SP: Reactionary Observations to the Loss to St. Louis - Week 2

[RedskinParadigm]

• Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III was great in the loss to St. Louis. Griffin produced 206 passing yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT for a passer rating of 86.3. However, if you were to add his 8 rushing attempts, 82 rushing yards, and 2 rushing TDs to his passing totals, Griffin’s passer rating would have been 113.3. The latter rating is a better indicator of how RGIII played. This game was gritty, physical, and chippy. He delivered time and again with pressure in his face, showed a veteran’s poise, and refused to acquiesce to the fact that he was a rookie in an emotionally intense environment. With the Redskins trailing late in the 4th quarter, RGIII drove his team down the field and gave them the opportunity to, at the very least, tie the game before Josh Morgan’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty took the game out of his hands. This guy looks every bit the part of a quarterback who is ready to win now.

• WR Josh Morgan not only pushed a 47-yard game-tying field goal back to a 62-yard attempt with his penalty, but he also lost a chance to extend the drive by attempting to get out of bounds instead of immediately turning up field and securing the first down. How big of an impact could this have been? Well, even if Morgan still threw the ball at Finnegan after the play, the Redskins would have had a fresh set of downs to work with. Instead of being 4th & 16 at the Rams’ 45 yard-line after the penalty, it would have been 1st & 10 at the Rams’ 44. The penalty would have been stupid, but it wouldn’t necessarily have cost the Redskins the game.

• While Morgan’s penalty was inexcusably stupid, he is currently the Redskins’ second-most efficient WR (Garcon is first). Morgan was targeted five times by RGIII; he finished with five receptions for 50 yards. Against New Orleans, Morgan was targeted twice with one reception. That means RGIII is currently completing 85.7% of the passes he targets Morgan with. Santana Moss, Leonard Hankerson, Aldrick Robinson, and Dezmon Briscoe all have a lower completion percentage. Morgan is a big piece of this offense and while he’s understandably being vilified for his gaffe at the end of the game, the Redskins are a better team when he’s on the field.

• Other plays that could have made the difference between winning and losing? Robert Griffin III’s interception with under 2-minutes to go in the first half (turned into 3-points for St. Louis); the punt block against Sav Rocca (turned into Rams TD); dropped 60-yard pass by Aldrick Robinson (pass would have set the Redskins up in the red zone; instead, the drive ended in a punt).

• The Redskins won the turnover battle for the second time this season, forcing three while only giving up one. Winning the turnover battle is a hallmark of team prepared for season-long success. However, realistically, you have to add two extra plays to the “turnover” statistic that are not currently being counted: the two punt blocks given up by the Special Teams unit. Additionally, the Redskins boast a stat-padding takeaway on their resume: Reed Doughty’s INT on the final Hail Mary attempt by Brees in week 1, which really isn’t an indication of the ability of this defense to force turnovers. If you count the punt blocks and discount Doughty’s INT, the Redskins have four takeaways and three turnovers on the season.

• The Redskins had 11 penalties for 96 yards against the Rams. They had 12 penalties for 127 yards against the Saints. This many penalties is the exact opposite of a hallmark of a team prepared for season-long success.

Read more here.

[redskins55]

That Griffin interception wasn't a game changing play in my opinion. It was in the first half and basically gave them 3pts but the refs robbed the Rams of 6 points with that Steven Jackson call. So the points cancel out. Griff was under pressure all day and made a mistake that all QBs make. Now the Aldrick Robinson drop was extremely costly. It's a play that could've broken the Rams spirits! You just can't drop that pass at the NFL level! I hate to say it .. But Anthony Armstrong catches that bomb!

[RGIIINATION]

That Griffin interception wasn't a game changing play in my opinion. It was in the first half and basically gave them 3pts but the refs robbed the Rams of 6 points with that Steven Jackson call. So the points cancel out. Griff was under pressure all day and made a mistake that all QBs make. Now the Aldrick Robinson drop was extremely costly. It's a play that could've broken the Rams spirits! You just can't drop that pass at the NFL level! I hate to say it .. But Anthony Armstrong catches that bomb!

I've seen Armstrong drop easier throws. I can forgive Robinson after last week when he was on fire.

