Tuesday, October 13: Edwin Williams Feels Your Pain
Rookie offensive lineman Edwin Williams --a former Maryland Terrapin -- grew up a Redskins fan. One of his childhood idols was Chris Samuels. So Williams is as familiar as anyone with the enthusiasms and frustrations of this particular fanbase. Now, though, he's part of the team, active roster and everything. So, I asked him -- not at all from personal experience, really -- does this double the pain and frustration of losing games?
"Yeah," he said. "It just hurts just because, you know, there's so many questions. Especially people from this area that are totally behind the team, coming to me, like, 'What is the PROBLEM? What do WE need to DO?" And I'm like, 'Oh, yeah, I know exactly what's going on, but ...'" He trailed off. "Everybody thinks there's such a cut-and-dried reason, like 'so-and-so should go!' or 'this should happen!'"
Well? Should so-and-so go? Is there a specific thing that should happen? Do you still have those kind of feelings?
"Before, you'd be like," -- loudly -- "'Yeah! What the...?!?' But now it's kinda like," -- in a much more serious, thoughful voice -- "'Man, I disagree. That's not the issue.' So I'm now way more behind the team than I even was as a fan. Because sometimes as a fan, you'll be like, 'Ehhhhhh.' But now, you're all in it. You're in it to win it."
And, like all of us, Williams has those people who call with completely specific suggestions for what to do. "My father is always trying to think of the lighter side. He's like, 'You guys should just do it like this.' Like, 'Run the ball up the middle, that's what you should do.' "
Williams says he's got a pretty simple fall-back response to those questions: "Yeah! We should do that!"
I thought Williams's father might suggest that they put in that young, untested rookie offensive lineman out of Maryland, but Williams looked at me like I was crazy when I suggested that. "Nah," he said. "He's a rational person, so it's not like that."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-13-2009 @ 1:46PM
Bill Greathead said...
When will Snyder and Cerrato feel our pain????
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10-13-2009 @ 2:21PM
sgillis0315 said...
Probably never. I have never met a couple of people who are on such a wide learning curve than Snyder and Cerrato. Honestly, I feel like a bit of the O-line needs to be replaced but for the most part, the bulk of the rest of the players can grow into their positions and start to gel as a team. Honestly, I think even Zorn can grow into the head coaching position (keeping in mind that people like Vince Lombardi had a first year too.) We need to lay off the "heds must roll" mentality and stop being so fickle as fans. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be a Washington Redskin and have to live this season out first hand (though I certainly wouldn't mind trying!!!) We don't have people like TO or Pac-Man Jones that are cancers of the team dragging us down. There's definitely a missing element that NO ONE, players, coaches and fans alike can seem to put their finger on. All we can do is support them as our team. Consider how easy it is for us as fans to sit behind our keyboards and criticize when we can't do anything to actively come up with a solution for this team. Let's just hope that this level of performance is merely a slump that we will once again eventually find our way out of....
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10-13-2009 @ 3:00PM
Sean said...
Thanks for this posting, I woke up this morning wondering what Edwin Williams and his father were thinking was wrong with the team.
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10-13-2009 @ 3:04PM
rjt_ny_487 said...
haha me too
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10-13-2009 @ 3:17PM
jpn_21 said...
sgillis I totally agree with you,you are the first one on here that finally tells it how it is.When these slump years happen I just remind myself about the New England Patriots and how long they were on the basement floor.Now they are a very good team.I am A Redskins fan for life,which means I am on the same rollercoaster ride the team is on.
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10-13-2009 @ 5:50PM
klavallee said...
Ok-so we can agree on one thing--th eO line needs help! That has been the case for 5 years, yet we draft nobody. Of ocurse, we needed those 2 WR and TE last year---OMG; isn"t that a curretn enough example to tell you the rollorcoaster of Vinny is headed one way!
JC has the worse play action fake in the NFL---somebody should coach him up. He can't read defenses quick enough from under cetner--then use shotgun more often. Those are simple things that an unedcuated fans mind can point out might need to be considered----soembodty coach these players.
Been in TX since 1982 and grew up with Billy, Sonny, Larry Brown, Pat Fischer, etc----the players we have are unmotivated. Regardless of the job, an unmotivated team does not provide postive results/success.
