Analyzing Mike Shanahan at the Midway Point

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SCRedskinsFan

While I agree completely that MS benching McNabb with 2 minutes to go and the game on the line is baffling, I can tell you that there are a lot of Broncos fans (perhaps a majority) who would love to trade coaches with us...

good point

[The Goat]

This is a great thread!!!

The posts are insightful and well written and the differences of opinion very interesting. At the very least Shanny has made it fun

[Ruhskins]

I gave Shanahan a "D" and here is my humble opinion as to why.

I know what we were getting when we got Shanahan. And unfortunately it wasn't someone that was going to completely rebuild and start from scratch, and sacrifice a losing season in order to be better in the future. I know what I just said is easier said than done (hell just about everything we say here is), but I still think we got someone that wants to try to win now, while trying to rebuild (which I think is a bit impossible).

Now, Shanahan's accomplishments with the team should not be overlooked. He and Bruce Allen have brought professionalism to the front office. I think they have been a welcome change in attitude and discipline to the team, that was lacking after two horrendous years with Zorn. However, I think this is the key to evaluate Shanahan. Zorn's short tenure was awful, as was Vinny's long tenure. And I feel that as fans it is easy to criticize any criticism of Shanahan, because compared to what we had he is leaps and bounds better.

I also like to mention that I think Shanahan's work with the Redskins alumni was genius. He drafted our Left Tackle of the future, and made some nice acquisitions that are working out well. The change to the 3-4 I see both as a positive and a negative. You can't ignore the fact that the team is taking the ball away more often and led the league recently in takeaways. The defense is more aggressive and physical than it ever was with Blache. And I think it has brought the best out of Landry, Orakpo, and Hall.

To wrap up, here is my criticism. I feel that the Haynesworth drama and the latest McNabb drama could have been handled differently. I really hope he didn't spend two draft picks to evaluate McNabb. If so, he should've just used those picks to improve the offense in other ways, and stick with Campbell. We probably would have a losing record right now, but for the sake of rebuilding I would be fine with this (probably not, but in the long run yes). I feel that the change to the 3-4 was unnecessary. While yes, it may be a trend, we didn't have the personnel for it and that wasn't the biggest issue with our team. I feel that any efforts into change our defense into a 3-4, should've gone into improving the offense. And improve it not for the sake of winning right away, but maybe set it up to win in the future.

So we move on to the second half of the season. I truly hope that at the end of the season I am eating crow and taking everything that I say back. But at this moment, I feel that we are middle of the road team, with a lot of question marks for the future.

[RedskinsfaninBaltimore]

Look, I don't expect this team to dramatically improve this season. But it would be nice if we looked were heading in the right direction. Currently I have mix feelings about Shanahan. I know we won half of our games, but we still tend to play down to our opponents. I expect Mike to make the necessary changes and be well prepared for the second half of the season.

[Defensewins]

Good post Ruhskins.

I gave Shanahan a B-. The reason why is in a very short time Shanahan and Allen brought back winning and respectable play to Redskins football field. Allen and Shanahan arrived and cleaned house. It sent the message to all the remaining players that the free ride is now over.
I am most glad about that. We finally have a FO that can bring in good players and Vinny is gone! I hated Vinny from the day we hired him.

Major issues:
1) I also have a major problem with the way Shanahan has handled the player issues. At first it I thought Shanahan has a very large ego. But I soon realized the reality is Shanahan is actually insecure and really cares about how he is perceived in the press and publicly. I have no respect for any leader that try's to make points with player issues in public and especially in the media. While I agree with what he was trying to do, it is his process that failed. Player issues should be handled privately and behind closed doors, with minimal comment in the press. The McNabb benching has been terribly mismanaged. The large amount leaks in the press also are very disturbing and are still happening today.

2) Defense/Hasslett/Shanahan - have severely misused the personnel on defense. We are currently ranked 31st out of 32 teams in the NFL. We have been at the bottom all year. I am ok with this is long as we are trying to make positive change and I feel like we are trying to. But the choice of players being played at certain positions on defense is incredibly wrong and frustrating. There has been change and movement in the starting lineup, but not once have they tried the most logical ones.

D-line : Carricker, Kemo and Hanynesworth
OLb's: Orakpo, McIntosh and Wilson
ILB's: Fletcher, Alexander, Blades and Riley
Not once even in the preseason have they tried this, Why?

Andre Cater should only be used in four man lines and only on real obvious pass situations. He is a major liability in the 3-4 and anytime against the run. His 11 sackes from last year were along time ago have no chance of repeating itself in this defense.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

To wrap up, here is my criticism. I feel that the Haynesworth drama and the latest McNabb drama could have been handled differently. I really hope he didn't spend two draft picks to evaluate McNabb. If so, he should've just used those picks to improve the offense in other ways, and stick with Campbell. We probably would have a losing record right now, but for the sake of rebuilding I would be fine with this (probably not, but in the long run yes). I feel that the change to the 3-4 was unnecessary. While yes, it may be a trend, we didn't have the personnel for it and that wasn't the biggest issue with our team. I feel that any efforts into change our defense into a 3-4, should've gone into improving the offense. And improve it not for the sake of winning right away, but maybe set it up to win in the future.

