New Orleans Saints @ Washington Redskins: Chat with the Enemy

by Saintsational on Dec 4, 2009 6:00 AM CST Comment 69 comments

Hard to believe it's already time for another one of my interviews with an SB Nation colleague in preparation for the Saints next opponent. The Saints travel to our nation's capitol this weekend so I'm talking with KevinE from Hogs Haven. They've got a decent sized community over there, similar to us I believe so go check them out when you get a chance.

If you've been paying attention to the Redskins this season, you'll know that fans aren't too happy with their team right now. I think it shows in my conversation with KevinE and after reading what he has to say, I also think you'll feel pretty confident about the Saints chances on Sunday.

CSC: After an exciting and active off-season, the Reskins season thus far has been pretty disappointing. Where did it all go wrong?

HH: Week one. Skins lost their starting Randy Thomas for the year. The problem is, he had double season-ending injuries last year and the Skins did nothing via the draft or free agency to fix that right side. Then they lost Chris Samuels for the year, and likely forever, with a neck injury. Again, we saw this one coming but the front office did not. Zero draft picks on offensive linemen. The Skins have been using players from practice squads as replacements and Campbell is getting murdered. With the complex blitz schemes Gregg Williams runs against these unskilled linemen, Campbell might end up in the ER Sunday afternoon.

CSC: I'm reading this funny post about the Redskins playcalling.It looks like a complete flustercuck. What's going on?

HH: Well, Zorn was not getting the job done and was making very predictable and sometimes bizarre play calls. Vinny Cerrato had enough and stripped the duties from him.

CSC: Give me an example of bizarre.

HH: Third and one near the goal line and Zorn calls a half-back pass from Portis...it failed miserably. It was clear then Zorn has no faith in Campbell to get the job done. Or maybe he thinks the NFL is like Madden.

CSC: Wow.

HH: The thing is, Zorn's offensive coordinator who he brought with him from Seattle, Sherman Smith, never had prior experience play-calling either. So Cerrato decided to bring in someone who did have experience...enter Sherman Lewis. The 2-minute drills have been laughable too. When the Skins go to the 2-minute drill, Zorn takes over the play-calling (even now). Yeah, it's bizarre. Either way, the point production has gone up since this "coaching carousel," as Cooley called it, started.

CSC: That is too funny.

HH: Yeah, Vinny Cerrato is not well liked down here.

CSC: He seems to be a huge focus on Hogs Haven. Is this like an Al Davis type of situation?

HH: Exactly. Oh man, Hogs Haven is gonna love that quote.

CSC: Should Cerrato stay in the background more? Or leave the country alltogether?

HH: When's the next space launch?

CSC: I'm guessing not soon enough.

HH: The Skins won their three Super Bowls behind an amazing offensive line. Arguably the best of all time. And he refuses to use draft picks on them. Not only that., he hired a West Coast Offense coach to run the team Joe Gibbs left, which was a power, run-first offense. Makes no sense. Plus, who hires an offensive coordinator before hiring a head coach? For that reason, no one wanted the job and they promoted Zorn, who had never held a position higher than quarterback coach before. And it clearly shows. No one hates Zorn here, he's just in over his head.

CSC: So Albert Haynesworth will be returning to action this Sunday. Should the Saints stick to passing the ball?

HH: Well, the Saints success is running on the outside anyway, so stick with that. The Skins tackling is atrocious in their secondary. But yes, you will not gain a single yard up the middle the plays he is in.

CSC: With all the injuries the Redskins have suffered this season, you said the team has had to find a lot of unknown talent to replace players. One of two of these new players must have pleasantly surprised fans. No?

HH: That's tough when you're still losing. Rock Cartwright has been great. He's been a staple leader and special teams hero this decade and now that he's finally got his chance to start at running back, he's really making plays.

Justin Tryon is one of the Skins young corners we're hoping can be great, and he had an interception last week.

CSC: Is there anyone left on the Redskins staff that would know a little something about Williams' scheme and might have an answer for it?

HH: Oh man...everyone. All the players were talking about it the other day after practice. London Fletcher has been with Gregg Williams most of his career in Buffalo and Washington. Jason Campbell went against it everyday in practice all those years. Smoot said he owed his whole career to Gregg.

CSC: Should this be cause for concern for Saints fans?

HH: I don't think so. The offensive line is horrible. Campbell is getting sacked on 3-foot drops. Seriously.

