By Sean Salisbury
Special to ESPN.com
Johnnie Morton, Herman Moore and Germane Crowell are as good as any three receivers on one team in the league. They can make plays, run after the catch and beat double teams. The Lions' trio has alarming potential. Gus Frerotte has an advantage with his receivers because all three have the potential to have 1,000-yard seasons, something the Redskins can't boast.
For Washington, Albert Connell has done a great job, but he is still a year or two away from proving he can be a top-flight receiver in the league. Michael Westbrook was inconsistent his first few years, but stepped to the forefront this year. He could be a Pro Bowl receiver in another year.
While the three receivers are better for Detroit, the difference is that quarterback Brad Johnson can make throws that put Westbrook, Connell and Fryar on par. But looking strictly at the receivers and their skills, Detroit's are better than Washington's.
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By Mark Malone
Special to ESPN.com
On their own, the Redskins receivers aren't as prolific and do not cause as many problems as the Lions receiving corps, which is one of the best in the league, but they can be as dangerous, especially if Stephen Davis is running the football well.
The Redskins have two fairly big-time receivers in Michael Westbrook and Albert Connell, who can make big plays. I think Connell has been more productive than Westbrook. But what Washington has that Detroit doesn't have is an ability to run the game. The Redskins run Davis to death, and that becomes their way to control secondary coverage.
Using Davis on play-action fakes, the Redskins get matchups, with Westbrook and Connell on three defensive backs. That puts the safety in a bind, making him jump on one man or another, whether they playing zone or man-to-man coverage. Man for man, the Redskins aren't as good as Detroit in a personnel matchup at receiver, but by virtue of their play fakes and the threat of Davis, the Redskins can use motion and the formations they want for their receivers in the passing game. |
