Ace of Spades HQ

December 22, 2009

The Washington Redskins' Big Stupid Trick Play
— Ace

Above-the-Post Comment: Lorien1973 observes:

Typical DC. It's retarded. No one understands it. It fails. But they keep doing it.

Thanks for rescuing this post and giving me some political cover!

Another one: Dr. Spank--

What impressed me most on that play was the pass protection. Solid B+

...

Conception: Weak. The sort of thing that works in high school.

Execution: Weaker.

The one thing I would say is that sometimes coaches get the idea, correctly, that they are getting the crap beaten out of them, that conventional plays will not work, and that something big and risky needs to be done to change the momentum, or else defeat is virtually guaranteed.

And I think a lot of the times coaches suppress this though and go with the safer move -- the field goal, the punt, etc. -- even though it's better to take a chance and do something that will get you, possibly, closer to a win. Instead, they do the thing that will keep the score "respectable." "Respectable" for a loss. Still a loss, but hey, no one will make fun of them too much on the next morning. The talk show hosts won't whine too much that they did the standard, safe, comfortable-with-defeat-as-long-as-it's-respectably-close play.

I mean, look at the stats for going for it on fourth down. Bill Bellichick doesn't go for it too much. Other coaches go for it too little. Because even though the safe play is he wrong play, it's the play that doesn't get your ass chewed out on talk radio.

That said: What a stupid play! See JWF for the full how-stupid argument.

I'd just argue the game really was getting out of hand, and was probably lost, and Zorn was right that he needed to do something to change the trajectory, or else he was on a glide path to a guaranteed loss. At least this gave him some sort of chance.

Posted by: Ace at 11:24 AM | Comments (69)
Post contains 334 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Funny highlight in an otherwise miserable season for the Giants

Posted by: Mike H at December 22, 2009 11:26 AM (cvvNY)

2 Please god no. Please no. Erase this post please. This was the most idiotic piece of shit I have ever seen. This entire game was such an embarrassment the announcers ran outa adjectives to say embarrassment.

Posted by: Mr. Pink at December 22, 2009 11:28 AM (V/EYZ)

3 Typical DC. It's retarded. No one understands it. It fails. But they keep doing it.

Posted by: lorien1973 at December 22, 2009 11:29 AM (IhQuA)

4 What impressed me most on that play was the pass protection. Solid B+

Posted by: Dr. Spank at December 22, 2009 11:30 AM (muUqs)

5 Never fear the Cowboys will slaughter them!

Posted by: 'Nam Grunt at December 22, 2009 11:30 AM (i7/fU)

6 You want embarrassing? The Chicago Bulls were up by 35 halfway through the third quarter, got outscored 58-19 and lost.

Pathetic.

Posted by: CUS at December 22, 2009 11:30 AM (wOGfT)

7 That's the last time I listen to a play called in by the White House.

Posted by: nickless at December 22, 2009 11:31 AM (MMC8r)

8 That's the last time I listen to a play called in by the White House.

George Allen did it all the time.

Posted by: CUS at December 22, 2009 11:31 AM (wOGfT)

9

ace, I realize you're a Giants fan and all but have some respect for some of us here who are *cough* Redskins *cough* fans *cough*.

Please god take it down.

Posted by: Blazer at December 22, 2009 11:33 AM (+FzLa)

10 Miami has the Wildcat, Washington has the Dumb-Ass.

Posted by: Dr. Spank at December 22, 2009 11:33 AM (muUqs)

11 The Redskins actually ran the same play for a touchdown against Denver earlier this year.

The problem was setting up for the play, then calling time-out and then setting up for the play again, which pretty much gave the Giants full warning what was coming and took away whatever element of surprise the play might have had (assuming the Giants never borthered to scout the video of the Redskins-Broncos game and didn't know the modified 'swinging gate' formation was in Washington's playbook).

Posted by: John at December 22, 2009 11:34 AM (vxS4M)

12 What's with all this pansy ass football around here? Why can't you ever discuss a better sport, like naked men's mud wrestling?

Posted by: Charles Johnson at December 22, 2009 11:34 AM (xVKXy)

13 Take it off.

Posted by: White man from town at December 22, 2009 11:34 AM (V/EYZ)

14 Who lines up for the same trick play after the defense calls a time out in response to it? 90% of that play is surprise. I'm afraid, like Dr. Spank, I'm going to have to give it a B+.

