ESPN.com - NFL - Take 2: Redskins vs. Lions Friday, November 5, 2004
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Redskins and Lions. Now they're back with a
second look.
In studying the Redskins defense on film, we have not seen a unit that
plays with as much intensity and effort on a consistent play-to-play
basis. This will place a premium on Detroit's offensive execution.
Physical breakdowns and missed assignments will result in negative plays,
and the Lions are not consistent enough offensively to overcome that.
SpringsNo defense we have seen on film this season blitzes defensive backs
as much as the Redskins. When Detroit lines up on Sunday, it must be
particularly prepared for corner blitzes. Both Fred Smoot and Shawn
Springs will come off the corner, and their timing and speed allow them to
close on the QB quickly.
One matchup that favors the Redskins in this game is the Washington run
defense versus the Lions' running game. Detroit's offensive line lacks
consistent push, and Kevin Jones has not yet shown the explosive ability
he featured in college at Virginia Tech. The Redskins defensive line does
not stay blocked, and the linebackers do an excellent job fighting through
traffic and finding the football quickly.
The Redskins' defense makes the opposing offense spend an awful lot of
time in the classroom the week leading up to the game. Their dynamic and
unconventional blitz packages force the offense to put a premium on
locating and identifying blitzers, based on personnel and alignment. In
addition, they will make your running backs block, and that limits your
route combinations in the passing game.
In studying the Lions' offense on film, one element that stands out is how
little shifting and motion they do before the snap of the ball. Keep in
mind that the more the offense moves pre-snap, the more the defense is
likely to adjust and move. The Lions clearly do not want QB Joey
Harrington to have to decipher and interpret pre snap defensive movement.
Lions' QB Joey Harrington must be at his mental and physical best to play
against the Redskins' defense. In breaking down Harrington on film, he has
a tendency to perceive pressure in the pocket and overreact when he senses
bodies around him, even if he actually has room to deliver the ball
cleanly. He must be firm in the pocket against a Redskins' defense that
will attack with a high percentage of blitzes.
PortisIt is evident breaking down the Redskins offense on film that
Clinton Portis is still struggling with the patience element of the
counter run game that is Washington's offensive foundation. Portis is a
downhill runner who plays fast, and the slower developing counter package
forces him to think his runs rather than react on instinct.
Lions' DT Shaun Rogers is playing as well as any defensive tackle in the
NFL. He has a dynamic first step, and great quickness and explosiveness
off the ball. His first burst must be minimized if the Redskins expect to
have success with the delay element of their counter run game.
The foundation of the Redskins' passing game is two receiver routes. It is
a protection focused philosophy that features deep drops, and intermediate
and vertical routes. Lions' corners Dre Bly and Chris Cash will be matched
on almost every snap against Redskins' WRs Lavernues Coles and Rod
Gardner.
Lions' CB Dre Bly is a very aggressive corner. He looks to jump routes,
and will simultaneously read the drop of the QB and the depth of the
receiver's route, always anticipating a big play opportunity. Because of
his aggressive approach, he can be vulnerable to double moves on the
outside. Look for the Redskins to go after Bly early in the game with
vertical routes that have a double move element.
Special Teams
MortonRS Chad Morton being limited by a lingering knee injury has really
robbed the Redskins of their explosiveness in the return game. Morton is
not returning punts at all right now, and he's splitting kickoff return
duties with Ledell Betts. The Redskins have been decent on kickoff returns
the last couple of games, but have been much less impressive on punt
returns. Fill-in James Thrash is averaging just 7.6 yards per return. With
Washington hobbled, Eddie Drummond has a chance to give the Lions a big
edge in the return game, especially on kickoff returns, where he ranks
fifth in the NFL with an average of 26.3 yards and has returned one for a
score.
Detroit has been getting solid production from PT Nick Harris and PK Jason
Hanson in the kicking game. Harris has a strong leg and has been more
consistent this season with an average of 42.5 yards per punt. Hanson
hasn't been used much, but is 4-of-6 on field goal attempts with both of
his misses coming beyond 40 yards. The Redskins have had some troubles
covering kickoffs and punts this season, but they certainly don't give up
much in terms of skill at the PK or PT positions with John Hall and Tom
Tupa. Hall is 7-of-9 on Field goal attempts, and Tupa is averaging 43.4
yards per punt.
