Following the Carolina Panthers game I had lost hope for the season. To win 7 straight games against mostly NFC East opponents was pretty much impossible, but three weeks and one round of NFC East opponents later, the Redskins are nearly halfway to their goal. This week featured a Monday night contest against the Giants, a team that the Redskins had almost beaten back in the Meadowlands. The Redskins needed a win to continue their hopes at making the post season while the Giants wanted to put a dagger in the rest of the NFC East. Needless to say the Redskins inched closer to their goal, while at same time pushing the Giants away from theirs.
The first half was disappointing. The first drive ended on what should've been a routine 5 yard hitch route. The Giants took the ball and held on for a little over 6 minutes, and finished off the drive with a field goal. They converted one third down on the drive.
After the kick-off the Redskins got the ball back at the 20. RG3 started up with a nice 25 yard pass to Pierre Garcon and then ol' reliable Alfred Morris rushed twice, amassing twenty seven yards. The Redskins scored on the next play when Griffin ran the triple option, pulled it, and then on his attempted slide fumbled the football right into the hands of Joshua Morgan who raced in for the touchdown. A lot of people are saying this was a fluke play and while it probably was, it would not have been possible if Morgan had not stuck to his assignment. On the triple option the pitchman is supposed to remain in pitch relationship with the quarterback, even if its obvious the quarterback isn't going to pitch it to him. (Pitch relationship is essentially being a yard behind and few yards to the side of the quarterback, so he is ready to receive a legal pitch when the need comes.) Griffin ran the ball and then slid; there was no logical reason for Morgan to follow except that those are the coaches' instructions. It paid off big time as he caught the lucky "pitch" and scored.
The Giants offense continued to tear up the Redskins secondary and get good yardage on the ground but faltered in the red-zone. Eventually the Redskins were up by one point in the 4th quarter and the defense stopped the Giants on a third down (a rare sight that night) and they punted with just under 4 minutes to go. Kyle Shanahan called aggressively, playing to win rather than playing not to lose, and it paid off when Alfred Morris took a third and three and romped through the defense for a game clinching first down.
The New and Improved:
1. Alfred Morris:
I feel bad for this guy, after high school he got one scholarship offer for a crappy team that didn't win much in college. Then he gets drafted onto an NFL team, unlikely for players from his school, and becomes the number 3 rusher in the NFL, only to be out-shined by fellow rookie phenom RG3. No one chants Alfred Morris at games, no one watches his gritty five yard runs, no one puts him on the highlight reel unless he scores. He puts in work at a pro-bowl level but gets little recognition for it, and that's just how his humble-self likes it. Less people need to be like Chad Johnson (Ochocinco? I just can't keep track anymore) and T.O, and instead be like Alfred Morris: work hard and help your team win football games by letting your playing do the talking. Morris is definitely this week's MVP.
2. Robert Griffin III
He is smart, doesn't make bad decisions, is athletic and a natural born quarterback. He is also a winner. He's the Valium depressed Redskins fans needed after two decades of sub-par play. I write about him every week, there isn't much to say that hasn't already been said. Keep doing whatever you're doing soldier.
3. Defense:
While they still get gouged for the occasional big play and haven't really improved in terms of yards, they have buckled down in the red-zone and are keeping teams from scoring points. They held Philly and New York to under 20 points and they only gave up 3 to Dallas in the first half, allowing the offense to build an insurmountable lead. They get turnovers, and aren't giving up points and that's what they need to do.
4. Kai Forbath:
A perfect 11 for 11 on kicks, and not only does he make them, he drills them down the center; pure awesomeness.
5. Pierre Garcon:
After returning to action against the Eagles he has given new life to the offense. He is an electrifying play-maker and has scored in each of the last three games. His speed allows him to gain massive yards after the catch and his hands allow him to catch the rare off target throw from RG3. I can't wait to see him after his toe completely heals up.
The same old 'Skins.
1. Defense
The defense needs to get off the field on third down and find a way to pressure the opposing quarterbacks. They force teams into third down situations but give up the conversion more times than not. They get gassed out when they have stay on the field for more than half of the game. If they don't give up points then its all nice and dandy but this isn't a consistent way to win games.
2. Kai Forbath
His kick-offs are not good. They rarely make it into the endzone, even Billy could do that! This costs the defense in terms of starting field position and the coverage team might have one get by them for a touchdown. Not good.
