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5 things to watch for green bay side:
Attacking Washington guard David Brandt
Brandt is an undrafted rookie out of Michigan who starts at right guard, where he?ll have to block Jim Flanigan, Santana Dotson and 340-pound Gilbert Brown. The Redskins want to run Stephen Davis, but if the Packers can overwhelm Brandt, they?ll take a big step toward neutralizing the Redskins? best offensive option.
Controlling tight end Stephen Alexander
The Redskins? Alexander is one of the best down-the-field tight ends in the NFL and went to the Pro Bowl last year with 47 receptions. Linebacker Na'il Diggs will have primary responsibility on early downs.
Jeff George?s composure
The Washington quarterback has one of the best throwing arms in the NFL over the last 15 years, but he?s also prone to self-destruction. If the Redskins can get a lead or keep the game close into the second half, George could be dangerous, especially if Davis is moving the ball on the ground. But if Washington falls behind early, George probably will try to force throws.
Bill Schroeder, Corey Bradford, Bubba Franks
Washington has perhaps the best pure cover man in the NFL in cornerback Champ Bailey, so if the Redskins choose, they probably can take flanker Antonio Freeman out of the game just by putting Bailey on him. That leaves receivers Schroeder and Bradford and tight end Franks as quarterback Brett Favre?s best targets.
Emotion
There?s no telling whether this will be a factor. Lambeau Field will be filled with patriotic fervor, which should help the Packers. Last week?s terrorist attack on the Pentagon had to hit the Redskins especially hard ? several players visited the crash site and victims in the hospital. Is there any way to shake those images?
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Sore back won?t stop Levens
By Pete Dougherty
PackersNews.com
Running back Dorsey Levens? bruised back probably won?t keep him from playing in the Green Bay Packers? game on Monday night against Washington.
It?s another in a series of injuries that have kept Levens off the practice field for much of the past three-plus seasons.
Since 1998, Levens has had only one full training camp ? in 1999 ? missed 22 of 49 regular-season games and lost his job as the Packers? primary halfback to Ahman Green because he?s been unable to stay healthy.
The Packers never have questioned Levens? toughness. Even so, injuries have ruined what could have been the peak years of Levens? career and may have dulled his skills by keeping him off the practice field.
Levens, 31, has missed more practices than he?s participated in since 1998. He sat out Friday and Saturday because of his bruised back. He sustained the injury in the season opener against Detroit.
Levens was listed as probable on the Packers? injury list on Saturday, meaning he has a 75 percent chance of playing Monday night.
Coaches don?t take lightly the daily decisions to have players miss practice, because they want them sharp and well-rehearsed from repetitions with teammates.
Coach Mike Sherman, though, feels a little more at ease resting Levens because of his experience ? eight seasons in the NFL ? and his strong commitment to conditioning, especially his work ethic in the weight room.
?He?s made a fair amount of practices this preseason, obviously not like it was (when he missed almost all of) last preseason,? Sherman said.
?Even though he hasn?t practiced, if I had to pick a player that could do it, he?d be a guy that probably could do it as opposed to some of the younger players at our skill positions on offense. Do I wish he was able to participate? Yes. Could it affect him? It could. But because of the experience he has, I think he?ll be able to move in and play.?
Last year, Levens missed most of training camp and played in only five games because of tendinitis in his knees. This year, Levens broke his left hand in the Packers? first preseason game, missed the next two weeks of practice, then played with a splint to protect the hand.
?Some of that stuff is just dumb luck, stuff he can?t help,? safety LeRoy Butler said.
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Weather: Clear and cool. Kickoff temperature in the mid-40s with north winds at 12 mph.
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Redskins Preview
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 24, 2001
When the Redskins Have the Ball ...
The Redskins can?t be much worse than they were in their 30-3, season-opening loss at San Diego 15 days ago. They had seven fumbles, three by RB Stephen Davis and three on snaps, and Coach Marty Schottenheimer benched QB Jeff George in the third quarter. Schottenheimer probably won?t hesitate to go to backup Tony Banks tonight if George struggles again. The Packers like to bring a safety near the line of scrimmage to help against the run and dare opponents to try to beat them with the pass. Green Bay had seven sacks in its season-opening triumph over the Detroit Lions.
Key Matchup: Redskins Gs Dave Szott and David Brandt vs. Packers DTs Gilbert Brown and Jim Flanigan.
Brown shed about 65 pounds while sitting out last season but still weighs about 335 pounds and clogs the middle for opposing runners. Flanigan is quicker and provides an up-the-middle pass rush, and the Packers rotate former starter Santana Dotson into the playing-time mix. One of the Redskins? major concerns is the interior of their offensive line.
When the Packers Have the Ball ...
