MTK
11-07-2006, 12:04 PM
The latest from T. Walt.
One in a Row
Much has been made of all the money spent by the Washington Redskins in this and every other off-season, and to be truthful much of the criticism is warranted. With all of the high-priced talent on the roster, it’s not shocking turn of events that someone finally stepped up and made a big play to win a game. What is surprising is that the man that made the play that turned the tide of what seemed like a sure defeat, Troy Vincent, was a mid-season afterthought foolishly cast aside in Buffalo. He doesn’t have the contract of the man whose job he has quickly claimed, but in that one triumphant moment, he was the most valuable player on the roster.
It’s funny, really, how such an improbable turn of events can change what would have been a dark day all over Redskins Nation into the first bright spot in a month. Both teams seemed at times determined to give the game away. Dallas handed the Redskins 153 free yards on 11 different penalties, while Washington let the Cowboys off of the hook on third down ten times, many coming on third-and-long situations. On the Redskins’ opening drive, the Cowboys continually afforded extra red zone opportunities to Washington, who proceeded to politely decline each time, eventually turning the ball over on downs near the Dallas goal line.
The best example, however, comes from Terrell Owens, the most despicable man in football. Owens, perhaps fearing footsteps from his own personal monster in the closet Sean Taylor, dropped a sure touchdown that would have rendered all of the late game heroics obsolete. If you didn’t know if before Sunday, you should know now; Terrell Owens is afraid, nay terrified, of Sean Taylor. Drew Rosenhaus probably has to check under Owens’ bed each night to assure the narcissistic wideout that Taylor isn’t lurking somewhere underneath. Owens has his Orkin® man spray for roaches, mice, and Sean Taylor. Terrell Owens is so scared of Sean Taylor that, well, you get the picture.
Of course, any game that ends in such a spectacular fashion can’t completely avoid a little controversy. Upon scooping up the blocked field goal attempt, Sean Taylor’s facemask was clutched by a Dallas defender, causing his head to twist violently. The resulting penalty assessed was of the 15 yard variety, and was enough to put the Redskins into Nick Novak’s range for the one untimed play that results when the game clock expires after a defensive penalty. Had the flag been for the lesser five yard call, the game almost certainly goes into overtime where your guess as to the eventual outcome is as good as mine.
The differentiation between the two facemask violations is largely an official’s judgment call. Reasonable people can disagree with that decision, but to say that this one call gave the game to Washington, as some have, is absurd. Those same voices, you’ll notice, won’t breathe a word of how those same officials missed a textbook holding call on Dallas tight end Jason Whitten on Terry Glenn’s touchdown reception. Had that call been made as it should have been, the game has an entirely different outlook. This is, of course, to say nothing of the Dallas special teams coverage that clearly tripped Redskins returner Antwaan Randle El, who appeared to have nothing but an illegal leg in between him and the endzone. The bottom line is that Dallas should have been able to convert a 35-yard kick with what is statistically the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Blaming the loss on the officials because of a judgment call that, for the record, was made correctly, is nothing short of sour grapes.
As is typically the case with victories, the joy that the win brings often overshadows what would have been much more evident had there been a different outcome. The passing attack was once again inconsistent, and aside from his one 38-yard scamper, Clinton Portis was held in check. The defense did show well, holding the league’s fifth ranked offense under 20 points, but it did continue its disturbing habit of allowing critical third down conversions. Gregg Williams’ bunch also failed once again to force a turnover and have registered a league-low five on the season. It only makes it more difficult to win when every third down seems like a conversion in the making and the thought that the defense may cause a turnover has long passed.
The win also buys quarterback Mark Brunell a few days of peace. Once again, Brunell did nothing to lose the game for his Redskins, and just as much to win it. Even in his one touchdown pass, Chris Cooley had to make a spectacular grab to compensate for a grossly under-thrown ball. To be fair, Brunell has thrown only three interceptions on the season, but there have been another handful, such as the one Roy Williams dropped Sunday, that should have been picked off, as well as a few times, such as in the Jacksonville game, when Redskin receivers have had to make extraordinary efforts to catch and/or break up ill-conceived passes. Brunell’s greatest strength is in his ability to not make the big mistake, but it is going to be very difficult for the Redskins to put together a string of wins against the teams that await them with a quarterback who, at best, probably won’t hurt you too badly.
The game ball this week could have gone to any of a number of Redskins, but in the end, linebacker Marcus Washington gets the nod after playing his most complete game this season. While Cooley and Portis got the touchdowns, Vincent the key block, and Nick Novak booted home the winner, it was Washington who stayed after Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo all afternoon and stuffed running lanes that shut down many of the Cowboys’ drives. Washington also made broke up a key pass that, had he not gotten a hand on it, would have resulted in a huge gain for Dallas.
Friends and neighbors, all of Redskins Nation knows the task ahead. With eight games remaining, the Redskins can lose perhaps one and still be in contention for post-season play, but the rest must be won or the season will end early for the fifth time in the last six seasons. As daunting as that sounds, Washington can only win one game per week, and Sunday, they did all they could. While the odds of winning eight of nine are slim, the odds of winning one game are significantly better. After a while, those ones will add up and the streak will come.
Sitting at 3-5, no one should be making arrangements for the playoffs just yet. In fact, a loss Sunday would make the victory over the Cowboys a nice, yet mostly meaningless, effort. However, if the Redskins are able to go into Philadelphia, dodge the batteries, and defeat a reeling Eagles team just as they were in the final week of 2005, then the league will take notice that the final dirt-filled shovel does not yet belong over Washington’s head. It’s not seven of the next eight; it is just as it was this past Sunday. It’s one at a time.
Check back next week for your weekly Redskins football fix. Hail to the Redskins!
