The Redskins Blog

A Shift Back On ESPN’s All-Division Team

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

In gauging division honors over the course of a 16-game season, it’s logical that the cream will rise to the top and the best of the best will be fairly set in stone.  But with the inconsistency of the entire NFC East this season, it’s been difficult to determine who is not only the best, but can perform most consistently.

In this week’s edition of Dan Graziano’s ESPN NFC East Blog’s “All-NFC East Team,” there are a new set of seven Redskins representing the best in the division at their position.  The honors are based on a body of work over the course of a season, with wry commentary to follow.

Enjoy: Read more »

Redskins’ vs. Cowboys’ All-Division Team

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Five-game losing streak.  Five players on Dan Graziano’s ESPN NFC East Blog All-Division Team.  Coincidence?

Yes.

This is the Week 11 installment of the best in the East, and it’s pretty much the same overall list as last week, with the exact same Redskins getting recognized:

Fullback: Darrel Young, Redskins (Young)

Center: Will Montgomery, Redskins (Montgomery)

Inside linebacker: London Fletcher, Redskins; Sean Lee, Cowboys (Fletcher, Lee)

Kick returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Banks)

Punt returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Banks)

So this week, going up against a divisional opponent, I thought it might be good to look at the type of of top talent that the Cowboys will be bringing on Sunday.

Here are the eight Cowboys that cracked Graziano’s list: Read more »

ESPN’s All-Division Team Swaps Redskins

AP Image

As per usual, ESPN’s NFC East Blogger Dan Graziano has compiled a list of the best and brightest at each of the 27 (or so) positions in the NFC East.

This All-Division team is based on the culmination of tape through the first eight weeks of play.  Strong performances factor for only one-eighth of the consideration, as do poor performances.

This week’s team is comprised of six Redskins, eight Giants, seven Cowboys, and six Eagles.  Here are the players of interest: Read more »

Week 9 Power Rankings Roundup

AP Image

After trending upward for the first five weeks of the season, the Redskins have yielded all of their gains in the last three weeks.

Such is life, in the all-important world of NFL power rankings.

But the good news is that a win gets them back on track.  A win brings the team back to .500, it keeps them in the chase in the NFC East, and it will inevitably lead to a boost in the beauty pageant that is NFL power rankings.

Check out your buffet of Week 9 rankings: Read more »

John Beck Fares Well, By The Numbers

AP Image

This summer, amidst great fanfare, ESPN unveiled its QBR rating system to replace the confusing quarterback rating system.

Now we have a brand new, shiny, (confusing) quarterback rating system.  And according to that system, John Beck was pretty alright yesterday.

As I noted yesterday, Beck turned in the second-highest Redskins (archaic) quarterback rating of the season.  Today, we learned via ESPN NFC East Blogger Dan Graziano’s piece, that Beck turned in the third-highest Redskins (shiny) quarterback rating of the season.  Not only that, but he was 12th-highest in the league yesterday.

This is the added analysis by Graziano: Read more »

Changes Coming To All-Division Team

AP Image

For Week 7 of the regular season, ESPN’s NFC East blogger Dan Graziano compiled his all-division team.

Despite a game against the Eagles that lacked big individual performances, the Redskins maintained their six spots on the list, based on season-long performances.  I do think that the Redskins will reclaim other positions on the list, but for now, this list reflects credit where it’s due.

Here are the Redskins recognized in this week’s addition:

Center: Will Montgomery, Redskins (Montgomery)

Outside linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys; Brian Orakpo, Redskins (Ware, Orakpo)

Inside linebacker: Sean Lee, Cowboys; London Fletcher, Redskins (Lee, Fletcher)

Safety: Kenny Phillips, Giants; LaRon Landry, Redskins (Phillips, Landry)

Punter: Sav Rocca, Redskins (Rocca)

Punt returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Banks)

Read more »

Week 7 Power Rankings Roundup

AP Image

Just as the Redskins were starting to coax the pundits and experts over to their side, a painful loss on Sunday cascades them down the major power ranking lists, today.