It?s not just the Brett Favre show any more. RB Ahman Green rushed for 157 yards on 17 carries in Green Bay?s opening victory over Detroit. He had touchdown runs of 31 and 83 yards. The Packers? offensive line is full of solid run blockers, and a Redskins defense that yielded 113 rushing yards to San Diego rookie LaDainian Tomlinson in the opener will be tested severely. Favre has not lost much, if anything. The three-time league MVP completed 22 of 28 passes for 260 yards and two TDs in the opener.
Key Matchup: Redskins CB Champ Bailey vs. Packers WR Antonio Freeman
Freeman had only two catches for 12 yards in Green Bay?s opening win. But he remains a top receiver, and Favre probably will try to get him involved in the offense tonight. Bailey has emerged as one of the NFL?s top cornerbacks in his third season, so the Packers might try to get Freeman working against rookie CB Fred Smoot at times.
Special Teams
The Packers? Allen Rossum ranked in the NFC?s top 10 in punt and kickoff returns last season and was a Pro Bowl alternate but reinjured his left hamstring in the opener. The Redskins struggled on kick coverage during the preseason and surrendered an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown by Tim Dwight in the opener at San Diego. Packers K Ryan Longwell is one of the NFL?s best. His career FG accuracy of 84.09 percent is the best in league history. Redskins K Brett Conway makes his return to Green Bay. He was a third-round draft choice by the Packers in 1997 but had a brief and unsuccessful tenure there.
Redskins? Keys to Victory
1. Stop Ahman Green
Defense in the NFL begins with stopping the run, and the Redskins cannot surrender the sort of big plays that Green provided for Green Bay in its opener.
2. Pressure Brett Favre
Favre is as tough and competitive as he is talented, and he will get up after being hit. He won?t be intimidated. But there still must be defenders in his face to force quick throws and mistakes.
3. Hope Jeff George Shows Up
George enters the game with a QB rating of 14.8, compared to Favre?s 129.2. If the Redskins are going to pull off an upset, they need some solid, mistake-free QB play.
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Arrington Recovering
Linebacker LaVar Arrington said he felt stronger during yesterday's practice after losing six pounds earlier this week because of strep throat. Arrington sat out Wednesday's practice.
After yesterday's practice, Arrington said, "I don't think me being sick early in the week will have anything to do with the game Monday night."
Reserve fullback Bryan Johnson participated in parts of yesterday's practice and likely will practice today. Johnson was hospitalized earlier this week because of a viral infection.
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Attacking Washington guard David Brandt
Brandt is an undrafted rookie out of Michigan who starts at right guard, where he?ll have to block Jim Flanigan, Santana Dotson and 340-pound Gilbert Brown. The Redskins want to run Stephen Davis, but if the Packers can overwhelm Brandt, they?ll take a big step toward neutralizing the Redskins? best offensive option.
Controlling tight end Stephen Alexander
The Redskins? Alexander is one of the best down-the-field tight ends in the NFL and went to the Pro Bowl last year with 47 receptions. Linebacker Na'il Diggs will have primary responsibility on early downs.
Jeff George?s composure
The Washington quarterback has one of the best throwing arms in the NFL over the last 15 years, but he?s also prone to self-destruction. If the Redskins can get a lead or keep the game close into the second half, George could be dangerous, especially if Davis is moving the ball on the ground. But if Washington falls behind early, George probably will try to force throws.
Bill Schroeder, Corey Bradford, Bubba Franks
Washington has perhaps the best pure cover man in the NFL in cornerback Champ Bailey, so if the Redskins choose, they probably can take flanker Antonio Freeman out of the game just by putting Bailey on him. That leaves receivers Schroeder and Bradford and tight end Franks as quarterback Brett Favre?s best targets.
Emotion
There?s no telling whether this will be a factor. Lambeau Field will be filled with patriotic fervor, which should help the Packers. Last week?s terrorist attack on the Pentagon had to hit the Redskins especially hard ? several players visited the crash site and victims in the hospital. Is there any way to shake those images?
===========
Sore back won?t stop Levens
By Pete Dougherty
PackersNews.com
Running back Dorsey Levens? bruised back probably won?t keep him from playing in the Green Bay Packers? game on Monday night against Washington.
It?s another in a series of injuries that have kept Levens off the practice field for much of the past three-plus seasons.
Since 1998, Levens has had only one full training camp ? in 1999 ? missed 22 of 49 regular-season games and lost his job as the Packers? primary halfback to Ahman Green because he?s been unable to stay healthy.
The Packers never have questioned Levens? toughness. Even so, injuries have ruined what could have been the peak years of Levens? career and may have dulled his skills by keeping him off the practice field.
Levens, 31, has missed more practices than he?s participated in since 1998. He sat out Friday and Saturday because of his bruised back. He sustained the injury in the season opener against Detroit.
