Linebacker adjusts path to QB with good results ASHBURN — The difference was a foot or less. Ryan Kerrigan saw it on film, heard about it from his coaches and worked on it in practice. So the rookie linebacker altered his path to the quarterback, opting for a more direct path. And another lesson was learned.
The result: a sack and a quarterback pressure that resulted in a sack for a teammate.
“He’s doing a good job of being a student of the game,” Redskins linebackers coach Lou Spanos said.
| Notes |
| » Strong safety LaRon Landry was limited in practice because of his hamstring, but he said he felt “great” and called Thursday a stepping stone in his recovery. Then he added, “You’ll see me Monday.” However, coach Mike Shanahan is not yet ready to pronounce Landry ready to play in Monday’s game at Dallas. Landry has yet to test his hamstring at full speed. He hasn’t practiced since training camp opened July 28. “We’ll have to wait on the next couple of days,” Shanahan said. “It’s not your attitude; it’s how your hamstring responds. Hopefully it responds accordingly.” |
| » Cornerback Josh Wilson (head, neck, back) and strong safety DeJon Gomes (hamstring) also were limited. Fullback/tight end Mike Sellers had his ankle stepped on late in practice and it swelled, causing him to sit out. Shanahan did not know the severity of the injury. |
Indeed he is as two plays in the first two weeks illustrate. In the Giants game, on the 68-yard pass to Hakeem Nicks, Kerrigan took off upfield, starting about two yards to the right of the hashmark. By his fourth step, Kerrigan’s left foot was touching the hashmark as he rounded off his rush; his shoulders weren’t square. Quarterback Eli Manning was never threatened and simply stepped up into the pocket.
A week later, Kerrigan had clearly adjusted. On his sack vs. Arizona, Kerrigan’s fourth step was two to three yards from the hashmark, and his path was more at the quarterback rather than upfield. His shoulders were square, giving him more strength to push the tackle.
“When you’re straight upfield, you’re just widening the gap between you and the quarterback, and that’s not what you want,” Kerrigan said.
His mindset — and his ultimate goal — also needed to be tweaked.
“The first game he was trying to beat the tackle and not trying to get the sack,” defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said. “The second game he was trying to get the sack and not worrying about the tackle. He’s not the kind of guy who will run by people all the time. He’s 270 pounds and 6-foot-5. He needs to use the combination of speed and power.”
That’s what he’ll have to do Monday night vs. Dallas when he meets fellow rookie Tyron Smith, a right tackle who was the No. 9 pick in April (seven spots ahead of Kerrigan). Smith has mostly drawn praise for his first two games. He’s also impressed the Redskins.
Haslett compared his ability to that of Redskins left tackle Trent Williams.
“He’s athletic. He’s physical,” Haslett said. “He’s a really good player. He’s one of the better linemen they’ve got.”
Said Kerrigan: “He’s highly touted, so I’m excited to see how I stack up against him. He’s a specimen. He’s 305 pounds, and there’s not any fat on him. He can move really well.”
Maybe then Kerrigan will adapt lessons from this past weekend. He rushed once from a four-point stance, the first time he has rushed from anything but a two-point stance this season. But that felt uncomfortable. Also, he doesn’t want to tip off his intentions.
And while he was pleased with his path, Kerrigan was not happy that he couldn’t finish on his other pressure, the one that forced quarterback Kevin Kolb into linebacker Rocky McIntosh for a sack. Kerrigan turned the corner on the tackle, again taking a better path.
This time, however, he couldn’t get his right arm untangled from Brandon Keith.
“If I would have cleared him, I could have gotten the sack,” Kerrigan said. “It’s just working your hands and trying to get his arms off.”
No doubt that’s part of what he’s worked on in practice this week.
“Ryan’s a conscientious kid,” Spanos said. “He’s trying to do what he’s asked.”
