Trent Williams & Russell Okung In Trading Places

Serendipity For Williams & Okung

Once upon a time, in 2010, there were two big powerful All-American left tackles from the Big 12.  One went to Oklahoma, one went to Oklahoma State.  One was drafted with the #4 pick, the other with the #6.  One drafted by the Washington Redskins, the other by the Seattle Seahawks.

Fast forward to 2012 and those two men are both Pro Bowlers.  They are both in the playoffs.  They are both in the NFC.  One on the East Coast, one on the West Coast.  They each protect fast & exciting rookie quarterbacks.  And on Sunday, their teams will face each other in the NFC Wildcard Game.

For Trent Williams and Russell Okung, two similar paths have led them to the same place...but things could have been so very different...yet possibly so similar...

In 2010, as the Redskins were getting amped up over their new shiny quarterback Donovan McNabb.  The organization was dead set on trying to find someone to protect this investment over the next several bountiful years.  And while we all know that Trent Williams turned out to be the guy (and McNabb turned out not to be the quarterback), the Redskins were very interested in Russell Okung.

Okung visited the Redskins before the draft and, according to his agent, the top-ranked (in many circles) tackle had a very good visit.  It was looking like Russell Okung would be protecting Donovan McNabb's blindside.

But Mike Shanahan and his zone blocking scheme ranked the more athletic Williams a little higher and scooped him up with the 4th pick.

But it is interesting to consider what would happen if we could go back in time and pull a Trading Places bit with Trent Aykroid and Russell Murphy.  Would their careers have ended up as serendipitous as they have?  Would their respective teams be facing off this Sunday?

More Seahawks Vs Redskins Playoff Coverage:

• 5 Reasons The Seahawks Are Beatable
• 5 Reasons The Seahawks Are Dangerous
• 3 Players Who Could Save The Redskins
• 3 Players Who Could Crush The Redskins
• 2 Games That Should Give Redskins Fans Nightmares
• 2 Games That Should Give Redskins Fans Hope

McNabb Returns, Still Won't Wear Wristband

As everyone knows by now, Donovan McNabb was on ESPN's First Take this morning and he had a few interesting comments about Shanahan and the Redskins...Let's examine:

1.  Would Mike Shanahan be a good fit for RGIII?

McNabb responded by saying "No" because he says there is too much ego in DC and they will refuse to adapt to RGIII and "run the spread".  Well with a guy like McNabb and a guy like Shanahan, that makes perfect sense.  Both guys think they are the best.  Both guys have had previous success.  Both guys think their way is the best.  But how does that translate to RG3?

RG3 doesn't seem to have an ego.  He seems to have his head on his shoulders and looks like he would be excited to be in the league and learn how to be an NFL QB.  He won't demand to be the starter.  He won't refuse to learn the playbook.  He won't throw away his wristband.

All RG3 will do is meet with Shanahan, learn the offense, adapt to the offense, and in turn Shanahan will adapt to him. That is the perfect situation.  Both people adapting.  McNabb on the other hand refused to budge towards Shanny and in turn Shanny refused to budge towards McNabb.  Terrible situation.

2.  Do you have an axe to grind?  "I do but I don't"

Great response.  Makes perfect sense.  You say the affirmative and the negative, which cancels out into being an idiot.

Anyways, I had to stop watching this train-wreck, especially after Michael Smith started to basically speak the truth to McNabb's bias.  Too awkward.  I didn't learn anything from this segment except that McNabb is a terrible analyst.  Blowed Out!