First two offensive series at the Redskins

[FinHopeful]

I wanted to see why we started slowly. Thomas actually plays well for both series, Douglas struggled frequently, and Miller was not decisive. Albert struggled as well, but what do you expect.


1st Series

1st and 10: pass play that isolates outside linebacker. RT looks at first read and linebacker reacts. RT throws it to Jennings. Good decision just a little too slow. Completion.
2nd and 2: Nice cut block by Albert. good blocking except James. Poor decision by Miller. Miller needs to stay on his feet. Should have been a first.
3rd and 1: Run up the gut. James, Thomas, and Pouncey very good blocks. Albert barely holds his own. Douglas driven 2 yards off the ball. Ick!! Sims whiffs on the block. His guy makes tackle. Miller should have stuck right behind Thomas and Pouncey for a first.

The fault for this drive is mostly poor cuts and tentative running by Miller. Miller was not hit in the backfield. He has to be more powerful than he showed on 2nd or 3rd.

2nd Series

1st and 10: Pass deflected at line of scrimmage. Sigh rookies. All the linemen do a good job except Douglass. He is off balance, driven back, and allows the defensive lineman to get his hands up. All on Douglas.
2nd and 10: play action fake. Corner blitz. Tannehill delivers a good ball to Landry. R. Mathews with a good block on corner.
3rd and 2: short pass to Landry for the conversion. Thomas, Albert, and James great blocks. Douglas is crushed. He is driven 3 yards back quickly, but Pouncey bails him out. Nice throw by RT.

1st and 10: James (70) and Jennings split right. Play action paSs to Landry. Defense is not fooled. Jennings saves a pick with a well timed block. Strange play call.
2nd and 10: run to the left. Douglas, Thomas, Pouncey, and James make good blocks. Albert whiffs badly and get beat to inside. Cameron does not maintain his block.
3rd and 9: pass play and RT throws it where there is not a receiver.. Nice pocket but B. Albert struggles a little at the end. Miscommunication with the receiver.

 

[FinHopeful]

Some more general comments. Thomas played poorly for the rest of the first half. The big fumble was all on Albert. He was overpower to the inside . He is just not back in football shape. Thomas actually picks up the stunt, and he tries to slow down Albert's man, but that is too much. In General, we need the following:

1. Albert needs to continue to get back in shape and get his timing down.
2. Douglas needs to continue to improve. I think that PFF did a poor job grading him. He had some good plays, but he struggled.
3. We need Thomas to be more consistent.
4. Tannehill needs to have better games.
5. We need Miller to run hard early in the game.

 

[Brazzi]

Excellent summary, Miller was awful

 

[I am Bane]

Some more general comments. Thomas played poorly for the rest of the first half. The big fumble was all on Albert. He was overpower to the inside . He is just not back in football shape. Thomas actually picks up the stunt, and he tries to slow down Albert's man, but that is too much. In General, we need the following:

1. Albert needs to continue to get back in shape and get his timing down.
2. Douglas needs to continue to improve. I think that PFF did a poor job grading him. He had some good plays, but he struggled.
3. We need Thomas to be more consistent.
4. Tannehill needs to have better games.
5. We need Miller to run hard early in the game.

I agree with some of this... for Douglas first game as a rookie in the NFL I thought he did a solid job. Had some great plays, was aggressive and got down field extremely well. He struggled mike blocking often, getting popped back a bit too much. stuff he can definitely work on, as well as other stuff to improve on, but he did well.

Albert I was frustrated with, he looked slow and wasnt blocking with proper angles. Yes most likely due to his injury and not practicing at all really all off season. We need him back at full strength, in tip top shape too.

the middle of the line also was in disaray much of the first half in run blocking... a lot of pressure was allowed in the middle, which thwarted Miller often too. It was not all Miller's fault he didnt have lanes or areas to run through. Obviously will all be a focus to get going again Jax week 2... we will def be working on the running game all week!!!

 

[Sons Of Shula]

I wanted to see why we started slowly. Thomas actually plays well for both series, Douglas struggled frequently, and Miller was not decisive. Albert struggled as well, but what do you expect.


1st Series

1st and 10: pass play that isolates outside linebacker. RT looks at first read and linebacker reacts. RT throws it to Jennings. Good decision just a little too slow. Completion.
2nd and 2: Nice cut block by Albert. good blocking except James. Poor decision by Miller. Miller needs to stay on his feet. Should have been a first.
3rd and 1: Run up the gut. James, Thomas, and Pouncey very good blocks. Albert barely holds his own. Douglas driven 2 yards off the ball. Ick!! Sims whiffs on the block. His guy makes tackle. Miller should have stuck right behind Thomas and Pouncey for a first.

The fault for this drive is mostly poor cuts and tentative running by Miller. Miller was not hit in the backfield. He has to be more powerful than he showed on 2nd or 3rd.

