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REDSKINS VS. COWBOYS Political Football
BY SEN. JOHN CORNYN It was a cold January day when hope
and change came to Washington. When the sun set over the Potomac that day, a changing of the guard took place that would leave a lasting imprint on our nation’s history. Washingtonians bore witness to the
departure of one leader, who seemed to welcome an escape from the spotlight for a return to more leisurely hobbies, and the arrival of another whose charisma and fresh approach had already inspired many across the country. Stepping into office, the Beltway’s new
WIN MCNAMEE/GETTY IMAGES
sheriff immediately went to work. He stocked his team with talent, wooed analysts with lofty promises and vowed an end to years of broken promises and unmet goals. Many Americans believed that this would be the dawn of a new era
Hard Hits
LAVAR ARRINGTON’S KEYMATCHUPS
Excerpts from
washingtonpost.com/hardhits Offense
How does a team rush
for so many yards but come away with no points? The Redskins can’t do that again this week. The
Cowboys are not world beaters right now, but they are playing some pretty food football—well, better than they were earlier in the year when they met the Redskins the first time around. The Cowboys are susceptible to an
aggressive downfield aerial attack. Anthony Armstrong has proven he can be a threat.We know SantanaMoss can do it, and he’s done it specifically against the Cowboys in years past. The Redskins need to take shots downfield and put pressure on this Cowboys secondary. The Eagles torched them on Sunday night. The Redskins need to try it as well. Newly installed as the starter,
quarterback Rex Grossman will be tested right away and the offensive line must provide solid running holes and passing pockets. The Cowboys’ defense will be poised
for a solid showing against the Redskins at home. The Redskins must be prepared to match the Cowboys’ initial intensity. Edge: Cowboys
Defense Their first big challenge
is to be strong up front and stop, or at least slow, the Cowboys’ running game. It will be important to keep
Dallas as one-dimensional as possible. With an injury depleted secondary, the Redskins will need as much help as possible from the linebackers and pass rush. If the defense can stop the run, Jason
Garrett and the Cowboys will turn to the pass. The Redskins’ pass rush has been very ineffective this year but if the defense can stop the run, it can focus more on coverage and pressure. There must be better pass coverage.
Defensive coordinator JimHaslett will need to be aggressive and creative with his pressures.He will also need to mix and disguise coverages to try to force a bad throw. The Redskins’ secondary doesn’t match up well with Dallas’s receiving corps athletically, so defensive backs will have to be physical when they can. Edge: Cowboys
Special Teams Weather conditions will
not play a part in this game, so place kicker Graham Gano will have a chance to get back on
track.Hunter
Smith, the holder, is gone and Gano will be kicking indoors so there will be no excuses for missing. Punting will need to be solid. Smith
was unable to provide punts with enough hang time so he was let go. They brought Sam Paulescu back.He will need to have a good game, because he is auditioning for a job next season. With Dez Bryant on the shelf for the remainder of the season I don’t feel the Cowboys have any other real return threats. Edge: Redskins
QB
2 6
REDSKINS’RESULTSANDSCHEDULE
SEPT. 12 Redskins 13, Cowboys 7
6.52 out of 10
SEPT. 19 Texans 30, Redskins 27
6.14 out of 10
SEPT. 26 Rams 30, Redskins 16
2.11 out of 10
OCT. 3 Redskins 17, Eagles 12
6.31 out of 10
OCT. 10 Redskins 16, Packers 13
6.40 out of 10
OCT. 17 Colts 27, Redskins 24
6.04 out of 10
OCT. 24 Redskins 17 Bears 14
5.47 out of 10
OCT. 31 Lions 37, Redskins 25
2.57 out of 10 FANAPPROVALRATING:Howdo you think the teamis doing? Cast your vote
atwashingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider
NOV. 15 Eagles 59, Redskins 28
1.43 out of 10
NOV. 21 Redskins 19, Titans 16
6.67 out of 10
NOV. 28 Vikings 17, Redskins 13
3.21 out of 10
DEC. 5 Giants31, Redskins7
1.57 out of 10
DEC. 12 Bucs 17, Redskins 16
2.81 out of 10
TODAY atDallas 1 p.m.
FOX
DEC. 26 at Jacksonville 1 p.m.
FOX
JAN. 2
N.Y.Giants 1 p.m.
