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Pictures from Redskins vs Rams Game (Hunter Smith Jersey & Hottie)
2009-09-23 04:14:00
Well, up to game-time it was a perfect day. Sun was shining, beer pong balls were bouncing, music was blaring, and girls were dancing. It was a very festive scene pre-game at Fedex Field...almost as if we'd had already won the game. For the second straight week, however, the Redskins were losing at half-time, which put me into the mode of enjoying the sights and sounds of the Fedex Club Level.  I think we can crown "Miss Fedex" already at only week 2 (picture after the jump). So back to the tail-gate. After hitting the bushes for a "pit stop," I couldn't help but notice this gentleman manning the grill in a Hunter Smith jersey. Kevin: OK, I gotta hear the story on your Hunter Smith jersey! You're a special teams fanatic? Johnny Smith: Haha, no. My favorite player has always been Mark Moseley and my last name is Smith. Kevin: Ah....#3 and Smith...nice. I assume it's a custom? Johnny: Yea, my daughters had it specially made for me. Bravo. I hope by week 5 Johnny is also ...
More About: Pictures , Game , Hottie

The Redskins have re-signed running back Anthony Alridge to the team’s ro
2009-09-23 02:42:00
The Redskins have re-signed running back Anthony Alridge to the team’s roster, signing him off the Houston Texans’ practice squad, the team announced on Tuesday. Alridge takes the roster spot of Randy Thomas, who has been placed on the injured reserve list with a torn triceps. With the addition of Alridge, the Redskins are carrying five running backs on the roster. The team has nine offensive linemen, plus one on the practice squad. Alridge signed to Roster
More About: Running , Signed , Back

Playing Time: Redskins vs Rams
2009-09-22 17:30:00
Playing Time : Redskins vs Rams Fred Davis - 22 plays, 1 catch, -2 yards Todd Yoder - 0 plays (thru 2 games) Malcolm Kelly - 44 Devin Thomas - 17 Marko Mitchell - 2 All these young guys are on the field, they're just not making plays. Week 3 = Breakout?

Pour Some Sugar On Me - Who Are the Washington Redskins?
2009-09-22 09:00:00
More photos » by Alex Brandon - AP Coach Jim Zorn simply must do a better job. From my seat at FedEx, he had the worst day of anyone on the Redskins sideline this past Sunday. It seems a few (hundred thousand) people agree with me on this. Browse more photos » People have come to expect unbridled optimism from me, both in this space and in general. And while I am far from beaten down, the fact is that I am alarmed. Jim Zorn had a bad day. The failure to convert red zone opportunities into touchdowns against the Rams was bad all by itself. But the fact that this has become a trend straddling two seasons in this offense is alarming. I am there. Where I am NOT though, is in a pissed off place after a win. You only get 16 chances to win each year (unless you make the playoffs of course), and regardless of the opponent, kneeling out the clock for the win...
More About: Washington , Sugar , Washington Redskins

"Third down, I'm the quarterback, and you call the halfback throwing the ba
2009-09-21 21:15:00
"Third down, I'm the quarterback, and you call the halfback throwing the ball for me, I'm calling timeout or calling an audible," Jurgensen said. "I'm not letting the halfback throw it. That's what you pay me for." "Well then, I would have to take you out of the game," Zorn countered. As much as I didn't like the call, and as much as I love Sonny calling Zorn out on it, you gotta like Zorn standing up for himself. DC Sports Bog
More About: Call

Brian Mitchell get's it right on the Boo's - humbles Robert Henson's emotio
2009-09-21 16:36:00
Brian Mitchell get's it right on the Boo's - humbles Robert Henson's emotional rebuttal to the fans: "Listen to me, these fans pay a lot of money," Mitchell concluded. "These fans have been given a lot of promises. You've been told by Jim Zorn and whoever else about we're gonna be ready to play offensively. They weren't booing everybody. They were booing the offense today. Believe me. And when you're booing the offense, the offense needs to step up and do their job, and the person that runs the offense is Jim Zorn. He's the head coach and also he calls the play. He needs to get his offense up to par with the defense. The fans have a right to do that." http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsports bog/2009/09/robert_hensons_vs_redskins_fa n.html#more
More About: Brian

