Redskins at Rams
Trans World Dome
St. Louis, Mo.
Monday, Nov. 20, 2000
AT A GLANCE: The Redskins and Rams have been two of the
most hyped teams in the league this season. Despite hitting a few bumps in the road, both
hope to end their seasons with a Super Bowl victory.
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| OVERVIEW: The Redskins and Rams have had one thing on
the brain since the since the start of training camp — Super Bowl XXXV. The Skins
went on a spending spree in an effort to put themselves over the top. St. Louis, of
course, is coming off an NFL championship but had to retool the coaching staff after Dick
Vermeil retired and Mike Martz was promoted. Not everything has gone according to plan
for either team thus far. The Redskins, coming off a Week 11 bye, have dropped two games
in a row. They now sit behind the Giants and Eagles in third place of the NFC East.
The Rams have had to endure key injuries to the two most important players they have on
offense — QB Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk. Compounding their difficulties, the
Rams’ defense has been problematic for much of the season. However, new defensive
consultant Bud Carson is beginning to have a positive influence on this unit.
The head coaches in this matchup, Norv Turner and Martz, are very familiar with each
other. Martz served under Turner in Washington as the Redskins’ QB coach from 1997 to
’98. Washington is the only other NFL franchise Martz has worked for. Turner’s
first NFL job was with the Rams. He served as the club’s WR coach in 1985.
WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL:
At presstime, it appeared as if QB Brad Johnson might miss one more week with a Grade 2
sprain of his left medial collateral ligament, which was suffered in Week Nine. That means
Jeff George is expected to play one more week.
In his only start this season (Week 10 vs. the Cardinals), George hardly lit it up. He
didn’t appear to be very sharp and was out of sync with top WR Albert Connell, who
was held to just one catch. George was picked off twice and didn’t throw for a score. |
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| Trans World Dome |
| St. Louis, Mo. |
| Date: Monday, November 20, 2000 |
| 8:00 p.m. Central Time |
| Type Of Turf: Artificial |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
Washington |
6-4-0 |
| |
St. Louis |
8-2-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Washington |
4-5-1 |
| |
St. Louis |
4-5-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Washington (R) |
3-2-0 |
| |
St. Louis (H) |
4-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Washington (R) |
2-2-1 |
| |
St. Louis (H) |
1-3-1 |
| Record On Artificial Turf: |
| |
Washington |
1-1-0 |
| |
St. Louis |
6-1-0 |
| Record On Artificial Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Washington |
0-1-1 |
| |
St. Louis |
2-4-1 |
|
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| The area of greatest weakness on the Rams’ defense is its pass defense. St. Louis
has routinely given up big chunks of yardage through the air. Connell and James Thrash
will be looking to take advantage of the Rams’ secondary, which features CBs Dexter
McCleon and Dre’ Bly, who is starting in place of Todd Lyght. RB Stephen Davis is
the key to the Redskins’ offense. Look for Turner to give the Rams a healthy dose of
Davis, who is averaging 24.2 carries per game. Another threat out of the backfield is FB
Larry Centers, who leads the team in receptions.
While the St. Louis defense still has some holes, Carson has done a good job of
pressuring opponents with a variety of blitzes and stunts. DLE Kevin Carter is back in the
starting lineup. He moves inside to tackle in passing situations, making room at end for
Leonard Little. That gives the Rams four pure pass rushers on the line. The group should
challenge a Redskins’ offensive line that has been hit by injuries this year.
A marquee matchup in the trenches pits rookie OLT Chris Samuels, who has been very
solid, vs. speedy DRE Grant Wistrom, who is having an outstanding season.
WHEN THE RAMS HAVE THE BALL:
Though Warner and Faulk are expected to be out until the first week of December,
don’t count out the Rams’ offense. QB Trent Green is still capable of leading
his unit to a ton of points, thanks to Martz’s system and the multitude of weapons at
receiver. Turner and his staff are very familiar with Green’s tendencies, as the
quarterback spent four seasons as a member of the Redskins.
With Faulk sidelined, it looks as though RB Justin Watson will get another start. The
Rams hoped first-round pick Trung Canidate would be a weapon in Faulk’s absence, but
he broke a wrist last week. His availability was unknown at presstime. In Watson, the Rams
have a runner who is more comfortable running inside.
