The Commanders 2 Minute Drill On Sunday Took. 4 1/2 Minutes

[drawandstrike]

Needing 2 scores, I'm still pinching myself that the Commanders were dumb enough to do this.

Remember the post game presser when Garrett talked about the defense forcing everything to the middle of the field on that last drive & not giving up the big play and trading yards for time and some people on here made fun of him? For what? Explaining a strategy that WORKED?

This is exactly how the prevent defense is SUPPOSED to work when you have a 2 score lead. You force the other team to drain the clock as they drive down the field. It's not a given that they score - remember Cousins fumbled on this drive and was lucky to get it back - but if they do, you want to force them to burn as much game clock as you possibly can.

Here's the yardage on Cousin's last drive. Notice how many times the prevent defense forced him to take the short middle option for around 7 yards or even less.

6:29 remaining
5
5
5
6
11
4
Penalty
Inc
10
5
9
Inc
Fumble, recovers own fumble, 1 yd gain
3
7
2 Minute Warning
8 TOUCHDOWN

1:53 left to play.

Even on the plays they were going no huddle, it still took Washington around 20+ seconds to line up and snap the ball. A 15 play drive even running no huddle will still take you major time to do. Cousins not having the balls to try to go deeper and settling for the very short pass about 7 times on that drive cost the Skins well over 2 minutes of the game clock.

I mean, WE have a team that runs a real 2 minute drill. Recall the Steeler game when we had only 42 seconds to work with.

Instead of having around 4 minutes left with 2 time outs and the 2 minute warning by the time they scored, the Skins had 1:53 and were forced into a desperation onside kick, which failed.

Our offense got the ball back with 1:53 to play. Was anybody really worried they wouldn't run the clock out?

So guess who had the last laugh?

 

[Temo]

In a weird way, I feel like the first TD drive Washington had was a success because it took them 7:55 to score, which was 1/3 of the time remaining in the game. I mean it wasn't, really, but at this point its the most I can expect from this pass defense.

We had a 17-6 lead at the time and that TD (and failed 2 point conversion) made it 17-12.

It was the next TD they had that was a complete failure. We had a 24-12 lead and forgot to cover D-Jax, resulting in a quick score that only took 1:27 off the clock and kept Washington in the game.

 

[drawandstrike]

In a weird way, I feel like the first TD drive Washington had was a success because it took them 7:55 to score, which was 1/3 of the time remaining in the game. I mean it wasn't, really, but at this point its the most I can expect from this pass defense.

We had a 17-6 lead at the time and that TD (and failed 2 point conversion) made it 17-12.

It was the next TD they had that was a complete failure. We had a 24-12 lead and forgot to cover D-Jax, resulting in a quick score that only took 1:27 off the clock and kept Washington in the game.

Yes, our rookie CB made a mistake. We were forced to play Anthony Brown as a #2 CB on the Skins fastest deep threat because MoC is hurt, Church is out, and We also lost Wilcox to a thigh bruise.

We had another rookie out there for snaps in the 2nd half, Kavon Frazier, along with Jeff Heath. That's how freaking banged up our secondary is.

Brown has been outstanding this year for a rookie, especially 1 who was taken in the 6th round. 1 of these days I might do a chart of how many CB's were taken in this draft ahead of him .

Brown has excelled being the nickel back, the 3rd CB in the nickel package. But the secondary has so few healthy bodies in it right now, we're being forced to play Brown as a #2 CB next to Brandon Carr. Hopefully by the time the playoffs get here Claiborne is back and up to speed again.

 

[Maxmadden]

We were basically in the prevent when we went up 17 -3. Whenever Washington did score we counterpunched them with a score of our own. Really the only breakdown was when Brown lost coverage on Jackson and let him score the long TD. Mental breakdown by Brown but it happens.

I don't recall many times rushing more than 4 DL and sometimes we were rushing 3. Statline sucks but the endline doesn't.

