Making others larger than life

First-year defensive coordinator Greg Blache makes the opponent’s offense larger than life.

Stopping Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints was “as hard a task” as Blache had faced in ages. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was so good that he could squeeze a pass into tight coverage like “a Mack truck in a regular parking space.” Blache outdid himself last week in calling the Dallas Cowboys’ offense the best he had seen in his 20 years in the NFL and comparing it to the Roman Empire.

This week, Blache called the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense “awesome” and said their receivers are “terrors with the double moves. They can’t do anything straight. I don’t think they go [to] the restroom straight. This offense lives off of big plays.”

But there’s a larger truth underneath all of Blache’s hyperbole. Washington’s first five opponents: the New York Giants (4), the Saints (3), the Cardinals (5), the Cowboys (2) and the Eagles (6) boast five of the league’s top six offenses. The only one missing is that of the top-rated Denver Broncos, whom the Redskins won’t play this regular season.

So it will be a relief to play the St. Louis Rams (30), the Cleveland Browns (32), the Detroit Lions (26) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (29) the next four weeks, right?

“We’re not going to feel that way,” said linebacker London Fletcher, the captain of the Redskins’ defense. “You can never rest in the NFL. Each team presents different challenges.”

The Eagles have played well on offense despite playing without five starters for at least one game apiece. Westbrook sat out last week’s loss to Chicago as did tight end L.J. Smith (back spasms). Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews missed the past two games with a back injury. Reggie Brown was sidelined the first two weeks with a hamstring while fellow starting receiver Kevin Curtis has yet to play because of a sports hernia.

“Had [those guys] not missed games, they would be higher than sixth,” Blache said. “They would be right up there with [Nos.] 1, 2 and 3. [Donovan] McNabb’s back to his old form. He’s healthy. He’s throwing the ball well. We don’t look at ’em as a 2-2 team. They’re like an undefeated team.”

That’s again Blache building up the foe, but McNabb still has a 95.7 passer rating and has hit receivers Hank Baskett, DeSean Jackson and Greg Lewis for huge completions of 90, 60 and 52 yards, respectively.

“They have a big-play offense,” Fletcher said. “They have three or four guys in their receiver corps who can stretch you vertically. They have a big offensive line. And McNabb’s playing great. This is an opportunity for us to keep climbing to become the best defense we can possibly be.”

Westbrook practiced Friday, while Brown is no longer listed on the injury report.

“We’ve got players in backup spots who are pretty good,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “I don’t expect any letdown.”

While Westbrook’s brother, Byron, a Redskins practice squad cornerback, isn’t so sure the running back will play, Blache expects to see the versatile back who had 345 yards of offense in the two games against Washington in 2007.

“He practiced before the game [last] Sunday and made a decision not to play,” Blache said. “With seven days, a player of that caliber, a division game, a must-win game for them, there’s no way Westbrook’s not going to play in this game, and he’ll create some problems for us because he does. …

“He’s one of the most explosive players in the game. He contributes probably more to his offense than any other player.”