The Redskins beat the Steelers 17-13 in FedEx Field’s 2009 opener (not counting that raging Paul McCartney concert a few weeks back) with very little help from the starting offense. Game ball? Fourth string rookie Chase Daniel from Missouri.
Jason Campbell stumbled out of the gate early against Pittsburgh, completing only 1 pass (out of 7 tries) to Chris Cooley for 10 yards. It wasn’t all bad for the starting offense, as they drove to a field goal on their opening drive against the Super Bowl champs, however; they faced 2nd and 2 at the Steelers’ 3-yard line before getting stuffed twice and settling for a field goal.
Without starting QB Ben Roethlisberger, who was being held out after suffering a foot injury in practice this week, backup QB Charlie Batch led Pittsburgh on a courageous comeback, taking a 13-10 lead into the start of the fourth quarter. Batch played not much better than Campbell, completing only five of 14 passes for 63 yards.
Then, Chase Daniel’s heroics took over. He led the game-winning scoring drive with barely a minute expired in the fourth quarter, and the Redskins ran the clock out from there.
Overall, the Redskins put up some frighteningly paltry passing statistics (thanks to ESPN’s box score):
Washington QBs against Pittsburgh, 8/22/09:
C/A YDS YPA TD INT
C. Daniel 6/8 58 7.3 2 0
C. Brennan 3/5 42 8.4 0 1
T. Collins 5/9 39 4.3 0 1
J. Campbell 1/7 10 1.4 0 0
Team 15/29 137 4.7 2 2
Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 10:12 pm by bryan
After an alarming 23-0 shutout against the Baltimore Ravens last week, attention has turned towards the Washington Redskins’ defense and whether they’ll have to carry the offense this year.
The Washington Post released an article earlier this week detailing the depth on the Redskins’ defensive line. With free agent prize Albert Haynesworth and rookie Brian Orakpo impressing, “it has been the big guys on defense who more often have gotten the better of those on offense,” according to the Post .
The article in the Post details a number of players on the ‘Skins second line that could be difference makers if calamity strikes the first line during the season.
The Washington Times detailed the one-on-one skirmishes from Tuesday morning:
“Rookie linebacker Brian Orakpo, defensive tackles Albert Haynesworth, Cornelius Griffin, Kedric Golston and Lorenzo Alexander and defensive end Renaldo Wynn got the better of Chris Samuels, Derrick Dockery, Casey Rabach, Chad Rinehart and Jeremy Bridges.”
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 11:10 pm by bryan
Coach Jim Zorn? It might be time to go back to the drawing board this week.
The Redskins opened the 2009-2010 season on Thursday with a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, which they lost 23-0.
Starting QB Jason Campbell played two drives, going 3 for 6 for 38 yards. Both of his drives ended in punts.
Even more troubling? The Redskins did not cross the Ravens’ 30-yard line all night. The Redskins struggled to move the ball the entire night, only crossing midfield on three of their 12 drives.
ESPN quoted Campbell as saying, “We didn’t attack them just yet because we’re just getting into a rhythm, but I felt good,” he said. “I really felt comfortable. Having some experience helps a lot.”
No doubt Coach Zorn is grateful for a month more of preseason. It looks like the Redskins might need all the prep time they can get.
Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 10:03 pm by bryan
