Roster Changes Make For Scoring 'Frenzy'.
Nine games into the season the Redskins who, until yesterday, had trouble scoring more than 20 points (and winning), scored an unprecedented 27 points against the Denver Broncos in an impressive 27-17 win at FedEx Field.
With many changes in the lineup, to include the start of running back Ladell Betts, the skins looked like a contending football team – something the fans hadn’t seen in a long while this season.
Betts (replacing the injured Clinton Portis) ran for 114 yards off 26 carries, and to the Skins’ credit and effort, had several players making big offensive plays.
Tight end, Todd Yoder came up big in the first quarter with a touchdown, (his 2nd this season) countering Denver's first TD of the game.
“I call him Touchdown Yoder”, said quarterback Jason Campbell who passed for 193 yards and one touchdown.
“He always finds a way. He never gets the ball in practice. Then you come in the game and he’s always the one who is open. We probably could have had a chance to get him two touchdowns today. What happened when we went back, flipped through it, and who’s open? Todd Yoder. I said, ‘We’re going to have to start listening to you more, Yoder.”
Devin Thomas, who had been criticized for missing catches early in the season, scrambled to get yardage on a third down play when the skins needed it.
[Photo: Devin Thomas on the run]
Even Hunter - the Redskins' Punter - Smith (a previous QB), made plays throwing a 35 yard touchdown pass to ‘Big Mike’ Sellers off a fake field goal.
[Photo: Sellers makes a 35 yard catch from Hunter Smith]
“I’m very excited for our field goal team”, said coach Zorn.
“When I played, those plays made a big difference, and they’re still making a difference today in our program so it’s very exciting.”
Question!!
How do you have this much star power on the sidelines and not utilize it each and every game??????
Betts just sees it as an opportunity.
“Like myself, and those other guys as well, Quinton [Ganther] and [Rock] Cartwright, we just view it as an opportunity. Whenever you get an opportunity like that you have to take advantage of it. I think those guys did. It’s all about coaches believing in you. Sometimes when you don’t get to play it feels like they don’t believe in you. When you get an opportunity you get a chance to prove people wrong, and I think that’s what we got a chance to do today.”
This new face of Sunday’s team should be seen, and seen more often.
The Skins held Denver to just 17 points. Denver totaled 17 points, in their last 2 games alone. (Denver QB, Kyle Orton, was 11 of 18 for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns).
[Photo: Betts gets an 'atta boy' congratulations from teammate Stephon Heyer]
There’s something worth noting about the number 17 and the Redskins organization. Looking at this team’s scoring pattern this season, that number comes up often. In at least seven games, they scored 17. The quarterback’s number is 17. (Don’t forget the Redskins 1986 Superbowl MVP wore the number 17.
With a previous 2-6 record, the Skins needed all the help they could get, and just as the fans suspected, it was on the sidelines all this time.
Perhaps with this epiphany, the Washington Redskins will continue to make these kinds of smart roster choices going forward to get more wins.
[Game day photos: W. Barron for DC UrbanSports]
Up Next
The Skins are Cowboy bound as they prepare to face Dallas this Sunday.
“I hope it (Sunday’s win) gives us a lot of positive momentum. We have a big game coming up, we’re heading down to Dallas, one of our rivals, said Betts.
"We need a little bit of momentum going into this week.”
More Roster Changes At The Park
The Washington Redskins announced today that they signed cornerback Doug Dutch to the practice squad.
Dutch spent training camp with the Redskins and appeared in all four preseason games, registering three tackles (two solo) before being released on Sept. 5, 2009. Dutch was originally signed on April 30, 2009 as a college free agent from the University of Michigan.
The 5-foot-11, 199-pound Dutch is a native of Bowie, Md. and attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. Dutch was born on Feb. 15, 1986.
The team already signed safety Lendy Holmes (No. 29) last week to their practice squad releasing punter Sam Paulescu.
The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Holmes signed with the Redskins on April 30 as a college free agent out of Oklahoma, where he was a second-team All-Big XII selection in 2008.
Following the preseason, Holmes was signed to Washington’s practice squad, where he has spent the past nine weeks. Paulescu signed with the Redskins on Nov. 6 and played in last week’s game against Atlanta, where he averaged 50.0 yards on three punts.
Signs Are Okay at FedEX Field
While fans have protested their displeasure with the '09 season by sporting T-shirts, waving banners, and wearing bags on their head with disparaging remarks about the Redskins owner, front office, coach, and players - freedom of expression is now welcomed back at Redskins' games... "as long as they stay within the boundaries of good taste and don’t block the view of other fans.”
“We’ve disappointed our fans so far this season, and I’m as disappointed as they are,” said team Owner Daniel M. Snyder. “I understand that some fans want to express their feelings with signs and they should do so..."
We're willing to bet that this form of 'expression' doesn't meet the 'boundaries' criteria.
________
Hunter The Punter Player of the Week
The National Football League announced that Washington Redskins punter Hunter Smith was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance Sunday against Denver.
Smith's shotgun snap where he connected with Mike Sellers the 35 yard TD, provided one of the season’s most memorable plays in Washington’s 27-17 victory over the Broncos.
The pass, the first of Smith’s career, coupled with his 8-yard touchdown run against the Giants in Week 1, made him the first specialist in NFL history to rush and pass for a touchdown in the same season.
Smith also punted four times, allowing zero return yards, for a 38.0 net average, while placing one inside the 20-yard line.
[**Buy a link** on DC UrbanSports]
Nine games into the season the Redskins who, until yesterday, had trouble scoring more than 20 points (and winning), scored an unprecedented 27 points against the Denver Broncos in an impressive 27-17 win at FedEx Field. With many changes in the lineup, to include the start of running back Ladell Betts, the skins looked like a contending football team – something the fans hadn’t seen in a long while this season.
