And now… the Redskins better half:
Andre Carter – From free agent bust to bargain sack machine? Carter starting the season on fire, but has slowed a bit recently. Still he’s on pace for 12 sacks this year, which is more than any Redskin has had in recent memory. Grade: A
Cornelius Griffin – He’s not the dominate force he was when he first joined the Redskins but he is still an effective tackle and the anchor of the line. You do get the feeling that he’s going to be battling injuries for the rest of the career. Grade: B
Anthony Montgomery – A late round draft steal for the Redskins? After barely seeing the field as a rookie, Montgomery has suddenly turned into a very important cog on the line. He’s the unsung hero of the defense, taking on multiple blockers and letting the playmakers do their thing. Grade: B+
Phillip Daniels – Not much of a pass rusher, but solid against the run and the ultimate pass knocker downer. He’s officially become a ‘cagey veteran’. Grade: C+
Rocky McIntosh – He’s a bit over aggressive and can be fooled by play fakes, but the guy makes plays. He has three sacks, 2 forced fumbles and he’s 2nd on the team in tackles which all leads me to one question: why the heck did Warrick Holdman have to start every game last year? Grade: B
London Fletcher – Fletcher has been everything that he was expected to be; he’s a strong tackler and a leader on the defense. The multiple personal fouls are a concern. Grade: B
Marcus Washington – He’s been dinged up for much of the year, but still has three sacks. He hasn’t been great when healthy, but may be the best Redskins pass rusher when lined up at defensive end. Grade: C
Carlos Rogers – He was finally living up to his billing as a 1st round pick this year and then suffered a season ending injury. Overcoming Rogers’ injury is going to be a big issue in the 2nd half. Grade: A-
Shawn Springs – He is what he’s always been, a great cornerback. This will probably be his last year in Washington and he’s relying more on smarts than athleticism, but he is one of the best corners in the business. Grade: A
Fred Smoot – The Redskins have played so much of the season in nickel formations that the 3rd corner has played enough to be graded. Smoot struggled early but he slowly rounded back into the form that we all remembered. His hamstring woes are a big concern as he’s going to be a big part of the defense from here on out with Rogers’ injury. Grade: C+
Sean Taylor – He’s found a role that suits his skills and is producing big numbers. Teams have really limited their deep throws this year because of Taylor’s many interceptions. This week’s game against the Eagles will be another test, as the Eagles have traditional burned the Redskins deep in nearly every match-up. Grade: A
LaRon Landry – He’s a rookie finding his way in the NFL. He’s a great blitzer and is improving every week. Like most young guys he still has to improve his ability to read plays and settle down his aggressiveness. Grade: B
Special Teams
Shaun Suisham – Saved our bacon last week and appears to have come out of his slump. He could be the long-term Redskins kicker that we haven’t seen around here in ages. Grade: B
Derek Frost – He was on a major roll to start the year, but has been more inconsistent of late. Still even his shanks tend to bounce 20 extra yards down the field. Grade: B
Rock Cartwright – The possession receiver of the kick returners. He’s rarely gets stopped before the 30 yard line and can even break one if the blockers do their jobs. Grade: A-
Antwaan Randle-El – Really hasn’t done anything in the return game this year. Grade: C
i agree with everything this guy says. i think 11-5