FOX
The strong-side linebacker blitzes as well, opening up further opportunities for the quarterback, because the right tackle picks up that blitz after chipping the left defensive end. Because of this, the quarterback has the time needed to hit the target receiver in stride. The Redskins have had trouble creating big plays at times, but
that’s been as much about protection as it has the lack of elite targets. Shanahan will continue to find different ways to alter protection concepts against various defenses in order to free up the skill players he does have.
on
washingtonpost.com
MORE ONLINE: View an animated version of the breakdown, and see more plays.
washingtonpost.com/shanahanplaybook
1
The 4-3 defense brings a linebacker up to the strong-side edge, and the quarterback makes a protection call to the fullback by lifting his foot. The fullback motions to the blitz side. Because the fullback is in line to block the blitzing linebacker, the tight end can take a free release upfield. This takes the free safety away from the wideout, putting the speed receiver in one-on-one coverage as the deep safety waits downfield.
WR FB LB LB 6
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2010
MORE REDSKINS: Use our experimental tool, Redskins Game Center, to break down
every game this season. Go to
washingtonpost.com/gamecenter
Time: 1 p.m. Site: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Tex. Records: Washington 5-8; Dallas 4-9. TV: WTTG-5. Radio: WWXT (92.7 FM), WWXX (94.3 FM), WTEM (980 AM). Line: Cowboys by 7. Smarter stats: It’s worth looking at what the Cowboys have done on defense since Jason Garrett took over as head coach. Perhaps surprisingly, given Wade Phillips’s defensive acumen, the ’Boys moved up from 31st to 17th in efficiency against the pass, and 28th to 18th overall.
In bipartisan spirit, Texas politician extends a hand to Redskins fans — just not this Sunday Trading jabs is just as common at the
in our nation’s capital. Fast-forward to the present-day, and
my how things have changed. . . . Today,Washington’s chief faces relent-
less criticism from the same pundits who once swooned for him, even taking fire from his most passionate and loyal sup- porters. The Beltway press corps second- guesses every move made by this once captivating leader, whose approval num- bers continue to free fall. In contrast, his biggest rivals—a team
I proudly call my own — are making a comeback that is wowing even the most outspoken naysayers. After suffering tough losses and plenty of heat from the critics, we now find ourselves on a hot streak. In fact, we’re coming off a recent wave of major victories inNovember. Indeed,my team, the Dallas Cowboys,
is hungry and out to prove something to the American people. Whodidyouthink Iwastalkingabout?
Capitol as it is at FedEx Field, and each day that I serve the good folks of Texas here I try to find common ground with my colleagues. Even if it means reaching out to themost irrationalandstubbornof them all: Redskins fans. In that spirit, I want to wish safe
travels to any fans headed to Texas this Sunday. I hope you enjoy your stay at an awe-inspiring monument of human in- novation in the heart of God’s country. We call it home. And speaking of faith, while it is true that the roof of Cowboys Stadium no longer has a hole in it, I’m confident God is still able to watch his favorite team play. So in a true bipartisan gesture rarely
seen in our nation’s capital, let me reach across the field to wish the best of luck to Washington’s team. ButcomeSunday, countmeonthe side of America’s Team.
REDSKINSROSTER 1 Paulescu, Sam
THESHANAHANPLAYBOOKBYDOUGFARRAR Production cannot be evaluated without the right protection
Like every other offensive play-designer in the NFL, Mike Shanahan must constantly balance protection and production. We’ve explored many ways in which the Redskins’ offense does this, and this week, fullback motion is the focus. Against blitzing defenses, I-formation offenses can set the edge and negate additional pressure by pointing the blocking back in the right direction before the snap. With that addressed, playmakers are still in position to do what they do.
