The surge started at an unlikely time, with the Redskins staring at a daunting closing schedule — and dealing with injuries and death. But now it could carry them into the postseason.
Three areas have keyed the Redskins (8-7) three straight wins:
» Quarterback. Jason Campbell ultimately has a chance to be much better, thanks to his arm, athleticism and leadership. But, for now, maybe it helps that the less-talented Todd Collins knows he has to unload the ball faster because he lacks the arm strength to wait and possibly force a pass. Players have confidence in the quirky Collins.
“Personally, I didn’t expect him to just manage [the game],” receiver Santana Moss said. “He knows the offense. He talks to you all the time about things he’s going to try. It’s a privilege to have him out there making plays.”
In two of his three games, Collins has finished with a passer rating of at least 124. In Campbell’s 13 starts, he had two games at 114 or better.
» Turnovers. Collins has avoided mistakes, but so, too, have others. Turnovers — not coaching decisions — ruined potential wins at Tampa Bay and Dallas. In both games, Campbell, who played well for most of the games, threw late interceptions that robbed Washington of chances for go-ahead scores. Against the Bucs, the Redskins turned it over six times.
But in the last three games, Washington has committed one turnover while forcing six. The Redskins are now 5-1 when they win the turnover battle.
» Playcalling. For a while this season the Redskins were almost strictly a Cover-2 defense, rarely blitzing. But when injuries hit, and then Sean Taylor’s death, the coaches created more pressure by varying schemes.
Against the New York Giants, the Redskins focused on last-second alterations in their front or secondary to confuse quarterback Eli Manning. Last week, they used eight-man fronts, sometimes using four linebackers and other times using a safety in the box. The corner play has to be good for that to work; it has been.
It also helps that safety LaRon Landry, like Taylor, is versatile. His speed enables them to let him roam the deep middle alone. Also, he’ll occasionally start in the slot, slide to a linebacker’s spot then drop deep. Few safeties have the speed to pull that off, but it helps disguise coverage.
Meanwhile, on offense, Collins’ experience enables the Redskins to use more of the playbook. When an offense is in a good rhythm, plays such as the halfback option work well, as it did for a touchdown against Minnesota. The draw play for a touchdown that worked against New York failed to work against Philadelphia.
Week 17 Notes
» Receiver Reche Caldwell caught four passes for 33 yards, giving him 13 receptions on the season. That’s not quite what he expected when he signed here on Sept. 11.
He was inactive for five of his first six games in Washington and did not catch a pass until Nov. 25 at Tampa Bay. He now has 13 catches in the past five games.
“It definitely took a lot longer,” he said. “I thought I would play right away. It didn’t happen that way, but I’m just happy to be out there playing now.”
» Punt returner Antwaan Randle El has returned 28 punts this season — only four have gone for 10 yards or more. He’s had just one such return in his last 13 and is now averaging 5.5 yards a return for the season.
