Game Balls

I just hope this defense doesn't go through the Zorn effect. Remember back in 2008 no one had seen our offense so after that first week against the G-Men we were able to take advantage of a lack of film. Unfortunately once film got built up we were rendered useless.

The Cowboys talked a lot about how their biggest concern in going up against us was the lack of film on our defense. For a good portion of the week they were watching Jim Haslets 4-3 D with the Rams. In fact thats why I thought they were using so many screens to begin the game, I thought more then anything it was an attempt to get a better feel for how our defense was going after them. Of course as Collinsworth kept bringing up, the coaches didn't trust that O-Line enough to call the more typical 5 and 7 step drops.

Now fortunately Haslet knows what he's doing and at this point I think he's just scratching the surface of a huge playbook that to be honest is probably the most creative I've ever seen. From playing two OLB's on one side to playing Carter at ILB, it seems like this is just the start.

The offense obviously needs more time to catch up, and it's not that uncommon for McNabb to have a 60 game in terms of passer rating (He had 2 last year). The running game will actually get better as the year goes on and I think once that happens everything else will open up. For whatever reason O-Lines in any system usually have trouble getting their run blocking assignments down early in the season. I've heard that from everyone from my high school coaches all the way up to NFL analyst.

Edit: Oh yeah interesting stat. Elways first game under Shanahan was a 22-7 win against Buffalo. In that game Elway posted a 68.9 Passer rating.

I just hope this defense doesn't go through the Zorn effect. Remember back in 2008 no one had seen our offense so after that first week against the G-Men we were able to take advantage of a lack of film. Unfortunately once film got built up we were rendered useless.

The Cowboys talked a lot about how their biggest concern in going up against us was the lack of film on our defense. For a good portion of the week they were watching Jim Haslets 4-3 D with the Rams. In fact thats why I thought they were using so many screens to begin the game, I thought more then anything it was an attempt to get a better feel for how our defense was going after them. Of course as Collinsworth kept bringing up, the coaches didn't trust that O-Line enough to call the more typical 5 and 7 step drops.

Now fortunately Haslet knows what he's doing and at this point I think he's just scratching the surface of a huge playbook that to be honest is probably the most creative I've ever seen. From playing two OLB's on one side to playing Carter at ILB, it seems like this is just the start.

The offense obviously needs more time to catch up, and it's not that uncommon for McNabb to have a 60 game in terms of passer rating (He had 2 last year). The running game will actually get better as the year goes on and I think once that happens everything else will open up. For whatever reason O-Lines in any system usually have trouble getting their run blocking assignments down early in the season. I've heard that from everyone from my high school coaches all the way up to NFL analyst.
I would think because of our relative inexperience with the new systems, we would improve faster than other teams with more established time in their systems. SOooo, we may substancially better in a few weeks than we are now and so on.
AND D McNabb should grow more comfortable quick as he spent little time playing in preseason

Landry, Hall, and Orakpo

As somebody who was there I can say it was the loudest I've ever heard it in the games I've attended. Moreso on that final drive than anything else.

Not only was the crowd loud, I was impressed with the fact we kept the pressure on during that final drive. In years past we probably would have been in some form of prevent defense and the pressure from Orakpo which caused the holding penalty that essentially ended the game would have been absent. A Greg Blache defense would have had three men rushing and eight in coverage.

Landry

I agree he had 17 tackles and was in everyone face, he is no ST, but at time's he displayed Seans hit power.....

Not sure if this was mentioned, but a game ball is well deserved for the 12th man too. I watched the game from home and it was the loudest i have heard fedex for Redkins games in a long time. Not as loud as Boise vs VT, but it was good. For everyone that attended great job!

no doubt

I'm hoping for more of a Troy Polemalu top role for Landry, and he can catch the ball unlike Los.

McIntosh played very well too. Allen better re-sign him quick.

Not only was the crowd loud, I was impressed with the fact we kept the pressure on during that final drive. In years past we probably would have been in some form of prevent defense and the pressure from Orakpo which caused the holding penalty that essentially ended the game would have been absent. A Greg Blache defense would have had three men rushing and eight in coverage.

We did only rush three guys on the last play. Of course, two of them (Holliday and Rak) were held and if they weren't there would have been pressure if not a sack.

The following is the best assessment I've seen. I love his "Witness" reference to one R. Doughty! And you have to like his grades. Especially Rabach's and Sellers. I'd cut all three.

Akh’s Thoughts Week 1: How bout them cowboys! | hailRedskins.com (http://www.hailredskins.com/?p=823#more-823)