St. Louis Rams punt returner Tavon Austin zig-zagged through would-be tacklers, dipping and cutting en route to a 78-yard touchdown late in the third quarter of Sunday’s 24-0 win. Afterwards, Redskins punter Tress Way was asked about what he saw on the play.
“Well, what I really saw from him was the back of his jersey a lot,” Way said. “And I didn’t want to see that, because that guy is fast.”
Austin averaged 35.8 yards on his four punt returns, including the touchdown, and that was only one part of another miserable afternoon for the Redskins’ special teams unit. After several weeks of solid performances, the group also failed to convert a fake punt and looked on helplessly as the Rams converted a two-point conversion in the third quarter.
Way, who has been one of Washington’s most consistent individual performers this season, was in the middle of several of the miscues. He accepted his share of responsibility of Austin’s touchdown return, and returning success in general Sunday.
“I’ve got to do a better job of either taking a little bit of distance off,” Way said. “I hit the ball pretty well directionally, but man, he’s so fast, he took it all the way across the field. I got to work on maybe hitting it a little shorter — 45 yards to a guy like that instead of 55 or 50.”
Austin finished with 203 total yards, terrorizing the Redskins in nearly all facets of the game.
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“I don’t know how many yards Tavon Austin had, but he had a fantasy day,” Redskins special teams captain Darrel Young said.
As for the fake punt, which was called on a fourth-and-5 from Washington’s 33-yard line, Way said he was told to simply run for the hole. He saw a Rams jersey crashing from the outside of the formation and therefore decided to take it straight up the middle, where several defenders were waiting for him.
“He’s not a running back, but we tried to take a shot. We tried to get something going,” coach Jay Gruden explained. “[Special teams coordinator] Ben [Kotwica] saw something where he thought the fake would be there. It was worth the shot, and this was one Tress didn’t get. One of the few things he has [not] done all year.”
Way said the play is something the Redskins practiced this week, and he was ready for the opportunity.
“More teams, like you watch a lot of teams and teams maybe look more vulnerable towards it,” Way said. “But we just kind of felt like it would be a good momentum change in the game at that time, went for it and just got stoned on it.”
Kerrigan a defensive bright spot
In the midst of a horrific season for the Redskins defense, outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan continues to impress.
The 26-year-old recorded two more sacks Sunday, pushing his career-high season total to 11.5, while also forcing a fumble on his first sack in the second quarter. Kerrigan said his individual performance was overshadowed by the loss, which was Washington’s fifth straight.
“When you lose, that’s all that’s really on your mind,” he said. “You’re not thinking about the sacks or whatever. You’re thinking about, ’What could I have done to help us win today?’”
Kerrigan has now recorded a sack in three consecutive games for the first time since 2011. He said he’s been “playing a little bit more freely” in recent weeks, after outside linebackers coach Brian Baker told him he looked too controlled in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“He just told me to not let the fear of failure outweigh, override the chance of success,” Kerrigan said. “That kind of hit home with me a little bit.”
With his two sacks Sunday, Kerrigan passed Andre Carter and Dave Butz on Washington’s all-time list of sack leaders. His 36 career sacks rank sixth in franchise history, but after the game, he was focused only on the sacks he didn’t get.
“Although I did have two sacks, I could’ve had a couple more. I missed on a couple,” Kerrigan said. “So that could have put us in a better position to succeed today.”
Running game plunges to new low
Alfred Morris has had a rough season on the ground, and things only got worse Sunday.
He had six carries for one yard in the first half and finished with just six yards on eight carries, the worst rushing output of his three-year career. Morris has also had games of 41 and 29 yards this season.
“Their D-line just did a great job of penetrating and stopping us from flowing from sideline to sideline,” Morris said. “They did a good job of hitting us during our bread and butter, which is eight and nine, outside zone. D-Line did a great job.”
Garcon gets involved
On Washington’s promising opening drive, Pierre Garcon caught three passes for 44 yards. He finished with a game-high nine catches for 95 yards, his second-best performance of the season.
With his nine catches, Garcon eclipsed 400 receptions for his career, becoming the 28th active player to reach that total. He declined to speak to reporters after the game.
Jackson, Robinson, Meriweather out with injuries
DeSean Jackson was inactive for Sunday’s game after sustaining bruises on his legs in the loss to Indianapolis a week ago.
The Redskins were also without inside linebacker Keenan Robinson and strong safety Brandon Meriweather, each of whom were also injured in the game against the Colts. Robinson, who was unable to practice Thursday or Friday, was replaced at mike linebacker by Will Compton, while Phillip Thomas made his first career start in place of Meriweather.
Also inactive for the Redskins were third quarterback Kirk Cousins, right guard Josh LeRibeus and right tackle Tyler Polumbus. The team had previously ruled out defensive end Kedric Golston, who has been bothered by a strain in his lower back.
Ex-Terp Hill triumphant in return
Former University of Maryland quarterback Shaun Hill returned to the D.C. area and completed 16 of 22 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns, finishing with a passer rating of 133.3.
The win marked Hill’s first road victory as a member of the Rams. He led the Terrapins to an ACC title in 2001, which he said was the last time he played at FedEx Field before Sunday.
“It was good,” Hill said of his return. “I heard some Maryland fans in the stands, so that was good.”
Extra points
Running back Roy Helu left the game after stubbing his toe and said afterwards that he did not know the nature or extent of the injury. He is day-to-day. … Between last week’s drubbing of the Oakland Raiders and Sunday’s win over the Redskins, the Rams completed back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1945. … Redskins defensive back Kenny Okoro, who was signed off the practice squad this week, made his NFL debut. … Chris Baker recorded his first sack of the season in the third quarter. … Santana Moss set a season-high in receiving yards (43) and matched a season-high with three receptions. … Washington did not field individual game captains as they have done for much of this season, sending only offensive captain Trent Williams, defensive captain Ryan Clark and special teams captain Darrel Young to midfield for the coin toss.
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
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