There really isn't much to say about the Redskins loss to the Giants Monday night.
From the opening drive, it was quite clear the Giants were an experienced, sound playoff team. The Redskins are about as far from that as you can get.
When it was over, it was 45-12, certainly the most embarrassing Redskins loss of the year and rivaling the 52-7 walloping the Patriots put on the them back in 2007.
The talk going into the game, about Redskins players with the arrival of new GM Bruce Allen, was "These guys are playing for their jobs."
If so, a lot of guys lost their job today. There's not one player who had a good game. Marcus Mason -- who should not be playing for the Redskins next year -- had a decent game running the ball.
Also, I should mention that Fred Davis had a heck of a game as well. He continues to impress replacing Cooley.
The Redskins defense, especially, was eaten alive. The Giants completely owned the first quarter. They had a 10-minute drive. Most of the first half was controlled by N.Y. The second half wasn't much better.
The Redskins were better off not even stepping on the field. All there was Monday night was a giant embarrassment on national TV.
Showing posts with label New York Giants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York Giants. Show all posts
Monday, December 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
After reviewing the tape ...
Alright, I forced myself to re-watch the Giants game. I had meant to do it Monday or Tuesday, but whenever I thought I'd sit down and watch it, I either did not have time, or I found anything and everything else that I had to do.
Here's what I saw:
The Redskins defense kept the team in the game.
Yeah, no duh, right? While coordinator Greg Blache's defense seems to be in the "bend-but-don't-break" variety, they did a good job of stopping the Giants when they reached the red zone, forcing FG attempts instead of giving up very many long touchdowns. Fans have complained that the Redskins cornerbacks play too far off the opponents receivers, but they do that so that opponents won't be getting behind the defensive backs and scoring many long touchdowns. Giants QB Eli Manning, however, did a good job of moving around in the pocket and avoiding the Redskins rush for the most part. But the Redskins defense did enough to allow the team to win. Jason Campbell and the Redskins offense gave up a touchdown on offense when Osi Umenyiora sacked Campbell, creating a fumble and returning in for a TD.
Along those same lines ... DT Albert Haynesworth is indeed a monster.
The Giants had almost no success whenever they tried to run near Haynesworth, and they attempted to double-team Haynesworth almost all night. The Giants did have some success running the ball, but only when they ran away from Haynesworth and/or Haynesworth was out of the game.
Orakpo had a decent game. London Fletcher was all over the field.
When I watched the game the first time around, I thought that rookie LB/DE Brian Orakpo was virtually invisible, but Orakpo held up fine. He didn't stand out, but he didn't give up any major plays that I noticed. I still would like to see him rushing the passer way more than dropping back in coverage, which is his weakness, but he's a work in progress.
Fletcher was credited with 18 tackles, which currently leads the league (Yeah, Week 1). He had a great game helping to slow down the Giants running game.
Too many missed tackles, though.
On Manning's first half touchdown pass to WR Mario Manningham, Manning did a good job of checking into a quick WR screen to counter the Redskins all-out blitz. It was one-on-one coverage, and Manningham beat CB Fred Smoot's tackle (which would have resulted in a punt) then beat DE Andre Carter's tackle, then beat CB DeAngelo Hall's attempted tackle. Great run after catch, but putrid tackling. Combined with misses from Chris Horton and LaRon Landry earlier in the game, the Redskins had six missed tackles at this point. Too many.
Does Jim Zorn trust Jason Campbell?
Whenever the Redskins were backed up deep in their own red zone, the Redskins usually tried running the ball twice, and then attempting a quick screen or dump off. On their first possession of the second quarter in backed up, the Redskins ran in all three downs, not even attempting a pass to pick up the first down. Perhaps Zorn is justified, when Campbell makes bad decisions like trying to throw the ball after he's already cross the line of scrimmage and ends up throwing an interception. And the Redskins attempted just one deep pass, a mixed up bomb to Santana Moss, where Moss went a different direction than Campbell threw. Bad times.
Offensive line did a pretty good job ... Campbell not so good.
The Redskins offense as a whole did not play well, but the team's offensive line was not to blame for the most part. They kept the dangerous Giants defense off Campbell almost all game.
Campbell, though he had a good passer rating, did not play as well as the rating. He looked a little lost, a little flustered, and a little confused. He turned the ball over and it cost the team deeply. He also must do a MUCH better job of feeling the pass rush and know when to step up, and when not to.
