NFL 2011 Week 3 : Washington Redskins 5 Keys To Defeating The Hated Dallas Cowboys

Don't You Forget About Me

Tim Hightower rebounded from a mediocre first week as a Redskin to explode against the Arizona Cardinals, his former team, last week. He ran for 96 yards on 20 carries, most of which happened in the first half of the Redskins 22-21 victory.

His backup, rookie Roy Helu, piled up an additional 74 yards on just 10 attempts. Yet both did not get many touches in the second half as offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan seemed to call for a pass every down. Though Washington eked out a win, Shanahan's disregard for the effective running game hearkened back to 2010.

If was the first year he and his dad held jobs in the organization. There were quite a few games the team lost, like the their match up with the Indianapolis Colts, where he got obsessed with calling pass plays and it cost his team in the end.

The Dallas Cowboys have been stout at stopping the run for several years, so most teams have been attacking their dinged up secondary. Yet their offense relies on the pass so much, it could mean their defense spends much more time on the gridiron.

If this happens, then an effective run game will be needed even more. Especially in the fourth quarter, where most overworked defenses begin to tire. Hightower and Helu will need carries all game, not just a portion of it. The old adage that a good ground game gives the offense more options will certainly come into play if Shanahan decides to opt for a better offensive balance.
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No Mercy

Not only are two of the Cowboys best cornerbacks dealing with injury issues already, a third will not play at all because of an ankle problem. This could benefit Washington when quarterback Rex Grossman looks to pass.

Orlando Scandrick is out and his replacement, veteran Terence Newman, is playing in his first game this year because of a nagging groin injury. Grossman will probably test that groin a lot, as well as nickle back Alan Ball. The Redskins currently have the ninth best passing attack in the NFL, and four different wide receivers have receptions.

Santana Moss may be the best receiver Washington has, but Mike Jenkins may shadow him. Jenkins, who has a sore shoulder, is the best cornerback Dallas has right now. This means Anthony Armstrong and Jabar Gaffney will need to beat Newman and Ball.

Tight end Fred Davis has been amazing since coming into training camp in better shape. He is averaging a healthy 17.4 yards on 11 receptions, so Washington was afforded to let Chris Cooley fully recuperate from a knee injury. Cooley is now back, so he gives the Redskins another weapon.

Washington has had some early successes in the pass same this season, so this is a game to keep the momentum going. If Newman is still hobbled, it will draw safety help and give Davis or Cooley more chances to gouge Dallas for big chucks of yards after the catch.





No Miles To Run

Miles Davis is the best Cowboys receiver. He leads the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns this year. He has been vital to an offense with an inept ground game. Dallas averaged barely over two yards per attempt this season, and starting halfback Felix Jones is dealing with a shoulder issue.

The other starting wide receiver, Dez Bryant, has a thigh injury that has limited him to one game so far. This has made Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo rely heavily on Miles and Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten. Witten's 13 catches is one less than Davis.

If Bryant is still too hurt to be his usual dynamic self, this helps the Redskins because they have a few injuries in their defensive secondary. Josh Wilson and DeAngelo Hall are not at full health, but are expected to play. Strong safety LaRon Landry has yet to play this season, because of a hurt hamstring, and his is listed as questionable.

His replacement, Reed Doughty, is good against the run but mediocre versus the pass. Romo, now having to lean on Witten, will go after Doughty in a number of attempts that will exceed double digits. Even if Doughty is assigned to reserve tight ends Martellus Bennett and John Phillips, Romo will look to pick on him much like Eli Manning did two weeks ago.

If Dallas has wide receivers like Kevin Ogletree and Jesse Holly as their weapons, perhaps free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe can focus on Witten and give Romo a harder time. Since Romo is already dealing with broken ribs, the secondary shutting down the Cowboys passing attack will leave the quarterback more available to being hit by Washington's pass rushers.





Kicks Count

Dallas has two placekickers on their 2011 roster. One, rookie Dan Bailey, handles all of the short kicks. The other, David Buehler, is injured in the groin of his kicking leg and will try to play. Washington's diminutive return specialist Brandon Banks may get a shot a returning kickoffs if Buehler's injury shortens his kickoffs.

