There are so many potential things to talk about today, it’s hard to narrow them down and focus on just a few. I will try and do just that, however, because that’s what I want to do and, frankly, I think Redskins fans should be able to do whatever they want today.
Thinking about showing up to work wearing nothing but a burgundy and gold Speedo? Do it. Considering starting a Hail to the Redskins sing-along on a crowded Metro train? Rock it. Trying to decide whether or not it would be appropriate to ask that Cowboys fan in your office if he had a good weekend? Hey, you’re only being polite...
Below are my thoughts on the glorious victory at Texas Stadium, and also a few general notes on the current state of the Burgundy and Gold.
01. Yesterday’s game seemed like a bit of an enigma. Unlike the MNF comeback that stunned the Cowboys in 2005, the Redskins’ most recent triumph in Dallas was so complete that it quickly began to feel expected and almost natural. I was nervous heading into the game, sure, but I never felt like the Skins were on the verge of a breakdown. As a fan for so many years and a witness to many second-half collapses, this was an unbelievable relief.
When the last few seconds ticked off and that final whistle blew, I simply stood there and thought “Wow, that was ridiculous... I can’t remember the last time the Skins looked so dominant against what was supposed to be the better team.” I didn’t jump up and down like I did when Santana shocked the world 3 years ago -- I just crossed my arms, thought about how huge the victory was and let it all soak in.
Thinking about showing up to work wearing nothing but a burgundy and gold Speedo? Do it. Considering starting a Hail to the Redskins sing-along on a crowded Metro train? Rock it. Trying to decide whether or not it would be appropriate to ask that Cowboys fan in your office if he had a good weekend? Hey, you’re only being polite...
Below are my thoughts on the glorious victory at Texas Stadium, and also a few general notes on the current state of the Burgundy and Gold.
01. Yesterday’s game seemed like a bit of an enigma. Unlike the MNF comeback that stunned the Cowboys in 2005, the Redskins’ most recent triumph in Dallas was so complete that it quickly began to feel expected and almost natural. I was nervous heading into the game, sure, but I never felt like the Skins were on the verge of a breakdown. As a fan for so many years and a witness to many second-half collapses, this was an unbelievable relief.
When the last few seconds ticked off and that final whistle blew, I simply stood there and thought “Wow, that was ridiculous... I can’t remember the last time the Skins looked so dominant against what was supposed to be the better team.” I didn’t jump up and down like I did when Santana shocked the world 3 years ago -- I just crossed my arms, thought about how huge the victory was and let it all soak in.
Original image borrowed from the Washington Post02. Needless to say, the lack of turnovers the Redskins have produced on offense is perhaps the biggest reason the team is 3-1 and has a ton of momentum heading into Week 5. They are the first team since 1995 to enter their fifth game without an offensive turnover, which the statistics show is no easy feat.
The receivers and backs are doing a great job of holding on to the ball, but more importantly, Jason Campbell is learning how to protect himself, take sacks and throw it away when he has no other options. Even though accepting a loss of yardage is tough to watch, it’s a necessary evil at times and much better than seeing an errant pass or stupid mistake give the other team possession.
03. The Redskins are showing great depth on both sides of the football, something they have not been able to do in the past few seasons. Injuries are inevitable in the NFL, and while the Redskins’ secondary struggled last year after Rogers went down and Smoot rotated in and out, the overall strength of the reserves has been impressive in these last 3 games. Shawn Springs was having a career day against Terrell Owens before he left with a strained calf, but Rogers, Smoot, Reed Doughty and Chris Horton contained the Dallas passing attack as well as anyone could’ve hoped.
04. Speaking of Chris Horton, if he continues playing as well as he has been, I think fans and media alike will have to give Vinny Cerrato and Dan Snyder a ton of credit for selecting him so deep in the draft. Choosing him when they did could turn out to be one of the better out-of-the-blue picks in the recent history of the franchise, which is something Snyder isn’t exactly known for.
While the replay of Horton’s pick of Romo in the third quarter showed just how pretty and textbook-driven that play was, I think he is beginning to show that he has more than great hands -- his open-field tackling of Jason Witten and Marion Barber was very impressive, especially for a seventh-round rookie.
05. When Jason Taylor went down against Arizona and it was revealed on Monday that he’d need a few weeks to recover, people all across the country were quick to say that his absence could be the deciding factor against the Cowboys. That it was not a major issue is yet another testament to the depth of experience on the defensive side of the ball.
06. Seeing Washington’s Big 3 -- Campbell, Portis and Moss -- play more efficiently than their Dallas counterparts was obviously sweet. What was even sweeter, though, was seeing them do it so swiftly and soundly. Campbell is looking more confident than a quarterback has in the Burgundy & Gold in years; Portis is running the ball comfortably and with purpose; Moss has returned to 2005 form and is showing secondaries that his quad injuries from the past are not only a non-issue, but that his speed is more than most of them can handle.
07. Hey, Terrence Newman, I think that’s a piece of your jockstrap on the 30 yard line. Oh, and there’s another piece just outside the end zone.
08. I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but aside from the clock management and play-calling issues in the Meadowlands, Jim Zorn has looked like an extremely good fit for the Redskins. One hire does not a reputation make, of course, but let’s assume for the sake of argument that Zorn continues to do well this season and eventually leads this team back to the playoffs (at the risk of getting too far ahead of myself, perhaps even as NFC East champs)...
Do Snyder and Cerrato get the respect they deserve, or will people chalk it up as simply a lucky guess?
Think back to February of this year, when most people thought Gregg Williams should be promoted after Gibbs’s retirement. Fast forward a couple of weeks, when it was decided that Gregg Williams would no longer be with the organization in any capacity. Jim Fassel, Brian Billick, Al Saunders -- all with head coaching experience, all considered, none selected. Snyder and Cerrato chose to promote a relative unknown in Zorn and, so far, that move has turned out to be golden.