[redskins55]

I've seen Armstrong drop easier throws. I can forgive Robinson after last week when he was on fire.

I'm not saying that receivers don't drop easy passes but the deep ball??? I've never seen Armstrong drop a deep ball. Hankerson also almost dropped that deep ball from RG3 yesterday. We really missed Garçon.

[RGIIINATION]

I'm not saying that receivers don't drop easy passes but the deep ball??? I've never seen Armstrong drop a deep ball. Hankerson also almost dropped that deep ball from RG3 yesterday. We really missed Garçon.

Can't disagree with you there; we truly did miss Garcon.

[grego]

the refs robbed the Rams of 6 points with that Steven Jackson call. So the points cancel out.

was jackson in? i may have missed another replay, but they one they kept showing had him fighting and the stretching the ball over and at that point they kept highlighting the ball. but at that point he also looked like he was no longer on top of bodies and it looked like his knee may have been down, though i think the view was obscured by players.

point is, i didnt think there was an angle that concluded one way or another.

funny thing is, jackson gets benched after losing his cool, exactly the same way that morgan did, which may gave ironically cost the skins the game.

[JoeJGibbs]

was jackson in? i may have missed another replay, but they one they kept showing had him fighting and the stretching the ball over and at that point they kept highlighting the ball. but at that point he also looked like he was no longer on top of bodies and it looked like his knee may have been down, though i think the view was obscured by players.

point is, i didnt think there was an angle that concluded one way or another.

funny thing is, jackson gets benched after losing his cool, exactly the same way that morgan did, which may gave ironically cost the skins the game.

I think you're referring to the play where it was a giant Heathcliff pile up and you couldn't see anything. There was a play when he was in and tey showed an angle of him.
I can't remember if it was the same play or not, but I remember thinking at the time, the Rams should've had a TD.

WR Josh Morgan not only pushed a 47-yard game-tying field goal back to a 62-yard attempt with his penalty, but he also lost a chance to extend the drive by attempting to get out of bounds instead of immediately turning up field and securing the first down. How big of an impact could this have been? Well, even if Morgan still threw the ball at Finnegan after the play, the Redskins would have had a fresh set of downs to work with. Instead of being 4th & 16 at the Rams’ 45 yard-line after the penalty, it would have been 1st & 10 at the Rams’ 44. The penalty would have been stupid, but it wouldn’t necessarily have cost the Redskins the game

OH MAN! I yelled at the TV screen when that happened. He turned left and headed for the sideline. Had he turned around he would've seen no one in front of him. lol or he could've ran backwards 3 steps to the 1st down.

[bentskin]

I think you're referring to the play where it was a giant Heathcliff pile up and you couldn't see anything. There was a play when he was in and they showed an angle of him.
I can't remember if it was the same play or not, but I remember thinking at the time, the Rams should've had a TD.

3 things here: 1. This play (Davis stretching the ball across the goal line) should have been reviewed and I believe it would have been ruled a touchdown. 2. The review officials are the regular ones, they are not replacement. 3. The 15 yard penalty ended up working out. Fisher should have been penalized for throwing the challenge flag but they got the penalty 1 play later on Davis. A wash.

OH MAN! I yelled at the TV screen when that happened. He turned left and headed for the sideline. Had he turned around he would've seen no one in front of him. lol or he could've ran backwards 3 steps to the 1st down.

I thought the same thing, Probably could have had the first down if he turns up field to his right. But, in his defense, I think he sees the safety out of the corner of his eye. There is not a defense for throwing the ball at Finnegan.

I thought the replacement officials would do an OK job on average, maybe missing an occasional holding or PI call but this game was ridiculous. The hit on Davis (shot to the head / defenseless or not) should have been called. And for their answer to be that none of them saw it? What were they watching? The Dallas game? And while the second guy does get caught most of the time in the unsportsmanlike penalties I think the regular refs may have talked it over and called offsetting penalties (considering the game as a whole, the emotion of the moment and effect of the penalty on the game) allowing the play to stand and the game to move on.

HTTR

PS

Despite all of this, The defense (read our coordinators game plan) is the reason we lost this game. 31 points and a hall of fame performance by Danny Amendola is ridiculous.