Looking to next week:
The Raven's showed they can be beat after falling to the Charlie Batch led Steelers. The only difference is that the Steelers forced many punts giving the offense chance to score. This will be a competitive game but Redskins cannot get complacent or cocky after sweeping the NFC East. If they can win it'll be a great leap towards their playoff hopes but if they lose, it isn't the end of the world. If they have to lose one game during this stretch, it should be this non-conference one against a tough team.
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The first half was disappointing. The first drive ended on what should've been a routine 5 yard hitch route. The Giants took the ball and held on for a little over 6 minutes, and finished off the drive with a field goal. They converted one third down on the drive.
After the kick-off the Redskins got the ball back at the 20. RG3 started up with a nice 25 yard pass to Pierre Garcon and then ol' reliable Alfred Morris rushed twice, amassing twenty seven yards. The Redskins scored on the next play when Griffin ran the triple option, pulled it, and then on his attempted slide fumbled the football right into the hands of Joshua Morgan who raced in for the touchdown. A lot of people are saying this was a fluke play and while it probably was, it would not have been possible if Morgan had not stuck to his assignment. On the triple option the pitchman is supposed to remain in pitch relationship with the quarterback, even if its obvious the quarterback isn't going to pitch it to him. (Pitch relationship is essentially being a yard behind and few yards to the side of the quarterback, so he is ready to receive a legal pitch when the need comes.) Griffin ran the ball and then slid; there was no logical reason for Morgan to follow except that those are the coaches' instructions. It paid off big time as he caught the lucky "pitch" and scored.
The Giants offense continued to tear up the Redskins secondary and get good yardage on the ground but faltered in the red-zone. Eventually the Redskins were up by one point in the 4th quarter and the defense stopped the Giants on a third down (a rare sight that night) and they punted with just under 4 minutes to go. Kyle Shanahan called aggressively, playing to win rather than playing not to lose, and it paid off when Alfred Morris took a third and three and romped through the defense for a game clinching first down.
The New and Improved:
I feel bad for this guy, after high school he got one scholarship offer for a crappy team that didn't win much in college. Then he gets drafted onto an NFL team, unlikely for players from his school, and becomes the number 3 rusher in the NFL, only to be out-shined by fellow rookie phenom RG3. No one chants Alfred Morris at games, no one watches his gritty five yard runs, no one puts him on the highlight reel unless he scores. He puts in work at a pro-bowl level but gets little recognition for it, and that's just how his humble-self likes it. Less people need to be like Chad Johnson (Ochocinco? I just can't keep track anymore) and T.O, and instead be like Alfred Morris: work hard and help your team win football games by letting your playing do the talking. Morris is definitely this week's MVP.
2. Robert Griffin III
He is smart, doesn't make bad decisions, is athletic and a natural born quarterback. He is also a winner. He's the Valium depressed Redskins fans needed after two decades of sub-par play. I write about him every week, there isn't much to say that hasn't already been said. Keep doing whatever you're doing soldier.
3. Defense:
While they still get gouged for the occasional big play and haven't really improved in terms of yards, they have buckled down in the red-zone and are keeping teams from scoring points. They held Philly and New York to under 20 points and they only gave up 3 to Dallas in the first half, allowing the offense to build an insurmountable lead. They get turnovers, and aren't giving up points and that's what they need to do.
4. Kai Forbath:
A perfect 11 for 11 on kicks, and not only does he make them, he drills them down the center; pure awesomeness.
After returning to action against the Eagles he has given new life to the offense. He is an electrifying play-maker and has scored in each of the last three games. His speed allows him to gain massive yards after the catch and his hands allow him to catch the rare off target throw from RG3. I can't wait to see him after his toe completely heals up.
The same old 'Skins.
1. Defense
The defense needs to get off the field on third down and find a way to pressure the opposing quarterbacks. They force teams into third down situations but give up the conversion more times than not. They get gassed out when they have stay on the field for more than half of the game. If they don't give up points then its all nice and dandy but this isn't a consistent way to win games.
2. Kai Forbath
His kick-offs are not good. They rarely make it into the endzone, even Billy could do that! This costs the defense in terms of starting field position and the coverage team might have one get by them for a touchdown. Not good.
Looking to next week:
The Raven's showed they can be beat after falling to the Charlie Batch led Steelers. The only difference is that the Steelers forced many punts giving the offense chance to score. This will be a competitive game but Redskins cannot get complacent or cocky after sweeping the NFC East. If they can win it'll be a great leap towards their playoff hopes but if they lose, it isn't the end of the world. If they have to lose one game during this stretch, it should be this non-conference one against a tough team.
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