DC sports talk

SuperBowl thoughts

dcsporttalk — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:41:39 +0000

Garret Hartley is the kicker the Redskins need, he made 3 40+ yard field goals all under pressure on the biggest game of his life, hats off to you Garret Hartley

Congrats to Mark Brunell and Chase Daniels on the SB rings

If Sun Life Stadium is a Superbowl stadium then FedEx field could easily be one to, especially with the 2 new 100 foot long video screens

The game didn’t meet expectations in intensity in my thoughts, I was hoping for a shootout the last 5 minutes, we didn’t really get that, but was an overall solid game, just not as good as last years

Redskins missed out hugely when they didn’t get Drew Brees when he was available, we could easily be a playoff team if we had him, less health issues, and our offensive line could stay intact

Congrats to Gregg WIlliams on his ring, I still believe he should have been hired as our Head Coach, he had some great defensive techniques tonight

Russ Grimm made the Hall of Fame!!! I miss the HOG age of the Redskins

The Who was a solid halftime show, I just noticed that one of their songs is the CSI theme song, they were also more appealing to the young audience then I thought they were, the guitar solos were great

Courtney Roby had a great night on special teams

Congrats Saints

Washington Bayhawks pull a big trade

dcsporttalk — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:13:11 +0000

Press Release:

The Bayhawks made their first major move of 2010 on Thursday by acquiring attackman John Christmas, defenseman Ray Megill and goalkeeper Mike Levin from the Boston Cannons in exchange for midfielder Kevin Buchanan and three draft picks, according to Bayhawks General Manager Spencer Ford.

“We have been looking for a right handed attackman who can do it all – feed, dodge, score,” said General Manager Spencer Ford. “John Christmas is one of those players who is extremely complete and experienced, and will be a leader for this team. After losing Shawn Nadelen to what is believed to be a season ending injury, the addition of Ray Megill will add a defensive minded player who can contribute in all aspects of defense – a player who can play with a short stick, long stick, and control the entire defensive end of the field. Mike Levin is a proven leader who has won a championship as a starting goalie and his team-first attitude will pay dividends on the back end of the field.”

Christmas was the Cannons 1^st round pick (5^th overall) in the 2005 Collegiate Draft. He scored 68 goals and recorded 55 assists for the Cannons over 5 seasons, including career high 24 goals and 19 assists in 2007. Megill was the Cannons 1^st round pick (9^th overall) in the 2007 Collegiate Draft. The defensemen appeared in 28 games over 3 seasons with the Cannons. Levin spent one year with the Cannons and played 9 games in net in 2009 and recorded a 5-2 record.

The Bayhawks sent Kevin Buchanan and three draft picks to Boston. Buchanan, 23, played in 6 games last season for the Bayhawks, recording at least 1 point in each game. He finished the 2009 Season with 7 goals and 6 assists. Buchanan was the 5^th overall pick in the 2008 MLL Collegiate Draft by Los Angeles. He scored 8 goals and recorded 5 assists in the 2008 season. Buchanan graduated from Ohio State University in 2008 and that season was named Great Western Lacrosse League Player of the Year. He recorded 175 points for the Buckeyes over 4 seasons.

“I want to thank Kevin for his contributions to this team,” said Ford. “His personality alone will make him a great asset to any team he plays for.”

The Bayhawks open their season on May 15^th at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium when they take on the Long Island Lizards at 7 PM. Ticket information is available at www.washingtonbayhawks.com.

John Christmas

Nationals sign some players

dcsporttalk — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:28:58 +0000

Right-hander Tyler Walker agreed to terms on a one-year, $650,000 contract with the Nationals on Monday, according to two baseball sources. The club also signed outfielder Chris Duncan and left-hander Chuck James to Minor League deals with an invitation to Spring Training

Walker is expected to be part of the new relief corps which includes Brian Bruney, Matt Capps and Eddie Guardado. Walker, 33, is coming off one of his better seasons, going 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA in 32 games for the Phillies. He is a seven-year veteran who has played with the Mets, Giants and Rays.

The left-handed-hitting Duncan is coming off one of his poorest seasons in the big leagues, hitting .227 with five home runs and 32 RBIs, all with the Cardinals. On July 22, St. Louis traded Duncan to the Red Sox for infielder Julio Lugo, but Duncan never saw Major League action with Boston before he was released about a month later.

If Duncan makes the Nationals’ big league roster out of Spring Training, he will likely serve as a backup. Otherwise, he may begin the season with Triple-A Syracuse.

As for James, he missed the entire 2009 season due to left shoulder surgery. He was signed by the Nationals on the recommendation of assistant general manager Roy Clark, who was impressed by James when they were with the Braves.

James’ best season was in 2006, when he went 11-4 with a 3.78 ERA

These are the low risk high reward signings that you always expect from the Nationals around this time. I still expect a major league SS and SP to be signed.

