CaliforniaCheez
10-12-2007, 09:26 PM
http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=30197
KEYS TO THE GAME
OFFENSE
Jason Campbell vs. Packers' Secondary
The Redskins' pass protection unit has been solid so far this season--Jason Campbell has been sacked just five times. Plus, he is able to use his scrambling ability to escape pressure.
That should put Campbell in position to find open receivers downfield against a Green Bay Packers defense ranked 17th overall and 23rd against the pass.
The Packers have one of the best cornerback tandems in 8-year veteran Charles Woodson and 10-year veteran Al Harris. Strong in coverage, they often force quarterbacks to look to tight ends and running backs in the passing game.
Campbell is coming off his best game as a pro, but his wide receivers are still nicked with injuries. Santana Moss is expected to return to action, but Antwaan Randle El is a question mark due to a hamstring injury.
Tight ends have had strong games against the Packers' defense--the Bears' Greg Olson and Desmond Clark combined for seven catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns last Sunday. So look for Chris Cooley in the Redskins' passing game.
DEFENSE
Redskins' Pass Defense vs. Brett Favre
Green Bay has the NFL's top-ranked passing offense, thanks to Brett Favre's re-emergence at quarterback. He has completed 67.1 percent of his passes, with nine touchdowns and four interceptions.
Favre has developed a strong rapport with wide receivers Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones, who have combined for six touchdown catches.
The Redskins' pass defense is ranked eighth in the NFL. The success in shutting down the Detroit Lions--formerly the top-ranked passing offense in the NFL--last Sunday was a team effort.
The secondary, at full strength with the return of Fred Smoot, was solid in coverage, giving pass rushers time to record six sacks.
Favre tries to make plays when nothing is there, and the result can sometimes be spectacular. It can also result in big plays for the secondary. Shawn Springs has four career interceptions against Favre and Smoot has three.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Redskins Punt Coverage vs. Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson can be a dangerous punt returner. With his 9.0-yard return average, Woodson is ranked sixth in the NFL among punt returners with 10 or more attempts.
Danny Smith's punt coverage unit is ranked sixth in the NFL. Tacklers have been swarming to the ball, allowing just 5.8 yards per return.
It helps that Derrick Frost has been solid so far, averaging 44.5 yards per punt and a net average of 40.1 yards. Last Sunday, Frost's kicks required Lions punt returner Kevin Walter to call for four fair catches.
1-ON-1
Chris Samuels vs. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
The Packers appear to use Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila as a pass-rushing specialist now, and the eight-year veteran has responded with a team-leading 4.5 sacks so far this season.
Chris Samuels has struggled against Gbaja-Biamila in the past, yielding four sacks in three games.
Playing against some of the top speed rushers this season, including the Dolphins' Jason Taylor, the Eagles' Trent Cole and the Giants' Osi Umenyiora, Samuels has responded with solid performances.
He'll have another challenge in Gbaja-Biamila, who is now the Packers' all-time sack leader.
That's what they see as important.
From the Wahington Times Blog:
Learning from the Master
Redskins cornerback Leigh Torrence[Remember him? I do] signed with Green Bay as a rookie free agent after the 2005 draft and was one of the Packers' final cuts that September. In the interim, Torrence was welcomed to the NFL by Packers quarterback Brett Favre's rifle arm.
"Brett's got some special gifts, man," Torrence said. "The way he throws that ball, I haven't seen anything like it. He fits some balls in some spots. The thing whistles through the air. He tried to stretch me out. It was a good experience. I remember my first interception off him. Think about how many guys he's played with. You learn a lot practicing against a Hall of Fame quarterback like that."
Jason Campbell's admiration for fellow Magnolia State native Brett Favre has been well-established this week, but the Redskins quarterback revealed a couple other connections with the Packers legend today.
It seems Campbell's father, Larry, has taught Favre's daughter, Brittany, in high school in Hattiesburg, Miss.
"He goes in and substitutes at a local high school back at home," Campbell said. "He just said how nice she is and that she came up and introduced herself. He just said she's a really nice girl."
And as for how Mississippi develops quarterbacks (Archie Manning, Favre, Campbell, Steve McNair), Campbell said: "You have nothing else to do but sit outside and throw a football at trees. That's how you work on your accuracy, knocking loose bark off of trees."
INJURY REPORT
Daniels, Phillip DE(Starter) Probable Shoulder
Moss, Santana WR(Starter) Probable Groin
Randle El, Antwaan WR(Starter) Questionable Hamstring
Sellers, Mike FB(Starter) Probable Heel
Smoot, Fred CB(Nickel Back) Probable Illness
Thomas, Randy G Out Arm
Washington, Marcus SLB(Starter) Doubtful Hamstring
KEYS TO THE GAME
OFFENSE
Jason Campbell vs. Packers' Secondary
The Redskins' pass protection unit has been solid so far this season--Jason Campbell has been sacked just five times. Plus, he is able to use his scrambling ability to escape pressure.
