Play call demonstrates coach trusts his QB ASHBURN — The coach pulled the quarterback aside and whispered words of encouragement. Maybe Rex Grossman didn’t need them. Mike Shanahan delivered them anyway.
“Shake it off,” Shanahan told him. “You’ll play well the rest of the game.”
Then Shanahan showed faith in Grossman by asking him to make one of the biggest plays in the game: the fourth-and-3 pass with 5:23 remaining. The Redskins trailed by eight; a field goal would have satisfied most coaches.
– John Keim
| Notes |
| » Cornerback Josh Wilson‘s status won’t be updated until Thursday, but coach Mike Shanahan said Wilson felt more sore Monday morning than he did Sunday night. Shanahan said Wilson’s head, back and neck all were sore. Wilson exited the Redskins’ 22-21 win over Arizona early in the third quarter after attempting to tackle Arizona running back Beanie Wells. |
| » Has Fred Davis passed Chris Cooley on the depth chart? Shanahan declined to say. Both players started Sunday’s game; the Redskins used them together nine times. “We have two excellent players,” Shanahan said. |
| » Linebacker London Fletcher said he thought he was going to sack Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb on the 73-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald. Fletcher blitzed on the play. “When he revved up to throw the ball I was hoping he had to hold it a little bit,” Fletcher said. “When I hit him, I’m thinking the worst case scenario he would underthrow the ball. Then I saw Fitzgerald running down the field.” |
But Shanahan went for it. Grossman, who threw two first-half interceptions, tossed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss. The two-point conversion failed, but the Redskins eventually won the game on a 34-yard Graham Gano field goal.
This is the seventh time the Redskins have started 2-0 since 1978, with five of the previous six trips resulting in a playoff berth. But this is the ninth time a Mike Shanahan team has opened 2-0. And only four of the previous eight times ended in the postseason.
The fourth-down call is one of the reasons Washington is undefeated.
“Those are the types of situations that build momentum and confidence as a team,” Grossman said. “Throughout the course of the year you are going to be put in a lot of adverse situations, and I feel like we are 1-for-1 on that.”
Shanahan called it a gut feel.
“Some people kick a field goal. Other people go for it,” Shanahan said. “Either way you have to do what gives you the best chance to win. At that point in the game we needed to score a touchdown.”
In the opener, Shanahan went for it on fourth-and-5 in the second quarter. The Redskins succeeded, leading to a touchdown.
Clearly, Shanahan wants to be aggressive. It’s a mindset he said he’s always had.
“I’m not very conservative. I usually take chances,” he said. “Sometimes it depends on the tempo of the game, the team you’re facing, how good is the defense and how’s your running game going. A lot of ingredients go into something like that.”
Grossman made the decision look smart. The play was designed to go to the receiver in the flat, Jabar Gaffney, but the cornerback on that side jumped the route, leaving Moss open.
Grossman’s pass — and his game-winning drive a series later in which he completed four of five passes for 37 yards — compensated for his miscues.
“You’re always hoping your quarterback can pull you through in the fourth quarter,” Shanahan said. “That’s what he did. You have to keep your poise. I was pleased with the way he handled himself in the fourth quarter.”
