Thursday, December 29, 2011

Growing Pains

Am I the only Wizards fan who's getting a sense that this year may be another year where we feel like we should be getting paid to watch the games? I don't mean any disrespect, but maaan was that hard to watch last night. I would've been better off watching "The Real Housewives of Atlanta".
But in all seriousness, this is only year 2 of the Wizards (soon to be Bullets) rebuild. We're far better off two games into this season than we were at this point last year. At least we don't have to worry about Gilbert Zero ruining the psyche of John Wall anymore, and we have plenty of young players that will be looking to lockdown a spot in the rotation over the next few weeks.

The main thing I can take away from last night's game vs. Atlanta is that "at times" the Wizards are capable of playing great basketball. Let's face it, the lockout doesn't help any young team come together..especially a team that has 9 players with less than 4 years of NBA experience. This team looks completely disorganized, selfish, and has an innate ability to play anything but team defense.

Am I being too rash? Until I see something different I'd say No! Like I said before though, the lockout has pushed the development, and the camaraderie of this team back at least a month or two. It's unfortunate that we lose 16 games right when we need them the most, but if the players & coaches take this as a positive for the future, and learn from this year's adversity..it can only help this team in the future.

Wall played better last night than he did in the first game vs. NJ...but I'm not going to give him too much praise when I still see an inability to finish at the rim. He may be the fastest PG in the NBA but it won't make a bit of difference until he can finish, and also set up his teammates while driving the lane. I know John won't be happy with his 6 tunrovers last night, to go along with an average amount of assists (6). He needs to have a ratio of at least 2/1 or 3/1 in the ASSTS/TO category. Is it just me or does his cardio look a bit sluggish so far? Easy for me to question his cardio while slugging down a 6-pack last night. Jordan Crawford may be working his way to the bench if he continues to put up gooseeggs on a nightly basis (0/6 fgm/a)..not to mention Nick Young looks like he's getting back to his old form with 21 points last night on 6/12 shooting (3/6 3ptrs). Wouldn't be too surprised if Nick was in the starting line-up as soon as Friday night @ Milwaukee. JaVale McGee had his shining moments and finished with 15pts & 12rebs. He still needs to work on his inconsistency though, and try to put "multiple" complete games together. I catch him standing and watching as shots go up instead of being more aggressive and putting a body on someone. Hopefully going against Turiaf at practice will help him out. I'd rather not go into the play of Blatche so far because it's too early in the day to start drinking away my frustrations.

I'm looking for the Wizards to bounce back against the Bucks tomorrow night, and get that monkey off their back early in the season and pick up that crucial 1st road win to start building their confidence.

Prediction:
WSH 94 - MIL 90

Fight On Zards!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Ready to Launch

Wizards fans have so much to look forward to this 2011-12 NBA season. Jimmy Wall is back in action, and looks much improved from his already stellar rookie season (minus Monday vs. New Jersey). Jordan Crawford is on the verge of a breakout season, even with Nick Young back. Look for this kid to become a 12-20 point scorer a night. Andray Blatche is speaking like a veteran, and actually working like one...having a similar body frame to Dray's, I always knew I could make it in the NBA. But watch out, I think I saw some muscle on the kid this year. I'm looking for a huge season from him! JaVale McGee has been getting praise from the media so far in camp for his improved play, but I don't like seeing him on the bench at the end of games. So make sure you keep an eye out for that tonight. I'd love to see McGee banging against Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, Brooks Lopez, etc. and really show these guys that there's a new big man in town.

Young pups like Jan Vesely, Shelvin Mack, & Kevin Seraphin need to learn on the fly, and try to earn some playing time through practice. I think Jan can fly with anyone in this league, but give him some time to adjust from the European style of ball. Don't put high expectations on him early, let him learn and grow...and hopefully bring his girlfriend to the games.

Key role players this year besides Nick Young will be Chris Singleton, Trevor Booker, Roger Mason Jr., & Ronny Turiaf. I love the energy that Booker & Turiaf bring to the game..but their biggest issue is going to be trying to stay healthy. Chris Singleton is my diamond in the rough this year. I think we're going to look back at this draft and say he was one of the top 5 picks. The kid is straight nasty on D..he can guard all 5 positions, and as soon as his offensive game starts to click..watch out! Same thing with Chris though, injuries have to stay away.

I know the season got off to a rocky start the other night against the Nets, and the lack of "star-power" may ultimately doom this team...but I think they have a true leader in John Wall who won't let this team go down without a fight. Players need to breakout this year in order for them to improve. But if the growth for players like Blatche, McGee, Young, & Crawford don't improve over past seasons...we have another "Lottery Party" to look forward to next summer. My hope is that they can sneak into that 8th spot in the East...the key number for this season  is 30. 30 wins in a 66 game season doesn't seem too great. But it's achievable, and it's 7 more wins than we had last year in an 82 game schedule.

Tonight's Game:
WSH Wiz @ ATL Hawks
prediction: ATL 102 - WSH 90

Thursday, December 22, 2011

THE DECISION (part 2)

Tune in today at 4pm (probably on ESPN) to find out whether Matt Barkley will return to USC for another season, or turn Pro. This is a HUGE decision for Skins fans..whether you're pro-Barkley, or pro-RGIII. This decision is going to decide a lot..especially with Washington's recent winning ways.

If Barkley were to come out this year he would be a top 7 or 8 pick. And either the 2nd or 3rd QB taken, depending on who you're listening to.

If he were to stay another year at USC, Barkley would have a shot at a BCS bowl game with a yet-again loaded Trojan squad. Not to mention being a front-runner for Heisman, and an all but guaranteed #1 draft pick, or at the very least..the first QB taken in the 2013 Draft. Oh, and then there's the money issue..there's quite a difference between #1 money and #7-8 money.

That being said...why wouldn't he come out this year?!?! Riiiight..I'll be on pins and needles around 4 o'clock and "Tebowing" along the way! Come out this year Matt! Skins Nation needs you to!

HAIL!


What the Flip is Going On?


The NBA was locked out for what seemed like minutes? Or days? Months? I'm not really sure because I didn't think about it all that much. I honestly didn't think we would have a season this year. But, alas we will have a season, and the Wizards' start on December 26th. Training camp began a couple weeks ago and I followed along. Michael Lee reported what seemed to be every minute of camp. Players told him there was a huge buzz at camp. Their in house scrimmages were off the charts. I couldn't believe the hype that was building around this team. This hype built an anticipation for their opening preseason game against Philly. Fans expected an improved John Wall, a dedicated Andrey Blatche, and a focused JaVale McGee. Well, sometime expectations can be a set up for disappointment. The Wizards do not look poised to make a splash this season. If anything, it seems like they are taking a step back. Jordan Crawford has looked abysmal, taking quick jump shots before any kind of offense has time to function. The silver lining? This team has a ton of potential. McGee has a frame like Kevin Garnett and can jump out of the building. John Wall just might be the fastest player in the NBA, and we resigned Nick Young for the year. And guess what? Those damn jerseys look SEXY. I love the old school look. So at least I have something good to look at. I'll just put a sticky note over the scoreboard on my TV this season.

