FFS: Redskins struggle

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Redskins struggle

http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/082005/08202005/123618/printer_friendly

By ADAM HIMMELSBACH

LANDOVER, Md.--The fans wanted to cheer for him. They really did.

But each time Patrick Ramsey took a step forward, he followed it up with a happy-footed step back.

The Washington Redskins' starting quarterback went from decent to disheartening and everywhere in between during his team's 24-17 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at FedEx Field last night.

During the Redskins' loss to the Carolina Panthers last week, Ramsey took the field for the first five drives but failed to muster a point. He was better than that against the Bengals, completing 9-of-18 passes for 190 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, but the mistakes were costly.

"We made some progress out there," Ramsey said. "But we still have some work to do."

Second-string quarterback Mark Brunell had a strong game, but once again, all of his chewing came against third-teamers and sagging defenses. Brunell led the Redskins on a touchdown-scoring drive early in the fourth quarter and had a chance to provide the tying tally, but a fumble by running back Nehemiah Broughton with 1:42 left was recovered by the Bengals at their own 30-yard line, dashing the Redskins' hopes.

Brunell was 10-for-16 for 132 yards. Rookie quarterback Jason Campbell did not play.

None of the Redskins' first three drives resulted in any points, and after each stalled stomp, the boos from the crowd of 60,291 increased.

But it doesn't take long to make things better again. It doesn't take much to make a crowd happy on a cool, soupy night.

During their third drive, the Bengals faced a 2nd-and-11 from their own 44-yard line when rookie cornerback Carlos Rogers intercepted a Carson Palmer pass and returned it 30 yards to the Cincinnati 25.

"We were just in a cover-2 zone," said Rogers, whose play made up for an illegal contact penalty earlier in the drive. "I saw the receiver coming from the other side. I recognized that play from practice."

After the interception, Ramsey dropped back on first down and lofted a well-placed touchdown pass over the middle to James Thrash, giving the Redskins a 7-0 lead.

"[Thrash] got behind the defense," Ramsey said. "He was wide open. It was a good call. It was good for us to go in there and get one strike and get a touchdown."

The Bengals received a minor scare during their next drive, as Palmer plowed forward for a 12-yard gain on a quarterback keeper and appeared to tweak his left knee as he slid to the grass. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2004 draft was replaced by Jon Kitna for one play, but then returned.

Cincinnati's drive ended with a punt, though, and Ramsey had a chance to ride his newfound momentum. After a 15-yard gain by Ladell Betts on first down, Ramsey fired a 46-yard pass down the right sideline to David Patten, who gobbled the offering in double-coverage.

On second-and-8 from the 11, though, Ramsey returned to the form he flashed for much of training camp. He took two quick steps and lobbed a ball into the end zone toward Thrash. This one never had a chance. Bengals quarterback Tory James intercepted the try, and the good feeling went splat.

During the Bengals' ensuing drive, wideout Kelley Washington got the better of Rogers as he smoked the rookie receiver down the left sideline and hauled in a 45-yard touchdown pass.

Inconsistency continued to plague Ramsey on the Redskins' next drive. He completed an encouraging 33-yard pass to Patten on third-and-long, giving the Redskins a first down at the Cincinnati 28. But on the following play, Ramsey sent an unexplainable ball toward no one in particular, and James came up with his second interception.

"Tory helped us turn the tide a little in the first half," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "He's been a big-play guy for us, and he showed that again tonight."

The Bengals responded with a 14-play, 93-yard drive that was capped when Palmer shoveled a pass to backup running back Chris Perry, who scampered across the goal line from 13 yards out, making it 147.

Ramsey put together his most impressive collection of completions using the Redskins' two-minute drill. He completed 5-of-6 passes for 56 yards, helping set up a 19-yard John Hall field goal that sent the Redskins to halftime trailing 14-10.

On the Bengals first drive of the second half, Kitna found Kevin Walter for a 22-yard touchdown, giving the visitors a 21-10 advantage. After the Redskins came up empty on their next chance, the Bengals got a 27-yard field goal from Carter Worley to push their lead to 14 points.