Considering Dallas may have the best punter in the NFL in Mat McBriar, it was unlikely Banks would get many opportunities whenever the Washington defense forced McBriar on the field. It will also be an uneasy situation for Dallas if Baily has to attempt anything longer than 50 yards, though Bailey did hit a critical 48-yard attempt last week.

Redskins kicker Graham Gano has yet to make a kick over 34 yards. He has missed twice already on attempts between 30 and 39 yards. If Washington struggles to get in the red zone against Dallas, they will have to rely on a player who has eight of his 13 career misses come from distances of 30 yards or more.




Remembering A Rivalry

Rivalries in the NFL today are harder to maintain because of free agency. Teams are no longer able to maintain the bulk of their roster like in the past, where they would develop their players and a stronger bond of unity would be an outcome.

Redskins Hall of Fame head coach George Allen taught his team to dislike the Cowboys, and the teams passionate fans followed suit. This came from the fact both Washington and Dallas dominated their conference when Allen joined the franchise in 1971.

The Redskins made the playoffs in five of Allen's first six seasons, which included a Super Bowl appearance. Dallas had made the postseason every season but two times between 1966 and 1985. They were the class of the NFC usually, once earning the nickname "America's Team."

Allen knew his team had to beat Dallas to achieve success, no small task with Hall of Famer Tom Landry as the head coach of the Cowboys. The 60 wins the Cowboys have in their meeting, out of 100 contests, is the most over any other NFL franchise. Washington, however, has beat them in both playoff games they met in.

Landry beat Allen eight times in the 15 games he faced Allen, but the Redskins great beat him in their only playoff game. That victory, a 26-3 drubbing, propelled Washington into their first ever Super Bowl and first NFL title game in 28 years.

Dallas took command in this series since the second game of the 1997 season. Washington has won just seven times in the last 27 meetings. The 2005 season has been the only time the Redskins won both games over that time.

Yet fans of both teams will admit the unpredictable often happens when these franchises battle. Good examples are the 1989 season, where the Cowboys lone victory that year came at the expense of the Redskins, and the 1991 season.

Washington had stormed out of the gates at an 11-0 record when Dallas came to town that year. After losing by three points, Washington's run at perfection ended. They rested their main players in the final game, giving them their only other defeat. Had they has beat Dallas, they stood a better chance of matching the 1972 Miami Dolphins for a truly perfect season.

Maybe the history of these franchises escapes most of those involved with both teams today, but the Redskins have legacy to remind. General manager Bruce Allen is the son of the Hall of Fame Redskins coach, so he certainly knows how important it is to beat Dallas. The Cowboys head coach is Jason Garrett, who was a backup quarterback with Dallas for eight years. He also understands this rivalry.

The Redskins are currently undefeated and alone on top of the NFC East. A loss here drops them into a tie with Dallas and the New York Giants. Washington already beat New York, so a victory over Dallas would give them two big wins within their own division, which is important at times when the playoffs approach. These two wins could give them enough in the percentage points department if there is a tie-breaker.

There may not be as much venom between these squads compared to the past, but there will be no love lost. With Hall adding fuel to the fire by being recorded by cameras saying he will try to tackle the injured Romo and Jones hard, players will come in fired up as the ghosts of legends egg them on to greatness.

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Redskins Quarterbacks Against The Pittsburgh Defense

Now that Donovan McNabb has been traded to the Minnesota Vikings, quarterback is a question mark for the Redskins. John Beck is the anointed starter who had a few starts in his 2007 rookie year and hasn't seen the field since.

Beck's 2011 training camp got off to a rough start, where he developed a sore throwing arm and had to be shut down a few days. Washington brought back veteran journeyman Rex Grossman, who gave up a defensive touchdown the first time he touched the ball last year. This did not stop him from recently declaring the Redskins would win the NFC East this year, where most pundits expect them to dwell at the bottom of the standings.

Pittsburgh is full of skilled defenders who have helped the team reach two of the last three Super Bowls. Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau, the innovator of the zone blitz, is 73-years young and has been a member of the NFL since 1959.

