What we learned, Vol 1, Chapter 5

The Redskins lost, but it's okay.

The Skins did indeed fall, 23-17, in New York against the Giants. The Redskins - especially in the first half - didn't look like a complete football team. New York controlled the game and the Redskins never led. But it's not so bad.

What we learned:

1. The Giants are really good.
Maybe I am overestimating how good the Redskins are, but the Giants looked like a very, very good team. Their defense is their calling card, and they had three sacks, harassed Jason Campbell all day, and shut down the Redskins' running game. That's not to say the Skins didn't have their chances against the Giants, and I'm not absolving them of the loss simply because the Giants are good. But the Giants do have a great defense, and Eli Manning ain't too shabby either. They are the conference favorites, and they showed why on Sunday.

2. The offense is a work in progress (again).
It wasn't just one thing. It was everything, but the problems Sunday could have a lot to do with the Giants' defense. The Redskins had trouble protecting Campbell as well as running the ball. That added up to the Redskins having trouble moving the ball, especially in the first half. The team's top receiver, Santana Moss, had just two catches for 6 yards, and one of those catches was for -2 yards. Clinton Portis managed 62 rushing yards on 16 carries, but he gained 34 of those yards on his first carry of the day. The team did make a late push, and maybe against a lighter defense, the Redskins might have been able to show more. But one bright spot on offense ...

3. Randle El is a heck of a slot receiver.
The Redskins demoted Antwaan Randle El from a starter to a third receiver, similar to what he did in Pittsburgh. The spot opposite Moss went to Malcolm Kelly. Randle El responded with seven catches for 98 yards, one of his best games as a Redskin. One of the best things about Randle El is his speed and quickness, and he showed those attributes to the max. While he didn't work too well as an outside receiver, he's absolutely perfect in the slot.

4. Training camp reports are highly suspect, but the defense isn't THAT bad.
Reports out of training camp said that the Redskins defense was super. Well, maybe that had more to do with the Redskins offense than the defense. The Giants were able to keep drives alive, especially in the first half. What's worse, the Redskins missed several tackles. But, the defense did a good job of holding the Giants to field goals instead of giving up touchdowns. And in the second half, the Redskins defense kept the team in the game, including an interception by DeAngelo Hall. But where was rookie Brian Orakpo? The guy was all over the field in the preseason, he disappeared Sunday. Maybe the DVR will explain some things.

5. The kids aren't all right.
Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis had a combined one catch - Kelly's 6-yarder. Is this just another symptom of the Redskins' poor offense? I'd hate to think the Redskins wasted three second-round draft picks.

The Skins open at FedEx Field next weekend against the St. Louis Rams, which presents a better matchup with the Redskins than the Giants do.

Hey, at least it's football season.