vs. 
Out of the box: the Arizona Cardinals travel east to Washington for the second of the Redskins' two game home stand, 1pm ET Sunday on Fox. The Redskins are coming off a strong win against a good conference opponent in the Saints and are looking to build on their success before a two game road swing against NFC Beast division opponents.
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The story so far: after scoring 14 points unanswered in the fourth quarter to beat the Saints in game two, the the week started with Chris Cooley's dick on the web oh and pictures of proprietary team materials. As a fan and a writer I can appreciate Chris' desire to share, the portion of the team book published was harmless though he should have know better. And the picture of his pee pee? Little creepee. He apologized and no matter what he says, Chris was not worried about embarrassing his mom, if anything he was worried about how the penis and playbook episode was going to affect his status as a wannabe post playing career media figure.
Meanwhile back on Earth Jason Campbell seems to be getting comfortable in the Jim Zorn offense (op. cit.), spreading the ball around and not zeroing in on his man before the play. Reed Doughty, third year strong safety pressed into starting service in 2006 with the demotion of Adam Archuleta and again last year with the death of Sean Taylor, sat out last week's game with a stomach virus and all rookie seventh round draft pick Chris Horton did was pull down two interceptions and scoop up a fumble. Defensive coordinator Greg Blache thought about starting Chris this week over Reed for about two seconds then thought better of it. You can bet Chris will get into today's game and that Reed is on a shorter leash. Reed was a focus of coverage this week and was really open about wanting the team to put the best player out there and that he would do whatever the team needed, even if that meant sitting down.
Special teams was a weak spot last week with rookie punter Durant Brooks turning in a weak punting game and botching a snap-hold in his ancillary duty as holder, causing Shaun Suisham to miss a field goal. Things happen faster in today's NFL and the team scrutinized Durant this week, if Durant can't get his head out of his ass then he will be facing a competition with some out of work punter. Looking more and more like a bad idea to cut Derrick Frost and if it is true the rumor from training camp that Shaun Suisham was not happy with Durant's holds then it must be a fun locker room what with Shaun's numbers being the ones that get hurt when Durant screws the pooch on a hold.
Meanwhile back on Earth Jason Campbell seems to be getting comfortable in the Jim Zorn offense (op. cit.), spreading the ball around and not zeroing in on his man before the play. Reed Doughty, third year strong safety pressed into starting service in 2006 with the demotion of Adam Archuleta and again last year with the death of Sean Taylor, sat out last week's game with a stomach virus and all rookie seventh round draft pick Chris Horton did was pull down two interceptions and scoop up a fumble. Defensive coordinator Greg Blache thought about starting Chris this week over Reed for about two seconds then thought better of it. You can bet Chris will get into today's game and that Reed is on a shorter leash. Reed was a focus of coverage this week and was really open about wanting the team to put the best player out there and that he would do whatever the team needed, even if that meant sitting down.
Special teams was a weak spot last week with rookie punter Durant Brooks turning in a weak punting game and botching a snap-hold in his ancillary duty as holder, causing Shaun Suisham to miss a field goal. Things happen faster in today's NFL and the team scrutinized Durant this week, if Durant can't get his head out of his ass then he will be facing a competition with some out of work punter. Looking more and more like a bad idea to cut Derrick Frost and if it is true the rumor from training camp that Shaun Suisham was not happy with Durant's holds then it must be a fun locker room what with Shaun's numbers being the ones that get hurt when Durant screws the pooch on a hold.
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Curly R aside: does anyone but me think it is a bad idea for Santana Moss to field punts? With James Thrash nursing an ankle twist, Malcolm Kelly still working back from hamstring and knee problems, there are really only three healthy wideouts on the roster and the team did try out or promote any receivers from the practice squad (op. cit.). Given that new number three receiver Devin Thomas is part of the Not Ready for Prime Time rookie corps it seems as though the Redskins have put themselves and their special teams into a corner and are at risk of mismanaging the receiver position what with the team ultimately deciding not to retain any of the training camp players and only go with Santana, Antwaan Randle El, James, Devin and Malcolm. The team had at least two other players in camp that spent time returning kicks, Byron Westbrook and Marcus Mason and neither made the roster.
Curly R aside continues: speaking of players as media figures, yes we know, Jason Taylor wants to be a movie star or something after he retires. To this I say DancingLike an Idiot with the Stars is not exactly the same as a big budget Jerry Bruckheimer picture so go get some sacks and get stiffer against the run before we get too far ahead of ourselves mkay?
Curly R aside still continues: ugh, why suddenly do I want Joe Gibbs to go away?
Curly R aside continues: speaking of players as media figures, yes we know, Jason Taylor wants to be a movie star or something after he retires. To this I say Dancing
Curly R aside still continues: ugh, why suddenly do I want Joe Gibbs to go away?
