorry about this part: Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins Go Skins

First of all -- congratulations to Ryan Kerrigan. We're glad to have him in Washington and here's why:

Kerrigan is a hard worker and a great finisher. He is solid in every sense of the word. He was an Academic All-American and is of very high character, according to everyone who has reviewed him. Todd McShay went as far as saying there's "no chance [Kerrigan] will be a bust in the NFL" when analyzing the Redskins pick. You have to love that.

He is a great pass rusher and much faster than I thought he'd be when I saw his tape for the first time today. He is quick and a turnover machine -- he tied the record in FBS for forced fumbles. 

The position of OLB was a tremendous need for the Redskins. It is a key position in the 3-4 and we finally have someone who offenses will have to worry about besides Brian Orakpo in the pass rush.

The first round went like this: we picked up a starter at a key position that will be reliable for a long time, while adding a quality pick in the second round. In other words, by passing on Blaine Gabbert, we may have picked up three starters. You have to love that. 

I'm pretty sure everyone reacted exactly like I did when Kerrigan got picked. First of all, we all wondered who that guy on the phone was. (I think I joked, "That better be Mark Ingram's agent.") Then, we all said, "Okay... So we picked a 4-3 defensive end over Prince Amukamara (or Ingram, or Castanzo, etc)?!?

I think we all have reason to be a little concerned that Kerrigan has never played linebacker, but it is a position where the transition can be pretty smooth. 3-4 OLB is not that different from 4-3 end, and given the amount of nickel the Skins played last season, it looks like we could count on Kerrigan being pretty comfortable at the line in pass-rushing situations. 

At first, I did not like the pick, but the kid has character and great technique, so I've changed my mind. Good pick, better work to get a second 2nd-rounder. 

But now, the real test comes. Will the Redskins pick a quarterback and blow this entire draft? Or will they pick up two impact starters? 

My explanation below:

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Nothing quite riles up a fanbase like the weeks leading up to the NFL draft. This year, in particular, Redskins fans find themselves a bit divided. On a team with so many needs, the options with the #10 pick are endless -- from taking a quarterback, taking a pass-rusher, reaching for Mike Pouncey, trading down, trading up, etc. 

Then comes the second round pick, the only light in the tunnel for three rounds. After pick #41, the Redskins have to wait for 103 quality players and potential future starters to fall off the board -- until we get to round 5 -- before making another selection. Pressure's on, Bruce. 

Everyone has their own opinion about what to do with these picks. I want to run through several scenarios before ultimately convincing you of the best way to go at the top and in the second. 

First, some ground rules for picking in the top 10.

1) Pick a longtime starter. In the top 10, you have to pick someone you think will start for a long time -- like, 8+ years. Many of the Redskins' top picks in the past few years fit that bill. Trent Williams, LaRon Landry, the late Sean Taylor and many others validate this point. 

2) Don't reach. You're in the top 10. If you're reaching, you should be trading down. Someone on the board is an elite player at their position, even if you don't need them, so in theory, someone should want them. You have to get value out of a top 10 pick because of the money and because of the stakes -- in theory, you shouldn't pick in the top 10 that often.

3) If possible, try not to gamble. You know that feeling you had when the 'Skins picked Orakpo? Or the one you had when they picked LaRon Landry? You just said to yourself, "there's no question that guy's gonna be good." 

They passed every single smell test. They showed extensive good play in college, they didn't have any character issues, they were great athletes and smart football players. Any single team in the top 10 had to consider drafting this person. You always want one of those. You don't want any Tyson Alualu's. (Despite the fact that the guy can play.)

Last rule and projection after the jump...

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Hey TT readers, a couple of stories about Terps spring football practice you guys might want to take a look at if you haven't checked them out already. 

About Kenny Tate and the new-look linebackers

Notebook from practice yesterday that includes updates on Cliff Tucker

Yes, the author of those stories is shamelessly self-promoting. Hope you enjoy them anyway. A bit of good news amidst this Hubert business... 

