If you don't watch the Orioles or like baseball, you may not know who Gary Thorne is. Thorne is currently the play-by-play announcer for the Orioles, and according to his Wikipedia page, he still calls some baseball, college football, and hockey games for ESPN and ABC. I'm not sure if that's completely up to date because I can only recall hearing him during O's games, but I'm sure he calls more than just O's games.
For the most part, I don't have any problems with the O's announcers/broadcasters. The radio announcing team of Joe Angel and Fred Manfra is pretty solid, and the O's analysts alongside Thorne on MASN -- either Jim Palmer or Mike Flanagan -- are very good and have no problem breaking the game down. That doesn't mean all of those guys are perfect, but I can't recall ever having a serious issue with something they said. Unfortunately, that doesn't apply to Thorne, who, while skilled at calling some of the basic parts of games and talented enough to sound excited/enthusiastic at the right times, doesn't seem to understand a few things that most announcers calling MLB games should. That also doesn't mean that he's the only one out there either who has similar issues.
Here are some of my complaints:
1) He's obsessed with runs and RBI
Thorne refuses to stop throwing out run and RBI numbers like they mean everything. If a hitter has a high RBI total, Thorne believes he's having a great season. If he has a low RBI number, he'll mention that that hitter is not getting the job done. Really, he mainly likes to mention a lot of the counting numbers -- runs, RBI, home runs -- and batting average. I believe I've heard Thorne talk about on-base percentage and slugging percentage a few times, but mostly that's something Palmer (or Flanagan) will discuss instead. Still, Thorne is hardly the only announcer who does this sort of thing, but baseball announcers in general have started to improve in this area.
2) His love of "At 'em ball"
This inclusion is more of a pet peeve than anything, but I'm still going to include it. I don't have an accurate tally, but I believe Thorne says "At 'em ball" 50 times a game. He particularly likes to use this phrase when the ball is hit to Adam Jones or someone else named Adam (for obvious reasons). If he sprinkled the phrase in a few times here or there, that's one thing, but he says it so much that it's definitely gotten under my skin. This irritating habit is probably the least worst of the five.
3) His over-usage of season splits and split stats
Some split stats can be helpful. Jake Fox, for instance, is a better hitter in his career against right-handed pitching than left-handed pitching (it's not a huge sample size, but it's not insignificant either). I finally heard Palmer mention this last night, though it's possible someone else mentioned it in a previous game and I missed it. But instead of using career splits or numbers with a larger sample size, Thorne likes to mention when, for example, a hitter is 0-2 against a certain reliever who just entered the game. That information can occassionally be useful, but for the most part it's not. Does a hitter being 0-2, or even 3-5 (etc.), against a single pitcher really tell you much of anything? No. Then again, some managers might make decisions based on similar limited information, and Thorne is hardly the only announcer giving out these stats, particularly late in games. Still, it would be nice to hear Thorne offering more concrete career splits or something a little more in-depth.
4) His pitch recognition is terrible
In the long run, a play-by-play announcer calling a fastball a breaking ball, a change-up a fastball, or whatever here or there doesn't mean a whole lot. Color analysts are normally better at recognizing certain pitches anyway. But this happens to Thorne multiple times a game, and it's not too difficult to distinguish a slider or curveball from a low- to mid-90s fastball. That doesn't mean he has to know every pitcher's full repertoire, but he should at least be aware enough to notice the radar gun or at least turn to Palmer or Flanagan and figure out what the pitcher is throwing. Either that, or just stick to calling something a strike or a ball.
5) Pitcher wins
I'm not going to lie: Most of this post stems from Thorne's idiotic statement last night regarding Felix Hernandez and pitcher wins. He said that he didn't support Hernandez winning the Cy Young Award because he only had 13 wins last season. He said the point of the game is to win, and he added that he'd take a pitcher with a bunch of wins over someone with "a zero ERA." Don't think about that too long, because your head might explode. Thorne is hardly the only person with a similar opinion (though maybe not as extreme); other old-school baseball types or writers have been defending pitcher wins, a stat that has been under assault from the sabermetric community for a while (for good reason). To Thorne, a pitcher's win total means everything, and that's something that's difficult to listen to.
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If it weren't for Palmer or Flanagan, O's telecasts would be even more onerous to listen to. Then again, when Palmer starts going off on tangents and trying to make jokes, he can be just as annoying and quirky (though funny too, for some reason).
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Maryland hires Mark Turgeon
The Maryland basketball coaching search to replace Gary Williams started with names like Sean Miller, Jay Wright, Jamie Dixon, Brad Stevens, and others, in some order. Miller considered taking the job, though the others never really did. In the end, Maryland offered the job to Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon, who accepted and is officially coming to College Park.
Turgeon isn't considered to be the home-run hire that Miller, Wright, or Stevens (etc.) would have been. He also doesn't have many ties to the East Coast. Take a look:
1987–1992 Kansas (asst.)
1992–1997 Oregon (asst.)
1997–1998 Philadelphia 76ers (asst.)
1998–2000 Jacksonville State
2000–2007 Wichita State
2007–2011 Texas A&M
He was an assistant under Larry Brown at Kansas for several seasons and with the 76ers for one season. He also helped to turn around the programs at Jacksonville State, Wichita State, and Texas A&M in varying amounts of time. By all accounts, he's a hard worker, a solid coach, a family man, and someone who wants to be at a place that cares immensely about basketball. Oh, and he wins games -- he has a career record of 250-159.
