SB Nation DC: All Posts by Daniel Shiferaw

Redskins Vs. Seahawks: Griffin's Health Will Cloud Redskins Offseason

2013-01-07T17:06:53Z

LANDOVER, MD - A dejected, half-dressed Robert Griffin III sat inside the home dressing room Sunday night, staring blankly into the wooden crevices of his locker.

His pain was two-fold: He and his Washington Redskins were feeling the sting of having just been eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. But it was the pain of Griffin's right knee -- the one that hasn't been right since Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens -- that was on the minds of many inside the building.

He sat there motionless until teammates and other team officials came over to offer him words of encouragement. After he finished putting on his white button down shirt, gray vest and purple striped tie, a disappointed and irritated Griffin walked over to a packed post-game interview room, where he again had to field questions about the topic that just won't go away: His dissipating health.

That's because once again this season, he suffered an injury -- this time tweaking his already-sprained right knee in the first quarter. Once again this season, he had to go inside the trainer's room with orthopedist Dr. James Andrews for a medical evaluation. And once again this season, he was allowed to go back onto the field to try to play through it.

"I think I did put myself at more risk by being out there," he said. "But every time you step on the football field in between those lines you're putting your life, your career [and] every single ligament in your body in jeopardy."

The conflicting philosophies of playing through injury versus preserving one's long-term health played out in full Sunday night, as Griffin's athletic pride and desire to be there for his teammates kept him on the field despite his dissipating health.

"I'm the quarterback of this team. My job is to be out there if I can play," he continued. "I'm the best option for this team, and that's why I'm the starter.....there was no way I was coming out of that game."

It was that mindset that Griffin's veteran teammates appreciated.

"A guy like that has earned the right to make his own decision [to stay in the game]," said linebacker Lorenzo Alexander. "If he's hurt, and he feels like he can play through it, you let him go out there and play through it."

"Never underestimate the heart of an athlete in a competitive situation," added London Fletcher. "Robert, he willed himself to be able to play. He's earned the right to be able to play, and if he tells Coach he can play, let him play."

But despite showing determination to stay in the game, it was clear the Redskins star quarterback was not right. As he hobbled and galloped down the field in his bulky black knee brace, it became apparent that if Griffin was not pulled from the game, a disaster could be waiting to happen.

And sure enough, it did.

The nightmare scenario occurred when Griffin attempted to field an errant fourth-quarter shotgun snap from center Will Montgomery. As he reached for the ball in midair, his knee got caught in the shoddy FedEx Field turf and bent backwards awkwardly. He not only re-injured his sprained LCL earlier in the game, but appeared to suffer an even worse injury to one of his other ligaments.

As he was lying in pain on the turf, the nervous anxiety inside the stadium suggested that health of the franchise's most important player dwarfed that of the desire to win one postseason game. And with that sentiment in mind, the focus naturally shifted to coach Mike Shanahan, who had the chance to pull Griffin before he suffered a major injury.

"You have to go with your gut," the coach said. "I'm not saying my gut is always right....I'll probably second guess myself [for not taking him out earlier]."

Shanahan's controversial decision to leave Griffin in the game after his first-quarter injury -- and the subsequent fourth quarter injury -- will kick off an offseason-long discussion about how the quarterback should be handled going forward.

Is Griffin playing too recklessly? Should the Redskins coaching staff protect him more? Should they change the offense to limit the dangerous hits that come along with designed quarterback runs? How much of his offseason will be spent rehabbing his injured knee? And perhaps most importantly, will he ever be able to come back the same player he was when he was healthy?

All of those questions now hang over what was supposed to be an offseason full of optimism for the 2013 season. Instead of fans reflecting on what was a better-than-expected 2012, the lasting image of a grimacing Griffin will now cloud some of the more positive memories of the season, as well as trump any flashy personnel acquisition that may come in the next few months.

In his first year in the NFL, Griffin was able to emerge as a team leader, provide highlight-reel worthy plays on a weekly basis, galvanize a wounded fanbase, and help resurrect a Redskins franchise that had been floundering for over a decade. But his inaugural season concludes the same way it began -- with many wondering whether or not he'll ever be able to hold up for a full season.

After he finished speaking with the media Sunday evening, Griffin found his mother, father and fiance, all of whom were waiting for him near South Field Tunnel. They all left the stadium together, only it wasn't to go home.

Instead, Griffin and his family had to spend the first night of the Redskins offseason in the doctor's office for an MRI -- one that will set the tone for 2013.

Redskins Vs. Cowboys: For Redskins Veterans, Winning An NFC East Title Was 'A Long Time Coming'

2012-12-31T17:48:52Z

LANDOVER, MD - When the game was won, the NFC East title secured, and the delirious FedEx Field crowd of 82,845 sang "Hail to the Redskins" in full exaltation, Santana Moss was only thinking about one thing while standing on the Redskins sideline.

