Die Hard Sports Fan

1st Quarter

Very first impression: I love the fact that the New Orleans Saints allowed us to have the ball first. I know what Coach Sean Payton was thinking. He wanted to shut our offense down in the first possession. But, that didn’t happen. We got more first downs in the opening drive than we did the entire game last week against the New York Giants. I don’t what happened on the field goal attempt, but at the very least, we have improved.

As for the defense: Chris Horton!!! Wow. The kid got the start today over Reed Doughty, who called out sick today. Horton simply comes in and has a fumble recovery, and interception, and a key tackle. The rest of the squad played exceptional in my opinion. We’ve thus far shut down both Drew Brees and Reggie Bush. In fact, the Saints finished the quarter with zero yards rushing. It’s just one quarter, but I’m excited. Clearly, we’ve improved.

However, if I may, as I said last week, our running game still has vast room for improvement. I don’t like it.

2nd Quarter

Jason Taylor gets his first sack!!!

The euphoria didn’t last as we shot ourselves in the foot with a Antwaan Randle-El fumble on a punt return. That, in return, allowed the Saints to get their first score. On our ensuing possession, we once again failed to get a touchdown. And, just like a “young” team, we muffed our second field goal of the day. Still, it’s encouraging to not look as inept from the week before. It’s not enough, though. By any measure of the word, it’s definitely not enough.

Chris Cooley has shown up today. And, as I predicted, thus far he is outperforming Jeremy Shockey. Specifically, Cooley’s had a few catches and a good, tough run after the catch. The last offensive drive of the half by the Skins however, was puzzling. Not just to me, but it was also puzzling to the commentators of the game. Either Coach Jim Zorn is still trying to figure out the right play to call in the two-minute offense. Or, the offense is still struggling to execute the plays. Or maybe, it’s a little bit of both.

Jason Campbell looks so much better this week. But, he’s still holding on to the ball a bit too long on occassion. He should take notes from Brees. He is such a good QB. With less than a minute on the clock, Brees took the Saints down the field in order to kick a 49 yard field goal. Saints take the lead, again: 10-9.

Overall, this game, from the Redskins perspective, can be summed up thus far as lost opportunities. We’ve had a number of opportunities to score touchdowns. But, as it stands, we’re only three of five for field goals.

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In order to not just win the game on Sunday, but to place ourselves on the right track, we need to keep our hearts and minds on the following key areas of the game when the Saints come marching in.

1. Offensive line – Without a doubt, this is perhaps the most important key to the game this Sunday. If we can’t control the line of scrimmage, Jason Campbell will have a very long day. That said, Campbell needs to trust the education he’s been receiving in this offense and not hold on to the ball. Tempo, tempo, tempo!In addition, we need to help our QB by getting Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts through the running lane and into their secondary. If we do that, we have a chance to make yardage in chunks. Thus, Campbell will find it easier to settle down.
2. Guard against the big play – Drew Brees can strike his WR’s at anytime on the field. With Marques Colston out for this game, and the next four weeks, one of his weapons is former Redskins receiver David Patton. I don’t know what caused Patton to falter in his play while he was with us, but he seems to have figured it out.On the other side is Devery Henderson, who can flat out play ball. Believe. These two guys can make like difficult for either of our CB’s. Shawn Springs, Carlos Rogers, and Fred Smoot will be running up and down the field all day. That said, after the first half of the Giants game, we seemed to shut Plaxico Burress down. Whatever scheme Greg Blache called to make that happen, needs to be called again this week.
3. Get to the QB - To help the defensive secondary, we have got to get to Drew Brees, quick, fast, and in a hurry! We need Jason Taylor, Erasmus James, Andre Carter, and company to get penetration and put Brees on his behind. That is the most effective way to keep him from taking over a game.
4. Trim the Bush – I can’t emphasize this enough. It appears that over the course of the spring and summer, Sean Payton has come to realize what everyone else has known for some time. Reggie Bush, getting the ball in space with opportunities to make people miss, is an extremely scary concept to consider for a defense. I don’t know of anyone of our team that can run with Bush. He’s an amazing talent when used properly. And, based on what I saw last week, the Saints appear to get it. Our best defense against him is to keep him from getting the ball. Short of that, I hope our defense remembers that real basic concept that they teach in pee-wee ball; everyone run to the ball. No doubt, Bush is gonna get the ball. How we respond is the key.
5. Shadow Shockey – Jeremy Shockey is one of those guys who likes to have fun and runs his mouth. He’s a very good option for Drew Brees and if we’re not careful, he can keep the chains moving for the Saints all day.

