Redskins vs Cowboys: Haynesworth & Corner Blitzing are the Keys to Victory
by KevinE on Nov 19, 2009 10:19 AM EST
in Analysis
53 comments
Well, it's Cowboys week and if there's ever a time to stay medium, this is the week. Vegas opened the line with Cowboys as 13 point favorites, which America bold-heartedly disagrees with as the line has moved down to -11. In my weekly routine of combing over the opponent's offensive stats, the Cowboys are damn impressive. They average a 2nd best rushing yards per carry (5.1), but only rank 24th in the league in rushing attempts. Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett has been catching a LOT of heat this week in Big D for abandoning the run, so I expect the Skins D to face a lot of rushes early.
Their passing game is equally as scary with a league leading 11 passing plays that have gone for 40+ yards, while Romo has only given up a measly 6 INTs so far. November is Romo's month, 15-2 for his career, but alas....one of those losses was against the burgundy & gold.
Whichever team runs the ball well is going to win, and looking at the rushing statistics, it's clear Albert Hanyesworth is without doubt the key to this game. He was wearing a protective boot for his sprained ankle yesterday, but is expected to play. Special thanks to HH member PommyLee for putting the following graphs together.
This chart visualizes the power runs, which is the % success rate rushing the ball on 3rd or 4th down with under 2 yards to get the 1st down. Dallas has a 100% success rate running right in short yardage situations while Stephon Heyer and the Redskins have a 0% success rate running the same way:
Even though the Cowboys have a lot of success running right in short yardage situations, their success is running the ball left and up the middle. This next chart shows the number of rushes for each team left, right, and up the middle. Just under half of the Cowgirls' big play rushes are to the left. Phillip Daniels has his work cut out for him as this chart shows:
PommyLee: Dallas has 5 negative yard plays running right which I assume must all be sweeps on early downs considering their 100% success in short yardage. Even though we have 0% success running right in short yardage we get some success with long runs running right and left
Moving over to the passing game, pressure is IMPERATIVE. The Cowgirls have allowed a 19th worst 22 sacks. Green Bay deserves a lot of credit since they notched 5 sacks last week. Don Capers used a 3-4 scheme and blitzed relentlessly to major success:
"They have a good scheme, they throw a lot of guys around and they have good players who know how to (blitz) and it just made for confusion from time to time," Romo said
Romo has actually struggled against all the 3-4 defenses he's faced. In regards to pressure, Defensive Coordinator Greg Blache prefers to blitz the safeties, but he has changed that up this year. In the squeaker win over Tampa, Blache blitzed all the corners at least once with Tryon drawing the most praise:
"[Tryon] brings that mentality of special teams to defense," [Secondary Coach Jerry] Gray said. "[Now] you've brought in a guy who has reckless abandon to go and make plays. Justin could have blitzed and when the quarterback scrambled away, but he accelerated and didn't slow down until he got his hands on him. That's the mentality they teach on special teams. It carries over."
The Cowboys O-line is banged up, which the Redskins welcome, especially Andre Carter. Right Tackle Marc Columbo is likely gone for the year, and Doug Free will step in, who has never started a game before.
If the Skins show a 3-4 at times, it's imperative they get pressure with Haynesworth in the middle. The big man also takes away the rush the middle...if he can make it through this game without injury, that $100 million contract might just be worth it.
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Agree
Let’s continue with the Burgundy & Gold tradition of retiring Cowboy QBs in big games – Aikman, White, and now Romo.
Also, remember that the “bigger” the game the more likelihood that Romo will collapse on his own.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
by Scott E on Nov 19, 2009 11:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Unless Dallas wins it
then the game was no longer big… (see ATL and Philly…. and NYG last year)
"I’m ready to go here, all right? It’s like R. Kelly at recess."
"You will come back stronger then ever. Like Lance Armstrong. But with two balls."