Recap: Redskins vs Rams: Redskins Need a New Play-Caller
2009-09-21 16:06:00
Another one of those games where a win feels like a loss. Redskins Nation seems to be split into two camps "a win is a win" and "this team can't blow out the Rams...time to call Shanahan." I'm in the middle.  I do think it is time to strip Zorn of his play-calling. Am I the only one that thinks Zorn would be a great flag-football play-caller? Third and 5 in the red zone and you have Clinton Portis throwing the ball? When that play came into Jason Campbell, I can't imagine what his first reaction must have been. Do you think Zorn has a play in his playbook where the TE does a post over the middle...stops...does five jumping jacks (to freeze the safeties)...then goes deep? I just don't get it. We drafted all these WRs to be our red zone guys, and we have Clinton Portis throwing the ball. At least TRY a fade. Pump fakes are a great tool to freeze a corner....didn't see any of those. I also question going for it on 4th up TWO points with two minutes to go in the game. How abou...
More About: Play , Recap

Perspective is Reality
2009-09-21 05:13:00
I sweated through this one without the benefit of actually watching it live. Thankfully, the magic of cellphones and old-school VCR recorders allowed me to enjoy the game in full, but perhaps with a little more perspective. Only getting play-by-play text messages from friends when the team was in the red-zone, I experienced only the most depressing aspects of the game while it was live. That sucked.  Then I got in my car to crawl home through beltway traffic on my way home so I could finally watch my recording of the game. I new the outcome, so I listened to the analysis and fans. That sucked too. When I finally got home I opened Hogs Haven and the ESPN game story, intent on not having any opinion of my own to formulate while watching the game. In the game story, I read this doozie from All-Pro Tight End, and All-Around Awesome Guy, Chris Cooley: "I understand that they want us to beat the Rams by 40," said Cooley, who led the Redskins with seven catches for 83 yards. "But we ...
More About: Reality , Perspective

Randy Thomas out for Season
2009-09-21 04:16:00
Randy Thomas out for Season Who didn't see this coming?
More About: Randy

Spagnuolo Blasts "Hail to the Redskins" During Rams' Practices
2009-09-20 02:54:00
Spagnuolo Blasts "Hail to the Redskins " During Rams' Practices This song will be in the Rams players nightmares Sunday night.

Seahawks' Journalist Details the Redskins Keys to Blowout the Rams
2009-09-19 00:48:00
We've talked to Rams' fans and heard all the comments from Redskins Park regarding the game this Sunday, but why not ask the team that just played them, the Seahawks? I shot an email over to the SB Nation Seahawks blog, Field Gulls, and they quickly returned my questions regarding the Rams D-line, the Rams WRs, what to expect from the Rams secondary, and the often-penalized, Richie Incognito. Hogs Haven: The Rams were unable to record any sacks despite having Leonard Little and Chris Long. How was the Seahawks O-line so successful in keeping Hasselbeck upright? Did they not blitz a lot? You'd think Spagnuolo would come up with something to get to the QB. The answer is in the question. Soon to be 35, Leonard Little, (who missed a portion of the game) and second year end, Chris Long, are not quality pass rushers, but they are the best pass rushers the Rams have. Steve Spagnuolo mixed it up, showing creative looks and a diverse pass rush, but Seattle's offe...
More About: Keys , Details , Journalist