Anyway, I'm a little off track, but here's the point of this article. I'm wondering if Flip has the ability to motivate these guys. Can he get these guys going? This is a team FULL of young talent. They are in a critical moment for their development as players. They need a coach that pushes them and drives them to reach their full potential. Right now, it's sloppy. Let's just hope it's the short training camp that has them in a bit of a funk. If not, Flip Saunders will have some 'splaining to do. And I think it's beginning to look like we could have 2 new head coaches in the Verizon Center by the end of this season. I'm rooting for you Flip, but I want to see these young studs develop.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Opinion: Skins Dominate Giants. Good or Bad?

Boo Hoo
This is a pretty touchy topic right now. The Skins are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, so fans immediately start thinking draft spot. Well, some fans anyway. There are basically two sides to this argument. You either can't wrap your mind around the idea that losing games can be a positive, or you want the Skins to lose out the season in order to improve their draft pick. Here's what I think.

What is the goal for the season? The entire reason the NFL exists, besides for profit obviously, is to get to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. If your a player, you've probably lived your whole life with that goal. Girls dream of their perfect wedding, kissing the man they have waited for their entire life. Football players dream of that perfect season, kissing the shiny Lombardi trophy they have waited for their entire life. Perfect analogy? I tend to think so. That being said, teams will never tank a season for a draft pick. As much sense as it would make for the future, no team with that mindset will be successful no matter how many number one draft picks they "earn". Therefore, should we be happy that the Skins crushed the Giants for the second time this season? Absolutely. I loved the way they played. I hate the Giants and their "if we played the Redskins 100 times we would win 99 of them" attitude. And more importantly, I hate watching the Redskins play awful football. So, when the season ends prematurely and we start to look at draft picks, winning is still the number one goal, and a higher draft pick is merely the silver lining of a late season loss.

You'll never see me complain about at Redskin victory, no matter when it comes during the season, but don't look for me to jump for joy and talk about how this team is turning it around either. They are just finally playing football without the pressure of the fanbase needing success on their backs. Until they learn to play with that pressure. This team will struggle to play at the level we saw this past week on a consistent basis.

So what do you guys think? Glad they pummeled the Giants? Or are you pissed that we are moving down the draft order? Share your thoughts.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Knock Knock...Philly Still Sucks

Not gonna lie..I thought last night's episode of 24/7 featuring the Flyers/Rangers was pretty good. Obviously not as appealing without our Caps in it, but the Flyers had me cracking up when they showed their postgame celebration and started dancing around to Mac Miller's "Knock Knock".
 Solid effort...but I'm going to have to stick with last year's Caps anthem "Beat Dat Beat Up" by DJ Pauly D. Watch & vote for which one you think is the best!








Dale Hunter will get Better, Right?

Fans loved Dale Hunter the player
If you're a long time Caps fan, you knew who Dale Hunter was before he was brought in as head coach. You knew he was arguably one of the most dirty, gritty, fierce, competitive, and for that matter, beloved players to ever wear a Caps uniform. When he was introduced as coach, I know I wanted to see that kind of mentality passed on to his players. But what about Dale Hunter the coach? What has he done? Where did he come from? In case you were wondering, here you go:

 In 1996, the Knights mustered a shockingly embarrassing 3 wins in a 68 game season. Hunter took over as head coach for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League in 2001-2002. His first season? 24 wins, 65 points and made it to the second round of the playoffs. His second year? 31 wins, 72 points and made it to the second round of the playoffs. His third year was even better with 53 wins, 110 points and the team made it to the third round of the playoffs. By the end of his fourth season, he was hoisting the Memorial Cup in the air after a 59 win season and 120 points. He has mentored current NHL stars such as Corey Perry, Patrick Kane and John Tavares.

What does this say about Dale Hunter as a coach? He gets the most out of his players. He shows consistent improvement. He's intelligent enough to learn on the fly and find ways to win with different players. Although he doesn't have any NHL coaching experience, there is reason to believe he will be successful. It's been a rough start so far, with questions as to whether or not he can translate his success with young players into success with men in the National Hockey League.

Let me explain my stance on Dale Hunter, as some readers were confused over my last post. I am not calling for Dale Hunter's head. In no way do I think he should be fired, nor do I think he will be fired at the end of the year. I do think he needs to get the team to show some life. When you have opposing players and media for other teams saying Hunter's system is totally unsuited for players like Semin and Oveckin, it's not a good sign. I'm not saying scrap it, I'm just saying I want to see Dale Hunter learn and adapt, just like he did with the London Knights.


Short video on Hunter's success in London

Share your thoughts in the comments section



Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Dale Hunter on the Hot Seat? Or is it too early. . .



The Caps' 5-1 loss to Philadelphia last night wasn't just a bad loss. It was an embarrassment. Every single Caps fan who went to that game should get their money back. After a 3 day break between games, the Caps came out with zero heart, zero emotion and zero preparation. They looked tired, sluggish  and completely disoriented. Three years ago, a two or three goal deficit meant nothing. The team would keep their heads up and battle. They had that confidence and winning attitude that keeps elite teams in any game. Last night, Vokoun gave up a lazy goal in the first period, and it seemed like they gave up after that. We lost every 50-50 battle, couldn't get anything going on a power play that went 4-6 last game, and couldn't muster any dangerous shots on goal. Philadelphia came into our town and showed the Caps who's the cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference. The Caps on the other hand, need to figure it out before it's too late.

Jeff Schultz was a healthy scratch again, proving that Dale Hunter sees in him what every fan has seen for 4 years now, absolutely nothing. Roman Hamrlik is also a huge bust. It seems like he aged 10 years this offseason and is constantly taking penalties or reacting slowly to the puck. I'm sorry to say it, but Ovechkin just hasn't been the same since he was suspended twice two seasons ago. He looks like a beaten man, exactly like what Boudreau looked like after his last game coaching the Caps. He's a man without answers. Guess who was supposed to be the man with the answers; Dale Hunter.

Now, I know it's early. The team has shown some promise since Hunter has taken over, but nothing consistent. At this point, it is far too early to start questioning Dale Hunter's ability to coach this team to the playoffs, but for me, it's time to see something out of this team. I love Dale Hunter as a player and a man, but I hope he isn't in over his head here. Coaching in the NHL is an entirely different animal than coaching 17 year old kids in the Ontario Hockey League. I don't know what this team needs in order to wake up. Does Ovechkin need to be a healthy scratch? Does Semin need to be traded? What about Vokoun? Something has to give, and maybe it's time to bring Holtby up and give him a shot. I bet he's dying to get a chance to prove his worth to Dale Hunter.