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Oppo research: here is a stat I did not previously know and was not surprised to hear: the Cardinals are off to their first 2-0 start since 1991, that would be 17 years and so long that it was the last time the Redskins won a Super Bowl, wow this is an inept franchise. They go out and draft Matt Leinart out of USC high in the first round, a national champion and two seasons later he still can't claim the starting job. I'm going to laugh my ass off if his college backup Matt Cassel, elevated to starter in New England when Tom Brady finally went down for the season, turns out to be a better pro quarterback than Matt Leinart.
That said Kurt Warner can still chuck the ball though he can't make it 16 games anymore, if the Redskins can harass him, well let's just say he's not all the mobile in the pocket. Arizona still has two superstar receivers in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, all the more important in a season when there seems to be a shortage, or at least a skewed distribution, of top drawer wideouts around the league. Anquan is playing bitter, wanting out of his deal for a bigger one inline with what the team gave Larry in the offseason and the team will not play ball with him and fuckhead agent Drew Rosenhaus. Serves Anquan right but what that means for this game is Anquan is working to the rule, nothing more, nothing less.
That said Kurt Warner can still chuck the ball though he can't make it 16 games anymore, if the Redskins can harass him, well let's just say he's not all the mobile in the pocket. Arizona still has two superstar receivers in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, all the more important in a season when there seems to be a shortage, or at least a skewed distribution, of top drawer wideouts around the league. Anquan is playing bitter, wanting out of his deal for a bigger one inline with what the team gave Larry in the offseason and the team will not play ball with him and fuckhead agent Drew Rosenhaus. Serves Anquan right but what that means for this game is Anquan is working to the rule, nothing more, nothing less.
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Trainer's table: it would be really great to get Marcus Washington back in the starting lineup, he sat out last week with hip and hamstring injuries (op. cit.), so much for oh boy Marcus finally has an injury free year. Khary Campbell should also be back and rookie free safety Kareem Moore may make his season debut. At receiver James Thrash (ankle) and Malcolm Kelly (hammy, knee) should play, will be nowhere near 100 percent they all made progress all week (op. cit.). Strange, suddenly there is no mention of Jason Taylor wrenching his knee in two weeks ago. Maybe he really is the Highlander.
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Gameplan: so last week the Redskins switched from a run oriented attack in New York to a passing oriented offense. I would expect the team would want to try and move to the middle in an effort to continue the offense's overall development. Arizona has a furious pass rush and some good defensive backs, if Jason can spread the wealth and force the Cardinals to make guesses about what is next then the team has a great chance to win. With injuries to receivers look for the offense to be shorter, with Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley more involved.
Defensively, it is all about the Cardinals' passing game (op. cit.), you need to honor Edgerrin James and the ground attack to be sure, Edgerrin is no longer an elite tailback and in fact never was with the Cardinals. If you can put a helmet up in Kurt Warner's giblet a time or two then you are good to go.
Improve specials teams, somehow which could be tough given there is no one worth risking available for punt returns and the Redskins punter turns out to be green green green. DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT PUT SANTANA IN TO RETURN PUNTS.
If none of that works then Jim Zorn will pray on it, cause that usually works. Right.
Defensively, it is all about the Cardinals' passing game (op. cit.), you need to honor Edgerrin James and the ground attack to be sure, Edgerrin is no longer an elite tailback and in fact never was with the Cardinals. If you can put a helmet up in Kurt Warner's giblet a time or two then you are good to go.
Improve specials teams, somehow which could be tough given there is no one worth risking available for punt returns and the Redskins punter turns out to be green green green. DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT PUT SANTANA IN TO RETURN PUNTS.
If none of that works then Jim Zorn will pray on it, cause that usually works. Right.
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My take in 60 words or less: house money game. Yes I know the Redskins are 1-1 and facing the rest of the division road schedule in the next two games. Getting another win at home would just be huge and help to mitigate frustration sure to come in the next two games. Mix it up on offense, stick with the run, don't let the Cardinals receivers own the day. Coming out of this game 2-1 would be great, don't be surprised if things don't work out like last time against the Cardinals.
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Washington Post / AP preview, Gameday (PDF), WaPo keys to the game: Jason Campbell continues to develop in the offense, contain Edgerrin James, get better in the punting game, Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El need to keep pace with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin; the Zorn Zone... Redskins roster, projected starters, injury report; Cardinals roster, projected starters, injury report. Broadcast coverage map, SkinsCast forecast: upper 70s to low 80s and direct sun.
Other previews:
I will be attending this game with Redskins Examiner's Mark Newgent, if you would like to meet up in the lot for a drink, drop me a note at the email link at right and we'll link up.
This is a gameday open thread.
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