I said it before when the Redskins were winning, and I’ll say it again after this loss: power rankings don’t matter, ever.  They’re just fun to look at (most weeks)

For the morbidly curious among you, here’s the Week 7 rundown:

CBSSports.com gave the Redskins No. 14, sliding from No. 8 last week:

FoxSports.com gave the Redskins No. 19, free-falling from No. 10 last week:

NBC/ProFootballTalk.com put the Redskins right back at No. 17, after a one-week vacation at No. 12:

ESPN.com gave the Redskins No. 15, down from 10 last week:

NFC East blogger for ESPN.com, Dan Graziano, agreed with the placement of the Redskins, and put the emphasis for the rest of the season on the offensive line:

The Redskins are 3-2, but trending the other way. An ugly loss Sunday to the Eagles knocked Washington out of its lofty top-10 perch and back down to the middle where I think they belong. I’m interested to see what happens from here on out, as they’ll have a harder time mustering much offense with their line banged-up, and they aren’t going to dazzle anybody even if the defense can win them some games.

I wrote last week about the Redskins being in the “Show Me What You’ve Got” category of NFL teams, and they didn’t show much of anything against the Eagles.  Everyone is going to see what type of character this team has on Sunday, and whether or not they have the ability to adjust and keep looking forward.

Lots of questions to be answered between now and then, but the Redskins will look to right the ship against the wild Panthers, on the road in Carolina.

All’s Quiet On ESPN’s All-Division Team

AP Image

Every week, we take a look at ESPN NFC East blogger Dan Graziano’s picks for the NFC East All-Division Team.  These honors mean very little in Week 6 (and truthfully very little at the end of the season), but it’s nice to hear how the Redskins match up against their divisional counterparts.

After not playing last week, the Redskins held steady in this week’s version of the team, holding on to six of 27 players: Read more »

Shake-ups On The All-Division Team

AP Image

For Week 5 of the regular season, ESPN’s NFC East blogger Dan Graziano compiled his all-division team.

All told, three Redskins had their named taken off the list (fullback Darrel Young, left guard Kory Lichtensteiger, kick returner Brandon Banks), but one remains on the list elsewhere (Banks).  Two Redskins replaced their teammates at respective positions this week (outside linebacker Brian Orakpo and safety LaRon Landry), and one Redskins lineman managed to bump a division foe (center Will Montgomery).

That leaves the Redskins with a respectable six of the 27 awards, and generally credit where credit is due, based on the overall season picture.

Here are the Redskins recognized in this week’s addition:

Center: Will Montgomery, Redskins (David Baas)

Outside linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys; Brian Orakpo, Redskins (Ware, Ryan Kerrigan)

Inside linebacker: Sean Lee, Cowboys; London Fletcher, Redskins (Lee, Fletcher) 

Safety: Kenny Phillips, Giants; LaRon Landry, Redskins (Phillips, O.J. Atogwe)

Punter: Sav Rocca, Redskins (Rocca)

Punt returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Banks)

Read more »

Redskins Earn More All-Division Selections

AP Image

For Week 3 of the regular season, ESPN’s NFC East blogger Dan Graziano compiled his all-division team.

Ironically, as the Redskins continue to win with team efforts, individuals continue to pick up accolades.

This week, the Redskins secured eight of the 27 awards, up two from last week and three from the start of the season.  Graziano notes that the best-of-the-best are starting to come into focus as we get further into the season.

Here are the Redskins recognized in this week’s edition:

Fullback: Darrel Young, Redskins (Young)

Left guard: Kory Lichtensteiger, Redskins (Lichtensteiger)

Outside linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys, Ryan Kerrigan, Redskins (Ware, Kerrigan)

Inside linebacker: Sean Lee, Cowboys; London Fletcher, Redskins (Lee, Greg Jones)

Safety: Kenny Phillips, Giants; O.J. Atogwe, Redskins (Phillips, Jarrad Page)

Punter: Sav Rocca, Redskins (Rocca)

Kick returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Banks)

Punt returner: Brandon Banks, Redskins (Banks) Read more »