Redskins fall in OT 37-31 with the Rams
The Redskins hung tough with the Rams but fell in OT. Jason Campbell was just managing the game yesterday and he did allright as he completed 13 of 26 passes for 160 yards and a TD. LeDell Betts had another fantastic game with 29 carries for 129 yards (4.4 ypc) and 2 TDs. He also grabbed 2 passes for 35 yards. TJ Duckett carried the ball 5 times for 18 yards and a TD (3.6 ypc). TE Chris Cooley led the way for the receivers with 7 catches for 77 yards and a TD.
DB Vernon Fox led the Redskins with 16 tackles. Rookie LB Rocky McIntosh started his first NFL game and finished with 10 tackles. The rest of the Redskins defense didn’t do too much at all. The Rams ran the ball 39 times for 197 yards (5.1 ypc). The Rams also completed 25 of 38 passes for 382 net yards passing.
The Redskins fell to 5-10 on the season after this hard-fought loss.
I don’t know who wrote this, but if you think that Vernon Fox actually “did something”, your wrong. When your safety has the most tackles on the team, that’s bad news! It means your line and your linebackers stink, and you’re gonna lose bigtime.
Here’s what I think the ‘Skins should do:
Trade Sean Taylor for a middle linebacker who can stop the run and a defensive end who can get to the quarterback so we don’t need to blitz all the time to no avail. I said this before the Saints game and I’ll say it again. If he can’t read an offense, what good is he? We should break the record for the team that blitzes the least amount of times gets the most sacks.
And like I said, our linebackers stink, and so goes the defense. With the linebackers we have, it’s no wonder our blitz stinks and we can’t stop the run. And those of you who think the loss of Levar Arrington or Antonio Pierce was such a tragedy, well, I have one thing to say to those two turncoats– you stink even worse on the Giants!! If Pierce is such a great leader, how come Carl Banks himself said last night– “the Giants have no character.” If all it took was some dough to make those two and the others leave the Redskins, they can stuff it. We don’t need traitors on our team.
The other option is to play Sean Taylor at linebacker. I think he’d make an awesome middle linebacker– he’d be light weight at his position like Jack Lambert, but that guy could hit, just like Taylor. And he’d have the speed to cover receivers behind the line of scrimmage, and the same intimidation factor.
In any case, linebackers are the key to stopping the run. They’re the only players on the team who don’t get any help from anyone on defense, so they have to think on their feet. Ours just don’t know how to think, or hit.
So, Mr. Gibbs, if you really have “control” of the team like it says in your contract, make these changes, or I guarantee you, you will never see another Superbowl ring again.
You are right Gary. You never want your safeties to lead the team in tackles. I don’t see much talent in any unit on the defense for the Redskins. The problem is that is will take some time to rebuild the whole defense. The off-season should be focused on getting the defense better in both the draft and free-agency.