Very good post - the O-Line isn't getting a fraction of the praise they should be. Washington will definitely put up more of a fight than the Colts in the trenches.
Read a report that said Okoye was questionable for the game due to a sprained ankle and is in a boot, Mitchell would start if he couldn't go. I would post the link but i can't from work, i'll look for another way shortly.
The Washington offensive line are not light weights like the Colts. Game will be tough. Unfortunately , Shaub has to be on point this game. NO underthrows or bonehead interceptions.
Here's what I think was different on Sunday from what we've seen over the past two+ years under Kubiak & Alex Gibbs: What we saw out there on Sunday was very different from the pure ZBS that Kubiak & Gibbs kept trotting out. The difference has to be attributed to Rick Dennison's takeover of the offense. On Sunday you saw them run cutback and misdirection plays - something we haven't seen in Kubiak's version of the ZBS. This completely bamboozled the Colts' linebackers and kept them totally off guard but more importantly, it prevented them from flowing away from the backside defenders toward the ball carrier. As such, their LBs were forced to stay home on the backside and were unable to flow down the line which allowed wide-open cut-back lanes to form in the middle which is something Slaton and Co never saw last year. I've been b****ing about this for over two years now. Foster was very good but man, did anyone get a look at the size of the holes he was running through? Foster didn't have to run over people but was instead, able to cut back into an open running lane. After that, he used his speed and vision and was off to the races. Contrast that to what Slaton & Co experienced last year when Kubiak chose to ignore running counters and cutbacks thereby allowing opposing teams' LBs to ignore the backside and flow along the line leaving no holes or running lanes for the Texans' RBs. The difference to me has to be Dennison as what I saw him run is exactly along the lines of what Shanahan was/is running now. Even Shanahan has stopped running the pure ZBS and had made the type of adjustments we saw out there on Sunday. All I ask is for Kubiak to stay out of it and let his coordinators run the show. They appear to have a clue as to what adjustments needed to be made to address the weaknesses in Kubiak's approach I have been railing against for 2+ years. I'm not saying that they will beat the Redskins on Sunday but now, the Skins will have to respect both the run and the pass and if Schaub is on his game (he really wasn't against the Colts) then they should walk out of Andover, MD with another big win.
Yes. I mean, I don't remember ever seeing an O-line domination like that from our Houston Texans. EVER. It was a pure joy watching it happen. I figured you would credit Dennison. Thanks for your thoughts on the misdirection plays, etc. Thanks for the reply. Personally, I don't know enough about line play to have an opinion (which is why I asked), but if I see that 16 times this year I will be in hog heaven.
Washington could barely put pressure on Romo, when the Cowboys offensive line was very limited due to injuries. Not to mention Haslett (Redskins DC) has never ran a 3-4 defense before.
Injury updates for the skins: ****Albert Haynesworth has a sprained ankle and was unable to make it through a full practice for a second straight day. The defensive lineman hurt his ankle during Wednesday's practice and didn't take part in team drills Thursday. Coach Mike Shanahan said he hopes the injury isn't too serious and that Haynesworth might be able to return Friday. Washington hosts the Texans on Sunday. ****Safety Kareem Moore, who has a sprained right knee, appears unlikely to play against Houston. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/7204367.html
"Redskins/Haslett not afraid to blitz" http://www.csnwashington.com/09/16/...ssure/landing.html?blockID=312415&feedID=6458
Damn is it Sunday yet? This wait is killing me. Normally I would be worried after a big win with the way the guys played so helter skelter last year, but when they sealed the deal vs the colts I was a believer. I think we come out and have another statement game. I definitely see the passing game showing up in a huge way. I don't know if Arian has a huge game, but I can see him around 100 yds or so. I would like to see Steve and Jacoby do nice things on special teams. Honestly, the NFC East may turn out to be decent as the year goes on, but right now they look very average if not below. I'm glad we're playing them when we are. I'd usually say bring them on on their best day, but after last year I'll take the schedule as it comes. Its also probably good that the skins are feeling like a good team so our guys don't think they have to play down to the competition. Come on Sunday!
With the running attack the Texans had last week, this should open up HUGE plays on the play-action pass on sunday. The Redskins do not have a great secondary, so count on Andre having a huge game and Jacoby scoring on at least one long pass. Texans 28 Redskins 17
So I guess the Cowgirls don't belong in the playoffs either? A win = playoffs? A loss here won't be the end of the season...but it would suck.
Where you referring to this video? It's fascinating to see our O-line at work in slow-mo, and being narated. I would have NEVER noticed how in sync, and the work / motion that the O-line does.
This is exactly what I was thinking at the end of the Colts game. Some may see Foster's big game as a fluke(which they shouldn't, considering how he played at the end of last season), but once defenses start playing to stop the run...Andre is gonna have a field day. Can't wait to see it happen. I want to say we will light up the Redskins, cause our offense looked amazing against the Colts. But with Laron Landry and Brian Orakpo on the other side, its going to be tough to put another 34 points.
I still think we score in the 20s. I do agree though about the run game opening up the play action. If we stay strong with the run, how awesome would that be? Basically teams would have to pick their poison.
