It was obvious once the final seconds ran off the clock in the Cowboys/Redskins game that most of the media attention would center around the battle of the Rookie QB's. It's a matchup that has the mainstream media foaming at the mouth as both QB's have to be considered serious contenders for Rookie of the Year. Yes, the absense of the name Andrew Luck is intentional. True, this is a rare matchup of rookie qb's unlike any seen before it, but it's another often overlooked rookie who will be just as big, if not more, of a factor this Sunday.
Alfred "The Butler" Morris, the Redskins 2012 6th round pick out of Florida Atlantic, has put together a monster rookie season. 1,613 yards rushing at a 4.8 clip, with 13 TD's to boot. A hell of a debut, especially for a 6th rounder, despite limited production in the passing game. The 'Skins lean more on 2nd year man Evan Royster as a receiver out of the backfield, more on him later. Morris on the other hand, is a stocky 5'9 218lb back who fits Redskins Coach Mike Shannahan's One-Cut style to a tee. There's a little bit of Marshawn Lynch in Alfred Morris, as some have already pointed out, which makes this matchup even more fitting.
Marshawn needs no introduction. Beast Mode's had a career year for the Hawks and has put up strikingly similar numbers to Morris. 1,590 for a sterling 5.0 clip, with 11 TD's sprinkled on top. For the most part, Lynch wasn't much of a factor in the passing game much like Morris. However, recently he's been getting more looks as a receiver. I like the fact that they've been splitting him out wide on certain looks. Lynch's bruising style will be on full display, we've seen what he can do in the playoffs. If you need a refresher...
[youtube]ynn7VGY2Asc[/youtube]
Hold my Richard Sherman, that never gets old! Be on the look out this Sunday, while some great running backs like Adrian Peterson are always capable of breaking a long run at any time, Marshawn Lynch is capable of dragging 5 defenders with him on every carry.
Not many teams can boast a more productive running game than the Seahawks, but the Redskins are one of the few and the proud. Their 169.3 Rushing Yards Per Game led the NFL, just roughly 8 yards ahead of the Seahawks who finished #3 with 161.2. They finished ahead of the Seahawks in YPC as well, finishing 2nd with a 5.2 clip, with the Seahawks finishing 5th with 4.8 YPC. However, no one runs the ball quite as much as the Seahawks. Seattle finished the season 1st in the league in attempts with 536. The Skins were not too far behind with 519, good for 3rd.
Much of the Redskins success on the ground can be credited to the presence of a true duel-threat quarterback in Robert Griffin III. The 1st year man out of Baylor keeps opposing defenses honest at all times with his track star speed and impressive accuracy and arm strength. Another reason for the Redskins success running the ball has to be attibuted to Head Coach Mike Shanahan. Dating back to his time with the Broncos, Shanahan's offenses are notorious for having excellent rushing attacks without world class talent. The Zone Blocking Scheme that he and then Offensive Line Coach Alex Gibbs implemented in Denver has followed Shanahan to Washington and he's finally starting to get the same kind of results that he got in Mile High. Add Alfred Morris to a list that includes Reuben Droughns, Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, Terrell Davis, Clinton Portis, and Tatum Bell as 1,000 yard rushers under Shanahan's stewardship, most of whom were drafted much later than their production would suggest. Morris' 2012 season not only set a new Redskins Rushing Record, it was also the 3rd greatest individual rushing season under Mike Shanahan, trailing only Terrell Davis' 1997 and 1998 seasons.
Another reason for the Redskins rushing resurgence is the addition of the Zone-Read Option. Most teams have not been able to stop the added threat of Robert Griffin keeping the ball on the option. However, the Seahawks are not most teams. The Seahawks have faced two teams that feature the Zone-Read in Carolina and San Francisco and in both games they were able to contain the Zone-Read unlike many others. Cam Newton struggled to be efficient on the ground and through the air and Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers Pistol Offense sputtered all night long.
