Defensive back still says he’s to blame for defeat ASHBURN — He’s fine. DeAngelo Hall made that clear Wednesday. He let everyone who called him know that as well, from Larry Fitzgerald to Ben Roethlisberger to Chad Ochocinco. And, yes, his mom.
They heard what he said after the Redskins’ overtime loss to Dallas on Sunday, blaming himself for the defeat and saying the team should cut him.
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“I had so many calls from other guys in the league telling me how great I was as a corner, and I’m like, ‘Dude, I’m not on suicide watch,’?” Hall said. “I’m perfectly fine, still swagged out, still feel like I’m one of the best in the game.”
– Craig Stouffer
| Notes |
| » Wide receiver Santana Moss returned to practice Wednesday after missing the last four weeks with a broken left hand and expects to play Sunday in Seattle, barring any setbacks. “He couldn’t do everything with his hand the last couple of weeks,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. “But he’s been getting a lot of running in, and he’s been running around. [He] just hasn’t caught the ball, and he was able to do that today, so that’s a good sign.” Moss said he has been catching balls since getting pins taken out of his hand on Nov. 14 but didn’t want to raise expectations. “I feel like my hand is ready,” Moss said. “When it comes to taking hits on it, that’s something that you can’t prevent. The catching part should be normal, but taking a hit is going to be something different.” |
| » Rookie running back Evan Royster has a bit more to be thankful for after being upgraded to the Redskins’ active roster. “I had no clue. I did not expect it,” said Royster, who thought his time had come last month when Tim Hightower suffered a season-ending knee injury. Instead, the Redskins added free agent Tashard Choice, leaving Royster frustrated and discouraged. But he didn’t show it and is ready after Choice was waived following 7 yards on six carries last weekend. “He’s not a normal practice squad guy,” fullback Darrel Young said. “He’s prepared. He answered some questions the other day in a meeting that we had that you wouldn’t expect him to say just because practice squad guys take a back seat to things.” |
| » Two Redskins didn’t practice Wednesday: London Fletcher (ankle) and Niles Paul (toe). Jammal Brown (groin), Trent Williams (knee), Josh Wilson (hamstring), D.J. Gomes (knee), Maurice Hurt (knee) and Sean Locklear (ankle) all were limited. |
“It was amazing, just the reaction, I didn’t think it was going to get.”
But the reaction didn’t alter his opinion. Maybe the tone was softened, and there were no statements about how he should be cut. However, Hall remains upset about how he played the third-and-15 pass to Dez Bryant that set up Dan Bailey’s game-winning field goal. It’s the second time Hall had been beaten in a third-and-long situation on a game-winning drive vs. Dallas this season.
“I stand by it,” he said. “I hold myself to a higher standard than a lot of other people. I just made that statement because there are a couple plays this season — I ain’t had a lot of chances to make plays — and when the chance presents itself, I want to make it.”
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan liked Hall’s postgame comments.
“It’s a lot of emotion. He wants to make a play,” Shanahan said. “Now you get ready for the next week and put that behind you. He’ll be able to do that. He’s been doing a lot of good things.”
Hall made the 2010 Pro Bowl because he did make plays, intercepting six passes — though four came in one game. He was in position to pick off even more.
But Hall only has one interception this season and hasn’t been close to many others. The Redskins only have seven interceptions as a team, with nickel cornerback Kevin Barnes having a team-best two.
“I probably haven’t been as productive as I would like to,” Hall said. “The coaches tell me, other coaches in the league tell me I’m playing great football. But those plays you’ve got to finish. I’m just frustrated at myself. I still feel I’m a hell of a corner.”
“Anybody can sit back and not catch a ball and, if you’re winning, feel good about it. But if you’re losing, you’re like, what the hell is going on? I don’t know if this defense is built for a corner to get eight or nine or seven picks. It’s built to stop the deep ball and manage the game. Outside linebackers … are the primary guys on the defense and the strong safety.”
Last year, though, Hall liked the defense because of all the zone coverages the Redskins played, allowing him to read the quarterback longer.
Regardless, the coaches have been pleased with his performance.
“He’s been playing at a high level,” defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said. “He’s doing a great job tackling. He’s been good in coverage. He’s had a lot of opportunities to get interceptions, but I think those will come also.”
