Thanks, as usual, for the questions. To submit a question for next week, click here.
John: I’ve recently read that James has been fielding even more calls from teams, with the implication being that if he doesn’t get the bump, he’ll take another offer. I know, I know… we fans fuss a lot over practice squad players. But Davis has captured more attention than most because of ties to Clemson and what he did playing in front of Spiller — let alone his decision to wait here and not take a ready deal from Carolina. We know Shanny likes him and the feeling is mutual. But honestly, in your opinion, what are the odds that he plays on Monday and, if not, that he leaves for another team? I mean, will Anderson Russell even be activated? Is keeping Roydell and Joey worth the risk of losing a player with potential we like? Just looking for a hunch here. We’ll find out by early next week. But thanks for considering my question.
Bryan Szabo
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Bryan: They signed him to a pretty good contract and I’d imagine that he’ll get a chance within a few weeks. Whether or not that means Monday depends on how Clinton Portis and Ryan Torain are feeling. My guess is that Portis won’t play and Davis will be promoted. But I’m not ready to send him to Canton just yet. People went crazy over what would happen if they let Marcus Mason go free, too. Davis is intriguing, but scouts did not consider him a good pass protector and, at best, an average receiver. Still, he had success at Clemson and in the preseason with Cleveland and maybe this is a good system for him; Davis seems to think so. Guess we’ll find out soon.
JK
John: Why expect consistent wins from players like McNabb and Haynesworth? They are inconsistent at best and unpredictable at worst as their previous teams had discovered before unloading them to the Skins. Peter Angelos and Dan Snyder have talents in their given areas and money but can not produce winning sports teams. I hope the intermittent entertainment will offset my interest in good baseball and football.
JohnC
Winterstown, PA
John: McNabb seemed to do fairly well with the Eagles; five NFC title games looks pretty good on a resume. And his career numbers suggest you can expect more from him. His current passer rating is about 10 points below his career average. He is not Peyton Manning or Philip Rivers, but you can obviously win with him. As for Haynesworth, the Titans did well with him, too. They won 23 games his last two years with them. Their coaches were split on retaining him and they did have interest in bringing him back in a trade. He will take plays off, as we’ve seen in the past, and he does have issues with motivation at times and durability is a concern. Still, I think it’s reasonable to expect him to continue doing what he’s done his past three games. They’re using him well. So far you are very right about Angelos and Snyder. But Snyder, unbelievably, at least has figured out he couldn’t win doing it his old way. For now, that is. Who knows how he’ll react if they have a couple bad seasons in a row doing it this way.
JK
John: Watching the game in Det I heard one of the announcers mention that the QB reads in this offense is deep to short. I can not imagine that is the general rule, because if so we are in deep trouble. Also, I heard mentioned several times that there are receivers open often that Mcnabb is just not seeing, since I only see the games on TV can you tell me the truth has McNabb been as bad as I keep hearing?
Phil Hatem
Brooklyn,NY
Phil: Yeah, I saw that too. As Kyle Shanahan said Friday, there’s no system that is set up that way – one way or the other. It depends on the play call, the defense they’re facing etc. Not sure it’s that black and white. In Philly last year, McNabb averaged 8.02 yards per pass attempt, suggesting As for McNabb’s struggles, his numbers are bad. Some of that is a reflection on him; he’s missing open guys. Some of that is a reflection on the talent around him and the fact that almost everyone is in the first year of a new system. It’s not all on McNabb, though he absolutely must play better.
JK
Hi John: I enjoy writing you my questions, because you are the one insider that will take time to email me. Thanks. I have a two basic questions for you:
I know NFL contracts are as firm as toilet paper, so do you have any knowledge this 5-years contract that Coach Shanahan signed is basically year by year and there could be an out clause at any time? If he finds this town not an ideal fit for him and his family?
More impressive insightful question: IF, this team finishes 6-10, 7-9, OR whatever, and there becomes speculation that Bill Cowher is interviewing with several teams–do you expect Dan Snyder has him on speed dial? He does have some NFC East background from his playing days.
My speculation if you want to know is the following:
If MS and son leave, Bill Cowher becomes HC, Russ Grimm OLine Coach, Brad Childress as O.C., (McNABB to stay here and happy) and Haslett stays at D.C.
