Redskins @ Oakland, 2nd quarter review

1st quarter review is here.

2nd Quarter

Oakland Raiders continued.

1-10-WAS 24 (15:00) G.Russell right end to WAS 25 for -1 yards (A.Carter).

2-11-WAS 25 (14:30) (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski pass short left to Z.Miller to WAS 24 for 1 yard (A.Montgomery).

The TE Miller lets Carter (?) slip past him, and the other receiver on the offensive left run go routes to clear out defenders and open up running room for him. Fortunately Anthony Montgomery manages to dive to his right and pull Miller down from behind.


3-10-WAS 24 (13:47) (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski pass short right to C.Schilens to WAS 9 for 15 yards (C.Rogers).

1-9-WAS 9 (13:40) J.Fargas up the middle to WAS 4 for 5 yards (A.Carter).

2-4-WAS 4 (11:45) B.Gradkowski FUMBLES (Aborted) at WAS 9, and recovers at WAS 9. B.Gradkowski to WAS 11 for -2 yards (A.Carter).

Gradkowski bobbles the ball while trying to hand it off.

3-11-WAS 11 (11:29) B.Gradkowski pass short right to Z.Miller to WAS 1 for 10 yards (K.Moore).

Edge pressure from Carter and Orakpo (?) forces Gradkowski to step up in the pocket. Golston had gotten past the LG but is held and can't quite get free to hit Gradkwoski when he comes in range. Good agressive hit by Kareem Moore to keep the TE out of the end zone - not quite Ken Houston vs. Walt Garrison, but still nice.

4-1-WAS 1 (11:15) J.Fargas up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.

Orakpo and Alexander allow themselves to get kicked to the outside. The interior linemen, as usual in a goalline situation, go low to try to prevent any sort of push by the blockers. Kedric Golston punches through, but the play is away from him and two more DLs who I can't identify just get buried, allowing one OL to trip up Fletcher and the FB to put a solid block on Rocky to keep the hole open.

S.Janikowski extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Condo, Holder-S.Lechler.
WAS 7 OAK 10, 8 plays, 50 yards, 3:59 drive, 3:46 elapsed

S.Janikowski kicks 76 yards from OAK 30 to WAS -6. D.Thomas, Touchback.

Washington Redskins at 11:14

1-10-WAS 20 (11:14) (Shotgun) PENALTY on OAK-R.Seymour, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 20 - No Play.

1-5-WAS 25 (11:10) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass incomplete short right to S.Moss (N.Asomugha).

Raiders stunt their DEs to the inside and blitz a LB up the middle, and the Redskins line easily passes them off so there is no real pressure. Asomugha, widely considered the greatest cornerback in the NFL, prevents Santana from getting a clean release into his slant then jumps inside the route to knock down the pass.

2-5-WAS 25 (11:09) Q.Ganther up the middle to WAS 31 for 6 yards (T.Branch).

Line crashes to the right, but Ganther doesn't see a hole (although he could have picked up 3 or 4 yards just by falling in behind the linemen) and cuts it back to the left, where space is open because Yoder has put two DLs on the ground while sealing them inside and Fred Davis has driven a LB back and out of the play. A safety is still there unblocked and hits Ganther at the LOS, but Ganther just runs through the tackle and makes it over the first down line.

1-10-WAS 31 (10:33) Q.Ganther left guard to WAS 36 for 5 yards (T.Scott).
PENALTY on OAK-K.Morrison, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 31 - No Play.

Ganther runs through four tackles on this play, so while it save us a down its kind of a shame that the penalty meant none of these 5 yards got recorded on his stats.

1-5-WAS 36 (10:08) J.Campbell pass deep left to F.Davis to OAK 37 for 27 yards (M.Huff).

Heyer gets put on the ground by the LDE, but while on his back lifts his leg up and blatantly trips the guy before he can get to Campbell (I won't tell if you don't). On the other side Levi buys enough time for the play action to get set up and for Davis to get deep, but he can only hold the RDE for so long and Campbell still takes a hit as he makes the throw.

