Great win yesterday. Great for a variety of reasons the biggest of which is that the Redskins snap their two game losing streak and pull out a good divisional win on the road. Almost as good was that Donovan McNabb was able to come back to Philly and beat his former team. I think most of the NFL viewing community was pulling for him in this game.
Major points of the game:
1. Loved that the Skins committed to the running game. Both Portis and Torain had nice games running the ball. They were both physical and Portis was pretty elusive making good cut backs time and again. Interesting in that Portis' first run he seemed to make a point to hit someone as he was going towards the sideline to disprove what people had been saying all week about his reluctance for contact. Also, great TD run by Torain. The guy gave a tremendous shot to the Philly DB who bounced off him allowing Torain a clear path to the end zone. Give credit to the O line for the strong running game as well.
2. Good defensive strategy. Our CBs were physical with their talented WRs and jammed them at the line. Also, looked like we were running more of a 4-3 look. Vick was held in check for the most part while he was in there and Kolb didn't do anything but dunk and dink while he was in there. As much as I like Carter, it was the right call to put Lorenzo Alexander in his spot, at least until Vick was injured and Kolb was in there and then I liked Carter going in there as a pass rushing DE. I thought Haynesworth had a decent game. He got good pressure a number of times and was held at least twice. Pretty disruptive and that's what we need from him. Orakpo was good in pass rush. He would have several sacks this year if not for all the holding calls against him.
3. I like Brandon Banks as the punt returner although he still scares me when he catches the ball and as he carries it. He is so small and seems like the ball can be stripped from him easily. Still, he gave us great field position on our first drive and he definitely has an upside.
4. Bring back Durant Brooks. Josh Bidwell sucks! Don't know if he is still hurt or what but he has pretty much been a liability for us this season. Seems like we can find a punter fairly easily and we should be doing that.
5. Can Carlos Rogers catch? This guy has the worst hands I have ever seen. He could have ended the game with an INT that was right in his hands but he dropped yet another potential INT. He is having a very good year but he could be having a Pro Bowl year if he could actually catch some of these balls.
6. Stephon Heyer did an admirable job at LT facing Trent Cole. However, he had a few penalties in the game and a very damaging false start penalty late in the game on a 2nd and 3. We had two plays to get 3 yards and that would have iced the game but instead it made it 2nd and 8 and we couldn't get the first down and were forced to punt giving the Eagles and opportunity to score at the end of the game. Hopefully Williams is back next week.
7. Offensive playcalling was a bit of an issue. As mentioned, I loved the commitment to the ground game but we seemed to neglect the passing game. It seemed fairly windy yesterday so I can understand the difficulty in throwing the deep ball. However, the first few games, McNabb and the Redskins seemed to excel at that mid range crossing pattern over the middle to Moss and we didn't take a single shot like that. McNabb only completed 8 passes so I would have just liked to have seen a little better balance b/t rush and pass.
Bottom line, the Skins beat a tough divisional rival on the road and find themselves at the top of the NFC East. The division is WIDE open and it's apparent any one of these teams are capable of winning it. It's a tough couple of weeks coming up with Green Bay at home next week and then Indy on the road the following week. This win resurrects and rejuvenates the team. We just have to continue to get better. In the end, I'm glad McNabb got this win. I know he was saying all week that this was just another game but there is no question this game had more meaning to him and he wanted it. I saw in the postgame him in the locker room. He was given the game ball and did say that everyone makes mistakes and the Eagles made a mistake with him last year. He was a little emotional and I'm glad he was able to come back and stick it to them.
HAIL SKINS!!!!
13 comments:
Good win, but it is again hard to say much because it was a sloppy game and the Eagles may not be very good.
I think the Giants and Cowboys are going to rise to the top of the East, and the Deadskins and Eagles will be stuck with losing records.
But, we'll have to see what happens.
The Deadskins seemed to get too conservative with their play calling in the second half and it almost cost them. McNabb running out of bounds was a little odd. But in the end, I'd rather win ugly than lose pretty and the Redskins found a way.
After 4 weeks, I don't think we can tell who is good and who isn't.
I don't think I would call the game sloppy. It wasn't like there was miscue after miscue. Why would you say that it was sloppy?
The Cowboys may be able to turn it on. They have great talent but Romo, Jones, Phillips seem like they will hold them back some how.
I don't particularly think the Giants are that great.
