Washington in for brutal Sunday test

By Connor Byrne  |   Friday, September 29, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Washington Redskins
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The Washington Redskins will have one of the most difficult tests in the NFL this weekend, when they face off with the 2-1 Jacksonville Jaguars. The Redskins were able to quell plenty doubters with an easy win over the Houston Texans last Sunday, but the test against the elite Jags won't be nearly as simple.

At 1-2, Washington is facing somewhat of a must-win situation, since the last thing the team wants to do is begin 0-2 in FedEx Field, its home stadium. There's no doubt the 90,000-plus fans will grow weary if the Redskins get off to a rocky start against Jacksonville and its stifling defense.

Offensively, the Redskins' most important player won't be quarterback Mark Brunell, but running back Clinton Portis. As shown last week, the much-maligned Brunell is far more productive when he has a healthy Portis in the backfield. In the 'Skins' 31-15 victory over the Texans, Portis made key contributions, totaling 86 ground yards and 78 receiving. The team's backup runner, Ladell Betts, also had a big day, accruing a surprising 124 yards on the ground.

If Washington wants to have any chance against the Jagaurs' daunting D, it'll have to be on the feet of Portis, Betts and the Redskins' nearly-forgotten third back, T.J. Duckett.

The Jaguars' starting defensive tackles, John Henderson and Marcus Stroud, are two of the best in the league, as they combine for 631 pounds of pure dominance. Naturally, Portis and friends will want to avoid them as much as possible, so expect offensive coordinator Al Saunders to call plenty of plays focusing on the side of the field, not the middle. That doesn't just mean run calls, but screen and swing passes, too.

Should Portis dictate things early on, it will open up the pass for Brunell and his bevy of wideouts. It's not easy to pass on Jacksonville's top-level DBs, mainly Rashean Mathis and Donovin Darius, but it can certainly be done.

Defensively, what Washington should be focusing on is the Jaguars' two-headed running back monster of Fred Taylor and rookie Maurice Jones-Drew. When healthy, the 30-year-old Taylor is bested by few ball carriers in the league, and Jones-Drew, a second-round pick in April, had a coming-out party last weekend, gashing the Colts' defense for 103 yards on only 13 carries. So far this season, the Redskins' defense is yet to allow an opposing back to eclipse the 100-yard mark, which obviously bodes well for the team's chances this weekend.

As long as Gregg Williams' defense finds a way to stop the running game, it could be clear sailing for a Washington win. While Jags QB Byron Leftwich is an excellent player in the making, he still has a lot of room for improvement. It doesn't help his cause that the team's top receiver, Matt Jones, has dealt with some groin issues, either. If Jones is healthy, however, he'll be able to use his 6-foot-6 frame to abuse the Redskins' struggling No. 1 corner, Carlos Rogers.

Until D.C. gets Shawn Springs back, its secondary simply won't be that good.

Ultimately, do the Redskins match up well with the Jaguars? Unfortunately for head coach Joe Gibbs, probably not. This will be a close game that should go down to the wire, but Washington isn't quite on the Jags' level. A win by the 'Skins, however, would take them back to the .500 mark and give their fans all kinds of hope, and rightly so.

--Got feedback? Connor J. Byrne is reachable via e-mail: cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

Get more on the Washington Redskins at RealFootball365.com.
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