John Clayton on the Redskins' Playoff Chances

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

If my calculations are correct we're talking about scoring about 70 more points (or 7 TDs) more than we did last year to get to 21 points, which could be a tall order...but my math has never been good.

Still, 21 points a game seems like something most NFL teams should be able to achieve with some regularity.

Clayton is generally pretty positive about the Redskins. He usually thinks they have the talent to be at least a solid Wild Card team

Yeah your math is terrible, LOL. 7 TDs translates into 49 more points, not 70. You need 10 TDs for 70 points.

But it's not quite as simple as just coming up with 10 more TDs throughout the year, because to do so you need a ton more opportunities. The other way to get more points is to come away with fewer field goals, and instead convert to TDs.

If we converted 10 FGs to TDs, we'd be one of the best red zone teams in the NFL, and it would still get us only 40 additional points (7-3) x 10 = 40.

Then we could get more opportunities by getting more turnovers on the defensive side. And the other way is to turn offensive series that never were real opportunities into TDs by way of the huge big play; for example when you're on your own 20 you don't really consider it a scoring opportunity, but if you hit on a long bomb for 80 yards, then you have a chance to make it happen.

To get 70 more points I think you need all 3, which is a tall order. You need to punch it in when in the red zone (hopefully Dockery helps, but he can only do so much). You need to capture more turnovers, which Haynesworth should help with. And you need to hit on the big play, which is where pass protection comes in for the 7 step drop.

You can't get to 70 without all of the above taking place.