Sunday night might have belonged to the Oscars but those that stopped by Rock & Roll Hotel weren’t paying attention. White Rabbits were in town to end a week-long mini-tour of the northeast and showcased their dual (sometimes triple) percussion attack. The band is currently recording a new album and used the show to preview some of that material. It was a gutsy move (they could have easily lost their audience during those moments) but it paid off as the new songs sounded good and the band rewarded the audience’s patience with a strong finale to the whole affair.

At first, I wasn’t sure if R&R Hotel would be big enough to accommodate the Rabbits’ armory of drums, guitars, and an upright piano, but the venue was a good enough fit for the kinetic group and their beat-heavy sound. After setting up their own instruments (who needs roadies?), the band launched into a brand new song. I was surprised but pleased as the band played a steady rocker that reminded me a little of Spoon’s “The Mystery Zone”. The Spoon reference makes sense because of Britt Daniel’s influence on the group (he produced their last album, It’s Frightening). That and lead singer/piano player Stephen Patterson bares a striking resemblance to Daniel.

Overall, the band focused on newer material. They played 5 new songs, most of Frightening, and only 3 songs off of the debut album, Fort Nightly. I kind of looked at this as two different shows combined into one. The new songs stood out not only due to their unfamiliarity, but also because of the new sounds and ideas the band appears to be incorporating. A couple of songs featured programmed drum loops, adding even more rhythm to the sound. One song featured a synth that created a cool distorted effect. Another song featured a Motown-style beat and a catchy, off-kilter hook. They spaced the new material between the more familiar ones in a clever way but it’s obvious the audience was more receptive to what they knew. After the opening number, the band played spirited versions of “While We Go Dancing”, “The Salesman (Tramp Life)”, and “Lionesse”, the latter two really showcasing the twin-percussion attack led by drummers Matt Clark and Jamie Levinson. They were not only the most energetic members of the group, but they also appeared to play harder and louder as the show progressed. Being a big fan of the drums, I was not disappointed by the duo. Patterson’s rhythmic piano-playing was also well on display and used to great effect during the middle section breakdown of “Midnight And I” where he played the slow, cascading riff note-for-note alongside the guitar.

After a few new songs, though, I got the feeling the audience was a little antsy for some familiar Rabbits tunes. We got it with an even more uptempo version of “The Plot”. Although the earlier portion of the set had its moments, the band found its second wind starting with “Plot”. The shaking tambourines, staccato-ed guitar/piano chords, and memorable chorus (featuring some nice vocal harmonies by guitarist Greg Roberts) really got the audience excited for what was next. And that was “Percussion Gun”. This is my favorite Rabbits song and the opening Burundi-style drums sounded epic in the tiny club. I was amazed watching the two drummers lock-step with each other and pouring every ounce of energy into their performance. They followed “Gun” with a spirited version of “Rudie Fails” to close the main set and it seemed as if the drums had gotten even louder. For the encore, the band launched into “Right Where They Left You” along with its African rhythms and ringing notes that dovetailed perfectly into “Kid On My Shoulders”. The drummers, now joined by bassist Adam Russell, sounded like they were on steroids as Patterson pounded the crap out of his piano while playing the main three-note riff. The three drummers engaged in a calypso-meets-tribal dance that ended the show with a bang.

Leaving R&R Hotel, I was pleased with the overall performance. White Rabbits left everything on stage, displaying great energy and solid chops. While the band really picked things up in the final quarter of the set, the new songs provided a nice preview of what I’m expecting to be another quality album. Overall, an enjoyable evening and no long acceptance speeches were necessary.

The beat-driven, piano-pounding sounds of White Rabbits will be coming to Rock & Roll Hotel this Sunday, Feb. 27th. This is sure to be an energetic (and very rhythmic) show.

White Rabbits follow the post-punk aesthetic of fellow Brooklynites Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah! as well as The French Kicks. However, they approach this style with two percussionists, two guitars, and a piano while mixing in bits of ska, calypso, and African rhythms to form a unique yet catchy sound. Although the band formed in 2004 while at college in Missouri, they’ve been a fixture of the Brooklyn music scene since moving to the neighborhood in 2005. Their first album, Fort Nightly, was released in 2007 and received instant praise from Pitchfork calling it “…a great debut for a band with an impressive, distinctive sound”. After playing Lollapalooza and gathering some buzz for their kinetic live shows in which the members often switch instruments during the set, they returned to the studio and released It’s Frightening in 2009. This album, produced by Britt Daniel of Spoon, featured a cleaner, stripped-down sound without changing the band’s approach (as evidenced by the excellent single, “Percussion Gun”).

The White Rabbits are currently taking a break from recording a new album to play a few northeast shows this week, the last stop being our fair city. If you’re looking to avoid the Oscars and enjoy some good music, check them out this Sunday.