Javaris/Arenas suspended rest of the season

dcsporttalk — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:24:40 +0000

Today the drama of the “Rambo” incident hopefully came to an end. Both the main players involved, Javaris Crittenton and Gilbert Arenas, were suspended the rest of the season due to gun possession in the Verizon Center which is against the law and NBA policy. This was the expected punishment and is the proper way to deal with this issue. It seems that the Wizards wont take much of a hit in play quality because Javaris hasn’t played all season due to injuries and Arenas hasn’t been with the team sense his indefinite suspension. I actually believe this will take away all the off-court distractions because there isn’t much more to speculate about, The players are done for this season. It’s now the responsibility of the organization to close drama down and move on and win games for the Fans of this struggling team.

Quotes:

Ken Wainstein, attorney for Gilbert Arenas, stated today:

Mr. Arenas respects Commissioner Stern’s decision to issue a suspension for the remainder of the season. Mr. Arenas recognizes that his actions were a serious violation of the law and league rules and were detrimental to the NBA and its reputation. He accepts full responsibility for what he did, and takes no issue with the length of the suspension or the process that led to the Commissioner’s decision. It is Mr. Arenas’ hope that this punishment will serve an important purpose, as a strong reminder of the responsibility that he and all NBA players have to set the right example with their conduct on and off the court. As such, Mr. Arenas has asked the Players Association not to challenge the suspension.

Mr. Arenas appreciates the careful and thoughtful handling of this matter by the Commissioner and his staff, and he is grateful for the Commissioner’s willingness to meet with him earlier today.

New coaching updates

dcsporttalk — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:11:54 +0000

Head Coach: Mike Shanahan (signed)/No job in 2009/ Head Coach Denver Broncos

Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Shanahan (signed) /Offensive coordinator Houston Texans

Defensive Coordinator: Jim Haslett (signed) /Head Coach Orlando Tuskers-UFL/Interim Head coach St. Louis Rams

Quarterback: Matt LaFleur (signed) /Offensive Assistant Houston Texans 2009

Runningback: Bobby Turner (signed)/ Runningbacks coach Broncos 2009

Widereciever: Keenan McCardell (signed)/Giants Intern 2009/Former NFL WR (16 years)

Tightend: Jon Embree (signed)/ TE coach for the Kansas City Chiefs

Offensive line: Chris Foerster (signed)/OL coach 49er’s 2009

Defensive line: Jacob Burney (signed) Former Broncos DL coach

Linebackers: Lou Spanos (signed) Defensive Assistant Steelers 2009

Defensive Assistant: Kirk Olivadotti (signed) Redskins Linebackers Coach 2009

Defensivebacks: Bob Slowik (signed) former Broncos DC

Safeties: Steven Jackson (stay) Safeties coach Redskins 2009

Special Teams: Danny Smith (stay) SP coach Redskins 2009

Strength/Conditioning (To be determined)

News:

Keenan McCardell

The Redskins will hire one of their former wide receivers, Keenan McCardell, as wide receivers coach, according to an ESPN report.

McCardell started and ended his playing career in Washington. In 1991, he was the 326th overall pick — that’s round 12. He was on injured reserve when the Redskins won the Super Bowl that year and was released following the season.

McCardell, a two-time Pro Bowler, also played for Cleveland, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and San Diego before returning to Washington midway through the 2007 season. He played the final 10 games with the Redskins and eventually retired following the season.

Though he played for the Bucs before Bruce Allen took the reins, McCardell does have ties to offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. He was in training camp with Houston in 2007, where Shanahan was an offensive assistant.

DC thoughts: I like this signing: he brings 16 years of experience and great route running skills to our young, raw, and inexperienced group of receivers. I believe McCardell can teach Malcolm Kelly the art of route running and this is a huge step over Stan Hixon who I was never a fan of.

Strength Staff gone:

Last week, the entire strength and conditioning staff was quietly let go, including John Hastings, the head strength and conditioning coach the past four seasons. Hastings had been with the team since 2002. Also released were his assistants, Bobby Crumpler, who’d been with the team for seven seasons, and Harrison Bernstein, who’d been with the team for three years.

DC thoughts: As I had predicted, the strength staff has been let go. The former staff never seemed to create a strong enough program considering all of our players seemed to have constant injuries. We need someone to come in here and whip our team into shape.

