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ASHBURN, Va. (AP) Fourth-and-3. Ball at the 18. Trailing by eight with 5:23 left. All three timeouts remaining.

Go for it? Or kick the field goal?

For Mike Shanahan, it was a no-brainer. The offense stayed on the field, and Rex Grossman found Santana Moss in the end zone for a touchdown. The play was a vital moment Sunday in the Washington Redskins' 22-21 comeback win over the Arizona Cardinals.

"That was basic football," the coach said. "There wasn't even a question about that."

Basic football. And percentage football. Mathematical studies have always shown that coaches should go for it on fourth down a whole lot more than they do.

But many, if not most, coaches don't play the percentages. They would kick the field goal to cut the lead to five, then rely on the defense to make a stop and postpone the needed touchdown until later. For one thing, it keeps the coach from looking bad - and maybe getting fired - for making a risky choice.

"I've always leaned to the other side, not very conservative," Shanahan said Monday. "I usually take chances. That's usually my mindset, but sometimes it all depends on the tempo of the game, what type of team you're facing, how good's your defense, how good's your running game going. A lot of ingredients will go into something like that."

It's that type of attitude that makes Shanahan so popular in the locker room. Offensive players throughout training camp kept saying how much they love the aggressiveness shown by Shanahan and his son, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, when it comes to calling plays and attacking the game.

If anything, that praise has grown now that the Redskins are off to a 2-0 start and alone in first place in the NFC East.

"I love this offense, man. That's one of the reasons I didn't want to go anywhere," said Moss, who opted to re-sign with the Redskins this year when he became a free agent. "It took me this long to be a part of something like this. ... I just love what Kyle does when it comes to his play-calling, and how he prepares us. He prepares us to go out there with that mentality and say ... whatever we did on those other downs, just put all that behind us and this is the down that matters."

Grossman certainly played into that mindset on the fourth-down touchdown, which came with the Redskins trailing 21-13. The first option was a simple pass to Jabar Gaffney in the right flat. Gaffney was open and would have had a short, tidy gain, enough for a first down in front of cornerback A.J. Jefferson.

"The play was designed to go to the flat," Grossman said. "And (the cornerback) just kind of settled his feet and jumped towards the flat. And I'd rather have the touchdown."

So Grossman threw to Moss, who had plenty of space ahead of rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson and safety Adrian Wilson.

"I didn't see nothing - but the ball," Moss said. "It was one of those situations, we kind of had everybody in a bunch on that side, and it was almost like `Choose who you want to cover.' We've got so much talent out here, we've got so many weapons, guys aren't going to be able to cover one guy all day. They chose to come down on Jabar and I was open in the corner."

The 2-point conversion failed, so the score was 21-19. The Redskins still had to ask their defense to make a stop, but all they needed was a field goal instead of a touchdown when they got the ball back. Graham Gano came through with a 34-yard field goal with 1:45 to play to settle the game.

"Some people kick a field goal, some people go for it," Shanahan said. "Either way, you've got to do what you think gives you the best chance to win. I just felt at that time of the game, we needed to score a touchdown. And the percentages were with us with that down and distance."

Shanahan said he's examined the studies about fourth down percentages, but it's also important to note that cold numbers can't replicate intangibles such as emotion and momentum. When it comes time to make the call, it's usually based on good old coach's instinct.

"You go through all of them. When you're backed up, if you go for it on fourth-and-1, fourth-and-2, on your 2-yard line, on your 1-yard line, what's the percentages after three-and-out of getting a field goal," Shanahan said. "You go through all those stats, but usually it comes down to a gut feel."

Notes: Shanahan said CB Josh Wilson has a combination of lower back, head and neck injuries from Sunday's game. Asked about Wilson's chances for next week's Monday night game at Dallas, the coach said: "He was little more sore today than he was after the game, so we'll wait and see." ... Shanahan wouldn't say whether Fred Davis has surpassed Chris Cooley as the No. 1 tight end. Davis leads the team in receiving after two games with 191 yards, while Cooley didn't have a catch Sunday and is still working his way back from a knee injury. "We've got two excellent football players," Shanahan said. "Those are the problems that we want. We will play the best players. If we have four tight ends that are the best players, we won't have wide receivers out on the field." ... Fourth-round draft pick Roy Helu is the latest Redskins rookie to impress early in the season. He had 74 yards on 10 carries Sunday. "Once you've got to figure out how to teach a running back to run, then you've got the wrong running back," Shanahan said. "When you've got a guy like Helu, you don't know why guys make plays, but the great ones do, and I think Helu has given people the idea that he does have skills." ... A week after declining Victory Monday, the players accepted the day off this week. For one thing, the team has an extra day to prepare for a Monday game.

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The Redskins continued their historical dominance of the Arizona Cardinals, winning 22-21 at home and are now 2-0 for the first time since 2007 and in sole 1st place of the NFC East.

You could say the Redskins held on to victory, literally - dominating time of possession (38:13) as well as total number of plays with 78 (43 passing, 35 rushing) compared to the Cardinals' 45 plays. In fact, the Redskins lead the NFL in average time of possession with 35:33 and are tied for 1st for with 71.5 average total plays per game.

More important than the time of possession however, seems to be the legitimacy of the notion that the Redskins are a 'different' team this year - as many players have been suggesting all through preseason.

Through two games, it’s hard to doubt some differences.

Running Game

Gone are the days placing all hope on Clinton Portis. Shanahan’s strategic commitment to a running game coupled with prudent acquisitions in Hightower and Helu have already reaped benefits. Versus the Cardinals, Tim Hightower led the Redskins against his former team with 18 carries for 92 yards, but it was Roy Helu who gave a counter punch by averaging 7.4 yards on 10 carries plus an additional 38 yards via the air. Ryan Torrain meanwhile, who proved to be a formidable running back when healthy last season, has yet to see a snap during this regular season.

Pass Rush

Rookie Ryan Kerrigan is having an immediate impact on a Redskins defense that suddenly seems more capable of causing havoc near the line of scrimmage including 3 sacks and a forced fumble against the Cards.

Receiver Options

Opposing defenses will need to game plan for more than just Santana Moss and Chris Cooley. Competition within the receiving core is keeping everybody sharp. Rex Grossman threw to 9 different receivers in the Arizona game for total of 291 yards.

Special Teams

Brandon Banks made a splash last season, but this season he’s demonstrating something more impressive: consistency. And although he hasn't broke one for a TD yet, the threat seems imminent every time he gets the ball. Redskins punter Sav Rocca has a beast of a leg and on the final play of the Cardinals game he delivered an impressive game-ending tackle that looked linebacker-esque.

