Redskins @ Titans 1st quarter review

FIRST QUARTER

R.Bironas kicks 75 yards from TEN 30 to WAS -5. B.Banks to WAS 16 for 21 yards (R.Mouton).

Washington Redskins at 15:00, (1st play from scrimmage 14:56)

1-10-WAS 16 (14:56) D.McNabb sacked at WAS 9 for -7 yards (J.Babin).

Never could get a clear view on whether McNabb got stepped on by Rabach (again) or just slipped on the turf.

2-17-WAS 9 (14:25) D.McNabb pass incomplete short right to C.Portis.

The pocket holds after the initial play action, but no routes are immediately open. Cooley initially holds his own against the LDE but the clock runs out and he spins past him, so McNabb has a man in his face as he tries to dump it off to Portis.

3-17-WAS 9 (14:18) C.Portis left end to WAS 12 for 3 yards (D.Ball).

Trent gets pushed back a little, but Portis makes it to the corner. But Cooley misses a cut block on the OLB.

4-14-WAS 12 (13:47) (Punt formation) H.Smith punts 22 yards to WAS 34, Center-N.Sundberg, downed by WAS-M.Sellers.

I’m surprised people aren’t talking about how consistently awful Hunter Smith has been since he’s come back. At this rate I can’t imagine he’ll be around much longer (although to be fair in this case he had to adjust to a low snap from Sundberg).

Tennessee Titans at 13:37

1-10-WAS 34 (13:37) (Shotgun) C.Johnson right tackle to WAS 20 for 14 yards (K.Moore).

The corner is denied by some strong defensive play: Carriker stands up a double team from the C and RG, Alexander holds his ground against the RT, and Fletcher blows up the pulling LG. But Johnson is able to stop in his tracks and wait for the tiniest of seams to open up back to the inside when Carriker is unable to shed his blocker (partly because he was held) and he uses his speed so slip between Rocky and Golston before they can close.

1-10-WAS 20 (13:02) (Shotgun) V.Young scrambles up the middle to WAS 17 for 3 yards (L.Alexander). FUMBLES (L.Alexander), RECOVERED by WAS-P.Buchanon at WAS 12. P.Buchanon to WAS 12 for no gain (D.Stewart).

Young first looks to the endzone, but sees nothing, and solid coverage by the LBs eliminates his short routes.  He has plenty of time, though, and easily escapes when Maake is unable to collapse the center at all (after an initial double team), but Alexander dives from behind and does an outstanding job hacking out the ball.

Washington Redskins at 12:51

1-10-WAS 12 (12:51) C.Portis left tackle to WAS 16 for 4 yards (W.Witherspoon).

2-6-WAS 16 (12:16) C.Portis left end to WAS 27 for 11 yards (A.Verner).

Portis again does a good job making the corner despite penetration allowed by Lichtensteiger and Davis, and a good downfield block by Trent Williams secures the first down.

1-10-WAS 27 (11:33) K.Williams up the middle to WAS 27 for no gain (J.Haye).

Trent gives up inside penetration forcing Keiland to go straight up the middle, and Rabach is being pushed back off the line so Keiland runs straight into him.

Timeout #1 by WAS at 10:51.

2-10-WAS 27 (10:51) D.McNabb pass short left to C.Portis to WAS 41 for 14 yards (M.Griffin, J.Ford).

Screen play. Lichtensteiger gets the first key block at the line of scrimmage, then Portis has Rabach and Montgomery in front of him leading the way. Montgomery in particular does a nice job getting across the field from RG and shows good alertness to find a LB many yards downfield and pick him off.

1-10-WAS 41 (10:05) D.McNabb pass incomplete deep middle to S.Moss.

The slide protection works nicely, and Cooley and Sellers combine to shut down a blitzing LB on the right side while Sellers, from an offset left alignment, cuts a LB on the opposite side. McNabb has all day in the pocket and Santana has two steps on the defender, but McNabb just overthrows it.

2-10-WAS 41 (9:58) K.Williams right end to WAS 38 for -3 yards (G.McRath).

Brown and Rabach attempt to pull to the right. But Rabach gets cut off when Davis can’t prevent the LDE from getting inside penetration. Meanwhile Sellers fails to cut a CB on the edge (I have asked this question before but… why would Sellers try to cut a DB?) and Brown fails to put a solid block on an LB, so Keiland never has a chance to square his shoulders.