1-10-OAK 37 (10:00) Q.Ganther left guard to OAK 36 for 1 yard (T.Scott, R.Seymour).

This is a draw play that includes Campbell faking a throw to the outside for a hitch, and Levi, as the coaches should know by know, just can't sustain his block long enough for the hole to stay open for such a slow-developing play.

2-9-OAK 36 (9:22) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass short right to Q.Ganther to OAK 39 for -3 yards (K.Morrison, T.Kelly).

Raiders sniff out the screen, and there are four defenders behind the blockers before Ganther even catches the ball.

3-12-OAK 39 (9:05) (Shotgun) PENALTY on OAK-G.Ellis, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at OAK 39 - No Play.

3-7-OAK 34 (8:10) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass short middle to A.Randle El to OAK 28 for 6 yards (H.Eugene).

Nice play by the safety Eugene. Redskins line up with 4 WRs, and Devin Thomas motions from the left to become the innermost of three WRs on the right. The man coverage means there are two DBs lined up right over him and Randle-El, who is in the slot and at most 2 yards outside of Thomas. Thomas goes straight upfield trying to clear out the DBs while Randle-El runs a slant behind him. But Eugene reads the play well, avoids contact with Thomas, and takes down Randle-El from behind before he can make the turn to cross the first down marker. If Thomas had lowered his shoulder and deliberately blocked Eugene (one of those it's-only-illegal-if-you-get-caught kind of things) this play may have had a chance.

4-1-OAK 28 (8:00) G.Gano 46 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-H.Smith.

WAS 10 OAK 10, 7 plays, 52 yards, 3 penalties, 3:47 drive, 7:33 elapsed

G.Gano kicks 69 yards from WAS 30 to OAK 1. G.Russell to OAK 18 for 17 yards (K.Moore). FUMBLES (K.Moore), ball out of bounds at OAK 12.

Another great kickoff by Gano. I like the new guy. Kareem Moore lowers his head and makes a great stick to send the ball flying backwards, but naturally it bounces out of bounds before we can pick it up. Whenever this sort of thing happens I think back to the Football Outsiders research that indicates that while forcing fumbles is a skill, recovery of fumbles is generally a function of luck and should even out over time. Then I laugh bitterly to myself and pour another drink.

Oakland Raiders at 7:27, (1st play from scrimmage 7:21)

1-10-OAK 12 (7:21) B.Gradkowski pass short right to G.Russell to OAK 14 for 2 yards (C.Rogers).

2-8-OAK 14 (6:45) D.McFadden right tackle to OAK 21 for 7 yards (B.Orakpo; R.Doughty).

Kedric Golston should have stopped the play for a loss - he gets penetration up the middle and the leading FB fails to pick him up. He wraps his arms around McFadden 3 yards in the backfield, but McFadden is somehow able to slip out from under him. The FB takes out Landry, then McFadden lowers his head and bounces off of Rocky to gain several more yards.

3-1-OAK 21 (6:02) J.Fargas right tackle to OAK 21 for no gain (L.Fletcher).

Philip Daniels (at DT) carries the RG into the backfield, and Golston beats the C, then crosses behind Daniels and goes to the ground to force the FB out of the intended running lane. This allows Fletcher to come in clean to stuff the play.

4-1-OAK 21 (5:38) S.Lechler punts 58 yards to WAS 21, Center-J.Condo, downed by OAK-H.Eugene.

The punt lands 40 yards downfield, which is about normal but Randle-El is set up very deep due to Lechler's reputation. But he misplays the grounder and it bounces past him to pick up 18 more yards of field position before being downed. Basic punt returner stuff right here, and Randle-El blows it.

Washington Redskins at 5:26

1-10-WAS 21 (5:26) J.Campbell pass incomplete short middle to M.Kelly (C.Johnson).

Kelly runs a quick slant into an empty zone and is wide open, but Campbell throws it behind him. While Kelly is bobbling the ball, a safety takes out his feet. Despite the bad throw, Kelly should have made that catch easily.

