Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Eagles Up-Downs: Orakpo up in first half, out in second

By Ryan O’Halloran

Before getting to Up Downs, Season Version, a quick look back at the Redskins-Eagles game.

UP
Brian Orakpo’s first half

Orakpo had his first multi-sack game since Week 4 at St. Louis. He took down Eagles quarterback Michael Vick twice in the first half, but …

DOWN
Orakpo’s second half

He didn’t play after the second sack – in which he also forced a fumble – because of a strained pectoral muscle. Fortunately for the Redskins, the injury doesn’t appear to be serious.

UP
Evan Royster

The Redskins’ rookie running back made another statement while overcoming dehydration and injury to rush 20 times for 113 yards.

DOWN
DeAngelo Hall and Perry Riley’s tackling

Both players should have had the physical advantage over 5-foot-8 Eagles receiver Chad Hall, but he was able to shed both players for a 7-yard touchdown catch and run in the first half.

DOWN
Big penalties

The Redskins had three 15-yard penalties and two weren’t during the course of play. Santana Moss took off his helmet to argue a call and Donte’ Stallworth celebrated in the end zone. Just ridiculous.

UP
Run defense

The Eagles rushed 19 times for only 75 yards (3.9 yards) and that averaged is padded by a 20-yard run.

DOWN
Jabar Gaffney’s 1,000-yard quest

Gaffney came up 53 yards short of his first 1,000-yard year (he finished with a career-high 953). The game book had him targeted a season-high 11 times but he had just four catches for 28 yards.

 

Up-Downs: Redskins have red zone woes

By Ryan O’Halloran

This week’s edition of Redskins Up Downs from their 34-27 loss to the New England Patriots:

UP
The offensive production

The Redskins posted a season high in yardage (463) and the 27 points was their second-best total of the year. Granted, New England’s defense was worse than anticipated, but the Redskins had the running game (170) and passing game (301) going from the second drive on.

DOWN
Key offensive penalties

First quarter, third-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Logan Paulsen commits a false start and the Redskins settle for a 24-yard field goal. … Fourth quarter, first-and-10 from the Redskins 20. Grossman throws 26 yards to Santana Moss, but left guard Maurice Hurt is called for holding. … Fourth quarter, second-and-goal from the 5. Moss is called for offensive pass interference (10 yards). The Patriots seal the win two plays later.

UP
Josh Wilson’s INT

The Redskins’ cornerback showed good instincts on his fourth-quarter interception of Tom Brady in the end zone. It helped make a potential comeback possible.

DOWN
Red zone offense

Mike Shanahan stressed all week to forget the Patriots’ yards-allowed totals and focus on points and red zone performance. That turned out to be a difference Sunday. New England was 1-for-4 but made big plays; the Redskins were 2-for-5. That won’t work against Tom and Co. 

UP
Brandon Banks’ TD pass

Banks had yet to play an offensive snap until he came on the field to start the second quarter. On a run-pass option, he lobbed a pass that Moss collected for a 49-yard touchdown. Hey, at this point of the year, as the underdog, why not try some new things?

DOWN
DeAngelo Hall’s effort and penalty

On Rob Gronkowski’s 49-yard catch and run in the first quarter, Redskins safeties DeJon Gomes and Reed Doughty basically cancelled each other on a tackle attempt. Meanwhile, Hall was just watching. Later, he was penalized 20 yards on the same play – defensive holding and unsportsmanlike conduct (throwing the official’s flag).

UP
Jabar Gaffney and Donte’ Stallworth

When they popped in the Patriots’ tape last week, the two veteran receivers must have figured on big days. And they delivered. Gaffney had six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown and Stallworth four catches for 96 yards.

DOWN
Coverage of Rob Gronkowski

Granted, The Gronk may be impossible to cover, but he made his big plays count. The 49-yard catch set up his 11-yard touchdown (great grab) and his 37-yard TD came when Ryan Kerrigan was called for holding in his attempt to slow him down. An elite player.

UP
Rex Grossman

His day started with a fumble and ended with an interception, but in between, he did some good things behind a patchwork offensive line. He was 19-of-32 for 252 yards and a 92.2 passer rating.

DOWN
The Patriots’ defensive touchdown

When they decided to put rookie Willie Smith in at left tackle, the Redskins had to figure there would be plays that wouldn’t go well. Three minutes into the game, Andre Carter caught Smith off balance, sacked and forced Grossman to fumble. Vince Wilfork recovered for a 7-0 Patriots lead.

 

Up-Downs: Hall follows up with solid effort

By Ryan O’Halloran

SEATTLE – Up downs for the Redskins after they snapped a six-game losing streak with a 23-17 win over Seattle on Sunday.

UP
Running back Roy Helu

In his first chance to be ‘The Guy’ in the backfield, all Helu did was deliver 108 yards rushing on 23 carries (including an impressive 28-yard touchdown) and seven catches for 54 yards. He also had a couple of key blitz pick-ups.