Go Terps and I think that should be 75 words

Some "experts" -- and by those, I mean some mock drafts done by amateurs and some professionals -- have Ryan Mallett slipping out of the first round altogether, due to concerns about his play on the field and his attitude off of it. 

I think we all can agree that there isn't a convincing case to be made for the Redskins taking a quarterback (with the possible exception of Blaine Gibbert) at #10, but what if someone like Mallett (or Jake Locker) was available in the 2nd? 

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this, because I'm, frankly, not sure either way. 

In a game of nasty weather, ugly miscues and the most inexcusable special teams mistake possible, there were a lot of images that will make Redskins fans -- and the organization -- cringe. 

But one image stands out above all. 

An empty stadium. 

I wasn't at the game -- but after having season tickets for 11 years (my family stopped shelling out several grand a year after the first Zorn year and too many frustrated hour-long rides back to Baltimore) -- I have been to over 100 games at FedEx. I've seen teams that were 0-5, some even 3-13, and only one playoff game (1999, a win over Robert Porcher's Lions. That's right, a playoff game between the Redskins and Lions).

We've been blown out, beaten when we're down, and publicly humiliated. But I have never seen a Redskins stadium like that. Attendance was listed at 66,124. But it dipped significantly (cut in half?) at halftime -- when the Redskins were leading 10-9!

Dan Steinberg has photos, but anyone who watched the broadcast Sunday saw the evidence themselves. If I were in Ken's position, I would have done exactly what he did. And frankly, I wouldn't blame anyone else who did. 

So what's the problem? Why is there less excitement now than there was in the early Norv Turner era? Even the early Gibbs era, when the Redskins finished an eerily similar 5-11? 

There's one word to define the Redskins franchise. It's not a pleasant one. I'm searching for another word, but all I can think of is this. To couch the impact of this word, I am now on record saying I believe completely the Redskins will bounce back sometime in Shanahan's tenure.

But in summary, the state of the 2010 Redskins is this:

Hopeless.

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According to Cat Scratch Reader, SB Nation's Carolina Panthers affiliate, Carolina has cut former Redskins WR Devin Thomas, whom they signed off of waivers after the Redskins released him a few weeks back.

I know a lot of us here at HH were sympathetic towards Thomas over the last few years, believing in his potential to be an impact player at the WR position. The fact that he was released by Carolina -- a squad as thin as any in the NFL at WR -- should show us that Shanahan was probably right about Devin. In other words, we have a guy who knows what he's doing for a head coach. Finally. 

If only we could turn back time and grab some of the WR's that were left on the board when the Redskins picked Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis (his last week notwithstanding) a few years ago, or pick offensive linemen instead. 

Best of luck to Devin. Given the Redskins' luck, he'll probably end up catching 50 touchdowns in about 3 years from Kyle Orton in Denver alongside another Redskins cast-off. 

Redskins losses are always difficult to stomach in a town as football-crazed as DC. NFC East losses are even worse -- you hear it from your family, your co-workers, your other East Coast (or Texas) friends. I know how it is -- you can't watch Sportscenter the next day. You can't look at your Facebook because all the statuses seem to be from depressed 'Skins fans or hatemongering Cowboys fans. But we live through losses, we suck it up and support our team the following week. 

Losses are tough, occasionally heartbreaking. Blowouts are worse. 

However, unprofessional, pathetic, nationally-televised embarrassments in the biggest game of the season are intolerable. 

The Redskins had fifteen days to prepare for Monday's game, after losing to a Lions team that just lost to winless Buffalo. Mike Shanahan had fifteen days to scout that Eagles offense, to design plays according to their $78-million-dollar man's skill set against his former squad, whom they had beaten weeks previously on the road. Jim Haslett had 15 days to watch the tape for a game he had already prepared us for once. 

But our team that, with one big win, would be essentially in control of its own destiny in a division that's up for grabs, might as well have stayed home last night. This team continues to embarrass a loyal fanbase that, if the overcompensated and underperforming organization is not careful, is going to continue to dissolve.