Posted by: Mr. Naron at December 22, 2009 11:35 AM (JMjub)

15 Posted by: CUS at December 22, 2009 03:31 PM (wOGfT)

I'm doing it right now.

Posted by: Chuckles the Clown at December 22, 2009 11:35 AM (xVKXy)

16 It's Tuesday, so it's time for another Redskins coach. Maybe they could replace the coach AND the owner this time. (The rumor I heard was Mike Shanahan. Maybe this play was Jim Zorn's way of saying eff you and the horse you rode in on to Snyder.)

Posted by: joncelli at December 22, 2009 11:35 AM (RD7QR)

17 Well at least the Redskins played to win, McDonnell just took the snap, put the ball down and let Reid pickup the fumble for a touchdown.

We were already down by 20, so what does it matter, right?

Posted by: Done With California Moonbats at December 22, 2009 11:35 AM (HAdov)

18 The Senate Democrats just passed a bill stating that the Redskins scored on that play.

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at December 22, 2009 11:36 AM (Vu6sl)

19 See what happens when a bunch of men move far left.

Posted by: somegoodman at December 22, 2009 11:39 AM (w3ciC)

20 The Senate Democrats just passed a bill stating that the Redskins scored on that play.

It will have to be reconciled with the House bill which say all future Redskin lays will score.

Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2009 11:39 AM (QrA9E)

21 If any of youse are old, you'll remember the 77 era expansion-team Seattle Seahawks did dumb shit like this all the time. Which is why they were my FAVORITEST TEAM as a kid. The coach actually said something that would get him fired today: He said, approximately, "If you can't be good, BE ENTERTAINING." What a creed! It makes a lot of sense, I guess, in a way. And man those Zorn-led seahawks were entertaining. And sometimes this shit actually worked.

Posted by: ace at December 22, 2009 11:40 AM (jlvw3)

22 I swear Dan Snyder musta got drunk and ran over some old gypsy whose widow touched his face and said, "loser".

Posted by: Mr. Pink at December 22, 2009 11:40 AM (V/EYZ)

23 if it was any other time of the game, it would be okay, still stupid but okay. But they were in position for an easy field goal, points to put up on the scoreboard and something to try and build upon during half time. And yet they went for that. As for their protection, it's been that way all season. They've wasted a decent QB prospect in Jason Campbell as he has now become David Carr. And you know Snyder will draft a QB and he will be another bust unless they completely overhaul the o-line. Frankly, Snyder should get the fuck out of the way in GM duties as he's no Jerry Jones (who for the most part is mediocre anyways) but rather on the level of Al Davis.

And I HATE the Redskins as much as a I HATE the Cowboys but shit is just embarrassing

Posted by: fartbubble at December 22, 2009 11:40 AM (cBeTr)

24 The Senate just passed a bill stating that instant reply will now be control by a panel of experts appointed by BO. ALL plays will be reviewed for fairness. Criteria for judging will be the number of oppressed peoples on each side. The larger number of oppressed peoples will ALWAYS be ruled in favor of.

Posted by: Mike H at December 22, 2009 11:40 AM (7KUsl)

25
It will have to be reconciled with the House bill which say all future Redskin lays will score.

Posted by: Vic at December 22, 2009 03:39 PM (QrA9E)

I thought Rock The Vote said if we opposed healthcare nobody got lays or scores ?

Posted by: Blazer at December 22, 2009 11:41 AM (+FzLa)

>> If any of youse are old, you'll remember the 77 era expansion-team Seattle Seahawks did dumb shit like this all the time. Which is why they were my FAVORITEST TEAM as a kid

I remember.

(you bastard)

Posted by: Dave in Texas at December 22, 2009 11:41 AM (WvXvd)

27 If the QB had simply thrown to the motion receiver, a solid screen was set-up, and the Skins would have gotten a first down. Not to mention that the QB took forever to call the snap. This was more an execution problem, than play call problem.

Posted by: James Zorn at December 22, 2009 11:42 AM (+deq6)

28 Well at least the Redskins played to win, McDonnell just took the snap, put the ball down and let Reid pickup the fumble for a touchdown.

Posted by: Done With California Moonbats at December 22, 2009 03:35 PM (HAdov)

yeah but the fumblerooski actually works

Posted by: fartbubble at December 22, 2009 11:43 AM (cBeTr)

29 >>>I'd just argue the game really was getting out of hand, and was probably lost, and Zorn was right that he needed to do something to change the trajectory, or else he was on a glide path to a guaranteed loss. At least this gave him some sort of chance.

