SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2010
KLMNO
REDSKINS VS. COLTS Political Football
Daniels is an ardent Colts fan now, but his loyalties were once with the Redskins BY GOV.MITCH DANIELS First, you have to know that I spent
twodecades as an irrationally passionate Redskins fan. ImovedtoD.C. at the dawn of the Gibbs era and was there for the glory years.As young marrieds, about the only recreation Cheri and I had time for was Sundays at RFK, on some tickets we lucked into for a few years while their owners were raising kids. I perfected the system of driving our ’65VWas far down East Capitol Street as you could go and still find the very last free side-street parking spot. When we came home to Indiana, the
Colts were bad and the Redskins were still great, so I maintained dual citizen-
ship for a good while. Now I live and die with the Colts but keep a friendly eye on Washington, and twowins against Dallas make me as happy as anything not involving our home team. Except New England losing to anyone. Here in Indy, we fans are nervous. On
paper, this year’s team looked as good as anywe’ve seen.There were worries about a rebuilt offensive line, but we thought the defense might compensate for any offensive sputters. Five games in, things don’t feel right. The offense and defense have each had a couple good games, but not on the same day, unless you count the New York game. And it’s not clear how good a Giants team the Colts were beating, at least back inWeek 2. We’re spoiled rotten, after all. Seven
straight seasons of twelve wins or more will do that to you. And when, like last Sunday, Peyton throws even four or five balls maybe four or five inches high or wide, we panic. There’s some doubt and confusion out here. Onething is certain. Redskins fans will
see some up-tempo football this Sunday, not just defending Peyton’s no-huddle, no-catching-your-breath, no-mass-sub- stitutions offense.WhenWashington has the ball, the fastest defense in the league will close holes, run down ball carriers, and get on top of McNabb with a quick- ness you won’t see the rest of the year. Of course, that speed also means less
size, and a know-nothing fan like me wonders if that accounts for the injuries that hit the Colts every year.For instance,
they leftcampwith the best three safeties in the NFL, and two of them are already gone for most or all of the season. Receivers started getting injured in the first quarter of Game 1; there is a chance that the Redskins will be the first oppo- nent to face Peyton’s whole corps of targets. The three-point spread I see in today’s
paper feels about right, given the re- sourcefulness this year’s Redskins ap- pear to have developed. In what may be the NFL’s toughest division, the Colts really need this win. With six home games left, the road to 12 would be open once again. And I could go back to singinganoccasional verse of“Hail to the Redskins,” especially on Dec. 19th, when Washington plays Dallas again.
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels was director of the Office of Management and Budget under former president George W. Bush. But these days Peyton Manning is his commander in chief.
EZ RE 6
D5
REDSKINS INSIDER: Use our experimental tool, Redskins Game Center, to break down
every game this season. Go to
washingtonpost.com/gamecenter
Time: 8:20 p.m. Site: FedEx Field. Records: Colts 3-2; Redskins, 3-2. TV: WRC (Channel 4), WBAL (Channel 11) Radio: WWXT (92.7 FM), WWXX (94.3 FM), WTEM (980 AM) Line: Colts by 3. Smarter Stats: If this Indy team hopes to get back to the Super Bowl, it may have to follow the example of the 2006 team that won it all despite fielding the worst run defense of the modern era. Currently, only three teams have a worse run defense than the Colts, and that’s going to be a problem if Ryan Torain can get going.
SAM RICHE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gov.Mitch Daniels (R-Ind.) fondly remembers Redskins games atRFK.
Hard Hits
LAVAR ARRINGTON’S KEYMATCHUPS
Excerpts from voices.
washingtonpost.com/hardhits
Offense Facing PeytonManning,
it will be very important that the Redskins control the time of possession and keep him and the Colts’
offense on the sideline. The Redskins’ running game has been anemic. But the Colts aren’t known as a strong run- stopping defense. Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams need to show they can get the job done, and this is the perfect defense for them to do that. The Colts’ defense is known for
getting to the quarterback. Defensive end Dwight Freeney is one of the most difficult players to block.He is good at causing turnovers. The Redskins’ offensive line must find a way to limit the success of the Colts’ pass rush. The Redskins finally got more wide
receivers involved in the passing game against Green Bay. They will need to do the same thing on Sunday. The Redskins will have to play on a
very high level offensively again this week if they want to have a chance to beat a team withManning on it. I said this last week: The Redskins’ offense can’t count on the defense to keep these high-octane offenses under 20 points every week.Washington’s offense must help.
