The Redskins can hang onto this fact from Thursday night: They did not play Clinton Portis, Albert Haynesworth or Santana Moss.
The Baltimore tackle, Oniel Cousins, took an exaggerated first step. He wanted to slow Redskins rookie Brian Orakpo, make him go a little wider to reach the quarterback.
It didn’t matter.
In the second quarter of Thursday night’s preseason game vs. Baltimore, Orakpo got past him and forced the quarterback to hurry an incompletion. It was a sign of what Orakpo can give the Redskins as a pass rusher. He also drew a holding penalty on another rush and forced an incompletion later.
But his night was more than about the rush. On the play in the preseason opener last night vs. Baltimore, Orakpo attempted to hit Ravens tight end Todd Heap off the line. However, he missed — and Heap raced by him. Fortunately for Orakpo, the play went elsewhere and no damage was done.
Among other observations about the starters and top backups: The offensive line » The first unit was OK, though the Ravens did not play some of their top pass-rushers. However, the Ravens did generate pressure against a seven-man protection with only four rushers when Chris Cooley allowed a defender to get inside. The first offense was unimpressive, but with key starters missing it’s hard to judge them. Backup Mike Williams had his moments as a run-blocker, but his penchant for stepping too flat could lead to problems against speed rushers.Fred Davis’s hands » He had problems holding onto the ball last summer. He had shown improved hands in practice. However, he caught two passes last night and fumbled at the end of each one. It’s hard to trust him. Smoot at safety » Smoot opened the second series there — ahead of Kareem Moore. The Redskins need to see if Smoot could handle this role against starters. Moore does not seem to have progressed the way Washington had hoped. But Smoot is not a natural safety. He took a bad angle on one Willis McGahee run, coming at him a bit flat and then falling to the ground. And Moore looked good in his first series, with a couple hits. Justin Tryon’s problems » Just like last preseason, Tryon had issues. He has struggled covering slot receivers in practice and did so again last night. But it was more than that; he allowed a lot of cushion in zone coverage and that led to easy completions, particularly to his inside.
That qualifies as the positive news from their preseason opener vs. Baltimore Thursday night.
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Baltimore, also resting some key players, beat Washington, 23-0, in a game as thrilling as the score would indicate. Washington’s first offense played only two series and managed three first downs. The first-string defense played just one series, allowing a 13-play, 67-yard field goal drive.
It was not a night of pretty stats for the Redskins, at least not by the starters.
Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell completed three of six passes for 38 yards. Starting running back Ladell Betts, subbing for Portis who had the night off, rushed for just seven yards on four carries.
“We were moving the ball,” Campbell said. “We didn’t attack them yet because we were just getting into a rhythm, but I felt good. I felt comfortable.”
Second-year tight end Fred Davis had an ugly stat: he had two receptions in the first half – and fumbled at the end of each one.
Campbell was not sacked, though most of his passes came off quick drops. The line was missing right guard Randy Thomas, out with a sore knee.
“I was pleased with the pass protection,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said, “but we need to finish drives. We have to do a better job hanging onto the ball.”
Offensive tackle Mike Williams suffered an abdominal strain as did defensive tackle Lorenzo Alexander. Offensive lineman Scott Burley strained his left knee in the fourth quarter. Corner Doug Dutch hurt his hamstring.
Minus Haynesworth, it’s difficult to gauge the first defense. But the Ravens slowly moved downfield against mostly the same group that finished last season No. 4 overall. The big blow on the first drive was a 34-yard pass over the middle to running back Ray Rice, who easily beat linebacker London Fletcher to the Redskins’ 17.
The positive sign for Washington’s defense was the pass rush of rookie Brian Orakpo when he rushed as an end. He still looked a little uncomfortable at linebacker — he played end in college — but was the opposite at end. He displayed speed off the edge and even applied some pressure on a stunt up the middle.
The Ravens first offense scored on their second possession as well, facing Washington’s second defense (though Orakpo remained in the game). Steve Hauschka added his second field goal of the half, this time a 37-yarder early in the second quarter.
Baltimore quarterback Troy Smith led a last-minute series in the first half. He capped the 69-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to receiver Justin Harper, who beat rookie corner Kevin Barnes on the play.
The Ravens added 13 more points in the second half, including a Cedric Peerman seven-yard run in the fourth quarter, coming one play after corner Michael Grant misplayed a pass and allowed Baltimore receiver Jayson Foster to turn an intermediate pass into a 64-yard gain.
