C.C. Ryder: Info Blurbs

So the Chart below (based on Pro Football Reference) shows how many QB1 Starts the TOP Ten had. The total defense rank. The Scoring Defense rank. The Rush Defense Rank. The Rush Offense Rank. The difference between the Rush Offense and Rush Defense Ranks. And the won-loss records, which rounds to an average of 12-5.

Winning Time of Possession seems to keep your Quarterback healthy.

If you are trying to debunk the argument that RTDB leads to better TOP and more wins you could note 6 of the 10 time of possession leaders were Top Ten Run Defenses while only 4 were Top Ten Run Offenses.

Only the Patriots among Time of Possession Leaders had both a Top Ten Run Defense and a Top Ten Run Offense. That supports people who see them going to the Super Bowl. Back in the day if you were good at both you had a decent shot of getting to the promised land.

Nonetheless, the Patriots went 14-3, suggesting it is optimum for your Ball Club to be adept at stopping the run and RTDB. And Strategic Thinking, as well as personnel decisions, ought to trend in that direction.

However, all four Top Ten Rush offenses, among TOP leaders, had QBs who played full 17 game seasons. Still, only two of the Top Ten Run Defenses had QBs playing less than 17 and one of those was rested in the final game.

And if you are trying to measure complementary football the difference between the run defense rankings and the run offense rankings may give you some sense of scale.

There are out-of-balance teams who have gone to and won the Super Bowl.

Friday, October 3, 2025

History of Chargers Washington

Here's bits on history of Chargers-Skins, Special Teams in D.C., and some fourth-and-ones.

History

The Chargers and Commanders are related.

Joe Jackson Gibbs was the Offensive Coordinator for Don Coryell's Chargers for two years ahead of taking over in Washington. Gibbs was with Coryell at San Diego State.

I didn't know Bill Walsh was also a Coryell Offensive Coordinator at one point.

I used to think West Coast = Walsh East Coast = Coryell. Now what? Intercontinental Coast?

Norv Turner was East Coast. Norv's best year as Head Coach?

You guessed it. The 2009 . . . San Diego Chargers.

His defensive coordinator that year?

Riverboat Ron Rivera. Most recently Skins-Commanders Head Coach.

The 1980 Chargers were something. Interestingly, Joey T and the Skins beat that great Chargers team, 40-17.

Bobby Beathard was general manager for the Skins and the Chargers. Went to the Super Bowl with both squads.

Stan Humphries, former Skins QB, was the Quarterback for the 1994 Charger team that lost to the Niners in the Super Bowl.

Special Teams

Is Special Teams due a big game for the Commanders? Let's remember their heritage.

Mike Nelms

Bill Malinchak

Herb Mul-Key

B-Mitch Tuddies

Malinchak was about carving your niche. Mike Nelms was about bringing the hammer. Herb Mul-Key was about going the distance. B-Mitch was about taking it to the house.

Special teams is a nascence. It has always been the origin story of many a great NFL Career. Not just players.

Remember. Dick Vermeil? Marv Levy? Special Teams Coordinators for George Allen.

This just so happens to be a Washington Commander Special Teams Unit that can live up to the Old George Allen Special Teams squads. Outside of adding Ja'Corey Brooks and Donovan Edwards to the return man rotation, I can't think of anything more they can do than what they are doing now.

Fourth and Ones

I thought Joe Whitt's remarks about social media to be spot-on. Turn off your phone. Get off the grid. Other people that's hell. Nobody outside the locker room knows what they're talking about. It's a waste of brain. This is your brain on social media. It is a total loss of focus.

It also sounds like Coach knows what the problems are on defense. Put away the cape. Work with each other.

Makes sense. They've only had four games together. But . . . preseason is over.

Light-heartedness: light-hearted focus, light-hearted concentration, light-hearted communication. Football joy. Building authenticity. Building trust. Dispensing with impostor syndrome. Can't do it with doom and gloom. Or dating negative Nancies.

Doom and gloom is grist for the mill.

Use it to build some fire.

Friday, September 5, 2025

Two Minute Offense

The Cowboys covered and the under was the pick for last night's Game.

Here's the highlights.

Here's the Cowboy Review.

Pro Football Focus picks Commanders.

Adam Peters on Grant and Danny.

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Notebook: Cincinnati Info Blurb

Commanders Coach Dan Quinn is 0-1 against the Bengals.That was a 37-36 loss against the Marvin Lewis Bengals in 2018.

In 2022, the Dallas Cowboys clipped the Bengals 20-17 with Dan Quinn as Defensive Coordinator. The Cowboys sacked Joe Burrow six times. Noah Brown, now with the Commanders, caught a TD.

Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury faced the Bengals in 2019 as Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Zac Taylor was also Head Coach then. Lou Anarumo was defensive coordinator then as well. OC then was Brian Callahan. Now the Bengals Offensive Coordinator is Dan Pitcher. The Cardinals ran 38 times for 266 yards. They had 514 total yards and won time of possession. Kingsbury won 26-23.

According to CoPilot Sharp Money is favoring the Bengals who are favored by 7.5 points, the over-under is 47.5 points. Public money is also favoring the Bengals.

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Chase Brice Chiefs Press Interview

Competition for QB3:

Source: KCSN

Heard the Eagles were thinking of keeping four QBs post-Niner debacle. Will the Commanders consider it?

Monday, April 24, 2023

Sources of Fun for Washington's 2023 Draft

I guess I have to say this: It is ok to have fun Commanders Family.

That includes fans and scribes and mikes (microphones) and yes, players and coaches. It is all right. Maybe it is only one year. But you don't have to worry about corruption and bad luck and bad karma and bad overpriced parking spots. Just take it easy. Enjoy the Draft. Enjoy the land of wishes, hopes, and dreams.

People say this is just hype. Everybody wins the offseason. In a way I am grateful for that. It is a break from tearing people down all the time. I get tired of that. Tired of hearing people's pedigree questioned. And the perfectionism is so intense you wonder what planet it's from. Do these people even know human beings?

There are countless imperfect football players who were great. In statistically significant amounts. One of the best things about the sport of football is the maturation process. Seeing people learn and grow. It is a sport where you can learn and grow your whole career. Even when you become a coach and a teacher. You hear Zen people talk about the Beginner's Mind. Football requires it. You have to constantly keep an open mind because syndromes get you into trouble.

That's fun. Is your coach open minded? Are your players coachable? Can they adapt? Or do they keep doing the same thing?

Not to say there aren't good syndromes. As in good habits. Good skill sets. Things you do as a matter of good maintenance. Best practices hygiene.

So where can you go to get your draft party on?

If you want a tip on guys no one is looking at, Emory Hunt is your guy. Especially if you are wondering, as I am, if the Commanders are hoping to get a QB3 in the draft. But Hunt will be the best at defining who the undrafted free agents are.

For you Football Scholars and Historians, there's also Thinking Football. People with a QB focus are Jordan Palmer, Tim Jenkins, Kurt Warner, and J.T. O'Sullivan.

If you want a Commanders Focus and a collected history of who the Commanders have been looking at, go to Rico at Street Scores. Ditto Pedro. For sheer Fan Base Rah Rah there is Louie Tee, Rio Robinson, and Ed Oliver.

Doc is on ESPN. B-Mitch is on 106.7 the Fan. The old Sports Blitz guys Kevin and Thommie are at The Kevin Sheehan Show.

If you like a straight line journalistic approach, there's Rick Snider, John Keim, and Hoffman.

Joe Theismann no doubt is a worthwhile Google Search. If Riggo makes a pronouncement, it will probably be at MegaRiggins.

I don't know where Sabah is. She'll pop up.