Friday, October 21, 2011

My pick for Redskins-Panthers and thoughts on the game

Washington quarterback John Beck is Sunday's mystery man -- a quarterback who is 30 years old but who has even less experience as a starter than Carolina's Cam Newton.

Beck becomes the Redskins' 21st starting quarterback in the past 19 years, which isn't a good statistic if you're a Washington fan. The Redskins have had problems establishing a quarterback basically since Joe Theismann was running the show (Theismann, incidentally, said on a radio show this week he disagreed with the idea of benching Rex Grossman at this point).

Beck, who hasn't started a game since 2007, is more of a running quarterback than the pocket passer Grossman. Panther coach Ron Rivera this week compared Beck to Jake Plummer, who once played quarterback for current Washington coach Mike Shanahan in Denver.

-- Newton likes to say the offense is in the "moving the chains" business, and that will be a challenge Sunday. The Redskins' defense is No.1 in the NFL in third-down conversions, allowing only a 28.8 percent conversion rate.

-- Watch out for No.89 Sunday -- no matter who's on offense. Washington's Santana Moss and Carolina's Steve Smith both wear that number. They also are both 32 years old and can both still burn you deep.

-- If you wanted to make the best guess the final score of Sunday's game, based on history you'd have to go with 20-17. Of the nine times these two teams have met -- with Washington holding a 7-2 edge -- that's been the score in four of the games. Weird.

Eight of those nine games were decided by four points or less. I believe Sunday will be another close one, but I'll steer away from the 20-17 outcome. I'm 16-5 over the Panthers' last 21 games after missing on my upset pick last week -- I incorrectly thought Carolina would beat Atlanta.

This time, I'm basing my pick on the fact that the Skins generally are playing better defense than Carolina is -- I just don't trust the Panthers' defense right now, particularly against the run.

My Sunday pick: Washington 24, Carolina 20.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who cares who scott picks.Does he really look like a jock or that he ever played the game? Nada!! Stick to playing bridge and planting flowers.

Bill Little said...

The Panthers will lose because they are a lousy team. Everyone knows that, we don't need a writer to tells us.

Anonymous said...

Scott has the best headshot in sports writing. delicious pic man.

Chipnotes said...

Look for Cam and the Panthers to believe this is the W they seek, and on for another W in Minnesota next week. Gooo Panthers!

SkinsNation said...

The Skins are leaps and bounds better than the Kitty Kats. It will be nice to once again see the visiting team OWN the BoA Stadium. Panters "fans" are the biggest bunch of bandwagon fools the NFL has ever seen. And BTW, you are 1-5. Well on your way to the cellar AGAIN!

Anonymous said...

Leaps and bounds? Dolt...Contrary to your ignorant beliefs, the Panthers are not perennial cellar dwellers. It isn't exactly like the Skins have been a contender for a while either. If you're hinging your hopes on Rex Grossman or John Beck--yea, enjoy watching the SB at home just like we will be. At least we have a future. Keep talking smack a$$ pirate.

Anonymous said...

Nothing like Deadskins fans showing up to talk trash. When was the last time Washington won a NFC Championship? Ballin...

ILikePike said...

Cam will get his win this week. Running game is showing signs of life and that will open up the passing game. Olsen will have a big game as Smith will be covered up. Carolina 28-14.

SkinsNation said...

ANON 1:12

What an idiotic statement. We have 5 CHAMPIONSHIP rings. Three Super Bowls two prior to the merger. How many do the Panthers have? Forget meaningless NFC banners, We take home trophies. Grow up and learn that your team is a complete joke. Read the national papers, they all laugh at you and your pathetic team. I will strut around your stadium as if I own it Sunday and dare any slack jawed red neck to even look at me cross eyed. You can't handle what we bring!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Call me crazy, but I'm still on the Panthers bandwagon. I know we have a chance to win because we now have an offense. Each time the offense takes the field we are capable of scoring a TD. The defense has got to step up their game. Tackle and stop getting bone headed penalties. We will get our second win on Sunday.

