ES Coverage

Washington vs Baltimore ~ Tale Of The Tape

ES Coverage: Giants @ Redskins 2019

12/22/19

I'm here. Let's play, Let's win.

Inactives

The Redskins declared the following players as inactive:

o   No. 12 QB Colt McCoy 

o   No. 23 CB Quinton Dunbar 

o   No. 31 CB Fabian Moreau

o   No. 36 RB Josh Ferguson

o   No. 40 LB Josh Harvey-Clemons

o   No. 64 C Ross Pierschbacher

o   No. 83 TE Caleb Wilson 

The Giants declared the following players as inactive:

o   No. 3 QB Alex Tanney

o   No. 22 RB Wayne Gallman Jr.  

o   No. 38 S Rashaan Gaulden

o   No. 62 G Chad Slade

o   No. 79 T Eric Smith

o   No. 84 WR David Sills V

o   No. 85 TE Rhett Ellison 

In case you didn't notice, Saquon Barkley is playing today...

Half

The Redskins' defense is atrocious today. They have no answer for Saquon Barkley and are letting Daniel Jones play the game of his life. Jones is 14/18 for 185-yards and 3 TDs. Barkley is 9-for-126 with 1 TD.

Washington's offense has looked pretty good. Haskins is having a good day. He went 10/10 before his first incompletion.  He stands current at 12/15 for 133-yards for 2 TDs. Unfortunately, Washington trails 28-14. They do get the ball to start the 2nd half. 

JimmiJo

Are you not entertained?

There was plenty to hate about that game. The Washington Redskins surrendered 552-yards of offense to the New York Giants on the way to a 41-35 loss at FedEx Field and no, that is not a typo.

Greg Manusky’s defense was once again the center of attention, and for all the wrong reasons. Knowing Saquon Barkley was the one to stop, the Redskins instead allowed the Giants’ runner to amass 189-yards rushing with a touchdown. He also contributed 90-yards on four catches and another touchdown.

That’s 279-yards and 2-touchdowns by a single player.

In total Washington surrendered 206-yards rushing from New York. And then there was the Giants’ passing game. Daniel Jones had a banner day, logging 28 completions on 42 attempts for 352-yards and 5 touchdowns with a 132.2 quarterback rating.

The Redskins made it interesting. Though they trailed at times by 14, Washington managed to close the gap, tie the score near the end of regulation and force overtime.

And they managed much of this with backup quarterback Case Keenum after starter Dwayne Haskins was carted off with an ankle early in the 3^rd quarter.

Keenum showed some of the skill that enticed former head coach Jay Gruden into wanting him. He completed 16/22 for 158-yards and a touchdown and a rating of 107.8. He also rushed for the tying touchdown with under a minute remaining.

Not that Haskins had a poor outing. In fact he may have been having his best outing. The rookie was playing with good confidence and poise in the first half. Haskins went 12/15 for 133-yards and 2-touchdowns with a rating of 143.2.

Haskins said after the game that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder came down to the locker room to personally tell him not to return to the game. That is what is called protecting the franchise investment. Not sure we see him again this season. 

But Washington’s defense could not slow down New York in the first half. The Giants registered 3-touchdowns on their first three drives before punting for the first time deep in the 2^nd quarter. They would add another just prior to halftime and lead the Redskins 28-14 at the break.

Early in the 3^rd quarter things appeared to come undone for Washington. Haskins was lost for the remainder of the game with an ankle injury. The very next play starting right tackle Morgan Moses went out with a leg injury.

But their backups performed well. In-fact, well enough to tie the game before the end of regulation to force overtime.

Case Keenum took advantage of the relief opportunity to let other teams know he can still play a little bit. After a disastrous first drive that resulted in a net-loss of yardage, Keenum and the offense responded.p

Under Keenum’s stewardship the Redskins tallied three touchdowns to tie the game late. Keenum showed good poise to hit Steven Sims Jr. on a crossing pattern in the end zone.

Though Washington was able to force the extra period, New York won the toss and elected to receive. They then did what they had been doing all day; marched through Washington’s defense to score the game-winning touchdown on a Jones-to-tight end Kaden Smith.

In the end, the Redskins lost another game to fall to 3-12. But in doing so they have their hands firmly on the 2^nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. It is theirs to lose, in they only win.

This was my last action for the season. I have once again enjoyed bringing you the sights and sounds of this team of ours. We have one more Skinscast episode to record this Thursday, so make sure you head over the Redskins.com under “Podcasts” Thursday and check it out.

ES Coverage: Lions vs. Redskins

11/24/19

VICTORY!!!

