Who does this concern most? Surprise, surprise: Snyderrato, two men who are salivating at the chance to draft unproven Jimmy Clausen, oft-injured Sam Bradford, or overrated Colt McCoy.
Who does this concern least? Jim Zorn and Co. who, despite losing 7 of the last 8 games, showed up in Oakland Sunday and knocked off a franchise that's surprised the Eagles, Bengals, and Steelers in recent weeks.
These last few weeks of the season are seeming tryouts for 2nd and 3rd string slots in next year's roster. However unfair, considering most replacements have outperformed their overpaid predecessors, that's the way Snyderrato's franchise operates especially with a potentially uncapped year looming.
Let the post-game grades transpire regardless.
Run offense: B-
No Portis. No Betts. No problem. 'Dat Dude' named Ganther carried the load in his first career start amassing 50 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mason added 32 and all-but-forgotten Rock Cartwright bummed one carry out of Zorn for zero positive yards. The sudden disappearance of Rock in recent weeks is plainly upsetting considering the special teams captain seems to do everything the coaches ask of him. But to Rock's displeasure, it seems to be working so I can't complain. Washington topped the 100-yard mark, averaged nearly 4 per carry, but most importantly, converted 7 first downs on the ground and both goal line situations.
Pass offense: A
Dear Mr. Snyder, Vinny Cerrato, and the rest of the fan base who maintain the belief Jason Campbell is unfit to lead this team,
Get a clue.
Sincerely,
Sam Foster
...Campbell, for the 3rd consecutive game, posted playoff-worthy numbers (106.5 rating) and played a direct role in every positive offensive play Washington ran on Sunday. Near 60% completion rate, 222 yards, 2 touchdowns, and zero turnovers. Although sacked 3 times, he turned a half-dozen other potential sacks into 20 rushing yards, 2 first downs, and several late reads through the air, once finding Fred Davis in the corner of the end zone.
At the beginning of the season, it was said Campbell's best attribute was avoiding the turnover. Now, I'd say he avoids pressure and finds the deep receiver as effectively as anyone not named Peyton this season.
The WR corps similarly continues to thrive under Campbell, a sign of improvement and understanding in Zorn's west coast offense. Moss caught 4 balls (his longest went for 30). Davis continues to exceed expectations catching 3 balls for 2 scores (long of 27). Ganther caught 3 (long of 42). DT caught 2 (long of 29). Campbell distributed the football among 8 different WRs and 5 of those WRs averaged over 10 yards per catch. Campbell makes drafting a QB in April look increasingly birdbrained each week. It's a shame Snyderrato lacks sane good sense.
Run defense: A
Stonewallers. That's what this unit has turned into since allowing the Falcons to run freely 5 weeks ago. Both Oakland starting RBs averaged less than 2.7 yards per carry. They fumbled twice and only Fargas found the end zone on a goal line leap at the end of a short-field possession. The Raiders managed just 3 first downs rushing in the game and 17 total yards on the ground in the second half.
McFadden's trivial impact should lead those to reconsider drafting a RB with Washington's presumably high first round pick in April.
Pass defense: B+
No Haynesworth. No Hall. No problem. Beginning to spot a trend? It wasn't the 8 sacks that impressed me most- that's what happens when the Snyder/Davis breed neglects to address their offensive line. It wasn't the interception or even the 3.9 yards per pass that led to Oakland's 27% 3rd down efficiency. It was seeing Landry at strong safety even if for only a few snaps.
Occasionally, Landry was split wide at corner- McFadden burned him for 48 and 26. At times, he lined up deep and was similarly beat by Zach Miller and Louis Murphy. But when he lined up in the box at his natural position, he was as effective as he's been all season. He blew up lead blockers, wrestled ball carries to the ground before they could get any momentum, forced a fumble, exhibited form tackling, and even resisted the temptation to celebrate despite making several big plays.
Blatche's reasoning for moving DC's best strong safety to free was simple: he's their best free safety too. Maybe Brian Orakpo is DC's best strong side LB but he registered 4 sacks when he put his hand on the ground Sunday. Hey Blatche, square peg in the square hole, round peg in the round hole.
Special teams [excluding Antwaan Randle El]: A-
Graham Gano? 6 for 6 (FGs and XPs), welcome to Washington. Hunter the punter? Keep doing what you're doing buddy. Devin Thomas? Slashy, but you'll have to break one before you can call the job yours. Randle El? If your status as punt returner wasn't already in question, it must be on life-support now.
Seemingly, the coaches' reasoning as to what ARE brings to the table as a punt returner is reliability. It was assumed he'd make the catch every time, fair catch when appropriate, or let it bounce when need be. But this year alone, he's muffed 2 and let countless others bounce resulting in field position lost for an offense needing every advantage it can muster.
He averages 3.9 a return, and even that is hard to believe. He's second in the NFL in fair catches with 18, 3 more than he's actually returned. In 13 games, Randle El has moved the football just 58 yards on punt returns, basically the length of one good punt. With names on the roster such as Moss, Thomas, and Hall, one can only wonder what's keeping special teams coach Danny Smith from switching punt returners days after making the same move at kick returner.
Defensive MVP: ______?
Personally, I'd like to give this award to London Fletcher each and every week, bye week included. I'd like to give every award to Fletch to be quite honest. Not only is he the NFL's second leading tackler, but he makes countless other plays that elude the box score.
However, it's impossible not to split this between Orakpo and Carter. The NFL's top sack duo combined for 6 on Sunday bringing their total to 22 on the season (11 each) and leapfrogging Indy's Freeney and Mathis. Orakpo added a forced fumble and Carter a few laughs as he completely muffed a sure recovery-TD (Note the hilarity of Redskin miscues when leading by 18).
Offensive MVP: Jason Campbell
Ganther scored twice in his first start. Davis also had 2, furthering his team-high to 5. But few NFL QBs do for their team what Campbell is doing for Washington. He takes more hits than most, yet he's beginning to mirror Aaron Rodgers's ability to avoid pressure, keep his eyes downfield, and find the open man. He's ridiculed more than any other Washington athlete in the post-Suisham era, yet he exhibits McNabb's ability to block out the noise, fuel the fire, and improve each week.
Close-minded fans scapegoat him and compare him to young guns Ryan and Flacco, and near-replacements Sanchez and Cutler. Let me save you the effort: Campbell tops them all in QB rating, completion percentage, yards per attempt, and all but Cutler in TDs this season. What's more, Campbell complied those numbers while playing with, undeniably, a less talented supporting cast than those 4 QBs.
The Redskin offense saw both their pro bowl lineman go down for the season, Rhino followed soon after. Their top 2 backs went down and so did their pro bowl tight end. Their pro bowl fullback has all but disappeared in Sherm Lewis's west coast play-calling and their starting pass catchers have been more inconsistent than MLB's drug testing policy. Yet, there has been one constant over the last month during which everyone agrees the Redskins have improved...
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