A week later, and you’re still trying to pick up your jaw
Up two touchdowns with 30 minutes to go. The Washington Redskins are on their way to a 3-0 start.
Even after a 27-yard punt return by Antwaan Randle-El, two Casey Rabach penalties, a 3rd and forever conversion, a recovered fumble, a mental error by Jason Campbell when he spiked it on second down, still there was Ladell Betts only 3′ from overtime and, perhaps, the Skins going into the off week undefeated.
All the optimism of the Redskins possibly being co-division leaders remain with the imprint of where Betts went down at the one-and-a-half foot marker.
When the dust settled, Washington was 2-1 because they settled, letting their foot off the gas pedal against the Giants in the second half.
Close doesn’t count: Ladell Betts came within less than a yard of giving Washington a chance to go 3-0. Will crushing blows like that one haunt the Skins this year?
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Proof that things are different
The Redskins are contenders in the crazy NFC, though it must be said that we are only entering Week 5. At this point last season, you knew what you got with the Joe Gibbs gang and it wasn’t much.
Last October opened with a feverish 36-30 win overtime against Jacksonville as Mark Brunell lit up the skies for 329 yards and three touchdowns. Turns out it was his last moment in the sun.
As this autumn begins the Redskins quarterback woes have become more sedate with Campbell under center.
Campbell, a week after his Monday Night coming out party against the Eagles, marched the Redskins down to the one with under a minute left. In doing so, the three-year veteran overcame a swarming Giants blitz, two bad penalties from his center, and a momentary lapse of judgment in which he fumbled the ball on 1st and 10, immediately followed by a spike on 2nd and 13.
In the same drive, Campbell threw for a first down on a critical 3rd and 11, had it called back because of a penalty, and then still found Santana Moss for 18 yards. One play later on 4th and 8, after another penalty, Campbell kept the drive alive by finding Moss again, this time in the red zone.
The drive seemed to foreshadow what this season will be with Campbell.
Positively speaking, foreshadowing means there’s a future.
Slowly getting better?
The pass rush already looks improved with five sacks, including two by young stud Rocky McIntosh and two (finally) by Andre Carter.
London Fletcher’s presence is clogging up the run, holding two of Washington’s first three opponents to under 100 yards. Last year, Greg Williams’ defense allowed an average of 137 yards per game.
Unfortunately, the more things change up front, the more they stay the same in the secondary. Carlos Rogers still remains shaky and nonaggressive. Fred Smoot still remains out of the lineup and Shawn Springs still remains 32 years old.
In three weeks’ time, Dolphins receivers shook off Rogers and Smoot with ease (yet Trent Green couldn’t hit the broad side of a bus), Donovan McNabb notched 242 yards with above average wide receivers that struggled to get open (with Smoot out, credit Springs), and Eli Manning racked up 232 yards, hooking up with Plaxico Burress (five in the second half) and Jeremy Shockey 10 times for 165 yards, and a score.
The next four weeks will showcase the Redskins secondary. They’ll face Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams, Brett Favre and Donald Driver, and Tom Brady and Randy Moss.
Reasons to worry
It’s only Week 5 and the Redskins can’t lose anymore offensive linemen. Santana Moss’ groin remains an issue and Brandon Lloyd is less effective than a discarded piece of used medical tape. Rocky McIntosh, who has been playing brilliantly, injured both shoulders. Marcus Washington’s elbow injury lingers, and the offense still isn’t complete enough to win games without the aid of their defense.
Reason not to worry
It’s only Week 5.
Wes McElroy hosts “The Final Round” on ESPN AM840 Monday-Friday, 4pm-6pm.