It was obvious that RGIII isn't at Full Speed. Probably won't be against Dallas.

[Skinz4Life12]

hopefully he goes without the brace next week and is explosive like before. I think we win if thats the case

[BDOG510]

Who has picked Dallas? Everything I've seen has been all Washington thus far.

IMO, it's pretty much a toss up pick em' game.

Tony Dungey picked Dallas and the consensus of the NFL Network analysts are picking Dallas

[thesubmittedone]

Watching the game again it looks like RG3 was just being extra cautious more than anything and not putting extra pressure on it than necessary. For instance, on the option play you can clearly see he explodes off to the right when he sees the linemen crashing down on Morris, but as he's heading to the sideline just lets up. At first glance, you'd think he might have strained it again on the way to the sideline and that's why he let up, but then there were numerous times in the pocket where he escaped pressure by being explosive.

So either he did feel something in his knee on that run but it felt better again as the game progressed, or he was just being extra cautious and would rather not risk running full speed towards the sideline.

[Timmy Smith]

Total hunch of mine, based on no facts whatsoever:

* Griffin continues to rehab his knee all week and get daily treatments (massages, ice packs, stretching, whatever else the trainers prescribe, etc.)
* Griffin gets a pre-game cortisone injection for the Dallas game to numb any pain he might feel in the knee
* Griffin goes without a brace against Dallas
* The play-calling against Dallas is designed to minimize designed runs for Griffin, but they're still there if necessary

BEAT DALLAS

[bonesbr549]

My heart say's skins but my head says dallas. They have ruined so many days over the years. With RG not able to do what he does it will be tough and sorry, our secondary just sucks. If we can run and have lots of long time consuming drives we have a chance.

[PerryMason]

Tony Dungey picked Dallas and the consensus of the NFL Network analysts are picking Dallas

I don't know what you're watching....Irving, Deion, Faulk, Billick, Sharper, and Sean O' Hara have all said the Redskins have the advantage. This isn't even counting people from other networks like Bradshaw, Damien Woody, Merril Hoge, Chris Carter, Tom Jackson, Mike Ditka, Jimmy Johnson who have all picked Washington to win the divison.

[BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93]

but then there were numerous times in the pocket where he escaped pressure by being explosive.

Never thought I would say this, but you're right TSO. He avoided sacks all day so I don't understand why ppl are freaking out so hard.

[PerryMason]

Watching the game again it looks like RG3 was just being extra cautious more than anything and not putting extra pressure on it than necessary. For instance, on the option play you can clearly see he explodes off to the right when he sees the linemen crashing down on Morris, but as he's heading to the sideline just lets up. At first glance, you'd think he might have strained it again on the way to the sideline and that's why he let up, but then there were numerous times in the pocket where he escaped pressure by being explosive.

So either he did feel something in his knee on that run but it felt better again as the game progressed, or he was just being extra cautious and would rather not risk running full speed towards the sideline.

Yep, I agree. Doc Walker on inside the locker room made the same EXACT observation today.

---------- Post added December-24th-2012 at 10:49 PM ----------

Hmm... He didn't look full speed yesterday when he was running... Hopefully he looks more like himself (when running/moving) against Dallas!

All 2 times? Hahaha. We didn't even get a good base line for what he would have looked like if he A) Pushed it or B) Didn't have a brace. The game plan was designed around resting it one more week to let him have full un-braced range next week against Dallas in my opinion.

[techboy]

So either he did feel something in his knee on that run but it felt better again as the game progressed, or he was just being extra cautious and would rather not risk running full speed towards the sideline.

In his post game press conference he said that he saw he wasn't going to get around the corner and "took the liberty" of strolling to the sideline. He could be lying, I suppose, but that's sure what it looked like to me, and he didn't seem to have any trouble moving to avoid the rush when he had to.

I also believe he said something about having his runs limited to protect the knee, which wouldn't surprise me either.

I don't know what you're watching....Irving, Deion, Faulk, Billick, Sharper, and Sean O' Hara have all said the Redskins have the advantage. This isn't even counting people from other networks like Bradshaw, Damien Woody, Merril Hoge, Chris Carter, Tom Jackson, Mike Ditka, Jimmy Johnson who have all picked Washington to win the divison.

