NFC East: Todd Collins
Rapid Reaction: Giants 28, Lions 20
What It Means: The Giants are starting to take care of business. In a game that they were supposed to win, the Giants got the job done. It wasn't anything spectacular, but the Giants didn’t have a letdown with what lies ahead of them next week. They handled a decent Detroit Lions team and showed better composure as the Lions were plagued by penalties. At 4-2, this is exactly where the Giants should be as their schedule gets tougher with NFC East play about to begin.
What’s Next: As if we had to remind you, it’s Dallas week. The Giants finally play an NFC East game and it’s against the Cowboys. The Giants make the trip to Jerry World for a Monday night showdown that should be electric no matter what the Cowboys’ record is. Dallas will be playing to try to climb out of an early hole and the Giants will be looking to show the NFL that they are legit contenders. A win in Dallas always goes a long way.
Knockout Artists: The Giants' defense knocked out its third quarterback of the season when Shaun Hill had to leave before halftime with an arm injury. Hill had been playing well and he had a touchdown before falling on his left arm. The Lions were forced to go with Drew Stanton, and Osi Umenyiora was able to strip Stanton for a fumble, which Justin Tuck recovered. Stanton later connected on an 87-yard touchdown pass to Megatron, Calvin Johnson. Hill joins the Bears’ Jay Cutler and Todd Collins as quarterbacks the Giants have knocked out of games this season.
Shut ‘em Down: The Giants' run defense continues to be lights out. Perry Fewell’s unit held the Lions to 64 yards rushing. Rookie Jahvid Best had nowhere to run, much like Houston’s Arian Foster the week before and Chicago’s Matt Forte the week before that. The Giants came into the game having held the Texans and Bears to a combined 83 yards rushing.
Protect The Ball: The Giants did a good job of not turning the ball over. Their only turnover was a fumble by rookie punter Matt Dodge, who lost the ball on his drop on the first punt attempt of the game. The Lions recovered but the Giants were able to keep the ball otherwise against a team that came into the game tied for first in takeaways. Eli Manning threw a few balls away instead of forcing passes. The Giants' defense also came up with a huge fumble recovery when the Lions were driving down 21-17 midway through the fourth.
Just Enough: The Giants weren’t spectacular on offense but they did just enough. Manning’s numbers aren’t overwhelming but he did throw two touchdowns. He wasn’t sharp, and his best receiver was pretty much bottled up as Hakeem Nicks finished with just three catches for 8 yards. But Manning also re-connected with his favorite target, Steve Smith, on several short passes. He also hit Mario Manningham and Travis Beckum for touchdowns.
Run It To The Right: Ahmad Bradshaw had a nice day, gaining 133 yards, with many of them coming while he ran on the right side. The offensive line opened up some huge holes for Bradshaw on that right side. Brandon Jacobs scored two touchdowns and now has a touchdown in three straight games.
Special Teams: Dodge dropped the ball on his first punt of the game for the second time this season, but this time he lost it. After another shaky start, Dodge calmed down and punted better as the game progressed. He even unleashed a 59-yard punt in the fourth quarter and pumped his fist walking off the field. The Giants also had a new kicker on the field as they went with Shayne Graham after Lawrence Tynes was out due to an ankle injury. Graham had four extra points.
Keep in mind that the Redskins just released backup quarterback Todd Collins, who led Washington to the playoffs in '08. And there's always the Jeff Garcia option, although he's never really fancied himself as a backup. Mark Brunell had a great influence in the Saints' locker room. He's be a good option -- as long as he wasn't called upon to play more than a game or two.
I think you'd feel a lot safer with Collins or Garcia. Then you could try to get Bomar ready for the No. 2 job. Here are some other candidates off the league's official unrestricted free-agent list: Panthers QB Josh McCown, Lions QB Patrick Ramsey, Texans QB Rex Grossman (likely headed to Redskins because of Kyle Shanahan), Dolphins QB Chad Pennington (Hmmm...), Steelers QB Charlie Batch, Rams QB Kyle Boller.
Another possibility is former Bills quarterback J.P. Losman.
Redskins can relate to Bengals' sorrow
Taylor was away from his teammates at the time of his death because he was recovering from an injury. I think the fact that he hadn't been around his teammates as much as usual made it harder for them to accept what had happened. Because Henry was on injured reserve and wasn't required to be around his teammates all the time, I'm sure they're going through something similar.
