The questions I asked Saturday…followed by the answers from the game.
1. Who won’t play? Turns out everyone but LaRon Landry was able to play, though Artis Hicks was removed in the first half. It was clear that he was struggling, but it’s hard to just blame the injuries. A couple times he just missed a defender, but then he couldn’t react fast enough when he was beat. Problem is, it’s not as if he hasn’t struggled in other games when healthy.
2. Which player will be missed the most? Again, turns out it was Landry. But it’s hard to know how much he was missed. Reed Doughty missed a play or two and there really wasn’t any big plays made by anyone. Perhaps Landry makes one. But the real issue was the line’s inability to ever get penetration (aside from a couple pushes by Albert Haynesworth). That enabled Minnesota to control the ball with … Toby Gerhart. Yes, Gerhart.
3. How much bump will Minnesota get from Leslie Frazier? By all accounts they seemed to be more relaxed and there were a couple tweaks to the game plan. If nothing else that enabled them to play the way they were capable; finally. Lucky Redskins.
4. Will this change Minnesota’s offense? It did. They ran more bootlegs. Though the Redskins knew there would be more, the players admitted it was more than they expected. And it worked, too. The Redskins, even on the backside, would sell out to stop the run – Toby Gerhart, people – and that left the boot open.
5. Can the Redskins keep Brett Favre’s bad season going? Nope; couldn’t do it. Favre threw 23 passes and none were close to being intercepted. The Vikes helped with their scheme, but the Redskins only got a couple hits on him and therefore couldn’t pressure him into any silly mistakes. The Vikings also knew they didn’t have to take chances with how their defense was playing. So they relied on the run and the defense and went home happy.
6. How can they stop Peterson? By getting him out of the game, apparently. Because if they hadn’t, then Peterson was headed for a big day, with 70 total yards of offense in less than two quarters. The way Washington’s defensive front was controlled, cutback lanes were available for a big, fast back such as Peterson. If Gerhart managed to gain 3.5 yards per carry, Peterson would have done a bit better. Just a hunch. I thought Maake Kemoeatu needed a big game and, unfortunately for Washington, he didn’t deliver. Too often was pushed out of the way and controlled.
7. Who needs a big game? I thought Brian Orakpo and Albert Haynesworth, mainly because I thought they’d struggle vs. the run, but perhaps could do damage with their rush. Haynesworth was sick and didn’t play a whole lot; he still managed to get some penetration. Orakpo did have a sack, but can’t say that he was all that great. The Vikings would let Orakpo run unblocked from the backside and he made a couple tackles that way. But, really, neither player had a strong impact.
8. How can the Redskins move the ball vs. this defense? I thought they had to be patient, hit the tight ends and attack the corners not named Antoine Winfield. Their first drive was terrific, but it was a mirage as the Redskins couldn’t run the ball and that was a bad omen. They needed the threat of the run and it wasn’t there. That’s why Minnesota played the bootlegs and screens well; the Vikings always had someone staying home on the backside for the bootlegs, disrupting the play.
9. What is the concern vs. Minnesota’s defense? Thought it was the interior and they definitely played a big factor in shutting down the running game. But, really, it was the entire front as they let the linebackers run clean to the ball too often. Seemed like someone would get penetration on most plays. Artis Hicks really struggled as did Kory Lichtensteiger. Too often the linemen could not get off their combo blocks in time to reach the linebackers.
10. Who is on the spot? Thought the tackles were on the spot and they had a mixed game. Jammal Brown just can’t move that well and probably never will again. He’s limited. He allowed penetration; couldn’t always reach the linebackers – even on plays where that’s all he needed to do. LT Trent Williams was better, but for every good block there seemed to be a bad one. He would handle Jared Allen for a while and then get bullrushed back or simply not block him on a screen. But then he’d be downfield blocking on another screen.
11. Who will win? This was a difficult game to pick, but it wouldn’t have been had I known Adrian Peterson would miss nearly three quarters. Then I would have picked the Redskins. Silly me. Instead, I did pick the Vikings, figuring Frazier’s promotion would help and the Redskins were too banged up to win. Had the Vikes winning 24-20.
Follow me on Twitter @John_Keim
Submit a question for Redskins Mailbag.
