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Big Target, Big Challenge

Big Target, Big Challenge

9BLACK E9 DAILY 11-03-08 MD RE E9 BLACK

The Washington Post x R Monday, November 3, 2008 E9

RedskinsGameday By Jason La Canfora

REDSKINS (6-2) vs. STEELERS (5-2) 8:30 P.M. AT FedEx Field | TV: ESPN, WDCA-20 | Radio: WWXT (92.7 FM), WWXX (94.3 FM), WGRQ (95.9 FM), WSMD (98.3 FM), WWEG (106.9 FM), WTEM (980 AM), WNAV (1430 AM); Spanish WXTR (730 AM) | Line: Redskins by 2

STEELERS ROSTER FIRST DOWN SECOND DOWN THIRD DOWN FOURTH DOWN REDSKINS ROSTER No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Rolling Along Run Tough Ailing Moss Rest Around Corner No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. 2 QB 6-3 206 The Redskins (6-2) face the Steelers has the NFL’s top-ranked With primary returner Antwaan The Redskins could use some 1 Ryan Plackemeier P 6-3 247 3 Jeff Reed PK 5-11 225 (5-2) in a marquee NFC-AFC matchup. defense and is third against the run, Randle El struggling, extended time off. Many players are 5 QB 6-3 201 4 QB 6-5 250 Washington, which begins its bye giving up an average of 71.6 yards. provided a boost on special teams last hobbled by injuries and some key 6 Shaun Suisham PK 6-0 197 7 QB 6-5 241 week after facing Pittsburgh, reached leads the league with week, returning a punt 80 yards for a performers on defense have missed 11 WR 6-2 218 10 WR_ 5-11 189 the midpoint of its schedule tied for 944 yards rushing and the Redskins in a victory over the several games. The Redskins would 12 WR 6-4 219 14 WR 6-4 212 the second-best record in the NFC. are third as a team. Portis has gained Lions. Moss, however, has a rather begin their break by defeating 15 Todd Collins QB 6-4 225 17 P 6-4 228 17 QB 6-5 233 Rookie has at least 120 yards in Washington’s sore hamstring, and Washington is the Steelers. This could be another 20 Bryant McFadden RCB 6-0 190 20 CB 5-9 190 received great reviews last five games. No reluctant to use him signature moment in 21 RB 5-11 209 22 Carlos Rogers CB 5-11 199 22 LCB 5-10 190 from Redskins players has gained often on punt returns what appears to be a 24 CB 6-0 204 23 SS 5-9 195 for his aggressive 100 yards against the because of his breakthrough season 25 Mike Green S 6-0 200 24 LCB 6-2 191 approach in, well, Steelers this season. importance in the for Jason Campbell. 26 Clinton Portis RB 5-11 223 25 Ryan Clark FS 5-11 205 everything they do. passing game. 27 CB 5-11 190 26 RCB 5-10 190 29 CB 6-0 179 27 FS 5-11 192 30 LaRon Landry S 6-2 213 33 Gary Russell RB 5-11 215 31 RB 5-8 218 37 LCB 5-9 180 37 RB 5-11 225 38 FB 5-10 225 41 S 5-11 213 39 RB 5-10 209 45 Mike Sellers FB 6-3 245 43 SS 5-10 207 46 Ladell Betts RB 5-11 225 44 RB 6-1 247 47 TE 6-3 249 49 Sean McHugh TE 6-5 265 48 S 6-1 216 50 LB 6-1 239 50 Khary Campbell LB 6-2 232 51 LB 6-2 243 51 Alfred Fincher LB 6-1 238 53 LB 6-2 252 52 Rocky McIntosh LB 6-2 232 54 LB 6-5 255 53 Marcus Washington LB 6-3 248 55 Patrick Bailey LB 6-4 235 54 H.B. Blades LB 5-10 250 56 LaMarr Woodley LB 6-2 265 55 Jason Taylor DE 6-5 244 57 LB 6-3 235 59 LB 5-10 245 61 Jared Retkofsky LS 6-5 260 60 T 6-5 317 62 C 6-4 312 61 Casey Rabach OL 6-4 296 65 LT 6-6 321 64 DT 6-4 320 66 Tony Hills LT 6-6 305 66 OL 6-5 292 68 LG 6-3 344 67 Ethan Albright LS 6-5 257 72 RG 6-3 285 68 Justin Geisinger G 6-4 315 74 Willie Colon RT 6-3 315 69 Jason