Coaching

Credit needs to be given to the coaching staff. Offensive execution, while not perfect, is moving the ball down the field and putting points on the board. The Redskins are playing well-disciplined football having given up only 3 penalties in each of their first two games.

The once 20 to 1 long shot to win their division, the Redskins now shockingly lead the NFC East division alone while the Giants, 'dream team' Eagles, and ‘America’s team’ Cowboys have already tasted defeat.

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Arizona Cardinals @ Washington Redskins - Individual Player Review (ENTIRE GAME)

Rex Grossman

**3rd/8 - Nice pass to Moss +19.
**Clark Haggans knocks down pass, with Cooley wide open and Rex would have had him for big hit.
**Hits Fred Davis wide open + 25. TE's could not be covered well all day. Next throw, dangerous read but Kerry Rhodes breaks it up (near INT, late)
**Rex INC on 3rd for Moss - tight window but penalty on brawl extends drive.
**Rex misses wide open TH 25 in left flat on 2nd down, for possible TD.
**First INT, was triple bunch spray to right, with TH 25 split wide left. Moss ran in-out route, and broke in, as Rex fired out to Rhodes. (3 pts at least lost)
****3rd/2 - nice turn around throw/catch perfect timing for first down to Gaffney.  + 22 on PA fake sitting in zone on next play to JG.
**2nd interception, Rex leads a bit too far, but Armstrong was held at the cut of his break on the shoulder and then Jefferson also held his forearm as ball got to AAA.
**Grossman throws away 3rd/G/7 play, after Trent penalty.
**Rex near 3rd INT against AJ Jefferson, in trail, holding back of uniform. Good call, thought it was cheap live.
**Next play, Rex hits Fred on post corner to left, without Paris Lenon. Backup bites on PA fake to TH-25 out of 'I"
**Rex PA 1- back fake to Hightower left, bootleg to right, throw to left to Davis +40. Set, composure, should have thrown a touch earlier.
**Hesitates on 3rd/5, pumps incomplete to Santana - better obviously vs. INT, looked like same type of underneath throw.
**Rex swats down a batted ball from 92 (D. Williams)  - 1st of 2 times (How hard to find throwing lanes)
**Rex and Jabar draw 2 penalties on same play, DPI & illegal contact.
**Wild throw to DY INC, because Dockett beats JB and pounds him hard.
**Incomplete on 3rd down hit hard by Dockett, same drive on loop rush, threw high.
**Busted Screen gets Rex hard hit by Haggans.
**Hits Jabar on 20-yard slant + Fred on 3rd/1 short out on 21-13 drive.
**Another knockdown of pass at Arizona-30 (Vonnie)
**4th/3 @ AZ-18 -shotgun - motions Gaffney to right, to create triple bunch spray, has Gaffney wide open on out underneath for easy first down. Great blocking combo by Will & Chester, JB swallows his guy,  to Santana on post corner route, beating Peterson and Adrian Wilson. Helu in offset of Rex, doesnt' stay in to block - leaks out underneath.
**2 point conversion, batted up in air as Hightower motioned out wide to left, on quick read.
**Rex great read to Fred for 15 - on 1st down on GA drive vs Joey Porter, 2nd down - quick throw + 4  to Davis at feet. Next play, quick out to Santana to inside Cards territory.
**3rd/4 - Rex gets batted up in air by Calais Campbell, and bats down his own pass (2nd time) -- Cards had 1 timout left -- Why not run it, to kill clock and force them to use timeout? Lack of confidence in Gano? Agressive mentality that they can get 1st down.

Tim Hightower

**Run off Right +6 - 2nd run - Cooley in motion left - and nobody blocks Adrian Wilson who swallows up 25.
**Wide open in L-flat inside 5 - while Rex goes to right side.
**TH goes stretch left and Joey Porter fights off DY and drags him down hard. Told Fox he took offense to guarantee.
**TH stretch left - +5. Fred loses block. Chester gets good push but nails guy into  block.
*****Hightower + 10 on cut back to right, with JB plastering Dockett, Gaffney great block at POA. TH got real low. DY had a nice seal. (8-30)
**TH goes down, in open space - tripping on Chris Chester -- looks very frustrated and almost mad?
**TH, one play after with good hook/seal block by Trent picks up big gain, and lowers shoulder.
**TH + 5 on 1-cut down, and on next play (14th carry) for 20 yard gain. Chris Chester nice combo block, JB good as well.
**Good PA sell out of I - on TD to Fred Davis.  (Gives fist bump and has words with Rex whose smiling after TD??))
**TH + 5 off LT, + 5to AZ 20 on 2nd down. 3rd Down/5 at AZ-20, run left out of Trips right WR formation, stopped for two yards because nobody picked up Kerry Rhodes (T-Rock "Interesting call")
**

**Pass Protection - Hit defender hard and went down to ground, on 1st completion up middle split back.
**Scuffle big time breaks out - Hightower on pass pro scuffles with .....throws him to ground ...Paris Lenon - Chester pulls him off of Hightower. 25 of Arizona draws PF for UNR actually swats official. TH25 gets into him, then goes after again with back turned to play. 2nd effort, then gets tangled and suplexed. **Huge penalty to give 1st and Goal.
**Rex sacked by Rhodes, as DY and JB engage in two man block of Dockett, out of I formation-play action. TH steps up after PA fake, and couldn't get back on sack. Not his fault.
**Hightower gets key blitz block - then leaks out for nice screen reception to end first QTR, after a nice 5 yard run on quick cut (Chester)
**Paris Lenon gets hurt - has to come out. Hightower checked on him, according to FOX.
**Nice blitz pickup on wide rush, on 3rd/5 incompletion.

Roy Helu

**Gets first carry with less then a minute left in 1st quarter, stretch right.
**Shifty cut for big run, JB great wall off block, Chester as well. Kory falls down at point of go. Gaffney great blocking up field.
**Helu nice shift cut left to 2 -yard line. JB good 2nd level block, to set up FG.
***Helu 33 yard screen left behind & then in front of Kory who dives out and obstructs and Will who was racing down field.
**Helu - excellent one cut back to right against grain right after screen to get to 10-yard line.
**Great, sharp cut to right for 7 yard gain. Next play, rips off 18 yard gain, with Fred and Trent opening up tunnel.
**Helu Quick hitch to right stopped on 2nd/1.
**In on final GA drive - after three consecutive completions, snaps off shifty cut back run. Great vision and cutback.
**Before 2 min warning, stretched out to left, as Cooley loses block - stays in-bounds which lets Arizona use 1st timeout. Gaffney was trying to call timeout before snap.

