Another lackluster performance against the Colts - How will we do against the Bears?

Remember this from last year?

Two words come to mind as being the determining factor of our loss to Indianapolis last Sunday on national television, Kareem Moore. You know I've mentioned this guy twice now since he made his appearance in a Washington uniform and both times have been really bad. Both times I mentioned him he was the reason we lost the game. The last time I talked about Mr. #41 Kareem Moore was in our heart breaking loss against the Saints last year when he picked off Brees in our territory and tried to run it back all fancy like then fumbling the ball back to the Saints leading them to go in for their go ahead score. This time I believe much of the responsibility of last weeks loss fell again on his shoulders. With a team like the Redskins, who I can say are solidly an average team ranked overall 16th in the league, we cannot blow opportunities for big plays. Kareem Moore was guilty of 3 major game changing play blunders. And again they came in the form of botched interception opportunities and poor mental fortitude.

The culprit

Let's rewind to the first quarter, we had just scored and the Colts have the ball inside their own territory after our kickoff. Manning throws a ball over his receiver (Manning rarely does that anywhere, much less against the Redskins) and into Kareem Moore's gut. Kareem Moore dropped the "gimme interception." Big mistake, big game changer, recall that after that play the Colts went ahead and scored on that drive. Early in the 2nd quarter, Kareem Moore blew a coverage in the endzone for another Colt's TD, mental breakdown. And then in the middle of the 4th quarter when we were storming back onto the score board, Kareem Moore's swiveling butter hips went in the wrong direction denying him yet another rare interception opportunity against a superstar Manning. I'll tell you what guys, playmakers and key players do not miss opportunities to pick their teams up by the bootstraps and drive them on to victory. Kareem Moore has committed 4 grave mental errors since we've known him as a Redskin and these errors have cost us two games against two strong opponents. These little things tear a team apart and demoralize them throughout the game, especially effecting players on an average team like the Redskins. Wins by average teams over superior teams boost morale and encourage them to play better in future games, heartbreaking losses have the opposite effect and ruin a team's season. Kareem, you are not a playmaker, super star or even starter material by a long shot. Pack it in and go home buddy, give someone else with better playmaking skills the chance to carry their team. If Jim Haslett doesn't see what I see then he is just as guilty of screwing his team over as Kareem Moore is and should take my same advice, go home, let someone who knows take charge.

Now against the Bears, it's almost like looking into the mirror at another average team very similiar to the Redskins. Our overall matchups are pretty even but with grave disparities on individual characteristics. However as with any average team, "being even" is not a good thing because one big play will make all the difference on the outcome of a game. Our offense is ranked 20th in points scored, the Bears defense is ranked 3rd in points allowed. We are 15th in yards gained, the Bears D is 8th in yards allowed, 9th in passing against their 18th in pass coverage. Say no way to a running advantage as we are ranked 25th on the rush while the Bears are ranked 3rd against the rush. It looks like our offensive strategy will once again fall on the shoulders of a yet inconsistent Donovan McNabb. I like Donovan, I think he'll be great closer to the end of the season and all next season, but this year he just hasn't gotten it all together yet. Blame that on Kyle's trying to reprogam him on his technique after 11 years of habit. I still don't know why you have to do that to the guy, he's clearly proven himself as a top QB in the league. It's like someone reprogramming Favre now after nearly 20 years, it's just not going to happen like you want it to.

Enough said.

The plus in our favor here slightly is that the Bear's offense is still trying to figure out who they are. Bears are 22nd in points scored against our 14th in points allowed, 29th in yards gained while we are dead last, 22nd in pass while we are next to dead last, 26th on the rush while we are 24th ranked. I would look for Cutler to open it up early and then pound us with the rush. He's not as gifted a coverage reader as Manning is, but given enough time Cutler can do some damage. We also have DeAngelo Hall and Carlos Roger's questionable for this week's game which makes upfront pressure from our defense tantamount. Victory will be found or squandered by our defensive line for this matchup. Unless we get pressure early and often, and control their rushing attack on the line, the advantage will definitely go to the Bears. Their defense can control our offense if we do not exploit our chances for big plays. Given last week's performance, I would expect the Bear's to pick on Kareem Moore's side of the field and if they do I hope we pull Moore early and put someone in more worthy and capable of playing next to Laron Landry.   

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