CSN Redskins Nation Wrap, 12 May 2009

Why am I doing this? It's May.

There is a Redskins themed show on in the Washington area almost every night and I never watch any of them except be accident, then last night after the Washington Capitals magically beat the Pittsburgh Penguins to force a round two game seven tomorrow in Chinatown, neighbor Bill let Comcast SportsNet, the locally focused sports network, run on and Redskins Nation came on, and right there in front of us was our very own ORB (Official Redskins Blogger) Matt Terl trying to get a word in edge wise with host Larry Michael.

So I decided I was going to check out Redskins Nation, weeknights at 10:30pm, more regularly and when I did to summarize it for the out of town Redskins fans with no access to the show. Feel free to drop a comment or shoot me a note if you have any particular feelings about this show, I know it is a team production, I am going into it with an open mind in pursuit of more information and insight about my beloved Redskins. I may have show notes.

=====

Prelude: during Comcast SportsNite in the 10pm slot before Redskins Nation there was Nicklas Backstrom, forward for the Capitals, sporting a black ball cap with the Redskins curly R logo for today's media availability. Rock on Swedish hockey forward Redskins fans.

Cold open: Larry Michael teases Mike Williams in studio, minicamp footage and more. Opening sequence is not bad.

First segment: music ran over Larry's comments opening the interview with RT Mike Williams, that's a production issue. Mike recounts his college and pro career so far, the interview is interrupted awkwardly by LG Derrick Dockery intruding on the set. Mike discusses his college (Texas) relationship with Derrick. Derrick and his wife had a baby girl on Friday? Congratulations to them! Mike was very politic about his weight, prefers right tackle to any other position on the line. Cameraman cannot figure out how to get Mike in frame, shuttling in and out and moving side to side, another production issue. Larry awkwardly keeps looking from camera to Mike, if he is going to split his looks they need to move a camera over to Larry's right so his swings are not so far between guest and camera, it would be better if Larry just concentrated on his guest then swung back to the camera to outro the segment and go to break.

Second segment: begins with Larry teasing the Capitals, CSN has coverage tomorrow, I will be watching and Curly R will once again be a Capitals blog. One hundred and twenty-four days until the season opener, Larry teases an early betting line on the game... after the next break. Coverage moves to taped coverage of OTAs with Larry voice over, all linemen working on footwork, they all look like they are dancing. OL Will Montgomery is from Centreville High School? Way to go local boy! Then coverage of lineman doing ten yard dashes, timed by assistant strength and conditioning coach Harrison Bernstein, who just turns 31 tomorrow. There must have been more exciting practice field coverage than that.

Back in the studio, Larry is envisioning Brian Orakpo and Albert Haynesworth on the line togther... mmm QB sandwich. Larry say Pro Football Weekly is projecting Brian as a possible rookie of the year. Really bold prediction there guys, he was a high draft pick and will play for a great defense. Second segment ends with tease of our man blogger Matt Terl in the next segment.

Third segment: opens with tease of Capitals-Penguins game tomorrow, then around the NFL. Favre blah blah blah. Then on to OUR MAN MATT TERL, Larry, show our man Matt a little love in this segment, Larry just said this was his favorite segment but not because of Matt. Matt's most valuable insight was regarding the competition for the number two quarterback spot, after three days of camp Matt is not ready to cut Colt Brennan. Larry answered a question about a Georgia Redskins fan wanting to see Redskins Nation, Larry informed us that team generated media is territorial like broadcast coverage and that it cannot be shown in Georgia. However Redskins Nation will be running shows on weekly opponents in the regular season, Washington plays Atlanta so we know we will see footage of the 1992 raining seat cushions playoff game. Matt was generally impressed by the rookies at minicamp though did not get a chance to see them all. Show outro ran a really old sounding version of team song Hail to the Redskins.

All in all not bad, I look forward to tomorrow night.



Comcast SportsNet Redskins Nation logo, detail from here.