Preseason Game 1 Quick Hitters: First of all, calm the hell down

[theJBexperience]

Well, last night blew. Who will be the QB next year? Jevan Snead? Sam Bradford? Tim Tebow? Looks like we're headed to the top of the 1st round!

[NYCskinfan82]

I'm as upset as the next fan, especially since all we heard from camp was this guy & that guy looks great, but it's pre-season. I want to see improvement in our next game but i will remember that's pre-season too.

[GTripp0012]

Casey Rabach was a perfect 10 for 10 on blocks, which has to be some sort of three year record for any 10 play stretch. That was quite refreshing.

Heyer was great, actually, perfect on running plays and all but perfect on passing plays.

I saw Rinehart make the only blown block out of anyone on the starting line, but it was a running play, so no harm done.

Samuels was Samuels, but Dockery wasn't all that confident in where he was supposed to help. Of course, given that we only threw 6 times, there's no reason for worry here, yet.

First offense did some nice things, but ultimately, it was just a snapshot of last year's problems. Stayed out of third and long, but did not convert the third and mediums. Even if you think Campbell's days are numbered, you have to like the last play of the first drive. Getting to the fourth read against a six man rush is exactly the next step in his progresion. Protection held, but the Ravens did a good job collapsing the pocket and there was no throwing lane.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Casey Rabach was a perfect 10 for 10 on blocks, which has to be some sort of three year record for any 10 play stretch. That was quite refreshing.

Heyer was great, actually, perfect on running plays and all but perfect on passing plays.

I saw Rinehart make the only blown block out of anyone on the starting line, but it was a running play, so no harm done.

Samuels was Samuels, but Dockery wasn't all that confident in where he was supposed to help. Of course, given that we only threw 6 times, there's no reason for worry here, yet.

First offense did some nice things, but ultimately, it was just a snapshot of last year's problems. Stayed out of third and long, but did not convert the third and mediums. Even if you think Campbell's days are numbered, you have to like the last play of the first drive. Getting to the fourth read against a six man rush is exactly the next step in his progresion. Protection held, but the Ravens did a good job collapsing the pocket and there was no throwing lane.

GTripp, what was up with the running game...was it Betts or the offensive line? I get the sense that with Portis this will be different of course. I think if the running game had been better, the two series with the first team offense would have been much better (and if Haggans had not dropped that pass).

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

GTripp, what was up with the running game...was it Betts or the offensive line? I get the sense that with Portis this will be different of course. I think if the running game had been better, the two series with the first team offense would have been much better (and if Haggans had not dropped that pass).

It was the Ravens defense first and foremost. Betts didn't miss any holes from what I saw. Like I said, Rinehart blew a block that led to a stop after a yard, but the sample size (4-5 runs?) is so small that its basically meaningless.

[GTripp0012]

For what it's worth, our first offense had a DSR of 60% (3/5). Last year, the Ravens defense gave up a DSR of 57.6%. So our offense, (in a meaningless sample, without Portis, Moss, or Randy Thomas) did better than the average offense against the Ravens last season.

Meaningless, but perspective nonetheless.

[GTripp0012]

Cooley had a blown block that lead directly to a hit on Campbell and a fizzled out drive, but I can't remember the last time I saw Cooley pass blocking on third down, so, you know, there's that.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Cooley had a blown block that lead directly to a hit on Campbell and a fizzled out drive, but I can't remember the last time I saw Cooley pass blocking on third down, so, you know, there's that.

Don't know if you caught this, but Rabach got reamed out by a coach on that particular play -- it was the one where Rinehart, Rabach, and Dockery all stood there without anyone to block while a blitz came from the left side which was picked up by Betts, but whiffed on by Cooley.

Makes you wonder if it was a blown blocking call by Rabach...

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Don't know if you caught this, but Rabach got reamed out by a coach on that particular play -- it was the one where Rinehart, Rabach, and Dockery all stood there without anyone to block while a blitz came from the left side which was picked up by Betts, but whiffed on by Cooley.

Makes you wonder if it was a blown blocking call by Rabach...

Didn't see that. Can't tell on film who is responsible, only that we were in a complete blocking mismatch.

[Ruhskins]

Taking things in perspective...at least JC didn't throw 3 picks:

Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers - Recap - August 14, 2009 - ESPN

Boy, the Broncos fans must be thrilled with the McDaniels era...oh and Knowshown has a knee sprain.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

Taking things in perspective...at least JC didn't throw 3 picks:

Denver Broncos vs. San Francisco 49ers - Recap - August 14, 2009 - ESPN

Boy, the Broncos fans must be thrilled with the McDaniels era...oh and Knowshown has a knee sprain.

I watched the replay of that game and boy was Orton awful. For a guy who's been the NFL as long as he has you'd think he would learn not to stare down his WR's. He was AWFUL. Pat Bowlen has got to be 2nd guessing himself hiring McDaniels. The Denver fans are pretty intense and I can't even imagine what sports radio and blogs are saying. It's going to be a LONG year for Denver.

[Gmanc711]

I watched the game yesterday on NFL Network.. and I really was not ALL that upset by what happened. Looking at the #1's vs #1's (Granted both teams had some guys out). I would say overall it was pretty even. I mean the Ravens defintley won that aspect, but I dont think they dominated us or anything like that. If Justin Tryon is not starting at CB, the game is 0-0. People need to remember as well, the Ravens are a pretty damn good football team... and we have Pittsburgh and New England on deck...

I was actually excited from what I saw from our offensive line. Yeah, the Ravens didnt bring the house or anything, but our offensive line was not physically dominated like I honestly was expecting.