New Video boards

dcsporttalk — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:19:34 +0000

The Redskins surprised fans today to improve Fed Ex field with 2 100 foot long video boards which they put as “punter” proof” which is a clear jab at the Dallas Cowboys. The fully HD screens will be in the 2 endzones and will rival the cowboys as the best entertainment systems in the league. This shows long time commitment to Fed Ex field and will most likely keep us there for years to come. Thanks Dan Snyder for blowing so much money on our entertainment

Coaching Updates: Staff coming together

dcsporttalk — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:04:03 +0000

Head Coach: Mike Shanahan (signed)/No job in 2009/ Head Coach Denver Broncos

Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Shanahan (signed) /Offensive coordinator Houston Texans

Defensive Coordinator: Jim Haslett (signed) /Head Coach Orlando Tuskers-UFL/Interim Head coach St. Louis Rams

Quarterback: Matt LaFleur (signed) /Offensive Assistant Houston Texans 2009

Runningback: Bobby Turner (signed)/ Runningbacks coach Broncos 2009

Widereciever: Maurice Mann (rumored/interviewed)/ Widerecievers coach Tampa Bay Bucs 2009

Tightend: Jon Embree (signed)/ TE coach for the Kansas City Chiefs

Offensive line: Tom Cable (rumored) 2009 Raiders head coach

Defensive line: Jacob Burney (signed) Former Broncos DL coach

Linebackers: Lou Spanos (signed) Defensive Assistant Steelers 2009

Defensive Assistant: Kirk Olivadotti (signed) Redskins Linebackers Coach 2009

Defensivebacks: Bob Slowik (rumored) former Broncos DC

Safeties: Steven Jackson (Rumored to stay) Safeties coach Redskins 2009

Special Teams: Danny Smith (Rumored to stay) SP coach Redskins 2009

News Releases:

The Washington Redskins today named Kyle Shanahan offensive coordinator, Matt LaFleur quarterbacks coach and Jon Embree tight ends coach.

Shanahan spent the previous four seasons with the Houston Texans, the final two as the team’s offensive coordinator. Under Shanahan’s direction, the 2009 Texans led the National Football League in passing (4,654 yards) and ranked fourth in total offense (6,129 yards), both of which were franchise records. The Texans also set a franchise high touchdown passes (29). With Shanahan calling the plays, quarterback Matt Schaub and wide receiver Andre Johnson formed one of the league’s most dangerous tandems, with Schaub leading the NFL in completions (396), attempts (583), and passing yards (4,776) and Johnson ranking first in receiving yards (1,569) and third in receptions (101). Both Schaub and Johnson were selected for the 2010 Pro Bowl.

LaFleur spent the last two seasons as Offensive Assistant for the Houston Texans. Last season, LaFleur assisted Kyle Shanahan with the Texans’ quarterbacks. Matt Schaub led the NFL in 2009 with 4,770 passing yards and 396 completions, and was fifth with 29 touchdowns and seventh with a 98.6 passer rating. Under their guidance, Houston’s offense finished first in the NFL in passing (4,654 yards) and fourth in total offense (6,129 yards).

LaFleur worked with the wide receivers in his first season in Houston. That year, Andre Johnson led the NFL with 115 catches and 1,575 receiving yards. In addition, fellow receiver Kevin Walter chipped in 60 catches for 899 yards and eight touchdowns.

Embree, who most recently served as the Kansas City Chiefs tight ends coach from 2006-2008, comes to Washington with 17 years of coaching experience at the NFL and college level. While in Kansas City, he worked with All-Pro Tight End Tony Gonzalez who made the Pro Bowl each year during Embree’s tenure. In 2007, Gonzalez led all NFL tight ends with 99 catches for 1,172 yards, accounting for 38.6 percent of the club’s receiving yards and 37.3 percent of their receptions that season.

In 2007, Burney coached a Denver defensive line that led the AFC (T-2nd in the NFL) with nine takeaways as his group totaled seven fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Dumervil continued his improvement under Burney, tying for sixth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks (most by a Bronco in eight seasons) and tying for the league lead in takeaways (4) among defensive linemen.

Redskins Secondary coach Jerry Gray leaves for the Seattle Seahawks

Roster review continued: special teams whos staying whos going

dcsporttalk — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:50:45 +0000

Graham Gano: Stays: I believe that eventhough he hasn’t been with the Redskins long he proved enough that he has earned the right to stay and fight it out in the preseason. It’s up to his ability (which he has alot of) if he is our starting kicker next year.

Hunter Smith: Stays: his ability for trick plays won’t keep him here, but his consistency will, he was injured this year so I will give him another chance, expect him to be back to pro bowl form next year.

Ethan Albright: Goes: he is a great Redskin but this is a rebuilding team and I expect him to retire and for us to pick up a young undrafted free agent to hopefully continue the solid long snapper play.

Redskins continue staff creation

dcsporttalk — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:35:18 +0000

Today the Washington Redskins made the hiring of Lou Spanos as the new linebackers coach official. Spanos who was a defensive assistant with the Steelers comes to us with a wealth of experience including coaching many probowlers and serving with the steelers for there last 3 Superbowls. But when I saw this signing what really caught my eye was that he clearly has the experience with the 3-4 defense. This is another sign that our team will most likely change to a 3-4. I believe that Spanos was brought in to teach our linebackers the techniques of the 3-4 which has an emphasis on speed and greater coverage ability. He has his work ahead of him with our set of young and old linebackers. Further coaching announcements are expected next week. Come to DC sports talk for the up to date DC news.

