Yup.

Let me spend 20 mins explaining what has gone wrong with the Skins. It may be cathartic.

Firstly, we have for years neglected the offensive line. I saw a stat which said something like the Skins are the only team in the league not to pick an O-lineman in the 1st two rounds of the draft over the last ten years. Or something like that. So we have have all these great offensive weapons, Moss, Randle El, Cooley and Ports but the line is old and injury prone.

So it can't block either for the run or the pass. Its' like having a Ferrari and putting an Escort engine in it. We lost two great linemen this year to Injured Reserve, Samuels and Thomas. But that shouldn't have been a surprise given their recent injury records and their age.

The line has been neglected for 10+ years so that is on the GM, cerrato, and NOT on Zorn.

Secondly, should Zorn have been given the job? When Gibbs retired all the decent head coaching candidates knew they couldn't work with the roster Cerrato had built or indeed work with cerrato. cerrato is the owners big buddy so you either work with him or you don't get the job (unless you're a living legend like Joe Gibbs). Hence everyone turned us down. So, we have just hired Zorn as offensive co-ordinator which was a step up for him anyway as he was QB's coach in Seattle. We tell Zorn he has got an instant promotion to head coach, offensive co-ordinator and play caller all in one.

Guess what they realise after 6 games this year? Its' all too much. So they bring in a new offensive co-ordinator to call plays. But they handle it so badly they end up alienating and humiliating Zorn and also making his position with the players very difficult, They and everyone else know he's a dead man walking so how can he motivate them? Again, that is all on Cerrato.

Thirdly, injuries. We have been decimated by them Worse than any season for any team that I can recall. We have record numbers on injured reserve. Worst hit is the O-Line. We were on our 5th different starting right guard last weekend. We lost our superstar running back to concussion then his replacement breaks his ankle. Our 2nd and 3rd choice running backs only joined the team a month and a week ago! On Sunday we had 5 pro bowlers missing!

The positives. We've unearthed some talent way down the depth chart because of the injuries and have played very well.We now have the nucleus of a very good young team and actually Zorn has them playing hard. We should have beaten both the Eagles and the Cowboys these last two games and were the better team in both games. It bodes well for the future.

The defence is once again awesome throughout.

I'd like to see the old guard of Portis, randle El, Santana Moss, Chris Samuels and randy Thomas let go and lets get the youth movement rolling. Personally. I'd keep Zorn but tell him he must have an offensive co-ordinator but he can choose him. I'd also keep Campbell and spend my first 3 picks on O-Lineman next year (depending if a marquee lineman comes up in free agency).

However, I suspect they will sack Zorn and release Campbell. They will then draft some high ranked QB in round 1 but he will get killed because he has no o-linemen to protect him!

So there you have it, for anyone that is interested. My take on what ails the Skins. Though Zorn has annoyed me with some of his play calling you can see from above that Zorn is not the root cause of our problems.

Since Snyder bought the Franchise in 1999 we've had several coaches with no real success but we've had one constant, Cerrato.

Cheers for the insight G,when you put it like that it's a wonder any coach would want to go to the skins.

How much were your tickets mate?



It always amazes me how much of a spectacle and full entertainment experience a game in the NFL is.

I've got courtside tickets to see the Knicks v Bulls NBA at Madison Square Garden for when I'm over there, if it's half as good as that NFL game sounds then I'll be happy.

Cant see any planes flying in there lad



Although it is America

$79 through Ticketmaster in the US. You can use will call and pick them up at the stadium for $3 which is cheaper than int. Delivery. That's basically £50 but the seat was identical to the one I had at Wembley and that cost £70 so again it's something over there that's cheaper than here.

You can get them cheaper through stubhub but they do not deliver abroad and as it's fans selling tickets to fans there's no will call so unless you know somewhere over there to have them delivered to you're stuffed



As far as the specticle goes it's very good. They do all the little things right over there although they have the money to do it. I can't tell you much about pre match because we weren't permitted to take rucksacks in and the car was a 15 minute walk away. As it was 40 mins to KO when we got to the enterence that left us very little time to get there and back.

Bought a pc to tv cable yesterday. It transfers so well!

FAO G1! msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/1046 ... e-a-circus

FAO G1! msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/1046 ... e-a-circus

I have tipped the Raiders to win 3 times this year, they won 2 of them and are currently winning the other against the Steelers

The [size=200=aquaMIAMI DOLPHINS[/size it's just what we do!...

You deserved to win but only because we were absolutely dire

3 out of 3

Raheem was poor today. 7 down with 10 left and he goes for the TD. I'd have gone for FG and made it a 4 point game. Instead Freeman throws an INT and they go down the field and make it a 10 pointer.

Barth missed 2 everyday kicks and we walked out of the redzone with 3 points from 6 visits. Add the poor pass selection to 5 INTs and 2 missed FGs from mid range and we could have had 24 pts minimum just from kicks.

Sounds like just one of those seasons for your lot HH.
What about the Raiders taking the Steelers

Dana scully will be buzzing.
Good effort by the Skins taking the Saints to O/T.

What a game the Redskins v Saints game sounded.

Petty it wasn't on the telly to watch live.

Sounded as if it was a case of the Skins throwing it away as opposed to the Saints winning it if you know what I mean but still must give the Saints massive confidence knowing they can come back from such a position.

Yeah quite pleased with that all things considered. we're still a pony football team though... am fed up of it, year after year...

The Skins were desperately unlucky and desperately stupid in equal measure and the Saints were very lucky to win that game.

Still, the BIG ONE is this SUnday. Dana Scully and I fly to the States tomorrow to watch the Raiders vs Redskins in Oakland.

You lucky beggar !!! I'm very envious my friend..

i've yet to see an NFL game in the flesh.. that day will come though..

Quote ="G1"The Skins were desperately unlucky and desperately stupid in equal measure and the Saints were very lucky to win that game. Still, the BIG ONE is this SUnday. Dana Scully and I fly to the States tomorrow to watch the Raiders vs Redskins in Oakland.'" I see the Skins have released their kicker G. www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 30,00.html P.s Hope you and Dana Scully have a good one.

Quote ="G1"The Skins were desperately unlucky and desperately stupid in equal measure and the Saints were very lucky to win that game. Still, the BIG ONE is this SUnday. Dana Scully and I fly to the States tomorrow to watch the Raiders vs Redskins in Oakland.'" I see the Skins have released their kicker G. www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 30,00.html P.s Hope you and Dana Scully have a good one.

:1jannoqo

Yeah quite pleased with that all things considered. we're still a pony football team though... am fed up of it, year after year...







Oh, and have a good time. Should be a close game. Especially if you both play like last week.

Wearing your Skins shirt in The Black Hole G1?

I've been an away fan at the Boulevard and Widnes. A bunch of Hispanic Yanks wearing sci fi costumes and make-up are no problem. I will be wearing my Skins shirt, we will be visiting a couple of different Raiders tailgates and I think we're popping into the Black Hole to visit someone Dana knows.



But we're not sitting with the scumbags. We have club level seats.

Thanks for all the well wishes. Will bore you all when we get back with tales of the trip and maybe the odd photo (well, if Dana is on it it will be very odd).

Have fun in Oakland and don't get stabbed.

Staying in San Fran mate. In and out of Oakland as quickly as possible.

Posting this from the Upper Class Lounge at Heathrow where I have just enjoyed breakfast and am awaiting my free haircut.

Danascully, the big jessie that he is, has booked in for a facial.

Must dash, another glass of champagne is on the way.

Never realised Virgin had taken to offering those kind of "services"...