This is what you get for reading a blog written by a guy who watches 30 Rock while on his laptop.
In tonight's episode they featured a cutaway scene from a Canadian football movie, with the following inspiring speech from the quarterback:
"All right hosers! I want all twelve of us fighting for every meter on all three downs! We're gonna make this a Boxing Day the Prime Minister will never forget!"
I will personally give Chris Cooley a dollar if he throws out this monologue in the first huddle of his first game after he comes back from the ankle injury.
Come to think of it, I belive both Chris Wilson and Mike Sellers have played in the CFL. If I ever meet either one, I promise to ask them if they have ever said this.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The greatest play in football
At the risk of sounding like too much of a football nerd, I want to share with you my love of the screen pass. There are few things in this world that I find more beautiful than a well-executed screen.
It is everything that is great about football:
It is everything that is great about football:
- The play must be designed and called as a result of a careful analysis of the defense's tendencies as well as knowledge of how it fits into the defense's idea of YOUR tendencies.
- It involves just the right amount of deception, but not so much trickery that it becomes "cute."
- It showcases the oft-overlooked athleticism of offensive linemen. It takes alot of athleticism for a guard or center to first absorb a blow from a defensive linemen, than gain enough speed to make it all the way to the outside to set up in front of the receiver before hte ball arrives. The very fact the pass rush is let through on purpose means the QB has to get the ball out pretty quick. It is a race to get in position on time, and one that not many 300 pounders would have a chance to win.
- If all 11 men don't do their job, the play has no chance. The receivers have to run complementary routes to clear some of the defendes out of the target area. The linemen who are blocking for the receiver, before they slip away, have to engage in convincing enough blocks on the line that it's not immediately obvious they are letting the rushers through intentionally. The QB will be expecting the pressure from the play side, but will also only have one read and will be focused on it - so the blockers on the non-play side must keep any pressure from coming from an unexpected angle and ruining the timing of the play. The guy who catches the ball must have the patience to let the blockers lead the way downfield - then once they have made their blocks he needs the decisiveness to exploit one of the holes to create a big gain.
- After all of the delicate work described above, you get the visceral pleasure of watching a wall of enormous blockers storming downfield and flattening some helpless defenders.
In summary: Preparation, subtle deception, athleticism, teamwork, execution, timing, discipline, carefully controlled and targeted aggression, all polished off with the perfect amount of good old fashioned brute force.
The screen pass IS football.
Redskins at Falcons, 3rd quarter review
1st quarter review
2nd quarter review
WAS elects to Receive, and ATL elects to defend the East goal.
M.Koenen kicks 70 yards from ATL 30 to end zone, Touchback.
Washington Redskins at 15:00
1-10-WAS 20 (15:00) J.Campbell pass incomplete short middle to S.Moss.
An inexcusable drop by Santana, and the ball is nearly intercepted after bouncing off of his hands. We were that close to losing this one quarter of competent football.
2-10-WAS 20 (14:56) L.Betts left end to WAS 25 for 5 yards (S.Nicholas).
3-5-WAS 25 (14:16) (Shotgun) J.Campbell scrambles up the middle to WAS 44 for 19 yards (J.Abraham).
The pocket degrades slowly rather than collapsing completely, so Campbell has time to escape (his one dumpoff option – Santana on a drag route out of the slot – is well covered). Heyer almost gets beat inside with a spin move, and if he had adjusted to it successfully it would have cut off Campbell’s escape route up the middle. Instead, Heyer bear hugs the guy and carries him all the way to the other side of the play, clearing Campbell’s running lane. That’s not the first appalling hold the Redskins have gotten away with – it’s almost as if the referees are feeling sorry for Campbell too.
1-10-WAS 44 (13:38) R.Cartwright right tackle to WAS 49 for 5 yards (S.Nicholas).
Sellers kicks the DE outside. I can’t see it too clearly, but I strongly suspect both Mike Williams and Casey Rabach of holding to keep the DT from beating Williams to his outside and cutting off Rock’s running lane, as the guy ends up getting spun around to his right.
2-5-WAS 49 (13:09) R.Cartwright left end to ATL 47 for 4 yards (C.Lofton).
3-1-ATL 47 (12:28) J.Campbell pass short right to M.Sellers pushed ob at ATL 36 for 11 yards (M.Peterson).
Play fake to Rock fools everybody, especially the LB who was supposed to pick up Sellers out of the backfield. Easy first down throw for Campbell.
1-10-ATL 36 (11:48) J.Campbell pass short left to M.Mitchell to ATL 25 for 11 yards (C.Houston).
Hey look, it’s Marko Mitchell! Remember August? Those were good times. Feels like years ago.
1-10-ATL 25 (11:10) L.Betts left tackle to ATL 23 for 2 yards (V.Walker).
The blocking was there for this play to go 5 yards or so but I think Betts tripped over Dockery’s foot as he hit the hole.
2-8-ATL 23 (10:29) PENALTY on WAS-M.Sellers, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at ATL 23 - No Play.
2-13-ATL 28 (10:02) J.Campbell pass short left to L.Betts to ATL 5 for 23 yards (E.Coleman).
Screen. Dockery, Montgomery, and Rabach are the blockers and this time get outside in a timely fashion so Betts is directly behind them when he catches the ball. Rabach is immediately taken on by a LB who drives him backwards and almost stuffs the play, but Betts makes an agile move to dodge Rabach and can then follow Montgomery and Dockery who are running clear downfield.
1-5-ATL 5 (9:15) J.Campbell pass short left to M.Kelly to ATL 1 for 4 yards (C.Houston)
The Falcons rush four, in the form of two pairs of stunting linemen. The Redskins adjust nicely to both and stonewall the rush. Campbell has plenty of time, which is nice because he spends all of it looking around frantically for somebody, anybody to get open. Fortunately Devin Thomas has the presence of mind to realize that Campbell needs somebody to give up on the endzone and come back towards him to avoid a coverage sack. Thomas is tightly covered, but Campbell sticks it in there with a rifle throw.
2-1-ATL 1 (8:35) R.Cartwright right tackle to ATL 1 for no gain (C.Lofton).
Lorenzo Alexander and Mike Sellers are lined up as TEs to the right and Rock wants to run behind them, but Will Montgomery gets blown away and the penetration causes Rock to hesitate in the backfield, so he has no momentum when he hits the line.
3-1-ATL 1 (7:57) R.Cartwright up the middle to ATL 1 for no gain (K.Biermann).
The line gets some push, but Yoder gets pushed to the ground and fails to hold the edge, so Rock gets taken down from the side even though he had enough space up the middle that he probably could have gotten it in the end zone.
4-1-ATL 1 (7:14) L.Betts left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
Dockery gets low and with the good leverage punches a hole in the line. Rabach (shockingly) gets no push at all which leaves space open for a LB to fill the hole opened by Dockery, but Sellers takes him out and Betts follows Dockery into the end zone.
S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-S.Paulescu.
WAS 10 ATL 24, 13 plays, 80 yards, 7:50 drive, 7:50 elapsed
S.Suisham kicks 67 yards from WAS 30 to ATL 3. E.Weems to ATL 22 for 19 yards (L.Alexander).
Atlanta Falcons at 7:10, (1st play from scrimmage 7:04)
1-10-ATL 22 (7:04) M.Turner left tackle to ATL 25 for 3 yards (R.Doughty).
2-7-ATL 25 (6:28) M.Ryan pass short right to T.Gonzalez to ATL 31 for 6 yards (R.Doughty).
3-1-ATL 31 (5:50) A.Stecker left end to ATL 31 for no gain (L.Landry).
The LT immediately pulls the outside. This allows Orakpo (at RDE for this play) to shoot into the backfield before realizing he’s been duped and he's hopelessly out of position to stop the pitch to Stecker. The TE takes out Landry, and that pulling tackle forces Carlos Rogers out of what otherwise would have been a good pursuit angle. This could have been a big gain if not for an impressive display of speed from LaRon Landry.
4-1-ATL 31 (5:09) M.Koenen punts 48 yards to WAS 21, Center-B.Pittman. D.Hall to WAS 19 for -2 yards
(S.Nicholas).
Instead of heading straight upfield to claim the 6 yards that were freely available, Hall runs all the way across the field to lose 2. It’s called “Pulling an Antwaan.”
Washington Redskins at 4:55
1-10-WAS 19 (4:55) J.Campbell pass short right to F.Davis to WAS 35 for 16 yards (E.Coleman).
This was a dumpoff pass caught at the line of scrimmage, so all 16 of those yards were gained after the catch. I’m sure it came as a surprise to Fred Davis that he gained all of those yards without trying to leap over anyone. Seriously, not even one person. I hope he remembers this.
1-10-WAS 35 (4:22) L.Betts left tackle to WAS 38 for 3 yards (M.Peterson).
2-7-WAS 38 (3:43) L.Betts left tackle to ATL 47 for 15 yards (T.DeCoud).
So it turns out runs to the left are more successful when you don’t have to count on Stephon Heyer to block anyone. The Falcons are thinking a pass and came with a zone blitz – a DB blitzes from the non-play side - so the RDE backs off of Heyer to get into pass coverage as soon as the ball is snapped. Heyer ends up doing pretty much nothing, which is a huge relief to most everyone (especially Heyer, I would imagine). Dockery drives one DT straight back off the line. Rabach goes straight to the second level and takes out the LB. The other DT almost comes over to fill the gap but Montgomery, while losing the physical battle, slows him down just enough that Betts can make it through the hole.
1-10-ATL 47 (3:03) S.Moss left end to ATL 41 for 6 yards (E.Coleman).
