Woody:REDSKINS REPORT CARD

[TK]

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REDSKINS REPORT CARD Staff writer Paul Woody grades Washington's 20-7 win over the N.Y. Giants

Richmond Times-Dispatch

Tuesday, December 9, 2003

PASSING

The weather outside was frightful, but to the Redskins, their passing game was delightful. Tim Hasselbeck was accurate, except when the wind either sent a pass sailing beyond the receiver or held it up and made the receiver come back for it. Laveranues Coles made difficult catches look easy. Rod Gardner reappeared, and Darnerien McCants proved again what a weapon he is inside the 10-yard line.

The protection was good, and when there were problems, Hasselbeck was able to scramble and buy time.

RUNNING

The names Trung Canidate, Rock Cartwright and Chad Morton will never resonate as the names John Riggins, George Rogers and Stephen Davis did among Redskins fans and observers. That being said, Canidate, Cartwright and Morton never lack for effort, and together, on a good day, can combine to almost equal the individual efforts of a Riggins or a Rogers or a Davis. Canidate, Cartwright and Morton ran for a total of 144 yards on 44 carries. Glamorous it was not, but it was effective.

DEFENSE

Let's be honest. The Giants have their problems on offense, particularly on the offensive line. That's life in the NFL, and if the Redskins had not taken advantage of that, it would say something very bad about them. But the Redskins' defense took advantage of just about every Giants weakness. They forced a Tiki Barber fumble. They pressured Kerry Collins. They overwhelmed Jesse Palmer, who came in when Collins suffered a severe ankle injury. Jessie Armstead seemed to be everywhere. LaVar Arrington showed what he can do when he carries out his assignments. And of course, Bruce Smith got his historic sack to become the NFL's all-time leader.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Patrick Johnson set up one Redskins touchdown with a 50-yard kickoff return. The Redskins held the Giants' return men in check on punts and kickoffs. Redskins punter Bryan Barker had two forgettable punts, a 16-yarder and a 9-yarder. While the wind had much to do with those efforts, Barker has been around long enough to know how to deal with strong wind conditions. Barker had a net average of 21.8. Giants punter Jeff Feagles, working in the same conditions, had a net average of 45.5.