Redskins vs. Saints, 2nd quarter review

1st quarter review is here.

2nd Quarter

New Orleans Saints continued.

3-7-WAS 39 (15:00) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short left to D.Henderson to WAS 29 for 10 yards (F.Smoot). NO-D.Henderson was injured during the play.

1-10-WAS 29 (14:49) D.Brees pass deep middle to J.Shockey to WAS 9 for 20 yards (L.Landry).
PENALTY on NO-J.Shockey, Offensive Pass Interference, 10 yards, enforced at WAS 29 - No Play.

All three LBs blitz but Saints keep in two TEs and a RB and no pass rush lanes open up. Carter, on the other side of the play from the blitz, gets around the LT and hits Brees as he throws, but Brees is able to get the ball out to Shockey. Fortunately, Shockey only gets open by basically throwing Carlos Rogers out of the way.

1-20-WAS 39 (14:26) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short right to P.Thomas to WAS 34 for 5 yards (C.Griffin, R.McIntosh).

Griffin reverses course as soon as he reads the screen and makes an impressive tackle from behind.

2-15-WAS 34 (13:41) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle to J.Shockey to WAS 19 for 15 yards (L.Fletcher).

1-10-WAS 19 (13:10) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle to R.Meachem to WAS 16 for 3 yards (H.Blades) [K.Golston].

Carter keeps threatening the LT on the edge but Brees is consistently getting the ball out just in time.

2-7-WAS 16 (12:30) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass incomplete short middle to D.Thomas (P.Daniels).

Daniels bats it at the line.

3-7-WAS 16 (12:24) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass incomplete short middle to M.Colston [A.Carter].

Brees is protected but Orakpo moves the LT far enough inside that Brees runs out of room to step into his throw. He slides to his left, pursued by Carter, and throws it away. This is one example of a play made by pass rush that doesn't show up in any stats. Brees had locked onto a receiver and was ready to rifle a pass when Orakpo and the LT suddenly ended up in front of him.

4-7-WAS 16 (12:18) G.Hartley 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Kyle, Holder-M.Brunell.

NO 3 WAS 10, 12 plays, 50 yards, 5:34 drive, 2:46 elapsed

T.Morstead kicks 63 yards from NO 30 to WAS 7. M.Mason to WAS 25 for 18 yards (J.Charleston).

Washington Redskins at 12:14, (1st play from scrimmage 12:08)

1-10-WAS 25 (12:08) Q.Ganther left tackle to WAS 28 for 3 yards (W.Smith).

2-7-WAS 28 (11:29) Q.Ganther up the middle to WAS 33 for 5 yards (T.Evans).

I know this is a 5 yard gain but it doesn't look right. The line slants left, then Ganther cuts the play back to the right. Despite the SLB crowding the line, Fred Davis at RTE ignores him and joins the slant to the left. When Ganther cuts back, the SLB is there waiting for him and its a tribute to Ganther's power that he broke through the tackle for several more yards. I assume Davis was responsible for the backside on this play and missed his assignment.

3-2-WAS 33 (10:53) M.Mason right guard to WAS 34 for 1 yard (R.Ayodele).

Dockery lands a blow on the DT and then pops through to seek out the LB, passing off the DT to Levi. But Levi can't control him and the hole closes up.

4-1-WAS 34 (10:15) H.Smith punts 51 yards to NO 15, Center-E.Albright. R.Bush to NO 13 for -2 yards (H.Blades, B.Westbrook).

New Orleans Saints at 10:01

1-10-NO 13 (10:01) P.Thomas right guard to NO 18 for 5 yards (R.Doughty).

The DTs play rather wide and the Gs are able to keep them to the outside, so the C comes clean and gets a free shot on Fletcher, but he holds his ground and sheds off the block to join Doughty in the tackle.

2-5-NO 18 (9:27) M.Bell right tackle to NO 22 for 4 yards (A.Haynesworth).

3-1-NO 22 (8:29) Z.Strief reported in as eligible. M.Bell up the middle to NO 25 for 3 yards (R.McIntosh, R.Doughty).

1-10-NO 25 (7:47) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass incomplete short middle to R.Bush (A.Haynesworth).