That should put Campbell in position to find open receivers downfield against a Green Bay Packers defense ranked 17th overall and 23rd against the pass.
The Packers have one of the best cornerback tandems in 8-year veteran Charles Woodson and 10-year veteran Al Harris. Strong in coverage, they often force quarterbacks to look to tight ends and running backs in the passing game.
Campbell is coming off his best game as a pro, but his wide receivers are still nicked with injuries. Santana Moss is expected to return to action, but Antwaan Randle El is a question mark due to a hamstring injury.
Tight ends have had strong games against the Packers' defense--the Bears' Greg Olson and Desmond Clark combined for seven catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns last Sunday. So look for Chris Cooley in the Redskins' passing game.
DEFENSE
Redskins' Pass Defense vs. Brett Favre
Green Bay has the NFL's top-ranked passing offense, thanks to Brett Favre's re-emergence at quarterback. He has completed 67.1 percent of his passes, with nine touchdowns and four interceptions.
Favre has developed a strong rapport with wide receivers Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones, who have combined for six touchdown catches.
The Redskins' pass defense is ranked eighth in the NFL. The success in shutting down the Detroit Lions--formerly the top-ranked passing offense in the NFL--last Sunday was a team effort.
The secondary, at full strength with the return of Fred Smoot, was solid in coverage, giving pass rushers time to record six sacks.
Favre tries to make plays when nothing is there, and the result can sometimes be spectacular. It can also result in big plays for the secondary. Shawn Springs has four career interceptions against Favre and Smoot has three.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Redskins Punt Coverage vs. Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson can be a dangerous punt returner. With his 9.0-yard return average, Woodson is ranked sixth in the NFL among punt returners with 10 or more attempts.
Danny Smith's punt coverage unit is ranked sixth in the NFL. Tacklers have been swarming to the ball, allowing just 5.8 yards per return.
It helps that Derrick Frost has been solid so far, averaging 44.5 yards per punt and a net average of 40.1 yards. Last Sunday, Frost's kicks required Lions punt returner Kevin Walter to call for four fair catches.
1-ON-1
Chris Samuels vs. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
The Packers appear to use Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila as a pass-rushing specialist now, and the eight-year veteran has responded with a team-leading 4.5 sacks so far this season.
Chris Samuels has struggled against Gbaja-Biamila in the past, yielding four sacks in three games.
Playing against some of the top speed rushers this season, including the Dolphins' Jason Taylor, the Eagles' Trent Cole and the Giants' Osi Umenyiora, Samuels has responded with solid performances.
He'll have another challenge in Gbaja-Biamila, who is now the Packers' all-time sack leader.
That's what they see as important.
From the Wahington Times Blog:
Learning from the Master
Redskins cornerback Leigh Torrence[Remember him? I do] signed with Green Bay as a rookie free agent after the 2005 draft and was one of the Packers' final cuts that September. In the interim, Torrence was welcomed to the NFL by Packers quarterback Brett Favre's rifle arm.
"Brett's got some special gifts, man," Torrence said. "The way he throws that ball, I haven't seen anything like it. He fits some balls in some spots. The thing whistles through the air. He tried to stretch me out. It was a good experience. I remember my first interception off him. Think about how many guys he's played with. You learn a lot practicing against a Hall of Fame quarterback like that."
Jason Campbell's admiration for fellow Magnolia State native Brett Favre has been well-established this week, but the Redskins quarterback revealed a couple other connections with the Packers legend today.
It seems Campbell's father, Larry, has taught Favre's daughter, Brittany, in high school in Hattiesburg, Miss.
"He goes in and substitutes at a local high school back at home," Campbell said. "He just said how nice she is and that she came up and introduced herself. He just said she's a really nice girl."
And as for how Mississippi develops quarterbacks (Archie Manning, Favre, Campbell, Steve McNair), Campbell said: "You have nothing else to do but sit outside and throw a football at trees. That's how you work on your accuracy, knocking loose bark off of trees."
INJURY REPORT
Daniels, Phillip DE(Starter) Probable Shoulder
Moss, Santana WR(Starter) Probable Groin
Randle El, Antwaan WR(Starter) Questionable Hamstring
Sellers, Mike FB(Starter) Probable Heel
Smoot, Fred CB(Nickel Back) Probable Illness
Thomas, Randy G Out Arm
Washington, Marcus SLB(Starter) Doubtful Hamstring