10-13-2009 @ 3:36PM
gman said...
The sad part is our line is made up of un-drafted UMd players at all. Management is a disaster and if Snyder wants to fix this mess, let someone take complete control like Bill Parcells was given in Miami. Hire a LEGIT *GM* and let them build this team the right way.
Snyder - I love your passion - but just sign the checks and let a GM do the work and come back to being just a fan who make a lot of $$ from his favorite team. PLEASE!?
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10-13-2009 @ 4:21PM
steven said...
Breaking news so shanahan wont come to DC unless vinny is fired and hes given complete control so snyder says he no longer wants shanahan he now wants gruden because gruden doesnt care who the GM is and snyder wants to keep vinny around for the longterm.
But gruden has only won because he has inherited good teams and gruden doesnt believe in 1 QB he hires 8 QB's and puts them all on the active list, and all his players HATE HIM. SMH
Were doomed if vinny is our GM point blank PERIOD!!!! Danny boy FIRE VINNY why has vinny had a job for so freaking long are you guys down low partners???? does vinny have blackmail on you???? like WTF something smells fishy here, how a GM can be here for 10 years and NEVER bring in a winner but still keep his job?! I wouldnt be surprised if vinny knows something that dannys wife doesnt know or if vinny and danny were secret lovers or something!!!! Being a redskins fan is pathetic welp looks like shanahan will go to the cowboys because jerry jones is SMART he said hes willing to give full control to shanahan if required. Looks like the cowboys will continue to spank us YEAR IN and YEAR OUT :(
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10-13-2009 @ 5:45PM
Bill Greathead said...
I would not be surprised if this Gruden story is correct. It just goes to show that nothing will ever change for this once proud team
Can anyone see any comparisons between Matt Millen/Marty Morninweg and vinny/zorn
I like Zorn but its just not working with him as head coach- i dont think he is getting the support he deserves. there are too many Skins personnel trying to distance themselves from him to save they own bloated paychecks
I am absolutely astouded that dannyboy CANNOT see what 99% of the known world can. vinny is c**p at his job and should be fired. he ruined the 49ers and has done the same with the Skins. This is why any descent head coach turns down this job, they know vinny will get them fired sooner rather than later!!
10-13-2009 @ 7:21PM
Chris said...
I'm not exactly happy with hiring a coach that would let Vinny run roughshod over him.
That said, I don't agree with a lot of the nonsense being said about Gruden today.
First of all he had winning teams with both the Bucs and the Raiders.
What have the Raiders done since he left?
What did they do before he got there?
Not bloody much.
The Bucs look pretty bad now too.
And whenever I see people say that he only won the Superbowl because he had Dungy's team, I want to laugh.
That's ridiculous.
If that's the case, he ought to get credit for the Raiders team that went to the Superbowl the year he left.
Even if he hadn't been involved in two superbowl teams like that and won the superbowl with one of them, there are a lot of coaches who have plenty of talent at their disposal and do nothing with it.
How many times have Marty or Dan Reeves, or Andy Reid, or even Norve been coaches of Superbowl contenders only to utterly fail down the stretch?
It takes a bit more than just walking into a coaching position to be able to win a superbowl.
Not sure about the other concerns though about players and the qb thing. I also don't know that he would want to work with Vinny in the first place. He doesn't seem like the type to sit around and let a gm boss him around. Besides he had enough of Al Davis, I'm not so sure he would want to deal with the mess here.
10-13-2009 @ 5:53PM
klavallee said...
Ok-so we can agree on one thing--the O line needs help! That has been the case for 5 years, yet we draft nobody. Of course, we needed those 2 WR and TE last year---OMG; isn"t that a current enough example to tell you the rollercoaster of Vinny is headed one way!
JC has the worse play action fake in the NFL---somebody should coach him up. He can't read defenses quick enough from under center--then use shotgun more often. Those are simple things that an uneducated fans mind can point out might need to be considered----soembody coach these players.
Skin fan since 71, been in TX since 1982 and grew up with Billy, Sonny, Larry Brown, Pat Fischer, etc----the players we have are unmotivated. Regardless of the job, an unmotivated team does not provide postive results/success.