Redskins players such as former University of Miami stars Clinton Portis and Santana Moss took it harder than anyone because of the special bond that players from The U enjoy. Moss was having a difficult season and he was almost inconsolable after Taylor's death.
Taylor, 24 at the time of his death, was a more accomplished player than Henry. And he didn't have a particularly troubled past -- as some people portrayed it to be at the time. One of the most important things that former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs did was allow his players time to grieve. He encouraged everyone to talk about Taylor. I recall hearing that safeties coach Steve Jackson could barely make it through team meetings. But all the tears from the coaches definitely brought the team closer together.
After a last-second loss to the Bills, the team flew to attend Taylor's funeral. Todd Collins had become the quarterback because of an injury to Jason Campbell. The Redskins went on an improbable winning streak and somehow made the playoffs. I know they used their pain and their love for Taylor to drive them during those weeks. I always think it seems trite, and even downright insensitive, when we immediately start talking about how teams are going to rally around a tragic situation. I don't look it at that way. But I do think the Redskins played with more passion the rest of the way in order to honor their fallen teammate.
It was one of Gibbs' finest moments in a Hall of Fame career. He let players see him grieving -- and that was important. It let them know that it was OK to open up to each other and put a voice to what they were feeling. With the death of Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's wife, Vikki, and now this tragedy, the Bengals are a team that has seen a ridiculous amount of adversity. I think this is a group that performs at a high level no matter what the circumstances.
But I do think that the Bengals will face a lot of things this week and next that are nearly impossible to prepare for. I think coach Marvin Lewis would be wise to give Gibbs a call. He's one of the few coaches out there who could relate to how Lewis is feeling right now.
Bartel signed with the Cowboys in May 2007 and spent the next season on the club's practice squad. He went to camp again with the Cowboys in '08 and was briefly added to their practice squad before being released for good. Bartel caught on with the Browns late in the '08 season.
He was 43-of-71 for 404 yards during the Cowboys' '08 preseason. At 6-3, 230 pounds, he has a big arm and he moves around pretty well in the pocket. He had an opportunity to sign with the Chiefs late in the '07 season but elected to remain on the Cowboys' practice squad.
Bartel was a standout at Grapevine (Texas) High School and played at nearby SMU before transferring to Tarleton State. He was a 17th-round draft pick by the Reds as a pitcher out of high school, so he got a late start on his college football career. Bartel was 12-of-14 for 137 yards in his only extended playing time for the Browns during the '09 preseason. He was released by the Browns and quickly signed by the Jaguars.
Bartel will serve as insurance behind Campbell and Todd Collins, but don't be surprised to see him get some playing time at some point since both of those players don't appear to be in the Redskins' long-term plans. It could be a great opportunity for Bartel as long as he's willing to take some punishment. But at age 26, he's a pretty mature guy and I think he'd be capable of putting up decent numbers.
The Redskins are trailing the Falcons, 24-3, at halftime and they're not moving the ball. I don't think any quarterback has a chance behind this patchwork offensive line, but do you guys think Jim Zorn will pull Jason Campbell in favor of Todd Collins?
The Tye Hill interception was not Campbell's fault -- and it's not like Collins is more elusive than Campbell. The one thing he might do for you is get the ball away a little quicker. But I don't think making a change at quarterback will prevent the inevitable -- another Skins loss.
Eagles' issues pale in comparison to Skins'
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| AP Photo | |
| The Redskins recently stripped head coach Jim Zorn of play-calling duties and gave them to recently hired consultant Sherman Lewis. |
Of the four NFC East teams, the Eagles got off to the worst start in training camp. They had prepared for beloved defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's death the best they could, but it was a painful thing to deal with nonetheless. Only days later, starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley suffered a season-ending knee injury. The injuries kept coming and starting right tackle Shawn Andrews (back) never stepped on the field before being placed on injured reserve and sent to Los Angeles to be close to his doctor.
And on Monday night against the Redskins, the Eagles will try to replace Bradley for the third time when the newly acquired Will Witherspoon lines up at middle linebacker. On the surface, the Eagles don't appear to have a very stable roster. But then, everything's relative when you share a division with Dan Snyder's Washington Redskins.
Snyder's done the impossible: He's making Al Davis look level-headed. Snyder and executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato have embarrassed themselves by toying with head coach Jim Zorn over the past few weeks. They refused to give the man a public endorsement (for the remainder of the season) until after they'd stripped him of play-calling duties. Only two weeks earlier, Cerrato brought in former Bill Walsh disciple Sherm Lewis as an offensive consultant. As ESPN.com's Jeff Chadiha wrote Friday, some players couldn't pick Lewis out of a lineup.