White Rabbits
w/ Caveman
@ Rock & Roll Hotel
Sun. 2/27 – 8:30 pm
$16

The Giants needed a win over the Redskins and a Packers loss to make the playoffs. They got the win but so did Green Bay. At least New York will be watching the post-season just like the Skins who had plenty of chances but also 4 turnovers in the 17-14 loss. Rex Grossman was pressured all day, but again looked solid with 336 yards and 2 touchdowns. This game may have earned Grossman the starting job next season for Mike Shanahan. Unfortunately, they couldn’t protect the ball and that’s what ultimately cost them a victory. The Skins finish the 2011 season with a 6-10 record and plenty of work to do this off-season.

Positives – A lot of young players made an impact Sunday. On offense, Anthony Armstrong’s 64-yard touchdown cut the Giant lead to 3 late in the 4^th quarter. Fred Davis added another touchdown and provided some good run blocking at times. On defense, Kevin Barnes (playing free safety instead of corner) seemed to always be around the ball. He broke up 3 passes and prevented Brandon Jacobs from scoring a touchdown in the 1^st quarter with a saving tackle. Adam Carriker also held his own against a good Giants offensive line. And of course there was Brandon Banks and his long returns giving the Skins good field position at key times.

Negatives – The turnovers were obviously a problem. Credit the Giants for knocking the ball out of Grossman’s and Santana Moss’ hands 3 times. The interception, though, was Grossman’s fault as he underthrew the pass along the sideline. The Skins were again bad on 3^rd down, converting only 3 of 12 attempts. They finish the season as the worst 3^rd down offense in the league, which is inexcusable. Finally, Graham Gano may need to be removed from the kicker position. His miss on a 30-yard field goal attempt could not be blamed on bad weather, a bad snap, or a bad holder. That makes 11 misses for Gano this season. At the very least, some competition is needed for both kicking positions next year.

The weather conditions on Sunday matched the Redskins mood following the 17-16 loss to the Bucs. Key mistakes hurt the Skins despite the rejuvenated run game and solid defense. After having a 10-3 lead at halftime, the Skins gave up 17 unanswered points to Tampa Bay in the 2^nd half. Donovan McNabb then led the Skins on a two minute drive and capped it off with a touchdown to Santana Moss with 9 seconds left in the game. All they needed was an extra point to tie the game and send it into overtime, but Nick Sundberg snapped the ball too high for Hunter Smith to recover and the kick was not even attempted. The Bucs escaped with the victory. The Skins are now 5-8.

Positives – Welcome back, Ryan Torain. On the running back’s first carry of the game, he ran for 54 yards and that was just the beginning. He finished the day with 172 yards (158 in the first half) on 24 carries after spending the last few weeks on the disabled list. The offensive line certainly helped with some great run blocking. It was exactly how Mike Shanahan envisioned his offense would work. Santana Moss also chipped in with a strong game (7 catches, 82 yards, a touchdown). Defensively, the team recovered two fumbles and did a good job stopping the Bucs on 3^rd down. It also seemed that Albert Haynesworth’s suspension did not affect the defense. In fact, the defensive line played well (Adam Carriker and Philip Daniels in particular) without having any distractions to derail them.

Negatives – Graham Gano missed two short field goals and nearly missed an extra point as well. If this occurred earlier in the season, Gano would be cut. At this point with 3 games remaining, it’s probably not worth letting him go. He has missed 10 field goals this season and the kicker position will have to be addressed in the off-season. The long snapper position should be addressed as well. Sundberg has cost the team on a few field goal attempts and his high snap on the final extra point attempt was a killer. There were also some major issues with clock management by the coaching staff at the end of the 1^st half. Shanahan used up all of the Skins timeouts when the offense was on the 3-yard line, leaving them with only 20 seconds left. Out of confusion, McNabb called a timeout the team did not have, which lead to a delay of game penalty and pushed the ball back to the 8-yard line. McNabb threw an incompletion on 3^rd down and the team was forced to kick a field goal to make the score 10-3 at the half. Had Shanahan managed the clock better, he could have given the offense a better chance to score a much-needed touchdown.

Everyone knew the Redskins had to play a perfect game in order to beat the Giants. That didn’t happen. The Skins had 6 turnovers in the 31-7 loss. The game may have been over in the 1^st quarter much like it was against the Eagles. The Giants scored touchdowns on their first two drives while the Skins offense could not move the ball. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw scorched the weak Skins run defense for a combined 200 yards and 4 touchdowns. Donovan McNabb struggled, throwing for 2 interceptions and losing a fumble. The loss puts the Skins record at 5-7 and may have ended their playoff hopes.

Positives – Not much to say here as this was a one-sided affair. The Skins only ran the ball 16 times, but James Davis and Keiland Williams showed some good burst when they had the opportunity. Davis looked solid with 81 total yards, including a nice 28-yard gain on a screen pass during the Skins lone touchdown drive. Defensively, the only positive was London Fletcher’s endzone interception, the only turnover the Skins have had in the past two games.