Fabini OL 6-7 309 76 NT 6-2 305 74 Stephon Heyer OL 6-6 325 77 LT 6-5 321 75 OL 6-5 311 78 RT 6-8 337 76 Jon Jansen T 6-6 297 79 RG 6-4 324 77 Randy Thomas G 6-5 317 81 WR 6-3 206 78 DE 6-4 266 83 TE 6-5 256 79 DT 6-1 300 85 WR 6-1 185 82 WR 5-10 190 86 WR 6-0 205 83 James Thrash WR 6-0 204 89 TE 6-7 270 86 TE 6-4 247 90 LDE 6-3 298 87 Todd Yoder TE 6-4 253 91 Aaron Smith LDE 6-5 298 89 Santana Moss WR 5-10 200 92 James Harrison LB 6-0 242 92 Demetric Evans DL 6-4 275 93 RDE 6-3 305 94 Anthony Montgomery DT 6-6 315 94 LB 6-1 234 95 Chris Wilson DE 6-4 246 96 LDE 6-4 330 96 DT 6-3 311 98 NT 6-1 325 98 Rob Jackson DE 6-4 259 99 RDE 6-5 285 99 DE 6-4 252 PROJECTED STARTERS PROJECTED STARTERS OFFENSE BY KEITH SRAKOCIC — WR 82 Antwaan Randle El OFFENSE LT 60 Chris Samuels WR 86 Hines Ward Ben Roethlisberger has been successfully pressured by the likes of and the Giants, but the Redskins respect his size and toughness. LG 66 Pete Kendall LT 79 Trai Essex C 61 Casey Rabach LG 68 Chris Kemoeatu RG 77 Randy Thomas C 62 Justin Hartwig RT 76 Jon Jansen RG 72 Darnell Stapleton TE 47 Chris Cooley RT 74 Willie Colon WR 89 Santana Moss TE 83 Heath Miller Big Target, Big Challenge QB 17 Jason Campbell WR 10 Santonio Holmes RB 26 Clinton Portis QB 7 Ben Roethlisberger FB 45 Mike Sellers RB 30 Willie Parker Redskins Want to Pressure Steelers’ QB, but He Won’t Go Down Easily FB 38 Carey Davis DEFENSE The have not ability to get outside the pocket and the pressure they applied. Philadel- “We always have a pretty good LE 92 Demetric Evans DEFENSE fared well against NFC East oppo- make plays.” phia recorded nine sacks in a 15-6 mix with what we do,” reserve line- LT 96 Cornelius Griffin LE 91 Aaron Smith nents this season, which could be Listed at 6 feet 5 and 241 pounds, victory over Pittsburgh on Sept. 21. backer H.B. Blades said. “We’re go- RT 64 Kedric Golston NT 98 Casey Hampton good news for the Washington Red- Roethlisberger often does his best Roethlisberger was sacked five ing to try to get pressure however it RE 99 Andre Carter RE 99 Brett Keisel skins. work after being hit, escaping the times and threw four calls for it. If it calls for us to blitz, SLB 53 Marcus Washington LOLB 56 LaMarr Woodley Pittsburgh struggled in pass pro- and making big plays with his during the Giants’ 21-14 victory in we’ll blitz. If it calls for us to sit back MLB 59 London Fletcher LILB 51 James Farrior tection at critical times during loss- arm. “With him, you got to keep Week 8. in coverage and let [the defensive WLB 52 Rocky McIntosh RILB 50 Larry Foote es to the Eagles and your eye on your man at all times,” The Giants lead the league with line apply pressure], then that’s LCB 27 Fred Smoot ROLB 92 James Harrison , and the Redskins Fred Smoot said. “He 30 sacks, and the Eagles are third what we’ll do. You never know what RCB 22 Carlos Rogers LCB 24 Ike Taylor paid attention. Putting consistent scrambles and makes his own time with 27. The Redskins are tied for the game calls for until you’re in it. SS 48 Chris Horton RCB 27 Anthony Smith pressure on Pittsburgh most of the time. He’s never down 29th with only 10. “But whether you blitz him or get FS 30 LaRon Landry SS 43 Tory Polamalu Ben Roethlisberger is key to Wash- until he’s down. Washington’s defensive line has pressure other ways, [Roethlisberg- FS 26 Deshea Townsend ington’s defensive game