When Bobby Beathard and Jack Kent Cooke introduced Joe Gibbs in 1981, it was not without its share of skepticism. With the latest head coach, the same unknowns existed -- with Zorn, however, has come an astonishingly-quick level of success. Yes, he inherited a playoff team, and yes, it’s early, but to produce as well as he has in his first stint as a head coach is nothing short of remarkable.
09. One thing that is impressing me more and more with Jason Campbell each week is his improvisation. His footwork and ability to escape pressure have improved significantly since last year, and against Dallas, he seemed to find second and third options with relative ease, making plays on the run and scrambling out of the pocket rather comfortably.
--
The Burgundy and Gold showed the NFL yesterday that they not only belong in the ultra-competitive NFC East, but that they have the potential and the overall combination of skill, quality play-calling and game management to take the division and the conference by storm.
A Philadelphia loss to Chicago last night means the Eagles will be entering next Sunday’s game with their heads a little low -- especially if Westbrook is unable to play again -- while the Redskins will be heading up 95 with a confidence that could ultimately prove to be the difference.
If JC & Co. are able to continue making smart decisions on the field, win the turnover battle once again and provide enough spark with their numerous offensive weapons, the Burgundy and Gold should be able to return to Washington in a position few people thought possible -- in the driver’s seat.
The receivers and backs are doing a great job of holding on to the ball, but more importantly, Jason Campbell is learning how to protect himself, take sacks and throw it away when he has no other options. Even though accepting a loss of yardage is tough to watch, it’s a necessary evil at times and much better than seeing an errant pass or stupid mistake give the other team possession.
03. The Redskins are showing great depth on both sides of the football, something they have not been able to do in the past few seasons. Injuries are inevitable in the NFL, and while the Redskins’ secondary struggled last year after Rogers went down and Smoot rotated in and out, the overall strength of the reserves has been impressive in these last 3 games. Shawn Springs was having a career day against Terrell Owens before he left with a strained calf, but Rogers, Smoot, Reed Doughty and Chris Horton contained the Dallas passing attack as well as anyone could’ve hoped.
04. Speaking of Chris Horton, if he continues playing as well as he has been, I think fans and media alike will have to give Vinny Cerrato and Dan Snyder a ton of credit for selecting him so deep in the draft. Choosing him when they did could turn out to be one of the better out-of-the-blue picks in the recent history of the franchise, which is something Snyder isn’t exactly known for.
While the replay of Horton’s pick of Romo in the third quarter showed just how pretty and textbook-driven that play was, I think he is beginning to show that he has more than great hands -- his open-field tackling of Jason Witten and Marion Barber was very impressive, especially for a seventh-round rookie.
05. When Jason Taylor went down against Arizona and it was revealed on Monday that he’d need a few weeks to recover, people all across the country were quick to say that his absence could be the deciding factor against the Cowboys. That it was not a major issue is yet another testament to the depth of experience on the defensive side of the ball.
06. Seeing Washington’s Big 3 -- Campbell, Portis and Moss -- play more efficiently than their Dallas counterparts was obviously sweet. What was even sweeter, though, was seeing them do it so swiftly and soundly. Campbell is looking more confident than a quarterback has in the Burgundy & Gold in years; Portis is running the ball comfortably and with purpose; Moss has returned to 2005 form and is showing secondaries that his quad injuries from the past are not only a non-issue, but that his speed is more than most of them can handle.
07. Hey, Terrence Newman, I think that’s a piece of your jockstrap on the 30 yard line. Oh, and there’s another piece just outside the end zone.
08. I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but aside from the clock management and play-calling issues in the Meadowlands, Jim Zorn has looked like an extremely good fit for the Redskins. One hire does not a reputation make, of course, but let’s assume for the sake of argument that Zorn continues to do well this season and eventually leads this team back to the playoffs (at the risk of getting too far ahead of myself, perhaps even as NFC East champs)...
Do Snyder and Cerrato get the respect they deserve, or will people chalk it up as simply a lucky guess?
Think back to February of this year, when most people thought Gregg Williams should be promoted after Gibbs’s retirement. Fast forward a couple of weeks, when it was decided that Gregg Williams would no longer be with the organization in any capacity. Jim Fassel, Brian Billick, Al Saunders -- all with head coaching experience, all considered, none selected. Snyder and Cerrato chose to promote a relative unknown in Zorn and, so far, that move has turned out to be golden.
When Bobby Beathard and Jack Kent Cooke introduced Joe Gibbs in 1981, it was not without its share of skepticism. With the latest head coach, the same unknowns existed -- with Zorn, however, has come an astonishingly-quick level of success. Yes, he inherited a playoff team, and yes, it’s early, but to produce as well as he has in his first stint as a head coach is nothing short of remarkable.
09. One thing that is impressing me more and more with Jason Campbell each week is his improvisation. His footwork and ability to escape pressure have improved significantly since last year, and against Dallas, he seemed to find second and third options with relative ease, making plays on the run and scrambling out of the pocket rather comfortably.
--
The Burgundy and Gold showed the NFL yesterday that they not only belong in the ultra-competitive NFC East, but that they have the potential and the overall combination of skill, quality play-calling and game management to take the division and the conference by storm.
A Philadelphia loss to Chicago last night means the Eagles will be entering next Sunday’s game with their heads a little low -- especially if Westbrook is unable to play again -- while the Redskins will be heading up 95 with a confidence that could ultimately prove to be the difference.
If JC & Co. are able to continue making smart decisions on the field, win the turnover battle once again and provide enough spark with their numerous offensive weapons, the Burgundy and Gold should be able to return to Washington in a position few people thought possible -- in the driver’s seat.
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