Getting Defensive

E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!

This is what I heard over and over last night. Why, you may ask? Because I went toa Washington Redskins home game, of course.

Huh?

You gotta love Philly fans. I would say 35% percent of the football fans who braved the cold of FedEx Field on Sunday night were more adept at singing "Fly, Eagles, Fly" over "Hail to the Redskins." We bussed people down I-95 to swallow up any block of unclaimed seats for this one. And while the Eagles would eventually down the Redskins by a score of 17-14, two things became painfully clear to me. First, this is the sort of game that either tells me one of two things. The Eagles are that good of a team that they can have a bad game and still pull a W due to sheer talent OR the Redskins are that bad of a team that they can play their hearts out, make some big plays, and still come up short. Maybe it's a combination of both, I suppose. Maybe it's the fact that I sat next to two guys who led the upper deck in the Eagles chant for every good Birds' play. Maybe it's because it had an 8:30pm start time, and thus its scheduling has taken its toll on my clarity of thought. Maybe it's 'cause the tix were free, courtesy of someone in my grad program. I don't know what sort of analysis I am supposed to put on this game, but I do know one thing:

The Redskins' secondary - BIG BIG FRAUD.

Ok, well, not all of them, I'll spare the innocent. Shawn Springs has been a solid, proven corner in the league for years. It's just a shame that he spent most of his career with the obscurrific Seattle Seahawks:

Guy 1 - "Hey, what's the name of our all-pro defensive back, number 24?"
Guy 2 - "Starbucks?"
Guy 1 - "Is that your answer or a suggestion?"
Guy 2 - "Starbucks?"
Guy 1 - "Ah, yes on both counts."

And Ryan Clark is doing a solid job of filling in for an injured Matt Bowen. Ah, Ryan Clark. One of those guys in the NFL with a name so basic and normal, I really can't make fun of it, nor could Spud change it for humorous effect on Madden 2005. (Example - in our game - Jeremiah Trotter's new name - "Jibba Jabba Toast is Hot" Clark isn't a starter in this league, but since Dan Snyder likes to pay the salaries of guys now playing on other teams (See "Toast is Hot, J."), there's only so much cash to pass out. Besides, a lot of money is being siphoned out to the Fraudulent Duo:

Fred Smoot and Sean Taylor.

Fred Smoot think's he's inherited Darrell Green's kingdom, and he's going to rule it with Deion's scepter. What. A. Punk. He dances, he struts, he gets burned.

Frequently.

The FedEx Faithful are prompted by the jumbotron to cheer SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOT whenever Fred deserves it. Well, based on what I saw Sunday night, the jumbotron guy must have been knocking too much egg nog back too early in the Christmas season. Let's see. Brian Westbrrok caught a pass out in the flat, ran 15 yards before Smoot even approached him, put a move on him that left Freddy glued to the turf, and then when Clark came over to trip up the runner, Smoot got a hand on him. What's that burning? Defensive back in the oven? Ooh. Yum

Sean Taylor is a rookie who I thought was a lot better than he looked Sunday night. True, he's already got a DUI on his record, so he is going th eway of NFL thug, but being drafted #6 as a safety says something, so I give him the benefit of the doubt. UNLESS. Todd "Skinny Arms" Pinkston can get behind you on three deep routes, and you're left chasing all 130 pounds of him. If you are any good, and deserving of the strut that you present while waiting for the play to start, a guy who resembles those XMas ornaments you made as a kid (clothespin Santas with pipe cleaner arms) can not get behind you.

12-1.