-Ari Gold
by Young Wiz on Nov 20, 2009 10:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Remember last year, when we beat them in Dallas,
They didn’t rush a lot. Then they came to FedEx and ran all over us. I imagine Garrett will have learned his lesson and we will get a heavy dose of Barber.
by monk81 on Nov 19, 2009 11:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I hope we learned our lesson
and stop barber
SpotieOtieDopalicious
by Rekka on Nov 19, 2009 11:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
and keep the D off the field for more than 10 minutes total
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
by smutsboy1 on Nov 19, 2009 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Awesome job
Definitely nervous about our growing trend to give up big running plays. It seems like we have had a lot of trouble getting penetration on stretch plays, letting backs turn the corner for big gains. Usually that is London’s wheelhouse, which leads me to believe teams have done a good job getting through our interior lineman to block in the second level. His stats for the season support the impression I’ve had:
In the first 5 games, London averaged 11.8 tackles per game (assisted and unassisted). In the last 4, he’s averaged 4.5, with only 2 against Denver. Clearly not the London we all know and love.
Obviously, if the corners and safeties can tackle effectively, it will help. Also, this might be a symptom of Big Al not playing his gap assignment and trying to chase down the ball carrier instead of swallowing up lineman before they get to the second level. I don’t have the stats to back those up, but it makes sense to me.
by Boo. on Nov 19, 2009 11:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
It still comes down
to fundamentals – hard hitting, grasping, and take down – no matter who is tackling whom. This has to be a priority for all on D and Spec Teams if we are to succeed.
If they are successful smashmouthing us then less chances of Romo making an error and more likely the coverage will get beat on pass plays.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
by Scott E on Nov 19, 2009 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tony Romo is the key ....
I will say it now Dalllas will not be us with its running game only. If we can get to Romo early and keep the game close going into the half we will win. We are a second half dominate team. The key to getting to Romo is beating the replacement Right Tackle.
by LETJASONPASS on Nov 19, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I understand the concern about the run, but......
I am more concerned about the big passing plays. Look at this past week against Denver. Where was the secondary when Brandon Marshall got free on those 2 plays in the first half?
Bringing up the game is Dallas last year is somewhat irrelevant. The secondary last year was playing a lot better than what they have been this year. I think the defense is suseptable to big plays in the passing and running game. The key has definitely been stated above- this team needs to play solid fundamental football. They need to tackle, get pressure on Romo, and not let there to be too many holes for the running backs (I’m more worried about Choice than Barber) and seams for Miles to get in and make big plays down the field.
Green Bay set a good example last week. The defense needs to follow their lead.
by JayWill on Nov 19, 2009 12:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The two "WTFs" from last week
I see more as aberrations than anything else. That doesn’t happen to our D a whole lot. Even the big plays that HAVE happened this year were from missed tackles, not the missed assignments like they were against Denver (Carlos and Smoot both managed to have brain farts during the same game).
If they manage to make good tackles on the first hit, then they should be able to stop Barber, who is known for breaking through arm tackles with ease.
SpotieOtieDopalicious
by Rekka on Nov 19, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The big plays
were in the passing game last week, the running game the week before, and a combination of pass and run against the eagles. We can’t just react to what Dallas does, we need to blow up their scheme, stomp on Gurode’s head, and piss all over Romo. One thing I LOVE is how hard we’ve been hitting.
by Boo. on Nov 19, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Miles Austin
doesn’t concern me all that much, I don’t think we’ll be seeing that 3 game stretch or whatever out of him anymore.
Two things that concern me:
Them running the ball down our throats because their three backs are ridiculous and Felix Jones has been pretty quite lately so I believe he’s in for a big game.
The second is Jason Witten. I know he hasn’t had a monster year or anything, but he’s still Jason Witten. Always seems to be making that big play for them against us.
Oh and Roy Williams is a bum, as always.
by travisjh86 on Nov 19, 2009 1:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We are going to have to
Play nearly a perfect game on offense and defense to win this one. We can’t give up those long balls like we did to Denver and still win this one.
by Kurtstack on Nov 19, 2009 12:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Landry
Should be cut if he tries to throw his body on the ground in an attempt to bring down M. Barber. Landry better stick his facemask in Barber’s chest!! Landry wants to be known as a hard-hitting safety, well now he has his opportunity, and he will have plenty of opportunities in this game. I don’t recall a single “legal” monster hit that Landry has dished out. Come on Landry make me a believer!!
by Kurtstack on Nov 19, 2009 12:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
So True
Landry and DeAngelo Hall better stick their helmuts into anyone.Either one of these guys haven’t tackled anyone all year!!! Hall should give back some of that 45 mil. for every tackle he misses.He’d be broke!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by freshairfreddy on Nov 20, 2009 2:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Our trend recently has been to start slow
Or worse (against Atlanta) to not start at all. Against the Eagles, Falcons and Broncos, we played better after the initial thwacking. If we can eliminate the gimme’s on the front side of this game and make Dallas have to earn each yard, I am confident that in the second half we will be able to outscore them. I’m sick of handing out first downs and big plays on penalties and missed assignments in the first quarter/half.