Here's a great take on the move by ESPN's Eamonn Brennan:
Turgeon isn't considered to be the home-run hire that Miller, Wright, or Stevens (etc.) would have been. He also doesn't have many ties to the East Coast. Take a look:
1987–1992 Kansas (asst.)
1992–1997 Oregon (asst.)
1997–1998 Philadelphia 76ers (asst.)
1998–2000 Jacksonville State
2000–2007 Wichita State
2007–2011 Texas A&M
He was an assistant under Larry Brown at Kansas for several seasons and with the 76ers for one season. He also helped to turn around the programs at Jacksonville State, Wichita State, and Texas A&M in varying amounts of time. By all accounts, he's a hard worker, a solid coach, a family man, and someone who wants to be at a place that cares immensely about basketball. Oh, and he wins games -- he has a career record of 250-159.
Here's a great take on the move by ESPN's Eamonn Brennan:
It's fair to say those excited Terrapins fans, who spent the last week hearing their program described as a sleeping giant by every anonymous source in the country -- not to mention followed as their AD met with Miller in Las Vegas Saturday -- might have hoped for something a bit more, well, exciting.Following Gary Williams won't be easy, but Turgeon knows how to build a program the right way and win games. That's all fans can ask for.
By all the barometers we usually associate with that word, Turgeon doesn't qualify. To date, he hasn't regularly recruited blue-chip prospects; more often, his players are unheralded workers who develop throughout their multi-year careers. Texas A&M plays a slow, deliberate style. Turgeon's press conference demeanor can be rather like his teams: quiet, sparse and even downright boring.
To be clear, those aren't bugs or features. They're just who Turgeon is.
The important thing here, the one that really matters, is this: At the bottom of it all, Maryland fans are like any other. They want to win basketball games. Mark Turgeon wins basketball games, and he does so at places with far fewer institutional advantages than Maryland. It's really just that simple.
And so a new era begins in College Park -- not with a bang, necessarily, but certainly not with a whimper. Maryland fans be forgiven if they need a moment to get to know Turgeon, but the more they see of him, the more they'll grow to appreciate the coach's clinical solidity and drama-free approach. They'll appreciate [Maryland athletic director Kevin] Anderson's efforts in making this hire.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
A truly sad day: Gary Williams is retiring
For the past few hours, I've been trying to come up with an original take on the news of Gary Williams's retirement. But really, I can't say that I have one. Unlike many stories that quickly become stale because they turn into long, drawn-out sagas, the retirement news was sudden, harsh, and seemingly came out of nowhere.
But maybe it's better that way. Does Gary Williams seem like the type of guy who would leave hints of his retirement scattered about until finally going on some sort of farewell tour? No way. That's more of a Coach K-type thing to do. Maybe.
Frankly, Gary Williams is Maryland basketball. He always will be. He turned the program around, made it respectable again, and put an exclamation point on that turnaround with the national championship in 2002. He worked his tail off for 22 seasons to get the Maryland program to where it is today, a feat that arguably only a handful of coaches -- ever -- could have duplicated.
But he did have to retire from coaching at some point, and maybe this isn't such a bad time to walk away. Without much of a frontcourt, the Terps will face an uphill battle all season in a league that doesn't have a problem coming up with talented forwards and centers.
Then again, that's also what made Williams special to most Maryland fans: that superior level of coaching and a stubborn refusal to give in, even against insurmountable odds. The biggest knock on Williams -- his lack of desire to dabble in the shady dealings of the recruiting world -- is (was, now, I guess) also his biggest strength. It was frequently apparent that Maryland, especially in ACC play, was facing teams with better talent, and yet there was Gary Williams, constantly barking out orders and frustrations to both players and coaches while routinely getting his players great scoring opportunities with his patented flex offense.
Was it frustrating to watch several Maryland teams that should have been more talented and had better players? Definitely. But what I'll remember the most about Gary Williams is that his teams were always prepared and that he never made excuses for what happened on the court. He would show up with a group of players who were willing to work as hard as possible for him, and he returned the favor by giving everything he had on the sidelines every night to put his players in the best possible position to win. He wasn't always successful in doing that, and the Terps had their fair share of embarrassing moments. But what Gary Williams accomplished in his time at Maryland can never be replaced; real fans won't forget that.
But maybe it's better that way. Does Gary Williams seem like the type of guy who would leave hints of his retirement scattered about until finally going on some sort of farewell tour? No way. That's more of a Coach K-type thing to do. Maybe.
Frankly, Gary Williams is Maryland basketball. He always will be. He turned the program around, made it respectable again, and put an exclamation point on that turnaround with the national championship in 2002. He worked his tail off for 22 seasons to get the Maryland program to where it is today, a feat that arguably only a handful of coaches -- ever -- could have duplicated.
But he did have to retire from coaching at some point, and maybe this isn't such a bad time to walk away. Without much of a frontcourt, the Terps will face an uphill battle all season in a league that doesn't have a problem coming up with talented forwards and centers.
Then again, that's also what made Williams special to most Maryland fans: that superior level of coaching and a stubborn refusal to give in, even against insurmountable odds. The biggest knock on Williams -- his lack of desire to dabble in the shady dealings of the recruiting world -- is (was, now, I guess) also his biggest strength. It was frequently apparent that Maryland, especially in ACC play, was facing teams with better talent, and yet there was Gary Williams, constantly barking out orders and frustrations to both players and coaches while routinely getting his players great scoring opportunities with his patented flex offense.
