[The Goat]

I try to watch the replay whenever possible because it helps me see stuff I miss the first time around. What I reacted to most is:

1. Niles Paul was the worst player from either team. He doesn't block, period. One of the earlier sacks on RG3 is all on Paul, because the play was designed for Trent to seal the inside and Paul to move up from the backfield and block Tuck (I think), but Paul made no effort whatsoever. Same scenario happened over and over wrt blocking. He hates blocking. He's got subpar hands. He doesn't do anything special after the catch.

...and now we hear he's starting. I...just...don't...get what we're doing. Thoughts?

2. The option was blown up, nearly causing a fumble, toward the end of the first quarter. I remembered the play but couldn't remember when it happened and was surprised it happened so early. The defense read it the whole way and the right side of the line (Polumbus) makes it too easy for a quick d-lineman to shoot through. IMO the option should not have been called again after that play in the 1st quarter. While RG3 gained some yards with it later, it eventually led to a turnover and again we're damn lucky it didn't happen in the 1st qtr as well.

3. Trent Williams is playing awesome.

4. Lunch pail Logan should start at TE, with Cooley as backup for now. Cooley may overtake Logan but for now Logan's great hands, blocking and route running earn him the spot.

5. The play called on the INT shouldn't have been called after the 2nd quarter. The defense started reading the play and though Davis made a great catch when it was called in the 2nd quarter, it could have been picked off then. What I cannot understand is why we bunch up our formations and routes, making the windows RG3 sees so small? On the INT there were three defenders right there reading the play and within a couple steps of Paulsen. Was it a bad throw? Sure, RG3 should have thrown it away, because from the angles I saw it was gonna be a pick no matter what as the corner had Paulsen covered up front (again, the defense read the play before the ball was snapped) and the safety was sitting back there just waiting as well.

6. Our defense doesn't create enough pressure in the 3-4, and our LBs cannot cover well enough to justify the scheme either. I know some of you pointed out how poorly our LBs cover but I didn't see it clear until rewatching plays over again. In some cases we end up w/ London covering a guy outside, leaving the middle of the field open and sure enough Bradshaw picked up mad yards. That's just lousy scheme, pure and simple. London is a tackling machine, not a cover LB. He should always be in the middle of the field. It's another example of how poorly we're suited for the 3-4 defense. I think we could still be a top 10 defense (like the one Mike inherited) if we switched back to the 4-3.

7. Last but not least, RG3 is the man. He's doing it all out there...