Help Out a Navy Skins Fan?

[JaimeDeCurry]

Dear ExtremeSkins,

I've rarely started threads on here, but unfortunately for all involved, now is one of those times. I've been underwater for the past three months, and in less than a day I'll be beneath the waves for another three months or so. Is there anyway somebody on here could give me a quick recap of what's going on with the team? IE, noteworthy transactions, how we've looked thus far, injury updates, etc? How are we projected to fare this season?

The only news we got while underway was Haynesworth had some random muscle(bone?) issue and Eli Manning got his head all jacked up. That's pretty much it for 3 months. I know a lot of people on here will tell me to "read the threads", etc, but I just really don't have any time to skim through all the stuff to try to find relevant news before I head out again. This community has always been great, hope you guys can help a sailor and fellow 'Skins fan out!

P.S. - diggin' the new look...how many problems has that shift caused?

[Hubbs]

Why don't we just use this thread? You can access it while you're on duty, right? We just have to make sure that we post news and don't get into lengthy discussions, which I think we can all agree to do.

[Chicken Fried]

Well, we obviously traded for McNabb.

Malcolm Kelly pulled a hammy and is now on IR

Devin Thomas has not played very well.

We have two new young receivers, Anthony Armstrong and Brandon Banks (he's a tiny little punt returner who's quick but fumbles occasionally.

Colt Brennan was released.

We traded for John Beck (Miami QB) and signed him to a two year extension to play behind Grossman for the time being.

Trent Williams has looked good at LT but has room for improvement.

Willie Parker was cut.

Haynesworth has made the most news...to a sickening degree. He skipped the entire offseason program, came into training camp out of shape, took about two weeks to pass the conditioning test to be allowed to practice because he was fat and hurt his knee. He and Shanahan have been antagonistic. Shanahan is probably going to try to trade him after the Cowboys game this weekend I would say (depending on if/how Haynesworth plays). Al looked mediocre in the preseason games and didn't play hard every down.

Kareem Moore injured his knee in the 2nd preseason game and is probable heading into this weekend.

McNabb injured his ankle in that same game but is good to go this weekend.

DeAngelo Hall has looked excellent in the preseason with either 1 or 2 picks (can't remember).

We traded Justin Tryon to the Colts for some LB.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something important. Thank you for your service, and God bless!

[Redskins Anonymous]

First off, thank you for what you do.

Second, the Redskins are resembling an NFL team again.

Third, if they aren't working on this yet, they need to. They need to give you guys NFL sunday ticket on the sub without making you vulnerable by giving away your location. This is of vitale importance. You guys at Area 51, Dugway Proving Ground, and the Tongue of the Ocean need to stop doing that UFO crap and get these men and women some football!!

I think everybody else summed up what really happened with the Redskins so thanks again for what you do.

[terpskins10]

Break it down by position!

QB - Well, Donovan is starting, Grossman is the backup, and we traded Doug Dutch to Baltimore for John Beck (ex-second rounder from the Fins a few years back). This subsequently led to Brennan's release, after he had an awful camp. As was said, McNabb had an injury in preseason and missed the last two games, listed as questionable for Sunday, but reports say he will go. Grossman has actually looked pretty efficient as the backup, but that's going to be a wait and see (and hopefully we won't have to see him start since that means Donovan went down with injury)

RB - Portis took the RB job pretty handily, followed up by Larry Johnson. Willie Parker was cut and we have a rookie UDFA in Keiland Williams, who showed some power and wiggle in preseason. Not sure if he's going to be a great player in the future or anything, but he's nice depth and it's nice to have someone young as opposed to Medium Speed Willie Parker. Sellers is starting at FB and has had an up and down preseason while converted LB Darrel Young has shown a good amount as a lead blocker.

WR - Moss and Joey Galloway are starting and ex Arena Ball star Anthony Armstrong has been a nice surprise and will be the 3rd receiver. Devin Thomas is the top kick returner but isn't expected to play much on offense and is the fourth or fifth receiver right now. I had high hopes for him but the coaching staff knows much, much more than I do. We have Brandon Banks, as someone else said, who is a very small (5-7, 150) kick returner but he's got blazing, Chris Johnson type speed and cutting ability. Has a bit of trouble holding on, though.

TE - Cooley and Davis, with UDFA Logan Paulsen showing a lot as an in-line blocker in preseason and locking up the third spot. We should be expected to use the two TE set a lot to offset the questions in the WR corp and flex these guys out wide from time to time.