CSC: Want to make a prediction for the game?

HH: Sure... 27-19 Saints.

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Comments

just one thing I have to say

That wa a great article but wilfort is one of the best inside guys and he was healthy and we pushed him around like a rag doll.This year I dont care how big and strong you are Goodwin,nicks,evans is going to get a push on you

by darshiva420 on Dec 4, 2009 7:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

27-19?

While agree with the overall outcome, predicting 27 points for the Saints against the Skins is outrageous.

by GobBluth on Dec 4, 2009 8:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

St. Louis held us to 28.

Just sayin.

by GlackAndBold on Dec 4, 2009 9:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Love the name, GobBluth

I think 27 is actually a decent guess. The Redskin’s problem seems to have much more to do with their offense’s inability to get points rather than their defense. Their pass defense is statistically at the top, and they’ve managed to slow down some of the better offenses they’ve faced (including Philly twice and Dallas). In fact, only one team that has played against them has scored over 27 (Atlanta scored 31).

Considering the cold weather, Washington’s almost certain desire to slow down the game with a ton of running plays, and a good pass defense, 27 points is a very fair prediction.

by Monkey Poop Battle on Dec 4, 2009 4:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

this is the second time i have read about us getting our rushing yards on the outside. am i dreaming or do we bust it up the gut 90% of the time

by sernycrusher on Dec 4, 2009 8:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Skewed attention to Reggie Bush

I reckon.

by GlackAndBold on Dec 4, 2009 9:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Might be a game

for Charles Grant to pad his crappy stats

by saints-nation on Dec 4, 2009 9:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

yea...

Usually when we run to the outside, it has negative results like on Madden. If you play Madden 10, you notice that Reggie is tackled more often than not for a loss when there’s a pitch or counter to the outside. I thought this was a terrible reference to our outside game because surely Reggie can make a guy or two miss in space. Well this year on the real football field, it seems like the game new its stuff because we have gotten far more production running up the gut than to the outside.

by narco301 on Dec 4, 2009 9:15 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

first year season ticket holder

how exactly does playoffs work for season ticket holders. this playoff package, is that for one game?

someone help if you can please

by sernycrusher on Dec 4, 2009 9:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

semy - you may want to make a fanpost about your playoff ticket question - this doesn't seem to have grabbed anyone's attention

"In the end, the bread was in the pudding." -- Bobby McCray

Shop as usual, and avoid panic buying.

by HansDat on Dec 4, 2009 6:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

answer...

You should get something in the mail asking if you want to purchase your seats in the playoffs. You have to buy the divisional playoff and NFC Championship Game. If they don’t play in either of the games, they put that money toward your tickets next season.

Wanna say something? Sign up! It's free!

by Saintsational on Dec 4, 2009 7:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

beautiful

thanks guys

by sernycrusher on Dec 4, 2009 7:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sacks on 3-step drops

not fun for ‘skins fans. Hope our injuries don’t cause us to drop a winnable game. HOME FIELD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by xen-cuts on Dec 4, 2009 9:37 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Unrelated question

Why are the fanposts and fanshots no longer on the CSC front page? There’s nothing but white space along the right side now. At least, that’s what I’m seeing and I can see them on other SB Nation sites.

"I said this early on that this was a good football team, they just maybe had to have a stick put in certain parts of their body to play a little harder in certain places to where we’re able to take interceptions and score touchdowns."--Gregg Williams

by satchmo26 on Dec 4, 2009 10:18 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I see it too

no idea why

Wanna say something? Sign up! It's free!

by Saintsational on Dec 4, 2009 10:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Broken CSS

They’re actually floating under the left-hand column.

Super Bowl 44: "If you play in this league and it's not your goal, there's something wrong with you." -- Marques Colston

by MtnExile on Dec 4, 2009 10:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mine isn't

Same place it’s always beenRight side.

by KilnBill on Dec 4, 2009 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

System and browser?

I’ve looked at it on three different browsers—Safari 4 (Mac OSX Leopard), Firefox 3 (Mac OSX Leopard), and IE6 on a pissant old Vaio running Windows 2000. It’s broken on all of them.

Super Bowl 44: "If you play in this league and it's not your goal, there's something wrong with you." -- Marques Colston

by MtnExile on Dec 4, 2009 10:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

it’s got something to do with the html code in this post. Probably from cutting and pasting from AIM. I can’t fix it but I’ll ask the tech guys to figure it out. might be a while. Unless M-E can get in there and figure out the problem.

