Ok, I'll be honest. I didn't write about the 'skins loss to 'zona because I was fed up. It was just another loss in a winnable game (everything's been winnable except the Thursday Night Debacle, I don't care what you say), and I felt that "done" portion of the season coming on. You know it well, 'skins fans--that tipping point where you start thinking about next season because this one is boned.
Well, we still might be there, because we'll probably need to win 8 of the next 9 for a crack at the postseason. But damn if it doesn't feel good to win.
I'm not going to talk about the Cards game other than to say that continued turnovers will tear through a football team from the inside like a virus. To the 'skins credit, as a team they weren't quite infected yet, but I believe Cousins himself was.
I said before that Kirk (sorry Kirk) was taking his turnovers too hard. I'm going to bring up Steph Curry again. Perhaps the best trait in a bonafide sports star is selective memory. Curry forgets every shot that doesn't go in. Yeah, he's not the only athlete who does this, but he is the one I like the most.
Anyway, this is not to say a player should discard all his wisdom and just gun it without giving a single particle of shit about what happens. Knowing limitations and playing within yourself will still save your ham sandwich 19 times out of 20. But when the pooch does get screwed, take that mistake, learn from it, internalize it, then let it go. Sure, easier said than done. Whatever. The great ones do it. You want to be great, you learn to forget.
All that is to say--after watching Kirk hang his head today when he floated that INT across the middle--I'm not sure Cousins ever develops that skill. And I'm sorry for that, as he continues to show flashes of brilliance with some absurdly difficult throws (e.g. Niles Paul completion near the start of the game).
But that's the NFL. Cousins out. Colt McCoy in. RIP, Captain Kirk era.
Now, here's a quick rundown of the good stuff from today:
- We WON!!!! Holy SHIT!!!*
*(No one should be this enthused about a single win. Or about beating a 2-4 squad starting Clipboard Jesus. But a W is a W.)
- Looks like Jordan Reed should be healthy enough to make an impact soon. That helps.
- Colt McCoy took great care of the ball and showed a lot of composure. Not getting shaken when the big DJax throw got called back showed some steel.
- McCoy should also add a more mobile aspect that the QB position has lacked with Cousins.
- Good stuff happened when they threw at DJax downfield.
- Garcon is fast.
- Yes, really, Michael Griffin. I promise.
- The offense put together a great drive to go kick the game-winning FG.
- The D played well enough, even if the Titans are terrible, allowing an eminently acceptable 17 points and 236 yards.
- Breeland! Congrats on your 1st pick! Now get up and run, it's the NFL!
- Niles Paul has played well since his bad-blocking game against Seattle.
All right, now that we've got the warm-fuzzies out of the way, here's the reality check:
- Need a lot more from the run game. Alfred Morris' effectiveness has taken a noticeable dip more or less since Bob Griffin got carted off.
- Orakpo might be done with another pec tear. Could be his last showing as a 'skin. Hate to see him go out like that if so.
- Had a couple nice sacks called back for secondary penalties. 'Skins won the penalty battle today, but still have to button those up.
- There is no QB controversy. Step off that wagon. 'Skins are now in the position of needing to see what they have in Bobby G, so he will play as soon as he can.
- Again, no controversy. And I like McCoy. He's got one of those classic, "successful QB" names, too. I wanted him to succeed when he came into the league. Smart guy, mobile, and plays with moxie. But unfortunately he's not wielding a cannon on his right shoulder, so you won't see too many field stretching throws. If you have a great D, then yes, I think he could capably pilot the tank to the playoffs. But that's not Washington. And we have too much invested in Griffin to let him sit behind McCoy right now.
- Like I said up there, we probably need to win 8 of 9 to extend the season.
All that said, I remember not so long ago that the 'skins were 3-6, staring a lost season in the face, and rattled off 7 straight. That 3-6 is still in reach. Easy reach.
So let's take baby steps. Evil 6-1 Alternate-Reality Cowboys are up next. Who wouldn't love the story of cast-off Colt McCoy or embattled RG3 leading Washington's band of misfits to victory?
I know I would. Let's get to 3-5. Go 'skins.
And now, I have to tack on a special mention for what I just watched--that is, the Human Touchdown Pass known as Peyton Manning. He's at 510 and counting, living in that surreal state where every subsequent TD pass breaks his own record. Congrats to him. I want to see 600.
Speaking of that, the SciFi nerd in me has to admit to wondering what the hell they put in his cereal while he was over getting that stem cell stuff done in Europe to help with his spinal fusion surgery. The way he's playing now at 38, it's easy enough to envision him slinging it until he's 45. A terrifying thought for NFL coaches everywhere (except Denver).
For anyone who believes the goofy Passer Rating statistic is an actual measure of excellence, it bears noting this: of Peyton's 42 games since heading to Denver, he's only rated under 100 in 16 of them (and only under 90 in 6). That's kind of absurd.