Part of the reason for the Seahawks success against the Zone-Read is the fact that they practice against one of the more efficient Zone-Read offenses in the league. The Seahawks don't go to the Read nearly as much as the Redskins do, but when they do use it they've maximized the efficiency of Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson. The Bills game was a testament to this. Another reason for the Seahawks success against the Read is a testament to the construction of their defense. Their mammoth Defensive Line makes stopping the run come naturally, but it's the speed and strength of their linebackers and secondary that help them shut down this scheme. As long as everyone stays assignment correct and the defensive front holds the line, all that's left to do is make a big play, like the one we saw Brandon Browner make against Cam Newton that you can see here...
http://www.seahawks.com/videos-phot...s-fumble/f1afcc0b-3598-4b5f-a3e2-cc198691724d
Speaking of which, Brandon Browner makes his return to the team after serving his 4 game Suspension. Things honestly couldn't have worked out any better during Browner's absence. A 4-0 record and Richard Sherman winning his appeal will do that for you. However, this is the perfect time for Browner to make his return, obviously. The defense could use his tough, physical edge in what figures to be such a tough, physical game. It'll be up to Sherm and Browner to help stop Washington's screen game and their use of the quick slants. I expect to see a lot of man and press coverage but I expect Washington to counter with more usage of the fake screen and fake slant than we've seen all season. Make no mistake, Mike Shanahan is a savvy coach who outcoached Pete Carroll in Seattle last season. I'm sure Pete remembers that and would like to erase this from his memory banks. A win on Sunday, in the Playoffs, would do just that.
Let's stick with the passing game for just a second. Obviously, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson will play a huge part in this game. The game will likely be won and lost on the arms of one or both of those men. That's just the nature of the NFL in the playoffs. More often than not, the play of your quarterback will decide your fate in January and February if you're lucky. However, both of these times have shown a reliance on the running game. While both teams feature 2 of the most accurate and efficient QB's in the league (GriffinIII 3rd in QB Rating, Wilson 4th) it's this reliance on the production of the ground game that helps make the 2 Quarterbacks so efficient.
The Redskins finished the season ranked 20th in the league in Passing Yards per Game while the Seahawks finished 27th. While the Seahawks improved their passing attack immensely down the final stretch of the season, it's not a stretch to say that the team who can better establish the run on Sunday will come away the victor. Neither of these teams will be looking to throw for 400 yards, although that would be nice. Instead, I expect that we'll see both teams attempt to establish the run early and often while keeping it short to intermediate in the passing game. Expect a deep shot or two from both teams early as well. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Redskins test Browner early to see if he's still rusty from his suspension. I'm also expecting the Seahawks to run a trick play, for some odd reason. I wouldn't mind watching Sidney Rice throw another beautiful rainbow. He's got quite the arm. Golden Tate? Not so much.
I also wouldn't mind seeing a little bit of Robert Turbin in this one. Although a similar type runner to starter Marshawn Lynch, Turbin has excellent initial burst compared to his mentor from Oakland. Once the bruising Lynch administers starts to wear Redskins defenders down, it would be nice to see Robert Turbin take advantage and hit the Skins for some quick big gains. It's time to unleash the entire arsenal. No weapon shall be saved.
The Skins may feature 2011 6th Rounder Evan Royster, out of Penn State, in the passing game. Royster is Penn State's All-Time Leading Rusher and has some ability as well as decent size at 6'1 212. Neither he nor Morris is the type of back that Seattle usually struggles with. While we've seen the Seahawks defense fail to contain quicker, scatback types through the years, they've usually done a great job of containing the power types. Steven Jackson has never had a 100 yard game against the Seahawks defense. The only exception to this "rule" would probably be Frank Gore, whom the Seahawks have had fits containing for years. A lot of that is in part due to the Offensive Line Gore runs behind, but even before the 49ers assembled their current monstrous line, Gore was a handful on several occasions.
