Since the bye week is almost at the half-way point, I thought I’d take a look at the things that were ‘good’ for the Redskins in the first half of 2009.

1) Albert Haynesworth – check last week’s blog to see what I think about Big Al and the way he’s played so far.

2) Andre Carter – In last week’s blog about Haynesworth, I mentioned the great season that Carter is having. So far Andre has 6.5 sacks, to go along with 34 tackles. He is consistently in the backfield disrupting the passer, and he has taken advantage of the inside pressure created by Haynesworth. He has also played much better against the run, and has 3 forced fumbles. If he can continue playing at his current level, he will have a good shot at the Pro Bowl.

3) London Fletcher – Speaking of Pro Bowls, it sure would be nice to see Fletcher finally make it to one. It’s criminal that he hasn’t already, but with 71 tackles going into week eight, he led all NFL players. As usual, Fletcher is quietly putting together another great season. Well, quiet in that he’s an unassuming man, but just ask Brian Westbrook if he plays quiet. London is the leader and heart and soul of the Redskins defense, and he leads by example. Sometimes it’s hard to notice how great a player is, when he’s so consistently great, but Fletcher is that kind of player, and has been again in 2009.

4) Brian Orakpo – Can you say real deal? This kid hasn’t even cut his teeth yet, and he’s hard for anyone to handle. There are many people that feel that having him play linebacker is a mistake, but there’s no denying that when he lines up with one hand down, he has shown that he is an absolute force. He has 3.5 sacks in his rookie season, and that with very minimal snaps at end rather than linebacker. It’s hard to move Orakpo to end when Carter is also playing so well, but the Redskins have to find more ways to get Orakpo up to the line. It’s hard for a Redskin fan to be patient waiting for a young defensive end to be used, when it’s so long since we had such a promising one. If the season continues to go South, it would be nice to see Brian get a longer look at end at some point, even if it means moving Carter to the other side. Carter isn’t really an ideal left end, so maybe platooning the two of them for a game or two, would allow the Redskins to let Orakpo get into a groove. He looks so hungry out there, that it’s hard to imagine that perpetual motor not coming into full effect and fully releasing the beast.

One more worthy Orakpo note – he may not be the best linebacker in the league, and have struggled slightly in coverage, but for a rookie to walk on to a starting NFL roster at a position that he doesn’t really play, is pretty darn amazing. The kid is a phenomenal athletic talent, and while others may have played slightly better than Orakpo in 2009, no Redskin has more up-side and future.

5) Chris Cooley – You can’t talk about who’s played well without mentioning Captain Chaos. He may be out for a while with the ankle injury, but he was putting together another good season. The Redskins continually fail to utilize him enough, but when they do, CC never disappoints – he’s one of the league’s very best tight ends.

6) Mike Williams – Surprised to see an offensive lineman on the list? Well I think it bears mentioning and acknowledging that Big Mike has actually done a very decent job stepping in after injuries to first Randy Thomas, and then Chris Samuels. Originally Williams got slotted in at guard where he did better than either of the other previous attempts (Chad Rinehart and Will Montgomery), and then when Samuels went down and Stephon Heyer moved to left tackle, Williams moved to right tackle. He has been effective in pass pro, and excellent in run blocking, and shown absolutely no signs of having not played football since 2005. He is a massive man, and has worked  himself into good football shape, and I think he has done a surprisingly bang up job. Kudos to Big Mike for the amazing dedication that it took to get back on a roster, let alone to play his way on to the field and play well.

7) Shaun Suisham – What can you possibly complain about when Suisham is perfect on the season? Obviously Shaun had a bad 2008, but it’s amazing to me that people just seemed to forget that his 2007 was the second best season EVER for a Redskins kicker in terms of accuracy. He is 9-for-9 on field goals in 2009, with a season long of 47 yards; it’s hard to do better than 100%, so its pretty safe to say that the Canadian kicker is having a good season.

8) Reed Doughty – While it was disappointing for many Redskin fans to see Chris Horton relegated to back-up status, give Doughty credit for playing his way back on to the starting roster. He has been steady and effective, and has 37 tackles so far in 2009.

9) Kedric Golston – The big defensive tackle continues to improve and contribute; he’s played very well along side of Big Al. Pretty good find in the 6th round.

Give yourself a break – think about some of the good things on the 2009 Redskins roster.