Once the Giants called time out, the element of surprise was lost. At that point, Washington should have kicked the field goal or called the Giants racist and rescheduled the game for 1am.

Posted by: Dr. Spank at December 22, 2009 11:43 AM (muUqs)

30 (cough) Brian Bosworth (cough)

Posted by: CUS at December 22, 2009 11:44 AM (wOGfT)

31 Once the Giants called time out, the element of surprise was lost. At that point, Washington should have kicked the field goal or called the Giants racist and rescheduled the game for 1am." I see your point there. We pretty much have to bribe Albert Haynsworth with 100 million dollars to play here too.

Posted by: Mr. Pink at December 22, 2009 11:45 AM (V/EYZ)

32 Jim Zorn just e-mailed Ace to say: "Hey, that's Papa Zorn's special 'You Gonna Talk About Firing Me All Season? Well, Here's Something They'll Associate with the Redskins for Long After I'm Gone. Oh, and Suck My Dick' play."

Posted by: Sharkman at December 22, 2009 11:47 AM (Zj8fM)

33 Smart Diplomacy will only get you half way there; Smart Offense takes you home.

Posted by: Coach Obama at December 22, 2009 11:48 AM (GwPRU)

34 I love it ! Put it on loop I get sick and tired of living here in dc and these elite Redskin fans who give me shit 3/4 of the season because I was born and raised in Philadelphia so I am a Eagles Fan.
The redskins should exorcise their owner. He screwed that team. They should be called the PG Pigeons. Since their stadium is not in dc.

Posted by: paranoid polly (Eagles are in the playoffs) at December 22, 2009 11:50 AM (r7Vc3)

35 That play is called the "swinging gate." The concept is supposed to be that the QB (in this case the holder) throws a quick screen to a receiver lined up behind the wedge of shifted blockers.

The Redskins, however, ran it so that the receiver went down field instead. But since the linemen can't go down field until the ball is thrown, the "gate" couldn't be formed and the play failed spectacularly. Simply terrible execution.

Posted by: Bust of Vince Lombardi at December 22, 2009 11:51 AM (8/DeP)

36 I feel for fellow alumnus Jim Zorn. Please remember that Snyder took his play calling away from him several weeks ago. Add to that the GM/VP resigning last week when he got powers taken away from him and that the talks with Mike Shanahan is the worst kept secret in the NFL.

Jim's taking it like a man. Weaker ones would have quit after being stabbed in the back and the front.

Can we please have former Lions GM and now re-commentator Matt Millen to start calling him "Dee" Snyder again?

Posted by: David in San Diego at December 22, 2009 11:52 AM (GF+6V)

37 Trick plays are like bar pick up lines. 1 no one knows when they will work or on who 2 when they work its fantastic 3 when they don't -its a kick in the goolies;a slap in the face;and abject humiliation. Zorn just sent his buddies in to pick up a flaming bitch he knew was angry and stood by laughing while he bros got slammed. I hate guys like that.

Posted by: joe at December 22, 2009 11:53 AM (YwBI6)

38 What I love is that it wasn't a "trick" at all. Everyone on the giants just stayed on their assignment, so what you end up with is Hunter Smith as your qb with no pass protection. Just like when my beloved iggles put in #7 they call it the wildcat. No, all you did was replace a great QB with an average QB for one play.

Posted by: Ben B. at December 22, 2009 11:54 AM (dG72n)

39 I understand the Redskins call that play the "Reid shift left"

Posted by: bulwark at December 22, 2009 11:55 AM (jvrmc)

40 34 I love it ! Put it on loop I get sick and tired of living here in dc and these elite Redskin fans who give me shit 3/4 of the season because I was born and raised in Philadelphia so I am a Eagles Fan. " Move back please. We have enough bandwagon fans from the area that invent fantastical journeys of fandom they went thru to become fans of teams 1000 miles away in cities they don't live in.

Posted by: Mr. Pink at December 22, 2009 11:57 AM (V/EYZ)

41 Never go full-retard.

Posted by: Kirk Lazarus, Actor, NFL Color Man at December 22, 2009 12:01 PM (jlvw3)

42 Ace once again proves my theory that all of the sports worth watching is on You-tube.

Posted by: John Galt at December 22, 2009 12:02 PM (F/4zf)

43 Move back please. We have enough bandwagon fans from the area that invent fantastical journeys of fandom they went thru to become fans of teams 1000 miles away in cities they don't live in.