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By: Vedder of the Die Hard Eagles blog.

After last week’s dismal offensive performance against the defending Super Bowl Champs, the New York Giants, it is hard to get motivated to discuss any Washington Redskins as potential starters for your fantasy football team.  It is arguable to claim, but last week did provide some hope with the output from RB Clinton Portis.  WR Santana Moss indeed did have a TD, but it was not a productive day for the team’s number one receiver.  With Washington down the entire game, it gave the passing game an opportunity to post better than average statistics and only Antwaan Randel El could be considered as benefiting from that opportunity but his numbers weren’t anything to make fantasy owners happy.  Whether it was the offensive game plan or the Giants stingy defense, TE Chris Cooley was a huge week 1 disappointment as he only hauled in one catch.

Going forward, this could be a good game for the Washington offense to prove their critics wrong.  The New Orleans Saints have a decent but inconsistent defense.  The run defense in particular is suspect.  To protect QB Jason Campbell and put him in the best position to succeed, I look for the head coach, Jim Zorn, to run the ball as much as possible.  I see Clinton Portis getting the majority of the carries, with RB Ladell Betts giving him some rest and changing up things a bit with his different style of running.  Portis is definitely worth starting this week versus the Saints and I look for him to benefit from playing against a suspect run defense as well as a game plan looking to keep the ball out of Campbell’s hands along with keeping the Saints high octane offense off the field as much as possible.

With a solid running game performed, it could open up things for Campbell and the passing game.  I expect Campbell to throw for around 200 yards and potentially one TD. So, I would look elsewhere for a fantasy football QB.  TE Chris Cooley should bounce back and have at least foru to five catches as I expect Zorn to make amends for last week and get Cooley back into the attack.  WRs Santana Moss and Antwaan Randel El might get lucky and break one for a score. But, I would not recommend making either one a starting receiver this week unless you are short on WR options.

On the other side of things, the Saints have one of the most interesting offenses in the NFL.  Led by QB Drew Brees, the offensive could provide fireworks at anytime.  Brees is a sure thing starter each week, especially against a questionable Redskins defense and secondary.  The Saints have a very good running game, but since it consists of multiple players (Bush, Thomas, McCallister etc), I would not recommend starting any Saints RBs this week unless you want to start Reggie Bush as your 2nd RB or a Flex player.  I would also start Bush as a RB if your league rewards points for receptions as he has the potential for 90-100 catches this year.  Top WR Marquis Colston should always be in your starting lineup even though he had a less than average game last week.  TE Jeremy Shockey is a top five TE in fantasy football. So if you have him, I believe he should be capable of a very good game, from a fantasy perspective. 

All other Saints offensive players should be on your bench.

It’s not an easy game to analyze. Clinton Portis, Drew Brees, and Marquis Colston are the only sure fire starters this week from this game. Both Cooley and Shockey should put up comparable numbers. Good luck.

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Based on what I saw today, the Saints are going to present a “unique” challenge for the Redskins defense. For the past two years, the Saints have been acting like Reggie Bush is a “regular” running back. Not!

Bush is best when he has the opportunity to use his speed and elusiveness. Today, the Saints lined him up all over the place. They allowed him to be both a running back, and a wide receiver. It reminded me quite a bit of Marshall Faulk.

Now, in my humble opinion, I don’t ever believe Bush can be compared to a real, feature running back. In fact, his rushing numbers were very pedestrian: 14 for 51 yards. But, he had 112 yards receiving, including a touchdown that spanned 42 yards and highlighted the moves and speed that made him famous at USC.

If the New Orleans Saints come to town and remember this formula, Greg Blache will need to cook up a special defensive scheme to hold Bush in check.

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