Rock takes a fake hand-off an pretends to run behind the RG. This sucks the LBs to that side, and Rabach and Heyer do a good job of getting to the second level to seal them there. Santana, of course, takes an end-around in the opposite direction. Devin Thomas is the wideout on that side, and once again fails to even try to block the DB lined up over him. Fortunately Santana puts on a spin move that leaves the DB on the ground and probably very embarrassed.
2-4-ATL 41 (2:27) R.Cartwright right tackle to ATL 34 for 7 yards (M.Peterson, S.Nicholas).
Well blocked. Mike Williams and Fred Davis team up on the LDE and push him off the corner, then Fred Davis sheds off and lays a solid block on the SLB. A DB tries to come around the edge but Sellers is lead blocking and knocks him on his butt.
1-10-ATL 34 (1:52) R.Cartwright up the middle to ATL 34 for no gain (T.Lewis).
Will Montgomery is carried into the backfield, then the DT give him a shove to knock him out of the play and makes an easy tackle on Rock.
PENALTY on WAS-M.Williams, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at ATL 34 - No Play.
1-20-ATL 44 (1:32) J.Campbell pass short left to S.Moss to ATL 29 for 15 yards (C.Houston).
2-5-ATL 29 (:55) L.Betts right tackle to ATL 27 for 2 yards (J.Babineaux).
3-3-ATL 27 (:12) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass short right to A.Randle El pushed ob at ATL 19 for 8 yards P12
(M.Peterson).
Campbell throws off his back foot because Mike Williams gets beaten off the edge and Stephon Heyer gets carried into the middle of the backfield so Campbell can’t step up.
Tune in tommorow night (or just maybe really late tonight) for the 4th quarter review - I can guarantee you a Redskins touchdown in the first 5 plays.
Play by play info from the NFL Game Book.
2nd quarter review
WAS elects to Receive, and ATL elects to defend the East goal.
M.Koenen kicks 70 yards from ATL 30 to end zone, Touchback.
Washington Redskins at 15:00
1-10-WAS 20 (15:00) J.Campbell pass incomplete short middle to S.Moss.
An inexcusable drop by Santana, and the ball is nearly intercepted after bouncing off of his hands. We were that close to losing this one quarter of competent football.
2-10-WAS 20 (14:56) L.Betts left end to WAS 25 for 5 yards (S.Nicholas).
3-5-WAS 25 (14:16) (Shotgun) J.Campbell scrambles up the middle to WAS 44 for 19 yards (J.Abraham).
The pocket degrades slowly rather than collapsing completely, so Campbell has time to escape (his one dumpoff option – Santana on a drag route out of the slot – is well covered). Heyer almost gets beat inside with a spin move, and if he had adjusted to it successfully it would have cut off Campbell’s escape route up the middle. Instead, Heyer bear hugs the guy and carries him all the way to the other side of the play, clearing Campbell’s running lane. That’s not the first appalling hold the Redskins have gotten away with – it’s almost as if the referees are feeling sorry for Campbell too.
1-10-WAS 44 (13:38) R.Cartwright right tackle to WAS 49 for 5 yards (S.Nicholas).
Sellers kicks the DE outside. I can’t see it too clearly, but I strongly suspect both Mike Williams and Casey Rabach of holding to keep the DT from beating Williams to his outside and cutting off Rock’s running lane, as the guy ends up getting spun around to his right.
2-5-WAS 49 (13:09) R.Cartwright left end to ATL 47 for 4 yards (C.Lofton).
3-1-ATL 47 (12:28) J.Campbell pass short right to M.Sellers pushed ob at ATL 36 for 11 yards (M.Peterson).
Play fake to Rock fools everybody, especially the LB who was supposed to pick up Sellers out of the backfield. Easy first down throw for Campbell.
1-10-ATL 36 (11:48) J.Campbell pass short left to M.Mitchell to ATL 25 for 11 yards (C.Houston).
Hey look, it’s Marko Mitchell! Remember August? Those were good times. Feels like years ago.
1-10-ATL 25 (11:10) L.Betts left tackle to ATL 23 for 2 yards (V.Walker).
The blocking was there for this play to go 5 yards or so but I think Betts tripped over Dockery’s foot as he hit the hole.
2-8-ATL 23 (10:29) PENALTY on WAS-M.Sellers, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at ATL 23 - No Play.
2-13-ATL 28 (10:02) J.Campbell pass short left to L.Betts to ATL 5 for 23 yards (E.Coleman).
Screen. Dockery, Montgomery, and Rabach are the blockers and this time get outside in a timely fashion so Betts is directly behind them when he catches the ball. Rabach is immediately taken on by a LB who drives him backwards and almost stuffs the play, but Betts makes an agile move to dodge Rabach and can then follow Montgomery and Dockery who are running clear downfield.
1-5-ATL 5 (9:15) J.Campbell pass short left to M.Kelly to ATL 1 for 4 yards (C.Houston)
The Falcons rush four, in the form of two pairs of stunting linemen. The Redskins adjust nicely to both and stonewall the rush. Campbell has plenty of time, which is nice because he spends all of it looking around frantically for somebody, anybody to get open. Fortunately Devin Thomas has the presence of mind to realize that Campbell needs somebody to give up on the endzone and come back towards him to avoid a coverage sack. Thomas is tightly covered, but Campbell sticks it in there with a rifle throw.
2-1-ATL 1 (8:35) R.Cartwright right tackle to ATL 1 for no gain (C.Lofton).
Lorenzo Alexander and Mike Sellers are lined up as TEs to the right and Rock wants to run behind them, but Will Montgomery gets blown away and the penetration causes Rock to hesitate in the backfield, so he has no momentum when he hits the line.
3-1-ATL 1 (7:57) R.Cartwright up the middle to ATL 1 for no gain (K.Biermann).
The line gets some push, but Yoder gets pushed to the ground and fails to hold the edge, so Rock gets taken down from the side even though he had enough space up the middle that he probably could have gotten it in the end zone.
4-1-ATL 1 (7:14) L.Betts left guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
Dockery gets low and with the good leverage punches a hole in the line. Rabach (shockingly) gets no push at all which leaves space open for a LB to fill the hole opened by Dockery, but Sellers takes him out and Betts follows Dockery into the end zone.
S.Suisham extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-S.Paulescu.
WAS 10 ATL 24, 13 plays, 80 yards, 7:50 drive, 7:50 elapsed
S.Suisham kicks 67 yards from WAS 30 to ATL 3. E.Weems to ATL 22 for 19 yards (L.Alexander).
Atlanta Falcons at 7:10, (1st play from scrimmage 7:04)
1-10-ATL 22 (7:04) M.Turner left tackle to ATL 25 for 3 yards (R.Doughty).
2-7-ATL 25 (6:28) M.Ryan pass short right to T.Gonzalez to ATL 31 for 6 yards (R.Doughty).
3-1-ATL 31 (5:50) A.Stecker left end to ATL 31 for no gain (L.Landry).
The LT immediately pulls the outside. This allows Orakpo (at RDE for this play) to shoot into the backfield before realizing he’s been duped and he's hopelessly out of position to stop the pitch to Stecker. The TE takes out Landry, and that pulling tackle forces Carlos Rogers out of what otherwise would have been a good pursuit angle. This could have been a big gain if not for an impressive display of speed from LaRon Landry.
4-1-ATL 31 (5:09) M.Koenen punts 48 yards to WAS 21, Center-B.Pittman. D.Hall to WAS 19 for -2 yards
(S.Nicholas).
Instead of heading straight upfield to claim the 6 yards that were freely available, Hall runs all the way across the field to lose 2. It’s called “Pulling an Antwaan.”
Washington Redskins at 4:55
1-10-WAS 19 (4:55) J.Campbell pass short right to F.Davis to WAS 35 for 16 yards (E.Coleman).
This was a dumpoff pass caught at the line of scrimmage, so all 16 of those yards were gained after the catch. I’m sure it came as a surprise to Fred Davis that he gained all of those yards without trying to leap over anyone. Seriously, not even one person. I hope he remembers this.
1-10-WAS 35 (4:22) L.Betts left tackle to WAS 38 for 3 yards (M.Peterson).
2-7-WAS 38 (3:43) L.Betts left tackle to ATL 47 for 15 yards (T.DeCoud).
So it turns out runs to the left are more successful when you don’t have to count on Stephon Heyer to block anyone. The Falcons are thinking a pass and came with a zone blitz – a DB blitzes from the non-play side - so the RDE backs off of Heyer to get into pass coverage as soon as the ball is snapped. Heyer ends up doing pretty much nothing, which is a huge relief to most everyone (especially Heyer, I would imagine). Dockery drives one DT straight back off the line. Rabach goes straight to the second level and takes out the LB. The other DT almost comes over to fill the gap but Montgomery, while losing the physical battle, slows him down just enough that Betts can make it through the hole.
1-10-ATL 47 (3:03) S.Moss left end to ATL 41 for 6 yards (E.Coleman).
Rock takes a fake hand-off an pretends to run behind the RG. This sucks the LBs to that side, and Rabach and Heyer do a good job of getting to the second level to seal them there. Santana, of course, takes an end-around in the opposite direction. Devin Thomas is the wideout on that side, and once again fails to even try to block the DB lined up over him. Fortunately Santana puts on a spin move that leaves the DB on the ground and probably very embarrassed.
2-4-ATL 41 (2:27) R.Cartwright right tackle to ATL 34 for 7 yards (M.Peterson, S.Nicholas).
Well blocked. Mike Williams and Fred Davis team up on the LDE and push him off the corner, then Fred Davis sheds off and lays a solid block on the SLB. A DB tries to come around the edge but Sellers is lead blocking and knocks him on his butt.