Friday Night "Mights": Redskins vs Rams - My Bold Predictions
2009-09-18 20:30:00
More photos » by Phil Coale - AP This is the week Brian Orakpo makes it onto Sportscenter. Browse more photos » I got a bit harassed after last Friday 's edition of  the "Mights". First of all, I was 0-5. Secondly, some of my predictions were simply not bold enough by my own standards as well as those of some of our most ardent commenters (TheOverLordMarshl). As much as I hate being wrong, I hate being anything less than bold even more. Please note: the "Mights" pre-suppose victory and indicate those things which would either likely or hopefully occur if and when the Redskins are operating on all cylinders against their opponent on any given Sunday. 1) Jason Campbell: 300+ yards, 3+ touchdowns - This pick is officially NOT based on any indication or predicton of JC's skills. I firmly believe the entire coaching staff/organization is ...
More About: Night , Predictions

The Redskins are definitely loose this week with Malcolm Kelly rapping, mus
2009-09-18 20:07:00
The Redskins are definitely loose this week with Malcolm Kelly rapping, music blaring during stretches, and now Laron's monkey, Gucci. I have to say I like it. Fans and media are all over the Redskins right now, and I like seeing them loose, yet focused. We'll see Sunday if it pays off. Image via twitter.com/redskinsblog
More About: Week

"I think he plays well in the gun," Zorn said of Campbell. "He's a tall guy
2009-09-18 15:36:00
"I think he plays well in the gun," Zorn said of Campbell . "He's a tall guy. It's immediate pass protection right at the snap. On the other hand, you can't operate in the 'gun exclusively and run a West Coast offense. Even a modified West Coast offense...not if we want to be deceptive with draws. Not if we want to be deceptive on third downs to run the ball, either." Insider
More About: Tall , Plays

Haynesworth's difference on the field
2009-09-18 01:54:00
Haynesworth's difference on the field " Like any other defensive lineman, Haynesworth gets breaks. In the opener, Haynesworth played 45 of the Redskins defense's 61 snaps (73.7 percent)." Haynesworth played more than I thought he did. I remember Jeff Fisher saying that Haynesworth played about 60% of their defensive snaps so obviously he was out there more for us, even though it was only one game. This pretty much sums up Haynesworth's effectiveness for us perfectly. BREAKING IT DOWN Run Location-----Att-----Yds-----Avg Away From Haynesworth-----10-----44-----4.4 At Haynesworth-----3-----(-2)-----(-0.7) Outside On Haynesworth's side-----8-----16-----2.0 Haynesworth On Bench-----7-----48-----6.86 I admit that I was expecting more push up the middle from Haynesworth, or even a sack here or there. However, you have to admit that no one is going to successfully run on us with Haynesworth in the game.
More About: Field , Difference

It's starting already!
2009-09-17 22:02:00
It's starting already! Chris Samuels didn't participate in practice because of a "knee situation." It didn't take long for his knee to start acting up did it? Do you think we should hold him out the next few games to try and get his knee into proper shape since we're playing some pretty mediocre teams?

Hogs Haven - The Fastest Growing Washington Redskins Community in the World
2009-09-17 19:30:00
*This statement has been confirmed by multiple sources, Florio-style (which is to say I polled my wife, my 2-year old son, and the leftover spaghetti in the fridge.) We are proud to say that, in addition to going over 1 million visitors, Hogs Haven membership is cruising toward 1,500, and rising fast. With all the new folks coming through and checking us out, we thought it would be a good idea to set a season-opening tone to kind of spell out what it is we all do here and what we think it is important people know. 1) First and foremost, this is a fan-based community. We are in this because we love rooting for the Redskins and following our favorite team. Being a fan is about lovin', not hatin'. Criticism of the team and the moves it makes are welcome and necessary, but we try to refrain from hating on Skins here. You do that and you pretty much have identified yourself as a Cowgirls or Eagles fan. 2) The community theme is very important. Once you sign in as a member, we encourage...
More About: World , Washington , Community , The World , Growing