Negatives – The Giants possess one of the best rushing attacks in the league and Jacobs, in particular, has always played well against the Skins. Sunday was just more of the same. Albert Haynesworth was inactive for the game (due to arriving late for a team meeting) and left a huge hole in the middle of the defensive line. The Skins poor tackling didn’t help either. Perhaps, they should have put 8 men in the box and dared Eli Manning to throw it on them, but that’s not what Jim Haslett game-planned. Offensively, McNabb had a mediocre performance. Two turnovers stick out in particular: his first interception in which he threw the ball into double coverage in the endzone and his fumble on a scramble when he should’ve slid after gaining the first down. To add insult to injury, Devin Thomas (who was cut by the Skins earlier this season) made some great plays on special teams for the Giants, including a blocked punt. Ouch.

On the first drive of the game, the Redskins offense looked great. They traveled 83 yards in nearly 8 minutes and capped it off with a touchdown catch by Fred Davis. After that, the offense looked mediocre. A combination of costly drops and penalties led to a 17-13 victory by the Vikings. Donovan McNabb had another solid game, throwing for 211 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked 4 times and was not helped by an anemic rushing attack. For the Vikings, Brett Favre managed the game well and did not throw an interception for only the second time this season. Despite an injury to star running back Adrian Peterson, the Vikings also ran for 137 yards and controlled the clock late in the game to seal the win. The Skins are now 5-6 with a critical game against the Giants upcoming.

Positives – The Skins defense had allowed an average of 411 yards per game heading into Sunday (among the worst in the league). They only gave up 299 yards to the Vikings and made key 3^rd down stops to keep the Skins in the game. But the real star was Brandon Banks. The tiny receiver started the game running two Wildcat plays on the opening drive and finished with a 30.8-yard average on kickoff returns. He also nearly had a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown but it was called back on a penalty. Banks has become a major weapon for the Skins on both special teams and offense, and needs to be utilized more often. Also, props to him for doing the John Wall dance after his would-be touchdown return.

Negatives – The Skins receivers have had problems with drops all season but Sunday it might have cost them a victory. Santana Moss dropped two passes, one of which bounced off his facemask and was intercepted leading to a subsequent field goal by the Vikings. Anthony Armstrong also dropped a sure catch in the fourth quarter after grabbing a 45-yard bomb from McNabb. With no running game to speak of, the Skins needed their passing game to be at its best and the receivers did not deliver enough. Overall, the offense sputtered following the opening drive and finished with only 216 total yards. Also, a block in the back penalty on Banks’ punt return wiped a touchdown that would have given the Skins a lead late in the game. It was a rookie mistake by Perry Riley but a major one they couldn’t afford.

Everything seemed hopeless after the Redskins’ Monday night debacle against the Eagles. Then, they took their gold pants to Nashville and beat the Titans 19-16 in overtime. I guess this proves that the Eagle game was an anomaly. The Skins were scrappy against the Titans, the defense forced a couple of turnovers, and Donovan McNabb looked great with 376 yards and a touchdown passing. Better yet, McNabb ran the two-minute offense exactly how Mike Shanahan wanted him to run it. Only Graham Gano’s missed 47-yard field goal at the end of regulation prevented total confirmation. Gano did connect on a 48-yarder in overtime, thanks in part to the Titans’ penalties, to seal the victory. The Skins are back at .500 and all five wins have come when they’ve scored less than 20 points.

Positives – The offensive line had their best performance of the season despite key injuries. Artis Hicks was inactive for the game, Casey Rabach injured his knee in the 1^st quarter, and Derrick Dockery also suffered an injury that forced him to miss the 2^nd half. With a patchwork line, McNabb was given good protection, and the zone blocking opened up running lanes for Clinton Portis and Keiland Williams. Perhaps the injuries were a good sign. Rabach’s absence gave way to Will Montgomery at center where he performed solidly. Dockery also played for the first time since week 1 and provided significant help before he got hurt. Even Stephon Heyer appeared to play better at right guard than tackle. We’ll see if this line can hold up for the remainder of the season. Defensively, DeAngelo Hall and the safeties did a great job shutting down Randy Moss who finished with zero catches. In fact, the Titans passing game did not hurt the Skins much. Tennessee converted 3 of 11 on 3^rd down. The Skins, on the other hand, went from being the worst 3^rd down team in the league to completing 8 of 16 tries.

Negatives – I mentioned this earlier in the season but the problem went away for a brief period. Unfortunately, it returned against Tennessee. I’m talking about the long snapping situation. Nick Sundberg’s snaps were usually low (particularly on punts) and one high snap on a field goal attempt led to a miss. Sundberg is young but his play is far more important than most people realize. Another special teams issue was kick coverage. This is an area of strength for the Skins but they gave up a punt return for a touchdown to Marc Mariani as well as another long return on a kickoff. Offensively, the Skins receivers are continuing to drop catch-able passes. The receivers as a unit converted only 30 of 48 targets, some on 3^rd down and one of which led to an interception by McNabb. Defensively, the Skins run defense was weak again. There is a good excuse to giving up 130 yards to Chris Johnson who is arguably the best running back in the league but it’s still an area of concern. It won’t get easier next week as the Skins host Minnesota and Adrian Peterson.