2-10-WAS 21 (5:22) J.Campbell pass incomplete short right to F.Davis [M.Shaughnessy].
PENALTY on WAS-D.Dockery, Ineligible Downfield Pass, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 21 - No Play.

The Raiders are not fooled by the play fake, so when Campbell bootlegs to the right with Davis running a flat route each is pursued by a defender and Campbell has to throw it away.

2-15-WAS 16 (5:17) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass short middle to M.Mason to WAS 25 for 9 yards (T.Branch).

3-6-WAS 25 (4:32) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass incomplete short right to A.Randle El [G.Warren].

Campbell stands around in the pocket for entirely too long, and all that time he's staring down the right side of the field where Thomas and Randle-El are running their routes, so he doesn't notice the penetration up the middle and gets clobbered as the throws.

4-6-WAS 25 (4:27) (Punt formation) PENALTY on WAS-J.Tryon, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 25 - No Play.

4-11-WAS 20 (4:27) H.Smith punts 49 yards to OAK 31, Center-E.Albright. J.Higgins to OAK 40 for 9 yards (L.Alexander).

The second occasion on which Lorenzo Alexander makes a great diving tackle in the open field to prevent a big return. In summary, Lorenzo Alexander is a good DE, a good DT, a good sixth OL in the jumbo package, and an outstanding special teamer. And yet how often do you think he gets asked for an autograph? Do you even know what he looks like? I don't (OK now I do, because Google is great).

Oakland Raiders at 4:16

1-10-OAK 40 (4:16) D.McFadden up the middle to OAK 38 for -2 yards (A.Carter).

Kedric Golston continues to own the LG and hits McFadden in the backfield, but although he stops him he can't quite get a grip to pull him down for the tackle and Andre Carter gets the stat credit.

2-12-OAK 38 (3:31) G.Russell right tackle to OAK 37 for -1 yards (A.Carter).

No one blocks Carter on the backside and Russel is too hesitant choosing a hole, so Carter takes him down in the backfield.

3-13-OAK 37 (2:47) (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski pass incomplete short middle to Z.Miller.
PENALTY on WAS-R.Doughty, Illegal Contact, 5 yards, enforced at OAK 37 - No Play.

1-10-OAK 42 (2:42) B.Gradkowski pass incomplete deep left to Z.Miller.

Alexander at DT and Daniels (?) at RDE get penetration and force him to step up, where Golston is able to land a glancing blow as he throws. The pass is on target any way, but fortunately the TE, who is wide open, just drops it.

2-10-OAK 42 (2:36) L.Murphy left end to 50 for 8 yards (R.McIntosh).

Fred Smoot makes a nice physical play to fight off the WR's block and trip up Murphy so that Rocky can polish him off.

Two-Minute Warning

3-2-50 (2:00) B.Gradkowski pass deep right to L.Murphy to WAS 23 for 27 yards (J.Tryon).
The Replay Assistant challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was REVERSED.

Good coverage by Tryon. Almost a great catch by Murphy, but replay shows he didn't quite have control.

B.Gradkowski pass incomplete deep right to L.Murphy.

4-2-50 (1:56) (Punt formation) PENALTY on OAK-H.Eugene, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at 50 - No Play.

4-7-OAK 45 (1:56) S.Lechler punts 45 yards to WAS 10, Center-J.Condo. A.Randle El to WAS 10 for no gain (H.Eugene).
PENALTY on OAK-H.Eugene, Interference with Opportunity to Catch, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
PENALTY on OAK, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.

It's forgivable for the refs to miss this while watching it live, but replay clearly shows that Randle-El was able to field the ball cleanly before sustaining contact. However this one lucky special teams break does not counterbalance all the unlucky crap the Redskins have dealt with this year (short punts twice landing on coverage guys, etc.) and the penalty on the Raiders special teams coach for blowing a gasket is legit, so I don't feel the least bit guilty about taking advantage of these 30 rather cheap yards.

Washington Redskins at 1:48

1-10-WAS 40 (1:48) J.Campbell pass short right to S.Moss ran ob at OAK 46 for 14 yards.

