1. Man, Jarvis Jenkins was playing pretty well vs. Baltimore before he got hurt. It’s disappointing that he’ll now have to wait a year to show what he can do in a real game. He showed an awful lot in just three games; he was talented enough to excel while not always having great technique. But he also had the desire to improve and learn.
2. On his first play vs. Baltimore, Jenkins pushed right tackle Jah Reid into the backfield. A show of strength. And the third play of the game showed the potential of not only Jenkins but of the defense. The Ravens ran a stretch zone play to the left. Jenkins immediately got inside Reid, whose job it is to either shove Jenkins back or keep him along the line of scrimmage. He couldn’t. On the other side, Brian Orakpo stepped into tight end Ed Dickson, knocked him back and pinched the hole. Jenkins ran down the line and combined with Orakpo for the tackle. Oh, and nose tackle Barry Cofield, initially moved back, recovered to get back and help clog the lane.
3. Finally, on the play before he was hurt Jenkins was doubled by right guard Mark LeVoir and Reid. They couldn’t move him. And Jenkins wasn’t even playing with good knee bend. Oh, and on the play fellow rookie Ryan Kerrigan occupied the tight end, driving his hands into his pads. So the two rookies held up three blockers. Keyaron Fox ran free to the ball and stopped Ray Rice for one yard.
4. Yes, it’s a shame.
5. And the trickle-down effect is rather large. Don’t forget, he could also play in the nickel package as a rusher, saving Cofield some wear and tear. The Redskins can play another end in this role, but outside of Stephen Bowen, who already is in the nickel, they lack someone who can pressure the passer. This coaching staff is good about not overusing their D-linemen, so this could mean more time for backup nose tackle Anthony Bryant. That is, if Cofield is asked to have a bigger role in the nickel at times.
6. It’s also easier to blitz behind guys you know can rush the passer. The Redskins like to clear lanes for safeties or corners by having rushers such as Jenkins slant one way, taking a blocker and opening a lane. It’s a great tactic when you have multiple pass-rush threats.
7. Did not think the Ravens game was Cofield’s best. He did show an ability to get back into the play after getting moved back and that’s a nice change. The first play of the game was an example. But it seemed like he was getting a little too high in this game, unlike the first two (and this was coming against a backup center). On the first play of the second series, Cofield was doubled but the center, Bryan Mattison, peeled off and blocked Rocky McIntosh (a theme in this game by the way). And the guard, Ben Grubbs, stayed with Cofield and moved him back. Cofield got too high after engaging with the center; his shoulders weren’t square to the line and he lost his power. Mattison then blocked him back on the next play, too.
8. Ah, but the difference in Cofield and others is that a good play is right around the corner. Sure enough, on the second play of Baltimore’s third series, Cofield stepped to his left off the snap. Mattison reacted that way, then Cofield shot inside for a pressure. Of course, Ricky Williams then lit him up with a devastating block. But not many backs will hit a guy like that; if Cofield makes that move a lot, he’ll create havoc. And a play later Cofield occupied two blockers trying to rush the passer. That created a lane for Stephen Bowen to cut inside and pressure Joe Flacco. Cofield also helped with a one-yard stop of Ray Rice. He stayed low and square and slid to his right to clog a lane, allowing Oshiomogho Atogwe to make a tackle. So on a day when Cofield didn’t play his best, he still contributed.
9. Loved Orakpo’s game. He’s definitely getting off blocks better; several examples of that in this game. In each case it resulted in a runner forced to cut where he didn’t want to, or a tackle by Orakpo or a sack. He’s moving more nimbly in space. On the last play of the first quarter, the Ravens ran a stretch zone to the left, with two blockers headed at Orakpo,including fullback Vonta Leach. But Orakpo sidestepped him and stopped Williams for three yards. Also liked the play where Rice tried to pick him up on the blitz and he ran right through him en route to hitting Flacco. Really think he’s going to have a big season. Orakpo, that is, not Flacco.
10. McIntosh wasn’t getting off blocks and wasn’t good in coverage. Not his best game. It is what it is, folks. Also am still concerned about the linebackers in coverage. That will be an issue this season.
11. Kedric Golston and Darrion Scott won’t be Jenkins, but both can help. Scott did a decent job facing the Ravens’ starters. He can occupy blockers. Saw him take two guys one time to allow Fox a clean path to the tackle. Golston is an effort guy; did not play as well last year as he did as a 4-3 tackle. There is a talent dropoff from Jenkins. But both guys know how to play the position. Yes, they’ll look for other options. But it’s not like other teams are going to rid themselves of good D-linemen. What you’ll likely find are more Golstons and Scotts.