Darrell Young

**Had a reception on dump off.
**Good blocking on Hightower +10 on seal.
**Missed blitzer out of I- play action and helped out JB on pressure, to allow sack.
**Crushed KO returner, AJ Jefferson at 28-yard line, after Lorenzo gets hit hard, and slipped the tackle.
**3rd/1 - DY in slight off set I showing strong run with quick cut back as lead guy for 7 yards, 1st down.

Brandon Banks

**Two yards back in end zone, up left sideline - nice block by Niles Paul for 26 yards.
**Banks on first PR, gets up motioning to Josh Wilson as they crossed.
**Banks takes one 8 yards back and returns 23 yards to WSH - 15. Not a good decision overall. No room to run up sideline
**Banks with huge return from sideline to sideline all the way around, plus draws the face mask penalty. On play, Lorenzo lays a crushing block and gets bell rung, also Perry Riley had a monster all out block and clean hit at POA.
**Banks w/ return 8 yards deep (good lead block by Kedric) **Also punishing hit by Niles Paul as lead return back (50, 84, 95, 45, 52, 37, 36, 56,) - Looks like Paul went H 2 H with gunner.

Team Offense

**After Helu gets them to 11 early in 4th quarter, stretch run wide that gets stuffed. 2nd- Screen Left to Helu rode OOB by Stewart Bradley. 3rd- Short completion underneath to J Gaff. EVERYTHING SHORT/CONSERVATIVE Down 14-10 with 11 Plus minutes left. No attempts at paydirt??
**Gaffney tries to call timeout on Helu blown up run - before two-minute warning. Instead, Cards call TO after play at 2:03, then Redskins call TO # 1 still at 2:03 before another play run.
**Redskins call another time-out on 3rd/4 at 1:57 before play is run, after shift to 3 WR left. Timeout tango, but better than making a mistake. Conservative, but wouldn't allow Redskins to stop clock more then once.

Trent Williams

**Good block and wall on OLB on first completion
**Trent over runs a WR screen block because he's so athletic.
**Excellent "hook" and seal block on Hightower hard charging run off left side.
**False start knee buckle on 3rd and Goal from 2.
**Gets spun around on block on TH run
**Nice seal block on Helu off LT, along with Fred.

Jammal Brown

**Good push and seal on first run from Hightower.
**Great job on nice shifty Helu run, opening up a massive hole.
**Got pushed back at 13:09 in 4th on Helu stretch right.

Will Montgomery

**Good lead run (didn't hit anybody) on Helu 33-yard screen.
*Also helped Chester on combo block, for a big 20-yard gain.
**High shotgun snap on Gaffney completion near end of first half.
**Dockett loops around and beats Will for hard hit on Rex 3rd Down incompletion.

Kory Lichtensteiger

*Gets beat on blitz for big pressure, incompletion to Donte' with no back for protection.

Chris Chester

**Excellent push on first run off right side to 2nd level
**Pushes block right into pile from right to left stopping one run.
**Had great 2nd level block on run to end 1st QTR.
**On Helu first big run, did a nice job sealing off back side.
**Got pushed back at 13:09 in 4th on Helu stretch right.

Chris Cooley

**Good blocking early on, in motion, 2B tight end set.
**Targeted for big hit, on first drive, knocked down by Haggans.
*** Excellent engaged block in open field on 53 to blow him out, with Helu running through a huge hole.
**Intended for CC, nice break up by DB along sideline, with great protection by Trent.

**Loses Block on Helu stretch run left near two minute warning.

Donte Stallworth

**Quick hitch on 1st drive.
**Quick hit w/ pressure --  stop, stutter and cross for open 9-yard gain.

Santana Moss

**Nice twisting catch early on 3rd/8 (600)
**Moss TD on post corner - on 4th down beating Peterson and Rhodes.

Anthony Armstrong

**Quick hitch throw, leaping in air. Fox came back late.
**Quick out throw at two minute warning.

Fred Davis

**Square out, wide open flat to right catch and run for 25.
**40-yard reception on underthrown slightly ball from Rex on PA fake L
**Excellent wall block with great arm extension on Helu 18 yard run to left w/ Trent at 11.
**3rd/1 - short square out drag for first down w/ 7 mins left.
**1st down - + 15 vs Joey Porter on out to mid field. 2nd down, next play - nice concentration on low throw to feet for + 4.

Jabar Gaffney

**3rd/2 - nice turn around catch perfect timing for first down.
**+ 22 on PA fake sitting in zone on next play.
**Good blocking several times on run plays
**Sit down on 2nd down at Cards-10.
**Wants DPI on quick slant on AJ Jefferson who comes over top. Good non call on 3rd down INC.
**20-yard slant catch to left, perfect throw, catch, route, spin of ball like Santana

Barry Cofield

**Blown off LOS on first Wells carry of 2nd half, right up gut. + 9.
**Redskins not able to hold on 3rd/1 run.
*Had a huge swat down of Kolb pass, playing almost every nickel situation with Carriker to his right

London Fletcher

*****Big run stop, on 1st down - then big pass rush on 2nd down to force INC - another huge pass rush to force INC all on first series.
**Wells runs past shooting Fletcher, also stiff arms Kevin Barnes on first drive, 2nd half.
**Huge pressure off left edge of D, outside of Kerrigan, with Barnes shooting from nickel slot to force illegal grounding. 2nd in as many weeks for defense.

**Interception off Kerrigan deflection.

Ryan Kerrigan

**Runs and explodes from LOLB behind LOS - to chase down Beanie Wells.
**Gets first sack near end of half. Power bull rush, gets underneath Brandon Keith pads and drives back, then sheds in nickel.
**Helped big time on Rocky Mac sack, getting low on RT, and getting hand on Kolb.
**Had Man coverage in left "slot' on WR bunch, took up the field, across and deflected in trail position with a lunge the ball up in the air for London's INT.
****3rd/7 after penalty at 4:30 - Kerrigan reads and knocks down pass from Kolb to help save game.

Rocky McIntosh

**Good twist rush with London on 3rd down first drive.
**Sack on great rush from right side, after Kerrigan got underneath Keith and got hand on Kolb, Mac finished off.
**Rocky gets sucked in on Wells TD, and doesn't hold outside contain.
**Badly misses tackle after shedding blocker because he goes high.

Brian Orakpo

*May have been held on reception to Roberts that set up first Cards score.
**2nd/7 - monster sack/blind side hit to force pass up in air, beating Jeff King to force 3rd/15.
**Knocks down the very next pass on 3rd/15.

Josh Wilson

**Missed tackle on Roberts catch on left sideline that set up King TD, after IN
**Slipped on pass off crossing pattern with TE Jeff King going to corner for TD - Reed funneled outside.
**Good tackle on short reception underneath.
**Along with Rocky, beat by King/Kolb for + 15 to left.
**On tackle, he got hurt, helmet to hip/thigh  - lowered a bit to much.