"Dance," he said with a laugh. "I just [wanted] to dance. I don't know how to...I just was happy, man. "

Perhaps there is no better prism with which to view the Redskins' first division championship since 1999 than through the eyes of a player such as Moss. The veteran wideout has seen and lived through many of the things that had made the Redskins a struggling franchise for much of the last decade. He's seen ineffective offenses. He's seen countless in-season and offseason drama. He's seen multiple coaching changes. And most all, he's seen plenty of losing seasons.

But after a 28-18 victory Sunday night over the arch-rival Dallas Cowboys, he and other Redskins veterans were presented with a new reality: Being division champions.

"Just to be here as long as I have," Moss said, "and to be fighting as long as I've been fighting, it feels good to just finally get over that hump."

He wasn't alone with that sentiment. The victorious postgame locker room saw other Redskins veterans who were willing to take a step back and reflect on their journey from being a perennial last place team to suddenly being atop the NFC East.

"It's been a long time coming," said linebacker London Fletcher, who has been with the team since 2007. "To give us a division title, which hasn't happened here [in a long time]....it makes it that much sweeter."

"I've been here through 4-12 seasons and the bad times and almost being the joke of the NFL," added defensive lineman Kedric Golston. "I was thinking before this game about some of the great players that I've played with and how I'm [lucky] to enjoy this as much as I am. With the Cornelius Griffin's and Randy Thomas' and those guys that did a lot for this organization and didn't get a chance to experience this... I'm looking to have them be a part of this and thinking about all that this organization has been through the last ten years. It's good to be here."

What the organization used to be over the last decade was a veteran-laden team built mostly on high priced free agents, the majority of which were on the wrong side of 30.

But now, these Redskins -- the new Redskins -- are a blend of youth and experience, old-school and new-school, grit and glamour. For every big name player such as quarterback Robert Griffin III, who has rapidly become one of the faces of the NFL, there are an equal number of players like Alfred Morris, who most fans never heard of during training camp.

Name recognition or not, Mike Shanahan's stable of young players came together at the right time, and in doing so, learned how to win in the division most experts consider the toughest in all of football.

"I was nine years old in 1999," said Griffin. "I stand before you at 22 and the Redskins are the NFC East Champions. To me, it's just incredible. I was talking to Alfred after the game [about how] this has been the first time the Redskins have been the [NFC East] champion since 1999 and we came in here and did it in one year."

And while the long term pieces of the Redskins puzzle hope Sunday's victory was the start of a new era of division success, the few holdovers from the Joe Gibbs and Jim Zorn-led teams still wanted to make sure the new kids knew just how special their accomplishment was Sunday night.

As the clock was winding down and the Redskins were preparing to put on their "NFC East Champions" hats, Moss approached his quarterback on the victorious sideline for a heart-to-heart meeting.

"[Moss] echoed what most of the veterans have said," Griffin said of his sideline conversation with Moss. "That I haven't been here for the long haul yet, neither has Alfred, or a bunch of the rookies, but those veterans appreciate what we have been able to do this year, and what we have been able to do since the bye week. They have been through some harsh times and some bad times. He thanked me, and I never want to take credit for anything, but he said I brought the team there. He appreciated that and that we were going to keep it rolling."

The next step for this Redskins team begins next Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, where the majority of the roster will be exposed to the pressures of playoff football for the very first time. And as they do, it'll be the players who're the remnants of the old guard -- of the way things used to be for this organization -- that won't take for granted what it took to get them there.

"You put so much into this," said Moss. "To accomplish nothing, sometimes you got to sit and think and wonder [if you ever will succeed]. To finally have the run that we have, we'll enjoy it. But I realize that we're closer than we've ever been."

For more Redskins coverage, follow Daniel on Twitter at @dshif .Also, be sure to check out SB Nation's Redskins blog, Hogs Haven, as well as SB Nation's NFL hub

Redskins Vs. Eagles: After overcoming adversity, the Redskins are just one step away from NFC East title

2012-12-24T22:20:46Z

PHILADELPHIA, PA - In a five week stretch that's seen the Washington Redskins overcome one adverse situation after another, they fittingly had to navigate through another mini-crisis Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Eagles: A frenetic, maddening, pull-your-hair-out fourth quarter drive that threatened to derail the season.

The state of the Redskins' magical run hung in the balance with every Nick Foles completion, and every Philadelphia first down, as the Eagles offense chipped and chipped away at what looked like a game tying (or perhaps game-winning) march against the Redskins defense as the clock was oh-so-slowly winding down.

"Oh, man, [that was] stressful," said left tackle Trent Williams, who had to watch it all unfold from the Redskins sideline along with his offensive teammates. "Very stressful. My [heart rate] was at an all time high. I thought I was going to pass out."

