LB Lorenzo Alexander: His ability to play in space is impressive, given that he’s a former defensive tackle. I know he says playing on special teams helped him develop this, but in reality it could be that his ability to play in space is why he was good on special teams. Anyway, he had an impressive tackle of Mardy Gilyard on a smoke route, defended a pass and played with power at the goal line.

TE Chris Cooley: He had just five catches for 53 yards, which isn’t bad. But it’s his blocking that was pretty good. On Ryan Torain’s long run, Cooley blocked the end and then got to a linebacker. A couple plays later, Cooley picked up a linebacker blitz. And on Torain’s seven-yard run around right end inside the 20, Cooley was among the blockers opening the hole.   

Duds


WR Joey Galloway: Was asked by LaVar Arrington on his radio show with Chad Dukes if Galloway played. I thought he was kidding. He was serious. But I understand why and it just shows you Galloway’s impact. Galloway had two passes thrown to him. In three games, he’s had 10 passes thrown to him; three have been completed. Granted, they’re mostly deep balls. But if you’re a No. 2 receiver, shouldn’t there be other passes you could catch?

NG Maake Kemoeatu: He had a couple series where he played strong. Had one series where he got off a block to make a tackle and But the reality is that London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh are having to deal with too many guards coming at them. And that’s because the line is not doing its job. Kemoeatu does not control the middle – have been saying for a while that he can’t set with good leg strength, perhaps a function of his Achilles injury — and if you can’t do that you’d better make plays. He doesn’t have the foot speed to do that.

LT Stephon Heyer: He actually had some solid plays, a few nice blocks. But when games get tight in the second half, he tends to allow pressure and negative plays. It happened once more Sunday. He had a false start and a holding penalty on a blitz. He also got driven back a few times. Part of the problem is that he doesn’t always set with a good base. Could be because he stands too straight up as he’s blocking. Doesn’t give him a chance to then set a good base. Because of that, pockets get pinched. Get well soon, Trent Williams.

RT Jammal Brown: He was getting stood up by Chris Long and did not do a good job reacting well with his feet. Change of direction is giving him issues right now and those who have watched him for a while say he’s clearly not the same. Maybe it’s having missed a year or playing a new side. Could be both. That can change the more he plays, but for now it’s reality. He gets in trouble because he’ll get too upright, allowing a lineman to slip inside. Long did that, too.

CB DeAngelo Hall: Did not back up his talk from early in the week. The coverage was not tight, whether in zone or man, and his tackling was bad. He slipped and fell on a smoke route to Mark Clayton. OK, fine, it happens. But on the third and 20 pass down the right side in the fourth quarter, he came up and almost tried to tag the receiver rather than tackle him. He also didn’t make the best attempt to get off his block and tackle Kenneth Darby on a 13-yard run to open the fourth.

WR Roydell Williams: OK, he really isn’t going to do much so I don’t want to pick on him. But it’s little plays that hurt teams. And on a seven-yard Chris Cooley catch in the red zone, had Williams executed his block, Cooley would have either scored or gotten a first down. But Williams missed OJ Atogwe and Cooley was tackled and a field goal was made. It’s the story of Washington’s season.

DE Kedric Golston: Very much a try-hard guy and a worthwhile player to have on your roster. But, like Kemoeatu, he’s not doing his job when it comes to occupying blockers. Again, just watch the linebackers. They rarely run free. Golston also gets moved out too often, especially in short yardage situations. On the fourth and 1, he was driven a few yards back and to the middle. He has his moments where he makes plays and they show why he can still help in some role. But the Redskins need more stout play up front.

LB Andre Carter: Ugh. Love the man and I appreciate his approach. But it’s going to be hard for him to make plays in space, as he showed the other day. He wasn’t the only one who missed a tackle, but when it’s a weakness (playing in space) and it then shows up, it’s a problem. Carter does best rushing straight up field. That’s not a knock, it’s reality. When he must change directions, he does it too slow. He does do a good job taking on blockers at times. But this position is just not suited to him. Mike Shanahan preaches a gospel of maximizing strengths and minimizing weaknesses, yet he wanted a defense that has done neither, save for a couple players.

In-between

*Not sure how to merge a Stud and a Dud without coming out with … Stud. Maybe we should merge Dud and Stud for … Dust. That doesn’t work either. So we’ll call these guys the in-betweeners. Yes, that stinks, too.

WR Santana Moss: Had six catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Ran a terrific route on a well-designed play for a touchdown in which he ran to the middle and cut back to the corner. It helped that he was covered by a safety after the corner on that side blitzed. But his penalty on a cut block and, one play later, his fumble after a catch, didn’t help. The fumble led to seven points.

LB London Fletcher: Most of his plays these days are coming downfield. At times he’s overrunning plays and the cutback lanes are free. Not sure that’s all his fault. But it’s also hard for him because of how much he’s dealing with from blockers. Still, he missed a couple tackles, including one on a screen that would have resulted in a loss. His coverage skills aren’t terrific anymore, either. But in the second half he did help on six tackles on gains of three yards or less. That’s when you know he, and the line, are doing their jobs. But not all were on runs.

FS Kareem Moore: Good to have him back and the interception showed his athleticism. And it’s not as if the Rams were beating Washington deep (with slower receivers, that wasn’t going to happen anyway). But Moore’s rustiness showed in how he took poor angles to the ball on a couple runs, including Steven Jackson’s 42-yarder for a score. He can improve and, as long as he stays healthy, he probably will.