[Momma There Goes That Man]

was jackson in? i may have missed another replay, but they one they kept showing had him fighting and the stretching the ball over and at that point they kept highlighting the ball. but at that point he also looked like he was no longer on top of bodies and it looked like his knee may have been down, though i think the view was obscured by players.

point is, i didnt think there was an angle that concluded one way or another.

funny thing is, jackson gets benched after losing his cool, exactly the same way that morgan did, which may gave ironically cost the skins the game.

It looked like he was in but actually it shouldn't have mattered. They shouldn't have had a 3rd and Goal from the 1 if they had been properly penalized the previous play for the illegal challenge. I understand Fisher didn't think they were going to review but he is a pro, he can talk to them about it. Doesn't give him the right to break the rule and not get penalized.

[Zazzaro703]

It looked like he was in but actually it shouldn't have mattered. They shouldn't have had a 3rd and Goal from the 1 if they had been properly penalized the previous play for the illegal challenge. I understand Fisher didn't think they were going to review but he is a pro, he can talk to them about it. Doesn't give him the right to break the rule and not get penalized.

Should have known it's extremeskins and someone would have posted this before me lol.

[The Slamming Butcher]

was jackson in? i may have missed another replay, but they one they kept showing had him fighting and the stretching the ball over and at that point they kept highlighting the ball. but at that point he also looked like he was no longer on top of bodies and it looked like his knee may have been down, though i think the view was obscured by players.

point is, i didnt think there was an angle that concluded one way or another.

The announcers kept going back to the still shot of the ball at the goal line, with no regard for (a) where Jackson's body was/had been before the still was taken, and (b) exactly how long the pile had existed. At some point the determination had to be made that forward progress had stopped without the ball crossing the goal line, and that is what was called.

[Zazzaro703]

That Griffin interception wasn't a game changing play in my opinion. It was in the first half and basically gave them 3pts but the refs robbed the Rams of 6 points with that Steven Jackson call. So the points cancel out. Griff was under pressure all day and made a mistake that all QBs make. Now the Aldrick Robinson drop was extremely costly. It's a play that could've broken the Rams spirits! You just can't drop that pass at the NFL level! I hate to say it .. But Anthony Armstrong catches that bomb!

Sorry but the Refs didn't rob them of anything with Jackson. The fumble on play before Fisher threw the challenge flag on an unchallengeable play which should have been 15 yards. Not only was there no flag, fisher was awarded the challenge and won.

[RedskinParadigm]

Sorry but the Refs didn't rob them of anything with Jackson. The fumble on play before Fisher threw the challenge flag on an unchallengeable play which should have been 15 yards. Not only was there no flag, fisher was awarded the challenge and won.

While true, the original play was ruled a fumble when it actually wasn't (which happens from time to time) and then was never actually reviewed by the refs (which should never, ever happen...particularly if you're eliminating the possibilty of a coach's challenge). The fact that Fisher should have been flagged overshadows the underlying problem that the refs were wrong in the first place.

The refs were just awful in every sense of the word.

[Zazzaro703]

While true, the original play was ruled a fumble when it actually wasn't (which happens from time to time) and then was never actually reviewed by the refs (which should never, ever happen...particularly if you're eliminating the possibilty of a coach's challenge). The fact that Fisher should have been flagged overshadows the underlying problem that the refs were wrong in the first place.

The refs were just awful in every sense of the word.

Oh I completely agree with you. But within the framework of the league rules that's a too bad so sad moment for Fisher and should have been 15 yards. I love how on all the highlights last night I didnt see or hear one thing about the refs during our game. NFL most have gag ordered the networks.

[DC9]

That Griffin interception wasn't a game changing play in my opinion. It was in the first half and basically gave them 3pts but the refs robbed the Rams of 6 points with that Steven Jackson call. So the points cancel out. Griff was under pressure all day and made a mistake that all QBs make. Now the Aldrick Robinson drop was extremely costly. It's a play that could've broken the Rams spirits! You just can't drop that pass at the NFL level! I hate to say it .. But Anthony Armstrong catches that bomb!

I think the refs robbed the Rams of 6 points on the Gibson touchdown... but Jackson's arm didn't get over the goalline until well after the whistle blew/should've been blown.