One reason the Redskins have blitzed well this season stems from how coordinated the rushes are. It shows how much players have to work in sync; and it’s why guys must know where others are rushing.
Here are three examples (and a fourth is included in my story today) :
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1. Third and 13 from the Green Bay 39 in the fourth quarter. Vonnie Holliday rarely gets to the quarterback, but he’s become like a point guard on the defensive line. He sets others up. On this rush, he lined up between the left guard and the center in the Redskins dime package with Lorenzo Alexander lined up over the right guard. Reed Doughty was three yards off the ball behind Alexander and LaRon Landry was just outside Brian Orakpo, who was positioned outside the right tackle.
On the snap, both Doughty and Landry blitzed. Holliday took two steps up, occupying the guard, and then looped right to take the tackle. Alexander rushed at the center, then went at his left shoulder. The center passed him off to the guard, but the guard had just turned his head around after dealing with Holliday and had no chance to counter Alexander’s power. He shoved him deep into the backfield and forced a hurried throw.
2. This might be my favorite one because it involved more deception and a change-up. Second and 14 from the Green Bay 37 with 5:28 remaining. Both Alexander and Orakpo were aligned on the left side, with Orakpo on the outside. London Fletcher was five yards off the line as a middle ‘backer and Holliday was shaded between the center and left guard. Andre Carter was at right end, wide.
On the snap, Alexander generated pressure as right tackle Bryan Bulaga eyed Orakpo. But he dropped into coverage, creating enough hesitation to open a lane for Alexander.
Meanwhile, Holliday occupied the center and right guard and Carlos Rogers blitzed to the outside shoulder of the left guard. Fletcher then sped through that hole. He and Alexander both sacked Rodgers.
3. This is a basic one, but, again, it’s all about causing one moment’s hesitation. Third and 12 from the Green Bay 24 in overtime. The Redskins used a dime package and three down lineman. Orakpo lined up wider right than normal (halfway between the hash and the numbers; Bruce-Smith-chasing-the-sack-record wide). Doughty was aligned a few yards off the left tackle. Doughty had rushed several times so he had to be considered a threat.
At the snap, left tackle Chad Clifton froze for a half-second as Doughty took a hard step forward. That pause gave Clifton no chance to get Orakpo, who easily sacked Rodgers. Maybe he would have gotten there anyway, but the combination of a wider stance and a con job by Doughty – those of you who did not like him at free safety should have been pleased with what he did in the dime package; it’s what he does best — resulted in the sack.
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