What's he going to do next?
Right now we are 11th in the conference, 2 points out of the playoffs and 7 points behind Florida in the Southeast division. This is the lowest we have been in the standings this late in a season since Boudreau's first year. George McPhee must be sweating in his office, because his job is on the line even more so than Dale Hunter's.
But maybe this is what is needed for McPhee. Maybe he needs to be pushed to the brink in order for him to take the steps necessary to right the ship. Just maybe he'll trade Semin and Schultz away for a veteran, or a rising star with speed like Zach Parise.

Again, I have to reiterate that I know it's only mid December, but at some point everyone is looking for a lightning bolt to hit this team and zap it back to dominance. We're all waiting for something, that's for sure.




Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Moves like Jagr

Thanks to Albert Haynesworth...Jaromir Jagr isn't the most pathetic free agent signing in DC sports history anymore. Now he's #2. Congrats Jagr! The other day I was reminiscing over the glory years with Jagr in a Caps uniform, actually...it seems more like he merely used Verizon Center as his glory hole. I was trying to think of a few great games he had here, but.................................................I'm thinking.........................still thinking...................nope, I can't seem to remember any.
Jaromir has come out and said he can't stand playing in DC, he says it's not the easiest arena to get going in.... GOOD! Because tonight I'm looking for Ovechkin to put Jagr to sleep like he did in the Olympics last year. In case you forgot, here is a little reminder:

Keep your head up Jaromir...there's going to be a freight train coming at you tonight!

Fight On Caps!!!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Manning to DC? It Could Happen. . .

The Indianapolis Colts face a fork in the road once this season comes to a close. Break it down any way you want it, but it comes down to choosing between Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning. The Colts will have to decide which one before they pay Manning his $28 million bonus this spring. We can speculate all we want, but no one outside of the Colts' organization knows which way they'll turn. History would say Peyton Manning has played his last game as a Colt and will finish his career somewhere else. Seems bonkers to picture Peyton in any uniform but a Colts' uni, but hey, it's happened before. Joe Montana was traded to the Chiefs, even Brett Favre played for his arch rival, the Minnesota Vikings. How about another great Colts QB Johnny Unitas? He is considered the greatest quarterback in NFL history by many, yet he was traded to San Diego at the end of his career.
Bottom line, don't think Peyton Manning is untradable. When it comes down to it, the NFL is a business and Jim Irsay will do what he thinks is best for the future of his organization. The question is, who will go after the Manning the hardest? McNabb was a mistake, but bringing Manning to DC would be a perfect move for the Skins. But what would we have to give up? Definitely our first rounder this year, and hopefully nothing more than a 2nd rounder in 2013, considering Snyder would be saving the Colts a cool $28 million. For the record, it Manning came to DC, I would spend the next few months learning how to do a standing back flip just so I could celebrate the right way. Peyton Manning starting at QB the next 3 years and training a young quarterback to play as he does? The only way that's a bad idea is if we can't get a QB in the first round. Here's three different scenario's that I could see going down, assuming we earn a top 5 pick:

Scenario 1: Skins get Manning

Redskins trade:
2012 1st round pick
2013 2nd round pick
Ryan Torain

Colts Trade:
Peyton Manning
2012 3rd round pick

Redskins draft:
Landry Jones in the 2nd round

Scenario 2: Skins use first pick on a QB 


Redskins draft: 
Robert Griffin (assuming he enters the draft, which I'm sure he will) or Matt Barkley of USC. For the record I am not a Barkley fan. All I see is Matt Leinart 2.0

Scenario 3: Skins use first pick on OL


Redskins Draft:
-Matt Kalil of USC. Put him on the left side, move Trent Williams to the right side.
-Draft either Landry Jones of Oklahoma or Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State.

----------------------------

All 3 scenarios have their risks and rewards. The safest scenario seems like number 2, but the third one would give us two great offensive tackles for the next 10 years. Right now the first scenario is certainly the most risky, but seems right up Daniel Snyder's alley doesn't it?

What do you guys think? Or do you have your own scenario? Bring in the comments!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Something to Cheer About

We like Roy Helu
Chris Mortenson of ESPN is the only analyst that I know who picked the Skins to win this one. Most predictions were a blowout victory for the Patriots. The Skins held their own and played up to their opponents level for this one, which is a great sign for the character of this team. The season is over as far as playoffs go, Injuries and suspensions have piled up so much that this offense's only familiar face is Rex Grossman. Yet, the New England Patriots came into town and the Skins made a game of it. This was the first game I watched this season thinking I was getting ready to watch a blood bath. Even with a loss, there are a ton of positives to take from this game.


  • The offensive line is gaining invaluable experience. Rex Grossman holds on to the ball far too long, and has zero pocket presence, but the O-line gave him enough time to be successful. The fumble in the end zone was 100% Rex's fault for holding the ball too long.
  • Roy Helu is consistently putting up numbers. For the third straight game, he has put up over 100 yards rushing. He is an explosive back that is making a serious case for being the number one back next year. If we add a goal line back, our running game should only look even better next year.
  • Welcome Perry Riley. This guy looks good. He plays hard and hits harder. London Fletcher is impossible to replace, but I'll feel much better knowing Perry Riley has a new contract. He signed a 4 year deal in 2010, and London Fletcher will be 40 years old at that point, and Perry Riley better be getting a fresh new contract. 
  • For all the crap the coaching staff gets for not making adjustments and poor play calling, they proved that they can do both today. Brandon Banks threw a touchdown on an end-around pass to Santana Moss, and Mike Shanahan retooled his offensive line for the sixth time this season, while making adjustments to the game plan after Sellars went down.
Obviously everything wasn't positive, but I'm pumped to write something good for a change. Yes, the Patriot's defense is bad, but we exploited their weaknesses with a rookie running back, a makeshift offensive line, and a bevy of older wide outs. The coaching staff and the players gave fans something to cheer about, and hope for the future of this organization. Kudos to the players for busting their asses out there when the only thing to play for is pride.

 Bring on the New York Giants!


Friday, December 9, 2011

Great Wall to Superman? I'm Down!

