One Small Step, One Giant Leap

I sat at work yesterday evening waiting for the clock on the wall to strike 6:30pm so I could high tail it out of there and get on to more important things. My Skins were about to open their 2008 football season and I was primed for an unbelievable night of Redskins madness. I raced to the parking lot, jumped into the Escort(yes..that's a Ford Escort ZX2 5 spd), and started down the road. I only live 15 minutes from the place of my employment, so I knew I had plenty of time to make it home before kickoff. Now, if any of you reading this have ever driven in the Hampton Roads area, you know that getting home sometimes can be a monumental task. Usually, there is very little rush hour traffic and the ride home is typically uneventful. But NOT on this night. I caught every red light on the 6 mile trek to my house.(That's about 12 all together). I got behind the oldest, slowest and most non-driving human being in the great state of VA! I dodged and weaved and finally pulled into my driveway at 6:50pm. During this trying drive home, my brother-in-law sends me a text and asked me why I'm not at his house yet to share this moment! I calmly text him back(not recommended if you're driving at the time btw) and explained to him that I was trapped in red light hell and behind some one's grandmother whom the DMV should know ought not to have a license still. Hold the fort, I'm coming! Ran into the house, spoke to my husband as I ran into my bedroom, threw open my Redskins T-shirt drawer, picked out the white franchise tee that I bought years ago and my Skins shorts, and of course on my feet were the Skins Crocs that I had worn to work for good measure.(Never underestimate karma..mmmk?) Ran back through the living room, shouted something to my husband about the Redskins game, opening night, we're gonna win, gave him "dap" and I was on the road. Turned up the radio that was tuned into Sonny, Sam and Larry, out of DC for the game. I laughed and shook my head as Larry Michael informed the listening audience that Khary Campbell had somehow managed to get injured DURING THE COIN TOSS! "The coin toss?", I said. "You've got to be freakin' kiddin' me! No one gets hurt on the coin toss! Did the coin fly out of Mrs. Upshaw's hand and bean him in the eye or something?" This was not a good sign. Only the Redskins can get hurt during the coin toss I shouted out of my window to no one in particular. Luckily, I was close to my destination at this point. Got to my b-i-l's just after the opening kick. Not too bad for an Escort!

Have you ever heard the saying "I should have stayed in bed"? Well, the Redskins should have stayed in bed last night. We not only managed to get a player hurt during the coin toss, we could get nothing in gear for the entire first half save the last 2 minutes. Campbell was sacked on the 1st offensive series, penalties, missed receivers, dropped passes(you get the picture). The Giants,however, scored a TD on their first offensive series. The Giants scored 2 more times during the first half and I felt the pain.

"Or will they struggle just to get a first down?"

Remember this question from the previous entry in this blog? The answer to this question is YES! The Redskins had 1 first down in the 1st quarter and that was given to them on a roughing the kicker penalty late in that quarter. It was an abysmal picture to say the least. We finally were able to put some sort of an attempt at playing the game together close to the end of the half when Jason Campbell hit Santana Moss with a 12yd strike and he scooted into the end zone for a TD. All present clapped and said, "we'll take it!". (At that point, we would have taken blood from a turnip if it meant something positive.)

There were a few bright spots mixed in with the darkness of defeat.

• Clinton Portis looked decent enough. He gave all that he had and he became frustrated at the lackluster performance of those around him. I saw him once giving advice to Jim Zorn on the sideline and then he broke for a respectable run.
• Our rookie punter got plenty of practice(unfortunate in one way..good in another)and he didn't perform too shabbily. There were a few glitches but all in all, he seems to be the real deal (we hope).
• We were able to keep the champs from scoring in the 2nd half. But of course we didn't score either so take that for what it's worth. [snort..big sigh]
• London Fletcher is one of the best defensive players in the league. He's of small stature but he's of huge heart. I thanked the Almighty for him many times during the game last night.

As the game progressed, the Redskins seemed to have slowly made their way out of the fog and clouds of preseason and took a few, small steps into their new direction. It's apparent that this team has a ways to go before we can talk about the success or failure of our new coach.

As a faithful and die hard fan of this team, it's painful to see, yet again, that we are starting over. As I contemplated this game all day on Thursday, I was hopeful that we could keep it close. We did, but not entirely on our own merit. The Giants actually had a hand in the small steps that we managed to take. The penalties, the interception, the missed throws and shades of old Eli, kept us in the game. The Giants, for the most part, played well. Hats off to them.

As for my Redskins, this is just another step on the journey to the top. While I was disappointed in how this season started, I am hopeful that as a team, my Redskins can pull it together and show their fans that with a lot of patience, a lot of learning and a little luck, this franchise can once again, stake it's claim to fame.

I must endure yet another mediocre season of football. I'll make excuses, justifications and pick out with a fine-tooth comb, the positives every week. One small step into the new direction of this team, one giant leap is yet to be made. I'll be waiting patiently just like I have over the last 17 years. Sooner or later, it will pay off.