Redskins @ Giants, 1st quarter review

As always, the play by play info in bold is taken from the NFL Gamebook.

FIRST QUARTER

G.Gano kicks 66 yards from WAS 30 to NYG 4. D.Ware to NYG 41 for 37 yards (V.Harris).

New York Giants at 15:00, (1st play from scrimmage 14:52)

1-10-NYG 41 (14:52) B.Jacobs right guard to NYG 43 for 2 yards (R.McIntosh, K.Golston).

Golston holds up the double team enough that the LG can’t slide off him and get a second level block on Rocky.

2-8-NYG 43 (14:15) B.Jacobs left tackle to WAS 18 for 39 yards (R.Doughty).

The LT and TE double Orakpo to keep him inside, which should be fine because that lets Kareem Moore comes free off the edge to get a shot at Jacobs – and whiff. Rocky is able to get to the corner because Orkapo holds his ground well, but he makes a startlingly poor tackling attempt, just sort of grabbing at Jacobs’ shoulders as he runs by.

1-10-WAS 18 (13:31) A.Bradshaw left tackle to WAS 11 for 7 yards (A.Carriker, R.Doughty).

The center drives Maake 3 yards off the line, because that’s what centers do with our nose tackle. The C and RG are trying to zone block Maake, but the C dominates him so completely, driving him to the left, that the RG has to lunge to get his requisite (and clearly unnecessary) chip on him. Obviously, the RG has no trouble shedding off and blocking Rocky at the second level.

2-3-WAS 11 (12:51) E.Manning pass short right to D.Hagan to WAS 9 for 2 yards (R.Doughty, L.Alexander).

3-1-WAS 9 (12:09) A.Bradshaw right end to WAS 8 for 1 yard (M.Kemoeatu, R.McIntosh).

1-8-WAS 8 (11:41) E.Manning pass incomplete short middle to M.Manningham.

Another near-comical example of Orakpo closing on a QB with a tackle’s arm wrapped around his neck.

2-8-WAS 8 (11:32) B.Jacobs up the middle for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

It’s Orakpo who really gives up the touchdown. The DLs and ILBs all get drawn to the right by the counter action, but Orakpo is maintaining the backside waiting for the RB to cut back into him. But he somehow doesn’t notice the slot WR closing in for a devastating crackback block – he not only gets knocked out of the RB’s path, but his stumbling body cuts off Doughty’s angle.

L.Tynes extra point is GOOD, Center-Z.DeOssie, Holder-S.Rosenfels.

WAS 0 NYG 7, 7 plays, 59 yards, 3:34 drive, 3:34 elapsed

L.Tynes kicks 47 yards from NYG 30 to WAS 23. C.Wilson to WAS 38 for 15 yards (D.Grant).

Kickoff to WAS 23? I guess Banks has finally arrived.

Washington Redskins at 11:26, (1st play from scrimmage 11:22)


1-10-WAS 38 (11:22) K.Williams left guard to WAS 40 for 2 yards (B.Cofield, A.Rolle).

Rabach and Lichtensteiger get stood up at the line, while Montgomery pulls to the left but loses the battle and allows himself to be pushed back to pinch the hole.

2-8-WAS 40 (10:51) K.Williams right end to 50 for 10 yards (K.Phillips). PENALTY on WAS-J.Brown, Face Mask (15 Yards), 15 yards, enforced at WAS 40 - No Play.

Cheap call – Brown’s hand barely got caught in a facemask and he pulled it out immediately.

2-23-WAS 25 (10:32) D.McNabb pass short right to C.Cooley to WAS 33 for 8 yards (M.Boley).

Well this is darkly humorous. The RDE beats Heyer (in at LT) to the inside and would have pressured McNabb, except that the DT had put Lichtensteiger flat on his back and the RDE stumbles over him. Good God.

3-15-WAS 33 (9:49) (Shotgun) D.McNabb sacked at WAS 22 for -11 yards (J.Pierre-Paul).

Nasty stunt. The LDE takes a hard step towards Brown, causing him to fan to the outside. But the real attack comes from the DT, who of course now has Brown out of position. Montgomery follows the DT to the outside, and the LDE comes free at McNabb.

4-26-WAS 22 (9:38) H.Smith punts 37 yards to NYG 41, Center-N.Sundberg, downed by WAS-L.Alexander.

3.5 seconds

New York Giants at 9:23

1-10-NYG 41 (9:23) E.Manning pass deep middle to K.Boss to WAS 38 for 21 yards (R.Doughty, L.Alexander).

Three man rush leaves Manning approximately 8 ½ minutes to throw. Maake is initially handled one on one by the C while Carriker and Daniels (RDE) are double teamed. Once the ends are neutralized the LG sheds off Daniels and hits the engaged Maake in the flank, knocking him straight to the ground.

1-10-WAS 38 (8:46) B.Jacobs left tackle to WAS 27 for 11 yards (H.Blades).

The TE and LT drive Orakpo and Daniels to the inside, and the slot receiver manhandles Kareem Moore on the edge (Moore was mysteriously playing a strong safety role for much of this game), then the pulling RG gets a hat on Fletcher to spring the big run.

