Game 6: Redskins (4-1) vs. Rams (0-4)

vs.

Out of the box: the hardest part of the season is over and that is the last reference you will hear on the subject as the schedule rolls on and the St. Louis Rams visit the Washington Redskins for a 1pm ET game on Fox. The Rams are a terrible team, this is an any given Sunday kind of game. Mrs. Curly R will represent today, she and three girlfriends are going to the game whilst I tend to the homefires of teaching our kids to love the Redskins.

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The story so far: it has been a hip hip hooray month for the Redskins, after a loss to the Giants that in the rearview does not look so bad, the Redskins whipped off four straight wins, all NFC conference games and the last two division road games. The Redskins have roared into band two at 4-1 and now enter the softest portion of their schedule, four games into the bye.

The risk for Washington is clearly laying an egg, any given Sunday right? The Redskins will really have to play down not to win this game and if they could perform as they did the last four games then the above matchups should be borne out in the final.


Here's a meme that appeared this week: don't forget this team is not fresh off the boat. The core of the team progressed through the Joe Gibbs years, Joe and Vinny Cerrato and Dan Snyder collaborated on the makeup of this roster, it is a veteran team on both sides of the ball, Jim Zorn has done a great job of enabling his defensive coordinator Greg Blache and of adapting his own offensive philosophy to the Redskins strengths and the needs of the division. If the Eagles version of the west coast offense was humorously called the Jersey Shore offense, then what is Washington's called? The Trickle Down?


Carlos Rogers, film junkie (ibid.)? This is the guy that in 2006, with Shawn Springs sidelined with a separated abdomen and unexpectedly elevated to number one cover cornerback, went 14 games before pulling in an INT in a season when opponents' passes were hitting him in the hands every week. Whatever Carlos is doing, I approve, his play is improved this year.

Rookie Chris Horton forming a bond with retired former Redskins and Cowboys safety James Washington? Seems like despite being out of place as often as around the ball that Chris is doing all the right things so far in his young career. I am not ready to conspiracize about Reed Doughty's sudden back problem (ibid.), suffice to say it is Chris' job to lose now.

And I take a bit of exception to this notion that the Jim Zorn offense is sooo much better for receiver Antwaan Randle El, presumably compared to the plodding and play action of Joe Gibbs and Al Saunders. Last season with Santana Moss affected by the groin that slows him every other year, through the first three games Antwaan led the league in average yards per catch. Yes Jim Zorn's is a good system for him and I question whether Antwaan could be a legitimate number one receiver, expecially in light of the team having Santana, Antwaan is a solid and flexible player and would do well anywhere.

There will be talk all season and beyond about how quarterback Jason Campbell has matured thus far in Jim Zorn's scheme, I have often espoused the notion that his development as a professional can be separated from his development in this offense. To wit, Jason lost seven fumbles in his final seven games last season, a clear byproduct of trying too hard, of forcing things to happen. This season, so far zero. Mind you there will be fumbles and interceptions, let us not come down too hard on Jason when it happens.


Last time these two teams met was game 15 in 2006, the Redskins were four games under .500 and out of the playoffs, the Rams were two games under and still in the running. That game was an overtime loss to St. Louis, 37-31. Washington's defense was terrible, Steven Jackson racked up 150 yards on 33 carries, Ladell Betts had 129 yards on 29 carries and a bad fumble.

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Curly R aside: there is no reason not to go with Jon Jansen in this game and even going forward. As long as the Redskins can still make hay in the running game and make the plays they need to in the passing game, stay with your veteran. Stephon Heyer may represent the future of the right tackle position, Jon can still hack it at this point and he has a large cap number. Stephon is cheap and will be around for many years. After this season it could be time to break up the band along the offensive line and I think the Joe Bugel-coached Chris Samuels-Pete Kendall-Casey Rabach-Randy Thomas-Jon Jansen line still has something in the tank.

Curly R aside continues: is anyone really surprised that Vinny Cerrato's show is a let down? Seriously, the guy is not mr. excitement anyway and between Vinny's need to comply with league rules on tampering, comments on officiation, league operations and so forth and the Redskins organization's desire to avoid the media filter and push its propaganda directly to paying customers, we are not really going to get anything out of him. Cut the dude a break and vote with your ears, get Sirius NFL Radio and have done with it.

