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So Much For the Bye Week

bulldog

By bulldog
in The Stadium

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bulldog

bulldog

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For three weeks veterans, media and fans were all breathing a sigh of relief that the bye week was coming.

Given the circumstances of the week with the health status of this team's key players I can't say we have come out of this as strong as I or many had hoped.

Yes, Jason Taylor is now as healthy as at any time since joining the team before the opener. And DeAngelo Hall is now aboard as guy whose resume boasts 20 picks in 4 years in the NFL, which should be welcome news to our hands of stone back seven (Horton excepted).

Perhaps we will survive in part off of greater playmaking ability on the defensive side of the ball.

But right now the news really couldn't be much worse on several key players going into the Dallas game:

Portis - who could have figured that a guy who walked off the field after the Pittsburgh game would see a knee sprain get nothing but consistently worse over the two week break?

Ladell Betts, who is probable for the game, and will get the bulk of the work if Portis can't go, is himself at less than 100% in a must win game.

The Redskins and Zorn may very well find out how much Shaun Alexander has left in the tank and whether it was smarter to fill in at RB with a veteran on the deline or whether it would have been better to look around and poach a practice squad player with better speed and some upside as the Packers did last year with Ryan Grant.

You add to the concern over Portis the situation with Chris Samuels at LT. Chris has floating cartilage and will try and tough it out before having offseason surgery, but that's 7 tough games in the most competitive stretch of an NFL season for your best offensive player to be out there at 75% against the likes of Justin Tuck as well as the Ravens and Eagles pressure defenses.

Two guys that are complete mysteries to me are Shawn Springs and Marcus Washington. Springs suffered a calf injury almost 7 weeks ago and it was assumed as late as mid-week before the Steelers game that with another 2 weeks he would be back against Dallas. Now, we learn he has been unable to practice all week and is questionable yet again.

Washington was battling a hamstring the last time I checked and had come on in the last two games to play more downs with the regular defense. Now he has a shoulder that keeps him as questionable at best?

Things to me are looking iffy right now for this team. Here you have one of if not the biggest games of the year against an opponent you already beat in his building. And you are going to try and take him a second time without your best playmaker (Portis) and your best lineman (Samuels) healthy.

Seems as if Jason Campbell is going to get a chance to see how far along he is in developing under Coach Zorn, because this is looking more and more like a game in which the PASSING game for the Redskins is going to make the difference if the team is going to ring up a 'W' against the Cowboys.

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bulldog

bulldog

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the Redskins have to do on Sunday what they consistently failed to do for the past 15-20 years and that is clearly establish a homefield advantage with a convincing win in a key game.

too many times in the past teams have come in here on Monday night or other primetime venue and handed it to the Redskins in their own stadium.

that has to stop here. Romo sits to pee or no Romo sits to pee :)

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RWJ

RWJ

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It would have been a positive if Dallas didn't have a bye week as well. JT along with Hall will help, I think big time. Playing at home helps too. I am hoping that Romo sits to pee will be rusty and we can take advantage and score some points early because as the game goes on he will find his timing improving. If we win this game I think we will be looking at 8-3 after we dismantle the Shawks. There's no way we let this team beat us after they did last year in the playoffs.

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bulldog

bulldog

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yep, the only good game the Steelers have played all month. they lost to the Eagles and Giants from the NFC East and dropped their game last weekend coming off the Monday nighter.

sometimes its WHEN you get a team that counts as much as WHO they are.

definitely the case now with the Rams. the juice from the firing of Linehan is gone and the Rams are back to being 47-3 losers again.

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OVCChairman

OVCChairman

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need i remind you guys that the cowboys are in a tailspin right now. The whole team is expected to ride on tony Romo sits to pee's shoulders, and we've all seen what happens when the game is on the line and he has the ball in his hands.

I think this is going to be a heck of a momentum game for either team. If we can come out early and smack them in the mouth with the defense, it's gonna go leaps and bounds for our offense...

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hail2skins

hail2skins

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Bulldog, as usual, great post.

It'll be interesting to see how both teams perform in the opening stages (say first half) of the game. I think you may very well see rust from both teams, neither of which have faced live bullets in two weeks.