Redskins 19 - 16 Lions 

So I kept setting off the metal detector coming in. Must have been my steely gaze and iron-will.

Here is my pre-game write-up: Just win the f****ng game.

Thanks.

Follow along in-game on Twitter @Skinscast.

Speaking of which, I hope you guys are listening to the OFFICIAL podcast of Extremeskins over at Redskins.com; Skinscast.

Stand by...

Half
 

So the Redskins are rightfully leading at the half 13-6 over the Detroit Lions.

I say rightfully because Washington has made more meaningful plays; Steven Sims jr’s 91-yard kickoff return, a forced fumble and recovery, an interception, and a couple of nice throws by Dwayne Haskins to put the Redskins in scoring position.

But in-between was some errant passes, one of which would have hit a wide-open Terry McLaurin running free into the end zone.

If Washington loses, it will be because of missed opportunities, such as the easy three-yard out late in the second half Haskins to Trey Quinn that would converted the 3^rd down, extended the drive and killed the half. But instead, Detroit got the ball back and were able to drive down for a 49-yard field goal to bring the score within 7.

By the way, the Lions get the ball to the start the 2^nd half. All they need is a nice drive and a couple plays for me to be talking about a tied game.

Washington needs to reassert themselves. As for Haskins, this is what we get with a rookie thrower. But the problem is not his decision making or reads, it is mechanics. This concerns me.

Postgame

Earlier today I wrote “just win” (in so many words). The Washington Redskins did just that.

It was not pretty. It was not always expected – certainly not after the Redskins squandered a 10-point lead to have to then play catchup. But in the end they did it, and it was damn sweet to see.

All credit to rookie Dwayne Haskins. That last drive showed poise and determination. He told me following the game he knew before the first snap that could and would win it.

‘That’s interesting,” I thought to myself. Did you know it when you overthrew a completely wide-open Terry McLaurin in the end zone…twice?

Or when you could not covert a 3-yard 3^rd down to Trey Quinn that meant everything at the time, with the game tied and close to the 2-minute warning. The crossing pattern to Jeremy Sprinkle that saw the tight end well ahead of the defender. Even the miraculous catch Kelvin Harmon made could have ended disastrously but for the magic catch.

Each of these were grossly errant throws. Everyone long.

Head coach Bill Callahan said it was timing issues of a young quarterback. Wanting to go too fast. Or putting on too much. He did credit Haskins with placing the ball where it could not be picked. But that was only true of the long balls.

Haskins tends to miss high on the checkdowns. This will lead to turnovers as often as not as high-passes get tipped up when not corralled.

The quarterback gave me a different reason when I asked about his overthrows.

“My wrist was hurt,” he said.

He will learn that was a rather significant admission following a game. And though he minimized the follow-ups, telling us he hurt it in-game but that “it’s good;” the head coach and trainer will have some ‘splainin’ to do as any injury to the starting quarterback needs to be announced according to league rules.

Haskins day was mixed. He skippered the game-winning field goal drive. But also fumbled the ball for loss and was intercepted. On the day he went 13-of-29 for 156-yards, and the interception for a passer rating of 47.5.

But the game was more than Haskins. It was a defense that let down far too many times. But also one that made some big plays.

Washington’s defense intercepted Detroit’s Jeff Driskel three-times; twice by Fabian Moreau and once by Quinton Dunbar. None more important than Moreau’s grab to seal the win for Washington.

The defense also generated 6 sacks and 6 tackles-for-loss. Yet they allowed 364-yards of total offense by the Lions while granting them 33:30 minutes of time-of-possession (a 7-minute advantage).

Offensively, the struggles for Washington continued. Yes, they managed the game-winning drive, capped by a 39-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal that was the winner. But that was part of another 4-field goal day for the Redskins. Meaning another game with no offensive touchdown.

Darrius Guice led all backs with 32-yards rushing on 10-carries. Haskins was 2^nd, tallying 28-yards on 3 scrambles, and Adrian Peterson rounded out the top 3 with 27-yards on 10 carries.

Terry McLaurin led all Washington receivers with 5 catches for 72-yards.

But no write-up of today’s victory is complete without special mention of the special teams. Teams accounted for ALL points today for Washington; a touchdown and those 4 field goals. The play of the day (and perhaps season) was Steven Sims Jr. taking a muffed catch on a kickoff and running it back 91-yards for the Redskins’ only touchdown.

It was a magic moment for the few who came out to see Washington win today.

With as rare as victories have been, I am not about to get particular.  Despite the missed chances and bad plays, when it all counted Haskins and the Redskins did enough to get the win.

And we will sure take that.

