Studs:
DE Andre Carter: Played a terrific game, especially as a pass-rusher and did damage against a good tackle in Jordan Gross. Carter also tipped a pass.
CB Carlos Rogers: Broke up a play in the end zone to Steve Smith in which he read his eyes well. Also did a nice job in run support at times.
CB DeAngelo Hall: OK, he should have made that last tackle — why try to grab a guy’s shoulder pads? That was in excusable, but that play did not cost Washington the game. It prevented a final chance at the ball, but Hall set up the offense with an interception and return to the 1-yard line. He’s making plays to help the offense. That’s why he was signed.
DT Albert Haynesworth: Yes, he gets hurt every other play. But the constant attention freed up others and his penetration led to a fumble on the first play. He lined up at left end at least twice, running stunts with Brian Orakpo (aligned as a linebacker on the elft side) that proved somewhat effective.
RB Clinton Portis, pass protector: He saved the line on occasion with his ability to block in protection. Obviously, he couldn’t pick up four or five guys.
LB London Fletcher: The defense did its job, for the most part. Really, can’t say much bad about run support when they held a team to 2.7 yards per run with a long of 12.
Duds
LG Derrick Dockery: With Chris Samuels sidelined, he needed to play much, much better. But he did not; maybe Buffalo knew what it was doing? Dockery was knocked off-balance at times; lunged at other times. On a couple runs to his side he would get nudged into the backfield, forcing a slightly wider cut by the backs. He did not pull all that well, either.
RB Marcus Mason: Not his fault, but he just can’t pass protect with any consistency. It makes it tough to put him in the game on third downs. This has been a consistent problem for him.
WR Devin Thomas: Gotta make that catch down the sidelines. Difficult? Yes. But it was the sort of catch that would suggest he’s ready for more than just a bit role. The Redskins needed that one.
RT Stephon Heyer: Can’t get shoved back like that vs. a guy in Julius Peppers who has been knocked for his run defense. There’s some talk that the Redskins erred in not keeping Chad Rinehart active so Heyer could have gone to the left side when Samuels got hurt. But Heyer struggles at RT and has never looked good on the left side. Ever.
Running game/RB Clinton Portis: He runs hard and we appreciate that. But he does not make guys miss once he’s through the line and there’s no burst into the secondary. It’s not always just becasue of him. We saw missed blocks that, if made, would have led to long runs. That’s why we lump Portis in with the run game. The results are the same, however; no explosive runs.
LB Brian Orakpo: On the play in which he was beaten, the tight end made it look too easy. He just released inside, took Orakpo downfield and turned him outside. I’m shocked other teams haven’t tested him more through the air because he has not played certain routes well since the preseason. He was not lined up over the tight end; he was on Jeff King’s outside hip, giving him an easy release inside.
LT D’Anthony Batiste: It’s not his fault; he shouldn’t be in a game. We get that. But then he pulls a no-talking stint in the postgame locker room? Says a lot about him.
Front office: They put this offensive line together, failing to see what was coming two years ago with this front. Many deserve heat, but the lack of solid planning continues to set this franchise back.
NOTE: We’d love to put more guys on the dud category, but the rest of the offense was handcuffed by the problems with most of the offensive line. So it’s hard to judge the quarterback and receivers. The problems up front were that monumental.