A couple of hours prior to the Monday night kickoff, Donovan McNabb signed a 5-year extension with the Redskins. It may have been poor timing given what happened later. The Eagles gave the Skins one of the worst beatings in franchise history, 59-28. It’s always hard to write something positive about your favorite team after they’ve been destroyed on national television. Michael Vick looked like an MVP, throwing for 333 yards and 4 touchdowns while rushing for 80 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles scored 35 points in the first 20 minutes and, while the Skins showed some life in the 2^nd quarter, the contest was all but over. This game needs to be placed in the rearview mirror quickly with the Titans coming up next week.

Positives – Obviously, there are not many positives after a loss such as this. In fact, the only one I could find was Keiland Williams. Subbing in for an injured Ryan Torain, Williams had 89 yards rushing, 50 yards receiving, and 3 total touchdowns. His play seemed even more impressive considering he wasn’t expected to start until right before kickoff when Torain re-aggravated his hamstring. I couldn’t find any similar stories on defense, especially after giving up 59 points.

Negatives – There are too many things to mention here but I’ll start with this: The Skins do not have the talent or desire right now to win games on a consistent basis. They are gradually trying to strip away the big contracts and overrated performers that have hurt them the past 10 years, but it will take another season or two to complete the turnaround. The game may have been over before it started. Laron Landry allegedly spit on the Eagles’ Mike McGlynn during pre-game warm-ups, which led to a heated exchange between both teams. I’m not sure if this psyched the Eagles into playing with more urgency but it appeared that way throughout the game. Offensively, the Skins looked sluggish and way too conservative early on. McNabb had some passes dropped and threw two interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown). The defensive unit looked as bad as the Broncos did in Superbowl XXII when the Skins scored 35 points in the memorable 2^nd quarter. Poor tackling, lack of a pass rush, and a weak run defense combined for a pitiful performance. The coaches also need to look at themselves, and wonder if they had the right game plan or made the necessary changes to give themselves a chance at victory. A lot of questions remain with little ti

After half a season, the Redskins seem to have almost as many questions marks as they did during training camp. However, there is reason to believe things can come together and the team can make a run towards the playoffs. 4 wins matches the win total from last season, and there are significant improvements in the areas of preparation, discipline, and opportunistic play. There’s also a major issue at quarterback and a lack of depth at key positions that will need to be resolved. Here are the major storylines thus far in 2010.

The Haynesworth Saga – What seemed like a problem a few weeks ago appears to have been assuaged. Mike Shanahan and Albert Haynesworth are now on the same page, and Haynesworth is playing at his highest level since joining the Skins. We should remember that these two men were barely talking to each other during the off-season and Haynesworth complained about the new defensive scheme. His benching and the death of his brother didn’t help matters either. The last 3 games, however, Haynesworth has looked great and they need him to continue that play in order to make the playoffs.

Meet the Unknowns – Back in the 70s and 80s, the Skins were able to pick up castoffs and undrafted free agents, and turn them into stars. This year, Shanahan has taken those types of players and allowed them to produce for his squad. Guys like Lorenzo Alexander, Anthony Armstrong, Brandon Banks, and Ryan Torain have had an impact yet none of those players were drafted prior the 4^th round. In fact, Armstrong was a member of the Intense Football League a couple of years ago and no, I’m not making that up. In the past decade, castoffs such as these would have never been given an opportunity due to the star system that Dan Snyder preferred. This was despite the lack of productivity by some overpaid players. Now, if someone is productive and hungry, he’ll get his chance to shine.

3-4 Scheme – The new defensive scheme implemented by Jim Haslett has had its ups and downs, but for the most part is reaping some rewards. Last season, the Skins defense created only 17 turnovers overall. This year, they already have created 19 turnovers. The pass rush has also been solid as the team has 18 sacks thus far. The new scheme has also allowed Laron Landry and DeAngelo Hall to have career years. As the team adapts to the 3-4, there are some growing pains and the current personnel does not entirely suit the scheme. The run defense has been poor at times and there have been too many missed tackles. Another off-season could alleviate these problems but so far, the defense has helped win games.

Offensive Line Woes – As if the line was bad enough last season, it may be just as bad this year. They have given up 23 sacks and Skins quarterbacks have been battered. The run game lacks continuity as well. It was hoped that the addition of two new, quality tackles would solve these problems. Trent Williams has had to face some great pass rushers and he’s handled it well at times, but still makes some rookie mistakes. Jamaal Brown has been inconsistent but is still healing after a knee injury cost him the 2009 season in New Orleans. Where the major problem resides is in the interior of the line. Casey Rabach may be one of the weakest starting centers in the league and the two starting guard positions are being held by career backups, Kory Lichtensteiger and Artis Hicks. The depth behind these players is also lacking. They’ll need to patch up the line somehow in order to prevent a major injury to Donovan McNabb or Rex Grossman., which finally brings me to…

The McNabb Benching – As it’s been beaten to death this past week, Shanahan’s benching of McNabb in the last two minutes of the Detroit game has created a league-wide stir. Shanahan claims it was due to an injury that was possibly cardiovascular-related. McNabb claims he felt fine. Shanahan also said he didn’t think McNabb knew the 2-minute offense as well as Grossman. McNabb disagreed but didn’t say it out loud. So what to make of all this? It could either have been a motivation tool to get McNabb to perform better (which he should), or it could backfire and McNabb not only feels betrayed by Shanahan but chooses not to re-sign with the team after the season. It only makes the next game against the Eagles even more intriguing.