Anonymous said...

Redskins fans are all fat!! I aint never seen a skinny one! I am going to kick you in the shin and you will do nothing about it! If the D steps up at all, Panthers win this one.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry but I have to laugh at the dumbass Skin Fans calling us idiots. The last time you retards won anything the Panthers weren't even in the league yet. That's how long its been!!!

Anonymous said...

Keep guessing, jerk.. One of these days you'll wind up being right

Anonymous said...

One week, it's "the Panthers will beat __________ this week!"

the next week it's " __________ will beat the Panthers on Sunday"

My 5 year old could swing that, Scott..

Keep doing that, perhaps you'll get it right eventually. Where does the O get you guys, Ringling Bros?

Anonymous said...

SKINSNATION

I dare you to walk around and act like you own the place come up to me with that "redskin swag" and i swear on my life i will knock you out. im not bullshitting either i will knock you the fuck out. panthers 24 skins 17 s my d skinsnation

Anonymous said...

Why did you change the name of piece, Scott? Too much heat? Pretty gutless, even for an Observer Sports writer.

SkinsNation said...

5:07

I'll be the one with the Skins jersey on.

Putz

Anonymous said...

TOMAHAWK SCALPER says,

The Skins are HOGZ aka Hawgz.

Thats because the HOGZ are BIG as hell and have a lot of BIG AZZEZ who other teams cant move or budge.

You cant go up the middle on the HOGZ and the sides are covered too and then you gtta deal with the mid-middle with the MLBs and you sure as hell wont do nothing there.

There theres the back corners and middle deepback saftey.

You muthafukaz are covered to the MAX.

Dont forget the stunt blitz by the whole Defense at any given time.

HOGZ will pick your rookie apart who keeps sucking more and more each week.

Dont let our MLBs catch his ass trying to scramble since he cant turn a corner and def wont go up the gut.

BANG CRUNCH POUND ZAP HIT ZING BAM CRACK SKRUNCH BOOM

No chance !!!!

We wont even get into the Offense.

U CAN FORFEIT NOW AND SAVE THE QB CAREER (and life)

Anonymous said...

Mark Twain observed that "there are lies, damned lies and statistics."

Sports writers love statistics.

Anonymous said...

Mark Twain observed that "there are lies, damned lies and statistics."

Sports writers love statistics.

Anonymous said...

It all depends on what defense we put on the field. If it's been the same lousy, no tackling, can't shed a blocker to save my life, can't defend 3rd and long(or short for that matter) defense then we'll be looking at a frustrating close loss again.

Anonymous said...

Redskins, HELL !

We got the KING of the BLACKSKINS, CAM NEWTON BABY!

Mr. CatWalker said...

All of the Redskins fans that are on here boasting all types of stats. You should have some super bowl rings, the team has been around longer than my grandparents. The league is different now and if the Panthers were kids they will be barely able to drive now.

The good thing about this game is the Panthers have a high explosive offense and Chud will find a way to exploit the Skins weakness. the skins are a 6th rank defense but Smitty always finds a way to get in Halls head some we can expect some penalties on his behalf to help move the chains.

The Skins don't have an offense and Beck might be a difference maker but to call him a mobile quarterback on 2 runs this year is absurd. What about when he was in Miami and only gained 12 yards on 9 run attempts? Good luck with Beck (4.75 40 time) trying to scramble back and forth because he won't be able to get away from Hardy (4.82 40 time) and Johnson (4.84 40 time). Both ends have a knack for flushing quarterbacks while the linebackers clean up the dirty work.

Anonymous said...

Skinsnation: You're a joke and so is your team. When's the last time the Foreskins have been relevant, like 20 years ago? The Panthers have done better in the 8 years than the Foreskins.

Hahahahahahahahhahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

Panthers 48 Foreskins 6

Anonymous said...

come on down n try struttin around the stadium with your skins jersey on n that limpstep u call a pimp step but b ready for a beatdown that will b worse than the one your team gets

Anonymous said...

Who in the right mind would want to wear a jersey that looks like it came from the Ronald McDonald House?

Anonymous said...

I remember posting that we have the worst fans in the league. I forgot about the Foreskins. #31 baby!

Anonymous said...

Scott, glad to see you have confidence in our Offense. We will score 30+ points and they will score 20. I believe we will stop their passing offense because we will blitz more against a new QB. We will limit their running game because they do not have a star running back. Special Teams need to play well, no cheap TD's. This win will begin a win streak for the Panthers.

Anonymous said...

Diehard Skins fan. Hope we lose because I want Shanahan and his son gone. Not a Panthers fan but I like Cam Newton. I want Cam to be successful for all the negative things some said about him in this city. A Skins lost is a win for me. The Shanahans are terrible

Anonymous said...

"I believe we will stop their passing offense because we will blitz more against a new QB. We will limit their running game because they do not have a star running back"..........Unfortunately, our D has not been able to achieve anything. We can't get to any QB and we can't stop the run or pass. If something doesn't change, we lose another close one as we know we can score, we just can't stop anybody. 3rd and long? Forget it! Pay close attention tomorrow how many 3rd and 7 situations (or longer) Wash converts. It's sickening. I just want to turn the TV off when our D is on the field.

jimbo the greek said...

Da Cats will Win, I Guarantee it! 49 - 0

David said...

I love hearing SkinsNation being such a big shot behind the keyboard. He seems to forget that the Skins have been totally irrelevant for a generation, though he talks like they are a perennial power.
You make me laugh.

Anonymous said...

Panthers goal today? A win

My goal? Walk up to the 1st skins fan I see and punch him in the damn mouth

Anonymous said...

On another note when will the Chinese begin buying out media companies such as McClatchy whose recent 3q results were poor again? Ad sales down 20% from a year ago.

This media outfit is on the brink and clearly will be bought. Maybe Google will do the honors but not likely. Chinese could easily buy it and get a foothold.

The NYSE MNI last traded at 1.64 and on an annual range of 1.13 - 5.61 a share with a PE 4.71 with a MC 138 million that is tech a small cap. EPS is .35 and ADV is 666k. Yikes.

With the protests of Wall St by ignorants this nation is going to hell in a handbasket although its good to know pro sport unions are extorting more than ever costing the masses billions more in cable tv gas food clothing etc.

Pro sports spoiled rotten players with their billions give a ratz azz about America and cheat lie steal manipulate to make their mega millions at YOUR expense.
Remember that when you cheer for these greedy traitors.

Anonymous said...

Where are all of these uneducated ra-tard Skins fans this morning? I doubt you'll check back into the same blog on which you talked all of your ignorant smack last week. Where's my "The Skins are leaps and bounds better" guy? How about the "The Skins are HOGZ aka Hawgz." guy? Come on, if you want to troll another team's blog, at least be man enough to come back the following Monday morning and admit that you got your silly little arses handed to you by that same "pathetic team" rooted for by "slack jawed red necks". Oh that's right, I decided to look past the fact that half of you can't spell or formulate an educated sentence and assumed you were fans who actually knew something about football and not just blindly talking garbage about a team you probably haven't seen play this year. I should forgive you for not knowing that the Panthers came into this game leading the NFL in explosive plays--if you had, you's probably know that Steve Smith was going to torch your soft secondary alll daaaay loooong. You might also have known that Cam Newton can run a little. I guess I'll forgive you this time around...not that any of you will be back here to read this and, if you do, I'm sure you'll be spouting off about some irrelevant 1980's Joe Gibbs era history that doesn't matter anymore in today's NFL. The fact remains now that the Panthers are an organization on the way back up, while the Skins are still one with an incompetent owner who overpays for washed up talent and an ego-maniac coach who alienates players. Yea, good luck with that.