GDT:Washington Redskins at Buffalo Bills 08/09/12

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[turtle28]

[Redskins24-7]

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[PARROTHEAD]

Did RG3 just say "Retarded" on TV?
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[21 ALL THE WAY]

[Woz]

Sorry guys that I wasn't around earlier. I had the game taped and was about an hour behind so I didn't want to spoil what was coming.

But I did take notes! For at least the first half.

Overall thoughts:
- Ugly game, but it's the preseason so who cares?
- The offense seems much more sluggish with Rex under center.
- That's not to say that I would cut him in favor of Cousins. Kirk showed some spark, but he also showed that he was a rookie.
- Cooley at FB ... not sure I feel about that. However, I'm a bit more sure that I wouldn't have him running up the gut like that again.

Running game: Early, it was putrid. However, we seemed to be going into the teeth of the Bills (our right, their left) more or less exclusively. I guess the idea was to throw Polumbus and Gettis into the fire. However, they seemed to settle down and Royster was able to get more yards after the third series or so. That fumble, however, probably put him the dog house. I would expect Helu to get the start next week to see what he can do.

While I realize Morris was running against 2nd and 3rd teamers, he just put a ton of pressure on Hightower to get back and showcase himself. The kid is a bowling ball. He's not going to blow the roof off, but he definitely is going to get yards.


Passing game: Surprisingly, the same offensive line was much better at pass blocking. Griffin seemed to have time and was able to survey the field. Well, after the first series. He locked onto Garcon on the first throw.

Speaking of Griffin, the biggest thing I noticed was that he didn't move much in the pocket at all. I guess Shanahan wanted to try to force him to stay put. He threw nice, catchable balls.

Perhaps this was my imagination, but the balls coming out of Rex's hands seemed to always be lasers, even when touch was needed. Griffin didn't lack for velocity, but they seemed to arrive "softer" for the receivers. Not sure if that makes sense, or if I was just seeing things.


Defense: I laughed when I saw the first play of the game for the Redskins defense included a missed holding call on Orakpo. Meet the new season, same as the old one. *sigh*

Josh Wilson had pretty good coverage most of the night, but the called back TD I think was his responsibility. The little bit I could see of the picture from backing it up, he maybe slipped? Had a couple of breakups.

Having Hall in the slot seemed to work. But the one time they had him on the outside, he was ten yards off the ball. Fitzpatrick threw a quick out that would have been 5-7 yards ... if not for a penalty.


Special teams: I am putting Sav Rocca on notice: you punt that poorly again and I'm calling for your job. If the Bills keep Moorman, I'd be very open to bringing in that Powell kid.

The Gano/Rackers question went unanswered. No real opportunities.

However, Brandon Banks got a double whammy tonight. Not only did he not make any impact as a wide receiver even when they were feeding him the ball, Richard Crawford looked to be a very good punt returner. While Mr. Sunshine (Theismann) kept harping how Banks wanted to be a receiver first and foremost, Crawford may have just taken his lunch money. Especially when Banks allowed the Bills to down it at the four.


Winners (non-Griffin department):
- Garcon: I think he just put a headlock on a starting position barring injury.
- Baker: While I didn't comment much on the second teamers, this kid had a great night. I cannot recall who said it, but keeping him and Neild would be great. However, if it came down to those two, I think Baker may have just won himself the nod. He does need a bigger jersey though since it was way too short.
- Morris: as I said above, he did himself a lot of favors this game. In thinking about it, to some degree he puts pressure on both Hightower and Young (especially with Cooley playing FB).
- Crawford: The freebie INT definitely helped along with the return game. However, the smarts on the INT return (got as much as he could get without putting the team at risk) definitely helped. I think he's secured himself a roster spot.
- Meriweather: Okay, I'll admit it. He looked good. Now, catching that INT would have definitely helped. However, he jumped the route by reading Fitzpatrick's eyes ... or what I guess the route should have been since there was no receiver in the vicinity.


