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Redskins scalp
Cowboys on one side
SportsTicker
Miami (May4, 2000)
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The most dominating
defensive back in the NFL year end and year out plays for the Dallas
Cowboys. He is quick, fast, smart and has excellent hands. Often his
interceptions turn into dazzling returns for touchdowns. He can be found
in ESPN highlights. He even has made his own music videos. He is "Prime
Time". He is "Neon" Deion Sanders. A gamebreaker. Going
into Washington's second game of the PFL season versus the Dallas Cowboys,
Redskin head coach, Sham, had one simple plan. DON'T THROW TO DEION'S
SIDE OF THE BALL. DON'T RUN TO DEION'S SIDE. AVOID PRIMETIME! With the
simple implementation of this plan the 8th ranked Redskins were able
to cruise to victory over the Dallas Cowboys, in Dallas. The
game began after a lenghthy delay due to a blackout that was imposed
before the game. Due to heavy traffic about 25% of the expected sellout
didn't reach Texas Stadium by kickoff. One of these fans was Deion Sanders'
mother. Thus, ABC quickly imposed a regional blackout in the Dallas/Ft.Worth
area. Luckily enough fans, including Deion's mother, were able
to get to the stadium by an hour and a half after the scheduled start
time and the game could finally commence with its number one fan on
hand. At the onset of the game it was a defensive
battle. Both Dallas and Washington played conservative ball and punted
on their first possesions. Dallas had very limited success, but so did
Washington. Coach Sham of the Redskins then put his plan in place. "I
wanted to work over any defensive back beside Deion Sanders. So I chose
to try my luck on the 2nd string DB's and safeties using my slot receiver."
This strategy worked as Irving Fryar caught 2 key passes before capping
the 4 play 61 yard yard drive with an easy 1 yard snag on an outside
slant. Washington 7, Dallas 0. In the second quarter
Washington was again able to take advantage of the Dallas defense, using
the slot wide out and half back screens. They finished a 6 play 21 yard
drive with a 37 yard field goal by Brett Conway. The Cowboys struggled
on offense throughout the first half and were unable to mount any serious
attack. At halftime the score was 10-0, Washington. At the beginning
of the 3rd quarter the Reds received the ball. They quickly mounted
another successful drive, running the magority of their plays to the
right side of the field - away from Deion Sanders. Irving Fryar was
able to catch his second TD of the day on a 15 yard slant route. Washington
17, Dallas 0. Through the course of the season the
Redskins have been able to control the 3rd quarter. This game proved
to be no different as the Redskins put the clamps on Aikman, contained
Emmitt and defused the "Rocket". The defensive muscle of Washington
flexed on the Cowboys offensive line midway through the third quarter
when defensive end Marco Coleman was able to sack Troy Aikman for a
safety. Washington 19, Dallas, 0. Later in the 3rd quarter, Washington's
All-Pro wide receiver, Michael Westbrook got in the on the scoring blitz
with a 30 yards reception in the back of the endzone. Washington's "ShamCoast"
isolation style offense was able to key in on various weak links on
the right side of the Dallas defense during the 5 play 66 yard drive.
Washington 26, Dallas 0. In the 4th quarter Westbook
once again got passed the right side of the Dallas defense for a 32
yard score. Head coach Sham said "Inside the 35, I try and lob
the ball deep to Westbrook so that he can use his size against a man
to man, yet catch the ball with his speed before the free safety can
get over against a zone." Washington 33, Dallas 0. Dallas
was able to have a little more success in the 4th quarter as they finally
cracked the riddle of the "Red Shift" defense. This success
came mainly through the air as Dallas abandoned Emmitt Smith (3 carries,
3 yards) and the running game. Dallas' third receiver, W. McGarity,
snuck into the soft spot of the Redskin zone defense and waltzed into
the endzone for a 23 yard score - the last score of the game. Aikman,
however was picked off Sam Shade on one drive and struggled the majority
of the day going 10/27 for 184 yards with 1 TD and 1 pick. No Cowboy
receiver had more than 2 catches or 61 yards. The Cowboys also finished
the game with only 148 total yards (after factoring in sacks). Deion
Sanders who was always on the opposite side of the play finished with
2 tackles, 0 tips and 0 interceptions. Washington,
which virtually locked up the NFC East with its win, had success on
both sides of the ball throughout the game. Running back Stephen Davis,
who struggled during the first meeting of the teams back in week 1,
had a good all-around game. He picked up 81 yards on only 10 carries,
mostly on runs to the right. He also led his team with 7 receptions
for 32 yards. The veteran, Irving Fryar, caught 5 passes for 94 yards.
The hotshot, Westbrook, had 78 yards on 3 catches. Total offense for
the Redskins tallied 373 yards. On defense, Marco Coleman led the way
with 4 sacks. Defensive back, T.Paul, had many key tips that ended Cowboy
drives. The game MVP was quarterback Brad Johnson.
He was 17/28 for 260 yards with 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. He
had to key QB sneaks for vital firstdowns. After escaping
the field and the booing Cowboy fans, Washington head coach, Sham had
this to say: "We didn't let Deion Sanders do anything for the Cowboys
today. We stuck to our game plan and operated on the right side of the
field for the most part. What I really think won it for us though was
our kicker, B. Conway, and the special teams unit. We consistently kicked
the ball deep into the endzone - so Dallas was relegated to going 80
yards if they wanted to score. We also contained Deion on punt returns.
Our kickoff and punt coverage gave us the subtle edge that we needed
to win big today. Otherwise it could have been a 7-0 game again.
I never expected to put up this many points against a player of the
Swammi's caliber. After the Jets game I thought this team was finished.
Now we look forward to winning the NFC East - and maybe being the top
seed in the AFC."
© 2000, PFL
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