Here are the article’s that the Leftovers did not make them into:

THN Weekly with Andre Carter – Week 5

THN Weekly with Andre Carter – Week 6

Leftovers – Week 5:

THN: What was said at halftime that changed the mode and momentum of the team heading into the second half and who said it? Or was it more than one person saying it?

AC: Nothing was said. We all knew what had to be done. It’s not how you start but how you finish. We played hard and won the game.

THN: What was the mood of the team heading into halftime with the boos coming down from the fans and what was the mood heading into the locker room after coming back and heading in with the win when the game was over? How differently did the team feel?

AC: We didn’t focus on the boos. We can’t control the reactions of the crowd. Of course a person from the outside looking in would say “score more points”, etc. However, when we came in at halftime, our focus was to make adjustments on offense, defense and special teams. When we heard the cheers, it was a good feeling because we won.

THN: What did you do to change your approach for a successful second half? Did you even change anything at all?

AC: A few plays but I think the main thing was looking at the man next to you and having faith we were going to win.

THN: It seemed that watching the game, at least in the first half, that Josh Johnson was performing a lot better than expected but once the game was all said and done, he only passed for 106 yards, which is great for a defense and the secondary. What was the key for the defense holding him to such a small amount of yards?

AC: Watching film we knew he was going to scramble. The important part of our gameplan was to contain him in the pocket and not allow him to gain yardage. During passing situations we put pressure on him so he couldn’t complete many passes. Everyone was in sync on Sunday.

THN: The defense didn’t allow a 100-yard rusher on Sunday. Is that always something for the team to build off of heading into the next game or does the defense look for something else to stay positive about? In the grand scheme of things, how important is it for a defense to hold a rusher to under 100-yards?

AC: It was a blessing to stop the run under 100 yards. For any defense, that’s the main goal week end and week out. As for next week, in order to stop the run within those parameters, the defense needs to be on the same page. Know the call, who your opponent is man-on-man and 11 men swarming to the ball.

THN: Despite the occasional boos, the fans were loud on defense throughout the whole game, especially in crucial situations. How much of a factor did that have on the defense’s success and do you think if this was a road game, that the crowd factor would have made a difference in the outcome?

AC: If it was a road game, I think we would play hard regardless. Playing home is great because it confuses the calls of our opponents on offense.

THN: Do you feel the boos were necessary for the fans to get a point across to the team and did that inspire the team to play harder to get them to stop? Do you think that the team felt vindicated when the cheering from the fans increased as well as the performance from the team in the second half?

AC: ‘Til this day I don’t know why the fans booed. The fans are being fans. The only thing we can control is to be victorious. When we won, the sound of cheers was amazing.

THN: Jeremy Jarmon and Brian Orakpo got in on some plays yesterday and did well. Orakpo even lined up at end on at least one play that I saw. After one quarter of the season, how do the young guys on the line look? Will fans see Orakpo lining up in a three-point stance at end more often as the season progresses?

AC: The young guys on the line look great. They have a lot to learn but we are fortunate to have Jarmon and Orakpo contributing. I think the futre of Orakpo being in a three-point stance more often will be determined by Coach Blache.

THN: How do you feel Shaun Suisham did in place of Hunter Smith after Smith got hurt? Apparently Suisham hadn’t punted since high school.

AC: I was impressed with Suisham. Hey, somebody has to do it. I don’t know anyone on the team who can punt. Oh yeah, Cooley can but we will see what happens in the future.

THN: Who impressed you the most Sunday and why?

AC: I felt that Reed (Doughty) did a great job. He has had his ups and downs on and off the field and for him to contribute the way he did was remarkable.

THN: What does it say about the team (players, coaches, etc.) that considering all of the negative publicity as of late, that the guys can stay together and focused and work successfully as a team?

AC: In life everyone is a critic. Family, friends, associates, etc. The important thing is how you handle adversity. We have 16 games to do something amazing. Time in this business is short, so let’s take advantage of it before it runs out.

THN: The next two opponents (Carolina and Kansas City) have a combined record of 0-7. The following week it’s Philadelphia at home. Do you think these next two games are a great opportunity for the team to get back on track and get rolling before the real big games start?

AC: Every week is an opportunity to win but it doesn’t mean teams are going to hand a win over to us. We have to earn each play and each game.

Leftovers – Week 6:

THN: Run me through the sacks and forced fumble. How were you able to make those plays?

AC: The sack came off of having good timing of the QB’s cadence and knocking my opponents hands down before he could hold me. I turned the corner and stripped the ball as I tackled Carolina’s QB.

THN: What will it take for you to repeat your personal performance against the Panthers this Sunday at FedEx Field?