3-13-WAS 38 (9:14) (Shotgun) D.McNabb scrambles right end pushed ob at WAS 42 for 4 yards (C.Finnegan).

Brown is set up on the outside, then beaten to the inside by a nice spin move from the LDE. McNabb is able to dodge the pressure and slip outside but can’t find a receiver.

4-9-WAS 42 (8:48) (Punt formation) H.Smith punts 41 yards to TEN 17, Center-N.Sundberg. M.Mariani to TEN 32 for 15 yards (A.Russell). Penalty on TEN-M.Griffin, Defensive Offside, offsetting, enforced at WAS 42 - No Play. Penalty on WAS, Illegal Formation, offsetting.

This one doesn’t count, of course, but Darrel Young gets down the field and does a nice job of cutting off the returner’s attempt to get to the sideline. He is forced up the middle, but Lorenzo Alexander misses a tackle.

4-9-WAS 42 (8:39) (Punt formation) H.Smith punts 45 yards to TEN 13, Center-N.Sundberg. M.Mariani for 87 yards, TOUCHDOWN. WAS-A.Russell was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.

Russell, the gunner on the return side, goes down in a heap while battling the guy blocking him, and an easy path to the outside is granted to the returner. Then Doughty, trying to compensate, dodges a blocker and ends up overrunning the play, allowing an easy cut upfield. I also suspect a lack of hustle from Nick Sundberg, who appeared to be in position for a tackle from behind as the returner cut off of Doughty.

Tennessee Titans at 8:18

R.Bironas extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Amato, Holder-B.Kern.

WAS 0 TEN 7, 0 plays, 87 yards, 0:00 drive , 6:42 elapsed

R.Bironas kicks 70 yards from TEN 30 to WAS 0. B.Banks to WAS 21 for 21 yards (R.Curran, T.Shaw).

Washington Redskins at 8:18, (1st play from scrimmage 8:12)

1-10-WAS 21 (8:12) D.McNabb pass deep right to S.Moss to TEN 31 for 48 yards (C.Finnegan). FUMBLES (C.Finnegan), ball out of bounds at TEN 31. Tennessee challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. (Timeout #1.)

The Redskins continue solid protection against the four man rush, with Trent taking the RDE upfield and out of the play, while Lichtensteiger and Rabach double the RDT. Meanwhile Montgomery and Trent double the LDT, and once he is under control Brown sheds off and helps out Davis, who had briefly been responsible the LDE and held him up as long as can be expected. McNabb has plenty of time to let Santana get open on the deep post.

1-10-TEN 31 (7:44) D.McNabb pass incomplete short right to M.Sellers.

The MLB and a DB each blitz off the right edge, but Cooley and Sellers are each releasing directly into routes so Portis is left with two blitzers to pick up. He works from the inside out, as he is supposed to, and takes out the LB but of course the DB ends up in McNabb’s face so he is leaping backwards as he tries to hit Sellers in the flat.

2-10-TEN 31 (7:40) C.Portis right tackle to TEN 20 for 11 yards (J.Ford).

Brown is pushed back by the LDE but Portis gets around him and cuts upfield behind Cooley’s kickout block on the OLB, then Lichtensteiger does an excellent job getting off the line (Trent cuts the RDE to free him) and making his way across the field to join Sellers in setting up the downfield blocks that secure the first down.

1-10-TEN 20 (7:05) D.McNabb pass incomplete short right to F.Davis (S.Tulloch).

2-10-TEN 20 (6:59) K.Williams left end to TEN 13 for 7 yards (D.Ball).

A stretch play to the right. Cooley is at LTE and picks up the SLB. He tries to seal him to the inside but fails, but he manages to drive him downfield and the effect is nearly as good. Santana, from the left slot, also has a key block on a DB to open up the yards.

3-3-TEN 13 (6:16) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short right to A.Armstrong to TEN 9 for 4 yards (J.McCourty).

1-9-TEN 9 (5:41) K.Williams left end to TEN 5 for 4 yards (S.Tulloch, M.Griffin). WAS-C.Rabach was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.

Cooley seals the LDE inside, while Trent gets his way to the second level, picks up the OLB, and drives him outside.  Cooley and Sellers were set up well for downfield blocks so this play could have gained more or even led to a touchdown had Lichtensteiger not missed a cut block on the MLB.

The injury avalanche picks up momentum – at this point Montgomery is your center, Lichtensteiger your right guard, and Dockery your left guard – however briefly.