Interview with a Rams' Fan About Redskins Game this Sunday
2009-09-17 16:48:00
We've beaten the Week 1 loss to death, so we're ready to move on to the Rams game. A good friend of mine, and former roommate, John Dickerman, is a Missourian native and knows everything St. Louis there is when it comes to sports. Since so many NFC East fans could give a rat's ass know so little about the Rams, I thought it'd be worth picking his brain for a quick update on the state of the 2-14 squad from last season.  Ken and I will be doing an interview with the SB Nation Rams blog in the next day, so we'll be able to get a good feel of what to expect. I appeared on their blog last night, and one thing is very clear: The Rams current WRs are about as valuable as Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly were to the Redskins last year, specificaly with the timing and accuracy of their routes. Hogs Haven: What is the current state of the Rams? Are they re-building or do they think they're a legit contender? I noticed they brought in some high-priced free agents on the OLine (Jaco...
More About: Interview , Sunday , Game

5 Questions with a Redskinette - Melanie
2009-09-17 05:53:00
So moving on from Week 1, I'll try and keep pace with my weekly interview with a Redskinette. I actually met Melanie [profile] awhile back at the Redskinette calendar release party, and she was more than gracious to answer my questions: Hogs Haven: So tell me a little about yourself...years on the squad, et cetera? Melanie: This is my second year on the squad. I'm originally from California but went to Virgina Tech. The thought that popped in my mind which I use with anyone I meet from VA Tech, "VA Tech, OK..I'll speak slower then." Hogs Haven: I'm going to name a couple Redskins players...you want to try and guess what position they play? Melanie: Oh man....OK! (laughing/worried) Hogs Haven: Devin Thomas. Melanie: Ah...I'm not sure! Hogs Haven: It's OK...that's not a gimme. Clinton Portis. Melanie: Umm...Wide Receiver? Hogs Haven: Ooo. Close. He is on offense...but running back. What's been the best moment of being a Redskinette...and you can't say the first time ...
More About: Questions

Chris Cooley Responds to Bitter Redskins' Fan...in Awesome Fashion
2009-09-17 03:17:00
Chris Cooley Responds to Bitter Redskins ' Fan...in Awesome  Fashion This week we've all been emotional about our beloved Redskins, well, this fan let it all out...in a direct email to #47. I think we can say the Redskins do care, and thank God we don't have people like this on Hogs Haven (though there are some close ones!). HTTR.
More About: Chris

Coach Zorn introduces the team to dodgeball
2008-06-05 02:47:00
Per Redskins Insider: Zorn, who has a reputation for "thinking outside the box" (hate that term but I'm kinda rushing here so I'm taking a lazy cop-out), brought out some huge silver exercise balls and started up a game of dodgeball. For real. One quarterback held the ball in the pocket and the other quarterbacks chucked the balls at him from various directions. The QB holding the football - not the dodgeball - would have to slither and slide away from the big silver balls, simulating having to elude an oncoming defensive player ... without the obvious risk of injury. "It 's (a drill) I've been doing to get the quarterbacks to be able to move without a real live guy (chasing them)," Zorn said. "It's been an effective drill to help improve the quarterback's feet and his lateral movement, and what's great with those big balls we use, if we were using smaller balls all they'd have to do is duck; here you really have to move your feet to get out of the way." Reader(s) are remi...
More About: The Team , Team , Coach

OTA etc.
2008-06-04 03:15:00
There is much going on. For a quick primer, read CptChaosSidekick's fanpost on recen shenanigans. I quote him because he speaks for me: I'm a beliver that everyone on the team should attend these practices as to build team unity and esprit de corps. Esprit de corps, for those of you who, like me, have not served in the military, in simple terms refers to morale. The concept is far from simple for those who have served, though (like CptChaosSidekick and we appreciate you for it, brother). I know this because I was raised by a Marine veteran, and had a house filled not with Narnia books but instead Fields of Fire by James Webb, A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo, On War by Clausewitz, The Short Timers by David Erban (you know it as Full Metal Jacket), With The Old Breed by Eugene Sledge, etc. I say this for a reason; there will be a test shortly. I also happen to be a full on esprit de corps cheerleader and true believer that it's a meaningful concept that enables individually norma...

