March 16, 2010 by mikefrandsen
I’m not thrilled with the Skins’ signing of running back Larry Johnson. It’s not that he doesn’t have a lot left in the tank, it’s just that now we have two running backs in Johnson and Clinton Portis who are not only near 30, but more importantly are primarily runners who aren’t that adept at catching passes.
Let’s face it – the NFL is a passing league now and it helps a lot – in fact, it’s practically a must – that your running backs need to be excellent at catching passes out of the backfield. (That is a cliche and redundant – where else are they going to catch passes from?)
Both players’ best years had them catching over 40 passes in a season. Not much if you consider that’s about 2.5 per game. Let’s hope the Redskins have plans to draft at least one running back who can catch the ball. At least Portis can block.
I think the Skins should have gone after LaDanian Tomlinson who would have been more of a complement to Portis. Or Brian Westbrook, who if healthy is still one of the best running backs in the NFL. If you’re going to add another running back, why not Thomas Jones? Because he’s better than Johnson? That makes no sense. You go for the best players. Plus Johnson has a reputation as somewhat of a malcontent at times so that makes two with Portis.
The move improves the Redskins but I just think L.J. is too much like Portis. Then again, you can’t have too many running backs and Shanahan likes to spread it around. Now the Skins need some offensive linemen and a third down running back.
Tags: Clinton Portis, Ladanian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Redskins, Shanahan
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February 24, 2010 by mikefrandsen
The Redskins should definitely sign Brian Westbrook, who was cut by the Eagles yesterday. When healthy he’s still one of the best running backs in the NFL. He’d be a perfect complement to Clinton Portis, who is one of the worst pass catching running backs in the NFL. The Skins would immediately get much better by signing him. Don’t worry about the criticism of signing a big-name player at a skill position who is past his prime. He may have a few good years left — even if he only has one good year left, everything in the NFL nowadays is year to year. The Saints went from 8-8 to winning the Super Bowl. The Cardinals were in the Super Bowl two years ago with a 9-7 record.
Tags: Brian Westbrook, cut, Eagles, running back, sign, Skins
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December 8, 2009 by mikefrandsen
The Dirtbags played their classic “Peter King is a Queen/Put Art Monk in the Hall of Fame” song before the Skins-Saints game outside FedEx Field. Now that Monk is in, the second half of the song was changed for Russ Grimm to get into the Hall. Grimm is up for a vote in January 2010.
Here’s the song: http://mikefrandsen.org/2009/12/08/dirtbags-perform-get-a-kidney-at-fedex-field-before-redskins-saints-game/. See the website for the RAC and the Dirtbags at www.ontherac.com. To see the original version of the song, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNCSHC1fsoo.
It’s long overdue for Grimm to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Grimm started on four Super Bowl teams for the Skins, winning three, and also played in four Pro Bowls. He anchored the “Hogs,” one of the greatest offensive lines in NFL history. Joe Jacoby is another worthy candidate, but hey, we can’t be too greedy considering the anti-Redskins bias when it comes to the Hall of Fame.
By the way, Gary Clark should be in too. Take a look how similar Clark’s stats were to Irvin’s. Plus Irvin played with a HOF QB.
|
Catches per Year |
Yards per Year |
Total TDs |
Years |
| Clark |
64 |
962 |
65 |
11 |
| Irvin |
63 |
992 |
65 |
12 |
A lot is made of the fact that the Redskins won three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks, and Joe Gibbs gets a lot of the credit for that. But Grimm and Jacoby, not to mention Jim Lachey, Mark May, Jeff Bostic, Raleigh McKenzie and other offensive linemen deserve a lot of credit, plus tight ends like Don Warren.
The Skins also won three Super Bowls with three different primary running backs during those seasons: John Riggins, George Rogers, and Earnest Byner. People remember Riggins most because of his greatness as well as his outsize personality, but look at how many running backs led the Skins in rushing between 1981 and 1991: Joe Washington, Riggins, Rogers, Kelvin Bryant, Gerald Riggs, and Byner.
The offensive line was the constant (other than Monk). Even Timmy Smith had a 200-yard rushing game in the 1988 Super Bowl rout over the Broncos.
Russ Grimm. Put him in!
Also see my blog saying that Grimm should be the new Redskins coach (2009/10/29/russ-grimm-should-be-the-new-redskins-coach/).
Thanks to the Dirtbags for letting me sit in on drums for this song and the kidney song (see the blog post just below this).
Tags: Art Monk, Dirtbags, Hall of Fame, Jim Lachey, Joe Jacoby, Peter King, RAC, Redskins Appreciation Club, Russ Grimm
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December 8, 2009 by mikefrandsen
The Dirtbags, the Official Rock ‘n’ Roll Band of the Redskins Appreciation Club (RAC), played in the parking lot of FedEx Field before the Redskins-Saints game Sunday. They played their new song, “Get a Kidney” for organ donor awareness. See the video at http://mikefrandsen.org/2009/12/08/dirtbags-perform-get-a-kidney-at-fedex-field-before-redskins-saints-game/.