Advantage goes to the Redskins, if
they do these things. Defense
ReggieWayne and Dallas
Clark are very capable targets. AndManning has a couple more targets as well, so look for the Redskins to
be in nickel or dime packages. That means they frequently will have more players on the field that can cover rather than play the run. The Redskins held Aaron Rodgers in
check last Sunday, and even had a goal- line stand against the Packers that proved to be a pivotal moment in the game’s outcome. They will need to have the same type of performance against the Colts. Manning will get his yards, but the defense must limit the number of touchdowns and hold the Colts to field goal attempts. Aaron Rodgers was a great test and
preparation for the main event of quarterbacks, but Peyton is Peyton and a matureManning is always a difficult task. Because of that, advantage Colts.
Special Teams This Sunday against
Indianapolis, the goals of the kickoff and punt coverage teams remain the same: Keep the Colts
pinned deep in their territory. The Colts’ running game is suspect just like that of the Packers, soManning will have to throw more if the field is longer, giving the defense more field and opportunities to make plays. I know you’ve heard this, but it’s true:
Good kick coverage gives the defense a much better chance to get the Colts’ offense off the field. The Redskins will have a chance to win the battle of field position if they cover well. Brandon Banks has shown his
explosiveness with every return he gets. If he can break loose this weekend, it could be the difference in the game. Edge: Redskins.
2
The route combination is designed to stretch the defense and give the quarterback more options, and this is a concept Shanahan implements as well as anyone in the league. The spilt end runs a quick comeback, which takes the right cornerback out of deep coverage. If the corner continues to run downfield, it’s an easy
completion. The slot receiver runs a straight speed route, which takes the nickel defensive back out of the left seam. The flanker runs a short comeback, which makes him more of a last-ditch, bailout option.
FL TE SLOT SE 1 SS THESHANAHANPLAYBOOK The importance of the tight end in the West Coast offense
Mike Shanahan has always found ways to get his tight ends open in space. From Shannon Sharpe to Tony Scheffler, one of the coach’s strategies — especially against zone defenses in obvious passing situations — has been to run tight ends up the seam as a way to either deflect coverage to other receivers, or to benefit from it.
REDSKINSROSTER 2 Simpson, Chad 4 Gano, Graham
3 Beck, John
5 McNabb, Donovan 8 Grossman, Rex
13 Armstrong, Anthony 16 Banks, Brandon 17 Smith, Hunter 22 Rogers, Carlos 23 Hall, DeAngelo 25 Barnes, Kevin 26 Portis, Clinton 30 Landry, LaRon
DB
31 Buchanon, Phillip 34 Westbrook, Byron 35 Williams, Keiland 36 Young, Darrel 37 Doughty, Reed 41 Moore, Kareem 45 Sellers, Mike 46 Torain, Ryan 47 Cooley, Chris 48 Horton, Chris
SLOT
52 McIntosh, Rocky 54 Blades, H.B. 56 Riley, Perry
57 Sundberg, Nick 59 Fletcher, London 61 Rabach, Casey 63 Montgomery,Will 64 Golston, Kedric 66 Dockery, Derrick 71 Williams, Trent 74 Heyer, Stephon 75 Hicks, Artis
The defense starts with tight nickel coverage against a three-wide shotgun single-back set. The extra defensive back covers the right slot receiver, while the strong safety blitzes off the edge just as the ball is about to be snapped.
76 Bryant, Anthony 77 Brown, Jammal
78 Lichtensteiger, Kory 82 Paulsen, Logan 84 Galloway, Joey 86 Davis, Fred
87 Williams, Roydell 89 Moss, Santana 90 Jarmon, Jeremy 91 Holliday, Vonnie
92 Haynesworth, Albert 93 Daniels, Phillip 94 Carriker, Adam 95 Wilson, Chris
96 Kemoeatu, Ma'ake 97 Alexander, Lorenzo 98 Orakpo, Brian 99 Carter, Andre
COLTSROSTER 1 McAfee, Pat
4 Vinatieri, Adam 7 Painter, Curtis
11 Gonzalez, Anthony 15 White, Blair 17 Collie, Austin
18 Manning, Peyton 20 Tryon, Justin 21 Sanders, Bob
23 Townsend, Deshea 25 Powers, Jerraud 26 Hayden, Kelvin 27 Lacey, Jacob 29 Addai, Joseph 31 Brown, Donald 32 Hart, Mike
TE
37 King, Brandon 38 Newton, Mike 41 Bethea, Antoine 42 James, Javarris 43 Francisco, Aaron 44 Clark, Dallas 48 Snow, Justin 50 Wheeler, Philip 51 Angerer, Pat 52 Glenn, Cody 53 Conner, Kavell 55 Session, Clint 56 Hagler, Tyjuan 58 Brackett, Gary 61 Richard, Jamey 63 Saturday, Jeff
65 McClendon, Jacques 66 DeVan, Kyle 68 Foster, Eric 71 Diem, Ryan
3 6
REDSKINS’SCHEDULEANDRESULTS SEPT. 12
SEPT. 19
Redskins 13, Cowboys 7
6.52 out of 10 Texans 30,
Redskins 27 6.14 out of 10
SUNDAY Rams 30,
Redskins 16 2.11 out of 10
OCT. 3
Redskins 17, Eagles 12
6.31 out of 10
The two linebackers hand the tight end off in deep zone coverage, but the tight end is simply too fast for the second linebacker, and catches the deep pass for the touchdown. Shanahan has long used tight ends in more versatile roles. He likes to have blocking H-backs, and second tight ends at the line or in slot/flex positions as
receivers. Putting that kind of importance on the position has been a West Coast offense staple since Bill Wash perfected the system, and Shanahan holds true to the concept today.
