Predictions - Fox Sports - Mike Tanier (Merged)

[Stan Neal]

Redskins at Seahawks: Some playoff matchups spark the imagination. They pit championship-caliber opponents against each other, creating a contest with historic implications. Some playoff games demand comparison the greatest games of yore, recalling images of the 1958 championship, the Ice Bowl and Super Bowl XXXIV.

This is not one of those matchups.

The Seahawks and Redskins rank ninth and 12th in the league in DVOA, respectively. The Redskins rank sixth in defensive DVOA, but neither team ranks in the top 10 in any other category: offense, defense, or special teams. These are good teams in that blah, no-glaring-weaknesses, no-overwhelming strengths sort of way. The star power is lacking — Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander are so 2005 — and its hard to imagine a scenario that has either team seriously challenging the Cowboys or Packers, let alone the AFC champions.

We don't want to be too negative; the Redskins and Seahawks deserve their due. The Redskins overcame off-field tragedy and the loss of quarterback Jason Campbell to win their last four games. The Seahawks won 10 games and have been a foregone postseason conclusion since Halloween. The Redskins took care of business in December when they beat the Vikings and Giants to climb into the Wild Card picture. The Seahawks had a soft schedule, but they won the games they were supposed to win, and they have the all-important playoff experience (which really isn't all that important).

But it's one thing to earn a playoff invitation and another thing to do something once you arrive. Neither team owns a resume filled with wins over playoff-caliber opponents. The Seahawks beat the Buccaneers in Week 1 then spent four months swimming in the kiddie pool with the Rams, Niners and Cardinals. The Redskins beat the Giants and Cowboys in the past three weeks, but the pre-clinched Cowboys were booking New Year's dinner reservations. These two teams aren't much different from the morass of NFC playoff wannabes (Vikings, Saints, Eagles) from which they emerged. This game is the professional equivalent of a Dec. 30th college bowl game.

As for the pick: the Seahawks are at home, they are somewhat healthy, and they are the better overall team. The Redskins are still playing smoke-and-mirrors football with Todd Collins at quarterback: film study reveals a lot of fullback dives, screens and chuck-it-and-pray bombs to Santana Moss. With three weeks of Collins tape to study, the Seahawks will be ready. The Redskins may be playing for the memory of a fallen teammate, but that motivation only takes you so far. Their secondary cannot match up with the Seahawks receivers, and their offensive line won't be able to stop the Seahawks pass rush.

These two teams met in the playoffs two years ago. The Seahawks won, 20-10. That Seahawks team was better than this one, but the result and the final score of this game will be similar to that one. The biggest difference: the Seahawks will not then march off to the Super Bowl.

[abu69]

That's rough. **** it. **** 'em all. Hail 'Skins!

[Bigmuss1]

Tell this dude to go away!!

[DGreenistheBest]

He's got a bit of a point but this:


film study reveals a lot of fullback dives, screens and chuck-it-and-pray bombs to Santana Moss.

is really an unfair assesment and makes me think he hasn't actually watched a Redskins game in December. Also no mention of Gibb's track record of getting better as the season goes on or the resurgent Skins secondary. I agree that the score will be similar to 2005, but I'm calling for it to be reversed. Skins 20, Hawks 10.

[ThePreciating]

Tell this dude to keep it up!!

I love being underestimated, it will only enhance the legends of Joe Gibbs and Sean Taylor.

[ForOldDC]

... and its hard to imagine a scenario that has either team seriously challenging the Cowboys or Packers, let alone the AFC champions.


The Redskins beat the Giants and Cowboys in the past three weeks, but the pre-clinched Cowboys were booking New Year's dinner reservations. These two teams aren't much different from the morass of NFC playoff wannabes (Vikings, Saints, Eagles) from which they emerged. This game is the professional equivalent of a Dec. 30th college bowl game.


