(AP photo)

Running back Alfred Morris squashed the perception that a sixth round pick can’t make an instant impact last year after he rushed for a franchise record 1,613 yards.

Few outside of his alma mater knew of his talents and those who didn’t quickly disregarded him as a blocking fullback—seriously.

Just imagine what would have happened to No. 46 if he hadn’t come to our Nation’s Capital—actually don’t. We prefer Morris in Burgundy and Gold.

As Morris started belting homers in the back of the end zone at a record pace, he smashed another “problem” with relative ease.

“Shanahanigans”.

Head coach Mike Shanahan has been known for years as a running backs whisper of sorts as he has turned several late round draft picks into overnight sensations.

Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, and Mike Anderson are just a few of the names that Shanahan helped bring to prominence.

Shanahan, though, had ended many fantasy football owners’ dreams over the years with his multi-back offense; leading those to deem his actions as “Shanahanigans.”

With his epic performance last year that included 631 yards and seven touchdowns in the pinnacle fantasy month of December, Morris ended “Shanahanigans” as least temporarily.

Now he has risen to ninth overall on ESPN’s top-300 fantasy players list for 2013. Not bad for a guy that went undrafted by most at the start of last season.

While most fantasy owners are still kicking themselves for passing on Morris, those who did pick him up should give themselves a pat on the back. After all Morris was the “Waiver Wire Pickup of the Year”.

So for those fantasy owners let this serve as a PSA to not make the same mistake again.

Hail to the Redskins!

Quarterback Robert Griffin III is a man of many titles.

First it was Heisman-winner after his jaw-dropping junior year at Baylor where he passed for over 4,000 and almost another 700 on the ground.

Then after last April it was the Redskins 2012 draft headliner after the franchise had traded up to nab him as the second pick.

Most recently he has carried around the prestigious honor of being AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, only the second time a member of the Burgundy and Gold has taken home the award.

Despite the never-ending titles that No. 10 can boast, don’t count DJ RG3 as one of them.

With OTAs being open for the first time this season, hordes of local and national media flocked to Redskins Park to get their first glimpses of the defending NFC East champs.

The familiar sights and sounds of the pigskin being flung across the field reminded everyone that the Monday night opener against the Eagles is inching that much closer.

One thing that wasn’t so familiar even to the most seasoned of OTA attendees—music.

With some of the most popular rap songs blaring from speakers placed adjacent to the field, the question of whose idea was it to play some tunes during warm-ups became the hottest topic of the morning outside of No. 10 taking snaps.

While the origins of the decision are still unknown, I can tell you that the quarterback’s playlist was the morning starter.

Griffin III might be a hit with his teammates, but most found that his “pump up jams” playlist is in dire need of improvement.

“This is Robert’s little weak playlist,” offensive tackle Trent Williams told the media after the conclusion of the day’s OTA.

Tight end Fred Davis was one of Griffin III’s favorite targets before he went down with a season-ending injury in Week 7 last year. While the two hope to build off of their chemistry through the first six weeks last year, don’t expect them to ride in the same car going to practice.

“He’s the only one that could play Nicki Minaj and music like that.”

If the decision is up to his teammates, don’t expect DJ RG3 at your local club anytime soon.

(AP Images)

With OTAs officially underway this week, the Washington Redskins are preparing to bring a second straight NFC East crown to the Nation’s Capital behind head coach Mike Shanahan.

Thursday afternoon trivia question: When was the last time the Burgundy and Gold won back-to-back division crowns?

Answer: 1983-1984 when Joe Gibbs led the Redskins to 25 wins during that span and a Super Bowl appearance.

To pay homage to the greatest teachers/mentors/coaches in NFL history, ESPN’s Rick Reilly has sifted through league annals to give his thoughts on the 20 greatest  to ever call X’s and O’s.