With all of these "super teams" in the NBA now, and the proposed Chris Paul to LA deal...it got me thinking. I know the Paul deal was shutdown, but another big name that's been floating around as of late is Dwight Howard. He's been linked in trades to LA, NY, & NJ. With a 95% chance that he won't be coming back to Orlando, the Magic are absolutely entertaining offers before the season starts.
The Wizards have a solid core of young players surrounded around their franchise cornerstone in John "Jimmy" Wall. But how about this...trade some of our young talent for the best big man in the game (and only 26..birthday was yesterday). The dude is a freak of nature, but you may ask yourself why would he ever want to come to DC?? One reason...John Wall. There are only a handful of point guards in this league as dynamic as Wall, and we're lucky enough to have him.
Players like Dwight Howard aren't dangled out there for a trade very often. So Ernie Grunfeld, PLEASE consider your options here. Giving up some of our young talent for the best center in the game is well worth the trade off for me! This trade would immediately make us contenders. Rebuild over...

Here is my proposal:

Wizards Trade:
-Nick Young (sign & trade)
-JaVale Mcgee
-Jan Vesely
-Two 1st round draft picks

Magic Trade:
-Dwight Howard (agreement to sign extension with Wiz)
-Hedo Turkoglu

New Starting Line-up:

PG John Wall
SG Jordan Crawford
SF Hedo Turkoglu
PF Andray Blatche
C Dwight Howard

Bench:
PF Trevor Booker
PG Shelvin Mack
SF Chris Singleton
C Kevin Seraphin

You now amnesty Rashard Lewis' over $21million/yr contract, and go get reliable veteran free agents such as:

-J.J. Barea
-Roger Mason
-Kurt Thomas
-Josh Howard (reduced contract!)

Am I crazy? What do you all think??

Thursday, December 8, 2011

I Took the Orioles GM Job...Because I Got High


I thought there was supposed to be a light at the end of the tunnel? Well how damn long is this tunnel in Baltimore? It seems like no matter who our GM is, they all have the same philosophy...and that would be "don't spend, and lose lose lose". I guess it's OK if you want to shatter your fan base, and you don't care much for money. But come on man, Peter Angelos only brings in guys who will shine his shoes, do his dry cleaning, and maybe pick up a slugger who's 10-years past his prime (i.e. Sammy Sosa, Miguel Tejada, Manny Ramirez??).
Andy McPhail gave it his best shot the last few years, but our young arms have hit a wall, and I'm sure Angelos wouldn't give him the green light on many trades, or free agent acquisitions. So he knew that it was time to pack up and go.
Dan Duquette must have been hanging around Fred Davis, & Trent Williams when he made his decision to come back to baseball with the Orioles. Hell, Ricky Williams is right down the street so maybe he's giving him a good hook-up. You have to be high as a kite to take this job, and then come out during the winter meetings and say "We're not going after big name free agents. We'll get our players through trades, and just try to give our pitching staff more depth." Dan won't even give a free agent pitcher more than a 3-year contract. Good luck trying to lure those top players into Charm City with that philosophy.
And where are these trades going to come from? The only players we have that are worth anything are Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Jim Johnson, & prospects Manny Machado, Xavier Avery, and Mychal Givens. And Machado better be untouchable!
We need to go out and get a player that's going to make other players actually want to come to Baltimore. The Nationals went out and did that last year with Jason Werth, little did they know..he's not very good. If the Orioles made an effort to go get the O-BEAST Prince Fielder, maybe it would finally make the League look at Baltimore in a way that they haven't in 14-years. And then Duquette may have full reign to go get the pitchers he wants.
Until we start looking at what's going to make Baltimore a winner sooner rather than later...we might as well keep hoping that Steve Biscotti will buy the team, or have Ray Lewis murd...I mean tackle Peter Angelos right out of the picture.

Fight On B-more!!!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Caps-Cats Preview

The Washington Capitals are in Florida tonight to take on the Southeast division leading Panthers. It's been at least 4 years since the Caps have looked up at the Panthers in the standings. Tonight's game, and every division game for that matter is a statement game now. It seems like eons ago when the Caps dominated this division. Look for the Caps to keep up their hard hitting mentality as they look to show the Panthers just how shaky their division lead is. Vokoun won't get to play against his former team this time as Neuvy will get the net for the second straight game. Michale Neuvirth played well in a 3-2 overtime victory against Ottowa two night's ago, and Dale Hunter is showing that hard work and good play will get rewarded. If Neuvy has another good game tonight, I wouldn't be surprised to see him in net again against the Senators on Wednesday.

Florida is coming off a great win in San Jose to end their road trip, and although they are playing well, they may be tired and sloppy after their trip out west. In what seems to be a recurring theme, special teams play may be the deciding factor in this one. Florida gives up over 30 shots a game, but a lot of them are blue line shots that don't really test the netminder. Their penalty kill is a solid 82.2 percent which is 17th in the league during an unusually stingy penalty killing NHL season.
The Caps are running a 1-2-2 trap scheme which is new under head coach Dale Hunter. It is something very new for the Caps, who are trying to avoid giving up odd man rushes and break aways. They are looking more and more comfortable in it, but still need to learn how to get shots on goal when transitioning to their forecheck. Florida will be a good test to see if they are getting the hang of it. Although we are getting production out of every line, it would be good to see the Caps top line lead the team in points for a change. We need success from every line, but teams are not fearing out top line like they used to, and Ovechkin is not the dangerous player he used to be, partly because he looks to pass much more than he used to.

Look for another low scoring affair in what could be a 2-1 victory for either team. Semin's status is still up in the air, so perhaps we will stay out of the penalty box. Rock the Red at home, and don't forget to send in your "Shots for Beags" pics. Use the "Contact Us" page to send in!

FIGHT ON DMV

Williams and Davis "Lucky" to miss just 4 games


2,000 players were tested for illegal drugs during training camp this past offseason. 11 "unlucky" players were dumb enough to get caught. Of those 11 players, only 2 were dumb enough to get caught AGAIN. Naturally, both of those players are Redskins. Because of a technicality from the lockout, these players will only receive a 4 game suspension, rather than the usual full season.

Fred Davis and Trent Williams. You could make the argument that they are the two best young players on the offensive side of the ball. You could also make the argument that they are the two least intelligent players in the entire National Football League. When I first heard this story, the beaten down Skins fan in me thought, no big deal, we're not making the playoffs anyway. Reading more and more about it, I decided, this is absolutely unacceptable. We are a team trying to rebuild. The word rebuild is thrown out there a lot in this town, and it's most widely interpreted connotation is related to what happens on the field. Well, unfortunately for this town, we have as many problems off the field or court, as we do on them. So the term "rebuild" applies to what happens on gameday, and the 6 other days where these players have the free will to be where they want and do what they want. As far as marijuana is concerned, I don't find it to be a big deal. To me, it's much like alcohol. Some people can handle it, some can't. If you can't, you should probably stay away from it. When you fail three drug tests in the NFL, you can't handle it. When you are the only 2 players out of 2,000 initial failures to receive discipline, then you just flat out don't care.

