vicjagger
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Preseason: Game #2
Steelers 12
Commanders 10
Don't look now, but the swagger may be back.
You remember the swagger. It's what defined the Washington Commanders, through an elite, attacking defense, in the "Hi, my name is--" year of 2004 and the "Did they really just come within a couple plays of the NFC title game?" year of 2005. And which went AWOL in the "What the [heck] happened?" year of 2006.
Well, it's early, but for those watching carefully, it's hard not to look at what the defense has done in 2007 and be, at the very least, intrigued.
I'm not a numbers guy generally (particularly in preseason), but I thought I'd take a quick look to see if anything jumped out. It did. Enough so that I then took a look back at the 2006 preseason, to try to put this year's early returns in context with a little comparison shopping:
1) In going 0-4 in the 2006 preseason, the Commanders scored a grand total of 27 points (6.75 avg.) and allowed 104 (26 avg.). The minus-77 differential was by far the worst in the NFL (N.O. Saints, -34). The Commanders weren't just losing, they were getting manhandled. Through the first two weeks of the 2007 preseason, Washington's point differential is +6; scoring 12 per game and allowing nine.
2) Visions of opposing running backs romping through the Commander secondary last year still haunt you? Turns out the 2006 preseason offered an indication of what was to come. Washington finished 30th against the run, allowing 149 ypg. (4.3 avg.). Halfway through the 2007 preseason, they rank 9th, allowing 92.5 ypg. (2.8 avg.)
3) When the dust finally cleared at the end of the 2006 preseason, Washington ranked 31st in the league in the only defensive statistical category that matters at the end of the day--scoring. Halfway through the 2007 preseason, they stand 2nd. The 18 they've allowed are second only to the 16 conceded by this week's opponent, the Baltimore Ravens.
4) In the opening halves of the first two games this year, with primarily first-teamers playing, the 2007 Commanders have allowed 6 points (two field goals) through two games. Last year at this time, the first unit had surrendered 29.
Not into stats? Don't blame you--as noted, I'm generally not either. But I am into keeping old game tapes around, even some from preseason (a quality my wife finds particularly endearing).
Seeking out further confirmation of what I thought I was seeing in 2007, I dug out a tape of last year's 41-0 obliteration at the hands of the Patriots in Week 3, the "dress rehearsal" week of preseason, where starters tend to play the longest and teams supposedly take opponent-based preparation the most seriously.
I wanted to see if the dramatic shift in the "feel" I think I'm seeing in this defense was real or wishful thinking.
It's real.
The stats were bad enough that day. 464 yards allowed (294 passing, 170 rushing). In the first half alone, the starters were rolled for 228, giving up drives of 11 plays for 42 yards and a field goal, 4 plays for 80 yards and a touchdown, 9 plays for 67 yards and a touchdown, 8 plays for 24 yards and another field goal.
Worse was how they gave them up. They looked slow. They looked disorganized. They blew assignments, missed tackles and committed penalties that extended drives. Most damning, at times they just looked plain disinterested. Remember?
Contrast that with what we have seen this year. If last year's enduring preseason mental image is of Tom Brady scanning the defense, making adjustments and repeatedly burning a slow-reacting, arm-tackling, often bewildered-looking collection of guys, this year it's of the swarming, gang-tackling, fist-pumping unit that turned Pittsburgh away in the red zone Saturday night, time and time again, once again dictating play instead of reacting to it.
This group looks like they're having fun again. Like they know where they're supposed to be and will bust a gut getting there. Like they've bought into the coach, the system and one another. And they're playing with an edge.
A swagger, if you will.
Does any of this guarantee the 2007 defense will return to its 2004-05 form? Unfortunately, no--the real world doesn't work that way. It does, however, strongly suggest that somebody, somewhere, flipped the proverbial light-
switch back on.
If this continues a couple more weeks, and the defense faces off against the Miami Dolphins at FedExField on September 9 playing with the kind of hunger they've exhibited so far, things are going to get interesting around here in a hurry.
Quickies:
Speaking of swagger, how about the special teams? Punter Derrick Frost, in addition to blowing up the occasional return man with the nerve to break through the first wave, leads the league in pinning opponents inside their 20 yard line (7), while still managing to average 46.9 yards per kick, good for 11th in the league.
