Studs
LB Lorenzo Alexander. He did just about everything and from various spots. Yes, he deserves to keep starting. He doesn’t apply a lot of pressure on the quarterback, but his versatility is a major asset. It wasn’t just the first play of the game (tackling the back in space), nor was it just his highlight special teams hit. It was his ability to line up inside and rush from tackle. He also took on lead blockers well to set up other linebackers to make plays. It was also his deflection on the two-point conversion. Alexander reacts quickly and his footwork is fantastic for a guy his size. The more Andre Carter plays OLB, the more he’ll be exposed.
PR Brandon Banks. Need I explain? Regardless of anything else he did in the game, his 53-yard punt return set up a touchdown. He received great blocking, but there was no hesitation as he picked his spot. It helps that he gets to top speed very fast and, despite being small, he doesn’t dance. By the way, on his run in the red zone, had Joey Galloway blocked his man and had Stephon Heyer not committed a foolish hold, then he would have scored. Yes, I know, and if he were 6-foot-2 he would have been a first-round pick. But, the point is, it wasn’t about his size. Still, he was put on the team to make plays in the return game and he did. Had great blocking – Devin Thomas and Byron Westbrook drove one guy 10 yards out of bounds. But still, that speed is dangerous.
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RB Ryan Torain. The power was easy to see as he ran over Eagles safety Quintin Mikell, lowering his shoulder. Helps that Mikell thought it a good idea to tackle him high. But Torain, who seemed to run too upright this summer, gave him no target. His vision was pretty good, too. Liked the way he set up LB Ernie Sims on a 10-yard run outside during. Torain had run well to this area and ran wide enough to force Sims to honor the outside. When Torain gave a half-step juke wider, Sims bit and landed behind a double-team. That created a narrow opening through which Torain cut; Sims reached out with his hand but couldn’t do anything. Torain had set him up well.
Coordinators. I know the Redskins only scored 17 points, but let me put this another way: how much would you think they’d have scored with Stephon Heyer and Kory Lichtensteiger and Will Montgomery along the line and Clinton Portis hurt? And with Santana Moss having no catches? I know they had 17 points before Portis and Hicks went down, but they ran the ball well on the final drive in part because of Kyle Shanahan’s scheme. They gave a lot of protection to Heyer, and used the tight ends often in the run game. The Redskins easily could have had 21 points. And this on a day in which Donovan McNabb was off. Meanwhile, defensively, give Jim Haslett credit for changing his mindset. He sent five rushers only once; a couple times LaRon Landry blitzed, but that was part of a four-man rush. He asked the defense to be patient and defend the deep stuff, playing a bend-but-don’t defense. They were more sound and disciplined than in the first three games when they often appeared confused and trying to do too much. Also good to see him use Albert Haynesworth more. Yes, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened had Michael Vick played all game. But the game plan was even more effective vs. Kevin Kolb. They got in Kolb’s head; he missed a wide-open Jeremy Maclin on one throw and another time never even looked at him because he was too busy dumping off in a hurry. The Redskins took away any aggressiveness on his part.
Tight ends. Both Chris Cooley and Fred Davis had excellent days blocking. Davis cooled off a little in the second half and had his usual block-with-no-power downfield. But early in the game Davis was very good sealing the end (Trent Cole). A couple times Heyer went to help him, but it wasn’t needed. Davis also served as a lead blocker a couple times, after lining up as an H-back. I saw Cooley get beat badly once on a block, but other than that, a solid, solid day. Got the safety on Torain’s touchdown run; got two men on the next series (the end and then a linebacker). You don’t run well to the outside without these two having a good day. Should throw Mike Sellers in there, too. Had some good lead blocks – on Torain’s touchdown in particular. Buried his man. Now, if they’d stop throwing him passes.
CB Carlos Rogers. Yes, the dropped another interception. Good lord man, catch the ball. If the kid had hands he’d be in the Pro Bowl because he’s in position to get so many picks. But he helped set the physical tone with some jarring hits, like the one on LeSean McCoy (in which it should have been ruled an incompletion and not a fumble). He also snuffed out the end around to DeSean Jackson and, because he was racing to the inside, he forced Jackson wide into DeAngelo Hall’s arms.