Even the matchup of Griffin and Wilson in the running game is an intriguing one. While Griffin normally boasts the 4.3 speed that makes him an anomaly in the NFL, he should be sporting a brace on his knee that will slightly limit his speed and possibly his effectiveness. Seattle needs every possible edge when trying to contain the Baylor standout so this works to Seattle's advantage no matter how you slice it. Griffin will still be effective but the probability of him breaking numerous big runs decreases significantly. Also, he'll have to be weary when running in the open field as the Seahawks defense is one of the hardest hitting defenses in the league, especially with the return of Brandon Browner.
Russell Wilson on the other hand has less designed run plays called for him than Griffin but does his damage when escaping the pocket. When a play breaks down Wilson never panics and normally puts himself in the position to pick up the yardage required. This has changed slightly with the inclusion of the Zone-Read in Seattle's offense. Russell is getting more opportunities to run it from the snap and has been effective when calling his own number. The intelligence he displays when running the Read is also apparent when he's in the open field. He'll frequently run out of bounds or slide at the feet of a defender to avoid the big hits defenders are praying to unleash upon him.
Redskins Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett loves to blitz and did so frequently against Tony Romo last Sunday. We saw the Rams do the same thing to Russell Wilson when attempting to contain him. They got to Russell 6 times and the Redskins forced Romo into countless mistakes that ultimately cost the Cowboys the game. You just know that Russell Wilson is studying the tape to see what he can do to change this possible outcome on Sunday. The Rams were holding contain and not allowing Russell to step up in the pocket and take off. Expect the Redskins to blitz often as well, but expect Russell to be able to get to the edges and make the defense pay.
Conversely, while I expect more blitzes than on Sunday against the Rams, I still don't expect Seattle to send too much pressure towards Robert Griffin Tres. That would probably change if Seattle advanced to the next round to face Atlanta. He's not the type of quarterback you want to give all day to throw. However, Seattle's going to have to hold contain, keep things in front of them, and most importantly TACKLE like their lives depend on it. All 3 things they've been able to do for the better part of this season on their way to being the #1 scoring defense in the league. They've had their momentary lapses but who doesn't during a 16 game season? This Sunday they will have to be razor sharp.
Ultimately, the QB that ends this one victorious will get most of the publicity. With the Rookie of the Year decision coming soon, it will be all the national media talks about. However, this game will probably be decided by what happens in the trenches and in the running game. While Alfred Morris and Marshawn Lynch won't steal any of the headlines, they might just end up stealing the show.
Alfred "The Butler" Morris, the Redskins 2012 6th round pick out of Florida Atlantic, has put together a monster rookie season. 1,613 yards rushing at a 4.8 clip, with 13 TD's to boot. A hell of a debut, especially for a 6th rounder, despite limited production in the passing game. The 'Skins lean more on 2nd year man Evan Royster as a receiver out of the backfield, more on him later. Morris on the other hand, is a stocky 5'9 218lb back who fits Redskins Coach Mike Shannahan's One-Cut style to a tee. There's a little bit of Marshawn Lynch in Alfred Morris, as some have already pointed out, which makes this matchup even more fitting.
Marshawn needs no introduction. Beast Mode's had a career year for the Hawks and has put up strikingly similar numbers to Morris. 1,590 for a sterling 5.0 clip, with 11 TD's sprinkled on top. For the most part, Lynch wasn't much of a factor in the passing game much like Morris. However, recently he's been getting more looks as a receiver. I like the fact that they've been splitting him out wide on certain looks. Lynch's bruising style will be on full display, we've seen what he can do in the playoffs. If you need a refresher...
[youtube]ynn7VGY2Asc[/youtube]
Hold my Richard Sherman, that never gets old! Be on the look out this Sunday, while some great running backs like Adrian Peterson are always capable of breaking a long run at any time, Marshawn Lynch is capable of dragging 5 defenders with him on every carry.
Not many teams can boast a more productive running game than the Seahawks, but the Redskins are one of the few and the proud. Their 169.3 Rushing Yards Per Game led the NFL, just roughly 8 yards ahead of the Seahawks who finished #3 with 161.2. They finished ahead of the Seahawks in YPC as well, finishing 2nd with a 5.2 clip, with the Seahawks finishing 5th with 4.8 YPC. However, no one runs the ball quite as much as the Seahawks. Seattle finished the season 1st in the league in attempts with 536. The Skins were not too far behind with 519, good for 3rd.
