Sunday against the Rams, the Skins have a chance to show the league that while they did lose last week, the hopeful signs many have said they saw were actually signs, and not illusion. I'm talking about the improved pass protection, the overall defense, the physicality (with the glaring exception of that last ****ing play of course).
Besides the obvious stuff we've been talking about all week ... like SCORE MORE POINTS ... I'm sure we all have ideas about what we would like to see, need to see, expect to see, etc. Here are some random thoughts I've had this week I don't believe I've seen discussed much.
These are just a jumping off point, brothers and sisters. Bring your wisdom to the table ...
On defense
- Last week Joe Barry had the element of surprise working in his favor. Miami had zero game film to review going in, either of the new scheme or the manner in which he'd incorporate all the new faces. Preseason film meant nothing. The Rams will have been poring over the Miami game films and identified perceived weaknesses to exploit, and Barry will have to be prepared counter whatever wrinkles the Rams throw at him based that. To complicate matters, he'll also have to protect the cornerbacks from what is sure to be a carefully targeted attack. Mr. Amerson, in particular, can probably expect to get a lot of attention.
- Really like to hear Ryan Kerrigan's name called a few more times this week.
- Won't be surprised, if Trent Murphy's first half looks a lot like last week did (meaning, just a body out there), that we won't see Preston Smith take over and then start next week if he doesn't struggle too much with assignments Sunday.
On offense
- Without Desean Jackson to "take the top off" the Rams defense, the Redskins will have to force the Rams to respect the downfield passing game early. I look for Jamison Crowder and Rashad Ross to be sent deep early to try to send a message that there do in fact remain downfield threats. If we don't, they'll slowly bring the safeties up, stack the box and make rough sledding for Morris and the Redskins run game.
- Kirk Cousins needs to do everything he did right last week again, and not do the stuff he did wrong. In other words, just show improvement. Be heading the right direction. And put more than 10 points on the board.
And shave the beard.
On Special Teams
Yeah, missed FG's are big. And the inability to kick off deep and force teams to start at their 20 yard line is big. But for a franchise struggling to find its way out of the kind ofrut chasm the Redskins are in, giving up touchdowns is fatal. Blocked kicks returned for scores, punt and kickoff returns for scores ... until the Redskins stop that kind of hemorrhaging, they will continue to lose games. Teams that regularly score 30 can survive the occasional stab wound of an opponent special teams score. Teams that struggle every week to score even 20, simply bleed out.
Coaching
- The first half last week showed a team that looked well-prepared and focused. The second half, not so much. Whatever adjustments were made were not effective, and as the half wore on, the team in white started looking stronger, and faster, and the team in burgundy and gold foundered. Gruden, Barry, et al need to find a way to not only make effective X and O adjustments at the half and then during the 3rd and 4th quarters, they need to find a way to keep the players focused to eliminate the unforced errors--the penalties and mental mistakes. Or at least, as noted above, to make them less egregious and ultimately fatal as last week.
What do we want?
Progress!
When do we want it?
Sunday.
Besides the obvious stuff we've been talking about all week ... like SCORE MORE POINTS ... I'm sure we all have ideas about what we would like to see, need to see, expect to see, etc. Here are some random thoughts I've had this week I don't believe I've seen discussed much.
These are just a jumping off point, brothers and sisters. Bring your wisdom to the table ...
On defense
- Last week Joe Barry had the element of surprise working in his favor. Miami had zero game film to review going in, either of the new scheme or the manner in which he'd incorporate all the new faces. Preseason film meant nothing. The Rams will have been poring over the Miami game films and identified perceived weaknesses to exploit, and Barry will have to be prepared counter whatever wrinkles the Rams throw at him based that. To complicate matters, he'll also have to protect the cornerbacks from what is sure to be a carefully targeted attack. Mr. Amerson, in particular, can probably expect to get a lot of attention.
- Really like to hear Ryan Kerrigan's name called a few more times this week.
- Won't be surprised, if Trent Murphy's first half looks a lot like last week did (meaning, just a body out there), that we won't see Preston Smith take over and then start next week if he doesn't struggle too much with assignments Sunday.
On offense
- Without Desean Jackson to "take the top off" the Rams defense, the Redskins will have to force the Rams to respect the downfield passing game early. I look for Jamison Crowder and Rashad Ross to be sent deep early to try to send a message that there do in fact remain downfield threats. If we don't, they'll slowly bring the safeties up, stack the box and make rough sledding for Morris and the Redskins run game.
- Kirk Cousins needs to do everything he did right last week again, and not do the stuff he did wrong. In other words, just show improvement. Be heading the right direction. And put more than 10 points on the board.
And shave the beard.
On Special Teams
Yeah, missed FG's are big. And the inability to kick off deep and force teams to start at their 20 yard line is big. But for a franchise struggling to find its way out of the kind of
Coaching
- The first half last week showed a team that looked well-prepared and focused. The second half, not so much. Whatever adjustments were made were not effective, and as the half wore on, the team in white started looking stronger, and faster, and the team in burgundy and gold foundered. Gruden, Barry, et al need to find a way to not only make effective X and O adjustments at the half and then during the 3rd and 4th quarters, they need to find a way to keep the players focused to eliminate the unforced errors--the penalties and mental mistakes. Or at least, as noted above, to make them less egregious and ultimately fatal as last week.
What do we want?
Progress!
When do we want it?
Sunday.
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