I sound crazy now, but, if this team finishes under .500, heads are going to roll and speculation begins by mid-December.
Thanks John for always answering my emails….
Chris Messick
Chris: My pleasure … Man, I had hoped to get through one season without coaching speculation stories! But, no, I don’t think anything like that will happen even if they finish, say, 7-9 or 6-10. I’m pretty sure that Shanahan’s deal is for five years guaranteed; not sure why he’d take it otherwise. Jim Zorn’s, by comparison, was only guaranteed for three years. Also, not sure why Russ Grimm would ever return as just an O-line coach. Yes, he loves the Redskins, but that’s a step down for him. Head coach? Now he’d listen. But Shanny is safe, and he should be, for several years.
JK
John: My question is two-fold about the line. First, any shot Dockery could play right tackle? I know he’s been strictly a left guard since we drafted him, but I thought I remembered him playing tackle at Texas before we switched him to guard. After all, if Dave Fiore had been playing right guard when he got hurt I imagine Dock would have been a right guard, so it isn’t Punic the realm of possibility that he could play the right side. He can’t be much worse than Brown. Secondly, how bad was Rinehart this offseason that he couldn’t have been in the mix for that job. I never understood why we drafted him at LT and moved him immediately to a different position on a different side if the line. Every time I see Lichtensteiger or Rabach (who somehow gets a pass despite being the worst player on the line) I can’t imagine Rinehart was much worse. Thanks, John.
Trevor W.
Trevor: Interesting thought. But to make that switch, Dockery would need an offseason at that position. However, if they don’t think his footwork is good enough for them at guard, not sure it would be much different at tackle. It’s a different sort of footwork, but Dock is a guard and probably best suited for another system. He can still play, though I’ve always felt he was fairly average. Yes, that would be better than what they have now. As for Rinehart, he isn’t in the league and was last on the New York Jets practice squad. ‘Nuff said. He looked bad this summer (after looking better in 2009’s camp).
JK
John: Why do all the so called experts & analysts keep saying the Redskins run the risk of losing McNabb for nothing in the offseason? Even if the SKINS don’t want McNabb back for the 2011 season won’t they just franchise him & trade him for a 3rd or 4th round pick instead of being left with nothing to show for their investment? I find it very hard to believe that they won’t tag him even if they don’t want him. What are your thoughts? By the way…all of us die hard fans truly take comfort in knowing that the man that covers our beloved REDSKINS will always bring consistency & passion that is free of drama to his job, even if the organazation that he covers can’t do the same. Thanks for all your hard & thorough work John.
Mike Souza
Hollister,CA.
Mike: Thanks! Good point; sure, they could do what they did with Champ Bailey and try to get something for him. But if they tag him and nobody wants him, then the Redskins would pay way more than they would want. This year, for example, the average salary of the top five QBs is $16.4 million. And once McNabb signs the tender, he does not have to agree to a trade and the Redskins would be on the hook for a lot of dough for a guy they might not want. My guess is that if it gets to this point something would already be in the works that he’d want. So it’s likely that they could still get something for him.
JK
Mr. Keim: It seems almost ironic that we’re discussing Redskin quarterback inconsistency/subpar play after we made such a move to dump the previous inconsistent/subpar performer. If things continue in DC as they are, and JC continues to shine out in Oakland, will that cast doubt on team Shanahan’s assessment of talent?
Peter F
Inglewood, CA
(native DC’er!)
p.s.: The gold pants with burgundy tops revive some fond, childhood memories! Sonny vs. Billy, the Dancing Bear, The Over The Hill Gang; great times.
Peter: Lots of good memories, I’m sure. Must have been a special time to be a Redskins fan. As for your question, no, that would not cast doubt on his ability to evaluate talent (other moves, both here and in Denver, would cast doubt). Very few personnel guys, if any, would ever have picked Jason over Donovan. Jason has talent and will have good games; consistency has always been an issue. There’s a reason the Raiders keep going back and forth between he and Bruce Gradkowski. I wish Jason well, but it was not a mistake by Shanahan.
JK
