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Thursday, September 16, 2004
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Giants' Quarterbacks Look Vulnerable
The Redskins appear to be catching the New York Giants at a vulnerable time this
weekend.
New York was trounced 31-17 by Philadelphia Sunday in Coach Tom
Coughlin's first game with the team and could have a quarterback
controversy on the horizon.
Veteran Kurt Warner, a former league most valuable player, was ineffective in his
first start
with the Giants -- he has lost his last nine starts overall --
and rookie Eli Manning, the first overall pick in the draft,
entered the game in the late going. Coughlin said yesterday that
Warner will be his starter all season and will continue to get
Manning snaps in low-pressure situations, but desperate times
could soon lead to desperate measures.
New York lost its ninth straight game dating back to last season Sunday and was
scorched for
454 yards. Expectations are low for the Giants this season and
the Redskins have an opportunity to wound a divisional opponent
at Giants Stadium on Sunday.
Should the Giants start slowly the fans could quickly turn on
them, while the players are embroiled in an ugly situation with
Coughlin, filing grievances against him in response to recent
fines and disciplinary decisions, all the while providing
sublime fodder for the tabloids.
"Anytime you lose a game," defensive tackle Brandon Noble said, "especially in a city
like
New York where the media coverage and everybody is on them with
coach Coughlin in there, they're going to come out with their
backs against the wall ready to fight."
Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs said of the Giants: "I think they'll play their guts out."
The Redskins are talking much about New York's talent, saying all the right things,
but face
a depleted offensive line and a suspect defense. Giants
receivers Ike Hilliard and Amani Toomer have thrived against
Washington before, however, and should the Redskins blitz their
safeties as much as they did last week, cornerbacks Fred Smoot
and Shawn Springs could have their hands
full in single coverage.
"They're two smart receivers," Smoot said. "Two veteran receivers and a veteran
quarterback.
They've got a lot of talent out there; it's just how soon will
they get everything together and get rolling on all cylinders,
and we don't want it to happen this week."Bugel Focusing
on the Hike
After three botched exchanges between the quarterback and center
on Sunday, Joe Bugel, Washington's assistant head coach-offense,
has been emphasizing that aspect of play in practice. Rather
than merely walk through drills the ball is being hiked
consistently under duress. "We put the center in the toughest
blocking situations known to man," Bugel said. . . . Safety Matt
Bowen was nominated for NFC defensive player of the week,
running back Clinton Portis was nominated for the offensive
honor and punter Tom Tupa for special teams, but none won the
award. . . . Quarterback Mark Brunell became an NFL starter
under Coughlin in Jacksonville and said he has a deep respect
for the coach. "He's a great man and a great coach," Brunell
said. Coughlin also had much praise for Brunell. "He's a team
guy, not an ego guy," Coughlin said. "He can be counted on to
say and do the right things literally at all the right times." .
. . The Redskins placed practice-squad linebacker Clifton Smith,
who had elbow surgery yesterday, on the injured list and signed
linebacker Devin Lemons, who participated in training camp, to
the practice squad. . . . Cornerback Fred Smoot was bestowed
with the special teams hit tick, an ornate wooden cane that
special teams coach Danny Smith puts in the locker of one player
each week who delivered the most crushing blow in the past game
while playing on his units . . . . Gibbs considered traveling by
train to New York this weekend but settled on flying to cut down
on travel time. . . . Former Redskin Bruce Smith was at Redskins
Park yesterday as part of his
new job with the NFL Network.
-- By Jason La Canfora
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--------------------
A Return to Form - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443393DB2949E17F3F599A9F0
Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels is determined to put last
season behind him by returning
to Pro Bowl form.
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REDSKINS NOTEBOOK
Arrington Rests Knee -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443394DA2949E17F3F599A9F0 Linebacker LaVar
Arrington is held out of
practice Wednesday with a left knee strain and was
listed as probable for Sunday's game.
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Another 100 Yard Game?
Clinton Portis ran for 148 yards against the Buccaneers on
Sunday. How many rushing yards do
you think he will gain against the Giants?
A. Less than 50 -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443392C52949E17F3F599A9F0 B. 50-100 -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443393C42949E17F3F599A9F0 C. 100-150 -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443390C72949E17F3F599A9F0 D. More than 150 -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443391C62949E17F3F599A9F0
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AROUND THE NFL
Chiefs Staying Positive Before Home Game -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443396C12949E17F3F599A9F0 They will be playing
at home and this is not a
playoff game, so the Kansas City Chiefs have every reason to
expect that they will look like a completely different team when
they face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in a tussle between
0-1 teams.
Also in NFL Insider: Rice Being Phased Out... -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443397C02949E17F3F599A9F0
Gallery To Start... -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443394C32949E17F3F599A9F0
Williams Hearing Set... -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443395C22949E17F3F599A9F0
Alexander Sits Out Practice... -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443393CD2949E17F3F599A9F0
--------------------
NEWS FROM THE REST OF THE NFC EAST
Dallas -
http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443394CC2949E17F3F599A9F0
N.Y. Giants - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443391CF2949E17F3F599A9F0
Philadelphia - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443392CE2949E17F3F599A9F0
--------------------
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