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Jamison Crowder stands out, and passes Art Monk, in Redskins’ finale Jamison Crowder stands out, and passes Art Monk, in Redskins’ finale
(about 14 hours later)
ARLINGTON, Texas — In a game that meant very little for the Washington Redskins’ playoff chase, the season finale against the Dallas Cowboys was a reminder of how important certain players were to clinching the NFC East title this season. ARLINGTON, Texas — In a game that meant very little for the Washington Redskins’ playoff chase, the regular season finale against the Dallas Cowboys was a reminder of how important certain players were to clinching the NFC East title this season.
Jamison Crowder didn’t lead the team in any major statistical categories, but the rookie wide receiver quickly added a different dimension to the Redskins’ offense. He has solidified the slot wide receiver role for the Redskins this year, and possibly for years to come, and he made his presence felt in the 34-23 victory over the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.Jamison Crowder didn’t lead the team in any major statistical categories, but the rookie wide receiver quickly added a different dimension to the Redskins’ offense. He has solidified the slot wide receiver role for the Redskins this year, and possibly for years to come, and he made his presence felt in the 34-23 victory over the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
Crowder led the team with five receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown. He was a yard short of recording his first career 100-yard game and asked to stay in the game to gain one more yard. Not only did Crowder accomplish that on a 10-yard catch with less than four minutes left, but he passed Art Monk for most receptions by a rookie in Redskins history, with 59. Crowder led the team with five receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown. When a yard short of recording his first career 100-yard game, he asked for a chance to gain one more yard. Not only did Crowder accomplish that on a 10-yard catch with less than four minutes left, but he passed Art Monk for most receptions by a rookie in Redskins history, with 59.
“I had told Coach [Jay Gruden] to let me get a catch so I can go over the century mark, but I didn’t know I was close to breaking the rookie [receptions] record and stuff like that,” Crowder said. “That’s pretty cool though.”“I had told Coach [Jay Gruden] to let me get a catch so I can go over the century mark, but I didn’t know I was close to breaking the rookie [receptions] record and stuff like that,” Crowder said. “That’s pretty cool though.”
The fourth-round pick out of Duke made both Redskins quarterbacks look good. On the team’s second drive, Crowder nearly broke off a screen for a touchdown on the first play to gain 44 yards. It set up a five-yard touchdown reception by Ryan Grant on the following play. The fourth-round pick out of Duke made both Redskins quarterbacks look good. On the team’s second drive, Crowder nearly broke off a screen pass from Kirk Cousins for a touchdown on the first play to gain 44 yards. It set up a five-yard touchdown reception by Ryan Grant on the next play.
In the third quarter, the Redskins went back to Crowder for a screen pass on third and 17 at their own 27. Colt McCoy hit Crowder on his left for a gain of 24 yards, weaving around Cowboys defenders to keep the sticks moving and extend the drive. In the third quarter, the Redskins went back to Crowder for a screen pass on third and 17 at their own 27. Colt McCoy hit Crowder on his left for a gain of 24 yards, with the rookie weaving around Cowboys defenders to keep the sticks moving.
“He’s a great athlete,” tight end Jordan Reed said. “I can tell he grew up playing [basketball], and he can use that same kind of movement on the football field. I think that’s what it really takes for that slot position. It’s a lot of quick movements and things like that you’re going to have to do, and he has it down pat. He’s a baller.” “He’s a great athlete,” tight end Jordan Reed said. “I can tell he grew up playing [basketball], and he can use that same kind of movement on the football field. I think that’s what it really takes for that slot position. It’s a lot of quick movements and things like that you’re going to have to do, and he has it down pat.
“He’s a baller.”
Crowder has been a reliable target for Cousins and the Redskins’ offense throughout the season, so it was fitting that he caught Cousins’s pass to set the franchise’s single-season passing yards record on a fly route. He displayed his quickness and ability to gain separation on the 28-yard gain that placed Cousins in the record books.Crowder has been a reliable target for Cousins and the Redskins’ offense throughout the season, so it was fitting that he caught Cousins’s pass to set the franchise’s single-season passing yards record on a fly route. He displayed his quickness and ability to gain separation on the 28-yard gain that placed Cousins in the record books.
“A lot of people know the slot is one of the hardest positions as a wide receiver to learn,” left tackle Trent Williams said. “He stepped right into it and done an awesome job. It’s so much you’ve got to worry about on the inside with people around you everywhere. You’re running a lot of your routes over the middle, and it’s where a lot of the big hits take place so it’s just a little more stress inside than it is outside.” “A lot of people know the slot is one of the hardest positions as a wide receiver to learn,” left tackle Trent Williams said. “He stepped right into it and [has] done an awesome job. It’s so much you’ve got to worry about on the inside with people around you everywhere.
Redskins players raved about Crowder’s work ethic as the main reason why he’s had such a huge impact this season. He finished third on the team in receptions and receiving yards (604), and Crowder did all that while averaging an impressive 10.2 yards per catch. Against the Cowboys, Crowder had a season-high 21.8 yards per reception on screens, fly routes and his signature crossing patterns over the middle of the field to create yards after catch opportunities. “You’re running a lot of your routes over the middle, and it’s where a lot of the big hits take place so it’s just a little more stress inside than it is outside.”
Redskins players raved about Crowder’s work ethic as the main reason why he’s had such a huge impact this season. He finished third on the team in receptions and receiving yards (604), and Crowder did all that while averaging 10.2 yards per catch. Against the Cowboys, Crowder had a season-high 21.8 yards per reception on screens, fly routes and his signature crossing patterns over the middle of the field to create yards after catch opportunities.
“He’s a big deal for our offense,” McCoy said. “He owns that slot and when guys play man-to-man on him, he usually wins. It’s really fun to watch a hard worker, and he’s really got a bright future.”“He’s a big deal for our offense,” McCoy said. “He owns that slot and when guys play man-to-man on him, he usually wins. It’s really fun to watch a hard worker, and he’s really got a bright future.”
Crowder came into the season ready to play any role. He’s embraced starting at slot wide receiver and inherited punt-return duties. Even he didn’t expect to play such a vital role on this team, but the confidence continues to grow with every game, drive and snap. Crowder, 5 feet 8 and 185 pounds, came into the season ready for any role. He’s embraced starting at slot wide receiver and inherited punt-return duties. Even he didn’t expect to play such a vital role on this team, but his confidence continues to grow with every game, drive and snap.
The bar has been raised for this “sleeper” selection in last year’s draft that appears to be a dynamic threat for the Redskins in the playoffs and down the road, but Crowder’s mind-set hasn’t changed throughout an impressive first season. The bar has been raised for this “sleeper” selection in the draft who appears to be a dynamic threat for the Redskins in the playoffs and down the road, but Crowder’s mind-set hasn’t changed throughout an impressive first season.
“[This performance] pretty much summed up my rookie campaign,” Crowder said. “I’m always hard on myself, so I know I can do much more, and I’m going to have to elevate my game going into the playoffs, but I feel like in these regular-season games I did pretty good. There’s always room to correct stuff and get better. “[This performance] pretty much summed up my rookie campaign,” Crowder said. “I’m always hard on myself, so I know I can do much more, and I’m going to have to elevate my game going into the playoffs, but I feel like in these regular season games I did pretty good. There’s always room to correct stuff and get better.
“I’m just trying to get better and hopefully ride out off into the playoffs and see how far we can go.”“I’m just trying to get better and hopefully ride out off into the playoffs and see how far we can go.”
More Redskins coverage:
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Brewer: Playoff berth more enjoyable because of how it was earned
D.C. Sports Bog: Best and worst moments from the victory
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