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Redskins Iron Man - Ryan Kerrigan
Through three games, Redskins OLBs have virtually disappearedfrom the stat sheet, in particular, Ryan Kerrigan, who has recorded one solo tackle, one assist, and no sacks so far this season.
Readers have proffered a number of explanations in the comments section. Some have said that Father Time has finally caught up with RyKer... he’s lost a step. Others have suggested that the lack of production is due to a change in scheme. Some say that the opponents’ game plans have called for quick passing to mitigate the effect of Washington’s pressure. Many have suggested that as long as the team is winning ball games, individual stats don’t really matter.
In an effort to get some clarity, I decided to do something proactive --an exercise designed to give people some evidence to help sort out the truth. So, I went through the Packers game and took screenshots of every defensive play in which Ryan Kerrigan appeared.
You can see those plays below. I don't aim to draw conclusions or tell you what to think. I'll merely put forward the evidence and let you decide what it means.
Drive 1
Play 1
Three blockers on Kerrigan and Payne (who falls down in front of Kerrigan). Ryker stays on his feet but is non-factor in play. Incomplete pass.
Play 2
Kerrigan sets the edge. RB takes handoff up the middle. RyKer is not involved in the tackle.
Play 3
Play action pass. Ryker rushes against the left tackle while Smith rushes from the other side. RyKer takes a deep rush; Jon Allen gets the sack inside with Smith a half step behind him.
Play 4
Kerrigan sets the edge on play action. Rodgers throws the ball immediately to the other side of the field.
Play 5
Kerrigan briefly engages receiver (#80) who ‘chips’ him, then Kerrigan rushes the QB. Rodgers throws to a receiver in the middle of the field who drops the pass.
Drive 2
Play 1
Kerrigan sets the edge. Running back runs inside. RyKer doesn’t factor in the play.
Play 2
Kerrigan sets the edge. The running play goes away from him.
Play 3
Ryan Kerrigan rushes against the left tackle on a bull rush that gets good pressure. Rodgers, who had to rush throw, goes to the left side of the field, but throws well behind the receiver, who drops the ball.
Play 4
Kerrigan sets the edge, but the running play goes away from him.
Drive 3
Play 1
Kerrigan, rushing against the RT, sets the edge and the run play goes away from him. RyKer is no factor in the play.
Play 2
Kerrigan is rushing against the LT this play. He is chipped by the TE who then goes out in a pattern. RyKer continues his rush against the tackle and pushes him back, but Rodgers releases the pass before Kerrigan gets home. The pass falls the turf but the Redskins are flagged for pass interference.
Play 3
Kerrigan is rushing against the LT on this play. He engages quickly, then moves inside the tackle and gets his hands on Aaron Rodgers just as the QB starts his throwing motion. The pass is completed for 10 yards and a first down.
Play 4
Kerrigan is rushing against the right side of the offense. Initially he is engaged by the end as he attempts to set the edge, but then he is hit by the a pulling lineman, the center, who controls the block. The back cuts inside, and Kerrigan tries to spin and grab him, but really has no chance. The back breaks through an arm tackle or two and goes 10 yards for a first down.
Play 5
Rushing from his usual position, Kerrigan engages the tackle and sets the edge. The RB cuts inside the block. RyKer reaches but never has a chance. The back scampers for 7 or 8 yards.
SECOND QUARTER
Play 9
Kerrigan took 3 plays off. With the Packers threatening inside the Red Zone, Kerrigan rushed. Rodgers took off through an open lane and rushed for an apparent first down at the 4 yard line.
A flag eliminated the gain and moved the Packers back 10 yards — holding by #75 blocking against Kerrigan. Facing 3rd and 20 instead of 1st and goal, the Packers ended up kicking a field goal, making this holding call a very important play in the Packers drive.
Play 10
Kerrigan took an inside rush and was never a factor in this play. Rogers complete a pass for 4 yards, bringing up a 4th and 16. They kicked a field goal on the next play.
Drive 4
Play 1
You’ve all seen this play already — this is THE Ioannidis bull rush over Brian Bulaga. Kerrigan started the play standing up on the right side of the defense (opposite his usual side). Kerrigan drops in coverage. Ioannidis backs up Bulaga, and everyone knows how this play ended.