The Dirtbags agreed to play the song in support of my search for a kidney donor for a transplant I’m expected to need in 2010 (see www.mikeneedsakidney.com). Redskins fans stick together. The Dirtbags let me sit in on drums. It was a great time. The Skins lost to the undefeated Saints in overtime, 33-30 but put up a great fight.
I hope to get a kidney for myself and also raise awareness for kidney donations in general. There are 80,000 people on the kidney waiting list in the U.S. and more than 10 of them die every day waiting. Most of them are worse off than me and many of them are already on dialysis. To donate to someone, check out www.matchingdonors.com. Thanks.
Tags: dialysis, Dirtbags, RAC, Redskins Appreciation Club, Skins, www.mikeneedsakidney.com
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December 4, 2009 by mikefrandsen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Thomas Warren
President, RAC
www.OntheRAC.com
www.mikeneedsakidney.com
Redskins’ Fan Club Bands Together to Raise Awareness for Organ Donations
Landover, MD – The DirtBags, the house rock’n'roll band of the Redskins’ Appreciation Club (RAC), will debut their new single Draft a New Art Monk (Get a kidney) (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xls6-uBZSA) at a live concert in the FedEx Field parking lot at 11am Sunday December 6th to raise awareness for organ donations.
The #1 Redskins fan club in the Washington/Metro area, the RAC was enlisted by “Coach” Mike Frandsen to record the song to help him find a kidney donor. Frandsen has polycystic kidney disease and will be in need of a kidney transplant in 2010.
“The world needs to know that Redskins’ fans stand by their team, and their team’s fans,” said Thomas Warren, RAC President. “There is too much negativity these days. But we’re not down. We’re united in two things: Rooting for the ‘Skins and helping Mike get a kidney. That’s all we care about.”
The concert will feature The DirtBags, with “Coach Mike” on the drums. The DirtBags play a fun blend of country/rock’n'roll and feature classics such as Art Monk for the Hall of Fame, Rocky Ain’t Real, and the RAC Fight Song. Art Monk for the Hall of Fame is currently ranked sixth on YouTube for Art Monk with over 3,100 hits.
Coach Mike bleeds Burgundy and Gold. Two years ago he wrote this article in favor of Art Monk getting into the Hall of Fame: http://www.coachmike.net/artmonk.php.
“Coach Mike provides one-on-one support to children with autism. His is dedicated towards helping others,” said Warren. “Mike is in need of help. Please see www.Mikeneedsakidney.com to see how you can help. He does so much for others. This is the least we can do.”
Coach Mike wants to remind everyone that there are 80,000 people in the U.S. waiting for a kidney transplant and many of them are worse off than him. He recommends that people who are interested in donating a kidney to someone visit www.matchingdonors.com or www.kidneyregistry.org.
The concert will be held at A61 in honor of Casey Rabach, the team’s center. A61 is located in the A section of the Green Parking lot.
For more information: www.mikeneedsakidney.com or www.OntheRAC.com or
Contact: Thomas Warren
Phone: 703-984-9015
###
Tags: Art Monk, Coach Mike Frandsen, concert, Dirtbags, donating, kidney disease, RAC, Saints, www.kidneyregistry.org, www.matchingdonors.com, www.mikeneedsakidney.com, www.ontherac.com
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November 23, 2009 by mikefrandsen
I’m looking for a donor for a kidney transplant that my doctors say I should have relatively soon. I have polycystic kidney disease. Please see www.mikeneedsakidney.com for more details.
Check out this song the Dirtbags did for me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xls6-uBZSA. That’s me in the background. The Dirtbags (http://ontherac.com/dirtbags.htm) are the official rock band of the Redskins Appreciation Club. They play in the parking lot of Fed Ex Field before every Redskins home game.
We included in the song a mention of the fact that 80,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney in the U.S., and more than 10 of them die each day waiting, so the song isn’t just for me but to promote awareness about kidney donation in general.
The Dirtbags are going to perform the song on Dec. 6 before the Redskins-Saints game in the parking lot at Fed Ex field. The guys are going to let me be in the background trying to do a drumbeat.
Thanks to the Dirtbags – Tiger Tom, Whiskey Sergeant Major, and Lefty. It shows that Skins fans stick together.
I first heard of them when I saw their song on YouTube about putting Art Monk into the Hall of Fame (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNCSHC1fsoo). Let’s just say Peter King changed his tune after that one…
Tags: Art Monk, dialysis, Dirtbags, donation, kidney, RAC, Redskins-Saints game, transplant, www.mikeneedsakidney.com
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October 29, 2009 by mikefrandsen
Future Hall of Famer Russ Grimm should be the new coach of the Redskins. Bring back the glory days. The Arizona Cardinals Offensive Line Coach played in four Super Bowls for the Skins, winning three, and coached in two, winning with Pittsburgh in ‘05 and losing with Arizona in ‘08. The Skins’ biggest deficiency is the offensive line.
