Game Notes: Skins at Dallas

[Boone]

Sept. 26, 2011
Cowboys Stadium – Arlington, Texas

Game Notes: Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys

• With a first quarter catch, Chris Cooley secured his 423rd career reception, passing former Dallas Cowboy Jay Novacek for sole possession of 19th all-time in receptions by a tight end.

• Cooley finished with four catches for 41 yards. Cooley now has 426 career receptions, one shy of tying Mike Ditka for 18th all-time in receptions by a tight end.

• Cooley’s three-yard run on the Redskins’ opening drive was the first rush of Cooley’s career. Cooley had played in 105 career games before getting his first carry.

• Punter Sav Rocca placed three punts inside the 20, giving him the NFL lead with nine.

• Rocca had a season-long 58-yard punt in the first quarter. His previous long of 56 was set on Sept. 11 against the New York Giants.

• The Cowboys opened the game 0-for-5 on third down and did not convert a third down until the second half. The Redskins entered the game with the league’s top third down defense, holding opponents to conversions on 21 percent of attempts. The Cowboys finished the game 3-of-12 on third downs (23 percent).

• With a 46-yard field goal by Graham Gano, the Redskins scored on their opening drive for the first time this season.

• Gano hit a 50-yard field goal to end the first half, setting a career long. Gano’s previous long was 49 yards, set on Sept. 12, 2010 vs. Dallas.

• Gano hit three field goals in the first half, marking the first time in his career he has hit three field goals in a half.

• Dating back to the 2010 season, the Redskins had gone four straight games without surrendering points on an opening drive. The last time the Redskins had allowed points on an opening drive was Dec. 19, 2010 in the Redskins’ last game at Dallas.

• Safety LaRon Landry forced the sixth forced fumble of his career in the first quarter. His last forced fumble was Oct. 10, 2010 vs. Green Bay.

• On the play, cornerback Josh Wilson recovered the sixth fumble of his career. His last fumble recovery was Oct. 24, 2010 vs. Buffalo.

• On the fumble, the ball was initially ruled out of bounds prior to Wilson’s recovery. Redskins Head Coach Mike Shanahan challenged the call and is now 1-for-1 on challenges this season and 40-for-97 for his career. Shanahan was 2-for-7 on challenges a season ago.

• Wilson had a career-high four passes defensed.

• Tim Hightower’s one-yard receiving touchdown in the third quarter was the first receiving touchdown and his 25th all-purpose touchdown of his career.

• On the play, Rex Grossman threw the 45th touchdown pass of his career. Grossman completed 22-of-37 passes for 250 yards, the 12th time in his career he has thrown for 250 yards or more.

• Wide receiver Santana Moss’s 36-yard catch in the third quarter was his longest of the 2011 season. His previous long was 22, set on Sept. 11 against the New York Giants.

• Moss’ 36-yard catch gives him 12 receptions of 25-plus yards against Dallas, the most of any active player.

• Moss finished with a team-high 70 receiving yards on five receptions. It is the first time this season he has led the team in receiving yards in a game.

• Moss now has 78 career receptions against Dallas, the most of any active player in the NFL.

• The Redskins scored first and led after the first quarter. It was the first time the Redskins had achieved either feat since Dec. 26, 2010 in a 20-17 overtime win against Jacksonville.

• Rookie linebacker Ryan Kerrigan forced the first fumble of his career in the third quarter.

• The Redskins forced three fumbles, tying the team high for the most during the Mike Shanahan era. The Redskins forced three fumbles on Oct. 3, 2010 against Philadelphia.

• The Redskins surrendered points on an opponent’s opening drive for the first time this season, allowing a 41-yard field goal on the Cowboys’ opening drive.

• The Redskins were called for four penalties and have now been penalized 10 times this season, an NFL low.

• Cornerback Kevin Barnes’ third quarter interception was his first of the season and second of his career. His only other career interception came on Dec. 26, 2010 at Jacksonville.

• Fullback Mike Sellers played in his 21st game against Dallas, the second-most of any active non-kicker in the NFL (Brian Dawkins – 25).



(Courtesy of the Washington Redskins)

 

[Sarge]

Looks like we finally found a punter

 

[Boone]

Yeah - he actually had a great night kicking - a shame the botched hold marred it for him (and us). He's a keeper though. Best punter we've had in ages.

 

[Bulldog]

one blocked field goal followed up by a botched hold.

when is this team finally going to make things pay off on special teams?

every year we keep guys like Sellers, Alexander and others to come up with solid ST units and yet it seems under Smith we struggle with one thing or another.

one year it's the punter. another it's the field goal kicker. a couple of years ago it was punt returns.

This game could have been 19-15 Redskins in the fourth quarter and that 3rd and 21 less dire for Washington to all-out blitz because Dallas would have needed to score a touchdown to win instead of a field goal.

And instead all we hear about today is Rex Grossman's failings and DeAngelo Hall.

Special teams are not the Redskins' best friend right now.

That has to change.

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

BT is right but I think its because he have come to expect bad special teams play, we dont even have great starters, how are we gonna have great depth/specials guys? sellers and alexander would be those guys on other teams, here they flash great specials play but we expect them to be contributors on reg teams.

 

[Ax]

KO returns have been disappointing as well. Banks was invisible Monday night. Between his tendency to bring out kicks he probably shouldn't, and his lack of production, he makes himself more of a liability than an asset. He must consistently produce to justify a roster spot.