NFL Week 11 Analysis: Washington @ Dallas - Final

November 18th, 2007 9:23 pm
by Big Dog

The second half of this game was every bit exciting and eventful as expected. The early stages of the 3rd quarter were slow to start but things started to turn when Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips successfully challenged an INT by Washington Redskins LB Rocky McIntosh.

On the very next play, the Redskins were called for pass interference which turned it into a 51 yard play for the Cowboys. Dallas QB Tony Romo then completed a 31 yard TD pass to WR Terrell Owens.

That pattern continued for pretty much the rest of the game with Owens receiving all 4 of Romo’s touchdown passes, equalling a Cowboys team record for TD receptions in a game. Owens has also climbed to 3rd all time number of receptions. Romo is additionally on his way to setting a new team record for TD passes in a season.

All of this could lead the casual observer to assume that Dallas had a pretty easy/comfortable time of it, and that would be a mistake. The true story is that while Dallas did come away with the win, they didn’t particularly impress. At the end of the day, they did what everybody expected them to do, win at home. They really only got away with it because Owens managed to make Redskins CB Shawn Springs’ day a living hell.

It almost looked personal in a way. Springs wrestled Owens to the ground on his first reception of the day, and Owens took exception to being manhandled when he’d be forced back far enough that the play should have been called dead. To be fair to Springs, the whistle hadn’t blown and it was his job to keep going until it was blown. No flags on the play, but Owens was visibly emotional for the rest of the game and managed to make big breaks, confuse the Redskins coverage and give Romo enough room to make sure they both had a great day. Springs was meant to be covering TO most of the time, and TO worked hard to make sure he didn’t.

That said, the highlight performance of the game was definitely Washington QB Jason Campbell (33-54, 348yds, 2TD, INT). Campbell showed great patience, presence and poise in the pocket, waiting for plays to develop and executing under intense pressure, particularly from Dallas LB DeMarcus Ware. Campbell was especially good when the Redskins were working their hurry-up offense and seemed more comfortable with the rhythm of that part of the game.

All in all, it was an entertaining and tight game that bodes well for the future of the Redskins. The NFC is now shaping up to be quite a contest with the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys now both 9-1 for the season.

Posted in NFL on FOX, DeMarcus Ware, Denver Broncos, Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins, Shawn Springs, Rocky McIntosh, Wade Phillips, NFL Coaches, Green Bay Packers, NFL on television, Analysis, Game, NFL Franchises/Teams, NFL Players, Terrell Owens, Tony Romo, NFL | No Comments »

NFL Week 11 Analysis: Washington @ Dallas

November 18th, 2007 6:54 pm
by Big Dog

First half thoughts:

It’s been an interesting first half, with the improving fortunes of QB Jason Campbell helping to cement the Washington Redskins as early leaders. Washington scoring a TD on their first drive with Campbell completing 3 for 3, hitting TE Chris Cooley twice.

The Dallas Cowboys have struggled in the first half, especially with C Andre Gurode struggling to control his shotgun snaps. Once he has hit QB Tony Romo in the helmet (it deflected into the hands of RB Julius Jones, resulting in a loss of 2 and bringing up 4th down). Twice Gurode has snapped the ball clean over Romo’s head, both times Romo’s scrambled to recover the ball and got passes off. The first was an unfortunate INT caused by a deflection out of WR Terrell Owens’ hands. The second time, the ball again bounced well and sat up for Romo, who turned and fired a bullet to Owens for the first down.

Washington finished the half with a fast drive to find field goal range, burning all their timouts and spiking the ball with 4 seconds left on the clock, to set up a 45 yard FG. The half has finished with Washington leading 10-7, a scoreline that is somewhat flattering to the Cowboys.

That said, the second half is traditionally the Cowboys’ half, so we’ll see how they go.

Posted in NFL on FOX, Julius Jones, Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins, Andre Gurode, Chris Cooley, Dallas Cowboys, Terrell Owens, Analysis, Game, NFL on television, NFL Franchises/Teams, Tony Romo, NFL Players, NFL | No Comments »

NFL Week 3 Instant Analysis New York Giants at Washington Redskins

September 24th, 2007 5:34 am
by Pro Set

NY Giants 24-17 Washington

This was the prototype game of 2 halves. With Washington playing exactly as the script anticipated in the 1^st half, a solid running game and a couple of deep passes and zero turnovers brought them a deserved 14 point half time lead. In the second half, things went wrong. Let’s examine why.

