Two BRIGHT spots from PIttsburgh game

[sportscurmudgeon]

Marc Wilson played VERY well for a first time starter at RT. He pulled out to lead a sweep twice in the first half and was out on the DB both times as the RB cut into the hole. He is not going to replace Jansen next year but with his footspeed, they really ought to try him at guard. The worst that can happen is for him to be a substitute OL who can play guard and/or tackle.

Marcus Washington has to be the most under appreciated guy on the squad. He plays hard - and effectively - on special teams and he plays the run strong and he blitzes well and he can cover a tight end. There are lots of players on this team whose "production" makes them overpaid; Washington is underpaid!

[kingerock]

yeah, I thought he and the young guy at DE/DT from the practice sqaud (his name escapes me) played well for being yound and inexperienced.

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by kingerock

yeah, I thought he and the young guy at DE/DT from the practice sqaud (his name escapes me) played well for being yound and inexperienced.

Ryan Boschetti-- and you're right, he played very well. He's 300 lbs, but Williams was bouncing him between DE and DT, as he's pretty quick for a guy his size, and plays the run well. Williams continues to find roles for guys that other teams overlook.

[MTK]

It's been mentioned here before, I wonder if we could possibly move Jansen or Wilson to LT next year if Samuels doesn't restructure?

At the least Wilson is going to provide us with some valuable depth.

We could really use an upgrade at center too.

[Big C]

what is going on with portis.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by Big C

what is going on with portis.

Other than being mostly ineffective today, Portis' running style didn't mesh well with the sloppy field. Portis kept slippin' and slidin'. Betts did a pretty good job and was the better back for the conditions because of his power running. Also, when you're down 13-0 against the Steelers, you have to go to the passing game, because coming back on that defense is tough.

[sportscurmudgeon]

What's going on with Portis?

The last two weeks he has stunk out the joint. When they give him the ball he goes down as soon as he is hit. When they throw him the ball he drops is. When it is a passing down and he is in the backfield, he has been a marginal blocker. Other than that, he's been fine the last two weeks.


Cooley catches the ball well, but figure him to break a tackle after catching a 4 yard pass and rambling for 30+ yards about once or twice a season. Good hands/slow feet.

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

What's going on with Portis?

The last two weeks he has stunk out the joint. When they give him the ball he goes down as soon as he is hit. When they throw him the ball he drops is. When it is a passing down and he is in the backfield, he has been a marginal blocker. Other than that, he's been fine the last two weeks.


Cooley catches the ball well, but figure him to break a tackle after catching a 4 yard pass and rambling for 30+ yards about once or twice a season. Good hands/slow feet.

You're right, SC. Lately, Portis has been looking a lot like Trung Canidate. He's definitely not a "mudder", as Bettis likes to describe himself. Like Canidate, Portis needs a fast track to make the most of his speed and agility, and like Canidate, Portis does not do well at running inside or following lead blockers. Betts is definitely the better back for sloppy conditions and inside running.

As for Cooley, I don't expect him to ever be a Shockey/Gonzalez/Heap type of tight end, but he has been and will continue to be a very good safety valve for Ramsey, and hopefully, Ramsey will learn to rely upon Cooley when the blitz is on. If the Redskins can hit a 4-yard pass on every down, with the occasional 30 yard rumble after the catch, that's better than they've been doing. Of course, they will need to stop putting themselves in long-yardage situations with stupid penalties like the ones that have been killing them for the past three seasons.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by joecrisp

...Of course, they will need to stop putting themselves in long-yardage situations with stupid penalties like the ones that have been killing them for the past three seasons...

That's really not what I had expected at this point in the season from a Gibbs/Bugel-coached team. But then, nothing is what I'd expected this year.

The middle of the line, along with inconsistent play from Chris Samuels are the main culprits along the line as I see it.

It already appears that Derrick Dockery is not panning out as expected, and as others have mentioned, it's about time we addressed the center position seriously rather than relying on has-been free agents and converted guards like Lennie Friedman.

[That Guy]

raymer really got shoved around... cooley was really good today too (lead the team with 7 receptions, got another TD, though he did miss at least one important jamb/block)... he needs to teach the other guys how to hold on to the ball.

[jdlea]

what is going on with portis.

They didn't give him the damn ball.

How about that hit by Sean Taylor?

[Bozzy]

Also, Patrick Ramsey had a better day than Ben Roethisburger

[That Guy]

bettis and randal-el were the difference, they won the game...

meanwhile our WRs did everything they could to lose it, and our Oline was still barely approaching average...

[irish]

While PR may have had a better statistical day than Big Ben his interception late in the game completely killed any chance of winning the game. Those stupid mistakes are why I believe Gibbs just does not trust PR as his QB to make solid decisions. While PR may have earned a bunch of atta boys during the game as anyone who works knows one 'oh shit' wipes out 500 atta boys and PR erased his atta boys with that oh shit late in the 4th.

[Redskins_P]

Originally Posted by irish

While PR may have had a better statistical day than Big Ben his interception late in the game completely killed any chance of winning the game. Those stupid mistakes are why I believe Gibbs just does not trust PR as his QB to make solid decisions. While PR may have earned a bunch of atta boys during the game as anyone who works knows one 'oh shit' wipes out 500 atta boys and PR erased his atta boys with that oh shit late in the 4th.

When Ramsey threw that INT, he avoided a sack and the pocket had already collapsed. He did what he could. He was trying to win the game.