Prediction: Lions 19, Redskins 14
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Redskins and Lions. Now they're back with a
second look.
In studying the Redskins defense on film, we have not seen a unit that
plays with as much intensity and effort on a consistent play-to-play
basis. This will place a premium on Detroit's offensive execution.
Physical breakdowns and missed assignments will result in negative plays,
and the Lions are not consistent enough offensively to overcome that.
SpringsNo defense we have seen on film this season blitzes defensive backs
as much as the Redskins. When Detroit lines up on Sunday, it must be
particularly prepared for corner blitzes. Both Fred Smoot and Shawn
Springs will come off the corner, and their timing and speed allow them to
close on the QB quickly.
One matchup that favors the Redskins in this game is the Washington run
defense versus the Lions' running game. Detroit's offensive line lacks
consistent push, and Kevin Jones has not yet shown the explosive ability
he featured in college at Virginia Tech. The Redskins defensive line does
not stay blocked, and the linebackers do an excellent job fighting through
traffic and finding the football quickly.
The Redskins' defense makes the opposing offense spend an awful lot of
time in the classroom the week leading up to the game. Their dynamic and
unconventional blitz packages force the offense to put a premium on
locating and identifying blitzers, based on personnel and alignment. In
addition, they will make your running backs block, and that limits your
route combinations in the passing game.
In studying the Lions' offense on film, one element that stands out is how
little shifting and motion they do before the snap of the ball. Keep in
mind that the more the offense moves pre-snap, the more the defense is
likely to adjust and move. The Lions clearly do not want QB Joey
Harrington to have to decipher and interpret pre snap defensive movement.
Lions' QB Joey Harrington must be at his mental and physical best to play
against the Redskins' defense. In breaking down Harrington on film, he has
a tendency to perceive pressure in the pocket and overreact when he senses
bodies around him, even if he actually has room to deliver the ball
cleanly. He must be firm in the pocket against a Redskins' defense that
will attack with a high percentage of blitzes.
PortisIt is evident breaking down the Redskins offense on film that
Clinton Portis is still struggling with the patience element of the
counter run game that is Washington's offensive foundation. Portis is a
downhill runner who plays fast, and the slower developing counter package
forces him to think his runs rather than react on instinct.
Lions' DT Shaun Rogers is playing as well as any defensive tackle in the
NFL. He has a dynamic first step, and great quickness and explosiveness
off the ball. His first burst must be minimized if the Redskins expect to
have success with the delay element of their counter run game.
The foundation of the Redskins' passing game is two receiver routes. It is
a protection focused philosophy that features deep drops, and intermediate
and vertical routes. Lions' corners Dre Bly and Chris Cash will be matched
on almost every snap against Redskins' WRs Lavernues Coles and Rod
Gardner.
Lions' CB Dre Bly is a very aggressive corner. He looks to jump routes,
and will simultaneously read the drop of the QB and the depth of the
receiver's route, always anticipating a big play opportunity. Because of
his aggressive approach, he can be vulnerable to double moves on the
outside. Look for the Redskins to go after Bly early in the game with
vertical routes that have a double move element.
Special Teams
MortonRS Chad Morton being limited by a lingering knee injury has really
robbed the Redskins of their explosiveness in the return game. Morton is
not returning punts at all right now, and he's splitting kickoff return
duties with Ledell Betts. The Redskins have been decent on kickoff returns
the last couple of games, but have been much less impressive on punt
returns. Fill-in James Thrash is averaging just 7.6 yards per return. With
Washington hobbled, Eddie Drummond has a chance to give the Lions a big
edge in the return game, especially on kickoff returns, where he ranks
fifth in the NFL with an average of 26.3 yards and has returned one for a
score.
Detroit has been getting solid production from PT Nick Harris and PK Jason
Hanson in the kicking game. Harris has a strong leg and has been more
consistent this season with an average of 42.5 yards per punt. Hanson
hasn't been used much, but is 4-of-6 on field goal attempts with both of
his misses coming beyond 40 yards. The Redskins have had some troubles
covering kickoffs and punts this season, but they certainly don't give up
much in terms of skill at the PK or PT positions with John Hall and Tom
Tupa. Hall is 7-of-9 on Field goal attempts, and Tupa is averaging 43.4
yards per punt.
Prediction: Lions 19, Redskins 14