The Redskins are still playing smoke-and-mirrors football with Todd Collins at quarterback: film study reveals a lot of fullback dives, screens and chuck-it-and-pray bombs to Santana Moss. With three weeks of Collins tape to study, the Seahawks will be ready. The Redskins may be playing for the memory of a fallen teammate, but that motivation only takes you so far. Their secondary cannot match up with the Seahawks receivers, and their offensive line won't be able to stop the Seahawks pass rush.

These two teams met in the playoffs two years ago. The Seahawks won, 20-10. That Seahawks team was better than this one, but the result and the final score of this game will be similar to that one. The biggest difference: the Seahawks will not then march off to the Super Bowl.

What a ******. I can't wait to see him eat crow. The only thing he has right is the Seahawks won't make it to the Super Bowl.

[gobigred]

Fox Sports news guys are the same as air in a bottle it is there but you can't see it.

[skins fan1010]

...film study reveals a lot of fullback dives, screens and chuck-it-and-pray bombs to Santana Moss.

It sounds to me like he didn't hit the film room. The operative word is "study." He gets an F.

[dfbovey]

He's got a bit of a point but this:



is really an unfair assesment and makes me think he hasn't actually watched a Redskins game in December. Also no mention of Gibb's track record of getting better as the season goes on or the resurgent Skins secondary. I agree that the score will be similar to 2005, but I'm calling for it to be reversed. Skins 20, Hawks 10.

Yeah, he obviously didn't watch any film at all unless he mistakenly got his hands on some Mark Brunell footage from 2006.

Dude is a dunce.

[kingfish50]

Smoke and mirrors, chuck it and pray bombs to Moss? What games if any has this idiot been watching of the Redskins? Man, you gotta love these insightful morons that get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to come up with nonsense like this.
Is this what 4 years of college journalism does for you? :doh:

[Stadium-Armory]

[QUOTE=Stan Neal]The Redskins are still playing smoke-and-mirrors football with Todd Collins at quarterback: film study reveals a lot of fullback dives, screens and chuck-it-and-pray bombs to Santana Moss. QUOTE]

Faulty data.

I think we probably ran 6 FBDives in the last 4 games, and maybe 3 screens. And, as an example, that last TD bomb to Moss aginst Dallas was anything but chuck-it-and-pray. He was wide open on an up-and-out. Set up all game long by the "out patterns" he was running.

Saying you're studying the tape, doesn't make it reality. ANd I think you just exposed your self as a sham (or someone who drinks alot). Lets base our discussion in the facts.

[Stadium-Armory]

The Redskins are still playing smoke-and-mirrors football with Todd Collins at quarterback: film study reveals a lot of fullback dives, screens and chuck-it-and-pray bombs to Santana Moss.

Faulty data.

I think we probably ran 6 FBDives in the last 4 games (most of which were around the goal line), and maybe a screen (or two) per game. And, as an example, that last TD bomb to Moss aginst Dallas was anything but chuck-it-and-pray. He was wide open on an up-and-out. Set up all game long by the "out patterns" he was running.

Saying you're studying the tape, doesn't make it reality. ANd I think you just exposed your self as a sham (or someone who drinks alot). Lets base our discussion on the facts.

[Aghar]

Redskins at Seahawks: Some playoff matchups spark the imagination. They pit championship-caliber opponents against each other, creating a contest with historic implications. Some playoff games demand comparison the greatest games of yore, recalling images of the 1958 championship, the Ice Bowl and Super Bowl XXXIV.

This is not one of those matchups.

The Seahawks and Redskins rank ninth and 12th in the league in DVOA, respectively. The Redskins rank sixth in defensive DVOA, but neither team ranks in the top 10 in any other category: offense, defense, or special teams. These are good teams in that blah, no-glaring-weaknesses, no-overwhelming strengths sort of way. The star power is lacking — Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander are so 2005 — and its hard to imagine a scenario that has either team seriously challenging the Cowboys or Packers, let alone the AFC champions.

We don't want to be too negative; the Redskins and Seahawks deserve their due. The Redskins overcame off-field tragedy and the loss of quarterback Jason Campbell to win their last four games. The Seahawks won 10 games and have been a foregone postseason conclusion since Halloween. The Redskins took care of business in December when they beat the Vikings and Giants to climb into the Wild Card picture. The Seahawks had a soft schedule, but they won the games they were supposed to win, and they have the all-important playoff experience (which really isn't all that important).

