1. My initial thought: The Redskins are a misleading 3-1. And I still think they are; the games they’ve won are ones that they should have. They had to rally at home vs. a mediocre at best Arizona team and had to hold off a dreadful Rams team, one that if playing a really good team would have been losing by four touchdowns to in the fourth. The Redskins have issues, one of which is a quarterback who now has turned the ball over 14 times in seven starts. However … then you see Dallas blow a big lead; and Philly blow a big lead. Suddenly, the Redskins 3-1 looks a lot better no matter the aesthetics. Also, the hot new flavor of the month, Buffalo, blew a lead and lost at Cincinnati. The Redskins haven’t been impressive and the flaws that are evident could really hurt them later. But they’ve won the games they’re supposed to and not every team can say the same thing. They’re holding serve. If you can do that and sneak a good win now and again you’ll be in good shape. If Dallas had closed out Detroit to go to 3-1 and Philly was only a game behind, the Redskins would not look as strong. But those teams are now 2-2 and 1-3, respectively. How big will that Oct. 16 game be against Philadelphia? Should be a fun atmosphere for that game. Win that one and the rest of the season looks dramatically different. Wait, didn’t we just say that a week ago? Well, here comes another chance.
2. But they should have closed this one out better all the way around. St. Louis, now 0-4, committed nine penalties, dropped probably a half-dozen passes at least (including one in the end zone on a field goal drive and another inside the 10 early in the game). The Rams were outgained by 167 yards. They had no business being in that game late. So what does this mean? That the Redskins are 3-1 but flawed. Of course, in the past, they’d be 1-3 and flawed. Which one would you rather be? The question is: will this team get better as the season unfolds or exposed? Stay tuned.
3. The defense bailed out a curious offensive game by the Redskins. Of course, if St. Louis had ANY receivers who could hang onto the ball then we might be discussing a different game. But they don’t so we’re not. But when Rex Grossman threw an interception late in the game, the Rams took over at the Redskins’ 19-yard line – and ended up punting from their own 39. Yes, St. Louis had two solid drives in the fourth quarter. But on the last two, trailing by a touchdown, the Rams lost a combined nine yards and managed one first down. When the defense needed to dominate, it did. Linebacker Brian Orakpo made some big plays late: on the drive after the interception, he set up Stephen Bowen’s sack by rushing from the middle; he slanted to the right and the guard, trying to stay with Orakpo, bumped into the left tackle. That enabled Bowen to come free inside. One play later Orakpo forced a fumble. Early in the game, Orakpo drove left tackle Rodger Saffold into Sam Bradford. He escaped Orakpo but not Ryan Kerrigan who forced a fumble that Barry Cofield recovered. Oh, and one more thing about the defense. St. Louis started three drives in Washington territory; it managed three points.
4. Actually, the linebackers all played fairly well. Kerrigan and Orakpo, especially early, did an excellent job of beating the tight ends – with quickness and power — and getting to Steven Jackson, who did not seem to have a lot of burst in him, at least not compared to the past. And Rocky McIntosh played his best game. He’s always aggressive, but today he seemed more decisive as well. Combine those two and you have a guy who made big hits. McIntosh is making good reads on screen plays of late. You’re also not seeing the problems with run fits that he’s had in the past.
5. Of Brandon Banks’ first six punt returns this season, three gained between 25-35 yards. But since Banks’ 35-yard punt return vs. Arizona, here’s what he’s done in this area: 5 yards, 6, 10, fair catch, 5, 1, 2 (fumbled), minus-5 and fair catch. Honestly not sure what’s going on, but he hasn’t looked as explosive the past two weeks. Also, of his last seven kickoff returns none have been for more than 23 yards. He’s had two kickoff returns longer than 25 yards this season and none more than 31.
6. Give Mike Shanahan credit for inserting running back Ryan Torain. I know Shanahan said they felt Tim Hightower looked banged up, but Torain is also a better runner. He runs with more power and breaks more tackles. He’s just not as good in other areas (third down). Hightower’s durability was questioned by scouts and he’s being asked to do an awful lot because of his third-down responsibilities. Those collisions add up. Hightower is what people thought: a serviceable back who can help you in many ways. Some people went overboard on him early in the preseason but he’s settling into the same back he was in Arizona. This is why the Redskins likely will need a three-headed running back rotation; they’re fortunate that each is capable of good things. Anyway, Torain was good. He had one run in which he was initially hit a yard deep then gained 16. Two plays later he had to make a spin move, broke a tackle and gained five more. Later he ran through a linebacker and gained an extra five. You don’t see Hightower doing this. That’s not a knock on him; he has his own positives. But it is a difference between the two. Torain had that same burst he showed in his first big game last season vs. Philly, when he ran low and steamrolled defensive backs. Now, if Torain can only stay healthy.
7. Oh, Rex, Rex, Rex. Before we put any blame on him for the interception, we must say this: Santana Moss and Hightower both dropped passes that would have resulted in first downs and more in the fourth quarter. And Grossman had a couple nice throws, including the TD to Moss in which they worked the wide side of the field well.
The play in which he was picked off by James Laurinaitis is one they use a lot. And the play-action typically opens a seam for the pass to Moss. But Laurinaitis had the speed to make up for being sucked in by the fake. And Grossman forced the ball, maybe because that play has worked so often – especially from their own end of the field — and he just expected it to work again. But it was a very poor decision. Can’t blame Grossman for his first interception (it bounced off Moss’ hands), but this one at this time in the game was terrible.
I wish the Redskins had come out running a little bit. Finish it off strong with some power. But they started the game this way, too, feeling they could suck up the Rams with play action and hurt them deep. Didn’t work then either. Grossman got away with two other passes that could have, or should have, been picked. What’s the credo? Never throw back to the middle of the field when rolling out? Plays like this are why some scouts/experts think he’ll never change. Those plays are about a mindset, not a system. I know other quarterbacks make bad plays, but this happens a couple times every game. But let’s not start calling for John Beck just yet. The Redskins are 3-1 and Beck’s decision making in his final two preseason starts wasn’t the best, either. For the time being this is Grossman’s team.
8. Do yourself a favor and check out Trent Williams’ hustle on the Laurinaitis interception. You want to see athleticism? Watch him come from across the field to make the tackle. Hightower also made a TD-saving tackle on Justin King’s interception. That’s two Hightower has made this season.
9. Sav Rocca continues to look like an excellent pickup. Save for the botched hold, of course. But I’ll give you an early peek at a Stud this week: it’s Rocca. In the past two games, the Redskins have allowed a combined 11 yards on punt returns. That’s out of 12 punts. They allowed 57 yards in the first two games. Credit the coverage – Lorenzo Alexander set a vicious tone today. And while the penalties on Perry Riley and Niles Paul didn’t help, fact is they were in great position to make huge hits. OK, watch leading with the helmet. But other than that? Nice hit. Rocca’s hangtime gives the coverage a chance to excel. But Rocca’s 63-yarder from his own 9-yard line as huge. OK, the Rams return unit stinks as they made one bad decision after another. They really should have fielded this ball. But the returner did not and it rolled an extra 19 yards. Instead of starting at their own 47, they opened at the 28. Big difference. But Rocca gets those rolls all the time.
10. Defensive end Stephen Bowen had another strong game. That’s two in a row. One play stood out to me: On a second and three early in the fourth, Bowen shed two blockers to make a stop of Jackson for one yard. Because Bowen occupied the two blockers, McIntosh also ran free to the ball to help on the tackle. But the play was completely made by Bowen. He also had 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. He and Cofield were active Sunday.