Byron Westbrook

**Crunching hit on Patrick Peterson, along with Niles Paul at the Cards-10 on PR.
**Fitgerald beats Westbrook underneath zone as DHall has deep coverage on another WR for big gain.
**Blindside tackle of Chansi Stuckey to force fumble and turnover to end game. (Reed Doughty recovers)

DeAngelo Hall

**Great quick pick route tackle on Fitzgerald in open space after 2- yard gain.
**Good pass breakup on 2nd/5 intended for Roberts over middle. On next play, 3rd Down - Hall belts receiver for catch but

gets slightly carried over for first down.
**Another quick WR screen, DHall blows up at RCB. 2nd times today.
**Short completion to Fitz, DHall gets tangled up and gets shoved by Jeff King. Tempers.
**Great sprawling break up of slant to Fitzgerald.
**Hall another nice tackle of Fitzgerald in open space, as Barnes gets hurt.
**Gets torced on the double move and go vertical route by Fitzgerald for TD. Gave some cushion, 4 man set.

Team Defense

**Allowed huge center of field draw out of 4 WR spread shotgun formation, with only 4 rush, 6 in the deep box, and nickel coverage. Uncovered left slot WR runs free and obstructs Rocky at POA, because of free release and Wells runs past Reed, Brandyn to WASH-28.
**Also on go-ahead Cards drive, again Redskins get spread out, and Wells attacks up middle with Nickel personnel, Cofield/Carriker DL - 5 in run box and OC has free shot to London inside 3.
**Wells bounce to the right on short TD jumbo formation -- Carriker, Cofield, Bowen, London, Rocky, Reed -- Rocky beaten off edge and pinned in. (All without Barnes/Wilson - big runs from spread formation)
**Wells again out of spread 4 WR formation, up middle as Cofield gets knocked down, Carriker takes really wide loop right rush, opening up huge gain.
**Forced 2nd Intentional Grounding in as many games, with London Fletcher forcing this one, along with K. Barnes from left side overload outside of Kerrigan. **Gave up huge TD to Fitzgerald on same exact Fletcher/Barnes blitz, this time flipped to right side of defense. Fletcher blasts Kolb.

DiJon Gomes

**Hurt left hamstring on punt return at 4:20 left.

Graham Gano

**FG early twisting -- Calais Campbell blocks FGA at end of half with :34 left. (in between Trent & Carriker)
**KO OOB to left corner, trying to pin for some reason.
**After FG to make it 14-13, Gano draw kicks short left at goalline, AJ Jefferson returns on a nice twiting 33 yarder, breaking

tackle of Lorenzo and Rob Jax may have had chance.
**KO after Moss TD to right and touchback out of end zone.
*GA 35 -yard FG with 1:45 left.
**KO way out of end zone after GA FG - lots of energy in leg.

-Chris Russell // RussellC@Redskins.com // www.twitter.com/russellmania980

Arizona Cardinals @ Washington Redskins - Individual Player Review (FIRST HALF)

Rex Grossman

**3rd/8 - Nice pass to Moss +19.
**Clark Haggans knocks down pass, with Cooley wide open and Rex would have had him for big hit.
**Hits Fred Davis wide open + 25. TE's could not be covered well all day. Next throw, dangerous read but Kerry Rhodes breaks it up (near INT, late)
**Rex INC on 3rd for Moss - tight window but penalty on brawl extends drive.
**Rex misses wide open TH 25 in left flat on 2nd down, for possible TD.
**First INT, was triple bunch spray to right, with TH 25 split wide left. Moss ran in-out route, and broke in, as Rex fired out to Rhodes. (3 pts at least lost)
****3rd/2 - nice turn around throw/catch perfect timing for first down to Gaffney.  + 22 on PA fake sitting in zone on next play to JG.
**2nd interception, Rex leads a bit too far, but Armstrong was held at the cut of his break on the shoulder and then Jefferson also held his forearm as ball got to AAA.
**Grossman throws away 3rd/G/7 play, after Trent penalty.
**Rex near 3rd INT against AJ Jefferson, in trail, holding back of uniform. Good call, thought it was cheap live.
**Next play, Rex hits Fred on post corner to left, without Paris Lenon. Backup bites on PA fake to TH-25 out of 'I"

Tim Hightower

**Run off Right +6 - 2nd run - Cooley in motion left - and nobody blocks Adrian Wilson who swallows up 25.
**Wide open in L-flat inside 5 - while Rex goes to right side.
**TH goes stretch left and Joey Porter fights off DY and drags him down hard. Told Fox he took offense to guarantee.
**TH stretch left - +5. Fred loses block. Chester gets good push but nails guy into  block.
*****Hightower + 10 on cut back to right, with JB plastering Dockett, Gaffney great block at POA. TH got real low. DY had a nice seal. (8-30)
**TH goes down, in open space - tripping on Chris Chester -- looks very frustrated and almost mad?
**TH, one play after with good hook/seal block by Trent picks up big gain, and lowers shoulder.
**TH + 5 on 1-cut down, and on next play (14th carry) for 20 yard gain. Chris Chester nice combo block, JB good as well.
**Good PA sell out of I - on TD to Fred Davis.  (Gives fist bump and has words with Rex whose smiling after TD??)

**Pass Protection - Hit defender hard and went down to ground, on 1st completion up middle split back.
**Scuffle big time breaks out - Hightower on pass pro scuffles with .....throws him to ground ...Paris Lenon - Chester pulls him off of Hightower. 25 of Arizona draws PF for UNR actually swats official. TH25 gets into him, then goes after again with back turned to play. 2nd effort, then gets tangled and suplexed.**Huge penalty to give 1st and Goal.
**Rex sacked by Rhodes, as DY and JB engage in two man block of Dockett, out of I formation-play action. TH steps up after PA fake, and couldn't get back on sack. Not his fault.
**Hightower gets key blitz block - then leaks out for nice screen reception to end first QTR, after a nice 5 yard run on quick cut (Chester)
**Paris Lenon gets hurt - has to come out. Hightower checked on him, according to FOX.

Roy Helu

**Gets first carry with less then a minute left in 1st quarter, stretch right.
**Shifty cut for big run, JB great wall off block, Chester as well. Kory falls down at point of go. Gaffney great blocking up field.
**Helu nice shift cut left to 2 -yard line. JB good 2nd level block, to set up FG.
***Helu 33 yard screen left behind & then in front of Kory who dives out and obstructs and Will who was racing down field.
**Helu - excellent one cut back to right against grain right after screen to get to 10-yard line.