Was it frustrating to watch several Maryland teams that should have been more talented and had better players? Definitely. But what I'll remember the most about Gary Williams is that his teams were always prepared and that he never made excuses for what happened on the court. He would show up with a group of players who were willing to work as hard as possible for him, and he returned the favor by giving everything he had on the sidelines every night to put his players in the best possible position to win. He wasn't always successful in doing that, and the Terps had their fair share of embarrassing moments. But what Gary Williams accomplished in his time at Maryland can never be replaced; real fans won't forget that.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Looking at some early season numbers by the O's
The Orioles lost to the White Sox 6-2 last night, again failing to provide Jeremy Guthrie with any kind of run support. Still, despite that loss, the O's (13-14) took three of four from the (currently struggling) White Sox, and they've won five of their last seven. They're now in Kansas City for three games against the Royals before heading back to Baltimore for a six-game homestand.
As a 13-14 team should, the O's have various strengths and weaknesses, though not all of them are currently defined since the first full month of the MLB season just ended. Let's examine some individual and team stats (numbers are taken from before last night's game):
- The O's have an MLB-worst on-base percentage of .290.
- They have been slugging the ball though: They have a .381 slugging percentage -- not great, but not near the bottom either.
- As a team, the O's are tied for second to last in walk percentage (7.0%).
- The O's have been the second-most unluckiest team (.259 team BABIP).
- O's starters have a 3.93 ERA. O's relievers have a 5.34 ERA -- third worst in baseball.
- The bullpen is walking 4.60 batters per nine innings. The starters? 2.82 BB/9.
- O's relievers have a collective WAR of -0.8. The starters? 1.9 WAR.
- I understand the O's don't have a ton of effective relievers at the moment, but Josh Rupe has to go. In 10.2 innings, he's allowed nine earned runs while striking out five and walking five. Oh, and he's already allowed five home runs. When Brian Matusz comes back, why don't they just move Brad Bergesen to the bullpen and insert Matusz into the rotation? That has to be much better than relying on Rupe to retire opposing batters, even in non-leverage situations.
- Pedro Beato, a Rule 5 draft pick by the Mets from the O's, still has yet to give up a run in 17 innings this season out of the bullpen.
- Zach Britton is 5-1 with a 2.63 ERA despite only striking out 4.78 batters per nine and walking 3.58 per nine. However, he's posting a 54.5 groundball percentage and is allowing only 0.72 HR/9. He's been somewhat lucky (.241 BABIP), so he may run into some trouble in the near future if he doesn't strike out more batters or cut down on the walks a bit. Then again, he's doing a fantastic job for a rookie with just six career starts under his belt. He's been impressive.
- Matt Wieters leads the team with a 0.8 WAR. Robert Andino (!) and Luke Scott are right behind him at 0.7.
- Wieters is hitting .247/.318/.468 and has four homers. His slugging percentage is currently fourth best among qualified catchers.
- Only five Orioles have OBPs over .300. The not-list includes Nick Markakis (.274), Vladimir Guerrero (.269), Mark Reynolds (.253), and Adam Jones (.250).
- Mainly because of those poor offensive numbers, four O's regulars are currently boasting negative WARs: Reynolds (-0.5), Derrek Lee (-0.3), Markakis (-0.3), and Guerrero (-0.2).
As a 13-14 team should, the O's have various strengths and weaknesses, though not all of them are currently defined since the first full month of the MLB season just ended. Let's examine some individual and team stats (numbers are taken from before last night's game):
- The O's have an MLB-worst on-base percentage of .290.
- They have been slugging the ball though: They have a .381 slugging percentage -- not great, but not near the bottom either.
- As a team, the O's are tied for second to last in walk percentage (7.0%).
- The O's have been the second-most unluckiest team (.259 team BABIP).
- O's starters have a 3.93 ERA. O's relievers have a 5.34 ERA -- third worst in baseball.
- The bullpen is walking 4.60 batters per nine innings. The starters? 2.82 BB/9.
- O's relievers have a collective WAR of -0.8. The starters? 1.9 WAR.
- I understand the O's don't have a ton of effective relievers at the moment, but Josh Rupe has to go. In 10.2 innings, he's allowed nine earned runs while striking out five and walking five. Oh, and he's already allowed five home runs. When Brian Matusz comes back, why don't they just move Brad Bergesen to the bullpen and insert Matusz into the rotation? That has to be much better than relying on Rupe to retire opposing batters, even in non-leverage situations.
- Pedro Beato, a Rule 5 draft pick by the Mets from the O's, still has yet to give up a run in 17 innings this season out of the bullpen.
- Zach Britton is 5-1 with a 2.63 ERA despite only striking out 4.78 batters per nine and walking 3.58 per nine. However, he's posting a 54.5 groundball percentage and is allowing only 0.72 HR/9. He's been somewhat lucky (.241 BABIP), so he may run into some trouble in the near future if he doesn't strike out more batters or cut down on the walks a bit. Then again, he's doing a fantastic job for a rookie with just six career starts under his belt. He's been impressive.
- Matt Wieters leads the team with a 0.8 WAR. Robert Andino (!) and Luke Scott are right behind him at 0.7.
- Wieters is hitting .247/.318/.468 and has four homers. His slugging percentage is currently fourth best among qualified catchers.
- Only five Orioles have OBPs over .300. The not-list includes Nick Markakis (.274), Vladimir Guerrero (.269), Mark Reynolds (.253), and Adam Jones (.250).
