spanishomelette Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Misunderestimating http://redskins.scout.com/2/440576.html By RichTandler Editor-in-Chief Date: Sep 18, 2005 Tandler's Redskins Blog Ver. 09.19.05--This just in: Many members of the media are lazy. They establish a template based on what has happened in the past. Everything that fits into the template is embraced and “reported”. Whatever doesn’t fit is rejected and goes untold. This takes the place of having to take the time to actually watch the teams they are “covering”. Portis is tough enough You can reach me by email at rtandler@comcast.net The template for the Redskins was established in 2004. Actually, it goes back a bit further than that with the “Dan Snyder is a meddling, clueless owner” element. That started in 2000 when he was a meddling, clueless owner. But even though he has handed the keys over to Joe Gibbs, everything the Redskins do has Snyder’s fingerprints on it, according to the template. The rest of it consists of the game having passed Gibbs by, Mark Brunell being totally washed up, Clinton Portis being unable to handle the load as back in a Gibbs offense, the offensive line being weak and, as a corollary to that last one, they can’t pick up the blitz. There are other elements thrown in here and there, most of them negative, but those are the main ones. A quick point-by-point refutation here. If the game ever did pass Gibbs by, he made up for lost time by working about 27 hours a day during the offseason to get back up to speed. Brunell is not threat to Peyton Manning as the NFL’s premiere QB, but he has shown that whatever ailed him last year is healed. Nobody at all paid any attention to the Portis’ press conference after Sunday’s game. He said that he and Ladell Betts will share the load at running back. Portis will not get worn down. Last year, the offensive line was mediocre at best. Nobody noticed that Jon Jansen was back and that Casey Rabach replaces the weakest link the line. But apparently it’s too much work for those who write for ESPN, for CBS Sportsline, for papers around the country and the like to actually observe what’s going on with the team and shape their stories accordingly. The Redskins aren’t among the NFL’s elite, they’re not even among the league’s very good. But they’re better than the template has them make out to be. The members of the mass media pack have taken the opportunity, however, to reshape the Dallas Cowboy template. All that they had to know is that Jerry and Bill dropped some $50 million in signing bonuses to upgrade their team, particularly defensively. Of course, when Snyder and the Redskins did something like this it was called folly (and rightfully so, for the most part). According to the “experts”, throwing money after their problem (16th-ranked defense in 2004, same 6-10 record as the Skins) has made them into a reincarnation of the ’85 Bears. Their front seven is fierce and impenetrable and that “fact” makes up for some minor shortcomings in their secondary, like safeties that can’t cover. And then there’s Julius Jones. The guy is out half the season injured, gains a shade over 800 and now all of a sudden he’s Jim Brown. Of course, in predicting the outcome of the game, it’s that monster defense that’s going to lay waste to that girly O-line of the Redskins and destroy to that shell of his former self Brunell, stuff the overworked Portis and Dallas will cruise to an easy win. Dallas will win in a walk. In reality, the game is a tossup. The Cowboys have the edge in that it’s a home game, but that’s about it. Both teams are in the middle of the NFL pack, a large bunch that includes about 20 teams. Also among them are the Chargers, Dallas’ “quality” opponent last week who fell to 0-2 with a loss to a Broncos team that was routed by Miami last week. And the Redskins’ 9-7 win over Chicago became more impressive after the Bears hung 38 on Detroit on Sunday. So we will see what happens on Monday night. On the record here is a prediction of a close Redskins win. But Dallas could well win and the “experts” would be right, but, more than likely, it will be for all the wrong reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teller Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Excellent column! Everything I've been wanting to say, just 100x more eloquently than I could have done it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
God Help Me, I'm in Texas Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 you the man, tan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scskin Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 OOOOOOOOOOOO, now they are really going to be mad. If we lose one more game the media will rip us to shreds( lol ). This post should remain at the top of the board and referred to for our trolls ( I mean visitors ). So basically the media`is either questioning the talent (Raybach) or the scheming for the talent (Portis,Moss). If this article gets widely circulated it will get interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topdog Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Yes it is hard for the Redskins to get the most used word in football.That word is RESPECT.It seems if we have to do things 2x a good as the next guy just to get some of it. :dallasuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyKilmer Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 I thank you Tandler for looking deeper then the surface Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedskinDan0557 Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Nice analysis, he hit the nail on the head. :dallasuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flave1969 Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Rich Tandler does an excellent job covering the team. I have on of his books and it is invaluable in looking back at the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epistopheles Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 I couldn't agree more. I think Portis is due for some respect. I'd love to see him run all over Dallas tonight. But WE aren't going to get any respect unless we keep winning football games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octane67 Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Keep up the great writing RT. It is much needed and appreciated here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themurf Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 I can hear them now ... "Doesn't matter what he said - he's a homer sucking up for the team." The only way to change perception is to win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Prime Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Good writing.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Califan007 The Constipated Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Good article, although it's pretty much the exact same thing many of us here have been saying since January...and to be honest, very few in the media expect Dallas to win in a "walk". They always have the score rather close, like 16-13, and a few of them even have the Skins winning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In Flames Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 where is this man, let me give this man a big, fat kiss! No, make that a big, fat, SLOPPY kiss. :notworthy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktball74 Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 If the Skins do indeed win, the media will probably spin it in a way that the Cowboys lost the game, and the Skins didn't deserve to win! The media is in bed with Parcells and the Cowboys, just like they are with the Packers and Favre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mania Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Thank you thank you thank you. You hit the nail on the head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwsleep Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Great piece by Tandler--exactly on target. Totally captures the working process of most national sportswriters when it comes to the skins! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Testify, Rich, testify! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtandler Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Thanks, guys. I appreciate the kind comments. Hopefully the template will be getting a bit of an update tonight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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