Redskins Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down

Mark ButerbaughDec 28, 2009

THUMBS UP

I looked for some. I really did. I scoured the game action and the stats for a player or two deserving of a thumbs up after this latest atrocity against Redskins fans. But nothing came up. The easy go-to guy, MLB London Fletcher, made some nice tackles, but was victimized too frequently in pass coverage, clearly his greatest weakness. Nobody deserved a thumbs up after this game, apart from, perhaps, the aforementioned fans who streamed to and from the game with admirable loyalty. I never thought I’d write this, as a life-long Redskins fan and former season ticket holder, but the loyalty of us Redskins fans is becoming depressing. Our devotion to this team, which clearly does not deserve our flattering attentions, is beginning to get me down.

THUMBS DOWN

Offense: The offense was horrible, managing 218 yards of total offense only because the Cowboys played prevent defense on Washington’s last drive of the game. Jason Campbell had too little time to throw, as usual, but he was also a bit wild at times and didn’t anticipate some of the Cowboys blitzes properly. The running game did nothing, with poor blocking from the offensive line and a Cowboys defense stacked near the line of scrimmage to stuff the run and force quick passes. A team with Washington’s poor pass-blocking cannot afford to average 2.4 yards per carry, but that’s what they did. The running game couldn’t get reliable yards at any time, forcing Washington into obvious passing situations — which has led to disaster and defeat all season. RT Stephon Heyer was a turnstile and C Casey Rabach and the guards were consistentl outclassed by Cowboys interior linemen, particularly Ratliff. The wideouts failed to get open in most cases and big plays in the passing game were out of the question, as the team focused, as always on very short passes — the only kind the offensive line will permit them to throw.