Questions and comments can be sent to skins.fan@comcast.net (skins.fan@comcast.net)
One in a Row
Much has been made of all the money spent by the Washington Redskins in this and every other off-season, and to be truthful much of the criticism is warranted. With all of the high-priced talent on the roster, it’s not shocking turn of events that someone finally stepped up and made a big play to win a game. What is surprising is that the man that made the play that turned the tide of what seemed like a sure defeat, Troy Vincent, was a mid-season afterthought foolishly cast aside in Buffalo. He doesn’t have the contract of the man whose job he has quickly claimed, but in that one triumphant moment, he was the most valuable player on the roster.
It’s funny, really, how such an improbable turn of events can change what would have been a dark day all over Redskins Nation into the first bright spot in a month. Both teams seemed at times determined to give the game away. Dallas handed the Redskins 153 free yards on 11 different penalties, while Washington let the Cowboys off of the hook on third down ten times, many coming on third-and-long situations. On the Redskins’ opening drive, the Cowboys continually afforded extra red zone opportunities to Washington, who proceeded to politely decline each time, eventually turning the ball over on downs near the Dallas goal line.
The best example, however, comes from Terrell Owens, the most despicable man in football. Owens, perhaps fearing footsteps from his own personal monster in the closet Sean Taylor, dropped a sure touchdown that would have rendered all of the late game heroics obsolete. If you didn’t know if before Sunday, you should know now; Terrell Owens is afraid, nay terrified, of Sean Taylor. Drew Rosenhaus probably has to check under Owens’ bed each night to assure the narcissistic wideout that Taylor isn’t lurking somewhere underneath. Owens has his Orkin® man spray for roaches, mice, and Sean Taylor. Terrell Owens is so scared of Sean Taylor that, well, you get the picture.
Of course, any game that ends in such a spectacular fashion can’t completely avoid a little controversy. Upon scooping up the blocked field goal attempt, Sean Taylor’s facemask was clutched by a Dallas defender, causing his head to twist violently. The resulting penalty assessed was of the 15 yard variety, and was enough to put the Redskins into Nick Novak’s range for the one untimed play that results when the game clock expires after a defensive penalty. Had the flag been for the lesser five yard call, the game almost certainly goes into overtime where your guess as to the eventual outcome is as good as mine.
The differentiation between the two facemask violations is largely an official’s judgment call. Reasonable people can disagree with that decision, but to say that this one call gave the game to Washington, as some have, is absurd. Those same voices, you’ll notice, won’t breathe a word of how those same officials missed a textbook holding call on Dallas tight end Jason Whitten on Terry Glenn’s touchdown reception. Had that call been made as it should have been, the game has an entirely different outlook. This is, of course, to say nothing of the Dallas special teams coverage that clearly tripped Redskins returner Antwaan Randle El, who appeared to have nothing but an illegal leg in between him and the endzone. The bottom line is that Dallas should have been able to convert a 35-yard kick with what is statistically the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Blaming the loss on the officials because of a judgment call that, for the record, was made correctly, is nothing short of sour grapes.
As is typically the case with victories, the joy that the win brings often overshadows what would have been much more evident had there been a different outcome. The passing attack was once again inconsistent, and aside from his one 38-yard scamper, Clinton Portis was held in check. The defense did show well, holding the league’s fifth ranked offense under 20 points, but it did continue its disturbing habit of allowing critical third down conversions. Gregg Williams’ bunch also failed once again to force a turnover and have registered a league-low five on the season. It only makes it more difficult to win when every third down seems like a conversion in the making and the thought that the defense may cause a turnover has long passed.
The win also buys quarterback Mark Brunell a few days of peace. Once again, Brunell did nothing to lose the game for his Redskins, and just as much to win it. Even in his one touchdown pass, Chris Cooley had to make a spectacular grab to compensate for a grossly under-thrown ball. To be fair, Brunell has thrown only three interceptions on the season, but there have been another handful, such as the one Roy Williams dropped Sunday, that should have been picked off, as well as a few times, such as in the Jacksonville game, when Redskin receivers have had to make extraordinary efforts to catch and/or break up ill-conceived passes. Brunell’s greatest strength is in his ability to not make the big mistake, but it is going to be very difficult for the Redskins to put together a string of wins against the teams that await them with a quarterback who, at best, probably won’t hurt you too badly.
The game ball this week could have gone to any of a number of Redskins, but in the end, linebacker Marcus Washington gets the nod after playing his most complete game this season. While Cooley and Portis got the touchdowns, Vincent the key block, and Nick Novak booted home the winner, it was Washington who stayed after Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo all afternoon and stuffed running lanes that shut down many of the Cowboys’ drives. Washington also made broke up a key pass that, had he not gotten a hand on it, would have resulted in a huge gain for Dallas.
Friends and neighbors, all of Redskins Nation knows the task ahead. With eight games remaining, the Redskins can lose perhaps one and still be in contention for post-season play, but the rest must be won or the season will end early for the fifth time in the last six seasons. As daunting as that sounds, Washington can only win one game per week, and Sunday, they did all they could. While the odds of winning eight of nine are slim, the odds of winning one game are significantly better. After a while, those ones will add up and the streak will come.
Sitting at 3-5, no one should be making arrangements for the playoffs just yet. In fact, a loss Sunday would make the victory over the Cowboys a nice, yet mostly meaningless, effort. However, if the Redskins are able to go into Philadelphia, dodge the batteries, and defeat a reeling Eagles team just as they were in the final week of 2005, then the league will take notice that the final dirt-filled shovel does not yet belong over Washington’s head. It’s not seven of the next eight; it is just as it was this past Sunday. It’s one at a time.
Check back next week for your weekly Redskins football fix. Hail to the Redskins!
Questions and comments can be sent to skins.fan@comcast.net (skins.fan@comcast.net)