You know the story, I don't need to rehash it. Michael Vick threw for 45 touchdowns and ran for 10 more -- something like that. He beat us with the deep ball, gimmicky play-calls, quick out passes and his legs -- surprise, surprise, right?! (Maybe someone should tell Jim Haslett that the Titans have Chris Johnson and are likely to run the ball once or twice.) Our offense went three and out when it absolutely needed first downs in the first quarter. Our special teams didn't have one big play, with the exception of Lorenzo Alexander's big hit. 

The Redskins coaches and players should be embarrassed, not us. But this city has worn a football albatross for too long, and if we learned one thing from last night, it is this:

There is a culture of big-money, overrated, underperforming pieces in Washington that cares more about making a living than playing pro football. There is a losing culture in Washington, despite the positive influence of a few character guys. It's time that Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen grab the cajones to jettison the players who are holding this team back. And I plan on calling them out after the jump.

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Everyone catch their breath yet?

Now that the dust has settled, it's time to examine exactly what happened in the NFL season's most thrilling game to date. Sunday, the Redskins lost at home to the Houston Texans, a football team a week removed from the biggest win in its franchise's history over the Indianapolis Colts in Week One.

We learned a lot about our team, but a lot of questions remain going forward. Welcome to the first installment of a weekly/bi-weekly/whenever-I-can segment of Questions and Answers, and I thank you for reading. 

Question 1: Can the Redskins run the football?

Clinton Portis has been acceptable, but far from explosive -- through two games he has only 96 yards on 31 carries, but he also racked up two touchdowns against Houston. Larry Johnson has been a non-factor, accumulating only two yards on five carries. Keiland Williams is mostly a pass-catching back, mostly used on third downs.

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In response to a ProFootballTalk story and a FanPost by our own Tiller, I'd like to examine a question that is on everyone's mind: just how old are the Redskins? And can an old roster make it through a season?

An article on Comcast SportsNet in Washington projects the Redskins roster to be about 28.5 years old on average at each position, which would make it the oldest in the league (although this is a ridiculous statement because I don't know how this can be calculated given that no rosters have been set yet). According to the article, "The 22 players who started the 2009 season opener averaged 29.0 years of age. The 22 who are likely to start this year average 29.7 years."

So, let's break it down. How old are the Redskins? Are they too old? Or maybe Comcast SportsNet just made a ridiculous roster projection. 

Let's take a look. 

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Well, that sure was anti-climactic. 

The Redskins made it official just about 30 minutes into the draft last night, taking the player many of us predicted they would at the top of the draft, solidifying their biggest weakness in personnel. 

Trent "Silverback... wtf???" Williams, as the panel of experts/idiots on ESPN said, is not a totally complete package yet, but he clearly has the most upside of any tackle in the draft. Williams is a natural athlete (34 inch vertical when you weigh 315?) who has not seen his potential yet. And, as (I think) Jon Gruden was saying when the Redskins made the pick, when you pick at 4, you want a guy with some upside. Russel Okung will be a good player, but when it's all said and done... I trust Shanahan. And so should you. 

Below I will grade the Redskins pick, discuss the rest of the division, and give some highlights and lowlights of the first round. 

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It feels like Christmas Eve a little, doesn't it? The day before draft day; the day before the Redskins have another young, elite player on their team. 

So far, the Redskins pick at #4 overall (my guess for that pick is that large gentleman on the right), again at #5 in round four ( #103 overall), #32 in the fifth round (thanks to the Adam Carriker trade, that one is #163), and #1 in the seventh round (thanks again to St. Louis... that one is #208 overall). 

We all have our ideas about what's going to happen tomorrow, but I thought I'd share mine so that I could look back in a few weeks and see what an idiot I was. 

A few weeks back, I wrote my first estimate of how I thought the Redskins draft would shake up. Much has changed. The Redskins now have 300 more defensive linemen, a legitimate quarterback and have discussed trading at least three key players from last season. 

So, let's make some predictions, shall we? I'll make 5 below.

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Per NBC Washington:

2 SNF games, 1 MNF game -- we open the season with the Cowboys at home on national television... That should be fun. MNF is Eagles at home. In fact, all of our prime-time games are home games, which will be great for the fans if we're playing good ball... 'Skins play Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning back to back... And also will see Brett Favre.