That anxiety quickly turned into relief, however, as Foles committed a game-ending illegal forward pass to help extend the Redskins win streak to six. But even after a hard-fought divisional victory in the regular season's penultimate game, Redskins players were already showing a steely-eyed focus towards the next game, a mindset emblematic of their late-season run.

"I was thinking about [the Cowboys] since that clock said zero-zero," said fullback Darrel Young. "Let's go get the Cowboys, man. There's nothing else on my mind."

With next Sunday's opportunity at a playoff berth in front of them, it's hard to imagine that this team started 3-6. At that time, the Redskins were considered an under-achieving team in the third year of Mike Shanahan's under-achieving rebuilding project. Pundits across the league wondered if the franchise would ever return to prominence with Shanahan at the helm, and whether or not he'd be able to ever recreate the success he had in Denver over fifteen seasons ago.

But instead of allowing their season spiral out of control, the Redskins players and coaches changed the narrative. They took on the cliched one-game-at-a-time, do-or-die, backs-against-the-wall mentality each week, and haven't lost since their Week 9.

"It takes a lot of character of your football team to fight through what we've done," Shanahan said.

"We had to flip it [on] after the bye week," added no tackle Barry Cofield. "We didn't have a choice."

With each victory, the Redskins brought themselves up off the mat and resurrected their season. Now, as Shanahan said after the Eagles win, they expect to win.

"That's definitely the case," said Cofield. "It's a different type of pressure. It's the way you want to be. It's the way good teams operate. You play to win, you expect to win, and losing is extremely disappointing. When you can have that kind of collective mindset, the sky is the limit ."

That mindset was why the visitors locker room inside Lincoln Financial Field wasn't filled with elation, but rather resolve. The Redskins had already put the previous game in the rear view mirror, as they had so many times before during this six game stretch. But this time, they know next Sunday is more than just the next game on the schedule.

Instead, it'll represent a chance to cap their astounding rally by winning the NFC East crown against their arch-rivals.

"That's everybody's mindset. We're already on to the next one," said quarterback Robert Griffin III. "You don't have to celebrate wins at this point of the season. You just know what's ahead of you, and all that is for us is the Cowboys."

And the anticipation that will be building all week has already begun.

"It's gonna be hyped," said linebacker Lorenzo Alexander. "I know it's gonna be packed out. I know Redskins Nation is gonna have the stadium pumping."

And in a second half run that's had a playoffs-or-bust feel to it, it seems appropriate that the Redskins regular season will end as such, something they don't mind at all.

"It all comes down to next week," said linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, "and we wouldn't want to have it any other way."

Redskins Vs. Browns: Five Takeaways From The Redskins 38-21 Victory Over The Browns

2012-12-17T18:27:06Z

The Washington Redskins have gone from 3-6 and left for dead to 8-6 and atop the NFC East riding a five game winning streak, the latest of which was Sunday's 38-21 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Here are our five takeaway's from Sunday's win:

1. Using a fourth round pick on Kirk Cousins doesn't look too bad now, does it? It's your first career start in the NFL, on the road against a hot team, with your team's playoff hopes on the line. That was the situation Kirk Cousins found himself in against the Cleveland Browns. And needless to say, he responded.

Cousins had to shake off a rough start, as he started the game 1-for-6 and threw an ill-advised pass directly into coverage for an interception. In the early moments of the game, you wondered if the rookie was perhaps succumbing to the pressure of the moment and, well, playing like a rookie.

But one play early in the first quarter seemed to turn things around for Cousins and the rest of the Redskins offense. The Browns defense was intent on stopping the run, leaving them susceptible to play-action. With the Cleveland biting hard on the run, Cousins ran a play fake, rolled to his right and made a beautiful pass on the run in between three defenders to Leonard Hankerson, who rolled into the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown.

Once the Redskins established play-action, Cousins began finding a rhythm. He seemed to gain more confidence with every throw, his receivers were making plays (more on that later), and before you knew it, the Redskins offense was rolling. He finished the game 26-for-37 for 326 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, and left no doubt in his team's mind that he can get the job done when called upon.

There was plenty of vitriol thrown the Redskins' way when they decided to select Cousins in the fourth round of last April's draft. Many thought he was a luxury selection for Washington, figuring there was no point in trying to groom a rookie quarterback behind another rookie quarterback - especially with the other needs the Redskins had at the time. But if anything, the last two weeks have shown that having depth at each position - even quarterback - is incredibly valuable.

2. Kyle Shanahan pushed all the right buttons on offense. Cousins wasn't the only one who was thrust into a bigtime moment. This too, was a big spot for Kyle Shanahan. With his biggest playmaker on offense on the sidelines, the Redskins offensive coordinator had to formulate a plan that would give another rookie quarterback with a completely different skillset a chance to succeed in his first ever career start.