The simple answer is that WSH could not manufacture any first downs. The Redskins went 3 & out on every 3^rd quarter possession and then fumbled the next possession with scores level. Looking inside that problem, the key was first down rushing. WSH ran to the outside on 1^st down after half time and the Giants stuffed those plays. With WSH playing conservatively, losses on 1^st & 10 will lead to 3 & outs more often.

Despite the offensive ineptitude, WSH had 1^st & Goal at the NYG 5 with a minute left, no timeouts, and the clock running. QB Jason Campbell was finally allowed to make some throws and he hit Antwaan Randle El over the middle for a huge gain. Having got to the NYG 5, the Redskins spiked the ball. This was madness. If they had huddled up, and ran a 1^st down play at 30 seconds remaining, and called a pass, the clock would have stopped after that play (assuming incompletion or TD). This panic and disorganization was unacceptably poor.

The Redskins look like frontrunners to me. I can’t see them overcoming too many deficits this season. This makes the loss of a home 14 point lead an utter disaster for WSH. This loss already feels as though it will cost WSH any shot at winning the division.

For the Giants, Eli Manning is making progress. He overcame a 2 INT outing to move the chains and generally looked like a seasoned NFL QB. To get a divisional road win after trailing by 2 TDs at the half is never something to criticize. Unlike DAL QB Tony Romo, I think that Manning can improve further. The effort of a hobbled WR Plaxico Burress was also very impressive. Playing through the pain barrier is a sure way to unite a fractured locker-room.

The Giants will need to bring their second half defense when they play PHI next week. The Giants will also need a running game. RB Derrick Ward looked solid today. Whether he can be a consistent NFL featured back is a matter for debate. Ward himself can settle it by dominating against a suspect PHI defense next week. Unfortunately for the Giants I think that poor play-calling and hesitance by WSH made the job too easy. The Redskins lost despite a +2 turnover margin and a 17 point first half.

Posted in Jason Campbell, Antwaan Randle El, Washington Redskins, Week 3 Instant Analysis, Plaxico Burress, NY Giants, Analysis, NFL Franchises/Teams, Eli Manning, NFL | No Comments »

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

MNF coverage crippled by commentary

September 18th, 2007 1:50 am
by Pro Set

Despite Joe Theismann leaving the booth, tonight’s MNF coverage really demonstrated how far matters have deteriorated since Al Michaels departed for NBC.

With a tight, hugely important divisional showdown in play, (yes, actually in play) the long-suffering viewers were treated to a torturous over-indulgence of Charles Barkley followed by a fourth quarter descent into storyline wonderland that was just infuriating.

Barkley entered the booth in the third quarter and made some prescient and insightful remarks on the pressures facing QB Donovan McNabb. This was a really interesting period as McNabb battled to keep PHI within striking distance with the fans on his back.

But the MNF crew just had to begin pontificating on the New England spygate incident. This had been covered, on national television, 24 hours previously when the Patriots were actually playing. The relevance and newsworthiness of the MNF input was negligible, at best. The story of the evening was the game in front of them, and the issue at hand was how PHI would convert its painful but stuttering drives into TD opportunities, whilst getting pressure on WSH QB Jason Campbell on the other side of the ball without letting the Redskins run freely.

Mercifully the enforced conversation created by Barkley departed at the end of the third quarter. I’m not sure that I could have coped if Mike (the Choirboy) Tirico had mentioned again that Barkley covers the NBA for TNT, and that “our (Tirico’s and Barkley’s) paths will cross many times during the (NBA) season.”

We all then suffered as Tony Kornheiser, who tries hard but does not seem to have the patience to appreciate a full game of NFL football, started soliloquising on the future of WSH coach Joe Gibbs. The relevance of this subject matter to the game at hand was zero. It’s Week 2 and the Redskins are 1-0 so the future of the coach is absolutely moot when a 2-0 start is one defensive stop away. My bet is that Joe Gibbs, as well as every interested viewer, was fully focussed on how to contain the threatened PHI comeback.

