Preseason
Redskins Run Over Miami
Relentless Ground Game, Stifling Defense Lead to Shutout: Redskins 17, Dolphins 0
By Nunyo Demasio
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 22, 2004; Page E01
MIAMI, Aug. 21 -- During Washington's first two preseason games, the run-heavy system that Coach Joe Gibbs hopes will lead the franchise to a Super Bowl during his return to the NFL lagged behind an undermanned offensive line. Clinton Portis, the linchpin of the offense, had shown few glimpses of the Pro Bowl tailback the Redskins acquired by trading Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey in March.
But at Pro Player Stadium Saturday night, Washington displayed its smash-mouth style, highlighted by Gibbs's famed counter trey running play, as the Redskins steamrolled the Miami Dolphins, 17-0.
Rookie safety Sean Taylor sparkled again behind Washington's blitz-happy defense as the former Miami Hurricane made his NFL starting debut playing in front of family and friends in his home town. And Mark Brunell gave his sharpest performance of the preseason to stay ahead of Patrick Ramsey in the quarterback competition. But the most noteworthy aspect of Washington's third preseason game was the Redskins awakening from their running slumber behind the offensive line.
Portis, who entered the game with nine carries for 29 yards in the preseason, played in only one series. But it didn't seem to matter what runner was in the backfield as the offensive line created gaping holes.
The performance was impressive for a unit that lost right tackle Jon Jansen to a season-ending injury in the NFL's preseason opener, a 20-17 Redskins victory over the Denver Broncos on Aug. 9. In that game, Washington rushed for only an average of 2.8 yards. The figure improved to 3.9 yards as Kenyatta Jones replaced Jansen in last week's 23-20 loss to the Carolina Panthers. After last week's game, Gibbs expressed concern over the team's inability to execute basic offensive plays.
Portis set the tone of Washington's first offensive possession, darting up the middle for a five-yard gain before being halted by left tackle Tim Bowen. On second and 10 from the Miami 40-yard line, Portis swept left behind left tackle Chris Samuels and broke a tackle for a 22-yard gain. In that series, Brunell handed off to Portis seven consecutive times, and the predictability didn't prevent Washington from marching down the field.
On third and goal from the Miami 1-yard line, all 72,112 spectators knew who would get the ball. Still, Portis jutted up the middle and leaped over a pile of bodies. A defender deflected Portis's dive, but not until the tailback fell into the end zone for a 7-0 Redskins lead.
Portis departed the game for good after the eight-play, 63-yard drive that spanned five minutes and 25 seconds. And Washington alternated tailbacks between John Simon and Rock Cartwright the rest of the way. The Redskins didn't hesitate to return to the run after the few times they were halted near the line of scrimmage.
Simon and Cartwright, who played fullback last season and has lost 20 pounds to convert to a tailback in Gibbs's offense, used the first half to audition for a spot on the roster as reserve tailbacks. In the first half, which ended with Washington leading 14-0, Simon turned into Brunell's favorite receiver, showing nice hands to go with shifty moves from the backfield.
On third and 10 from the Miami 27-yard line, Simon used his tailback moves to get free against middle linebacker Tony Bua for a 12-yard gain. After Simon rushed twice for a combined six yards, the Redskins landed on Miami's nine-yard line for a third and nine. Gibbs cleared the backfield, and Brunell whipped a passes to the elusive Chad Morton for an eight-yard gain.
On first and goal from the 1-yard line, Cartwright wriggled through a hole created by Samuels to get into the end zone for the Redskins second touchdown of the game. The 10-play, 43-yard drive was so methodical that Cartwright and his teammates barely celebrated.
After playing behind Andre Lott in the first two exhibitions, Taylor was promoted to the first defensive unit largely because of two splendid performances in the first two preseason games, intercepting two passes and forcing a fumble. Gregg Williams, Washington's assistant head coach for defense, had contemplated inserting Taylor early to see how he would fare against Miami's first team, particularly the speedy Chris Chambers, Miami's top receiver. But it was impossible to keep Taylor out the starting line up for long .
On Miami's first series, the Dolphins had the ball on the Washington 40-yard line for a third-and-four. Quarterback A.J. Feely completed a five-yard pass to Chambers. But Taylor, known for his vicious hits in college, rammed into Chambers from behind to jar the ball loose with help from cornerback Shawn Springs. Taylor recovered the ball on the Washington 35-yard line.
The Redskins faced a Dolphins offense that appears to be in shambles after Ricky Williams, one of the NFL's top tailbacks, announced his retirement last month. Williams's stunning decision was compounded by a season-ending knee injury to David Boston, the projected number one wideout. Miami is also undergoing a quarterback competition with Feeley, last night's starter, challenging Jay Fiedler, a starter over the past four seasons.
Saturday night Washington's defense turned the heat on Miami with constant blitzes that left the Dolphins quarterbacks confounded.
An injury bug has hindered the Redskins from meshing after an active off-season . New middle linebacker Mike Barrow hasn't played yet because of knee tendinitis, and hasn't practice in more than two weeks. Outside linebacker LaVar Arrington didn't make the trip to Miami because of a left-knee sprain, considered a minor injury that won't prevent him from practicing. And defensive end Phillip Daniels, a key addition on the defensive line, missed his third consecutive game with an abdominal strain.
Despite those hindrances, the defense, showing hints via blitzes of Williams creative, aggressive schemes, remained ahead of the offense, although on Saturday night the Washington's running game finally showed signs of life.
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