For the second straight season, the Redskins went to Detroit and lost. That by itself would have been reason enough to question the team heading into their bye week but this loss came with something extra. With the Skins trailing 31-26 and just less than 2 minutes remaining, Mike Shanahan benched Donovan McNabb and replaced him with Rex Grossman. It was a curious move because McNabb was not injured and hadn’t played poorly. On Grossman’s first play, he was sacked and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Ndomukong Suh for a touchdown. So instead of just making adjustments and getting players healthy, Shanahan will be bombarded with questions about the McNabb benching for the next two weeks.

Positives – Once again, Albert Haynesworth delivered a strong performance. He overpowered the Lions guards and was disruptive for much of the game. It appears that he’s up to speed with the new defensive scheme. The Skins run defense overall was solid, holding Jahvid Best to only 48 yards rushing. DeAngelo Hall had yet another interception (this time picking off a pass in the end zone while staying in bounds) and Laron Landry was all over the field. In fact, the Skins defense gave up the fewest yards of the season. Offensively, McNabb rediscovered the long ball, hitting Anthony Armstrong on a 50-yard bomb in the 4^th quarter that led to their second touchdown of the game. McNabb also had a key 36-yard scramble in the 2^nd quarter to set up a touchdown pass to Ryan Torain. Finally, what else can be said about Brandon Banks? The tiny receiver had a career day, which included a 96-yard touchdown return on a kickoff. He’s emerged as a real weapon and makes the Skins special teams unit even better.

Negatives – It has to be said that Casey Rabach is not fit to be the starting center on this team anymore. Twice early in the game, Rabach stepped on McNabb’s foot, causing the QB to trip and disrupt the plays. Rabach was also manhandled by Suh and the other defensive tackles of the Lions. His lack of strength and age are catching up with him, and Shanahan may need to turn that position over to someone else. Also, the lack of size in the middle of the offensive line is a major problem. McNabb was sacked 7 times and rushed constantly during the game. I think Shanahan should have considered this before benching McNabb in favor of Grossman who didn’t fare any better. Using Derrick Dockery at guard more often might be one solution. Moving Kory Lichtensteiger to center might work as well but something needs to be done. Another problem was penalties. Up until this week, the Skins were good at not causing stupid penalties but that changed against the Lions. On one field goal attempt by Detroit, Phillip Daniels had an unnecessary offsides call, which sustained the drive for the Lions and helped them score a touchdown. Another penalty on a punt return prevented Banks from getting a second touchdown in the game. Shanahan has done a good job preparing his players and making sure they stay focused. Let’s hope these penalties don’t continue.

courtesy of ‘Tony DeFilippo’

In what was a very sloppy game, the Redskins overcame some close calls and played opportunistic ball as they defeated the Bears 17-14. Both teams combined for 9 turnovers, 13 penalties, and 4 third down conversions on 23 attempts. Basically, who ever wanted it more would win this game. After trailing 14-10 in the first half, the Skins got two breaks in the 3^rd quarter. First, an apparent touchdown sneak by Jay Cutler was not called by the officials and, even more surprisingly, the Bears did not challenge the call. Albert Haynesworth caused a fumble on that play but right after the Skins took possession, Donovan McNabb threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown…except it was called back due to a delay of game on the offense. As bad as McNabb looked at times, Cutler looked worse. He had 281 yards passing, but threw 4 interceptions and lost a fumble. With the victory the Skins improve to 4-3 and get their first road win on the season.

Positives – There’s no doubt that DeAngelo Hall was the best player on the field. He tied an NFL record with 4 interceptions in the game, one of which he returned for a 92-yard touchdown. It seemed that his disagreement with Jim Haslett over defensive assignments may have paid off. If Hall was the game MVP, then Haynesworth was the runner-up. After missing the last two games, he created havoc in the Chicago pocket with his bull rush, causing the goal-line fumble and registering a sack. It’s also a good thing that he wasn’t dealt at the trade deadline last Tuesday despite the rumors. Offensively, there wasn’t much to brag about. Ryan Torain had another strong game with 125 yards on 21 carries but fumbled twice. Chris Cooley also looked good despite showing some lingering effects from the concussion he suffered last week against the Colts. Cooley finished with 7 catches for 52 yards and made a smart play batting a fumble out of bounds after it was stripped from his hands.

