Some Hope From An "Expert"

csgunderson · Post by **csgunderson** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:36 pm

Washington 19 *Dallas 16 -- The Redskins are benefitting from a "soft" opening to the season, including this second-week matchup against Divisional rival Dallas.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/features/harmon_forecast

I must say that I agree. The Skins' D will cause many problems for Dallas' inferior O-line. Couple that with Dallas' shaky D, and we have an upset in the making.

Kentucky Fried Hog · Post by **Kentucky Fried Hog** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:38 pm

I'll take it.

King Cali Skin 2 · Post by **King Cali Skin 2** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:41 pm

Yea, lets kick four field goals this week, stupid. Score some dang TD's offense.

Maybe our only TD will come from our D, huh?

hatsOFF2gibbs · Post by **hatsOFF2gibbs** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:53 pm

If Brunell does not throw any INTs or fumbles, we have a chance. The game will once again be depended on our defense. If they can give us an EXTREMELY short field, CP may be able to hit the endzone. But the way I see it, Dallas is going to stack the line once again and harass Brunell until he makes the mistake. If we don't open up the passing game, we'll be doomed. No passing game = no CP = no points.

csgunderson · Post by **csgunderson** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:56 pm

Chicago stacked the line, but it didn't matter, Portis and Betts still had running room.

But I agree, if the Skins lose the turnover battle, they will not beat Dallas.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:58 pm

If the other team can't score, then they can't win. I think we have a good chance.

csgunderson · Post by **csgunderson** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 5:15 pm

Another take:

Why To Watch

This is a matchup of coaching brilliance between Bill Parcells, a future Hall of Famer, and Joe Gibbs, who already is enshrined in Canton. Gibbs' Redskins lost both games to Parcells' Cowboys last season, but by three points each time. After widespread offseason changes, these teams are very different from 2004 -- and they're looking for very different results.

On the field, it will be about the running backs. Clinton Portis leads the Redskins, and Julius Jones sets the stage for the Cowboys. . . .

Gibbs will go with Mark Brunell at quarterback and appears to have given up on Patrick Ramsey. Brunell is 35, and although he claims to have fresh legs he still has a lot of mileage. However, he finds the team's new offense to his liking. Watch how he handles his latest chance.

Redskins Keys For Success

1. Pressure QB Drew Bledsoe inside. Bledsoe is not mobile. Defensive linemen like playing against him, because they always know where he is going to be -- in the pocket. The Redskins will try to expose the weak interior of the Cowboys' offensive line by bringing pressure up the middle and collapsing the pocket around Bledsoe. Bledsoe is not one to scramble or throw an ill-advised pass; in fact, he takes too many sacks and should be better about getting rid of the ball.

2. Expose the right side of offensive line. Cowboys right tackle Rob Petitti is big and strong, but he's a rookie. The Redskins will attack him with blitzes and stunts involving end Renaldo Wynn, outside linebackers Warrick Holdman and LaVar Arrington and safety Sean Taylor.

3. TDs -- not field goals -- in the red zone. As obvious as this might seem, Washington was 31st in scoring last season and came away with three field goals last week against the Bears. With a new blocking scheme and upgrades along the offensive line, Portis should be able to run for scores inside the 20. H-back Chris Cool

ey has the height, speed and hands to be a red zone threat. The team also will look to wide receivers Santana Moss and David Patten.

Brunell did just enough to win against the Bears. He must do more to beat the Cowboys.

Cowboys Keys For Success

1. Get cohesive play from the offensive line. Left tackle Flozell Adams, left guard Larry Allen and right guard Marco Rivera are pro bowl players, but Rivera has injury concerns, center Al Johnson isn't a powerful blocker and Petitti is inexperienced. The line must jell quickly to protect Bledsoe in passing situations and to pave the way for Jones to develop offensive balance. But balance will be hard to come bay against Washington's strong and ever-attacking defense.

2. Use TE Jason Witten to establish the pass. The Redskins' run defense is too strong for the Cowboys to run against in a straight-up power game; Parcells knows the Skins will be looking for Jones and will crowd the box. Expect the Cowboys to use play-action early, looking to bait the aggressive Skins safeties, and use Witten as a main target off the ball fake in the deep middle.

3. Stop Portis. The Cowboys must continue to maintain the gap discipline that they showed last week against LaDainian Tomlinson and consistently stop Portis at the line. Washington will have no choice but to put the ball in the hands of QB Mark Brunell.

The Bottom Line

Washington will win a close, low-scoring game by pressuring Bledsoe and shutting down the Cowboys' running game. With Brunell at quarterback, the Redskins will limit mistakes on offense and establish a ground game against Dallas' 3-4 front.

Pick: Redskins 13, Cowboys 7

NOTE: Everyone else on TSN's staff is picking the 'Boys.

SkinsLaVar · Post by **SkinsLaVar** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 6:36 pm

Last year I think Ramsey played better against the Cows, better than Brunell.

ArizonaHOG · Post by **ArizonaHOG** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 6:40 pm

Look for a BIG special teams play, too. Check out the video on Redskins.com discussing the matchup. We need to be aware of trick plays because you know they will try one when nothing else works. Our DBs can't lose sight of their receivers when they appear to be running the ball. We got burned last year on a halfback pass.

Hail Victory (over Dallas)!!!

ejay183 · Post by **ejay183** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:00 pm

Well someone has to pick the underdog, so when they win, they look smart.

skinpride1 · Post by **skinpride1** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:15 pm

I think our big "D" will come through for us on monday night.Bledsoe will not handle the blitz pressure well(I'm hoping)Could be another low scoring game.Redskins13 Dallas 10.

ejay183 · Post by **ejay183** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:16 pm

I will take low scoring games every week, just as long as we win.

BringThePain! · Post by **BringThePain!** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:18 pm

SkinsLaVar wrote:Last year I think Ramsey played better against the Cows, better than Brunell.

that's what you get for thinking...

Ramsey - 158 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Brunell - 325 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

Punu · Post by **Punu** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 7:41 pm

every year I say we are gonna win... nope... not this year..
it'll be close... that's all... every year I get my hopes up... and every I end up with an extra 8 years of stress from 3 hours of football...

some of you will know what i'm doing here...

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 8:09 pm

ESPN has the Skins at 26 in their PowerRankings, and the Cowboys at 8.

Personally, I like those odds. . .

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:34 pm

FanfromAnnapolis wrote:ESPN has the Skins at 26 in their PowerRankings, and the Cowboys at 8.

Personally, I like those odds. . .

Yeah, ESPN also had Pittsburgh in the mid 20's at the beginning of last year, and then they miraculously ended up as their #1 ranked team prior to loosing to the Pats.

They don't have a clue. John Clayton??? Are you kidding me?? Predicting how an NFL season pans out in Week 1 is impossible to do to any certainty....trust me I have gambled on football about every way possible.

Pools
Betting the Line

Dang the oddsmakers are accurate. :evil:

MarcusBeNimble · Post by **MarcusBeNimble** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:48 am

HOLY COW! SOMEBODY CLAIMING TO BE AN EXPERT ACTUALLY BELIEVES IN US...

BEAT DALLAS!