Report Card (Week Two – Preseason)

by Joe Grinwis (124) – JN Senior Columnist
 
QUATERBACK — B+
Brooks Bollinger – 10-16, 69 yards
Patrick Ramsey – 6-9, 33 yards
Kellen Clemens – 2-4, 2 yards, TD
 
Bollinger played better than the Bollinger of ’05.  He had a rough start but got better as the Jets improved with their blitz pickups.  Ramsey showed good poise while he was in the game leading the team down the field. The Offensive Line didn’t protect that well for him, so you can’t fault his short dump off numbers for that. Clemens made a nice throw to Newhouse in the endzone. All in all a good performance. 
 
RUNNING BACK — A-

Derrick Blaylock – 10 carries, 46 yards
Cedric Houston – 11 carries, 49 yards
Leon Washington – 6 carries, 17 yards
B.Smith – 1 carry, 61 yards, TD Â
Â
Brad Smith elevates this group from a C+ or B- rating up to A- with his 61 yard reverse play that went for a TD. Smith showed exactly why he was so dangerous at Missouri. Blaylock and Houston also had good nights, both averaging over 4 yards per carry.Â
WIDE RECEIVERS — D
Jerricho Cotchery – 3 receptions, 15 yards
Laveranues Coles – 2 receptions, 13 yards
Justin McCareins – 2 receptions, 10 yards
Reggie Newhouse – 1 reception, 5 yards, TD Most of the receiving yards tonight went to the running backs but Cotchery showed why he should stay in the starting lineup.  He grabbed a few early balls in the game.
Â
TIGHT ENDS — F
Non-existent in the passing game.  Jolley had a terrible false start penalty in the red zone.  Baker Â
Â
OFFENSIVE LINE — B
Good blocking for the running game for the majority of the time. Pass blocking was poor early on but after a few drives they gained consistency.  D’Brick had a nice block downfield on Brad Smith’s big run.
Â
DEFENSIVE LINE — B+
The Redskins (although without Clinton Portis) weren’t really able to run the ball and there were times where Brunell and Campbell were heavily pressured.
Â
LINEBACKERS — A-
Bryan Thomas had a lot of pressure throughout the night and as usual Barton and Vilma were all over the field making plays.
Â
SECONDARY — B-
The starters played well for the most part but the back-ups and 3rd stringers didn’t do that much. Dada with a nice pick could beat out Drew Coleman as the team’s #5 CB.Â
Â
SPECIAL TEAMS — A+

Two excellent returns tonight (1 by Miller for 50 yards and the other by Leon Washington 87 yards for a TD) were good. Nugent was 2-2 on field goals from 30+ yards. Ben Graham had 2 punts downed inside the 10.  Mike Westhoff was a happy man tonight.