Observations From Week 1
The Washington Redskins started the 2013-14 season off with a 33-27 defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles below are some observations from the Monday Night Football contest.
– Robert Griffin III came out in the first half not himself. I’m not completely sure if it was his nerves (playing on such a big stage) or rust from not playing since being injured in the playoffs last season. I even have heard a lone-gunmen type theory (that I do not in any way believe) that he may not have been fully healthy. Whatever the reason, Griffin overthrew passes, forced the ball into triple coverage (resulting in a interception in Redskins territory) , you could just tell something was afoul. Towards the end of the game it appeared that Griffin started to settle down, he finished the game 30-49 for 329 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions with 5 rushes for 24 yards. The passing yardage and interception totals were both career highs for RGIII.
– Alfred Morris fumbled on the first play of the 2013 season, Morris had some issues a year ago with fumbling but worked through them without any problems down the stretch. The team was never fully able to establish any sort of rushing game with Morris fumbling on the 25 which lead to a Philly touchdown. Add the fact that Morris fumbled in the end zone on a normal halfback toss play and had to fall on it to keep Eagles players from scoring a touchdown…those meaning we gave up a safety. Morris finished the night with 12 carries for 45 yards and one touchdown, he caught one pass for nine yards.
– The Redskins started 10 of their 13 drives from inside their own 20 yard line scoring only once on those ten drives, the offense only managed 12 first downs the entire game, 9 the final two series.
– The Redskins defense had a very good idea of what offense the Eagles planned on using, they just couldn’t stop it in the first-half. On the other hand, the Redskins offense had no idea what to expect from Philadelphia’s defense. The offense had to go back three years to Arizona’s film to try and guess what Eagles’ defensive coordinator Bill Davis would do. “It’s hard to prepare for that,” Redskins guard Kory Lichtensteiger said. “We still have rules that should work against anything. We just didn’t execute as well as should have.”
– Leonard Hankerson looked the best out of the Redskins receivers as he pulled in 5 catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns, but the biggest surprise/bright spot of the night went to rookie tight end Jordan Reed who pulled in five catches for 38 yards but was a very reliable option in the offense.
– Bacarri Rambo had a mixed game in terms of output. He looked better at times tackling in the open field but showed he is still very much inconsistent at this point and was out of position on several plays including the Celek 28-yard catch and run (wrong angle perhaps)? He also missed Vick in the open field, getting juked outside. I don’t know this for sure, but Hall said the coverage was busted on the 25-yard touchdown pass to Jackson. There was no safety deep. Rambo was playing up. “There was supposed to have been a couple guys back there,” Hall said. “I don’t know exactly what went wrong, but there was definitely supposed to be a couple guys.”
– On a night when Robert Griffin III threw two interceptions (career high), Alfred Morris fumbled twice leading to scores, placekicker Kai Forbath started off by missing a forty yard kick…many will remember Forbath started last year by breaking the NFL record for most successful kick in a row to start a career hitting his first 17. The team had a horrible stench on it for most of the night but was able to at least make the game respectable by the end.
– Even after being down 26-7 at the half, giving up four turnovers, missing multiple tackles in open field and not having an answer for LeSean McCoy (31 carries, 184 yards), the Redskins still had a shot to win the game late. It appeared the rust, or whatever it was, was knocked by the end of the game and the Redskins were able to move the ball up and down the field while holding Philadelphia to only 72 yards in the final half.
– David Amerson’s start last night made him the first rookie cornerback to start the season-opener for the Redskins since Fred Smoot back in 2001.
The Redskins will carry their game on the road next week as they will be traveling to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers.