Negatives – McNabb may have had his worst game of the season. He completed only 53% of his passes and threw 2 interceptions. McNabb also made a mistake when, instead of taking a sack, he threw the ball with a defender in his face, had it tipped, and then intercepted for a touchdown. He is still adjusting to a new offense and changing his footwork, but he can’t continue to have games like this and except victory. The interior of the Skins offensive line broke down protection too many times. Casey Rabach, in particular, had difficulty containing defensive tackles Israel Idonije and Anthony Adams plus struggled with a couple of his shotgun snaps. As dependable as Rabach has been over the past several years, his play has deteriorated with age. He may need to be replaced next season. Defensively, the Skins showed poor tackling again and gave up a 48-yard pass play as result. Finally, Graham Gano missed another field goal under 40 yards. Another veteran kicker should be brought in to provide some competition. Gano has looked shaky since the Green Bay game and field goals will be important given the offense’s difficulty producing in the red zone.

For three quarters yesterday, the Redskins offense could not produce any spark and the defense let Aaron Rodgers spread the ball around the field. In the fourth quarter, the offense woke up and the defense attacked Rodgers with a mission. Donovan McNabb threw a 48-yard touchdown to Anthony Armstrong. The defense had 4 sacks (two by Brian Orakpo) and made key stops on third down. After Graham Gano’s 45-yard field goal sent the game into overtime, Laron Landry came up a difficult interception and Gano kicked a 33-yard field goal to give the Skins a 16-13 victory over Green Bay. They are now 3-2 and still on top of the NFC East. A Sunday night matchup with the Colts looms but in the meantime, this is another conference win to savor.

Positives – If I were giving out a game ball, I would elect the special teams unit as the recipient. Gano’s clutch kicks, Brandon Banks’ electric returns, Hunter Smith’s booming punts, and crushing stops by gunners Mike Sellers and Lorenzo Alexander on kick coverage helped the Skins in the victory. Banks was especially thrilling. He may be the smallest player in the NFL (at 5’6”, 155 lbs.) but he is too quick for opposing defenders to contain. His 30-yard punt return in the fourth quarter started the comeback. Another key player was Armstrong. He finished with 3 catches, 84 yards, and a touchdown. Why he isn’t in the starting lineup yet is a mystery to me. Joey Galloway’s age is really showing and Armstrong’s big play ability could allow Santana Moss to move in the slot more often. On the defensive side, major kudos goes to lineman Philip Daniels, Vonnie Holiday, and Adam Carraker for taking the place of Albert Haynesworth (who attended his brother’s funeral), and providing good effort against both the run and pass. Daniels looks spry at 37, and finished with a sack and two tackles for loss. Also, it may be early but Laron Landry appears well on his way to making the Pro Bowl. His stat line said it all: 13 tackles (one for loss), an interception, and a forced fumble.

Negatives – The offensive line appears to be a mess. Trent Williams and Jamal Brown were both injured in the game. Stephon Heyer continued to look a step slow and had a couple of critical penalties. Granted, there is a lack of talent that’s needed to play in Mike Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme but the constant shuffling of the line is curious to say the least. Derrick Dockery was inactive, leaving the undersized duo of Kory Lichtenstieger and Casey Rabach to match up against the 320+ pound defensive tackles that Green Bay had. Due to these problems, the Skins had only 51 yards rushing and gave up 5 sacks. Since the line has issues in pass protection, the running backs need to provide better blitz pickup. Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams did not help out McNabb in this area, and they need to step up their performances with Clinton Portis out for at least the next few games. Haynesworth’s absence may have affected the defense slightly although their pass rush was strong. The run defense is another story. They gave up 115 on 10 carries to Brandon Jackson who had only averaged 3 yards per rush coming into the game. While Jim Haslett showed more 4-man fronts, it’s obvious this team has major issues stopping the run. Yes, it’s a bend-don’t-break unit but for the fourth time this season the Skins were out-gained in yardage and time of possession. They can’t continue to live dangerously and expect victories.

The Skins kicked off a brutal stretch in their schedule with a tough victory over the Eagles in Philly. I was expecting Donovan McNabb to get a rude reception from Eagle fans much like the one he received at the ’99 draft. Instead, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. The rest of the game did not go as smoothly. It was physical, mistake-filled, and left some key casualties for both teams. Michael Vick was injured in the first half and did not return to the game. Kevin Kolb stepped in and played admirably, but the Skins defense held him in check when it mattered most. Clinton Portis was also injured and sat out most of the second half. Despite this setback, the Skins ran the ball effectively, caused a couple of turnovers, and won the game 17-12. The Skins are now 2-0 in the NFC East after losing all six division games last season.

Positives – The running game, which made a re-appearance last week, was dominant yesterday. The Skins gained 169 yards on 35 carries but the bulk of it came from Ryan Torain who had 70 yards and a touchdown. Even McNabb had 39 yards on the ground including an 18-yard scramble to keep the clock running on the final drive for the team. Torain looked very solid, bursting into his cuts, and juking out Eagle defenders on a couple of occasions. While McNabb struggled at times, he did manage to complete two long passes: a 57-yard bomb to Anthony Armstrong and a 31-yard touchdown to Chris Cooley. In fact, McNabb has completed several passes over 30 yards this season and given the offense a big play dimension they’ve lacked the past few years. Defensively, Jim Haslett utilized more 4-man fronts and press coverages to help out against the run while not giving up big pass plays. It worked. The Eagles had 110 yards rushing but no big runs that wore away the Skins defense. Also, the Eagle receivers were held in check. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin only had 4 receptions and 34 yards combined. On third down, where the Skins defense has had their troubles this year, the Eagles only converted 5 of 14 chances. Even Albert Haynesworth created a good push in the pocket and occupied blockers effectively. This is also the first recap where I’ve mentioned Haynesworth, so he must have done something right.