Much of the Redskins success on the ground can be credited to the presence of a true duel-threat quarterback in Robert Griffin III. The 1st year man out of Baylor keeps opposing defenses honest at all times with his track star speed and impressive accuracy and arm strength. Another reason for the Redskins success running the ball has to be attibuted to Head Coach Mike Shanahan. Dating back to his time with the Broncos, Shanahan's offenses are notorious for having excellent rushing attacks without world class talent. The Zone Blocking Scheme that he and then Offensive Line Coach Alex Gibbs implemented in Denver has followed Shanahan to Washington and he's finally starting to get the same kind of results that he got in Mile High. Add Alfred Morris to a list that includes Reuben Droughns, Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, Terrell Davis, Clinton Portis, and Tatum Bell as 1,000 yard rushers under Shanahan's stewardship, most of whom were drafted much later than their production would suggest. Morris' 2012 season not only set a new Redskins Rushing Record, it was also the 3rd greatest individual rushing season under Mike Shanahan, trailing only Terrell Davis' 1997 and 1998 seasons.
Another reason for the Redskins rushing resurgence is the addition of the Zone-Read Option. Most teams have not been able to stop the added threat of Robert Griffin keeping the ball on the option. However, the Seahawks are not most teams. The Seahawks have faced two teams that feature the Zone-Read in Carolina and San Francisco and in both games they were able to contain the Zone-Read unlike many others. Cam Newton struggled to be efficient on the ground and through the air and Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers Pistol Offense sputtered all night long.
Part of the reason for the Seahawks success against the Zone-Read is the fact that they practice against one of the more efficient Zone-Read offenses in the league. The Seahawks don't go to the Read nearly as much as the Redskins do, but when they do use it they've maximized the efficiency of Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson. The Bills game was a testament to this. Another reason for the Seahawks success against the Read is a testament to the construction of their defense. Their mammoth Defensive Line makes stopping the run come naturally, but it's the speed and strength of their linebackers and secondary that help them shut down this scheme. As long as everyone stays assignment correct and the defensive front holds the line, all that's left to do is make a big play, like the one we saw Brandon Browner make against Cam Newton that you can see here...
http://www.seahawks.com/videos-phot...s-fumble/f1afcc0b-3598-4b5f-a3e2-cc198691724d
Speaking of which, Brandon Browner makes his return to the team after serving his 4 game Suspension. Things honestly couldn't have worked out any better during Browner's absence. A 4-0 record and Richard Sherman winning his appeal will do that for you. However, this is the perfect time for Browner to make his return, obviously. The defense could use his tough, physical edge in what figures to be such a tough, physical game. It'll be up to Sherm and Browner to help stop Washington's screen game and their use of the quick slants. I expect to see a lot of man and press coverage but I expect Washington to counter with more usage of the fake screen and fake slant than we've seen all season. Make no mistake, Mike Shanahan is a savvy coach who outcoached Pete Carroll in Seattle last season. I'm sure Pete remembers that and would like to erase this from his memory banks. A win on Sunday, in the Playoffs, would do just that.
Let's stick with the passing game for just a second. Obviously, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson will play a huge part in this game. The game will likely be won and lost on the arms of one or both of those men. That's just the nature of the NFL in the playoffs. More often than not, the play of your quarterback will decide your fate in January and February if you're lucky. However, both of these times have shown a reliance on the running game. While both teams feature 2 of the most accurate and efficient QB's in the league (GriffinIII 3rd in QB Rating, Wilson 4th) it's this reliance on the production of the ground game that helps make the 2 Quarterbacks so efficient.
