Being a guy that likes to predict things correctly, I spend an exorbitant amount of time looking at stats and trends. Take for example the fewest amount of points the Saints scored at home ALL last season was 27 (they scored 40+ six times). That is absurd. Have the Redskins ever scored 27+ points in the Snyder era?
OK, on to week one. Robert Griffin III will be making his debut in the raucous Superdome. I cannot explain to you how loud it is in there. I went to the TB at NO game last year and it was incredibly loud...so much that I had to cover my ears at two points during 3rd down drives. I'm a regular at the 9:30 Club and have a high threshold for noise - this is way different. So, how will the Redskins handle this type of noise? They've simulated noise in the practice bubble, but I doubt it's the same decibel as the Superdome. The good news is the Redskins' starting OLine consists of players that all played last year for the Redskins (continuity!)...the bad news is rookie QBs don't have a lot of success. Here's the stat lines for rookie QBs at the Superdome the last three years. The TD/INT ratio is 2/11:
|
2011 |
Passing |
Yards |
TD |
INT |
Sacks |
Week |
Score |
|
Cam Newton |
15/25 |
158 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
17 |
17-45 loss |
|
2010
|
Passing
|
Yards
|
TD
|
INT
|
Sacks
|
Week
|
Score
|
|
Jimmy Clausen |
11/21 |
146 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
14-16 loss |
|
Colt McCoy |
9/16 |
74 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
30-17 WIN |
|
Sam Bradford |
18/32 |
231 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
14 |
13-31 loss |
|
2009
|
Passing
|
Yards
|
TD
|
INT
|
Sacks
|
Week
|
Score
|
|
Matt Stafford |
16/37 |
205 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
27-45 loss |
|
Mark Sanchez |
14/24 |
138 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
10-24 loss |
|
Josh Freeman |
21/31 |
271 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
16 |
20-17 WIN |
I'm sure you're seeing what I'm seeing. Colt McCoy won a game at New Orleans? Not really. The Browns had three INTs in the first half alone. All said and done the Browns had two pick sixes, a 60 yard fake punt return, and a successful trick play pass of Peyton Hillis to McCoy for a first down. Any means necessary!
It was clear Drew Brees struggles mightily when he can't step into a pass. If Bowen, Cofield, and Carriker can get in his 5'10" face, the Redskins day will be a lot easier on both sides of the ball. The Redskins DLine is everything for this game....not RGIII. Another key advantage is the Redskins have the element of surprise. What parts of the playbook will Shanahan let loose week 1 vs the Saints? Fred Davis has been awfully quiet in pre-season...he's my guess.