How to Beat the Jaguars

Portis is gonna have trouble getting going in this one. It's not just the tackles to concern yourselves with. They also have Heyward/Spicer (whichever one didn't get injured) and Marcellus Wilery. Wiley may not be great anymore, but he's still a very good DE. Couple the D line with a sick Middle linebacker (Mike Peterson) and you're in for a long day.


I don't know about that.

Heyward is out - torn Achilles. Spicer is pretty good but you certainly don't scheme for him.

And Wiley? even he was surprised that the Jags didn't cut him.

The game will come down to who can run and who can't. Both teams lean heavily on the running game. Whoever can contain the run the best will probably win the game. Neither team's passing attack is very scary right now.

I think the Redskins should run alot of outside stuff (WR screens, swing passes, pitch plays, etc) to force the two big men to run sideline to sideline. Maybe they will fatigue. Then you hit them with guts and misdirection plays.

Defensively, we need to see the run defense of late last year with better tackling.

Also we need a turnover or six.

Keys to victory:

OFFENSE

1. Protect the passer (unless Collins starts and Campbell is backup).
2. Put pressure on the secondary.
3. Establish the run in order to maximize success of the above.
4. 50%+ 3rd and 3 or less conversion rate (Duckett as short yardage specialist).
5. Reduce penalties by 50%.

DEFENSE

1. Stop the run.
2. Force Lefty into mistakes by pressure and disrupting his long throwing motion.
3. A 60% stop rate on 3rd and 5+.
4. Don't give up more than one big play.
5. Win the turnover battle.

ok, how 'bout this:
1. Run the ball well
2. Stop the run
3. Don't turn the ball over
4. Force turnovers

... it's foolproof really. ;)

Keys to victory:

OFFENSE

1. Protect the passer (unless Collins starts and Campbell is backup).
.

That's funny.

how about this:
SCORE MORE POINTS THAN THEY DO.

If the Jags' D is susceptible to any kind of running, it's the kind Al Saunders schemes for and the kind of thing Portis specializes in.

Stroud and Henderson make up the best tackle tandem in the league. They make it darn near impossible to run up the middle. The Jags know this, and teach their linebackers to be aggressive in getting to the sideline, anticipating that RBs are going to choose to run around the middle of the D rather than through them. The linebackers are susceptible to being overly aggressive, and can over-pursue. Misdirection plays (like the line fakes one way and there's a toss out to the back in another direction) or WR reverses can do damage. Just so happens those are Saunders' favorite plays.

That and a serious cutback or two by Portis, and I can see us getting a few big plays.

The Jags D will probably be stout on a lot of plays, but if Saunders plays his cards right he can catch them with their pants down. I just hope Brunell's elbow isn't bothering him so much that he isn't able to keep the safeties honest. Because if those safeties start creeping up you can forget big plays by Portis. Brunell's elbow is important. Sounds like it will be fine, and if so, I like our chances.

Key to win

Put the Refs on the pay roll

Key to win

Put the Refs on the pay roll

Excellent point! Damn refs are killing us...