It’s Not The Play Calling.
Unless of course, the play calls for the QB to throw the ball late, or too high, or behind the receiver or to the wrong receiver or for said receiver to not get separation or drop the pass.
The Redskins offense lost the game.
Not because they did not score enough points.
Not because they did not have enough opportunities.
And not because of the play calling or that they got away from the run game!
No my friends, the Redskins Offense lost the game because they can’t make the plays.
Everyone is screaming that the running game was working and Kyle Shanahan inexplicably moved away from what was working and lost the game.
That is the perception.
Here is the factual reality and my own Fumbled Perception of the game.
First some Stats:
Alfred Morris:
1st Half: 66 yards on 9 carries for a 7.3 yard average. (that is an average anybody would be proud of)
Halftime Score: Redskins 7 Broncos 7
Time of possession: Redskins 17 minutes Broncos 13 minutes
So far so good. Right?
Now a Confession:
I admit, I did not see the first half of the game. I had other commitments which required my time and attention. But that did not stop me from listening to the game. The number one thing I got from listening to the first half was when Robert ran, or got pressured to move out of the pocket, or even when he miraculously completed a pass he should not have thrown, the number one thing the commentators always said was “ . . . so&so . . . was open down field” or “ . . . so&so . . . was open in the end-zone ” or “ . . . so&so . . . was open for the first down”. Each of those “ . . . so&so . . .“ was usually some other receivers name. And in each and every instance of “. . . so&so . . .was”, the end result was a drive killing play.
I said to my son that there was no way the Skins were going to win if they kept playing like that.
They failed to make the play to the open receiver at least 4 times during the first half. Which means they failed to keep Peyton and the Broncos off the field even longer.
But like we said earlier, the score was tied at halftime and all was good.
Now back to Alfred Morris:
2nd Half: 27 yards on 8 carries for a 3.3 yard average. (almost same number of carries but a much lower average)
What happened?
6 of those 2nd half carries were in the 3rd quarter. (so it looks like they were still trying to run, just not very effectively)
The Broncos had four possessions in the 3rd quarter and the Redskins had two.
The Redskins scored two touchdowns off of Broncos turnovers. Quick scores but also quick to give the ball back to Peyton to try again, and again, and again.
End of 3rd quarter Score: Redskins 21 Broncos 14
Time of procession for the third quarter: Redskins 5 minutes Broncos 10 minutes
Hmmmm… even though the Redskins are scoring on turn overs and still running the ball, the tied is turning because you do not sustain drives on 3 yards per carry.
The 4th quarter saw the Broncos continue their drive from the 3rd for yet another touchdown.
The score is now tied at 21.
Now for a little role playing:
Suppose you are Kyle now with the score tied and you know the Broncos have been keying on the run and stacking the box.
What do you do?
How about call a play action pass over the zone that is stacking the run?
You come out in your next series with a play action pass called and the Broncos are lined up to stop the run.
This is what happened:
1st Down: Play action pass (in other words make the defense bite on the run) and throw to a wide open Joshua Morgan. The play unfolded beautifully, just like they drew it up on paper their tablets. Only problem, RGIII tossed it late and way behind Morgan. To his credit, Morgan did get a hand on the ball, and as one radio sports junkie said, if you are going to be a premier receiver in this league, you gotta make that catch. Well, mister radio sports junkie, that may be true, but, if you are going to be a premier QB in this league you have to NOT throw the ball late and you gotta make that pass.
2nd Down.
Play #2: You (AKA Kyle Shanahan) “Damn, that didn’t work and now we got to make up more yardage.”
What do I do now?
- how about a draw? Last time I faked the run and tossed a pass. This time I can fake the pass and run. But everyone will be expecting that.
- How about an option play? Probably would have been a good call but . . .
- You opt to go with your money pass play to Garcon. He catches everything.End result. RG3 misses again. And yes, there was another person more open than Garcon, but the fact of the matter is RG3 missed.
3rd Down.
Run or pass? Chances are even Morris isn’t going to run 10 plus yards to make the first down, so you throw it again. RG3 is on target to Robinson and . . . he drops it.
4th Down.
Punt back to Peyton and its the beginning of the end.
Three drive killing plays in a row. Was it the play calling? Or was it Washington’s inability to make the play?
When Garcon was asked about Washington’s inability to move the ball down the field with the passing attack he said this:
“What do you expect? And what would you do differently? When you suck at passing, you suck at passing.”
Remember what I said about the first half and drive killing pass plays?
But Mr. Fumbled sir – that was an observation. Yes, but an observation based on fact. Results of the play.
Want some more facts?
Denver has allowed opposing teams on average to pass for 380 yards per game.
They are one of the poorer defenders of the long ball and have not had a huge number of turnovers.
Washington had no passes completed for over 20 yards in the game, was intercepted twice, and only managed 132 yards passing.
With stats like that, nobody is going to fear your passing game.
So opposing teams are going to feel confident stacking the box and blitzing.
When that happens, your offense becomes one dimensional. And one dimensional doesn’t win many games.
One dimensional is always wanting to call a running play.
One dimensional is always wanting to call a passing play.
One dimensional is always wanting to play a shootout of kick returns to see who scores more touchdowns. ( Sorry Sam just had to say that )
If any of those passing plays in the previous series had been completed, then the Redskins would have made the play, moved the chains, stayed on the field for at least another three plays and more importantly, kept the ball away from Peyton and the Broncos.
And who knows, maybe they would have found a way to score more points while completing plays.
Yes folks, the Redskins lost the game. No, they did not lose it because the abandoned the run. No, they did not lose it because of play calling. They lost it because they are a one dimensional team and can’t make the passing or option game work.
Until the Redskins offense starts making all the plays, passing, running and options; their season is going to be
toast.
I’m disappointed that cornerback Corey Graham is not joining the Redskins. He is decent tallent, at a decent price, and can help on Special Teams too. I wish him luck with the Bills.
Fumbled Returns 