 

[Sydla]

We were basically in the prevent when we went up 17 -3. Whenever Washington did score we counterpunched them with a score of our own. Really the only breakdown was when Brown lost coverage on Jackson and let him score the long TD. Mental breakdown by Brown but it happens.

I don't recall many times rushing more than 4 DL and sometimes we were rushing 3. Statline sucks but the endline doesn't.

I guess we, as fans, never give credit when it works but man it sure seems that a prevent defense rarely prevents squat. LOL.

 

[Don Corleone]

This worked against the Ravens also. Flacco was puzzled as to why they lost the game.

 

[Kevinicus]

We were basically in the prevent when we went up 17 -3. Whenever Washington did score we counterpunched them with a score of our own. Really the only breakdown was when Brown lost coverage on Jackson and let him score the long TD. Mental breakdown by Brown but it happens.

I don't recall many times rushing more than 4 DL and sometimes we were rushing 3. Statline sucks but the endline doesn't.

Teams don't go anywhere close to prevent only up 2 scores with 2 quarter to play. Late in the game, sure, but not early in the 3rd.

 

[Maxmadden]

Teams don't go anywhere close to prevent only up 2 scores with 2 quarter to play. Late in the game, sure, but not early in the 3rd.

Wasn't a true prevent but we went conservative. Did you see any aggressive play calling on defense the second half?

 

[Maxmadden]

I guess we, as fans, never give credit when it works but man it sure seems that a prevent defense rarely prevents squat. LOL.

Nobody hates it more than me.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think the Cowboys are playing the hand they have on defense. Add to that injuries with Church and Claiborne I would think coaches are not being as aggressive. Making teams drive the field mistake free has benefited this defense. I'm sure this is not the defensive personnel Marinelli ideally wants but it is what he has.

 

[drawandstrike]

I think the Cowboys are playing the hand they have on defense. Add to that injuries with Church and Claiborne I would think coaches are not being as aggressive. Making teams drive the field mistake free has benefited this defense. I'm sure this is not the defensive personnel Marinelli ideally wants but it is what he has.

This is it.

Marinelli was told "OK Rod, We didn't draft anybody who can help this year, the FA guys are underperforming...we got no pass rush. Sorry about that. We still need to win this game. HOW can you help us win this game? We're up 2 scores on the Commanders with 6:29 to play."

"Well gosh, no pass rush you say? Against this red hot Commanders passing attack? All righty THEN! We'll have to make sure not to give up any big plays, play prevent, keep everything short and inbounds to keep the clock moving. If they score, they're gonna have to use up too much clock to do it. I can probably get the offense the ball back after the 2 minute warning. We scored the last two times we had it, all they'll need to do is run the clock out."

Marinelli got dealt this hand. He made it work. The Commanders 'hurry up 2 minute drill' took an astounding 4 minutes, 39 seconds to go 75 yards. Cousins essentially gave up looking for anything deeper than 10 yards downfield on that drive.

 

[Ultra Warrior]

All that's nice but it still came down to an onside kick, that we were fortunate to not have been recovered by the Skins. This "strategy" could have bit us in the you know what if they did. Though I'm happy it didn't.

 

[lukin2006]

Needing 2 scores, I'm still pinching myself that the Commanders were dumb enough to do this.

Remember the post game presser when Garrett talked about the defense forcing everything to the middle of the field on that last drive & not giving up the big play and trading yards for time and some people on here made fun of him? For what? Explaining a strategy that WORKED?

This is exactly how the prevent defense is SUPPOSED to work when you have a 2 score lead. You force the other team to drain the clock as they drive down the field. It's not a given that they score - remember Cousins fumbled on this drive and was lucky to get it back - but if they do, you want to force them to burn as much game clock as you possibly can.

Here's the yardage on Cousin's last drive. Notice how many times the prevent defense forced him to take the short middle option for around 7 yards or even less.

6:29 remaining
5
5
5
6
11
4
Penalty
Inc
10
5
9
Inc
Fumble, recovers own fumble, 1 yd gain
3
7
2 Minute Warning
8 TOUCHDOWN

1:53 left to play.