Darrell Young

**Had a reception on dump off.
**Good blocking on Hightower +10 on seal.
**Missed blitzer out of I- play action and helped out JB on pressure, to allow sack.
**Crushed KO returner, AJ Jefferson at 28-yard line, after Lorenzo gets hit hard, and slipped the tackle.

Brandon Banks

**Two yards back in end zone, up left sideline - nice block by Niles Paul for 26 yards.
**Banks on first PR, gets up motioning to Josh Wilson as they crossed.
**Banks takes one 8 yards back and returns 23 yards to WSH - 15. Not a good decision overall. No room to run up sideline
**Banks with huge return from sideline to sideline all the way around, plus draws the face mask penalty. On play, Lorenzo lays a crushing block and gets bell rung, also Perry Riley had a monster all out block and clean hit at POA.

Trent Williams

**Good block and wall on OLB on first completion
**Trent over runs a WR screen block because he's so athletic.
**Excellent "hook" and seal block on Hightower hard charging run off left side.
**False start knee buckle on 3rd and Goal from 2.
**Gets spun around on block on TH run

Jammal Brown

**Good push and seal on first run from Hightower.
**Great job on nice shifty Helu run, opening up a massive hole.

Will Montgomery

**Good lead run (didn't hit anybody) on Helu 33-yard screen.
*Also helped Chester on combo block, for a big 20-yard gain.
**High shotgun snap on Gaffney completion near end of first half.

Chris Chester

**Excellent push on first run off right side to 2nd level
**Pushes block right into pile from right to left stopping one run.
**Had great 2nd level block on run to end 1st QTR.
**On Helu first big run, did a nice job sealing off back side.

Chris Cooley

**Good blocking early on, in motion, 2B tight end set.
**Targeted for big hit, on first drive, knocked down by Haggans.
*** Excellent engaged block in open field on 53 to blow him out, with Helu running through a huge hole.

Donte Stallworth

**Quick hitch on 1st drive.

Santana Moss

**Nice twisting catch on 3rd/8 (600)

Fred Davis

**Square out, wide open flat to right catch and run for 25.

Jabar Gaffney

**3rd/2 - nice turn around catch perfect timing for first down.
**+ 22 on PA fake sitting in zone on next play.
**Good blocking several times on run plays
**Sit down on 2nd down at Cards-10.
**Wants DPI on quick slant on AJ Jefferson who comes over top. Good non call on 3rd down INC.

London Fletcher

**Big run stop, on 1st down - then big pass rush on 2nd down to force INC - another huge pass rush to force INC all on first series.

Ryan Kerrigan

**Runs and explodes from LOLB behind LOS - to chase down Beanie Wells.
**Gets first sack near end of half. Power bull rush, gets underneath Brandon Keith pads and drives back, then sheds in nickel.

Rocky McIntosh

**Good twist rush with London on 3rd down first drive.

Brian Orakpo

*May have been held on reception to Roberts that set up first Cards score.
**2nd/7 - monster sack/blind side hit to force pass up in air, beating Jeff King to force 3rd/15.
**Knocks down the very next pass on 3rd/15.

Josh Wilson

**Missed tackle on Roberts catch on left sideline that set up King TD, after IN
**Slipped on pass off crossing pattern with TE Jeff King going to corner for TD - Reed funneled outside.
**Good tackle on short reception underneath.
**Along with Rocky, beat by King/Kolb for + 15 to left.

DeAngelo Hall

**Great quick pick route tackle on Fitzgerald in open space after 2- yard gain.
**Good pass breakup on 2nd/5 intended for Roberts over middle. On next play, 3rd Down - Hall belts receiver for catch but gets slightly carried over for first down.

Graham Gano

**FG early twisting -- Calais Campbell blocks FGA at end of half with :34 left. (in between Trent & Carriker)

Chris Russell // www.twitter.com/russellmania980 // RussellC@Redskins.com

Redskins improve to 2-0 with a 22-21 win over Arizona on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 18, 2011).


1. The Skins are 2-0 for the first time since 2007.

This team is well-coached (the Skins committed just three penalties for a second straight game) and much better in terms of talent and execution this season as compared to last season.  But a great start guarantees a team nothing.  The 2008 Skins started 6-2 but finished 8-8.  The 2003 Skins started 3-1 but finished 5-11.  The 1997 Skins started 3-1 and finished 8-7-1.  The 1996 Skins started 7-1 but finished 9-7.  Heck, last season’s Skins started 4-3 but finished 6-10.


2. The Skins’ four starting linebackers were outstanding.

Each of the Skins’ four sacks in the Week 1 win over the Giants was by a defensive lineman.  Each of the Skins’ three sacks in this game was by a linebacker.

Rookie Ryan Kerrigan power rushed right tackle Brandon Keith for a second-quarter sack and also had two passes defended, including one on a fourth-quarter third-and-seven.  Kerrigan also provided heavy pressure on the play that resulted in linebacker Rocky McIntosh’s third-quarter sack and on the very next play may have tipped the ball on linebacker London Fletcher’s interception.  And Kerrigan tackled running back Beanie Wells on a one-yard second-quarter gain and was in on a tackle of running back Chester Taylor on a run of no gain in the third quarter.

McIntosh finished with a team-high eight tackles.

Fletcher also had two of the Skins’ five quarterback hits.

Linebacker Brian Orakpo had a spine-crushing sack that forced a fumble in the second quarter.  Orakpo abused tight end Jeff King and then walloped quarterback Kevin Kolb from his blindside.  The ball could’ve been recovered by defensive lineman Adam Carriker but was instead recovered by Kolb.

The Skins’ 3-4 defense is modeled in many ways on Pittsburgh’s.  What has made the Steelers defense so good over the years is its linebacking corps of LaMarr Woodley, James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons and James Harrison.  At least in this game, the Skins’ linebackers made the case that they too can be ultra-impactful.


3. The Skins’ defense aside from the linebackers was mixed.

Corner DeAngelo Hall did a nice job on receiver Larry Fitzgerald until his 73-yard fourth-quarter touchdown reception.  Take away that catch and Fitzgerald had six catches for 60 yards.  Of course, that’s a big thing to take away.

Corner Josh Wilson struggled on the Cardinals’ two-play first-quarter touchdown drive (missed on a tackle on receiver Andre Roberts’ 16-yard reception and stumbled in attempting to cover King on his 21-yard touchdown reception) and then suffered a back injury.  The notion of now two starting defensive backs being out (safety LaRon Landry did not play again due to his hamstring) obviously is not good.

Running back Beanie Wells had 11 carries for 87 yards (7.9 yards per carry) and a touchdown in the second half.