Wanna say something? Sign up! It's free!

by Saintsational on Dec 4, 2009 10:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think that could take all day for me

not being conversant with the page structure already. But usually this problem comes from trying to cram floating objects into a container that isn’t wide enough to accommodate them. Instead of being side-by-side, one won’t fit and simply slides below the other.

Super Bowl 44: "If you play in this league and it's not your goal, there's something wrong with you." -- Marques Colston

by MtnExile on Dec 4, 2009 10:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

There's an empty div style block,

possibly just an extra carriage return in the edit, immediately before the jump. It looks to me like if you take out that block everything looks ok.

by GlackAndBold on Dec 4, 2009 11:07 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Holy crap!

You nailed it! It’s fixed. How the hell did you know that?

Wanna say something? Sign up! It's free!

by Saintsational on Dec 4, 2009 11:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Cool!

I copied the html source to a local file and played with it. Yes, I am a geek.

by GlackAndBold on Dec 4, 2009 2:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We are all humbled before your geekdom!

Fat, dumb, and happy. Hell, two out of three ain't bad!

I Want To Die In My Sleep Like My Grandpa – Not Screaming and Yelling Like His Passengers

by Just 'Nother Day on Dec 6, 2009 4:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

By the way

Boom!!!

Wanna say something? Sign up! It's free!

by Saintsational on Dec 4, 2009 11:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Happy to help.

Thanks for all you do.

by GlackAndBold on Dec 4, 2009 2:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Windows 7 upgrades showing up?

You think you know, and you don't know, and you never, ever will.-Jim Mora Sr.

by metryman on Dec 4, 2009 11:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I see them

They’re way down at the bottom of the page in the middle-right of the screen.

by satchmo26 on Dec 4, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Broken CSS

I hate when I do that.

"In the end, the bread was in the pudding." -- Bobby McCray

Shop as usual, and avoid panic buying.

by HansDat on Dec 4, 2009 6:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm using Firefox and they are showing up fine.

I've tasted the Kool-Aid and its damn good!

by cck781 on Dec 4, 2009 12:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Redskins

If you guys have any Redskins questions…fire away and I’ll respond. Being undefeated you could probably care less about the Skins…

by KevinE on Dec 4, 2009 10:30 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

No way!

The short week of preparation and rest could cause problems. When an NFL team overlooks another NFL team, they usually get beat. Still, I don’t think that will happen. I also believe Gregg Williams will be out for revenge and our D will have a good game. I mainly hope it’s an injury-free contest on both sides. You guys have had to endure more than your fair share.

I have a question: Do you think Clinton Portis will call it a career after this year? Do you expect him to play again this season?

by satchmo26 on Dec 4, 2009 10:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He's 28, he won't call it a career

But in an uncapped year, and with a (hopefully) new GM, the team might decide to cut ties with him. A lot of Skins fans are convinced he’s done, citing how the running game improved once he got hurt. I don’t think its as simple as that, he hits hard and often sits out almost entire weeks of practice so he had trouble following his blockers and was a step slow in hitting the hole. Add that to all of the upheaval on the line early in the season and its not a big surprise he struggled. I think Clinton will play again this year, and we’ll see what we have.

by Boo. on Dec 4, 2009 10:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Coach?

Do you think the skins would have been better off just firing Zorn?

by KilnBill on Dec 4, 2009 10:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That wouldn't solve the major problem

…which is Dan Snyder. He’s getting a good head start on being the next senile Al Davis, without first passing through the genius stage.

Super Bowl 44: "If you play in this league and it's not your goal, there's something wrong with you." -- Marques Colston

by MtnExile on Dec 4, 2009 10:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nah, it wouldn't have made anything better

There is a lot of pressure on Danny to back the F off after the season and hand control over to a football guy. If he doesn’t, there will be a huge backlash from the fans. Of course, the braintrust over there has never seemed like they notice what the fans want. The “Revolution” is more organized this year, so we’ll see.

by Boo. on Dec 4, 2009 10:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

It’s sad, but it’s already known that Dan Snyder is flying around on his personal jet recruiting the QBs. He was on the sidelines of ND’s practice to watch Clausen a couple weeks ago.

