John Clayton on the Redskins' Playoff Chances

[Daseal]

This is the true key to scoring 5 more ppg. Last year we had 13 ints, and of the 16 teams with more picks, only 2 had fewer ppg -- all the others scored over 21 ppg.

If we get more picks, we should also score more points.

So you mean half the teams with a lower PPG than us had more turnovers and half didn't? That's not much of a stat. No doubt turnovers could greatly help, but lets not disguise the real issue. Our red zone offense. When you get 7 instead of 3, 21 becomes much easier. Between the 30s our offense looked great. Inside the 30s... not so much.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by Daseal

So you mean half the teams with a lower PPG than us had more turnovers and half didn't? That's not much of a stat. No doubt turnovers could greatly help, but lets not disguise the real issue. Our red zone offense. When you get 7 instead of 3, 21 becomes much easier. Between the 30s our offense looked great. Inside the 30s... not so much.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean, but I think you misunderstood me -- or perhaps I'm misunderstanding you...

We were 17th in *picks* -- not ppg. So, the 16 teams ranked above us -- in picks -- all scored over 21 ppg (with the exception of 2 teams).

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Dockery's addition is getting overlooked a bit, I think with him we got significantly better in drive blocking in short-yardage situations. I like our chances of converting TDs in the red zone by pounding a few more of 'em in there.

But 21 points per game? Probably not. I can't see any of our young WRs stepping up just yet. Maybe in their 3rd year.

Remember, Kelly is essentially a rookie this year due to inexperience thanks to injuries.

I remember short yardage being a problem during Dockery's first tenure. I think it is more important to be able to run consistently to the right so I am hoping that Bridges or Heyer step up. I also heard Doc Walker bring up a good point. Bugel has to find a way to use M. Williams in short yardage. Think Lorenzo Alexander + 75 ilbs. Put him on the wing next to Samuels!

I don't think that 5 points is that far away. The offense should be able to improve by 2 or 3 points just with the additional familiarity. If Thomas, Kelly and Campbell take a couple fo steps forward, 21 points a game should be within reach.

I also think the defense will be better than last year because of additional sacks. If Phat Albert stays healthy and is motivated, they should be a nightmare for offenses.

[an23dy]

21 points a game would put us at 23rd in the NFL for last year, not outrageous. I don't think 5 points is as big a number as people think. If you analyze where the points will come from that's way too complicated and tough to make a logical case. I don't expect this year to along with Detroit and Cincy to be the only teams to not score more than 30 points in any game this season. There's a lot of random stuff like that which will be different, also stuff like schedule. I also don't expect our o'line to be so injured that Justin Geisenger plays left tackle or for Suisham to be as bad when he has a better holder. I expect our punting and defense to be better, I expect a lot of guys to improve and for people to grow more accustomed to Zorn's stuff. Pretty much every player should get better, not just the rookies, because everybody was learning Zorn's stuff last year and most guys are still pretty young and getting better.

[hail_2_da_skins]

If the defense plays to its potential, there will be more scoring opportunities. I would like to see offensive improvement by everyone. The offensive line needs to protect for Campbell better and be more consistent run blocking from game to game. They had some outstanding games, some let downs and some games where they couldn't convert in short yardage situations. I expect improvement. I want Clinton Portis to remain healthy and I'm looking for more contribution from Ledell Betts. The wide receivers need the most improvement on the entire team. Santana Moss and Chris Cooley carry too much of the load. Need Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis to step up and contribute. Special teams need improvement, especially the punter and punt returns. Coaches need to step up as well. The offense and defense playcalling was conservative at times and I would like to see the team attack more.

[MTK]

Reasonable take by Clayton. If the offense improves to even an average one I would fully expect us to be in the running for the playoffs.

[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

[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.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

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.

LOL. I'm the Firstdown of Math

Definitely agree about converting field goals to touchdowns, that is a huge factor

[44Deezel]

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

If Campbell can get to 20TDs, we're in business. 13TDs is embarrassing. 20TDs a reasonable expectation for any legitimate starting QB. There's no way he does any worse.

[diehardskin2982]

When I watched the redskins last year the biggest issue was in the redzone. They just would constantly breakdown within the 20's. Also it seemed that Zorn lost his aggressive nature in the second 8 games. It was like the league caught up with his playcalling and he didn't adjust.

The defense should get better and hopefully cause more turnovers. which would mean shorter fields for the offense. My hope is that not only does Thomas steps up this year but also Fred Davis steps up as well. That way we could use more 2 TE sets.

[Redskin Warrior]

Originally Posted by diehardskin2982

When I watched the redskins last year the biggest issue was in the redzone. They just would constantly breakdown within the 20's. Also it seemed that Zorn lost his aggressive nature in the second 8 games. It was like the league caught up with his playcalling and he didn't adjust.

The defense should get better and hopefully cause more turnovers. which would mean shorter fields for the offense. My hope is that not only does Thomas steps up this year but also Fred Davis steps up as well. That way we could use more 2 TE sets.

Mike Sellers on the one-yard line last year!!! Who were we playing again?

[ChickenMonkey]

The biggest problem the Redskins have is BIG PLAYS(20 YRDS PLUS) & SHORT YARDAGE
More down field passed and a RB(aka Anthony Aldridge) that can take it the distance.
I love Portis for 5-10yrds , but hes not goint to take it to the house. Take it to the house backs, like M.Turner,A. Peterson,W.Parker, they can change a close game.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by ChickenMonkey

The biggest problem the Redskins have is BIG PLAYS(20 YRDS PLUS) & SHORT YARDAGE
More down field passed and a RB(aka Anthony Aldridge) that can take it the distance.
I love Portis for 5-10yrds , but hes not goint to take it to the house. Take it to the house backs, like M.Turner,A. Peterson,W.Parker, they can change a close game.

I agree to an extent, but it's sort of what we've molded CP into. That and our downfield run blocking hasn't been so great in the past few years.

[TheSmurfs22]

It is fun to read these predictions but the truth is it long season and there are so many things out of the team's control that who knows what may happen. I doubt any of us thought this time last year that the Cards would be playing in the Superbowl.