- Joined
- Feb 9, 2014
- Messages
- 20,922
- Name
- Peter
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #241
http://es.redskins.com/topic/392964...an-avoid-playing-like-the-redskins-this-week/
Flipping the Script: How the Redskins can avoid playing like "The Redskins" this week
Week 2 finds us in an all too familiar situation with the team facing off against the Rams, my least favorite team in the NFL, and a perennial thorn in the side of the Redskins.
Based on our roster, the way we've played the Rams in the past, and the penchant for disaster that seems to hang like a cloud above this team, I figured I would point out 3 potential traps and pitfalls that seem to show up for the Redskins gameday in years past, as well as things the team can hopefully do to avoid falling into them.
In yesterday's press conference Gruden made a point of emphasis in "flipping the script" and the emphasized how important it is to be on the giving end of momentum shifting plays. I feel that we are on the right track in rebuilding this team, and took a step forward against the Dolphins. Here are some ways to avoid taking two steps back this week.
Penalties:
Through one week the Redskins O-line has already shown a knack for false starts, holding calls, and delay of game penalties. Not only is the Rams d-line consistently one of the best in the NFL, they are also extremely dirty and like to try and anger their opponents into losing their cool.
In 2012 we lost a very winnable game against the Rams due to the replacement refs losing control and were letting the Rams get away with unsportsmanlike conduct all game. Redskins players were getting progressively more and more frustrated as the game went on. Both Carriker and Orakpo had to leave because of injuries caused by dirty play along the lines. The game also ended with a Josh Morgan penalty, caused by him being baited into going after a defender.
http://www.washingto...n-red/?page=all
Coaches should spend all week reemphasizing the need to play smart football and not allow our players to get sucked in to petty scuffles that keep them from focusing on winning the game. If I’m the Rams, I’m spending all day going after 3 people:
- Our rookie lineman Scherff: trying to mentally psych him out and get him outside his game with cheap shots
- Bashad Breeland: First game back from suspension, he was also our most penalized CB last year. Expect the Rams to target him early while he spends the day shaking off the rust. We as fans need to temper our unrealistic expectations that he will come in and singlehandedly save our secondary in one game. He will not live up to the insane hype we’ve built up around him this offseason but can be a difference maker if we use him wisely.
- DeAngelo Hall: He’s already injured from last week. He will be looking to cover his lost step by trying to psyche out Rams recievers and getting in their heads. Expect it to work for 2-3 quarters and then get exposed down the stretch unless we give him help.
Jordan Reed and Over Reliance on one player:
- Too often the Redskins are exposed as being a one trick pony. Whether its an injury to a starter or lack of depth, they frequently seem to not have more than one strategy on gameday and struggle once their first option has been neutralized. Last week showed the emergence, and frankly over reliance of this team's need for Jordan Reed
- After last week he will not be flying under the radar anymore. With Jackson getting hurt expect the Rams to play containment football and neutralize our most effective receiver from last week until we make them pay for it.
- We cannot allow Reed to be our only weapon. We need to be multidimensional with our receivers this game. That means don’t go to Rashard Ross ONCE early in the game and then have him disappear for the next 58 minutes. It means don’t let Garcon get away with not stepping up to the plate. He’s been a number 1 receiver for this team before he needs to step up this week and not put it all on the shoulders of the young receivers. Don’t let Roberts get away with drops, if he’s struggling put Grant in and don’t look back.
Special Teams:
- In 2014 Tavon Austin returned a 78 yard punt for a touchdown to seal the game in the 3rd quarter. Last week Jarvis Landry had a 65 yard punt return in the 3rd quarter to shift the momentum back in favor of the Dolphins. The prime time for this event to happen this week will be in the late 3rd quarter/early 4th quarter, most likely after the Redskins have had a slow start after halftime and squandered at least 2 or 3 opportunities on offense, while our defense tires themselves out trying to keep us in the game.
