Redskins Sign Shaun Alexander (Merge) *updated*

[dmvskinzfan08]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Rock is a solid return man. If anyone has a serious beef with him in that area, sorry you're just wrong.

The signing of Alexander does not mean that Rock is not a quality backup RB. It simply means they don't want to risk losing Rock to injury and cost us two positions in the process. With Betts out, the need is there for another RB, simple as that. Alexander is a former league MVP and Zorn is familiar and comfortable with him. Mason is an unproven guy sitting on a practice squad. I fail to see what's so impressive about a guy who tore it up in August against scrubs.

http://www.thewarpath.net/redskins-l...eleased-4.html

Rock is solid because he doesn't fumble. The opposing team sees him as a serious threat..Okay.

True Alexander is a former MVP. Its also true that no team wanted him....

Why when his offensive lineman left. he fell off? We have a better o-line than seattle. But if he was a former MVP and he was so awesome why did Seatlle let him go and no one sign him. Please answer that.

Dont get me wrong I hope he does well. There is nothing to lose in this deal and the main reason to be clear is like you said. Zorn is comfortable with him. Like most coaches are comfortable with people they know...

So would Mason have been more impressive if he didn't tear it up in preseason. What other time would he have been able to show what he has. Does he tell the coach when to put him in the game. Or does the coach make that decision. Its over and done with now. But we still have to build to the future and Mason would have been an inexpensive way to do that. Hopefully he doesn't go anywhere and we can sign him next year. With that being said. SA will be a good compliment to CP for the very short term.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Rock is a solid return man. If anyone has a serious beef with him in that area, sorry you're just wrong.

The signing of Alexander does not mean that Rock is not a quality backup RB. It simply means they don't want to risk losing Rock to injury and cost us two positions in the process. With Betts out, the need is there for another RB, simple as that. Alexander is a former league MVP and Zorn is familiar and comfortable with him. Mason is an unproven guy sitting on a practice squad. I fail to see what's so impressive about a guy who tore it up in August against scrubs.

Alexander hasn't been in pads or a pro football envirnment since last Jan. He hasn't been getting hit and I would bet he's not in football shape. Not exactly the guy I'd want coming into an important game and spelling our #1 back. And former MVP is the key word... since he got paid he's been a total bum and that's why no one signed him. The film doesn't lie. I'd much rather them sign Mason or someone else. At least Mason has some explosiveness and can break tackles.

[MTK]

He's going to need time to get in football shape, but I'd bet he's been keeping himself in pretty good shape waiting for that call. I don't see why he couldn't handle 5-10 carries a game in relief of Portis.

[hail_2_da_skins]

Shaun Alexander is a BUM! What part of BUM, do you guys not understand?

Is it ..

B for his Best years are behind him, or

U for his Unwillingness to run hard and fight for extra yardage, or

M for the Many teams that past him over because he is washed up.

[jamf]

Originally Posted by hail_2_da_skins

Shaun Alexander is a BUM! What part of BUM, do you guys not understand?

Is it ..

B for his Best years are behind him, or

U for his Unwillingness to run hard and fight for extra yardage, or

M for the Many teams that past him over because he is washed up.

I agree, He is soft mentally. he never ran hard and never will.

Rock deserves the carries, he's filled in in the past and is more than capable to fill in again.

A guy off the streets who doesn't know the system is not better then rock right now. Rock knows the system and is in shape.

[NWFanMan]

Living in the northwest....I'm forced to 'watch' SA play the last few years....I think he is a BIG PUSS. When we lost to them 3 years ago in the playoffs, we put a hit on him and he has never played well since then.

My vote:
ROCK & MASON (the lockerroom likes both of these guys).

SA will fumble.

[skinsnut]

Points:
I love Mason, but realize he has no game experience and he is small.
Portis' weakness is on the goal line
Alexanders strenght is on the goal line
Mason never ran 30 times a game. (in case Portis is injured)
Rock cant catch, Mason is questionable, Alexander sure can.
No one is afraid of Rock or Mason, Betts is an issue, so is Alexander
Alexander is bigger than Mason and has experience running out the clock with the game on the line.

I don't give a crap what any of you say about Alexander being soft.
To me, this is an MVP vs a rookie with no experience.
Alexander's issues are age and health related...this is the perfect situation for someone like him, 5-10 carries, goal line situation.
This guy smells the endzone and gets in.

I will hold my judgement until I see him the 2nd game on the field.
He can't be any worse than Rock or Mason.
And comparing him to Duckett is a joke.
This was a golden opportunity to sign a familiar MVP back.
There is no way they could have done this unless there was an injury, without undermining confidence of the RB...
I think they had this situation ready to go from the start of the season.
Mason was never their backup plan....never.

[MTK]

Funny that some keep saying Portis is not good at the goal line, but he does have 6 TDs on the year.

[Kope]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Funny that some keep saying Portis is not good at the goal line, but he does have 6 TDs on the year.

And several 3rd or 4th and 1s; CP almost never goes backwards after contact, usually gets a yard or three.

[SBXVII]

As far as Mason goes I'll give you guys the fact that he probably could not pass block. Especially when JC was holding the ball too long. Can we not teach a young RB to pass block? I guess not.