- Mainly because of those poor offensive numbers, four O's regulars are currently boasting negative WARs: Reynolds (-0.5), Derrek Lee (-0.3), Markakis (-0.3), and Guerrero (-0.2).
Saturday, April 30, 2011
What they're saying about the Skins' draft strategy
Yes, I know I just did this yesterday with the Redskins' first trade and the decision to pick Ryan Kerrigan, but I have to admit, I'm intrigued to see what people are saying about the Redskins' approach this year in the NFL Draft. The Skins currently have 10 picks on day three of the draft, meaning they'll have plenty of chances to invigorate one of the NFL's oldest rosters with a plethora of young, (hopefully) talented players at several positions of need. There's no guarantee that any of the selected players will be any good, but it does give the Skins plenty of chances -- something few fans can complain about.
Here are the three players the Skins have taken so far:
- OLB Ryan Kerrigan (16th overall)
- DT/DE Jarvis Jenkins (41st overall)
- WR Leonard Hankerson (79th overall)
And here's what people are saying about the team's course of action thus far:
- "So they picked up five additional picks by moving down six spots in the first round. Brilliant. They also grabbed Clemson DE Jarvis Jenkins at No. 41 overall and have 13 total picks in this draft. That’s one more than they had in the past two drafts combined.
That’s how you go about fixing a brokedown team with holes all over the roster, even if there will be holes still. Even if it may not be a quick fix. Especially if it’s not a quick fix.
We don’t say this often, so be sure to say it now: The Redskins got it right." [Jamie Mottram, Mr. Irrelevant]
- "By trading down from No. 10 to No. 16 in the first round, the Redskins picked up extra picks and then leveraged those picks to pick up more in a series of trades down.
All in all, the Redskins have picked up five extra draft picks thus far. While they all won’t work out, this is exactly what the Redskins need. The team has one of the thinnest rosters in the league, bereft of young quality talent at nearly every position.
This approach may not make sense for every team every year, but it’s the perfect way to go for the 2011 Redskins. And it’s something they simply haven’t done in the past." [Gregg Rosenthal, Pro Football Talk]
- "The Redskins also had entered the draft’s second round with the 49th overall pick, but traded back three times to stockpile mid- to late-round picks. First they swapped that 49th pick with Indianapolis for the 53rd and 152nd (fifth round) selections, and then sent the 53rd pick to Chicago in exchange for the 62nd and 127th (fourth round) selections.
The Redskins then sent the 62nd pick to Miami and received the Dolphins’ 79th overall pick (a third-rounder), the 146th (a fifth-rounder) and the 217th (a seventh-rounder).
After entering the draft Thursday with a first- and second-round pick but none in the third and fourth rounds, Washington by virtue of four trades over two nights wound up with picks in every round." [Mike Jones, The Washington Post]
- "Redskins have 11 picks left, including 4 in 5th and 4 in 7th. Could be first time since 1995 that the Redskins have picked in each round." [Adam Schefter, ESPN]
- "The Redskins will have double-digit picks for the third time this decade. The other two times? The disaster draft of 2008, and 2002.
The Redskins have had fewer than six picks in nine of the last 11 years. Now, they have 13 picks. I guess they are overcompensating." [Mike Prada, SB Nation DC]
- "Washington’s newfound strategy runs counter to its philosophy since owner Daniel Snyder took over the team, which was trading future picks to move up for players or in trades to acquire veterans. But after coach Mike Shanahan admitted the roster had insufficient depth at every position other than tight end and safety, it all makes sense.
The Redskins still face a desperate situation along the offensive line, which needs to be addressed, not to mention they still need a quarterback. But the days of trying for a quick fix might be over as Washington goes about a more traditional means of team building." [Jason La Canfora, NFL Network]
- "Today Mike Shanahan, who will be orchestrating the process and who will have final say in who is selected, will hope that he continues the success he had finding productive players in the late rounds when he was with the Denver Broncos.
From 1995 through 2008, Shanahan was either in charge of the Broncos’ 14 drafts or he had heavy influence. In that time Dener had 70 picks in rounds 4-7 and 39 of them have played 16 NFL games or more during their careers. Of those players, 23 were their team’s primary starter for at least one season, four made at least on Pro Bowl. Among the better players Shanahan drafted in the last four rounds are running back Terrell Davis (round 6) and Elvis Dumervil (4)." [Rich Tandler, Real Redskins]
There's probably more analysis out there, but that's all I can find this morning.
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My quick take: Is this plan absolutely guaranteed to work? Of course not. It's possible that none of the players the Redskins take in these later rounds ends up panning out. However, one word sticks out in my mind about how I'd describe the team's draft strategy this year: refreshing. The coaching staff/front office is trying something different -- which also happens to be something fans have been pleading for for over a decade. Does this mean the Redskins are rebuilding, per se? No, not really. But they are doing their best to wholeheartedly turn over an aging roster by bringing in more useful, "homegrown" players.
That doesn't mean that the Redskins won't go about filling some of the team's other holes via free agency; they will. But by both using the draft efficiently AND wisely signing free agents, the Redskins could end up with a much different -- and better -- team next season, regardless of a significant change under center. Even if you think the Skins should have taken a quarterback, or a running back, or any other position earlier in the draft instead of moving back multiple times, you have to admit that this change of pace is at least a little exciting. Let's see where this goes.