AC: I leave it in the hands of God in regards to playing against Kansas City. I will watch plenty of film and study my opponent. Feet for an offensive lineman are important as well as hands. When analyzing games you get an idea of how he plays. He might be aggressive, strong hands, is he passive, etc. Rushing the passer is similar to a game of chess. You have to set up your opponent then when the time comes attack him when he leasts expects it.

THN: How tough is it to stay focused on your goals when there is so much talk about the team and so many rumors, such as the head coaching job being available at the end of the year for guys such as Jon Gruden or Mike Shanahan? I know you guys try to block it out and focus but you all have to know and hear what’s going on on the outside.

AC: It’s not hard to stay focus on our objective. All rumors do is develop negativity towards the team. It’s important we prepare for our opponent and continue to stay driven.

THN: Albert Haynesworth continues to get hurt and take a little bit of time to get off the field. How serious are his injuries when he does that? Has anyone talked to him about his conditioning at all? It appears he’s proving Rams center Jason Brown’s assessment of him is correct and that he gets winded and seems to takes plays off.

AC: From what I know he has a few ailments that he has been treating and staying on top of during the season. He has been putting pressure in the middle and has helped us stop the run. As far as his conditioning is concerned, he runs hard to the ball and is physical. I feel that the center is wrong with that statement. I have had more tackles because of Albert.

THN: Jason Campbell was interviewed on the radio Monday and was asked about the Portis/Sellers situation and whether “Portis’ act was wearing thin with the rest of the team” and without saying yes or calling him out or throwing him under the bus, Jason essentially said that there are things with the team that shouldn’t have been let out in the media. If you listen to the interview, he basically says yes without saying it. Has Portis’ reputation with the team changed or morphed over the years?

AC: All I can say is that Portis is Portis. He is funny, passionate and says what’s on his mind. You have to know him to understand him. I feel like his behavior isn’t affecting the team moral. He says what’s on his mind whether or not the others agree or disagree His time with the Redskins, I think, isn’t running thin.

THN: This Sunday, it’s another underperforming team, this time the Kansas City Chiefs at home. The Skins are currently undefeated at home. What will it take to keep that homefield advantage going?

AC: A lot of pride and Redskin fans. Having fun at our home turf.

THN: The Chiefs played the Cowboys pretty tough on Sunday. What makes them dangerous?

AC: I haven’t watched film on them yet but from what I heard, their passing game is a threat. If (Matt) Cassel is in the pocket long enough he can create big plays for the offense.

Ok, I admit it. The homer in me is thrilled with the result today.

The Redskins got a W. The offense found a little of it’s mojo, albeit not until the second half, with both a rare Redzone touchdown, and an even rarer deep strike for a 59 yard touchdown. The defense played pretty tough, and got the plays when they needed them. They consistently got off the field on third down. Tackling was solid.

Reed Doughty showed why he got the start today. This is an interesting conundrum… Horton has not been playing poorly… it’s just that when Doughty has been in the game, he’s made the most of it. Today, as the starter, he was credited for 11 tackles (10 solo). That’s nearly 17% of the defensive plays today! Again, where the ball was, there was a good chance you could find #37 somewhere near. As a longtime fan of a previous # 37, Pat Fischer, I have to say the he’s doing a nice job of honoring the number.

Despite his limited playing time today, Chris Horton is doing what he can to make the argument that the starting job should be his. He recovered the fumble which sealed the Redskins victory.

Albert Haynesworth got 0 tackles… but he did a wonderful job of disrupting Tampa Bay’s blocking assignments, and contributed to the success our linebackers had in pursuit… ultimately, that is why he is here. He was in on most defensive snaps, and appeared to play like he had something to prove. Good to see.

Kudos also go to Shaun Suisham… he was “Johnny on the Spot” after the late loss of Hunter Smith in punting duties, due to a groin injury. His kickoffs were consistently deep, and his punts, while not works of art, did the job. That blocked PAT was not on him.

Chris Cooley continues to earn his paycheck as Washington‘s clutch receiver. He added 5 receptions (including 1 for a touchdown) today, to bring his season total to 21, for 254 yards. How can you not love this guy?

Clinton Portis gutted out a painful calf injury to get 98 yards on 25 carries (not quite 4 yards/carry). It was a gutsy performance.

The Redskins did not back into the win. They needed to earn it. Good for them.

Did you know that curmudgeons tend to be a tad on the cynical side? It’s true!