As far as his running goes Mason lead the Skins/league in rushing yrds during preseason. Some might argue it was only against 2nd stringers I would argue that it was not all the time. Mason put up solid numbers consistantly. I like Rock but the only good thing about Rock is he breaks one good maybe two good runs the whole game and it's a long one. So his yardage looks good due to that. Rock has a tendency to dance in the back field, and run East/West always looking to break the long one sometimes costing us a yard or two. He is the one step forward two steps back until he breaks a long one. Or...until he fumbles which he is prone to do which is why he has not been our #1 since Spurrier.

My second issue with people saying Mason didn't do well is neither did Rock. Hell Portis looked bad in the preseason with first stringers and even in the first game he looked bad. Some how the team got the blocking issues corrected in time for the New Orleans game. I don't think it was the RB fault for not getting yardage I think it was the O-lines fault for not opening holes for Mason. The problem has been fixed. The only arguement one would have is possibly his pass blocking. and I'm not ready to right him off due to that. JC is getting the ball out faster which he was not doing in preseason, Hell he was not doing it the first two or three games. Our blocking got better. and yes JC has learned since preseason and the first game to get rid of the ball.

Nothing against SA but I don't see the Pro bowler /mvp in him anymore. I hope I'm wrong but he has had too many injuries and why on earth would a team let a pro bowler /mvp go if he could heal up and be a facter for the team in the future? unless they felt he lost his drive or motivation or skill. Perhaps they felt his injuries were a liability. I could not see us throwing Portis away simply cause he had a couple of injuries and he was not the pro bowler/ mvp. I hope I'm wrong. I hope he sattles up and runs like hell and we all are eating crow saying Mason who?

[TurlockSkinsFan]

I think it's a great move. Even if the guy's tank is empty he can help Portis, Betts, and Rock understand and excel in this system. Plus when he gets in the game he should provide a reliable breather to Portis, because leading the league in rushing means nothing if you break down in the playoffs. One last point, I'm sure we all remember how injury prone Betts was his first couple years here. Good move by the front office.

[Ruhskins]

Jesus, people here sound like we just gave up a first round pick for SA. We signed him for the vet minimum! If he works out great, if not, oh well maybe they can get Mason. The reason why SA didn't get picked up by any team could be b/c he may have wanted a shot at #1 or #2 RB. We are picking him b/c our #2 RB is out, and our #3 guy is a valuable KR. I know people here have man-crushes on Mason, but come on don't make a big deal out of nothing.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by Buster
Another thing that has not been mentioned, Alexander knows Zorn's system already...or at least the passing part of it.

Originally Posted by SBXVII

I'm sorry I keep hearing this in some fashion and I must have missed something. When did SA learn Zorn's offense? He knows Seatles offense. Zorn didn't design it. Zorn didn't develope it. He was the QB coach. SA knows Holmgrens(sp) offense. Yes, Zorn's offense should look similar due to the fact that all WCO look similar but even Zorn said he was going to change up what he knew and learned in Seatle and make it a better passing offense.

See here:

Oct 15 RB Shaun Alexander, who signed with Washington on Tuesday, isn't exactly in unfamiliar territory. Alexander has the same position coach -- Stump Mitchell -- he had throughout his eight-year tenure in Seattle. Head coach Jim Zorn was a Seahawks assistant the past seven seasons. Alexander was a classmate of left tackle Chris Samuels and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin at Alabama, a teammate of cornerback Shawn Springs in Seattle and of running back Clinton Portis at the 2003 Pro Bowl. “This is an exciting time for me," said Alexander, who signed with Washington on Tuesday to replace the injured Ladell Betts as a backup to NFL rushing leader Clinton Portis. "I just like the atmosphere. They're winners already. To be a part of that is a good thing. It being coach Zorn and Stump being here, I already knew they worked well together. Clinton and I played together in the Pro Bowl. Chris Samuels and Cornelius (Griffin), we graduated from Alabama together. It just fits and I'm really excited." So are the Redskins. "He's a tremendous back," Zorn said. "He has uncanny acceleration. He can glance off of guys. He's a bigger load than a lot of people think. His cuts are immediate and they have the same kind of speed. You could see that out there today."

Shaun Alexander - Washington Redskins - News - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

[Monkeydad]

— After announcing that his wife and three daughters (ages 5, 3 and 1) will move with him to Washington, Alexander revealed, with a big smile, that “No. 4 is in the belly.”

— Alexander was known as “Little Shaun” when he was drafted by the Seahawks in 2000 because cornerback Shawn Springs was already on the team. Sure enough, Springs now plays for the Redskins. “After all these years, I’m still Little Shaun,” Alexander said.

Also, a funny story about SA and CP here:

Quite a pair: Portis & Alexander become teammates - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

[CA_Redskins]

Originally Posted by jamf

I agree, He is soft mentally. he never ran hard and never will.

Rock deserves the carries, he's filled in in the past and is more than capable to fill in again.

A guy off the streets who doesn't know the system is not better then rock right now. Rock knows the system and is in shape.

You Alexander haters have nothing to do but be idiots.

Yeah... Mason and Rock... the dynamic duo. Jesus! Get real.

So much for faith in JZ and his coaches ability to evaluate talent.