PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

December 07, 2018 at 6:34 pm.

FRIDAY INJURY REPORT
NEW YORK GIANTS

–QUESTIONABLE: LB Tae Davis (ankle), LB B.J. Goodson (neck, foot)
WASHINGTON REDSKINS

–OUT: LB Ryan Anderson (hamstring), C/G Tony Bergstrom (knee, ankle), QB Colt McCoy (fibula)

–QUESTIONABLE: LB Zach Brown (illness), DE Matt Ioannidis (shin), C Chase Roullier (knee), WR Josh Dotson (hip)

PLAYER NOTES

–RB Adrian Peterson has set the NFL record for most touchdown runs of 50 yards or more (16), which passes Hall-of-Famer Barry Sanders (15).

–K Dustin Hopkins hit two field goals against the Eagles on Monday and with 394 points he passed Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Art Monk (390) for sixth on the franchise’s all-time points lost.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Adrian Peterson. The Redskins can’t put too much on Mark Sanchez’s shoulders. Peterson has to carry the load the way he did in the first game against New York with 149 rushing yards and a receiving and rushing touchdown. There has to be a middle ground between last week’s 90-yard run against Philadelphia where Peterson had just eight yards on his other eight carries and the massive day he had against the Giants. Call it 80 yards and two rushing touchdowns and the Redskins will take it.

GAME PLAN: It’s far too little and too late, but the Giants have won three of four games and put a scare into the Eagles in a 25-22 loss. The Redskins are in no position to take anyone for granted after four losses in five games. They were fortunate to even put New York away late in a 20-13 win on the road Oct. 28.

The key on offense is simple: Keep it simple for Mark Sanchez. He’s in a totally unfair position. Chris Thompson and Adrian Peterson need to carry the load – though with the offensive line in shambles that might not be possible. As long as tackles Trent Williams and Morgan Moses are playingthe Redskins have a fighting chance.

Sanchez does need to use his tight ends to gash the Giants. There’s no reason he can’t take advantage of Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis. And this might be a week to take some shots down field at Josh Doctson and let the 2016 first-round pick just go up and get the ball. The Redskins can’t just play three yards and a cloud of dust football.

On defense, Washington did a nice job stopping New York’s running game in the first meeting. But dealing with Odell Beckham Jr. is going to be a Josh Norman affair. There’s nothing else they can do with Quinton Dunbar now on injured reserve (hamstring/nerve). Rookies Danny Johnson, Greg Stroman and Adonis Alexander are going to get picked on relentlessly.

That might mean taking chances with the pass rush. Preston Smith and Ryan Kerrigan have to get pressure quickly on Eli Manning. If he has time, he will find Beckham. Norman alone can’t win that matchup. Teams have hurt Washington with short passes at various points this season.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Redskins CB Fabian Moreau vs. Giants WR Sterling Shepherd. We know Odell Beckham, Jr. is going to get his touches. But if the Giants move the ball consistently, Shepherd will be a big key. He has 52 catches for 638 yards and three touchdowns. Moreau has had an up-and-down second year as a slot corner, but the 2017 third-round pick from UCLA has the athletic ability to compete and has forced three fumbles. Unfortunately, both players are banged up. Moreau is fighting a knee injury and Shepherd (ribs) was limited at Wednesday’s practice.

–Giants LB Alex Ogletree vs. Redskins RB Chris Thompson. Ogletree has the speed at linebacker to neutralize a pass-game threat like Thompson, who can turn a swing pass into a home run. Ogletree has six passes broken up and four interceptions with four tackles for loss. He’s always around the ball. Thompson’s first game back from a rib injury was a struggle with three rushing yards on three carries and three catches for 18 yards. He has to help Sanchez through the air as much as on the ground.

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