The Redskins NEED to start the second half fast and strong, regardless of the score, and realize their special teams are too vulnerable to play conservative and hope for a low scoring game. The offense needs to have a cushion going into the 4th quarter if we hope to win
- Our brand new kicker has not been here long enough to realize that with this fanbase, he needs to play absolutely perfectly or else 20 years of ineptitude will be assigned to him. Hopefully he will rise to the challenge but I anticipate him having at least one or two plays that are not perfect. Don’t make him the fall guy for the troubles of a unit that was terrible before he got here. The Redskins need to play this game well enough so that we’re not relying on a brand new kicker to cover up all our special team mistakes. A rookie kicker is a liability, don’t gameplan as if he is a strength and lean on him too much.
- If you can't out physical the other team then you better be able to outhink them. We need to play smarter not harder. I would tell our new kicker to avoid punting to Tavon Austin at all costs. This isn't a pride factor it is being realistic and smart in regards to gameplanning with the talent you have to work with. Make him a non factor. Remove the threat completely and don't try to get cute. He cannot hurt us if we don't put the ball in his hands.
--------
Easy there dude.
Next thing you'll be wanting us to score touchdowns every other time we reach the redzone.
---------
You also forgot to add Cousins not throwing a boneheaded pick that leads to an easy six points for the other team.
--------
You nailed it bro.
Honestly though, we really need to pump the breaks on STL. They beat the Seahawks in a week one divisional game. You can't read much into that.
They are not posting back to back 30 point games. This game will be very close and come down to whoever makes the least amount of mistakes (I mean ****, KC had to be due for a turnover-less game right? Lol)
-------
I don't think the skins can win being as conservative as they were against Miami. They need to try to get big plays on 1st and 2nd down. This whole, 10-15 play drives are going to be tough against the Rams. Gruden needs to open up the playbook a bit. Get some trick plays in there, something to not be so basic.
---------
Strongly disagree.
Sounds like a recipe for your QB taking 6 sacks and suffering a neck injury by the end of the game.
The big plays will have to come from our defense and special teams. I wonder what Joe Barry has in mind against the Rams because last year they took advantage big-time of our over-pursuit against the run. We're super thin at both CB and Safety and that doesn't bode well for our ability to keep their TE in check this time around.
-----------
How do we avoid playing like the Redskins?
We're not. We didn't last week.
Clean up the penalties, hope for health, and build on what we did last week and we'll be in the game at the end (like we were last week).
Do yourself a favor, OP, and get a little bit more of a big picture view of what's happening. Try not to miss the forest through the trees.
If we improve every week we're doing it right.
--------
The simplest way to make our players stop playing like Redskins is by putting them in different teams' uniforms. I think we should have some of our janitors accidentally swap our uniforms with the Rams.
--------
You used a lot of words to say:
1. Stop committing penalties, and
2. Stop being a disaster on special teams.
By the way, this is probably where we get curb-stomped 35-6, and it gets a little harder to find "moral victories."
--------
My irritation is from the seeming lack of in game adjustments we don't make.
As this year progresses, I would like to see the coaching staff actually coaching these guys up better on the fly. Make adjustments. Attack weak spots and use their strengths against them like we did with the running game in the 1st half.
Positives:
We cut Suh's legs out so much he lost his mind. He will not want to play against this offense again. Scherff definitely won that battle.
Defense was stifling the run until they got tired. Passing D wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared.
WRs not named Roberts showed up to play and did a good job getting open against a pretty good defense. Our young guys showed up when their opportunities presented themselves.
Cousins showed us he can be a good starter (not sold on him being our future yet). The interception on the sideline was a well laid trap by the defender and I believe Cousins was falling away under pressure. That end zone fade tho! Great play.
Our RBs are monsters.
Defense was the best we've seen in a long time. We gave up 10 points. That should get us a W any week.
Negatives:
That horse has been beat to death. Just run the ball and stay ahead of the chains. We're a terrible 3rd and long team.
--------
Change their city, name, and get new players and coaches?
-------
I think you are going to find St Louis is quite good this year. If our offensive line can survive the test of the Rams DLine, one week after handling Miami, then I think it will speak volumes to just how good Moses and Scherff can be for years to come.
This game is going to come down to the same key as the Dolphins game. Can our D get stops, and the DLine get enough pressure. If they do, then we have a shot, if they dont its game over. The only other big key Im looking at is will they take the training wheels off Kirk, and let him throw more down the field.