1-10-ATL 34 (1:52) R.Cartwright up the middle to ATL 34 for no gain (T.Lewis).
Will Montgomery is carried into the backfield, then the DT give him a shove to knock him out of the play and makes an easy tackle on Rock.
PENALTY on WAS-M.Williams, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at ATL 34 - No Play.
1-20-ATL 44 (1:32) J.Campbell pass short left to S.Moss to ATL 29 for 15 yards (C.Houston).
2-5-ATL 29 (:55) L.Betts right tackle to ATL 27 for 2 yards (J.Babineaux).
3-3-ATL 27 (:12) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass short right to A.Randle El pushed ob at ATL 19 for 8 yards P12
(M.Peterson).
Campbell throws off his back foot because Mike Williams gets beaten off the edge and Stephon Heyer gets carried into the middle of the backfield so Campbell can’t step up.
Tune in tommorow night (or just maybe really late tonight) for the 4th quarter review - I can guarantee you a Redskins touchdown in the first 5 plays.
Play by play info from the NFL Game Book.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Redskins at Falcons, 2nd quarter review
First Quarter Review
Washington Redskins continued.
3-7-WAS 30 (15:00) (Shotgun) J.Campbell sacked at WAS 27 for -3 yards (J.Babineaux).
Penalty on WAS-C.Rabach, Offensive Holding, declined.
A nice zone blitz by Atlanta. LDE initially engages Fred Davis at the line but then drops into pass coverage. The LDT attacks Will Montgomery to the outside. Montgomery could have let the guy go and let Williams pick him up, but he realizes too late the Williams isn't needed on the LDE so a gap is opened up to Montgomery’s left. The MLB, who is lined up right between the two DTs, attacks Rabach head on so that he can’t slide to the right to compensate for Montgomery. The RDT then stunts around him and exploits that hole, and is only slowed by Rabach desperately wrapping his arm around the guy’s neck (hence the holding call). Meanwhile, the RDE has taken Stephon Heyer wide, thus opening up a hole for a blitzing safety. Betts picks up the blitz correctly but blows the block.
4-10-WAS 27 (14:45) S.Paulescu punts 53 yards to ATL 20, Center-E.Albright, out of bounds.
PENALTY on WAS-J.Tryon, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced at ATL 20.
Atlanta Falcons at 14:39
1-10-ATL 35 (14:39) M.Turner up the middle to ATL 37 for 2 yards (R.McIntosh, P.Daniels).
2-8-ATL 37 (14:01) A.Stecker left end to ATL 43 for 6 yards (A.Haynesworth).
3-2-ATL 43 (13:17) (Shotgun) M.Turner left tackle to ATL 48 for 5 yards (L.Fletcher).
Tony Gonzalez fakes as if going into a route, then turn and catches Brian Orakpo off guard to seal him to the outside. A LG-C double team swallows up Haynesworth, the RG pulls and takes out Rocky McIntosh. After making the handoff Matt Ryan pretends he still has the ball for a few steps. This never works, except for this time where it causes London Fletcher to track Ryan’s supposed rollout for a couple of steps before he reverses course to fill Turner’s running lane, so he gets there too late to prevent the first down.
1-10-ATL 48 (12:44) R.White right end to ATL 50 for 2 yards (L.Landry).
2-8-ATL 50 (12:03) M.Turner right tackle to WAS 13 for 37 yards (D.Hall).
PENALTY on ATL-T.Clabo, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at WAS 49.
Turner initially runs left and the line flows that way as well. The LT successfully kicks out Orakpo, but the DTs are winning the battle against the Falcons line and it appears that hole might close before Turner can get there, so he cuts is back to the other side. The LDE, who I cannot identify, has a chance at him but is sealed inside by the RT with the block that results in the holding penalty (a borderline call – we got lucky). Michael Jenkins flattens Chris Horton with a highlight reel block, then the missed tackles begin. Carlos Rogers dives ineffectually at Turner’s feet. LaRon Landry has an angle on him but sacrifices it to avoid hitting him head on – instead Landry slows up and tries to tackle his legs from the side but misses and just slides down him. Fletcher was initially slowed by having to jump over Chris Horton’s prone body, but he catches up here and tries to tackle Turner from behind but is cut off by Landry’s flailing tackle, so he ends up tackling Landry instead. Justin Tryon is run out of the play by a WR, but DeAngelo Hall escapes from his guy to wrap up Turner’s legs with a very solid tackle (God, Hall’s tackling is an enigma).
2-17-ATL 41 (11:35) M.Ryan pass short right to M.Jenkins to ATL 46 for 5 yards (H.Blades).
3-12-ATL 46 (10:55) (Shotgun) PENALTY on ATL-E.Weems, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at ATL 46 - No Play.
3-17-ATL 41 (10:32) M.Ryan pass short right to A.Stecker to ATL 50 for 9 yards (K.Golston).
4-8-ATL 50 (9:54) M.Koenen punts 32 yards to WAS 18, Center-B.Pittman, fair catch by D.Hall.
Washington Redskins at 9:45
1-10-WAS 18 (9:45) L.Betts up the middle to WAS 21 for 3 yards (M.Peterson, C.Lofton).
Derrick Dockery seals one DT to the outside, and Rabach and Montgomery dominate to other with a double team. But there’s no lead blocker on this play so despite a big hole in the line Betts just runs straight into a LB. I suspect that once the DT was neutralized Rabach was supposed to shed off him and pick up the LB who made the tackle – otherwise the play design makes no sense.
2-7-WAS 21 (9:10) J.Campbell pass short right to S.Moss to WAS 25 for 4 yards (J.Anderson).
3-3-WAS 25 (8:29) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass deep middle to M.Sellers to ATL 28 for 47 yards (C.Lofton).
The line holds the pocket perfectly – they stand up to the head-on rushers and adjust nicely to a stunt - and Campbell has tons of time to throw. Campbell goes through multiple reads, keeps his head, and places a perfect pass to Sellers right as he hits a void in the defense.
1-10-ATL 28 (7:45) J.Campbell sacked at ATL 37 for -9 yards (C.Jackson).
Falcons blitz a LB and a CB from the offensive right. Mike Williams takes the LB, and Mike Sellers is back there with an easy pickup on the corner. Sellers somehow misses completely – it looks like he just froze. It seems he either just didn’t see the CB coming at all, or thought that Betts was also going to be on the right and he thought his responsibility was to clean up if Williams got beat by his guy. Very odd to watch Sellers stand motionless as the CB runs past him. Not that it matters, but protection collapses on the left side as well. RDE drops into pass coverage, and the RDT races past Williams to the outside and is picked up cleanly by Betts. Meanwhile the RDT splits Rabach and Dockery easily, and Rabach holds him so badly that he is pulled along behind the guy and gets dragged onto Jason Campbell.
2-19-ATL 37 (7:13) J.Campbell pass short right to A.Randle El to ATL 24 for 13 yards (E.Coleman).
3-6-ATL 24 (6:29) (Shotgun) J.Campbell sacked at ATL 30 for -6 yards (J.Babineaux).
Mike Williams is beat to the outside (surprise!) and on the other side Fred Davis (I think) is unable to handle a blitzing LB, so Campbell steps up to escape pressure from both edges. The line gets crossed up with multiple stunts, and even though no one achieves total penetration it makes a mess of things so that when two more guys (a DB and a LB) come on a delayed blitz they’re not easily picked up. Campbell has to step up into this chaos and eventually a DT outmaneuvers Heyer to get the sack.
4-12-ATL 30 (6:02) S.Suisham 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-S.Paulescu.
WAS 3 ATL 14, 7 plays, 52 yards, 3:49 drive, 9:04 elapsed
S.Suisham kicks 69 yards from WAS 30 to ATL 1. E.Weems to ATL 39 for 38 yards (H.Blades).
Atlanta Falcons at 5:56, (1st play from scrimmage 5:47)
1-10-ATL 39 (5:47) M.Turner up the middle to ATL 42 for 3 yards (A.Haynesworth).
2-7-ATL 42 (5:09) M.Ryan pass short left to R.White pushed ob at WAS 46 for 12 yards (C.Horton).
The LG-C double team continues to win the physical battle with Haynesworth.
1-10-WAS 46 (4:45) M.Ryan pass short left to R.White pushed ob at WAS 38 for 8 yards (C.Rogers).
2-2-WAS 38 (4:19) M.Ryan pass short middle to M.Turner to WAS 30 for 8 yards (B.Orakpo).
No pressure. LG Justin Blalock holds his own against Haynesworth one on one. Blalock is known as a strong blocker, but his performance in this game is really impressive.
1-10-WAS 30 (3:44) M.Turner left end for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Key block by 74-W. Svitek. R10
LG, RG, and RT maul the Redskins DTs (Golston and Lorenzo Alexander). Orakpo, at SLB on the play side, blows away a TE to get into the backfield but, partly in thanks to some holding from the guy he just beat, Orakpo comes too far inside and Turner beats him on the sweep. The LT pulls outside and takes out Smoot, thus winning the corner for Turner. And as has been well publicized, DeAngelo Hall takes an awful angle and Turner easily beats him by cutting back inside.
J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Pittman, Holder-M.Koenen.
WAS 3 ATL 21, 5 plays, 61 yards, 2:20 drive, 11:24 elapsed
M.Koenen kicks 63 yards from ATL 30 to WAS 7. R.Cartwright to WAS 29 for 22 yards (A.Stecker).
Washington Redskins at 3:36, (1st play from scrimmage 3:31)
1-10-WAS 29 (3:31) L.Betts up the middle to WAS 33 for 4 yards (J.Abraham).