Well John Madden is wrong.
2008-06-03 02:57:00
I'm confused as to why there exists a split of opinion among NFL fans on John Madden ; I love him. I don't know how one can love football without also loving the man, the legend, the Football icon that is Madden. Even if I didn't think highly of his sometimes bizarre broadcasts (but I do think highly of his broadcasts, especially the bizarre ones) I'd love him if only for his part in the Madden video game franchise. I feel like he raised me. Ready, break. My favorite Madden moment came years ago watching a game probably played in Arizona, though it was too long ago and too inconsequential for me to remember now. I think it was in Arizona because there were cows in it. And cactus. Maybe it was Texas. That's not important. What's important is that I don't recall a damn thing about the game besides the fact that John Madden was really on his game that day, talking absolute nonsense about anything and everything. I was watching the game with a close friend of mine, and we were bot...
More About: Wrong

Redskins Sign Safety Stuart Schweigert
2008-06-02 17:49:00
[Note by Skin Patrol, 06/02/08 8:20 PM EDT ] Promoted, edited slightly. Thanks again to CptChaosSidekick for helping me in the site in my absence (just started the new job today) and keep the FanPosts coming. Also, make sure you read DC Sports Bog to get the good-for-print word on our newest safety. Per the Official Site. Schweigert, 6-2 and 210 pounds, has played four NFL seasons with the Oakland Raiders. He had lost his starting job late last season. He was released by the club on May 21. Schweigert has played in 63 games, with 42 starts, and compiled 315 tackles, four interceptions and 18 passes defended in his career To make room for Schweigert, the Redskins released linebacker Rian Wallace. Since Schweigert's release by Oakland on May 21st, I was thinking the Skins could make a run at him. From what I can tell he was released because of injury (and because Oakland might be cash strapped, though I'm not %100 on that). This guy is a hitter and he can cover to...
More About: Safety , Stuart , Sign

Redskins sign a safety and Coach Zorn sets training camp date
2008-05-31 18:32:00
First, the new signing per the Official Site: The Redskins have signed second-year safety Justin Hamilton, the team announced on Friday... Hamilton, 6-3 and 222 pounds, played the 2006 season with the Cleveland Browns, totaling 15 tackles (13 solo) during his rookie season. Hamilton is a full year removed from football, having been cut for an "alleged injury." More: Hamilton was drafted by the Browns in the seventh round of the 2006 draft, and it was somewhat of a surprise when we waived him. The initial reason for waiving him was because he had an alleged injury, thus the reason he was paid an injury settlement. But, that still begs the question I've been wondering since last season: why not just put Hamilton on the injured reserve list (although his injury didn't seem to merit such a long absence)? That's a very good question, even moreso because, as DawgsByNature points out, Hamilton was playing pretty decent backup safety before he was let go. He had fifteen tackles his r...
More About: Safety , Training , Sets , Coach , Camp

Some guy is on a serious podcast and he talks Redskins
2008-05-31 01:51:00
Some nasal guy, might be me, talked Redskins football with the guys over at... FootballGuys. That's being added to the sidebar, and here are some testimonials to convince you that these people are legit (and thus I'm legit by association! See what I did there?) There are all kinds of fantasy football updates that pop into my computer or onto my blackberry. Most I simply delete. But not the Footballguys newsletter. When it shows up, I sit down and read. And learn Adam Schefter Analyst, NFL Network See? It's no joke. I'm told The Audible (a FootballGuys podcast) is the most popular football show on iTunes. And if you go here, you'll see: May 30 20082008 Volume#123a - Interview with Will Allensworth from Hogs Haven. (#472)In This Episode: Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom interview Will Allensworth from Hogshaven.com Topics Include: how is Erasmus James going to fit in, will this be the true breakout year for Jason Campbell, can Colt Brennan be the QB of the future, a discussion a...
More About: Podcast

