Examiner: Studs and Duds - Seahawks Game

[Goaldeje]

Studs

LB Brian Orakpo. For a lot of the day he was just OK. Late in the second on a one-yard stop of Marshawn Lynch, Orakpo did a nice job shedding the tight end’s block and coming off for the tackle. But on the next play he was turned inside as Lynch raced past him for a seven-yard gain. But in the second half Orakpo did more damage. The Redskins moved him around a little more and when he rushed from the left side he drew a holding penalty from the tight end on a third down. Then, in the fourth quarter, he deflected a pass after a failed cut block on him. Midway through the fourth quarter he and Ryan Kerrigan, rushing from the left side, ran a stunt. Both players executed it well and both reached QB Tarvaris Jackson just as he threw the ball. Later in that series, Orakpo was mugged by LT Russell Okung, though no flag was thrown. On the nextp lay, he drove Okung back with a bull rush, exploding into his pads. You could see Okung get jerked up a bit. Kerrigan also collapsed the pocket as did Stephen Bowen. Orakpo and Bowen got the sack.

LB Perry Riley. It’s funny but when watching the game I thought Riley was making a lot of tackles. But it was when going over the game again and checking the notes that his day jumped out a little more. He finished with 14 tackles (one thing: tackles can sometimes be misleading and are not a sole indicator of a performance. But eight of his 14 tackles were for gains of three yards or less. That’s pretty good). Riley continues to play with speed and has been fun to watch. Have to give credit for how Washington brought him along. Once Rocky McIntosh’s play had clearly slipped, they inserted Riley. He was much more ready; you simply can’t play this game when your head is too clouded with responsibilities. It’s not just about learning from mistakes, it’s about having the best chance for success – individually and as a team. The defense didn’t need him early in the season and at that point the goal was to play the best players; McIntosh, at that time, was better. Now Riley clearly has surpassed him and he’s playing. I loved a play he made in the fourth quarter: on a first down, Jackson dumped off to Lynch in the left flat. Riley read the play and broke before the throw and drilled Lynch for a one-yard stop. A good, decisive read. When he reacts this way you really see his speed.

CB DeAngelo Hall. I know he gave up a touchdown pass and he can’t shoulder tackle along the sidelines. But Hall did a solid job all day of being in the right spot and coming up with big plays. Not sure I agree with a defensive player of the week honor, but … Surely it helped facing Jackson, who clearly struggled to put any zip on his passes. Of course, it’s tough to do when you insist on throwing off your back foot as he did a couple times. Hall was always around the ball and made a very nice play on a deep ball in the end zone. As we saw later in the game from Seattle CB Richard Browner, not every corner does a good job playing the ball in the air. Hall did. Jackson put no zip on a pass to Golden Tate that Hall intercepted. But Hall had played him perfectly anyway and almost looked like the intended target. Hall also disrupted a key third down stop late in the game with his jam of Tate (see below) that led to LaRon Landry’s sack. Hall did drop an interception; it seemed like he misread it a little bit and jumped for the overthrow; he grabbed the ball at his legs. Again: Jackson’s softball throws made this easy. But Hall was solid most of the day and made the game-clinching pick.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs...fense-redskins-seahawks/1961091#ixzz1fDFIAmow

 

[burgold]

I figure Moss and Helu deserve a couple pats on the back and actually Davis had one of his nicer games too.

 

[Goaldeje]

I figure Moss and Helu deserve a couple pats on the back and actually Davis had one of his nicer games too.

Yeah, this is the defensive edition. Waiting for offense to come out.

 

[Goaldeje]

...and here is the offensive section:

RB Roy Helu. Sort of easy to pick him this week. When he had the big number game vs. San Francisco, I wasn’t all that wowed. It was more a function of John Beck dumping off passes all day and those 105 receiving yards led to very little production that mattered and never threatened the Niners. But Sunday Helu was fantastic. In previous games many of his runs did not come out of the base offense; rather, they often came from three-receiver sets or run-friendly downs (second and extra long; six defenders in the box; that sort of thing). But he handled everything Sunday and he did what he had done in the preseason: he got extra yards. I have him unofficially with 73 yards after contact of his 162 yards. He touched the ball 30 times; he got extra yards on 21 of those plays. His 28-yard hurdle and broken tackle run for a touchdown will be replayed often. It’s a classic example of a play that should have been stopped for a yard or two that resulted in points because a guy made a big play. The Redskins have lacked one guy who can consistently do that. Can Helu become that guy? He was quicker to the hole than Ryan Torain and seems to fit better what this offense wants to do. When Helu is in the game the opposition has to honor more than just the run. Some of his best work resulted in short gains. In the fourth quarter he was first hit two yards deep in the backfield, then again at the line of scrimmage. He managed three yards – five after contact. He had an eight-yard run on a zone outside to the right in the first quarter that highlighted his quickness. It leads to broken arm tackle attempts. The play-calling really helped Helu and the entire offense, but he produced. Don’t know yet that he can be an every-down back for 16 games, but I do know that for one game he had more rushing yards after contact (63) than any Redskins back had gained total since Oct. 2.

