Zac Snyder: What is your take on the Washington Redskins so far this season?

Tom Threlkeld: The Redskins are more competitive than most people thought they would be. They’re not a good team yet, but unlike last season, they are clearly not a bad team either. However, they are capable of looking very good or very bad during various times during games. The Redskins have more wins over teams with a winning record this season than any other team in the NFC. Therefore, they can beat good teams. On the other hand, the Redskins lost by two touchdowns to a Rams team the Lions obliterated. If you think you know what you’re going to get from the Redskins on Sunday you’re either a fool or a helluva lot smarter than I am.

Kevin Ewoldt: They are exceeding expectations. The Redskins were the laughing stock of the NFL last year for multiple reasons including breaking the Lions losing streak and the Swinging Gate debacle on primetime TV. We know from past experiences (Sprurrier, Cerrato) it takes more than 1 year to clean up a mess of a roster, but the Redskins are winning games. We’re cautiously optimistic.

Anthony Brown: FINALLY, Daniel Snyder has the front office set right with a competent general manager in Bruce Allen and a competent head coach in Mike Shanahan who has current football schemes and the leadership heft to lead the Redskins to the next level. Unlike Marty Schottenheimer, Shanahan shares power with a GM, although Allen says he will defer to Shanahan on any difference of opinion about talent. That’s not ideal. I would rather see the owner break any ties. But when that owner is Daniel Snyder, well, I like Shanny instead. Unlike Joe Gibbs, Shanahan was out of the game for a single season and remains a thought leader in 21st Century football.

Gibbs is revered around here. He left the team better than he found it. However, he left with the job incomplete. Without adult supervision, Snyder gave us Vinny Cerrato and Jim Zorn. Only Matt Millen kept Cerrato and the Redskins from being bigger laughing stocks than they became. Millen gave you guys Charles Rogers. Cerrato gave us Devin Thomas. I wince because I’m a Spartan grad.

Shanahan is stetting the table for a 10 win season next year.

ZS: Who is your offensive and defensive MVP so far?

TT: Offensive MVP would be WR Santana Moss. He’s second in the NFC in receiving yards and on pace for over 90 catches. He can go deep, doesn’t fear the middle of the field despite his size and is very tough to bring down in space. The offense has been extremely inconsistent this season, but Moss can be counted on to produce if the Redskins get him the ball.

Defensive MVP is probably SS Laron Landry, with CB DeAngelo Hall getting honorable mention. Landry is leading the NFL in tackles and he’s playing so much better at strong safety than at free safety that it almost seems like a different person on the field. He’s a ferocious hitter, terrific blitzer and the Lions must be aware of him at all times. Hall obviously had a huge game last Sunday and he’s scored two touchdowns this year, each providing the winning margin. Hall is a risk-taker and he can definitely get beaten. He plays up and down a lot. Landry is the more consistent player. Brian Orakpo has 7 sacks, 3rd in the NFL, and will be a handful for Jeff Backus. The Skins will move Orakpo around a lot, but Backus will probably see more of him than anyone else. Backus needs to get his arms into Orakpo and use his strength to control him. Otherwise Orakpo will race past him.

KE: Offense: Trent Williams. The loss of Chris Samuels was devastating, and we learned that the hard way with pressure coming in non-stop off the left side last year. Shanahan drafted Trent 4th overall this year and he has held his own this year. The DEs the LT has had to face so far this year: DeMarcus Ware, Mario Williams, Trent Cole, Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers, Clay Matthews, and Chris Long. TOUGH test for a rookie…but he’s done good. We have our LT for the future barring injuries.

AB: I’m not ready to pick an offensive MVP yet. The focus is on Donovan McNabb. He’s still working on the playbook and has acknowledged as much. The team is banking on him to spark the offense. The players have more confidence in him than in Jason Campbell. Fans believe McNabb can pull out a win in a close game. When you compare McNabb’s stats to Campbell’s in 2009 you do not see a big difference.

DeAngelo Hall makes a lot of noise for the defense. Did you like what he did to Chicago? OLB Brian Orakpo is the more valuable contributor for his role in pass rushing. Maybe Jeff Backus can handle him one-on-one, but more than likely, the Lions will double team Orakpo, or just hold him and take the penalty. That’s where my friend Big Al Haynesworth may fit in.

Last season, the sight of Butterworth sprawled out on the floor of Ford Field disconcerted everybody and started the downward spiral that was 2009. This year, Haynesworth is buff. Jim Haslett may have relented some in Albert’s complaints. Haynesworth played more of a pass rusher role against the Bears. His impact was more obvious to fans. If he plays the role the coaches want for him, he will occupy two blockers to free up Orakpo.

However, you asked about MVP. On defense, that person is ILB London Fletcher-Baker who quarterbacks the D, has everyone in the right spot, who is a genuine leader and is tied with S LaRon Landry as the league’s third leading tackler. If Hall, or Haynesworth or Landry were lost to the defense for a week or two, the ‘Skins could survive. It would be catastrophic if Fletcher were lost.

ZS: What has it been like for Redskins fans to cheer on Donovan McNabb after so many years in Philadelphia? Any chance he becomes a scapegoat if the Redskins don’t make the playoffs?

TT: Washington fans have always had a lot of respect for Donovan McNabb because he’s beaten the Redskins so many times. Also, if Philadelphia sports fans don’t like him there must be a lot of good in him. The QB of the Eagles is not detested by Redskins fans the way the QB of the Dallas Cowboys is. Redskins fans tend to dislike Philadelphia fans more than the actual Philadelphia teams. McNabb has been welcomed with open arms by a grateful and long-suffering population of Redskins fans.

KE: When the deal went down there was a lot of anger, but when fans saw and heard the players reactions, we knew we won this trade. The guy is a born leaders and instantly makes everyone around him better. Even though his numbers are not great, he had huge plays to extend drives and he’s had to work with much less talent than anyone should (poor WRs, dropped balls, missed blocking assignments). The Redskins are still learning the scheme…but it’s exciting to watch. (more…)

Browns fans. Really. They get it. They know how to appreciate a comedy of errors. Again and again and again.

I interview Eagles guys… Steelers guys… Panthers guys… They just don’t understand. They don’t know what it’s like to constantly snatch defeat from the clutches of victory. WE DO! Kindred brethren we are. It turned into a pretty good podcast so let’s get to the point!

Or you can download it HERE

Show Notes:

Check out Dan and his other bloggers at WaitingForNextYear.com

The noise in the background? Not me shuffling papers… the dog got a hold of a lint roller thing and he was giving that poor thing its last rights.

Nibbler 1 – Lint Roller 0

Music is Shiny Toy Guns “Don’t Cry Out” off of We Are Pilots

Later Ya’ll, thanks for downloading