Defensivley, I'll say I'm slightly dissapointed. I dont read all that much into Tryon sucking, because I really dont expect him to make this team. The linebacker coverage is the part I would say I am most concerned about. I'll give Fletcher the benefit of the doubt, because he's been so good for so long, but I didnt think he looked all that good in the game.

I think the starters should get about a full half against Pittsburgh next weekend and I think that will give us a better look at where we are at.

I still think we're a 9-7 team which could have a 2 game swing either way, but I dont really understand why people are completley freaking out about this game....

(and this isn't one of those we're the Redskins so we're so awesome type things, we clearly sucked ... but given what the preseason is and how the #1's who played did... I am not that upset)

[The Goat]

A shutout stinks no matter what. It's important for the offensive unit to become "comfortable" in the redzone and endzone. But what I kept thinking when we held the ball is R. Wynn's comments (fairly recent) about how the NY defense had/has no respect for our offense. I think that will be the case for every decent defense we face unless/until Zorn gets AGGRESSIVE AND DYNAMIC in his playcalling. We have to start moving the ball downfield in big chunks or the offense will just sputter all year long. Time to take some risks IMHO. JC has a monster arm and his accuracy on the long ball seems no worse than the medium range stuff...so I'd really like to see the o-line step up the pass protection and then Zorn call a shitload of bombs as soon as the regular season starts. I guarantee you not a single defensive coordinator in the league will expect it, especially if we stay aggressive for multiple series.

I think defensive depth, beyond DL, is of big concern. Our LB unit is shallow on talent and a bit weak. I really wonder if a true stud LB would have paid higher dividends than adding another pass rusher (Orakpo) after the phat Al acquisition. Hopefully Rocky has a breakout season and we don't have injuries to that group or the defense will suffer. The secondary is sort of a mystery. We have talent back there...I think they just need to gel. And it's time for Laron to breakout.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by The Goat

A shutout stinks no matter what. It's important for the offensive unit to become "comfortable" in the redzone and endzone. But what I kept thinking when we held the ball is R. Wynn's comments (fairly recent) about how the NY defense had/has no respect for our offense. I think that will be the case for every decent defense we face unless/until Zorn gets AGGRESSIVE AND DYNAMIC in his playcalling. We have to start moving the ball downfield in big chunks or the offense will just sputter all year long. Time to take some risks IMHO. JC has a monster arm and his accuracy on the long ball seems no worse than the medium range stuff...so I'd really like to see the o-line step up the pass protection and then Zorn call a shitload of bombs as soon as the regular season starts. I guarantee you not a single defensive coordinator in the league will expect it, especially if we stay aggressive for multiple series.

I think defensive depth, beyond DL, is of big concern. Our LB unit is shallow on talent and a bit weak. I really wonder if a true stud LB would have paid higher dividends than adding another pass rusher (Orakpo) after the phat Al acquisition. Hopefully Rocky has a breakout season and we don't have injuries to that group or the defense will suffer. The secondary is sort of a mystery. We have talent back there...I think they just need to gel. And it's time for Laron to breakout.

With respect to the fact that the three step passing game in early downs is an unadjustable staple of the west coast offense, and it's the third down pass protection schemes that we;ve struggled with the most, in what game situation should we be attacking the defense down the field?

There's 1st and 10, which Zorn already does, and has hurt the offense.

There's 2nd and 10, but any sort of failure more or less ends our drive with an 80% probability.

There's 3rd and short, which makes some sense, but decreases the chances we get a first down.

What would you suggest is the optimal situation to step outside what we do well and attack with route combinations down the field? I'm not going to argue that we shouldn't ever go down the field, but if the penalty for doing so unsuccessfully is a likely punt, how often should we go downfield?

I should add that this year, with Hunter Smith in town, the Redskins probably shouldn't fear punting in the same way they did last year. So perhaps the answer is more frequently, but how much more frequently?

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

With respect to the fact that the three step passing game in early downs is an unadjustable staple of the west coast offense, and it's the third down pass protection schemes that we;ve struggled with the most, in what game situation should we be attacking the defense down the field?

There's 1st and 10, which Zorn already does, and has hurt the offense.

There's 2nd and 10, but any sort of failure more or less ends our drive with an 80% probability.

There's 3rd and short, which makes some sense, but decreases the chances we get a first down.

What would you suggest is the optimal situation to step outside what we do well and attack with route combinations down the field? I'm not going to argue that we shouldn't ever go down the field, but if the penalty for doing so unsuccessfully is a likely punt, how often should we go downfield?

I should add that this year, with Hunter Smith in town, the Redskins probably shouldn't fear punting in the same way they did last year. So perhaps the answer is more frequently, but how much more frequently?

GT not clear on your meaning of hurt the offense? Do you mean that Zorn tries to call bombs on 1st down w/o seeing success so we're stuck w/ 2nd and 10? Ok fair enough but I then ask why are we not seeing success. Last year the answer was something like "pass-protection was often too little to sustain the deep ball and our long range 'targets' are small guys who struggle to grab the ball out of the air under coverage." Obviously you get some inaccurate passes from JC that lowers the success rate a bit further, but the quality of protection and lack of long range threats are the bigger deal still. So I say 1) fix the pass protection 2) make the WR corp better. The whole point is to put the defense on the defensive...force them to cover the whole field rather than throw 8 guys in the box and basically allow them to forget about everything 25 yards behind the LOS. This is more intuition on my part than anything but it seems probable we fail to see large gains by our backs because the whole defense is able to concentrate on the backfield first and then 25 or so yards behind the LOS.

...ok so of the examples you gave (1,2, and 3) i choose number 4: a long bomb on 2nd and short. I don't remember seeing that scenario play out last year. Predictability is basically what I'm getting at bro...we've been far too predictable.