Corner Byron Westbrook came up huge with a fourth-quarter forced fumble that essentially sealed the game.  Safety Reed Doughty, who again started in Landry’s place, came up with the recovery.


4. The final score shouldn’t have been so close.

The Skins dominated the stat sheet.  They had 28 first downs to the Cardinals’ 16, outgained the Cardinals 455-324 and won the time-of-possession battle by 17 minutes.  But the Skins won by just one point and had to overcome a 21-13 fourth-quarter deficit to do so, thanks in large part to going 2-for-7 in the red zone and 6-for-17 on third downs.


5. Quarterback Rex Grossman had a mixed bag of a game.

Grossman completed 25 of 43 passes for 291 yards, two touchdowns and two picks.  He finished with a passer rating of 74.9 a week after registering a 110.5.

Grossman threw two first-quarter picks, though only the first one was his fault.  He made a terrible throw on a third-and-goal at the six, not setting his feet and committing a turnover in the red zone.  But the second pick was the result of receiver Anthony Armstrong tipping the ball into the arms of corner Richard Marshall.  And the reason Armstrong tipped the ball with one arm was because the other was held by corner A.J. Jefferson.  No penalty was called, though Jefferson was called for pass interference on a first-and-goal at the nine in the second quarter.

Bad Rex also included a first-quarter pass intended for tight end Fred Davis nearly being picked off and a third-quarter under-throw to Davis on a 40-yard reception that perhaps otherwise would’ve resulted in a touchdown.  

Also, a number of Grossman’s passes were batted in the air. The Cardinals finished with 13 passes defended.  Grossman is listed as being 6-foot-1 but that may be a generous listing.

But we saw plenty of good Rex as well.  He made an excellent throw on the fourth-quarter fourth-down 18-yard touchdown pass to receiver Santana Moss, who had a big fourth-down catch for a second consecutive game.  Grossman went 4-of-5 for 37 yards on the fourth-quarter drive that resulted in kicker Graham Gano’s go-ahead 34-yard field goal.  Grossman had a nice one-yard second-quarter touchdown pass to Davis.  Grossman did an excellent job of getting the ball to running back Tim Hightower in the face of major pressure on a 10-yard first-quarter reception.  And Grossman was pressured but found Moss for a seven-yard connection on the first play of the second quarter.          


6. The Skins’ offensive line was much better in this game as compared to Week 1.

Grossman was sacked just once.  He was hit eight times, but the blitz-happy Cardinals brought pressure for much of the game.

The Skins rushed for 172 yards on 35 carries (4.9 yards per carry), a far cry from 74 yards on 26 carries (2.8 yards per carry) in the win over the Giants.

Give (from left to right) Trent Williams, Kory Lichtensteiger, Will Montgomery, Chris Chester and Jamal Brown credit.  Each (especially Williams) received at least a good amount of criticism last week, and each deserves praise this week.


7. The Skins’ distribution of carries again stood out.

The former Cardinal Hightower had 20 carries for 96 yards but just five carries for 13 yards in the second half.  Head coach Mike Shanahan said Hightower was tired.

Rookie Roy Helu had 10 carries for 74 yards and three catches for 38 yards, including a terrific second-quarter 33-yard reception.

Ryan Torain did not play once again.


8. A changing of the guard at tight end may well be taking place.

Davis had a team-high six catches for a team-high 86 yards and a touchdown.  He now has 11 catches for 191 yards through two games.

Chris Cooley, whose knee still may not be 100-percent healthy, was held catch-less.  He was targeted just twice.  Davis was targeted seven times.


9. Returner Brandon Banks again made big plays.

Banks had a 35-yard second-quarter punt return that drew a 15-yard face-mask penalty and a 26-yard punt return on the final play of the third quarter.  He had a 25-yard punt return in the win over the Giants.  Don’t let the regularity of lengthy Banks returns take away from how impressive they are.


10. Gano bounced back nicely and punter Sav Rocca remains a bright spot.

Gano, off missing a 39-yard field goal in Week 1 and going 24-for-35 on field goals last season, went 3-for-4 on field goals, including 2-for-2 in the fourth quarter.  His one miss was a block by 6-foot-8 defensive end Calais Campbell in the second quarter.  Gano hasn’t exactly been reliable, but remember he had three game-winning field goals in overtime last season.  A major negative from Gano in this game was the second-half-opening kickoff that went out of bounds, giving the Cardinals the ball on the 40.  The possession ended with the Fletcher pick.

Rocca placed two of his three punts inside the 20 and now has placed six of nine punts inside the 20 this season.  He also provided the game-ending tackle on rookie corner Patrick Peterson’s punt return.

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) The Washington Redskins sit alone atop the NFC East. They are 2-0 for the first time since 2007, which just happens to be the last time they made the playoffs.

They've already matched their number of home victories from last season. They never scored more than 20 points in any of their wins in 2010; they've already done that twice in 2011.

They keep saying they're a different team in their second year under coach Mike Shanahan. After Sunday's come-from-behind, 22-21 performance against the Arizona Cardinals, it might be time to start believing them.

"You can say what you want to about the Redskins of old," said Santana Moss, who caught a touchdown pass as part of a fourth-quarter rally, "but coach Shanahan has come in here and set everybody's mind to prepare for stuff like that, to know that even when we're down and out, we can still hang in there and be what we want to be."

There were certainly times when the Redskins looked like their old selves. They dominated most of the game statistically but kept finding ways to self-destruct. They got inside Arizona's 40 on their first five possessions and had only 10 points to show for it, with a pair of interceptions by Rex Grossman, a blocked field goal and a false start by left tackle Trent Williams at the 3-yard line among the miscues.

By early in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals had taken an eight-point lead. Grossman pulled it out with a 73-yard drive, capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Moss on fourth-and-3, and a 48-yard drive capped by Graham Gano's decisive 34-yard field goal with 1:45 to play.

Still, it wasn't until last-man-standing cornerback Byron Westbrook, on the field after injuries to three defensive backs, forced Chansi Stuckey to fumble to end the Cardinals' final drive that the fans could finally begin the chant of "We Want Dallas" ahead of next Monday's visit to the Cowboys.

"Throughout the course of the year, you are going to be put in a lot of adverse situations - and I feel like we are 1-for-1 on that," said Grossman, who completed 25 of 43 passes for 291 yards with two touchdowns and the pair of interceptions to earn his first fourth-quarter comeback win since 2007.

