NFL Week 3 Featured Preview: New York Giants @ Washington Redskins

September 21st, 2007 7:38 pm
by Pro Set

NY Giants (0-2) @ Washington (2-0) 4:15pm ET on FOX

The last time that NY Giants visited Washington, the Giants were under enormous pressure to win in order to salvage a playoff appearance from the ruins of a 6-2 start. Now the Giants return to Landover, MD with a worrisome 0-2 start and a coach (Tom Coughlin) who is firmly on the hot seat.

When the Giants have the ball, all the pressure will be on NYG QB Eli Manning. Unless or until RB Brandon Jacobs has a break out game, Manning will have to carry this team. Jacobs is a straight ahead power runner, and his best chance against the WSH defense will be to run over undersized defenders like MLB London Fletcher. Don’t expect to see Jacobs running counters or tosses. If WSH DT Cornelius Griffin, who has a quick first step, can get penetration, the Giants running game is in serious trouble. If Jacobs does have some success, expect to see S Sean Taylor try to come off the weak edge and run the play down behind the line of scrimmage.

NYG figures, however, to be a passing offense. Up front, WSH DE Philip Daniels is expected to return after missing the sensational MNF road win at Philadelphia. Combined with DE Andre Carter, this provides the Redskins with good pass rush capabilities from their front four.

I think that the key match up will be C Shaun O’Hara and G Chris Snee against Griffin. Manning needs to be able to step up and step into his throws. The WSH edge pass rush will be far less effective unless the pocket can also be collapsed through the middle. Success here for the NYG protection scheme will also force the Redskins to blitz more. The Giants should welcome that. WR Plaxico Burress can use his size when covered one-on-one. The WSH secondary is full of depth and CB Carlos Rogers and CB Shawn Springs will be able to play aggressive defense if Taylor and S LaRon Landry are sitting over the top in a 2 deep shell. Taylor and Landry have great range. NYG must eliminate one of these two by forcing them up near the line.

When Washington has the ball, expect a conservative game plan. With NYG having conceded 80 points through 2 weeks, the Redskins will look to pound it out and then hit WR Santana Moss on the deep play action pass. I expect Joe Gibbs to run early and often over the left side of the line. With G Randy Thomas and T Jon Jansen both injured, the left side of line is stronger for WSH. RB Clinton Portis and RB Ladell Betts must be patient. I think the Redskins could have a huge day on the ground.

As for the WSH passing game, QB Jason Campbell is rapidly improving. He can throw a nice deep ball, although he did overthrow a wide open Moss last week. Where I think that Campbell can excel, though, is on the move. Expect to see the Redskins leave 7 in to block, and Campbell to break to his right if the first read is covered. He will then look to dump the ball to Betts or to TE Chris Cooley for the first down. Campbell completed several huge 3rd down conversions last week by passing well on the move.

In summary, this will be a battle of contrasting philosophies. The Giants will come into Washington and hope that their franchise QB can tear up a solid WSH defense and lead them to victory. The Redskins will rely on a consistent first down running attack complemented by a relatively mobile young QB. This series has a recent history of surprise performances. But Washington won me over last week with their long second half scoring drives.

Prediction: WSH

Line: WSH

Posted in Analysis, Chris Cooley, Chris Snee, Clinton Portis, Cornelius Griffin, Eli Manning, Game, Jason Campbell, Joe Gibbs, Jon Jansen, Ladell Betts, NFL, NFL Game Previews, NY Giants, Philip Daniels, Santana Moss, Shaun O'Hara, Washington Redskins | No Comments »

Week 2 Featured Preview

September 17th, 2007 1:49 am
by Pro Set

Washington @ Philadelphia 8:30 ET on ESPN

When Washington has the ball, the loss of T Jon Jansen to a season-ending broken ankle will be keenly felt. Although some feel that Jansen is overrated, he is a real presence in run-blocking and has great experience in facing the Philadelphia blitzes: an attribute not shared by WSH QB Jason Campbell.

I expect that both RB Clinton Portis and RB Ladell Betts will need to have huge performances for the Redskins to win. Portis must control the game by attacking the Eagles on early downs. If I were Joe Gibbs I would look to quicker, slashing running plays rather than slower traps or counters. With the amount of movement and variation in the pre-snap looks of the PHI defense, it is better to run straight at them and make them react and tackle, hopefully from out of position, rather than letting them come at you.

The WSH passing game cannot be expected to carry this offense. As talented and fast as WR Antwaan Randle El and WR Santana Moss are, Jason Campbell must be careful of the range of FS Brian Dawkins, as well as the Eagles pass rush. Do not be surprised if the Redskins attemtpt a trick play or two in the passing game.

For PHI, patience is the key. Assuming that the special teams disasters of Week 1 are eliminated, the WSH offense will simply not be good enough to win the game without turnover help. I thought that QB Donovan McNabb played quite well last week, despite the poor completion percentage. He made the right reads, did not force passes, and led the Eagles to a run of three solid scoring drives.

Philadelphia should concentrate on a conservative game plan against the WSH defense. I would pound the rock with RB Brian Westbrook and RB Correll Buckhalter. The WSH defense is prove to concentration lapses and will get impatient unless it can create the big sack or turnover. Last week I felt that PHI underused the backs in the passing game. If PHI rectifies this, and McNabb throws for even 55% with no picks, PHI will score enough points to win at home.

Overall, PHI looks too good on both sides of the ball. They cost themselves a road win against a good Packers team last week and so this divisional home game is a must-win. Although I still have doubts over PHI coach Andy Reid under pressure and in tricky clock situations, I am convinced that his players should be good enough to get the job done.

Prediction: PHI

Line: PHI

Posted in Andy Reid, Antwaan Randle El, Brian Dawkins, Brian Westbrook, Clinton Portis, Correll Buckhalter, ESPN, Jason Campbell, Joe Gibbs, Jon Jansen, Ladell Betts, Monday Night Football, NFL, NFL Coaches, NFL Game Previews, NFL on television, Santana Moss | No Comments »