First down issues lead to third-down problems

As noted here earlier today, the Redskins’ issues on third down have not prevented them from being a pretty good offense. Still, going three for 20 on third downs over the past two games is not the way you want to live if you want to be a consistently effective offense.

If you ask any coach about third down conversions he’ll tell you that what really matters is what happens on first down. Staying out of third and long, they’ll tell you, is the key to having success on third down.

So let’s put the last two games under the microscope and look at the Redskins’ third downs and what happened leading up to the third down situations.

On the first plays of the series that wound up with third downs, the Redskins ran on 13 of the 22 and called passing plays on nine of them, including one sack. [Note: twice the Redskins got first downs on third downs due to penalties, so those plays do not count in the stats.]

But, regardless of the play call, their third down problems start on first down. They are gaining .55 yards on each first-down passing play in a series that ends up in a third-down situation and .61 yards on each running play.

In other words, they are facing second and nine-plus and ending up with third down and, on average, 8.6 yards to go.

So, there you go, the same old stuff that we’ve heard from coaches for years being played out in real life, at least over these two games.

It’s one of those things that becomes a cliché because it’s true.

The third-down series over the past two games:

vs. Bucs

1^st down play: Run (5 to go after penalty), -3
Third down play: (8 to go) Pass 6

1^st down play: Pass 2
3^rd down play: (5 to go) Run 8 TD (after recovered fumble in end zone)

1^st down play: Run -1
3^rd down play: Pass (11 to go) 3

1^st down play: Pass incomplete
3^rd down play: (13 to go) Pass 12 (converted on fourth down)

1^st down play: Run 2
3^rd down play: (1 to go) None, offside penalty gives WAS first down

1^st down play: Run -4
3^rd down play: (11 to go) Run 1

1^st down play: (25 to go after penalty) Pass incomplete
3^rd down play: (15 to go) Scramble 8

1^st down play: Run -2
3^rd down play: (19 to go) No play, roughing the passer penalty

1^st down play: Run 1
3^rd down play: (19 to go after unnecessary roughness penalty) Pass -1

1^st down play: Run 1
3^rd down play: (9 to go) Pass 30 (RG3 lateral to Banks, lateral back to RG3)

1^st down play: Run 2
3^rd down play: (2 to go) Run 0

1^st down play: Pass incomplete
3^rd down play: (12 to go) Pass incomplete

1^st down play: Run 0
3^rd down play: (10 to go) Scramble 9

vs. Falcons

1^st down play: Sack -7
3^rd down play: (7 to go) Pass incomplete

1^st down play: Pass 2
3^rd down play: (7 to go) Pass incomplete

1^st down play: Run 2
3^rd down play: (8 to go) Pass 5

1^st down play: Run 5
3^rd down play: (2 to go) Run -2

1^st down play: Run 0
3^rd down play: (2 to go) Run 1

1^st down play: (goal to go at the 9) Pass 4
3^rd down play: (goal to go at the 3) Sacked -2 (RG3 concussion play)

1^st down play: Pass 4
3^rd down play: (7 to go) Pass incomplete

1^st down play: Run 1
3^rd down play: (9 to go) Pass 77 TD

1^st down play: Run 6
3^rd down play: (10 to go) Pass 7