The Redskin Report

Some thoughts on ‘the week after’ the massacre:

• Count me in the ‘not running up the score’ bandwagon. If you don’t want the Patriots to score that last touchdown, then don’t let them score the first 38 points. That said I wouldn’t have blamed the Redskins if someone would have creamed Tom Brady with a late hit. Of course, you’d have to get near the guy to hit him, so it wasn’t really much of a risk for the Pats.
• Going back over the Gibbs coaching years and excluding the two bad years (2006 and 2004), the Washington Redskins tend to be able to respond well after losing by more than 20 points. In 2005, the Redskins were blasted by the Giants 36-0 and rebounded for a 17-10 win over the Eagles the next week. In 1988, the Redskins followed a 41-17 loss to the Houston Oilers with a 27-24 win against the New Orleans. Twice in 1985 the Redskins were hammered – Dallas pummeled them in week one 44-14 and a few weeks later Chicago cranked them 45-10. Both games were followed by Redskins victories (16-13 over Houston and 27-10 over the St. Louis Cardinals). Finally in 1984, the Redskins beat Atlanta 27-14 after getting whipped by the Giants 37-13.
• The Jets are just what the doctored ordered for a Washington team that may be somewhat fragile after last week. The Jets are going with a young, inexperienced quarterback and their defense has been pitiful this year. It’s a good match-up for the Redskins to get some momentum back after last week’s debacle.
• I was a bit surprised this off-season that no one made a decent effort to sign Todd Wade and he returned in a depth role with the Redskins. I guess that’s why I’m not an NFL GM; he’s been pitiful of late. Mike Vrabel looked like Lawrence Taylor going against him last week. He’s got to be better for the Redskins to succeed.
• Carlos Rogers’ injury is a huge blow to the defense. He was finally living up to his 1st round billing this year and cornerback isn’t an easy position to fill mid-season. Fred Smoot is fine sliding up to the number 2 cornerback role beside Shawn Springs, but both of them tend to be injury prone. I don’t know how comfortable I’d be with guys like David Macklin and Leigh Torrance matching up with Plaxico Burress or Terrell Owens.