Negatives – McNabb’s arm and lack of accuracy betrayed him at times. He forced one interception and threw a few short yardage passes near the ground. The Skins third down conversion rate is still lacking and drives are not being sustained as they should. This could be due to a lack of quality receivers and poor pass protection. Joey Galloway had one reception against the Eagles and has been almost nonexistent this season. Even Santana Moss was held without a catch. McNabb needs more time to complete these passes, particularly on third down. The Skins defense looked solid but still needs to tighten up their run defense. Using the 4-3 more often should help but the defensive line as a whole needs to improve their play. Maake Kemoeatu looks a step slow and Kendric Golston may not be a good fit for this defense at all. Also, the linebackers are not shooting the gaps or covering as well as they should. Andre Carter was benched in favor of Lorenzo Alexander and only looked effective when he lined up at defensive end. This game looked encouraging for the defense but their level of play will need to improve as a potent Packers offense comes to Landover next week.

Early on in this game the Redskins knew they would have a long day ahead of them. After allowing a 42-yard touchdown run by Stephen Jackson on the opening drive, the Skins fumbled the ball on their first possession and the Rams quickly responded with a touchdown pass by Sam Bradford to take a 14-0 lead after just six minutes elapsed in the first quarter. The Skins did score 13 unanswered points and Philip Daniels blocked a field goal to end the first half, but the rest of the game belonged to Bradford and the Rams defense. Donovan McNabb had a frustrating day because the Skins defense could not get off the field and they allowed the Rams to gain 133 rushing yards. The Skins also turned over the ball twice, had a punt blocked, and the offensive line looked disjointed partly due to Trent Williams’ injury. The 30-16 victory by the Rams is only their second in the last 19 games. While the 1-2 start should not cause panic at Ashburn, there are some major concerns about the Skins’ inability to stop opposing offenses and the lack of depth at key positions.

Positives – The running game finally worked. Clinton Portis, Ryan Torain, and McNabb each had a run of over 20 yards, and the team finished with 116 yards on the ground (6.8 yards per carry). While Portis did not play for much of the second half, he looked comfortable on the stretch plays and zone blocking that Mike Shanahan is famous for. Even Torain proved to be a much better backup than Larry Johnson. The run blocking should continue to improve when Williams comes back. Also, despite losing the fumble on the first drive, Santana Moss had a strong game and showed that he has not lost his deep speed. Moss caught 6 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown (the longest catch going for 56 yards). His play is critical given the lack of proven receivers on this squad. Defensively, perhaps the biggest bright spot was Laron Landry who is playing at a Pro Bowl level this season. He had a tackle for loss and looked solid covering the middle zone of the field.

Negatives – Whether it is the new 3-4 scheme, the lack of proper personnel, or the result of poor tackling, the Skins defense has given up more yards than any other team in the NFC this season. The Rams did adjust well to the Skins blitz packages, but they ran the ball with ease and Bradford had plenty of time to throw the ball, particularly in the second half. Bradford may very well become a great quarterback in time but you can’t give a rookie that much leeway. The tackling by the Skins secondary was awful at times. Some players could not even get the right footing on the artificial turf of the Edward Jones Dome causing missed tackles and lapses in coverage. Jim Haslett may need to make some adjustments and possibly utilize more 4-man fronts to best utilize the current personnel. There is also a Jekyll-and-Hide situation occurring with the special teams unit. For every great play there is also a major mistake. In this game, Daniels’ blocked field goal was offset by the blocked punt on Graham Gano (subbing for injured Josh Bidwell). Likewise, the forced fumble by Reed Doughty on a kickoff was offset by Phillip Buchanon’s muff on a punt return, which he fumbled out of bounds. The injury to Bidwell is concerning. It looks uncertain whether he’ll play next week, so the Skins will most likely bring in a new punter. There is a lot of work remaining with a trip to Philly upcoming.

One thing is certain about the Redskins: they are rarely boring to watch. After giving up a 17-point lead in the second half and nearly 500 yards passing, the Skins fell to the Texans 30-27 in overtime. Both teams played very well for the most part but a few mistakes cost the Skins a victory. The blocked field goal in the 4^th quarter, the holding penalty on Stephon Heyer after a critical 23-yard catch by Santana Moss, and the offsides call on Chris Horton were among the biggest blunders. Two key injuries also affected the game as Laron Landry and Trent Williams tweaked their left wrist and knee respectively. The overtime itself was torture for Skins fans as the team went for a 52-yard field goal, which Graham Gano made, but Texans’ coach Gary Kubiak called a timeout just before the snap. Gano’s second attempt was way off the mark. When the Texans got possession of the ball, they moved it to the 18-yard line and Neil Rackers hit a 35-yard field goal giving Houston a victory after 71 ½ minutes of football. There is no question that the Skins gave a full effort in this game. It’s just a matter of holding a lead and finishing plays late in the game that they need to improve upon.