We’re still doing this?  Absolutely!  Despite all the compelling reasons to just let everyone go home and enjoy and extended offseason, this is not an option.  The games must be played, and therefore we the long-suffering fans will feel compelled to watch.  Even games no reasonable football fan would choose to watch like, for example, today’s Redskins Jets game.   

Today’s convergence of sadness features the 30th ranked scoring offense (Jets 14.4 ppg) versus the 32nd (Redskins 12.0 ppg).  The first team to 15 wins!  With no playoff aspirations the compelling story lines for this game are largely limited to watching young players (hopefully) develop.  Dwayne Haskins gets his first home start and Derrius Guice is back from injury.   
 
My, reasonable, goals for today’s game:  

1- Score a touchdown 
2- Score more than 17 points.   
3- Haskins throws for 200 yards or more with no interceptions  
4- Guice runs the ball at least 10 times and finishes at 3.5 yards per carry and healthy.  
 

Hoping for a win at this point feels like setting myself up for disappointment, so I’m happy to settle for an entertaining loss.  

Special thanks to @pez for some excellent Guinness beef stew.  If you absolutely have to stand in a frozen parking lot at 9am, the best place to do it is at the Extremeskins Tailgate with Pez and @Huly.  Great fans, great people. 
 

The Redskins have declared for the following players as inactive: 
Paul Richardson  
Colt McCoy 
Deshazor Everett 
Chris Thompson  
Ross Pierschbacher 
Vernon Davis  
Tim Settle  
 

The Jets declared the following players as inactive  
Nate Hairston  
Darryl Roberts  
Paul Worrilow 
Matthias Farley  
CJ Mosley  
Jordan Willis  
Leo Koloamatangi 

1st Quarter - Redskins 0 - 6 Jets

If you wanted to sit in the cold and watch a football game with some Jets fans at FedEx, but were worried that there were not enough seats available, I have good news.  There’s plenty of space available, so come on down and prove you’re a real fan by sitting though this in person.

Jets dominated the 1st quarter even though they only scored 6 points.  The reason being that Washington managed only 13 yards of offense and a single first down.  
 

Question: Is it still a check down pass if the QB never looks at anyone else?

2nd Quarter - Redskins 3 - 20 Jets

The Jets have achieved an insurmountable 13 point lead early in the 2nd quarter.  All hope is lost.

Is there a more perfect example of the Redskins offense than their first scoring drive in the 2nd quarter?  Interception gives the Redskins the ball on the Jets 16 yard line.  They proceed to march 10 yards backwards before kicking a field goal from the Jets 26.  It's perfect.  Two or three more field goals we can call it a day. 

The Jets score again and if feels like they are are just piling on at this point.  Three touchdowns in the first half for them, just three points for the redskins.  Our streak of no touchdowns has now extended to 15 quarters. 

3rd Quarter - Redskins 3 - 20 Jets
There is a spider slowly descending from the ceiling in the press box and it's the most interesting thing that's happened during the third quarter of this game. 

I have decided to allow the spider to live, provided it does not touch me.  I'm off to get some more caffeine. 

4th Quarter - Redskins 17 - 34 Jets

The first wave of Redskins fans, the few that are here, started streaming towards the exits after that 4th Jets touchdown.  As if the Jets didn't have this game wrapped up in the 2nd quarter. 

Jet have now more than doubled their average points per game and have matched their season high of 34 points (and they missed two field goals in this game). 

TOUCHDOWN REDSKINS!  THE DROUGHT IT OVER!  Guice took a short pass from Haskins  all the way to the house.  2 point conversion is successful on a pass from Haskins to Quinn. 

The Redskins score another touchdown!  This feels like an embarrassment of riches, even if we are still certain to lose this game. 

End of Game.

Let's review those reasonable goals I mentioned earlier:

Quote

My, reasonable, goals for today’s game:  

1- Score a touchdown 
2- Score more than 17 points.   
3- Haskins throws for 200 yards or more with no interceptions  
4- Guice runs the ball at least 10 times and finishes at 3.5 yards per carry and healthy. 

1- Success.

2- Close enough, I'm counting it

3- Haskins did throw for over 200, but unfortunately did have an interception. 

4- Guice was not given the opportunity to run the ball ten times today.  He did however score on a 45 yard TD pass and finish the game healthy.  I'll take it.

Even though the Redskins lost, it was good to see the offense show some faint signs of life and end the streak of games without a TD.  The team looked competitive for much of the second half, and perhaps they could have made this a fun game if they carried that same energy throughout.  It was good to see Guice and Mclaurin show out today.  I think both of them have a future with this team that I look forward to seeing. 

