They studied the tape, then listened to the message. A week earlier, their position coach delivered a stern lecture, imploring them to reach a higher standard. After Sunday, he offered a different sermon once the tape ended.
“This,” Redskins offensive line coach Joe Bugel told his group, “is what the standard is all about.”
But it’s a standard the Redskins’ line has not always reached this season. Typically, they’ve played their best against top lines, shutting down Minnesota and Jacksonville’s tackles and Carolina’s ends.
“I don’t know if it’s lack of concentration or overconfidence on our part,” Redskins right tackle Jon Jansen said. “We need to treat everyone the same.”
Of course, the line also wants to stick with the run. In the 17-13 win over Carolina, Washington rushed the ball 37 times for 143 yards. The Redskins allowed one sack against a team that had recorded seven the previous week.
They used less toss sweeps; they ran more inside zones, their strength from the previous two seasons.
“We can still get out and run,” Jansen said, “but we’re a smashmouth power line.”
That’s not about to change, either.
“It’s still [Joe Gibbs’] team,” Bugel said. “He’ll do what he wants to do; he wants to run the ball.”
Washington is one of three teams that ranks among the top 10 in yards per carry and fewest sacks per play (along with Denver and San Diego). The Redskins rank ninth in yards per run and fourth in sacks per pass attempt. They’ve allowed 14 sacks, tied with Tampa Bay for the fewest in the league.
But they’ve had their problems with miscommunication and technique lapses. For example, the one sack allowed against Carolina occurred because guard Derrick Dockery buried his head into a defender he was helping block. Because of that, Dockery, whom Redskins sources say has not improved, did not see a blitzer coming around the end as was his job.
“You can’t just try and kill someone and get away with it,” center Casey Rabach said.
But last week muted the criticism from the outside, with some calling this line underachieving or overpaid.
“A guy who has something said to him gets tired of hearing it and says enough’s enough,” Bugel said.
The line knows a strong finish starts with them.
“It’s what we did last year when we got on a roll,” Rabach said. “It didn’t matter who we were playing, we dictated the tempo. Hopefully last week was a springboard for us.”
Week 13 Notes
» Safeties coach Steve Jackson said he wasn’t upset by the ESPN.com article last week, portraying him as upset about being passed over for the job of secondary coach and pouting at times. Assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams picked Jerry Gray for the job.
“That’s somebody’s opinion,” he said. “I’ve known Gregg since 1991, I’ve known Jerry since 1992. Jerry is like a big brother. Big brothers have different ways of doing things. We’ve had a lot worse stuff written about us in the past.”
Jackson said the team hasn’t given up on safety Adam Archuleta.
“The whole team has struggled,” Jackson said. “It wouldn’t be fair to single out Adam.”
One beef in the article is about how the corners and safeties do not meet together. But several team sources said that’s how it’s been each of the three years under Williams.
» Redskins safety Sean Taylor was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Sunday’s 17-13 win over Carolina.
Taylor finished with six tackles and an interception. He also made a key tackle on a fourth-and-six from the Redskins’ 33 late in the game.
» Safety Troy Vincent (hamstring) was limited in practice and is questionable for Sunday’s game. So, too, is receiver David Patten (hamstring) and linebacker Khary Campbell (hamstring). Right tackle Jon Jansen (calf) and fullback Mike Sellers (shoulder) did not practice, but are probable.