12. DeAngelo Hall might get beat at times, but he rarely has his eyes in the wrong place. He certainly had them in the right place on his interception. Playing zone, Hall eyed Flacco until the QB hit his third step. Hall’s eyes returned to receiver Anquan Boldin, who tried a little out and then came back inside. Hall never bit on the fake and as soon as he saw Boldin turn in, he drove on the ball and made the easy pick. Boldin is not going to run by Hall and the corner knows it, so he could play tight. The other factor: Atogwe had help over the top, allowing Hall to focus on taking away the shorter routes. He did.
13. But it also seemed that Hall gave Lee Evans too much ground on the 14-yard completion two plays earlier. Hall also slipped just a bit while trying to come back, but the cushion was still too soft. On the touchdown, Hall just got beat – not by much, but enough.
14. Think Kerrigan gets a little over-anxious when he’s going to rush? He jumped offsides twice and at least a couple times a game he starts leaning a bit too much, forcing him to steady himself with his left hand. He also fell for a hard count on one of his offsides on a third and six.
15. Kerrigan did a nice job getting off blocks and finding the ball. On the first two plays of Baltimore’s fifth series, Kerrigan showed this skill. First, he took on the fullback, using his left arm to shield himself and helped stop Williams for two yards. Next, he got off the tight end’s block and into the play for another two-yard stop.
16. Kerrigan’s pass rushes were OK. His sack occurred because he never stops. The running back chipped him as he went upfield; this spun him back inside and the tackle, Reid, could not react. But Kerrigan never slowed after the chip and that’s a good trait.
17. Kerrigan also tried two spin moves vs. Reid on the last series of the first half. One worked; he hit Flacco as he threw. The other did not as Reid was ready. Yes, Kerrigan also got lost on one pass in which he stopped because he thought Flacco had passed the ball. Actually, it didn’t appear he knew where Flacco or the ball was.
18. It’s clear Jim Haslett will be even more aggressive in his play calls this season, now that he has more parts to work with. Atogwe gives him the ability to vary his safeties even more if he wants. He used him up near the line on multiple occasions. Atogwe lacks LaRon Landry’s explosiveness. Atogwe has decent speed for a safety. Also, I liked one blitz in particular. Five Redskins rushed on the play, including corners Byron Westbrook and Kevin Barnes from the right side. Orakpo rushed down, taking the tackle. Westbrook, tight in the slot, started up field and the running back took him. Barnes was over Boldin, split between the left hashmark and the number. Barnes went to the outside of Boldin, almost forcing the Ravens to lose sight of him. The back picked up Wetsbrook; the tackle took Orakpo and Barnes took Flacco.
19. Byron Westbrook is playing more patient and disciplined, especially with his eyes. He used to get beat quite a bit in practice on double moves, etc. But he’s cut way down on that. It also seems like rookie Brandyn Thompson is having a good finish to the preseason. Thompson did let David Reed get inside him on one move that left him leaning to the outside. Can’t lose your balance.
20. Horatio Blades showed up too heavy and is moving like it. He was not considered a fast linebacker before (though his instincts helped him play a little faster). But now he seems a half-step off. He also missed a tackle. Backup linebackers should not show up in anything but top shape. Ever.
21. Meanwhile, Lorenzo Alexander knew he’d be a backup and showed up like he was a starter. Against Baltimore’s first line (on the opening drive of the third quarter), Alexander played well. On the first play he got his left arm inside Dickson, slid down the line and prevented a cutback lane. Later, he hit Flacco as he threw with a nice rush, planting outside and then cutting back inside of Reid. Had Alexander not stumbled slightly, he might have had a sack. And Alexander tipped a pass in coverage. The one thing I wondered about: on the touchdown pass to Boldin his job was to re-direct the receiver. But he didn’t get much of a hand on Boldin, who never detoured from his path.
22. Rob Jackson is finishing strong. Not sure of his coverage skills; he’s much, much better moving forward, but he’s strong and plays the run well. He takes on blockers well and on one play, he knocked the fullback back and forced Rice to go wider than desired on a one-yard gain. Jackson turned the corner against left tackle Michael Oher for a pressure; Oher couldn’t get his hands on him until after Jackson had turned. And he beat tackle Ramon Harewood twice. Not exactly a Pro Bowler, but when facing a guy who isn’t a starter you should do well if you’re any good. Jackson did.
23. Ever since he arrived, Doug Worthington has showed pretty good power. He did decent in the one-on-ones. And he’s shown in games that he can hold his ground. Worthington is not explosive at all, but he’s worth developing as a run-stopper type.
24. Markus White had two good pass rushes in the fourth quarter, one came on a quick throw and the other forced Tyrod Taylor to step up into the pocket. White rushed with his hand in the dirt on the latter play; he got upfield, got his right arm inside Reid and beat him.
25. Notice a trend with Reid? Maybe this why the Ravens signed Bryant McKinnie and are now moving Oher to right tackle.
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