Note: Gutsy efforts make me soft; few on the duds list.
Studs
Offensive line. Here’s the deal: individually, they really weren’t all that impressive. Will Montgomery was shoved back a bit too often; Kory Lichtensteiger had one bad block for every good one. Stephon Heyer had some issues at guard. But, cripes, there’s no way they deserve to be anywhere but on this list because collectively they saved the game. Their communication appeared excellent; didn’t see anyone confused by a stunt. The Titans helped out by sometimes using such a narrow split by the interior three that the Redskins could easily pass guys off to one another. A couple times Lichtensteiger was able to bump a guy off stride while partially engaged with another defender. In fact, on the winning drive in overtime, Lichtensteiger reached out enough to slow a blitzing defensive back. And that gave Donovan McNabb enough time to complete a 10-yard pass to Santana Moss rather than get drilled for a sack. Heyer played a new spot on the fly and, really, did he look any worse than he has at tackle? Not one bit. The tackles did a fairly good job; there were some issues in space with Jammal Brown and Trent Williams allowed some pressure. There were a number of times when the tight ends would handle the ends, who weren’t very good, allowing the tackles to help inside. The Titans could not spread the interior very well and create gaps; the Redskins blocking schemes also helped take care of this. But overall? Gutsy effort.
OC Kyle Shanahan. Considering who went down on the offense, Shanahan could have shied away from his game plan. Actually, his game plan was well-suited for what happened. The Redskins used a lot of short drops for McNabb; he often threw within two or three seconds of dropping back. Shanahan appeared to know where the blitzes were coming from and would have plays called for that side – as on some of the screens. Being able to convert third downs enabled Shanahan to use more of the playbook; hence the screens to Fred Davis and the shovel pass to Moss. Ten different Redskins caught passes. Even Joey Galloway!
QB Donovan McNabb. Maybe one of his best plays came on the 26-yard pass to Chris Cooley on the Redskins first play of overtime. McNabb ran a boot to his left and needed to plant and throw back deep to the right. However, flubbed blocks by Brown and Keiland Williams on the defensive linemen led to pressure and McNabb had to reverse back to the middle. Still, he hit Cooley for a big gain. Had the block been held, it probably would have been a bigger play. Still, McNabb’s mobility saved a negative one. Anyone who wanted McNabb to explode when he was benched should be thankful for his calm demeanor. With all that happened Sunday, it enabled him to stay poised. He should have been picked off at least twice, but he wasn’t. His pass to Moss in the left corner was perfect and his misses weren’t as ugly as in some other games. But, really, his leadership made a tremendous difference. Just ask the Titans if they’d like their QB to show such leadership.
CB DeAngelo Hall. He was in position to nearly intercept two more passes and did a good job over the top vs. Randy Moss, not that the Titans seem to know he’s on the roster or anything. Kareem Moore helped out underneath, but Hall was solid and he even made a nice tackle on a Chris Johnson run around the end; had he not made it, Johnson would have run a while.
LB London Fletcher. He only had seven tackles, but he made a few very nice hits, including one on a Johnson catch over the middle. Had some good coverages. What I liked is how when the run defense worked it was often because of how Fletcher either plugged the hole and forced a different cut or took on a lead blocker. Gotta give Reed Doughty props on that, too, because he was fearless taking on guards coming through the hole. Just fearless. Both of them deserve kudos, but Fletcher had a solid game overall.
TE Chris Cooley. I’m overlooking a number of bad blocks in this game and even a drop because when the Redskins needed him, he delivered. Cooley played as big a role in that win as anyone with all his seven catches (for 91 yards) coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. He seemed to will himself to a couple first downs, too. Cooley was clutch.
CB Phillip Buchanon. He wasn’t awesome, but he filled in for Carlos Rogers and finished with a fumble recovery and an interception. What more do you want. And he nearly had a second pick. He did allow a 14-yard catch on third and 8 in the second quarter when he slipped. But overall he was pretty solid.
LB Lorenzo Alexander. He didn’t do a whole lot because he got hurt. But his strip fumble of Vince Young might have changed the game. The Redskins could not afford to start off in a 7-0 hole after what had happened the previous week. But Alexander, coming from behind Young, stripped the QB for the turnover inside the Redskins’ 20-yard line.
LB Brian Orakpo. I know the coaches say he’s doing well against the run; but not sure I buy how well they say he’s doing. Regardless, he did a fairly good job Sunday of at least making sure Chris Johnson did not get wide of him. The Redskins at times would have him jump wide of the tackle just before the snap, enabling him to turn the run back inside. Orakpo had a couple nice stops, destroyed the lead blocker on one tackle for a loss and also did a nice job in coverage. No sacks, a little pressure, but not a bad job.
WR Santana Moss. A very consistent day, and finally another big play downfield. Moss caught six passes for 106 yards and his 48-yarder helped ignite the offense. He ran a very nice route on his touchdown grab, darting inside and then cutting back outside. He ran a similar route on the other side, fooling Cortland Finnegan, who jumped him to the inside; left him wide open outside.
Duds
LS Nick Sundberg. His snaps have been a mild adventure all season, starting in training camp. It eased up for a few weeks, and none have been errant. But he makes it difficult for holder Hunter Smith and kicker Graham Gano. Kickers have made field goals off bad snaps for years, so I won’t just blame Sundberg. But he had two bad snaps on field goals and two more on punts, where Smith is having to reach down at his ankles or off to the side.
P Hunter Smith. His first punt put Washington in a horrible spot, a 22-yarder to the Tennessee 34-yard line. Again, bad snap; again, not enough of an excuse for this sort of punt. His 45-yarder was returned for a touchdown, but the Redskins had two players get hurt and another might have been blocked in the back. His other two punts were good, putting Tennessee inside the 10-yard line. Heck, now I wonder why I made him a dud. Oh, yeah, 22-yard punts on the road in the first game after a 31-point loss.
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