Play 2
Kerrigan lines up in his usual position and makes a quick inside move against the blocker. The running play is going away from Kerrigan. He gives chase, but the back squirts through the hole before Kerrigan can catch him, gaining 9 yards and bringing up 3rd & 8.
Play 3
Kerrigan again takes an inside rush, which takes him out of the play. This is a schemed play, however, with Preston Smith looping around to rush through Kerrigan’s lane. Smith pressures Rodgers but doesn’t get home. Rodgers completes the pass for a first down.
Play 4
The Packers run to Kerrigan’s side. He sets the edge effectively and turns the play inside. Despite the pulling lineman as a lead blocker, Zach Brown flies in and makes the tackle for a 3 yard loss, and Kerrigan gets to join in at the end.
Play 5
Rodgers makes a quick throw on a screen pass to the opposite side of the field from Kerrigan. The receiver goes more east-west than north-south. By the time he reaches the middle of the field, Kerrigan, who has been mirroring and tracking the runner is a yard away when the tackle is made near the line of scrimmage.
Play 6
Kerrigan takes an inside rush from his usual side of the defense. Like Play 3 of this series, this is part of the rushing scheme, as Mason Foster blitzes from his position through the lane vacated by Kerrigan. Foster creates pressure but he fails to get home before Rodgers unleashes the pass, which sails over Cobb’s head and falls harmlessly to the turf.
Drive 5
Play 1
Kerrigan rushes against the left tackle, but the Packers’ OL blocking holds up and Rodgers has all day to survey the field. He checks down and completes a pass for a gain of 6 yards.
Play 2
The play goes away from Kerrigan’s side, but the running back cuts it back, and is tackled 1 yard short of the line to gain just in front of Kerrigan.
Play 3
Rodgers pitches to the running back who runs to the opposite side of the field from Kerrigan. The back rushes for 2 yards and a first down.
Play 4
This is the 64 yard touchdown pass from Rodgers when the Redskins were in quarters coverage. Kerrigan dropped back in coverage on the right side of the defense and was glued to his man.
Drive 6
Play 1
The Packers running back went to the left, away from Kerrigan, who was setting the edge against the right tackle and was out of the play. The back ran for 10 yards and a 1st down.
Play 2
Kerrigan rushes from his usual position but never really threatens Rodgers, who completes a pass in the middle of the field for 8 yards, leaving the Packers with 2nd & 2 with 8 seconds remaining in the half.
Play 3
The Redskins play a form of prevent defense, rushing just one player. Kerrigan drops into coverage, and Rodgers completes a pass in the middle of the field for a first down, leaving 3 seconds on the clock. On the final play of the half, the Packers lined up for a field goal, bu the holder fumbled the ball and the half ended without the placekicker making an attempt.
THIRD QUARTER
Drive 7
Play 1
The running play went to the Packers left side, away from Kerrigan and the runner was tackled for a 3 yard loss.
Play 2
On 2nd down, the Packers offensive line block well and Rodgers completes the pass for 3 yards, bringing up 3rd & 7.
Play 3
Rodgers passes from a clean pocket for 9 yards and a 1st down.
Play 4
Kerrigan gets a jump on the backup left tackle who replaced Bulaga, blows past him, and forces Rodgers to throw the ball 10 yards over the receiver’s head and out of bounds.
Play 5
In an effort to slow down the Redskins pass rush, the Packers call a screen pass that is successful. On 2nd & 10, the play goes for 11 yards and a 1st down.
Play 10
The coaches sat Kerrigan down for 4 plays. He returned on 2nd and 8.
The Packers gave Rodgers good protection and he got the pass away quickly. It went for 4 yards, bringing up 3rd & 3.
Play 11
Kerrigan gets pressure on Rodgers, who escapes out to the right, then completes a pass for 10 yards and a 1st down.
Play 12
Kerrigan gets blocked, but Rodgers is flushed out of the pocket, rolls to the right, and throws incomplete into the end zone.