It’s really pathetic and the #1 reason I’m handing in my season ticket this year.

by KevinE on Dec 4, 2009 11:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's a shame

No decent head coach will want to replace Zorn under conditions like that. Snyder sounds like a self-deluded megalomaniac who thinks he’s a master of everything. I hope he wises up and lets qualified people start calling the shots with players and on the field.

by satchmo26 on Dec 4, 2009 11:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why should he do that?

He’s making enormous profits. He doesn’t care what the fans think, of him or anything else. And if, by chance, he actually wins one day, it will be his accomplishment and nobody else’s.

Apparently, he doesn’t want to be just an owner…he wants to be one of football’s elite. In other words, he’s just one more rich doofus who’s fooling himself. He’s got a talent for making money, and thinks that makes him an all-emcompassing genius. In fact, it just makes him an idiot-savant.

Super Bowl 44: "If you play in this league and it's not your goal, there's something wrong with you." -- Marques Colston

by MtnExile on Dec 4, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Snyder takes a little too much heat for the problems of the skins

I know if isn’t the popular thing to say, but Joe Gibbs made some really dumb decisions with that team. Trading away virtually a whole draft to get Jason Campbell was Gibbs decision, and to me that ranks right up there with what Ditka did to get Ricky WIlliams (OK, not quite that bad, but still dumb). Gibbs pretty much banked his career on Jason Campbell and Carlos Rodgers turning into players that could carry the team, and neither came close.
After those mistakes I can understand how Snyder would want to take control away from a head coach, especially an inexperienced head coach like Zorn. That being said, he definitely chose the wrong guy in Cerrato.
I think of it this way, Redskins fans have an owner that is going to go out and spend as much allowable under the cap to field a team he thinks can win. That has to at least give you some hope for the future when teams like the Chiefs and Jaguars can’t afford to sign top free agents for economic reasons. The Hunt family has done a lot for the game, but right now the Chiefs could really use someone with endless resources like Snyder. I’m just saying, things could be worse in Landover.

"That Brees is a good quarterback." - Giants Free Safety Michael Johnson after a 48-27 Saints victory.

by VAsaintsfan on Dec 4, 2009 11:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Snyder doesn't takeenough heat.

When Gibbs came in he had to clean up Spurrier’s mess, which was a huge mess. No QB, no RB, no WRs. Gibbs left the Skins in a MUCH better state then we he took the reins.

Gibbs retired and Cerrato had the ingenious idea to hire a West Coast offense (with no coordinating experience) to run Joe Gibbs’ run-first offense, which is why they used all three 2nd round draft picks in 2008 for WRs. Whoever the next coach is will want to change things to their liking.

The lack of continuity is killing us.

by KevinE on Dec 4, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Clausen

If it came to pass, could you see Snyder trying to move up in the draft to get Tebow?

by KilnBill on Dec 4, 2009 11:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tebow = overrated

Maybe I’m allowing my longtime Crimson Tide enthusiasm to cloud my judgment, but I don’t see Tebow making a smooth transition into the NFL. I’d be surprised if he has an effective career at the pro level. ROLL TIDE this weekend!

Yeah, I guess I’m a Tide homer and haven’t yet forgiven Tebow for last season, so my opinion of him may be somewhat skewed. I do however believe that the national media’s infatuation with him is largely based on their love of his name. Just saying “Tim Tebow” seems to intoxicate some of them.

by satchmo26 on Dec 4, 2009 11:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ole Miss Baby

Satch,I’m with you on this. The only thing is if he wins the BCS title and the heisman he’ll probably go 1st.Anyway “ROLL TIDE ROLL”.

by KilnBill on Dec 4, 2009 12:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

MS STATE BULLDOGS

How bout them bulldogs did we screw up your bowl game or what hahaha

by simone219 on Dec 4, 2009 4:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

But I’ll take the Cotton anyway. What’s really funny is if you look at how many TIGER fans are on here.We both suck.HaHaHa

by KilnBill on Dec 4, 2009 4:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

YEA

I haven’t always been a bulldog fan but a boy thats been running around my house since he was young is now the starting linebacker for state so you know how that goes

50 Chris White watch he’ll be playing on sunday’s in 2 years

by simone219 on Dec 4, 2009 5:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Alright!!!!

That’s to cool.Good luck from a rebel/saints fan.

by KilnBill on Dec 5, 2009 5:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If Tebow doesn't win the Heisman...

