A look at the Redskins-Cowboys game. This is what I’m thinking/wondering will happen. On Monday, I’ll take a look at how right – or wrong – I was.
1. Will Albert Haynesworth play? Despite all the drama, the Redskins have to know he can still help them. It wouldn’t make sense for them not to play him. If you’re going to be that way, why have him on the roster? And Haynesworth against the left side of the Dallas line could have some big moments. My fear with Haynesworth is that he doesn’t know the defense all that well yet – his rep never has been for being that knowledgeable about the D. So that would lead to major problems against the run. In the nickel? No matter what others say about it, Haynesworth draws more attention than anyone else up front. As one NFL source said earlier this week, if Haynesworth doesn’t play, “Dallas will be happy.” Use him for certain moments.
2. Can Donovan McNabb run the entire offense? My guess is that he won’t be limited by his ankle. The Redskins are constructed to get him out on rollouts and bootlegs. If he has to stand in the pocket all the time, then there will be trouble and the offense won’t function as well. Dallas has a terrific rush and the way the Redskins have to counter it is through good blocking, obviously, but also allowing him to move. McNabb will get sacked; he did a lot in Philly in part because he’s always looking to make plays. That means holding onto the ball a second longer. What I wonder is how well he’s picked up this offense? Around the league, that is a concern about him. Is that legit? If he hasn’t picked it up, then we’ll see passes behind guys – sometimes a sign of waiting to see if the guy comes open vs. knowing that he will. Of course, he had accuracy issues in Philly as well. And it typically comes down to him making a play when everything breaks down.
3. Is the offense ready to face Dallas? No. It’s the first game of a new offense and they’re facing one of the best defenses in the NFL. Also, the Redskins have a rookie left tackle, a right tackle making his first start since 2008 and at a new position; and they lack receiving depth. The good thing is the quarterback is familiar with this defense as is just about everyone else on this offense. But this is not a game to be wowed by what they show. This is a survival game; grind out some yards, hit a couple big plays and hope like heck the defense can set up some easy scores.
4. Is there a concern with the running game? Yes. The stretch zone stuff is built on timing. It’s also built on having the running back know exactly how long to press the hole before cutting back – and it’s about the back trusting that the backside cuts will be effective. That’s a lot to ask go right in the opener. The good news for Washington is that Clinton Portis seems better suited for this, even if he lacks explosiveness. Also, in the running game this preseason I didn’t see receivers making good, consistent blocks. In this offense, that’s an absolute must. I did see better blocks by Chris Cooley, but more inconsistency from Fred Davis.
5. Key matchups for the offense? It has to start with center Casey Rabach vs. nose tackle Jay Ratliff. Rabach is better equipped to handle a smaller nose tackle than a bigger one, but Ratliff is a different sort. He’s one of the best and can be very disruptive in the backfield. On the stretch runs, if Ratliff is lined up outside Rabach, it’ll be tough for him to be stopped. In that case, all Rabach must do is slide him down the line; but if he gets in the backfield, the play is dead. The other two matchups involve the tackles, with Trent Williams facing DeMarcus Ware and Jammal Brown against Anthony Spencer. Williams’ ability to recover will be crucial. Listen, Ware will make plays; that doesn’t mean Williams had a bad game. He just has to limit the number of plays he makes. If he gives up a sack yet Ware isn’t heard from again, I’ll take it if I’m Washington. What can’t happen is for Ware to completely dominate. Williams can’t allow Ware to get his hands on him as fast as Terrell Suggs did in the preseason. As for Brown, Spencer came on big time as a pass rusher, but he’s already a good run defender. Brown likes to gobble guys up using his strength.
6. Can the Redskins throw on Dallas? If they use a lot of two tight end sets in the passing game. The Cowboy corners are excellent, another reason why this defense is so good. But can the safeties handle two tight ends who can catch the ball? This has to be a game where Cooley plays a big role; he has 41 career catches in 10 games, but it’s 24 in the last four. That’s what we expect.
7. How much will Dallas miss its two starting linemen? An awful lot. Not just because they’re good, but because their line is now 40 percent backups – plus a left tackle who is unproven. The Cowboys like to pull the left guard and with Kyle Kosier out and Montrae Holland in, that will be difficult. Alex Barron was a bust in St. Louis and now he’s starting at right tackle. His footwork is just not as good as Marc Colombo’s. Though Dallas is considered a Super Bowl contender, its line will trip them up in the end – even when all five starters are healthy.
8. Who are the key players defensively? How about all of them, considering the talent Dallas has outside of its line. But I’ll pick a couple starting with NT Maake Kemoeatu. Can he be the anchor they need vs. the run? If London Fletcher is running clean, the answer is yes. If not… trouble. Kemoeatu pleased the coaches in the summer, but in watching every game he played this summer twice, I’m not as sold. They were gutted a lot on the ground this summer, not just because of Kemo. He won’t get much of a push, he just can’t get shoved back a few yards. Andre Carter must have a strong game facing a backup tackle. Can he? And safety Reed Doughty, not the best fit at free safety against a team that can go deep and has one of the game’s best tight ends in Jason Witten.
9. How should they play Romo? It’s easy to say that since Minnesota sat back and confused him that the Redskins should do the same. But the Redskins don’t have Jared Allen. So they definitely can’t just try to confuse him. If you try to confuse him but don’t apply pressure, you can’t win. Brian Orakpo needs a good game as well rushing the passer. The problem is, at times he’d get pressure but needed someone else to clean up when he collapses the pocket. Uh, hello, Albert? The confusion will come in the schemes and what I’ve liked watching is that when they send four sometimes it has the feel of more because of where they’re sending them from. But sit back all game? No way.
10. What are the intangibles? Emotion. Though Dallas certainly will be fired up for its opener, they enter this season with a lot of pressure to play a certain way. The Redskins don’t have that same sort of expectation. However, they are a confident team and they’ve pointed to this game for a long time. It’s Mike Shanahan’s debut… Donovan McNabb’s debut… against a hated rival… at home… Sunday night. It could be huge.
11. Who will win? Earlier in the week, when it appeared Dallas would be healthy, the Cowboys were the wise pick. Where did Washington hold the edge? I’m not sure how Washington will sustain an offense against that defense, but with Dallas’ line weakened by injuries, it gives the defense a chance to hold serve – and maybe then some. I don’t know how the Redskins do it, but emotion will play a role especially early. Did we mention that Shanahan was 10-4 in his openers with Denver? So I’ve switched gears and like the Redskins, 14-13.
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