The Chicago receiver never had a chance for the pass. He reached up, realized the ball was too high, then took another step. And then was punished. A second later, LaRon Landry received his own punishment in the form of a yellow flag.
And GreggWilliams received another reminder of life with a young safety.
“I can see I’ll have growing pains with him like I did with [late safety Sean Taylor],” said Williams, the Redskins assistant head coach/defense. “I wasn’t real happy with the late hit. Those are growing things, but I’d rather have to throttle someone down than try to throttle them up. You have to be better going for the ball as opposed to going for the push.”
Said Landry, “That’s just the way I play.”
Thus begins another phase in the aftermath of Taylor’s death. Reed Doughty has been inserted into the lineup, but it’s Landry who is taking on a more expanded role. When the Redskins use only one safety deep, it’s Landry filling that spot while Doughty plays up near the line. Landry still blitzes occasionally.
“He has been thrust into a different role,” Doughty said. “It proves his versatility. He’s a great hitter, a great blitzer and he can cover man to man. He was a high draft pick for a reason. He’s just really learning how to use his skill set.”
When the Redskins drafted Landry with the sixth overall pick, many figured he and Taylor would make a dominating pair for years.
“I was looking forward to forming that tandem,” Landry said. “Sean Taylor, watching this guy you know he’s a hitter. I idolized him and Ronnie Lott and most definitely he’ll be missed. But I can say [Doughty] has stepped in and done a great job.”
One talent evaluator saidthe Redskins would be fine at this position.
“They still have a Pro Bowl safety,” he said, referring to Landry.
But one who is still adjusting. Williams has raved about Landry’s study habits; he does more of that than Taylor did at a similar point. Now that the Redskins have two safeties with a combined 17 starts, it’s vital that Landry is well-versed as to his on-field duties.
However, they would like to see Landry become more adept at knowing when to go for the big hit and when to go for the ball. Landry doesn’t yet have an interception — Taylor had five — though he had two chances against the Bears.
“He needs to come up with those catches,” Williams said.
But the other thing Williams has learned is that Landry excels at the most basic part of the game.
“He’s one of the smartest tacklers I’ve seen in the last 10 years come out of college,” Williams said. “You have to know when to blow them up and when to get them down. I don’t see him taking unnecessary blow-up tackles. I fought that with Sean some and he got so much better here this past year.”
Playoff possibilities
With three games left, here’s a look at the NFC playoff picture:
» Three teams already have clinched division titles — Dallas, Green Bay and Seattle. Tampa Bay needs one more win to wrap up first aswell.
» New York (9-4) and Minnesota (7-6) have the lead for the Wild Card race. The Giants need one more win to clinch a playoff berth. The surprising Vikings host Chicago and Washington and travel to Denver in the finale.
» Even if the Redskins win their last three games, they don’t control their destiny. Unless, that is, New Orleans lost last night to Atlanta. If that was the case, then Washington would make the postseason with three straight wins. However, if the Redskins lose to Minnesota on Dec. 23 and win their other two, they would miss the playoffs. The Redskins’ final three opponents have a combined 28-11 record, giving them the hardest finish among the top six Wild Card contenders.
» Arizona, Detroit and New Orleans still have realistic shots at the postseason. Of course, if New Orleans lost last night, then the Saints would be in grave danger of missing the playoffs. The Cards and Lions both are 6-7. Detroit still has to play at San Diego and at Green Bay. Arizona has remaining games against New Orleans, Atlanta and St. Louis — by far the easiest finish among NFC Wild Card hopefuls. Detroit has lost five straight and hardly has the look of a team about to close with three straight wins.
Time Change
» Because of playoff implications — and because the regularly-scheduled game was Tampa Bay vs. San Francisco — the Redskins game against Minnesota on Dec. 23 was changed to 8:15 p.m. and will be televised by NBC.