Kicker Shaun Suisham has only had two field goal attempts; a 47-yarder high off upright (he may have thought he was taping an NFL.fantasy.com commercial) and a 48-yarder that was straight and true. Not much of a statistical a sample to go on there, but the man is clearly making good contact. It also hasn't escaped notice that his kickoffs are getting the kind of depth that the Commanders haven't enjoyed in seemingly a decade.
And then there's the coverage units, which with few exceptions have not only been sound but often ferocious, making the kind of 100-mph, kamikaze tackles that bring bench and fans alike to their feet and can set the tone for an entire game.
Been a while since we've seen that around here. I've not forgotten the long years of holding my breath every time the Skins kicked off. Feels good to fill my lungs again.
It's not all puppies and strawberry milk, of course.
The resurgent defense hasn't totally eased concerns over last year's lack of a pass rush, for instance. Gregg Williams' full blitz-happy system won't make its first real appearance until the regular season. Meanwhile, he seems content to pick a few spots a game to let his hair down a bit (often rather telegraphed in my humble opinion), but for the most going with the down linemen with little help and little in the way of stunting.
Not saying I disagree with the Plan, but it would go a long way toward easing the concerns of the greater peanut gallery should a large person or two in the right colors land on a quarterback a couple times before then. At present, the Commanders stand alone in the NFL as the only team to have registered just one sack through two games. Good thing the D has been just short of dominant anyway, or people might fret.
Offensively, the running game has yet to make an appearance. Though arguably operating with one hand tied behind its back (missing key personnel, content to plow repeatedly between the tackles in the face of stacked fronts), this key facet of the Commanders offensive attack has looked anemic at best.2.4 yards-per-carry won't scare anyone but the Commanders and their fans. Want to see something interesting, though? Check out the 10 statistically worst rushing teams in the NFL through week two of the 2007 preseason:
NFL.com 23. New Orleans Saints - 83.7 ypg.
24. Detroit Lions - 80
24. New England Patriots - 80
24. St. Louis Rams - 80
27. Cincinnati Bengals - 79.5
28. Kansas City Chiefs - 75.5
29. Chicago Bears - 62.5
30. Indianapolis Colts - 62
31. Washington Commanders - 60
32. Philadelphia Eagles - 45 Make of it what you will.
To these eyes, Todd Collins has clearly surpassed Mark Brunell as the best option for No. 2 quarterback. Back in 2005, it was abundantly clear in preseason that then-No. 2 Brunell had outplayed then-No. 1 Patrick Ramsey. So much so that when Gibbs made the now-famous (or infamous depending on ones' view) decision to make the switch when Ramsey was knocked woozy early in the season opener, it came as no surprise.
The parallel this year is compelling. Unless Gibbs sees something in practice that looks far different from what we see on the field, in game situations Collins would appear to have more than made a case for No. 2.
Both men have played with backups, against backups, so they've come by these numbers on a pretty level playing field:
Collins
15 for 18 (.833), 130 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT. Passer rating: 115.3
Brunell
9 for 21 (.428), 102 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. Passer rating: 38.2
Now we have to take into account that Collins has the advantage of running plays by Al Saunders, a coach he has played for the last seven years. Certainly that plays into Collins's success in Saunders' offense.
But I don't believe Collins has the downfield arm to sustain success over more than a few weeks. Given time to prepare, defenses would crowd the line, limiting the run and taking away underneath passing options, forcing him to go downfield. We've seen that movie before.
On the other hand, Collins has mastered the underneath game, and given time, has shown he can be effective in the intermediate game. Moreover, he has shown the ability to consistently manage the offense in a way Brunell has rarely been unable to do. If things continue to unfold as they have been, it is hard to envision Collins not getting the nod as Campbell's backup or, should Jason not be ready to play, as starter against Miami on opening weekend. If results on the field count, the decision appears an easy one.
Finally--and I say this quietly since you never know when Fate might be listening--could Jason Campbell's avoiding what appeared to be a season-ending knee injury, with all that would have meant to this team and its fans, mean that the gridiron gods have finally tired of toying with the Washington Commanders? Could it be, at long last, that we have served our time? I know we owed them for the three Super Bowls and all, it's why I've not complained as long and loud as some. But man--with apologies to Cardinals, Lions and Cubs fans, sixteen years has been a long penance.
