Ta-da!
Takeaway drill: solid first team play, good offense, good defense, some areas for improvement; this was a good game to take into the final week of preseason.
=====Monday Saturday walkthrough: Jason Campbell reminds us he really is a quarterback as the Redskins go toe to toe with the Patriots before falling 27-24 in the final seconds amidst scrubs to fall to 1-2 in the preseason. Colt Brennan made more boo boos, including another goal line interception, one depth receiver solidified his argument and we sure did see a lot of a bubble player whose name rhymes with barkus basin.
The Patriots took the ball to begin the first quarter and there was an immediate redo as Reed Doughty was offsides on the kickoff. After starting with excellent field position the Patriots three and out on their first drive thanks to a great third down hit on Joey Galloway. The Redskins get the ball for the first time with great field position thanks to a New England personal foul, cannot make much happen on the ground but Jason Campbell goes four for his first four and draws a pass interference in the end zone, Marcus Mason went in from the one yard line on the next play to put the Redskins up 7-0. New England got the ball for the second time, London Fletcher causes a fumble near midfield but the Patriots recover it, three pass plays later Randy Moss catches a Tom Brady 26 yard catch for a touchdown, game tied 7-7. Washington got the ball for the second time and could go nowhere on a three and out. The Patriots' third possession was cut and scratch until DeAngelo Hall grabbed Randy Moss' facemask, the play would have been short of the first down, instead New England's drive gets new life, then the quarter ended with the game tied 7-7.
New England continued its third drive into the second quarter, on the first play, a third and one, Tom Brady starts from the shotgun, pumps, resets and tosses it deep to Randy Moss for the touchdown over LaRon Landry, Patriots take the lead 14-7. The Redskins' third possession has no room for Clinton Portis to run then a Patriots jailbreak and Washington is three and out. The Patriots get the ball for the fourth time, as if New England was not moving easily enough, some joker on the Redskins sideline started jawing and earned an unsportsmanlike fifteen yard penalty, add that to a steady diet of Laurence Maroney and New England is kicking a 43 yard field goal to put the Patriots ahead 17-7. Washington's fourth drive, starting offense still in, three passes and a punt and it is back over to New England for the fifth time, Fred Smoot nearly grabs an interception on the first play, two plays later on third down Andre Carter holds Patriots right tackle Nick Kaczur long enough to spook Tom Brady who goes down for the untouched sack, New England three and out. Washington's fifth drive starts with a Devin Thomas special teams facemask penalty to give the Redskins an extra fifteen yards to move, getting a first down is a struggle but they do thanks to Santana Moss, then came the big play: Jason Campbell hits a wide open Chris Cooley, Chris take it sideline for 73 yards down to first and goal. Two plays later and Jason Campbell is faking the throw to freeze Patriots linebacker Paris Lenon and taking it in on his own from four yards out (see headline photo above) to pull the Redskins to 17-14 New England. New England's sixth drive is another three and out featuring no Randy Moss, Patriots punter Chris Hanson boots a weak one out of bounds and the Redskins have the ball for the sixth time, near midfield. Washington moves it well on a two minute drill, Jason was four for six on the drive spreading the ball around to Chris Cooley, Devin Thomas and Ladell Betts, Marcus Mason even got in there with a seven yard run to give Washington new set of downs with nineteen seconds left. On third and goal with five seconds left in the half and no timeouts Dave Rayner comes in and kicks a 25 yard chip shot to tie the game at the half, 17-17.
The Redskins got the ball to start the third quarter, Washington's seventh drive opened with Jason Campbell and most of the starters still on the field, Marcus Mason got things started with a twelve yard run blown open by a pulling block by left guard Derrick Dockery, the drive ended four plays later with a Jason Campbell pass to no one, Redskins punt. New England's seventh drive saw Kevin O'Connell and I presume the rest of the Patriots second team, the drive was pokey until LaRon Landry pulled in a tipped pass for the interception, Redskins ball for the eighth time. Colt Brennan is now in along with the entire second team, the only run on the drive was called back on a penalty, after moving the Redskins with his arm twenty yards down to the New England three yard line, Patriots cornerback Jonathan Wilhite stepped in front of DJ Hackett on the right side of the end zone and intercepted the pass, he took it 99 yards untouched for the touchdown, 24-17 Patriots. So the Redskins get the ball right back, Washington's ninth possesion, Colt still in the game. Marcus Mason figures heavily into this drive but the team can only move three yards on five plays and the Redskins punt. New England's eighth possession was really brief, on third and eight in Patriot territory quarterback Kevin O'Connell rolls right and throws for receiver Sam Aiken, rookie third round pick cornerback Kevin Barnes stepped in front and pulled in the interception, Kevin's second of the quarter. Colt Brennan was still in for Washington's tenth drive, now Dominique Dorsey is in at tailback for the Redskins, one play after committing a false start penalty, rookie seventh round pick receiver Marko Mitchell pulls in a deep pass from Colt Brennan for the 33 yard touchdown catch, game tied at 24-24. New England got the ball for the ninth time with ten seconds left in the quarter, a silly penalty and an incomplete pass and the quarter was over, tied 24-24.