Fans as well as the media will talk about this all day today and then sparingly throughout the year, but what about the rest of the team? How do Trent Williams and Fred Davis go back into that locker room without their heads down in embarassment. When you have a locker room full of guys busting their asses to get better and keep the team from being cellar dwellars, what do you say to them at this point? The first time their names are called out, a simple "my bad" probably sufficed. Weed isn't that big of a deal when used sparingly, the second and third times, I can't see an acceptable excuse. These two players have a lot of work ahead of them if they want to make this up to the team. Forget about the fans, they'll find something else to complain about soon enough. The players in that locker room are the ones I feel sorry for.

This blog will be the last time I reference this situation. To me, the players that are actually able to wear a Redskin's jersey this weekend deserve my attention. Trent Williams and Fred Davis aren't even allowed in the stadium.

Quit Flippin' Out


I watched Flip Saunders' press conference the other day, and I was getting pretty pissed off at some of the things he was saying. I don't mind when he calls players out for playing like sh!t, but when you start telling the media that your team needs to grow up because of certain "youtube videos" they've posted...then I've got a problem with that.

How can you not laugh at this?!

These Wizards/Bullets players aren't being influenced anymore by a guy who went from being a Hero to a Zero faster than Chris Webber smoking a fat blunt on the way to practice. Actually, I guess the guy always was a zero. JaVale McGee & Nick Young are having harmless fun, and what Flip unfortunately didn't mention is that they're also spending a lot of time in their communities trying to help out, and doing things the right way.

As long as these two aren't bringing guns to work, sh!tting in Dray's shoes, or act like these two idiots, then I'll let their play on the court decide their maturity level.
Nick and JaVale are becoming the veterans of the team, and they need to show our younger guys what it's like to be a professional "at work". If their outside life is affecting their play, then Flip, you may speak up. Until then, chill out and if you must call them out, then why not do it for this kind of stuff:




Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Heart of a Turtle

My expectations for Maryland's basketball team this year were as low as they've ever been in my lifetime, thanks to this guy. I was hoping that at the very least the team would learn from their experiences this year, and the young Terps would mature into more rounded players.
They've had their ups/downs so far through 6 games, but I've been very impressed with the maturation of the team. Coach Turgeon has been a pleasant surprise, and his coaching style slightly echoes that of Gary Williams. He's intense, smart, and best of all..the team seems to be buying into his ways.
The Terrapins will be offensively challenged this year (outside of Terrell Stoglin) but I'm more concentrated on the effort they give on defense, and rebounding.
Pleasant surprises so far this year have been the emergence of James Padgett..especially on the offensive side, and Ashton Pankey, the redshirt freshman who missed all of last year with an injury. A couple players to keep an eye on are Nick Faust (frosh), and Mychael Parker (soph)...they need to be sound on both sides of the court because they'll have a huge impact on our guard situation the next few years.
This team has a lot of fight in it, and I believe it starts with their coach. It may be hard to watch this team this year, especially against Duke and UNC...but with my expectations low, I'm finding it fun to watch them improve every game win or lose. The coaches and players knew it could be a brutal year, but they're showing one thing you can't teach...heart.

Fight On Colli Park!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Bring on the Jets!


Who needs this win more? The Jets, whose streak filled season consists of winning streaks of two and three sandwiched between losing streaks of two and three? Or the Redskins, who are fighting to find some kind of identity. This being a D.C. sports blog, I will spend most of my time looking at the Redskin's angle. The Redskins come into this game with a divided fanbase. Half of them desperate for a legitimate quarterback to lead this team, the other half wanting a team to surround the quarterback before we fill that gap. I understand   the   desire  for   the  Redskins  to   have   a  leader at the quarterback position, but I made my stance on what the Skins need most very clear. The next couple of weeks, much like last year, are going to show the fans what we have at each position. Roy Helu will get his second chance to carry a full workload, our future back up lineman will get more experience, Gomes will get more work at Safety with LaRon Landry out and Grossman will be pretty much the same.
The Jets are a defensive minded team that will come after you each and every down. Revis island should have no problem taking care of our wide receivers, so it will be up to Roy Helu and our running game to take advantage of a Jets run defense that gives up 115 yards a game. Look for the Redskins to have a pretty even distribution of run and pass plays this Sunday.
The Jets have a ton to play for on Sunday. Unfortunately for them they play in a division that features the New England Patriots. Because of that, they are fighting for a wild card spot. At 6-5, they are one game behind the Cincinnati Bengals for the last spot. The Jets have been under a lot of heat the past couple weeks, especially after losing to Denver two Thursday's ago. This led Rex Ryan to split practice reps between Mark Sanchez and Mark Brunell. Well, Sanchez rebounded well and they came away with a victory at home against Buffalo. Don't expect this Rex Ryan team to look past the Redskins.
The New York's offensive line has given up 26 sacks on the year, so look for Kerrigan and Orakpo to do what they do best and get in the backfield early. I'm not particularly worried about their run game because Rex Ryan has a hard time committing to it anyway.

All in all, I think this will be a test for both teams. The Jets will be making a push for the last playoff spot, and every Redskin player will be making their case for a roster spot. Each team has their own motivation, and after last weeks chippy game, I expect more of the same this week. The Jets aren't known for biting their tongues, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple post-play scrums. Regardless of Washington's record, I think Sunday's match up against the Jets will be an exciting one, and after picking Seattle to win last week, I'm picking the Skins in an upset this week, with the special teams making some big plays. I just can't see Danny Smith's place kicking unit playing so bad again. Gano and the place kicking unit got a lot of work this week and should be playing to regain some pride.

Redskins win 23-20 on the shoulder's Gano's 3 field goals.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Hunter Does Have a Soft Side

One of the grittiest players in NHL history, and someone who wouldn't back down to anyone...Dale wasn't always known for being the friendliest of sorts. But after receiving the offer to be Head Coach of the Washington Capitals, Hunter quickly realized that he needed to change the media/fans perception of who he is. So he dug into his fighting highlight reel, watched as many as he could, and picked out one of his best pummel jobs that he had in the NHL. He then proceeded to call that former player up, offer him a coaching position next to him...and badabing badaboom...Jim Johnson is now an assistant coach with the Caps. Way to go Dale, you do have a heart! Could Pierre Turgeon be next??
What a great guy!


I Wish Boudreau the Best...out West

I'm not going to lie, I'm glad Boudreau got a coaching job in the Western Conference. I definitely didn't want to play against him too often. Now with Boudreau named the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks just days after being fired by McPhee, we get the best of both worlds. We get to see a coach we're fond of get a head coaching job almost immediately, and its for a team we will play once a year in the regular season at most. I am not at all suprised that Boudreau was scooped up so fast. Anaheim saw that a former Jack Adams winner that became the fastest coach to record 200 wins in NHL history was available and they said see you later Randy Carlyle, this is too good to pass up. I think this helps Caps fans and players close the book on the Boudreau era. Everyone has said their good byes (some better than others, cough cough Mike Green), but now it's time to focus. Dale Hunter, the stage is yours. There are no distractions, no loose ends, no questions, just a talented team looking for a coach to guide them. The fans are behind you, the players seem to be as well. What would be better for Dale Hunter than getting his first win as head coach of the Washington Capitals against the Pittsburgh Penguins?