Yet this is the man who will stare at Zorn's laminated play-calling chart in the press box and then inform another neutralized member of the staff, Sherman Smith, which play to relay to Jason Campbell. This has success written all over it.
According to the folks I've talked to with the Eagles this week, their biggest fear is Lewis going rogue and coming up with a completely different approach. Though coach Andy Reid would never admit this, the Eagles believe they'll destroy the Redskins if they stick to the normal script -- the one that's produced just over 13 points per game. I'd be shocked if Lewis starts freelancing Monday. And if the former bingo caller suddenly barks out "B 11," what's Smith supposed to do?
When I talked to Campbell this week, he said he was attempting to remain "open-minded" about Lewis calling the plays. Campbell's shown a great deal of grace in the face of Snyder and Cerrato's bumbling ways -- dating to their dogged offseason pursuit of Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez.
"We're all human," Campbell told me Tuesday. "Every now and then you have a moment where it gets to you."
Fortunately for Campbell, several teammates and ex-quarterbacks reached out to him after he was benched last Sunday. As we first reported last Monday, Campbell will get the start against the Eagles. Backup quarterback Todd Collins has been told to be ready, which isn't exactly music to Campbell's ears. But there's at least one local legend who has Campbell's back.
"Joe [Theismann] reached out to me first thing," Campbell said. "I can just talk to him about a lot of things. He told me to go out Monday night and play freely. He said I've got to block everything out."
Campbell told me that he made the mistake of not trusting his offensive line against the Chiefs. He was playing behind a group that included two new starters and another teammate (Stephon Heyer) playing out of position at left tackle. Of course, Snyder and Cerrato's decision to ignore the offensive line both through the draft and free agency helped cause this problem, but that's a column for another day.
By the end of my conversation with Campbell, he'd actually talked himself into thinking the Skins could beat the Eagles on Monday.
"If we can get back to .500 at the midway point, there's a chance we could rally in the second half [of the season]," Campbell said. "When it rains, it pours. And right now, we need it to stop raining."
Unfortunately for Campbell, I don't see the dark clouds over FedEx beginning to clear.
On his weekly appearance on ESPN 980 in Washington on Tuesday, Redskins coach Jim Zorn confirmed our Monday report that Jason Campbell would start at quarterback against the Eagles on "Monday Night Football." Campbell has started every game during Zorn's 22-game tenure, but the quarterback was benched at halftime of Sunday's loss to the Chiefs in favor of Todd Collins.
"I think what I'm gonna do is go right back to Jason Campbell," Zorn told the Daniel Snyder-owned station Tuesday.Earlier in the day, The Washington Post reported that Zorn had not yet made a decision. He apparently slept on it and decided that Campbell would indeed be his starter.
Source: Campbell to start against Eagles
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Campbell has started every game during the Zorn era, but he was benched at halftime Sunday in favor of Todd Collins. Zorn said he made the move because the offense needed a "spark," but Collins only had limited success in moving the team. The Redskins are playing with an offensive line that includes Stephon Heyer at left tackle and Mike Williams at right tackle. Campbell appeared to be fearing for his life Sunday as he tried to quickly unload the ball.
The new playcaller will be Sherman Lewis, who was hired as an offensive consultant only two weeks ago. Most of the players haven't even met Lewis and he's still trying to get up to speed on the playbook. The 67-year-old Lewis has been out of the league since 2004 and he knows what it's like to have his play-calling duties stripped because that's what Dennis Green once did to him in Minnesota.
I suspect that Zorn will have an even quicker hook ready for Campbell against the Eagles. The quarterback will be under a lot of pressure to move the Redskins early in the game. At 2-4, the Skins need to beat the Eagles to have any realistic chance of turning their season around.
I'll have more details Tuesday.
Skins' CB Hall questions Zorn's QB move
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for poor Jim Zorn, Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall decided to question his decision to bench quarterback Jason Campbell. The Washington Post is reporting that other players on the team suggested that Zorn wanted to make the change to Todd Collins during the first half, but didn't get around to it. Here's what the always helpful Hall had to say about Zorn's decision:
"As far as the change of benching Jason in the second half, obviously that didn't work," said Hall. "So that's not the change you need. I think if I was the guy, I would've left Jason in. ... I don't think that was the right move. Coach made that move. Ain't nothing I can do about it. He made that move, he had to live with it."