2-6-WAS 33 (2:59) J.Campbell sacked at WAS 27 for -6 yards (sack split by J.Abraham and J.Babineaux). WAS-J.Campbell was injured during the play. His return is Probable.
How many times have I written this – DE threaten Mike Williams to the outside, then puts on a spin move to the inside and Williams lacks the agility and athleticism to recover. Welcome back, Todd Collins.
3-12-WAS 27 (2:35) (Shotgun) T.Collins pass short left to S.Moss to WAS 23 for -4 yards (C.Houston).
Timeout #1 by ATL at 02:30.
This was an attempted screen. Heyer, Dockery, and Rabach are meant to be the blockers but they are way too slow getting over.
4-16-WAS 23 (2:29) S.Paulescu punts 50 yards to ATL 27, Center-E.Albright. E.Weems to ATL 44 for 17 yards (T.Yoder).
PENALTY on ATL-L.Sidbury, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 10 yards, enforced at ATL 29.
Atlanta Falcons at 2:17
1-10-ATL 19 (2:17) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass incomplete short left to T.Gonzalez [A.Carter].
2-10-ATL 19 (2:12) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short middle to A.Stecker to ATL 33 for 14 yards (C.Horton).
Two-Minute Warning
Falcons intentionally allow penetration by all the Redskins linemen to open up the middle and set up a designed shovel pass.
1-10-ATL 33 (2:00) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short right to T.Gonzalez to ATL 40 for 7 yards (C.Horton).
2-3-ATL 40 (1:41) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass incomplete short right to R.White.
3-3-ATL 40 (1:37) (Shotgun) M.Ryan scrambles right end ran ob at ATL 44 for 4 yards (L.Landry).
PENALTY on WAS-L.Landry, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at ATL 44. X13
Penalty on WAS-A.Haynesworth, Unnecessary Roughness, declined.
Three man rush. Daniels takes a monster block from a WR that severely slows him on the way to the backfield, which means LT, LG, and C are initially all free to gang up on Haynesworth. Golston is double teamed by RG and RT because Orakpo follows a back into his pass route. Ryan is forced to scramble purely by coverage – there’s not even a hint of pressure. Oh, and then a fight happens.
1-10-WAS 41 (1:29) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short right to M.Booker to WAS 32 for 9 yards (D.Hall).
This time Haynesworth overpowers that pesky LG, but Ryan gets the ball out just before the hit.
2-1-WAS 32 (1:05) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass incomplete short middle [K.Golston].
PENALTY on ATL-M.Ryan, Intentional Grounding, 10 yards, enforced at WAS 32.
Redskins line up only three linemen, but blitz Tryon from the offensive left and Doughty from the right. Haynesworth isn’t yet down in his stance at RDE when the ball is snapped, so he is attacking without the usual force and gets swallowed up by the LT and LG. Golston powers through the C, and doesn’t need to worry about the RG because he pulled to the outside to pick up Doughty.
3-11-WAS 42 (:50) M.Ryan pass incomplete short left to R.White.
PENALTY on WAS-L.Alexander, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at WAS 42 - No Play. Atlanta accepts 10-second runoff on clock in lieu of timeout.
Lorenzo Alexander lines up at DT but stunts to the outside and beats the LT. He closes on Ryan, who is forced to rush his throw and it sails high. The ball leaves Ryan’s hand when Alexander is about 2 feet from contact and running full speed. No one but Superman would be able to stop himself, and Alexander applies a text book and totally safe hit. Absolute, unambiguous, total horseshit roughing call.
1-10-WAS 27 (:39) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short left to R.White ran ob at WAS 20 for 7 yards (C.Horton).
2-3-WAS 20 (:33) (Shotgun) M.Ryan sacked at WAS 29 for -9 yards (B.Orakpo).
Timeout #2 by ATL at 00:28.
Orakpo is at RDE and attacks inside, while Haynesworth stunts around him to the outside. Haynesworth can’t quite make it around the corner, but the threat of him makes the LG and LT nervous so they’re trying to slide to keep Haynesworth in front of them and can’t block Orakpo with full force. Orakpo powers through them.
3-12-WAS 29 (:28) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short left to T.Gonzalez to WAS 16 for 13 yards (C.Horton).
Timeout #3 by ATL at 00:23.
1-10-WAS 16 (:23) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass incomplete short middle to R.White.
The same Orakpo-Haynesworth stunt combo as two plays ago, and the same result. Orakpo hits Ryan as he throws and causes the errant pass.
2-10-WAS 16 (:19) M.Turner up the middle to WAS 15 for 1 yard.
Very athletic tackle by Andre Carter.
3-9-WAS 15 (:13) M.Ryan spiked the ball to stop the clock.
4-9-WAS 15 (:05) J.Elam 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-B.Pittman, Holder-M.Koenen.
WAS 3 ATL 24, 14 plays, 66 yards, 2 penalties, 2:17 drive, 15:00 elapsed
Play by play info taken from the official NFL Game Book.
Washington Redskins continued.
3-7-WAS 30 (15:00) (Shotgun) J.Campbell sacked at WAS 27 for -3 yards (J.Babineaux).
Penalty on WAS-C.Rabach, Offensive Holding, declined.
A nice zone blitz by Atlanta. LDE initially engages Fred Davis at the line but then drops into pass coverage. The LDT attacks Will Montgomery to the outside. Montgomery could have let the guy go and let Williams pick him up, but he realizes too late the Williams isn't needed on the LDE so a gap is opened up to Montgomery’s left. The MLB, who is lined up right between the two DTs, attacks Rabach head on so that he can’t slide to the right to compensate for Montgomery. The RDT then stunts around him and exploits that hole, and is only slowed by Rabach desperately wrapping his arm around the guy’s neck (hence the holding call). Meanwhile, the RDE has taken Stephon Heyer wide, thus opening up a hole for a blitzing safety. Betts picks up the blitz correctly but blows the block.
4-10-WAS 27 (14:45) S.Paulescu punts 53 yards to ATL 20, Center-E.Albright, out of bounds.
PENALTY on WAS-J.Tryon, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced at ATL 20.
Atlanta Falcons at 14:39
1-10-ATL 35 (14:39) M.Turner up the middle to ATL 37 for 2 yards (R.McIntosh, P.Daniels).
2-8-ATL 37 (14:01) A.Stecker left end to ATL 43 for 6 yards (A.Haynesworth).
3-2-ATL 43 (13:17) (Shotgun) M.Turner left tackle to ATL 48 for 5 yards (L.Fletcher).
Tony Gonzalez fakes as if going into a route, then turn and catches Brian Orakpo off guard to seal him to the outside. A LG-C double team swallows up Haynesworth, the RG pulls and takes out Rocky McIntosh. After making the handoff Matt Ryan pretends he still has the ball for a few steps. This never works, except for this time where it causes London Fletcher to track Ryan’s supposed rollout for a couple of steps before he reverses course to fill Turner’s running lane, so he gets there too late to prevent the first down.
1-10-ATL 48 (12:44) R.White right end to ATL 50 for 2 yards (L.Landry).
2-8-ATL 50 (12:03) M.Turner right tackle to WAS 13 for 37 yards (D.Hall).
PENALTY on ATL-T.Clabo, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at WAS 49.
Turner initially runs left and the line flows that way as well. The LT successfully kicks out Orakpo, but the DTs are winning the battle against the Falcons line and it appears that hole might close before Turner can get there, so he cuts is back to the other side. The LDE, who I cannot identify, has a chance at him but is sealed inside by the RT with the block that results in the holding penalty (a borderline call – we got lucky). Michael Jenkins flattens Chris Horton with a highlight reel block, then the missed tackles begin. Carlos Rogers dives ineffectually at Turner’s feet. LaRon Landry has an angle on him but sacrifices it to avoid hitting him head on – instead Landry slows up and tries to tackle his legs from the side but misses and just slides down him. Fletcher was initially slowed by having to jump over Chris Horton’s prone body, but he catches up here and tries to tackle Turner from behind but is cut off by Landry’s flailing tackle, so he ends up tackling Landry instead. Justin Tryon is run out of the play by a WR, but DeAngelo Hall escapes from his guy to wrap up Turner’s legs with a very solid tackle (God, Hall’s tackling is an enigma).
2-17-ATL 41 (11:35) M.Ryan pass short right to M.Jenkins to ATL 46 for 5 yards (H.Blades).
3-12-ATL 46 (10:55) (Shotgun) PENALTY on ATL-E.Weems, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at ATL 46 - No Play.
3-17-ATL 41 (10:32) M.Ryan pass short right to A.Stecker to ATL 50 for 9 yards (K.Golston).
4-8-ATL 50 (9:54) M.Koenen punts 32 yards to WAS 18, Center-B.Pittman, fair catch by D.Hall.
Washington Redskins at 9:45
1-10-WAS 18 (9:45) L.Betts up the middle to WAS 21 for 3 yards (M.Peterson, C.Lofton).
Derrick Dockery seals one DT to the outside, and Rabach and Montgomery dominate to other with a double team. But there’s no lead blocker on this play so despite a big hole in the line Betts just runs straight into a LB. I suspect that once the DT was neutralized Rabach was supposed to shed off him and pick up the LB who made the tackle – otherwise the play design makes no sense.
2-7-WAS 21 (9:10) J.Campbell pass short right to S.Moss to WAS 25 for 4 yards (J.Anderson).
3-3-WAS 25 (8:29) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass deep middle to M.Sellers to ATL 28 for 47 yards (C.Lofton).