More Coaching rumors updated

dcsporttalk — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:03:36 +0000

Head Coach: Mike Shanahan (signed)/No job in 2009/ Head Coach Denver Broncos

Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Shanahan (signed) /Offensive coordinator Houston Texans

Defensive Coordinator: Jim Haslett (signed) /Head Coach Orlando Tuskers-UFL/Interim Head coach St. Louis Rams

Quarterback: Chris Meidt (rumored) /Offensive assistant Redskins 2009

Runningback: Bobby Turner (signed)/ Runningbacks coach Broncos 2009

Widereciever: Maurice Mann (rumored/interviewed)/ Widerecievers coach Tampa Bay Bucs 2009

Tightend: Scott Wachenheim (rumored to stay)/ Tightends coach Redskins 2009

Offensive line: Unconfirmed

Defensive line: Mike Waufle (rumored/interviewed) Defensive Line coach Giants 2009/ Tim Krumrie (rumored) Defensive Assistant Chiefs 2009

Linebackers: Lou Spanos (signed) Defensive Assistant Steelers 2009

Assistant Linebackers: Kirk Olivadotti (rumored)

Defensivebacks: Jerry Gray (interviewed/rumored to stay) DB coach Redskins 2009/ Bob Slowik (rumored)

Safeties: Steven Jackson (Rumored to stay) Safeties coach Redskins 2009

Special Teams: Danny Smith (Rumored to stay) SP coach Redskins 2009

New Rumor: Texans offensive assistant Matt LaFleur is interviewing for a job with the Washington Redskins. LaFleur spent his two seasons with the Texans assisting with the receivers in 2008 and the quarterbacks in 2009. LaFleur, 29, worked closely with former offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who resigned to accept the same position with his father, new Redskins coach Mike Shanahan.

Other news:

Redskins Official press release:

The Washington Redskins announced today they have named Jim Haslett as their defensive coordinator.

Haslett is a veteran of 24 NFL seasons, including eight as a player, nine as an assistant coach and seven as a head coach. He previously served as defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints in 1996, the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1997-99, and the St. Louis Rams in 2006, 2007 and for the first four games of 2008 before being elevated to head coach. Haslett spent last season coaching the UFL’s Florida Tuskers, which he led to a perfect 6-0 regular season record and a championship game appearance.

“I have a great deal of respect for what Jim has done in this league,” Redskins Executive Vice President/Head Coach Mike Shanahan said. “He is one of the game’s sharpest defensive minds and has a great passion for the sport. He will be instrumental to our success in Washington.”

Haslett replaces Greg Blache, who retired following 22 seasons as an NFL assistant, including the last six with the Redskins.

“Greg Blache has been integral to the success of the Redskins defense over the last two years, and I regret that I won’t be able to work with him,” Shanahan said. “We’ll miss his discipline, his loyalty, and his consistency, and wish all the best to Greg and his family in his retirement.”

Haslett’s first head coaching stint came in New Orleans from 2000-05. The Saints were 42-38 over his first five seasons, including one NFC West Championship, with just one losing season (7-9 in 2001). He was a unanimous selection as Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year in 2000, when he led the Saints to the first playoff victory in franchise history. He was also honored as NFL Coach of the Year by The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly, among others.

Prior to becoming the Saints’ head coach, Haslett made his mark as defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, where he helped the Steelers win the AFC Central division in 1997. In his three years there, Haslett guided his defense to NFL rankings of sixth, 12th, and 11th, respectively. The units were particularly stout against the run, leading the league twice, and finishing third once, in rushing yards allowed per attempt. Linebacker Chad Brown, linebacker Levon Kirkland (twice), safety Carnell Lake (twice), defensive tackle Joel Steed and cornerback Rod Woodson all earned Pro Bowl selections under Haslett’s watch.

Haslett began his NFL coaching career as the Los Angeles Raiders’ linebacker coach in 1993. After two seasons there, he took the same role in New Orleans in 1996, before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 1997. Haslett also served as defensive coordinator for the WLAF’s Sacramento Surge (1991-92) and the University at Buffalo (1989-90), where he joined the coaching profession in 1988 as linebackers coach.

Haslett originally entered the NFL as a second-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills in 1979. As an inside linebacker, he would go on to win Associate Press Defensive Rookie of the Year that season and followed it up with an All-Pro selection in 1980. He played seven seasons for the Bills (1979-85) before finishing his career with the New York Jets in 1987.

I will have thoughts on the affect of this move and the 3-4 tomorrow