Skins should be well rested coming off of a bye week. They get the 1-8 Bucs at home on Sunday. With playoffs seemingly out of the equation at this point, the shift goes to evaluating players none more so than RG3. The staff needs to find out if he is the guy moving forward. Here are a couple of thoughts on the game:
1. RG3: He needs to step up. He was decent in the last game against the Viqueens. He had two bad throws at critical moments that tarnished the effort but having missed nearly the entire season, I was pleased with the way he played against a pretty tough Minnesota defense on the road. He'll be back at home this week and I almost feel like there is more pressure on him this week than last week. He can silence the critics with a good game. I think he's going to be fine. People will want perfection but he needs to just play his game. If he makes a mistake, needs to shrug it off and move on. I just want to see improvement from week to week. I expect to see him have a solid game this week.
2. Defense/Haslett: This group was tremendously disappointing against Minnesota particularly coming off of a very strong game against Dallas. My thoughts are just blitz. Don't send the house but disguise blitzes and have them come from different people at different times. We blitzed 60% of the plays in Dallas. It worked. Former Redskin and current Cardinal DC Todd Bowles who is able to field a very good defense despite of a number of injuries to key players blitzes 40+% of the time. It works. You just have to be smart about it. Put the pressure on McCown. Make him cry again.
3. Return of Cofield and Hankerson: Cofield should help on the D line so it will be good to get him back as he will make his season debut on Sunday. Same for Hankerson. Would like to see him get in some in place of Roberts who has been pretty disappointing this year. Roberts has dropped a fair number of balls. Would like to see what Hank can do.
Not much more to say on this one. Tampa Bay has talent on their team but they are still 1-8 so, again, playoffs aren't much of a thought for the Skins but this is a must win game for them in terms of not allowing a 1-8 team come to DC and win. It's also important for a number of individual players to step up and have a good showing particularly RG3. I expect the Skins to be hungry and play with a chip on their shoulders. I expect a Skins win 27-17.
In other relevant news, the Iggles will visit the frozen tundra of GB in what should be a pretty good game. I think Sanchize will struggle with the cold and some pressure and will have a couple of turnovers. Rodgers is the much more confident and talented QB and will pick the Philly defense apart. If the Iggles have a chance, it will be to get McCoy, who has been largely disappointing all year, going. That and quick screens to Sproles and Maclin and let them do the work. If Dirty Sanchez has to play from behind and make plays, he'll make plays...bad ones. GB should win this one 31-24.
2 comments:
The Bucs are a mess. The skins are clearly the better team talent wise, record wise, performance wise, and potential wise. I hope the skins do not play down to the competition. They should win easily. There may be a few big plays from Tampa, but I am looking for a game in which they will dominate overall like they did against Jacksonville. A win here makes them 4-6 with a game against the cowboys eagles and giants remaining. Maybe playoffs are out of the picture, but I would like to see them finish third and on the heals of second place or better in the NFC east. I want to see RG3 win this game for them and regain his place as leader of this team and of the locker room. I really think the Skins have the talent to match up against anyone in the league. Its raw right now. Its just a matter of unleashing it in the right way. Any team that has a premier running back, premier qb, premier receivers and tight end has a chance to put it together and win any game. Its up to Gruden to find the winning formula. I know the defense has problems because of Hasletts game planning but the offense should get to a point where they can move the ball at will to compensate for the defensive mishaps. They have the tools. Just need to make it work.
The same cannot be said about a team like the Bucs. There is a huge contrast between the two franchises. I cant name one person on the bucs that has been relevant the past two seasons.
The skins should beat the bucs 31-10.
BTW I like the GB prediction.
Not quite sure we have the talent to match up against anyone in the league. Skins still need help at the safety spot and right side of the O line but there is definitely talent on the team.
I know Gruden took some heat earlier this week when he said that he believed the Skins could be 7-2 right now. He's right. He will also tell you that they are 3-6 right now. He's just saying what I have been saying several times over. That MOST football games come down to just a few key plays each game. If you make those plays, it can be the difference between winning and losing. The only game the Skins were out of it was the Giants game. Otherwise, if you look at all the other games, there are a few key plays that made the difference. The Skins didn't make the plays needed to win those games. However, like you said, there is talent on this team and if they can learn to make those plays, they will be a much better team.
I agree that Skins are the better team this week and they need to prove it for multiple reasons. I expect RG3 to play better and calm people down. It really is a critical game for him and this team. A loss and a poor performance will be bad for everyone.
The Bucs have some decent players starting with Gerald McCoy who is arguably the best DL in the game. They have big, good WR in Jackson and Evans so it will be a task for Amerson and Breeland. The key is to make McCown uncomfortable. You let any QB sit back and have time and they will complete the pass. Like I said, Haslett should just dial up the blitz.
It will be fun to see how the Skins play coming out of the bye week.
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