Heyer gets beat on the outside, and Dockery fails to pick up the RDE who stunts inside, so Campbell takes another hit but manages to get the ball out to Santana at the LOS. Santana immediately spins away from two defenders and makes the first down thanks to a solid downfield block by Fred Davis.

1-10-OAK 46 (1:39) (No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Campbell pass deep middle to D.Thomas to OAK 17 for 29 yards (H.Eugene).

Campbell throws the ball on the run while escaping pressure allowed by Heyer and Dockery. The DB on Thomas dives to bat down the ball instead of conceding the catch and making the tackle, so he ends up on the ground and Thomas is off and running.

Timeout #1 by WAS at 01:28.

1-10-OAK 17 (1:28) R.Cartwright right tackle to OAK 17 for no gain (G.Warren).

Mike Williams and Stephon Heyer each fail to sustain their block, so the hole closes up on Rock.

2-10-OAK 17 (1:01) (No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Campbell pass deep left to F.Davis for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN [G.Ellis].

Campbell steps up as the OTs are again squeezed in on him, and Dockery can't hold his block long enough to prevent him form getting hit. But Campbell sees Davis has soundly beaten a safety and easily gets the ball to him in the endzone despite absorbing a little more violence.

G.Gano extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-H.Smith.

WAS 17 OAK 10, 4 plays, 60 yards, 0:52 drive, 14:04 elapsed

G.Gano kicks 69 yards from WAS 30 to OAK 1. G.Russell to OAK 24 for 23 yards (R.Henson).
PENALTY on OAK-M.Shaughnessy, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at OAK 24.

Oakland Raiders at 0:56, (1st play from scrimmage 0:48)

1-10-OAK 14 (:48) (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski pass incomplete deep left to L.Murphy.

I don't get the pass rush plan here - the DTs stunt with eachother, which is unusual, and both DE's target their rushes to the inside - so naturally everyone get tangled up in the middle of the field and there's not even a hint of pressure. Fortunately the WR slips on the wet turf.

2-10-OAK 14 (:44) (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski pass incomplete deep left to C.Schilens (F.Smoot).

Gradkowski recovers nicely from a low snap, but the throw forces the WR to go up for it and Smoot drills him in the lower back to knock the ball out.

3-10-OAK 14 (:34) (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski scrambles up the middle to OAK 24 for 10 yards (R.Doughty).

Carter rushes from RDE and forces Gradkowski out of the pocket. Daniels at DT has a chance at him near the LOS but Gradkowski is too quick.

Timeout #2 by OAK at 00:27.

1-10-OAK 24 (:27) (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski pass deep left to J.Higgins ran ob at OAK 40 for 16 yards.

1-10-OAK 40 (:23) (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski scrambles up the middle to OAK 46 for 6 yards (B.Orakpo).

All the pass routes are downfield except for a lone TE who is wide open in the flat when Gradkowski decides to run. While the limited view offered by TV broadcasts makes it hard for us to judge this kind of thing, I feel like Gradkowski was often running as soon as his primary read wasn't open.

Timeout #3 by OAK at 00:16.

2-4-OAK 46 (:16) (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski pass short left to J.Fargas ran ob at WAS 48 for 6 yards [B.Orakpo].

Chris Wilson gets to the outside of the RT, clubs him with a left forearm to knock him to the ground, and then takes down Gradkowski by the ankles. Gradkowski is able to flip the ball underhanded to the RB as he goes down.

1-10-WAS 48 (:08) (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski pass incomplete short right to Z.Miller.

Gradkowski is clearly feeling the rush by now, and even though the Redskins do not generate much pressure on this play he rushes his throw and misses the TE open in the flat.

2-10-WAS 48 (:05) (Field Goal formation) S.Janikowski 66 yard field goal is No Good, Center-J.Condo, Holder-S.Lechler. F.Smoot at WAS -4 to OAK 40 for 64 yards (M.Henderson).

Hey, it's worth a shot I guess.