plan, play- “He’s a hard guy to get ready for not been as productive as coaches er is] still tough. Guys come SPECIAL TEAMS ers said, and Roethlisberger must because he does most of his damage envisioned when the team traded through scot-free, but he finds a way PK 6 Shaun Suisham SPECIAL TEAMS be sacked if he is hit. after a play has broke down. You for Jason to make plays. He’s such a difficult P 1 Ryan Plackemeier PK 3 Jeff Reed “With any quarterback, you want have to be ready to check a lot of Taylor, who has one sack and will guy to bring down. You have to do P 17 Mitch Berger to get as much pressure on him, you routes. Even on one play, you might not play against Pittsburgh after un- what you have to do depending on STATISTICS want to get hits on him as much as have to check three or four different dergoing a second surgical proce- the way the game is going, but he possible,” middle Lon- routes. You really have to focus and dure recently on his left calf. It finds guys when you blitz him, too.” Passing Cmp Att Yds TD Int Rtg STATISTICS Campbell 152 230 1754 8 0 100.5 don Fletcher said. “But Roethlis- stay with your man.” would appear Washington must Said strong-side linebacker Mar- Team 154 232 1783 9 0 102.4 berger is a big guy. He’s able to Roethlisberger, however, was not blitz often to produce the type of cus Washington, “When guys have a Opp. 153 273 1633 8 5 75.8 Passing Cmp Att Yds TD Int Rtg break tackles, would-be sacks, so to at his best in losses to the Eagles pressure the Giants and Eagles gen- shot at him, we’re going to have to Rushing Att Yds Avg Lg TD Roethlisberger 109 181 1352 10 7 85.7 Portis 187 944 5.0 31 7 Team 116 195 1446 11 7 86.4 speak, and keep plays alive with his and Giants, in large part because of erate with their front four. wrap up.” Betts 38 156 4.1 14 0 Opp. 146 237 1348 6 6 75.0 Team 267 1242 4.7 31 7 Opp. 172 662 3.8 24 4 Rushing Att Yds Avg Lg TD Moore 65 322 5.0 32t 3 Receiving No. Yds Avg Lg TD Parker 66 263 4.0 32 3 ‘He’s a hard guy to get ready for because he does most of his damage after a play has broke down.’ Moss 42 658 15.7 67t 5 Team 192 751 3.9 32t 6 Cooley 40 451 11.3 28 1 Opp. 177 501 2.8 15 3 Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot, on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger Randle El 33 409 12.4 31 1 Receiving No. Yds Avg Lg TD Team 154 1783 11.6 67t 9 Ward 31 406 13.1 49 5 Opp. 153 1633 10.7 62t 8 Holmes 22 360 16.4 48 1 INTs No. Yds TD Sacks No. Miller 21 240 11.4 22 1 Horton 3 13 0 Carter 2.0 Washington 16 290 18.1 65t 3 Rogers 1 42 0 Evans 1.0 Team 116 1446 12.5 65t 11 Smoot 1 0 0 Golston 1.0 Opp. 146 1348 9.2 35 6 Griffin 1.0 INTs No. Yds TD Sacks No. ZORN WATCH | FIRST-YEAR COACH JIM ZORN’S TAKE ON THE STEELERS Montgmry 1.0 Polamalu 3 12 0 J. Harrison 8.5 Springs 1.0 McFadden 2 0 0 Woodley 7.5 Taylor 1.0 Woodley 1 6 0 Timmons 3.0 Zorn is impressed with The Steelers’ 3-4 defense has The Redskins’ offensive line Wilson 1.0 Aa. Smith 2.0 Team 5 55 0 Team 10.0 Pittsburgh quarterback Ben provided the foundation for the has been great at run blocking; Opp. 0 0 0 Opp. 16.0 Team 6 18 0 Team 25.0 Opp. 7 103 1 Opp. 24.0 Roethlisberger, who often makes league’s top defense. Athletic just ask Clinton Portis. The Scoring TD XP-Att FG-Att S Pts Scoring TD XP-Att FG-Att S Pts plays after being hit. At 6 feet 5 enable the Steelers to group must be at its