Betts (replacing the injured Clinton Portis) ran for 114 yards off 26 carries, and to the Skins’ credit and effort, had several players making big offensive plays.
Tight end, Todd Yoder came up big in the first quarter with a touchdown, (his 2nd this season) countering Denver's first TD of the game.
“I call him Touchdown Yoder”, said quarterback Jason Campbell who passed for 193 yards and one touchdown.
“He always finds a way. He never gets the ball in practice. Then you come in the game and he’s always the one who is open. We probably could have had a chance to get him two touchdowns today. What happened when we went back, flipped through it, and who’s open? Todd Yoder. I said, ‘We’re going to have to start listening to you more, Yoder.”
Devin Thomas, who had been criticized for missing catches early in the season, scrambled to get yardage on a third down play when the skins needed it.
[Photo: Devin Thomas on the run]
Even Hunter - the Redskins' Punter - Smith (a previous QB), made plays throwing a 35 yard touchdown pass to ‘Big Mike’ Sellers off a fake field goal.
[Photo: Sellers makes a 35 yard catch from Hunter Smith] “I’m very excited for our field goal team”, said coach Zorn.
“When I played, those plays made a big difference, and they’re still making a difference today in our program so it’s very exciting.”
Question!!
How do you have this much star power on the sidelines and not utilize it each and every game??????
Betts just sees it as an opportunity.
“Like myself, and those other guys as well, Quinton [Ganther] and [Rock] Cartwright, we just view it as an opportunity. Whenever you get an opportunity like that you have to take advantage of it. I think those guys did. It’s all about coaches believing in you. Sometimes when you don’t get to play it feels like they don’t believe in you. When you get an opportunity you get a chance to prove people wrong, and I think that’s what we got a chance to do today.”
This new face of Sunday’s team should be seen, and seen more often.The Skins held Denver to just 17 points. Denver totaled 17 points, in their last 2 games alone. (Denver QB, Kyle Orton, was 11 of 18 for 193 yards and 2 touchdowns).
[Photo: Betts gets an 'atta boy' congratulations from teammate Stephon Heyer]
There’s something worth noting about the number 17 and the Redskins organization. Looking at this team’s scoring pattern this season, that number comes up often. In at least seven games, they scored 17. The quarterback’s number is 17. (Don’t forget the Redskins 1986 Superbowl MVP wore the number 17.
With a previous 2-6 record, the Skins needed all the help they could get, and just as the fans suspected, it was on the sidelines all this time.
Perhaps with this epiphany, the Washington Redskins will continue to make these kinds of smart roster choices going forward to get more wins.
“It’s been arid the last few weeks and to be able to come off with a win, you almost don’t really know how to feel. Yet, we remembered very quickly. It was exciting for our football team, for our franchise, and for our fans. Just think about the fans coming here and supporting us the whole time. To have a win like we had today, I felt good for the organization and Redskins Nation. I’m really excited for savoring it for a day, at least.”Today’s loss to the Skins gives the Broncos their third straight, and a chance for Redskins fans to be glad to sport their Redskins gear (and vehicles) in fine fashion once again.
[Game day photos: W. Barron for DC UrbanSports]
Up Next
The Skins are Cowboy bound as they prepare to face Dallas this Sunday.
“I hope it (Sunday’s win) gives us a lot of positive momentum. We have a big game coming up, we’re heading down to Dallas, one of our rivals, said Betts.
"We need a little bit of momentum going into this week.”
More Roster Changes At The Park
The Washington Redskins announced today that they signed cornerback Doug Dutch to the practice squad.
Dutch spent training camp with the Redskins and appeared in all four preseason games, registering three tackles (two solo) before being released on Sept. 5, 2009. Dutch was originally signed on April 30, 2009 as a college free agent from the University of Michigan.
The 5-foot-11, 199-pound Dutch is a native of Bowie, Md. and attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. Dutch was born on Feb. 15, 1986.
The team already signed safety Lendy Holmes (No. 29) last week to their practice squad releasing punter Sam Paulescu.
The 6-foot-1, 201-pound Holmes signed with the Redskins on April 30 as a college free agent out of Oklahoma, where he was a second-team All-Big XII selection in 2008.
Following the preseason, Holmes was signed to Washington’s practice squad, where he has spent the past nine weeks. Paulescu signed with the Redskins on Nov. 6 and played in last week’s game against Atlanta, where he averaged 50.0 yards on three punts.
Signs Are Okay at FedEX Field
While fans have protested their displeasure with the '09 season by sporting T-shirts, waving banners, and wearing bags on their head with disparaging remarks about the Redskins owner, front office, coach, and players - freedom of expression is now welcomed back at Redskins' games... "as long as they stay within the boundaries of good taste and don’t block the view of other fans.”
“We’ve disappointed our fans so far this season, and I’m as disappointed as they are,” said team Owner Daniel M. Snyder. “I understand that some fans want to express their feelings with signs and they should do so..."
We're willing to bet that this form of 'expression' doesn't meet the 'boundaries' criteria.
________
Hunter The Punter Player of the Week
The National Football League announced that Washington Redskins punter Hunter Smith was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance Sunday against Denver.
Smith's shotgun snap where he connected with Mike Sellers the 35 yard TD, provided one of the season’s most memorable plays in Washington’s 27-17 victory over the Broncos.
The pass, the first of Smith’s career, coupled with his 8-yard touchdown run against the Giants in Week 1, made him the first specialist in NFL history to rush and pass for a touchdown in the same season.
Smith also punted four times, allowing zero return yards, for a 38.0 net average, while placing one inside the 20-yard line.
[**Buy a link** on DC UrbanSports]
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