Anyway, hats off to Peyton (and, to a lesser degree, the 'skins). Until next week, folks. HTTR.
Well, we still might be there, because we'll probably need to win 8 of the next 9 for a crack at the postseason. But damn if it doesn't feel good to win.
I'm not going to talk about the Cards game other than to say that continued turnovers will tear through a football team from the inside like a virus. To the 'skins credit, as a team they weren't quite infected yet, but I believe Cousins himself was.
I said before that Kirk (sorry Kirk) was taking his turnovers too hard. I'm going to bring up Steph Curry again. Perhaps the best trait in a bonafide sports star is selective memory. Curry forgets every shot that doesn't go in. Yeah, he's not the only athlete who does this, but he is the one I like the most.
Anyway, this is not to say a player should discard all his wisdom and just gun it without giving a single particle of shit about what happens. Knowing limitations and playing within yourself will still save your ham sandwich 19 times out of 20. But when the pooch does get screwed, take that mistake, learn from it, internalize it, then let it go. Sure, easier said than done. Whatever. The great ones do it. You want to be great, you learn to forget.
All that is to say--after watching Kirk hang his head today when he floated that INT across the middle--I'm not sure Cousins ever develops that skill. And I'm sorry for that, as he continues to show flashes of brilliance with some absurdly difficult throws (e.g. Niles Paul completion near the start of the game).
But that's the NFL. Cousins out. Colt McCoy in. RIP, Captain Kirk era.
Now, here's a quick rundown of the good stuff from today:
- We WON!!!! Holy SHIT!!!*
*(No one should be this enthused about a single win. Or about beating a 2-4 squad starting Clipboard Jesus. But a W is a W.)
- Looks like Jordan Reed should be healthy enough to make an impact soon. That helps.
- Colt McCoy took great care of the ball and showed a lot of composure. Not getting shaken when the big DJax throw got called back showed some steel.
- McCoy should also add a more mobile aspect that the QB position has lacked with Cousins.
- Good stuff happened when they threw at DJax downfield.
- Garcon is fast.
- Yes, really, Michael Griffin. I promise.
- The offense put together a great drive to go kick the game-winning FG.
- The D played well enough, even if the Titans are terrible, allowing an eminently acceptable 17 points and 236 yards.
- Breeland! Congrats on your 1st pick! Now get up and run, it's the NFL!
- Niles Paul has played well since his bad-blocking game against Seattle.
All right, now that we've got the warm-fuzzies out of the way, here's the reality check:
- Need a lot more from the run game. Alfred Morris' effectiveness has taken a noticeable dip more or less since Bob Griffin got carted off.
- Orakpo might be done with another pec tear. Could be his last showing as a 'skin. Hate to see him go out like that if so.
- Had a couple nice sacks called back for secondary penalties. 'Skins won the penalty battle today, but still have to button those up.
- There is no QB controversy. Step off that wagon. 'Skins are now in the position of needing to see what they have in Bobby G, so he will play as soon as he can.
- Again, no controversy. And I like McCoy. He's got one of those classic, "successful QB" names, too. I wanted him to succeed when he came into the league. Smart guy, mobile, and plays with moxie. But unfortunately he's not wielding a cannon on his right shoulder, so you won't see too many field stretching throws. If you have a great D, then yes, I think he could capably pilot the tank to the playoffs. But that's not Washington. And we have too much invested in Griffin to let him sit behind McCoy right now.
- Like I said up there, we probably need to win 8 of 9 to extend the season.
All that said, I remember not so long ago that the 'skins were 3-6, staring a lost season in the face, and rattled off 7 straight. That 3-6 is still in reach. Easy reach.
So let's take baby steps. Evil 6-1 Alternate-Reality Cowboys are up next. Who wouldn't love the story of cast-off Colt McCoy or embattled RG3 leading Washington's band of misfits to victory?
I know I would. Let's get to 3-5. Go 'skins.
And now, I have to tack on a special mention for what I just watched--that is, the Human Touchdown Pass known as Peyton Manning. He's at 510 and counting, living in that surreal state where every subsequent TD pass breaks his own record. Congrats to him. I want to see 600.
Speaking of that, the SciFi nerd in me has to admit to wondering what the hell they put in his cereal while he was over getting that stem cell stuff done in Europe to help with his spinal fusion surgery. The way he's playing now at 38, it's easy enough to envision him slinging it until he's 45. A terrifying thought for NFL coaches everywhere (except Denver).
For anyone who believes the goofy Passer Rating statistic is an actual measure of excellence, it bears noting this: of Peyton's 42 games since heading to Denver, he's only rated under 100 in 16 of them (and only under 90 in 6). That's kind of absurd.
Anyway, hats off to Peyton (and, to a lesser degree, the 'skins). Until next week, folks. HTTR.
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