best in pass Suisham 0 15-15 16-21 0 63 Reed 0 17-17 10-10 0 47 Portis 7 0-0 0-0 0 42 Ward 5 0-0 0-0 0 30 and 241 pounds, Roethlisberger run their aggressive scheme well. protection against the Steelers. Moss 6 0-0 0-0 0 36 Moore 4 0-0 0-0 0 24 is hard to . “Their 3-4 front is truly a 3-4 “We just have to block them, Team 17 15-17 16-21 0 165 Opp. 15 15-15 13-15 0 145 Parker 3 0-0 0-0 0 18 “He’s so tough. He does things front more than other teams and we just have to throw on Washington 3 0-0 0-0 0 18 Team 18 17-18 10-10 0 155 differently than a lot of other QBs. around the league. They have four rhythm. We have a rhythm passing INJURY REPORT Opp. 10 10-10 12-12 2 110 Because he doesn’t scramble linebackers, and they’re all cloned, game, which will help. The thing much, he just wiggles in the unfortunately for us. All those guys that will help us is we do have a OUT: RB Ladell Betts (knee), WR Malcolm pocket, he moves around in the can run very well, they’re very decent run game, and to be able to Kelly (knee), CB Shawn Springs (calf), DE INJURY REPORT Jason Taylor (calf). pocket, keeps the play along. I good at helping each other out. mix, and to be able to do the QUESTIONABLE: DT Cornelius Griffin OUT: S Ryan Clark (shoulder), LB Keyaron think this: A lot of their big plays What’s nice about it is you never things that we’ve done, you almost (shoulder), S LaRon Landry (hamstring), Fox (hamstring), CB Bryant McFadden — not just the rhythm plays — but know which group of linebackers have to see what you can do WR Santana Moss (hamstring), CB Carlos (forearm), T Marvel Smith (back). Rogers (calf), T Chris Samuels (knee). PROBABLE: DT Casey Hampton (toe), G a lot of their big plays come off of or linebacker is coming, so they against a team like this because BY GENE J. PUSKAR — ASSOCIATED PRESS PROBABLE: DT Lorenzo Alexander (toe), Chris Kemoeatu (ankle), RB Willie Parker them just keeping the ball alive to can really be flexible with how you’re not going to force certain RB Rock Cartwright (knee), S Chris Horton (knee), S Troy Polamalu (not injury where he can make a key throw. they want to match their blitzes things, that they’re just going to Zorn is impressed with Pittsburgh’s (ankle), G Pete Kendall (knee), RB Clinton related), QB Ben Roethlisberger (right You can only cover these guys for with their secondary coverages. say, ‘You’re not going to do this linebackers, including James Farrior, Portis (ankle), CB Fred Smoot (groin) LB shoulder), LB LaMarr Woodley (calf). so long.” It’s really a problem. It really is.” today. Sorry.’ ” left, and LaMarr Woodley. Marcus Washington (hip).

REDSKINS RESULTS AND SCHEDULE

SEPT. 4 SEPT. 14 SEPT. 21 SEPT. 28 OCT. 5 OCT. 12 OCT. 19 OCT. 26 TONIGHT NOV. 16 NOV. 23 NOV. 30 DEC. 7 DEC. 14 DEC. 21 DEC. 28 Giants 16 Redskins 29 Redskins 24 Redskins 26 Redskins 23 Rams 19 Redskins 14 Redskins 25 Steelers Dallas at Seattle New York at Baltimore at Cinc. Philadelphia at San Fran. Redskins 7 Saints 24 Cardinals 17 Cowboys 24 Eagles 17 Redskins 17 Browns 11 Lions 17 8:30 p.m. Cowboys Seahawks Giants Ravens Bengals Eagles 49ers

ESPN, 8:15 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 4:15 p.m.

Record: 0-1 Record: 1-1 Record: 2-1 Record: 3-1 Record: 4-1 Record: 4-2 Record: 5-2 Record: 6-2 WDCA-20 NBC Fox Fox Fox Fox Fox Fox 9BLACK E9

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