Called "Coach Dad" by his players, LeBeau is trusted and beloved by the Steelers defenders. He has a knack for putting players in the right positions to make plays, as well as unearth gems that other teams overlooked.

Whomever is behind center for the Redskins should expect a few blitzes and pressure while trying to unload the football. Beck will try to avoid meeting 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu in every way for the limited snaps the Pro Bowl strong safety will play for the Steelers.






Trench Battle

There are changes on both teams offensive lines that have each franchise headed in a youthful direction. Washington cut veteran center Casey Rabach and Pittsburgh released veteran tackle Max Starks.

Cameron Heyward, the son of the late Pro Bowl fullback Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, is Pittsburgh's first-round draft pick this year. He will get a good look to see how much he can push veterans Brett Keisal and Ziggy Hood at defensive end. Aaron Smith is a 35-year old defensive end who has been a Pro Bowler and Steelers defensive end for 13 seasons, but injuries have limited him to 11 games the past two years and he is now fighting to keep a job.

The Redskins have added veteran defensive linemen Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen, while drafting Jarvis Jenkins and Chris Nield. Lousy versus the run in 2010, Washington is trying to get better at that area this year. First round draft pick Ryan Kerrigan will get his first look as a linebacker after spending his collegiate career at defensive end, a similar move made by Redskins Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Orakpo in 2009.

Washington will have a few new faces on the offensive line, but new starting center Will Montgomery's first snaps will come against wily veteran nose tackle Casey Hampton. Marcus Gilbert and Kevin Williams are a pair of rookie blockers the Steelers plan to work hard to get their feet wet.






Redskins Many Wide Receivers Take On A Ton Of Steelers Defensive Backs

Pittsburgh has an idea of who will start in their defensive secondary this year, but improving the depth chart is their goal. They will have 15 defensive backs suited up for this game, possibly the only game some players will ever get into.

Washington has 11 wide receivers. Three were drafted and two veterans were signed as free agents. Yet the one layer who may be most under the microscope is fourth-year pro Malcolm Kelly. Kelly's best move since being drafted in the second round of the 2008 draft has been cashing an undeserved paycheck.

This could be the final games of his career, but Washington has hopes for the 6'4" Kelly because he is by far the biggest receiver on the team. The hope is that he can add a dimension to their attack, especially in the red zone.




Suisham's Revenge

Placekicker Shaun Suisham played for the Redskins from 2006 to 2009. He was replaced by Graham Gano after 12 games into 2009 despite the fact he had missed just three field goals. Gano missed eight field goals in 2010 and is now being challenged in camp by veteran Shayne Graham, who grew up in the same town as Redskins legend Gary Clark in Radford, Virginia.

Suisham played seven games for Pittsburgh last year after veteran Jeff Reed had an off year. Suisham missed just one kick in 15 attempts for the Steelers during their Super Bowl run. He is one of just three players in in NFL history to kick four field goals of 40 yards or longer in one game.





Washington Attempts To Find Their 2011 Running Backs

Drafting two halfbacks in 2011 is a sign Washington wants to improve this area. Trading for the versatile Tim Hightower hammers in that point even further.

While 2010 was a pleasant surprise by the effectiveness of Ryan Torain, he once again went down to injuries. He has been carrying the label of being injury-prone since college. Undrafted Keiland Williams was also a nice find in his rookie year, showing to be an effective receiver.

James Davis has had a disappointing NFL career since being drafted in 2009. He has also dealt with several injuries since college. Rookie Roy Helu is another halfback who struggled with injuries in college.

Rookie Evan Royster is the only Penn State running back with three 1,000+ yard seasons, a school that produced such legends as Hall of Famer Franco Harris, Lydell Mitchell, and 1973 Heisman Trophy winner John Cappelletti. He could be standing tall at the end if the competition goes down with injuries yet again.

While some expect Hightower to start this year, his reserves need to be settled. Williams has fullback experience, which improves his value. With the history of injuries most of the running backs in camp have, choosing the right reserves is both a gamble and critical to the success of the 2011 season.

Redskins Key To Victory Over The Colts Starts On The Ground

Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Rueben Droughns, Tatum Bell, Selvin Young, and Peyton Hillis.

