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ES Coverage: Redskins vs. Cowboys (FINAL)

themurf

By themurf
in The Stadium

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themurf

themurf

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ES Coverage: Redskins vs. Cowboys

11/16/08

DCS_0092.JPG

DEFEAT

Cowboys 14 - Redskins 10

:helmet:

Hello everyone and welcome to FedEx Field, site for another game in the storied rivalry between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. My name is murf, and I will be your host for the evening. Instead of JimmiJo, I am joined by the legendary Art Mills. I'll be on the sidelines and he'll do whatever it is he does.

If you're a Redskins fan, then you'll be thrilled to know that running back Clinton Portis is slated to start tonight. Just 24 hours ago, everything I heard was that Portis was out tonight and possibly even next week. But it turns out this guy is tougher than Jack Bauer. It's going to take the entire Chinese government to keep him off the field.

Who knows if C.P. will be anywhere near 100 percent, but even a banged up Portis is better than most. Add in the fact that running back Ladell Betts is also poised to return to action and things look a whole lot less bleak than 'Skins fans might have dreaded earlier in the week.

We're here for the rematch of a week four showdown at Texas Stadium, which was won by Washington, 26-24. The Redskins held a 38:09-21:51 time of possession advantage and out-rushed Dallas 161-44, 121 of which were churned out by Portis.

Receiver Santana Moss continued to do damage against the Cowboys as he hauled in eight passes for 145 yards. In seven career games against Dallas, Moss has 41 receptions for 747 yards and four touchdowns. With the majority of the Redskins running backs banged up, 'Skins fans can hope Moss has a little more magic left up his sleeve.

Game Notes

Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot will start for injured cornerback Shawn Springs.

Redskins defensive end Demetric Evans will start for defensive end Jason Taylor, although Taylor is active.

Cowboys receiver Roy Williams will start for wide out Patrick Crayton.

INACTIVES

Washington

QB Colt Brennan (emergency third QB)

WR Malcolm Kelly

CB Shawn Springs

OL Jason Fabini

OL Chad Rinehart

DE Erasmus James

DT Anthony Montgomery

DE Rob Jackson

Dallas

QB Brooks Bollinger (third QB)

RB Felix Jones

CB Quincy Butler

LB Bobby Carpenter

G Montrae Holland

G Joe Berger

T Doug Free

WR Isaiah Stanback

AUDIO

To listen to comments from Andre Carter click HERE

To listen to comments from DeAngelo Hall click HERE

To listen to comments from Chris Horton click HERE

To listen to comments from LaRon Landry click HERE

To listen to comments from Carlos Rogers click HERE

To listen to comments from Chris Samuels click HERE

To listen to comments from Fred Smoot click HERE

PHOTOS

Photos 1

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthread.php?t=270934

Photos 2

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthread.php?t=270935

Photos 3

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthread.php?t=270936

Photos 4

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthread.php?t=270937

Photos 5

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthread.php?t=270939

Photos 6

http://www.extremeskins.com/showthread.php?t=270940

:helmet:

Murf's Take

If someone asked me to summarize this game in one sentence or less I’d have to go with “wasted opportunities.”

There are times when things look really good – such as the interceptions by cornerback DeAngelo Hall and linebacker Rocky McIntosh. But unfortunately, on this night, as well as the Monday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks ago, those moments are too few and far between. What we’re left with the rest of the time is uneven play, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and frustrated fans and players trying to figure out where things took a turn for the worse.

Spin it however you’d like, but things just aren’t clicking on the offensive side of the ball for the Redskins these days. If ever there was a game to be fired up for, it was this one. First of all, a win tonight against your hated rival effectively eliminated the Cowboys from the playoffs. That’s always enjoyable. Then, you’ve got running back Clinton Portis, who everyone said there was no way he was playing today, strapping it up and not only playing hurt, but starting. And oh, by the way, your two Hall of Famers – Art Monk and Darrell Green – received their HOF rings in a ceremony before kickoff. Like I said, if the team couldn’t come out of the bye week with all of that going for them and get a win, then it’s time to start asking some serious questions.

This game reminded me a lot of the Steelers game because the offense was handed a gift twice and really didn’t take advantage of the situation. Against the Steelers you had the failed onside kick attempt and the interception by defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin. What did that get you? A couple field goals. Very rarely can you expect your team to keep a talented opponent down. So when you’re barely able to take advantage of game-changing plays … well … if you let your opponent hang around and they can sustain the initial attack, they’re going to come out with confidence and start making plays. Pittsburgh did it and Dallas did tonight too.

What did the ‘Skins do on offense on their drives following the Hall and McIntosh interceptions? Punt. Both drives ended with Ryan Plackemeier punting the ball away because the offense couldn’t do anything with the ball. I asked tackle Chris Samuels what’s changed since earlier in the season when the ‘Skins were racking up 400 yards of total offense a game. Is it injuries? Do other teams have film on the offense now? Nope. Samuels didn’t use any of that as an excuse. He simply said it’s a matter of execution. Earlier in the year guys were stepping up and making plays. Now, things are off. None of us know for sure why, but the coaching staff better spend the bulk of this week trying to figure things out and correct the problem.