The Redskins stuck to the run early, but they didn't have the added benefit of the deception created by the read-option that they've employed with Griffin -- and it showed. Cleveland's defense shut down the Redskins run game in the first quarter, intent on taking Alfred Morris out of the game and putting the game in Cousins' hands. Shanahan countered the Browns' aggressiveness by utilizing the playaction game - a tactic that proved deadly the rest of the way.

Browns defenders were so worried about Morris that so many of them didn't fulfill their backside contain responsibilities, leaving receivers wide open on bootlegs. After the first Hankerson touchdown, the entire playbook opened up, and Kyle kept the Browns' defense off balance for the rest of the game.

What was so vital to Sunday's effort offensively was not just play calling, but play design. Shanahan's scheme does a great job of creating space for the receiver to get open. Probably the best example of this came on Hankerson's second touchdown catch. On third-and-goal at the Cleveland two-yard line, Santana Moss ran a pick -- clearing out defenders by running an inside route so that Hankerson can run free on the outside. It worked, as Hank was wide open, and all Cousins had to do was throw it over the blitzing cornerback Dimitri Patterson for the walk-in score.

At the end of the day, the offense managed to put up 38 points and 430 total yards with a backup quarterback making his first career start. While that speaks well of the players executing on the field, it also speaks well of the coaching staff's ability to put those players in positions to succeed. While it's unknown as to whether or not Kyle Shanahan will be receiving any phone calls this coming offseason about potential head coaching vacancies, there's no doubt that other teams in the league could file this game away as an example of his ability to adjust and adapt his scheme to fit his personnel on the fly.

3. Another week, another solid second half for the Redskins defense. Granted, the Browns offense isn't setting the world on fire. They have a rookie quarterback, a talented but slightly hobbled rookie running back in Trent Richardson, as well as some young receivers that have a hard time creating separation in man coverage. Still, the Redskins defense kick started Sunday's effort by doing what they've done throughout this five game run - play well in the second half.

Rob Jackson's third quarter interception gave the Redskins exactly the spark they needed coming out of halftime. Jackson dropped into coverage, and Brandon Weeden didn't see him as he threw the ball over the middle. The play set up the go-ahead score, and the Redskins never relinquished the lead the rest of the way.

Jackson's interception set the tone for the rest of the second half defensively. The Redskins defense made Weeden indecisive with his reads because they disguised their coverages well, and his receivers couldn't get open most of the time against man coverage. That forced Weeden to hold the ball, and the Redskins were able to generate enough pressure to either notch the sack or force a mistake.

It all added up to a second half where the Redskins yielded just seven points, making it the third straight week they've held teams to seven or less after halftime. They still have obvious talent deficiencies, but they're making good second half adjustments and getting stops and key moments of the game. With an offense that's rolling right now, limiting the damage is the best you can hope for if you're the Redskins defense.

4. Receiving corps continues to step up. The more you see the Redskins offensive skill position players excel, it's hard not to think of Mike Shanahan's offseason vision for this group. He consistently emphasized the need to give his quarterback a good supporting cast so that it takes the pressure off of him. It's why the Redskins spent the type of money they did on guys like Pierre Garcon and Joshua Morgan, because they're players who can create more than the scheme dictates. That supporting cast was needed more than ever Sunday as they had make life easier for Cousins. And as they have throughout this winning streak, the receiving corps stepped up and made plays.

It's funny how the perception of this receiving group has changed as the season has gone on. A couple months ago, Leonard Hankerson probably doesn't hang onto that long pass in double coverage. Now, he bobbles it and still reels it in for a touchdown. A couple months ago, it seemed like Santana Moss was the only reliable (and healthy) option in the receiving corps. Now, he's just one of a multitude of capable weapons at the quarterback's disposal.

But the guy who makes it all go is Garcon, who's presence can't be overstated. It's been mentioned plenty over the last couple of days, but it bears repeating: The Redskins are 7-1 when he starts, 1-5 when he doesn't. That's not a coincidence.

What's interesting about Garcon is he's not exactly the player he was with the Colts -- he might be better. He's always had the ability to gain yards after the catch, but one of the knocks about him coming out of Indianapolis was that he'd make the tough catches but would routinely drop the easy ones. That hasn't been as much of a problem in Washington so far, and as a result, he's developed into the clear-cut go-to receiver on the team. He makes tough catches, blocks in the run game, and brings a palpable attitude to the rest of the receiving corps. Now that he's back and playing well, Redskins fans are seeing the type of player the Shanahans so desperately coveted in the offseason.

With Garcon making the big plays he's making, and the rest of the receivers stepping up, it might be fair to ask where this group ranks among the best pass catching groups in the league. From a pure talent perspective, most people would have a number of receiver groups ahead of Washington's. But from a production standpoint? It'd be hard to find a better, deeper group of receivers playing at a higher level at the moment.

