Unearthing Ancient Redskins Football

Big plays win games

Redskins football -noun
1. tough defense, conservative offense, wait for the big play.
2. what was played Sunday
3. what I want to see five more times this year

Redskins beat Panthers 17-13. The Legend of Jason Campbell is forming. His helmet radio went Democrat in the 4th quarter. They got the formation in, but not the play. Alone in the huddle, he called the play that led to the Cooley touchdown. Let us toast our new local star, Jason Campbell. *klink*

Part of the joy of Redskins football is frustrating other teams in games where nothing happens. An alternate title for this post could have been 'Panthers Can't Score Enough to Win.' Jake Delhomme was rattled all day. Go ahead, force the Redskins into 4 three-and-outs. They don't care. They'll hang in there. Hallmark: a defense that makes plays, and doesn't allow long passes. Shawn Springs is finally back. He blanketed Steve Smith, making Smith look just average with 5 catches for 34 yards. Carlos Rogers also acquitted himself, holding Keyshawn Johnson to 6 catches for 38 yards. That's right, the top two Panther receivers combined for 72 yards. As I've written before, watch how the character of a Gregg Williams defense changes when there is quality corner play.

And that pesky third quarter wasn't so bad for the Redskins. Play by play shows all three Panthers drives in the quarter were three-and-outs. 3rd quarter to-do list for the Redskins: 1) make sure nothing happens. 2) score. Rocky got into the game, getting a hand on a Panthers punt. Everyone was contributing.

I saw a lot of smiles out there, like guys were having fun and trying to win, not trying not to lose.

Other thoughts: Joe Gibbs made a huge mistake challenging the Steve Smith TD catch in the 4th quarter. The Panthers at that point were up three points and wasting a challenge wasted a timeout they might have needed later. Ladell is awesome. Did I say that already? Sean Taylor. He's a beast and he seems to be in on every defensive play. Vernon Fox, replacing 65 year old Troy Vincent replacing the 30 million dollar benchwarmer, set the tone early with an INT. Message: you're going to have to try harder in this house. And soooooomeone is getting profiled tomorrow! And I agree with George Solomon, the man that turned me down for a job, that this mess ain't all Joe Gibbs' fault at in the least. Dan Snyder needs to separate himself from Vinny the snake Cerrato. Bob Novak isn't a great kicker. I think he was 4-for-9 at the point he missed the FG in the 2nd quarter. Once more dog of a game and he gets his own feature.

Duckett Watch: 7 carries for 24 yards. Season now projecting to 27 carries for 130 yards. TJ is looking more and more like a...backup running back. Ladell got his labell rung in the first quarter and TJ came in, but with Ladell looking like a starter, there's no way for TJ to get into a rhythm. The good news is that with TJ and Ladell both free agents after this season, they can keep one if the other draws bigger money. I'd like to have Ladell on the sidelines again next year. He works with this offense.

B-Lloyd Blues: one catch for 8 yards. This guy just frustrates me. Balls bounce off his hands and I don't feel like he will make the big play when called on.

Being Mark Brunell: he got on camera once, for reaction to Bob Novak's missed field goal in the 2nd quarter. With so much time on his hands, I'm worried about Mark, so I found a list of volunteer and leisure programs for seniors in Fairfax County here.

And Curly R is proud to announce a new weekly feature, Arch Deluxe, on the life and times of 30 million dollar special teams player Adam Archuleta. Not only did Archuleta not play a down on defense that I saw, his assignment on the punting team is to be Derrick Frost's 'personal protector.' Adam Seward got a piece of Frost's punt at the end of the half and two plays and ten yards later, Jon Kasay is kicking a field goal to send the Panthers ahead at the half. When it rains it pours, and the forecast is for continued shittiness the rest of the season.

The Giants lost. This is of course good in its own right, but after Sunday's New York Times piece on Eli, it's that much sweeter, like honey on your toast. Yeppers, he's looking like an average quarterback at best.

The Eagles lost. This is of course good in its own right, but after rubbernecking all week at Bleeding Green Nation, the bloom is coming off the Andy Reid rose and we may get to see an implosion of spectacular proportions as the city turns on the team and begins to devour it whole.

A good day in the nation's capital.



Chris Cooley scoring, on field: AP photo