No one has been harsher, more critical, and down right degrading of Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas, and Fred Davis than we here at DC Pro Sports Report.  In reality, we have been absolutely brutal.  And, rightfully so, they have deserved it.

However, we will also give credit when it is due, and show a little hope when we see it.  TE Fred Davis is leading this trio.  With the injury to starting TE Chris Cooley, Davis has become the go to guy for Redskins QB Jason Campbell.  Better yet, Davis is making the grabs, getting open, and producing yards after the catch.  He fights for yards.  That’s a great sign of maturity.  Today was no different.  Davis had 4 catches for 50 yards.  Two of those catches were critical catches that sustained drives.

Watching the game today with a friend, I heard several times, Chris who?  Now, let’s not go overboard.  Chris Cooley is an All Pro tight end.  Cooley is the Redskins offense.  One of the best in the business.  But, Davis is proving to be a reliable tight end who is gaining some very valuable experience on the field.  He has an opportunity to show the Redskins he was not a wasted second round pick and he is making the case.  What were watching if Fred Davis developing into a solid tight end to compliment Chris Cooley and the Redskins offense.

We have actually been more brutal toward Kelly and Thomas.  Rightfully so.  These two have been no where to be found, completely AWOL all season.  Besides an injury plagued offensive line, the failure of one of these two to step up in to the second receiver role has been a huge factor in the Redskins offensive struggles.  One could expect, the way the NFL Draft and the NFL works, for one of the two to flop.  But both?  That is seemingly what has been happening this season.

Today, Devin Thomas took a step forward.  He caught two passes for 37 yards.  Not that impressive.  However, Thomas showed a little more effort today, making two nice grabs and fighting for some serious yards after the catch.  That is precisely what the Redskins need from one or both of these guys.  To me, Thomas took a baby step forward today.  Malcolm Kelly also made an 18 yard grab.  It was a nice catch that was thrown behind him.  Nothing new there as far as the pass being off target.  Kelly also stepped up twice with some great blocking on the run plays.

The point here is this — neither of these two had terrific games.  However, what they did to was make some impact.  It’s a step forward and I salute both on better games.

It is timely that they step up as well.  Why?  Is anyone getting sick and tired of watching Santana Moss drop balls?  Moss is not himself this year, both in terms of his hands and his ability to get open.  I don’t have an answer for you on Moss.  He can blame Jason Campbell’s passing only so much.  The fact is this year, plenty of opportunities have come to Moss, in which Moss instead protrayed himself as Carlos Rogers instead.

Next week will be an interesting watch for Redskins fans.  Not only is it Dallas week.  Not only can Washington inflict damage on the Cowboys playoff run.  Not only can the Redskins build on this win.   What will be interesting to see is if Kelly and Thomas can continue to make strides toward becoming part of the passing offense.  Can these two build on an OK effort today?   If they do, the Redskins can turn this season, maybe not into a playoff season, but at least a respectable season.  Kelly or Thomas or both can show the Redskisn the rest of this season that they are not second round busts.  Baby steps today.  What is next week?

As for Davis, he will continue in the role of starting tight end.  It is actually nice to watch him continue to develop.  A good, solid game for Davis today.