The Patriots continued their ninth possession into the fourth quarter with a roughing the passer penalty on Chris Wilson and a holding penalty on New England, Kevin O'Connell moves the team down to the Washington eleven yard line, on first and ten New England tailback Chris Taylor went into the pile and appeared to fumble, the whistle blew but cornerback Byron Westbrook picked it up and started to run but stopped, thinking the play was dead. The ruling on the field was runner down by contact and Jim Zorn challenged the call, the play was reversed and possession given to Washington, their eleventh. Colt Brennan is still in the game, Marcus Mason takes the first handoff and injures his ribs, he would not be back, this drive is mostly Anthony Aldridge on the ground, the Redskins move 56 yards on twelve plays, stalling on the New England 34, incumbent kicker Shaun Suisham comes out and misses a 52 yard field goal to give the Patriots the ball back for the tenth time, an unremarkable three and out as the Patriots are clearly ready to go home. The Redskins are as well on their twelfth drive, three Anthony Aldridge runs into the line and a Hunter Smith punt, Patriots punt returner Patrick Chung returns the ball 33 yards through Redskins scrubs to the Washington 23. With 1:39 left in the game and the score tied at 24, Patriots tailback Ben-Jarvis Green-Ellis runs it twice for eleven yards in the New England eleventh possesion, with twelve seconds Steven Gostkowski kicks a 30 yard field goal to put the Patriots up 27-24. Washington got a pitiful thirteenth drive, one Colt Brennan hail mary with two second left, it comes down incomplete and game over, Patriots win 27-24.
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Soapbox: The big takeaways for this game are easy: Jason Campbell does not suck, and the first team looks like it is together. Go a little deeper and there is a lot to talk about.
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Soapbox: The big takeaways for this game are easy: Jason Campbell does not suck, and the first team looks like it is together. Go a little deeper and there is a lot to talk about.
Washington's starting and startingish offense was terrible at run blocking. As for pass blocking it was passable no pun intended, Jason seemed to have the time he needed for the most part, even when Jason was hurried he was able to make fairly accurate throws.
The thing that goes without saying but bears repeating is this: Jason Campbell has a long windup and a big arm and he can throw it deep and accurate. Instead of trying to worry away his natural mechanics and turn him into the quarterback you wish we had, try focusing on what Jason needs and that is an offensive line that can give him time.
And while Jason's performance in the first drive may have been great, I counted three three and outs on the following three drives. The final drive of the first half, starting with less than two minutes to go and covering 51 yards on nine plays was well put together and well executed.
As for the starting and startingish defense, the main problem seemed to that the Patriots are just good, it is hard to fault the team for allowing the Patriots starting and startingish offense to move, that is what they do (op. cit.). I do not feel bad about this unit at all.
When the game started to move down into the reserves and bubble players, it did not get any tighter, sloppy play and penalties continued, overall this game had 22 penalties for nearly 200 yards. And after a turnover free first half with the starters in there, the second team defenses combined for three interceptions in the third quarter. I look forward to seeing real football.
Fred Smoot had a monster game, perhaps is is true that he is looking at his career and realizing he needs to find the next level of conditioning and awareness as a veteran in order to keep pace with younger and rawer players.
Despite not starting at the number two receiver spot, that was Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas had a good overall game and a great game as a kick returner. That gives the team additional options and may cast a shadow over Rock Cartwright.
Colt Brennan did not do himself any favors (op. cit.), for the second game in a row he threw an interception at the goal line. I persist in thinking Colt is getting more of the offense to run and Chase Daniel getting less so there is some weighting in the evaluation, still not good for Colt. On that 33 yard touchdown pass to Marko Mitchell in the third quarter, Colt stared down Marko, who beat a rookie with a stutter step, I attribute that play to Marko moreso than to Colt. To make matters worse Colt gave up a six yard sack in the fourth quarter to put the field goal out of range, Phil Simms was right when he said of the play that as a quarterback you must always be aware of field goal range and when you are in and out, although Colt did not cost the team three points, the eventual margin of victory, he did not contribute to putting the team in the best position to score. The fact that Colt stayed in the whole second half tells me the team really wants him to take the number three spot and if it is not already a foregone conclusion that Colt will stay warts and all, he may be in trouble. I still cannot see an NFL team going with a five foot ten inch quarterback.
