The double move left him flatfooted and in trouble, grabbing for air as the receiver sped past. Carlos Rogers figured he was coming up to make a tackle. Instead he was about to surrender six points. Earlier, Rogers had allowed a second-year wideout to fly by him. A dropped pass saved Rogers.
It wasn’t a good night in coverage for the second-year cornerback.
It gets worse: This week he’ll face new Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens.
Gulp.
But Rogers has a short memory and a long desire to improve. So the chance to face one of the NFL’s best is one he relishes.
“No doubt, that’s when you get to make a name,” Rogers said. “You stop a guy like him — you contain him, you can’t shut him down — that’s a good opportunity.”
In truth, Rogers won’t always be on Owens. The Cowboys have other weapons, including wide receiver Terry Glenn and tight end Jason Witten. And the Redskins typically keep their cornerbacks on one side of the field — Rogers usually lines up on the right side.
But there will be plenty of times for Rogers to cover Owens. After a tough first game — he also uncharacteristically missed tackles — Rogers knows he must play better, especially against an offense like Dallas’.
And with Shawn Springs still sidelined, Rogers needs to perform like a No. 1 cornerback; it’s why he was drafted ninth overall in 2005.
“Even with Shawn in I look for them to go after me because I’m the youngest guy out there,” Rogers said. “I still have to prove that I can stop what they throw at me.”
Like the double move, with a pump fake on the quarterback. That’s what the Vikings’ Marcus Robinson burned Rogers with for a 20-yard touchdown Monday. When Rogers saw quarterback Brad Johnson take a three-step drop, he figured it was a short route. He figured wrong.
And Rogers knows he’ll see that route more often.
“It’s hard to defend,” Rogers said. “I’m aggressive. When I see a route, I like to attack it instead of waiting. I’ve got to discipline my eyes. That’s a tough move and those are things I get paid for.”
But Rogers remained confident and matter of fact in talking about his first game. Just like a veteran cornerback.
“He has to bounce back,” Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray said. “And the only chance you get to be the best in this league is you have to defend the best. And he has a great chance this week.”
Week 2 Notes
» Cornerback Shawn Springs (abdomen) is doubtful for Sunday, but remains hopeful he can return for the Houston game on Sept. 24. Meanwhile, running back Clinton Portis (shoulder) is questionable and defensive end Renaldo Wynn (ankle) and tight end Christian Fauria (lower leg) are probable for Sunday’s game against Dallas.
Portis was limited in practice Wednesday and coach Joe Gibbs said his status is similar to last week when it wasn’t until Saturday that they knew he would play. Portis carried 10 times for 39 yards in the loss to Minnesota Monday.
“It’s not a setback,” Gibbs said. “The medical team felt today would be too quick for him to come back [and practice].”
» Kicker John Hall said the drive home Monday night was difficult after missing the potential game-tying kick in the final seconds. “That was an important day for a couple of cities, a lot of people other than football fans,” he said. “I treated it as such because it meant a lot to me. … But you wake up the next day and you move on. I saw my kid and he was like, ‘Dada, let’s play.’ That put it in perspective.”
» The Redskins placed safety Pierson Prioleau on injured reserve, two days after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on the opening kickoff against Minnesota. The team signed safety Curry Burns, whom it cut on Sept. 2, to replace Prioleau. Burns spent all of last season on the Redskins’ practice squad.
