Analyzing Mike Shanahan at the Midway Point

[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.