Having read Hall's quote, Skins owner Dan Snyder is apparently considering Hall for a potential interim player/head coach role.
I guess we shouldn't be shocked to see the Redskins lose to a once-winless team at this point in the season. It's one of the few things we can count on with this team. Coach Jim Zorn benched starting quarterback Jason Campbell at halftime, but the move didn't really inspire the team or his play calling.
This is an awful team right now, and it's not like a coaching change is going to change the Redskins' fortunes. Still, I'm not sure how owner Dan Snyder could stick with Zorn at this point. Snyder and his right-hand man, Vinny Cerrato, haven't given Zorn a public endorsement, in part, because they wanted to see how things played out. Well, losing at home to the Chiefs rivals ending the Lions' losing streak earlier in the season.
There's absolutely no reason to think the Redskins could turn their season around now -- especially with a game against the Eagles coming up next Monday. I think Snyder wanted to wait until after the Eagles game to make a change so that the interim coach would have the bye week to work with. He may not have that "luxury" now.
On Sunday, the Redskins' patchwork offensive line couldn't get any push against the Chiefs. And when the Skins had to settle for short field goals, you had the feeling something like this would happen. Backup quarterback Todd Collins provided a brief spark, but he couldn't get anything accomplished when the game was on the line.
The defense kept the Skins in the game, but the offense couldn't generate anything in the second half. Clinton Portis had 109 yards rushing on 15 carries. He broke away on a 78-yard romp, but the Skins still couldn't capitalize with a touchdown.
If a change is made in the next day or so, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jerry Gray named as interim head coach. The wild-card pick would be special-teams coach Danny Smith -- just because everyone in the organization loves him. If Gray becomes the interim coach, Sherman Lewis would probably take over as the play-caller. Just another awful day all the way around for Redskins fans.
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
We'll never know whether Jim Zorn could've survived a 1-3 record because it didn't turn out that way. After being booed off the field at halftime, the Redskins actually came out punching in the second half. I'm sure the crowd at FedEx Field would've been pleased had Zorn switched to Todd Collins for the second half, but that didn't happen either.
Campbell had three turnovers in the first half and a pathetic 18.1 passer rating. But no one panicked when the Skins trailed 10-0. Well, Zorn did admit to questioning his own game plan. He's sometimes too honest for his own good. It didn't matter that the Redskins barely beat the Bucs. They just desperately needed a win. Maybe if they showed up in desperation mode from the start, they wouldn't get caught up in these close games.
But the Redskins rode an incredibly gutty effort from Clinton Portis and a solid defensive performance to hold on for a win. Now, they have a legitimate chance to be 4-2 heading into the game against Philly late this month. At 2-2, the winless Panthers and Chiefs loom. Those are not locks by any stretch of the imagination, but they are certainly winnable games.
Zorn has to be pleased that rookies Brian Orakpo and Jeremy Jarmon made clutch plays for him Sunday. It's not like Zorn's job is now safe, but he at least put off the buzzards for another week. Zorn and Campbell are going to succeed or fail together.
On Sunday, Campbell rewarded Zorn for not giving up on him.
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
Hopefully by now you've read our groundbreaking analysis of the NFC East backup quarterback situations. With what happened in Dallas last season, it seemed like an appropriate topic. But some of my faithful readers (you know who you are) have asked me to rank the backups in the Beast. Here's what I came up with:
1. Philadelphia -- I don't necessarily think the Eagles made a wise decision in signing social reformer/Wildcat quarterback Michael Vick, but he'll immediately become the best backup in the division once he's fully reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Who are defensive coordinators more worried about? Jon Kitna or Vick? See.
2. Dallas -- I think Kitna could come off the bench and do a nice job for a few games. Over the course of a season, he might take too many sacks. But for a three- or four-game stretch, he could perform really well. The Cowboys were held hostage by the backup quarterback spot in '08. They weren't going to let it happen again.
3. Washington -- I think Todd Collins is about as dependable a backup as you'll find in the league. He led the team to the playoffs during a thrilling stretch in '07 and he does a nice job protecting the football. He's the perfect caretaker quarterback if something happens to Jason Campbell. And I like that Jim Zorn's leaning toward Chase Daniel. The former Mizzou Tiger has made the most of his limited opportunities in the preseason. The end is near for the Cult of Colt.