2-5-TEN 5 (5:07) D.McNabb pass short left to S.Moss for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 

Cooley motions to the right, which allows the protection to shift so the O-line can account for three of the Titans DLs while Cooley handles the LDE, with an assist from Sellers.  A LB and safety come on a delayed blitz off the right end, but one is picked up by Keiland and the other by Sellers after his chip on the RDE, so McNabb is never pressured and easily hits Santana on a simple (but well-run) out route.

G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-N.Sundberg, Holder-H.Smith.

WAS 7 TEN 7, 8 plays, 79 yards, 3:16 drive, 9:58 elapsed

G.Gano kicks 71 yards from WAS 30 to TEN -1. M.Mariani to TEN 25 for 26 yards (D.Young).

Tennessee Titans at 5:02, (1st play from scrimmage 4:57)

1-10-TEN 25 (4:57) C.Johnson left guard to TEN 28 for 3 yards (A.Carriker).

Thank God for Adam Carriker. Tell me if you’ve read anything like this before on this blog, maybe a time or two: Orakpo is kicked out by the TE, and Golston and Maake get blown off the line by the LG and LT. This creates a huge hole and allows the C to easily pull through and put a hat on Rocky. But Carriker penetrates inside the RG and takes down the RB from behind before he can take full advantage of his blocks.

2-7-TEN 28 (4:23) (Shotgun) C.Johnson right end pushed ob at TEN 33 for 5 yards (R.Doughty).

3-2-TEN 33 (3:49) (Shotgun) C.Johnson right guard to TEN 34 for 1 yard (V.Holliday, L.Fletcher).

Four man front with Holliday and Haynesworth as the DTs. Haynesworth explodes through a double team, but the run is away from him and Johnson is able to take advantage of a the TE manhandling Carter, who lined up at LDE. He is almost able to spin around the guy blocking Carter, but Fletcher makes a very nice play to drag him down.

4-1-TEN 34 (3:06) (Punt formation) B.Kern punts 51 yards to WAS 15, Center-K.Amato. B.Banks to WAS 27 for 12 yards (P.Bailey).

Washington Redskins at 2:56

1-10-WAS 27 (2:56) K.Williams right end pushed ob at WAS 32 for 5 yards (C.Finnegan).

2-5-WAS 32 (2:30) K.Williams left tackle pushed ob at WAS 46 for 14 yards (M.Griffin).

Montgomery is pushed back by the DT and Trent fails to control the RDE and keep him to the outside, while Dockery goes straight to the second level. So the hole is pinched shut, but Keiland manages to stop on a dime and bounce to the outside, then takes advantage of the fact that Armstrong puts a very nice crackback block on the OLB and Sellers drives a DB way downfield to secure the first down.

1-10-WAS 46 (1:56) C.Portis left guard to 50 for 4 yards (C.Finnegan, S.Tulloch). PENALTY on WAS-D.Dockery, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at WAS 46 - No Play.

1-20-WAS 36 (1:29) (Shotgun) C.Portis left guard to WAS 39 for 3 yards (S.Tulloch, J.Ford).

I think  Portis could have had more here.  Dockery and Trent have a solid double team on the DT and Cooley has a handle on the RDE, while Montgomery drives the other DT to the right. Lichtensteiger pulls through the hole and takes out a LB. But this the hole is already pinching shut right behind Lichtensteiger, so Portis just runs himself into traffic. Much of the defense had been pinned to the left; if he had put a hard cut back inside he had Santana and Galloway coming in from the right to create another seal there and he may have had big yards.

2-17-WAS 39 (:49) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass short left to K.Williams to WAS 40 for 1 yard (S.Tulloch, W.Hayes).

A very sloppy attempt at a screen. A safety blitzes unanticipated off the left side (the screen side) so McNabb has a man in his face before the blocking can get set up. Dockery and Trent don’t hide the screen very well, so they are unable to get set up in front of the OLB and the DLs read the play pretty quickly and are able to close.

3-16-WAS 40 (:05) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass deep middle to J.Galloway to TEN 40 for 20 yards (M.Griffin). 

The linemen, without help, are all over the four man rush, and Lichtensteiger (remember he’s currently at RG) and Brown adjust nicely to a late stunt so McNabb has tons of time in the pocker. McNabb throws it low and behind Galloway on the dig route, but I think that was intentional to keep from leading him into the safety who was closing fast looking for a big hit.