More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

Matt Bowen has again agreed to an exclusive Q & A with the members of TheWarpath.net.

Post here whatever questions you have for Matt about the Redskins and the NFL.

I will be sending them to him tomorrow night and he will attempt to answer all your questions

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

How long does it take for a defense to fully adjust to the 3-4 after being a 4-3? Will there be much difference in coverages w/the def. backs in Haslett's scheme?

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

As a defensive coach, what is Haslett's reputation within the league. His teams have seemed basically mediocre. Is he viewed as someone who has the ability to create an elite defense?

Near the end of his tenure in Denver, Shanahan's defenses were unspectacular and he sacked several D. Coordinators quickly - seemingly making them the scapegoat for his team's failures. Historically, while having a solid reputation for offense, Shanahan's defenses don't seem to stand out. What, if anything, do you expect from a Shanahan coached team on the defensive side of the ball?

Shanahan has reputation as an incredibly egotistical coach often, apparently, convinced of his own genius. Again, historically, this appears to have led him into some very questionable personnel moves. Is it possible to tell if this facet of his personality has changed? If not, what problems/frictions could this create with Bruce Allen? If so, how has the change manifested itself?

Defensively, who is the most important assistant coach on Haslett's staff? Why?

What role do position coaches play in the development of players? How much input do the position coaches have in determining how players will be used ([I]i.e.[/I] - WR Coach to O. Coord: "He is great for short routes and slants but lousy at the comeback - If you develop some plays that utilize his talent for ________, he can be unstoppable.")

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

Here are recaps of our last Q & A's with Matt Bowen so we don't have repeat questions

[url]http://www.thewarpath.net/redskins-locker-room/33015-thewarpath-net-interviews-matt-bowen-part.html?[/url]

[url]http://www.thewarpath.net/redskins-locker-room/33179-thewarpath-net-interviews-matt-bowen-part.html?[/url]

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

1) Of the coaching staff (besides head coach, O and D coordinators) who does he think is the greatest addition. And who was the greatest loss from the previous tenure?

2) His take on the structure of the new FO and is Dan truly stepping back?

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Matt;

1. What do you think of the Redskin's Draft and the acquistion of D. McNabb?

2. What do you think of the new Front Office not spending so much for Free Agent's this past off-season, or do you think we were just aggressive enough?

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

Based on your experiences as a player, what do you think the internal consensus is among Redskins players about:

1) The Albert Haynesworth fiasco (his absence from team activities and the media's constant attention to everything he does and doesn't do)

2) Santana's alleged use of HGH

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

1) What primary scheme do you think our 'hybrid(3-4)' defense will run with the DL 1-gap or 2-gap? Assuming Haynesworth plays DE in our 3-4 front, schematically could he be a 1-gap penetrator? Even while the other DL (NT and LDE) 2-gap?

2) The 3-4 teams that have smaller ILBs like the Charger and Steelers do they still have traditional SILB and WILB roles or are their ILBs interchangeable? And how do you think the Redskins will split the duties between Rocky and Fletch?

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

1) During your tenure as a redskin, do you feel the sense that a few people have written about the skins as of late that the team is a haven for players to come and pickup large paydays without motivation for winning, and that this team was chock full of a bunch of mercenaries the past few years?

If you agree with that sense, then,

2) Without naming names, are there still any players on this team with that mentality, and how would you rate the redskins front office's restraint this off season regarding big name acquisitions at overinflated salaries? Agree, or are the head guys being TOO overly cautious, being fully aware of the past trend of paying out the wazoo for undermotivated players?

HAIL!

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

Where, if anywhere, does Rob Jackson fit in?

Do you see a break out year for Chris Wilson?

How do you see the FS position playing out? I know they have said there isn't much of a difference between the 2 safety spots, but they have also said LL will be playing closer to the line.

Lo Alexander is being moved to LB. I know the guy is said to be the strongest player on the team, but LB at his size? Seems odd, unless it's only for obvious run situations.

Does Henson stand a chance to not only make the team, but have an impact. TCU has had a few pretty good LBs break out. Can he be the next one?

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

[quote=BigHairedAristocrat;702887]Based on your experiences as a player, what do you think the internal consensus is among Redskins players about:

1) The Albert Haynesworth fiasco (his absence from team activities and the media's constant attention to everything he does and doesn't do)

2) Santana's alleged use of HGH[/quote]

Beat me to it. On both questions.

[quote=30gut;703035]1) What primary scheme do you think our 'hybrid(3-4)' defense will run with the DL 1-gap or 2-gap? And if Haynesworth plays DE [B]could he be a 1-gap penetrator?
[/B]
2) The 3-4 teams that have smaller ILBs like the Charger and Steelers do they still have traditional SILB and WILB roles or are their ILBs interchangeable? And how do you think the Redskins will split the duties between Rocky and Fletch?[/quote]

LOL. Sorry. My mind is in the gutter. :)

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What positives and negatives do you take from our offseason thusfar? Where have we strengthened ourselves? Where did we do too little or miss the mark? Thanks Matt. HTTR!!!

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

What do you think will be the effect(s) of the reportedly better strength and conditioning program?

