Injuries, blown plays are killing ground attack
ASHBURN — The simple explanation — and a reasonable one as well — centers around the injuries. The Redskins have had a lot. So it’s natural that their running game — and the entire offense for that matter — suffers. Continuity matters, and they’ve had none.
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They’ve lost their top running back (Tim Hightower), the guy they considered their top run blocker (guard Kory Lichtensteiger) and their best blocking tight end (Chris Cooley). It adds up.
“You lose that little edge,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. “Not that we were great, but we were getting where we wanted to be.”
| Notes |
| » Redskins safety LaRon Landry said he’s going to play Sunday despite missing his second straight day of practice because of a sore Achilles. Landry endured a rough season in 2010 because of his Achilles; he was placed on injured reserve and missed the final seven games. “As of right now, it’s just a little sore. I’ll get through it,” he said. “It got a little sorer than usual. I can deal with it though. “Last year it was unbearable. Now it’s manageable.” But coach Mike Shanahan said, “Obviously it’s inflamed enough where he couldn’t practice. That’s never a good sign.” |
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» Linebackers London Fletcher (ankle) and Keyaron Fox (infection) did not practice. Fox spent last week in the hospital with a staph infection. Left guard Maurice Hurt (ankle) and receiver Niles Paul (toe) also did not practice. Right tackle Jammal Brown (groin) and Sean Locklear (ankle) both were limited. – John Keim |
Now it’s uncertain where the Redskins are going. They’re trying to survive in the running game and failing for a variety of reasons. Backs miss holes. Blockers miss assignments. It adds up. And it makes them easy to defend. Miami, for example, only used seven defenders in the box on 15 of Washington’s 18 runs a week ago.
Three weeks ago against Buffalo, there was one run in which three defenders were at least two yards beyond the line of scrimmage when running back Ryan Torain took the handoff. Another time in that game the Bills had four defenders across the line of scrimmage at the handoff. There was more of the same Sunday. It’s why the Redskins now are 25th in yards a carry and have rushed for 65 yards or less in five of the past seven games.
And it’s not always a new player allowing pressure. Left tackle Trent Williams was twice moved back on runs, one time drawing a hold and another time forcing Torain to cut upfield four yards deep in the backfield. Another time Williams came off the ball, found no one to hit and ran to a safety. Meanwhile, inside linebacker Karlos Dansby sat unblocked in the hole for an easy stop. There were a handful of runs in this game where if combination blocks are executed — guard Chris Chester slipped coming off one — a good run is a possibility. Tight end Fred Davis has been an inconsistent blocker.
“Some people may overthink stuff. Not knowing assignments may play a small part, but we go over that a whole lot,” Williams said. “We’re just not executing like we used to. We just have to get better.”
Said Shanahan: “It takes just one guy to be a little bit off. … Everybody’s got to be in unison.”
Hightower’s ability to press the hole — this can almost serve as an extra blocker as it can fool the linebacker, allowing the back to cut to the vacated area — is missed.
While Shanahan is wedded to the stretch zone system — it clearly has worked for him — others aren’t wowed by it.
“It takes out the physicality of run game,” said Fox analyst Daryl Johnston, a former fullback with Dallas. “One of the most important parts of the run game is the physical competition, imposing your will in an offense. In our offense, when we decided to run, you better buckle your chin strap. With the zone scheme, you don’t have that. … They’re not knocking you off the ball.”
Better depth — and perhaps starters — could arrive in the offseason. Shanahan said the Redskins targeted defense this past offseason. It’s likely they will turn their attention to the offense in 2012.
“We will get that running game back,” Shanahan said. “I promise you. I’ve been doing it over 20 years, and that’s our trademark. But any time you shuffle guys in and out, you’ve got to keep working.”