The line holds the pocket perfectly – they stand up to the head-on rushers and adjust nicely to a stunt - and Campbell has tons of time to throw. Campbell goes through multiple reads, keeps his head, and places a perfect pass to Sellers right as he hits a void in the defense.
1-10-ATL 28 (7:45) J.Campbell sacked at ATL 37 for -9 yards (C.Jackson).
Falcons blitz a LB and a CB from the offensive right. Mike Williams takes the LB, and Mike Sellers is back there with an easy pickup on the corner. Sellers somehow misses completely – it looks like he just froze. It seems he either just didn’t see the CB coming at all, or thought that Betts was also going to be on the right and he thought his responsibility was to clean up if Williams got beat by his guy. Very odd to watch Sellers stand motionless as the CB runs past him. Not that it matters, but protection collapses on the left side as well. RDE drops into pass coverage, and the RDT races past Williams to the outside and is picked up cleanly by Betts. Meanwhile the RDT splits Rabach and Dockery easily, and Rabach holds him so badly that he is pulled along behind the guy and gets dragged onto Jason Campbell.
2-19-ATL 37 (7:13) J.Campbell pass short right to A.Randle El to ATL 24 for 13 yards (E.Coleman).
3-6-ATL 24 (6:29) (Shotgun) J.Campbell sacked at ATL 30 for -6 yards (J.Babineaux).
Mike Williams is beat to the outside (surprise!) and on the other side Fred Davis (I think) is unable to handle a blitzing LB, so Campbell steps up to escape pressure from both edges. The line gets crossed up with multiple stunts, and even though no one achieves total penetration it makes a mess of things so that when two more guys (a DB and a LB) come on a delayed blitz they’re not easily picked up. Campbell has to step up into this chaos and eventually a DT outmaneuvers Heyer to get the sack.
4-12-ATL 30 (6:02) S.Suisham 48 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-S.Paulescu.
WAS 3 ATL 14, 7 plays, 52 yards, 3:49 drive, 9:04 elapsed
S.Suisham kicks 69 yards from WAS 30 to ATL 1. E.Weems to ATL 39 for 38 yards (H.Blades).
Atlanta Falcons at 5:56, (1st play from scrimmage 5:47)
1-10-ATL 39 (5:47) M.Turner up the middle to ATL 42 for 3 yards (A.Haynesworth).
2-7-ATL 42 (5:09) M.Ryan pass short left to R.White pushed ob at WAS 46 for 12 yards (C.Horton).
The LG-C double team continues to win the physical battle with Haynesworth.
1-10-WAS 46 (4:45) M.Ryan pass short left to R.White pushed ob at WAS 38 for 8 yards (C.Rogers).
2-2-WAS 38 (4:19) M.Ryan pass short middle to M.Turner to WAS 30 for 8 yards (B.Orakpo).
No pressure. LG Justin Blalock holds his own against Haynesworth one on one. Blalock is known as a strong blocker, but his performance in this game is really impressive.
1-10-WAS 30 (3:44) M.Turner left end for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Key block by 74-W. Svitek. R10
LG, RG, and RT maul the Redskins DTs (Golston and Lorenzo Alexander). Orakpo, at SLB on the play side, blows away a TE to get into the backfield but, partly in thanks to some holding from the guy he just beat, Orakpo comes too far inside and Turner beats him on the sweep. The LT pulls outside and takes out Smoot, thus winning the corner for Turner. And as has been well publicized, DeAngelo Hall takes an awful angle and Turner easily beats him by cutting back inside.
J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Pittman, Holder-M.Koenen.
WAS 3 ATL 21, 5 plays, 61 yards, 2:20 drive, 11:24 elapsed
M.Koenen kicks 63 yards from ATL 30 to WAS 7. R.Cartwright to WAS 29 for 22 yards (A.Stecker).
Washington Redskins at 3:36, (1st play from scrimmage 3:31)
1-10-WAS 29 (3:31) L.Betts up the middle to WAS 33 for 4 yards (J.Abraham).
2-6-WAS 33 (2:59) J.Campbell sacked at WAS 27 for -6 yards (sack split by J.Abraham and J.Babineaux). WAS-J.Campbell was injured during the play. His return is Probable.
How many times have I written this – DE threaten Mike Williams to the outside, then puts on a spin move to the inside and Williams lacks the agility and athleticism to recover. Welcome back, Todd Collins.
3-12-WAS 27 (2:35) (Shotgun) T.Collins pass short left to S.Moss to WAS 23 for -4 yards (C.Houston).
Timeout #1 by ATL at 02:30.
This was an attempted screen. Heyer, Dockery, and Rabach are meant to be the blockers but they are way too slow getting over.
4-16-WAS 23 (2:29) S.Paulescu punts 50 yards to ATL 27, Center-E.Albright. E.Weems to ATL 44 for 17 yards (T.Yoder).
PENALTY on ATL-L.Sidbury, Illegal Block Above the Waist, 10 yards, enforced at ATL 29.
Atlanta Falcons at 2:17
1-10-ATL 19 (2:17) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass incomplete short left to T.Gonzalez [A.Carter].
2-10-ATL 19 (2:12) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short middle to A.Stecker to ATL 33 for 14 yards (C.Horton).
Two-Minute Warning
Falcons intentionally allow penetration by all the Redskins linemen to open up the middle and set up a designed shovel pass.
1-10-ATL 33 (2:00) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short right to T.Gonzalez to ATL 40 for 7 yards (C.Horton).
2-3-ATL 40 (1:41) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass incomplete short right to R.White.
3-3-ATL 40 (1:37) (Shotgun) M.Ryan scrambles right end ran ob at ATL 44 for 4 yards (L.Landry).
PENALTY on WAS-L.Landry, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at ATL 44. X13
Penalty on WAS-A.Haynesworth, Unnecessary Roughness, declined.
Three man rush. Daniels takes a monster block from a WR that severely slows him on the way to the backfield, which means LT, LG, and C are initially all free to gang up on Haynesworth. Golston is double teamed by RG and RT because Orakpo follows a back into his pass route. Ryan is forced to scramble purely by coverage – there’s not even a hint of pressure. Oh, and then a fight happens.
1-10-WAS 41 (1:29) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short right to M.Booker to WAS 32 for 9 yards (D.Hall).
This time Haynesworth overpowers that pesky LG, but Ryan gets the ball out just before the hit.
2-1-WAS 32 (1:05) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass incomplete short middle [K.Golston].
PENALTY on ATL-M.Ryan, Intentional Grounding, 10 yards, enforced at WAS 32.
Redskins line up only three linemen, but blitz Tryon from the offensive left and Doughty from the right. Haynesworth isn’t yet down in his stance at RDE when the ball is snapped, so he is attacking without the usual force and gets swallowed up by the LT and LG. Golston powers through the C, and doesn’t need to worry about the RG because he pulled to the outside to pick up Doughty.
3-11-WAS 42 (:50) M.Ryan pass incomplete short left to R.White.
PENALTY on WAS-L.Alexander, Roughing the Passer, 15 yards, enforced at WAS 42 - No Play. Atlanta accepts 10-second runoff on clock in lieu of timeout.
Lorenzo Alexander lines up at DT but stunts to the outside and beats the LT. He closes on Ryan, who is forced to rush his throw and it sails high. The ball leaves Ryan’s hand when Alexander is about 2 feet from contact and running full speed. No one but Superman would be able to stop himself, and Alexander applies a text book and totally safe hit. Absolute, unambiguous, total horseshit roughing call.
1-10-WAS 27 (:39) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short left to R.White ran ob at WAS 20 for 7 yards (C.Horton).
2-3-WAS 20 (:33) (Shotgun) M.Ryan sacked at WAS 29 for -9 yards (B.Orakpo).
Timeout #2 by ATL at 00:28.
Orakpo is at RDE and attacks inside, while Haynesworth stunts around him to the outside. Haynesworth can’t quite make it around the corner, but the threat of him makes the LG and LT nervous so they’re trying to slide to keep Haynesworth in front of them and can’t block Orakpo with full force. Orakpo powers through them.
3-12-WAS 29 (:28) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short left to T.Gonzalez to WAS 16 for 13 yards (C.Horton).
Timeout #3 by ATL at 00:23.
1-10-WAS 16 (:23) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass incomplete short middle to R.White.
The same Orakpo-Haynesworth stunt combo as two plays ago, and the same result. Orakpo hits Ryan as he throws and causes the errant pass.
2-10-WAS 16 (:19) M.Turner up the middle to WAS 15 for 1 yard.
Very athletic tackle by Andre Carter.
3-9-WAS 15 (:13) M.Ryan spiked the ball to stop the clock.
4-9-WAS 15 (:05) J.Elam 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-B.Pittman, Holder-M.Koenen.
WAS 3 ATL 24, 14 plays, 66 yards, 2 penalties, 2:17 drive, 15:00 elapsed
Play by play info taken from the official NFL Game Book.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Don't tell me these guys don't care and are just cashing their paychecks
From Mike Wise's WaPo column this morning:
Brian Orakpo's baritone voice emoted a one-word expletive in the corner of the locker room, so thunderous many of his teammates turned around.
"I'm tried of this [stuff]!" the rookie added, muttering to no one in particular as he sat by his cubicle. "Every week you come out and this same [stuff] happens. We prepare, we work hard and then this. I can't deal with it . . . I can't deal with it."
I don't understand the folks at home games (I won't call them "fans") who crowd around the tunnel to boo and hurl insults at the players as they head inside. I can't help but feel bad for what these guys are going through, and its clearly tearing them up. Their confidence is already shattered - why taunt them? What is that supposed to fix?
Brian Orakpo's baritone voice emoted a one-word expletive in the corner of the locker room, so thunderous many of his teammates turned around.