McNabb running out of bounds was bad. He is a vet and seems like he would have known better.
At the end of the day, we did win and that is all that matters. I thought it was a pretty sound defensive game. Offensively, it was good to be committed to the run game but would have been nice to mix in a few more passes. Not sure if wind played a factor in play calling. Either way, Skins win a tough divisional game on the road.
It's going to take at least a couple more days to recover from yet another nail-biter, but it's far better to win a close game than to lose any game. 2-2 and 2-0 in the division...I'll take it!
1. The solid running game was a pleasant surprise. Too bad Portis got hurt because he was looking elusive and running with power. Torain came in and did a good job though, but I think we're better off with a rotation than relying on either one.
2. The defense was solid against Vick, but I think we got a little too conservative when Kolb came in. The D was on the field forever and we have a lot of trouble creating pressure with our front four. Haynesworth and Osakpo applied some pressure, but neither one is really consistent right now. I'm a little worried about Osakpo. I'd like to see him try an inside move occasionally because he relies on that arm-bar technique to get around the outside a little too often. It's worked to get some holding calls, which is great, but he seems a bit too predictable in his rushing technique right now.
3. Good to see Banks and his speed back on the field, but we got really cute in that first and goal situation where he was in the backfield. Just pound it in. We were gashing them with the run throughout the first half and we shouldn't have to go to gimmick plays like that. We ended up with penalties, getting backed up, and settling for the field goal.
4.Bidwell is terrible.
5.Rogers will never catch any better, regardless of how much he practices. The slow-mo on the drop showed that he just doesn't know how to catch. Steve Czaban calls it a software glitch...I can't disagree.
6.Heyer is a solid backup but we need Williams back. He's more athletic and won't get stuck in a situation where he needs to hold guys so often.
7.Playcalling was an issue. The Iggles took Moss out of the game and it was clear that we don't have a reliable 2nd receiver. Armstrong made some nice catches downfield, but I would have liked to see us utilize Cooley and Davis more. It also seemed like the screen plays were working really well in the first half, but we didn't try to run them in the 2nd. The D was on the field a lot in the 2nd half though so, it's tough to complain much.
Overall, I'll take a win in the division anytime. I'd like to see some improvement in different areas, but it was a good showing after that Rams debacle.
It's going to take at least a couple more days to recover from yet another nail-biter, but it's far better to win a close game than to lose any game. 2-2 and 2-0 in the division...I'll take it!
1. The solid running game was a pleasant surprise. Too bad Portis got hurt because he was looking elusive and running with power. Torain came in and did a good job though, but I think we're better off with a rotation than relying on either one.
2. The defense was solid against Vick, but I think we got a little too conservative when Kolb came in. The D was on the field forever and we have a lot of trouble creating pressure with our front four. Haynesworth and Osakpo applied some pressure, but neither one is really consistent right now. I'm a little worried about Osakpo. I'd like to see him try an inside move occasionally because he relies on that arm-bar technique to get around the outside a little too often. It's worked to get some holding calls, which is great, but he seems a bit too predictable in his rushing technique right now.
3. Good to see Banks and his speed back on the field, but we got really cute in that first and goal situation where he was in the backfield. Just pound it in. We were gashing them with the run throughout the first half and we shouldn't have to go to gimmick plays like that. We ended up with penalties, getting backed up, and settling for the field goal.
4.Bidwell is terrible.
5.Rogers will never catch any better, regardless of how much he practices. The slow-mo on the drop showed that he just doesn't know how to catch. Steve Czaban calls it a software glitch...I can't disagree.
6.Heyer is a solid backup but we need Williams back. He's more athletic and won't get stuck in a situation where he needs to hold guys so often.
7.Playcalling was an issue. The Iggles took Moss out of the game and it was clear that we don't have a reliable 2nd receiver. Armstrong made some nice catches downfield, but I would have liked to see us utilize Cooley and Davis more. It also seemed like the screen plays were working really well in the first half, but we didn't try to run them in the 2nd. The D was on the field a lot in the 2nd half though so, it's tough to complain much.
Overall, I'll take a win in the division anytime. I'd like to see some improvement in different areas, but it was a good showing after that Rams debacle.
We didn't seem to blitz nearly as much. This was probably a result of wanting our safeties to stay back and not let Jackson and/or Maclin get behind us. I don't think I remember Landry blitzing once.
I'm not worried about Osakpo. Sure, would like him to work the inside more but I think he'll be fine. Again, I thought Haynesworth was solid. He got good pressure a number of times and the holding penalties are almost as good as sacks.
Couldn't agree with you more on the first and goal and too cutesy play calling. I was thinking we should just run as well and then the penalties. Didn't like that one bit.
Agree on the playcalling as well. Not sure why we didn't do the midrange crossing patterns. Also, I would like to see Cooley and Davis utilized more. Seems like we can create some mismatches with those guys. Still, would like to see Thomas out there. Again, since we aren't getting anything from the #2 WR anyway, why not stick him in and see what he can do?
Bottom line, we get the win in and it's on to Green Bay at home this week. We will definitely need to get pressure from our front 4 and play a lot of nickel. GB doesn't have much of a running game and they are a passing offense and their line isn't the best so we need to get pressure on Rodgers and be physical with their receivers. Should be fun.
Poor play calling, a lot of missed throws, missed assignments, missed tackles - I say sloppy. I don't think there were crisp performances for either team. You don't like sloppy that's fine, use your own word.
We'll learn more as the season progresses. In the end, you are your record.
Not every throw will be completed. Not every tackle will be made. Did I feel like there was an inordinate amount of miscues? Absolutely not. If you think that was sloppy, you must have thought the Bears game was vomit over shat while a tranvestite hobo was urinating on it all while getting ready to mush it all together and smear it on a wall.
I have maintained that the Skins are a work in progress and that 8-8 would be a VERY successful year. You seem to think the Bears are great. I don't see it.
All I am saying is that I am happy with the divisional road win yesterday. It's one game. We now worry about our next game against the Packers. One game at a time, baby. Good luck to your beloved Bears.
A win in the Redskin fashion.
Eagles are not very good without Vick. Kevin Kolb had a mostly irrelevant performance and still they were a Jason Avant catch away from beating the Skins. Neither team did anything impressive. I have to admit, Torain runs hard though. Good outcome for the Skins and especially McNabb. Ends here though...
my boys are coming to town! Just got my Aaron Rodgers Jersey Go Pack Go!
This should be fun.
JSR, as Robs says, I would rather win ugly than lose pretty. At the end of the day, there is only one stat that counts and we got the W.
As mentioned, the Skins are a work in progress but what you want to see is improvement from week to week.
Are you a Packer fan or a Vikings fan or is it just who is doing better that particular year?
"Redskins fashion" will unfortunately continue to be this way until the offense gets to be a bit more fluid. Having Trent Williams back next week will help a lot. The running game needs to be more consistent and a 2nd receiver is going to have to step up though and until then, it's going to be difficult to see anything but close, ugly games.
But we're 2-2 and in 1st place in the division. Also, the Packers and Colts both looked like locks for losses last week, but all of the sudden, the Packers have trouble along the o-line and have no running game and the Colts D can't stop anyone.
We should win our home games, but all things considered, if we can split the next two, I'll be happy.
To go 1-1 against the Packers and Colts, I'll take it.
Again, we are a work in progress so it will take time but the way things are shaping up right now in the NFC, there doesn't look like a clear cut favorite. In fact, right now, it looks like any team in the NFC can beat any other team in the NFC on any given day.
JKSD, I have to agree with Rob. After the first quarter, the Skins were not hitting on all cylinders. I realize that you may have difficulty in recognizing this occurrence in your own car which is why you feel it so necessary to have a Hemi, which more than over compensates for occarsional misfirings (aka, false starts, holding penalties, missed interceptions, running out of bounds, dropping passes, passes thrown in the dirt, calling Banks' number on two critical plays in the redzone). Those Banks' plays were silly. Those plays are much more effective in the middle of the field and not from the three yard line. The best thing the Skins did this week was start Lo Alexander at outside linebacker instead of Carter.
When is Devin Thomas going to get an opportunity? This is getting ridiculous. I don't like our passing approach that much. Cooley is the best receiver that we have, but we often waste him in blocking situations because they have such a crappy offensive line. Not sure how they are going to stop Green Bay's attacking defense.
Those plays to Banks were questionable but I don't think that qualifies as "sloppy."
When I hear the word "sloppy" I think about miscue after miscue. Like bad fumbles, muffed snaps, poor tackling, dropped passes that are right in the hands, tripping on the white paint that marks the 30 yard line.
Again, I wouldn't call the game sloppy.
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