As the Redskins take their final break before training camp, The Redskins Blog looks back at players' personal stories and memories from their career, both on and off the field.

In two short seasons, Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland's established himself as one of the best young defensive backs in the NFL.

Breeland made people stand up and take notice of him in his rookie season. The people have yet to sit down, because Breeland's game didn't drop off last season. In fact, Breeland built off and exceeded what he did in 2014.

As Breeland took time to reflect back on how far he's come in three years, he circled back to his rookie season, and the team's Week 8 encounter with the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

Breeland didn't let the bright lights and big stage get to him, as he was on fire that night in just his fifth career start.

"I just played out of my mind," Breeland said. "I was just out there playing, and it just came good to me."  

The Cowboys had a myriad of weapons that they threw at Breeland, including wide receivers Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams, both of whom he stayed stride for stride with for the entire 60 minutes plus overtime.

Breeland was more than prepared for Dallas because he studied Bryant, Williams and quarterback Tony Romo extensively. 

"I just knew I was going to get the slant or the fade," Breeland said. "Nine times out of 10, he [Romo] was going to give me the fade first since I was the young guy. Not only just against Dez [Bryant], it was just the plays that I made, everything was just going right."

Breeland didn't intercept any of Romo's passes, but he did have six tackles and four passes defensed, including the game-saving pass breakup in overtime, which sealed Washington's 20-17 victory.

"[I couldn't] catch the ball, but I was still making plays," Breeland said. "Being a fourth-round pick, thinking that I didn't have a shot, they [Redskins] gave me a chance, it really [held] weight to me."