5. The Redskins deserve praise for keeping their poise. The Redskins locker room was a desolate place shortly after their crushing loss to the one-win Carolina Panthers. Spirits were down, playoff hopes appeared dashed, Mike Shanahan made his infamous "evaluation" comments, and it seemed the season was careening towards a disastrous finish.

But somehow they managed to regroup after the bye week, and they've been a completely different team ever since. Moreover, for the first time in Shanahan's tenure as Redskins head coach, they've finally found an identity as a team. They've figured out what works on both sides of the ball, stuck to it, and have rode that formula to five straight victories.

The way the team rallied around Cousins Sunday showed that they're more than just Robert Griffin III. They didn't play against a great team, but were in a tough situation on the road in Cleveland nonetheless. It all stems from a belief in one another and, yes, good coaching. The Redskins staff has done a great job of not only putting players in the right position to succeed, but they deserve credit for keeping the team together during the albatross that was the 3-6 start.

Now, they're 8-6 and control their own destiny in the division. Two more victories and the Redskins will host their first playoff game since 1999. Probably not a bad way to end the season, huh?

For more Redskins coverage, follow Daniel on Twitter at @dshif .Also, be sure to check out SB Nation's Redskins blog, Hogs Haven, as well as SB Nation's NFL hub

Redskins Vs. Ravens: After Rallying The Redskins, Kirk Cousins Shows His Worth

2012-12-10T17:53:37Z

LANDOVER, MD - It was a situation that required Kirk Cousins to be numb to the chaos swirling around him as he trotted out onto the field.

The Washington Redskins were down 28-20 to the Baltimore Ravens with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter, and yet the anxiety that festered among Fed Ex Field crowd was not directed towards field of play. Instead, all eyes were pointed squarely on the Redskins sideline, as Robert Griffin III -- the player in whom the Redskins invested so much to be their franchise player -- lied on the team trainer's table in agony, writhing in pain from a knee injury suffered earlier in the drive.

And with the specter of a severe injury to Griffin hanging over the crowd, it was Cousins -- the player most thought was a luxury selection in April's draft -- that was charged with coming off the bench cold and take on the seemingly-impossible task of finishing a off a game-tying drive.

"That's the life of a backup quarterback in this league," Cousins said.

Equipped with limited preparation, guts, and his teammates' unwavering belief in him, it was up to Cousins to save the Redskins season.

"I was like, ‘You got this, Kirk' and I gave him a pat on the back," said running back Alfred Morris. "Nothing else needed to be said. "

With one unlikely completion after another, the Redskins rookie backup quarterback had his team on the doorstep of a tie game. He found Leonard Hankerson for a 16-yard completion to set up third-and-5. Then, mimicking the guy ahead of him on the depth chart, he bought time, rolled to his right and found an open Pierre Garcon for an 11-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-26. He then surprised the Ravens by running up the middle on a quarterback draw to tie the game on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt.

It was a sequence sent the Redskins and Ravens into overtime, and led to Kai Forbath's eventual game-winning kick to keep Washington alive in the playoff picture at 7-6.

"I thought ‘I am going to make something happen and try to do my best ‘RGIII', if you will," said a smiling Cousins afterward.

To be sure, Cousins is not Griffin -- not many quarterbacks are. But when Griffin went down, the fourth round pick out of out Michigan State got a chance to show that he was much more than just a curious selection in the fourth round, and that his hours of preparation were not in vain.

"I go into meetings, watch lots of film and talk with the coaches," Cousins said of his weekly regimen. "Just trying to watch cut-ups and plays and games and saying, ‘What would I do if I was in this area on the field?'

The work paid off, as Cousins was poised in the face of a difficult situation, something that wasn't lost on his teammates.

"What'd they used to say about Larry Byrd? [He has] Ice water in his veins?" said receiver Joshua Morgan. "That's the best thing you can say about Kirk.....[wide receivers coach] Ike Hilliard said it best, he's a human computer."

"What's great about him is that he works hard," linebacker Lorenzo Alexander added. "He understands that the offense is a little bit different when he comes in the game, so he does a great job during the week doing extra study time with the quarterback coach."

Griffin's injury and Cousins' subsequent performance will perhaps reshape the argument of those who believed that the Redskins should have never spent a fourth round pick on a quarterback. Despite having other needs -- most notably at offensive line and secondary -- the Redskins selected Cousins because they wanted stability at the quarterback position up and down the depth chart, and were abiding by of one of the NFL's core truths.

"It's a next man up type of league," said guard Chris Chester.

It's an oft used mantra may sound cliche, but remains accurate. Depth has proven to be such an important part of building a playoff contending team, and quarterback is no different.

Without a doubt, the long term future of the Redskins franchise rests on the shoulders of Griffin, and keeping him healthy is among the organization's top priorities moving forward.

