Redskins Roundup: Battered Redskins try to move on

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INJURY UPDATE: CB Josh Wilson and TE Fred Davis both passed their concussion tests, though it isn't certain Davis suffered a concussio last Sunday. Both players were limited in practice and it isn't clear if they will play on Sunday in the home opener. Ditto WR Pierre Garcon and SS Brandon Meriweather, who were also both limited in practice yesterday.

Speaking of injuries, Dan Daly writes that Brian Orakpo's injury history indicates he might have a short career. Lavar Arrington, anyone?

The Redskins are leading the NFL with 23 penalties after two games. Some of these penalties have been critical, but Head Coach Mike Shanahan doesn't seem concerned: 

 

“We’re a very disciplined team,” Shanahan said. “There’s a number of calls that shouldn’t have been called and a number that should have been. I guarantee you at the end of the day we won’t have those penalties….[Kory] Lichtensteiger was called for two penalties and he didn’t make either penalty. I’m not saying we didn’t make penalties, but it’s not as bad as it’s made out to be.”

In other words, the replacement officials are seeing a different game than the regular officials.

Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett and Special Teams Coach Danny Smith both received contract extensions during the past offseason. Meanwhile, through the first two weeks of this season, the special teams has had two punts blocked and the defense is giving up 31.5 points per game. The contract exttensions actually don't give Smith or Haslett job security in 2013, nor should they. 

Robert Griffin III called the conduct of the St. Louis Rams defense last Sunday "unprofessional." Rams fans ain't havin' it.

RG3 is really good at play-action already: 

Griffin completed eight of 10 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown when he used play-action. But when he didn't? Griffin completed 12 of 19 passes for 83 yards and an interception. He also was called for intentional grounding and sacked.

RG3 is also very good at running the football and he's doing a lot of it. Can he keep it up at this pace?

 

If Griffin maintains this pace, he'll finish his rookie season with 160 carries. Newton led all quarterbacks last season with 126 attempts. 

“I think it will die down over the course of the year,” Griffin said. “Some games I’ll carry the ball 10 times. Some games I’ll carry the ball two times. It’s just a matter of how defenses are going go play.”

A bunch of miserable jerks are issuing threats to Redskins WR Josh Morgan. Get a grip, morons!

Marvin Lewis, former Redskins defensive coordinator and now head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, who will face the Redskins in Washington's home opener this Sunday, thinks the Redskins are handling RG3 the right way. Lewis knows a bit about this, having made the playoffs last year with a rookie QB at the helm. 

Speaking of the Bengals, WR A.J. Green is very good. The Redskins secondary is not. Something to watch, perhaps.

Keith McMillan takes a good, long look at the Bengals and concludes they are beatable, but could spell trouble for the Redskins.