The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Irn-Bru wrote:I had just about forgotten what it feels like to win in a game that mattered!

It feels . . . good. Very good.

New York Giants: The Giants have little time to recover from their second straight heartbreaking fourth-quarter loss, as they have a Thursday night home game this week against Washington. They seem likely to be without cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who has to go through the concussion protocol, and could be without left tackle Ereck Flowers, who aggravated his ankle injury Sunday and left with a sprain. Undermanned and under pressure to stop making crushing fourth-quarter mistakes, the Giants find themselves in a virtual must-win situation this week for their own collective psyche. -- Dan Graziano

Washington Redskins: The Redskins found something in the first two weeks that they didn't have last season: an offensive identity. They said all offseason they wanted to be physical and pound the ball and that's what they've done through the first two games with a combined 343 yards rushing. They've opened the season by rushing for at least 150 yards in their first two games for only the third time since 1950. The last time was in 2012, also the last year they won the NFC East. -- John Keim

absinthe1023 wrote:If WAS can continue to run the ball (and stay committed to the run for the duration of a game), limit turnovers, and limit big plays on defense, the division is wide open.

John Keim wrote:LANDOVER, Maryland -- Five observations about the Washington Redskins' defense after the 24-10 win over the St. Louis Rams:

1. Nose tackle Terrance Knighton’s impact is felt in subtle ways – except, that is, for those playing alongside him. Knighton’s ability to command and hold double teams without losing much ground sets up others to make plays. On a third-and-2 early in the second quarter, for example, Knighton took two blockers and Perry Riley blew up the fullback 2 yards deep, forcing Tre Mason to reverse ground. Backside defenders eventually made the stop for no gain. But it started with Knighton’s presence in the middle. This happened other times, too, but this was a good example.

2. The Redskins did a good job limiting Tavon Austin, whether with the ball or as a decoy. The Rams love using him as a decoy at times, as they should. But when he’d go in motion, the Redskins knew what was coming and wouldn’t bite. He did gain 40 yards on four carries, but he didn’t hurt them. And they kept the ball away from him in the punt game as Tress Way averaged 40.7 yards per kick – the lowest single-game average in his 18 games with Washington. That average was helped by some good rolls, too. In other words: He kicked it short and didn’t let Austin beat them (no punt returns). Speaking of the kicking game, new Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins had four touchbacks among his five kicks – the fifth went 8 yards deep. So the Rams started all five drives at their own 20; four ended in punts and a fifth ended in downs at the end of the game.

3. This is astounding: The Rams had 10 drives of four plays or less. One resulted in a touchdown on a play that should have been stopped. I have no idea what happened with Trenton Robinson – the Rams sent only two receivers out on the play-action pass and one of them, the tight end, was about 10 yards out on the right side. This was a play in which they also faked an end around to Austin. But that shouldn’t have frozen Robinson enough to let this play happen. Better quarterbacks than Nick Foles will test Robinson deep.

4. I go back to the defensive philosophy of not going crazy with blitzes, or needing to send extra pressures (in the past, the blitzes often were born out of necessity), for this item. But the Redskins have done an excellent job at limiting big plays in the pass game (yes, they’ll be tested by much better passing offenses than what they’ve seen in the first two games). The Redskins allow only 9.07 yards per catch (two teams better). They have allowed 200 yards to receivers in two games (only four teams have allowed less), in part because they can keep seven in coverage and force underneath throws (save for the misplayed touchdown Sunday). They have allowed 399 yards receiving overall. Again, bigger tests await and New York presents more of a challenge Thursday than the Rams or Dolphins. But it’s a notable start nonetheless.

5. The Redskins really seem to be as much about discipline in their assignments as anything this season. The scouting report I had on coordinator Joe Barry suggested as much, but it’s playing out that way. And I have to believe that’s part of why David Amerson didn’t play a single snap on defense, passed by a rookie safety (Kyshoen Jarrett) and a corner signed less than a week ago (Will Blackmon). Both served different roles, playing in the slot in nickel and dime packages. But if they had more trust in Amerson, he would have made his way to the outside with Bashaud Breeland slipping inside. However, Amerson’s inconsistencies have bugged them. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with him considering there’s no one on the coaching staff who advocated for drafting him in 2013 – and it’s a new general manager. I wondered about Amerson this summer before final cuts. You need corner depth, but the Redskins simply don’t trust him anymore.

Deadskins wrote:From John Keim this morning:

John Keim wrote:LANDOVER, Maryland -- Five observations about the Washington Redskins' defense after the 24-10 win over the St. Louis Rams:


5. The Redskins really seem to be as much about discipline in their assignments as anything this season. The scouting report I had on coordinator Joe Barry suggested as much, but it’s playing out that way. And I have to believe that’s part of why David Amerson didn’t play a single snap on defense, passed by a rookie safety (Kyshoen Jarrett) and a corner signed less than a week ago (Will Blackmon). Both served different roles, playing in the slot in nickel and dime packages. But if they had more trust in Amerson, he would have made his way to the outside with Bashaud Breeland slipping inside. However, Amerson’s inconsistencies have bugged them. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with him considering there’s no one on the coaching staff who advocated for drafting him in 2013 – and it’s a new general manager. I wondered about Amerson this summer before final cuts. You need corner depth, but the Redskins simply don’t trust him anymore.

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