Daniels (LDE), Golston, and Haynesworth all rush to the inside, and unsurprisingly get tangled up in a scrum with four O-linemen. Carter drives the LT slowly backwards but doesn't get close enough to interfere with the pass. Haynesworth, once he sees the pass rush isn't getting anywhere, disengages from the blockers and drops back several yards to get in position for the deflection.

2-10-NO 25 (7:42) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short left to D.Henderson to NO 39 for 14 yards (B.Westbrook).

That LT continues getting terrorized on the outside - this time by Orakpo - and Brees continues his perfect timing and get the ball out just as Orakpo is grasping at his back.

Timeout #1 by NO at 06:53.

1-10-NO 39 (6:53) D.Brees pass incomplete deep middle to D.Henderson (L.Landry).

The LT keeps Carter to the outside this time, which is good because Brees takes a very deep drop off the play fake. Fletcher, impressively, is running stride for stride with Devery Henderson down the seam and would have made the play if Landry hadn't also streaked over to knock it down.

2-10-NO 39 (6:45) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short right to R.Meachem to NO 49 for 10 yards (L.Landry). P8

1-10-NO 49 (6:17) P.Thomas left end to WAS 40 for 11 yards (L.Landry).

Saints snapped the ball while the Redskins were still setting their formation, and we didn't even have anyone lined up at RDE, so its safe to say they were able to seal the corner fairly easily.

1-10-WAS 40 (5:42) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass deep left to M.Colston for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Nothing new here - Colston makes an inside move, Carlos Rogers lets him go assuming he has high safety help, but Landry gets himself out of position trying to lay the Colston out over the middle and is burned when he turns it back upfield.

G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Kyle, Holder-M.Brunell.

NO 10 WAS 10, 9 plays, 87 yards, 4:27 drive, 9:26 elapsed

T.Morstead kicks 69 yards from NO 30 to WAS 1. D.Thomas to WAS 22 for 21 yards (C.Reis).

Washington Redskins at 5:34, (1st play from scrimmage 5:28)

1-10-WAS 22 (5:28) J.Campbell pass short right to F.Davis to WAS 31 for 9 yards (T.Evans, M.McKenzie).

2-1-WAS 31 (4:54) J.Campbell pass short left to S.Moss to WAS 37 for 6 yards (M.Jenkins).

When they give Santana a 9 yard cushion on a 2nd and 1, the quick hitch kind of seems like a no-brainer, doesn't it?

1-10-WAS 37 (4:14) J.Campbell pass short left to S.Moss ran ob at WAS 45 for 8 yards.

2-2-WAS 45 (3:44) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass incomplete short middle to F.Davis.

I'm pretty sure Fred Davis let the LB on his side past him on purpose to suck him into the backfield and set up the dumpoff - the WRs on his side both ran straight downfield and drew the secondary with them, opening up lots of running room. Unfortunately a second LB came untouched from the opposite side - I think Levi missed that he was coming - and the unexpected causes Jason to rush his throw and he misses Davis.

3-2-WAS 45 (3:40) J.Campbell pass deep right to S.Moss to NO 17 for 38 yards (M.Jenkins).

The RB (unidentified) picks up a blitzing LB and gives Campbell time to pump once before lofting it to Santana. The pump coincided with a fake out route, so the DB was totally fooled and Santana beat him badly. It's thrown just a little short, and because Santana has to slow up for it he's taken down right after the catch.

1-10-NO 17 (3:11) J.Campbell pass short middle to M.Kelly to NO 11 for 6 yards (C.McAlister).

2-4-NO 11 (2:37) J.Campbell pass short left to S.Moss to NO 5 for 6 yards (D.Sharper).
Timeout #2 by NO at 02:27.

Eight yard cushion, and another hitch to Moss. The first DB to arrive ends up on the ground as a result of the move Santana puts on him.

1-5-NO 5 (2:27) J.Campbell pass incomplete short right to S.Moss (T.Evans).

One more hitch, but this time a blitzing OLB has gotten into the passing lane and the pass gets batted down.

2-5-NO 5 (2:25) J.Campbell pass short middle to D.Thomas for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Thomas starts out in the right slot, then motions left and stops right behind Levi's butt at LT. After the snap he slips back behind the line to the right (so it is critical that the linemen hold their ground) and he leaks out into the flat. When he catches the pass it looks like two Saints have an angle on him, but he turns on the speed and gets close enough to make a dive into the end zone. Very impressive play.

S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-H.Smith.

