Showing posts with label Brandon Lloyd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brandon Lloyd. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Lloyd area officially ends

Well, another costly mistake is finally out the door as the Redskins released WR Brandon Lloyd today.

I hate to say that this move seemed obvious but when you spend an entire season in Joe Gibbs' doghouse and catch only 2 passes for 14 yards (which "bumped" his total number of passes caught with the Skins to 25, with no TD's), you know your time has to be short. It just seems to be a shame that during a season in which both starters battled injuries and veterans were signed midseason to try and help the passing game that Lloyd couldn't stay out of the doughouse long enough to get another shot.

It's mistakes like this which cost us two draft picks and $10 million in guaranteed money in a new contract that I hope truly are things of the past as was reported over the weekend. And I'm not just complaining about the steep price of getting overpaid talent here, but the fact that they will continue to eat at our salary cap long after they hit the retirement home it seems.

But I guess if we are moving in a new direction, we've got to start cutting the dead weight somewhere and Lloyd seems like the logical choice.

So here's to clearing out our locker room and salary cap by 2012.

Friday, August 10, 2007

2007 Previews: Redskins offense

With the first preseason game fast approaching, I decided it was finally time to give my thoughts on Washington for the upcoming season. But because this is a Redskins blog I have decided to breakdown my Skins preview into 2 parts, an offensive preview and defensive preview.

So for my offensive preview, here are three keys to a successful season on offense.

1. Keep Jason Campbell in a position to play effectively. I know Campbell got quite a bit of experience at the end of last season but he still has a lot to learn and if the Skins are going to win games this year, they need to make sure Campbell only has to manage games and not win them. When the Skins were ahead Campbell proved effective and did a good job of controlling the game. But when they needed Campbell's arm to win, he played like every other first time NFL QB, he forced throws and had a tough time making big plays. Campbell will eventually need to make plays on his own to prove his worth but for right now, he just needs to not lose.

2. Play Redskins football - run the ball. Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts make a lethal 1-2 punch, especially with the way Betts performed as the No. 1 guy when Portis was injured last year. The problem though is Al Saunders' vaunted playbook didn't value the smash mouth football Washington has always played. Regardless of what personnel has been on the team or who has been the coach, Washington has only consistently won football games one way - by running it straight at their opponent. It will be no different this year, and if Saunders' system doesn't key in on this right away look for Joe Gibbs to take over playcalling duties again this season.

3. Will the No. 2 WR please stand up? Santana Moss and Chris Cooley have both proven to be capable receivers but Washington's quest for a solid No. 2 still has not produced a unanimous result. David Patten, Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randle El, James Thrash and Taylor Jacobs all have tried to fill the post but none ever had a solid claim to the position. If Moss and Cooley are to remain effective options a second WR will have to step up this season. Lloyd, Randle El and Thrash are all still on the squad and battling for the spot again this year but if none of them are up to the task they could easily find themselves following Patten and Jacobs out of town. A solid No. 2 WR will also greatly assist in the development of Campbell.

Again, defensive keys will be tomorrow night and a preview of the first preseason game against Tennessee will be posted Saturday. Football season is here so let's enjoy it before it's gone again.