I felt that Kornehiser had saved this up for a large PHI lead to fill 4th quarter dead time, and refused to allow the game to dictate the storylines. This manufactured storyline is beloved by the MNF crew. It simply gives them an excuse to follow a prepared script and cue up something that gives the aura of preparedness.

I feel ungrateful criticising a crew that has replaced the Mike Patrick, Paul Maguire, Joe Theismann, Suzy Kolber human interest-athon that used to crush my will to breathe.

But Tirico insists on explaining the ultra obvious during the one game of the week that is on cable, and might be expected to draw the most discerning and knowledgeable audience. Kornheiser is a newspaper man and loves to focus on pre-game storylines that can be “followed up” and “developed.”

I yearn for the return of Dick Stockton and Matt Millen, or Ray Bentley and Ron Pitts.

Posted in Washington Redskins, Al Michaels, Tony Kornheiser, Dick Stockton, Matt Millen, Jason Campbell, Joe Gibbs, Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles, Monday Night Football, Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, NFL on NBC | No Comments »

Week 2 Instant Analysis MNF edition

September 18th, 2007 1:11 am
by Pro Set

Washington 20-12 Philadelphia

The Philadelphia defence simply could not sustain pressure on the Washington offence. The WSH running game did exactly what the preview called for: controlled first down situations and tried to hit the trick play (half back option pass on 1st & 10 at PHI 22 with 7:04 left in the 3rd quarter). The speed of WR Santana Moss drove the PHI secondary deep and opened up run-after-catch yards for TE Calvin Cooley as an outlet for QB Jason Campbell (16-29 [209; TD; INT]).

Combining this with a Philadelphia offense that lacked big play capability, especially in the second half, the Redskins were able to win the game by playing fully within their capabilities.

Yesterday, New England QB Tom Brady displayed amazing accuracy as the Patriots blasted the Chargers. In the final 2 minutes, on 3rd & 6 from the WSH 8, Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (28-46 [240]) missed WR Kevin Curtis on a quick out at the goal line that would have allowed PHI a chance to tie the game with a 2 pt conversion.

All throughout the match, the PHI offence lacked punch and failed to dominate. The injury to TE LJ Smith nullified Smith as a passing threat whilst WR Reggie Brown looks like a solid 3rd receiver at best. NFL starting WRs need to get more separation than the PHI players did.

WSH took some good lessons from Week 1 in recognising that McNabb is far less mobile than previous seasons. Since PHI lacked a true deep threat, as noted above, WSH played good tight coverage and trusted S Sean Taylor and S Levon Landry to clean up anything that got behind the corners and linebackers.

Despite their stilted output, PHI was still in a position to score the requisite TD at the end of the game. To demonstrate how McNabb is not near his best at the moment, examine his decision making on 2nd & 2 from the WSH 41 with 3:15 remaining in the game. WSH dropped 8 defenders in coverage, fearful of the big play on 2nd & short. McNabb threw the ball deep where it was WR Greg Lewis (who has appeared to have lost his big play ability from 2004 and 2005) and 3 WSH defenders. The ensuing 3rd & 2 was a telegraphed rush for a 3 yard loss (causing PHI to burn a precious timeout) and the drive, despite converting on 4th & 5, never regained momentum.

I felt that, on the other side of the game, the WSH offence was run well by QB Jason Campbell. As well as Campbell played, including a couple of huge 3rd down conversions on consecutive drives in the second half that brought 10 points, I thought that WSH FB Mike Sellers was also deeply influential. His lead blocking was superb. He really took on the linebacker in the hole and allowed RB Clinton Portis and RB Ladell Betts to gain momentum and carry tacklers forward. Some of the leads off tackle or over guard were beautifully executed.

For the Eagles, next week becomes a must win and I have to say that their defence looked surprisingly vulnerable. On reflection, having reviewed the play-by-play, I put this down to the solid WSH play calling that never gave the Eagles a key to what was coming. As long as the tight running game works on first down, WSH is going to be a handful for most teams.

Posted in Monday Night Football, Week 2 Instant Analysis, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, NFL Franchises/Teams, Game, Analysis, NFL | No Comments »