There were a few moments to be happy about:

- Portis playing. Seriously, I cannot stress enough that everyone I talked to said he was a “no go” for this game. If John Riggins or Brian Mitchell or anyone else ever questions him again, please feel free to call them up at their place of employment and demand that they be drug tested pronto.

- Fred Smoot laying the wood with two highlight-worthy hits early in the game. Those hits, especially the one that ended up flipping Terrell Owens on his head, helped set a nice tempo early. You don’t really expect to see Smoot making bodies fly, but it showed that every once in a while Smoot can actually throw his body around.

- DeAngelo Hall making a solid first impression. Not only did he get a first quarter interception, but he also played some special teams. I asked him how his first week on the job was, and he seems really pleased with how everything is turning out. Here’s hoping he continues to grow both on and off the field and gives the front office options (should they finally decide to cut the cord on the injury-prone Shawn Springs).

- Rocky McIntosh’s first career interception. Kid’s a ball player. Nice to see his hard work rewarded. For those who didn’t see it, this play was made possible because LaRon Landry blew by a would-be blocker and laid a solid hit on Tony Romo sits to pee.

- Rock Cartwright. I have no idea what folks at home saw on TV, but Rock was livid when the referees called a touchback after he thought he had downed the ball on the one yard line. But instead of pouting, he simply went out and made a play his next time on the field. Cartwright took off for a 58-yard return, his longest of the season, to set up a fieldgoal that gave the ‘Skins the lead at halftime 10-7. Unfortunately, that’s about the last highlight the team had.

It doesn’t do any good to go on and on about everything wrong with the Redskins right now. Bottom line, their offense needs to be able to consistently put 20 or more points on the board. Otherwise, there’s no reason to get excited because this team won’t be much more than one and done if they even make the playoffs.

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tml6157

tml6157

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That's why it'll be exciting to see how DeAngelo Hall fits into the team's plans. If he, Fred Smoot and Carlos Rogers can do what they're capable of, then we won't miss Springs.

I hope so cuz Springs already has one foot out the door and Hall is about to kick the rest of him out!

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themurf

themurf

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Thanks for the coverage...tough loss, lets hope they rebound next week with a blowout!
Murf you brought your A-game even if the Redskins didn't.

Damn fine job Son...

Thanks Murph
thanks as always.

Thanks to everyone for the kind words and the support. John can tell you that after a loss it can be tough to muster up the energy to head into the locker room, knowing that the team isn't really in much of a mood to talk. But fortunately I was able to talk to a couple of the guys and get a sense of what's going on. Like I said in the recap, these guys refuse to make excuses by blaming injuries or saying other teams have film on them now. Plain and simply they feel they need to do a better job of executing if they're going to get back on track.

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#98QBKiller

#98QBKiller

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It doesn’t do any good to go on and on about everything wrong with the Redskins right now. Bottom line, their offense needs to be able to consistently put 20 or more points on the board. Otherwise, there’s no reason to get excited because this team won’t be much more than one and done if they even make the playoffs.

This pretty much sums it up for me and it's been a problem since I can remember.

Since 2004 we've had a top-ten defense almost every year, which is the sole reason for our playoff berths in 2005 & 2007. Our offense has been inconsistent at best since then and I just have no idea why.

We have great personnel on the offensive side of the ball but it seems like that unit is either hot or cold, with no middle ground.

IMO, we're good in the running department but we're not going to start racking up yards/points until we start going deep more often. John Madden said it last night and no matter what you think about John he was right. We're not stretching the field like we did earlier in the season so teams don't have to keep guys back to respect the deep ball. That has to change.

We need to get Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis on the field and get these new guys involved in the passing game.

If you look at last nights game it looks just like the Steelers game and the Giants game....the defense does its job and keeps the other team out of the end zone for the most part but the offense isn't reciprocating. To me, we look like the Giants did before they finally found their stride. Hot and cold and fully of inconsistency.

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themurf

themurf

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IMO, we're good in the running department but we're not going to start racking up yards/points until we start going deep more often. John Madden said it last night and no matter what you think about John he was right. We're not stretching the field like we did earlier in the season so teams don't have to keep guys back to respect the deep ball. That has to change.

Obviously I haven't had a chance to listen to the game broadcast, but I definitely agree with you and John Madden. If we can't find a way to challenge opposing teams downfield, then it's going to get awfully crowded at the line of scrimmage. If teams don't respect or worry about getting beat by the deep ball, then you're going to have eight defenders in the box ready to stuff Portis and the running game or blitz Campbell.

I've always been of the mindset that if you get a big turnover (like the Hall and McIntosh interceptions), then you come out on the next drive and go for the kill shot. Unfortunately it seems like this team has exactly one receiver and one tight end to count on in the passing game, so teams know Moss in the only legit deep threat, making it tougher to pull off.

Seattle is a chance to right this sinking ship. The 'Skins lose next week and you can officially end any talk of playoffs for the maroon and black.

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