Bring back former Skins Assistant Dan Henning of Miami to be Offensive Coordinator. Keep Greg Blache as Defensive Coordinator or bring in former Skin Greg Manusky, the Defensive Coordinator of the 49ers, who played linebacker (mostly special teams) for the Skins from ‘88-’91 and won a Super Bowl with the Skins in ‘91. Most head coaches nowadays just oversee everything.
Former Guard Grimm has been an assistant coach for 18 years, ever since 1992, believe it or not. See his Wikipedia entry to see that he almost got the Bears job in ‘04 and the Steelers job in ‘05. In fact, there was a report, believed to be accurate at the time, that Grimm was named the Steelers coach just before Mike Tomlin actually got the job.
Unfortunately, it’ll never happen, though. It’ll be Mike Shanahan, Mike Holmgren, or Jon Gruden. Most likely Gruden. Jeff Fisher of Tennessee would be a good choice if he’s available after the season, but he’s not a big enough of a name for Snyder. Any of them would be solid but I still think they should hire Grimm. What an insult it was to hire Jim Zorn over Grimm two years ago. Snyder considers himself a true Skins fan, so I think he should go back to the Skins’ roots.
They could also hire Gary Clark to work with the receivers, Earnest Byner to work with the running backs, Joe Theismann to work with the QBs, and Don Warren to work with the tight ends. Jeff Bostic could work with the offensive line, Neal Olkewicz could work with the linebackers, Darrell Green could coach the secondary, and Charles Mann could coach the defensive line. Ok, maybe I’m getting a little carried away about the others but Grimm has 18 years of experience as an assistant coach, he’s well-respected, and should be the Redskins new head coach.
It’s sad that the media in this town is no different than the media anywhere in the country. They don’t investigate and don’t find any news — all they do is repeat the same names over and over instead of finding things out for themselves. Of course, Mike Wise and Tracee Hamilton weren’t here during the Redskins’ glory days, and Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon don’t really report on the news anymore, they just comment on it. Somebody like Tom Boswell or one of the writers for the Washington Times needs to bring this up.
Tags: Dan Snyder, Defensive Coordinator, Greg Manusky, Gruden, Holmgren, Redskins coach, Russ Grimm, Shanahan, Super Bowls
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October 20, 2009 by mikefrandsen
This is a message to all the media and fans about the Redskins situation. This includes those on TV and radio, newspaper writers, bloggers, and just regular fans.
We know that the Redskins haven’t been very good under Dan Snyder. We know that he has gone through a lot of coaches. We know that the personnel decisions made by Snyder and Vinny Cerrato haven’t been very good overall and that it would be great to get a good General Manager. We know that it is a dysfunctional organization. We know the team didn’t address the offensive line problems in the offseason, and we know that Jason Campbell hasn’t become a great quarterback, though I think he’s getting too much criticism. We know that Jim Zorn is not a great coach and that it was odd the way the Skins hired him two years ago as an offensive coordinator and then promoted him to head coach. We know that it is bizarre to have hired Sherman Lewis out of a bingo parlor to call the plays starting this Monday night.
Can we come up with something else, though? I’ve been a little bit guilty of it myself. But when you’re a sportsradio station and you have a lot of time to fill, you really should go more into details and specifics. Come on, people. Let’s come up with some better stuff. Break some stories – don’t just repeat what everybody else says. Analyze the players, the games and the plays. Come up with some solutions. If my full-time or even part-time job was to do this I’d come up with more stuff. Don’t keep saying the same stuff over and over.
Tags: bloggers, Dan Snyder, dysfunctional organization, Jim Zorn, media, Redskins, Sherman Lewis, Vinny Cerrato, writers
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October 20, 2009 by mikefrandsen
|
Completion %
|
Yards
|
TD passing
|
INTs
|
Rating
|
| Carson Palmer |
59.1% |
1375 |
8 |
7 |
78.3 |
| Jason Campbell |
65.6% |
1197 |
6 |
6 |
84.3 |
You can see that stats-wise, Jason Campbell is doing just about as well as Carson Palmer. The fact is, though, that Palmer has had some incredible game-winning drives, and his is better than Campbell and has played better.
But Palmer also has a much better offense at every position except tight end.
The point is that while Campbell hasn’t played great this year, he hasn’t been any worse than he was last year, and he’s getting too much blame.
Starting him against the Eagles is the right decision, and after the year, he’ll go somewhere else and have a chance to start.
I just wish the Skins hadn’t put Colt Brennan on injured reserve. It’d be nice to see what he can do.
Tags: carson palmer, Jason Campbell
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