The Cardinals (1-1) have to feel fortunate to be at .500 considering they've allowed 932 yards in their first two games, including 455 to the Redskins. They took a 14-10 lead on Beanie Wells' 2-yard run in the third quarter and were up 21-13 after Larry Fitzgerald's 73-yard touchdown catch with 10:58 remaining in the game, but their offense held the ball for only 1:23 of the fourth quarter while Grossman methodically worked the comeback.

Asked about his team's late-game defense, coach Ken Whisenhunt replied: "When did we play good defense the whole day?"

He also noted that the Cardinals are still adjusting to two new coordinators, so it's a bit early to draw firm conclusions.

"We've been together for two games and training camp. It's really early to make those judgments," Whisenhunt said. "I think everyone in the NFL now wants to make snap judgments on a weekly basis. We changed our scheme; we knew it was going to be tough. I'm not pleased that we haven't played better and we need to work to do that. That's what we're going to do."

Arizona has lost eight straight to the Redskins and hasn't won in Washington since 1998. Happy to extend that streak was Tim Hightower, traded by the Cardinals shortly after the end of the NFL lockout. He ran for 96 yards on 20 carries and started a scuffle that netted a 15-yard roughness penalty against his old team. Rookie Roy Helu added 74 yards, part of the team's 172-yard rushing day.

Redskins tight end Fred Davis had another big game, with six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. The defense got sacks from three different linebackers.

Yet Washington won by a mere single point. Shanahan might be 2-0 with this team, but he's not short on coaching material.

"You have to be able to close the door," Shanahan said. "We didn't close the door. ... You've got to find a way to win even though you're going to make some mistakes. It's a little bit of a chess game sometimes, and we're lucky that we snuck one away from them."

Notes: Arizona was short on inside linebackers after Daryl Washington was scratched with a strained right calf and Paris Lenon played hurt after spraining his right ankle in the first half. ... Arizona QB Kevin Kolb hit 17 of 30 passes for 251 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. ... Fitzgerald's TD catch was his 66th, tying Roy Green for the Cardinals' franchise record. He also had 133 yards receiving for his 27th career 100-yard game, tying Anquan Boldin's franchise mark. ... Westbrook was needed late in the game after CB Josh Wilson injured his back in the third quarter and CB Kevin Barnes went down with cramps. S DeJon Gomes injured a hamstring, and S LaRon Landry (hamstring) didn't play for the second straight week.

© 2011 by STATS LLC and Associated Press.
Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

It certainly wasn't pretty, but not every win is going to be a masterpiece. It's more important to win ugly sometimes, as opposed to winning pretty -- because that might give you a false sense of security.

Mike Shanahan and his staff have PLENTY to work on, hammer and correct this week, while getting ready for the Dallas Cowboys a week from tonight at Cowboys Stadium on Monday Night Football.

Here are my "Quick Snaps" reactions and analysis to the Redskins 22-21 win over Arizona at Fed Ex Field on Sunday to improve to (2-0).

**Rex Grossman certainly was a mix of good and bad. The Redskins QB had entirely a abnormally large amount of  batted or tipped passes, along with two interceptions - including one as the Redskins were poised to at least walk away with three points. Grossman, could have had a few more interceptions along the way -- but got some help from the football gods. Despite some of the poor play, Grossman threw for nearly 300 yards -- and dialed up a huge 4th down touchdown throw to Santana Moss. He also hit Fred Davis in some key spots, besides the touchdown throw. Most notably, Davis caught two passes in a row to start the drive that led to the game-winning field goal.

**Graham Gano, probably -- saved Mike Shanahan and Danny Smith from bringing in some kickers for a try out this week, by hitting the go-ahead and game-winning field goal. After a missed kick last week, and a bad kickoff out-of-bounds this week,  a short kickoff that set up Larry Fitzgerald's bomb touchdown, along with a blocked field goal -- Gano simply HAD to make that kick. He did, and probably survives the week without the Redskins version of 'Try Out Tuesday'.

***The Redskins linebackers were just incredible on Sunday. London Fletcher had an interception, off a deflection from Ryan Kerrigan. Fletcher put tremendous heat all day long on Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb, including on the long bomb to Fitzgerald. Brian Orakpo, playing with a ankle that was not 100 percent, made it the entire game with no problems (he said) and had a huge sack and forced fumble. Kerrigan did a good job for the most part against the run, with one stop for a loss on the opposite side of the formation. He set up Fletcher's INT, with great man trail coverage, all the way across the field. Kerrigan also had his first sack of his career. Rocky McIntosh had a sack for an 8-yard loss as well, and has looked very good in the 2011 season so far.

**Outside of the one busted coverage, DeAngelo Hall did a good enough job against Fitzgerald, flopping side to side - which is exactly what we thought they would do all week. We wrote about it in Notable, Quotable, Reasonable on Friday, and mentioned it several times on ESPN 980 throughout the week. Hall, limited the Cardinals top target to six-catches for 60 yards, outside of the touchdown. It's probably close to what most people expected, as Hall is NOT a shut-down corner.

**I will have more during the day on Monday, as I get some time to watch the game tape, including thoughts on a big contribution from Roy Helu and an improved performance by the offensive line, especially on the run-blocking side of things.

-Chris Russell // RussellC@Redskins.com // www.twitter.com/russellmania980

A 2-0 start for the Redskins would generate a ton of excitement in town but it won't be easy getting there.  Arizona looked good offensively in Kevin Kolb's first game as a Cardinal.  Kolb has weapons galore led by one of the two best wide outs in the league, Larry Fitzgerald (the other Andre Johnson).  The Skins' defense played great in the 2nd half last week but they can't wait 30 minutes this week.  It's possible that they'll have to slow down Arizona without their two best defensive players, Landry and Orakpo.  Injuries leave teams in binds and the Skins are in one today if both of them are out.  Still, the game is at home, it's an early start and very early for a team coming from the west coast.

The Redskins will beat the Cardinals if...

1.  They disrupt Kevin Kolb.  They must get pressure and it would help if it comes up the middle forcing him out of the pocket.  Kolb was decisive last week and the ball got there accurately and quickly.  If he has time to throw it, they're going to move the ball and score.

2.  They outplay the Cardinals in the kicking game.  The Skins' must contain Patrick Peterson's punt returns. He went 89 yards last week for the game-winner.  Don't give him a chance even if it means you kick away from him.  He'll be a threat to win Rookie of the Year this season.  Let him earn it against everyone else on the schedule.  The Skins have been very good in kick coverage in recent years and were again last week.  Stephens-Howling is a threat as a kick returner but he's questionable today.  Additionally, Graham Gano can't miss another kick inside 47 yards.  When you get to the 30 in this league or "up here" as Coach Joe liked to say, three points should be a given.

3.  Rex is more "Good Rex" than "Bad Rex".  If Grossman can avoid the killer bad plays, his team has a chance in any game it plays this year.