"I'm tried of this [stuff]!" the rookie added, muttering to no one in particular as he sat by his cubicle. "Every week you come out and this same [stuff] happens. We prepare, we work hard and then this. I can't deal with it . . . I can't deal with it."
I don't understand the folks at home games (I won't call them "fans") who crowd around the tunnel to boo and hurl insults at the players as they head inside. I can't help but feel bad for what these guys are going through, and its clearly tearing them up. Their confidence is already shattered - why taunt them? What is that supposed to fix?
A couple of links while I'm at it:
- Thankfully, Larry Johnson is apparently not an option to fill in for Portis. I try to minimize judging athletes on personality/character issues, but Johnson would bring in a level of douchery (and negative press attention) that this team doesn't need.
- Each Monday Football Outsiders publishes an "Audibles at the Line" column which summarizes the emails the writers send to each other while watching their Sunday football, and this week the Redskins game leads off. A spirited defense is mounted for Jason Campbell. Coming into this season, I agreed with all the arguments in his favor (he's a solid player behind a lousy line, etc) but as I've pointed out in my game reviews he's regressed to the point even when he does get protection he no longer knows what to do with it. I truly like Campbell, but I think he's broken. I hope they're right that he could resurrect his career on a better team.
- Hogs Haven summarizes the medical carnage from yesterday. Of particular note are Portis and Santana trying out for the Malcolm Gladwell All Star Team. Scary stuff, and no matter how bad we need a win they need to stay off the field until they are totally clear of concussion systems. I remember reading a suggestion somewhere that the word concussion should be ditched in favor of "brain injury." You wouldn't try to rush a guy back from a brain injury, would you?
Redskins at Falcons, 1st quarter review
I have received neither complaints nor lawsuits, so I am continuing to use the official play by play from the NFL Game Book and inserting my commentary in a different font.
Atlanta Falcons at 15:00
1-10-ATL 26 (15:00) PENALTY on WAS-A.Haynesworth, Encroachment, 5 yards, enforced at ATL 26 - No Play.
1-5-ATL 31 (14:49) M.Turner left guard to ATL 33 for 2 yards (A.Haynesworth).
Haynesworth is unable to get off the C, partly because of a chip from the LG (is it still called a chip when a lineman does it?) but he’s able to get one arm out and obstruct Turner. He’s so strong that even a powerful runner like Turner is brought to a halt just by having that forearm across his body.
2-3-ATL 33 (14:15) M.Ryan scrambles right end to ATL 38 for 5 yards (C.Rogers).
Naked bootleg. Once it becomes clear no one is open he pump fakes to freeze the secondary just long enough that he has time to make the first down before they converge.
1-10-ATL 38 (13:38) M.Ryan pass short left to T.Gonzalez to WAS 49 for 13 yards (L.Landry).
Another bootleg, just to the opposite direction. It looks like they know we have a formidable pass rush and came out with a lot of QB movement to try to slow our linemen down a bit by forcing them to think about keeping contain.
1-10-WAS 49 (12:59) M.Turner up the middle to WAS 50 for -1 yards (A.Carter).
Twins TE to the left. Both TEs block Orakpo, who is at SLB and right on the line, but the O-linemen are all focused on controlling the DTs, so Carter comes in unblocked.
2-11-WAS 50 (12:22) M.Turner left end pushed ob at WAS 17 for 33 yards (L.Landry).
Falcons line up in a full house formation, then the right-hand FB motions to the left TE spot – so the end result is an I formation offset to the left, with a TE also on the left for some serious power running potential. The fact that there was also a TE on the right, and that the FB didn’t do his motion until just before the snap, keeps the defense from just stacking up against the obvious strength of the formation. The LT, LG, and C do a good job of sealing our DTs to the inside (I can’t make out who we have in at tackle on this play). Rocky McIntosh gets taken out by a very solid block from one of the FBs and Orakpo is simply bear hugged – no call – by the other. Fletcher has a shot at him, but seems to misread the play – he stays home in the middle way too long, despite the fact that there’s way to much commotion in the interior to allow an inside run and those two FBs are leading Turner right around the corner. To me (and this is easy for me to say from my recliner with my TiVo and laptop) it looked like it should have been clear early on that Turner was going to cut outside and follow the FBs. Regardless, by the time Fletcher reads where the play is going Turner has an angle advantage and outruns him.
1-10-WAS 17 (11:47) M.Ryan pass incomplete short right to M.Turner.
2-10-WAS 17 (11:42) M.Ryan sacked at WAS 17 for 0 yards (K.Golston).
Redskins do not immediately generate pressure, but Ryan has no dumpoff options (Turner stays in to block) and all the other routes are deep. No one gets open so Ryan tries to run through a hole up the middle, but Golston spins off his blocker and takes him down.
3-10-WAS 17 (11:11) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short right to B.Finneran to WAS 8 for 9 yards (J.Tryon).
Falcons line up trips right, and the Redskins get confused in coverage. One receiver goes to the endzone and two go short. The end result is that we end up with two DBs and a LB on the endzone route, a LB and a DB on the inside short route, and nobody on the outside short route. So somebody blew an assignment, but you would probably have to be in the DB position meetings to figure out who (my prime suspect is Carlos Rogers, but I’m not certain). Tryon, who had been on the inside guy, comes over and makes a pretty good tackle to save the first down.
4-1-WAS 8 (10:23) (Run formation) PENALTY on WAS-A.Haynesworth, Defensive Offside, 4 yards, enforced at WAS 8 - No Play.
Re-watching this, I don’t think its Ryan’s hard count that gets Haynesworth. It looks like he jumps in reaction to movement by the FB. He goes in motion to make the standard I formation into an offset I, but moves those few steps over with tremendous energy. He does a series of hyperactive little hops to his left, while also pumping his arms as if he was running in place. It looks nonsensical from above, but to Haynesworth down there with his hand in the dirt it probably looked like a FB launching himself into a play. It was clearly done with the intent of drawing the Redskins offside, and that FB deserves some credit for his acting ability.
1-4-WAS 4 (10:05) M.Turner up the middle to WAS 2 for 2 yards (R.McIntosh).
2-2-WAS 2 (9:22) M.Ryan pass short left to T.Gonzalez for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Falcons line up in Jumbo and sell the fake run up the gut very well. Chris Wilson, who is up on the line as SLB, initially engages Gonzalez as if he were run blocking, and so is two steps behind when Gonzalez sheds off him and slips into the flat. The two LBs who line up deeper in the end zone – Rocky and Fletcher – bite hard on the play action so Wilson is by himself in coverage. Maybe there was supposed to be help, but on principle I don’t like the idea of a converted DE being responsible for man coverage on the best TE of the era.
J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Pittman, Holder-M.Koenen.
WAS 0 ATL 7, 10 plays, 74 yards, 2 penalties, 5:42 drive, 5:42 elapsed
M.Koenen kicks 66 yards from ATL 30 to WAS 4. R.Cartwright pushed ob at WAS 24 for 20 yards (E.Weems).
Washington Redskins at 9:18, (1st play from scrimmage 9:13)
1-10-WAS 24 (9:13) C.Portis left guard to WAS 25 for 1 yard (J.Babineaux).
Rabach and Dockery double team a DT but he stands them up single handedly. Heyer tries to kick out the DE but lacks the strength to push him outside. The intented hole is between Dockery and Heyer, but they have failed to open it even a little, so Sellers has no hole to lead through and just ends up running into Dockery’s back. I think Portis briefly considers trying to break it outside, but there are two unmolested LBs flowing that way, so he figures his best bet is to stick with the plan and follow Sellers into the wall. Punching through for one yard is actually a reasonable accomplishment given that there was nothing even resembling a hole.
2-9-WAS 25 (8:37) C.Portis left end to WAS 25 for no gain (J.Babineaux).
Devin Thomas blew it. The line doesn’t exactly blow the Falcons off the ball but they hold the edge well enough that Portis should have had a chance to make the corner. But Thomas, on an outside run to his side of the field, neglects to even try to block the DB who is lined up over him. The DB shoots in untouched and forces Portis to cut inside, where there is nowhere to go.
3-9-WAS 25 (7:55) (Shotgun) J.Campbell sacked at WAS 17 for -8 yards (K.Biermann).
The DE threatens Mike Williams to the outside. Betts is hovering behind Williams and cheats to the outside on the reasonable assumption that that is where Williams will (not might) get beat. Then the DE puts on a spin move to the inside that is so good it not only beats Williams (not an impressive accomplishment) but even fakes out Betts who has an extra two yards to recover. He beats Betts to the inside and is waiting there when Campbell steps up due to pressure allowed by Heyer.
4-17-WAS 17 (7:31) S.Paulescu punts 47 yards to ATL 36, Center-E.Albright. E.Weems to ATL 46 for 10 yards (K.Moore).
Atlanta Falcons at 7:20
1-10-ATL 46 (7:20) E.Weems left end to ATL 47 for 1 yard (C.Horton, B.Orakpo).
Weird play – we have a fake end around to the left, followed by a fake run up the middle, followed by a real end around to the left.
2-9-ATL 47 (6:42) M.Ryan pass short middle to M.Turner to WAS 47 for 6 yards (L.Fletcher).
Orakpo (RDE) and Griffin are both double teamed, Carter gives the RT a fight but can’t get through, and the LG stands up to Haynesworth one on one (there’s some holding involved, but just the routine stuff that you don’t really expect to get called). None of the deep routes get open, but there’s not even a hint of pressure so Ryan has an easy dumpoff to Turner up the middle.