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Oppo research: in this space we hit the high points of the opponent, who's hot, the biggest threat, the story with them this week. Well the Rams have problems so large they have pulled this feature into simply a current events notice. Scott Linehan was fired going into the bye, defensive coordinator and former Saints head coach Jim Haslett was named interim coach, they are winless, Marc Bulger and Trent Green have both started, Al Saunders' offense is having problems sinking in, oh the legacy of the 700 page playbook.

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Trainer's table: all week linebacker Marcus Washington said he thought he could play (op. cit.) now it looks like he may be inactive again (op. cit.), this will make three games Marcus has missed, the other two being the Saints game and at Eagles. Is anyone else thinking Marcus is about ready to call it a career? HB Blades is getting most of the time in that spot, though he is designated the backup middle linebacker behind London Fletcher, HB is getting a long look at the strong side linebacker, aka the SAM spot.

Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin, the veteran on the interior line, sprained his left shoulder in the Eagles game but should play today (ibid.), if that happens Anthony Montgomery will go in Cornelius' spot alongside Kedric Golston (op. cit.). Stephon Heyer was uncertain going into the week and missed practice all week (ibid.), coach Jim Zorn is holding him out (ibid.). Shawn Springs, who did not play last week should play this week (all ibid.).

Rookie receiver Malcolm Kelly was in the game against the Eagles for a couple of plays but had swelling in his knee, it went down by Monday and he should play this week. Jim Zorn is apparently concerned with Malcolm's route running (ibid.).

Defensive end Jason Taylor practiced for the first time since emergency surgery on Thursday and likely will see action today though he still has a six inch incision into his left leg healing so look to see him rotated in and out.

Safety Reed Doughty's back kept him out all week and he will not play today (ibid.), his absence forces Shawn Springs, himself recovering from a calf kick (ibid.), into the third safety spot in the three safety cobra defensive set (op. cit.), this is one of defensive coordinator Greg Blache's favorite calls.

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Gameplan: so with a great team on offense and defense playing a bad team on offense and defense play you can kind of make up the game plan you want, in theory. Not to take this for granted at all, at this point it seems obvious game planning will be to keep on trucking, play to your strengths, rotate personnel, get and stay healthy. If that sounds cavalier in attitude, it is a little, let's be honest, the Rams are so bad to this point that pretending this game should be a challenge is just wrong. If St. Louis pulls this off ready up your dunk tank.

On special teams though there is some room for improvement, twice in the four game win streak premier punt returners ran Durant Brooks punts back for touchdowns, Reggie Bush against the Saints and DeSean Jackson against the Eagles. Who is the Rams' punt return specialist? Dante Hall, formerly starring for the Chiefs. Durant needs to get his punts up on a more consistent basis, he can boom them for sure, every so often he outkicks his coverage and puts the unit at risk, head coach Jim Zorn and special teams coach Danny Smith tweaked Durant up a little this week (op. cit.), let us see today if it worked. To make matters worse the problems Shaun Suisham is having in the kicking game are mainly related to Durant's holds, not Shaun's form (op. cit.).

Bottom line, the Rams have a power back in Steven Jackson, expect St. Louis to live and die today on the run while their passing game tries to get something going. More Steven Jackson means more Rocky McIntosh and more London Fletcher.

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My take in 60 words or less: this is the most winnable game on the schedule, a boisterous homecoming after winning two division games on the road, the Redskins will have to do more than stumble to lose this game, they will have to wipe out. If ever there was a lock for a straight up win, this is it.

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Washington Post / AP preview, Redskins Gameday (PDF), the Zorn Zone. Redskins injury report, projected starters. Rams injury report, projected starters. SkinsCast weather, broadcast coverage.

Other previews:


Today I stay home with my two six year olds and my one year old, all boys, while the wife goes to the game with friends. I sent her out the door with my camera to record a special guest edition of game journal.


This is a gameday open thread.



NFL helmets from here.