Sorry readers. Hog Heaven needed a moment to recover from the fumble in the jungle. I saw something good in the 45-14 beat down by the Giants. Let’s begin with that.
The Redskins used Alfred Morris as a receiving target. Kirk Cousins targeted him three times and he caught all three passes for 27 net yards, 26 came on one play. Morris big catch was in the second half when it seemed the Redskins still had a chance. The score was 24-14, Giants. They were Morris’ first receptions this season.
Receiving is not his game. Yet, passes out of the backfield are a feature of the West Coast Offense. Mike Shanahan tapped Roy Helu for that role. So does Jay Gruden. Morris touched the ball 74 times this season. Three were receptions. Helu touched the ball 25 times. Ten were receptions. That’s a problem.
A defensive coordinator playing percentages would plan for runs by Morris 100 percent of his plays and react to his receptions. A DC would figure Helu for 50-50 runs to passes. He would defend that differently.
The certainty of how the Redskins use each back makes it too easy for defenders. More receptions by Morris adds versatility to the Redskins’ offense. Morris showed us something when he turned his short catch into a 26-yard gain.
Roger Craig set the standard for West Coast backs. LeSean McCoy is the best current example. Twenty-three percent of Craig’s touches while with San Francisco were pass receptions. Nineteen percent of McCoy’s touches have been passes. The WCO does not work as well if the primary back is not also a primary receiver.
I believe Morris has been working on that aspect of his game. If he gets no better at catching the ball, we will still be big fans. The ‘Skins, however, would be helped immensely if Morris was more of a receiving target.
Aw, Kirk….
I read in Dear Abby, or Ann Landers, or somewhere that it takes seven good impressions to overcome the single bad impression people hold of you. Thursday’s divisional home game against the Giants was America’s first national look at Kirk Cousins. It was not a good first impression.
They had been hearing about Kirk the Magnificent after two good outings against the Jaguars and the Eagles. He did not live up to the hype. Unfortunately, it did confirm every bad impression held by Cousins’ doubters, most of whom are Griffin lovers.
The book on Cousins is that he forces throws, does not handle pressure through the middle well, will throw multiple picks in a game and is not a reliable closer. Hog Heaven has seen him play well too often to accept those things as characteristics of Cousins. But he shot himself in the foot. Is it fatal?
More likely yes than no. Five turnovers are bad enough. The Giants converted Cousins’ first quarter fumble and three of his third quarter INTs into touchdowns. Quarterbacks who do that do not become starters.
Cousins needs seven good games, meaning seven good wins, to offset this one bad game. He is not likely to get that time. RGIII might be available right before the Week 10 BYE (maybe). A repeat of his Thursday night performance guarantees the Redskins will rush Griffin back, even if he is in a wheelchair.
Griffin will show rust whenever he comes back. Just don’t forget that.
Capt. Kirk has one opportunity, if he seizes it. His next appearance will also be on a big stage, Monday Night Football, October 6, against the Seattle Seahawks. The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. A win would be a statement.
The unit name for the Redskins’ secondary is…
Know how the Seahawks’ secondary is called The Legion of Boom? I dub the Redskins’ secondary the Highway to Heaven.
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