And speaking of Marko Mitchell (ibid.), I think he might be a keeper.
Overall for the team, this game was not bad. Not bad at all.
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Chattering class: Washington Post columnist Tom Boswell writes that the team looks to be better prepared for each game so far this preseason.
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Chattering class: Washington Post columnist Tom Boswell writes that the team looks to be better prepared for each game so far this preseason.
Mike Wise, also at the WaPo, acknowledges no matter what you think, this is Jason Campbell's team, and I agree.
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Omnibus: This was a CBS broadcast and they kicked it off with a ridiculous One Shining Moment salute to... CBS. Guys, just stick to the football, there is no need to spend the money on the full orchestra to film a two minute piece.
The broadcast team was Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, I do not hate either of these guy, they are just blah for me. They are a CBS team so I expect they will talk more about what each play means for New England rather than Washington. Their Washington soundbite
Uniform watch: the Redskins were in the preferred home uniform of white jersey and burgundy pants.
Dave Rayner kicked off, overall I still get no sense of where is the competition between Dave and incumbent Shaun Suisham. After the Reed Doughty offsides the second return by New England was 21 yards longer than the first. Nice work guys.
Was that Fred Smoot coming up to make the physical hit to force a Patriots three and out on the first drive? Good first play in place of the injured Carlos Rogers. On the next New England drive Fred played too far off Joey Galloway and Joey made the catch but Fred made up for the big buffer by laying a hard hit.
So far two possessions in the game and there have been four penalties combined, including a holding call on Stephon Heyer, the new permanent right tackle.
And Jason Campbell opens the game three for three, good passes to Malcolm Kelly, a great sideline out to Santana Moss on a seven step drop, a hook to Santana and a catch and run for a first down to Antwaan Randle El. That catch by Antwaan took the Redskins from second and 22 to first and ten.
When enough is not enough: Jason tossed his fifth pass to Malcolm Kelly from the Patriots 24, Patriots cornerback Darius Butler committed pass interference in the end zone enabling Marcus Mason to score on the short run. Good looking first drive.
I can tell DeAngelo Hall and Randy Moss are going to be locked up all night, on the Patriots second drive Randy cut in while DeAngelo was playing back for a thirteen yard gain, then two plays later DeAngelo was blanketing Randy, Randy still caught the touchdown.
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Shooter: Quarterback Jason Campbell looked good, the first and last drives of the first half were well done, Jason is our man, let's ride my friends.
Fat Contract Albert: Earned his money, figuratively that is considering this is preseason. Defensive tackle Albery Haynesworth is a player you can build a defense around, I just hope he can play a whole game when they go live. Putting Tom Brady into the turf was nice.
OH CRAPPO: Not so much from hybrid defensive endbacker Brian Orakpo this week, his presence was felt along a line that pressured Tom Brady in the first half, against New England's experienced offensive line he seemed to disappear. All part of the learning curve.
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Washington Post recap, photos. NFL recap, box score, full play by play, Gamebook (PDF), photos, video highlights.
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Omnibus: This was a CBS broadcast and they kicked it off with a ridiculous One Shining Moment salute to... CBS. Guys, just stick to the football, there is no need to spend the money on the full orchestra to film a two minute piece.
The broadcast team was Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, I do not hate either of these guy, they are just blah for me. They are a CBS team so I expect they will talk more about what each play means for New England rather than Washington. Their Washington soundbite
Uniform watch: the Redskins were in the preferred home uniform of white jersey and burgundy pants.
Dave Rayner kicked off, overall I still get no sense of where is the competition between Dave and incumbent Shaun Suisham. After the Reed Doughty offsides the second return by New England was 21 yards longer than the first. Nice work guys.
Was that Fred Smoot coming up to make the physical hit to force a Patriots three and out on the first drive? Good first play in place of the injured Carlos Rogers. On the next New England drive Fred played too far off Joey Galloway and Joey made the catch but Fred made up for the big buffer by laying a hard hit.
So far two possessions in the game and there have been four penalties combined, including a holding call on Stephon Heyer, the new permanent right tackle.
And Jason Campbell opens the game three for three, good passes to Malcolm Kelly, a great sideline out to Santana Moss on a seven step drop, a hook to Santana and a catch and run for a first down to Antwaan Randle El. That catch by Antwaan took the Redskins from second and 22 to first and ten.
When enough is not enough: Jason tossed his fifth pass to Malcolm Kelly from the Patriots 24, Patriots cornerback Darius Butler committed pass interference in the end zone enabling Marcus Mason to score on the short run. Good looking first drive.