Play 13
The Packers give Rodgers a clean pocket, but the pass is incomplete in the end zone.
Play 14
Kerrigan gets buried in the pass rush; Rodgers completes the pass inside the 5 yard line for 1st & goal.
Play 15
Kerrigan rushes from his usual side, and sets the edge, but the QB throws quickly to the left for a touchdown.
Drive 8
Play 5
After sitting out the first four plays of the drive, this was the 4th & 2 play by the Packers. Rodgers gets the pass off, but the receiver can’t hold on, and the pass is incomplete.
FOURTH QUARTER
Drive 9
Play 2
On 1st & 18, Kerrigan rushes from his usual side against the right tackle. None of the Redskins rushers can break through and Rodgers gets the pass away. This is the one where Moreau tiptoed backwards but couldn’t get the interception.
Play 3
Rodgers gets good protection; Kerrigan is blocked, and the Packers complete a 4 yard screen play to bring up 2nd & 14.
Play 4
Initially, Rodgers gets good protection, but with good coverage downfield he starts to move around. Rodgers checks down to a receiver near the line of scrimmage. Kerrigan traces back but gets cleaned up by a near-blindside block just before he reaches Rodgers. The receiver crosses the field and makes the 18 yards, but a holding penalty downfield results in a 3rd & 10.
Kerrigan is off the field for the next play, which is an incomplete pass. The Packers punt on 4th down.
Drive 10
Play 1
Kerrigan beats his block quickly, but Rodgers unloads a quick pass to the opposite side of the field that goes for 18 yards.
Play 2
The play starts away from Kerrigan, who maintains the edge on his side of the defense. The runner sees a tackler in the hole and cuts back sharply, right into Kerrigan’s waiting arms. RyKer finally gets a tackle!
Play 3
Ryan Kerrigan bull rushes the right tackle and pancakes him, but Rodgers gets rid of the ball quickly for a 3 yard gain over the middle.
Play 4
Kerrigan chases the play fake, realizing too late that Rodgers still has the ball. Rodgers throws the pass, and Swearinger gets both hands on it, but drops the possible interception.
Play 6
Initially Kerrigan’s rush is stonewalled, and he bounces out and starts to follow the receiver out to the right (Kerrigan’s left). He seems to get indecisive — cover the receiver or rush the passer? He finally heads for Aaron Rodgers, who immediately flips the ball over Kerrigan’s head to the receiver who runs 5 or 6 yards. RyKer retraces and is a couple of yards away when the receiver is tackled.
Play 7
Kerrigan gets past the OL up the middle. Rodgers throws an incomplete pass under pressure from Kerrigan. The blocker gets called for holding Kerrigan, but Gruden declines the penalty bringing up 4th down and the end of the Packers drive.
Drive 11
Play 1
The Packers OL protects Rodgers very well, and he completes a pass for 4 yards.
Play 2
The Packers set up a screen that goes for only a yard or so, then the ball carrier fumbled the ball and the Redskins recovered. Kerrigan immediately signals the first down.
Drive 12
Play 1
Under 2 minutes to play, Rodgers gets good protection against a soft defense designed to limit the Packers to time eating plays for limited yards. The Packers pick up 5 yards and get out of bounds.
Play 2
Kerrigan gets a good initial rush but doesn’t look like he’s gonna get Rodgers. The QB can’t find anyone open, and moves around in the pocket. Kerrigan gets past his blocker and forces Rodgers to throw the ball away.
Play 3
Kerrigan is clearly being held by the blocker throughout this play, and the refs called it. Rodgers throws deep, but the receiver drops the pass and the Skins accept the holding penalty, pushing the Packers back to 3rd & 15.
Play 4
Initially, Kerrigan is engaged with the receiver (#80) as he tries to get out on a route. After he clears a yard from the line of scrimmage, RyKer disengages and starts to rush the QB. Jon Allen gets there first.
Play 5
4th & 22, Kerrigan is double teamed as he rushes the right tackle. Aaron Rodgers sprints to his left, away from Kerrigan. The entire defense chases him. Rodgers throws up a prayer that falls incomplete and ends the Packers final offensive series.