These are the men who led Mike Shanahan's teams in rushing in his previous 16 years as a head coach. Years that saw him win 149 games, five division titles,and two Super Bowls. Just once has he had a team finish lower than third place in a division.

Besides Allen, a Hall of Famer, Jackson, Young, and Hillis, each player ran for over 1,000 yards at least once. Many who came from virtually nowhere with little expected from them.

Only Allen, Jackson, Portis, and Bell were drafted in the first two rounds. Droughns was a third rounder run out of Detroit before being picked up by Shanahan, and sat deep on the bench for two years before becoming a star. Gary was selected in the fourth round. Davis and Anderson were sixth round draft picks, while Hillis was picked up on the seventh. Young was not drafted at all.

Now it may be Ryan Torain's turn to shine, and become the 11th different player to lead a Shanahan team in rushing. He fits the model, having been drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 by Shanahan with the Denver Broncos.

Torain's ability has never been questioned, having run for 1,229 yards as a junior at Arizona State University. Durability has been his issue. He spent about half his senior year injured, and this theme followed him to the NFL.

After three non-descipt carries in the eight week of his rookie year, his first as a pro, Shanahan decided to start him in week nine. After getting 68 yards and a score on 12 carries, tore his ACL and did not return to the NFL until the third week of this season.

He failed to make the team out of training camp, but returned when Washington tired of the non-production from an ancient Larry Johnson. Since then, Torain has mostly been a nice surprise, even catching the first four balls of his career last week.

With Portis out possibly a month or more, Torain will be making his second career start. He will possibly be without the services of primary reserve Keiland Williams, a rookie, because of injury, thus putting the complete onus on Torain's shoulders. His backup will be Chad Simpson, signed just two weeks ago and has yet to play.

Their opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, has a tiny defensive line that is ranked 29th against the run. Washington, however, is hurting as well along the offensive line. Trent Williams, their first round pick this year, has already missed two games due to a knee injury. The left tackle hurt the same knee again last week, which took him out the game, so he is questionable Sunday. Right tackle Jammal Brown and left guard Kory Lichtensteiger are also listed as questionable with knee injuries.

The Redskins offensive line has struggled mightily this year, helping Washington have the 25th ranked rushing attack. If they can run the ball, it will slow down the pass rush of Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, and the Colts. After watching quarterback Donovan McNabb get run down by Clay Matthews III last week, the prospects of having two guys of that ability is worrisome.

McNabb will try to carry the seventh ranked passing attack again, this time against the 13th ranked Colts pass defense. Yet the real key to Washington winning this game may rest on the shoulders of Torain.

Most fans see the Redskins last ranked defense, that is 30th in pass defense, and wonder how many yards Peyton Manning will put up against him. Considering the Colts running backs are banged up, so he may have an abundance of opportunities to find out.

Washington has beat top quarterbacks like Tony Romo and Aaron Rodgers so far this year, but facing Manning is an entirely different test. Manning will look to spread the ball all over Fed Ex Field on Sunday night.

If that wasn't enough, the Redskins defense has linebacker Rocky McIntosh and safeties LaRon Landry, Kareem Moore, and Chris Horton listed as questionable, and no one has said for certain if nose tackle Albert Haynesworth will have returned from bereavement leave.

Keeping the ball out of the hands of a future Hall of Famer like Manning is critical. Statistically, he was off to the finest start of his legendary career until he had his worst game on 2011 last week. It was the first time this year he failed to toss a touchdown pass, yet his 11 still lead the league.

The best way for Washington to win and maintain their hold on first place in the NFC East is to ask something of Torain that hasn't really been requested of him since 2006. Carrying the ball effectively over 20 times and hopefully staying healthy the entire time.

Cleveland Rocks And LeBron James Career In Hollywood Has Ended

After clearing the vomit from my mouth after the sociopathic narcissistic "press conference" ESPN held to promote LeBron James, I felt it important to throw the city of Cleveland some love. Not only because it is tiresome watching ESPN attempt to shove their anointed heroes down our throats in hope of cashing in on faux reverence, but because Cavalier fans need only look back to 1980 and owner Ted Stepien to get a smile of chagrin.

