:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20491517/20130929_kkt_se9_076.0.jpg)
The defense answered the bell.
After 3 weeks of embarrassing defensive performances, the Redskins defensive unit stepped up their game. Highlighted by 7 sacks, 2 turnovers, and 1 defensive touchdown, the Redskins defense only allowed 7 points (other 7 came on the special teams blocked punt) and shut the Raiders out through 3 quarters. It wasn't pretty at times (ie. missed tackling) and it was against a backup quarterback, but this was a road win the Redskins needed to right their season. With all other NFC East chips falling into place (Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants all losing), the Redskins are right back into the thick of things going into their Bye Week.
The offense was underwhelming once again. The Redskins offense continued their scoreless 1st quarter streak and only put up 3 points in the first half. That puts their offensive point total at 10 first half points through 4 games. By comparison, the defense has put up 21 first half points thus far. Saying they need to get out to faster starts would be the Captain Obvious statement of the year. However, the ground game did control the tempo and Robert Griffin III looked nimble and flat out hungry for a win.
Still a lot to improve but this was their first step in the right direction.
Let's take a look at the snap count.
The Offense had 66 snaps.
| Number of Snaps | Name |
| 66 (100%) | Trent Williams, Kory Lichtensteiger, Will Montgomery, Chris Chester, Tyler Polumbus, Robert Griffin III |
| 65 (98%) | Logan Paulsen |
| 62 (94%) | Pierre Garcon |
| 42 (64%) | Leonard Hankerson |
| 35 (53%) | Roy Helu Jr. |
| 31 (47%) | Alfred Morris |
| 28 (42%) | Niles Paul |
| 20 (30%) | Santana Moss |
| 19 (29%) | Joshua Morgan |
| 18 (27%) | Darrel Young |
| 5 (8%) | Aldrick Robinson, Fred Davis |
What Stands Out
- Through 4 games, Alfred Morris and Roy Helu Jr. have a combined 280 snaps. The split of those 280 snaps is at 53/47, Morris/Helu respectively. Helu Jr. reminded us all of his agility and big play ability. His vintage hurdle was the icing on the cake for the best offensive play of the season thus far. Although Helu saw more of the field due to a rib injury to Morris and he has been preferred in games past due to his blocking and pass catching while playing from behind, his performance in replacement may finally earn him the touches he deserves going forward.
- Not much action for Santana Moss. With the ground game controlling the tempo, Santana Moss was in on a season low percentage of snaps (30%). The roles at wide teceiver are slowly being defined. Hankerson is the #2, Morgan is the blocking WR, and Santana is the passing-down safety valve (although Jordan Reed also fits this role).
| Number of Snaps | Name |
| 66 (100% | Brandon Meriweather |
| 64 (97%) | Perry Riley |
| 63 (95%) | Ryan Kerrigan |
| 61 (92%) | DeAngelo Hall, Josh Wilson |
| 60 (91%) | London Fletcher |
| 55 (83%) | Stephen Bowen |
| 54 (82%) | Brian Orakpo |
| 52 (79%) | Barry Cofield |
| 38 (58%) | Kedric Golston |
| 34 (52%) | Reed Doughty |
| 32 (48%) | David Amerson |
| 28 (42%) | EJ Biggers |
| 23 (35%) | Chris Baker |
| 15 (23%) | Darryl Tapp |
| 6 (9%) | Jordan Pugh, Nick Barnett, Chris Neild |
| 2 (3%) | Bryan Kehl |
- Brandon Meriweather was the only defensive player to play every snap! File that under 'phrases you've never heard before'. With Hall and Wilson finally missing some snaps, the Redskins now have no defensive player that has played in every snap since Week 1. Players seemed to be dropping like flies in this game. On offense Josh Morgan and Alfred Morris had scares. The aforementioned Hall and Wilson went out with minor stings. Chris Neild went out with a calf strain. Brian Orakpo went out and in, and even Ryan Kerrigan sat out a few snaps, which is about as rare as it gets. This forced the Redskins to use a season high 19 players on defense.
- David Amerson played in a season low 48% of plays. We are now two weeks into the benching of fellow rookie starter Bacarri Rambo but the lack of playing time for Amerson seems to have little to do with past production and more to do with their opponent. The Redskins basically dared the Raiders to pass the ball on them. Often in the base 3-4, the Redskins elected to throw in Kedric Golston or Chris Baker to replace the 3rd corner (Amerson). With his game-changing 'Pick 6' and the fact that most teams don't run the traditional style offense like the Raiders, look for Amerson to be a mainstay in defensive plans for a long time.
- With Jarvis Jenkins and Rob Jackson set to return after the Bye Week, it will be interesting to see how the defensive rotations adjusts. We now know that Phillip Merling was the odd man out. He was in on 41 snaps through the first three games. Jenkins should see about 60% of the snaps, rotating with Golston at first. Jackson's situation may be a little more muddied with Darryl Tapp having a strong game in Oakland. Conceivably, Jackson would replace Orakpo in coverage situations. This keeps Orakpo fresh and allows Haslett to disguise the blitz and drop Jackson in coverage with greater success.