But it's one thing to earn a playoff invitation and another thing to do something once you arrive. Neither team owns a resume filled with wins over playoff-caliber opponents. The Seahawks beat the Buccaneers in Week 1 then spent four months swimming in the kiddie pool with the Rams, Niners and Cardinals. The Redskins beat the Giants and Cowboys in the past three weeks, but the pre-clinched Cowboys were booking New Year's dinner reservations. These two teams aren't much different from the morass of NFC playoff wannabes (Vikings, Saints, Eagles) from which they emerged. This game is the professional equivalent of a Dec. 30th college bowl game.

As for the pick: the Seahawks are at home, they are somewhat healthy, and they are the better overall team. The Redskins are still playing smoke-and-mirrors football with Todd Collins at quarterback: film study reveals a lot of fullback dives, screens and chuck-it-and-pray bombs to Santana Moss. With three weeks of Collins tape to study, the Seahawks will be ready. The Redskins may be playing for the memory of a fallen teammate, but that motivation only takes you so far. Their secondary cannot match up with the Seahawks receivers, and their offensive line won't be able to stop the Seahawks pass rush.

These two teams met in the playoffs two years ago. The Seahawks won, 20-10. That Seahawks team was better than this one, but the result and the final score of this game will be similar to that one. The biggest difference: the Seahawks will not then march off to the Super Bowl.

TRANSLATION:

I really haven't watched much football lately. In fact, I don't really like football or even know much about it. Since I live on the east coast on never saw the Seahawks play, but know a few of their names. The Redskins, blah. Who cares. I thought rather than spend time and watch some film on these two teams I would just come up with some :pooh:, write it down and print it. Funny thing is, people will read it and actually think I know what I am talking about. Funnier yet, I am getting paid for it! :doh:

...END TRANSLATION

[Stadium-Armory]

Similarly, I have just exposed my self as someone who can't correctly edit a post without f'ing it up..

[nace14]

using statistics to predict playoff games = being dumb enough to try to tackle sellers high.

[kuraitengai]

It sounds to me like he didn't hit the film room. The operative word is "study." He gets an F.
seriously...chuck-it-and-pray bombs to moss? what is this dude thinking? all the deep balls to moss have been money, not thrown up for grabs.

except MAYBE the td pass against the giants (i think) to the left sideline that moss adjusted for and went up for at the 3 and backpedaled into the endzone.

[skinznsoxrox]

seriously...chuck-it-and-pray bombs to moss? what is this dude thinking? all the deep balls to moss have been money, not thrown up for grabs.

except MAYBE the td pass against the giants (i think) to the left sideline that moss adjusted for and went up for at the 3 and backpedaled into the endzone.
That was against the vikings if your thinking of the same play I am

[NOVA2Tampa]

This just in: Joe Gibbs may be in the Hall of Fame someday... :laugh:

[1Adam12]

Because a touchdown pass from Portis to ARE is a fullback dive. . . What a tard.

[Skins n' Bones]

There have been a lot of chuck-it-and-pray bombs thrown to Moss this year....RANDY Moss. Because of his size, QB's have been doing that with him for years. But I digress....

This guy obviously has not actually watched the games. Also, stats that combine the way a team played in December with the way they played earlier in the year aren't necessarily the greatest way to evaluate how a team will play in a playoff game.

His description actually sounds like he's talking about the 2005 team....maybe as a practical joke, someone switched the tape on him, and he was too clueless to notice?? :silly:

[NoCalMike]

"Smoke & Mirrors" Huh?

What is "smoke & mirrors" about the offensive line punching wide holes open for Clinton Portis to march through? Which in turn sets up the playaction pass....When has that EVER been considered smoke and mirrors?

If anything Collins is giving us a preview of what this offense can and will look like once Jason Campbell learns how too read a defense. Also, the offensive line has played together now for half a season with some new members and they are starting to gel and the running game has improved a lot.

