Baltimore Ravens Leave Washington Redskins in Ruins After Beltway Battle

The dust has settled and the organization looks depleted. Thank goodness it’s over.

Even as a preseason game with no implications of the Redskins’ future, a 23-3 home loss to the crosstown rival Baltimore Ravens is never fun to watch. And as the Ravens dragged our beloved Redskins up and down the field, they also managed to bang up a few of our players too. Here’s the good, the bad, and the mostly ugly…

Who Impressed?

The youngsters continue to show the most heart as they try and make the final 53-man roster. Brandon Banks had a nice punt return but it was unfortunately called back for holding, slight holding. Banks then got wide open on a cross route, later in the game, in which Sexy Rexy (Grossman) found him for a 29-yard gain.

Anthony Armstrong led the team with four catches for 82 yards, including a 45-yard bomb from McNabb on the team’s first drive that would have been a sure touchdown had the ball not been left short. Armstrong was then the target of a redzone passing touchdown attempt, but McNabb fired the ball well behind him.

Keiland Williams finished the game with just two rushes for six yards, but he hauled in three catches for 39 yards and made sure his jersey was all over the field in the second half. Williams also returned three kicks and posted a 23-yard average. Williams has decent power, a nice burst, and a good looking running style that tends to keep a low center of gravity.

Even more so than Williams, LaRon Landry took the field with a mission to be involved in every play on defense. Landry flew all over the field and hit absolutely anything that was moving with a football.

Although not faced with a situation in which he had to cover, Landry showed a hint of how his role may change in the new 3-4. Landry is expected to play closer to the line and head-hunt the ball carrier (his greatest attribute). Landry finished with six tackles and a forced fumble.

And although with limited opportunity, Devin Thomas finished the game with one catch for 14 yards and he showed a great jolt of speed on his lone kickoff return that went for 36 yards. He continues to make his case for the team but Armstrong and Banks aren’t making it easy.

Who Struggled?

On the team’s opening drive, the entire offensive line handled the Ravens pass-rush quite well, including rookie Trent Williams. But Williams didn’t seem to maintain that form throughout the rest of the game, even coming extremely close to allowing a safety. A learning curve is understandable, no worries with this one.

Larry Johnson received the start at running back, but he might have actually gone backwards on the depth chart after his performance. Johnson finished the game with a measly four yards on eight carries and a comical dropped passed when the team was backed up in their own endzone.

Johnson had such a disappointing performance that he requested to get some fourth quarter carries in the remaining two games because he feels he still needs to prove himself.

Usually fan-favorite Reed Doughty is a solid contributor with occasional big-hit ability, but he was none of the above on Saturday night. Doughty was bad in tackling, worthless in coverage, and he blended in quite well with the atrocious play of the second and third unit defensive players. Depending on Kareem Moore’s injury status, this isn’t good to see.

Albert Haynesworth obviously stunk up the joint. His lack of effort was so incredibly obvious, as were his golf ball-sized diamond earrings. Horrible attitude, doesn’t like football, can’t coach him. More news coming on Fat Albert…

Injuries

We didn’t mention the word "depleted" for nothin’. Here’s a quick diagnosis report on injured Redskins…

- Trent Williams: Right arm in sling with forearm injury, says he’ll be fine.

- Mike Sellers: Early knee injury has left him sore, but says that “he has no choice but to be fine.”

- Devin Thomas: Received a nice pop on his left shoulder during KO return, he’ll be fine.

- Donovan McNabb: Ankle taped 100 times over with ice, he says he’ll participate in next practice.

- Kareem Moore: Left the field with face of disgust, hopefully nothing more than a knee bruise.

Conclusion

Many consider the Baltimore Ravens a legitimate Super Bowl contending team in 2010. No one but die-hard fans even consider the Washington Redskins a playoff team, let alone a Super Bowl contender.

With that being said, let’s not be that surprised with a 23-3 final score. As much as we’d like to see our Redskins hang another 42 points on a much better opponent and go home a winner, we have to remember where each team is at this point.

Thanks to an intelligent and consistent front office, the Baltimore Ravens have been able to effectively build a team that competes year-in and year-out. The Redskins, on the other hand, have not. This season marks the first time in the past decade that the front office has been run by someone other than fantasy football owners. Let’s be patient.

And let’s also take note from our crosstown rival Baltimore Ravens. Successful organizations (Super Bowl contending teams) are not just made up of good first teams. They’re made of good first, second, third, and fourth teams. The Ravens have depth, the Redskins do not. That was a glaring sign in Saturday’s loss.