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

before i submit my question, which i think is kinda lame but its been a lingering question ive had since the play happened.

can anyone tell me when this game happened/date:\

Skins playing panthers. bowen is a starting safety. wr steve smith wasnt known as a superstar yet.

close game, panthers have the ball with a few minutes left trying to either tie or go ahead.

delhomme throws a long ball to steve smith who, as he is catching it, is absolutely drilled by bowen. some how steve smith hung on to the ball. smith got up and did one of those brush my shoulder off moves. right then and there, i was like who teh hell is that guy, hes going to be a beast.

my question to matt bowen, after i figure out the right game, is whether he remembers that play and what he thought the seconds after he absolutely drilled steve smith but steve still made the catch.

can anyone help me figure out what game that was? ive tried internet searches but havent come up with anything referencing to that play or youtube clips.

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

I think that must have been 2003. November

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

[quote=over the mountain;703142]before i submit my question, which i think is kinda lame but its been a lingering question ive had since the play happened.

can anyone tell me when this game happened/date:\

Skins playing panthers. bowen is a starting safety. wr steve smith wasnt known as a superstar yet.

close game, panthers have the ball with a few minutes left trying to either tie or go ahead.

delhomme throws a long ball to steve smith who, as he is catching it, is absolutely drilled by bowen. some how steve smith hung on to the ball. smith got up and did one of those brush my shoulder off moves. right then and there, i was like who teh hell is that guy, hes going to be a beast.

my question to matt bowen, after i figure out the right game, is whether he remembers that play and what he thought the seconds after he absolutely drilled steve smith but steve still made the catch.

can anyone help me figure out what game that was? ive tried internet searches but havent come up with anything referencing to that play or youtube clips.[/quote]

November 16, 2003

[URL="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2003111604/2003/REG11/redskins@panthers"]NFL Game Center: Washington Redskins at Carolina Panthers - 2003 Week 11[/URL]

Steve Smith was already comming into his own. It was the 2003 season that got him his contract to be the highest paid WR on the Panthers. The season prior to that he had 54 catches for 872 yards for a 16.1 YPC.

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

Thanks alot fellas. It was nov 16, 2003 in a 20 to 17 loss to the panthers.

my question if im not late again:

On November 16th, 2003, you had 5 tackles, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble in a Redskins' 20 to 17 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

One of those tackles came with about 2 and half minutes to play in the 4th quarter, with the Redskins leading teh game 17 to 13. Carolina and Jake Delhomme had the ball at our 37 yard line.

Delhomme threw a 30 yard completion to a then relatively unknown wide receiver named Steve Smith at our 7 yard line. On that play, you absolutely blasted Steve Smith as he was in the act of catching the ball. Somehow Steve Smith maintained possession, got up and did the "brush my shoulders off" move.

Do you remember that play?

Did you think your only hope of dislodging the ball from Smith was to blast him?

What went through your mind immediately after blasting Steve Smith but realizing he held onto the ball?

Knowing that you were coming off a concussion one week prior to that hit, if you had the chance to go back, would you have just wrapped up Smith and conceded the catch at our 7 yard line or would you do what you did, which was sacrifice your body to a train wreck collision knowing it was the only way to possibily jar the ball loose and negate the completion?

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

Get all your questions in by 8pm EST tonight.

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

[URL="http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/The-high-cost-of-concussions.html"]The high cost of concussions | National Football Post[/URL]

I’ve had that, with the knockout and the all-night vomiting. And I had one in 2003 with the Washington Redskins when I collided with Seattle fullback Mack Strong on our own goal line with a 20-yard sprint behind me from the other hash. We both fell back. I put a hand up and went to the sideline during the opening minutes of the first quarter.

The next tackle I made, on Seattle wide receiver Koren Robinson, was pure luck. He just happened to be standing in front of me, so I tackled him.

That was late in the second quarter. I had no idea how I got there. I threw a hand up again and finally realized where I was -- in the locker room, with a sweatshirt on and an assistant trainer sitting with me. It was the fourth quarter.

Amnesia, they said, the result of a blow to the head.

[B]I started and played the next week at Carolina, and played well — until the fourth quarter when I hit Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith on a post route. My head vibrated inside my helmet. I was foggy, discombobulated, and felt like vomiting again.[/B]

But it was my choice to be out there. I was in charge, and I told the training staff I could play. No one forced me back onto the field, but at the time, I was a starter -- and I wasn’t going to lose that over a concussion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dang, i think i already got my answer. that hit/impact was so freakin vicious, that why its always stood out to me. matt knew the kind of train wreck collision he was in for but sacrificed his body and mind anyways. thats just the kind of hard nosed, sacrifice his body for the better of the team type player he was. never knew he was coming off a concussion one week prior. i vaguely remember the mack strong helmet to helmet incident the week before.

i see alot of reed doughty in him. not the most athletic player on the field but smart and willing to sacrifice his body to make the bone jarring hit if the need arises.

ps - 1 more thing. smith was in front of him and kinda made a jump as he corraled the ball. matt could have easily let smith fall to the ground or decide to take an angle on smith and wrap him up. but it was the last 2 minutes in a game we were up by 4 and the other team was driving on us. it was a crucial play. matt chose to go head on, taking a direct angle into smith in hopes of jarring the ball loose with a vicious hit. matt could have easily doen other things to ensure the tackle (smith was in the process of falling down anyway), but making a full steam direct hit was the only hope of jarring that ball loose. if it was a different player, i think you would have seen him not take such a risk for the team.

with 2 minutes to go, i want players like matt bowen out there. hungry players.

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

Mr Bowen

Could you see the Skins looking like the Shanahan Broncos his last three years there or should we expect more? What differences might his newer staff provide?

Re: More Questions for Matt Bowen
 

What happened to Chris Horton? Why didn't he play much last season? Will we see more of him on the field this coming season?