bubba9497
August-28th-2005, 11:33 PM
Redskins line up and deliver
By JOHN KEIM
http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2005/08/28/sports/redskins/001_all_skins_main.txt
ASHBURN - Quarterback Patrick Ramsey sat in the pocket, those once-happy feet calmed, for now, by a reduction of the chaos. The running backs ripped through holes, sometimes going untouched until into the secondary. It didn't matter who carried the ball.
There's a reason for all this.
"Our offensive line played great," Redskins running back Clinton Portis said.
For all the banter about Ramsey and his improved showing, there's little doubt about what powered the Redskins in a 17-10 win over Pittsburgh. And about why Ramsey, or any other quarterback, has a better chance at success this season. It's the line.
The quarterbacks dropped back to pass a combined 28 times and weren't sacked; the running backs gained 159 yards on 37 carries (the team rushed for 166 overall); Portis managed 48 yards on eight carries behind the first unit. The Redskins have game planned more for the opposition than in the past as they try to develop confidence and an offensive rhythm. They know what keys that success.
"If we can keep guys off Patrick and give him confidence that it won't be like it was a couple years ago and he won't get his head knocked off," Redskins right tackle Jon Jansen said, "that will help him out. And once we get Clinton going, he'll take control of games. He hits that open field. A couple of times if it's not a shoelace tackle, he would have been gone for some long runs. Those will come."
The Redskins have allowed three sacks in the preseason. Jansen's return helps, as does the addition of center Casey Rabach. But right guard Randy Thomas and Samuels have had good camps. This group is versatile: On one run Friday, both left guard Derrick Dockery and left tackle Chris Samuels pulled around the right side, with Dockery sealing off the end.
And, on the Redskins' first series, Jansen and Thomas helped spring Portis for gains of 14 and seven yards, respectively. Their protective wall can help rid Ramsey of the dreaded happy feet. Which can help the offense.
"Just knowing that we won't always end up in third and [long]," Jansen said, "takes a lot of pressure off Patrick. He doesn't have to throw for a first down every time. He's not going to have to sit back there and pick apart defenses."
Said Portis of the line's effort: "We need to take this into the season."
By JOHN KEIM
http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2005/08/28/sports/redskins/001_all_skins_main.txt
ASHBURN - Quarterback Patrick Ramsey sat in the pocket, those once-happy feet calmed, for now, by a reduction of the chaos. The running backs ripped through holes, sometimes going untouched until into the secondary. It didn't matter who carried the ball.
There's a reason for all this.
"Our offensive line played great," Redskins running back Clinton Portis said.
For all the banter about Ramsey and his improved showing, there's little doubt about what powered the Redskins in a 17-10 win over Pittsburgh. And about why Ramsey, or any other quarterback, has a better chance at success this season. It's the line.
The quarterbacks dropped back to pass a combined 28 times and weren't sacked; the running backs gained 159 yards on 37 carries (the team rushed for 166 overall); Portis managed 48 yards on eight carries behind the first unit. The Redskins have game planned more for the opposition than in the past as they try to develop confidence and an offensive rhythm. They know what keys that success.
"If we can keep guys off Patrick and give him confidence that it won't be like it was a couple years ago and he won't get his head knocked off," Redskins right tackle Jon Jansen said, "that will help him out. And once we get Clinton going, he'll take control of games. He hits that open field. A couple of times if it's not a shoelace tackle, he would have been gone for some long runs. Those will come."
The Redskins have allowed three sacks in the preseason. Jansen's return helps, as does the addition of center Casey Rabach. But right guard Randy Thomas and Samuels have had good camps. This group is versatile: On one run Friday, both left guard Derrick Dockery and left tackle Chris Samuels pulled around the right side, with Dockery sealing off the end.
And, on the Redskins' first series, Jansen and Thomas helped spring Portis for gains of 14 and seven yards, respectively. Their protective wall can help rid Ramsey of the dreaded happy feet. Which can help the offense.
"Just knowing that we won't always end up in third and [long]," Jansen said, "takes a lot of pressure off Patrick. He doesn't have to throw for a first down every time. He's not going to have to sit back there and pick apart defenses."
Said Portis of the line's effort: "We need to take this into the season."