On sack-fumble-TD for Umenyiora, as announcers pointed out, he had a lot of space in front of him to step up. That's something that a pro QB has to feel.
The Giants have a good defense, so I'll give him a bye this week. But he won't get any pass from fans if he doesn't light up the Rams defense for some real numbers and touchdowns.
Playcalling bone to pick
After Hall's INT late in the third quarter, why wasn't the first play after that a shot into the end zone, looking for a touchdown?
Instead, the Redskins handed off to running back Clinton Portis, and Giants DE Justin Tuck split between tackle Stephon Heyer and guard Randy Thomas (Heyer was left looking for someone to block) and stopped Portis for a 5-year loss. All of that momentum gone in a flash. The next play is a 9-yard screen to Portis. Decent, and getting back the yardage lost. I'll accept it. Then Campbell uses the Redskins' second timeout of the half, leaving the team only 1 for the rest of the game. Not that timeouts are important at the end of the game, right?
And then on third and six from the 8 yard line, Campbell is sacked because he couldn't get rid of the ball fast enough. Poor play calling, poor execution. The Redskins settle for a FG.
Other bits...
Carlos Rogers dropped another easy interception early in the first quarter. Hit his stone hands and bounced off them, laughingly. ... Cedric Golston and Lorenzo Alexander are no substitute for Haynesworth in the middle. They played okay, but don't provide the push of Haynesworth. ... When will Landry ever live up to his potential? He had a decent game vs. Giants. Missed too many tackles for my liking, but his deflection caused Hall's INT. ... I like the look of Campbell in the shotgun. He seems to have more of a feel out of that situation. ... What do you think about using the trick field goal play so early in the season? Holder Hunter Smith scored on the run, but now that play is on film. Will that matter? Think the Redskins will use it again later in the year? ... The Redskins ran to their left side the vast majority of the time, right behind Chris Samuels and Derrick Dockery. Casey Rabach got pushed back quite a bit by the Giants DTs. ... I personally don't mind the end-around/trick pass play to Antwaan Randle El on the second play of the season. I just didn't like the execution. Randle El should have thrown that pass away, or at least not tried dancing around. ... WIth six minutes left in the half, the Giants had outgained the Redskins 203-68. The Redskins had just 26 passing yards. ... TE Chris Cooley had a good day, despite putting a scare into the team with a fumble that was called back after a replay. He has been an excellent value draft pick for the Redskins.
Here's what I saw:
The Redskins defense kept the team in the game.
Yeah, no duh, right? While coordinator Greg Blache's defense seems to be in the "bend-but-don't-break" variety, they did a good job of stopping the Giants when they reached the red zone, forcing FG attempts instead of giving up very many long touchdowns. Fans have complained that the Redskins cornerbacks play too far off the opponents receivers, but they do that so that opponents won't be getting behind the defensive backs and scoring many long touchdowns. Giants QB Eli Manning, however, did a good job of moving around in the pocket and avoiding the Redskins rush for the most part. But the Redskins defense did enough to allow the team to win. Jason Campbell and the Redskins offense gave up a touchdown on offense when Osi Umenyiora sacked Campbell, creating a fumble and returning in for a TD.
Along those same lines ... DT Albert Haynesworth is indeed a monster.
The Giants had almost no success whenever they tried to run near Haynesworth, and they attempted to double-team Haynesworth almost all night. The Giants did have some success running the ball, but only when they ran away from Haynesworth and/or Haynesworth was out of the game.
Orakpo had a decent game. London Fletcher was all over the field.
When I watched the game the first time around, I thought that rookie LB/DE Brian Orakpo was virtually invisible, but Orakpo held up fine. He didn't stand out, but he didn't give up any major plays that I noticed. I still would like to see him rushing the passer way more than dropping back in coverage, which is his weakness, but he's a work in progress.
Fletcher was credited with 18 tackles, which currently leads the league (Yeah, Week 1). He had a great game helping to slow down the Giants running game.
Too many missed tackles, though.
On Manning's first half touchdown pass to WR Mario Manningham, Manning did a good job of checking into a quick WR screen to counter the Redskins all-out blitz. It was one-on-one coverage, and Manningham beat CB Fred Smoot's tackle (which would have resulted in a punt) then beat DE Andre Carter's tackle, then beat CB DeAngelo Hall's attempted tackle. Great run after catch, but putrid tackling. Combined with misses from Chris Horton and LaRon Landry earlier in the game, the Redskins had six missed tackles at this point. Too many.
