Plusses and Minuses vs. Ravens

Just a few things to get the thread started. You can take it from there.

Plus

Offense

Moved the ball and scored TD's.
Better pass protection in this game.

Defense

Outstanding goal line defense to end 1st half.
Stopped the run.

Special Teams

Had a nice kickoff return.
Improved kick-offs - into the end zone.

Minus

Offense

Did not run well vs. Raven's first team D.
Early INT deep in our territory (mental error by QB).

Defense

Tackling by the secondary was atrocious.
Not much pass rush pressure early in the game.

Special Teams

Gave up a very long KR to Ravens at the end of the first half.
Our PR game was stagnant.

Minus
Looked like shit when it was 1st team vs 1st team

Whenever we are undefeated in the pre season the regular season ends being awful

+
Cousins didn't go into the tank after throwing the early INT
Jeffcoat continues to have a strong summer
Matt Jones

-
The running game especially with Morris in there is still struggling

A closer look at Kirk Cousins’s impressive performance in Redskins’ win over Ravens (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/football-insider/wp/2015/08/30/a-closer-look-at-kirk-cousinss-impressive-performance-in-redskins-win-over-ravens/?postshare=551440941450845)

Pluses

Rookies -Jones, Crowder, Smith, Jarrett and many undrafted FA's (Williams, Ross, Bell, Jeffcoat)

OL
Grant
Hatcher and Baker

Carrier fumble recovery

Cousins and McCoy

Negatives

Amerson

Special Teams coverage

Hosted a cookout and missed the game...from what I read looks like it was the best we have looked all preseason. That's awesome

Hosted a cookout and missed the game...from what I read looks like it was the best we have looked all preseason. That's awesome

Hands down, major improvement. I think the best part was not having to watch the RG3 train wreck while thinking somehow he would be the starter in week 1.

+no injuries, kirk was solid

-tackling was terrible, gave up some big plays (smith TD, 100 yard KR, int to suggs).

Didn't see the game so I pieced the thing together through Box score, highlight vids, blogs and celestial intervention
PLUS
Whats not to like, except the KC int? Actually, that was beneficial as well. KC could have gone DarkSide..........but didn't.
Good Oline play....no sacks
Solid pounding run game run game...against a stingy Raven D
Crisp pace to the O
D stifled the Raven running game
D Got a few takeaways
Return game looked good
penalties a little high...but
Kirk can run the O and hopefully he can mature totally out of the int thing.....
MINUS
Very regretfully, I have no confidence that Robert could have done the same at this time.........

A lot of people have hit the major points, here are mine:

Pros:
-Energy. Every play, even in the 4th quarter, we had guys (starters) out there congratulating people.
-QB Play. KC played well. McCoy played well. A few mistakes, but generally good plays. Most importantly, and something that has been lacking with RG3, movement in the pocket. These guys aren't getting any more or less pressure than RG3, what they're doing is making an effort to avoid it.
-Matt Jones. I hate to say it, but he's the reason I'm not buying an AlfMo jersey. Matt Jones very well may be the best back on our team and very well could be a starter or share the load 50/50 by midway through the season.
- Depth. We have some impressive depth on this team. Some of the guys we cut today will end up on the 53 man of another squad.
- Jackson Jeffcoat. He made some plays in the regular season last year and made some plays in the preseason.
- DHall. He ran with receivers, made a few big plays. I was worried about him after last week, feeling better now!
- Preston Smith. Looking good. Doesn't seem fast, but great hands/long arms and does a good job shedding blocks.

Cons:
-Tackling. This is still an issue for this team. Sometimes it's okay to push people back and let friends pick it up, sometimes you need to tackle.
-1st team. We lost the game 1st team vs 1st team. Ravens took their starters out (a lot of them) before the half.
-Pierre Garcon. Where is this guy? He should be having an impact on the game, he's not. Stop pimping various pizza chains and start playing football.