Washington offense vs. Arizona defense

	REDSKINS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	8
	Pass	4
	Tot. Yds.	2
	Scoring	1
	Int's allowed	0
	Sacks allowed	6
	CARDINALS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	27
	vs. Pass	1
	Total yds. allowed	8
	# of Ints.	6
	# of Sacks	8
	Turnover differential	-10

Rookie WR David Boston used Saturday's game as an opportunity for his NFL coming-out party. Boston had 8 catches for 101 yards against New York and provided the vertical speed and big-play potential the Arizona offense has so sorely missed. Boston victimized veteran New York defensive back Phillipi Sparks for much of the game, and should become a force when the Cardinals get Moore back in the next two to three weeks.

Arizona QB Jake Plummer, prior to being knocked out of the game, had his best performance of the season. Plummer held on to the football, and didn't throw an interception. That performance will need to improve even more this week if the Cardinal offense is going to keep pace with the high-scoring Redskins, who are averaging 37.5 points per contest.

The key for Arizona will be to get RB Adrian Murrell the ball in situations where he can average better than the 2.3 yards per carry that he has averaged to this point in the season. The Cardinals' offensive line is partly to blame for the team's running woes, and help is on the way in the form of rookie LOT Lonnie "LJ" Shelton. Shelton has seen spot duty over the last two weeks and could see even more action against the Redskins. The Arizona coaching staff feels that an inexperienced but talented Shelton has more of an upside than Matt Joyce, who has started at LOT for most of the season. Arizona needs to establish the run, but this could be difficult as they may be playing from behind for much of the day.

The most marked improvement over last season on the defensive side of the ball for the Redskins has been the play of the team's front seven, which has been able to consistently pressure the passer over the course of the first four games. Second year LDE Kenard Lang has been a terror, and leads the team (and is tied for fourth in the NFL) with four sacks. This week, Lang will line-up opposite Arizona RDT Anthony Clement and will try to use his quickness to keep Clement off balance. Lang is slightly undersized, and can be a liability against the run, so expect Arizona to run right. Lang needs to use his hands to keep Clement away from his body, stalemate Clement at the point of attack, and use his lateral movement to keep Murrell from squaring his shoulders and running the ball upfield.

The play of Washington's corners, RDC Darrell Green and LDC Champ Bailey, has also been solid (aside from their Week 1 scorching at the hands of QB Troy Aikman). Bailey is the real deal, with great recover speed, which allows him to look into the backfield and take some risks. In passing situations, Bailey and Green have gotten a great deal of help in the team's nickel and dime packages from FS Matt Stevens and back-up CB Darryl Pounds, each of whom have two picks.

The Redskins will try to stack the line of scrimmage to take away an already anemic Arizona running game, put Bailey on Boston in an attempt to neutralize the Cards' lone big-play threat, and take their chances with the aging Green on Sanders. Green will likely get backside help from SS Sam Shade.

Coach Norv Turner has found the perfect mix between pass and run with this year's offense, and his team's ability to do both effectively is a direct outgrowth of the team's superior offensive line play. Things along the line have fallen into place perfectly.

The ROT was a huge question mark coming into the 1999 season, and rookie Jon Jansen has come in and played well from the first snap. Jansen is a punishing run blocker who continues to improve in pass protection. He should have his hands full this week as he is nursing a sprained MCL and will be matched up against Arizona LDE Andre Wadsworth - one of the most athletic DE's in the NFL. Wadsworth's quickness could present a match-up problem, so expect the Redskins to chip Wadsworth with Davis or FB Larry Centers. Arizona has two talented corners, so expect the team to load up against the run early, taking their chances on the deep ball.

The return of RDT Eric Swann has given the Cardinals' defense a much-needed boost. Swann's athleticism gives the team an aggressive push up the middle against both the pass and the run. Last week, with a healthy Swann the Cardinals limited the Giants' RB Gary Brown to 67 yards rushing. ROLB Zack Walz needs to step-up his level of play against the run, as he finished the game with only two tackles and continued to get pushed around by offensive linemen at the point of attack. Arizona needs to scheme so that Walz can play in space and use his athleticism to make plays.

Depending on the health of Washington TE Stephen Alexander, who is recovering from a back contusion, LOLB Rob Fredrickson could play a critical role in this game. Alexander has added a third big-play compliment to the WR tandem of Michael Westbrook and Albert Connell, and Fredrickson will have the primary responsibility of shutting him down.

Another key match-up is LDC Aeneas Williams against Westbrook. Williams has won these battles in the past, but with Connell emerging as a big-play threat in his own right, Williams will spend more of the game on an island, locked-up on Westbrook in single coverage.