Does Jim Zorn trust Jason Campbell?
Whenever the Redskins were backed up deep in their own red zone, the Redskins usually tried running the ball twice, and then attempting a quick screen or dump off. On their first possession of the second quarter in backed up, the Redskins ran in all three downs, not even attempting a pass to pick up the first down. Perhaps Zorn is justified, when Campbell makes bad decisions like trying to throw the ball after he's already cross the line of scrimmage and ends up throwing an interception. And the Redskins attempted just one deep pass, a mixed up bomb to Santana Moss, where Moss went a different direction than Campbell threw. Bad times.
Offensive line did a pretty good job ... Campbell not so good.
The Redskins offense as a whole did not play well, but the team's offensive line was not to blame for the most part. They kept the dangerous Giants defense off Campbell almost all game.
Campbell, though he had a good passer rating, did not play as well as the rating. He looked a little lost, a little flustered, and a little confused. He turned the ball over and it cost the team deeply. He also must do a MUCH better job of feeling the pass rush and know when to step up, and when not to.
On sack-fumble-TD for Umenyiora, as announcers pointed out, he had a lot of space in front of him to step up. That's something that a pro QB has to feel.
The Giants have a good defense, so I'll give him a bye this week. But he won't get any pass from fans if he doesn't light up the Rams defense for some real numbers and touchdowns.
Playcalling bone to pick
After Hall's INT late in the third quarter, why wasn't the first play after that a shot into the end zone, looking for a touchdown?
Instead, the Redskins handed off to running back Clinton Portis, and Giants DE Justin Tuck split between tackle Stephon Heyer and guard Randy Thomas (Heyer was left looking for someone to block) and stopped Portis for a 5-year loss. All of that momentum gone in a flash. The next play is a 9-yard screen to Portis. Decent, and getting back the yardage lost. I'll accept it. Then Campbell uses the Redskins' second timeout of the half, leaving the team only 1 for the rest of the game. Not that timeouts are important at the end of the game, right?
And then on third and six from the 8 yard line, Campbell is sacked because he couldn't get rid of the ball fast enough. Poor play calling, poor execution. The Redskins settle for a FG.
Other bits...
Carlos Rogers dropped another easy interception early in the first quarter. Hit his stone hands and bounced off them, laughingly. ... Cedric Golston and Lorenzo Alexander are no substitute for Haynesworth in the middle. They played okay, but don't provide the push of Haynesworth. ... When will Landry ever live up to his potential? He had a decent game vs. Giants. Missed too many tackles for my liking, but his deflection caused Hall's INT. ... I like the look of Campbell in the shotgun. He seems to have more of a feel out of that situation. ... What do you think about using the trick field goal play so early in the season? Holder Hunter Smith scored on the run, but now that play is on film. Will that matter? Think the Redskins will use it again later in the year? ... The Redskins ran to their left side the vast majority of the time, right behind Chris Samuels and Derrick Dockery. Casey Rabach got pushed back quite a bit by the Giants DTs. ... I personally don't mind the end-around/trick pass play to Antwaan Randle El on the second play of the season. I just didn't like the execution. Randle El should have thrown that pass away, or at least not tried dancing around. ... WIth six minutes left in the half, the Giants had outgained the Redskins 203-68. The Redskins had just 26 passing yards. ... TE Chris Cooley had a good day, despite putting a scare into the team with a fumble that was called back after a replay. He has been an excellent value draft pick for the Redskins.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
What we learned, Vol 1, Chapter 5
The Redskins lost, but it's okay.
The Skins did indeed fall, 23-17, in New York against the Giants. The Redskins - especially in the first half - didn't look like a complete football team. New York controlled the game and the Redskins never led. But it's not so bad.
What we learned:
1. The Giants are really good.
Maybe I am overestimating how good the Redskins are, but the Giants looked like a very, very good team. Their defense is their calling card, and they had three sacks, harassed Jason Campbell all day, and shut down the Redskins' running game. That's not to say the Skins didn't have their chances against the Giants, and I'm not absolving them of the loss simply because the Giants are good. But the Giants do have a great defense, and Eli Manning ain't too shabby either. They are the conference favorites, and they showed why on Sunday.
