Thoughts on Skins vs Titans

Originally Posted by NM Redskin

Marcus manson scored one and the other?

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

Titans QB couldn't hold on to the ball, it went squirting backwards, our defense (Westbrook) jumped on the ball in the end zone! TD REDSKINS..!

14-6 Game all but over

Originally Posted by RMSkins

I know it's just the first preseason game, but I have some major concerns with the Offense, but the Defense looks like they're back to top 10 form.

The O-line collectively was absolutely horrible 5 Sacks is totally inexcusable, granted Samuels was out, but come on Stephon Heyer looked like he was asleep out there, Todd Wade, Jon Jansen, and Randy Thomas also played pretty poorly. Jason Fabini, and Calvin Armstrong looked pathetic. Let's just pray that none of our starting Offensive Lineman go down because with these backups we are in deep trouble.

The Running game was pretty poor, Betts, and Cartwright looked bad, granted I think this was mostly the O-line's fault because they couldn't move their guys off the ball. Blaylock was was okay, and Mason was alittle above average.

The passing game was okay at best. JC looked average, Brunell looked lost, and I was pleasently surprised with Collins. Moss, and ARE looked pretty good, although I think ARE had a drop. Espy and the backups didn't look great I think Espy had two dropped passes. I was very dissappointed that we didn't get Cooley the ball, but Yoder, and Edwards looked decent.

I think the D-line proved tonight why we didn't make any moves in the draft or FA to pick up a D-lineman. I was extremely impressed with Montgomery, Daniels, Salave'a, and Golston. The backups looked good too Jamaal Green, and Chris Wilson made some good plays, and Lorenzo Alexander was all out hustle when he was in the game.

Linebackers were also impressive. London Fletcher was all over the field tonight, he was a great pickup although he needed to make that INT. Washington, and McIntosh both played well. Marshall had a good game, and I think he is going to be a key to the defense this year. Blades looked impressive. Sartz, Campbell, and Trucks looked Average.

The Safeties were extremely impressive tonight. LaRon Landry looks like the real deal, Sean Taylor was solid when he was out there. Prioleau, and Stoutmire were very impressive, loved their two big hits. Doughty looked solid, but he needed to make that INT towards the end of the game, and not to forget Vernon Fox looked solid as well.

The Conerbacks were on and off tonight. Shawn Springs lookes like he is back to form, Carlos Rogers looked impressive. Fred Smoot didn't look very good, I believe he got beat twice. Macklin looked solid. Ade Jimoh was terrible, and has no business playing CB in the NFL, he needs to stick to Special Teams only. Westbrook, Torrence, and Eubanks were solid.\

Well these are my thoughts after tonights game, I am sure most of you can agree with my observations. Thankfully this is only the first preseason games, and I am sure a lot of these problems can be fixed before the regular season. Nice win, let's get the Steelers next Saturday.

Originally Posted by angryssg

Good Post, I couldn't agree more. I thought that Smoot had only given up 1 big play though. I guess that I was wrong.

Originally Posted by RMSkins

Thanks, I enjoyed your analysis as well. I am pretty sure Smoot got beat twice, but I don't think he was in the game very long.

Originally Posted by angryssg

The outcome of the game was a win for us, however after my analysis we should have either tied or lost. Here ar my thoughts.

1st Team Offense
Jason Campbell was pretty solidwith the excecption of his % and no TD passess. I am weary of him turning the ball over on fumbles. I feel that at least one of the sacks on him could have been avoided had he observed the defense and shifted protection accordingly (the fumble he lost). To his credit he threw no intercecptions, and showed alot of poise.

O-Line
I know that Chris Samuels is out and Wade is new at LG, but the offensive line was getting blown up. Even Jansen made a mistake. Point blank, because of their lackluster play they gave up 2 sacks as a starting unit and gave running backs no holes to run. With that said they have some work to do. Even Jon Jansen made a bad play.

RB
Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright had no room to run. They made the most of what they had which wasn't much. Both backs are more than capable of running when holes are present. With the excecption of one run by Betts, Rock did a better job of running the football. I didn't see Sellers touch the ball at all.

WR
Santana further proved why he is the number 1 by receiveing for roughly 50 yards on 2 catches. ARE, caught one pass for a first down, but the chemistry between he and Campbell needs improvement. Sadly. Brandon Lloyd nor Cooley made a mark on the field. I do not think that Cooley has fallen off though. Cooley just did not have the opportunity.

Defense
While overall they played great , due mostly to London Fletcher, who did drop a clear intercecption; I do have some concerns. Fred Smoot played off of his receiver a little and allowed a big first down catch. the defense also allowed the TE Scaife to run free a little too much during the game. Other than that the D seemed to get to the ball pretty quickly.

Special Teams
Rock Cartwright made a bone headed move to take the ball out of the endzone on the first play of the game, setting the skins up in bad field position that would plague them throughout the first half. Shawn Suisham missed a field goal by hitting the left upright denying Washington a tie in the first half. Suisham also commited a stupid penatly by kicking his first kickoff out of bounds giving the Titans the ball at the 40. The punt coverage team also did not fair well by giving up a couple of big returns. On a positive note, Frost punted the ball very consistently and even forced a fuble on one play. Too bad it went out of bounds and we were unable to recover.

I am not even going to go over the second team offense as they were more lackluster than the first. IMO Brunell should be cut and Collins should have the Backup job. Brunell just does not have that fire anymore and it looks as if he has done nothing in the offseason to maintain his status.

Second and third team D
They looked good because HB Blades picked up where London left off. That play carried over to the 3rd team D wich won the game. Again, TE's were giving them a bit of a problem. Reed Doughty was in perfect position for an intercecption, but dropped it. I am sold on Byron Westbrook and hope that he makes the team as the 5th corner.

3rd Team Offense
Todd Collins for once outshined Brunell and led the offense to its only score. On this rare occaision I belive that he outplayed Brunell. Todd's awareness of this offense was evident in this game. I also believe that more passess should have been compleeted with all 3 QB's in the game as 2nd and 3rd team WR's dropped many passess. Campbell and Brunell should have faired better.

Final Analysis
Unless the Offensive play picks up I do not see the skins winning more than 7 games this year. This week they got lucky, but if you watched the game you realize that there is still alot of work to be done. I understand the injury that we have on the O-line now, but if it doesn't improve when Samuels comes back and Wade doesn't get a handle on things it is going to be a long season.

Originally Posted by jsarno

Great assessment, but I feel you're over analyzing. It's the first preseason game, and nothing is going to be the way it's going to be during the regular season. We get too caught up in preseason games.
But again, great post.

Originally Posted by angryssg

Well in my defense we disn't get too caught up in preseason games last year either and we ended up 5-11 after a 0-4 preseason. The first team showed promise, but the O-line needs to step up. We could not run the football at all.

Originally Posted by angryssg

Thank you, on a positive note at least Smoot got beat short and not deep. Last year our D gave up too many big plays. I still believe that he was an excellent pick up.