Redskins Misc News & Info

[Caliskinsfan]

I think the center position looks to be solved or on its way to being solved

Looks promising fo sho

 

[Krusheasy]

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Keim...

ASHBURN, Va. -- It's the Washington Redskins. It's quarterbacks. So another mailbag question surrounding Kirk Cousins.


John Keim: I’m probably going to look into this more next week because it’s something that has jumped out at me as well when I read it in Bill Barnwell's article earlier in the week. As always, there’s not just one answer here but it has been something that’s noticeable -- and this offense is capable of more down field, too.

Let’s take a look at the numbers first: Cousins has attempted only 43 passes that have traveled 10 or more yards in the air. That’s good for 26th most in the NFL, so, yes, it’s definitely something worth discussing and wondering about.

To me, the worst part of this is that he’s only completed 46.5 percent of those throws, which ranks 22nd in the NFL according to ESPN Stats & Information. Now, to give you some context. Here are other quarterbacks in that general range: Cam Newton, Drew Brees, Jameis Winston and Carson Palmer. Oh, and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers is last in the NFL, completing just 32.7 percent of such throws -- and he’s only attempted six more than Cousins.

I know when it comes to Cousins, not many want to look at all the facts -- good or bad. But the truth is there’s always context needed. So while he’s struggling in this area, it’s not as if he’s alone. Brees, Newton and Rodgers all are in the same ballpark as far as number of attempts (none of them have more than 51). Winston and Palmer are way above. So even though their completion percentage is around the same, at least they’re taking more shots. Honestly, I’m more shocked by Rodgers’ number than Cousins’.

But the odd thing for Cousins is that he was pretty good in this area last season, completing 53.2 percent for sixth in the NFL. He ranked 17th in number of attempts.

Now, the tough part is always explaining why. Again, it’s something to explore next week but here are my early theories. Obviously, he’s missed some throws downfield -- Jamison Crowder vs. Dallas; a few throws last week. Cousins’ accuracy has been off, which contributes to the low completion percentage on such throws.

It’s not as if the coaches don’t want to attack down field because they do. Initially I wondered if some of it stemmed from the first two games when they threw more and used some of those short throws as de facto runs. But it’s not as if the number of chances have increased the last few games.

Part of it is Cousins’ mentality -- but, last week, Baltimore absolutely focused on taking away deep passes and that led to checkdowns and solid gains. When they went man, the Redskins tried to go deep and weren’t successful. The Steelers tested them this way, too. In fact, it’s when Cousins got greedy vs. Pittsburgh that he threw an interception.

One reason Cousins does not get sacked -- and has cut down on his interceptions -- is because he is willing to hit checkdowns. Nothing wrong with that. The Redskins also have players capable of gaining big yards after short passes -- Pierre Garcon does that well as do Crowder and Jordan Reed. Two of DeSean Jackson's biggest gains have come off shallow crossers, leading him into long runs. Not every short pass is bad. It’s why Cousins’ 7.17 yards per attempt is good for 15th in the NFL. Last year, he ranked eighth in the NFL in this category.

The Redskins’ talent enables them to clear areas, hit them underneath and let them run. That makes plenty of sense.

But I also think some of it is a mindset. The Redskins do have the talent to be better in this area and if Cousins starts hitting more shots downfield, then it would absolutely help and likely increase some of those opportunities. I would think with a stronger commitment to the run game, there would be solid chances in that 15-yard range off play-action.

Regardless, it was an interesting number and one I'll keep digging into a little.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Don't know what it is with Grant...just never produces on game day. So frustrating.

 

[Krusheasy]

Kirk Cousins interview with Grant & Danny


http://cbsloc.al/2diQgjY

Redskins QB Kirk Cousins joins exclusively following the Skins win over the Eagles

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Keim...

The Redskins' improved run game blocking – not just from the line but all over – can be seen in this stat: They averaged 3.35 yards per carry before first contact Sunday, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That marks the fourth time this season they have averaged 3.0 yards or more before contact in a game. They had two such games last season.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Possibility of TE Derek Carrier starting to practice again this week.

 

[skinsdad62]

Possibility of TE Derek Carrier starting to practice again this week.

good for him

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Soooo, I see the NFL decided to include the infamous 'bow and arrow' in the promo clip for Josh...hypocrites.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Master Tes on the Nacho/Whitner sitch...


The Washington Redskins have been shuffling different safeties into the lineup all season, and that doesn’t appear like it will change anytime soon. In Sunday’s victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, Duke Ihenacho made his second start of the season after the team placed David Bruton on the injured-reserve list because of a concussion.

Ihenacho had the third most snaps among the team’s safeties entering the game, but Ihenacho received just 19 of 52 snaps Sunday after playing every snap last week against the Baltimore Ravens. Washington instead opted to use Donte Whitner, who signed with the team two weeks ago, for much of the game at strong safety over Ihenacho. Will Blackmon played the entire game at free safety.

Redskins Coach Jay Gruden suggested that, like at running back, it will be a fluid situation at strong safety moving forward with Ihenacho and Whitner.


“It might depend on the package,” Gruden said Monday. “It might be more nickel for Donte, it might be more base for Duke, or what have you. That’s something that we’ll decide on a week-by-week basis and a game-by-game basis depending on who we’re playing, what personnel groups they’re featuring and go from there. Donte has really come in and picked up the [defense] extremely well. Duke played well again yesterday. Blackmon had some good plays. I think the safety position is getting stronger.”

The Redskins are already without two safeties they started the season with in Bruton and DeAngelo Hall, who is on injured reserve with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Blackmon replaced Hall at free safety.


Although Whitner hasn’t been with the team for long, Gruden said the three-time Pro Bowl safety has played well in his first two games.

“He’s a darn good football player, and he’s earned the reps being out here,” Gruden said. “We like what he does — his knowledge of the game and his ability to play zone and man coverage. He’s just an all-around good safety.”

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Hmmm, wolf pack mentality beginning to show Some bite?

 

[Sportster 72]

I would like to say I broke my long standing tradition of not firing a coach during the season. I hope Joe Barry and his boys make me continue to eat crow.

Of course I am still laughing at the line "Bruton was put on IR due to a concussion." I would like to amend that to say he was put in IR because he sucked. Ditto with Reyes. Keep it up wolf pack.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

I would like to say I broke my long standing tradition of not firing a coach during the season. I hope Joe Barry and his boys make me continue to eat crow.

Of course I am still laughing at the line "Bruton was put on IR due to a concussion." I would like to amend that to say he was put in IR because he sucked. Ditto with Reyes. Keep it up wolf pack.

One thing that is a mystery. And that is whether the coaching crew waits too long to pull the hook on players that are not performing well enough. I get giving a guy a shot but not when others immediately step in and do better... Makes you wonder why they weren't out there to begin with. There remains some disconnect with put your best performing players on the field. Bruton and Reyes are examples of this.

 

[Caliskinsfan]

This is hilarious!

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Better blocking

 

[Caliskinsfan]

 

[Sportster 72]

Better blocking

Not to mention better blocking at the TE position. Love Jordan Reed as a receiver but his blocking sucks.

 

[Krusheasy]

monday presser

 

[Sharkinva]

Not to mention better blocking at the TE position. Love Jordan Reed as a receiver but his blocking sucks.

Understatement of the century.

 

[Caliskinsfan]