The Redskins finished the season ranked 20th in the league in Passing Yards per Game while the Seahawks finished 27th. While the Seahawks improved their passing attack immensely down the final stretch of the season, it's not a stretch to say that the team who can better establish the run on Sunday will come away the victor. Neither of these teams will be looking to throw for 400 yards, although that would be nice. Instead, I expect that we'll see both teams attempt to establish the run early and often while keeping it short to intermediate in the passing game. Expect a deep shot or two from both teams early as well. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Redskins test Browner early to see if he's still rusty from his suspension. I'm also expecting the Seahawks to run a trick play, for some odd reason. I wouldn't mind watching Sidney Rice throw another beautiful rainbow. He's got quite the arm. Golden Tate? Not so much.
I also wouldn't mind seeing a little bit of Robert Turbin in this one. Although a similar type runner to starter Marshawn Lynch, Turbin has excellent initial burst compared to his mentor from Oakland. Once the bruising Lynch administers starts to wear Redskins defenders down, it would be nice to see Robert Turbin take advantage and hit the Skins for some quick big gains. It's time to unleash the entire arsenal. No weapon shall be saved.
The Skins may feature 2011 6th Rounder Evan Royster, out of Penn State, in the passing game. Royster is Penn State's All-Time Leading Rusher and has some ability as well as decent size at 6'1 212. Neither he nor Morris is the type of back that Seattle usually struggles with. While we've seen the Seahawks defense fail to contain quicker, scatback types through the years, they've usually done a great job of containing the power types. Steven Jackson has never had a 100 yard game against the Seahawks defense. The only exception to this "rule" would probably be Frank Gore, whom the Seahawks have had fits containing for years. A lot of that is in part due to the Offensive Line Gore runs behind, but even before the 49ers assembled their current monstrous line, Gore was a handful on several occasions.
Even the matchup of Griffin and Wilson in the running game is an intriguing one. While Griffin normally boasts the 4.3 speed that makes him an anomaly in the NFL, he should be sporting a brace on his knee that will slightly limit his speed and possibly his effectiveness. Seattle needs every possible edge when trying to contain the Baylor standout so this works to Seattle's advantage no matter how you slice it. Griffin will still be effective but the probability of him breaking numerous big runs decreases significantly. Also, he'll have to be weary when running in the open field as the Seahawks defense is one of the hardest hitting defenses in the league, especially with the return of Brandon Browner.
Russell Wilson on the other hand has less designed run plays called for him than Griffin but does his damage when escaping the pocket. When a play breaks down Wilson never panics and normally puts himself in the position to pick up the yardage required. This has changed slightly with the inclusion of the Zone-Read in Seattle's offense. Russell is getting more opportunities to run it from the snap and has been effective when calling his own number. The intelligence he displays when running the Read is also apparent when he's in the open field. He'll frequently run out of bounds or slide at the feet of a defender to avoid the big hits defenders are praying to unleash upon him.
Redskins Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett loves to blitz and did so frequently against Tony Romo last Sunday. We saw the Rams do the same thing to Russell Wilson when attempting to contain him. They got to Russell 6 times and the Redskins forced Romo into countless mistakes that ultimately cost the Cowboys the game. You just know that Russell Wilson is studying the tape to see what he can do to change this possible outcome on Sunday. The Rams were holding contain and not allowing Russell to step up in the pocket and take off. Expect the Redskins to blitz often as well, but expect Russell to be able to get to the edges and make the defense pay.
Conversely, while I expect more blitzes than on Sunday against the Rams, I still don't expect Seattle to send too much pressure towards Robert Griffin Tres. That would probably change if Seattle advanced to the next round to face Atlanta. He's not the type of quarterback you want to give all day to throw. However, Seattle's going to have to hold contain, keep things in front of them, and most importantly TACKLE like their lives depend on it. All 3 things they've been able to do for the better part of this season on their way to being the #1 scoring defense in the league. They've had their momentary lapses but who doesn't during a 16 game season? This Sunday they will have to be razor sharp.
Ultimately, the QB that ends this one victorious will get most of the publicity. With the Rookie of the Year decision coming soon, it will be all the national media talks about. However, this game will probably be decided by what happens in the trenches and in the running game. While Alfred Morris and Marshawn Lynch won't steal any of the headlines, they might just end up stealing the show.
