By Ryan O’Halloran
CSNwashington.com
A Week 2 edition of Monday Morning Up-Downs after the Redskins move to 2-0 with a 22-21 win over Arizona:
UP
Fourth quarter poise
Down eight points early in the fourth quarter, the Redskins rallied for the victory by putting together two final scoring drives. The first was a fourth-down pass that Santana Moss caught for an 18-yard touchdown, the second a 34-yard Graham Gano field goal with 1:45 remaining. There never seemed to be a sense of panic.
DOWN
Red Zone offense
Seriously, 2-for-7? Just pathetic. This game should have been over at halftime but the Redskins could manage only 10 points despite numerous trips deep inside Arizona territory. The Redskins got away with it … this week. But that won’t continue to happen.
UP
The running game
Rightly maligned last week for a 2.8-yard average, the Redskins cranked it up to 35 times for 172 yards (4.9-yard average). Sure, Tim Hightower almost got to 100 yards (96), but the revelation was rookie Roy Helu, who rushed 10 times for 74 yards. He could be developing into a great weapon.
DOWN (non-Redskins related)
Atlanta cornerback Dunta Robinson should have been ejected for his cheap shot hit on Philadelphia receiver Jeremy Maclin Sunday night. A repeat offender for his hit on DeSean Jackson last year, Robinson showed little regard for player safety. He should have been ejected.
UP
DeAngelo Hall covering Larry Fitzgerald
Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett told me after the game the coaching staff decided on Tuesday to have Hall (pictures with Fitzgerald) shadow Fitzgerald regardless of where he lined up. This was a change compared to last year and facing Houston receiver Andre Johnson. Fitzgerald had one huge play (73-yard TD), but Hall should be pleased with his performance.
DOWN
Blocked field goal.
The Cardinals’ Calais Campbell blocked Gano’s 30-yard attempt when Arizona put six players on one side against only four blockers. Adam Carriker accounted for Clark Haggans and when Jammal Brown tried to get a block on David Carter, Campbell was allowed an EZ-Pass – he was well beyond the line of scrimmage to make the play.
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@comcastsportsnet.com
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