WR Anthony Armstrong. OK, last week he was a Dud because of his lack of production. This time, though he didn’t play a whole lot, he came through with the game winning play. All he did was run a simple go route, but he made a terrific adjustment on the ball while the cornerback, Richard Browner, did not. In fact, Browner did a terrible job on that play and showed no awareness of the ball. But Armstrong made the sort of catch that got him noticed last season. But it’s amazing the difference one play can make. And it shows the difference between being an average offense and a good one. The good ones make those plays all the time (they have players who can make them consistently, of course).

LT Trent Williams. This is the best he’s played in consecutive games perhaps since he’s joined the Redskins. A week ago LB DeMarcus Ware managed just one holding penalty against him (on 12 one-on-one rush attempts). Sunday, Williams shut down rush end Chris Clemons. At least Ware threatened occasionally vs. Williams; can’t say the same about Clemons. Williams faced Clemons in 14 solo situations and Clemons really only got close to QB Rex Grossman once. And he needed to line up about five yards outside the tackle to get there, but Williams still was able to bump him off his path. There was a different demeanor in Williams’ body when he faced Clemons. The other rushers did not provide him much of a challenge and on a couple occasions he got a little lazy with his feet, relying on a big shove to end the rush threat. But he also did a nice job in the ground game. On one 11-yard Helu run, Williams did an excellent job of sealing Clemons, who had been lined up wide expecting a pass.

QB Rex Grossman. I have plenty of reasons why I should not put him on this list. He made two horrendous decisions that resulted in interceptions. Neither ball should have been thrown. He made a bad decision on the pass that was batted in his face (not just in trying to throw it again, but his target, Fred Davis, was covered with a double team). Another pass was nearly intercepted as well. But after his last interception, Grossman completed 10 of 14 passes for 139 yards and a 50-yard touchdown pass. Yes, he had ugly moments but if this were another QB, people would talk about what a gutsy effort it was to come back from some tough moments and still rally his team. Well, that’s what he did. Had the Redskins lost, he would not be here. Those mistakes have hurt Washington more than they’ve helped during his tenure. But part of being a Stud is making plays in crucial moments and Grossman did. That 50-yard pass was aided by a DB who struggles to play the ball in the air and a clean pocket by the line. But he made a good, aggressive heave. Also liked the touch on the pass to Mike Sellers, softly dumping it over the linebacker after sliding to his left. The play designs helped him, but he executed them well. He showed poise much – definitely not all – of the time. Grossman was accurate and was patient on the screen passes, giving them a better chance for success. Heck, one of his better throws came inside the 30 in the fourth quarter when he threw the ball away rather than force it somewhere. Next play: Helu’s touchdown.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs...fense-redskins-seahawks/1958741#ixzz1fDJxaOMu

 

[burgold]

Whoops... patience has never been one of my virtues.

I actually think that Moss deserves a nod just because of the effect he had on Gaffney, Davis, etc. The whole offense seemed to click more and I don't think it was coincidence that it came with his return. Moss' stats don't reflect his impact on the game.

 

[Neophyte]

Maybe rather than Moss, the credit should go to Helu and a legit running game?
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

 

[servumtuum]

Maybe rather than Moss, the credit should go to Believe and a legit running game?
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

We saw Moss.

 

[Neophyte]

Stupid auto-correct on my phone....

I meant to say Helu and my guess is everyone saw him too, serv. Moss didn't cause the Seattle D to bite on the play action.

Not to say Moss didn't help but we had a pretty good passing game a couple weeks ago in Miami with Hankerson and it really wasn't too bad last week against Dallas either. The big difference I saw this week was that they running game was a real threat that Seattle had to respect which neither Miami or Dallas had to do.

 

[servumtuum]

Yeah, Neo. The way Helu was used was a pleasant eye-opener and his performance reflected that.

BTW, I've run across several humor websites dedicated to the bizarre and hilarious situations auto-correct can cause.

 

[fansince62]

Like the way Riley is developing!

 

[Lanky Livingston]

Bowen was fined $15K for roughing the passer on the play that Hall got his game-sealing INT on. No flag was thrown. WTF? The NFL is just out of control at this point.

EDIT: Fined for "lowering his head and hitting the QB"