DOWN
Field goal/point after protection

Another field goal blocked and a blocked point after. Granted, the Seahawks’ Red Bryant has done that four times this year, but this wasn’t the first time the Redskins’ interior line was bulldozed backward. Mike Shanahan didn’t cite any snap, hold or ball-flight issues on the two kicks.

UP
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall

Even before his interception to seal the win, Hall was having one of his best games of the year. He broke up six passes and although I’ll check the tape Monday to confirm, he said he played more press coverage than usual. The Redskins’ defense is better off when Hall is playing aggressive.

DOWN
Third down offense

The Redskins piled up 416 yards (second-most this year) despite converting only 3 of 10 opportunities on third down.

UP
Third down offense

That said, two of the Redskins’ three touchdowns came on third down – Helu’s run on third-and-3 and Anthony Armstrong’s on third-and-19.

UP
Receiver Anthony Armstrong

Speaking of Armstrong, he made his only catch in the last five games count. Running a ‘go’ route against Brandon Browning, he used his speed to create separation and collected Grossman’s 50-yard throw despite having Browning draped all over him. Maybe that will spark a December resurgence for No. 13.

DOWN
Penalties, penalties, penalties

The Redskins’ 10 penalties tied a season high and the 115 penalty yards were the most this year. Throw out the yardage to some extent since 44 came on Josh Wilson’s pass interference penalty. But the penalty total was out of character – the Redskins have four of fewer penalties in six games.

UP
The first-half intensity

Don’t know about you, but was amused by all of the trash talking during the pre-game, including the Coin Toss Brouhaha. Trent Williams laughed when I told him, “For what’s its worth, it was entertaining,” and London Fletcher laughed when telling me, “Didn’t look like it was a 3-7 team vs. a 4-6 team did it?” No it didn’t.

UP
Receiver Santana Moss’ return

Out the last four games with a broken left hand, Moss started and saw his usual heavy work load. He was targeted seven times and caught four passes for 29 yards, representing a solid initial step back.

DOWN
Injuries at the safety position

Oshiomogho Atogwe didn’t start because he was deemed non-full speed (Reed Doughty took his place). But Atogwe was forced into action when LaRon Landry sustained a groin injury. He did finish the game, though.

Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@comcastsportsnet.com

 

Monday Up-Downs: Helu both up and down

By Ryan O’Halloran

The Week 9 edition of Redskins’ up-downs after a fourth consecutive loss, 19-11 to the San Francisco 49ers.

UP

Roy Helu, The Receiver

Using a take-what-the-defense-gives-him approach, Redskins quarterback John Beck targeted rookie running back Helu on 17 of 46 pass attempts. The result was a franchise, single-game record 14 catches for Helu (105 yards).

DOWN

Roy Helu, The Receiver

He dropped one pass and fumbled away another reception, but that’s not the biggest issue. It’s the Redskins not having enough play-makers to get open downfield, resulting in a flurry of screen passes and dump-offs. Beck averaged only 8.5 yards per completion.

DOWN

First-quarter offense

Things didn’t get any better for the Redskins, who are stuck on 13 first-quarter points this year. Against the 49ers, it was four-and-punt, three-and-punt and seven-and-interception. During the four-game losing streak, the Redskins have no opening-quarter points.

DOWN

Anthony Armstrong

For the second straight game, the Redskins’ supposed best deep-threat receiver had no catches.

UP

Graham Gano

Gano gave the Redskins their first three points to end the first half when he connected from 59 yards, a franchise record. The surprising thing was that Gano gave his kick enough of a trajectory to get over the line, something that has been a problem for him. 

DOWN

Brandon Banks

Banks muffed two punts, but luckily for him, he recovered both fumbles. The second-year player has been neutralized this year and now he’s making iffy decisions (fielding a punt at his own 3-yard line) and is lucky to get back to his own 20 when taking a kickoff out of the end zone.

 

Up-Downs: At least nobody got hurt

By Ryan O’Halloran

The Week 8 addition of Redskins’ up-downs, following their 23-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

UP
No new injuries.

At least that’s what appeared to be the case. A depleted roster with little remaining depth can’t afford too many injuries although it was interesting Keyaron Fox replaced Rocky McIntosh at inside linebacker on several occasions.

Runner-up up: The time of game. If you’re a Redskins fan, at least Sunday’s loss took a mere 2 hours, 42 minutes.

DOWN
The Redskins’ offense.

Sunday’s game was reminiscent of the 2004 season, when Joe Gibbs’ offense was in the Stone Age and Mark Brunell clearly wasn’t the answer (although he would be, to a certain extent, in 2005).

Part of it is personnel, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of ingenuity going on. A point I made after the game was the Redskins’ results on their first offensive drive, which is a part of a script of plays that have been drilled into the players for days.

The Redskins’ seven first-drive results: Punt (three-and-out), interception (60-yard drive), field goal (42-yard drive), punt (four-and-out), interception (four-play drive), fumble (eight-play drive) and punt (three-and-out).