…. they should remove the coach’s poll from the BCS entirely. Hell, for what he’s meant to that team and the numbers he’s put up, they should invent a whole new trophy named after him.

The Tim Tebow Award for breaking every meaningful NCAA record that exists. It will be 100 years before we see that award won.

Hey, I’m a Tigernut, but you gotta give that man his props. He’s the greatest greek athlete since Hercules.

The only thing worse than losing is not winning.

by Tigernut on Dec 4, 2009 5:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No need to move up...

Skins will have a top 7 pick and Tebow is slated for the 2nd round. I actually think he’ll be good in the NFL. That Roethlisberger type that is hard to tackle and has mobility in the pocket.

Snyder likes QBs that throw nice tight spirals (Jeff George, Ramsey, etc) so Clausen is my guess.

by KevinE on Dec 4, 2009 12:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

funny....

I tried to make small talk like this on the Skins version of “chat with the enemy” and you called me out for complaining and someone else called me a dick. I don’t get it.

by jack_casse on Dec 4, 2009 12:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I was joking in my comment...

Don’t take it literally. It’s tough being a Skins fan and humor is all we have left.

by KevinE on Dec 4, 2009 12:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

sorry...

I just read the replies on the other board. No offense taken.

by jack_casse on Dec 4, 2009 12:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Seems to be a common complaint of visitors to HH

Which is unfortunate because we’re a pretty classy and friendly community among ourselves. I saw your comment, and I know I’ve talked plenty of worse trash on Cowboys and Eagles blogs. We are just cranky cause our team sucks so bad.

by Boo. on Dec 4, 2009 5:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

have a question

I am driving down from NJ for this game. Are there any bad seats in the upper sections. My daughter bought me the tickets & we are sitting in section 410 row 1

by N_O_1saintfan on Dec 4, 2009 2:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

oops another 1

how is the parking down there. this is my first time visiting Fedex Field

by N_O_1saintfan on Dec 4, 2009 2:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Section 410

There are bad seats. People watching the Saints game in New Orleans are closer to the game then the fans in (the higher half of) the upper deck. If you’re row 1 that will be OK.

Parking is atrocious. I get there when the gates open at 9am, so I avoid that. Getting in is usually fine, but getting out takes FOREVER. My advice is do what I do and tailgate for an hour after the game.

by KevinE on Dec 4, 2009 2:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How much are tix?

I live in CT and wouldnt mind taking the trip if sum tix were cheap enough… wouldn’t even mind the nose bleed section

by Alex Saints on Dec 4, 2009 3:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

went to

www.wanamakertickets.com for them cost me 200.00 for 2 tickets and having them sent overnight

by N_O_1saintfan on Dec 4, 2009 4:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What do you think is the most likely scenario that would cause the Redskins to become a contender again?

Kind of a broad question, but considering you have a decent location for free agents, an owner who will spend money (even if it is spent poorly), and pretty good exposure based on location and being in the NFC East, something has to give. When do you think it will be, and what will be the keys to making it happen?

by Monkey Poop Battle on Dec 4, 2009 4:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, KEVIN-E

Just wondering…what do you think is the best part of your team’s offense? What’s best about your defense?

In those games you barely lost lately, how did it come to be that you lost? Was it the same thing each time, or something different?

"In the end, the bread was in the pudding." -- Bobby McCray

Shop as usual, and avoid panic buying.

by HansDat on Dec 4, 2009 7:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Post

Man I already posted most of this stuff…..In my week review of the Skins, look it up in Week 13 @ Redskins………..If it will ever open again!!

by Saintsfan4life on Dec 4, 2009 11:16 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Anyone

else who lives in the area going?

by N_O_1saintfan on Dec 4, 2009 4:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Do we have to worry about

DeAngelo Hall going after our coach after all he has those Falcon roots and theres no love lost between us and him

by simone219 on Dec 4, 2009 4:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

A total change of subject

Am I alone in thinking Herm Edwards is the most obnoxious a-hole on sports TV? ESPN was on in the background and I didn’t have time to put it on mute. This guy makes my skin crawl.

by Drew-Dat on Dec 4, 2009 5:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

you are NOT alone

that moron thought the Saints would/should sign Michael Vick when he was available this off-season. Since then I take the George Costanza approach to everything Herm says.

Wanna say something? Sign up! It's free!

by Saintsational on Dec 4, 2009 7:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs