TK Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33082-2003Dec3.html Smoot Says Redskins' Woes Are the Players' Fault By Mark Maske Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, December 4, 2003; Page D01 Cornerback Fred Smoot said yesterday that the Washington Redskins players are suffering from a lack of accountability and are to blame for the team's struggles rather than the club's coaches or front-office members. Smoot pledged to try to fill what he called a leadership void among the team's players. "It's not the coach," Smoot said. "It's the players. It's us. We've got to correct it. Until we look at each other in the face and realize it's us that's losing the games -- not the coaches, not the media, not the owner -- it's never going to get done. . . . I think accountability is another big thing around here that we lack. . . . You have to be accountable for what you do." Coach Steve Spurrier and several of his assistants, most notably defensive coordinator George Edwards and offensive line coach Kim Helton, have been heavily criticized during the Redskins' downward spiral. At 4-8, the club has lost seven of its past eight games and can be eliminated from playoff contention this weekend. Five of the defeats have been by four points or fewer. The defense has failed to hold a fourth-quarter lead in each of the past three games, all losses. "We've got great players," Smoot said. "But if you're not together, playing as one, it doesn't matter. In basketball, [Michael] Jordan can go out there and win a game by himself. But in the National Football League, one man just can't do it. I don't care who you are. . . . Until we figure that out around here, we're going to go through this. We're going to lose tight games. I think teams win tight games. Individuals lose close ones." Smoot returned to the lineup last month only three weeks after suffering a fractured sternum. He said yesterday he "went out there and gave 100 percent every time I stepped out there" and "did what I can" to save Edwards's job. "I think I've been basically quiet when it comes to the leader side of it," Smoot said. "But I won't be any more. . . . It [the lack of accountability among the players] shows when there's two minutes left and we can't close the game down. Offense, defense, special teams -- it doesn't matter who's on the field, we're not ending the game. We're not closing the game. It's the players' fault. I don't blame anybody for any mistake that Fred Smoot makes. I never will. But until we stop trying to blame the coach for this or that -- George Edwards is doing a wonderful job. It doesn't look like it because we're not winning. But if we were winning, they'd be saying he's doing a nice job. We've been in position to make plays. We just haven't made them." Told about Smoot's remarks, Spurrier said: "I appreciate him saying that, but we're all in it together. We share. To me, you share it. When it goes good, the players usually do it. And when it goes bad, the coaches do it. It's nice that the players share in the responsibility for what's happened. Together we just haven't got it done. It's as simple as that." Said Redskins right tackle Jon Jansen: "There were a lot of things that we just didn't do right at different parts of the year. It was always something. . . . If you had asked us at the beginning of the year whether we'd be 4-8 at this point, we'd have said, 'There's no way.' Four games into the season, at 3-1, if you'd have asked us if we'd just win one more game at this point, we'd have said, 'There's no way.' . . . But things changed, and we didn't change with them." Other players continued to express hope that Edwards will be retained despite the defense being 25th in the league. "George is a good coach," linebacker Jeremiah Trotter said. "He's young. This is his rookie season. . . . We're all guilty, from myself all the way down. You can't put that on George. He's done a great job making calls. We just have to execute the call he gives." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js79 Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT the total opposite of champ bailey i think smoot has noticed his opportunity to become a leader and he is taking full advantage of it. unlike champ who hides behind cliches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 Cornerback Fred Smoot said yesterday that the Washington Redskins players are suffering from a lack of accountability and are to blame for the team's struggles rather than the club's coaches or front-office members. Smoot pledged to try to fill what he called a leadership void among the team's players. "It's not the coach," Smoot said. "It's the players. It's us. We've got to correct it. Until we look at each other in the face and realize it's us that's losing the games -- not the coaches, not the media, not the owner -- it's never going to get done. . . . I think accountability is another big thing around here that we lack. . . . You have to be accountable for what you do." :applause: :notworthy :yes: Thank you Mr. Smoot, finally a voice of reason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK Posted December 4, 2003 Author Share Posted December 4, 2003 Quick, get em here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorEye Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 Sounds like Smoot is positioning himself to get some of Champ's money once he's gone. My respect for him just went way up. It's about time some of the players took some accountability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 That is an astonishingly fine quote by Smoot. Something that has plagued the Redskins for some time is failing to reach their potential as a team. As a collection of individuals this team is as good as most. As a team it is far worse than most. Perhaps simply having someone say it will get some of these guys to recognize this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wicked Wop Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 I only wish that all the other players on this team had Smoot's attitude.....No telling how good we could have been this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xanathos19 Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 He's not dissing the coaching staff like Jansen did...he's putting the blame squarely on the shoulders of the players. As much as Steve's play-calling has been criticized, (and rightfully so on many occasions), he isn't out there doing the work. George isn't out there blowing the 4th Quarter leads week after week. The players need to be accountable, and it's good to see that Smoot said something...wish it was LaVar who would step it up and say something like this, or one of the vets...takes a 3rd year guy to say it...says something about the state of the team! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC4 Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 Fred has the right idea. With all the talent we do have, we SHOULD be better If Champ wants to leave, LET HIM!!!! Then we can bring in someone else to go with Fred who will play with him at CB, and still have a strong secondary, plus all the extra money it would have taken to resign Champ can be used for other needs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildbill Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 Imagine that? A redskins player accepting the blame for the team losing rather than blaming the coaches......unbelievable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 Wow, I have nothing but respect for Smoot. And as another poster said, Smoot is the polar opposite of Chump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselPwr44 Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 The players need to be accountable, and it's good to see that Smoot said something...wish it was LaVar who would step it up and say something like this, or one of the vets... Maybe I'm mistaken but hasn't LaVar said something close to this on 980 in recent weeks? LaVar and Smoot on the same page, 2 down,51 more to go... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xanathos19 Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 Originally posted by DieselPwr44 Maybe I'm mistaken but hasn't LaVar said something close to this on 980 in recent weeks? LaVar and Smoot on the same page, 2 down,51 more to go... I guess LaVar has been saying some things that could be similar to this...I guess it just wasn't as publicized as Smoot's. It's good that they are saying stuff...holding themselves accountable. Maybe Bruce Smith should take some lessons from these two... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor The Invincible Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 It's all talk until they start playing like it. Things like this have been said before, like LaVar said, after the Dallas loss, I believe. He said it was their own fault and criticized the players. It didn't go over very well. It's like all the players on this team want to be themselves, and if someone calls them out, they don't settle down and start playing like a team, they in fact get even more selfish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 Well, during a terrible run of a dismal season it is nice to see players and coaches trying to take personal responsibility for the team's state rather than pointing fingers at eachother. It could be very easy for this team to completely implode, but it looks like there's some fight left in these guys, and that is at least promising for the future. Now, all we have to do is start winning some games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebreaker Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 Smoot and Champ's comments about this season are very similar. Champ also said we needs to be held responsible for the way we've played. THis is why he said he wouldn't be here if they fired Edwards, cause like Smoot, he knows Edwards isn't totally at fault for the defense's performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prophet Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 i couldn't stand watch smoot play last year... i thought he was an awful cb, but this year he has totally been different. He has played injured - and has been a leader for this team he is now one of my favorite players Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsNumberOne Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 Originally posted by xanathos19 I guess LaVar has been saying some things that could be similar to this...I guess it just wasn't as publicized as Smoot's. It's good that they are saying stuff...holding themselves accountable. Maybe Bruce Smith should take some lessons from these two... I like LaVar a lot, he has a lot of amazing talent, and I respect the fact that he seems to have learned to control himself better as the year wore on (I remember earlier he was hurting us with some late hits). However, I still don't like how he semi-publicly (I don't think he talked about it to the press, but it wasn't really behind closed doors either I believe) complained about how Marvin Lewis was using him last year. I am also a little leary of what the linebackers are saying about George Edwards, since I think they like their roles in his defense, although I don't think I'm alone in saying that we haven't enjoyed them that much, particularly recently... that said, didn't someone complain to George Edwards last week or recently about plays not coming in early enough, and wasn't it a linebacker? Smoot says all the right things, and seriously, he is putting the effort out. He was someone who had something to prove when we drafted him; those are always great guys to pick up, and he has not disappointed in the least. Awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 Another positive sign of the team trurning the corner next year. The players are still on board, defending their coach, taking responsibilty to improve, not crying and pointing fingers. Hail to the Redskins...... :thumb: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark28 Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 I love you Freddie! Thanks for speaking the truth! SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Williams Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 Finally a player speaks out and says EXACTLY what I've been saying...... It's not the coaches fault for players not executing the fundimentals. If geo. says "man"...don't let your man ( to cover) get the ball.....simple........yet so difficult for our players:applause: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhayunga Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 This is a good turn around from #21. In years past he has been outspoken and critical of the coaches and other players. Sounds like #21 is starting to grow up. Good for you Smoot. If you continue to act like this I hope your here for a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 Uh, Jhayunga, what are you talking about. Smoot has never been critical of coaches or other players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wicked Wop Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 Yeah I can't recall him ever going off on other players and coaches....some other members of the team however.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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