We need to pick up where we left off from the game before.
If we win the toss, do you kick or receiver?
by Sugar on Nov 19, 2009 12:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hey I agree
We always win the second half of each game. If we could count the second half of each game only we would be undefeated.
by LETJASONPASS on Nov 19, 2009 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
kick
I trust this team more to respond to being down, than to be the aggressor and score first.
SpotieOtieDopalicious
by Rekka on Nov 19, 2009 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
that is a coaching problem
Piss poor coaching Zorn is a cream puff and it shows with the lack of intensity they start games off with.
by LETJASONPASS on Nov 19, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I always prefer to kick
I think its such a boost to be able to get the ball to start the second half, establish momentum down the stretch
by Boo. on Nov 19, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
also if you are lucky
and get the final possession of the 1st half, you get the opportunity to score twice in a row
Pommylee
by Pommylee on Nov 19, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Devin Thomas and effort ...
If every player played with the same amount of effort that Devin Thomas put into that one catch and run we would be undefeated. DT looked like a superstar on that play that was one of the best yards after catch that I have seen in a while. How many people did he make miss in that short of a distance ???
by LETJASONPASS on Nov 19, 2009 1:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I like to receive after the half also
But it would be nice not to be down by mutiple touchdowns but only thee points like last week. This has not been the case for us though. We normally are more than a field goal behind after the half.
by LETJASONPASS on Nov 19, 2009 1:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Percentages are good.
But they mean more when you can see the underlying numbers too. Do you have them for the 3rd and 4th and 2 yards graph?
by SSBlitz on Nov 19, 2009 1:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
go to football outsiders
they have those stats. 2 weeks ago we were the number 1 team in stopping those plays.
by BayAreaBullet on Nov 19, 2009 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Big Plays
My fiance is a Dallas fan – I know, sucks for me – so I have watched pretty much every game this year. I’m not as worried about Barber as I am Choice. They seem to start the game off with Barber running a bunch to set up the deep ball to Austin, but then they switch to Choice as the game goes on, especially on 3rd downs and if they get behind. Also, If we don’t slide a safety over to help cover Austin on whatever side he lines up on (he switches a lot) and cover Williams man to man, it’s going to be a long day… And last, Witten has sucked this year, so look for them to get him going. We don’t seem to cover TE’s too well..
by tmarine17 on Nov 19, 2009 1:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hate to say the obvious but the team with the most points win
Washington’s Defense will hold Dallas’ offense to less than 24 points, even if they give up some big pass plays and some big running plays
Washington’s offense scores more than 24 points and the team will win.
Simple…game plan for the Defense to continue to do what it does, limiting teams from scoring, great adjustments
Offense game plan to score points by Running first and then passing….Redskin Football Wins
by dr WNC on Nov 19, 2009 1:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Do you think we can put 24 on the board?
Don’t forget last week was the first time we actually scored more than 17. I am impressed though becasue Denver’s defense this year definitely turned it around from last year. I believe they’re top 10. Either way, our offense has it’s work cut out for them every week no matter what defense. Hopefully our line can give Campbell some time and make some holes for whoever is in the back field against Dallas’s big front seven.
Last year Levi Jones only gave up one sack to D. Ware, and considering the year Ware had last year thats pretty good. I know he started out slow this year and has had 7 sacks in the past 4 games or so and that scares me. He’s a beast. I trust our defense, it’s all up to our line on Sunday as it always is.
by travisjh86 on Nov 19, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No, that's my concern
The defense has allowed WTF plays, but overall they’ve held everyone to less than 24 points, most to less than 17 points. I see no reason the Defense will not do the job again this week.
So, given the Defense will do it’s job without or without a statistical review, the question and concern for the Redskins should be can the Offense which continues to struggle, be able to score 24 or more points against Dallas.