Not my choice to have to live down here. Born and raised in Philly - will be back there for xmas - Lots of family too. Unlike this transient/gypsy area here in dc. As for that play :

Who designed that?!

Swing all the players out and then have no one block.

I'm speechless...

Brilliance...sheer Brilliance.

Posted by: paranoid polly (Eagles are in the playoffs) at December 22, 2009 12:04 PM (r7Vc3)

I think the Redskins are avatars for an alien mining company raping Earth of stupidium, so the aliens obviously sent their 'people' to the greatest source of stupidium they could find.

Posted by: andycanuck at December 22, 2009 12:08 PM (2qU2d)

45 execution

I'm in favor of it.

Posted by: John McKay at December 22, 2009 12:14 PM (6Nv5B)

46 I would have gone for it.

Posted by: Bill Belichuk at December 22, 2009 12:17 PM (rp/SG)

And I HATE the Redskins as much as a I HATE the Cowboys -

Me too. In the mid sixties, late grade school, when I first started paying attention to and understanding pro sports, I was a Cardinal fan. Football and baseball. A person needs no other reason to hate 'em both.

Posted by: teej at December 22, 2009 12:19 PM (c459z)

Yes, my name's teej - - - and I'm,,,, old.

Posted by: teej at December 22, 2009 12:26 PM (c459z)

Ugh, what an ugly play in an ugly game...and why the hell did Zorn put Campbell back in? Collins was doing a better job...should have left Campbell on the sideline holding the clipboard.

Paranoid Polly: we shall end the Giants' season AND the Cowboys' season very soon...GO BIRDS.

Fuck DC...I was there in November and watched a woman get nailed by a car as she was crossing the street two blocks from Union Station...the best thing I saw was a postal worker trying to keep the assholes in their cars from running her over as he tried to help her. Shit, the woman was in the fucking street and the best anyone beside the postal worker could do was honk their horns...it's sad that the selfishness and disrespect shown for other Americans in general percolates downward from our elitist and aloof government officials to the unwashed masses that just fucking need to get somewhere, pronto.

Posted by: Ragnarokpaperscissors at December 22, 2009 12:41 PM (l8HqE)

Hell if Joe Scarborough can take messages on air from the White House, why can't the Redskins Coach?

Rahm, stick to fucking ballet.

Posted by: Kemp at December 22, 2009 12:45 PM (2+9Yx)

51 The Skins suck. And I am a local born and raised fan. They still suck.

Posted by: SGT Dan at December 22, 2009 01:18 PM (BttwM)

52 #49 Yep. Eagles Rule

Posted by: paranoid polly (Eagles are in the playoffs) at December 22, 2009 01:22 PM (r7Vc3)

53 >>>I'm in favor of it. I had a gf I had to teach football-watching too, and I had to give her stories and quotes to get her into it. This was one of the ones she loved. This one, and a color man's observation about Jerome Bettis. Bettis needed 1 yard for a first down. He got three. Leading to this: "Jerome Bettis -- when you need one yard, he gets you three yards. And when you need five yards, he gets you three yards." She loved that.

Posted by: ace at December 22, 2009 01:28 PM (jlvw3)

54 If anyone's trying to train a chick to watch football, you have to diagram the basic set up and positions, and their basic responsibilities, and give them lots of quotes and human-interest stuff. Then they get into it. From my experience, anyway.

Posted by: ace at December 22, 2009 01:29 PM (jlvw3)

55 I meant And this other one. The third quote she liked was right after Terry Bradshaw had talked on Bryant Gumbel's inside sports about his lifelong battle with depression, and how he would sit crying for hours, and how during one superbowl telecast, he wouldn't come out of his trailer because he was in there crying. I think he came out like one minute before broadcast. And he talked about all this, and how he had finally sought help and got cured, somewhat. And the next day on Fox's NFL pre-game show, he mentioned that he'd picked the Eagles (or someone) to win a game last week, but they'd lost. And Howie Long said, playing with his papers in front of him, "Did you cry about it, Terry?" And the whole studio (including Bradshaw) busted a gut. And Long followed up with (I believe), "Maybe you need a glass of water because you're dehydrated from crying so much." Hysterical.

Posted by: ace at December 22, 2009 01:32 PM (jlvw3)

56 you have to diagram the basic set up and positions, and their basic responsibilities, and give them lots of quotes and human-interest stuff.