Levens was listed as probable on the Packers? injury list on Saturday, meaning he has a 75 percent chance of playing Monday night.
Coaches don?t take lightly the daily decisions to have players miss practice, because they want them sharp and well-rehearsed from repetitions with teammates.
Coach Mike Sherman, though, feels a little more at ease resting Levens because of his experience ? eight seasons in the NFL ? and his strong commitment to conditioning, especially his work ethic in the weight room.
?He?s made a fair amount of practices this preseason, obviously not like it was (when he missed almost all of) last preseason,? Sherman said.
?Even though he hasn?t practiced, if I had to pick a player that could do it, he?d be a guy that probably could do it as opposed to some of the younger players at our skill positions on offense. Do I wish he was able to participate? Yes. Could it affect him? It could. But because of the experience he has, I think he?ll be able to move in and play.?
Last year, Levens missed most of training camp and played in only five games because of tendinitis in his knees. This year, Levens broke his left hand in the Packers? first preseason game, missed the next two weeks of practice, then played with a splint to protect the hand.
?Some of that stuff is just dumb luck, stuff he can?t help,? safety LeRoy Butler said.
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Weather: Clear and cool. Kickoff temperature in the mid-40s with north winds at 12 mph.
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Redskins Preview
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 24, 2001
When the Redskins Have the Ball ...
The Redskins can?t be much worse than they were in their 30-3, season-opening loss at San Diego 15 days ago. They had seven fumbles, three by RB Stephen Davis and three on snaps, and Coach Marty Schottenheimer benched QB Jeff George in the third quarter. Schottenheimer probably won?t hesitate to go to backup Tony Banks tonight if George struggles again. The Packers like to bring a safety near the line of scrimmage to help against the run and dare opponents to try to beat them with the pass. Green Bay had seven sacks in its season-opening triumph over the Detroit Lions.
Key Matchup: Redskins Gs Dave Szott and David Brandt vs. Packers DTs Gilbert Brown and Jim Flanigan.
Brown shed about 65 pounds while sitting out last season but still weighs about 335 pounds and clogs the middle for opposing runners. Flanigan is quicker and provides an up-the-middle pass rush, and the Packers rotate former starter Santana Dotson into the playing-time mix. One of the Redskins? major concerns is the interior of their offensive line.
When the Packers Have the Ball ...
It?s not just the Brett Favre show any more. RB Ahman Green rushed for 157 yards on 17 carries in Green Bay?s opening victory over Detroit. He had touchdown runs of 31 and 83 yards. The Packers? offensive line is full of solid run blockers, and a Redskins defense that yielded 113 rushing yards to San Diego rookie LaDainian Tomlinson in the opener will be tested severely. Favre has not lost much, if anything. The three-time league MVP completed 22 of 28 passes for 260 yards and two TDs in the opener.
Key Matchup: Redskins CB Champ Bailey vs. Packers WR Antonio Freeman
Freeman had only two catches for 12 yards in Green Bay?s opening win. But he remains a top receiver, and Favre probably will try to get him involved in the offense tonight. Bailey has emerged as one of the NFL?s top cornerbacks in his third season, so the Packers might try to get Freeman working against rookie CB Fred Smoot at times.
Special Teams
The Packers? Allen Rossum ranked in the NFC?s top 10 in punt and kickoff returns last season and was a Pro Bowl alternate but reinjured his left hamstring in the opener. The Redskins struggled on kick coverage during the preseason and surrendered an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown by Tim Dwight in the opener at San Diego. Packers K Ryan Longwell is one of the NFL?s best. His career FG accuracy of 84.09 percent is the best in league history. Redskins K Brett Conway makes his return to Green Bay. He was a third-round draft choice by the Packers in 1997 but had a brief and unsuccessful tenure there.
Redskins? Keys to Victory
1. Stop Ahman Green
Defense in the NFL begins with stopping the run, and the Redskins cannot surrender the sort of big plays that Green provided for Green Bay in its opener.
2. Pressure Brett Favre
Favre is as tough and competitive as he is talented, and he will get up after being hit. He won?t be intimidated. But there still must be defenders in his face to force quick throws and mistakes.
3. Hope Jeff George Shows Up
George enters the game with a QB rating of 14.8, compared to Favre?s 129.2. If the Redskins are going to pull off an upset, they need some solid, mistake-free QB play.
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Arrington Recovering
Linebacker LaVar Arrington said he felt stronger during yesterday's practice after losing six pounds earlier this week because of strep throat. Arrington sat out Wednesday's practice.
After yesterday's practice, Arrington said, "I don't think me being sick early in the week will have anything to do with the game Monday night."
Reserve fullback Bryan Johnson participated in parts of yesterday's practice and likely will practice today. Johnson was hospitalized earlier this week because of a viral infection.
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