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BY RICH CAMPBELL
ASHBURN
--You won't hear any member of the Washington Redskins' defense bragging about the unit's fifth-overall ranking or its top ranking against the pass. Surrendering six touchdowns of 30 yards or longer in the last three games has a humbling effect.The Redskins understand that preventing the big play recently has been a crippling weakness, and they are on high alert entering Sunday's game because the Dallas Cowboys have several explosive players on offense.
"Because they have so many weapons at the skill positions, you have to be disciplined in what you're doing and understand that, at any point in time, the guy you're covering could be the guy they try to get the ball to for a big-play opportunity," linebacker London Fletcher said. "It's all about being disciplined."
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has completed a pass for at least 36 yards in seven of their nine games.
Running back Felix Jones has a 56-yard run this season, and Tashard Choice has a 36-yard touchdown run. Top running back Marion Barber is averaging 4.6 yards per carry for the NFL's fourth-ranked offense.
Secondary coach Jerry Gray believes the Redskins are giving up big plays because they have been undisciplined at times.
Last Sunday against Denver, for example, cornerback Carlos Rogers peeked into the backfield and allowed receiver Brandon Marshall to beat him for a 40-yard touchdown catch. Later in that quarter, safety LaRon Landry relinquished his deep responsibilities to pursue a receiver running a shorter decoy route, and Marshall burned the defense for a 75-yard touchdown.
"The first thing you've got to do is play the design of the defense," Gray said.
Fletcher expects Romo and the Cowboys to test the Redskins with some deep throws because other teams have been successful doing that. Philadelphia hit a 57-yard touchdown pass three games ago.
"The league is kind of what we call 'copy-cat,'" he said. "If teams see something that has affected you in the past, that's what you're going to get the next week and the next week until you show the ability to stop it more than once."
HAYNESWORTH LOW-KEY
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth did not practice yesterday and is still sporting a walking boot on his sprained left ankle. His availability against Dallas will be determined before the game on Sunday, coach Jim Zorn said.
"Albert is coming along as the swelling is starting to go down," Zorn said. "We are going to continue to [treat] him."
Haynesworth walked past a group of reporters yesterday afternoon and declined to answer questions, other than saying: "I'm all right."
If Haynesworth plays, he'll go up against Dallas Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode--the man on whose face he stomped during a notorious incident in 2006. The NFL suspended Haynesworth five games that year, the longest suspension for an on-field incident in league history.
Haynesworth reiterated his remorse during a teleconference with Dallas reporters this week.
"If I could go back in time, I wouldn't do that," he said. "Now it was a step in my life, a crossroads. I had to choose what I was going to do. Either go down and let that define me or step up and rewrite history."
Haynesworth addressed the incident at his introductory news conference here last winter. He said he had apologized to Gurode and that they both have put the incident behind them.
"It's good that he moved past it," Gurode told Dallas reporters this week. "I moved past it. He is a great player."
extra points
Running back Clinton Portis will not play Sunday, Zorn said, because he is still experiencing symptoms from the concussion he suffered 12 days ago. Ladell Betts will start in his place.
Defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery is a candidate to be active for Sunday's game, even if Haynes-worth is able to play. Montgomery hasn't been active for a game yet this season, but he's a big body that could help anchor the run defense against Dallas' powerful offensive line.
Montgomery would serve as an insurance policy if Haynesworth's ankle flares up during the game.
Offensive lineman Mike Williams (ankle) did not participate in practice. He'll be a game-time decision, but he would play only in a reserve role, Zorn said.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com