Here's hoping. (NOT)
Steelers 12
Commanders 10
Don't look now, but the swagger may be back.
You remember the swagger. It's what defined the Washington Commanders, through an elite, attacking defense, in the "Hi, my name is--" year of 2004 and the "Did they really just come within a couple plays of the NFC title game?" year of 2005. And which went AWOL in the "What the [heck] happened?" year of 2006.
Well, it's early, but for those watching carefully, it's hard not to look at what the defense has done in 2007 and be, at the very least, intrigued.
I'm not a numbers guy generally (particularly in preseason), but I thought I'd take a quick look to see if anything jumped out. It did. Enough so that I then took a look back at the 2006 preseason, to try to put this year's early returns in context with a little comparison shopping:
1) In going 0-4 in the 2006 preseason, the Commanders scored a grand total of 27 points (6.75 avg.) and allowed 104 (26 avg.). The minus-77 differential was by far the worst in the NFL (N.O. Saints, -34). The Commanders weren't just losing, they were getting manhandled. Through the first two weeks of the 2007 preseason, Washington's point differential is +6; scoring 12 per game and allowing nine.
2) Visions of opposing running backs romping through the Commander secondary last year still haunt you? Turns out the 2006 preseason offered an indication of what was to come. Washington finished 30th against the run, allowing 149 ypg. (4.3 avg.). Halfway through the 2007 preseason, they rank 9th, allowing 92.5 ypg. (2.8 avg.)
3) When the dust finally cleared at the end of the 2006 preseason, Washington ranked 31st in the league in the only defensive statistical category that matters at the end of the day--scoring. Halfway through the 2007 preseason, they stand 2nd. The 18 they've allowed are second only to the 16 conceded by this week's opponent, the Baltimore Ravens.
4) In the opening halves of the first two games this year, with primarily first-teamers playing, the 2007 Commanders have allowed 6 points (two field goals) through two games. Last year at this time, the first unit had surrendered 29.
Not into stats? Don't blame you--as noted, I'm generally not either. But I am into keeping old game tapes around, even some from preseason (a quality my wife finds particularly endearing).
Seeking out further confirmation of what I thought I was seeing in 2007, I dug out a tape of last year's 41-0 obliteration at the hands of the Patriots in Week 3, the "dress rehearsal" week of preseason, where starters tend to play the longest and teams supposedly take opponent-based preparation the most seriously.
I wanted to see if the dramatic shift in the "feel" I think I'm seeing in this defense was real or wishful thinking.
It's real.
The stats were bad enough that day. 464 yards allowed (294 passing, 170 rushing). In the first half alone, the starters were rolled for 228, giving up drives of 11 plays for 42 yards and a field goal, 4 plays for 80 yards and a touchdown, 9 plays for 67 yards and a touchdown, 8 plays for 24 yards and another field goal.
Worse was how they gave them up. They looked slow. They looked disorganized. They blew assignments, missed tackles and committed penalties that extended drives. Most damning, at times they just looked plain disinterested. Remember?
Contrast that with what we have seen this year. If last year's enduring preseason mental image is of Tom Brady scanning the defense, making adjustments and repeatedly burning a slow-reacting, arm-tackling, often bewildered-looking collection of guys, this year it's of the swarming, gang-tackling, fist-pumping unit that turned Pittsburgh away in the red zone Saturday night, time and time again, once again dictating play instead of reacting to it.
This group looks like they're having fun again. Like they know where they're supposed to be and will bust a gut getting there. Like they've bought into the coach, the system and one another. And they're playing with an edge.
A swagger, if you will.
Does any of this guarantee the 2007 defense will return to its 2004-05 form? Unfortunately, no--the real world doesn't work that way. It does, however, strongly suggest that somebody, somewhere, flipped the proverbial light-
switch back on.
If this continues a couple more weeks, and the defense faces off against the Miami Dolphins at FedExField on September 9 playing with the kind of hunger they've exhibited so far, things are going to get interesting around here in a hurry.
Quickies:
Speaking of swagger, how about the special teams? Punter Derrick Frost, in addition to blowing up the occasional return man with the nerve to break through the first wave, leads the league in pinning opponents inside their 20 yard line (7), while still managing to average 46.9 yards per kick, good for 11th in the league.