[georgiaredskin]

Tell this dude to keep it up!!

I love being underestimated, it will only enhance the legends of Joe Gibbs and Sean Taylor.

AMEN!!! The more they underestimate us, the better we do! Woot!! :point2sky :helmet:

[tone_dubbz]

How is this seattle $#!+bird team better than the one from 2005? They had the league MVP in Shawn Alexander. This dude is a retard, almost as stupid as the dang seattle fans.

[Neophyte]

I agree that our secondary might have a tough time matching up with the depth Seattle has at WR and I agree that Seattle is at home. That is pretty much the end of my agreement with this article.

The Skins O-Line gave up 4 in two games to NY, 3 in one game to NE and 4 in two games to Dallas. That is 11 in 5 games to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd best sack teams in the league. An average of just above 2 per game to the best in the business. What makes him think that the Seattle, the 4th best team in the league at sacks will do better than the top 3 teams did? I can live with 2 sacks on Saturday as long as they are not accompanied by lost fumbles.

If we leave out the NY game which was played in a wind tunnel, Collins has nearly a 74% completion percentage. Some how that would seem to debunk the "chuck and duck" theory this guy has.

I don't see this as an easy game and frankly I just don't the media guys who don't see that when the predict an easy game for either team.

[InsaneBoost]

I love the Redskins because they always shut this pieces of **** up fast.

[Year_of_The_Monk]

The jokes on him... He is talking like its luck that we are here.

[W1N_SKINS]

:finger: (misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=24#) :finger: thats all i have to say to the writer

[clubisyohankovic]

what's wrong with fullback dives, anyway? i like sellers getting the ball 4 or 5 times per game.

[Capt Rich Fla]

What a jack bag. We'll see what he has to say saturday night. Hail skin!

[MEANDWARF]

:nana: Don't care. We are in the freakin playoffs. Sorry Vikes and Saints.

[Schoolmaster]

[QUOTE=Stan Neal]The Redskins are still playing smoke-and-mirrors football with Todd Collins at quarterback: film study reveals a lot of fullback dives, screens and chuck-it-and-pray bombs to Santana Moss. QUOTE]

Faulty data.

I think we probably ran 6 FBDives in the last 4 games, and maybe 3 screens. And, as an example, that last TD bomb to Moss aginst Dallas was anything but chuck-it-and-pray. He was wide open on an up-and-out. Set up all game long by the "out patterns" he was running.

Saying you're studying the tape, doesn't make it reality. ANd I think you just exposed your self as a sham (or someone who drinks alot). Lets base our discussion in the facts.


The Skins are the hottest team in the NFC right now. Like Jack Nickelson says in an upcoming movie 'nobody cares what you [Stan Neal] think'.... just ask the coaches in the NFC.... the Skins are stacked on Offense, Defense, and Special Teams.... they've got talent everywhere ... and they're making plays.



Todd Collins is getting better on each snap... getting more and more comfortable and in control. The only parallel I can think of is when Tom Brady took over at New England..... Todd doesn't quite have the physical tools that Tom has, but he is just as poised and skilled. Plus, I think Todd has more veteran weapons at his disposal than Tom had when he broke out.



In other words, the Hawks, the Boys, GBay, the GMen, and the rest of them had better watch out... the Skins are real and are coming to your town real soon!

[amm11387]

durrrr its fox what do you expect, did you see their coverage of the bowl games, other than riggo it sucked

[Oldfan]

The writer is from FootballOutsiders.com --employed by Fox. In the past four weeks the Skins have moved up from 15th to 12th in their DVOA team rankings. That's a bold move in just four weeks at the end of the season -- meaning that they were probaby much higher (maybe #1) during that span. Mike Tanier apparently didn't notice.

Seattle has stayed steady at #9.

[Special K]

Jeez, I've been going to school all these years with the hopes of having an awesome career...and it turns out that all this time I've been pursuing the wrong profession. I really should have gone into sports writing b/c then I could drink all night, sleep in until 2:30 pm, take a dump on a paper and call it a sports story, then take a nap from 2:31 to 9 and begin the cycle over...all the while making a buttload of money.