4. New York -- David Carr could get you through a game or two, but he'd be the last guy in the division I'd want behind center for a seven- or eight-game stretch. If Eli Manning goes down, the Giants are cooked. I can't say that about the other three teams' situations.
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
More: Chadiha: The plan | Scouts: Rating QBs
| Rank 'em | Clayton: Next Cassel?
Dallas: If Tony Romo is unavailable, the Cowboys would still have a chance at winning games.
Jon Kitna's moving into his late 30s, but he still has plenty of arm strength and he's a huge improvement over Brad Johnson. Kitna doesn't have the mobility of Romo and he took a lot of sacks in Detroit. But he can make all the throws and he could succeed for an extended amount of time. The only thing that worries me about Kitna is that he's had a lot of trouble getting the snap from center in training camp and in preseason games. Not sure what the problem is there.
Roy Williams had the best year of his NFL career playing with Kitna. Romo's the unquestioned starter, but Kitna's presence makes the Cowboys feel a lot more comfortable heading into '09.
New York: If Eli Manning's unavailable, the Giants are in trouble. David Carr looked a lot better against the Jets, but he had really been struggling before that.
He's still sort of shell-shocked from his time with the Texans. He might be fine to get you through a game or two, but the Giants would struggle if Carr has to play four or five games. I don't think he gets the ball out quickly enough at this point. Even his own quarterbacks coach, Chris Palmer, called him out recently. With the arrival of Michael Vick in Philly, the Giants might have the weakest backup situation in the division. Right now, it seems Andre Woodson has the edge on Rhett Bomar to be the third quarterback.
Philadelphia: If Donovan McNabb's unavailable, it will be Michael Vick time for the Eagles.
Obviously, he won't become the No. 2 quarterback until he's fully reinstated by Roger Goodell, but that will likely happen fairly early in the season. Vick automatically becomes the best backup in the division based on his previous work. He'll be a huge threat in the Wildcat formation and I think he'd function well as the starter if something happens to McNabb. Vick's too young and talented to have the mind-set of a backup -- and that's not necessarily a bad thing for the Eagles. If McNabb gets injured, they want Vick to feel plenty of confidence as his replacement.
Washington: If Jason Campbell is unavailable, Todd Collins will take over.
Collins doesn't do anything flashy but he can do a good job of managing the team. He replaced an injured Campbell in the second half of the '07 season and led the Redskins on a remarkable playoff run. Collins doesn't have the arm strength to light it up in the vertical passing game, but he does a good job of checking down passes and not turning the ball over. Coach Jim Zorn thought that Colt Brennan might be ready to challenge Collins, but that never happened.
There's a good chance that former Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel will beat out Brennan for the No. 3 spot. He's outplayed him in the preseason. Daniel's nowhere close to being a starter in this league, but he's played with a lot of poise in the preseason. Let's see how he does in the Skins' final preseason game.
My thoughts on Skins' win over Pittsburgh
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
I don't think it's time to panic about Jason Campbell going 1-of-7 for 10 yards in a 17-13 preseason win over the Steelers. But it's important that Campbell finds a rhythm in the third preseason game -- and he knows that.
Campbell missed Malcolm Kelly on a deep ball and he was high on a throw to Santana Moss. I think he was pressing a bit because he knew he was only going to play three series. The good news is that Washington's running game looked strong throughout the game. OK, here are a few things that caught my eye:
- Brian Orakpo has been sensational through two preseason games. I enjoyed watching him playing with the backups in the second quarter. At that point, he was obviously the best player on the field and he even looked solid in coverage. Orakpo embarrassed his former college teammate at Texas, Tony Hills, in the second quarter. Orakpo used a bull rush to push Hills back in the pocket. He knocked Hills about 3 feet into the air.
- Jim Zorn made it sound like Campbell had a nice evening. Zorn praised Campbell for his decision making and thought he managed the team well. Obviously Zorn want to make sure Campbell's confidence level remains high. Campbell put on a brave face for reporters after the game, but I assure you he's beating himself up over the six incompletions.
- How can you keep Marcus Mason or Marko Mitchell off this roster? Mason's one of the best preseason backs this organization has had. On Saturday, he showed the speed we've grown accustomed to seeing, but he also mixed in some power. He sent a Steelers safety flying at the end of one play. Mitchell made the nice touchdown catch from Chase Daniel. He hesitated at first in order to give Daniel some space to throw the ball. Then Mitchell simply won a jump ball. The former Nevada receiver might end up being the fifth receiver.
