Week 3 vs WAS: Notes

First Quarter:

• Why are the Redskins wearing yellow?
• Joe Buck, master of the obvious, points out that Eli is not the problem.
• Burress starts which is nice, but hopefully he'll go all out.
• I don't want to sound like I think its important, but the uniforms for the 'skins are bugging me. I'm color blind and I know that they look weird.
• Portis looks good on his first run. Mixed emotions in this one: Portis is on my fantasy team (sorry to sound like Tony Kornheiser there).
• Giants are last in 3rd down defense (among other categories).
• Portis is just putting his head down and charging, and the Giants can't stop him. He's getting good blocking, much of it from former Jet Pete Kendall (smart move letting him go, Woody), but NYG still can't stop people.
• Justin Tuck is a rare semi-bright spot on defense.
• Mitchell dropped an interception. Steve S., listen up: tackling and catching. Work on it.
• Giants finally stop somebody!
• Now that Jake Plummer isn't playing any more, Jason Campbell holds the title of dorkiest moustache. But he has nothing on these guys.
  
• Shockey makes a nice grab. Is it just me, or does he roll on the ground every time he makes a catch? This time he could've picked up more yards if he'd just, you know, run after the catch.
• Here's a weird stat: NYG is second in the league in yards per carry. That's mostly with Derrick Ward. Of course, they aren't rushing that often. Ward, frankly, looks good. He plows through a bunch of guys, and the O-line is fairly solid. Not to beat a dead horse but if the defense could step up they could make something happen here.
• Tynes has been good despite being horrendous in the pre-season.
• Skins uniforms are throwbacks, and were designed by Vince Lombardi. Lombardi coached in Washington for one year and then passed away. Which means the team killed him? The helmets look like Green Bay's.
• OK, I take back what I said about the O-line after letting Eli get hit, causing a fumble and an easy TD.
• Again, I know it's repetitive, but Derrick Ward is doing a nice job with Brandon Jacobs out.
• Burress should've made that catch. He was distracted by the defender, but it was a nice throw and he got his hands on it.
  
• Ward misses a conversion on 3rd and 1. They could use a short yardage back. What happened to Droughns? Ward's been great but you can't expect him to magically turn into a superstar overnight.
• Jason Campbell is quietly a very good runner. Aikman says that Portis is the best blocking running back in the league, he may be right. Janky-Spanky, baby.
  
Second Quarter:

• There aren't really any personalities on this Giants team to rally behind. Shockey's a jerk who never lived up to his early promise, Eli's just too damn quiet, Strahan likes to shout at reporters, and Antonio Pierce is busy reading. It's chaotic, and Coughlin doesn't seem to know how to control them.
• Another drop by Burress! If I'm Eli, I'm starting to get pissed. On a positive note, he had time to make a good throw.
• Aikman: it's hard for a QB to get into a rhythm if receivers drop the ball, even if you're throwing well.
• Aside: This show 'K-Ville' looks interesting.
• Aaaaand... Santana Moss makes a nice catch on a long throw. This is what Burress is supposed to be doing.
  
• You know, if the Redskins are going to score, could it at least be Portis who does it so I get some satisfaction?
• Campbell threw to a wide open Chris Cooley; there were three Giant defenders who were 5 yards from the ball. When Cooley caught it they moved in towards him, but it was way too late.
  
• Portis pulls a Shockey and spikes the ball. This one didn't look as bad as Shockey's. But wait: it was 5 yards, not 15. WEIRD.
• I think the officiating is better during this game than last week. That's a very surface observation.
• Another drop for Burress! Is this the injury?
• And after the drop... Interception! Eli say: "Fuck!" Pretty easy lip-read.
• Nice stop by Kiwanuka on 3rd and inches, grabbing Campbell's foot while he hopped.