2. The offense is a work in progress (again).
It wasn't just one thing. It was everything, but the problems Sunday could have a lot to do with the Giants' defense. The Redskins had trouble protecting Campbell as well as running the ball. That added up to the Redskins having trouble moving the ball, especially in the first half. The team's top receiver, Santana Moss, had just two catches for 6 yards, and one of those catches was for -2 yards. Clinton Portis managed 62 rushing yards on 16 carries, but he gained 34 of those yards on his first carry of the day. The team did make a late push, and maybe against a lighter defense, the Redskins might have been able to show more. But one bright spot on offense ...
3. Randle El is a heck of a slot receiver.
The Redskins demoted Antwaan Randle El from a starter to a third receiver, similar to what he did in Pittsburgh. The spot opposite Moss went to Malcolm Kelly. Randle El responded with seven catches for 98 yards, one of his best games as a Redskin. One of the best things about Randle El is his speed and quickness, and he showed those attributes to the max. While he didn't work too well as an outside receiver, he's absolutely perfect in the slot.
4. Training camp reports are highly suspect, but the defense isn't THAT bad.
Reports out of training camp said that the Redskins defense was super. Well, maybe that had more to do with the Redskins offense than the defense. The Giants were able to keep drives alive, especially in the first half. What's worse, the Redskins missed several tackles. But, the defense did a good job of holding the Giants to field goals instead of giving up touchdowns. And in the second half, the Redskins defense kept the team in the game, including an interception by DeAngelo Hall. But where was rookie Brian Orakpo? The guy was all over the field in the preseason, he disappeared Sunday. Maybe the DVR will explain some things.
5. The kids aren't all right.
Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis had a combined one catch - Kelly's 6-yarder. Is this just another symptom of the Redskins' poor offense? I'd hate to think the Redskins wasted three second-round draft picks.
The Skins open at FedEx Field next weekend against the St. Louis Rams, which presents a better matchup with the Redskins than the Giants do.
Hey, at least it's football season.
The Skins did indeed fall, 23-17, in New York against the Giants. The Redskins - especially in the first half - didn't look like a complete football team. New York controlled the game and the Redskins never led. But it's not so bad.
What we learned:
1. The Giants are really good.
Maybe I am overestimating how good the Redskins are, but the Giants looked like a very, very good team. Their defense is their calling card, and they had three sacks, harassed Jason Campbell all day, and shut down the Redskins' running game. That's not to say the Skins didn't have their chances against the Giants, and I'm not absolving them of the loss simply because the Giants are good. But the Giants do have a great defense, and Eli Manning ain't too shabby either. They are the conference favorites, and they showed why on Sunday.
2. The offense is a work in progress (again).
It wasn't just one thing. It was everything, but the problems Sunday could have a lot to do with the Giants' defense. The Redskins had trouble protecting Campbell as well as running the ball. That added up to the Redskins having trouble moving the ball, especially in the first half. The team's top receiver, Santana Moss, had just two catches for 6 yards, and one of those catches was for -2 yards. Clinton Portis managed 62 rushing yards on 16 carries, but he gained 34 of those yards on his first carry of the day. The team did make a late push, and maybe against a lighter defense, the Redskins might have been able to show more. But one bright spot on offense ...
3. Randle El is a heck of a slot receiver.
The Redskins demoted Antwaan Randle El from a starter to a third receiver, similar to what he did in Pittsburgh. The spot opposite Moss went to Malcolm Kelly. Randle El responded with seven catches for 98 yards, one of his best games as a Redskin. One of the best things about Randle El is his speed and quickness, and he showed those attributes to the max. While he didn't work too well as an outside receiver, he's absolutely perfect in the slot.
4. Training camp reports are highly suspect, but the defense isn't THAT bad.
Reports out of training camp said that the Redskins defense was super. Well, maybe that had more to do with the Redskins offense than the defense. The Giants were able to keep drives alive, especially in the first half. What's worse, the Redskins missed several tackles. But, the defense did a good job of holding the Giants to field goals instead of giving up touchdowns. And in the second half, the Redskins defense kept the team in the game, including an interception by DeAngelo Hall. But where was rookie Brian Orakpo? The guy was all over the field in the preseason, he disappeared Sunday. Maybe the DVR will explain some things.
