Skins need to further invest in the trenches next season

[SirClintonPortis]

Our loss today exposed our strengths and weaknesses very well. The most crucial element exposed are in our OL and DL. We do not have a nose tackle, which means that teams will run on us until we commit extra resources to stop the run. Once we do that, the D becomes vulnerable to play action, which happened last week with the Austin touchdown along with the multiple bootlegs today.

Our OL is much improved in pass pro, but we are still suffering from a combo of a scheme shift and general mediocrity in the depth and interior of the line. The lack of a running game killed us today, and almost did us in last week. We are not going to win the Super Bowl with the current status quo, although we are much closer than we were a year ago.

[SouperMeister]

I couldn't agree more. Gibbs won championships being able to play smashmouth football. This running game is downright anemic, and it's not because Portis isn't running hard. Allen can probably draft a stud guard or center with the 2nd round pick.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

I couldn't agree more. Gibbs won championships being able to play smashmouth football. This running game is downright anemic, and it's not because Portis isn't running hard. Allen can probably draft a stud guard or center with the 2nd round pick.

You do have to account that they are still learning the nuances of cut blocking in the zone scheme, but year, we need some athletic big guys develop. The OL isn't awful like Chicago's but we need better fits and better depth.

[Dirtbag59]

I think that if you want to invest anywhere look for someone special at Guard. Maybe get a slight upgrade at backup over Heyer. However I'm not to concerned with our running game. The situations haven't really worked in our favor. Last week we didn't have a whole lot of possession and this week, passing was way to easy. Once the ground game got going the Texans held on to the ball like their life depended on it.

The only really upgrades I can think of, that are worth pursuing next offseason, are a young talented back and a Trent Williams like Guard. That play though by Larry Johnson was flat out pathetic. I'd like to see more from Keiland Williams. The guy is physically a beast and has little wear and tear on him. The main thing is we don't need to give up draft picks for VJax todays game proved that. Instead we need to invest on defense and maybe on a special Running back prospect.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

I think that if you want to invest anywhere look for someone special at Guard. Maybe get a slight upgrade at backup over Heyer. However I'm not to concerned with our running game. The situations haven't really worked in our favor. Last week we didn't have a whole lot of possession and this week, passing was way to easy. Once the ground game got going the Texans held on to the ball like their life depended on it.

The only really upgrades I can think of, that are worth pursuing next offseason, are a young talented back and a Trent Williams like Guard. That play though by Larry Johnson was flat out pathetic. I'd like to see more from Keiland Williams. The guy is physically a beast and has little wear and tear on him. The main thing is we don't need to give up draft picks for VJax todays game proved that. Instead we need to invest on defense and maybe on a special Running back prospect.

Up by 17 in the third quarter is about as favorable of a running situation as there is in the game of football.

You pass to get the lead, which we clearly did today, but running the football efficiently is still critically important to run out the clock. We did a really bad job running out the clock at the end of the game with the opponents on the rope.

That's pretty much the only thing we did bad today.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Up by 17 in the third quarter is about as favorable of a running situation as there is in the game of football.

You pass to get the lead, which we clearly did today, but running the football efficiently is still critically important to run out the clock. We did a really bad job running out the clock at the end of the game with the opponents on the rope.

That's pretty much the only thing we did bad today.

Our secondary looked damn sketchy out there today. I'll attribute some of it to our defense simply taking their foot off the gas in the second half but still we're making mistakes there. I think we have the talent to be good but it isn't quite machine-like back there yet.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Our secondary looked damn sketchy out there today. I'll attribute some of it to our defense simply taking their foot off the gas in the second half but still we're making mistakes there. I think we have the talent to be good but it isn't quite machine-like back there yet.

Haven't gone to the tape yet (obviously), but my initial feeling is that they caught a LOT of 50-50 balls. In other words, their receivers played great more than our secondary played terrible. A lot of balls where Schaub just "gave them a chance" ended up going for long completions against more than acceptable coverage.

Horton still sucks in coverage, but we already knew that.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Up by 17 in the third quarter is about as favorable of a running situation as there is in the game of football.