But while the Redskins hope that Griffin is not out for an extended period of time, Sunday's development may have given them a chance to reap the potential rewards of having organizational depth -- something most Redskins fans didn't think they'd be grateful for eight months ago.

For more Redskins coverage, follow Daniel on Twitter at @dshif .Also, be sure to check out SB Nation's Redskins blog, Hogs Haven, as well as SB Nation's NFL hub

Redskins Vs. Giants: Alfred Morris In-Game Resilience Reflective Of His Rookie Season

2012-12-04T17:40:05Z

LANDOVER, MD - With his team leading the Giants 17-16, with 3:51 left to play and a chance to close the game out, Alfred Morris didn't have time to sulk.

He didn't have time to put his head down and lament his third quarter red zone fumble that looked to be costly, nor did he have time to worry about making a similar mistake in such a critical situation. Instead, the Washington Redskins' other rookie standout had no other choice but to regroup.

"I picked myself up and kept on trucking," he said. "We had a game to go win."

Washington's offense leaned on their sixth round revelation at tailback to make sure Eli Manning and the New York Giants offense would not have a chance to get the ball back. So on four of the Redskins last seven plays, the sequence went as follows: Morris off right tackle for two yards. Morris up the middle for four yards. Morris off left tackle for three yards. And on third-and-three, with one more first down end it, Morris churned out six yards after first contact. The game, in effect, was over.

"That [was] huge," said left tackle Trent Williams. "We know we can put the ball in his hands. We know [Morris is] gonna give us some tough yards. We always knew we was gonna stay on that field and run the clock out."

Morris' in-game resilience is emblematic of his team's. The rookie bounced back after his fumble, and finished the game with 124 yards on 22 carries against a stout Giants defensive front. And with his latest performance, Morris broke the team's rookie rushing record that stood for nearly twenty years.

Many have wondered if Morris' success is simply the result of being in a good scheme and having the dual-threat of Robert Griffin III as his quarterback. But the truth is that Morris has been the yin to Griffin's yang all season long, as they've leaned on each other to make the Redskins unique attack function properly. Together, the rookie duo has terrorized opposing defenses, no matter their experience or pedigree. They did so again on a nationally televised stage Monday night as they put on display why the Redskins have the top rushing offense in the league.

"I'm not going to take any credit for Alfred's success," Griffin said of his backfield mate. "He's done a lot of great things for us..it looks like he's out there playing peewee football; he just won't go down. He plays every play like it's his last and that's what we love about him."

"I love that he's on our team," Griffin added. "If I had to vote for rookie of the year I would vote for him."

While the odds of Morris winning NFL Rookie of the Year honors are low, his inaugural season in the NFL is no less spectacular. Drafted out of little-known Florida Atlantic University, Morris was not seen as a feature NFL back, with most pundits believing he should make the transition to fullback instead.

But the Redskins saw enough in him to select him in the sixth round, hoping he'd be able to contribute to what originally looked to be a crowded backfield. But due to injuries, Morris got his chance.

"Coming from where I came from, people counted me out," Morris said. "They didn't think I as going to make the team. I made the team, I've rushed for 1,000 yards..I did a lot of things that I myself didn't think I was going to do, but I believe in myself and I have a coach that believes in me, and that makes me push that much harder."

That belief from his coaches and teammates manifested after his fumble Monday night, as the Redskins showed no hesitation to stick with the run game. How he was able to respond afterward left a big impression on the team's veteran leaders.

"It takes a lot for him to come back to redeem himself and wipe it out and move on, and play the next play," said defensive captain London Fletcher. "You can tell for a rookie, he's not playing like a rookie. [He] has a ton of maturity."

And he was determined not to repeat the same mistake twice.

"I wasn't going to let them down [again]," Morris said. "I let them down earlier in the game....so I said ‘I owe y'all one'."

He paid them back, and helped send the Redskins into their second week of meaningful December football.

Redskins Vs. Cowboys: Five Takeaways From The Redskins 38-31 Thanksgiving Day Win Over The Cowboys

2012-11-23T16:59:51Z

Happy Thanksgiving, Washington Redskins fans.

After an impressive 38-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Redskins now sit at 5-6, are in second place in the NFC East, and are very much alive in the NFL playoff race.

Here are our five takeaways from Thursday's game:

1. Once again, Robert Griffin III rises to the occasion. It was said many times before Thursday's game, and rings truer now: The bigger the occasion, the better Robert Griffin III plays. In his Texas return, with family, friends and former coaches watching him, Griffin got his introduction to the Redskins-Cowboys rivalry. Add in the pressure cooker of being on the national stage, and he delivered what may have been the signature performance of his spectacular rookie season thus far.

Sure, we can talk about the numbers (20/28, 311 yards with four touchdowns passes), but this game -- this moment -- felt more like a test of intangibles rather than one of skills. To travel to his home state on a short week and face a Dallas team that had to win to keep their playoff hopes alive is no easy task. Throw in the fact that the Redskins have never beaten the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, and you're talking about a near-impossible situation in which to succeed.