Stepien tried to buy a winner, traded away first-round draft picks back to back years that led the NBA into implementing the "Stepien Rule" that disallows teams to trade away first round picks in consecutive seasons. The moves failed so badly, fans renamed the team the "Cadavers". They can now hope the same fate for the Miami Heat.

Let us remember some great memories in Cleveland professional football history, perhaps pro footballs first great dynasty. Arthur McBride partially made his fortune in the taxicab industry. After an unsuccessful attempt to buy the Cleveland Rams in the NFL, he joined the fledgling All-American Football Conference and established the Browns in Cleveland.

His first move was to hire Paul Brown as the head coach and general manager, naming the team after him, as McBride handled the financial aspects. He would keep injured players on the payroll by saying they drove his taxicabs, thus the "taxi squad" was invented. The team dominated the AAFC, winning the leagues championship each of the four years the league existed.

After the AAFC folded in 1949, they moved to the NFL and immediately won the 1950 championship. The Browns continued win championships in 1954, 1955, and 1964. They also reached the championship games from 1951 to 1953, but lost.

The last title winning team was led by Jim Brown, perhaps the greatest football player ever. Each team was coached by Paul Brown, with the exception of the '64 squad, and many consider him the greatest coach in football history. It adds to the lore of the franchise that the faces of the franchise were named Brown.

The Rams had some success themselves, being founded in Cleveland in 1936. They stayed until 1945, winning the championship that year while led by Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Waterfield. The team did not play in 1943, due to a shortage of players because of World War II. They were the first NFL team to suspend operations without merging with another team, and the only other team in NFL history to do this was the Browns after owner Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore in 1996. The Rams moved to Los Angeles after the 1945 title season.

Sixteen men who primarily played with the Browns are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the fourth largest total for a franchise in NFL history. Five more members also wore Brown jerseys for a short time. The Cleveland Rams have two members enshrined.

Here are a few of the legends:

Paul Brown, Coach, Browns 1946 - 1962
Otto Graham, Quarterback, Browns 1946 - 1955
Marion Motley, Fullback, Browns 1946 - 1953
Lou "The Toe" Groza, Kicker/ Tackle, Browns 1946 - 59, 1961 - 67
Dante Lavelli, End, 1946 - 1956
Bill Willis, Guard, Browns 1946 - 1953
Frank Gatski, Center, Browns 1946 - 1956
Len Ford, End, Browns 1950 - 1957
Mike McCormick, Tackle, 1954 - 1962
Jim Brown, Fullback, Browns 1957 - 1965
Gene Hickerson, Guard, Browns 1958 - 60, 1962 - 73
Leroy Kelly, Halfback, Browns 1964 - 1973
Paul Warfield, Receiver, Browns 1964 - 69, 1976-77
Ozzie Newsome, Tight End, Browns 1978 - 1990
Dan Reeves, Owner, Rams 1941 - 1971
Bob Waterfield, Quarterback, Rams 1945 - 1952

Basketball season is over, as is the era of Lebron James in Cleveland. Football is the main game in town anyways. Not just because of the hugely successful Ohio State University dominating college football for decades, but for the Cleveland Browns helping the NFL attain their riches of today.

From the AAFC and the Paul Brown Era, to the Jim Brown Era, to the Kardiac Kids, to the new Browns trying to achieve a winning program today, the Dawg Pound is as vivacious as ever. Now that Mike Holmgren has come into town, fans are optimistic the team can revive a team stagnate in mediocrity since the late 1980's.

Time moves on, as will the memory of the betrayal of James as he "takes his talents elsewhere" instead of having the heart to attempt to build his own legacy. An image tarnished forever for the perceived easy way out. Now is the time to buckle up the proverbial chin strap, get ready for some football, and hold dearly onto the memories of the truly great Cleveland legends.

Paul and Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Bob Feller, the list is long of legends yet those are the biggest names of all time for the area in the game of football. The NFL could pay better tribute by allowing the city to host a Super Bowl. Cleveland is the only NFL city to neither host a Super Bowl game nor appear in one. With the loss of the ESPN icon, perhaps the blow can be softened by the NFL? Even if neither happens, it is a city rich in tradition one certainly can hold with pride.