The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Two big plays don't make a season, but can they launch a team onto a different level? That's the big question around Redskin Park in the wake of the long touchdown passes from Mark Brunell to Santana Moss that turned a sure defeat at Dallas into a stunning 14-13 victory on Sept. 19.

The Redskins have had plenty time to mull that over given this past week's bye.

"It brings confidence," Brunell said of the late success at Dallas. "We know now that we have the ability go deep and make big plays. Not being able to get those big plays has been a big thing around here for a while. We feel good about the direction (in which) we're headed. (But) aside from a couple of series in (the Dallas) game, it was pretty sloppy so we have a couple of things to clean up. There's a lot of work to be done, but our confidence is high."

After managing just three field goals in the opening 9-7 victory over Chicago and rookie quarterback Kyle Orton, Washington had just 174 yards, nine first downs and no points when it took at its 24 with just 5:58 to go in Dallas. Less than 2 1/2 minutes later, the Redskins had 156 more yards, three more first downs and, most important, 14 more points.

But just as Clinton Portis scooted 64 yards to the end zone the first time he touched the ball as a Redskin in the 2004 opener and didn't have a run of more than 22 yards in his subsequent 342 carries, the Brunell-to-Moss bombs might never be repeated.


"We got those because of the coverage that we got," Brunell said. "We were very fortunate to get those two coverages. The safeties were sitting a little tight and we got behind them. If they're in a different coverage, we don't get those. Maybe we won't see that coverage as much anymore."

Receiver David Patten, a fellow veteran, agreed, saying, "We have to sustain drives (the Redskins have kept the ball for 10 plays on just three of their 20 possessions and just two of the 17 series before the big scores in Dallas generated more than 50 yards). Let's face it, you're not going to win too many games like that."

No you're not, but the threat of the long ball should open things up for Portis and the ground game.

"It always helps to complete long balls because (opponents) can't play eight men (in the box)," tight end Robert Royal said. "Hopefully that will take some pressure off us in the run game and we'll be able to click on all cylinders."

That efficiency remains very much in doubt. Portis had a fine opener (121 yards on 21 carries), but he was bottled up by Dallas (52 yards on 17 carries). Brunell was sacked five times, running Washington's season total to eight. For all his big plays, Moss has just nine catches and no teammate has more than six.

Most worrisome of all for coach Joe Gibbs, who is enshrined in Canton mostly because of his creative offensive mind, the Redskins have scored as many 20 points on offense in just two of 18 games since he came out of retirement last season.

SERIES HISTORY: 13th meeting. Redskins lead Seattle 8-4 and have won the past three meetings in 2001, 2002 and 2003. There hasn't been a real critical game between the teams which were in different conferences until 2002, but receiver Steve Largent, the Seahawks' only Hall of Famer, played his final game against Washington in 1989. The Redskins won 29-0.

NOTES, QUOTES

—When Pierson Prioleau went down during the Cowboys' first series in Week 2, Matt Bowen stepped in and it was like had never been away.

"I felt normal out there," said Bowen, who had five tackles in his first extensive action since he ripped up a knee in Week 5 last year. "It didn't feel like it was something I had never done before."

Bowen starred in last year's opening win over Tampa Bay with 12 tackles and two sacks. He had 25 tackles in the first four games, but then came the season-ending injury in punt coverage against Baltimore.

"Once you have a injury like that, there aren't many injuries that can be worse," he said. "You say to yourself, 'I've conquered one of the hardest things you can come back from. This won't set me back.' "

That's how Bowen dealt with missing time this preseason with a sprained knee and bruised chest as he was trying to get back into the swing of things.

"Some things you can't control," Bowen said. "It's football and sometimes you get hurt. You don't want to get hurt but if you sit there and baby yourself and whine, that won't do any good. You have to bounce back because you get knocked down in this league a lot and you have no choice but to get up.

"I don't know if (the injury) teaches you a lesson, but it does say, 'Hey, man, you're no different than anybody else.' Every football player thinks they're invincible and you almost have to think that way because it's a violent and physical game and if you think it's going to be easy and you're not going to get bumps and bruises, you're in the wrong business."

— Santana Moss and David Patten were supposed to be the new Nos. 1 and 1A of Washington's receiving corps this season. But two games into their Redskins debuts, Moss and Patten have diverged almost as much as they did in starting their careers as a first-round pick and an undrafted rookie, respectively.

While Moss was the NFC Player of the Week for his late heroics in Dallas on "Monday Night Football" last game out, Patten has been virtually invisible.

Although they were separated by just one catch and 28 yards while playing for the New York Jets and New England, respectively, last year and Patten had the more productive preseason this summer, Moss gained more yards on each of his fourth quarter touchdown catches against the Cowboys than Patten did in the first two games combined.

With just four catches for 31 yards, Patten ranks behind not only Moss but also H-back Chris ey and third wideout James Thrash.