- I still think Devin Thomas will make some mental errors, but he's capable of making big plays. I liked the twisting catch he made Saturday night. He has all the tools, but he needs every rep in the preseason he can get.
- Scary moment in the first half when fullback Mike Sellers was writhing in pain with a knee injury. The good news is that Sellers only has a bruised knee. He's such a vital part of the Redskins' running game. They would really struggle without him.
- Reed Doughty was everywhere . I pretty much wrote the guy off last season, but he's actually had a solid camp. He made a couple of open-field tackles that were very impressive and he looked confident in the secondary.
- Is it too early to start worrying about the Skins' awful coverage units? They looked especially bad in punt coverage. They didn't have anything close to containment on the edges.
- I used to watch Redskins safety Lendy Holmes when he was in high school. The former Oklahoma Sooner was one of the surest tacklers on the field Saturday. A lot of rookies look a little wide-eyed at this point. That's not the way Holmes operates.
- I love the fact that safety Kareem Moore is a high-energy guy, but he needs to play under control. It seems like Moore's constantly going for the interception. Moore and another '08 draft pick, Rob Jackson, have a tendency to overrun plays.
- I'd cut D.J. Hackett the first chance I had. It's not that I think he's a bad player, but right now, he's simply taking up space. I'd much rather see Mitchell, Thomas and Kelly getting the majority of the reps.
- Daniel had a really effective outing. I think he has the edge on Colt Brennan at this point. And yes, I know that hurts at lot of you guys.
- On the interception that Todd Collins threw, Thomas needs to come back for the ball. He sort of froze on his comeback route, and that allowed former Colts cornerback Keiwan Ratliff to make a really nice play on the ball.
- If you're Brennan, you can't throw the ball into traffic in the red zone. I'm sure Zorn was incensed with that turnover. Just an awful decision by Brennan.
- Kelly does a really nice job of catching the ball away from his body. He did some nice things in Saturday's game, but the best thing he does is catch the ball consistently. Thomas might have the most upside, but Kelly's showing the most maturity right now.
- Former CFL star Dominique Dorsey has to make this team as a return specialist. And he's halfway home. He had some outstanding returns. The Skins need to reserve a spot on the roster for him. He's that good as a return guy -- and he runs with a little power.
Camp Confidential: Redskins strong on defense
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| Geoff Burke-US Presswire | |
| Albert Haynesworth gives Washington's defense a credible and consistent threat. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
If you simply looked at the overall rankings from the 2008 season, the Redskins' defense was among the best in the league. But that number couldn't cover up the fact that the Skins didn't create enough pressure and cause enough turnovers.
That's a big reason why owner Dan Snyder paid former Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth $41 million guaranteed to become the centerpiece of his defense. Haynesworth is the most dominant defensive tackle in the game and he's capable of drawing double and triple teams. With that one move, the Redskins' defense gained instant credibility in terms of becoming a disruptive force.
"It's pretty amazing to see how he goes about his business," said veteran defensive end Phillip Daniels. "He can blow up the pocket on his own and that creates a lot of opportunities for the rest of us."
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According to several players, the presence of Haynesworth has made old-school defensive coordinator Greg Blache more daring in his approach. With young players such as first-round pick Brian Orakpo and third-round supplemental pick Jeremy Jarmon, Blache has a lot more speed and depth to work with.
Haynesworth told me that he and Orakpo have been coming up with "games" during practice that will hopefully lead to sacks and turnovers. Haynesworth is coming off an 8.5 sack season, but says that is a total he is not worried about surpassing in 2009.
"I could have two sacks and still be happy as long as I'm taking on triple teams," Haynesworth said. "I love it when a team has to send everyone my way. That's when I really feel like I'm doing my job."
Haynesworth's only made it through all 16 games once in his career, but that doesn't concern him in the least.
"I'd rather play in 14 games at 1,000 percent than go out there and limp around through 16," he said.
Key questions
Who is going to end up as the No. 2 receiver?
Coach Jim Zorn is pleased with the progress that second-year wide receivers Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas are making. Kelly has shown a lot of maturity since struggling in last year's training camp. Quarterback Jason Campbell told me that Kelly has "crazy hands," which basically means he's snatching the ball from the air in traffic. Thomas is more of a deep threat. He's learning how to approach the game in a more structured way, which is helping him avoid some of the injuries that hampered him in 2008. I think he'll be the No. 2 receiver, but Kelly's not giving in.