UP
Getting two takeaways.

The Redskins had hoped for weeks their fumble recovery fortunes would turn in their favor and it happened in the second quarter when Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick mis-handled the snap and Brian Orakpo recovered. The Redskins have retrieved only four of their opponents’ 16 fumbles.

London Fletcher intercepted a pass in the end zone late in the first half. But the result was the same – no points. The Redskins had a field goal blocked after Orakpo’s recovery and punted (which led to a Buffalo field goal) after Fletcher’s INT.

DOWN MULTIPLED BY 9
The Redskins’ offense reached the franchise’s record book Sunday by giving up nine sacks (ties a single-game record).

Even more concerning is that Buffalo entered with four sacks … in SIX games.

Having glanced at some of the replays, this appears to be more of a coverage issue (receivers can’t get open) than just blown protections. Only one time do I remember a Bills rusher reaching Beck unblocked.

UP
Fletcher.

Although we all knew he was going to play (he’s never missed a game), the hamstring injury had to bother him and although there was an issue or two in coverage, he finished with 20 tackles, a half-sack and one interception.

And he was the rare Redskins player who showed any emotion as things went down to the tube.

DOWN
Winter weather … in late October. 

I’ve had a pretty decent streak going since I started covering the team during the 2004 off-season. Only one missed regular season game (Jim Zorn’s finale in San Diego, a few days after the Washington Times’ sports section’s finale).

The Buffalo game was my first missed because of weather. Delayed flight (nearly three hours) from Dulles to Newark. Delayed and ultimately cancelled flight from Newark to Toronto (axed around 5 p.m.). No hotel rooms in New Jersey. Cancelled flight Sunday morning from Newark to Toronto. Nothing cost-efficient from D.C. to Toronto on Sunday. Train from Newark to D.C. Union Station (car still at Dulles). One for ‘The List,’ for sure.

Not that I missed much.

 

Monday Up-Downs: Stock up on Torain, pass rush

By Ryan O’Halloran
CSNwashington.com

Up/downs from the Redskins’ 17-10 win Sunday over St. Louis:

UP

The pass rush

The Redskins’ defense made life miserable for Rams quarterback Sam Bradford all game long. Just how rare is the seven-sack total? According to Pro Football Reference, the Redskins have seven or more sacks just five times since the 1990 season. Leading the way were Brian Orakpo (2.5 sacks), Stephen Bowen (1.5) and Ryan Kerrigan (one sack/forced fumble). The Redskins have 15 sacks through four games; they had 29 all of last year. 

DOWN

Finishing ability

This will be a common theme until the Redskins’ offense in particular shows they can bleed a clock while playing with a lead. Last week against Dallas – OK, that was a lead, but only 16-9. This was 17-0 over a winless team. The offense’s last six possessions: Punt, interception, punt, interception, punt, end of game. Total statistics during those six drives: Four first downs, 32 plays and 86 yards

UP

Ryan Torain

One minute he’s a guy who hasn’t played an offensive snap all season, the next he’s looking like the swift bulldozer who is running 20 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0. He ended up with 19 carries for 135 yards, his fourth career 100-yard game. Mike Shanahan cited Tim Hightower’s “banged up” status as the reason why Torain got a shot. The next few games will determine which back will get a shot come November.

DOWN

Rex Grossman’s second interception

It looked familiar to his pick against Dallas last week when middle linebacker Sean Lee floated back into the coverage and got the interception. Rams middle backer James Laurinaitis did the same thing in the fourth quarter Sunday, giving St. Louis a chance to tie the game late (the Rams were unable to capitalize).

UP

Third down offense

The fourth-quarter struggles notwithstanding, the Redskins in general and Grossman in particular did some fine work on third down after going a combined 14 of 44 entering Sunday. The Redskins were 9 of 18 against St. Louis. Grossman had six third-down completions and one scramble to move the chains.

DOWN

Penalties

I’ll withhold some judgment on whether the calls were correct until watching the tape and talking to the particular parties, but 10 penalties for 96 yards by the Redskins is too much. Especially considering they entered with 10 penalties for 75 yards through three games, it’s a slight cause for alarm. The big ones were personal foul/unnecessary roughness flags on DeAngelo Hall, Niles Paul, Perry Riley and Rob Jackson. The Redskins deserve clarification from the league on especially the Riley penalty that came when he drilled punt returner Austin Pettis.

UP

Sav Rocca

The Redskins’ best punter in several years averaged a solid 45.7-yard net (be interested to see the last time that happened in Washington) and even though he benefitted from two long rolls, his hang time is a reason why the coverage team is getting downfield so quickly. Now it’s about those cover guys to know when to go for the Bury The Return Man shot.

DOWN

Brandon Banks

The Little Man has yet to get going this season. Against St. Louis, he was bottled up – 3 yards on four punt returns and 35 yards on two kickoff returns. Be it hang time or kick placement or missed blocks/penalties, the Redskins haven’t gotten the expected results from Banks just yet.