Need to Know: Redskins pass defense historically bad

Here is what you need to know on this Tuesday, October 9, five days before the Redskins take on the 4-1 Vikings at FedEx Field.

Pass defense historically bad

If you are thinking that you haven’t seen a Redskins pass defense this bad in your lifetime, you are probably right.

The Redskins have given up 1643 yards through the air. Through five games that is the most in team history and the third-worst performance in NFL history.

To put the 1643 passing yards the Redskins have yielded in perspective, no other Redskins team has even allowed as many as 1500 passing yards through five games. The second-worst performance came in 2010 when they gave up 1490 passing yards in the first five. The 1999 team gave up 1375 yards through five games, the third most in team history.

In NFL history, only the 2005 49ers (1718 yards) and 2010 Texans (1648) have been worse than these Redskins at defending the pass at this point in the season.

Third down problems catch up with Redskins

Going into the Atlanta game, the Redskins were among the worst teams in the league when it came to third down conversions but they weren’t really worried about it. They were picking up a lot of first downs on first- and second-down plays and were in the top five in the league in both offense and total first downs.

But their third down miseries caught up with them against the Falcons and they paid for their inability to move the sticks. They were one of nine on third down on the day and they got just 12 first downs while the Falcons picked up 28.

There was no particular pattern to the problems on Sunday. A couple of times they couldn’t open up enough of a crack for Alfred Morris to pick up a needed yard or two. There were some dropped passes, including one by Fred Davis that killed the team’s first drive. And in the red zone there was the third down play where Robert Griffin III scrambled and was sacked and knocked out of the game.

Today’s schedule

Off day, no media availability

In case you missed it

Atlanta linebacker Sean Weatherspoon says that the hit that knocked out RG3 was a “bang-bang play”.

It looks like the Redskins are ready to kick Billy Cundiff to the side of the road.

Days until: Vikings @ Redskins 5; Redskins @ Steelers 19; RG3 vs. Cam @ FedEx Field 26; Thanksgiving @ Cowboys 44

Comments

[eks74072]

Pass D is awful but total yards is not the best measure. Yards per play and yards per drive are better and while we are near the bottom in those, we are not at the bottom, just for this year. We have given up the most 40 yard plays. As far as historically bad, I disagree there. If Rex was still QB, other teams would be running in the second half knowing we were down and couldn't catch up, and the defense would look adequate, as it did last year until the offense started scoring at the end of the year.

Does anyone remember 2006? Now that was closer to historically bad pass defense, and proved it all season. They were 31st in yards per drive, last in touchdowns per drive, and worst rated in both defense and pass defense by the advanced stats at Football Outsiders.

This team can be merely below average if they give up the cover-0 craziness. The Steelers-style defense is about creating pressure with blitzes coming from anywhere, not by completely selling out and rushing everyone.

The performance against Atlanta, overall, has to be considered very good. They netted 17 points against our defense after averaging only 5.2 yards per play, 6.4 per pass (both below average) and 2 points per drive. We made a top offense look merely decent. True, they owned third down but it didn't net them all that much. Amazing how you can contain the other team's score when you don't give up multiple 30 yard plays!