3 Beck, John 4 Gano, Graham
5 McNabb, Donovan 8 Grossman, Rex
13 Armstrong, Anthony 16 Banks, Brandon 18 Austin, Terrence 20 Harris, Macho 22 Rogers, Carlos 23 Hall, DeAngelo 24 Davis, James 25 Barnes, Kevin
31 Buchanon, Phillip 34 Westbrook, Byron 35 Williams, Keiland 36 Young, Darrel 37 Doughty, Reed 40 Brown, Andre 41 Moore, Kareem 45 Sellers, Mike 46 Torain, Ryan 47 Cooley, Chris
52 McIntosh, Rocky 54 Blades, H.B. 56 Riley, Perry
57 Sundberg, Nick 58 Cook, Erik
59 Fletcher, London 61 Rabach, Casey 63 Montgomery,Will 64 Golston, Kedric 66 Dockery, Derrick 71 Williams, Trent 74 Heyer, Stephon 75 Hicks, Artis
76 Bryant, Anthony 77 Brown, Jammal
WR
78 Lichtensteiger, Kory 82 Paulsen, Logan 86 Davis, Fred
87 Williams, Roydell 89 Moss, Santana 90 Jarmon, Jeremy 91 Holliday, Vonnie 93 Daniels, Phillip 94 Carriker, Adam 95 Wilson, Chris
96 Kemoeatu, Ma'ake 97 Alexander, Lorenzo 98 Orakpo, Brian 99 Carter, Andre TBD Clark, Jeremy
COWBOYSROSTER 1 McBriar, Mat
3 Kitna, Jon
7 McGee, Stephen 9 Romo, Tony
11 Williams, Roy E. 16 Holley, Jesse 17 Hurd, Sam
18 Buehler, David 19 Austin, Miles 20 Ball, Alan
21 Jenkins, Mike 23 Choice, Tashard 24 Barber, Marion 28 Jones, Felix
WR
32 Scandrick, Orlando 35 Miller, Lonyae 36 Sendejo, Andrew 37 McCann, Bryan 40 McCray, Danny 41 Newman, Terence 42 Church, Barry
43 Sensabaugh, Gerald 44 Gronkowski, Chris 50 Lee, Sean
51 Brooking, Keith 52 Williams, Leon
54 Cummings, Kenwin 56 James, Bradie 57 Butler, Victor
59 Williams, Brandon 63 Kosier, Kyle
64 Holland, Montrae 65 Gurode, Andre 66 Geathers, Clifton 67 Costa, Phil 68 Free, Doug
70 Davis, Leonard 71 Barron, Alex
72 Bowen, Stephen 75 Colombo, Marc 76 Young, Sam
78 Parnell, Jermey
80 Bennett, Martellus 82 Witten, Jason 83 Rucker, Martin 90 Ratliff, Jay
91 LaDouceur, L.P. 92 Brent, Josh
93 Spencer, Anthony 94 Ware, DeMarcus 97 Hatcher, Jason 99 Olshansky, Igor
TBD Johnson, Manuel P
QB K
QB QB
6-0 195 6-2 215 6-1 196 6-2 240 6-1 236
WR 5-11 182 WR
WR 5-11 S
CB
5-7 150 172
6-0 200 6-0 189
CB 5-10 192 RB CB CB
5-11 218 6-1 185 5-11 186
CB 5-10 204 RB FB S
RB S
FB RB TE LB LB LB LS
C/G LB C
C/G DE G
OT OT
G/T NT OT G
TE TE
WR
5-11 223 5-11 245 6-1 206 6-0 224 5-11 217 6-3 268 6-1 212 6-3 250 6-2 239 5-10 242 6-0 238 6-0 246 6-6 318 5-10 245 6-4 288 6-3 307 6-4 300 6-6 325 6-5 315 6-6 332 6-4 314 6-3 376 6-6 313 6-3 290 6-5 264 6-4 255 6-0
178
WR 5-10 209 DE DL DE DE LB NT LB LB LB DL
311 P
QB QB QB
6-0 218 6-2 230 6-3 222 6-2 223
WR 6-3 215 WR 6-2 211 WR 6-3 209 K
WR 6-2 215 FS
6-2 225 6-1 195
CB 5-10 200 RB 5-10 212 RB 5-11 218 RB 5-10 220 SS 5-10 194 RB DB
6-0 221 6-1 225
DB 5-10 190 DB
CB 5-10 193 SS SS FB LB
ILB ILB LB
ILB LB LB G G C
DE G
OT G T
DE T T
OT TE TE TE NT LS NT
OLB OLB DE DE
6-1 214 6-2 218
6-1 210 6-2 245 6-2 242 6-2 242 6-3 248 6-3 250 6-2 245 6-2 246 6-3 246 6-5 309 6-2 326 6-4 318 6-7 300 6-3 316 6-6 320 6-6 355 6-8 316 6-5 306 6-8 320 6-8 322 6-6 290 6-6 267 6-6 263 6-5 255 6-4 303 6-5 256 6-2 315 6-3 260 6-4 262 6-6 311 6-5 315
WR 5-11 200
6-3 286 6-5 285 6-5 302 6-6
6-4 247 6-5 364 6-1 272 6-4 255 6-4 257 6-3 295
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