Sept. 12: vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday Night Football)
Sept. 19: vs. Houston Texans
Sept. 26: at St. Louis Rams

Oct. 3: at Philadelphia Eagles
Oct. 10: vs. Green Bay Packers
Oct. 17: vs. Indianapolis Colts (Sunday Night Football)
Oct. 24: at Chicago Bears
Oct. 31: at Detroit Lions

Nov. 7: BYE
Nov. 15: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Monday Night Football)
Nov. 21: at Tennessee Titans
Nov. 28: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Dec. 5: at New York Giants
Dec. 12: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dec. 19: at Dallas Cowboys
Dec. 26: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Jan. 2: vs. New York Giants

When the Redskins traded two high draft picks for the NFC East's best quarterback, Donovan McNabb, many of us shook our heads in surprise. Why would a team that finished last in the division last year, and went 0-6 against NFC East opponents, make a play for an older quarterback when they need so much more to even compete?

I wrote originally when the trade happened that the trade represented, to me, a power play that said, "Hey, we're a great quarterback away from competing with anyone in the league." Most of our readers seem to completely disagree that we were. 

It should be clear to all of us now that the people who matter most -- Mike Shanahan, Bruce Allen, and others in the Redskins organization -- are certainly acting like the team is ready to compete today, with one of the league's best QB's in the fold.

I want to outline what I think we should expect for this offseason, what the Redskins expect for next season, and what we should expect for next season. 

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http://www.zagsblog.com/2010/04/06/rutgers-actively-investigating-hill-incident/

A former Terp recruiting target, Gil Biruta from St. Benedict's in NJ, requested a release from Rutgers today. 

Anyone think the Terps may make another run at him? ESPN rates him as a 91 and the #36 Power Forward in the 2010 class (Pankey, for the sake of reference, is #39).The Lithuania native is a big body with a good outside shot, two things the Terps could use next year and for years to come.  Could be a target. 

Also, Eric McKnight, the #42 Power Forward in the class, has Maryland as one of his top schools along with some teams like Memphis, Oklahoma State, and VCU. He seems like he's more of a tough rebounder than Biruta, but given our lack of depth down in the paint, and considering Dino is leaving next year, I would want to scoop up one of these guys in this class. 

Any thoughts? Anyone have any knowledge about either of these guys worth sharing?

As if you hadn't heard, the Redskins acquired QB Donovan McNabb, the quarterback who led the despised Philadelphia Eagles to unprecedented heights for many seasons, on Sunday night for a 2nd round pick this year and a conditional 3rd or 4th rounder next season. The reaction from many fans I've talked to has been split. Some believe the Redskins pulled a Sonny Jurgensen-esque move by getting another franchise QB from the Eagles. Some believe the Redskins just threw away 2 draft picks for an aging player. But I'm here to argue that this was an absolutely amazing move for the franchise and makes them a better team immediately.

To start, a quotation from Brian Mitchell (from DC Sports Bog and the terrific Dan Steinberg):

"He's a proven winner," Mitchell said. "Looking at Mike Shanahan, he knows the success he had with John Elway in John's later years. His last two years, he wins two Super Bowls, and I think he's looking at that same possibility with Donovan McNabb. Although Donovan is not the guy that will run around as he did as a young kid, he's still very mobile. So I think instantly this offense gets credibility, they can go and try to bring some people in to help him, and the receiver corps he has here is probably better than what he's ever had [in Philadelphia] up until they got DeSean Jackson up there....

"I think it's a major steal and it's a great day for the Redskins....I think the Philadelphia Eagles made a major mistake by letting him get away.

"And you know, he may not be exactly like me," [Mitchell on McNabb] but I could hear he had a little revenge in that voice, too. And he wants to go to the Eagles and show them that they made a mistake."

The bottom line is this: the Redskins made a huge improvement by getting a 6 time Pro Bowler for a second round pick and a 3rd/4th next season at the most important position on the field.