I remain very concerned about this offense. It consistently finds a way to play down to the level of the opposition, and allows them to remain in games that should be won by the middle of the 3rd quarter. Today was no different. The offense wasn’t offering much help at all to the Defense in the first half. That was one of the most disappointing performances we’ve seen in a while (ok, it was horrid). The Defense, while not playing “lights out” during the half, played a significant role in keeping the game in arm’s reach. Of course, some help from Tampa Bay’s hapless kicker, Mike Nugent, with 2 missed field goal attempts, didn’t hurt either.

Does anyone know if the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to NFL Cornerbacks with severe hand-eye coordination deficits? Would someone please declare Carlos Rogers to be officially in need of an equalizer?  Is there any player in the league (including offensive linemen) that has worse hands???  This guy needs a league waiver to be authorized to use stickum, and I mean right now. Lets slather him up, ala Lester Hayes, and see what happens. It’s really sad. That missed pick 6 at the end of the first half would have created a very different game (though, I’m sure, the Redskins would have figured out a way to keep the Bucs involved).

The play calling wasn’t quite as scary as it has been, but I don’t think I’d call it satisfactory. A run game that can go right, as well as left, would be nice.

Can anybody tell me why Anthony Aldridge is on the team? We seem to have this habit of panicking and bringing in running backs whom we never use. Is there a plan for him? I wouldn’t mind seeing what he can do.

While I’m on the subject, why is Antwaan Randle-El still returning punts? Sigh.

Finally… 6 first half points in the last 3 games. Is that right???

I can’t wait to see what creative game plan they devise to keep Carolina in the game.

Jeremy Jarmon forced a Clifton Smith fumble with less than a minute to go in the game, and Chris Horton recovered.

The Turning Point…
Jason Campbell and Santana Moss hooking up on a 59-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter; it put the Redskins ahead for the first time in the game.

Game Balls:
Offense – Clinton Portis
Defense – Reed Doughty

Key Statistic:
3 catches for 46 yards (17,12,17) for Chris Cooley, including a 17-yard touchdown reception, on the Redskin drive that got them back into the game at 10-9.

Noteworthy…
Cooley had 65 yards on 5 catches – 3 of them (including a touchdown) on one drive; he could easily be given the game’s offensive game ball… Jason Campbell turned the ball over 4 times himself, with three interceptions and a fumble… Campbell had as many turnovers (two) as he did completions in the first quarter… Justin Tryon had his best NFL game with 3 tackles and an assist, to go along with his first NFL sack… DeAngelo Hall caught his second interception of the season… Bucs kicker Mike Nugent missed two field goal tries in the first half

For some of the game’s interesting numbers and statistics, check out By the Numbers, THN’s 1200th exclusive article in the database.

Other Links:

NFL.com Video highlights of the game

NFL.com Gamebook Official Statistics

Redskins.com Game Overview

ESPN.com Photos

CNNSI Photos

THN: How has he (Albert Haynesworth) fit in with the team so far?

Reed: To be honest I haven’t talked to him on a personal level. We exchanged pleasantries and he is always around and working hard so it is great to see that.

THN: How does it feel to be back?

Reed: Feels like home. [I'm] excited to be back with the team.

THN: How would you grade the team’s off-season so far?

Reed: Very solid. We signed marquee players like Haynesworth and D-Hall but we also brought back some guys that can be role players and really help this team win a championship.

THN: What is your opinion in regards to the rules changes that were just made that deal with player safety?

Reed: As a defensive player it is really hard. I understand player safety but we are just out their doing our jobs and not trying to let the offense score. You can’t think about getting off the ground before sacking the QB or not using your forearm against a players head. It happens so fast. I think as long as you don’t spear somenone or go crown of helmet to helmet you are not being dirty. We don’t intentionally hurt anyone so it is difficult getting fined for things we feel we are paid to do. You can’t be “careful” or you’ll be out of a job.

Doughty, Cooley to be local celebrity judges at DC101’s annual Chili Cook-Off

Doughty Named Honorary Chairman of Kidney Walk on April 19th

Doughty, while battling a hearing deficiancy, also graced the cover of Hearing Loss Magazine last year.

PDF file of Doughty’s article

Hearing Loss Magazine’s Blog that displays the cover and the photo shoot

The Redskins’ inactive players are:

WR Malcolm Kelly
S Reed Doughty
DE Erasmus James
DE Rob Jackson
OL Chad Rinehart
S Justin Hamilton
OL Stephon Heyer