Losers:
- Royster: It might not be his fault but he didn't look all that explosive. There was one play on the third drive where a big hole opened up the middle. All he needed to do was beat one guy, but he didn't. It's possible that it was the playcalling needed to test the right side of the line, but he didn't look good.
- Cousins: This is probably harsh, as he is a rookie. However, on a night when Grossman was horrific and the door was open to steal the #2 spot ... Cousins played like a rookie. He had a big chance to close it down, but he didn't. He did show glimmers of why the Shanahans took him in the 4th, but for now, he's #3 on the depth chart.
- Kehl: You're a backup LB. You need all the help you can get. The INT hits you in the hands and you drop it ... while it might not be his roster spot, getting that pick might have turned a visit with the Turk into making the 53.
- White: Lining up offsides is somewhat inexcusable. Look at the ball. Look at your body. Make sure your body isn't over the ball. Doing it twice is ridiculous. However, doing it on back-to-back plays ... if you wanted out of football, you could have just told the coaches.
- Replacement refs: Missed calls happen (the hold on the first play for the Bills was bad; the missed pass interference call against us when Cedric Griffin(?) just ran through the receiver while the ball was in the air was horrid; the missed roughing the passer call after Cousins threw the ball, took two steps and was then pulled down by the Bills defender was egregious). However, how in the world did you think that a ball that was downed four yards away from the end line was anything close to a touchback? Pathetic. The regular refs just got a decent hookup there. I worry that some guy is going to get seriously hurt because of the replacements. Late whistles didn't help their cause either.


Non-Redskins fantasy thoughts (yes, it's preseason, I know):
If Fred Jackson doesn't play much or looks to be out for awhile, I'd downgrade the Bills defense a bit. Yes, they've got great talent and that front four is quite impressive. However, I don't see how they sustain drives on offense without Jackson. As such, the defense is going to get run-down and tired. If Jackson is out, I wouldn't be surprised if the Bills were hot early, but were a middle of the road or worse defense by late October. Stevie Johnson will still probably get his catches, but I wouldn't want to count on that offense to make 10-12 play drives to give the D a breather.

Scott Chandler ... looks like a possible decent bye-week replacement at TE. Don't see much more than that right now, though.

[jb_gobills]

Good game guys, good luck this season.
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^Jamison.

Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?
When it's too tough for them, it's just right for us
Proud to be a Bills fan

[Woz]

[Woz]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/61385/observation-deck-redskins-bills

Interesting read ... sorry, jb, there's little to nothing about the Bills in that one.

[PARROTHEAD]

Nice writeup Woz.

But on RG. I dont think there was any forcing to stay put. Kyle was saying in a article I wish I could find now. That he told RG to do nothing but go out, have fun, just get use to the pro game. Dareus and Mario with that nasty line of the Bills. I dont think you force.
Plus the article said RG had been going against the 1st team D. And they never sent the wrs deep. And told the D they wernt so that they could crowd the line and get heavy after him.

Staff has just done a tremendous job in bringing him along and making sure hes prepared as possible week 1 I believe.

With Cousins. He really should have done better. I doubt hes been handled all to much differently than RG in situations in camp. Watching the last part of the GB game. BJ was a gunslinger that looked raw, but was connecting. Cousins at points looked confused, or unready for the speed of the game or something. Just didnt look poised to play at all.
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[bowilson11]

[THESKINSFAN21]

Trent had an excellent game. Man,that guy has crazy speed(for a man of his size). This is his year.
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mike23md on the sig

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Woz- I found it distressing that the Offense fell apart with Grossman at QB. Almost as if the WR's have now begun to play to Griffin's speed. Maybe it had a little bit to do with the exhorbitant looks Banks got proving he will never win a physical matchup (and Paul dropping passes etc), but I expected Grossman to atleast get something going since he has been so "crisp" in camp. And Cousins needs to step up when he gets an opportunity.

And I thought they learned before that running Cooley up the middle is not genius.

And Woz the first to say keep all 3 Cofield Neild Baker and cut Grossman was Redskins 24-7 I agreed with him lol --Baker looked great and we are seeing why NT was not a priority in the draft. I was shocked to see a big man moving like that in the middle.
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