A Reason for Cautious Optimism

There is almost never a time when any stock should be put into a pre-season game. No reason for excitement; no reason to think your team is suddenly going to make a run at the Super Bowl; no reason to watch more than a half of the worst product any of the major sports leagues in the world puts out. Anyone who does watch entire pre-season games, well, less just say they may be a little sports "quirky".

However, occasionally, once in a great while, there may be one aspect of your team that was so horrific the season before that for just a blip in the game, suddenly there is a reason for hope - all be it slim hope.

In 2009 the Redskins offensive line was terrible. Injuries decimated the trenches. Men stepped in who had no business being on a starting NFL team's offensive line. Jason Campbell was murdered, and Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts struggled to find running room.

Saturday night for two series, the offensive line allowed Donovan McNabb to be touched once...on a roughing the passer call. Portis and Torrain found room to run with the first string. A unit that allows the quarterback time to go through his progression and provides lanes for the back to run through? Say it ain't so!

On Saturday at Fed Ex Field, there was one more small aspect that stood out as a "Thank God" moment. If you are not a Redskins fan you may not have noticed it. If you are a Redskins fan, then it sure as heck was not just a small aspect. Towards the end of the first string defense's time on the field, Deangelo Hall did something Redskins fans long to see. He caught a pass. A Redskin's defensive back actually intercepted a pass. Redskins fans know that the DB's usually can find the right spot, it's the catching the ball part that always seems to elude them.

If the offensive line and defensive backs can make these improvements count in real games and do it for more than just one quarter, maybe there is a reason for cautious optimism in D.C. this fall...

...Starting tomorrow I will be making two blog posts per day, Monday through Friday. The early morning post these days will just feature links to some reading material on either local teams or something important or funny in sports. It's a way for you to kick start your work day at your desk with your coffee or breakfast. Hey, everyone struggles those first couple minutes...or hours at work. This post will even get its own special name (cue the "wow's" and "omg's"). I've narrowed it to either Coffee Comrade or Breakfast Buddy, but I want reader's input. E-mail or Gchat me your thoughts at cschoenbauer@gmail.com. Or tweet me your opinion @mrschoenbauer. You could even leave it at the One Game at a Time Facebook page! Or, as always feel free to comment and start discussion right here. Don't worry, my own post will follow very shortly after, and maybe you'll have double posts and reading material to start your day!...