Yeah. In one of their wrap-up shows, I saw the host throw it over to Michael Irvin with something like "tell us how Dallas is going to win", and Irvin pretty much sputtered. It was pretty funny, actually.

[SkinsFanMania]

Tony Dungey picked Dallas and the consensus of the NFL Network analysts are picking Dallas

Every time we play Dallas he always picks them, going back to the opening Sunday night game in 2010.

[Oldfan]

If I am Rob Ryan...

...I expect the Shanahans to try to play a WCO style ball control game to keep my offense off the field -- short, quick passes looking for YAC combined with a running game. So, I'm playing my corners tight hoping my press throws off the timing of those routes.

...I'd spend some time preparing to defend the Shanahans going for it on fourth and short on the Dallas side of the field. That 70+% success rate on fourth down makes that a tempting call. The game could easily turn on the outcome of a call like that.

...Brace or no brace, I don't forsee RG3 running the football. Mike Shanahan is a gutsy guy, one who likes to do the unexpected, but not even Mike would have the balls to risk the fallout that would happen if the kid stretched that ligament even further on a called run.

...I wouldn't spend too much time preparing for it, but I wouldn't rule out the possibility of Cousins starting or playing significant time.

...I note that, with Morris at RB, the Skins are not likely to swing to ball to him out of the Pistol. I guess he doesn't catch the ball that well. But, that swing pass could be a killer used for a ball control game run out of that formation, so I would have my players alert to it when Royster is in the game.

I have a Redskins bias, so I stay away from making serious predictions; however, home field is the only clear edge I see.

[SWFLSkins]

My heart say's skins but my head says dallas. They have ruined so many days over the years. With RG not able to do what he does it will be tough and sorry, our secondary just sucks. If we can run and have lots of long time consuming drives we have a chance.

Monday night miracle, Thanksgiving this year and many many more were made memorable by the Skins winning, No if, buts or and's, the Skins win this game, this time.

If I am Rob Ryan...

...I Wouldn't bet my Hair.

Fixed/

[|2edskins PHD]

Watching the game again it looks like RG3 was just being extra cautious more than anything and not putting extra pressure on it than necessary. For instance, on the option play you can clearly see he explodes off to the right when he sees the linemen crashing down on Morris, but as he's heading to the sideline just lets up. At first glance, you'd think he might have strained it again on the way to the sideline and that's why he let up, but then there were numerous times in the pocket where he escaped pressure by being explosive.

So either he did feel something in his knee on that run but it felt better again as the game progressed, or he was just being extra cautious and would rather not risk running full speed towards the sideline.

I'm glad you posted this. I've been thinking all week about how RG3 didn't look quite as explosive when running the ball, but I couldn't help but to remember how I had witnessed him (RG3) moving around the pocket, planting, back-pedaling, and looking as if he was moving with ZERO restrictions in the pocket.

The entire week I have been wondering if the Eagles game was just another extension of the gamesmanship that Shanny has employed throughout the entire KneeGate event.

From allowing Robert to warm up on the field prior to the Browns game, to keeping him as "Questionable" for most of Eagles week....perhaps Shanny said something to the effect of:

"Robert, there's no need to go 100% here vs Philly. In fact, if you have a chance to safely look like you're less than 100%, do it! (the slow scramble) We want the Cowboys to think you're hurt still."

I know it is all conjecture, but when I saw Robert slowly jogging on a scramble, but then darting around the pocket as usual....it caused me to wonder if he was just "acting" a little bit, and trying to "look hurt" while knowing full well that he had all the gas in the tank that he needed, if the situation called for it.

[5ohhh]

Every time we play Dallas he always picks them, going back to the opening Sunday night game in 2010.

and I believe it was his buddy Rodney Harrison that said "Dallas, with conviction!" ha

[justice98]

hopefully he goes without the brace next week and is explosive like before. I think we win if thats the case

I don't think the brace was his problem. He's not 100% obviously, but I think it was more about his head. He just needs time to mentally be confident he can cut it loose. Hopefully, having made it through last week ok, another week of confidence building and healing in that knee will work wonders.