I know Jason Campbell has a lot of sympathizers on this Web site, and frankly, I'm sad he'll never get his chance in Washington (unless this is all part of a grand plan that none of us could foresee). But if you had asked absolutely anyone on this Web site yesterday if Donovan McNabb was a better quarterback than Jason Campbell, we all would have said yes. And for that reason, this is a good move. 

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There are zillions of rumors floating around about what the Redskins are going to do in the remainder of free agency and the 2010 draft in a few weeks. 

But there are some irrefutable absolutes that the team *must* address before the start of the season. Here they are:

1) The Redskins currently have no starting-level left tackle on the roster. Mike Williams or Steph Heyer simply do not count for this position. This is arguably the most important position on the field besides quarterback. This must be addressed high in the draft. If you disagree, you're wrong. Sorry.

2) The Redskins only have two running backs on our roster, one of whom was hurt last year, another of whom is 30 years old and got cut in the middle of the season last year by the freaking Chiefs. Do you feel good about that? I don't. 

3) The Redskins have exactly one player on the roster that any of us would feel comfortable suiting up at nose tackle in the new 3-4 defense (Ma'ake Kemoeatu), who was injured all last season. Albert Haynesworth probably could play this position, but he probably won't. If the Redskins run a hybrid 4-3/3-4, maybe he or Anthony Montgomery could get some looks. But I would think the Redskins will need a player here, at least for insurance's sake. Everything you hear or read about a 3-4 defense says the NT is one of the most important positions on the field, and we don't have one of those I feel great about on the roster.

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Earlier today, I was looking through ESPN's recruiting lists last year, and was really surprised to see Jordan Williams was a lowly 89 in their rating system, the #44 center and not in the Top 100 overall. Meanwhile, all he does is get runner-up to #2 overall Derrick Favors in the ACC Rookie of the Year voting, start most of the season for the ACC co-champs, and get a double-double in his first NCAA tournament game. He's arguably the second best player on a team with 3 seniors and the ACC player of the year!

Meanwhile, DeShawn Painter (from NCST who barely plays) was a 92 on ESPN (and #64 overall), Mason Plumlee was a 98 overall and a top 10 recruit, and UNC had Strickland, both Wear brothers, Henson, and some guy named Leslie McDonald (who?) all in the top 100... Yet Williams made by far the most impact on his team because he was a hard worker, is well-coached, and fits in the system. Would you rather have any of those guys over Williams? Even Henson, who is a real beast, but likely won't stay in college as long as Williams?

I just think that all this focus on recruiting simply would not exist without the Internet, and most of the insight we all have is simply based on what a few Web sites say. It would be cool to have, say, Josh Selby and Lance Stephenson and whoever else, but those kind of guys don't always make championship teams. And many of them simply never pan out at all. Do you think Lance really would have made much of a difference on our team this year? I don't, to be totally honest. Is he that much better than Cliff Tucker? Would he fit into the system and as willingly play defense as well as Tucker?

It's tough to talk about recruiting and us missing out on anyone given the success of guys like Williams. 

It's a bit surreal, right? We all had that sinking feeling, that feeling of cautious optimism that we knew wouldn't pan out, that the Redskins would sign Julius Peppers and Karlos Dansby and we'd be the talk of the offseason again. 

I sure did. But now, here we are, a day and a half since free agency began, and the Redskins haven't spent a dime on anyone who wasn't on their own roster last season. No Darren Sproles, no Brandon Marshall, no Antrel Rolle. No one. 

To be honest, I think Karlos Dansby would have been nice. But for the most part, I think we've done well so far in avoiding those big names. With Larry Foote coming to town -- no chance he doesn't sign with Lou Spanos and Mike Shanahan -- we could add another sure tackler to our front seven and valued character guy to our locker room, and have four starting-quality LB's for the 3-4 (Rak, Mac, Fletch and Foote). If they manage to add Tony Pashos, the right tackle from San Francisco, the Redskins will very quietly have acquired competent two starters, with little fanfare, who both have had success previously under members of our coaching staff (our new o-line coach previously worked with Pashos in SF). When you only have 5 draft picks, this is how you start to build a team. I love these moves (if they happen, of course). 

