Albert Haynesworth is still here and making an impact. New players have been successfully inserted. And the Washington Redskins are winning.
It seems new coach Mike Shanahan’s plan is working.
After a 1-2 start and with the team’s highest-paid player pouting instead of producing, skeptics wondered if Shanahan could transplant his 1990s success in Denver to Washington. A 4-3 mark doesn’t move the Redskins atop the Super Bowl contenders list, but beating Dallas, Philadelphia, Green Bay and Chicago certainly shows Washington no longer is the NFC East’s doormat.
Amazing what a month can do.
The Redskins easily could be 1-6 or 6-1, so 4-3 seems fair given they received several breaks that regularly went against them in recent years. Green Bay’s game-winning field goal clanging off the upright. A holding penalty erasing Dallas’ winning touchdown. Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler’s rushing touchdown was ruled a fumble at the goal line even though replay showed he clearly scored.
Maybe it’s better to be lucky than good. It sure explains Ashton Kutcher’s life. But Shanahan has revived a franchise that was one clown short of a circus last year. Ryan Torain saved the offense after spending the preseason fourth on the depth chart and being released. Shanahan hid his former Denver runner on the practice squad until he was needed. He also found a second receiver in unknown Anthony Armstrong and a returner in Brandon Banks.
But hanging in there with Haynesworth seems to be the biggest payoff. The internal battle has ended with bi-lateral concessions. Haynesworth said he’s no longer in run packages (which must drive the super-secretive Shanahan nuts) so he’s free to do what he does best — rush the passer. After several spectacular plays against Chicago on Sunday, it’s hard to disagree with his selective use.
If only the coaches conceded the strategy a couple months earlier — a lot of drama would have been avoided. Conversely, Haynesworth appears more receptive following his half brother’s recent death. Maybe the lineman now realizes some of his diva tendencies were nonsense, too.
If Haynesworth plays this way for the next nine games, it was worth keeping him — even if the player and team part ways over the offseason. Seriously, you think there could be a second act to this drama?
Washington’s harder games are behind them. Aside from two NFC East battles against the New York Giants that may decide the division, Washington’s toughest remaining game is at Tennessee on Nov. 21 when Haynesworth may actually want to play every snap against his old teammates.
Then again, the Redskins always tend to play worse against bad teams. Four of eight remaining opponents have losing records. Ironically, Washington may win the NFC East and go 1-3 against AFC South teams.
At least the Redskins enter the season’s midpoint for once without a coaching controversy. Shanahan has silenced that notion.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