Kicker Shaun Suisham has only had two field goal attempts; a 47-yarder high off upright (he may have thought he was taping an NFL.fantasy.com commercial) and a 48-yarder that was straight and true. Not much of a statistical a sample to go on there, but the man is clearly making good contact. It also hasn't escaped notice that his kickoffs are getting the kind of depth that the Commanders haven't enjoyed in seemingly a decade.
And then there's the coverage units, which with few exceptions have not only been sound but often ferocious, making the kind of 100-mph, kamikaze tackles that bring bench and fans alike to their feet and can set the tone for an entire game.
Been a while since we've seen that around here. I've not forgotten the long years of holding my breath every time the Skins kicked off. Feels good to fill my lungs again.
It's not all puppies and strawberry milk, of course.
The resurgent defense hasn't totally eased concerns over last year's lack of a pass rush, for instance. Gregg Williams' full blitz-happy system won't make its first real appearance until the regular season. Meanwhile, he seems content to pick a few spots a game to let his hair down a bit (often rather telegraphed in my humble opinion), but for the most going with the down linemen with little help and little in the way of stunting.
Not saying I disagree with the Plan, but it would go a long way toward easing the concerns of the greater peanut gallery should a large person or two in the right colors land on a quarterback a couple times before then. At present, the Commanders stand alone in the NFL as the only team to have registered just one sack through two games. Good thing the D has been just short of dominant anyway, or people might fret.
Offensively, the running game has yet to make an appearance. Though arguably operating with one hand tied behind its back (missing key personnel, content to plow repeatedly between the tackles in the face of stacked fronts), this key facet of the Commanders offensive attack has looked anemic at best.2.4 yards-per-carry won't scare anyone but the Commanders and their fans. Want to see something interesting, though? Check out the 10 statistically worst rushing teams in the NFL through week two of the 2007 preseason:
NFL.com 23. New Orleans Saints - 83.7 ypg.
24. Detroit Lions - 80
24. New England Patriots - 80
24. St. Louis Rams - 80
27. Cincinnati Bengals - 79.5
28. Kansas City Chiefs - 75.5
29. Chicago Bears - 62.5
30. Indianapolis Colts - 62
31. Washington Commanders - 60
32. Philadelphia Eagles - 45 Make of it what you will.
To these eyes, Todd Collins has clearly surpassed Mark Brunell as the best option for No. 2 quarterback. Back in 2005, it was abundantly clear in preseason that then-No. 2 Brunell had outplayed then-No. 1 Patrick Ramsey. So much so that when Gibbs made the now-famous (or infamous depending on ones' view) decision to make the switch when Ramsey was knocked woozy early in the season opener, it came as no surprise.
The parallel this year is compelling. Unless Gibbs sees something in practice that looks far different from what we see on the field, in game situations Collins would appear to have more than made a case for No. 2.
Both men have played with backups, against backups, so they've come by these numbers on a pretty level playing field:
Collins
15 for 18 (.833), 130 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT. Passer rating: 115.3
Brunell
9 for 21 (.428), 102 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. Passer rating: 38.2
Now we have to take into account that Collins has the advantage of running plays by Al Saunders, a coach he has played for the last seven years. Certainly that plays into Collins's success in Saunders' offense.
But I don't believe Collins has the downfield arm to sustain success over more than a few weeks. Given time to prepare, defenses would crowd the line, limiting the run and taking away underneath passing options, forcing him to go downfield. We've seen that movie before.
On the other hand, Collins has mastered the underneath game, and given time, has shown he can be effective in the intermediate game. Moreover, he has shown the ability to consistently manage the offense in a way Brunell has rarely been unable to do. If things continue to unfold as they have been, it is hard to envision Collins not getting the nod as Campbell's backup or, should Jason not be ready to play, as starter against Miami on opening weekend. If results on the field count, the decision appears an easy one.
Finally--and I say this quietly since you never know when Fate might be listening--could Jason Campbell's avoiding what appeared to be a season-ending knee injury, with all that would have meant to this team and its fans, mean that the gridiron gods have finally tired of toying with the Washington Commanders? Could it be, at long last, that we have served our time? I know we owed them for the three Super Bowls and all, it's why I've not complained as long and loud as some. But man--with apologies to Cardinals, Lions and Cubs fans, sixteen years has been a long penance.
Here's hoping. (NOT)