Three Redskins greats have been ranked as follows:

19. Ray Flaherty – Don’t start with me. Just because he coached before Netflix doesn’t mean he wasn’t great. Invented the screen pass. Invented situational substitution. Won two NFL titles and a bunch of division titles in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), which was a very big deal despite TMZ never having heard of it.

When the franchise decided to pack its bags and head south to the warmer (and more humid) weather in our Nation’s Capital they brought Flaherty with them to lead the cavalry after a 7-5 record in 1936.

In a town that had yet to experience professional hockey and no championships to speak of in years from its baseball team, Flaherty ended the drought with a NFL Championship in year one.

He would go on to win 54 games and topped off his seven-year stint with a second NFL Championship.

15. George Allen – Would’ve been a great general. He’d find a way to beat you if all he had was two right tackles and a spatula. Never had a losing season. Won 71 percent of the time. OK, so it never happened for him in the playoffs. Sue.

Yes the fact that Allen was able to win on average seven out of every ten games is amazing, but when you dig deeper into his tenure it becomes evident that he is quite possible the most underrated coach of all-time.

When he took over for Bill Austin following the 1970 season, the Redskins hadn’t posted a record above .500 in 15 years.

In Allen’s first season in our Nation’s Capital he led the Burgundy and Gold to their first playoff appearance since 1945 behind a 9-4-1 record.

Stories of coaches having “beginners luck” in the NFL come and go every year as they’ll complete revolutionize a franchise only to flounder later. Don’t count Allen as one of those men.

In his seven years with the Redskins Allen accumulated 67 wins and five playoff appearances.

2. Joe Gibbs – OK, here’s where you start throwing shoes. But it goes back to quarterbacks. Nobody has ever come close to doing what Gibbs did, which is win three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks, none of whom are in the Hall of Fame. That’s like crossing the Pacific in a Little Mermaid floatie.

Speaking of playoff appearances let’s focus in on this Gibbs fella for a moment. When longtime general manager Bobby Beathard selected Gibbs as the 20^th head coach in franchise history, few knew of the offensive guru.

Despite the fact that Gibbs failed to win a game in his first month in the DMV he would go on to win 154 games, ten playoff appearances, three Lombardi Trophies and the number two spot on Reilly’s top coaches list.

Need I say more?

Hail to the Redskins!

(AP photo)

Since 1934 the Redskins and Eagles have squared off 156 times and unlike the heated rivalry with the Cowboys and the longstanding tension with the Giants, the Redskins have won over 50 percent of their games against their Pennsylvania counterparts.

Similar to the inaugural installment of Redskins-Eagles in 1934, the Redskins swept in 2012 thanks to a clipping of the Eagles wings in a 31-6 victory in Week 11 and a seven point victory in Week 16 that sprung them into a do-or-die matchup with the Cowboys a week later.

While the Eagles had been the Redskins worst nightmare throughout the early 2000’s, one man didn’t even blink when Philly came to town last year–Robert Griffin III.

Going into the Bye Week the Redskins sat in the cellar of the NFC East and it seemed as if Redskins Nation would have to wait out another long winter before having the chance to see playoff football.

No. 10, however, was having none of that.

After the Eagles won the coin toss at the start of their Week 11 battle they eagerly elected to receive hoping to catch the Redskins D off-balance after two weeks away from game action. After gaining only two yards on their first two plays, the Eagles looked to air it out on the Redskins only to have DeAngelo Hall snag his third interception of the season.

What was next for the Redskins seemed like a scene out of Madden.

Griffin III would connect on 14 of his 15 pass attempts for the first perfect quarterback rating (158.3) by a rookie since Drew Bledsoe in 1993, Santana Moss would take two defensive backs to school, and Brandon Meriweather showed the FedExField faithful just how good he can be even if it was a one game sample.

The 31-6 victory showed the league that the Redskins weren’t going to roll over and call the season a lost cause. Instead, it jump-started their unimaginable seven-game winning streak into the playoffs.

Win six of that streak may have provided the most nerve-racking moment of the season.