Jason Campbell injury update
2008-05-30 22:59:00
Matt Mosley at his Hashmarks blog had an NFC sized injury update today with the good (or bad) word on Jason Campbell . As reader(s) are well aware, Campbell injured his hammy earlier this offseason. It went something like this: Next step: Zorn has Campbell working hard to bend his knees and stay low while dropping back. It's still a bit awkward for Campbell and might have led to the hamstring pull. Campbell will be the unquestioned starter, but he might not have much margin for error following Todd Collins' impressive performance last season. Interesting note on that last bit. I was impressed with the manner Collins came in and owned the offense last season though attributed much of that success to his familiarity with a system. I am not trying to take anything away from Todd, but I wonder if lightning will strike twice under a new coaching staff and playbook that he hasn't worn as a second skin for years. I also look at our earlier schedule -- especially the fact that three of ...
More About: Injury , Update , Jason Campbell

Phillip Daniels is strong
2008-05-30 16:45:00
Phillip Daniels is strong. Is that what passes for a lead/lede (the debate rages on!) around here? I'm just following the big dogs, as USA Today's Inside Slant demonstrates: Phillip Daniels is 35. That is hot off the presses, nine-minute old news, I'm told. But, unfortunately, very true. Phillip Daniels is old. USA Today might as well have substituted his actual age for a descriptive adjective like elderly, ancient, or antediluvian if they were feeling especially saucy. On the let's-keep-smiles front, battle-tested, seasoned, or familiar would have worked. Or just old. The reality in the NFL is that actually quite young human beings can be approaching their professional twilight by their mid-30s, especially when that person's job description says something like: Must outrun or out power a large, probably younger superhuman. At 35 I'm not certain how much success Daniels will have outrunning his younger opponents, but on this latter challenge there is some reason for optimism...
More About: Strong

If I were a gambling man... Oh yea, I am. Vegas gives Redskins 7.5 wins
2008-05-29 20:26:00
Hat tipped kind of towards Extreme Skins, from the old news department it somehow escaped my finely tuned degenerative gambling radar that the Vegas lines came out on the 32 NFL team's over/under record. I don't remember many of us picking much fewer wins than 7 on the season, though I recall a few of you saying we had 8-10 in the tank. If you still feel that way, I encourage you to call your bookie. Here are the opening lines for all the teams: The above linked website (that looks like a potential daily visit for me) has its own worthwhile analysis. Reader(s) should note that the NFC East has the 2nd highest predicted wins average. Does this worry me? No, and I say that giving Vegas more credit than most. I think they are pretty spot on, or as spot on as any human can be when discussing things of such variance as the amount of wins an NFL team will have on any given year. I actually really love the 7.5 given the circumstances (new coaching staff) since what it means is that Ve...
More About: Gambling , Redskins , Wins

Heads up to radio listeners in the Charlottesville, VA area
2008-05-29 19:53:00
Walking Redskins Encyclopedia and Redskins Historian Mike Richman is a friend of this space and has been extremely helpful for many moons now in providing Hogs Haven with great content. There's more to come on that front, as we'll probably do a Q&A with him at some point this summer. In the meantime, I'd like to return the favor his way for all he's done here by plugging a radio show he does. Take it away, Mike: I'm the co-host of a weekly show called the "DC Sports Blitz" on ESPN 840 in Charlottesville, VA.  We cover the Redskins, Nationals, Wizards and Capitals, and we encourage listeners to e-mail questions and comments that we address in our mailbag segment. The mailbag e-mail is theblitz@espn840.com. We've received a lot of e-mails thus far on the Redskins. The show airs from 6-7 on Tuesdays, part of a period on ESPN 840 called the Power Hour. The link for the station's home page where people can listen to...
More About: Radio , Area , Heads