Good afternoon Redskins fans!  I have once again been invited to sit in the relative comfort of the press box and shout my thoughts into the void via this blog.  As you watch the game today and see the rain  pour relentlessly from the heavens, know that I am safe and dry.  Know also that @Spaceman Spiff is out there somewhere, cold and unappreciated, rolling around in the muck trying to capture that perfect picture.  Maybe say a little prayer for his health (or laugh, whatever, I’m not judging you).  Also, be sure not to miss the pictures he posts on this site after each game.     
 

Before we get into today's Redskins game, I want give some thanks for more positive occurrences in DC sports.  Congrats to the Washington Mystics for winning their first championship.  Congrats go out to the Washington Nationals as well for reaching the world series.  These two teams (along with the Caps) are working hard to change the sports related mood around this town, and we're all happier for it. 
 
Lets move now into less cheerful topics, namely your Washington Redskins!  Yow know things are going bad, and I mean really dang bad, when your team has gone through three quarterbacks and two coaches and your not even half way through the season.  Today's fresh hell comes in the form of a specter of the our recent past coming to smirk at our misfortune.  Im talking of course of Kyle.  Kyle's spent the week assuring everyone that he isn’t holding a grudge, while very obviously holding a grudge.  “Everything else.”  You know what I’m talking about. 
 
If all he brought to town were his hurt feelings we wouldn’t have a problem.  Sadly, he’s arrived with an undefeated football team that the NFL says we have to play this week.  This feels entirely unfair. 
 
My generic key to the game:  Run the ball and stop the run.  The team (spoiler alert: 49ers) that does this today will win.   
 
Redskins Inactives  

QB Colt McCoy  
S Deshazor Everett  
CB Josh Norman  
RB Chris THompson  
LB Josh Harvey-Clemons 
G Wes Martin  
TE Vernon Davis  

49ers inactives  

QB CJ Beathard 
WR Deebo Samuel  
CB Ahkello Witherspoon  
FB Kyle Juszczyk 
T Mike McGLinchey 
T Joe Staley 
DL DJ Jones 

1st Quarter Update
Redskins 0 – 0 49ers

Callahan wasn’t playing around when he said he wanted to run the ball.  That first drive was all runs, and looked great... right up until they tried to pass the ball.  Hopkins missed the relatively short fied goal, because of course he did.     

Maybe Quinn isn’t a good choice to be returning punts?  Consider it.    
 

That second Redskins drive looked more like what we’ve come to expect from this offense.  Run for negative yards, pass dropped, and an unsuccessful screen pass.  A quintessential Redskins three and out. 

Passing yards this quarter:  Redskins 3. 49ers 9.  Are you not entertained?! 

Half Time Update

Redskins 0 – 0 49ers 
 
How happy are you to spend your Sunday afternoon watching this game?  Consider that some people paid money, to sit in a poncho, in the rain, to watch this game. 
 
It’s now time for those half time adjustments that our beloved skins do so well.  It’s unlikely the second half mirrors the first. 

3rd Quarter Update 
Redskins 0 – 3 49ers  
 
Good news, this game will not end in a 0-0 tie.  Those half time adjustments have kicked in as expected and the 49ers have found a way onto the scoreboard in this messy throwback game.  The Redskins have decided to spend the second half collecting holding penalties and sadness.  Mercifully, only one quarter remains. 

End of Game Update 
Redskins 0 – 9 49ers 
 
Callahan hasn’t spent much time as the head coach of the Washington Redskins, but he’s already proven that his team can waste 2nd half timeouts like a veteran.  It makes little sense to adopt a strategy that shortens the game when your team is losing, and it makes even less sense when your team is short on time outs.  I’m not really sure what the thinking as late in this game.    

 
Next week Kirk Cousins!   

The Bill Callahan era began here at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. For the first quarter it was really,really bad football being played by both teams. 
The Redskins were determined to establish the Run game. The First Quarter all they established was that they still couldn’t run. Or pass. Or do much of anything. 
 

It wasn’t until the 2nd Quarter that Peterson was able to start ripping the worst Run D in the League for chunks of 18 & 24 yards. The Skins managed to score a TD with a 25 yard pass to Scary Terry McLaurin. 
 

The Dolphins would open the Second Half only managing five plays before the Redskins would get the ball punted back to them. They would run a balanced run/pass attack of six plays for 70 yards in 1:25 ending in McLaurin’s second touchdown of the day. The Defense would then get a turnover allowing the Offense to get to Field Goal range and add another 3 points to make the score 17-3. 
 