Late in the fourth quarter of the Redskins-Eagles Week 16 matchup, the Eagles got the ball with less than five minutes left down by seven. With nothing left to play for on the season, the Eagles cared less about tying the game at 27. If they were to steal some of the Redskins late-game heroics and score a touchdown, they were going to go for the win.

On the last play of the game Eagles quarterback Nick Foles tried to do his best Griffin III impression by scrambling out of the pocket to find some free space to hit one of his receiver in the end zone.

But with a 310-pound Stephen Bowen breathing down his back Foles had no choice but to get rid of the football—nowhere near an Eagles player. The result was an intentional grounding call and a 10 second clock runoff.

Game over.

For more highlights of the Redskins sweep of the Eagles, check out this gallery of the top-12 images from their 155^th and 156^th encounters.

Hail to the Redskins!

(AP photo)

The NFL schedule gods know that the Redskins and Giants will battle for the NFC East title in Week 17.

How?

In three of the last four seasons, the NFC East has come down to the last game of the NFL regular season calendar in a playoff play-in game of sorts. Yes, that includes the game where Alfred Morris tore apart the Cowboys defense en route to the franchise’s first division crown since 1999.

So to continue our mini-series on the Redskins-Giants rivalry that dates back to the franchise’s days in Boston, we are going to look forward to the Burgundy and Gold’s Sunday Night Football tilt at FedExField on December 8^th and the season finale on December 29^th with five storylines to follow.

1.)    Emulating 2012’s success in the run game

Last year the Redskins lead the league in rushing with 169.3 yards per game. Nothing proved the Redskins dominance on the ground more than when they played the Giants. In Week 7 the Redskins rushed for 248 yards as Morris crossed the century mark and Robert Griffin III followed up his 76-yard touchdown run against the Vikings a week prior by rushing for 89 yards. On the flipside, the G-Men got a measly 64 yards on the ground. Then in Week 13 the rookie duo once again shredded the Giants 25^th ranked rushing D with 196 yards. If Washington wants to take two from New York like they did in 2011, the running game will need to be performing on all cylinders once again.

2.)    Containing Victor Cruz

If it weren’t for Cruz’s 77-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter in Week 7, the Redskins would be riding a four-game winning streak against the Giants right now. The Redskins secondary struggled to keep Cruz in check last year as he had a combined 12 catches for 235 yards and a touchdown.

When the Redskins swept the Giants in 2011, Cruz struggled to get into rhythm as he failed to record a catch in Week 1 and only gained 44 yards in Week 15. With a revamped secondary that includes three rookies and a seasoned veteran in E.J. Biggers, the Redskins will look to repeat 2011’s success against the 2012 Pro Bowler.

3.)    Turnover battle

The Redskins lost a very lopsided turnover battle in 2012, turning the ball over five times to the Giants two. While the secondary did corral Eli Manning into throwing two interceptions in Week 7, they fumbled the ball five times that day, losing three. After Cruz’s touchdown, the Burgundy and Gold got the pigskin back with a hair above a minute left in the contest. On the first play of the drive, Josh Morgan fumbled the ball and while he recovered the lost football, the same could not be said for Santana Moss just two plays later.

In Week 13, the Redskins shored up their turnover problems from the first game, but still lost the battle as they failed to generate a fumble or interception. No matter the game or the opponent, the Redskins fate will hinge on turnovers this season.

4.)    Yellow flag battle

In 2012 the Redskins were the fifth most penalized team as they were called for 119 different infractions. None might have been more costly than Fred Davis’ illegal shift that cost the Redskins a touchdown in the first quarter of the front half of the season series. Instead of tacking seven points on the board, the Redskins had to settle for a Kai Forbath field goal. While I don’t want to play the “what if” game, the nullified touchdown could have been the game-tying points.

On the other side of the coin, the Giants  were penalized only 72 times last year. Nine of those penalties came during the Monday night game. Result? “Hail to the Redskins” being sung into the wee hours of the morning.