Can the offense score 24 points against the Cowboys…
Answer this question as a yes-Redskns win
Answer as a no-Redskins lose
What needs to happen for this to occur:
by dr WNC on Nov 19, 2009 2:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Running game needs to get started early and often. Which means the line has to be cohesive, and consistent.
What needs to happen for this to occur:
SpotieOtieDopalicious
by Rekka on Nov 19, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
24 pts will be tough
last week we had only 2 penalties and scoring drives of 11, 12, and 13 plays. Negative plays, incompletions, and even short 1-2 yard runs really crush the Skins drives. When these events occur, they have to execute the next two plays to keep the drive going (esp when they happen on first down). 2nd-and-10 is really tough for our O b/c we don’t have many 10-15 yard plays…they have to execute two plays in a row to get a first. Last week they avoided these plays and seemed to get good positive yardage on first down, this really helped them put up 27 points. Being on the road this week will make it difficult to go 10+ plays three times, I’m looking for some bigger plays for some 5-8 play scoring drives and for the D to give us a short field with a turnover to get us 24+ points.
by liger99 on Nov 19, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Nice post
I keep hearing/reading the Romo is the most blitzed QB this year. Does anyone know why this is? Blache does not like to blitz, so I’m concerned that other teams game plan to blitz him and we may not. I know Romo likes to move around in the pocket to see the field better, but I’m sure if the blitzing is to limit his ability to do this or not. Their line is also on the bigger side, are they poor pass blockers b/c of this?
by liger99 on Nov 19, 2009 3:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Losing Marc Columbo really hurts that power run right
by KevinE on Nov 19, 2009 4:07 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
That will be the key to the game ..
Like my earlier post said the key will be beating the replacement right tackle getting to Romo. They will not run on us without Romo being effective.
by LETJASONPASS on Nov 19, 2009 7:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Plus Flozell has been a huge liability...
Getting beat bad and has a tender ankle. Orakpo should tear him apart…especially since Sackpo spent all training camp going up against the best (Samuels)
by KevinE on Nov 19, 2009 7:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
ORakpo nicknames deserve their own thread :)
especially since Sackpo
Why is it that right from the start of training camp this guy became a Fan Favourite, (obviously he has proven himself and deserves his reputation) but what was it that so early in the piece won over the Skins Faithful
Pommylee
by Pommylee on Nov 19, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
B/c the Redskins haven't had a good pass rush in almost 10 years
Everyone knew this kid was gonna be a beast, so when he fell to #12…it was like the Skins won the lottery.
by KevinE on Nov 19, 2009 10:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was at Fedex Field for draft day...
Strangers were hugging each other and absolutely going nuts. It was a great day.
by KevinE on Nov 19, 2009 10:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LMAO
at the fact that ppl were hugging but more that you would turn up to the field for ’Draft Day!!!"
America, home of the craziest (and best) sports fans in the world!!!! ur all nuts (in a good way)
Pommylee
by Pommylee on Nov 19, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, isn't that special?
You make me wanna puke.
How bout dem Frogs!!!!
by DIRE WOLF on Nov 20, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I saw the Youtube video of him working out
THAT brought me over big time.
SpotieOtieDopalicious
by Rekka on Nov 20, 2009 9:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Which Corner do we send??
Anyone other then Tryon shooting out of the Nickle would be a mistake. D.Hall is afraid to tackle and Carlos Rogers, well, i hope he is benched/cut/traded. His uninspired play, in the words of Mike Gundy, MAKES ME WANNA PUKE
by Elaw6 on Nov 20, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
you're right
nobody BUT tryon should be blitzing from the nickel slot. As fast as he is, and he’s about the only defensive back I tryst (besides Chris Horton and Doughty) to actually make the tackle.
SpotieOtieDopalicious
by Rekka on Nov 20, 2009 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
do we really need to blitz
With Haynesworh in the middle taking Double teams and Carter playing out of his skin and Orakpo justifying the hype, cant we just leave it to our front four to bring the pressure
IF we leave our secondary in cover that just buys more time for the D-Line to do their thing right???
Pommylee
by Pommylee on Nov 21, 2009 9:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'll be shocked if Hanyesworth makes it 4 quarters...
Much less 2
by KevinE on Nov 21, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm still seeing
Reporters saying that Haynesworth is unlikely to play. Steve Wyche and John Clayton specifically.
by bigrm18 on Nov 21, 2009 4:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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