Monday, January 9th, 2006...5:10 pm by Lee Gibbons
Round 2 Preview: Looking Back at Week 4
“Sure the Redskins won, but only because the Seahawks kicker missed that field goal in the 4th quarterâ€
Get used to hearing that, because it will be said over and over again this week. And yes its true. Of course that means discounting the other 59 minutes of the game and assuming nothing else happened that may have changed the score.
Josh Brown was one for three on his field goal attempts in the game. For a kicker who kicked at 72% of the season, that’s a bad day. However, all of his kicks were from long distance. He made a 53 yarder, and missed twice from 47, not exactly chip shots. By comparison, the Redskin kicker at the time, Nick Novak, was 2 for 3. His miss was a 33-yard kick that was blocked and he hit from 40 and 39 yards.
When looking at the match-ups, Seattle has the better offense, while the Redskins are better on defense. Containing Seattle is the key for the Redskins. In the week 4 contest this was accomplished not by a good defensive showing, in fact the defense was fairly lackluster, but by the offense controlling the ball. Take a look at the Redskins drive chart for the 1st half of the game:
The Redskins had three time consuming drives. The Redskins controlled the ball for 22 minutes in the 1st half and dominated the half. The Redskins couldn’t cash in, and only lead 7-3 at the half. Part of this is due to Nick Novak, and his tendency to kick right into the defensive line and part of it is due to the Redskins not cashing in when in the red zone.
With John Hall back from injury, another field goal block by the Seahawks would be a surprise. Also the Redskins offense has matured to the point where they are now one of the best red zone offenses in the league. That said, with Portis banged up it will be tough to control the clock in this week’s encounter.
You can be sure Gibbs and company will be looking over the game tape and preparing an offensive game plan revolving around time of possession. Mark Brunell needs to turn get back to mid season form and convert those 3rd and shorts. If the Redskins dominate time of possession like they did in week 4, expect the season to continue for yet another week.
Today in the Post:
Wilbon on Taylor, Vick; Taylor fined; Focus on Offense; Media Crunch; Evans steps in; Alexander dominates; Seattle’s homefield advantage; Rhodes in Charge
6 Comments
January 10th, 2006 at 7:33 am
The Seahawks fans refuse to believe that they really lost that game. Bad refs and a fluke missed FG beat them, not the Redskins. They just don’t seem to be able to stomach the idea that Redskins beat them and are convinced Saturday will be the blowout Week 4 “should” have been. After all, the Seahawks had such better stats during the season … or did they?
If you look at the ten games each team played against common opponents, including Week 4, the teams are virtually equal in rushing offense and defense, Seattle has the edge in passing offense and DC has the edge in passing defense. Take out the statistical outliers (each team’s best and worst game) and it’s scary: Seattle dominates in passing offense, the ‘Skins have the edge in rushing offense, and completely dominate in defense for both rushing and passing. There’s your game plan in a nutshell, do what the ‘Skins do best: run the ball down their throats with our big O-line and backs, throw a couple bombs to Santana and a handful of first downs to Cooley, and let the D do want it does best.
All the best from Southwest DC!
January 10th, 2006 at 1:32 pm
” “Sure the Redskins won, but only because the Seahawks kicker missed that field goal in the 4th quarter†”
You won’t hear any true Seahawks fans saying that. That’s only from the national media who believe the Hawks only beat the Giants because the NY kicker missed some field goals.
“There’s your game plan in a nutshell, do what the ‘Skins do best: run the ball down their throats with our big O-line and backs. . .”
“the ‘Skins . . . completely dominate in defense for both rushing and passing.”
It may surprise you to find out that the Seahawks had the NFL’s #5 defense as far as average rushing yards per game and the #2 scoring defense against the run, only allowing five TD total. On the other hand, the ‘Skins were almost in the middle of the NFL pack in both categories. I’m not seeing the ‘Skins’ defensive “dominance” you claim.
“the ‘Skins have the edge in rushing offense,”
Likewise a ridiculous statement. Seattle was #3 in the NFL in average rushing yards per game and #1 in rushing scoring. Washington was #9 in the former, and again almost in the middle of the NFL pack in the latter category. The “edge in rushing offense”? Looks like that belongs to the Seahawks!
I will admit that a “couple bombs to Santana” is likely, but not as much of a given as if the Hawks’ secondary were depleted by injuries, (which it no longer is.) The ‘Skins will doubtless be forced to test that reconstituted secondary, because by the third quarter they won’t have the luxury of even attempting to run the ball.
January 10th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
I haven’t gone to the trouble of fact checking it_mandrake’s stats, but he did state that he was basing his info on common opponents, not season totals. His analysis seems plausable and is certainly interesting; the televised sports commentators hardly ever make use of meaningful stats like these, but instead fall back on the easy season rankings. The fact is that the Seahawks had a much easier schedule than the Redskins, so those stats don’t really represent much.
In any event, I look forward to what should be a good game.
January 10th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
A bad call almost ruined the Skins last week. It is obvious from the insignificant fine given Taylor that the league office — and possibly the ref — were not sure any intentional spitting occured. I have seen a number of people who spray someone they are talking to when they get excited. I think this is probably what happened to Taylor. And this is what makes Wilburnes attack — resurrecting unproven acciusations — on Taylor so repugnant. Is Wilburn trying to sabatoge the Skins? But the important thing is that the Skins overcame the bad call . Seattle didn’t. and as the saying goes “We did it before & we can do it again” Go Skins. Wilburn apoligise (sp)
January 11th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
Stingray, nice point on overcoming the bad call…im glad one of you finally admitted there was a horrible PI call that instead of forcing a punt, gave the Redskins an easy TD…not an excuse, its just fact…but good point, because Seattle didnt quite overcome it
This topic is better then the one above it, in my opinion…Redskins gotta control time of possession, say what you want about forcing turnovers—you wont get many against Seattle…IMO those are the two keys for them, and with one highly unlikely…TOP is gonna be HUGE…
Also, Redskins might wanna pay attention to the Seahawks’ first possession, they usually go downfield immediately and shove the TD down their opponents’ throats…
January 12th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
“We tend to look at the whole season. . . . We look at the big picture.”
-Mark Brunell
If your quarterback is saying that, how can you grade the Hawks and DC’s season only on their common opponents? Look at the big picture!
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