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Investment Executive

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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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bookkilla

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Investment Executive, that is some really great info. It really reminds me to keep an open mind and play with my brain and not with my heart. Keep up the good work and good luck to you.
 
I

Investment Executive

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Sharper, Freeman ready to return punts in a pinch

With Allen Rossum almost certainly out for Monday night?s game against the Washington Redskins, the Green Bay Packers are prepared to put a key starter in the dangerous position of returning punts.

The Packers will use either receiver Antonio Freeman or safety Darren Sharper ? or perhaps both ? to replace Rossum on punt returns.

Rossum?s pulled hamstring hasn?t come around as the Packers had hoped. He remained listed as doubtful on Saturday, which officially means there?s a 25 percent chance he could play.

The Packers won?t rule him out until they have to post their inactive players a few hours before kickoff.

Even so, special teams coach Frank Novak isn?t counting on having Rossum.

?It doesn?t look like it to me,? Novak said after Saturday?s practice. ?I don?t think we?re going to play him.?

In the preseason, reserve receiver Charles Lee was Rossum?s backup on punt returns. Lee, however, wasn?t active in Week 1 against Detroit and probably won?t be on Monday night.

That leaves Sharper, who fielded one punt ? a fair catch ? against the Lions after Rossum was injured, and Freeman.

?I might have to,? Sharper said. ?We don?t know who?s going to start, but it will either be me or Antonio.?

If the Packers use Sharper, they?re putting perhaps their best defensive player at greater risk of injury. If they use Freeman, they?re putting one of their top offensive players at risk.

?It?s pretty risky,? Novak said. ?Who am I going to put back there? I?ve got nobody else unless we activate Charles Lee, and he?s not in the mix yet. We just hope we can get through this week.?

Backup running back Rondell Mealey will likely handle kickoff returns. Safety Antuan Edwards also could return kickoffs.

Before Week 1, Sharper had not returned punts since his rookie season of 1997, when he had seven returns for 32 yards, a 4.6-yard average.

Freeman hasn?t returned a punt in a regular-season game since his rookie season of 1995, when he was the Packers? regular returner. He averaged 7.9 yards per return.

?We?re both valuable (at their respective positions), but we?re the best guys for the job,? Sharper said. ?We?re trying to win games, so you?ve got to go back there. I don?t mind doing it. You just go back there and be smart.

?People call it a suicide mission, but if you know when to run and when to fair catch, you should be OK.?
 

AM2kidz

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SO IE... any predictions for this game???
Great write up... really appreciate the info... I believe Greenbay will rock the joint... GLTA AM2kidz...
smile.gif


I've got a really nice teaser riding on this game..

Denver - 1/2
Packers -2 600/460

Half way home Baby...
 

AM2kidz

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Hey IE.... Got a question I hope you can help me out with... Since I have the Broncos allready in on my 2 team teaser would it be beneficial to me to take the Redskins plus the 9.5 ?? Maybe I can win both sides?? Not sure, but I've seen alot of people swaying towards the Skins... Would that be a hedge play?? Thanks for your help or anyone else out there that might be able to offer some assistance... AM2kidz
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Valuist

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Investment Executive--

You say the emotion figures to benefit the Packers re: the 9/11/01 bombings. I disagree. So far, the Mets, Yankees ,NY Giants and Jets have all kicked butt since play resumed, and Washington was not only attacked but was intended to be attacked by another plane.
 
I

Investment Executive

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i would think your in a pretty good position w/ the book laying the -2 or -130 or 56.5% chance..

not playing the game myself...good luck.
 
I

Investment Executive

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also to consider w/ your hedge at 9.5 that on monday nights the last 3 years +, the pointspread has only resulted in loss/win situation in 7 of the last 52 times... the teams that wins...covers..as a general rule in the past.

2001 1-0-0
2000 14-2-1
1999 13-4-0
1998 14-1-2

[This message has been edited by Investment Executive (edited 09-24-2001).]
 

AM2kidz

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Thanks IE.... I will hold strong where I am at.... Just can't see the Packers losing at home on Monday Night.. I might even tease them again with the over and under... Any opinions on the over or under?? LMK thanks again AM2kidz...
smile.gif
 
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