Let me throw Devin Thomas onto the list of player issues badly mishandled by Shanahan.

Right personnel move? Probably. Doesn't excuse handling it disgracefully.

[SirClintonPortis]

I think Bruce Allen may have had a bigger influence in the alumni stuff since, after all, he himself is the son of one.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Let me throw Devin Thomas onto the list of player issues badly misused by Shanahan.

Right personnel move? Probably. Doesn't excuse handling it disgracefully.

Yeah, after some thought, I share this sentiment. He pretty much made it appear that Thomas wasn't giving the effort, which imo is BS. Thomas was playing very hard, but, imo, he was just not the super detail-oriented player Shanahan wanted out of him.

[aceinthehouse]

Mike Shanahan's November record:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My source: Mike Shanahan Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks | Pro-Football-Reference.com
November Record: 42-21
Head Coach Overall Record: 150-102
Redskins 2010 Record: 4-4

November has started with Mike Shanahan/Redskins and it is very pleasing for me to tell you,it's pretty good.

#1)28% of all his 150 victories as a head coach have come in the Month of November.

#2)Coach Shanny is currently 48 games over .500 as a Head coach. If we were to take every November game away from his total Coaching stats from Wins & Losses...his overall record would be 108--81. That's only 27 games over .500.

#3)Shanny has a 67% chance of winning the game,when the game is played in November

#4)The Redskins have 3 games in the Month of November on their 2010 schedule. The Eagles,@Tennessee and Vikings. So according to Shanny's statistics and what he has done throughout his coaching career....he SHOULD win 2 of those 3 games. Which would give the Skins a 6-5 record to date,if this happens.

It would be very interesting to see Mcnabb November record as well...
GO REDSKINS!!!

[GhettoDogAllStars]

I would just like to reiterate that the 3-4 was born out of the *lack* of good d-linemen -- ends specifically. It takes two good DEs to make a 4-3 work, and 1 good NT to make the 3-4 work.

The reason we were better last year is because of Haynesworth. Take him off the line and our 4-3 is complete shit. So, why not run the 4-3 with Haynesworth? Because Shanahan is too stubborn to cave to the demands of a single player, regardless of how it might help the team win (in the short term). He's building a disciplined team of professionals that work hard and do their job, regardless of circumstances.

So, in my opinion, we're worse this year because Haynesworth doesn't see the field much (rightfully so, IMO) -- not because we switched to 3-4. That's a simplification I know, but so is just saying that we don't have the personnel for 3-4 and that's why it isn't working.

[backrow]

Best insight on MS anywhere!

Thomas Boswell - Mike Shanahan needs to play to Redskins' strengths

Mike! This ain't Denver!

[mooby]

Originally Posted by aceinthehouse

Mike Shanahan's November record:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My source: Mike Shanahan Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks | Pro-Football-Reference.com
November Record: 42-21
Head Coach Overall Record: 150-102
Redskins 2010 Record: 4-4

November has started with Mike Shanahan/Redskins and it is very pleasing for me to tell you,it's pretty good.

#1)28% of all his 150 victories as a head coach have come in the Month of November.

#2)Coach Shanny is currently 48 games over .500 as a Head coach. If we were to take every November game away from his total Coaching stats from Wins & Losses...his overall record would be 108--81. That's only 27 games over .500.

#3)Shanny has a 67% chance of winning the game,when the game is played in November

#4)The Redskins have 3 games in the Month of November on their 2010 schedule. The Eagles,@Tennessee and Vikings. So according to Shanny's statistics and what he has done throughout his coaching career....he SHOULD win 2 of those 3 games. Which would give the Skins a 6-5 record to date,if this happens.

It would be very interesting to see Mcnabb November record as well...
GO REDSKINS!!!

Not to be your bubble buster Ace but all of his personal statistics and everything came from his time with Denver, not us. History might give us a better logical prediction for the future, but anything's possible, good or bad.

I'd love to see what Mike Shanny's record after the bye was if this was the week before the Eagles, so you or someone else could bring it up as a sign of hope for the game, but in the end it wouldn't have meant anything, because everything that could go wrong went wrong in that game.

I guess my whole point is that while your optimism is admirable, in the end it doesn't mean much. I respect your points and everything but I really don't believe Mike Shanahan's November record really has anything to do with whether or not we will beat the Titans or Vikings. Hard work, good preparation, the right mix of luck and positive plays, and whether or not we score more points than the other team will be the ultimate determining factors in whether or not we beat the Titans and Vikings.

[Pocket$ $traight]

The only reason that I gave him a D is that he has built a mentally tough team that doesn't give up. Besides that, if you wrote down the laundry list of ridiculous decisions you would think Mr. Swinging Gate was running things.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by backrow

Best insight on MS anywhere!

Thomas Boswell - Mike Shanahan needs to play to Redskins' strengths

Mike! This ain't Denver!

I don't understand why we keep getting coaches in this team that constantly play players out of position.

Hayensworth as a 3-4 NT
Orakpo as a 4-3 LB
Landry as a FS
Carter as a 3-4 LB
Etc., etc., etc...

[Shadowbyte]

Like I said, Shannahan deserves a D, I just wanted to remind those who strangely thought he deserved an A or a B, for what? What has he improved? The worst mistake of the Snyder era.