Here are the three players the Skins have taken so far:
- OLB Ryan Kerrigan (16th overall)
- DT/DE Jarvis Jenkins (41st overall)
- WR Leonard Hankerson (79th overall)
And here's what people are saying about the team's course of action thus far:
- "So they picked up five additional picks by moving down six spots in the first round. Brilliant. They also grabbed Clemson DE Jarvis Jenkins at No. 41 overall and have 13 total picks in this draft. That’s one more than they had in the past two drafts combined.
That’s how you go about fixing a brokedown team with holes all over the roster, even if there will be holes still. Even if it may not be a quick fix. Especially if it’s not a quick fix.
We don’t say this often, so be sure to say it now: The Redskins got it right." [Jamie Mottram, Mr. Irrelevant]
- "By trading down from No. 10 to No. 16 in the first round, the Redskins picked up extra picks and then leveraged those picks to pick up more in a series of trades down.
All in all, the Redskins have picked up five extra draft picks thus far. While they all won’t work out, this is exactly what the Redskins need. The team has one of the thinnest rosters in the league, bereft of young quality talent at nearly every position.
This approach may not make sense for every team every year, but it’s the perfect way to go for the 2011 Redskins. And it’s something they simply haven’t done in the past." [Gregg Rosenthal, Pro Football Talk]
- "The Redskins also had entered the draft’s second round with the 49th overall pick, but traded back three times to stockpile mid- to late-round picks. First they swapped that 49th pick with Indianapolis for the 53rd and 152nd (fifth round) selections, and then sent the 53rd pick to Chicago in exchange for the 62nd and 127th (fourth round) selections.
The Redskins then sent the 62nd pick to Miami and received the Dolphins’ 79th overall pick (a third-rounder), the 146th (a fifth-rounder) and the 217th (a seventh-rounder).
After entering the draft Thursday with a first- and second-round pick but none in the third and fourth rounds, Washington by virtue of four trades over two nights wound up with picks in every round." [Mike Jones, The Washington Post]
- "Redskins have 11 picks left, including 4 in 5th and 4 in 7th. Could be first time since 1995 that the Redskins have picked in each round." [Adam Schefter, ESPN]
- "The Redskins will have double-digit picks for the third time this decade. The other two times? The disaster draft of 2008, and 2002.
The Redskins have had fewer than six picks in nine of the last 11 years. Now, they have 13 picks. I guess they are overcompensating." [Mike Prada, SB Nation DC]
- "Washington’s newfound strategy runs counter to its philosophy since owner Daniel Snyder took over the team, which was trading future picks to move up for players or in trades to acquire veterans. But after coach Mike Shanahan admitted the roster had insufficient depth at every position other than tight end and safety, it all makes sense.
The Redskins still face a desperate situation along the offensive line, which needs to be addressed, not to mention they still need a quarterback. But the days of trying for a quick fix might be over as Washington goes about a more traditional means of team building." [Jason La Canfora, NFL Network]
- "Today Mike Shanahan, who will be orchestrating the process and who will have final say in who is selected, will hope that he continues the success he had finding productive players in the late rounds when he was with the Denver Broncos.
From 1995 through 2008, Shanahan was either in charge of the Broncos’ 14 drafts or he had heavy influence. In that time Dener had 70 picks in rounds 4-7 and 39 of them have played 16 NFL games or more during their careers. Of those players, 23 were their team’s primary starter for at least one season, four made at least on Pro Bowl. Among the better players Shanahan drafted in the last four rounds are running back Terrell Davis (round 6) and Elvis Dumervil (4)." [Rich Tandler, Real Redskins]
There's probably more analysis out there, but that's all I can find this morning.
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My quick take: Is this plan absolutely guaranteed to work? Of course not. It's possible that none of the players the Redskins take in these later rounds ends up panning out. However, one word sticks out in my mind about how I'd describe the team's draft strategy this year: refreshing. The coaching staff/front office is trying something different -- which also happens to be something fans have been pleading for for over a decade. Does this mean the Redskins are rebuilding, per se? No, not really. But they are doing their best to wholeheartedly turn over an aging roster by bringing in more useful, "homegrown" players.
That doesn't mean that the Redskins won't go about filling some of the team's other holes via free agency; they will. But by both using the draft efficiently AND wisely signing free agents, the Redskins could end up with a much different -- and better -- team next season, regardless of a significant change under center. Even if you think the Skins should have taken a quarterback, or a running back, or any other position earlier in the draft instead of moving back multiple times, you have to admit that this change of pace is at least a little exciting. Let's see where this goes.
Friday, April 29, 2011
What they're saying about the Skins' trade/pick
You may not be a fan of what the Redskins did in the first round of the NFL Draft yesterday, when they moved back from the 10th spot to the 16th spot, received an extra second-round pick, and selected DE/LB Ryan Kerrigan. That's OK. But let's see what some others are saying:
- "As quick as he is, I wonder if Kerrigan's pass-rush style will work right away in the NFL, especially as a lower weight. He has a decent bull-rush and impressive upper-body strength, but his game is built very much on edge speed, and a lot of tackles at the NFL level will be able to work that out. With a new transition to edge rusher/linebacker obviously in the cards (the weight loss sort of gives it away), he'll need to learn a lot about coverage unless his new defensive coordinator just wants him moving forward all the time. Loses his footing on stunts and loops at times because he's going at Tasmanian Devil speed." [Doug Farrar, Shutdown Corner]
- "Scouts Inc. pros: Natural playmaker. Tied FBS record with 14 forced fumbles in his career. Relentless pass rusher and rarely gears down early when chasing the run. Has outstanding technique and is disciplined. Will maintain outside contain. Pursues hard from the backside. Can get under offensive tackles and drive them back into the quarterback's lap. Has a knack for knocking the ball loose when gets to the quarterback.
