WP: Haynesworth will be at Redskins Park Monday

[CRedskinsRule]

There is a lot of "meat" in this article:

Redskins Insider - Haynesworth will take first step in new system as workouts start Monday

...

Well, Haynesworth plans to attend the beginning of the team's voluntary offseason conditioning program Monday at Redskins Park, multiple league sources said Saturday night. Coach Mike Shanahan recently stressed he expected all of his "team leaders" to participate in the program, and Haynesworth has committed to joining his teammates in Washington's first team activity under Shanahan.

Although Haynesworth is among the players expected at the complex, however, that doesn't mean he plans to address the media. There will be media availability at some point during the workouts, but Haynesworth just wants to work with his teammates and focus on preparing for the season, people familiar with the situation said. He doesn't want to become the center of attention at a time when Shanahan is just getting started, so he doesn't intend to comment after the workouts.

Moreover, there are no secrets between Haynesworth and the Redskins regarding Haynesworth's feelings about the new defense and his role in it, team sources said. In a meeting at Redskins Park in January, coaches discussed their plans with Haynesworth, and there have been follow-up conversations.

The Redskins do not plan to use Haynesworth as a classic nose tackle, the team sources said. Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett intends to use multiple fronts and envisions Haynesworth moving between the nose and end spots in hybrid alignments. With what Haslett has planned, the Redskins believe Haynesworth will thrive.

In April, the Redskins will cut Haynesworth a check for the $21 million option bonus he is owed. Haynesworth's 2010 base salary of $3.6 million is guaranteed as is his 2011 base of $5.4 million. Obviously, that's a huge financial commitment, so the Redskins need Haynesworth to be in a good frame of mind.

Despite all the criticism of Haynesworth last season, there is no denying the impact he had on the defense. His presence in the middle of the line helped to elevate the level of play of the entire defense, said assistant coaches on other teams who have studied film of the Redskins.

Eyebrows were raised in the coaching offices at the complex early last season when former defensive coordinator Gregg Blache said Haynesworth didn't help to make his teammates better. Two former Redskins assistants told me they strongly disagreed with Blache, who feuded with Haynesworth during the season.

Haynesworth probably isn't giddy about the possibility of having to play the nose, even on a part-time basis. But he plans to show up for the first major event of the Shanahan era. So that's a start.

I bolded the parts that interested me, and specifically the part about Blache. It just reinforced my belief that ALOT of the talent on the defense has been held back by poor coaching, and poor interpersonal skills from the coaches. These guys are all adults, and have a job to do, but if you think that the boss "has it in for you" or "doesn't get it", your performance will be affected.

I hope that this new staff brings a new confidence and new tone to Redskins Park, and I believe that the most important move made so far was the cutting of 10 players on the eve of FA, especially without a followup big name signing that made it look like it was all about freeing up money.

Also looking forward to whatever press reports do come out with regards to the next few days workouts.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Look out!!! Godzilla is back and I think he is angry...

[Longtimefan]

While we've discussed Haynesworth and his projected role in whatever defensive scheme the team decides to implement, the subject of where/how he'll be used will never grow stagnant.

Haynesworth will show up and be a team player, the coaches will find ways to utilize his talents in a way that will not interfere with his preferences, and we won't witness a repeat of the unhappiness he demonstrated towards the end of last season.

I have never understood the obsession with continuing to sugest that arguably your best defensive player should be forced to play a position he's made perfectly clear he wont be comfortable playing. It would be my ambition to keep the "big guy" happy in hopes of getting his maximum effort as a result. The most important thing for Haynesworth is conditioning, this staff may not be comfortable with him playing 60% of the snaps. This season he's going to have to spend more time on the field regardless of what his role is on the defense.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

While we've discussed Haynesworth and his projected role in whatever defensive scheme the team decides to implement, the subject of where/how he'll be used will never grow stagnant.

Haynesworth will show up and be a team player, the coaches will find ways to utilize his talents in a way that will not interfere with his preferences, and we won't witness a repeat of the unhappiness he demonstrated towards the end of last season.

I have never understood the obsession with continuing to sugest that arguably your best defensive player should be forced to play a position he's made perfectly clear he wont be comfortable playing. It would be my ambition to keep the "big guy" happy in hopes of getting his maximum effort as a result. The most important thing for Haynesworth is conditioning, this staff may not be comfortable with him playing 60% of the snaps. This season he's going to have to spend more time on the field regardless of what his role is on the defense.

You mean he has to play on 80% of the snaps? He played in 72% of the snaps in the games he played last year. Most DTs don't log that much time.

[CRedskinsRule]

I believe a good DLine rotates their players as much as possible within the scheme, and how the opponent uses the play clock. That lets the whole DLine stay ready to attack throughout the game. That belief makes the # of plays stat for DL one of the most overblown in my mind. I hope Kemo heals well, and we rotate the guys so much that by the 4th quarter the opponent's OLmen are sucking air on the bench of every game!

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

You mean he has to play on 80% of the snaps? He played in 72% of the snaps in the games he played last year. Most DTs don't log that much time.

I agree that "Haynesworth is out of shape and needs to be on the field more" is blown way out of proportion. Now, it does look bad when he is getting carted off and then comes back in but who cares. When they signed him, they told everbody that he isn't an every down player.

