Skins vs. Saints: The Great, The Good, and the Not-So-Good

The Great
- RGIII.  Wow.  The poise, the decision-making, the athleticism.  Completions to 8 different receivers.  One of three QBs to pass for 300+ yards in his first NFL game (along with Peyton Manning and Cam Newton).  I've been high on RGIII since the beginning, but wow.
- Pierre Garcon before his injury provided exactly the run-after-the-catch play making Shanahan hoped for.
- Offensive scheming.  Huge credit to the Shanahans who clearly had a vision for how to exploit the Saints' D and play to RGIII's strengths. So much to love: the consecutive passes to the flat to start the game, the QB read-run option plays that caught the Saints off guard, how at the start of the 2nd half the QB read-run option suddenly morphed into a drop-back pass for two consecutive completions.  A+ game-planning.
- Second-year receiver Aldrick Robinson had some athletic and clutch catches.
- Alfred Morris, known on this site as "Forward" Morris for his running style, had a really solid debut.  Good vision, tough aggressive running running, good ball security.  If he was a vet he'd be listed under "The Good," but it's his first NFL game.
- Billy Cundiff.  Perfect in field goals, and a bunch of touchbacks.

The Good
- The defensive secondary.  Despite injuries they largely came through against an elite Saints passing game.  There were some blunders here and there (e.g., Madieu got awkwardly turned around on a late 4th down TD pass), but the positives outweighed the negatives.  I wonder how much credit goes to Raheem Morris in addition to Haslett.
- Defensive front seven.  Not consistent pressure on the ball, but lots of QB hurries and battled balls at the line.  Linebackers did all you could ask in pass coverage against Saints tight-ends.  London had some explosive and some very very smart anticipation plays, but also uncharacteristically failed to wrap up a tackle or two.
- DeJon Gomes.  Not a perfect game, but really solid filling in at starting safety, and showed soft hands on that interception.

The Not-So-Good
- Brandon Banks goes here despite some good plays.  He fumbled twice, that's unacceptable.
- Another blocked kick, although this year it's a blocked punt rather than field goal.  I think reliable Reed Doughty was supposed to pick up the free defender who blocked the punt.
- Fred Davis needs to stop dropping the ball.  The Skins have a lot invested in him.