To open the Fourth Quarter, Hopkins would miss a 55 yard Field Goal, leaving the score at 17-3.  After being sacked five times, the Dolphins would pull their own switcharoo at QB and go to Ryan “Neckbeard” Fitzpatrick which resulted in a touchdown drive for them, making it 17-10. They went for & recovered the Onside Kick. They also managed to not score any points after that. The Dolphins would find theirselves with ball at the 2:00 Warning. Fitzpatrick would take them on a 9 play 75 yard touchdown drive with six seconds remaining on the clock. Miami went for the win with the 2 Point Conversion and failed. The Redskins would recover the onside kick by Miami and Keenum took a knee to get the Redskins their first win of the season. 

Four games in, four losses in the books, and we’re set to play our third quarterback of the season.  Safe to say things have not gone as planned.  Certainly not as hoped.  Walking around the parking lots today, between various fan tailgates, the question fans seemed to be discussing the most was not the outcome of today’s game.  Virtually everyone assumes the Redskins will lose, the only notable exception was an odd Dolphins fan @Spaceman Spiff ran into who, oddly, predicted a 44-0 victory for the Dolphins. 
 

The question fans were buzzing about is if today is ‘the day’ Dan and Bruce finally send Jay Gruden off towards his future endeavors.  That he will not be back next season seems as inevitable as the outcome of today’s game, but will just any loss be enough for Dan to push the red button or will it take something special?  Not the sort of thing fans wish to be talking about just five weeks into the season.

It wasn't all negative.  No matter how bad things get for NFL football fans three words of hope will always remain.  The hope of the terrible, and the fear of the good.  Any given Sunday.

The Redskins declared the following players as Inactive: 
Case Keenum  
Josh Harvey-Clemons 
Aaron Colvin  
Ross Pierschbacher  
Brandon Scherff  
Veron Davis  
Jordan Reed 

The Patriots declared the following players as Inactive: 
Cody Kessler  
Patrick hung  
Rex Burkhead  
Damien Harris  
Nate Ebner  
Korey Cunningham  
Byron Cowart 

1st Qtr: Redskins 7 - Patriots 6

Maybe it’s all this diet coke talking but I’m feeling pretty good after one quarter of football.  The Redskins are winning and we haven’t even started passing the ball yet.  (I assume Jay and Colt are saving that stuff for later.)  
 
The Redskins defense scared me a little when they gave up what looked like an all-too-easy scoring drive but they managed to regroup and mostly limit the Patriots offense for the rest of the quarter.   
 
We only need three more quarters like this one and the game is ours!  Simple, right?

Halftime Redskins 7 – Patriots 12  

After all the talk about Colt, Jay’s favorite, returning from injury I expected the team to... you know... actually pass the ball.  That certainly didn’t happen.  The only the Redskins offense did in the 2nd qtr worth remembering is turn the ball over twice inside their own 20.  Luckily, it’s half time.  Gruden is sure to put in some adjustments that get these guys back on track.   
 
The Redskins defense was an entirely different story.  They were placed in impossible situations and held the Pats to just two field goals.  I’m confident they’ll be just as good in the second half.

I smell food.... back later! 

 

3rd Qtr: Redskins 7 - Patriots 26

Hand thrown t-shirts are not nearly as fun as those blasted out of canons.  That needed to be said. 
 

The third quarter was what I think most of us expected going into this game.  The Redskins offense proved to be entirely ineffective while the Patriots had little trouble getting into the endzone.  I don’t know who is in charge of halftime adjustments for the Redskins but they should consider trying playing better in the 2nd half.  If nothing else, it would be a refreshing change of pace. 
 
On the bright side... I can’t even finish that sentence.  I’m getting another cookie.     

4th Qtr  Redskins 7 – Patriots 33  

Credit where credit is due.  The guy with the D *fence picture* sign on the sideline has not let the fact that most of the fans have left diminish his energy.  That most of the fans remaining in his little corner of the world are Patriots fans has not slowed him either.  He has continued to implore fans to make noise with his little sign no regardless of circumstance. 
 

On the field the march towards the inevitable continues.  Patriots added 7 more while the Redskins offense showed us why they are ranked in the bottom of the league.   

Highlight of the 4th quarter, for me, was watching Sal Paolantonio get so bored with the game that he eventually fled from his seat. 

Final Thoughts

The game may not have played out exactly as expected from the very beginning but it eventually got there.  Redskins ended up getting blown out by the Patriots in FedEx Field in front of a crowd largely made comprised of Patriots fans.  Turns out that expecting it doesn't make it any more enjoyable to watch.

Next week, against the dolphins, might be our best chance to win a game all season.  As much as there can be a "must win" in what is sure to be a lost season, next week is it.  Fans are never happy watching a loss, but losing to the Pats is expected.  If this team finds a way to lose next week, things will get ugly.