5. The kids aren't all right.
Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis had a combined one catch - Kelly's 6-yarder. Is this just another symptom of the Redskins' poor offense? I'd hate to think the Redskins wasted three second-round draft picks.
The Skins open at FedEx Field next weekend against the St. Louis Rams, which presents a better matchup with the Redskins than the Giants do.
Hey, at least it's football season.
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Redskins have no shot against Giants
Let's get one thing straight right out of the gates: The Redskins will lose Sunday against the Giants. The Redskins will start the season 0-1; the Giants 1-0. It is almost inevitable.
You disagree? Why? What gives you any clue that the Redskins are any better than the Giants, a team that cruised past D.C. twice last year? The Skins couldn't score more than a touchdown in both games. Do you think the Redskins improved that much? Or the Giants fell that much?
Do you honestly believe that receiver Plaxico Burress - who is no longer with N.Y. - meant that much to the Giants? Let me remind you that Burress did not play when the teams met Nov. 30, and the Giants still won 23-7.
Will Albert Haynesworth make that much of an impact? Gosh, I hope so, because the Skins will need all the help they can get. I can already see Giants running back Brandon Jacobs literally running over Laron Landry. Again.
I can already see the Redskins stuffing the line of scrimmage with nine players, and Giants QB Eli Manning doing some sort of trick and abusing DeAngelo Hall for 55 yards to Hakeem Nicks.
I can already see Jason Campbell being flattened over and over again by the Giants superb defensive line, which, despite its relative thinness, has been pretty adept at shutting down the Redskins' rushing attack. (The Skins averaged just 3.3 yards per rush last season against the G-men.)
Why can I see all of these things? Because they've all happened before. The Giants have had the Redskins' number. Let's face it.
But, there is hope. Haynesworth, a monster defensive tackle, was brought in to stop the Giants from doing what they Giants like to do - run the ball down your throat, and then play-action pass you to death. If Haynesworth and the defense can stop the Giants running game - no easy task - then the Redskins might have a chance. Manning isn't his brother.
Offensively, I have less confidence that the Skins will succeed. QB Jason Campbell has been known to get flustered under pressure, and that's exactly what the Giants do. Rush the passer. They even drafted a kid out of Virginia - Clint Sintim - who is very, very good at rushing the passer. The Redskins will need to get their ground game going against the Giants to have success, in my opinion. I don't see it happened, but there's always hope. The Redskins need to challenge the Giants with the deep pass.
Honestly, though, my prediction?
Giants, 30-14.
You disagree? Why? What gives you any clue that the Redskins are any better than the Giants, a team that cruised past D.C. twice last year? The Skins couldn't score more than a touchdown in both games. Do you think the Redskins improved that much? Or the Giants fell that much?
Do you honestly believe that receiver Plaxico Burress - who is no longer with N.Y. - meant that much to the Giants? Let me remind you that Burress did not play when the teams met Nov. 30, and the Giants still won 23-7.
Will Albert Haynesworth make that much of an impact? Gosh, I hope so, because the Skins will need all the help they can get. I can already see Giants running back Brandon Jacobs literally running over Laron Landry. Again.
I can already see the Redskins stuffing the line of scrimmage with nine players, and Giants QB Eli Manning doing some sort of trick and abusing DeAngelo Hall for 55 yards to Hakeem Nicks.
I can already see Jason Campbell being flattened over and over again by the Giants superb defensive line, which, despite its relative thinness, has been pretty adept at shutting down the Redskins' rushing attack. (The Skins averaged just 3.3 yards per rush last season against the G-men.)
Why can I see all of these things? Because they've all happened before. The Giants have had the Redskins' number. Let's face it.
But, there is hope. Haynesworth, a monster defensive tackle, was brought in to stop the Giants from doing what they Giants like to do - run the ball down your throat, and then play-action pass you to death. If Haynesworth and the defense can stop the Giants running game - no easy task - then the Redskins might have a chance. Manning isn't his brother.
Offensively, I have less confidence that the Skins will succeed. QB Jason Campbell has been known to get flustered under pressure, and that's exactly what the Giants do. Rush the passer. They even drafted a kid out of Virginia - Clint Sintim - who is very, very good at rushing the passer. The Redskins will need to get their ground game going against the Giants to have success, in my opinion. I don't see it happened, but there's always hope. The Redskins need to challenge the Giants with the deep pass.
Honestly, though, my prediction?
Giants, 30-14.
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