[cuchip703]

Such a great analysis. The film study part was the best because I know I have been sitting there thinking..."man, all we do is fullback dives, screen plays, and then chuck it up to Moss and pray" Im pretty sure that come gametime Saturday both teams will be wondering what their DVOA is too.

[OxonHillSkinsFan89]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Riggo#44]

"Smoke & Mirrors" Huh?

So it's smoke and mirrors how the Skins went TO Giants Stadium...and won handily where they never play well? Granted Coughlin called a horrible game (52 passes in horrid conditions, tons of dropped passes).

Or was it smoke and mirrors the way out D-line MANHANDLED the #1 rushing team -- in their house?

So FB dives huh? Interesting. How many carries did Sellers get? I could have sworn Portis was a tailback...

[laxpck]

These two teams aren't much different from the morass of NFC playoff wannabes (Vikings, Saints, Eagles) from which they emerged.


Funny how quickly the media has distanced themselves from the Saints and Vikings. Funny how the media forgets that is was us winning out that made them wannabees.


**** THEM ALL.

I GOT MY LONDON JERSEY ON IN THE OFFICE AND ITS JANUARY.

PLEASE KEEP DOUBTING US. WE WILL SMACK YOU IN THE MOUTH.

[angst7]

Just to add to what Oldfan said, Tanier is from footballoutsiders.com, and is probably more known for his often amusing columns than his abilities to break down film. More tellingly, he's just another self-hatinig Iggles homer who picked the skins to lose the last three.

Sometimes his columns are pretty funny though. If he wasn't so blinded when it comes to the NFC East, he'd be pretty readable.

[SK1NS4L1FE]

More fuel to the fire in the hearts in mind of Skins fans everywhere. Bring on the predictions, when it's all said and done we'll see what the Seahawks will be doing next weekend. At home watching the Skins playing.

[Papabear]

I came across this and I was laughing throughout the whole article. :laugh: I can't get enough of this. Here was my favorite quote:

"The Redskins beat the Giants and Cowboys in the past three weeks, but the pre-clinched Cowboys were booking New Year's dinner reservations."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :wewantd:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7625906?MSNHPHCP&GT1=10838


By: Mike Tanier. AKA Lil Douche.



Redskins at Seahawks (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, NBC): Some playoff matchups spark the imagination. They pit championship-caliber opponents against each other, creating a contest with historic implications. Some playoff games demand comparison the greatest games of yore, recalling images of the 1958 championship, the Ice Bowl and Super Bowl XXXIV.

This is not one of those matchups.

The Seahawks and Redskins rank ninth and 12th in the league in DVOA, respectively. The Redskins rank sixth in defensive DVOA, but neither team ranks in the top 10 in any other category: offense, defense, or special teams. These are good teams in that blah, no-glaring-weaknesses, no-overwhelming strengths sort of way. The star power is lacking — Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander are so 2005 — and its hard to imagine a scenario that has either team seriously challenging the Cowboys or Packers, let alone the AFC champions.

We don't want to be too negative; the Redskins and Seahawks deserve their due. The Redskins overcame off-field tragedy and the loss of quarterback Jason Campbell to win their last four games. The Seahawks won 10 games and have been a foregone postseason conclusion since Halloween. The Redskins took care of business in December when they beat the Vikings and Giants to climb into the Wild Card picture. The Seahawks had a soft schedule, but they won the games they were supposed to win, and they have the all-important playoff experience (which really isn't all that important).

But it's one thing to earn a playoff invitation and another thing to do something once you arrive. Neither team owns a resume filled with wins over playoff-caliber opponents. The Seahawks beat the Buccaneers in Week 1 then spent four months swimming in the kiddie pool with the Rams, Niners and Cardinals. The Redskins beat the Giants and Cowboys in the past three weeks, but the pre-clinched Cowboys were booking New Year's dinner reservations. These two teams aren't much different from the morass of NFC playoff wannabes (Vikings, Saints, Eagles) from which they emerged. This game is the professional equivalent of a Dec. 30th college bowl game.

