Additions like Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, OLB Ryan Kerrigan, has made the Washington Redskins the top team in the NFC East for the first quarter of the 2011 season
The Washington Redskins are sitting in a spot where many NFL experts are surprised and fans are optimistic for a playoff season—at the top of the NFC East Division with 3-1 record.
Within the walls of Redskins Park, a solid start was expected, despite more work that needed to be done.
“I felt that from day one. I have a good feel for this group,” said Redskins head coach and executive vice president Mike Shanahan at his press conference Oct. 4. “I thought, when you take a look at the free agents, when you take a look at the draft choices, you really don’t know coming in. You think you have a feel for them, but, until you work with them, you don’t know for sure.
“It didn’t take long to feel that this is a very solid group both from a character standpoint as well as a playing standpoint.”
The Redskins started with an impressive victory over their division rival New York Giants (3-2), 28-14 at FedEx Field in Week 1 on Sept. 11. Washington did not have an astonishing performance from all three phrases for one outing thus far.
However, they managed and sustained control over their opponents to stay in striking distance for a win—which they did.
Washington slowed down Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in Week 2 for a 22-21 win. Fell short in Dallas for a primetime Monday Night game. In a tight outing where field goals were paramount, the Redskins gave up a third-and-21 play late in the fourth quarter when Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo connected with wide receiver Dez Bryant for a huge completion. Tapped with a 15-yard personal foul by Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall for his penalty on Bryant, the action set the Cowboys up with good field position to get a late field goal as the Redskins lost, 18-16. Continue reading “2011 Washington Redskins Notebook: First Quarter Review by Barry Barnes”
Taking it to the House 