1-10-WAS 27 (8:09) E.Manning pass short right to D.Hagan to WAS 20 for 7 yards (P.Buchanon).

2-3-WAS 20 (7:24) E.Manning pass short left to D.Hagan to WAS 12 for 8 yards (P.Buchanon).

Buchanon is trying to keep the WR from getting deep and gives up the comeback. It won’t be the last time I have to write that.

1-10-WAS 12 (6:46) A.Bradshaw left guard to WAS 6 for 6 yards (L.Alexander).

Rocky overpursues on the counter action and gets stuck to the inside by the RG who has no trouble getting to him because, come on, it’s not like the center needed any help driving our nose tackle out of the way.

2-4-WAS 6 (6:11) A.Bradshaw right tackle to WAS 4 for 2 yards (L.Fletcher, A.Carriker).

A double team pushes Carriker off the edge. Fletcher closes and tries to duck under the pulling guard, which is kind of a no-no, but with a nice bit of athleticism he twists himself around to bring down the RB.

3-2-WAS 4 (5:31) A.Bradshaw right tackle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Giants line up an extra OL to the right. Carriker penetrates the A gap but falls to the ground (this is one of a number of times this game that Carriker penetrated but lacked the speed and/or athleticism to do much with it). Alexander slides inside the 5th OL, but he probably should have taken him head on. Then Rocky runs to the blocker’s outside – no one takes him on. Frustrating.

L.Tynes extra point is GOOD, Center-Z.DeOssie, Holder-S.Rosenfels.

WAS 0 NYG 14, 7 plays, 59 yards, 4:01 drive, 9:38 elapsed

L.Tynes kicks 65 yards from NYG 30 to WAS 5. T.Austin to WAS 20 for 15 yards (D.Thomas).

Well this is interesting. Because the Giants kicked short the first time to avoid Banks, the Redskins literally hide Banks behind Sellers at about the 20 yard line and hope they kick it short again. They apparently were thinking the Giants wouldn’t notice that it was Austin (#18) back there instead of Banks (#16). Doesn’t work.

Washington Redskins at 5:22, (1st play from scrimmage 5:17)

1-10-WAS 20 (5:17) D.McNabb pass incomplete deep left to S.Moss.

Only missed him by 13 yards.

2-10-WAS 20 (5:09) J.Davis left tackle to WAS 34 for 14 yards (T.Thomas).

Stretch to the left. Rabach is pushed back but Davis is able to get around him and cut upfield behind Lichtensteiger’s second level block.

1-10-WAS 34 (4:35) J.Davis right guard to WAS 38 for 4 yards (M.Boley, K.Bulluck).

2-6-WAS 38 (3:54) D.McNabb pass deep right to A.Armstrong to NYG 40 for 22 yards (A.Rolle). PENALTY on NYG-A.Rolle, Tripping, 10 yards, enforced at NYG 40.

Zone blitz. The RDE drops into coverage. The RDT attacks Trent, now in at LT, temporarily leaving Lichtensteiger with no one to block. Kory eventually figures it out though, and turns back inside just in time to pick up the other DT who is spinning off Rabach. This is important, because Rabach needs to pick up the LDE so that Brown can account for the blitzing MLB.

1-10-NYG 30 (3:29) J.Davis left end to NYG 27 for 3 yards (J.Goff).

The OLB is crowding the line playside, but Cooley seals him inside. Davis makes the corner and could have had a nice run, but Lichtentsteiger fails to impede the MLB at the second level.

2-7-NYG 27 (2:52) J.Davis right guard to NYG 24 for 3 yards (J.Tuck).

3-4-NYG 24 (2:12) (Shotgun) D.McNabb pass incomplete short right to R.Williams [O.Umenyiora]

Both Cooley and Davis are tight to the left, so you’d think that side would be well protected. But the RDE (Umenyiora) puts a nice move on Cooley and leaves him in the dust; Davis is unable to help out because he’s fixated on the safety lined up over him, who is actually in man coverage on him and does not rush.

4-4-NYG 24 (2:03) G.Gano 43 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-N.Sundberg, Holder-H.Smith.

New York Giants at 1:59

1-10-NYG 33 (1:59) A.Bradshaw right end to NYG 34 for 1 yard (P.Daniels, B.Orakpo).

Moore, still playing the SS role, crushes the lead FB and forces the RB back inside, where Daniels is controlling his blocker and sheds off to stuff the play just like a 3-4 DE is supposed to do.

2-9-NYG 34 (1:19) A.Bradshaw right tackle to NYG 42 for 8 yards (K.Golston).

Doughty streaks in from off camera and is in the hole to meet the RB, but a nice cut means Doughty only trips him up a little.

3-1-NYG 42 (:36) (Shotgun) A.Bradshaw right guard to NYG 42 for no gain (R.Doughty, K.Golston).

The LG and LTE both try to pull through the hole. Rocky goes low, tripping up the LG but taking himself out of the play. Fletcher lowers his shoulder, hits the pulling TE, and churns his legs slowly pushing him back across the line and right into the RB.