As for the pick: the Seahawks are at home, they are somewhat healthy, and they are the better overall team. The Redskins are still playing smoke-and-mirrors football with Todd Collins at quarterback: film study reveals a lot of fullback dives, screens and chuck-it-and-pray bombs to Santana Moss. With three weeks of Collins tape to study, the Seahawks will be ready. The Redskins may be playing for the memory of a fallen teammate, but that motivation only takes you so far. Their secondary cannot match up with the Seahawks receivers, and their offensive line won't be able to stop the Seahawks pass rush. These two teams met in the playoffs two years ago. The Seahawks won, 20-10. That Seahawks team was better than this one, but the result and the final score of this game will be similar to that one. The biggest difference: the Seahawks will not then march off to the Super Bowl.

[DUPA]

F That Guy!

[Highway66]

Bull S !-!it

[jthor99]

I have no doubt in my mind the Redskins will come to play Saturday. Be careful what you wish for Seattle.

[Tyron Biggums]

It is obivious this article was wrote to keep pace with the rest of mediots.

[md20j]

dude... I think somebody already posted this earlier...

JB

[Oldskool]

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?t=231305

already posted.

And yes, it is ****e.

[MBP]

This dude wasn't too kind to either team. Ouch.

[Papabear]

dude... I think somebody already posted this earlier...

JB

Well I wasnt here earlier...

[rhyno]

Yeah, this was already posted. Sloppy journalism it is. What with all our smoke-and-mirrors and fullback dives and whatnot. lol

[laxpck]

Well I wasnt here earlier...


Funny when I show this kind of bravado I get No New Threads slapped on me.


But this isnt a time for pointing a finger.

This is a time for us all to come together.


PALOFFS BABY!

[Rdskn4Lyf21]

"Chuck it and pray bombs"????

What an idiot :doh:

How much game film has this guy seen? I can recall 1 or 2 throws that were just thrown up and one was a TD to Moss.

[Om]

Well I wasnt here earlier...
Not exactly the response we're hoping for, brother.

Might want to take a sec and re-read Rule #7.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/announcement.php?f=24

Thanks.

[Robbnva]

Well I wasnt here earlier...

Has to be the best response by an OP to somebody informing them that another thread exsists. :laugh:

EDIT - saw the response from the MOD. :stick: Shame on me

[Papabear]

Im sorry, I should have said I will kiss your....nevermind.

[Robbnva]

Im sorry, I should have said I will kiss your....nevermind.

:munchout: this could be good

[SKIN4WAHOOZ]

mike who? never heard of him

[Om]

Im sorry, I should have said I will kiss your....nevermind.
True. Another alternative would simply be not to act like an .... nevermind.

[TheChief]

My name on that Fox Sports thread is TheKingChief. I let my feelings known about Tanier on the article's thread.

[Papabear]

True. Another alternative would simply be not to act like an .... nevermind.

I still love you. :)

[matty dread]

A lot of fullback dives??

Other than the occassional goal line carry for Sellers when do we run FB dives with any consistency??

[DCranon21]

Wow, this is more fuel to the fire. Some don't understand we are on a mission. Seattle is a fraud. I hope we smoke them 28-3. End of story. HTTR

[DCranon21]

A lot of fullback dives??

Other than the occassional goal line carry for Sellers when do we run FB dives with any consistency??

Obviously, this guy doesn't do his homework on us. Sellers carries the ball down on the goaline or short yardage if they call his number. Obviously this guy has Dallas to go all the way.

[kingdaddy]

Having 3 weeks to study Collins should scare Seattle. All he does is throw to receivers who are wide open. I hope Seattle has a good secondary because Collins is going to light them up. The man looks like Joe Montana right now.

[TuckahoeSkin]

Wow, this is more fuel to the fire. Some don't understand we are on a mission. Seattle is a fraud. I hope we smoke them 28-3. End of story. HTTR

There's a nickname -- the fraudhawks. :seahawksu