Thoughts?





Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The Name Sean Taylor will Echo...



Apparently for quite some time, a DC blogger has been biting his tongue, holding back the urge to tell the Redskins fans to get over the death of Sean Taylor. Now, some of what he is saying makes sense in the most general way. Sean Taylor should be remembered as a man who died protecting his family, not because of his skills on the football field. I humbly respect this man's opinion and more so, his right to express it. I'll express mine right here.

Sean Taylor will forever, and I do not exaggerate, forever be remembered as a great Redskin. Sean Taylor isn't the first professional football player to pass away during his prime. Pat Tillman has been mentioned as someone who should be remembered for giving his life in defense of this country and I absolutely agree. His name should be mentioned in the same breathe as Sean's for the fact that they died honorably. Sean Taylor died protecting those he loved most. He became known for his skills on the football field at Miami, made a name for himself as an elite safety as a Redskin, and will be remembered as a hero. Redskins fans won't forget it, and nor should they. Players like Santana Moss keep his memory alive by trying to play as Sean did. Fans remember Sean Taylor because he represented everything we want from a player; dedication, courage and excitement. Who is anyone to say when one should stop grieving or remembering someone who has passed.
Clinton Portis will never forget #21
 I know guys who still aren't over old girlfriends, let alone a fallen friend.
Sean Taylor was a man. On and off the football field, he proved that. As a fan, I will always remember how he played on the football field with passion and love for the game. I will always remember where I was and how I felt when I heard of his passing.

Someone who isn't a Redskins fan will remember Sean Taylor as a man who gave his life in the defense of his family, not for his skills on the football field. I couldn't care less if they remember him as one of the most athletes to ever play the game. Redskins fans will remember him for both, and they should.

Most professional athletes are looked up to as heroes, but Sean actually was one. For this reason, the name  Sean Taylor  will  always  be a name that  echos from  generation to generation. . .



Hey Caps, Your D is Too Soft...(that's what she said)

Some may think that many of my posts are negative, but hey, that's what living in the DMV for 24 years will do to ya. But I really have a hard time keeping my mouth shut when I read articles like I just read about how the Capitals D-men will handle Cindy Crosby tomorrow night.
When asked if they will ease up on Crosby, since he is just coming off of a 10-month layoff from 2 concussions...the Caps D had this to say:

Karl Alzner: "I wouldn't want all of Canada to hate me," Alzner said with a chuckle

Dennis Wideman: "He's a guy that you want to be physical with but it's not that easy," he said. "If you try to take a run at him he's probably going to go around you and get a goal."

Roman Hamrlik: "I have so much respect for the guy," he said. "He's one of the best players in the league. I'm not going to try to run over him. I'm not the kind of guy to go and hit in the head. I would have to be really ticked off. You don't want to see the best player get hurt again, but it's a tough sport and it could happen to anybody." So would you take a shot at him? "I would think twice," he said. "You want to play tough against everybody, but I would think twice before I hit him."

We might as well give Cynthia a red carpet right down to Vokoun/Neuvirth. The only defender who has any fight in him this year has been John Erskine. Mike Green can be tough, but he needs to worry about just staying on the ice at this point. You don't have to fight to be a tough guy, just let them know who's side of the ice they're on!
I didn't even mention #55 Pillows Schultz. I'm 6'0 195lbs of pure musclely fat and can barely skate...but I bet I can still hit a guy harder than Jeff. Come on man! You're 6'6 250lbs..now use some of it! If you look around the league, the best teams have the toughest defenders. Whether it's Chara (BOS), Phaneuf (TOR), Pronger (PHI), Ohlund (TB), or Murray (SJ) just to name a few...the teams that are the most successful come June, are the teams who won't back down to anyone, injured or not.

Here's a question for you all: If Ovechkin or Green were just coming back from a serious injury..do you think Brooks Orpik or Deryk Engelland would think twice before sending a hit their way tomorrow? ...Hell no.





Hall named NFC Defensive player of the week

Welcome DeAngelo Hall the cornerback. . .

I know we like to rag on DeAngelo Hall here at Fight on DMV, but the man had a stellar game this week in Seattle. Just one week after calling himself out for his low level of play, Hall, by my standards, had his best game as a Redskin (and yes I do remember his 4 interception game against the Bears). Hall is known better as a play maker than a cornerback. He'll get burned from time to time because he goes for the big play. Last Sunday against Seattle, it looked like DeAngelo went out to try to be the best cornerback he could be, and lets hope he continues to do so.

Here's the stat line from Sunday's game: 7 tackles, 7 passes deflected and one game ending interception. These are the stats you want from your number one corner. I have most definitely given Hall a ton of crap for calling out wide receivers and then subsequently getting lit up by them. For that reason, I commend D-Hall for his play this past week. He didn't say a word all week, and come Sunday, he spoke with his actions. If this is a sign of the future, I'm on board, because that was one hell of a cornerback I saw out there in Seattle.

Your thoughts?



Welcome to the Dale Hunter Era

One day of practice and one game is not nearly enough to see a complete change as we enter the Dale Hunter era. The Caps players looked a little out of sync early and I attribute that to what I call the "post Boudreau hangover." These players are human after all and be it their fault or not, they have lost the coach they have played for the past 4 seasons. Dale Hunter is an unknown to most of these players, and it will take a few games for them to build a relationship of trust and respect for one another. I think Dale feels extremely fortunate to be the coach of the Washington Capitals, and he will be working hard to right the ship, but he's been thrown in the deep end of the pool by McPhee with the Penguins coming to town Thursday night.
It was good to see the fans react positively to Dale Hunter. I expected nothing less, but the positive reaction is some proof that the fan base was ready for a change. Whether or not this is the right change is yet to be seen, as I pointed out here.
Back to the game, I think in crunch time the Caps finally started to wake up and their minds were able to focus on just playing the game rather than the new face behind the bench. They started to hit, and win some 50-50 pucks. Against a stingy St. Louis Blues defense, the Caps just couldn't break through in the end and get the goal they needed. One thing to point out is Alex Ovechin's ice time went down even further to just over 16 minutes. I'm not sure if this was a deliberate move, or if coach is just playing with the lines, seeing what he has on the ice. Hunter pointed out after the game that he doesn't have a timeline for when he wants the Caps to be playing the way he wants, he just wants to "see improvement every game." I tend to agree with that statement because you can't make arbitrary benchmarks for a team to make. It will just take time for the Caps and their new coach to gel.
I'm a Dale Hunter fan, but it will definitely take some time for me to get used to seeing a new face behind the bench Rockin the Red. I definitely want to see the Caps play a grittier style of play, and I did notice John Erskine staying at home owning the space in front of the net.