This is a huge game, especially as it leads into our next game on the West Coast. I would hope a Skins win would give us confidence back after the MNF win and would likely make the 3,000 mile trip to Seattle easier. A loss would mean kicking away back-to-backers at home and could deflate this team heading out there. I think we really need to win both to give us some breathing room heading into the final five weeks. I know things can change in a hurry in this league, but right now I don't see us beating the Giants here.

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SonnyRules

SonnyRules

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The Redskins and Zorn may very well find out how much Shaun Alexander has left in the tank and whether it was smarter to fill in at RB with a veteran on the deline or whether it would have been better to look around and poach a practice squad player with better speed and some upside as the Packers did last year with Ryan Grant.

Grant is last years history. We have to play with the player we have on the roster. If Betts can give us 15- 20 carries; I think that Alexander (if he can perform to 80% of his previous capabilities) should give a running game threat to take the pressure of Campbell.

You add to the concern over Portis the situation with Chris Samuels at LT. Chris has floating cartilage and will try and tough it out before having offseason surgery, but that's 7 tough games in the most competitive stretch of an NFL season for your best offensive player to be out there at 75% against the likes of Justin Tuck as well as the Ravens and Eagles pressure defenses.

If Heyer is available, I'm more than comfortable with him giving Samuels a spell.

Seems as if Jason Campbell is going to get a chance to see how far along he is in developing under Coach Zorn, because this is looking more and more like a game in which the PASSING game for the Redskins is going to make the difference if the team is going to ring up a 'W' against the Cowboys.

The Cowboy's secondary absolutely sucks. If the offensive line can give Campbell the protection he needs, I say, let him try to win it with his arm.

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FuriousD

FuriousD

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I was catching crap for baggin on Springs 4 weeks ago for not being able to get on and stay on the field but his absense from the line-up has reached the absurd status.

I'm done with him. This offseason it's time to kick him and his mangina to the curb.

:helmet:

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TheLongshot

TheLongshot

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Welcome to the NFL, where injuries happen. Yeah, it sucks, but you deal with it.

The bye week isn't a cure-all for all of your ills. Players don't get instantly better just because you have a week off. What it does do is to give the team to take a break and reflect on where they are and where they need to go. It is a chance to regroup and focus on the rest of the season.

Personally, I think we are in decent shape. We can do alright with what we got for a couple of games. It is the reason why we have reserves.

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CliffBattles

CliffBattles

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I have said this before, but I really think the NFL needs to go to two bye weeks for every team.

Goodell talks about extending the season. I think that is a terrible idea, because of records and statistics; but, also because the game has become so physically demanding on the players. Yes injuries always happened, but they are just so much bigger/faster/stronger now...the game is brutal. College teams play less games, and get a couple weeks off. Two bye weeks during the season would give the NFL more media coverage, and also give teams a little more time to mend their wounds. I also believe it would help offset certain teams of having an advantage by having a bye week at a more helpful time.

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Chump Bailey

Chump Bailey

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I was catching crap for baggin on Springs 4 weeks ago for not being able to get on and stay on the field but his absense from the line-up has reached the absurd status.

I'm done with him. This offseason it's time to kick him and his mangina to the curb.

:helmet:

He could very well be gone along with Marcus if his contract allows for such a move.

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Dick Edds

Dick Edds

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Honestly, I think its time to give up on Marcus Washington and fully insert HB Blades as the LB for the interim. I hope we dont see MW back in DC next year. We need to sign or draft a LB next year big time

I agree that HB should be inserted into the starting lineup, but I would like to hang onto MW as a backup. Seems that he may be able to contribute more in spot duty and as a reserve, all things considered.

he's still got talent and knows the scheme, but playing week in and week out has been an issue.

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Mania

Mania

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I was catching crap for baggin on Springs 4 weeks ago for not being able to get on and stay on the field but his absense from the line-up has reached the absurd status.

I'm done with him. This offseason it's time to kick him and his mangina to the curb.

:helmet:

He originally signed a 5 year contract and this is the fifth year. He will not be resigned next season and hopefully Hall works in our system, because if he does we will resign him to a new contract. It would be nice to have someone besides Horton who can catch on defense.

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TheLongshot

TheLongshot

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He originally signed a 5 year contract and this is the fifth year. He will not be resigned next season and hopefully Hall works in our system, because if he does we will resign him to a new contract. It would be nice to have someone besides Horton who can catch on defense.

Actually, Springs is still under contract for one more year, but I doubt he sees it. We would save about 6m if we let him go next year.

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