Is this a trend?

[sportscurmudgeon]

There is an old adage that when something happens once, it is an occurrence. When the same thing happens twice, it is a coincidence. When it happens three, times, you have a trend.

I don't believe the simplicity of that adage, but if it is true, we have a trend here and it is not a good one.

For the past couple of years, the Redskins' defense has had an annoying habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with late-game inability to protect leads. Now consider the season to date:

Game 1: (The occurrence) Leading Dallas by 6, the defense walks onto the field with 1:51 seconds to play with Dallas at their own 19 yardline. Eleven plays later, Roy Williams was standing in the end zone with the ball in his hands and 8 seconds showing on the clock. Fortunately, the flag came out for holding - - blatantly obvious call - - on the final play or the Skins lose unless the Cowboys miss a PAT. Nonetheless, the defense allowed the opposition to march down the field - - without benefit of timeouts - - at the end of the game to put itself within 15 yards of the Skins' end zone. Unsettling...


Game 2: (The coincidence) Leading Houston by 17 points with 16 minutes left to play, the defense let the game go to OT. Even worse, leading by a touchdown with 3:16 to play in the game and again with the ball 81 yards from the Skins end zone, the team gave up the game-tying TD in an 8-play drive. Seen that before...


Game 3: (The trend?) Trailing 21-16 (still a one-score game) with 1:55 to play in the thrid quarter, the Skins' defense let the Rams hold the ball for 11 plays and over 5 minutes and kick a field goal to make the margin 8 points. OK that is still a one-score game if you also convert a 2-point try. Then, the Rams got the ball back with 8:53 to play in the game. The defense needed a turnover or a three-and-out here. Not happening... The Rams ran off 9 plays and 4:30 off the clock kicking a field goal to make it a two score game. Then the Rams got the ball back again with 3:39 to play. The only hope is to get the ball back quickly - - but the Rams held it for 1:55 (more than half the time left in the game) and gave up a final meaningless field goal. The final three drives by the Rams in the 4th quarter when the Skins needed the ball back consumed 27 plays and 11:46 on the clock. Trend... ???

[SkinzWin]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

The final three drives by the Rams in the 4th quarter when the Skins needed the ball back consumed 27 plays and 11:46 on the clock. Trend... ???

Nope. Not a trend. Fact. Welcome to Washington Redskins football baby...

[MTK]

Well the D is ranked dead last in the league. Not sure what you want to call it but they have some serious issues that need to be addressed.

[BringBackJoeT]

Read Sally Jenkins' column posted today.

[Hog1]

Is this a trend?
.........no

[SirClintonPortis]

It's been a trend since late 2008.

[skinsfaninok]

Well when you have 4-12 talent on a team it sucks.. Shanny would be a legend in DC if he took this roster to the playoffs

[rypper11]

The defense is on the field for an avg of 36:14 per game. That takes a toll. Everyone blitzes and guys run all over the field. That takes a toll. The is a drastic drop off from starter to second team at most positions. More plays from each guy takes an even higher toll.
Put it all together and expect second half defensive collapses every week.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by rypper11

The defense is on the field for an avg of 36:14 per game. That takes a toll. Everyone blitzes and guys run all over the field. That takes a toll. The is a drastic drop off from starter to second team at most positions. More plays from each guy takes an even higher toll.
Put it all together and expect second half defensive collapses every week.

If D Hall didn't slip, the Rams wouldn't have had the ball for 35+ minutes.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

It's been a trend since late 2008.

Go back to the Rams game of that year. This isn't a trend it's a full blown epidemic, and Blache had no better answers than Haslett appears to have.

[DCtoAZ]

god i hope we put something together in Philly .. I can't take 13 more weeks of this talk

[sportscurmudgeon]

Originally Posted by DCtoAZ

god i hope we put something together in Philly .. I can't take 13 more weeks of this talk

I hope the Skins put something together in Philly ... I can't take 13 more weeks of this kind of play on the field.

[tootergray34]

watching redskins football is a lot like thinking you've got this HUGE fish on the end of a line..but when you get it up to the boat, it's a HUGE TIRE.