Redskins 16, Dolphins 13

The Redskins starting the 2007 season with a win is huge (obviously). It was a bit more close, physical and nerve-racking than I hoped for, but a check in the W column is always a good thing. I am confident that Jason Campbell will continue to mature, Clinton Portis will be at least a shadow of his 2005 self and the rest of the offense will eventually gel as well as they have since the second Gibbs era began.

I am also confident that the defense will continue to get better, but for now, I have one major concern. The following passage is from today’s Post, and it piqued my interest because it deals with a guy that, I think, is 100% necessary to the success of this team. The addition of Fred Smoot is nice – even if he did blow a gimme interception to win the game in regulation – but a healthy Shawn Springs is huge.

Anyway, here’s what the article said:

Cornerback Shawn Springs has the highest base salary of any Redskin (nearly $5 million), said he feels as healthy as he has in years and is the most accomplished of Washington's defensive backs, yet with the game in the balance Sunday, he stood on the sidelines watching. Springs was the third defensive back in the season-opening victory, with Fred Smoot and Carlos Rogers playing in the base package, a move that surprised some veteran players.

Coach Joe Gibbs said that during practice last week the coaches thought that Springs was not as explosive as normal, not quite 100 percent, but said the team's "concern"
with Springs was not related to his sports hernia from last year or any particular injury. Springs said he feels great, and he was not listed on an injury report.

"We were kind of worried a little bit the week before about him from a health standpoint," Gibbs said. "Certainly, I am sure he will start this year but we feel like we're real solid at corner and we've got three guys there who have started a bunch.

“Real solid at corner,” Coach? Yeah, maybe when Springs and Smoot are on the field.

Argue with me all you want – seriously, I wish you would – but Carlos Rogers, as far as I’m concerned, has to be one of the worst cover-corners in the league. He can tackle very well every once in a while, but his man-to-man coverage, especially when the game is on the line, is suspect at absolute best. So with two healthy guys in front of him on the depth chart, why did Joe Gibbs (and / or Gregg Williams) feel the need to rely on a guy that, basically, has yet to dominate an opposing receiver? Am I missing something?

Who was behind his man on an and-goal situation – allowing a touchdown just before halftime – when he should’ve been smothering him like gravy on French fries or at least been between him and the quarterback? Carlos Rogers. Who consistently gives his receivers 6- and 7-yard cushions on short situations, allowing seemingly effortless first down catches? Carlos Rogers. Who got burned late in the game and held on to his receiver’s jersey, creating a nearly devastating pass interference call? That’s right…Carlos Rogers (although I’ll admit, he could’ve easily gotten away with that one).

So what’s the deal? If Shawn Springs continues to be healthy, yet remains on the sidelines, can we really rely on Carlos Rogers to get the job done?

I say no, and I will be skeptical of Mr. Gibbs’s (and Williams’s) decision-making if he continues to be put to the test, as more often than not, I believe he’ll fail. My heart can’t take 15 more games like Sunday’s, and my stomach certainly can’t take Carlos Rogers dancing over his man after making a routine tackle. That nonsense used to be standard procedure for Fred Smoot, but thankfully, it appears that he’s all growns-up. Let’s hope Rogers, eventually, can follow suit.