Week One with the Washington Redskins: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

OK, so it's been a few days since the Washington Redskins disappointing loss to the New York Giants to start the 2009 NFL season. We've had a few days to digest that Sloppy Joe of a loss. It's now out of our system, and we can pick through the pieces to see what was good, what was bad and what was downright ugly.

Let's start with ugly—there certainly was a lot of it.

The Ugly

With the Redskins defense running out on the field for the first time against the Giants offense, many Washington fans expected a quick three-and-out, a punt, and great field position for quarterback Jason Campbell and the Redskins offense. And why would we expect anything different?

A defense ranked fourth in the league last year, bolstered by the additions of the dynamic sack potential of Albert Haynesworth and rookie Brian Orakpo, would create pressure on Eli Manning.

A quick three-and-out, right?

A little over seven minutes later the Redskins defense ran off the field—down by three.

The Redskins second play from scrimmage may have been the first glimpse of the intense pressure to win that Coach Jim Zorn faces—the play reeked of desperation. Antwaan Randle El sacked for a big loss (When was the last time Randle El got sacked as a quarterback? Indiana!?).

What made the play all the more disheartening was the result of the Redskins first offense play: a 34-yard scamper by Clinton Portis. The second play should have been another carry for the Redskins All-Pro running back.

The ugliness continued in the second quarter when second-year receiver Mario Manningham victimized the Redskins secondary by breaking numerous tackles on the way to the end zone for his first career touchdown and a Giants 10-0 lead. DeAngelo Hall, signed in the off season to be the linchpin of a scary secondary, was tossed aside in a futile attempt at a tackle.

A gruesome one-handed snatch and jerk of a fumble-causing sack by Andre Carter appeared to give the Redskins the Botox shot of momentum they needed to generate some points. But another third-and-long by the offense put Campbell in the crosshairs of the Giants healthy and dangerous defensive line.

Umenyiora’s sack and fumble return for a touchdown put the Redskins in a familiar position: down early.

You know, I want to stop focusing on the ugly for a moment. I know there is much more to cover, but why should I continue rehashing this mess?

I realize it was the first game of the season, the Skins are on the road, in their division, against a playoff team from a year ago. So it wasn’t going to be an easy task. And divisional games in the NFC East are usually always slugfests (ask Santana, he’ll tell ya).

So what good came from the win, if any?

The Good

Clinton Portis gaining 34 yards on the first carry of the season.

Antwaan Randle El working the slot for big gains.

Hunter Smith with just enough foot speed to race into the end zone for his second career touchdown (Another desperate move by Zorn, but it showed some moxie.  I like moxie). 

London Fletcher getting involved in 18 tackles. Thanks in no small part to Haynesworth. Could this be the year that Fletcher finally gets the recognition he deserves and earns his first Pro Bowl appearance? Hopefully.

Ray Lewis should know a thing or two about getting to Pro Bowls with big, beefy defensive tackles picking up blockers…And I never liked Siragusa much, a flopper and all.

Chris Cooley finding the end zone in the first game of the year, AND having an actual quarterback throwing that touchdown pass to him.

The Redskins defense.  Despite a losing effort, the defense held the Giants to 16 points, a small enough amount for any average NFL offense to cover, and created two turnovers.  The Giants did commit quite a few third downs into first downs to keep drives alive, so that's an area for improvement.

If the Redskins are serious about postseason play, they need to beat the Rams.  They need a statement game. That statement starts with the offense.  They must score over 30 points.