"Hopefully, this week based on what they saw last week, they should shade Santana's way a little more and that should open up the back side for the old man," Patten said with a smile.

Patten is only 31, but teammates say he seems older than his years. Quarterback Mark Brunell, who's four years older, called Patten "grandpa" when describing his maturity.

While Patten has experienced the joy of winning three Super Bowls with the Patriots, he'll never forget working as a landscaper, an electrician's assistant and hauling 75-pound bags of coffee beans for a year before catching on with Albany of the Arena League in 1996. That real-world job experience put Patten's current limited role while earning $13 million in perspective.

"We all want to make the big catches," said Patten, whose 18.2-yard average was third in the NFL last season behind Denver's Ashley Lelie (20.1) and Moss (18.6). "We all want to have 100 yards. But I come from a team-oriented (background). The bottom line is winning. My time is coming. Whether it be this week or next week, it doesn't matter. For whatever reason, it just hasn't happened yet. You just have to maintain a positive attitude."

BY THE NUMBERS: 3-0 - Washington faced 20 teams at least twice from 1999-2004 but was 3-0 only against Seattle.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "You can have lots of chemistry as long as you buy them things: food, stuff. They love you." - Mark Brunell, joking about how a quarterback establishes chemistry with his blockers.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

PLAYER PERSONNEL NOTES

—K John Hall pulled a quadriceps on a kickoff in the third quarter of the Sept. 11 opener against Chicago. Hall hasn't practiced since although he did kick some balls during Wednesday's morning walkthrough. Coach Joe Gibbs said that Hall has to be 100 percent for a couple of weeks to get back on the field so undrafted rookie Nick Novak will fill in for a second straight game.

—CB Walt Harris, who strained his left calf in last Thursday's practice, wasn't in pads for a second straight session. If Harris can't play on Sunday, first-round draft pick Carlos Rogers will make his first start. Harris missed just two games the past four seasons.

—SS Pierson Prioleau strained a hamstring on the opening drive in Dallas on Sept. 19 and hasn't been on the field since. He's not expected to play against Seattle, yielding the starting job to Matt Bowen, who began 2004 as the starter before tearing an ACL in Week 5.

Prioleau hasn't missed a game since 2001.

—MLB Lemar Marshall strained a groin in the fourth quarter in Dallas but remained in the game. Marshall returned on Thursday after missing the previous three practices.

—LT Jon Jansen, who played against Chicago with a broken left thumb and at Dallas with two broken thumbs, returned on Thursday after missing the previous three practices.

GAME PLAN: The Redskins would like to think that their two late bombs to Moss that stunned the Cowboys will take defenders out of the box and open up more running room for Clinton Portis. The linebackers are the weak link of the improved Seattle defense.

Defensively, the Redskins will focus on keeping Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander under control. Julius Jones, Thomas Jones (twice), Brian Westbrook (twice), Tiki Barber (twice), Jerome Bettis, Ahman Green and Kevin Jones have all failed to reach 100 yards against Washington's defense during assistant head coach Gregg Williams' 18-game tenure. Alexander is averaging 119 yards so far this year.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander vs. Redskins MLB Lemar Marshall. If the Redskins are going to slow standout RB Alexander, who's on pace for 1,904 yards and 27 touchdowns, Marshall will have to be the lead dog. Washington has allowed just three opponents to rush for 100 yards in Gregg Williams' 18 games running the defense (Baltimore and Chicago in Weeks 5 and 6 last October and Pittsburgh in Week 12). Baltimore's Jamal Lewis (116 yards on 28 carries and Cincinnati's Rudi Johnson (102 on 31 carries last Nov. 14) are the only backs to reach 100 yards against Williams' defense.

Redskins WR Santana Moss vs. Seahawks CB Marcus Trufant. Moss, who leads the league with a 28.3-yard average on his nine catches, is the deep threat the Redskins have been missing for years. At 5-foot-11 and 199 pounds, Trufant can hit as shown by his team-leading 93 tackles last season. But can the third-year man keep up with the blazing Moss?

Seahawks RT Sean Locklear vs. Redskins RDE Renaldo Wynn. With Seahawks Pro Bowl LT Walter Jones sure to win his battle against RDE Phillip Daniels, a former teammate, veteran Wynn has to get the better of first-year starter Locklear for the Redskins to control the line of scrimmage.

INJURY IMPACT: The transition from Prioleau to Bowen at strong safety should be seamless especially since Bowen played most of the Dallas game.

If Hall can't kick, undrafted rookie Nick Novak will fill in again on placements and kickoffs. Novak kicked clutch extra points in Dallas but has yet to try a field goal.

If Harris can't play, not only will Rogers make his starting debut, but Ade Jimoh, burned more often than refried beans during his first two seasons, will be the nickel corner.

If Harris can't play, not only will Rogers make his starting debut, but Ade Jimoh, burned more often than refried beans during his first two seasons, will be the nickel corner.