I understand the danger of giving their Dline that much time, but Jay Gruden is an idiot if he coaches this year to try and make the playoffs, and avoid 'losing" games, instead of playing to find out what hes got.
Flipping the Script: How the Redskins can avoid playing like "The Redskins" this week
Week 2 finds us in an all too familiar situation with the team facing off against the Rams, my least favorite team in the NFL, and a perennial thorn in the side of the Redskins.
Based on our roster, the way we've played the Rams in the past, and the penchant for disaster that seems to hang like a cloud above this team, I figured I would point out 3 potential traps and pitfalls that seem to show up for the Redskins gameday in years past, as well as things the team can hopefully do to avoid falling into them.
In yesterday's press conference Gruden made a point of emphasis in "flipping the script" and the emphasized how important it is to be on the giving end of momentum shifting plays. I feel that we are on the right track in rebuilding this team, and took a step forward against the Dolphins. Here are some ways to avoid taking two steps back this week.
Penalties:
Through one week the Redskins O-line has already shown a knack for false starts, holding calls, and delay of game penalties. Not only is the Rams d-line consistently one of the best in the NFL, they are also extremely dirty and like to try and anger their opponents into losing their cool.
In 2012 we lost a very winnable game against the Rams due to the replacement refs losing control and were letting the Rams get away with unsportsmanlike conduct all game. Redskins players were getting progressively more and more frustrated as the game went on. Both Carriker and Orakpo had to leave because of injuries caused by dirty play along the lines. The game also ended with a Josh Morgan penalty, caused by him being baited into going after a defender.
http://www.washingto...n-red/?page=all
Coaches should spend all week reemphasizing the need to play smart football and not allow our players to get sucked in to petty scuffles that keep them from focusing on winning the game. If I’m the Rams, I’m spending all day going after 3 people:
- Our rookie lineman Scherff: trying to mentally psych him out and get him outside his game with cheap shots
- Bashad Breeland: First game back from suspension, he was also our most penalized CB last year. Expect the Rams to target him early while he spends the day shaking off the rust. We as fans need to temper our unrealistic expectations that he will come in and singlehandedly save our secondary in one game. He will not live up to the insane hype we’ve built up around him this offseason but can be a difference maker if we use him wisely.
- DeAngelo Hall: He’s already injured from last week. He will be looking to cover his lost step by trying to psyche out Rams recievers and getting in their heads. Expect it to work for 2-3 quarters and then get exposed down the stretch unless we give him help.
Jordan Reed and Over Reliance on one player:
- Too often the Redskins are exposed as being a one trick pony. Whether its an injury to a starter or lack of depth, they frequently seem to not have more than one strategy on gameday and struggle once their first option has been neutralized. Last week showed the emergence, and frankly over reliance of this team's need for Jordan Reed
- After last week he will not be flying under the radar anymore. With Jackson getting hurt expect the Rams to play containment football and neutralize our most effective receiver from last week until we make them pay for it.
- We cannot allow Reed to be our only weapon. We need to be multidimensional with our receivers this game. That means don’t go to Rashard Ross ONCE early in the game and then have him disappear for the next 58 minutes. It means don’t let Garcon get away with not stepping up to the plate. He’s been a number 1 receiver for this team before he needs to step up this week and not put it all on the shoulders of the young receivers. Don’t let Roberts get away with drops, if he’s struggling put Grant in and don’t look back.
Special Teams:
- In 2014 Tavon Austin returned a 78 yard punt for a touchdown to seal the game in the 3rd quarter. Last week Jarvis Landry had a 65 yard punt return in the 3rd quarter to shift the momentum back in favor of the Dolphins. The prime time for this event to happen this week will be in the late 3rd quarter/early 4th quarter, most likely after the Redskins have had a slow start after halftime and squandered at least 2 or 3 opportunities on offense, while our defense tires themselves out trying to keep us in the game.
The Redskins NEED to start the second half fast and strong, regardless of the score, and realize their special teams are too vulnerable to play conservative and hope for a low scoring game. The offense needs to have a cushion going into the 4th quarter if we hope to win
- Our brand new kicker has not been here long enough to realize that with this fanbase, he needs to play absolutely perfectly or else 20 years of ineptitude will be assigned to him. Hopefully he will rise to the challenge but I anticipate him having at least one or two plays that are not perfect. Don’t make him the fall guy for the troubles of a unit that was terrible before he got here. The Redskins need to play this game well enough so that we’re not relying on a brand new kicker to cover up all our special team mistakes. A rookie kicker is a liability, don’t gameplan as if he is a strength and lean on him too much.