I can tell DeAngelo Hall and Randy Moss are going to be locked up all night, on the Patriots second drive Randy cut in while DeAngelo was playing back for a thirteen yard gain, then two plays later DeAngelo was blanketing Randy, Randy still caught the touchdown.
The first play on the Redskins second drive, Jason Campbell went playaction deep to Santana Moss, even with pressure from the left side it was nearly complete, ie not a wild throw. The third play on that drive was a bad read, Jason's throw was almost intercepted by Adalius Thomas, if the ball had made it past Adalius there were three defenders in the area.
The Patriots are so obviously just Tom Brady, Randy Moss and a bunch of guys in blue. Neutralize either of those first two guys and you have a game.
Terrific jumping juggling catch by Santana Moss on the first play of the Redskins fourth possession, unfortunately on the third play of that drive Santana dropped an easy one, ending the drive.
A great play by Jason Campbell and Chris Cooley on the Redskins fifth drive for 73 yards, it looked as though Chris was Jason's first read on the play and Chris was WIDE open. Good awareness by Chris to stay in bounds and great downfield block by bubble receiver rookie Marko Mitchell, Marko is having a good camp.
That same drive ended with Jason Campbell taking the ball in on his own from four yards out, the key aspect of that play was obviously the toss-fake by Jason to freeze New England linebacker Paris Lenon, but there was something else going on with that play as well. Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour, all six foot six 310 pounds of him, slid past Redskins starting left guard Derrick Dockery and had a clean path straight to the quarterback. Who was in the hole blocking Richard? Why it was tailback Marcus Mason, all 210 pounds of him. So much for the meme that Marcus cannot make this team because he cannot block.
The third and six incomplete on the Patriots sixth drive was the play when Albert Haynesworth broke through the line and drove Tom Brady into the turf, injuring his throwing shoulder to a degree still not known, the NFL thought this moment so important as to give it its own highlight on NFL.com, which is linked from the play by play. And while it is tempting to congratulate cornerback Justin Tryon for making the play on Greg Lewis to prevent the catch and first down, it should be noted that Justin never looked back for the ball, that is a play that could have been called pass interference and if his timing is off on the disrupt even a teensy bit, it would be.
As part of the non stop pimping of this year's Super Bowl to be broadcast on CBS, during a commercial spot they ran a quick spot on the 1998 Fog Bowl between the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, for anyone old enough to remember Jerome Brown, the Eagles defensive tackle from that monster late 80s early 90s defense that included Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, Andre Waters and Seth Joyner, after Jerome died in a car crash in the 1992 offseason, a clip of him walking alone with his helmet in hand, disappearing into the fog was used for the video tributes.
More questionable penalty calls: the illegal contact call against Kevin Barnes at the end of the third quarter seemed kind of ticky tack, yes he was past five yards but come on, the receiver was cutting inside and Kevin's putting his hands on the player did not interrupt his route or knock him off balance. The big problem with calling these kinds of penalties tight is that they cannot be enforced uniformly, let us let them play and save the penalties for serious infractions.
The Chris Taylor fumble and subsequent challenge by the Redskins and eventual awarding of possession to Washington was the first example I have seen this year of the new rule that allows for a clear fumble recovery to be awarded to the defense even if the whistle is blown. The tailback went into the hole and dropped the ball, the referees could not see the fumble and blew it dead, the ball was sitting there and Byron Westbrook picked it up, he had a free lane to the end zone around the right side of the pile but stopped, thinking the play was dead. After the challenge the ball was awarded to Washington. So they did not get to advance the ball but they did get it. I think this is a reasonable rule, since as Joe Gibbs said in 1992 about the original instant replay, the league needs to be sure to get it right since the fans will see the bad call over and over.
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Shooter: Quarterback Jason Campbell looked good, the first and last drives of the first half were well done, Jason is our man, let's ride my friends.
Fat Contract Albert: Earned his money, figuratively that is considering this is preseason. Defensive tackle Albery Haynesworth is a player you can build a defense around, I just hope he can play a whole game when they go live. Putting Tom Brady into the turf was nice.
OH CRAPPO: Not so much from hybrid defensive endbacker Brian Orakpo this week, his presence was felt along a line that pressured Tom Brady in the first half, against New England's experienced offensive line he seemed to disappear. All part of the learning curve.
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Washington Post recap, photos. NFL recap, box score, full play by play, Gamebook (PDF), photos, video highlights.
Next up, the final preseason tuneup in Jacksonville against the Jaguars and embattled coach Jack Del Rio, the Jaguars were also last season's preseason final opponent. Roster cuts are coming folks.
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