5.)    Sweep=Super Bowl

Seriously. During the Redskins decade of dominance starting in 1982, three Lombardi Trophies came to the Nation’s Capital. In those three seasons, the Redskins went 6-0 against their New York counterparts. So if the Redskins can sweep the Giants for the second time in three years, expect their odds to have another parade throughout the streets of D.C. to grow quickly.

Bottom line: The Giants have been the Redskins longest standing rival and 2013 should be no different as the two teams will more than likely be fighting for the playoffs come December. With Dallas’ recent regular season woes and the unknown in Philly, Big Blue and the Burgundy and Gold should be the cream of the crop in the NFC East next year.

(AP Images)

It’s a no-brainer these days that Robert Griffin III will be the most talked about figure in sports when you wake up in the morning. Hearing an update on No. 10 has become as much of your daily preparations as brushing your teeth. Everyone is talking about him.

The world’s number one golfer is no different as Tiger Woods talked about Griffin III’s recovery from knee surgery-something he experienced at the height of his career in 2008.

Also, what position would Woods’ be if he strapped on a football helmet?

While golf and football are two games on completely different ends of the sports spectrum the two sports share a sense of peak physical ability to get to the top of the heap.

Woods knows though that football is the more impactful game of the two and recovering from a knee injury is a different task that coming back and playing golf after being injured.

Griffin III is juking 300-pound lineman on a weekly basis. For Woods though-when was the last time you saw someone not named Happy Gilmore hit someone on the links?

“Well it’s a difference in sports,” Woods said. “For me did I have to be explosive when I came back? Yes, but only to a certain extent. I can still hit the ball 30 yards shorter and still win golf tournaments. For him, losing half a step it’s a big deal. Nobody’s going to be hitting me out there on the golf course.”

The reigning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year isn’t the only star in the NFL over the last few years that has suffered a knee injury.  Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady have successfully recovered from similar fates in recent years—to the tune of NFL MVP afterwards.

“I think what Robert’s going through and we saw what Adrian went through and the year that he came back and had and even Tom Brady, I mean he blew out his ACL and those we’re lead leg injuries too,” Woods said. “Robert being a trail leg, hopefully he has the stability and power back and explosiveness so that he can push off and throw that ball.”

It has been well documented over the years that the 6-1 golfer is one of the strongest players in the PGA so when asked the question of what position he would play if he stepped onto a football field he gave the answer that most would.

“Water boy. I’d be quick though.”

Hey maybe we could use you as a water boy this year, Tiger. After all what does a golfer do in the winter months?

With almost exactly two months to go before the start of 2013 Redskins Training Camp, the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center is quickly taking shape in Richmond, Va.

As you can see from the photo above, the exterior of the building is already in place, and certain necessary elements (e.g. the team’s locker rooms) are already in place inside.

The state-of-the-art facility is on track to open for the Washington Redskins and their fans in time for training camp.

Here are specific updates on various parts of the construction, via Mark Hourigan, President of Hourigan Construction, who is overseeing the project:

–”The [field] sod was completed last week.”

–”Parking lot work has a little bit of work to be done, but we will be paving that on June 1.”

–”Finishes downstairs…are coming along very nicely.”

Yesterday, Bon Secours officials, Washington Redskins brass, local and state politicians and members of the media were given a tour of the facility.  Here is a video of the press conference media sessions:

For your viewing pleasure, check out a brief photo gallery from behind-the-scenes inside the facility:

(AP Images)

Last year Redskins Nation had to watch one half of the dynamic linebacker duo of Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo, known more affectionately as Kerrakpo in our Nation’s Capital, sit out the majority of the season with an upper-body injury.

The twosome had the opportunity to brew something as the bookends of a talent laden linebacking unit. In the debut season of Kerrakpo the pair totaled 122 tackles, 16.5 sacks, nine passes defensed, and seven forced fumbles.