Watson faces a much-improved Redskins’ defense that is allowing 94.5 rushing yards
per game.
The Redskins are hoping that CB Darrell Green will return back from a calf strain that
has sidelined him for several weeks. His availability is very important considering the
Rams’ love of three- and four-WR sets. Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Az-Zahir Hakim vs.
CBs Champ Bailey, Deion Sanders and Green makes for some very compelling matchups.
The Rams’ offensive line proved to be vulnerable in Week 10, when it surrendered
five sacks to the Panthers. It rebounded last week and allowed only two sacks.
Washington’s defense features some productive pass rushers, including DRE Bruce Smith
(five sacks) and DLE Marco Coleman (nine sacks).
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Nov. 12, 2000 |
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
87 THRASH, 86 Fryar, 19 Shedd |
| OLT |
60 SAMUELS*, 64 Heck |
| OLG |
63 SIMS, 64 Heck, 66 Moore* |
| C |
51 FISCHER, 57 Leeuwenburg |
| ORG |
57 LEEUWENBURG, 69 Ellis |
| ORT |
76 JANSEN, 69 Ellis |
| TE |
80 ALEXANDER, 88 Jenkins, 89 Flemister* |
| WR |
83 CONNELL, 84 Reed, 13 Thompson |
| QB |
3 GEORGE, 14 B. Johnson 8 Husak* |
| RB |
48 DAVIS, 22 Murrell, 20 Hicks |
| FB |
37 CENTERS, 45 Sellers |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
99 COLEMAN, 90 Lang |
| DLT |
95 WILKINSON, 90 Lang |
| DRT |
94 STUBBLEFIELD, 74 N. Harrison |
| DRE |
78 B. SMITH, 72 Kalu, 75 Ham* |
| SLB |
55 ARRINGTON*, 54 Jones |
| MLB |
50 D. SMITH, 55 Mitchell |
| WLB |
59 BARBER, 53 Mason |
| LCB |
24 BAILEY, 26 Drakeford, 41 L. Harrison* |
| RCB |
21 D. SANDERS, 28 Green |
| SS |
29 SHADE, 31 Terrell |
| FS |
27 CARRIER, 23 Stevens |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
6 BARNHARDT |
| PK |
2 MURRAY, 1 Bentley |
| H |
6 BARNHARDT |
| PR |
21 D. SANDERS, 87 Thrash |
| KR |
87 THRASH, 22 Murrell |
| LS |
85 ZELENKA, 57 Leeuwenburg |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
88 HOLT, 81 Hakim, 82 Horne |
| OLT |
76 PACE, 70 St. Clair* |
| OLG |
61 NUTTEN, 68 Swanson |
| C |
67 McCOLLUM, 60 Everitt |
| ORG |
62 TIMMERMAN, 73 Spikes |
| ORT |
50 TUCKER, 73 Spikes |
| TE |
86 WILLIAMS, 84 Conwell, 45 Robinson |
| WR |
80 BRUCE, 87 Proehl, 89 Thomas |
| QB |
10 GREEN, 9 Germaine, 16 Justin, 13 Warner |
| FB |
25 HOLCOMBE, 42 Hodgins |
| RB |
36 WATSON, 24 Canidate*, 28 Faulk |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
93 CARTER, 77 Moran |
| DLT |
99 AGNEW, 93 Carter, 90 Zgonina |
| DRT |
75 FARR, 94 Hyder |
| DRE |
98 WISTROM, 57 Little, 66 Young* |
| LLB |
52 JONES, 51 Styles |
| MLB |
59 FLETCHER, 51 Styles, 53 Miller* |
| RLB |
54 COLLINS, 51 Styles |
| LCB |
21 McCLEON, 22 Shepherd*, 20 Allen |
| RCB |
32 BLY, 41 Lyght |
| SS |
23 BUSH, 27 Bowen* |
| FS |
35 LYLE, 38 Coady |
SPECIALIST |
| PK |
14 WILKINS, 5 Hall |
| P |
4 BAKER |
| H |
35 LYLE, 87 Proehl |
| KR |
82 HORNE, 81 Hakim |
| PR |
81 HAKIM, 32 Bly, 82 Horne |
| KC |
45 ROBINSON, 90 Zgonina, 61 Nutten |
* Rookie |
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