Is Fred Davis the Redskins' V-Factor?

by Kevin Ewoldt on Sep 2, 2011 9:11 AM EDT in Redskins Analysis

KC Joyner, a contributor to ESPN and also known as the Football Scientist, picked the "Michael Vick factor" for all 32 NFL teams. In general, KC defines these players not simply as game-breaking, home-run threats. They're also "impossible to game-plan against: a safety who roams without tendencies or a tight end who lines up all over the field. Like Vick, V-Factors make an offensive or defensive coordinator's game week prep seem like one long nightmare."

Joyner picked Fred Davis for the Redskins:

Chris Cooley has a higher profile, but Davis causes more trouble for defenses. His go-to move: fake a block on a bootleg, sneak down the line and then shoot upfield (catches of 62 and 71 yards last season). It's a play that keeps opponents from clamping down on the slant run or bootleg pass.

I'm not sure agree. First, shouldn't your V-Factor be on the field? For example, in the Tampa game last December, Fred Davis was on the field for 20 of the team's 65 snaps. Fred does have the canny ability to get wide open, but I think the Redskins have more ammo and versatility with Santana Moss and Brandon Banks.

Moss: It's clear his route running is on an elite tear. When he makes his cuts, he is routinely open for the catch. Whether the OLine and QB have their timing down to get him the ball at that exact, planned moment is another story, but teams simply have to account for Moss at all times. Plus, unlike Fred, Moss still has the speed to outrun the secondary.

Brandon Banks: We saw Banks' full value in last night's Tampa game. The Lil Assassin not only took one to the house, but he forced the Punter to kick several balls out of bounds. When a team forces a punter to do that, it vastly shortens the field for the Redskins. (Rogers' two punts out of bounds I saw were 40 yards and 45 yards).

We potentially could even put Tim Hightower on this list above Fred.

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Comments

That is an unfortunate picture on so many levels

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
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by Parks Smith on Sep 2, 2011 9:19 AM EDT reply actions

There’s really just 1 level unless crooked first down markers really bother you.

"It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear." - Norm Peterson

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by Kevin Ewoldt on Sep 2, 2011 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Crotch grab and burgundy on burgundy

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by Parks Smith on Sep 2, 2011 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

i don't mind them

I have to turn the TV off when we do white on whites.

"It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear." - Norm Peterson

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by Kevin Ewoldt on Sep 2, 2011 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

They just remind me of the Pittsburgh beat down.

We haven’t done white on white since Gibbs, right?

Editor at Hogs Haven - Redskins Blog
Twitter: @RVAparks Check it out for the latest Redskins news and opinions

by Parks Smith on Sep 2, 2011 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I beleive so...

HTTR!

by mkjo on Sep 2, 2011 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

we did white on white with Zorn

though i prefer not to remember Mr. Maroon and Black either.

He let the Players choose the uniforms that year. It’s how we got the White/ White AND the Burgundy/ Burgundy.

Hail the Burgundy/Gold

Fear the Turtle!

by HailToTheRedskins on Sep 2, 2011 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Burgundy on Burgundy

I wonder, if we had beaten the Steelers when we first brought out those uni’s if fans would like them more.

HTTR!

by mkjo on Sep 2, 2011 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't see how Davis causes trouble for defenses when he drops so many passes

"If a man speaks and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong???"

by ThuGodfather on Sep 2, 2011 9:25 AM EDT reply actions

Don't put alot of stock into it

I would say Landry or Orakpo as well. When Landry is healthy he can dominate. Many teams specificly gameplanned to stop Orakpo.

This is the same write up that said the skins would go 3-13 and be about the worst team in the NFL and then said to pick the over on the Skins ending with 6 wins.

Also Antonio Pierce and Tim Hasselbeck’s little discussion seemed like it was from before the draft. They basically said the Skins will field the same team as last year. Of course the whole ESPN article was based on the fact that we don’t have an elite QB.

When life gives you potatoes, make potato salad.
When life gives you shit, make shit salad.

by 64ShagginWagon on Sep 2, 2011 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

I think Landry, Orakpo (maybe Kerrigan now?), and Fletcher could all be our "V factor" too...

Considering our defense is significantly further ahead than our offense, my guess is that our V factor is someone that side of the ball. (Or Banks on ST)

by preppiejack on Sep 2, 2011 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

Redskins are Rebuilding and dont have a V-factor

I am more excited about this year than many of the years in the past even when I drank the kool-aid and believed the skins were going to make a run. The 2011 skins are an 8-8 team but the future is so bright.
The Redskins don’t have that V-factor or enough key players to single out a player.
Banks- Kick it away. Orakpo-slide blocking to his side. Etc.
I’d claim Jenkins next year as the V-factor, if he’s not doubled then he will be in the backfield. If you double Jenkins then Rak and Kerrigan take over.
The V-factor is being built!

by dr WNC on Sep 2, 2011 10:50 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

agree with this

There isn’t really anyone I could single out but I wouldn’t necessarily call that a bad thing.

As long as there aren’t any players teams can look to target as a weakness ill be happy.

by PJ_21 on Sep 2, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Not having a V-factor isn’t all bad. It’s sort of like Angry Birds. Some of the setups have obvious targets that if you hit them the whole house of cards will come crashing down. The ones that don’t are the real problem.

Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital. -Aaron Levenstein

by MoMoMojo on Sep 2, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Brian Orakpo will be our V-Factor guy

by jmpalomo on Sep 2, 2011 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Aw hells no.

Everybody’s got a game plan for Orakpo. It involves a bucketload of holding that doesn’t get called.

Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital. -Aaron Levenstein

by MoMoMojo on Sep 2, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Banks and versatitlity

Thas like oil in water he is greatly dependent on the special teams unit to make a play and besides that he can’t play receiver he is a X factor, at some random point n a game or season he can rip one off under the right circumstances.. Fred Davis while not consistent or established physically possesses the tools that creates matchup problems which would make him difficult to gamplan for hence the “V” factor

by BmoreRedskin on Sep 2, 2011 10:57 AM EDT via mobile reply actions