Figure we don't get to break down individual playoff games around here very often. Let's use this thread to talk about the game itself---we have many threads and many months ahead to talk about Big Picture and where we go from here. Home playoff games deserve their own thread.
Just a couple thoughts to get it rolling. I know some of you have already been doing this in other threads, so please feel free to cut and paste them in ...
* Defensively our lack of individual pass rushing talent was screamingly evident. The Packers used Rodgers’ mastery of quick releases and the no-huddle to force our hand. We could not bring in sub packages and dial up the blitzes we’ve needed all year to get pressure---we needed our down linemen to win individual battles up front and apply pressure on Rodgers. No one did. Watched them all night long and must have muttered to Boone a dozen times, 'no one is winning up front.’<o></o> Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Swaggy, Knighton, Francois, Paea … not a single one of them won their matchups last night. It basically left Rodgers and the Packers offense free to do anything they wanted.<o></o> To me the single most glaring reason the Redskins could not beat Green Bay last night was a lack of pass rushing talent up front. It led to Green Bay's offense slowly taking over the game. <o> </o>
* Offensive, Kirk was just a little bit off, but only compared to what we saw from him over the last month of the season. The man did okay for his first playoff game—but just okay given the standard he set for himself down the stretch. To win last night he would have had to be great. Yes, there was pressure, and yes, Dom Capers was in Sean McVay’s head last night and was one step ahead of our playcalling just enough to keep us from putting together those long, TD-producing drives we’ve begun to take for granted. And no, there still was no consistent running threat. But Kirk was just okay. He didn't step up in the pocket a couple of times it looked like he had a real opportunity to either extend the play of take off and run. Hadn't seen that hesitation much recently and it was very noticeable when it happened.
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Just a couple thoughts to get it rolling. I know some of you have already been doing this in other threads, so please feel free to cut and paste them in ...
* Defensively our lack of individual pass rushing talent was screamingly evident. The Packers used Rodgers’ mastery of quick releases and the no-huddle to force our hand. We could not bring in sub packages and dial up the blitzes we’ve needed all year to get pressure---we needed our down linemen to win individual battles up front and apply pressure on Rodgers. No one did. Watched them all night long and must have muttered to Boone a dozen times, 'no one is winning up front.’<o></o> Kerrigan, Preston Smith, Swaggy, Knighton, Francois, Paea … not a single one of them won their matchups last night. It basically left Rodgers and the Packers offense free to do anything they wanted.<o></o> To me the single most glaring reason the Redskins could not beat Green Bay last night was a lack of pass rushing talent up front. It led to Green Bay's offense slowly taking over the game. <o> </o>
* Offensive, Kirk was just a little bit off, but only compared to what we saw from him over the last month of the season. The man did okay for his first playoff game—but just okay given the standard he set for himself down the stretch. To win last night he would have had to be great. Yes, there was pressure, and yes, Dom Capers was in Sean McVay’s head last night and was one step ahead of our playcalling just enough to keep us from putting together those long, TD-producing drives we’ve begun to take for granted. And no, there still was no consistent running threat. But Kirk was just okay. He didn't step up in the pocket a couple of times it looked like he had a real opportunity to either extend the play of take off and run. Hadn't seen that hesitation much recently and it was very noticeable when it happened.
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