That's my approach to sex, too.

Am I overdoing it ?

Posted by: Carl in N.H. at December 22, 2009 01:55 PM (rp/SG)

57 If any of youse are old, you'll remember the 77 era expansion-team Seattle Seahawks did dumb shit like this all the time. Which is why they were my FAVORITEST TEAM as a kid.

I'm glad somebody else remembers the old Seahawks. They were fun to watch.

Posted by: OregonMuse at December 22, 2009 01:56 PM (89RxY)

58 Maybe some girls like the human interest crappola - I was brought up in Philly.
Catholic school - Mostly boys. If you were a girl "hanging" with them you needed to learn real quick
A. Football
B. Basketball
C. Hockey

Had to know stats to even date any of them - No stupid girls. No jock girl either - you had to be pretty and frilly (feminine)
PS also hate typical chick flicks too - upbringing I guess.
Howie Long was my first crush - oh ....I was little and thought when I saw his card he made my heart go "pitter".
I saw that segment with bradshaw and long and cracked up - it was good.

Posted by: paranoid polly (Eagles are in the playoffs) at December 22, 2009 02:00 PM (r7Vc3)

59 Ah, the Foreskins. What a buncha putzes. . .

Posted by: Wind Rider at December 22, 2009 02:05 PM (JdWEb)

60 Maybe some girls like the human interest crappola

Yes, they do, and this is why the Olympics coverage is so gawdawful sucky. It's been so chickified that you get to see very little actual competition, but tons of "up close and personal" shit about the life-changing battle Michael Phelps had to fight in order to conquer his out-of-control, florid hemorrhoids in order to compete. And crap like that.

Posted by: OregonMuse at December 22, 2009 02:29 PM (89RxY)

61 At least playing/coaching for the Redskins keeps them from being in congress.

Posted by: Chuck at December 22, 2009 02:56 PM (ZyCRh)

62 Yeah they suck and are a national joke. Yes I get it, the minute we lost to Detroit, or hired Jim Zorn, or Dan Snyder bought the team, we were a national punchline. Go ahead laugh it up.

Posted by: Mr. Pink at December 22, 2009 03:21 PM (V/EYZ)

63 "Jerome Bettis -- when you need one yard, he gets you three yards. And when you need five yards, he gets you three yards. Ace, First, congrats on that "having a kind of girlfriend once" thing. No money changed hands? As for the quote, it seems descended from an old, old remark by Don Meredith about Walt Garrison. Descended, as in ripped off. Cordially...

Posted by: Rick at December 22, 2009 03:30 PM (Aauui)

64 Gotta love those Philly fans.... Cheap Stock Tip: Invest in Duracell & Everready before any Eagles game with a forecast of snow.

Posted by: TXMarko at December 22, 2009 03:35 PM (xqHMx)

65 I had a gf I had to teach football-watching too, and I had to give her stories and quotes to get her into it.

This was one of the ones she loved.

Here's another, but it's probably too late: Before the days of Joe Montana, the 49ers quarterback was the mediocre Steve DeBerg, who could fairly be described as the Tony Romo of his day, only not as brilliantly consistent. Supposedly during some ceremonial or commemorative dinner party, coach Bill Walsh had had a few and was then heard to remark in a conversation that "DeBerg always played just good enough to get you beat." Afterwards, he denied ever saying this, but apparently some reporters overheard it.

Posted by: OregonMuse at December 22, 2009 03:57 PM (89RxY)

66 CBO just scored the game - Redskins win by 17

Posted by: Hayek_Liberal at December 22, 2009 05:02 PM (qYlr+)

My favorite sports related quote from a coach like that comes from Casey Stengel in the early Mets years.

"See that guy over there. He's 20 years old. In ten years, he's got a chance to be a star.

"And that guy next to him; he's also 20. In ten years, he's got a chance to be 30."

Posted by: The Q at December 22, 2009 05:24 PM (pfStM)

68 Ha Ha deadskins. You are now 78,099 plays from being undefeated. Eat it!

Posted by: EAGLES IN FIRST at December 22, 2009 05:37 PM (Hjtu0)

69 Oh yeah, the Eagles fans are definitely out of the woodwork. Time to remind them that they have NEVER, EVER won a Super Bowl.

Posted by: middyfeek at December 23, 2009 11:14 AM (UqXIh)

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