What's Our Weakness?

Well, that's easy. The offensive line.

Chris Samuels isn't really playing his best football right now, but he's still got pro bowl skill. Pete Kendall hasn't been good this year, and Rabach has looked downright terrible at times, while average at others. Fabini has been a consistent performer, but the Redskins have really given him a lot of help on interior linemen in the passing game. Our coaching staff really doesn't trust him and it's hurting everyone else. Heyer has been playing...maybe the best out of anyone, but he's still a rookie and can be overwhelmed at the point of attack.

Our interior offensive line has been brutal, and it has cost us a pretty significant part of our running game. That's huge, because Portis leads the NFL in carries, and on the whole, has been downright terrible in effectiveness.

However, as usually happens when the defensive opposition starts to wear down late in the year, Portis manages to keep himself healthy into December, and he's looking like a man amongst boys out there. Portis' running style throughout the year is very conducive to strong playoff running, and I expect him to produce. On top of that, Betts is healty. So we have no excuse not to get everyone blocked up for these guys.

It's just that even with the late season advantage at RB, it's still going to be tough to run on anyone with the line up there. These guys as a unit just aren't very good.
i totally disagree with this. while Portis hasn't enjoyed the numbers he is used to, he has been effective enough to keep everyone from going balls to the walls after Collins. that rap around draw the skins have using late in the season has been very effective

The immobility of Collins. If we can protect him well enough, we'll do great. But if he gets pressured, I see him getting sacked and fumbling.

We can certainly protect him well enough to allow him to get the quick hitters out in time, those five-step-drop-and-ball-comes-out throws. But if we want to stretch the field, we have to give him time for a seven stepper. We did real well with that against the Cowboys, though Ware did beat Samuels and sacked Collins for a fumble. Luckily we did well enough the rest of the game to beat them into submission.

We've got to stay strong on defense, because if a team manages to get to Collins and prevent us from trying anything deep, or God forbid turning the ball over a lot, we're going to need to keep the scores low. I don't worry about Collins throwing INTs at all, I worry about DEs coming around and smacking the ball out of his hand.

I have to agree with you Schneed, Collins being so immoblie is probably our biggest weakness right now outside of the secondary, IF our O-line doesnt give him the time he needs, he could be eating dirt all game.

I worry about Chris Samuels vs. Patrick Kerney.Kerney plays left DE, so he will be going against Stephon Heyer. That may be a mismatch that could hurt us.

Kerney plays left DE, so he will be going against Stephon Heyer. That may be a mismatch that could hurt us.

Good point.

Kerney plays left DE, so he will be going against Stephon Heyer. That may be a mismatch that could hurt us.

I always figured he played RE. After all, he is 2nd in the NFL in sacks, and has done better than their RE, Darryl Tapp. Didn't he play RE in ATL? Maybe that's why he's done so well this year...

Either way, SEA has 2 DEs that have both had great years. Heyer and Samuels have their work cut out for them. At times like these, I'm glad we have Portis to help in pass protection.

Kerney plays left DE, so he will be going against Stephon Heyer. That may be a mismatch that could hurt us.

We'll need to put Cooley/Yoder/'Zo Alexander/Portis out there for help. Kerney vs Heyer is our biggest concern from a matchup perspective. Luckily though, Kerney would not be coming from Collins' blind side. Fumbles are a major concern when a DE is coming around the blind side on an immobile QB. As long as Collins can see Kerney coming, the probability for fumlbing goes down. I can deal with the occasional sack, but what kills you in the NFL is turnovers. We need to keep Kerney in check, Collins needs to have a clock in his head, keep an eye on Kerney, and step up in the pocket consistently.

Collins' immobility + Kerney vs Heyer = The highest chance of Seattle causing turnovers.

And we can't forget that as our attention turns to Kerney, Samuels needs to hold up in one-on-ones on the other side.

I would echo's Schneed's point re: pass protection. JC and TC were stripped far too often this year. If we win the next 2 games and face GB in 3 weeks, Heyer is going to have his hands full against Patrick Kerney (14.5 sacks), Greg Ellis (12.5 sacks), and Aaron Kampman (12 sacks). Yes, we can keep Cooley in to block, but to the extent that we do so, we limit our passing attack.

I also think we may have trouble with our secondary. What we have done in the last few weeks is nothing short of miraculous, but we have yet to face a strong passing attack supported by a full cast. The Bears' passing offense isn't exactly scary, the Vikes don't know what "passing" means, no team could pass on that windy night in the Meadowlands, and the Cowboys were missing T.O. I'm concerned that, going against Seattle, our defense might slip a bit. Again, I emphasize that I do not mean to take anything away from the amazing 4-win run, but I think we might have trouble against Seattle without Taylor and Rogers.

Does Alexander pass block? or is he strictly in on the jumbo package?

We'll need to put Cooley/Yoder/'Zo Alexander/Portis out there for help. Kerney vs Heyer is our biggest concern from a matchup perspective. Luckily though, Kerney would not be coming from Collins' blind side. Fumbles are a major concern when a DE is coming around the blind side on an immobile QB. As long as Collins can see Kerney coming, the probability for fumlbing goes down. I can deal with the occasional sack, but what kills you in the NFL is turnovers. We need to keep Kerney in check, Collins needs to have a clock in his head, keep an eye on Kerney, and step up in the pocket consistently.

Collins' immobility + Kerney vs Heyer = The highest chance of Seattle causing turnovers.

And we can't forget that as our attention turns to Kerney, Samuels needs to hold up in one-on-ones on the other side.Honestly, a Tight End lined up on Kerney's side should be good enough to nullify the pass rushing advantage. If we force him to line up in a seven technique, as opposed to a five, Collins will have more than enough time to throw any football, provided the receivers get open.

**A seven technique refers to an end lined up outside the tight end, and a five refers to an end lined up on the outside shoulder of the tackle.

Our greatest weakness could be a defensive scheme.

Remember those crappy games against passing teams when Williams had the secondary play "off" so far to avoid big plays?...that sucked

That is my greatest concern.

other weakness is the Oline (right side)