A Giant Problem For The Redskins!!!

So I am at home Monday, waiting all day for the Redskins-Giants game. It is a Monday Night Game, a nationally-televised game at that. The Redskins have been playing so much more competitively lately and we have a chance to showcase how far our team has come in a year where we have severely underperformed. And what do we do? Nothing. That's right!!! NOTHING!!! The Giants looked like they prepared all year for this one game. And it showed in their playcalling. Their execution wasn't bad either. Now most would say that there is too much going on at Redskins park. But that will change soon. The giant problem that I speak of has nothing to do with the New York Giants. The Redskins' giant problem starts January 4, 2010. The first day of the offseason for 20 teams. And guess who is in that mix?

O.k so we all know that this past Tuesday, Vinny Cerrato stepped down as Vice President of Football Operations and Acting General Manager. Bruce Allen, son of the late former Redskins Head Coach George Allen, was hired. I don't know much about Bruce Allen, but I do know that he had a hand in building the the Oakland Raiders team that reached the Super Bowl to face another team that he built, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So it is obvious that he knows what he is doing. So what does that mean for some of the players, most notably Jason Campbell and Carlos Rogers? What about players like Fred Smoot, Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, Reed Doughty, Todd Collins and Randy Thomas? What about Defensive Coordinator Greg Blache and Head Coach Jim Zorn? See all of these people are nearing the end of, or, are going into the last years of their contracts. This team has finished 8-8, and are currently 4-10. These are not good records for those of you who may not know. And last night did nothing in the way of helping anyone's cause. So what will Bruce Allen do? I know the team that took the field last night will not be the same team to take the field to start the 2010 season.

The Giants have done a fantastic job of putting together a team. It all started with the owner, the late Wellington Mara, and Head Coach Tom Coughlin. Although Coughlin rubbed some players the wrong way, was a bit too strict at times, and was even on the hot seat in 2007, he finished that campaign with a Super Bowl win. See the owner(s) didn't panic. They went out and got their guy, Eli Manning, and put a good team around him, starting with that Offensive Line that has two guys that I love watching play, David Diehl, and Sean O'Hare. They also added guys like Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward who left for Tampa Bay. When Amani Toomer was released and Plaxico Burress got into trouble they turned to guys that they drafted and groomed. Steve Smith from USC, Domonique Hixon, Mario Manningham and one of my favorite player from the University of North Carolina Hakeem Nicks. They traded Jeremy Shockey and plugged in Kevin Boss. He may not be as athletic, but his personality fits in that locker room. I can also talk about the Defense, which is depleted by injuries (who isn't at this point of the season), but still seem to put it together. The Giants have the kind of stability that has been longed for by the Redskins fans and players alike. So will we get it in 2010? Well.....

To sum it up, NO!!! There will be changes. There has to be changes. Monday was a culmination of what has turned out to be one of the worse seasons in the Dan Snyder era. The Redskins can rally and beat the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday, but not with the team that took the field last night. And the Redskins can go out to San Diego playing like they did last night if they want to. San Diego will put up way more than 45 points and they are capable of scoring that in one half. The bright spots in last night's game were Jason Campbell not quitting and Fred Davis showing, yet again, why he was worth the draft pick. I know the en vogue thing is screaming we need Offensive Lineman in the draft. Well I agree to a certain degree. We do need Offensive Lineman, but we also need a Free Safety, a Cornerback or two, a Strong Side Linebacker and a change of pace (speedy) Running Back. So how many draft picks are we going to use on Offensive Lineman? I suggest one, two, at the most. There are too many area's of need. The Redskins are not going to get this thing turned around in one year. So please understand, this is not the John Madden Football game. You can't just trade or cut players. You still have to pay out their bonuses. Why continue to pay someone who is not playing for you anymore? Is that not what we as fans have been complaining about? Why ask Dan Snyder to do what you, as a fan, didn't like him doing before? That's not very smart.

See the Redskins lost 45-12 last night. Some may even say that the game wasn't even that close. But from an organizational standpoint, that score reflected everything that is going on in each franchise. I love the players on the Redskins. I am a big fan and have been since 1982 when I remember watching my first game. Jack Kent Cooke and Joe Gibbs did something that will never be duplicated. The built a storied franchise. Now the Rams, Patriots, Texans, Titans, Steelers, Vikings, Giants, Saints, 49ers, Seahawks, Colts, Panthers, Falcons, Dolphins and a few others are close. These teams have down years, but they don't last as long. The Rams get a pass, because their owner died on them a couple years back. Their team is dealing with the loss of a great owner. I am willing to be that the Rams, as bad as they may be right now, will never have to problems the Redskins have right now. I agree with fans that the front office is to blame, but I have a problem when the fans start lashing out at the players. That's almost like saying a parent is responsible for a child's bad behavior, but getting mad at the child for behaving badly. Until that child is showed the errors of their way, what do you expect? Until Dan Snyder is showed the error of his ways, what do you expect? No Dan Snyder is not a bad person. He want's win now, but someone has to show him how? Are you willing to get off of your ass as a fan and show him? If not, then everytime you turn on the TV or buy a ticket to a game, you get what you get. Either suck it up and go apply for the job of General Manger, or turn the channel. The choice is yours.