Scouts Inc. cons: Not an elite athlete. Struggles to quickly change directions and will be limited with outside-in and inside-out moves in the NFL. Powerful tackler and will finish if he approaches point of attack in good position, but the more space he's in the less effective he becomes as a tackler." [Scouts Inc., ESPN NFC East Blog]
- "Anybody who follows the Redskins recognizes this isn’t a team that is one good draft away from being in contention. The Redskins need to find a quarterback now that the Donovan McNabb era has turned disastrous. They have to bolster their defensive interior with Haynesworth’s future in doubt and running back and offensive line are other questionable areas. In a division as competitive as the NFC East, this team won’t be competing for anything for at least another year.
One key reason for those issues is the team’s drafting history. While the Redskins have found gems like Orakpo and left tackle Trent Williams, last year’s top pick, they’ve also had a mediocre track record in this area lately. This is a team that has been far too concerned with big-name coaching hires and high-profile acquisitions. What they ultimately should have learned by now is that there are no quick fixes in the NFL.
The teams that win most consistently are the ones who get it right on draft day. By taking Kerrigan, the Redskins proved that they have a better sense of the value in this philosophy. He isn’t the only thing they need these days, but his arrival is definitely a strong step in the right direction." [Jeffri Chadiha, ESPN NFC East Blog]
- "Gabbert was hyped by the draftniks as a top-five quarterback because he looked the part despite a college career that didn’t blow anyone away. He has plenty of talent and athleticism, but it’s worth noting the following quarterback needy teams passed on him: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Arizona, San Francisco, Tennessee, and finally Washington, who traded their No. 10 pick to Jacksonville.
(Consider it a red flag when Mike Shanahan has no legitimate quarterback and passes on a mobile one.)" [Gregg Rosenthal, Pro Football Talk]
- "Washington wisely traded down from #10 to a QB desperate team in Jacksonville, who saw a run on QBs and decided to go up and get Blaine Gabbert. Washington only moved back six spots and picked up an extra second round pick in the process. When their pick came up at #16, Ryan Kerrigan, who they likely wanted all along was still there. We may be seeing a new Redskins after all. Really nice bit of maneuvering by them.
Even better, they aren't going to have Blaine Gabbert throwing three yard curls for them for the next three years. Who knows who will play QB for them, but either way this was a great first round for the Redskins. They got their man and replaced the picks in this draft that they wasted last year." [Jason Brewer, SB Nation Philly]
- Also, ESPN's Todd McShay is a fan of the pick. Not sure if that's good or bad, though.
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As for what the Redskins will do with their two second-round picks, I'd be stunned if they didn't go after a quarterback. They now have the ninth (41st overall) and 17th (49th overall) picks in the second round (but no third-round choices), so if a quarterback, possibly Ryan Mallett, Andy Dalton, or Colin Kaepernick, drops to them, they may decide to pull the trigger. There's no guarantee that happens, though, since there are still a few teams ahead of them that may decide to address their own quarterback deficiencies.
Considering how many holes the Skins currently have, they could certainly choose to go in another direction and select some other players -- maybe an offensive or defensive lineman or two. But still, expect them to pick a quarterback at some point on day two of the NFL Draft.
- "As quick as he is, I wonder if Kerrigan's pass-rush style will work right away in the NFL, especially as a lower weight. He has a decent bull-rush and impressive upper-body strength, but his game is built very much on edge speed, and a lot of tackles at the NFL level will be able to work that out. With a new transition to edge rusher/linebacker obviously in the cards (the weight loss sort of gives it away), he'll need to learn a lot about coverage unless his new defensive coordinator just wants him moving forward all the time. Loses his footing on stunts and loops at times because he's going at Tasmanian Devil speed." [Doug Farrar, Shutdown Corner]
- "Scouts Inc. pros: Natural playmaker. Tied FBS record with 14 forced fumbles in his career. Relentless pass rusher and rarely gears down early when chasing the run. Has outstanding technique and is disciplined. Will maintain outside contain. Pursues hard from the backside. Can get under offensive tackles and drive them back into the quarterback's lap. Has a knack for knocking the ball loose when gets to the quarterback.
Scouts Inc. cons: Not an elite athlete. Struggles to quickly change directions and will be limited with outside-in and inside-out moves in the NFL. Powerful tackler and will finish if he approaches point of attack in good position, but the more space he's in the less effective he becomes as a tackler." [Scouts Inc., ESPN NFC East Blog]
- "Anybody who follows the Redskins recognizes this isn’t a team that is one good draft away from being in contention. The Redskins need to find a quarterback now that the Donovan McNabb era has turned disastrous. They have to bolster their defensive interior with Haynesworth’s future in doubt and running back and offensive line are other questionable areas. In a division as competitive as the NFC East, this team won’t be competing for anything for at least another year.
One key reason for those issues is the team’s drafting history. While the Redskins have found gems like Orakpo and left tackle Trent Williams, last year’s top pick, they’ve also had a mediocre track record in this area lately. This is a team that has been far too concerned with big-name coaching hires and high-profile acquisitions. What they ultimately should have learned by now is that there are no quick fixes in the NFL.
