The Redskins Blog

Should Evan Royster Move To Receiver?

(AP Photo)

As the Washington Redskins prepare to defend their 2012 NFC East title, suggestions have become rampant as to what pieces can be added and adjustments made to help the Redskins not only get their second straight division title but their fourth Lombardi Trophy.

Over on SI.com is a 2013 offseason preview for the Redskins, highlighting several areas of success, concern, and modification that can help get Washington over the hump. Let’s just say some of them are creative.

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Paulsen: New Offense Was ‘Culture Shock’

(AP photo)

When the Washington Redskins took quarterback Robert Griffin III as the second overall pick in the NFL Draft, it was announced almost immediately that the incoming rookie was going to be the starter for the 2012 season.

Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan immediately began the tedious task of figuring out how to form their offense around Griffin III’s talents, which, of course, include a big, accurate arm with the ability to stretch the field with his legs.

About seven-and-a-half months later, the Redskins own one of the top offensive attacks in football. Defensive coordinators cringe as they try to prepare their teams for what’s to come.

But the success wasn’t a given simply by drafting Griffin III. The Washington coaching staff also had make sure the 10 other guys on the field knew how to play their parts to add their brand to what’s now a well-oiled machine.

One of those key contributors to the offensive rejuvenation has been third-year tight end Logan Paulsen, who was thrust into the starter role Week 8 after a season-ending injury to Fred Davis Week 7 against the New York Giants. Paulsen prides himself on coming to the park each day around 6:30 a.m. and leaving no earlier than 6 p.m, and this “gym rat” persona has allowed Paulsen to continue his personal goals of becoming a better all-around tight end  — not coincidentally, he’s in the midst of a career year in Washington.

Paulsen was a guest yesterday on Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King’s Week 14 NFL Podcast(24:52-43:50), and discussed in great detail exactly how the Redskins’ “East Coast” offense has changed and how his teammates have adjusted — and continue to adjust — each week since Griffin III’s arrival.

Paulsen told King that the introduction of the new packages to the offense was at first mind-blowing.

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Peter King: Redskins Will Win More Titles

(Photo by Brian Murphy/ExtremeSkins.com)

There’s few football writers I respect and trust as much as Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. I’m sure most in the league agree with that statement, as well.

So when King says that Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is going to lead his team to multiple Super Bowl titles, I can’t help but get a little bit giddy.

King broke out his crystal ball and made the projection this morning in his weekly “Monday Morning Quarterback” column.

Oh, and he also compares Griffin III to Irish musician and U2 front man Bono.

But back to Super Bowls.

King said it won’t be long until the Redskins have built around Griffin III enough to capture multiple titles:

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Redskins Grace Sports Illustrated Cover

For the second time in two weeks, the Washington Redskins have made the cover of Sports Illustrated.

It happened Sept. 12 when rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III became the seventh Redskins quarterback in team history to become the Sports Illustrated cover boy.

Now, the Redskins are part of a series of cover stories about the resurgence of sports in the Washington, D.C., era.

Here’s a photo of this week’s cover, via Sports Illustrated’s Twitter account:

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Look At This New Sports Illustrated Cover

If you’ve ever been inside the FedExField press box, you’ll notice the huge Redskins Sports Illustrated covers hanging on the back walls.

These covers are from the Redskins’ glory years of the 1980s and 90s, and bring a sense of nostalgia to the press box.

If things go to plan this season — and for seasons to come — it seems as if the Redskins have at least one brand new Sports Illustrated cover to hang up.

According to CSN Washington’s Rich Tandler’s Real Redskins blog, a certain Redskins rookie quarterback is on the cover of this week’s East Coast edition of Sports Illustrated — and we’ve got the cover right here:

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Bruce Allen On His First “Cuss” Word

Note: Washington Redskins’ Executive Vice President and General Manager Bruce Allen filled in this week for Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King and his “Monday Morning Quarterback” column. The Redskins Blog will be highlighting some of Allen’s comments from the column, which you can read in its entirety by clicking here.

Growing up the son of a Hall of Fame NFL head coach, Bruce Allen certainly had several special opportunities to learn from some of the best football minds the game has ever seen.

Allen’s childhood was filled with stories of time spent with his father, George Allen, and the innovators that helped shape the younger Allen into one of the most respected football minds in the game today.
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Theismann Makes ‘Prestigious’ Photo List

AP Image

One of the best offseason follows on Twitter is Andy Gray (@SI_Vault) of Sport’s Illustrated.  He has already provided Redskins fans a remarkable shot of the 1974 Redskins coaching staff posing with a brand new Plymouth Voyager.

Now, as part of a photo compilation series entitled “Athletes in the Bathroom,” we have a photo of Redskins great Joe Theismann dressed as a bathroom attendant for movie star Samuel L. Jackson.

Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you’d think.  Or maybe it is.  Either way, check it out: Read more »

Green Covers Cowboys Cousin, Circa 1986

Continuing the coverage of Redskins great Darrell Green on his 52nd birthday, I ran across an article on Green in the Nov. 1995 issue of Sports Illustrated.

It turns out that in the Oct. 12, 1986 game, Green had the responsibility of covering his cousin, Mike Sherrard, a rookie wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.

As of kickoff, the two had never met, and weren’t even really sure that they were related.  But as Seth Davis writes in his SI article, it was Green who broke the ice while the teams switched sides after the first quarter: Read more »

Coaches Pose With Old Van In 1974 Photo

One of the best Twitter sources for nostalgic sports photos is Andy Gray from SI Vault (@si_vault), who puts out gems like the Redskins photo featured above.

This is a picture of the 1974 Redskins coaching staff, prominently featured around a full size Plymouth Voyager van.  In the corresponding tweet, Gray insinuates that the van is beat up, but this is actually what the van looked like in mint condition.

You see, the Voyager was actually in its first year of production in 1974, a run that would last 26 glorious years until it was discontinued in 2000.  Given the proud demeanor with which head coach/general manager George Allen is slouched against the passenger door of the van, it’s plain to see that he and his fellow Redskins coaches are thrilled to be a part of some marketing ploy to sell the glorious beast. Read more »

Fletcher Knows Tonight’s Opponents Well

AP Image

If any Redskins player should understand tonight’s Super Bowl matchup, it’s linebacker London Fletcher.

Beginning his illustrious career in St. Louis, his Rams played Brady’s Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI, exactly a decade ago.  In a shocking upset (which has since been questioned in Spygate), the Patriots pulled out a late victory, launching the first dynasty of the 21st century.

From St. Louis, Fletcher left to join the Bills, where he faced the Patriots twice a year for five years, solidifying his rivalry with New England.

After his time in Buffalo, Fletcher brought his talents to Washington, where he became a part of the storied Redskins-Giants tradition–two teams that have played the other 157 times.  And after taking on these two teams a combined three times this season, he has a pretty good idea of what he’s looking at across the line of scrimmage.

He shared his thoughts on each team earlier this week with Don Banks of Sports Illustrated, beginning first with his team’s unparalleled success against the Giants: Read more »