Positives – Donovan McNabb was outstanding. He went 28 of 38 for 426 yards and a touchdown, including several completions over 20 yards. His ability to run this offense was never in doubt. He also benefited on great protection by the offensive line. Trent Williams, in his second game, played well against Mario Williams. Big Mario did have 3 sacks in the game but for the most part McNabb was never affected by the pass rush. On the other side, the Skins got to Matt Schaub and sacked him 5 times. They mixed blitz packages and used only one down lineman on a few occasions. The defense also slowed down the Texans running game and Arian Foster was held to 69 yards rushing after his 231 outburst last week against the Colts. Mike Shanahan also made sure to utilize the Skins depth by giving significant playing time to second and third stringers such as Keiland Williams, Vonnie Holiday, Anthony Armstrong, Roydell Williams, and Kory Lichtensteiger, all of whom made key contributions to the game.

Negatives – As good as the Skins pass rush and run defense was, Schaub picked them apart and had a career day (38 of 52; 497 yards; 3 touchdowns). Carlos Rogers had an interception on Houston’s first drive but after that Schaub settled down and the Texans passing game was exceptional. The Skins secondary gave zone coverage and Schaub found openings in there, mostly to Andre Johnson who had 12 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown. The 3-4 defense that Jim Haslett has installed will give up yards, particularly through the air, due to their emphasis on blitzing and creating turnovers. Against Houston, the Skins defense gave up too many yards and relied on their linebackers in pass coverage, which is not their strong suit. Another factor was the lack of a running game. Clinton Portis had two touchdowns in the first half but only 33 total yards on the ground. In fact, the Skins had almost the same amount of yards rushing (18) as carries (17) and could not control the clock in the second half. The offensive line has not opened as many holes in the running game as expected, but it’s also looking clear that Portis and Larry Johnson simply don’t have the burst of speed they once had. The Skins can’t rely on McNabb like this every game.

If there’s one thing NFL fans are guaranteed it’s that when ever the Skins meet the Cowboys in primetime, the game is sure to be filled with unusual plays and often a thrilling finish. Last night was no exception. While the first half was mostly a dull affair (the Skins had only 104 yards in the half), the stadium woke up when DeAngelo Hall stripped the ball from Tashard Choice, recovered the fumble, and then ran 32 yards for the TD to give the Skins a 10-0 lead at halftime. Both offenses faired better in the second half. The Skins ran the ball more effectively and were able to get into the redzone on the opening drive of the half. However, after missing two good opportunities to get the TD, they botched the snap on the field goal attempt and Dallas was able to stay in the game. Both teams traded scores and when the Cowboys gained possession of the ball with 1:50 left in the game, the stage was set for a classic finish. Carlos Rogers and Laron Landry dropped two sure interceptions, and Miles Austin had a huge 4^th down catch to put Dallas in the redzone with 12 seconds remaining. On the very last play, Tony Romo was pressured out of the pocket and delivered a pass to Roy Williams for the game-winning TD…except it was called back by a holding penalty on Alex Barron. Game over. The Skins beat the Cowboys 13-7 as the fog rolled through FedEx Field.

Positives – Offensively, the Skins O-line did a good job handling the Cowboys pass rush and Trent Williams looked impressive in his debut. He only gave up one sack to DeMarcus Ware but had few mistakes in general. Clinton Portis played solid as well. He found some good cut-back lanes and showed a burst we haven’t seen in a couple of years. Donovan McNabb was on target for the most part and could have had more completions if not for some drops by the receivers. He had good protection particularly in the second half and the physical blocking wore out the Cowboys D-lineman. Defensively, the Skins were bend-don’t-break but made key stops while keeping the Cowboys out of the redzone for most of the game. The new 3-4 defense that Jim Haslett has installed showed very few hiccups. At times, the Skins had only two down lineman or none at all. They would blitz corners, safeties, and linebackers from different angles, either in bunches or individually. It was a well-executed game plan by Haslett. Also, credit Mike Shanahan for his decision to kick the 49-yard field goal late in the game rather than punt. It was a gutsy call but the right one.

Negatives – Most people think a long snapper has little impact on a game but they are an important part of the special teams. Last night proved why. Nick Sundberg was brought in this year to replace long-time Pro Bowl long snapper Ethan Albright and he had a terrible night. The botched field goal was a result of his high snap and he even had a low snap on the last made field goal. He struggled throughout training camp and may get the boot if his troubles continue. While the Skins were able to move the ball on offense, this area is still a work in progress. McNabb needs to improve his timing with the receivers and they need to do a better job concentrating on the catch. It was also unusual to see Fred Davis and Joey Galloway not targeted through most of the game. This offense will need a few games to gel.