But what does this say about our draft strategy? As I can see it, we have a few gaping, gigantic holes left on our squad. Here's how I think we'll address them. And unlike others on this site, I believe Jason Campbell has nothing to worry about. 

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No one in Washington has been a bigger Clinton Portis fan than me. 

I own two Clinton Portis jerseys, one of which I spent a lot of money to buy signed. I have a Clinton Portis Fathead in my basement. I had enough blind faith in him to draft him in fantasy football for the last four years because I couldn't bear to root against him on Sundays. My password to my networks in college has involved the numbers "26" for years. (Seriously, last year it was Port1s26.)

Why? In addition to being an elite player, because Clinton Portis became the Redskins' unofficial spokesman after the death of my all-time favorite Redskin, Sean Taylor. He and Santana Moss elevated their games in 21's memory. He wears Sean Taylor shirts to practice (when he practices) even now. He sacrificed his body and soul for the team -- Portis developed as a blocking back despite his small frame and took countless brutal hits in order to give the Redskins a chance to win games over the years. He will pay the price later in life, and he knows it. For his efforts over the years, I thank him sincerely and pray for his health.

In short, after that first touchdown against Tampa Bay in '04 until the end of the 2008 season, Clinton Portis was officially a Redskin. Not a Redskin. A Redskin. How Jeter is a Yankee; how Lewis is a Raven; how Kobe is a Laker; how Chris Samuels, London Fletcher, Rock Cartwright are Redskins.

But last season, Clinton Portis didn't show up. Speculation raged that he was not in game-ready condition during training camp, that he felt he didn't need to practice during the week. In the brief time we were able to use Ladell Betts, he clearly played better than Portis did. 

Portis was only the beginning of the Redskins' problems last year. The Redskins were a bad football team last year. I love them to death, take the daily berating from friends and associates, and still stick with them, like you all do. And we know, as fans, simply as people with eyes and ears, that there is something wrong with the organization that extends beyond the product on the field. 

And now, Clinton Portis still embodies the organization. Except now, he embodies everything wrong with it. A lack of discipline. Selfishness. A constant desire for the spotlight with below acceptable results on the field. 

After calling out Jason Campbell, Mike Sellers, the offensive line, Jim Zorn, and various members of the media, only one thing is clear about Clinton Portis. 

That he needs to go.

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This off-season, we have heard rumblings that incoming coach Mike Shanahan was interested in switching the Redskins' defensive base formation from a 4-3 to a 3-4, a major departure from the philosophy that provided the Redskins with top-ranked defenses nearly every year since Joe Gibbs came back. 

Initially, switching to a 3-4 in Washington doesn't make a lot of sense to me. London Fletcher, the defense's best player by far, is a perfect fit for a 4-3 where he has a lot of mobility and is the first player on the second level, away from the OL, so he can make a tackle. Also, imagining Phillip Daniels or Albert Haynesworth in a 3-4 doesn't really make sense, and it also means Cornelius Griffin, who is really underrated in my estimation as an asset on the DL, will not see the field much because there isn't a second DT spot.  

So what are the benefits of a 3-4? The 3-4 is designed to make blitzing more creative and difficult to contain. With four linebackers, there is more choice in which player gets assigned to coverage and which player can attack the line of scrimmage. Furthermore, it spreads out the offensive line's protection schemes a little more, which makes it harder to protect the quarterback. 

The negative of the 3-4 is that there are only three down linemen, which does not exactly play to our strength. We are loaded at DT with Haynesworth, Griffin, Golston and Montgomery, who were all able to rotate in at some point when there were two defensive tackles on the field. When you have those kind of players on the field every down, it is a lot easier to stop the run, because it's harder for the offensive line to move those kind of guys around. However, it is a bit more difficult to rush the passer with four down linemen, rather than a speedy OLB, every play, as we saw this season. 

But is the 3-4 defense a good fit with the Redskins? More after the jump.

