So I stole this picture from Matt Terl at the official blog, who credited it to the Orlando Sentinel. But I had to have the picture because while Matt’s article about the halftime interviews was good, I want to talk about something else. 

Take a careful look at the pictures. Regardless of how you feel about the upcoming election (and for the purposes of full disclosure, I’m an Obama supporter), you seriously have to reconsider a vote for McCain when you see the way he is holding the football. Not only is Obama holding the ball like he knows how to use it, but it is nice and high and tight like he’s got it loaded to pull the trigger.  His weight is even on his back foot.  That is an athletic pose.

But seriously, McCain is not even left handed but he is holding the ball in his left hand and cradling it in his right like he’s just been given the Oscar by Hillary Swank. When did our former war heroes become so dainty?  I know baseball was America’s game when McCain grew up, but he doesn’t know how to hold a football?  What does this say about the person who might be running our military in a few months?

Lest you think I’m letting my political bias cloud my judgment here, we should point out a few things about Obama’s stance.  Notice how Obama is hunched over a bit.  He has bad posture and there’s a lot of tension in his neck as though he knows this is the position he supposed to take but he hasn’t done it in awhile. Also the way his left shoulder is dipping, he may have too much weight on the back foot and that might mean he has a slow delivery.  And worst yet, that ball may be a little too high and tight.  Why does that matter?  Well, astute Redskins fans will know that the coach who teaches the high and tight QB stance is Steve Spurrier and really, do we want a President that listens to Steve Spurrier?

In the end, maybe these guys aren’t such a good idea after all.  Maybe Steve Largent or Jack Kemp could run at the last minute? Could we convince Joe Gibbs to run?  Dan Snyder would make a lousy president, but there is a long tradition of short, egotistical emperors. That might work.

At any rate, without actually making real political statements (which will only force us to call out the National Guard), who do you vote for?  The guy who can throw the football?  Or do we need to draft a new ticket?  Comment below.

-DW

Anyway, the way we played, we deserved to win by more.  Without the Portis fumble at the end and we’re taking a knee with a convincing victory.  I’m not going to get on Portis.  That was a great play to pop the ball out, and he had 175 yards.  How could I get after a guy who ran for 175 yards? Overall, we outgained them 351-256 and had just shy of 200 yards rushing.  A great display by Portis (who showed incredible balance and broke some tackles) and the offensive line which was opening more holes than a proctologist.

London Fletcher and Chris Horton were both monsters on defense and Carlos Rogers made some great hits.  His coverage was great until near the end.  It is hard to blame him since we all know Braylon Edwards is a great reveiver who is just going to get a few plays along the way. The defense played great team ball today as evidenced by these tackle numbers– Fletcher 12, Horton 9, McIntosh 8, Washington 8, Landry 7, Golston 6.  That is seriously spreading the wealth.

The real difference between the teams was QB play.  Even with Derek Anderson heating up a bit at the end, he was still only 14 for 37 compared to Campbell’s 14 for 23.  Campbell made some good passes for key first downs but seldom took any shots down field.  He looked a little inaccurate today with some footwork issues. But when push came to shove, Campbell made the plays when last year’s pro bowl darling did not. 

Some of you are going to complain that the offense has been sputtering a bit, but the Browns defense is very good.  We had some serious field position problems that were not helped by a couple of bad holding penalties. By the second half we sorted out the field position and had two great drives.  And before the ball was punched out from behind, it looked like we were about to have a 3rd.  For now, I’ll say I hope we can sort it out against the Lions, but we do need to get a little more downfield passing game.  We just looked a bit out of synch, but we can synch it back up.

Overall, we should be pleased.  We came out healthy, we’re 5-2, and the problems on offense are correctable.  Let’s hope we can get a big win against Detroit like last year and go into our big Monday night game against Pittsburgh at 6-2.  Hail Skins!

-DW