As Sunday approaches, the Skins share thoughts on playing their opponent, the New York Giants. Game time at 4:15 pm.
Coach Zorn On the Giants' Defense
“They just make it hard. They come from all over the place. When you watch them on video, every single defensive back, every single linebacker, all their defensive lineman, are either coming or going. They do a nice job when they want to do it and how they want to do it. It creates problems. We are going to do our best to pick some of that stuff up. I believe that, just based on a play that we have on and what they are doing, we can be in the right protection and get it or be in a really poor protection and it gets us. Our quarterback is pretty nifty with the ball. It may look like we are throwing the ball away but it may be because of the protection.”
Zorn On the Redskins' O-Line.
“I think we are healthier. If you look at Chris Samuels especially, last year I was surprised at it because he was really sore at the beginning of the year. Right now I think he is feeling good about the position that he is in. [Derrick] Dockery is probably healthier than Pete [Kendall] was last year. Maybe not at this particular time, but you have a healthier guy there. Randy is healthier because he had a bunch of issues taken care of in the offseason. Stephon Heyer, in my mind, is that much better because of all the experience that he had last year and in this training camp. I have to think that our offensive line, with Casey Rabach in there running it, is in a better situation than we were last year.”
On Campbell Having Time To Throw The Ball
“I just think it is the right mix. Some of it depends on how the game is going; how we are moving the ball. I think our run game will dictate some of that because if we can run the ball we have a little more flexibility on what do to and how to call it. If we are forced to throw then we have to protect.”
Coach Blatche Talks Skins and Strategy
On How Much Of A ‘Danger of the Unknown’ There is With the Giants’ Wideouts
"It’s always a danger. If guys don’t take a guy as seriously as they should, all it takes is one step, one time, to cost you a football game. We’ve got to be very, very good in our technique, we’ve got to be very, very good with our eyes and not get lazy, and we’ve got to be consistent – we can’t afford to give up the big play because this is going to be one of those heavyweight-type fights where one punch or one play could be the difference.”
On Rookie Linebacker/Defensive End Brian Orakpo
“He’s done a real good job. I’m certain they’re going to test him and challenge him to see if he’s ready to play, but I think he’s up to the task. I think they might be surprised what they see if they go after him.”
On What Defensive, Tackle Albert Haynesworth Adds to the Redskins' Defense
“Well, he’s a powerful man and he is a real force in a football game. When he cranks it up, he’s as good as I’ve seen. What we’re going to see when we get out there on Sunday is if he can crank it up all day for us. He’s a fine person. He’s been a good teammate. He’s been very, very easy to coach and work with. I’m excited to have the opportunity to have him. I’m glad he’s on our side, I’ll put it that way. We’re looking forward to having him out there. He’s got exceptional size and strength. He’s got extremely good quickness for a man with that size and strength. He’s got a good sense and good feel for the game of football. He’s got some good things in his pass rush where, as big and strong as he is, he’s really nimble. He can get small and get his hips turned and get his shoulders dipped. He can do all the things a smaller guy can do, but he can do it with a big, powerful body.”
On What Can Be Done To Combat the Giants’ Physical Running Game
“Yeah, you put eight in the box. We try and make this game more complicated than it is. Each guy’s got to win. Each guy’s got to fit where he fits. Guys stand in front of you and try to make this sound like it’s rocket science. It’s not. It still comes down to blocking and tackling. It still comes down to guys executing and guys playing together. And if we do that, we give ourselves a chance of winning. But there are no magic schemes, unless you know where to come up with more than 11. If we’ve got a way to get an invisible 12th, I’m listening, I’m up for it. Other than that, it’s going to come down to football players making plays when opportunity presents itself.”
Blatche Compares Orakpo To Other Rookies
“Personally, I don’t like rookies, don’t trust rookies usually. I think he’s done a great job. He has a maturity that’s unlike most rookies you ever come across. His maturity, as a player and as a person is what sets him apart. Not so much the athleticism, it’s the maturity. And I think the same thing can be said for Jeremy Jarmon. Those two young guys are phenomenally mature. Out of all the rookies I’ve ever been around, Mike Brown would probably be the only other guy I could think of who had that type of savvy and maturity about him. I have no reservations about starting him. I’m only concerned with the speed of it all day that he’ll see for the first time. As far as having a rookie start, I don’t look at him as a regular rookie because of the maturity that he brings to the arena.”
Who's Playing. Who's Not.