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10-13-2009 @ 6:07PM
Stephan said...
The Offensive line is the problem, its so simple. Keep Zorn and Compbell, retain our young talent, and spend 90% of all offseason efforts developing a new offensive line. Its the only thing that will allow the Skins offense to flourish.
Any guesses why Mark Sanchez has been successful with the New York Jets? He has one of the best offensive lines blocking for him every game.
Jason has backups blocking for him, which affords him little time and little comfort and little chance for growth as a player.
Love you Jason, keep fightin and hopefully Snyder will give you the tools you need to win.
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10-13-2009 @ 6:30PM
rjt_ny_487 said...
I want gruden or cowher!!!!!!!!
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10-13-2009 @ 7:04PM
Paul said...
So says sgillis0315
"Consider how easy it is for us as fans to sit behind our keyboards and criticize when we can't do anything to actively come up with a solution for this team."
And this gem.."There's definitely a missing element that NO ONE, players, coaches and fans alike can seem to put their finger on. "
Um yes, you dolt!!! The solution is to can Vinny and to have an O-Line.. Boy, youre as stupid as Vinny, hmmm apply for his job when hes gone and I'll bet you get it! The missing element is the stupidity that is fostered in Management
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10-14-2009 @ 4:49PM
sgillis0315 said...
Paul-
Name-calling..... Awesome. I didn't figure I needed to reiterate what everyone already knows about the Skins front office. I was speaking specifically about the level of morale and team unity on-field during games. The desire to win isn't apparent. The DESIRE TO LOSE isn't apparent either. We've got a bunch of players wandering around the locker room, all with mixed feelings about how the rest of the season is going to go. There's no Ray Lewis firing up his team on the sidelines. Now, pay attention to what's written, make a few assumptions and let me know how fourth grade is going for you.
10-13-2009 @ 7:45PM
mo said...
I just want Vinny the village idiot GONE, FIRED, TARRED AND FEATHERED! NOTHING will help until The Vinny idiot is GONE! Do NOT pass Go, Don't do an interview, Don't pick up your check, Don't kiss the DAnny Goodbye, JUST GO! YOU, Vinny the idiot, have ruined our beloved FRANCISE!!! GOOOO NOW, Today! WE HATE YOU! FEEL our pain and Disgust! GO.
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10-13-2009 @ 11:02PM
steven said...
Chris,
Gruden is a good coach but this team will NOT be good till vinny is gone we have had good coaches here and have not won with vinny here because he is making the major personal moves like trading a second round pick for Jason Taylor only to find rey mualuga to slip all the way to the second!!!!
Gruden scares me as a head coach simply because he alienates his QB's (When dealing with a QB you cant treat him like you would treat a running back with fumbling problems, These guys are fragile you have to instill confidence in them and assure them that they can take risks without being yanked. If you continue to alienate your QB well you'll get a scared timid QB like Jason Campbell all over AGAIN! and Gruden is HORRIBLE at finding a franchise QB. We need a coach who can find a franchise QB and groom him and the best bet for that is bringing in holmgren and keeping zorn on the staff as a QB coach or bringing in Shanahan because he is a QB guru in his own right!
So I say NO to anything that keeps vinny in power.
I want vinny gone and I want shanahan or mike holmgren.
If vinny stays and the cowboys get shanahan or holmgren we are in DEEP trouble because that cowboys roster is superbowl ready RIGHT NOW all they need is a coach.
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10-14-2009 @ 8:15AM
dready1rasta said...
Steven.....THE problem is no self respecting established coach will accept Vinny's incompetence. If Gruden does accept the position he is just there for the $$, and a sell-out. No one can be successful when you're handed a pile. Now you can try to Gold plate that pile...but it's still a pile. If you were to Clone the Big Lombardi HIMSELF, he couldn't make this disaster work. Thanks to Vinny.
10-14-2009 @ 10:40AM
Chris said...
Ok, fair enough.
I guess I agree with most of that.
I wish Mr. Snyder did. Sigh.
10-14-2009 @ 11:43AM
Paul said...
Hope you read this stuff Vinny.. The noose is tightening ever so slowly..You'll find yourself unemployed soon ..You hack
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