The teams that win most consistently are the ones who get it right on draft day. By taking Kerrigan, the Redskins proved that they have a better sense of the value in this philosophy. He isn’t the only thing they need these days, but his arrival is definitely a strong step in the right direction." [Jeffri Chadiha, ESPN NFC East Blog]
- "Gabbert was hyped by the draftniks as a top-five quarterback because he looked the part despite a college career that didn’t blow anyone away. He has plenty of talent and athleticism, but it’s worth noting the following quarterback needy teams passed on him: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Arizona, San Francisco, Tennessee, and finally Washington, who traded their No. 10 pick to Jacksonville.
(Consider it a red flag when Mike Shanahan has no legitimate quarterback and passes on a mobile one.)" [Gregg Rosenthal, Pro Football Talk]
- "Washington wisely traded down from #10 to a QB desperate team in Jacksonville, who saw a run on QBs and decided to go up and get Blaine Gabbert. Washington only moved back six spots and picked up an extra second round pick in the process. When their pick came up at #16, Ryan Kerrigan, who they likely wanted all along was still there. We may be seeing a new Redskins after all. Really nice bit of maneuvering by them.
Even better, they aren't going to have Blaine Gabbert throwing three yard curls for them for the next three years. Who knows who will play QB for them, but either way this was a great first round for the Redskins. They got their man and replaced the picks in this draft that they wasted last year." [Jason Brewer, SB Nation Philly]
- Also, ESPN's Todd McShay is a fan of the pick. Not sure if that's good or bad, though.
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As for what the Redskins will do with their two second-round picks, I'd be stunned if they didn't go after a quarterback. They now have the ninth (41st overall) and 17th (49th overall) picks in the second round (but no third-round choices), so if a quarterback, possibly Ryan Mallett, Andy Dalton, or Colin Kaepernick, drops to them, they may decide to pull the trigger. There's no guarantee that happens, though, since there are still a few teams ahead of them that may decide to address their own quarterback deficiencies.
Considering how many holes the Skins currently have, they could certainly choose to go in another direction and select some other players -- maybe an offensive or defensive lineman or two. But still, expect them to pick a quarterback at some point on day two of the NFL Draft.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Redskins trade back, then select Ryan Kerrigan at No. 16
If the goal for the Redskins was not to do anything stupid, then they achieved that with their first move of the night. Then they decided to take a minor gamble.
Not content to just take someone they targeted at No. 10 (which may have been DE/LB Ryan Kerrigan anyway), the Redskins traded the pick to the Jaguars. In exchange for that pick, the Skins received the 16th pick and a second-round choice (49th overall). It's likely that the Skins wanted to move out of the 10th slot the whole time, or maybe another player they wanted just didn't drop to them. Either way, they got a player they really liked in Kerrigan.
Kerrigan seems like a guy who will fit well in the Redskins' 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker. Here's a brief summary of his skills via ESPN DraftTracker:
Instead of reaching for a quarterback too early, the Redskins ended up with a useful player and an extra draft choice. There's a lot of work still to be done, but is there really that much to complain about right now?
Not content to just take someone they targeted at No. 10 (which may have been DE/LB Ryan Kerrigan anyway), the Redskins traded the pick to the Jaguars. In exchange for that pick, the Skins received the 16th pick and a second-round choice (49th overall). It's likely that the Skins wanted to move out of the 10th slot the whole time, or maybe another player they wanted just didn't drop to them. Either way, they got a player they really liked in Kerrigan.
Kerrigan seems like a guy who will fit well in the Redskins' 3-4 defense as an outside linebacker. Here's a brief summary of his skills via ESPN DraftTracker:
What he brings: Kerrigan lacks elite size and athleticism, but when you put on the film he shows the instincts to find the ball and make plays. He'll play outside linebacker for the Redskins and will be at his best moving forward rather than playing in reverse. He has above-average first-step quickness and a wide array of pass-rush moves to provide an immediate upgrade to the pass rush opposite Redskins OLB Brian Orakpo.So he's not a perfect choice, but he has a lot of talent and is a hard-nosed player who won't be out of place in this defense. That already seems like a change of pace from a team that usually doesn't have any kind of organized plan and frequently tries to fit square pegs into round holes. An enormous defensive lineman or two will go a long way to making this pick look better, but it's a step in the right direction that the Redskins are seeking out the ability to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
How he fits: He should fit nicely in Jim Haslett's 3-4 defense. The Redskins have really needed a bookend for their best pass-rusher, Brian Orakpo, who will now see less double teams. Right now, the other starter, Lorenzo Alexander, is probably a better run stopper than pass rusher and even though Kerrigan is not an elite edge rusher, he is a try-hard guy who will greatly improve the pressure this unit tries to create.
Instead of reaching for a quarterback too early, the Redskins ended up with a useful player and an extra draft choice. There's a lot of work still to be done, but is there really that much to complain about right now?
The Skins' goal tonight: Don't do anything stupid
I haven't written about the NFL Draft for a few months, but honestly, not a whole lot has changed since then. Sure, some players have moved up and down the draft board, but for the most part, there's still plenty of question marks surrounding who teams are actually targeting and when certain players will fly off the draft board. This year's draft seems different than most: No one is sure who will be drafted No. 1 by the Panthers, and that first pick could completely alter many teams' strategies on picking a player or trading up/moving down.