How do you guys feel? Who stepped up last night? Who didn't? Share your opinions in the comment section.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Shots for Beags!

"Shots for Beags!" is something Ben and I started after Jay Beagle got knocked out in Pittsburgh back in October. We decided that he sacrificed his face for the team, so we wanted to do the same. I like my "girl catcher" aka my face too much though. So we're going to let our livers take the hit.
Everytime a Caps player gets in a fight, we're going to take a shot in honor of Jay. We want the rest of the Red Nation to join us (over 21). We'll post a few pictures to let you know we're not pussing out. Feel free to send your pics in too, and we'll throw um up on the blog. This was our first shot for Beags about a month ago!

Fight on!




The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly on TV Tonight


There's plenty to look forward to tonight in the DMV, and I've broken the most important events to watch into 3 categories.

First off, the ugly...

For some reason a genius at ESPN thought it would be a good idea to put this years Terps on national television @ 7:30pm/est vs. Illinois. Doesn't sound too promising...but may be a good way to kill the intermission time during the Caps game!

Prediction:     Maryland  55  -  Illinois  74


Now, the bad...

The reason this is considered "the bad" is because right now, well, the Caps suck. Pretty excited to see Dale Hunter behind the bench tonight though vs. St. Louis. Definitely worthy of my Tuesday evening.

Prediction:     Caps  4 - Blues  2


And finally, the good...
You can't go wrong with the 2011 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at 10pm/est on CBS. Just in time to flip over after watching my man Alan May break down the Caps first win with Coach Hunter in charge on CSN.


Welcome Home Dale Hunter!

If anybody has to come in to fill the void at coach...I'm happy it's a hometown hero! He was hard-nosed, tough, and borderline dirty, but he knew what it took to win, and that's why his jersey is hanging at the phone booth! Hopefully he can inject that same style of play into these Caps. Here are my Top 5 favorite clips of Hunter back when he was playing with the Caps.


#5

#4


New DC United Jerseys in 2012!

They don't blow me away, but I can dig it for next year. If only we had a decent stadium to rock these in...

Go to dcuteamstore.com and enter "2012" to get 30% off these new uni's today only!

Just Announced: DC United will open up the 2012 season at home March 10th...as part of MLS First Kick Weekend!


Monday, November 28, 2011

Bruce, Thanks for the Last 4 "f*ckin" Years!

Here's a send off to the most successful coach in Caps history! He may cringe at this video clip, but I f*ckin love it! Good luck in the future coach, you won't be out of work for long.


For Better or Worse: Boudreau Out, Hunter In


  • Fastest coach to reach 200 wins in NHL history.
  • Four consecutive Southeast Division titles.
  • One President's Trophy
  • One Jack Adams Trophy




Just a few of the things Bruce Boudreau accomplished in his four years as head coach of the Washington Capitals. Today's news is tough to swallow. The name Boudeau is closely associated with the resurgence of the Washington Capitals organization. Time will tell if this decision was the right one or not, but one thing is certain, Boudreau will be missed. Playoff woe's aside, "Gabby" was loved by the the District of Columbia. Like Ted Leonsis, he was honest, sometimes brutally so. If the team didn't play well, he said so during the press conference. For the most part he was able to correct problems with the team's play. After 2009 when the Caps were giving up too many goals, he changed the scheme, and made them more defensive minded, while still maintaining the success they had the past 2 seasons.
The move to fire Boudreau nearly exactly 4 years from his hiring is a desperate move by a club looking to take a team from regular season winners, to Stanley Cup winners. George McPhee thinks Dale Hunter can do better. Hunter played most of his career with the Washington Caps and his number is hanging in the rafters of the Verizon center. He is a former captain and instigator. He spent so many minutes in the penalty box, the Caps organization gave him one of the penalty boxes as a gift when the U.S. Air Arena was closed. The Caps are hoping he can use his energy to help light a fire under these players and get them to the next level. As far as I'm concerned, if Boudreau absolutely has to go, this is the guy I want behind the bench. Ironically enough however, Hunter has had trouble in the playoffs as well. Hunter has coached the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League since 2001, leading them to the playoffs every year. The irony is that since they won the Memorial Cup in 2005, and losing in the finals a year later, he hasn't been able to get past the third round of the playoffs.


Boudreau with the Jack Adams Trophy
George McPhee and the Capitals organization have made their move. They are hoping Dale Hunter can inspire this team and lead them into the playoffs and more. They had better be right, because if they're not, where do we go from here? Boudreau will most likely watch Tueday's game against the Blues on his couch. If this coaching change doesn't work, McPhee could be in the same position next year. In my opinion, this is a day to remember Bruce Boudreau. I am a Dale Hunter fan, and I wish him the best, but Boudreau will always, always have a place in my heart as the coach who brought back Caps hockey. I wish him the best of luck in his coaching career, because it's not over.

Current Caps coach Dale Hunter

Dale Hunter

- 12 years played for the Caps
- 3565 penalty minutes (2nd in NHL history)
- Served 21 game suspension for a hit (longest in NHL history)
- Only player in NHL with 1,000 points and 3,000 PIM
- Played for the 1998 Caps- lost in Stanley Cup

Impressive player stat line. However, he has never coached in the AHL, let alone the NHL. He has a huge amount of pressure on his shoulders, and as a Caps fan, I wish him the best. You have your work cut out for you.



Sunday, November 27, 2011

Semin vs. Boudreau

Who's going to break first, or shall I say who's going to get the boot first? Obviously, if you've read my previous blogs you can tell that I'm Pro-Boudreau. Even with the past playoff blunders, I'm willing to ride it out with Bruce at the helm. As for Alex Semin, I'm ready to kick his A$$. I thought we should've traded him the moment he had his 40 goal season a couple years ago to get the most out of his trade value, but George McPhee thought differently.
The difference between Boudreau and Semin is their progression. Bruce has continued to learn how to coach and how to bring new styles that work well with his players. Semin on the other hand has digressed year after year, and shown a serious lack of discipline and desire. Matt Bradley said it right in the offseason when he called out Alexander for having so much talent, but said he just doesn't care. The kid has been benched for taking too many penalties, and since his benching, he's had penalties in 2 of his next 3 games. At some point you have to realize who is at the pit of the teams problems. George McPhee needs to realize that a few of his players don't have the heart and mind of a champion, and Bruce said it himself after last night's loss to Buffalo.