DL Albert Haynesworth. Nearly made him a sud (half stud, half dud), but I’m feeling generous today. The guy had an impact on a game for the first time this season. He pressured Vick on the first series, bulling his way up the middle. He was more engaged and it showed. This is what the Redskins need. It’s funny because Troy Aikman ripped him after one play, but I’m convinced it’s the first time he paid attention to him. Was unfair because Haynesworth had also drawn a holding penalty by this point. But in the second half, and fourth quarter in particular, Haynesworth was gassed. Stood up a few times at nose guard and lost some power. And he needs to start winning more one-on-one battles. But the defense is better when he plays this way. He is also able to get moved back a yard or so and then anchor and get back into the play. I understand why Vonnie Holliday plays; he sets guys up by knowing how to occupy defenders via his slants. But Ol’ Albert is more of a force. Can’t waste guys like that.
Half-Studs
RG Artis Hicks. He only played one half, but it was an excellent one. Was his best half of the season. Liked the way he got to the linebackers; he cut one, buried another and even pulled well, blocking the end. In one two-play sequence in the second quarter, he drove his man into the ground and then, on the next play, opened a hole by getting to the linebacker.
RB Clinton Portis. On the run before Torain’s touchdown, Portis got the Redskins going with a hard dash around the end, lowering his shoulder into the defender. He averaged 5 yards a carry and made more guys miss than at any point this season. Heck, going back to last season, too. He made four guys miss on a screen pass that gained 14 yards. It was like watching a film from 2003, except that he doesn’t have the finishing speed he did back then. Still, pretty nice. It’s too bad he got hurt and wasn’t a factor in the fourth quarter or for much of the second half.
Duds
P Josh Bidwell. When the Redskins needed some good punts, he responded with boots of 32 and 15 yards, respectively, in the fourth quarter. It’s one thing to kick away from a guy (DeSean Jackson), but his net was only 33.2 yards. And the 15-yarder came from the Eagles’ 41-yard line – it was a chance to pin them inside the 10 and instead they started at the 26. Sort of a big difference. He’s been very inconsistent this season and has dealt with a hip issue. With a defense that’s giving up a lot of yards, a strong punting game is needed. Don’t have one right now.
LG Kory Lichtensteiger. He seemed to do OK when having to move laterally, as in cut blocking. But he gets moved back too easily; perhaps it’s because he’s a center playing guard. Not his fault. But, anyway, he lacked power when he pulled. Saw him pull at least three times and twice his guy wasn’t moved. The second time, his guy brushed him off and made the tackle. He also allowed a sack. Also was driven back on another rush that impacted McNabb’s ability to throw. His best series was the final one, however, as he pulled one play, sealed the backside on another and got the linebacker on the third.
LT Stephon Heyer. He started out just fine. Really, he did. But most of his best work came in concert with a tight end. Nothing wrong with that, but he needed more help than most tackles. The scheme helped him out. Heyer did get to the linebackers a couple times, too. On Torain’s touchdown run, he blocked down and then hit the linebacker. But … and there’s always a but…. He gets worse the more the game continues. He had three costly penalties. The worst? A holding penalty in the red zone when the play was going the other way – after falling he reached out and tripped his man! Yes, that deserved an exclamation point. Maybe another! Anyway, he was bad in the second half. He and Lichtensteiger looked lost on one stunt; neither reacted to it at all and it led to trouble.
QB Donovan McNabb. I expected a lot more in his return to Philly. Instead, it was a Brunellian effort. He threw a nice pass to Cooley for a touchdown and should have had another long one to Anthony Armstrong until he stumbled. He was better on third down, too. But he missed a wide open Fred Davis; he missed an open Roydell Williams in the end zone on another series and he was way off when faced with pressure. It’s odd how often he misses guys low, but it cost the Redskins a chance at more yards several times. His feet helped avoid pressure, but there were more missed opportunities. And the interception? Not sure what he was looking at. The Redskins won’t win often with this sort of passing game.
LB Rocky McIntosh. He was a little better getting off blocks, but he took too many bad angles to the ball. The worst was on a play in which London Fletcher had McCoy to the outside. But McIntosh was racing to the outside as well, leaving an easy cutback lane to the inside. He missed a few tackles. In one three-play sequence in the second quarter, McIntosh’s poor angle allowed a cutback lane for McCoy; on the next play he was cut and late to the ball and on the following play he missed a tackle. It happens and there were times he shed blocks and made a tackle (two in the first quarter). But if he’s going to play in coverage, he must do a better job tackling. Teams notice.
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