You pass to get the lead, which we clearly did today, but running the football efficiently is still critically important to run out the clock. We did a really bad job running out the clock at the end of the game with the opponents on the rope.

That's pretty much the only thing we did bad today.

That's why I found the play call of the ill-fated end around rather annoying. There was no reason to get cute. Portis was starting to get some traction; just run off tackle in that situation.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Up by 17 in the third quarter is about as favorable of a running situation as there is in the game of football.

You pass to get the lead, which we clearly did today, but running the football efficiently is still critically important to run out the clock. We did a really bad job running out the clock at the end of the game with the opponents on the rope.

That's pretty much the only thing we did bad today.

There were 3 offensive series in the 3rd Quarter. 2 of them belonged to the Texans and they resulted in a field goal and TD respectively. Our 3rd Quarter drive resulted in a Chris Cooley TD pass. Score going into the fourth 27-17.

At the start of the 4th Quarter the Skins tried to run the ball but something funny happened.
1-10-WAS 20 (15:00) 27-L.Johnson left end to WAS 10 for -10 yards (29-G.Quin).

Obviously we had to pass when we're looking at 2nd and 20. Remember the score is 27-17 at this point and we're facing a high powered Texans offense that dominated the third Quarter. If we get a first down we can go back to the run, but on 2nd and 20 we'd be stupid to run it.

Next drive results in a Texans FG, now it's 27-20. It was on our next drive that drive where we actually started running the ball well.

(9:39) 26-C.Portis up the middle to HST 26 for 2 yards (95-S.Cody).
2-8-HOU 26
(8:59) 26-C.Portis left end pushed ob at HST 14 for 12 yards (21-B.McCain).
1-10-HOU 14
(8:28) 26-C.Portis right guard to HST 9 for 5 yards (92-E.Mitchell).
2-5-HOU 9
(7:49) 26-C.Portis left end to HST 5 for 4 yards (31-B.Pollard, 29-G.Quin).
3-1-HOU 5

Here's where everything really started going downhill.

(7:49) PENALTY on WAS-77-J.Brown, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at HST 5 - No Play.

3rd and 6 27-27. Do you want to run it here?
3-6-HOU 10 (6:45) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 89-S.Moss (26-E.Wilson, 72-J.Nading).

Still hurts to even think about this play
[/B]4-6-HOU 10 (6:40) 4-G.Gano 29 yard field goal is BLOCKED (31-B.Pollard), Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-J.Bidwell, RECOVERED by HST-95-S.Cody at HST 16. 95-S.Cody to HST 16 for no gain (75-A.Hicks).

So we get the ball back after a failed Texans drive. Now I'll admit, this was pretty dumb
2-5-HOU 46
(4:22) 89-S.Moss left end to WAS 46 for -8 yards (31-B.Pollard). End around

Still it's 3rd and 13 so we have to pass. Incomplete we punt, Houston scores. Now we're tied 27-27. We get the ball back with 2:03 left in the 4th Quarter. Obviously we can't run it now.

Looking back the End around to Moss, the Chanelling Barry Sanders moves, and the Jamaal Brown false start on 3rd and 1 combined with our defenses second half breakdown prevented us from using ground and pound to finish the game. As painful as it is to relive it's by no means a personnel problem.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

There were 3 offensive series in the 3rd Quarter. 2 of them belonged to the Texans and they resulted in a field goal and TD respectively. Our 3rd Quarter drive resulted in a Chris Cooley TD pass. Score going into the fourth 27-17.

At the start of the 4th Quarter the Skins tried to run the ball but something funny happened.
1-10-WAS 20 (15:00) 27-L.Johnson left end to WAS 10 for -10 yards (29-G.Quin).

Obviously we had to pass when we're looking at 2nd and 20. Remember the score is 27-17 at this point and we're facing a high powered Texans offense that dominated the third Quarter. If we get a first down we can go back to the run, but on 2nd and 20 we'd be stupid to run it.

