A not so easy task

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By

Hours after the Washington Redskins vowed to learn from and move past Sunday's 52-7 loss to the New England Patriots, they learned yesterday their rebound attempt will be made minus a starting cornerback.

Carlos Rogers was injured in the first quarter of the Redskins' fourth-worst loss in franchise history, and an MRI confirmed he tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee.

So in addition to trying to get cornerback Fred Smoot back healthy and fix a dormant offense, the Redskins now must make do without Rogers, who will have reconstructive surgery in two to three weeks.

Nonetheless, coach Joe Gibbs said at Redskin Park he was impressed by the day-after attitude of his players.

"A lot of players at different times around the league, when something like that happens to you, they might just leave the building and say, 'This is over with,' and not worry about it," he said. "Our players, totally different story. I had a number of different meetings today, and I think it shows their attitude about things. I appreciate that as a coach."

Only a few starters were in the locker room during media access, and they had different views on a loss like Sunday's to New England. Some let it stew, some forget about it and some a little of both.

"Whatever works best for the individual," left guard Pete Kendall said. "The coaches will make the determination about how much we actually look at the film and how much we talk about it and/or dwell upon it."

The only solace the Redskins can take is that they're still 4-3 and facing the Jets (1-7), who actually are worse offensively than the Redskins — 30th in the league.

Two years ago, Gibbs sustained his worst loss as the Redskins coach — a 36-0 whitewash by the New York Giants. The Redskins bounced back the next week with a win over Philadelphia but then proceeded to lose three consecutive games.

"You don't look back with any loss or win," receiver Santana Moss said. "Sometimes, you look back at a win to see what you did well, but when it's done, it's done, and that's pretty much what we have to do now. We played a great team that played great and showed us how great they are. All we can do now is look at it and feel awful about it or look it and say, 'Let's not try to go that route again.' "

After three of Gibbs' largest regular-season losses — the Giants game and losses to Dallas (44-14) and Chicago (45-10) — the Redskins won their next game.

Although he has played for Gibbs less than half a season, Kendall didn't expect the message to change this week.

"I don't think you push the panic button at this point," he said. "I don't there's ever a good time for that. It's one game out of 16, and if we lost by a field goal or how many points we lost by yesterday, we're still 4-3. I don't know anybody would feel that much better coming in here had we lost by a field goal.

"If it suits you to let it burn for a good, long time, then it should. If it suits you to put it behind you and move on and focus on the next opponent, that's what you should do."

What suits Kendall?

"A little bit of both," he said. "This isn't something I can't not think about. But as the attention turns to New York, this goes further and further into the rearview mirror."

Safety Pierson Prioleau already had put the loss to the Patriots behind him.

"I've already started looking at Jets film. I'm on to the Jets," he said. "I played the game last night, and I've watched the game 12 times already in my head when I got home. I don't have to see the film. I know what it shows."

One player said Gibbs' speech to the team was like every post-loss Monday: Put it behind them (but learn from the mistakes made) and look ahead to the next game.

"As a coach, you're always rasslin' with, 'What do you do? What do you say?' " Gibbs said. "I try to be frank and honest with them and tell them exactly what I'm feeling and what I see."