With a fully healthy Orakpo on the horizon and a Pro Bowl year under Kerrigan’s belt, Kerrakpo 2.0 could be even deadlier than the first version.

Lookout NFC East.

As OTA’s swung into full gear yesterday a delighted Kerrigan looked on as his pal is fully healed and ready to add a third Pro Bowl appearance to his already extensive NFL resume.

“He looked like the Rak we all know and love,” Kerrigan said. “That’s a good sign for this defense and this team.”

No. 91 was the Redskins lead sack man in 2012 with 8.5. As he continues to build on his team-high 16 over the past two seasons, Kerrigan knows that having Orakpo on the other side could free up a lot of room for the entire front seven.

“He just does a lot for our defense not just in terms of rushing the passer, but playing the run and playing the run and playing in coverage as well,” Kerrigan said of Orakpo’s impact to the Burgundy and Gold. “That’s something you can’t replace.”

As for Kerrigan’s thoughts for the 2012 NFC East champs as a whole, the former Purdue Boilermaker thinks the best is yet to come.

“We’re building something really good here in Washington and you could see us taking some steps last year towards getting better,” Kerrigan said. “We haven’t reached our potential yet and that’s an exciting thing.”

I think we are all excited, Ryan.

Hail to the Redskins!

In continuing to expand on the Redskins deeply rooted rivalry with the New York Giants, let’s take a look at some of the unsung heroes from the two tightly contested NFC East matchups in 2012.

While the Burgundy and Gold would go 5-1 against their division foes en route to their first division title since 1999, the one blemish on their record was a 27-23 loss at the Giants in Week 7.

If it weren’t for a late touchdown, I would be writing about how the Redskins went undefeated in the division play.

With the Redskins 17-16 victory on Monday Night Football in Week 13 in mind as well, let’s take a look at some of the performers who names may have not been on website “player of the game” nomination lists, but were still influential.

1.)    Kai Forbath

On October 9^th, the Redskins signed the unknown former UCLA Bruin to replace the departing Billy Cundiff. Forbath had spent time on the Cowboys and Buccaneers practice squad but had yet to appear in a regular season game. So when the Redskins called on Forbath (and his leg) against the Minnesota Vikings, fans remained uneasy when No. 2 stepped on the field for the first time to attempt a 50-yard field goal. Not only would Forbath nail the half field attempt, he would go on to set the record for most consecutive field goal attempts made to start a career at 17. Four of those field goals were against the Giants as well as nailing the point that put the Redskins ahead for good in Week 13.

2.)    Santana Moss

Moss’ inclusion is certainly an interesting one considering that the diminutive wideout has recorded 60 receptions for 927 yards and eight touchdowns against the Giants since coming to Washington, D.C. in 2005. But with the Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan coming to town, Moss’ role changed to incorporate his talents in the slot. In Week 7 Moss caught some fire circa the 2005 version of No. 89 as he recorded three catches for two touchdowns. His first touchdown in the second quarter was of the catch-and-run variety while his 30 yarder late in the fourth quarter was an over-the-shoulder grab that put the Redskins up by three.

3.)    Perry Riley

In 2012 the Redskins boasted three Pro Bowlers linebackers on a talent laden unit and another former Pro Bowler on the sidelines. While London Fletcher and Ryan Kerrigan rightfully deserved their trips to the warm beaches of Hawaii, Riley’s season went relatively unnoticed. The LSU product finished the season 14^th in the league in tackles with 129. 15 of those tackles came against the Giants as he consistently made the “needed” tackle in the Redskins Monday Night Football victory.