Next drive results in a Texans FG, now it's 27-20. It was on our next drive that drive where we actually started running the ball well.

(9:39) 26-C.Portis up the middle to HST 26 for 2 yards (95-S.Cody).
2-8-HOU 26
(8:59) 26-C.Portis left end pushed ob at HST 14 for 12 yards (21-B.McCain).
1-10-HOU 14
(8:28) 26-C.Portis right guard to HST 9 for 5 yards (92-E.Mitchell).
2-5-HOU 9
(7:49) 26-C.Portis left end to HST 5 for 4 yards (31-B.Pollard, 29-G.Quin).
3-1-HOU 5

Here's where everything really started going downhill.

(7:49) PENALTY on WAS-77-J.Brown, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at HST 5 - No Play.

3rd and 6 27-27. Do you want to run it here?
3-6-HOU 10 (6:45) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 89-S.Moss (26-E.Wilson, 72-J.Nading).

Still hurts to even think about this play
[/B]4-6-HOU 10 (6:40) 4-G.Gano 29 yard field goal is BLOCKED (31-B.Pollard), Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-J.Bidwell, RECOVERED by HST-95-S.Cody at HST 16. 95-S.Cody to HST 16 for no gain (75-A.Hicks).

So we get the ball back after a failed Texans drive. Now I'll admit, this was pretty dumb
2-5-HOU 46
(4:22) 89-S.Moss left end to WAS 46 for -8 yards (31-B.Pollard). End around

Still it's 3rd and 13 so we have to pass. Incomplete we punt, Houston scores. Now we're tied 27-27. We get the ball back with 2:03 left in the 4th Quarter. Obviously we can't run it now.

Looking back the End around to Moss, the Chanelling Barry Sanders moves, and the Jamaal Brown false start on 3rd and 1 combined with our defenses second half breakdown prevented us from using ground and pound to finish the game. As painful as it is to relive it's by no means a personnel problem.

Nicely done. You nailed it. Outside of the end around (and you know the rule there too: if it works he's a genius) I don't have a problem with the way Kyle called the game -- McNabb was lighting up the field, and they went with it.

The point-by-point plays you've outlined here should silence the "they should have run it more" crowd.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

There were 3 offensive series in the 3rd Quarter. 2 of them belonged to the Texans and they resulted in a field goal and TD respectively. Our 3rd Quarter drive resulted in a Chris Cooley TD pass. Score going into the fourth 27-17.

At the start of the 4th Quarter the Skins tried to run the ball but something funny happened.
1-10-WAS 20 (15:00) 27-L.Johnson left end to WAS 10 for -10 yards (29-G.Quin).

Obviously we had to pass when we're looking at 2nd and 20. Remember the score is 27-17 at this point and we're facing a high powered Texans offense that dominated the third Quarter. If we get a first down we can go back to the run, but on 2nd and 20 we'd be stupid to run it.

Next drive results in a Texans FG, now it's 27-20. It was on our next drive that drive where we actually started running the ball well.

(9:39) 26-C.Portis up the middle to HST 26 for 2 yards (95-S.Cody).
2-8-HOU 26
(8:59) 26-C.Portis left end pushed ob at HST 14 for 12 yards (21-B.McCain).
1-10-HOU 14
(8:28) 26-C.Portis right guard to HST 9 for 5 yards (92-E.Mitchell).
2-5-HOU 9
(7:49) 26-C.Portis left end to HST 5 for 4 yards (31-B.Pollard, 29-G.Quin).
3-1-HOU 5

Here's where everything really started going downhill.

(7:49) PENALTY on WAS-77-J.Brown, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at HST 5 - No Play.

3rd and 6 27-27. Do you want to run it here?
3-6-HOU 10 (6:45) (Shotgun) 5-D.McNabb pass incomplete short middle to 89-S.Moss (26-E.Wilson, 72-J.Nading).

Still hurts to even think about this play
[/B]4-6-HOU 10 (6:40) 4-G.Gano 29 yard field goal is BLOCKED (31-B.Pollard), Center-57-N.Sundberg, Holder-6-J.Bidwell, RECOVERED by HST-95-S.Cody at HST 16. 95-S.Cody to HST 16 for no gain (75-A.Hicks).

