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"I'm a better player in the sense that I understand
the defense a little bit more," Washington said. "I understand what
(assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams) wants out of me. When I mess up,
I already know it and have gone over it about 20 times in my head before
(linebackers coach Dale Lindsey) or coach Williams tells me about it.
"You're either getting better or getting
worse," Washington added. "I'm just trying to keep improving. I
still have a ways to go. I want to be better as an individual player, but I
also want to make the team better."
Washington has done that. His 97 tackles are on pace to
match last season's total. He has already matched his 4.5 sacks of 2004. Only
middle linebacker Lemar Marshall has more tackles (103), and Washington leads
the Redskins in tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles. And the Redskins
have won six games, as many as they did in all of 2004.
"Without Marcus, we'd be a very average to mediocre
defense," Williams said. "He's a pro pro. Any time you mention
anything to him about a weakness, Marcus takes it personal. When he first came
here, (if you looked for a negative) you said he's probably deficient in
coverage. He's improved so much."
So much that Pro Bowl tight ends Tony Gonzalez and
Antonio Gates combined for just five catches for 52 yards against the
Redskins. Jeremy Shockey had three catches for 29 yards.
And Washington set the tone for the defense's best day of
the season in its most critical game to date, sacking Rams quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick for a 10-yard loss at the 1-yard line on the Rams' first third
down of last week's 24-9 Redskins victory. Two and a half of Washington's
sacks have come in the past two games.
"You have to play your best football in November
and, especially, December if you want to be a playoff team," Washington
said. "I'm really just giving it everything I've got. You never know
which play is going to be that play where you can make a difference."
Player
Notes
--WR Santana Moss missed practice Thursday after
straining a hamstring early in Wednesday's session. The Redskins still expect
him to play Sunday at Arizona.
--LB LaVar Arrington didn't practice again Thursday
because of the thigh bruise he suffered last Sunday at St. Louis. He is
questionable for Sunday. Warrick Holdman likely would start if Arrington can't
play.
--DT Joe Salave'a took some individual work Thursday and
likely will miss a second straight game with plantar fasciitis in his left
foot.
--SS Ryan Clark returned to practice Thursday after
missing Wednesday because of the ankle he sprained last Sunday in St. Louis.
Clark is probable.
--DT Cornelius Griffin returned to practice Thursday
after resting his sore hip flexor on Wednesday. Griffin is probable.
--DT Cedric Killings was on the field Thursday for the
first time since pulling a groin muscle last Thursday, but he remains
questionable for the Cardinals.
--T Chris Samuels returned to practice Thursday after
resting his tender knee on Wednesday. Samuels should start at Arizona.
--WR James Thrash took some individual work Thursday
but isn't expected to play for a third straight game because of a pulled
hamstring.