“Sometimes we’re not mentally strong,” Boudreau said. “This group has got to learn how to be mentally strong. It hasn’t had a lot of adversity in the last four years unless it was in the playoffs.“The regular seasons have seemed like a walk in the park. But now we’ve gone 15 games with adversity and some guys are having a hard time with it.”

These guys need to find it within if they want to win. Changing coaches isn't going to make these guys grow up. Here is a trade scenario that I wish McPhee would consider:

Capitals Trade:

-Alexander Semin
-2nd & 4th Round pick

NJ Devils Trade:

-Zach Parise



Are we giving Jersey too much? Maybe, but let's be real...Semin is in the last year of his contract (as is Parise), Parise is a leader and easily a top 10 player when healthy. There is talk coming out of NJ that the GM knows Parise doesn't really want to come back, and they can't afford him and & Kovalchuk together. And Alexander Semin will be going to a team with fellow countrymen Ilya Kovalchuk and Anton Volchenkov..which may keep him from bolting to the KHL right away. The Devils would only be taking on a $700k cap hit after the trade (which they can afford), and it would also free up the same amount of space for the Caps. Maybe for a D-Man at the trade deadline.

Caps Nation: What do you think?? This would be a hell of a blockbuster deal!

Randy Edsall...Drop and Give Me 10

For a team that finished last year with 9 wins, and in the top 25...this year was nothing short of an embarrassment. Randy Edsall took over in January for Ralph Friedgen, and immediately started to implement his militaristic coaching style.
At first, when reports came out that players wanted to transfer, or quit..all I thought was that these kids need to grow up and maybe they had it too easy with The Fridge. But the more and more I take a look back at this season, I can't help but wonder what exactly Edsall is trying to do. Having a military type mindset is fine...when you're winning, but when you lose 8 straight in your first year, and there's anarchy in the locker room..maaaaybe it's time to change it up.
There is absolutely no way that MD will let him go after one year, they have too much invested in him...plus the fact that they bought out Ralph's hefty a$$...I mean contract.
I'm not a fan of AD Kevin Anderson for many reasons. Most notably, the hiring of an average coach (at best) to lead the football program to the next level..doesn't make sense. Not to mention he just cut 6 different sports programs (8 teams) all in his first 2 years. Congratulations! Now go back to Army!
Someone needs to put Randy Edsall in line..not only has he embarrassed the entire state of Terp nation, but he doesn't seem to think any of it is his fault. Needless to say it's going to be an interesting offseason. Keep an eye out for player transfers, recruiting, and Edsall's take on the changes needed for the upcoming season.

Here's a clip of the Terrapins new recruiting video to show High School recruits the typical football practice run by Edsall: Enjoy!


RIP Meast #21




4 years ago today Redskin Nation lost one of the most dynamic players in the history of its organization in Sean Taylor. He's been missed ever since, and I can't help but wonder what Area 51 (Landry & Taylor) would've done together in their primes. Taylor would've been 28, and I can promise you our D would be nastier than any other in the league! Take care 21, you'll always be missed!

HAIL!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Socca Flocka

Casey Townsend has been a straight stud all year long for the UMD Men's Soccer Team, and he looks to continue his hot streak this Sunday in the Third Round of the NCAA Tourney. It's the 10th straight year the Terps have made it this far, and they look to build off of Townsend's hat trick last week vs. Dub.V.U.
The Terps will be at home Sunday vs. Louisville at 5pm and I'm looking for Casey to keep this ride going!
The game will be on TerpsTV...so if you get the chance check it out!

GO TERPS!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksblogging

You can thank ricky for this picture..
Today is Thanksgiving, my absolute favorite holiday. 


For that reason, I will do a quick blog brushing upon the Skins and the Caps before I begin the festivities. I am thankful to all our readers, because without you guys, I wouldn't have the $4.52 earned by this blog. Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, lets get to the Caps first.


Also, my fellow blogger Ricky said I need to take it easy with the girl pictures. What do you think?




CAPS



The Caps won their second straight last night against the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 in overtime. Jason Chimera is having a breakout year for himself and not many people are talking about it. He is silently leading the team in goals with 8 on the year. Chimera is in his third year in DC after being traded from Columbus. He is easily the fastest skater on the team, and probably up there with the best in the league. Chimera has been part of arguably the most productive lines this year alongside Brooks Laich and Marcus Johannson. What did Jason have to say when finally asked about the solid year he's having? 


"Well, I've just always had it," Chimera joked. "Was just going to wait until my later, mid-30s to get it going. I don't want to peak too early. I want to keep playing until I'm 45 so hopefully I'll keep on getting better."


Easily one of the best lines I've heard from a Caps player. Chimera is a workhorse who never seems to get tired, and will continue to play his game regardless of the score. I would love to see him keep this up.
As for the the entire Caps team, I like where they're going. Their shot total is climbing, averaging 36 shots a game in their last 5, and they have put up 4 goals in each of their past 2 wins. The key for them will be to stay motivated and take every game personally. I think Ovechkin is trying his best to be a leader, which is interfering with his style of play. He doesn't want to be suspended, or be a shot hog. You can see that he looks for the pass just as much, if not more, than he looks for the shot. This is good and bad, but I think we would all like to see him get a little more selfish. I also like the amount we are hitting the past two games. The first time we played Winnipeg, we mustered a laughable 5 hits. Last night was a completely different story, as they wrecked the Jets for 35 hits. The hit total shows effort and hard skating. The more we hit, the easier it is to dictate the style and pace of the game. I hope this trend continues, because skating hard and shooting the puck has been our game the past couple years, and it looks good.




SKINS




The Skins are stuck this season because of the lack of stability in the quarterback position. Everyone knows that the quarterback of the future simply is not on this roster, and that's a tough pill to swallow, especially for veteran guys like London Fletcher. This is a time of year for the Skins where they will be playing for their jobs. Young guys like Evan Royster will be given an opportunity to showcase his skills, and players like LaRon Landry who can't stay healthy will be looking to prove their worth. I like the framework we have on the defensive side of the ball and it would do well to keep it intact, and add to it. So hopefully we can work something out with Landry, who is a restricted free agent after this year. And for those of you who think he's the same guy on and off the field, check out Mike Wise's article on Landry's Leadership for Life program
The Redskins finish out the year with games against Seattle, the New York Jets, New England, the New York Giants, Minnesota and Philadelphia. Definitely not an easy schedule by any means, which means the heart and soul of this team will be tested each and every week. A lot will be revealed about their character, but it will be a struggle to finish out the season with more than 5 wins.


Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hit up the comments section with your thoughts on where each of these teams are and where you want them to go. I'll be eating food and watching football all day, and hopefully you all will do the same. 


FIGHT ON DMV