Final Score Prediction:

Redskins 26, Cardinals 23 (OT)

In this edition of "Notable, Quotable, Reasonable" we take a  different approach  to look at the Washington Redskins - Arizona Cardinals Week # 2 duel at Fed Ex Field this Sunday at 1 PM.

Of course, you can listen to the Redskins attempt to go (2-0) for the first time since 2007 -  on ESPN -980 AM, 94.3 & 92.7 FM, www.espn980.com, the Washington Redskins Radio Network and on SIRIUS XM.

Notable:

**While the Redskins look to reverse what happened in Week # 2 of last year (a crushing blown lead, lost in overtime to Houston) -- Mike Shanahan, with a win would be (2-0) for the first time since 2008.

**The Redskins have beaten the Cardinals in seven straight. The last time Arizona beat Washington, was November 5, 2000. I was celebrating my one year wedding anniversary and found out that my wife was pregnant with my now 10-year old plus son,Tyler on that same day.

**The Cardinals are loaded on special teams. KR LaRod Stephens-Howling had a 27.2 per return average, with two touchdowns in 2010. Rookie PR, Patrick Peterson had an electrifying 89-yard return for his first career TD. PK Jay Feely has the 2nd most points generated in the NFL, since 2001, behind only David Akers. He did miss a relative chippy last week, indoors.

**Arizona was shredded in the air last week, against Cam Newton in his debut performance, to the tune of 422 yards. On Steve Smith's first long touchdown, the Cardinals blitzed rookie Patrick Peterson off-the-edge and well it didn't exactly work out.  Smith torched FS Kerry Rhodes by 10 yards for the score. On Smith's next touchdown, the Cardinals only rushed four -- and Smith beat Peterson in tight man coverage. Arizona's young CB on the other side of Peterson, A.J Jefferson was beaten a few times as well, but the Panthers also had some big plays taken away because of penalty.

**Vonnie Holliday, returns to Fed Ex Field, after have the 2nd most QB pressures on the entire Redskins defense last year (alarming to say the least), Holliday was traded early in training camp for Redskins starting RB Tim Hightower.  Holliday had one tackle last week.

Quotable:

Arizona HC Ken Whisenhunt on former Cardinal/current Redskins  RB Tim Hightower:

“Tim did a number of great things for us. There were a number of big games that we had here where Tim had significant contributions. He’s a good football player. It was not an easy decision to trade him, but, to be fair to Tim and give him an opportunity to be a starter based on what we projected his role to be here, we thought it was a good move for both teams. You never want to allow one of your good players to leave your team, but I had so much respect for Tim and what he did for us and I care about Tim. I know that he wanted to be the guy and have an opportunity to do that. Part of it was giving him thatopportunity.”

Arizona QB Kevin Kolb on facing the Redskins defense this week:

“I think the defensive unit is really good. The defensive unit is just as good as anybody. The linebackers are very talented being that I got a chance to go up against them for four years while I was in Philadelphia. Rookie linebacker Ryan Kerrigan is a special player. I think the Redskins have one of the best defenses in the league. I think we have our work cut out for us this week.”

Mike Shanahan on if LaRon Landry was able to practice more on Friday:

“He’s been working through a few more drills, but we’re not going to get into detail about those drills for obvious reasons.”

Reasonable:

**It's reasonable to expect that the Redskins will still struggle in the pass protection area, but perhaps not as bad as they did last week. The Cardinals use a base three-man front, with a nickel package that features Maryland native, Darnell Dockett kicking inside. Calais Campbell can get after the QB a bit, and the Cardinals got pressure and sacks from LB-Daryl Washington (Questionable), CB - Richard Marshall and S- Kerry Rhodes. They feature different looks and blitzes compared to  the Giants, but I don't think they have anybody with the natural pass rushing skills of Jason Pierre-Paul, and they may be inclined to blitz less after getting burnt a few times last week. They seemed to be at their best in man coverage, rushing 4 or 5 - which might be their best option against a veteran quarterback like Rex Grossman, on the road.

**It's reasonable to expect that DeAngelo Hall will at times - rotate sides of the field and trail Larry Fitzgerald with some man principles. Hall was non-committal to it on Thursday, when I asked him if they would allow it, saying "you have to ask Coach"which was his way (I believe) of not giving away game plan information. Hall did this exact strategy at times last year, specifically against Calvin Johnson and Detroit and in a couple of other match ups. Also expect to see FS Oshiomogho Atogwe keeping a very close eye on Fitzgerald, and perhaps always trailing the Cards top play-maker.

**It's reasonable to think that the Redskins and specifically Tim Hightower will run the ball better against the Cardinals, then they did against New York. For a second week in a row, Mike Shanahan on his "Coaches Show" segment with John Thompson and Rick "Doc" Walker, Shanahan stressed that he believes in a true 'balanced attack,' a principle that was not executed last year, but Washington was closer to that reality in Week 1. The Redskins ran the ball 26 times, and threw 34 times. Shanahan onESPN-980 on Friday said "we averaged 3 yards a carry -- that's not good enough. We'll get there."  Hightower for his part, told me in his press conference gathering -- that he missed some cutbacks, and just couldn't get his tempo down.

**It's not reasonable to expect TE-Fred Davis to go over 100 yards again, but Davis is always going to be a threat to stretch thefield, especially with Chris Cooley in the lineup. Davis has the athleticism and speed to stretch teams vertically more thenCooley, but Cooley's presence obviously means that you have to respect his ability to find open spots in zone coverage or against the blitz.

**It's reasonable to think that the Redskins will struggle defensively at times, against the high-powered attack of the Cardinals, but even if Brian Orakpo can not go, because of his ankle injury (questionable, game-time decision) -- I think the Redskins willstill be able to get a good pass rush out of Rob Jackson, who would start for Orakpo. Jackson turned the corner early last week on one rush, replacing Orakpo, and had a very impressive start in Jacksonville last year for Orakpo, yet again.  The Cardinals LT is Levi Brown, and he struggled at times against the Panthers talented defensive line. Remember, Washington upgraded the front line, with Stephen Bowen, Barry Cofield, and Chris Neild. When you sprinkle in Adam Carriker and Kedric Golston, thatshould be  enough. Obviously, the Redskins can also get pressure from Ryan Kerrigan - who was impressive last week for more then just the interception and from inside linebackers, London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh. Don't forget about blitzing from the secondary as well, a staple of Jim Haslett's defense - but I wouldn't expect to see a lot of that this week because of the coverage issues it could present.

-Chris Russell // RussellC@Redskins.com // www.twitter.com/russellmania980 // www.twitter.com/espnradio980