PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

November 01, 2018 at 1:38 am.

PLAYER NOTES

–S D.J. Swearinger has four interceptions, which ties a career high.

–DE Matt Ioannidis has already set his career-high in sacks through seven games with 5.5. He had 2.5 in Sunday’s win over the New York Giants.

–K Dustin Hopkins is one 50-yard field goal from tying Chip Lohmiller (nine) for second-place on the all-time franchise list.

–WR Jamison Crowder (ankle) still has not returned to practice. He has missed three games in a row since getting hurt in an Oct. 8 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

–RB Adrian Peterson (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday, but is still expected to play Sunday against Atlanta.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: LB Mason Foster leads the Redskins with 64 tackles, 37 solo, and is a big reason they’ve been able to turn around the run defense. Washington is second in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (80.1) and sixth in rushing yards allowed per play (3.84). Foster is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (three) and has a fumble recovery.

GAME PLAN: Much different challenge for Washington’s defense this week after it stoned Carolina, Dallas and the New York Giants the past three games. All three teams can run the ball. None of them could against the Redskins’ stout front, led by defensive linemen Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen plus inside linebackers Mason Foster and Zach Brown.

But the Falcons rank third in passing yards per game (310.4) and passing yards per play (7.67). Washington’s secondary, which just added Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, is young outside of Josh Norman and D.J. Swearinger. Look for Matt Ryan to go after rookie Greg Stroman, a seventh-round draft pick, if he has to start again for Quinton Dunbar. Same goes for Fabian Moreau.

Julio Jones (53 catches, 812 yards) doesn’t have a touchdown this year He’s due and the Redskins are likely going to have to rely on Josh Norman again to travel with him as he did most of the time against Odell Beckham Jr. last Sunday in the 20-13 win at the New York Giants. Ryan also has Mohamed Sanu (24 catches, 324 yards, three touchdowns), tight end Austin Hooper (33 catches, 321 yards) and Calvin Ridley (27 catches, 392 yards). Washington couldn’t stand up to the New Orleans pass attack in a blowout loss Oct. 8. Can it do so this time?

The Redskins need to figure something out. The offense hasn’t had a single 300-yard passing game from quarterback Alex Smith through seven games. He hasn’t topped 178 yards in any of the past three. Of course, Smith has four touchdowns and no interceptions in three wins.

Look for Washington to rely on Adrian Peterson again. He has 587 rushing yards at age 33 and four touchdowns. Five times Peterson has topped 95 rushing yards in a game this season. The Redskins must play ball control and keep it away from Matt Ryan and the Falcons. That and early leads have been factors in all five of their wins.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Redskins OLB Ryan Kerrigan vs. Falcons RT Ryan Schraeder. Kerrigan had one sack in his first five games, an uncharacteristically slow start. He has 3.5 the past two weeks. That’s bad news for Schraeder, who has struggled at times at right tackle playing on a makeshift offensive line that has already lost both starting guards for the season.

–Falcons DT Grady Jarrett vs. Redskins RG Brandon Scherff. Jarrett returned from an ankle injury that cost him two games and had two sacks against the Giants. Scherff, a two-time Pro Bowler, is playing at that level again. That battle inside should be a good one and could determine if the Redskins can sustain their vaunted running game.