4.)    Logan Paulsen

Going into the 2012 season, Paulsen rose to number two on the tight end depth chart behind Fred Davis who was firmly entrenched as the Redskins top tight end. After setting a career-high in receptions (59) and yards (796) in 2011, head coach Mike Shanahan wanted Davis to be Robert Griffin III’s security blanket as he adjusted to life in the NFL. Davis was just that as through the first six games he had hauled in 23 balls for 312 yards. However, on the Redskins first drive of their game against the Giants in Week 7, Davis left with a season-ending injury. Insert the long haired, blocking tight end as the man who filled Davis’ shoes that day as he would record a career-high 76 receiving yards on four catches.  He saved his best for last, however, as he would catch a Griffin III rocket after the quarterback dodge two Giants in the backfield.

5.)    Darrel Young

Forgotten in the hoopla of the Redskins leading the league in rushing in 2012 is the man who helped pave the way for Griffin III and Alfred Morris—Darrel Young. The undrafted fullback was as important to the rushing attack operating on all cylinders as anyone as he planted countless lead blocks that won’t show in the stat sheets. In Week 7 the Redskins crushed the New York Giants D to the tune of 248 yards on the ground, a season-high 26 of which came from the man himself.  After six weeks of game planning for the read-option you would have thought that the Giants would have game-planned a way to halt Griffin III and Morris’ efforts. Well they did I guess if you consider giving up 207 rushing yards as an achievement. Young’s efforts were monumental in the Redskins gaining 455 yards in two games against the G-Men.

Check back with the blog later as we look into the future at some storylines for 2013 as the two teams continue to extend on their longstanding rivalry.

Hail to the Redskins!

Just minutes after the New York Giants won their second Super Bowl in five years last February, “experts” across the nations quickly latched onto the Giants wagon in belief that they were going to win the NFC East and so forth in 2012.

Shoot some were predicting a .500 record between the two squads-with the Redskins going 3-13 to the Giants’ 13-3.

This was well before the Redskins got Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris.

While the Burgundy and Gold’s lone loss in the NFC East last year was at the hands of Big Blue, the nail-bitter still had some memorable moments nonetheless.

So without further ado, here is a recap of the 2012 season series between the NFC East foes (with only one division champion in the end.)

While the Cowboys rivalry is clearly at the top of the sheet in terms of passion, the Giants have been the franchise’s longest standing enemy. Dating back to the inaugural 1932 season the two teams have faced each other 162 times with their first encounter being a Boston Braves 14-6 win–the franchise’s first victory.

Despite the fact that the two teams first took the field together in Week 7 during the 2012 campaign, there was playoff seeding implications on the line—it is the NFC East after all.

After the defense muffled the Giants first drive of the game, Giants punter Sean Weatherford booted a ball deep into Redskins territory where it was downed on the five-yard line.

After an 18 play drive that included a Josh Morgan touchdown that was called back, kicker Kai Forbath put the Redskins on the board first with a 20-yard field goal.

From there, it became a back and forth contest.

Going into the 2012 season, wide receiver Santana Moss was moved to the slot with the additions of Morgan and Pierre Garcon. Moss quickly thrived in his new confines as he had 16 catches for 223 yards and two touchdowns through the first six games of the season.

No game, however, was more symbolic of Moss’ approval of the slot than against the Giants in Week 7. In the second quarter Moss showed the Giants just how quick he still is as he juked them en route to a 26-yard touchdown.

Then late in the fourth quarter Moss struck again, only this time it was a beautiful over the shoulder touchdown catch from Griffin III. While the horror of the Redskins giving up a 77-yard touchdown just two plays later highlights the game, it only fueled the fire in their second encounter.

In a Monday Night Football tilt in early December the two foes once again battled for positioning in the division.

While Garcon’s fourth quarter touchdown, Morris’ third down run to secure the 17-16 victory, and No. 10’s 46-yard run could all be the signature highlight of an incredible game in front of a national audience one play stands alone–Griffin III’s lateral-fumble for a touchdown to Morgan in the first quarter.

While the Redskins’ 17-16 victory moved them to within one game of the first place Giants, we all know where the two teams were after Week 17.

To relive the best moments of the series split, check out this gallery of the top-12 images from their games in 2012.

Hail to the Redskins!