3-3-WAS 47 (6:04) (Shotgun) M.Ryan sacked at WAS 48 for -1 yards (B.Orakpo).
Redskins rush only three, but get pressure because Griffin loops all the way around RT and beats him to the outside, and Haynesworth drives the LT-LG double team back into Ryan’s face, despite absorbing a solid chip from Turner on his way to the dumpoff route. Orakpo has stayed back to defend that dumpoff, but by the time Turner comes off that chip Orakpo can see Ryan has already pulled the ball down to escape Hayensworth and Griffin so he very easily drops his coverage responsibility and fills the running lane.
4-4-WAS 48 (5:36) M.Koenen punts 36 yards to WAS 12, Center-B.Pittman, fair catch by A.Randle El.
PENALTY on WAS-R.Doughty, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 48 - No Play.
I have nothing to say. (Grinds teeth)
1-10-WAS 43 (5:23) PENALTY on ATL-T.McClure, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 43 - No Play.
1-15-WAS 48 (5:23) M.Ryan pass deep left intended for M.Booker INTERCEPTED by R.McIntosh at WAS 29. R.McIntosh to
WAS 47 for 18 yards (M.Turner).
This was a nice catch by Rocky, but a result of a ridiculously bad decision by Matt Ryan. The receiver was triple covered – tightly – and I have no idea what Ryan was looking at.
Washington Redskins at 5:07
1-10-WAS 47 (5:07) C.Portis right tackle to ATL 48 for 5 yards (M.Peterson).
2-5-ATL 48 (4:33) J.Campbell pass incomplete deep left to D.Thomas (C.Houston).
Well defended by the CB.
3-5-ATL 48 (4:27) (Shotgun) J.Campbell scrambles right end ran ob at ATL 34 for 14 yards (M.Peterson).
1-10-ATL 34 (4:01) C.Portis right end to ATL 36 for -2 yards (J.Babineaux, J.Anderson).
The run was supposed to go behind LG but a DT drives Montgomery back and inside and cuts off the path Sellers is trying to lead (talk about a recurring theme this year).
2-12-ATL 36 (3:26) C.Portis left tackle to ATL 36 for no gain (C.Jackson, T.DeCoud). WAS-C.Portis was injured during the play. His return is Questionable. PENALTY on WAS-C.Rabach, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at ATL 36 - No Play.
This was actually a very nice run by Portis. Rabach allows penetration but Portis sees it early enough that he can bounce to the outside without sacrificing his momentum. It gets called back and Portis is knocked clean out of the game with a concussion, but I’m trying to find positives here.
2-22-ATL 46 (3:01) J.Campbell pass short right intended for F.Davis INTERCEPTED by T.Hill at ATL 38. T.Hill for 62
yards, TOUCHDOWN.
No excuse. Campbell hit Fred Davis right in the hands and he just bounced it up into the air.
J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Pittman, Holder-M.Koenen.
WAS 0 ATL 14, 0 plays, 62 yards, 0:00 drive , 12:13 elapsed
M.Koenen kicks 68 yards from ATL 30 to WAS 2. R.Cartwright to WAS 14 for 12 yards (K.Biermann).
Washington Redskins at 2:47, (1st play from scrimmage 2:42)
1-10-WAS 14 (2:42) J.Campbell pass incomplete short right to D.Thomas.
Thomas is wide open, gets a ball right in the hands, and turns to run before he secures it. Classic.
2-10-WAS 14 (2:33) L.Betts up the middle to WAS 17 for 3 yards (T.Lewis).
3-7-WAS 17 (1:57) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass short right to F.Davis to WAS 27 for 10 yards (J.Babineaux, C.Lofton).
1-10-WAS 27 (1:19) L.Betts right end to WAS 31 for 4 yards (B.Grimes).
2-6-WAS 31 (:44) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass short right to R.Cartwright to WAS 30 for -1 yards (V.Walker).
Another bad screen. Rabach blocks his man, but Dockery is too slow getting over and Montgomery just dives at the feet of a LB and misses.
Atlanta Falcons at 15:00
1-10-ATL 26 (15:00) PENALTY on WAS-A.Haynesworth, Encroachment, 5 yards, enforced at ATL 26 - No Play.
1-5-ATL 31 (14:49) M.Turner left guard to ATL 33 for 2 yards (A.Haynesworth).
Haynesworth is unable to get off the C, partly because of a chip from the LG (is it still called a chip when a lineman does it?) but he’s able to get one arm out and obstruct Turner. He’s so strong that even a powerful runner like Turner is brought to a halt just by having that forearm across his body.
2-3-ATL 33 (14:15) M.Ryan scrambles right end to ATL 38 for 5 yards (C.Rogers).
Naked bootleg. Once it becomes clear no one is open he pump fakes to freeze the secondary just long enough that he has time to make the first down before they converge.
1-10-ATL 38 (13:38) M.Ryan pass short left to T.Gonzalez to WAS 49 for 13 yards (L.Landry).
Another bootleg, just to the opposite direction. It looks like they know we have a formidable pass rush and came out with a lot of QB movement to try to slow our linemen down a bit by forcing them to think about keeping contain.
1-10-WAS 49 (12:59) M.Turner up the middle to WAS 50 for -1 yards (A.Carter).
Twins TE to the left. Both TEs block Orakpo, who is at SLB and right on the line, but the O-linemen are all focused on controlling the DTs, so Carter comes in unblocked.
2-11-WAS 50 (12:22) M.Turner left end pushed ob at WAS 17 for 33 yards (L.Landry).
Falcons line up in a full house formation, then the right-hand FB motions to the left TE spot – so the end result is an I formation offset to the left, with a TE also on the left for some serious power running potential. The fact that there was also a TE on the right, and that the FB didn’t do his motion until just before the snap, keeps the defense from just stacking up against the obvious strength of the formation. The LT, LG, and C do a good job of sealing our DTs to the inside (I can’t make out who we have in at tackle on this play). Rocky McIntosh gets taken out by a very solid block from one of the FBs and Orakpo is simply bear hugged – no call – by the other. Fletcher has a shot at him, but seems to misread the play – he stays home in the middle way too long, despite the fact that there’s way to much commotion in the interior to allow an inside run and those two FBs are leading Turner right around the corner. To me (and this is easy for me to say from my recliner with my TiVo and laptop) it looked like it should have been clear early on that Turner was going to cut outside and follow the FBs. Regardless, by the time Fletcher reads where the play is going Turner has an angle advantage and outruns him.
1-10-WAS 17 (11:47) M.Ryan pass incomplete short right to M.Turner.
2-10-WAS 17 (11:42) M.Ryan sacked at WAS 17 for 0 yards (K.Golston).
Redskins do not immediately generate pressure, but Ryan has no dumpoff options (Turner stays in to block) and all the other routes are deep. No one gets open so Ryan tries to run through a hole up the middle, but Golston spins off his blocker and takes him down.
3-10-WAS 17 (11:11) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short right to B.Finneran to WAS 8 for 9 yards (J.Tryon).
Falcons line up trips right, and the Redskins get confused in coverage. One receiver goes to the endzone and two go short. The end result is that we end up with two DBs and a LB on the endzone route, a LB and a DB on the inside short route, and nobody on the outside short route. So somebody blew an assignment, but you would probably have to be in the DB position meetings to figure out who (my prime suspect is Carlos Rogers, but I’m not certain). Tryon, who had been on the inside guy, comes over and makes a pretty good tackle to save the first down.
4-1-WAS 8 (10:23) (Run formation) PENALTY on WAS-A.Haynesworth, Defensive Offside, 4 yards, enforced at WAS 8 - No Play.
Re-watching this, I don’t think its Ryan’s hard count that gets Haynesworth. It looks like he jumps in reaction to movement by the FB. He goes in motion to make the standard I formation into an offset I, but moves those few steps over with tremendous energy. He does a series of hyperactive little hops to his left, while also pumping his arms as if he was running in place. It looks nonsensical from above, but to Haynesworth down there with his hand in the dirt it probably looked like a FB launching himself into a play. It was clearly done with the intent of drawing the Redskins offside, and that FB deserves some credit for his acting ability.
1-4-WAS 4 (10:05) M.Turner up the middle to WAS 2 for 2 yards (R.McIntosh).
2-2-WAS 2 (9:22) M.Ryan pass short left to T.Gonzalez for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Falcons line up in Jumbo and sell the fake run up the gut very well. Chris Wilson, who is up on the line as SLB, initially engages Gonzalez as if he were run blocking, and so is two steps behind when Gonzalez sheds off him and slips into the flat. The two LBs who line up deeper in the end zone – Rocky and Fletcher – bite hard on the play action so Wilson is by himself in coverage. Maybe there was supposed to be help, but on principle I don’t like the idea of a converted DE being responsible for man coverage on the best TE of the era.
J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Pittman, Holder-M.Koenen.
WAS 0 ATL 7, 10 plays, 74 yards, 2 penalties, 5:42 drive, 5:42 elapsed
M.Koenen kicks 66 yards from ATL 30 to WAS 4. R.Cartwright pushed ob at WAS 24 for 20 yards (E.Weems).
Washington Redskins at 9:18, (1st play from scrimmage 9:13)
1-10-WAS 24 (9:13) C.Portis left guard to WAS 25 for 1 yard (J.Babineaux).
Rabach and Dockery double team a DT but he stands them up single handedly. Heyer tries to kick out the DE but lacks the strength to push him outside. The intented hole is between Dockery and Heyer, but they have failed to open it even a little, so Sellers has no hole to lead through and just ends up running into Dockery’s back. I think Portis briefly considers trying to break it outside, but there are two unmolested LBs flowing that way, so he figures his best bet is to stick with the plan and follow Sellers into the wall. Punching through for one yard is actually a reasonable accomplishment given that there was nothing even resembling a hole.
