Wright Moves

Unfortunately, the subject of the blog has had a rough go of it the past month. Each of the other young DB's have put in productive minutes in the past three weeks. As mentioned in the previous post, after Laron Landry had a career day versus the Patriots in painful defeat, he provided a very serviceable line in the overtime win in East Rutherford recording 7 tackles and a pass defensed. Although he was a bit M.I.A in the home loss to Philadelphia, he has quickly become an effective 5th DB and even starter, right now third on the 'Skins in tackles(with 2 for losses as well). Aaron Ross, lining up down on 95 in East Rutherford, for the stadium's namesake, has slowed just a bit. His minutes were scarcer to open the season. Once they spiked, he responded with a 5 week stretch(Wks 5-7) that totaled 20 of his 25 tackles and 3 interceptions, one for a 43 yard return for a touchdown. Against the Dolphins in swampy London and divisional opponent Cowboys in Irving, he took down 4 ball carriers.

None, however, have left a deeper imprint on the field than Eric Wright. Over the past 3 weeks- in St. Louis, home for Seattle, and in Pittsburgh- Wright has amassed 24 more tackles, only one of those assisted, for a season total and team leading 68. An astonishing 64 of those have been solo, displaying a refined ability for the open field tackle as a rookie. He also defensed 3 more passes. I was personally exposed to his natural progression into a shutdown NFL corner, just this weekend, taking in the Browns-Steelers shootout from the comfort of a downtown Detroit sports bar, Harry's. While I was rooting for the Steelers(a touch forced), I have now become a Browns fan as well. I was treated to "rookie" performance Charles Woodson had to be impressed with.

First, he set his season, and thus career, high in tackles with 12. All of which were solo. I recall one in particular when Hines Ward made an impressive 8 yard in-route reception with Wright on his numbers, wrapping him up and stopping him short of the first down marker. His pass-defensed may have been more impressive. Again, against one of the most proven wide receivers of this generation with the ball at the 8 or 10 yard line, he was positioned forward, stationed at the front of the goaline when he broke from his first responsibility, and quickly released to the back corner of the endzone, timing a leap perfectly and glancing the well-thrown Big Ben pass off his gloves and over Hines' helmet. Oh yes, while I cannot specifically recall seeing it, he also recorded a full sack. He has become the most stable and productive player not just in the Browns secondary, but on the entire defensive unit. Makes me regret not purchasing the NFL Ticket. There's still time.

Apres Epique

Well I am not sure if that is how you spell epic in French..........

If not for the haplessness of the Jets, the 'Skins would be looking at a three game skid, it all beginning with the 45 point slaughter Belichick's new school put on Mr. Gibbs. However, you cannot take away the Redskins resolve to get the overtime 23-20 win when needed in Giants Stadium against the visitin home team's Minions of Mangini. Of course, the Patriots overcame an evil twin of Tom Brady in the first half and a blatant and despicable attempt to effect the outcome of this great game by higher powers, to stage a surgical 4th quarter comeback and 24-20 victory. Anyone who watched that game objectively, and let's be honest, there were not many, most wanted to see the landlord Pats fall, could not have left it without noticing the absolute bias the referrees were showing the Colts. Be it Vegas or preferred franchise faces of the NFL theories, someone did not want New England to win. Yet, they did. Further proof that barring a Tom Brady injury, this team will not lose. Before the Week 9 matchups for these merger foes, the massacre at Gillette Stadium did see two of the active members of this blog pitted against one another, LaRon Landry and of course Brandon Merriweather.

Landry may possibly have been the only bright spot on the Redskins roster that October afternoon. He had a career(season) day administering 15 takles, 11 solo, and a pass defensed. Merriweather had the unfortunate distincton of being the only victimized Patriot, literally, all day. 3 minutes into the 4th Quarter, he was singled in the slot against 'Skins TE Chris Cooley. Jason Campbell threw a quick hit and Cooley took it to 15 yards to the house, about 12 with Meriweather saddled to his back attempting to bring Cooley down before the endzone. He was unable to get into the statbook, something that plagued him in Indianapolis as well. It's safe to say, Brandon has not progressed as much as Belichick and Pioli would have hoped. He has had the opportunity with the miriad of injuries(and suspensions) to the Patriots secondary. Luckily, the hobbled verterans have played well enough to supliment the offenses' dismantling of the opposition allowing Meriweather the field time he needs to learn the NFL system, however slowly.