…Jim Zorn reiterated that Devin Thomas will return some punts in the next three games, starting this Sunday. Antwaan Randle El will still return an occasional punt, but his days there are ending. Wrote a story about that for Thursday’s paper. And he’s not happy about it. But here’s the problem: He’s averaging 3.9 yards per punt return. Maybe the blocking isn’t there; even Santana Moss’ longest punt return is only 11 yards. However, Randle El has hurt himself with the low return numbers and three fumbles.
“What we’re wanting is ball security more than return yardage from Antwaan right now,” Jim Zorn said.
Zorn knows the swings of a good, or bad, punt return.
“It’s critical,” he said. “We lost 18 yards when the ball hit the ground [vs. Oakland]. We fumbled a punt and lost the ball. Those are huge and critical. That’s enough said right there. … We must continue to improve.”
…Santana Moss also will return punts. DeAngelo Hall is a possibility when he’s healthy (he won’t return them if he plays Sunday). And if there’s a choice between having Thomas return punts or kickoffs, he’ll do the latter. Guess that says a lot about Rock Cartwright’s future here.
…Linebacker/defensive end Brian Orakpo was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his four-sack performance. Wrote about him for Thursday’s paper as well. As well as in a blog item Tuesday about his four sacks. Suffice to say it’s well-deserved. Orakpo is a force. What I wouldn’t do is make him a full-time end. Both he and Andre Carter have 11 sacks, making them the most prolific sack tandem in the NFL. Part of his success stems from his ability to rush from a standup position. It gets him matched up against tight ends and backs; ask Zach Miller and Justin Fargas how they liked that matchup Sunday. For all of his attributes, one of Orakpo’s strengths is his nimble feet as he rushes. Saw him vs. Oakland a number of times avoid guys diving at his feet while keeping focused on the ball and either making a tackle or applying pressure.
…He and Andre Carter are the Redskins first pair to record double-digit sacks in a season since Marco Coleman and Bruce Smith in 2000. But Coleman was never regarded as a big sack guy until that season — something Smith pointed out a few times. Orakpo and Carter, though, both are pass rushers. And they compete with each other in a good way.
“Once you have two good bookends going it makes us hungrier to get more and more pressure and more and more sacks,” Orakpo said. “If it’s just one guy doing it, that’s when you don’t see a huge number. That’s why ‘Dre only had four and a half. He was performing by himself. Now that I’m here, and Haynesworth is here, it gives everyone a competition to get after it.”
…Orakpo on getting his four sacks without Albert Haynesworth in the game: “It’s very impressive. I know people felt Albert is a big part of it, which he is at times. But we really showcased what we could do without him. We have playmakers all over the d-line and all over the defense.”
…Regardless of what happens with Jason Campbell in Washington, he’s proven a point this season. I like how he’s been able to look downfield more than earlier this season. He’s been more decisive in knowing when and where to throw the ball. And the improvement in guys like Fred Davis and Devin Thomas have greatly helped.
…Campbell said he doesn’t focus on his growing fan support. He blames the offseason for the heat he caught earlier this season.
“It magnified everything three times more and I just felt like, if I threw an interception or incompletion, people would magnify it five times because of everything I went through in the offseason,” he said. “If another quarterback does the same thing, nothing is said.”
Not sure about that last part. Quarterbacks in D.C. have been pummeled for far less; remember Mark Rypien’s first incompletion after the 1991 Super Bowl season? Boos greeted him (yes, the holdout figured in, but still).
Anyway, Campbell said his recent play is not about sticking it to anyone.
“To me it wasn’t about proving a point,” he said. “I always believe in what I can do. Last year I felt I had a good year. Things didn’t go the way taht we wanted to down the stretch, but overall I feel I had a pretty good year. … You have to be prepared for any situation at any time and undertsand that you can’t get down or second-guess yourself because of things that happen that you can’t control.”
…Campbell on Orakpo: “He looks like Santa Claus with all that chin hair he has on.”
…Linebacker London Fletcher won the Quarterback Club’s Redskin of the Year, voted on by the local media. Which is odd because we never get the results sent to us. But, whatever, it’s a well-deserved honor. And it’s the third straight season Fletcher has won. The next question for him involves the Pro Bowl. We’ll talk more about that in the next two weeks.
But one thing must be said: Patrick Willis and Jon Beason, both of whom made the Pro Bowl last year, are not knuckleheaads who draw attention to themselves. That’s not the reason Fletcher has not made it in the past as Greg Blache said. Makes for a good sound byte, but it’s not based in reality. Still, it’s hard to believe Fletcher hasn’t made one.
