The Washington Redskins (0-0) will host their Division rivals the New York Giants (0-0) on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks this Sunday at FedEx Field, kickoff is at 4:15 PM., to starts the Redskins 2011 regular season. The Redskins and Giants are just like the other 30 NFL teams and are coming off a unusual off-season with, an overloaded free agency market with a limited timeframe to sign them, and no OTAs or Mini Camps, due to the NFL lockout. The New York Giants finished the 2011 pre-season with a 2-2 records, beating the Bears 41-13 and the Patriots 18-17 and lost to the Panthers 20-10 and the Jets 17-3. The Redskins defeated the Steelers 16-3, the Colts 16-3 and the Buccaneers 29-24, and they lost to the Ravens 34-31.
The Redskins and New York Giants have played each other more than they have played any other team, with the Giants leading the series 92-62-4 and have won the last six meetings.
Redskins Rolling with Rex
Rex Grossman who has always been considered nothing more than a career backup, but Grossman was the first QB added to the roster when Mike Shanahan took over the Washington Redskins last off-season. Rex was under contract before the Redskins traded two draft picks for a 33 year old, six-time Pro Bowler and before Doug Dutch (a cornerback that is no longer in the league) for a guy with only seven NFL starts in four years. Donovan McNabb became the starter the day the trade was made and John Beck was reportedly handed the job by the media during the lockout because the press had nothing better to report from Redskins Park. McNabb was benched before the 2010 season ended and replaced by Grossman, Rex held on to the starting job by beating out John Beck during the shorten off-season. In Washington’s final 2010 regular season game Rex Grossman completed 26-of-44 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns, in a losing effort against the Giants 17-14.
The Redskins Continue to Rebuild
Just over half of the 53 players that were on the Washington Redskins opening day roster last season, made it on to this year’s roster including eight of eleven 2011 draft picks. The other three rookies made through waivers and added to the team’s practice squad. Coach Shanahan has replaced aging veterans on the decline, with younger players with potential to grow with the team. The average age of starting units in the 2010 opener was 30.7 years old and the average age of the projected starting unit for Sunday’s game is 27.8 years old. Last season the Redskins had eight players on the roster 33 years old or older; this year they only have three. In his second year as head coach and with the help of GM Bruce Allen the Redskins resigned many of their own free agents including Santana Moss (WR), Jammal Brown (T), H.B. Blades (LB), Phillip Buchanon (CB), Rex Grossman (QB), Kedric Golston (DT), Reed Doughty (S), and Rocky McIntosh (LB). They signed free agents that will fit the schemes they started installing last season like Oshiomogho Atogwe (FS), Josh Wilson (CB), Chris Chester (G), Sav Rocca (P), Stephen Bowen (DE), Barry Cofield (DT), Sean Locklear (T), Keyaron Fox (LB) and Donte' Stallworth (WR). They also make a couple of trade to get players they feel will help the team. They traded Vonnie Holiday and a 2012 draft pick for Tim Hightower who will be the opening day starting running back; they also picked up a starting wide receiver in Jabar Gaffney by trading Jeremy Jarmon. The Redskins will have eight new starters on the offensive side of the ball, and six on the defensive side. And the will also have a new punter.
The Redskins finally addressed their line issues, by signing Barry Cofield to play in the middle and Stephen Bowen at right end, the Redskins should be able to stop the run better than they did last year when they ranked 26th in NFL in Jim Haslett's 3-4 defense. On the other side of the ball, the Redskins hope to have Tim Hightower running behind an offensive line that has been upgraded with Chris Chester and Will Montgomery to fit Mike Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme, which was ranked 30th last season.
Week One Preview
NEWS, NOTES, and QUOTES
Rex Grossman will be the 11th quarterback to start an opener for the Redskins over the last 18 years. Grossman said: "To be the starting quarterback of the Washington Redskins is a huge thing," Grossman said. "I fully understand it. It's my goal to take it and run with it. It's a very exciting time for me and I feel great about it."
Strong safety LaRon Landry, who missed the final seven games of last season with an injured left Achilles, said that he won't play in Sunday's opener against the Giants after aggravating the right hamstring that sidelined him throughout preseason. "As of now, yeah it looks like I'm going to miss it," said Landry, explaining that the hamstring acted up after he ran Saturday and Monday.
Second-round draft choice Jarvis Jenkins, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the Aug. 25 preseason game at Baltimore, was in the locker room on crutches on Wednesday. "There wasn't no tissue damage or muscle damage, it was just the ACL, so it's gonna be a long process (four to six months), but I'll be all right," said Jenkins, who had surgery six days earlier. "I started (rehab) the day after the surgery so I'm full-speed ahead now."
LBs London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh will start their fifth straight openers for the Redskins, the most by anyone on Washington's defense. WR Santana Moss will be the only player to start Washington's last seven openers.
OLB Ryan Kerrigan will become Washington's fourth straight first-round draft pick to start an opener following Landry (2007), OLB Brian Orakpo (2009) and OT Trent Williams (2010). The Redskins didn't have first-round selections in 2006 or 2008.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE
Pos. Redskins
WR 89 Santana Moss
LT 71 Trent Williams
LG 78 Kory Lichtensteiger
C 63 Will Montgomery
RG 66 Chris Chester
RT 77 Jammal Brown
TE 47 Chris Cooley
WR 10 Jabar Gaffney
QB 8 Rex Grossman
FB 36 Darrel Young
RB 25 Tim Hightower
DEFENSE
Pos. Redskins
DE 94 Adam Carriker
NT/DE 96 Barry Cofield
DE/DT 72 Stephen Bowen
LB/DE 91 Ryan Kerrigan
LB 59 London Fletcher
LB 52 Rocky McIntosh
LB 98 Brian Orakpo
CB 23 DeAngelo Hall
CB 26 Josh Wilson
SS 37 Reed Doughty
FS 20 Oshiomogho Atogwe
SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos. Redskins
P 6 Sav Rocca
K 4 Graham Gano
H 6 Sav Rocca
LS 57 Nick Sundberg
KOR 16 Brandon Banks
PR 16 Brandon Banks
New York Giants Injuries
Justin Tuck
DE Prob Sun - Neck Tuck missed practice on Thursday due to a sore neck but is considered probable to play Sunday against the Redskins.
Lawrence Tynes
K Prob Sun - Quadricep Tynes is nursing a quadriceps injury but is expected to play in Sunday's season opener against the Redskins.
Ramses Barden
WR Out indefinitely - Ankle Barden has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list while recovering from an ankle injury. He will miss at least the first six weeks of the season.
Adam Koets
T Out indefinitely - Knee Koets has been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list while recovering from a knee injury. He will miss at least the first six weeks of the season.
Osi Umenyiora
DE Out Sun - Knee Umenyiora is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and will not play in their season opener against the Redskins on Sunday.
Prince Amukamara
CB Oct - Foot Amukamara fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. He's expected to have surgery and may be sidelined for up to two months.
Chris Cooley
TE Ques Sun - Knee Cooley is suffering from a knee injury and remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Ryan Torain
RB Early Oct - Wrist Torain received wrist surgery that will sideline him up to 7-10 weeks.
LaRon Landry
S Out Sun - Knee andry is suffering from hamstring and Achilles' injuries and has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Giants.
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