IMO it comes down to jealousy and the # victories. Because they were 4-12, the media (especially the local media) loves to pile on how we spent 100 million on this guy and got worse (the 100 million is another popular inaccuracy). People are jealous of Albert so they feed on any negative out there.

Nothing this guy does is going to live up to the expectations created by his deal. He could have an All-Pro year in 2010, lead us to 12-4 but if we lost in the playoffs 10-7, I guarantee that the same jerks that blast him daily now (Andy Polin/Steve Czaban) would still repeat the same stupid jokes about him.

Every team would love to have him and his peers voted him the most dominant player in the NFL.

[53Fan]

I expect AH to do nothing less than kick-ass and take names this year and he'll be in better shape. Blache was basically stuck in his system with no idea how to improvise. He could've probably pissed Reggie White off and made him mediocre. If Kemo gets healthy I think he'll have a big impact on what the other linemen can do. I expect different looks like we've seen from Pittsburgh and hopefully a lot more chaos created. I'm really looking forward to seeing this defense. Blache kept this defense hogtied with so many reads. Turn the BEAST loose!!!

[skinsfaninok]

I love big al! He's a tank

[30gut]

I'm a big time Albert Haynseworth fan
He plays hard
He doesn't mince words
I LoL'd when Zorn 'punished' him by sending him home on Christmas?
I loved it when he came to D. Hall defense and layed a big hambone hand on a couple of Falcons
Media love to hate on the dude
But Big Al is a beast!
I knew he would be their on Monday and i think him and Haslett are gonna to get along fine(both have actually stepped on a opponents face!)
Albert has that mean streak you can build a defense around

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by 30gut

I'm a big time Albert Haynseworth fan
He plays hard
He doesn't mince words
I LoL'd when Zorn 'punished' him by sending him home on Thanksgiving?
I loved it when he came to D. Hall defense and layed a big hambone hand on a couple of Falcons
Media love to hate on the dude
But Big Al is a beast!
I knew he would be their on Monday and i think him and Haslett are gonna to get along fine(both have actually stepped on a opponents face!)
Albert has that mean streak you can build a defense around

Hell Yeah!!!

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by 30gut

I'm a big time Albert Haynseworth fan
He plays hard
He doesn't mince words
I LoL'd when Zorn 'punished' him by sending him home on Thanksgiving?
I loved it when he came to D. Hall defense and layed a big hambone hand on a couple of Falcons
Media love to hate on the dude
But Big Al is a beast!
I knew he would be their on Monday and i think him and Haslett are gonna to get along fine(both have actually stepped on a opponents face!)
Albert has that mean streak you can build a defense around

I think that Blache had it in for Albert as soon as he was signed. Blache refused to make changes that would have maximized Albert's ability so ultimately everybody suffered.

Just another example how we are better off with a clean slate.

[tootergray34]

well I say he better fucking show up...it's his job...and could you imagine making that much money and NOT showing up to your job. He needs to not only be producing at a pro bowl caliber level...but he also needs to be a presence in the locker room...and I mean a positive presence.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by tootergray34

well I say he better fucking show up...it's his job...and could you imagine making that much money and NOT showing up to your job. He needs to not only be producing at a pro bowl caliber level...but he also needs to be a presence in the locker room...and I mean a positive presence.

This is an example of what I am talking about. Shitsham singlehandedly lost two games for us (Dallas and NO). You are saying that AH needs to do his job, is he supposed to kick field goals too? Zorn singlehandedly pissed away the Detroit game. Is AH supposed to take the 3 points when you can't run or decide that when you have a team stopped you let them kick a 50 yarder instead of giving them another down?

When did AH not show up? If those games down the stretch had mattered, he would have played in at least a couple of them.

I like his locker room presence. He is a straight shooter and basically said the team needed to play better. Was he supposed to be happy when they were losing games that they threw away?

Too many people in that building were comfortable with losing but AH takes the heat because he signed a big deal.

[GusFrerotte]

I am sure Haslett is going to maximize Al's potential for unleashing havoc with this hybrid scheme he is talking about. Would like to see what this hybrid looks like. Just a standard 3-4 with say a large MLB "cheating" just behind the NG or DT? Will be cool to see what Haslett has going.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by tootergray34

well I say he better fucking show up...it's his job...and could you imagine making that much money and NOT showing up to your job. He needs to not only be producing at a pro bowl caliber level...but he also needs to be a presence in the locker room...and I mean a positive presence.

Seriously. I hate it when guys get praise for showing up to workout. It's your profession. They make oodles of money and still get a few months off every year. Showing up to throw some weights around in the offseason doesn't deserve any extra kudos whatsoever.

Also, I hope no one gets their hopes over statements like this:

Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett intends to use multiple fronts and envisions Haynesworth moving between the nose and end spots in hybrid alignments. With what Haslett has planned, the Redskins believe Haynesworth will thrive.

What are they supposed to say? We just gave a retarded amount of money to this guy, now we're switching to a scheme where he may not be nearly as effective, and we're pretty concerned about how he'll fit. ??

Hopefully he can still occupy two O-lineman as 3-4 DE and free up Orakpo to wreak havoc a la Demarcus Ware. The article mentions Haslett moving Big Al around. I'd be interested to know what specific situations they'd use him as an end and at nose.

Anyone else a bit concerned with the notion of moving back and forth from a 3-4 to a 4-3 in the middle of the game? Hopefully we have the personnel, intelligence, and coaching to make that happen successfully.