All week long, the Redskins' offensive players heard about Jacksonville's dominant defensive line and stout run defense.
Turns out it provided motivation for the Redskins' defense, too.
Entering Sunday's game against Jacksonville, the Redskins' defense had logged just three sacks in three games. But in the first 18 minutes of the 36-30 win over the Jaguars, the defense had doubled that total.
The unit finished the game with four sacks in all: one each by Andre Carter, Phillip Daniels, Adam Archuleta and Demetric Evans.
Equally as important, the Redskins' run defense yielded just 33 rushing yards to the Jaguars. Running back Fred Taylor rushed for just 16 yards on seven carries, and speedster Maurice Jones-Drew had three carries for three yards.
The Jaguars did most of their damage through the air, as Byron Leftwich completed 21-of-35 passes for 289 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
In the first quarter, Carter beat left tackle Khalif Barnes for a sack on a first-down pass attempt. It was Carter's first sack of the season.
Later in the first quarter, on a 3rd-and-4 play, Daniels pulled down Leftwich for his first sack of the season.
With the Redskins leading 27-17 in the fourth quarter, Evans logged his sack in the fourth quarter as the defensive line began to increase the pressure on Leftwich.
Even rookie defensive tackle Kedric Golston made an impact, batting down a Leftwich pass in the first half. Golston was starting for Joe Salave'a, inactive due to a lingering calf injury.
Carter finished with four tackles, to go along with his sack, and added two quarterback pressures. Evans and Cornelius Griffin had three tackles apiece.
Daniels logged his first NFL interception in the third quarter. Leftwich's third-down throw to Williams was batted away by Carter, who had drifted back into coverage. Daniels, an 11-year veteran, grabbed the ball and cradled it as he fell to the ground.
Through three games, the Redskins had only three sacks. In the early going of the NFL season, that ranks them 28th, ahead of Houston, Minnesota, Kansas City and the New York Giants. Middle linebacker Lemar Marshall leads the way with 1.5 sacks. Defensive end Demetric Evans has one sack, and defensive tackle Kedric Golston has a half-sack.
It's not uncommon for Williams's defenses to experience sack droughts. Last year, the Redskins logged three sacks in the season-opening win over the Bears. But over the next four games, Washington had just two sacks. The drought came to an end against San Francisco on Week 7, when the defense logged five sacks.
-- TALKING ON THE FIELD
#### -- INACTIVES: SALAVE'A, DUCKETT
Defensive tackle Joe Salave'a was among the inactive players for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rookie lineman Kedric Golston drew the start for Salave'a for the second week in a row.
Salave'a has been hampered by a calf injury that also sidelined him for the Sept. 24 game against the Houston Texans.
The eighth-year veteran had returned to practice last Thursday, was "full-go" according to coaches, but he sat out Friday's practice. Head coach Joe Gibbs said the decision to sit Salave'a was "precautionary" and added that Salave'a had not re-aggravated the injury.
Golston, a sixth-round draft pick, platooned at the position with fellow rookie Anthony Montgomery, a fifth-rounder. The team also moved versatile lineman Renaldo Wynn to defensive tackle during the game.
As expected, cornerback Shawn Springs was also inactive for Sunday's game. Springs has not played a game this season due to abdominal surgery in August and a groin injury suffered in practice on Sept. 21.
Running back T.J. Duckett was also inactive for the second consecutive game.
The Redskins carried four running backs on the roster. Since Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright were active on kick returns, Duckett continued to be the odd man out on game days.
The Redskins' complete list of inactive players for Sunday's game was as follows: safety Reed Doughty, Springs, Duckett, offensive linemen Mike Pucillo and Jim Molinaro and defensive linemen Ryan Boschetti and Salave'a.