2-9-WAS 25 (8:37) C.Portis left end to WAS 25 for no gain (J.Babineaux).
Devin Thomas blew it. The line doesn’t exactly blow the Falcons off the ball but they hold the edge well enough that Portis should have had a chance to make the corner. But Thomas, on an outside run to his side of the field, neglects to even try to block the DB who is lined up over him. The DB shoots in untouched and forces Portis to cut inside, where there is nowhere to go.
3-9-WAS 25 (7:55) (Shotgun) J.Campbell sacked at WAS 17 for -8 yards (K.Biermann).
The DE threatens Mike Williams to the outside. Betts is hovering behind Williams and cheats to the outside on the reasonable assumption that that is where Williams will (not might) get beat. Then the DE puts on a spin move to the inside that is so good it not only beats Williams (not an impressive accomplishment) but even fakes out Betts who has an extra two yards to recover. He beats Betts to the inside and is waiting there when Campbell steps up due to pressure allowed by Heyer.
4-17-WAS 17 (7:31) S.Paulescu punts 47 yards to ATL 36, Center-E.Albright. E.Weems to ATL 46 for 10 yards (K.Moore).
Atlanta Falcons at 7:20
1-10-ATL 46 (7:20) E.Weems left end to ATL 47 for 1 yard (C.Horton, B.Orakpo).
Weird play – we have a fake end around to the left, followed by a fake run up the middle, followed by a real end around to the left.
2-9-ATL 47 (6:42) M.Ryan pass short middle to M.Turner to WAS 47 for 6 yards (L.Fletcher).
Orakpo (RDE) and Griffin are both double teamed, Carter gives the RT a fight but can’t get through, and the LG stands up to Haynesworth one on one (there’s some holding involved, but just the routine stuff that you don’t really expect to get called). None of the deep routes get open, but there’s not even a hint of pressure so Ryan has an easy dumpoff to Turner up the middle.
3-3-WAS 47 (6:04) (Shotgun) M.Ryan sacked at WAS 48 for -1 yards (B.Orakpo).
Redskins rush only three, but get pressure because Griffin loops all the way around RT and beats him to the outside, and Haynesworth drives the LT-LG double team back into Ryan’s face, despite absorbing a solid chip from Turner on his way to the dumpoff route. Orakpo has stayed back to defend that dumpoff, but by the time Turner comes off that chip Orakpo can see Ryan has already pulled the ball down to escape Hayensworth and Griffin so he very easily drops his coverage responsibility and fills the running lane.
4-4-WAS 48 (5:36) M.Koenen punts 36 yards to WAS 12, Center-B.Pittman, fair catch by A.Randle El.
PENALTY on WAS-R.Doughty, Defensive Offside, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 48 - No Play.
I have nothing to say. (Grinds teeth)
1-10-WAS 43 (5:23) PENALTY on ATL-T.McClure, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at WAS 43 - No Play.
1-15-WAS 48 (5:23) M.Ryan pass deep left intended for M.Booker INTERCEPTED by R.McIntosh at WAS 29. R.McIntosh to
WAS 47 for 18 yards (M.Turner).
This was a nice catch by Rocky, but a result of a ridiculously bad decision by Matt Ryan. The receiver was triple covered – tightly – and I have no idea what Ryan was looking at.
Washington Redskins at 5:07
1-10-WAS 47 (5:07) C.Portis right tackle to ATL 48 for 5 yards (M.Peterson).
2-5-ATL 48 (4:33) J.Campbell pass incomplete deep left to D.Thomas (C.Houston).
Well defended by the CB.
3-5-ATL 48 (4:27) (Shotgun) J.Campbell scrambles right end ran ob at ATL 34 for 14 yards (M.Peterson).
1-10-ATL 34 (4:01) C.Portis right end to ATL 36 for -2 yards (J.Babineaux, J.Anderson).
The run was supposed to go behind LG but a DT drives Montgomery back and inside and cuts off the path Sellers is trying to lead (talk about a recurring theme this year).
2-12-ATL 36 (3:26) C.Portis left tackle to ATL 36 for no gain (C.Jackson, T.DeCoud). WAS-C.Portis was injured during the play. His return is Questionable. PENALTY on WAS-C.Rabach, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at ATL 36 - No Play.
This was actually a very nice run by Portis. Rabach allows penetration but Portis sees it early enough that he can bounce to the outside without sacrificing his momentum. It gets called back and Portis is knocked clean out of the game with a concussion, but I’m trying to find positives here.
2-22-ATL 46 (3:01) J.Campbell pass short right intended for F.Davis INTERCEPTED by T.Hill at ATL 38. T.Hill for 62
yards, TOUCHDOWN.
No excuse. Campbell hit Fred Davis right in the hands and he just bounced it up into the air.
J.Elam extra point is GOOD, Center-B.Pittman, Holder-M.Koenen.
WAS 0 ATL 14, 0 plays, 62 yards, 0:00 drive , 12:13 elapsed
M.Koenen kicks 68 yards from ATL 30 to WAS 2. R.Cartwright to WAS 14 for 12 yards (K.Biermann).
Washington Redskins at 2:47, (1st play from scrimmage 2:42)
1-10-WAS 14 (2:42) J.Campbell pass incomplete short right to D.Thomas.
Thomas is wide open, gets a ball right in the hands, and turns to run before he secures it. Classic.
2-10-WAS 14 (2:33) L.Betts up the middle to WAS 17 for 3 yards (T.Lewis).
3-7-WAS 17 (1:57) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass short right to F.Davis to WAS 27 for 10 yards (J.Babineaux, C.Lofton).
1-10-WAS 27 (1:19) L.Betts right end to WAS 31 for 4 yards (B.Grimes).
2-6-WAS 31 (:44) (Shotgun) J.Campbell pass short right to R.Cartwright to WAS 30 for -1 yards (V.Walker).
Another bad screen. Rabach blocks his man, but Dockery is too slow getting over and Montgomery just dives at the feet of a LB and misses.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Wrap up thoughts from the Eagles game
- I really was pleased with Fred Davis' performance. He was often Campbell's primary read, and he seemed to always be where Campbell expected him to be. This is impressive for a guy who supposedly couldn't learn the playbook last year. Now if he could just learn Cooley's no-frills but highly effective open-field running style, rather than trying to advance the ball downfield like he's on a pogo stick.
- Devin Thomas also seems to be in tune with Campbell, particularly on the occasions when Campbell was under pressure and Thomas broke off his route to provide a safety valve.
- Will Montgomery has been playing poorly, but I'm not prepared to write him off. He rarely seems to be outright overpowered; when he gets beat I think the opposing linemen are outclassing him in terms of technique. That at least leaves open the possibility (only a possibility) that with further development and refinement he can become a decent lineman. I'm not qualified to judge the intricacies of linemen's technique, so if anyone out there has some formal football background feel free to let us know your opinion on this guy.
- Stephon Heyer and Mike Williams, on the other hand, clearly lack the basic physical ability to play line at the NFL level. I don't think I will get over seeing Heyer used as a wrecking ball against our own line - Broderick Bunkley just tossed him into the middle of the line.
- Despite giving up some points, the defense played very well against the Eagles. I'm not excusing the two big plays to DeSean Jackson, but the nature of big plays is that they have a certain randomness to them, and given enough opportunities a good offense with a talent like Jackson will eventually beat you. Outside of those two big plays the Eagles were almost incapable of sustaining a drive, and the defense played ferociously throughout the game.
- The offense looked quite good on the drive that ended with Rabach's botched snap near the end zone. On various occassions the short to mid-range passing game was clicking, and as usual mistakes occurred at the worst possible times. One step forward, two backwards.
- Happy birthday, Ben.
- For reasons I can't put my finger on, I've found myself feeling optimistic that the Redskins will get it done against Atlanta. Irrationality loves company, so I was pleased to see that Sugar at Hogs Haven has gone back to the Kool-Aid for another drink.
- Devin Thomas also seems to be in tune with Campbell, particularly on the occasions when Campbell was under pressure and Thomas broke off his route to provide a safety valve.
- Will Montgomery has been playing poorly, but I'm not prepared to write him off. He rarely seems to be outright overpowered; when he gets beat I think the opposing linemen are outclassing him in terms of technique. That at least leaves open the possibility (only a possibility) that with further development and refinement he can become a decent lineman. I'm not qualified to judge the intricacies of linemen's technique, so if anyone out there has some formal football background feel free to let us know your opinion on this guy.
- Stephon Heyer and Mike Williams, on the other hand, clearly lack the basic physical ability to play line at the NFL level. I don't think I will get over seeing Heyer used as a wrecking ball against our own line - Broderick Bunkley just tossed him into the middle of the line.
- Despite giving up some points, the defense played very well against the Eagles. I'm not excusing the two big plays to DeSean Jackson, but the nature of big plays is that they have a certain randomness to them, and given enough opportunities a good offense with a talent like Jackson will eventually beat you. Outside of those two big plays the Eagles were almost incapable of sustaining a drive, and the defense played ferociously throughout the game.
- The offense looked quite good on the drive that ended with Rabach's botched snap near the end zone. On various occassions the short to mid-range passing game was clicking, and as usual mistakes occurred at the worst possible times. One step forward, two backwards.
- Happy birthday, Ben.
- For reasons I can't put my finger on, I've found myself feeling optimistic that the Redskins will get it done against Atlanta. Irrationality loves company, so I was pleased to see that Sugar at Hogs Haven has gone back to the Kool-Aid for another drink.
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