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So, this had to be the most painful loss of the whole season -- between the refs' unjustifiable overturn of Sellers' "fumble," Kareem Moore's one-in-a-million fumble after an amazing interception, Kevin Barnes being in the wrong place at the worst time on a punt (especially painful for Terps fans), Suisham missing a field goal that 99% of D-1 kickers can make in their sleep (after the Dallas fiasco), and Jason Campbell throwing a pick that will regrettably transcend an otherwise outstanding performance. Our offense outplayed the Saints', and our defense played admirably against the league's best offense. 

This is a game that flashed our team's true potential, the team we've been waiting to see since last year's early surge -- Devin Thomas played like a Pro Bowl wide receiver that he one day may be, Davis and Kelly had some very nice moments, our offensive line kept Campbell upright, LaRon Landry made a few great plays (between giving up two TD's), the defensive front dominated and Jason Campbell had the best game he's ever had in Washington.

But still, we're all hurting today. Let's try to focus on the positives, and know that this can't last forever. We aren't fans of the 2008 Lions, which had to be worse than this, but we have had some impossibly difficult losses to stomach this season, including the last three weeks. It is so hard to deal.

With an unbelievably injured team playing for nothing but pride, we gave the best team in the league all they could handle. We're heading in the right direction after the beginning of this season. I'm very impressed with guys like Byron Westbrook, Quinton Ganther, Rock Cartwright, Mike Williams, Fred Smoot, Reed Doughty and Levi Jones -- most of whom we never expected to play a major role this season in any game. Let's hope we can keep those hard-working guys on the roster next year, no matter who we bring in to coach this talented team. 

We have nothing to be ashamed of today, and let's keep this one in perspective. We'll get a call to go our way when we're pushing for the playoffs in the years to come -- it will come back around. 

Hang tough, DC. We don't deserve this and soon we will come out of it.

This was easily the most painful on-field loss I've ever experienced as a Redskins fan. We got absolutely torn apart on defense and our offense, once again, was maligned by dreadful play-calling. Look, the reality about the playcalling is obvious.  The entire game we called one running play to the right. We threw across the middle of the field during our entire 2-minute drill, called a HOOK AND LADDER down the MIDDLE on the last play that was lucky to get the first down (when we had no timeouts), and we choked it in the red zone AGAIN with more predictable run plays.

When we were 3-13 in Norv Turner's tenure, it was painful. When Steve Spurrier coached us to sub-mediocrity, we wondered about our management and felt bad. When Joe Gibbs, bless his heart, called back-to-back timeouts against the Bills the week after our dearly beloved #21 was taken from us, that broke our hearts.

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Mike Florio, the ProFootballTalk.com guru who has not traditionally been all that kind to the Redskins, made the bold prediction that the Redskins will face the defending champion Steelers in the Super Bowl. While this definitely doesn't count for anything, it does certainly make me feel nice. So much for being overlooked -- it seems as though a lot of people expect us to be a dangerous team that could go either way. Bill Simmons is probably the only ESPN employee to pick the Redskins to make the playoffs, but I'm getting the feeling that people are starting to respect the Redskins a bit more than they did just a few weeks ago. A nice beginning to the season, wouldn't you say?

The 'Skins just signed Hunter Smith, a punter who was great in Indianapolis for many years. He also is an accomplished holder, something that Shaun Suisham said was lacking last year.

Only in Washington can fans be this excited about signing a punter in late April.

Now all we need to do is trade our first round pick for Shane Lechler and alienate Smith the second he gets on the roster, right?

But in all seriousness, this could be one of the key moves of our offseason if he is still in top form (I didn't really see him last year... and if I did... who pays attention to punters anyway?). All I know is he had 10 of his 53 punts last season inside the 10 yard line, an average of over 44 yards a punt, and hasn't missed a game in all ten seasons.

After watching Mike Scifres take over a playoff game singlehandedly last year, the importance of a punter can no longer be overvalued. Let's hope this pans out.

... That is all.

What about Derrick Brooks? He hasn't really been sniffed in Free Agency, and he'll be able to come cheap in all likelihood. Could anyone really come in and be better for this year and next year for cheap than him?