In the first of those draft posts, I argued that if the Redskins decide that taking a quarterback (either Cam Newton or someone else) is absolutely necessary, then I'm hesitantly on board. (My second post on the draft also dealt with the possibility of taking a quarterback.) I don't like to provide quotes from old posts, but I still feel the same way:
But lots of players have been linked to the Redskins at No. 10 -- many mock drafts have predicted one of a few quarterbacks (Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, maybe Newton if he falls) or several of the consensus top 15 players -- but no one really knows what's going to happen. Here are the possibilities (remember, players cannot be traded until the current CBA/financial situation is resolved):
1) The Redskins stand pat at No. 10 and select the best available player on their draft board. That may be a quarterback, and it may not. If it is a quarterback, then both Shanahans must be convinced that he is the guy.
2) The Redskins could choose to trade up -- which would probably be for a quarterback. (Definitely against this decision at all costs. Stop trading draft picks!)
3) Trade down, targeting a quarterback or another position later in the draft. Many analysts don't believe this draft is very deep, but if the Redskins can replenish some of their picks and also get a few players they were targeting anyway, that would be a win-win. (Apparently this is a possibility, according to Mike Shanahan, but really everything else is too.)
There isn't a lot of leeway here for the Redskins; they don't have the luxury of messing around with some of their picks to go after some project player who won't produce in three years. They need to get younger, and they need to get better. And -- this needs to be repeated as much as necessary -- they need to stop trading away draft picks. To me, that would be way worse than simply drafting a quarterback at No. 10.
Only the first round takes place tonight. Here's the draft schedule:
Rd. 1: Thurs., April 28, 8 p.m. ET
Rds. 2-3: Fri., April 29, 6 p.m. ET
Rds. 4-7: Sat., April 30, 12 ET
And here are the current selections the Redskins have:
Round 1, pick 10 (10 overall)
Round 2, pick 9 (41 overall)
Round 5, pick 13 (144 overall)
Round 5, pick 24 (155 overall, from New Orleans)
Round 6, pick 12 (177 overall)
Round 7, pick 11 (213 overall)
Round 7, pick 22 (224 overall, from Indianapolis)
Round 7, pick 52 (253 overall, compensatory selection)
Also, here is the complete draft order. So enjoy the draft and hope the Redskins don't do anything crazy.
In the first of those draft posts, I argued that if the Redskins decide that taking a quarterback (either Cam Newton or someone else) is absolutely necessary, then I'm hesitantly on board. (My second post on the draft also dealt with the possibility of taking a quarterback.) I don't like to provide quotes from old posts, but I still feel the same way:
Of course, it's all about being able to build a franchise. The Redskins are not ready to compete for a championship; they need to add more pieces before that can happen. So all I'm trying to say is that the Redskins shouldn't reach for a quarterback so early in the draft if they're not sure he's the guy. Again, there's no guarantee the quarterback they select is going to be great, but there seems to be a little less pressure and difficulty in picking another position of need -- and the Redskins obviously have plenty of those.The Redskins have a lot of positions to fill, but if they do somehow identify their quarterback of the future and select one who develops into a solid starter, that will be a tremendous help to a franchise that hasn't had a good, let alone great, quarterback for a very long time.
I'm a fan of taking the best available player, and I think the Redskins should do that -- even if it's a quarterback. But they should also be exploring the possibility of taking any other position -- offense or defense -- or even trading back to replenish some of the picks they gave away when trading for Donovan McNabb and Jammal Brown.
In the end, if the Redskins do decide that Newton is the guy, that's fine. But he's not going to be the team's savior with so many other gaping holes on the roster, and it would be wrong of them to believe that. Shanahan and Allen have a ton of work to do, and hopefully they are not solely focused on finding a quarterback. This team needs much more help than that.
But lots of players have been linked to the Redskins at No. 10 -- many mock drafts have predicted one of a few quarterbacks (Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, maybe Newton if he falls) or several of the consensus top 15 players -- but no one really knows what's going to happen. Here are the possibilities (remember, players cannot be traded until the current CBA/financial situation is resolved):
1) The Redskins stand pat at No. 10 and select the best available player on their draft board. That may be a quarterback, and it may not. If it is a quarterback, then both Shanahans must be convinced that he is the guy.
2) The Redskins could choose to trade up -- which would probably be for a quarterback. (Definitely against this decision at all costs. Stop trading draft picks!)
3) Trade down, targeting a quarterback or another position later in the draft. Many analysts don't believe this draft is very deep, but if the Redskins can replenish some of their picks and also get a few players they were targeting anyway, that would be a win-win. (Apparently this is a possibility, according to Mike Shanahan, but really everything else is too.)
There isn't a lot of leeway here for the Redskins; they don't have the luxury of messing around with some of their picks to go after some project player who won't produce in three years. They need to get younger, and they need to get better. And -- this needs to be repeated as much as necessary -- they need to stop trading away draft picks. To me, that would be way worse than simply drafting a quarterback at No. 10.
Only the first round takes place tonight. Here's the draft schedule:
Rd. 1: Thurs., April 28, 8 p.m. ET
Rds. 2-3: Fri., April 29, 6 p.m. ET
Rds. 4-7: Sat., April 30, 12 ET
And here are the current selections the Redskins have:
Round 1, pick 10 (10 overall)
Round 2, pick 9 (41 overall)
Round 5, pick 13 (144 overall)
Round 5, pick 24 (155 overall, from New Orleans)
Round 6, pick 12 (177 overall)
Round 7, pick 11 (213 overall)
Round 7, pick 22 (224 overall, from Indianapolis)
Round 7, pick 52 (253 overall, compensatory selection)
Also, here is the complete draft order. So enjoy the draft and hope the Redskins don't do anything crazy.
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