And yet, Griffin rose to the occasion, just as he's done numerous times this season. His first half was spectacular. After he and the offense got off to a slow start in the first quarter, he led them to touchdowns on four consecutive possessions in the second quarter. This bears repeating: He led the offense on four straight touchdown drives in the second quarter.

What was most impressive was how Griffin responded after throwing his fourth quarter interception that gave the Cowboys new life. He shook it off on the next drive, calmly leading the offense into field goal range to set up what was essentially the game-clinching score.

His inner-drive, his competitiveness, and intense desire to succeed are so evident, even to the casual observer. He's a difference-maker in every sense of the term, and is the primary reason why the Redskins have a chance to play for first place in the division against the Giants on December 3.

2. That's what an offense looks like when receivers make plays. Of course, Griffin had a ton of help from his supporting cast in this game. In fact, this game might may have been the best example of how Mike Shanahan expected his skill position players to perform back in the offseason.

It's not exactly breaking news, but Pierre Garcon was a difference maker. On his 59-yard touchdown, the pass was thrown high and behind him, and he was somehow able to reach back, grab the pass, and keep his balance. From there, he showed the ability to gain yards after the catch that the Redskins coveted when they signed him in March, pulling away from the Cowboys defensive backs and racing into the end zone. It was a spectacular play, and perhaps the most impressive of the afternoon by the Redskins offense.

Another benefit of Garcon's presence is how it changes the dynamic of the entire receiving corps. Aside from his own playmaking ability, Garcon allows the other receivers to fill roles they're more suited for. Aldrick Robinson can just be the speedy receiver who is almost exclusively a downfield threat. Santana Moss can remain the slot receiver who's the go-to guy in clutch situations. Joshua Morgan and Leonard Hankerson can be the possession receivers who help move the chains. No one has to be a hero, and it allows for each guy to do what he does best.

It seemed like each guy had their turn to make a big play; Robinson used his speed to get downfield for an early touchdown, Garcon had his catch-and-run, Moss made tough catch after tough catch, and even Hankerson made a drive-extending catch on Washington's game-clinching drive. It was a balanced performance all the way around, and makes you wonder just how good this group can be when healthy and firing on all cylinders.

3. Alfred Morris' role was just as important, too. Perhaps the only downside to Griffin's stellar rookie season is that it is somewhat overshadowing one of the best stories on the Redskins this year - the ascension of fellow rookie Alfred Morris.

Morris ran for 113 yards and a score Thursday, and is now only 18 yards shy of being the first Redskins running back to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season since Clinton Portis in 2008. He continues to show why he is such a perfect fit for this zone-blocking scheme; his patience, vision, and decisiveness to the hole are such that he can be so productive in this offense without necessarily having breakaway speed.

All of that was on display once again against the Cowboys. Morris' impact on the game may not have been as eye-popping as Griffin's, but it was still just as important. His ability to get good chunks of yardage on first and second down put the offense in manageable situations, opening the entire playbook for Kyle Shanahan.

Many of the big plays on offense were set up by Morris runs, too. The play that preceded the long Robinson touchdown? A 10-yard run by Morris. The play that preceded the Santana Moss touchdown at the end of the first half? A 16-yard Morris run to the Cowboys' six-yard line to allow the Redskins to take a shot at the end zone.

It's easy to remember Griffin's highlights from this game, but Morris is the one who did the groundwork for those big plays - both literally and figuratively.

4. Tale of two halves for the defense. The first half performance by the Redskins defense was probably their most impressive of the season. They forced two turnovers, got pressure on Tony Romo, and held the Cowboys to just three points.

The Cowboys offense looked like it was on the verge of self-destruction. With Romo making mistakes, balls being fumbled by receivers, the home crowd booing (and even chanting the opposing quarterback's name), it was up to the defense to shut the door and finish the job.

But it's never that easy, is it?

The second half was eerily similar to how things played out against the Saints in Week 1; the Redskins allowed the other team to get back into the game by giving up quick scores, which is the one thing you can't do with a big lead late. Romo passed for 344 yards and three touchdowns in the second half alone. The Redskins had just enough cushion to withstand the comeback, but they can't take the next step as a team (at least this season) until they are able to quell those rallies before they get going. The offense bailed the defense out late in the fourth quarter with a field goal to put the game out of reach, but the score shouldn't have been that close.

The question now is, with five games left, how optimistic should one be about this defense?

Well, we know that when they're at their best, they can apply pressure in a myriad of ways and they can generate big plays off of turnovers. But when they're at their worst, it's not pretty. Given their personnel deficiencies this year, turnovers might be their only hope of slowing opposing teams down the rest of the way. Jim Haslett can come up with unique ways to get to the quarterback and force mistakes, but the fact remains that they don't have enough skill on the back end to really hold up in pass coverage against talented offenses.

