The preseason glass is never completely full or empty... and although Skins Nation has reason to be excited after one week (it took the '09 team the entire preseason to reach the 42-point plateau)... one must remember these games don't count in the standings and they're more of a barometer than an actual thermometer. Although veterans feel their odometer during this month. Belated week one musings--
Buffalo is Bad-- and not just this season. The once proud AFL Stalwart and 90's pretender to the throne is in miserable shape. No playoff appearances at all since 1999. No winning records since 2004. Several home games being held in a foreign country. And another coaching regime underway when Chan Gailey took the job nobody wanted. Say what you will about the shenanigans in Ashburn; it's better than the mess on Lake Ontario.
Donovan and Distance-- Mr. McNabb completed 5 of 8 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown; buying time with his feet and making throws when necessary. Glass definitely more than half-full here.
Third Down the Difference-- the Skins converted 12 of 19 third down situations while the Bills went 1 for 10. Game. Set. Match.
Is Haynesworth it? The 100 million dollar man played 8 snaps with the second team at nose tackle; while #92 failed to notch a tackle, the middle man helped his teammates shine around him-- holding the Bills to 4.62 yards per play. Glass half-full but heavy and wheezing.
Turnovers telling the tale-- Yes, the Skins fumbled four times... but lost none of those miscues. Meanwhile, the defense intercepted a pair of passes and recovered a Bills fumble. If there was one issue with Greg Blache's defense it was that no matter how high its ranking they had issues generating takeaways and thus Jason Campbell was always having to drive the team 60 to 80 yards. Glass more than half-full here.
Triple Back Attack-- Clinton Portis played briefly, gaining 22 yards on 6 carries. More importantly, this looks more like the Portis who played for Shanahan in Denver... a bruising speedback as opposed to the quick powerback that Gibbs and Zorn tried to make him. No carries for either Larry Johnson or Willie Parker... and word is that Johnson will start against Baltimore this Saturday.
This Year's Colt Brennan-- every August there's one backup who shines beyond his station... and this year it appears to be reserve running back Keiland Williams... 11 carries for 51 yards and two touchdowns against the Bills puts #35 squarely on the radar.
Not All is Bright in Ashburn-- the Skins inked free agent longsnapper James Dearth to compete with Nick Sundberg... making it even more apparent that the days of the Red Snapper are no more without even a possibility of a reunion. Ethan Albright manned the least-thankful special teams position for nine years-- surviving the Marty, Spurrier and Gibbs II eras and bringing honor to his position (even making the Pro Bowl). Alas, the 39 year old didn't survive the most recent regime change-- and Preston's Perspective wishes the class act from North Carolina well.
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