Stats can be deceiving. Looking at preseason stats really don’t tell us anything, or am I really missing something? Things just don’t add up.
– The Redskins starting quarterback Jason Campbell finished the preseason with 23-of-39 completions for 202 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His backup Todd Collins finished with 33-of-47 completions for 260 yards one TD and a pick. The sixth round pick who’s name escapes me right now finished the preseason with 36-of-53 completions for 411 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Shouldn’t these names or numbers be flip-flopped?
– The first-team offense played three series in the first quarter of the final game, running seven plays in all, picking up fourteen yards. Second year back Marcus Mason had 11 of those yards on three carries as he went on to finish the preseason as the team’s rushing leader with 317 yards on 66 carries. Across the board when you look at the team leaders as far as offensive statistics go during the 2008 preseason, you won’t find the name of a single starter from the 2007 roster. After drafting two wide receivers in the second round this past April, you would think one of them would have made an impact with Randle El skipping two games and Moss taking one off. In the end Billy McMullen and Maurice Mann are the top two receivers as the team prepares to take on the New York Giants. Mason, McMullen and Mann were all placed on waivers today as the team got down to 53 players on the active Roster
Here are some Defensive numbers to look at:
– 66 points in five preseason games, is the output of the Washington Redskins newly installed West Coast offense, and was not very good when you consider 20 other teams scored more points in only four games. Should that be something to worry about or should we worry about a defense that has carried this team for most of the past four years has yielded on average more points per game than all but three teams this preseason. Then again the same defense has as many or more sacks than every team other team this preseason but the Dolphins.
The Washington Redskins ended the 2008 preseason looking like training camp was just getting started. They also finished with a winning record (3-2) but you wouldn’t know it looking at the numbers.
Check out the Hog Wire on Wednesday to get all of the weekly notes and quotables.