Even on the plays they were going no huddle, it still took Washington around 20+ seconds to line up and snap the ball. A 15 play drive even running no huddle will still take you major time to do. Cousins not having the balls to try to go deeper and settling for the very short pass about 7 times on that drive cost the Skins well over 2 minutes of the game clock.

I mean, WE have a team that runs a real 2 minute drill. Recall the Steeler game when we had only 42 seconds to work with.

Instead of having around 4 minutes left with 2 time outs and the 2 minute warning by the time they scored, the Skins had 1:53 and were forced into a desperation onside kick, which failed.

Our offense got the ball back with 1:53 to play. Was anybody really worried they wouldn't run the clock out?

So guess who had the last laugh?

I did notice, I commented to my wife " that Dallas was so good at controlling the clock, that they even got Washington to help chew up the clock".

 

[lukin2006]

Unfortunately not a lot of help is on its way this season for or D, we just have to roll with and hope our O is enough to carry us to the promised land...

 

[lukin2006]

This is it.

Marinelli was told "OK Rod, We didn't draft anybody who can help this year, the FA guys are underperforming...we got no pass rush. Sorry about that. We still need to win this game. HOW can you help us win this game? We're up 2 scores on the Commanders with 6:29 to play."

"Well gosh, no pass rush you say? Against this red hot Commanders passing attack? All righty THEN! We'll have to make sure not to give up any big plays, play prevent, keep everything short and inbounds to keep the clock moving. If they score, they're gonna have to use up too much clock to do it. I can probably get the offense the ball back after the 2 minute warning. We scored the last two times we had it, all they'll need to do is run the clock out."

Marinelli got dealt this hand. He made it work. The Commanders 'hurry up 2 minute drill' took an astounding 4 minutes, 39 seconds to go 75 yards. Cousins essentially gave up looking for anything deeper than 10 yards downfield on that drive.

And shouldn't this tell us how good Dak has been, every time we have needed a quick score to tie or take the lead or even change momentum he has delivered...

 

[Longboysfan]

Brown has been outstanding this year for a rookie, especially 1 who was taken in the 6th round. 1 of these days I might do a chart of how many CB's were taken in this draft ahead of him .

Please do so - it should show how well the scouting department hit on this draft.

 

[Kevinicus]

Wasn't a true prevent but we went conservative. Did you see any aggressive play calling on defense the second half?

Were they aggressive at any point?

The truth is that the defense gave up big plays all game. They gave up 7 plays of over 20 yards, both early and late. The Commanders averaged 7 yards per play. The only saving grace was being better in the red zone. The "bend but don't break" did not prevent big plays, and it didn't get a lot of mistakes from the Commanders in the way that was hoped for. The Commanders did make long drives into scoring range almost every time they had the ball. That is not the goal of defense. The idea is not to let them in scoring range and hope you keep them to field goals attempts every time and then hope for missed field goals.

 

[guag]

I guess we, as fans, never give credit when it works but man it sure seems that a prevent defense rarely prevents squat. LOL.

I always thought "prevent" defense was kind of a misnomer... it really should be called the "prevent the offense from throwing deep and/or to the sidelines" defense. Or "prevent the offense from scoring for as long as possible" defense.

Wait, actually now that I think about it, I guess "prevent" isn't a misnomer after all.

 

[Chuck 54]

Not disagreeing with the OP at all, but if we don't get that first down or they recover the onside kick, yeah, I think you're hearing lots of noise about our defense. Teams with explosive offenses, like Washington, will be our toughest opponents. Teams that hang their hats on defense but don't score much, don't scare me.

 

[StylisticS]

Glad you bolded the 2 minute warning thing. I think even with them running the clock down, I noted that if the skins really want a chance, they have to score before the two minute warning and they didn't. It would have been a different ball game if they had that two minute warning plus the amount of timeouts they had. I think they had two. I think we went prevent at the end of the 2nd quarter after we went up 17-3.