So we get the ball back after a failed Texans drive. Now I'll admit, this was pretty dumb
2-5-HOU 46
(4:22) 89-S.Moss left end to WAS 46 for -8 yards (31-B.Pollard). End around

Still it's 3rd and 13 so we have to pass. Incomplete we punt, Houston scores. Now we're tied 27-27. We get the ball back with 2:03 left in the 4th Quarter. Obviously we can't run it now.

Looking back the End around to Moss, the Chanelling Barry Sanders moves, and the Jamaal Brown false start on 3rd and 1 combined with our defenses second half breakdown prevented us from using ground and pound to finish the game. As painful as it is to relive it's by no means a personnel problem.

Excellent breakdown Dirtbag. On a side note though, I'm firmly on the Larry Johnson Sucks train. He hasn't done anything of note and his bad plays (see: Channeling Barry Sanders) outweigh what few positive plays he has had.

As for our breakdowns in pass d (honestly never thought I'd see the day when a Washington Redskins defense would allow 500 passing yards in a single game), well they attacked Chris Horton as soon as he was in the game, and I feel like Doughty was solid if unspectacular. I'm not gonna hold Andre Johnson's touchdown catch against him, I mean honestly that's a top 5 wideout in this league and I would've had 2 guys on him, especially on a play like that. I don't feel comfortable with our depth though, honestly I feel like Kareem Moore showed us enough in preseason/camp to be our starting free safety, and with Moore/Landry we'll be set, but I don't like having 2 true strong safeties in Doughty and Horton as our backups, especially with Doughty having to shift to free when Moore is out. We need a true free safety to backup Moore.

Other than that I feel like it's hard to pinpoint exactly why our pass defense is so bad. I felt like we got good pressure, but at the same time Schaub was prepared for it and got the ball out quickly. But when we sat back (which was extremely rare in this game) they still moved the ball at will.

So we do have some questions that need answering, but honestly this loss isn't as deflating as I felt like it was earlier. It still stings watching my favorite team blow a 17 point lead but I don't feel like it's anything that's not fixable.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

I think that if you want to invest anywhere look for someone special at Guard. Maybe get a slight upgrade at backup over Heyer. However I'm not to concerned with our running game. The situations haven't really worked in our favor. Last week we didn't have a whole lot of possession and this week, passing was way to easy. Once the ground game got going the Texans held on to the ball like their life depended on it.

The only really upgrades I can think of, that are worth pursuing next offseason, are a young talented back and a Trent Williams like Guard. That play though by Larry Johnson was flat out pathetic. I'd like to see more from Keiland Williams. The guy is physically a beast and has little wear and tear on him. The main thing is we don't need to give up draft picks for VJax todays game proved that. Instead we need to invest on defense and maybe on a special Running back prospect.

That's a good summary Dirt. L. Johnson looked pretty old & CP did a couple of times too. When we were inside the 10 in the 4th CP got outside to the left but couldn't keep his balance and/or kick it up a notch to get to the edge. A young CP would've had the 1st IMO. Instead we had 3rd & 1, false start for 3rd & 6, then a blocked FG.

Not saying CP is done, he is still a big contributor, but a young rb is needed. If Williams is that guy, cool.

[Redskin Warrior]

I didn't see the game I was at work but I heard the DL did struggle a bit. I wonder if Shanny will change his stance on Big Al after this game if they actually played that bad?

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Redskin Warrior

I didn't see the game I was at work but I heard the DL did struggle a bit. I wonder if Shanny will change his stance on Big Al after this game if they actually played that bad?

Leave, leave now. You r no tru fanz. u r disgraze. I haz disapoint in youz.

[Redskin Warrior]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag359

Leave, leave now. You r no tru fanz. u r disgraze. I haz disapoint in youz.

LOL!!! C'mon man my kids gotta eat Dirt plus it was either the Dallas or Texans game I picked to watch the Dallas game.