Carlos Rogers, who had been rehabbing a calf injury is expected play on Sunday.
Coach Zorn On the Giants' Defense
“They just make it hard. They come from all over the place. When you watch them on video, every single defensive back, every single linebacker, all their defensive lineman, are either coming or going. They do a nice job when they want to do it and how they want to do it. It creates problems. We are going to do our best to pick some of that stuff up. I believe that, just based on a play that we have on and what they are doing, we can be in the right protection and get it or be in a really poor protection and it gets us. Our quarterback is pretty nifty with the ball. It may look like we are throwing the ball away but it may be because of the protection.”
Zorn On the Redskins' O-Line.
“I think we are healthier. If you look at Chris Samuels especially, last year I was surprised at it because he was really sore at the beginning of the year. Right now I think he is feeling good about the position that he is in. [Derrick] Dockery is probably healthier than Pete [Kendall] was last year. Maybe not at this particular time, but you have a healthier guy there. Randy is healthier because he had a bunch of issues taken care of in the offseason. Stephon Heyer, in my mind, is that much better because of all the experience that he had last year and in this training camp. I have to think that our offensive line, with Casey Rabach in there running it, is in a better situation than we were last year.”
On Campbell Having Time To Throw The Ball
“I just think it is the right mix. Some of it depends on how the game is going; how we are moving the ball. I think our run game will dictate some of that because if we can run the ball we have a little more flexibility on what do to and how to call it. If we are forced to throw then we have to protect.”
Coach Blatche Talks Skins and Strategy
On How Much Of A ‘Danger of the Unknown’ There is With the Giants’ Wideouts
"It’s always a danger. If guys don’t take a guy as seriously as they should, all it takes is one step, one time, to cost you a football game. We’ve got to be very, very good in our technique, we’ve got to be very, very good with our eyes and not get lazy, and we’ve got to be consistent – we can’t afford to give up the big play because this is going to be one of those heavyweight-type fights where one punch or one play could be the difference.”
On Rookie Linebacker/Defensive End Brian Orakpo
“He’s done a real good job. I’m certain they’re going to test him and challenge him to see if he’s ready to play, but I think he’s up to the task. I think they might be surprised what they see if they go after him.”
On What Defensive, Tackle Albert Haynesworth Adds to the Redskins' Defense
“Well, he’s a powerful man and he is a real force in a football game. When he cranks it up, he’s as good as I’ve seen. What we’re going to see when we get out there on Sunday is if he can crank it up all day for us. He’s a fine person. He’s been a good teammate. He’s been very, very easy to coach and work with. I’m excited to have the opportunity to have him. I’m glad he’s on our side, I’ll put it that way. We’re looking forward to having him out there. He’s got exceptional size and strength. He’s got extremely good quickness for a man with that size and strength. He’s got a good sense and good feel for the game of football. He’s got some good things in his pass rush where, as big and strong as he is, he’s really nimble. He can get small and get his hips turned and get his shoulders dipped. He can do all the things a smaller guy can do, but he can do it with a big, powerful body.”
On What Can Be Done To Combat the Giants’ Physical Running Game
“Yeah, you put eight in the box. We try and make this game more complicated than it is. Each guy’s got to win. Each guy’s got to fit where he fits. Guys stand in front of you and try to make this sound like it’s rocket science. It’s not. It still comes down to blocking and tackling. It still comes down to guys executing and guys playing together. And if we do that, we give ourselves a chance of winning. But there are no magic schemes, unless you know where to come up with more than 11. If we’ve got a way to get an invisible 12th, I’m listening, I’m up for it. Other than that, it’s going to come down to football players making plays when opportunity presents itself.”
Blatche Compares Orakpo To Other Rookies
“Personally, I don’t like rookies, don’t trust rookies usually. I think he’s done a great job. He has a maturity that’s unlike most rookies you ever come across. His maturity, as a player and as a person is what sets him apart. Not so much the athleticism, it’s the maturity. And I think the same thing can be said for Jeremy Jarmon. Those two young guys are phenomenally mature. Out of all the rookies I’ve ever been around, Mike Brown would probably be the only other guy I could think of who had that type of savvy and maturity about him. I have no reservations about starting him. I’m only concerned with the speed of it all day that he’ll see for the first time. As far as having a rookie start, I don’t look at him as a regular rookie because of the maturity that he brings to the arena.”
Who's Playing. Who's Not.
Carlos Rogers, who had been rehabbing a calf injury is expected play on Sunday.
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