onwashingtonpost.com
MORE ONLINE: View an animated version of the breakdown, and check back for live updates during today’s game vs. the Colts.
washingtonpost.com/shanahanplaybook
72 Linkenbach, Jeff 73 Thomas, Jaimie 74 Johnson, Charlie 78 Pollak, Mike 80 Moore, Kenny 81 Eldridge, Brody 84 Tamme, Jacob 85 Garcon, Pierre 87 Wayne, Reggie 90 Muir, Dan
91 Mathews, Ricardo 92 Hughes, Jerry 93 Freeney, Dwight 95 Moala, Fili
96 Dawson, Keyunta 98 Mathis, Robert 99 Johnson, Antonio
RB 5-9 216 QB 6-2 215 K 6-1 196 QB 6-2 240 QB 6-1 236 WR 5-11 182 WR 5-7 150 P 6-2 209 CB 6-0 189 CB 5-10 192 CB 6-1 185 RB 5-11 219 S 6-0 217 CB 5-11 186 CB 5-10 204 RB 5-11 223 FB 5-11 245 S
6-1 206
S 5-11 217 FB 6-3 268 RB 6-1 212 TE S
6-3 250 6-1 221
LB 6-2 239 LB 5-10 242 LB 6-0 238 LS
6-0 246
LB 5-10 245 C 6-4 288 C/G 6-3 307 DE 6-4 300 G 6-6 325 OT 6-5 315 OT 6-6 332 6-4 314
G/T
NT 6-3 376 OT 6-6 313 G 6-3 290 6-5 264
TE
WR 5-11 197 TE
6-4 255
WR 6-0 178 WR 5-10 209 DE 6-3 286 DL 6-5 285 DT
6-6 335
DE 6-5 302 DE 6-6 311 LB 6-4 247 NT 6-5 364 LB
6-1 272
LB 6-4 255 LB 6-4 257
P
6-1 220
K 6-0 202 QB 6-4 230 WR 6-0 193 WR 6-2 205 WR 6-0 200 QB 6-5 230 DB 5-9 185 DB 5-8 206 DB 5-10 190 DB 5-10 192 DB 6-0 195 DB 5-10 177 RB 5-11 214 RB 5-10 210 RB 5-9 206 DB 5-10 194 DB 5-10 197 DB 5-11 203 RB 6-0 215 DB 6-2 207 TE TE LB LB LB LB LB LB
6-3 252 6-3 240 6-2 240 6-0 235 6-0 240 6-0 242 6-0 235 6-0 236
LB 5-11 235 OG 6-5 295 C 6-2 295 OG 6-3 324 OG 6-2 306 DT OT OT
6-2 265 6-6 320 6-4 311
OG 6-4 330 OT
6-4 305
OG 6-3 301 WR 5-11 192 TE TE
6-5 265 6-3 236
WR 6-0 210 WR 6-0 198 DT DT
6-2 312 6-3 294
DE 6-2 255 DE DT
DE 6-3 254 DE 6-2 245 DT
6-1 268 6-4 303
6-3 310
OCT. 10
Redskins 16, Green Bay 13 6.40 out of 10
OCT. 17
Indianapolis 8:20 p.m. NBC
h FAN APPROVAL RATING: How do you think the team is doing? Cast your vote during and immediately after today’s game at
washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider.
OCT. 24
at Chicago 1 p.m. FOX
OCT. 31
at Detroit 1 p.m. FOX
NOV. 15
Philadelphia 8:30 p.m. ESPN
NOV. 21
at Tennessee 1 p.m. FOX
NOV. 28
Minnesota 1 p.m. FOX
DEC. 5
at N.Y. Giants 1 p.m. FOX
DEC. 12
Tampa Bay 1 p.m. FOX
DEC. 19
at Dallas 1 p.m. FOX
DEC. 26
at Jacksonville 1 p.m. FOX
JAN. 2
N.Y. Giants 1 p.m. FOX
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