They've only been able to put together a complete game once, and that was against the Eagles. With the way the Cowboys game started, it looked like the defense may have turned the corner. Instead, they turned in a head-scratching second half performance. It'll be interesting to see where they go from here.

5. Kai Forbath gets his first real test - and passes. While it was very impressive that Kai Forbath had hit nine consecutive field goals coming into Thursday's game, he had never really been put in a pressure situation. Kickers are defined by those big moments, and Forbath finally got his first taste of that against the Cowboys.

With the Redskins clinging to a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter, they needed just one more score to essentially ice the game. The offense was able to drive into field goal range, and set up a 48-yard attempt - a makeable distance, but certainly not a gimme. And we've seen in the past how Redskins kickers have had a tough time hitting those types of kicks from much closer range (see Cundiff, Billy).

But Forbath put it in between the uprights, nailing the biggest kick of his young career. It put the Redskins up by ten points, and put the Cowboys away. Forbath's been a pleasant surprise since taking over for Cundiff, and as the games get bigger from now on, he'll surely be counted on to make those types of kicks in clutch situations.

For more Redskins coverage, follow Daniel on Twitter at @dshif .Also, be sure to check out SB Nation's Redskins blog, Hogs Haven, as well as SB Nation's NFL hub

Redskins. Vs. Eagles: Brandon Meriweather's Energetic Return Breathes Life To Redskins Secondary

2012-11-19T17:28:35Z

LANDOVER, MD - Brandon Meriweather knows how to fire up his teammates.

Before the Washington Redskins' game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, he and secondary-mate DeAngelo Hall engaged in a pre-game wager to see who would have more tackles by game's end.

And about an hour after a dominating 31-6 victory Sunday, the chirpy Meriweather was eager to update his teammate on who won, even while the latter was in the middle of his post-game media session.

"Hey D!" he shouted at Hall, "It was a tie, 7 [to] 7."

The exchange drew a chuckle from Hall and the assembled media, but seemed to be emblematic of a suddenly looser, exuberant defensive secondary.

After missing the first nine games of the season due to a knee injury, Meriweather finally made his 2012 regular season debut against Philadelphia. The mere presence of the charismatic safety was a surprising boon to a much-maligned and lethargic secondary that was in dire need of an emotional boost.

"He brought a lot of energy," Hall said. "He brought a lot of intensity...I loved it."

Meriweather, who was signed in the offseason to a two-year, $6 million dollar contract, was brought in to help fill a void left by former strong safety Laron Landry. He was expected to bring the combination of physicality and coverage skills to the secondary. But because of his inconsistent play in stints with the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears, many observers wondered just how much of an impact he could have on an already-struggling secondary after such a long absence.

It only took one game to provide that answer.

The stat sheet says Meriweather registered seven tackles and one interception in just over a half of play, but his teammates cited his speed, energy and contagious tenacity that helped contribute to the team's best defensive performance of the season.

"He was a tone setter back there," said linebacker London Fletcher. "Making some hard hitting tackles, getting an interception. Just his savvy....you can definitely appreciate him being back there. "

"I think everybody saw his impact," added coach Mike Shanahan. "We saw it throughout the preseason. He gives us a lot of energy back there and you can see what type of football player he is. He proved it today."

And how did it feel for Meriweather himself?

"It felt great," he said of his return. "It felt great to actually be out there with the guys that you went through the rain and the pain with [earlier in the season].

"I don't think it was me [that sparked the team]. I actually think the fact that all four starters were actually together for the first time just brought an [uptick] to our defense. We realized that everything falls on us, so we played like it."

Meriweather's energetic style of play is in stark contrast to how the secondary was playing prior to his return. An undermanned unit all season long, the Redskins were widely considered to have the worst pass defense in the league. Inadequate angles, poor coverage and bad tackling were recurring themes through the first nine games of the season. But with Meriweather in the lineup, it seemed the entire defensive backfield took on his personality - the coverage seemed tighter, the tackles were more form, the hits were harder, and the swagger was aplenty.

"When he got down here, we always talked about getting out there on the field and actually playing," said Hall, who matched Meriweather with an interception to go along with his seven tackles. "It took a couple weeks, but we finally got him out there. He was definitely a playmaker. He made plays. You could tell he was out there on the field."

And though Meriweather provided that spark early on, he wasn't able to finish the game, suffering yet another knee injury. The jovial safety brushed off any concern of a long-term injury, quipping that the knee "felt real good".

Should he return in short order, perhaps the Redskins secondary can change the narrative that seemed inescapable throughout the 2012 season prior to Sunday's game.

As for that bet between Hall and Meriweather?

"We both finished with 7 [tackles]," Hall said with a grin, "I guess we'll carry it on [to] next week."