A safety crunches receivers short of the first down and makes plays downfield. Linebackers crash the line, plugging holes and stopping the run. A defensive line harasses the quarterback enough to cause trouble — and turnovers.
It’s what the Redskins anticipated this season.
It’s what they finally saw Sunday.
It’s what leads to this question: what took so long?
“Man, we should have been playing like that all year,” linebacker Marcus Washington said. “But I was glad to see it [Sunday]. We know we can do it.”
In Sunday’s 17-13 win over Carolina, the Redskins held an opponent under 300 yards for only the second time all season — and the first since a Sept. 24th win over Houston. Also for the first time this year: no pass plays of 20 yards or more.
Never mind that Carolina’s offense is ranked 23rd and Washington’s defense is now only 28th. The Redskins enjoyed themselves, even dancing on the field during breaks.
“Winning is fun,” Washington said.
After the game, players on both sides of the ball admitted they worried about the direction of the season, and the turmoil that would have followed. Can one win stave that off permanently? Even the players can’t know, but they’re now confident.
“The mood has changed for whatever reason,” Redskins defensive tackle Joe Salave’a said. “When we find ourselves with our backs against the wall, we work more than when we have the cards in our favor.”
It came at the right time.
“You think you filled the right [pieces] and it’s not happening on Sunday,” safety Troy Vincent said. “It causes everyone to … think about what we are doing, what can we do.”
Safety Sean Taylor and corner Carlos Rogers played their best games of the season. The linebackers attacked with more ferocity as a group. The Redskins caused two turnovers, giving them nine for the season and four in the past two weeks.
“Everyone knew what they had to do and we were able to play faster,” linebacker Lemar Marshall said.
The Redskins (4-7) still have a ways to go. But they also have two winnable games at home against Atlanta and Philadelphia the next two weeks. The playoffs remain a longshot; a respectable finish does not.
That is, if it continues.
“We play a game here, a game there,” Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said, “but we haven’t put together two games [in a row]. … You want your defense to lead you and it did in this game.”
Week 13 notes
» With Nick Novak struggling, Redskins coach Joe Gibbs did not rule out working out placekickers today. And, considering Dallas cut Mike Vanderjagt Monday, the Redskins now have a legitimate option.
Gibbs would not confirm any kickers would be worked out, but he does have concerns about Novak, who has made five of 10 this season. Gibbs also has not liked Novak’s kickoffs.
When Novak was signed in October, the Redskins also worked out Todd Peterson, Tyler Jones and Jose Cortez.
But, obviously, Vanderjagt is more proven. Though he’s only 13 of 18 this year, he has a career 86.5 percent success rate.
» Gibbs said not want to address the ESPN.com article that quoted an anonymous Redskin defender, discussing problems with safeties coach Steve Jackson and assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams.
Gibbs said he didn’t think a player actually gave the quotes.
“If someone tells me a name, I’ll deal with it,” he said.
» Injury update: Linebacker Khary Campbell (hamstring) will be closely monitored and could miss some time, especially in practice. Right tackle Jon Jansen (calf) is day to day. Safety Troy Vincent (hamstring) also is day to day, though he said he felt “much, much better.” Receiver David Patten (hamstring) also is day to day. Receiver Santana Moss (hamstring) is fine. End Phillip Daniels (wrist) likely will miss some practice this week.
» Rookie Rocky McIntosh on his blocked punt: “[Special teams coach Danny Smith] has been holding us back a little bit because we have a great return guy. But they’ve been kicking away from [Antwaan] Randle El so we brought the pressure.”