OL - Starters are Williams, Dockery, Rabach, Hicks, and Jammal Brown (traded from the Saints). Brown had some hip issues so he didn't get too much PT in the preseason but he should be good to go for the opener. Both our rookie OLs are on the PS now and our top backups on the line are Heyer and Will Montgomery right now. The line looked pretty solid in preseason and is a huge improvement over last year's debacle.

DL - Ah, the drama. Haynesworth was relegated to second team NT for a while, and played a bit at defensive end in the nickel packages. Apparently he sucked up the last game and Shanahan took him out of the nickel packages. It's still a mess but I expect that he'll shut up and play after realizing that he won't win against Shanahan. There has been some trade rumors regarding Haynesworth to the Titans, but Shanahan has declared that Albert will be with the team on Sunday. He didn't commit to anything further, which has led to even more speculation by the talking heads. Kemoeatu, Carriker, and Golston are listed as starters for now, but I expect that to change a bit down the road. Haynesworth will probably get in there on sheer talent alone eventually. Kemo has looked ok, but his backup Anthony Bryant has actually looked pretty good so he should get some time.

LB - Rak, McIntosh, Fletcher, and Carter are starting. Alexander hasn't looked great but he hasn't looked that bad either but I'm still skeptical on his ability to play LB. Orakpo hasn't done too much in preseason, but he admitted his role was very vanilla and said for the fans to wait until Week 1. Chris Wilson looked very, very good off the edge and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get increased time as the season rolls on. Rookie Perry Riley has looked nice and Blades was solid, though he was outplayed by Henson. Henson looked very, very good in preseason but he injured himself and was released. Shame, because I think he could be very good for us down the road. Hopefully we bring him back once he's healthy.

CB - Hall and Rogers start, Buchanan is the nickel guy and Barnes and Westbrook round it out. Hall has looked really good making plays and he seemed to show more effort on tackling than he did last year. Rogers has also been solid. Justin Tryon was actually traded to the Colts for a draft pick, not a linebacker. What the other poster was thinking of was that we traded Dennis Morris to the Rams (rookie TE) for a conditional seventh round pick (conditional on whether he makes the team) while in a separate trade, traded for a rookie DE/LB in Hall Davis from the Rams under the same conditions.

S - Landry has looked up and down as usual but seems more at home at SS. Moore looked okay at FS with some lapses, but injured his knee and is out for a few weeks. There was some confusion, but Moore is actually not listed as Probable, he is Doubtful. Doughty takes over at starter at FS but we'll see what happens due to his lack of natural athleticism. His sound technique and tackling should be an asset for us, though.

Specialists - Gano has looked pretty good, Bidwell has been very good, and new LS Nick Sundberg overcame a shaky beginning of camp and competition from the signing of veteran LS James Dearth from the Jets to take the job.

As others have said, we look more like a football team now. We'll see what happens but I am so pumped for tomorrow! I hope that breakdown helps! Also just want to echo the sentiments of others and thank you for what you do for our country. Stay safe.

[JaimeDeCurry]

terpskins and Chicken Fried - thanks for the updates! You guys rock!

Hubbs - unfortunately, I won't be able to access anything while on our next mission...the internet is few and far between when you're down 400+ feet lol. Like I said, the only sports we got was the Haynesworth condition and the Manning thing, plus a few baseball scores here and there.

And Redskins Anonymous - the day they give us Sunday Ticket under the water is the day I sign lifelong papers to stay in the Navy. That would be incredible.

Thanks for the updates, guys. You all really are an awesome community to come back to, even if it is a very short time.

[Thirtyfive2seven]

Thanks for your service, stay safe!

[CGSKINS]

I got you shippy. PM your email adress and I'll hook you up. I'm a GSM1 station onboard the USS Anzio CG-68 out of Norfolk. I know how you feel. Its hard trying to keep up with the team but I will do my best keep you informed.

[sarahsdad]

Jamie and CGSkins Thank you both for your service, your in our prayers. HTTR

[brianm23]

I'm trying to decide which is worse. Being under water for 3 months straight or not being able to see football during season. Bro, you are giving up some serious sacrifices. Kudos to you my man. Stay safe and definitely stay dry.

/salute

[jflow78]

Good luck man, I served with some Navy guys, and they'd talk about how those things are as tight as a can of tuna in there. Good luck and hopefully you're not gone too long, and if you are, there's a nice shiny Lombardi waiting for you when you get back.

[GoSkins561]

OP and CG skins, you dudes are beasts.

Hopefully CG skins can copy and paste some messages from this thread through your top secret email.