- If you can't out physical the other team then you better be able to outhink them. We need to play smarter not harder. I would tell our new kicker to avoid punting to Tavon Austin at all costs. This isn't a pride factor it is being realistic and smart in regards to gameplanning with the talent you have to work with. Make him a non factor. Remove the threat completely and don't try to get cute. He cannot hurt us if we don't put the ball in his hands.
--------
Easy there dude.
Next thing you'll be wanting us to score touchdowns every other time we reach the redzone.
---------
You also forgot to add Cousins not throwing a boneheaded pick that leads to an easy six points for the other team.
--------
You nailed it bro.
Honestly though, we really need to pump the breaks on STL. They beat the Seahawks in a week one divisional game. You can't read much into that.
They are not posting back to back 30 point games. This game will be very close and come down to whoever makes the least amount of mistakes (I mean ****, KC had to be due for a turnover-less game right? Lol)
-------
I don't think the skins can win being as conservative as they were against Miami. They need to try to get big plays on 1st and 2nd down. This whole, 10-15 play drives are going to be tough against the Rams. Gruden needs to open up the playbook a bit. Get some trick plays in there, something to not be so basic.
---------
Strongly disagree.
Sounds like a recipe for your QB taking 6 sacks and suffering a neck injury by the end of the game.
The big plays will have to come from our defense and special teams. I wonder what Joe Barry has in mind against the Rams because last year they took advantage big-time of our over-pursuit against the run. We're super thin at both CB and Safety and that doesn't bode well for our ability to keep their TE in check this time around.
-----------
How do we avoid playing like the Redskins?
We're not. We didn't last week.
Clean up the penalties, hope for health, and build on what we did last week and we'll be in the game at the end (like we were last week).
Do yourself a favor, OP, and get a little bit more of a big picture view of what's happening. Try not to miss the forest through the trees.
If we improve every week we're doing it right.
--------
The simplest way to make our players stop playing like Redskins is by putting them in different teams' uniforms. I think we should have some of our janitors accidentally swap our uniforms with the Rams.
--------
You used a lot of words to say:
1. Stop committing penalties, and
2. Stop being a disaster on special teams.
By the way, this is probably where we get curb-stomped 35-6, and it gets a little harder to find "moral victories."
--------
My irritation is from the seeming lack of in game adjustments we don't make.
As this year progresses, I would like to see the coaching staff actually coaching these guys up better on the fly. Make adjustments. Attack weak spots and use their strengths against them like we did with the running game in the 1st half.
Positives:
We cut Suh's legs out so much he lost his mind. He will not want to play against this offense again. Scherff definitely won that battle.
Defense was stifling the run until they got tired. Passing D wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared.
WRs not named Roberts showed up to play and did a good job getting open against a pretty good defense. Our young guys showed up when their opportunities presented themselves.
Cousins showed us he can be a good starter (not sold on him being our future yet). The interception on the sideline was a well laid trap by the defender and I believe Cousins was falling away under pressure. That end zone fade tho! Great play.
Our RBs are monsters.
Defense was the best we've seen in a long time. We gave up 10 points. That should get us a W any week.
Negatives:
That horse has been beat to death. Just run the ball and stay ahead of the chains. We're a terrible 3rd and long team.
--------
Change their city, name, and get new players and coaches?
-------
I think you are going to find St Louis is quite good this year. If our offensive line can survive the test of the Rams DLine, one week after handling Miami, then I think it will speak volumes to just how good Moses and Scherff can be for years to come.
This game is going to come down to the same key as the Dolphins game. Can our D get stops, and the DLine get enough pressure. If they do, then we have a shot, if they dont its game over. The only other big key Im looking at is will they take the training wheels off Kirk, and let him throw more down the field.
I understand the danger of giving their Dline that much time, but Jay Gruden is an idiot if he coaches this year to try and make the playoffs, and avoid 'losing" games, instead of playing to find out what hes got.