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By Rich Campbell

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Week 10: Initial thoughts (Redskins 27, Broncos 17)

Nov. 15, 2009 11:07 pm

These are my initial thoughts on the Redskins' 27-17 victory over the Denver Broncos. Keep in mind that I haven't watched the game on DVR yet, and that these are in no particular order:

*It might be a moot point because of Clinton Portis' concussion, but I don't see how Jim Zorn could sit RB Ladell Betts against Dallas. If you consider how well Betts has played the last two weeks, he has to be in the game. He is finding running lanes better and hitting them harder and more decisively than Portis has been. That's not up for debate. (Zorn said today that Portis will be the starter whenever he returns.)

*In reading between the lines of some of the comments coming from the Redskins' offensive linemen, they really, really like blocking for Betts because he regularly practices with them. I don't expect any to come out and say they'd prefer Betts to start over Portis, but it's worth monitoring.

*It has been so long since the Redskins' running game was consistently productive that it felt bizarre to see it today. Who's with me on this? I forgot what it looked like.

*Rock Cartwright isn't a game-breaking running back, but the Redskins used him effectively to spell Betts. He hasn't been shy at times about his desire for more carries, and he made the most of his nine today (41 yards).

*Today's game should provide Daniel Snyder and Vinny Cerrato with more evidence that offensive line play is the key to winning.

*LG Derrick Dockery and C Casey Rabach had their best games of the season. By far.

*Levi Jones was a significant upgrade at left tackle--not that it took much to improve on Stephon Heyer's play. But Jones looked good in the run game and more than serviceable in pass protection. Of all the Redskins auditioning for their future in the NFL, Jones is at the top of the list. He's 30, so he isn't over the hill by ruthless NFL standards. Judging by what we saw today, left tackle is his for the rest of the season if he can stay healthy. Remember that the Redskins will need a left tackle and quarterback after this season. What if Jones can fill the LT spot in the short term while a rookie QB is brought in? Just a thought.

*CB Carlos Rogers and FS LaRon Landry looked so bad on the two deep touchdown passes to Brandon Marshall. Rogers bit on the double move and Landry was out of position because he ran up on a shorter route. Both players are not having good seasons, and teams will continue to try to expose them. It'll be interesting to see Rogers' role going forward after he was benched today.

*Bravo to special teams coach Danny Smith and Co. for the fake field goal/punt for a touchdown. Plays like that reek of desperation, but the Redskins are a desperate team. Credit Smith for sticking with the play-call even after showing his hand before the timeout. It was brilliantly designed and brilliantly executed. What a throw by P Hunter Smith. In hindsight, I'm sure the Broncos wish they would have rushed Smith more aggressively. But as Danny Smith pointed out, teams don't always know how to react when you show them something they've never seen before.

*QB Jason Campbell left a handful of throws out there--again. He overthrew an open Santana Moss on a deep ball down the left sideline in the first half. He didn't see a WIDE open Todd Yoder down the seam for what would have been an easy touchdown. He threw a potential touchdown pass behind Devin Thomas on a first-quarter slant. He did, however, make a nice checkdown to Yoder--who was the second read--on his first-quarter touchdown pass.

*If Denver QB Kyle Orton...1) hits Eddie Royal on the second half play when he beat Kareem Moore deep, and/or 2) doesn't get injured, I think the Broncos win that game. Backup QB Chris Simms was atrocious.

*Play-caller Sherm Lewis successfully stuck with the quick passes that worked well in the second half against Atlanta. Maybe he'll talk to us now that the Redskins have won a game.

*DE Andre Carter returned to top form after a one game slump. He and LB/DE Brian Orakpo have become quite the tandem. The Redskins now have 24 sacks this season, which equals their 2008 total. I can't believe I just typed that on Nov. 15.

*RG Chad Rinehart, meh. I've gotta watch the tape on him, though.

*Yeah, K Shaun Suisham kicked two kickoffs out of bounds. That's bad. The Redskins wanted to pin Eddie Royal in the corner, but Suisham's kicks got away from him. Still, he made both of his field goal attempts. That's a net positive.

*10 different players caught passes. Fred Davis, Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly all contributed positively in the passing game. It's not a coincidence that the Redskins won.

*Jim Zorn noted afterwards how well the receivers blocked in the run game. I saw some of that and expect to see more when I watch the tape.

*TE Todd Yoder made two enormous plays. He caught the touchdown in the first quarter and delivered a crushing lead block for Ladell Betts' decisive touchdown. Yoder has played well with Cooley out of the lineup, and it has helped minimize the dropoff.

*DL Lorenzo Alexander stood out for two positive plays. He forced a fumble by Denver RB Correll Buckhalter in the first half and absolutely wrecked LaMont Jordan on a kickoff return in the second. When role players are making plays like that, it goes a long way toward winning.

*We've already started to hear talk about how today's win is what the Redskins need to get on a roll. The first win is the toughest to get, etc, etc. But the Broncos are slumping and played the second half with their terrible backup quarterback. Going to Dallas and beating a wounded Cowboys team is something else altogether. If the Redskins can pull that off, I'll be much more impressed.

...that's it for now. What did I miss? Leave a comment for me, email me, or tweet me @Rich_Campbell.

Tomorrow is a Victory Monday for the players. We reporters will talk to Jim Zorn at 12:25 and hopefully a player or two before that.

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Rich Campbell joined The Free Lance-Star as a sports writer in Sept. 2007 and covered the Washington Nationals until Jan. 2008. He is not related to Jason Campbell, but he does cover the Washington Redskins and local high school sports.

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