2-0 boils down to this

Offense, Defense See Third and Opportunity (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092002621.html)

In the first two games of the season, the Washington Redskins have been the NFL's most effective team on third down, cumulatively, on both sides of the ball. The statement seems illogical when viewed through the prism of 2006 -- when the Redskins (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Washington+Redskins?tid=informline) failed offensively and defensively on third down -- but the reversal has much to do with Washington's 2-0 start.

Yeah definitely, that is a huge stat for the skins.

I just mentioned that to my Jets-fan roommate and he told me I was insane, for thinking the skins are a good team. "You have a qb that may end up being good one day, and your good on 3rd downs, but so what, that means nothing. The Redskins suck!"

Whatever...He's just bitter because the Jets suck, and because he's gonna owe me 20 bucks for betting me they would have a better record then the skins this year...ha ha. Im feeling pretty good about that bet at this point.

And the fact that they are the best on 3rd downs makes me feel even better about their chances this year, and mine to win 20$.

Mike Shannahan said last year, in explaining why he benched Plummer, that the NFL is all about third down - that's where you earn your money.

That's also where you swing games and seasons.

It felt like they were doing great on third but it's wonderful to see that statistically corroborated.

Well, the reason we are so effective on 3rd downs (defensively) is the fact that we are stopping them effectively on 1st and 2nd down. Haven't seen a whole lot of 3rd and 1 or 3rd and 2 like we did last year.

Well, the reason we are so effective on 3rd downs (defensively) is the fact that we are stopping them effectively on 1st and 2nd down. Haven't seen a whole lot of 3rd and 1 or 3rd and 2 like we did last year.

Same can be said for offense.A good 3rd down percentage is a reflection on the effect of our first two plays. If you gain 4 yards or more on 1st and 2nd, you are usually in 3rd and 1 or starting a new set of downs.

Stay Strong!

I think a big part of the reason is that we don't try to go for 15 yard passes that turn up incomplete on first and second down. Then it puts us in a 3rd and long situation that we would never be able to convert. This year we run and do little 5-8 yard passes and it's making it much easier on our offense.

Mike Shannahan said last year, in explaining why he benched Plummer, that the NFL is all about third down - that's where you earn your money.

I was thinking about that same thing, and it couldn't be truer. Every 3rd down is extremely critical.

From watching the team, I get the feeling that most of our offensive 3rd down success is due to JC. He's a scrambler, and that has helped out, but he is also very poised. Not to bash Brunell, but I can remember several times he wasn't pressured and still rushed his throw (sometimes even throwing the ball away, for seemingly no good reason). I think JC looks very promising, and should be given a fair amount of credit for our offensive success.

Well our offensive success is really attributed to JC getting the job done. It seems like last year we could go 3 yard run right, 4 yard run left and have 3 and 3 and couldn't complete a pass or make a play. We had a lot, and inordinate really, amount of 3 and shorts that we couldn't convert last year. By the time JC had become starter we had resorted to running on 3 and short almost exclusively which is just not the way to be successful. This year his ability to make plays has been great. WHat we need to keep doing is mixing things up. We cannot become limited in our dimensions. JC making a play every few 3rd downs is great but we can't rely on that. Our running games needs to be able to convert 3rd and 3 or 4 and our passing game has to be able to convert also. If we become one dimensional teams will start to key in and eventually our success will wain. Gotta keep the defense honest. We have so far but that is the challenge going forward.

I was thinking about that same thing, and it couldn't be truer. Every 3rd down is extremely critical.

From watching the team, I get the feeling that most of our offensive 3rd down success is due to JC. He's a scrambler, and that has helped out, but he is also very poised. Not to bash Brunell, but I can remember several times he wasn't pressured and still rushed his throw (sometimes even throwing the ball away, for seemingly no good reason). I think JC looks very promising, and should be given a fair amount of credit for our offensive success.

I think part of it is that there are throws he simply isn't afraid to make. He has the arm to put it on a WR with less of a chance of a defender making a play. I think MB's problem was less his arm strength and more his confidence in his arm. I know 2 or 3 times this year and many times last year I said to myself, "There is no way MB makes that throw. He probably doesn't even try it." Even if the pass goes incomplete the fact that he had made the throw shows the defense that it is something we'll do. When MB isn't making the throws the defense simply stops putting any effort into defending it since MB has shown he isn't willing to do it. I really think keeping the defense from simply eliminating one aspect of your offense is the key to offensive success in the NFL now. JC really gives us a better chance at that. I am a big JC believer.