DISCUSS THE REDSKINS IN OUR FAN FORUM

THUMBS UP

None. Sorry. I've racked my brains and I can't think of anything the Redskins did well enough to merit a thumbs up. Nobody caught on fire today -- though CB DeAngelo Hall came close -- but that's the closest I can get to a real accomplishment. 

THUMBS DOWN

RECEIVERS: The Redskins receivers dropped 10 passes and WR Leonard Hankerson [1 drop] let another pass sail right past his face mask because he had better things to do than pay close attention to what his QB was doing. WR Santana Moss led everyone with three drops, but almost everyone seemed to get in on the act, including Aldrick Robinson, Josh Morgan, Evan Royster and Dez Briscoe. Three of the ten drops were touchdown passes, had they been caught. Before anyone cites the rotten, rainy weather as a problem for Redskins receivers, let's recall that Steelers receivers didn't seem to have the same problems. Robert Griffin III was very accurate most of the day, putting the ball right on the money despite the bad weather and I counted only two genuinely bad passes by the young quarterback. Why the rookie came to play and his veteran receivers did not is a complete mystery. 

DEFENSE: I couldn't figure out whether I should give this "award" to the non-existent pass rush or the non-existent pass coverage so I'll give it to both of them. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisbeger had a huge day [24-33, 222 yards, 3TD, 0int, 121 pass rating] because the rush never made him uncomfortable and the coverage never covered anyone. Earning particularly scorn is CB DeAngelo Hall, who had another rotten day in coverage and then topped it off by blowing his top against a referee, who correctly assessed 30 yards of penalty against Hall and then threw him out of the game. I know many will call for Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett to be fired [Rick Snider, one of my favorite columnists, is already doing that], but I don't see how that helps much, if at all. The talent in the secondary is the worst in the NFL and won't improve that much if or when SS Brandon Meriweather plays a game in a Redskins uniform. The Eagles fired Defensive Coordinator Juan Castillo last week and the defense responded out of the bye with a terrible performance, giving up 30 points and 3 TD passes to the Atlanta Falcons. I don't know what any coach can do with the talent in the secondary and the lack of pass rush. Just as much blame should lay with Head Coach Mike Shanahan, who has clearly not acquired the players any defensive coach needs to stop NFL offenses.