Update: Steve Smith rips past Redskins for 143 yards

[Vin+ 3,121]

TIME: 01:00 P.M. EST

VENUE: Bank of America Stadium

Despite being a half-game out of first place in the NFC East, the Washington Redskins are making a quarterback change.

 

The Carolina Panthers have been generally pleased with their rookie quarterback, but they're facing a sizable deficit in the NFC South.

 

John Beck will make his first start in four years for the Redskins on Sunday when they visit Cam Newton and the Panthers, who are coming off yet another disheartening loss.

 

Rex Grossman beat out Beck for the starting job during the preseason, but he fell out of favor with coach Mike Shanahan after throwing four interceptions in a 20-13 loss to Philadelphia last Sunday. The defeat dropped Washington (3-2) just behind New York for the top spot in the division.

 

Beck replaced Grossman at the start of the fourth quarter and led the Redskins to their only touchdown. In two series, he went 8 of 15 for 117 yards and scored on a two-yard run.

 

The 30-year-old former second-round pick is now set to make his first start since he was a rookie with Miami in 2007. He went 0-4 as a starter for a one-win Dolphins team.

 

"Definitely excited. There's been a lot of hard work that's gone into this," Beck said. "You never know when your opportunity's going to come, and you've always got to stay ready. I've tried to do that."

 

Shanahan is hoping Beck can do a better job of protecting the ball than Grossman, who accounted for all 11 of Washington's turnovers.

 

Newton has also been turnover-prone for the Panthers (1-5), having thrown nine interceptions, but overall the rookie has silenced most of his critics. He is fourth in the league in passing yards with 1,847, and with seven throwing touchdowns and six rushing, is the only quarterback in NFL history with at least six of each in his first six games.

 

Although he has been effective at directing an offense that ranks sixth in total yardage at 428.7 per game, Newton has had a hard time delivering wins.

 

Against Atlanta last Sunday, he threw two of his three interceptions in the final 15 minutes as the Panthers squandered a three-point fourth-quarter lead in a 31-17 loss. It was the third time this season Carolina, three games back of division leaders Tampa Bay and New Orleans, blew a lead in the fourth quarter of a defeat.

 

"To me you find solace in the fact that we're getting better and there is a light at the end of the tunnel," coach Ron Rivera said. "Heck, I'm excited to come to work. I am. And I know our players are too. Sure, it's a tough pill to swallow but you have to get your head up.

 

"I have to come in with the right attitude because I have a group of guys that I have to keep focused and (make them) realize that we are getting better."

 

Carolina's ground game continues to make strides, as Newton (50), Jonathan Stewart (48) and DeAngelo Williams (44) combined for 142 yards against the Falcons. The Panthers are fifth in the NFL in rushing since Week 3 with an average of 145.0 yards, and will face a Redskins team that yielded 192 yards on the ground last weekend.

 

"We're a play away," Rivera said. "We just have to find who's going to make that play."

 

Carolina's defense could be primed to make some plays against Washington's makeshift offensive line.

 

The Redskins lost left guard Kory Lichtensteiger for the season with torn knee ligaments and will likely be without left tackle Trent Williams (sprained right ankle) for at least two weeks. Both were injured last weekend.

 

The banged-up line struggled to create holes against an Eagles team that came in ranked 30th in the NFL against the run, as Washington finished with a season-low 42 rushing yards. Ryan Torain, coming off a 135-rushing effort against St. Louis, had 22 yards on 10 carries.

 

The Panthers' defense has also had trouble stopping the run, ranking 31st at 140.3 yards per game, but the Redskins won't be taking that for granted.

 

"It's going to be a big challenge," said Jammal Brown, the right tackle who might move to left tackle.

 

Washington lost 20-17 to Carolina in their last meeting in 2009, just their second defeat in nine matchups.

 

Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.

Edited October 23, 2011 by BLUE

[CARDINAL 205]

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Edited October 21, 2011 by Cardinal

[Vin+ 3,121]

Redskins WR Leonard Hankerson is active for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

 

It's the first time Hankerson has been "up" all season. He takes the place of Donte' Stallworth, who is sidelined by a hamstring injury. But with Anthony Armstrong (hamstring) also active, Hankerson figures to have a meager role.

 

Other Redskins' inactives: TE Chris Cooley, T Trent Williams, DL Darrion Scott, LB Markus White, CB Byron Westbrook and S Oshiomogho Atogwe.

 

 

 

Greg Olsen (turf toe) is active for Sunday's game against the Redskins, as expected.

 

Olsen is a full go as our No. 14 fantasy play at the tight end position today. Other than their litany of players on injured reserve, the Panthers are healthy.

 

Their inactives today: QB Jimmy Clausen, RB Mike Goodson, FB Richie Brockel, T Lee Ziemba, DT Frank Kearse, LB Omar Gaither and S Jordan Pugh.

[BLUE 1,026]

Per Rotoworld.com:

 

Steve Smith caught seven passes for 143 yards in Sunday's 33-20 win over the Redskins.

Smith and Cam Newton are both elite players at their respective positions. On one second-half throw, Newton perfectly fit the ball to Smith in between two defenders at the 1-yard line. He now has 140 or more receiving yards in four of seven games this season -- this is not a fluke. Smith should feast on a Vikings secondary that may be without Antoine Winfield and Chris Cook again next week. Oct 23 - 4:41 PM

[Thanatos 2,847]

All those people before the beginning of the season that said Smitty was past his prime: LOL.

 

Panthers are fun to watch. We may be a young team that still makes lots of mistakes that cost us games we should otherwise win, but we are fun to watch. Last year was just painful. Next year the South better look out.