NO 10 WAS 17, 9 plays, 78 yards, 3:17 drive, 12:43 elapsed

S.Suisham kicks 62 yards from WAS 30 to NO 8. C.Roby to NO 21 for 13 yards (B.Westbrook).

New Orleans Saints at 2:17, (1st play from scrimmage 2:12)

1-10-NO 21 (2:12) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short left to R.Bush ran ob at NO 30 for 9 yards.

Two-Minute Warning

2-1-NO 30 (2:00) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass incomplete short right to M.Colston.

Brees loses his footing as he throws. Haynesworth was pushing the LG back into him, but I think he just slipped on a wet spot.

3-1-NO 30 (1:55) R.Bush left end to NO 30 for no gain (B.Orakpo).

Orakpo absorbs a heavy blow from the LT, then just tosses him backwards and takes down Bush as he tries to round the corner.

Timeout #2 by WAS at 01:43.

4-1-NO 30 (1:43) T.Morstead punts 27 yards to WAS 43, Center-J.Kyle. K.Barnes MUFFS catch, touched at WAS 43, RECOVERED by NOU.
Young at WAS 41. U.Young to WAS 41 for no gain (A.Randle El).

You can't blame Barnes for this. As a gunner, there's no reason he would be looking out for a punt to come down only 27 yards downfield and way over on the sideline. Just terrible, terrible luck. It kills me to see the Saints rewarded for making a completely awful punt.

New Orleans Saints at 1:31

1-10-WAS 41 (1:31) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass incomplete deep left to D.Henderson (B.Westbrook).
PENALTY on WAS-A.Carter, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 41 - No Play.

Brees threw into double coverage because he had a free play due to Carter's blatant offsides.

1-5-WAS 36 (1:27) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short right to R.Bush to WAS 28 for 8 yards (A.Carter).

1-10-WAS 28 (1:04) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass incomplete short middle to J.Shockey.

2-10-WAS 28 (1:00) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass incomplete short right to R.Bush.
PENALTY on NO-J.Evans, Ineligible Downfield Pass, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 28 - No Play.

Carter blows past the RT, then runs over Reggie Bush before he can get into position to catch the screen.

2-15-WAS 33 (:55) (Shotgun) D.Brees sacked at WAS 44 for -11 yards (L.Landry).
Timeout #3 by NO at 00:39.

Greg Blache and his staff decide to show their old boss that they can design crazy blitzes too. Griffin, Haynesworth, and Carter all stack up on the offensive right, but Orakpo is lined up way outside the LTE's shoulder - so there is a huge gap in the line and the LT and LG have no one in front of them. Fletcher and Doughty then shift over to fill this gap, albeit a yard off the line. Fletcher hangs back and picks up the RB out of the backfield, while Doughty charges to the outside and drags the LT with him. Meanwhile Landry, who intially lined up very deep, has been creeping up towards the line and barrells through the gap opened up by Doughthy's blitz and Orakpo's outside alignment.

3-26-WAS 44 (:39) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass short middle intended for J.Shockey INTERCEPTED by K.Moore at WAS 30. K.Moore to
WAS 44 for 14 yards (R.Meachem). FUMBLES (R.Meachem), RECOVERED by NO-R.Meachem at WAS 44. R.Meachem
for 44 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Play Challenged by Replay Assistant and Upheld.

Orakpo and Haynesworth both get inside penetration and force Brees to abort his first attempt to throw. He pumps twice, then staggers backwards under hot pursuit from Andre Carter. Carter lowers his head to tackle a bit too early, and Brees stiff arms him in the facemask, driving him to the ground. Brees staggers back still further, and desperately unloads the ball while falling backwards with Orakpo bearing down on him. The throw is released from 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage. And of course once the ball gets there, the play turns exciting. I'm sure you've all relived what happens next plenty of time already, so I won't burden you with another description.

Timeout #3 by WAS at 00:22.

G.Hartley extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Kyle, Holder-M.Brunell.

NO 17 WAS 17, 0 plays, 44 yards, 0:00 drive , 14:38 elapsed

T.Morstead kicks 68 yards from NO 30 to WAS 2. D.Thomas pushed ob at WAS 24 for 22 yards (R.Harper).

Washington Redskins at 0:22, (1st play from scrimmage 0:14)

1-10-WAS 24 (:14) J.Campbell kneels to WAS 23 for -1 yards.