Plusses and Minuses vs. Lions

[SCRedskinsFan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Was Cousins or McCoy playing against #1's?

I am the biggest RG3 homer there is. And I saw him get the snot knocked out of him last night. But why is it, when RG is knocked out of the game like last night, the next quarterback, whether Colt or Kirk immediately moves the offense with essentially the same personnel on both sides?

I mean it's like a switch is flipped, and things pretty much work. Or am I just not seeing it right?

[30gut]

Originally Posted by SCRedskinsFan

But why is it, when RG is knocked out of the game like last night, the next quarterback, whether Colt or Kirk immediately moves the offense with essentially the same personnel on both sides?

I mean it's like a switch is flipped, and things pretty much work. Or am I just not seeing it right?

Well its not the same personnel on both sides.(e.g. Ziggy Ansah only played 8 snaps and was dominant vs our OL)

Also the playcalling is different and Kirk/Colt are better rhythm drop back passers then Griffin is right now.

[DYoungJelly]

Originally Posted by 30gut

Also the playcalling is different and Kirk/Colt are better rhythm drop back passers then Griffin is right now.

Agree. The defense doesn't have to play straight up and can hedge against Griffin.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by DYoungJelly

Agree. The defense doesn't have to play straight up and can hedge against Griffin.

Interesting opinion. From what I saw and have noticed, not just in preseason but as an overall tendency. Defenses react to formations and personnel. When we are running the ball with the 1st team we have been using run formations, under center with 1 TE, 2 RB, 2 WR.
Its even more obvious run when we bring in a OT at TE like we did early in the game. That's not the defense hedging against Griffin thats a defense reacting to obvious run tells.

[DYoungJelly]

Originally Posted by 30gut

Interesting opinion. From what I saw and have noticed, not just in preseason but as an overall tendency. Defenses react to formations and personnel. When we are running the ball with the 1st team we have been using run formations, under center with 1 TE, 2 RB, 2 WR.
Its even more obvious run when we bring in a OT at TE like we did early in the game. That's not the defense hedging against Griffin thats a defense reacting to obvious run tells.

Defenses hedge against Griffin regardless of the formation with pressure. They are committing guys to pressure the QB (admittedly some pressure comes without blitzing):

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2014 Pressure Plays: Quarterbacks

Last year Griffin faced pressure 29.6% of all plays, while Cousins was pressured on 17.6% of his plays.

Kirk ranked 3rd among QBs pressure rate while Griffin was 31st.

The reason for this is obvious. Griffin ranks 36th among QBs in the difference in production between pressured plays v non pressured plays. Cousins ranks 11th in the difference in production.

Griffin sucks at handling pressure.

Everything loosens up when a QB can burn a blitz.

Every 3rd and 8 pressure is coming against Griffin, it may or may not come against Cousins.

You're 100% right about tendencies and predictability from last year. In the 1st half especially, this formation and personnel meant this play and that formation meant that play. Hopefully that will change.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by DYoungJelly

Defenses hedge against Griffin regardless of the formation with pressure.

I didn't understand what you meant by 'hedging'. I was talking about defenses playing the run when we show certain formations/personnel grouping.

But now I see you meant defenses bringing pressure.

They are committing guys to pressure the QB (admittedly some pressure comes without blitzing):

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2014 Pressure Plays: Quarterbacks

You mention a key point here: some pressure does come without blitzing. I used to have PFF which goes in depth in various metrics. But they actual chart how often a QB is pressured and how often they're blitzed. They record them as 2 separate stats because they are. I can remember the exact number off hand but Griffin does face more pressure then Kirk because Griffin holds the ball longer, which is different from Griffin facing more pressure because teams blitz him. And pre-Gruden Griffin was actually good vs the blitz. Neither here nor there but Griffin has regressed in almost every facet under Jay.

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by 30gut

Griffin has regressed in almost every facet under Jay.

Good point. This troubles me as a Skins fan.

At first, I looked at this as Gruden insisting that Griffin work to improve his pocket skills in order to maximize his abilities as an NFL QB. That would be a good thing.

But now, I just wonder if there is a disconnect between the two men. It just looks like Jay hasn't tailored the offense at all to fit Robert's athletic abilities. Do the Skins plan to surprise their opponents in the regular season with plays designed for RGIII, or is this it? If this is it, I don't think things are going to work out in D.C. for one or both of these men.

[DYoungJelly]

Originally Posted by 30gut

But they actual chart how often a QB is pressured and how often they're blitzed. They record them as 2 separate stats because they are. I can remember the exact number off hand but Griffin does face more pressure then Kirk because Griffin holds the ball longer, which is different from Griffin facing more pressure because teams blitz him.

Good point.

The article linked to earlier doesn't distinguish between extra rushers, protection breakdowns and holding the ball too long.