Studs
KR/PR Brandon Banks. Special teams coach Danny Smith pointed this out after the game, but it’s evident on film: Banks is doing a better job setting up his returns. On his 65-yard return, it was mostly speed as he bobbled the ball then swerved to miss the first defender. On his ill-fated return, he was able to go up the middle, plant hard, drawing the defenders in and freezing them for a second and then cutting. Banks’ value is as high as anyone on the roster considering what he can do every time he touches the ball. On offense he’s a novelty, but not as a returner.
CB Phillip Buchanon. He’s been a very nice pickup. Not sure he’s a guy who should start over 16 games, but as a third corner and as an occasional starter, he’s good to have. He played tight coverage Sunday and, because of it, was able to drive back on the ball and break up two passes.
P Hunter Smith. Dude lands on this list one way or another every week it seems. But it’s an indication of how tight their games are that what he does matters so much. His net average on six punts was 40.3 yards and he dropped two punts inside the 20.
DT Albert Haynesworth. According to CSN’s Ryan O’Halloran, Haynesworth played an unofficial 17 snaps. That’s not much, but he was sick (the Redskins also used other nickel packages instead, perhaps to keep him fresh). Still, he finished with half a sack and two quarterback hurries. Really, he was the only defensive lineman to ever get any penetration; that’s how he stopped a key third and one in the fourth quarter.
DE Phillip Daniels. He might be the most consistent among the linemen. He’s not great, but his power is helpful on this front. He got moved out a time or two, but on my little list of good plays/bad plays chart, he had many more good than bad. Again, there wasn’t anything special, but he was effective. He’s one of the few guys on defense who is playing as he should be. Anyway, he helped Haynesworth on the third and one stop by stepping inside; he held his ground on several runs and pinched the hole and he stood up his man on the Vikes’ last drive to set up Reed Doughty for a tackle. Daniels finished with seven tackles.
Duds
NG Maake Kemoeatu. I gave the big man some praise for a few weeks in a row, but he was handled way too often Sunday. Problem was, he was blocked mostly by the center, which meant the guards could get to the linebackers. On the second play of Minnesota’s last drive, for example, the center controlled Kemo and the right guard peeled off to get London Fletcher. I could expand more on it, but, really, that about sums it up. With these inside ‘backers, it’s an absolute must that the nose guard controls the middle and keeps them clean. They were rarely clean. It was not a good game.
LB Lorenzo Alexander. Thought he got controlled too much on the edge and really didn’t make any plays to compensate. The Vikings were able to create narrow openings in part because Alexander was unable to pinch the holes enough, nor could he get off blocks. Same is true on the other side with Brian Orakpo. A couple times Alexander was overaggressive on runs to the other side, opening up bootlegs.
LB Brian Orakpo. See Alexnder. He did get a sack, but for the most part he wasn’t a big factor. The Vikings didn’t always block him when he was on the backside. But when they would, they would cut him with success. Also got fooled on the play-action bootlegs, coming in hard on the run only to leave an opening for the boot. It’s hard when a team is running well to stop this play, but still.
RB James Davis. Can’t say that I blame him considering he’s barely done anything and is new to the team. But he really didn’t show a whole lot. Nobody considered him a potential third-down back coming out of college, so dropping a pass wasn’t a surprise. He did a decent job picking up blitzes, which surprised me. As a runner, and I know he had few holes, he looked either bad or rusty. Time will tell which it was. On the couple occasions he had a lane, he either made the wrong cut or, one time, he hesitated then stutter-stepped and hit the hole for no gain. His best run – a four-yarder – should have been twice that at least but he slipped as he cut back. Didn’t see any ‘Beast’ this weekend.
LG Kory Lichtensteiger. This game was never going to be easy for him; just a bad matchup because Kevin and Pat Williams both can be overpowering. And he was overpowered. He allowed pressure on the second play simply because he blocked with no power; happened later in that series, too. It’s not about technique or effort and any time he faces a big tackle it’ll be troublesome. Got shoved back a couple times. Kevin Williams one time just got him not with full power, but just his hands. Allowed one pressure that resulted in his man tipping the pass. Did do a nice job on a second quarter block when he managed to block, or at least slow, two linebackers coming through his gap.
LT Trent Williams. More should be expected of him at this point in the season. He did fairly well for a while against Jared Allen. But a lot of pressure has come through this side of the line this season, Sunday included. His mobility is good, but he’s not driving anyone out on the run game and he missed a block on Allen on a screen pass. Still not sure how that happened. Part of the reason Donovan McNabb didn’t hit Anthony Armstrong in stride is because Williams did not pick up a looping tackle to his side. Not sure he really saw him until it was too late; is that an awareness issue?
RG Artis Hicks. I know I should cut him some slack because he was probably still hurt. But I made him a stud one time based on one half so … He was dreadful in his one quarter. Guess that’s why the coaches took him out. But it wasn’t just the injury; that of course would lessen his power and mobility. Once, he whiffed on his block just because his hands weren’t quick enough.
RT Jammal Brown. Brown a few times started bending more at the hips than at the knees, making it difficult to react to certain rushes. Happened on the second series against Ray Edwards. The guy knows how to play; but it’s still hard for him to make things happen. On the first series, got driven back and then lost his man inside only to be helped by Hicks. Another time in the second quarter he missed a block on the linebacker or a rather nice hole would have been created. Hard to run the stretch if backside tackles can’t move a little faster. In the fourth quarter, he bent at the hips again, lunged, and missed his man. He did have a couple plays where he probably looked as he did a few years ago when he was solid; but it’s just tough for him right now.
LB Perry Riley. There’s enough to like about him going forward that you can’t write him off. He has some speed and he can hit, possibly making him a good inside ‘backer in a year or two. He also had a nice hit on special teams Sunday, too. But he was flagged twice for blocks in the back, as you might have heard. Riley went too aggressively at his man both times. He needs to watch film of Chris Wilson from this game to see how he could have approached the second one. Wilson one time ran right at a defender, but pulled up as he got there and barely grazed him. No penalty. Riley, by contrast, went aggressively at a guy whose back was turned to him.
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