2nd Series

1st and 10: Pass deflected at line of scrimmage. Sigh rookies. All the linemen do a good job except Douglass. He is off balance, driven back, and allows the defensive lineman to get his hands up. All on Douglas.
2nd and 10: play action fake. Corner blitz. Tannehill delivers a good ball to Landry. R. Mathews with a good block on corner.
3rd and 2: short pass to Landry for the conversion. Thomas, Albert, and James great blocks. Douglas is crushed. He is driven 3 yards back quickly, but Pouncey bails him out. Nice throw by RT.

1st and 10: James (70) and Jennings split right. Play action paSs to Landry. Defense is not fooled. Jennings saves a pick with a well timed block. Strange play call.
2nd and 10: run to the left. Douglas, Thomas, Pouncey, and James make good blocks. Albert whiffs badly and get beat to inside. Cameron does not maintain his block.
3rd and 9: pass play and RT throws it where there is not a receiver.. Nice pocket but B. Albert struggles a little at the end. Miscommunication with the receiver.

Thanks for posting a thread containing an actual football conversation. :up: I do have some different opinions on the the overall breakdowns here, but regardless, thanks for the content.

1st Series

1st & 10: On Tannehill's first completion to Jennings, watch his head. It's not a slow decision but rather Tannehill is eyeing Miller out of the backfield here which keeps the MLB honest and doesn't allow him to get a bead on the pass to Greg over the middle.

2nd & 2: I would have liked for Miller keep his feet on this stretch play but Thomas doesn't seal his block on the second level as LILB Robinson gets by him and makes the first initial contact on Miller at the LOS and Sims doesn't maintain his (but did originally establish it) allowing SS Ihenacho to finish the play. Ihenacho made a good play

3 & 1: I didnt like the playcall here. This was summed up well earlier tonight from SI writer Chris Burke:

Chris Burke ‏@ChrisBurke_SI 2h2 hours ago
NFL loaded with spread offenses, packaged plays, mobile QBs and teams still insist on running it up the gut in short yardage situations.

Washington had 9 in the box and we didn't check out to another play. Only the team knows who was responsible for this.



2nd Series

1 & 10: Hatcher does a good job of getting his hands up here and swatting the ball. I find it difficult to place any blame on Douglas here as you will give up a little ground in pass blocking and he maintained his position on front of him and didn't give up a pressure. Tannehill performed a the PA and his hitch step into his throw without coming off his spot. I have no problem giving credit where it's due and it's simply a good play by the 6'6" DL.

2 & 10: Good play call on the PA bubble screen and great effort by Landry to gain 8 yards.

3 & 2: I'm just not seeing these issues you are here with Douglas. The Redskins showed a double A gap blitz pre-snap and the lineman will take drop steps in order to establish their blocking assignments and to form a pocket. Tannehill had very good pass protection to work with made a quick strike and Landry makes a great catch in traffic for the 1st.

1 & 10: I loved the play call here and the formation for the quick screen but it was a poor blocking execution by Jennings allowing for Ihenacho bat the ball down. Anyone notice who is split out wide on the far side of the field in trips with Landry and Jennings? It's RT Ju'Wuan James! If Jennings is able to make his block, Landry is set up for a very big gain.

2 & 10: Albert is beat bad here inside and Ihenacho comes in on a safety blitz and is not accounted for and is able to close down on the play. Hardly Miller's fault, IMO.

3 & 9: Regardless of the outcome, James was not on the LOS and was penalized for illegal formation. Miller and Landry were both in the same spots in the field and yes their did seem to be some sort of miscommunication.

Thanks again for posting a thread with substance. :brewskis:

 

[Sirspud]

It seems as if the run game struggles involved a bit of everyone, Albert and Miller included. I didn't expect Albert to even be playing, so I'm not surprised to see he struggled a little bit. Miller maybe could have done a bit better, but honestly, lets not act like there was a clear hole anywhere on his early runs, where he erred was just ignoring an ever so slight opening for one that appeared to be more promising and ended up getting completely shut.

The staff certainly anticipated some struggles from the OL and that's why despite a lot of criticism I give them a lot of props for their game plan, which generally got the ball out very quickly and had enough parts moving before the snap to make it hard for the defense to jump things. We also had a well orchestrated deep shot that just wasn't executed.

 

[PHINSfan]

Good post! Agree with some of your observations but one thing that was glaring to me was the coaching throughout the first half. We were outcoached!
Our team came out flat. the play calling during the 1st half was not efficient, and our D adjustments came way too late. Why did it take a whole half to adjust to what their O was doing.

 

[hoops]

The short yardage play calls despite defensive looks are baffling...and tanny cant check out so you know if lazor calls it here it comes...i hate that about the offense...we run plays right into bad looks

 

[EmperorPhin]

Miller was horrible that first drive had the first down easy if he follows the blocking no idea why he cut right into defender

 

[FinHopeful]

@Sons of Shula. Great counter arguments and comments. I stipulate that it was a very good play by Hatcher. Thanks for the detailed response.