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| Drew Hallowell/Getty Images | |
| Quarterback Jason Campbell enters this season with some extra motivation. |
How will Campbell fare in the final season of his contract?
Well, he couldn't have handled this situation with more grace. Snyder and Vinny Cerrato spent April looking for Campbell's replacement, but the quarterback kept showing up at the facility and trying to lead his teammates. The most important step he has taken is that he is getting through his reads a lot quicker. He'll take a peek at a receiver and then quickly move on. Last year, that wasn't happening all the time. He did a good job protecting the ball in the first half of the season, but now he needs to trust his instincts and take more shots downfield.
Could the lack of depth along the offensive line derail this season?
Absolutely. The Redskins haven't done a good job of drafting and developing offensive linemen. Right tackle Stephon Heyer is ready to take the next step at right tackle, but right now they have Mike Williams backing him up. Williams has been out of the game for three years and I still don't think he is anywhere close to being a starter. Derrick Dockery is certainly an upgrade at guard and left tackle Chris Samuels has recovered nicely from being banged up last season. But the season will hinge on the starters staying healthy. Jeremy Bridges gives you at least one backup with some experience, but things get dicey after that.
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Market watch
Carlos Rogers and Campbell played together at Auburn. They're both in make-or-break seasons. The Skins went out and spent big free agency money on DeAngelo Hall because he makes plays on the ball. Rogers has the size and athleticism to be a solid starter, but he hasn't always played with confidence. And I don't like hearing how inexperienced wide receiver Marko Mitchell keeps burning him in practice. This is the season Rogers needs to prove the Redskins made the right move taking him in the first round in 2005.
Newcomer to watch
I'm anxious to see how Orakpo takes to the SAM linebacker spot. He was a starter from Day 1. But what makes him an exceptional player is the fact that he chased down a bunch of Big 12 quarterbacks. Every time Orakpo has to drop back in coverage on first or second down is time he should be spending chasing the quarterback. Even Haynesworth told me he was surprised Orakpo wasn't lining up at defensive end all the time. But perhaps Orakpo will become a great linebacker. I just know that he could have a minimum of 10 sacks playing next to Haynesworth this season.
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| Geoff Burke/US PRESSWIRE | |
| Tight end Chris Cooley is showing improvement and could be poised for a huge season. |
Observation deck
Sometimes you have to admit you made a mistake in the draft and simply cut your losses. The Redskins should do that with second-year cornerback Justin Tryon from Arizona State. At 5-foot-9, he doesn't have the size or the elite speed to cover wide receivers at this level. He made the Ravens' receivers look like world beaters last week. And that's not a talented group of wide receivers. ... Santana Moss is the heart and soul of the offense, but not many people know that. He's a relatively quiet guy who commands a lot of respect. Some veterans wouldn't want to groom the players who will eventually replace them. But Moss has jumped in and been a great mentor for Thomas and Kelly. ... Chris Cooley is about to have a huge season. He may be a little goofy off the field, but his speed and improved route running make him the perfect target for Campbell. Cooley could break through as an All-Pro this season. And yes, I know Anthony Gonzalez is playing for the Falcons and Jason Witten plays for the Cowboys. ... Trent Shelton is one of those wide receivers who shows up to a training camp and makes it impossible to cut him. He's not a speedster at all, but he can help you on special teams and he has pretty good size and body control. He always worked over the Texas A&M defense while at Baylor and he's taken that confidence into this camp. ... I like Kenny Phillips and Michael Johnson as the safeties for the Giants, but for my money, LaRon Landry and Chris Horton could emerge as the best pair in the NFC. Horton loves playing downhill and he made some game-changing plays in 2008. Landry has the potential to replace Ed Reed as the best safety in the game someday. Now's a good time for him to start on that project. ... Colt Brennan likes to talk big, but he didn't back it up against the Ravens. He needs to bounce back with a nice performance this weekend to have any shot at overtaking Todd Collins as backup QB. ... Tight end Fred Davis is showing a lot more maturity in this camp and I wouldn't be surprised to see him make an impact this season.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Dan Graziano
Graziano joined ESPN.com in 2011 after two years as a Senior NFL Writer for AOL FanHouse. He covered Major League Baseball, the Olympics and various other sports during his time at the Star-Ledger and the Palm Beach Post. A New Jersey native and author of two published novels, he now lives in Ridgewood, N.J., with his wife and two sons.
