What I liked … and didn’t like in the Redskins’ 16-11 win over the New York Jets.
Liked:
1. Albert Haynesworth’s progress. It appeared he learned from a tough first series (see below) and you could see that in his first step, which was more lateral than upfield. It allowed him to maintain gap control and then he could also go make a play afterward. He displayed power and speed, which, of course, is what has made him a Pro Bowler. And it’s why he’s still in town.
2. Haynesworth’s second rush. OK, this is going to be a lot about him because this defense can be dominant if he plays well. This play shows the respect he garners. Haynesworth started at the nose and stunted to the right side. As he went this way, three New York Jets blockers – three! – went with him. That left Vonnie Holliday free coming up the middle for a pressure. Seriously, three Jets were staring right at Haynesworth. Unreal. It was just speed, baby.
3. Haynesworth’s power. Did you see the time when he drove Pro Bowl LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson back with his left arm. Wow. One thing this coaching staff wanted to see more of from Haynesworth was to play stronger. Think he did that on this play. That was a lot of leg strength driving Ferguson back.
4. Defensive ends. Liked what I saw from Adam Carriker, Phillip Daniels and Kedric Golston. Carriker got a sack, but in reality it was thanks to pressure from Brian Orakpo. Phillip Daniels had a couple times where his power made the difference on a play, including one where he came off the block for a tackle. Golston did the same on another play. Golston, in the second half, had a good rip move to get inside the guard.
5. Chris Wilson. He’s a speed guy, but when he can get even with a tackle, as he did vs. Damien Woody on two occasions, he’s able to use some power to finish the job. Twice he got past Woody, once for a sack and once for a pressure. Both times it started with speed; but his swat to get wide was the capper. He’s a good player to have on the roster because he does provide help in snippets; sort of like a change-up back.
6. DeAngelo Hall. Nothing changed my mind about how much I liked his play after watching it a second time. I will say, Mark Sanchez made it unbelievably easy for him to read the play, his eyes never leaving the receiver. Hall had safety help, though he was playing matchup zone and all he did was pass his man off to the safety. It’s why he picks off passes. I remember talking to Jerry Gray last year and he said some guys come back to the sidelines and say, ‘Oh, I saw this … and thought he was going to throw it and next time I’ll pick it off.’ Hall doesn’t say that. Why? Because his instincts tell him to get it the first time. The guys who say next time? They never do it then either.
Recommended Stories
7. Lorenzo Alexander. He set up a Wilson sack with his own power. Because Alexander was able to beat a double team, splitting through it, Sanchez had nowhere to step up to avoid Wilson. Here came a sack. But Alexander must get an assist. Alexander played with power and was able to make a couple plays.
8. Play design. Once again, talked about this last night. But the pressure by Fletcher and sack by Carriker was set up when Carriker slanted to his right as did Maake Kemoeatu. That led the guard to block down. Andre Carter took a wide rush upfield to occupy the tackle and Fletcher simply hit the opening.
9. NG Anthony Bryant. The big fella didn’t do a bad job in the second half, the first part of which was spent vs. the Jets’ starters. Liked that he played with some power and was tough to move. The linebackers, in turn, did a better job behind him.
Disliked:
1. Haynesworth’s first series. Here’s the thing; linemen in a 3-4 simply can’t get upfield too fast. It leaves huge gaps in the defense and that’s what happened with Haynesworth. On his first snap, he shot inside the tackle while Brian Orakpo stunted to the same area. The result? A huge hole outside the tackle. Guess where the runner went. Oh, and there was a run on the Jets first play of their second series in which Haynesworth lined up at right end and his first step was upfield. Kemoeatu was moved to his left and a crater of a hole opened. By the way, I’m not a fan of Haynesworth in a two-point stance; if his legs are his power, then it seems to take them away.
2. Kemoeatu. It just doesn’t seem like he gets a lot of push from his lower body. Yes, he’s strong; but he gets moved back easily and that usually stems from technique or lower body strength. It appeared to be mostly the latter. Kemoeatu did have some decent moments where he held his ground, but there was one play in which he was driven back six yards. He was driven back on a third and short for a first down. Kemoeatu at times was leaning forward a bit too much at the snap, causing him to lose his leg power on the play. Also, he did not always command double teams and that would allow the guards to find the linebackers. Kemo got pancaked on the Jets second play of the game.
3. LaRon Landry’s angles. Back to this one, are we? A few tough angles for, uh, Dirty 30. He overran one play on the Jets’ first series; he took a bad angle on the first snap of their second series. On another play, he appeared to read the H-back who pulled to the right for a block. Landry raced over to that area, only to have the ballcarrier hit the hole he vacated.
4. Inside linebackers vs. the run. The starters did not do a good job in this area, London Fletcher included. Blocked way too often. Fletcher also allowed Shonn Greene to move him back by getting low on a run. They just weren’t doing a good job getting off blocks. Sometimes it would help if the nose tackle held his ground better, allowing Fletcher to fill the hole cleanly. That doesn’t always happen. There were a couple times where if the ends hadn’t made the tackle, the play would have busted for a long one because of the linebackers weren’t in position to help.
5. Backup LBs. Perry Riley had a good preseason opener for the most part, but he hasn’t followed that up with good outings. I still think he’s ahead of Robert Henson, but Riley has a ways to go. He took bad angles on some runs. On the Jets’ touchdown drive, he did just that and then two plays later he took a bad angle on the touchdown catch. H.B. Blades was up and down and every time I think, “Dude is just too small,” he makes a play. But, man, did he get schooled by LaDainian Tomlinson. The former star, who looked like a current one, really pressed the hole and froze Blades. By the time Blades reacted, he couldn’t fill the hole in time. See ya. I did like Riley’s last series, against the Jets’ backups. Was much better at filling his gaps and making tackles.
6. Andre Carter’s rush. This has me concerned. Carter’s strength is his hands, but he hasn’t generated any pressure the past two games. Woody is a good tackle, but even Wilson got him. That’s not to say Wilson should be ahead of him, but just to say that Carter isn’t doing enough in the passing game. His hands just weren’t budging Woody. I just think, though he says otherwise, that he’s more comfortable coming out of a three-point stance and using his hands. That way he can generate more power from his body as opposed to in a two-point stance where it’s all about his hands.
7. Backup corners. Wasn’t a big fan of Phillip Buchanon’s night, but at least he poked the ball free after he was beaten on one pass. Was flat footed a couple times. Justin Tryon missed too many tackles. But at least Ramzee Robinson covered Laveranues Coles on a, um, bullet from Mark Brunell.
