Washington Redskins Discover A Way To Utilize Their Playmakers

The Washington Redskins defeated the Chicago Bears 45-41 Sunday in large part due to the coaching staff’s willingness to utilize their playmakers.

Guys like Roy Helu Jr. and Jordan Reed stepped up and took advantage of their opportunities against the Bears. Last week after Washington’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, I complained about the Redskins horrible redzone offense. This week, they discovered that Roy Helu Jr. is probably the team’s best option at running back in the redzone. His ability to cutback and burst through lanes helped him tally three touchdowns. Moving forward, he’s probably the team’s best option in the redzone — unless they want to power the ball in the endzone.

“Usually, if you end up in the red zone, you’ve been driving the ball down the field,” said coach Mike Shanahn. “All of a sudden, you’re  driving the ball down the field and you’re feeding a guy like Alfred or Robert [Griffin III]. Running the ball, it’s a good change of pace to have a guy like that [Helu, Jr.], especially when Alfred is a little bit tired. There was a pretty good one-two punch.”

The other complaint I had last week was the Redskins’ lack of endzone shots and unwillingness to use their tight ends in the redzone. Well they did both Sunday by lining up rookie tight end Jordan Reed out-wide and throwing a nice endzone fade to him. QB Robert Griffin III also took a major risk by throwing a 45-yarder in double coverage to Aldrick Robinson. But it was a risk that turned into a touchdown. Endzone shots are important and the Redskins finally took some.

The Washington Redskins finally committed to featuring Jordan Reed on offense. They fed him the ball and he didn’t let the team down once. Reed was targeted a team-high nine times, catching all of them for 134 yards and a TD. He was the team’s most reliable receiver and may have the softest hands. Not to mention, he just understands how to get open. It’s unusual for rookies and even tight ends in general to find soft spots in zones. But again, most importantly, he doesn’t drop balls. With the Redskins struggling to find a receiver opposite of Pierre Garcon — Jordan Reed has become that go-to guy for Robert Griffin III.

“I think anytime you get a tight end [Jordan Reed] that has a game like that, it’s very easy to see what type of ability he has,” said coach Mike Shanahan. “The ability to break off of linebackers and defensive backs and get open, and run with the ball after he catches it. [Running back Roy] Helu [Jr.] is a great change of pace with [running back] Alfred [Morris]. He has great speed for his size. You could tell the defense was getting a little bit tired. Helu got the ball and he has the speed to not only break through tackles, but to get the ball in the end zone quickly. I was pleased with our one-two punch there.”

Robert Griffin III on Jordan Reed: “When you look at it coaches talk-wise, he’s wider to separate. He’s got good hands. Like I like to say, he has a wide catch radius, so he can catch just about anything you throw at him. Aside from that, in the offseason, he just worked hard. He didn’t get to practice very much, just like I didn’t and we worked together. I tried to teach him little things, here and there. I’m no tight ends coach, but I am a quarterback and I kind of know what you’ve got to do to get the ball thrown to you so I tried to help him in that sense. But other than that, he’s done a good job at absorbing everything that Sean McVay, the tight ends coach, and [offensive coordinator] Kyle [Shanahan] have been trying to teach him. And then he knows his stuff; he’s on top of it. He doesn’t have too many busted assignments. That’s something that is a great thing when you are a rookie coming into a new offense.”

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Statement Game for RGIII:

QB Robert Griffin III had an RG3 type of game. With exception of an interception (probably should have had two — but sometimes QBs have to take those risks) and maybe a couple inaccurate balls, Griffin looked great completing 18 of 29 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns. He also, for the second week in a row, had an excellent game on the ground (with exception of that one run he opted to cut back into the field-of-play instead of going out of bounds) with 84 yards on 11 attempts.

It was the fourth 4th-quarter comeback Robert Griffin III has been a part of with the Redskins. Third without help from Kirk Cousins.

He’s also found a nice safety blanket in rookie TE Jordan Reed: “It doesn’t surprise me because it’s what the coaches saw in the draft meetings,” said Griffin when asked about Reed’s success. “You see something special from a kid like him. When he comes in and is willing to work hard… He did spend whole offseason with me, so I definitely got to know him well. He is a hard worker, has great talent and like he said after the game, if he works and keeps making plays, I will continue to have more faith in him. He made some big plays for us today and can be a weapon. We just have to make sure that we all take it one game at a time, one step at a time.”

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Receivers Have No “Hall-Pass” When Lined Up On DeAngelo 

DeAngelo Hall is having a Pro Bowl caliber season. He made life difficult for Brandon Marshall, just as he did against Dez Bryant last week. Hall has played excellent all season.

“I thought DeAngelo played well,” said Mike Shanahan. “I think he did a great job. I love the way he handled himself last week. He’s been a team guy. I’ve seen a lot of growth there, just the way he handles certain questions. I love the way he’s competing. He’s been a team leader out there and one of the reasons we were able to win this game.”

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Brian Orakpo Silenced The “Stat Guys”

Most people who like to look at the stat sheet and judge players probably have not been fans of Brian Orakpo. If you watch him on film, you realize just how much of an asset he is for the Redskins’ defense. This week, however, Orakpo put some numbers up on the stat sheet including his first career interception which he returned for a touchdown.

“I’ve never scored, actually,” said Brian Orakpo. “I started playing football in middle school and I never scored in middle school, high school, college or the pros. I’ve never had a pick in general. It was a crazy feeling. I was so excited that I didn’t know what to do once I got in the end zone. It was a phenomenal feeling. I’ve been preaching that I’m trying to get my ‘Ryan Kerrigan’ on, with all the picks he’s got – and [linebacker] Rob Jackson. I’m trying to catch up a little bit.”

Memo to those who don’t realize it: Orakpo is having a decent season.

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Game Notes:

• Defensive lineman Chris Baker registered his first career sack in the second quarter. Nose tackle Barry Cofield added his third sack of the season in the fourth quarter.

• The Redskins had a season-high 28 first downs (13 passing, 13 rushing and two via penalty). Washington also posted a season high in third down conversion percentage (53.8), converting on 7-of-13 opportunities.

• Washington outgained Chicago in the first half, 249-46. The Redskins’ 203-yard advantage in the first half was the team’s biggest since outgaining the San Francisco 49ers by 234 yards in the first half of a game on Oct. 23, 2005.

• Griffin III had five completions of 25 yards or more, the most in a single game in his career. It was the first time a Redskins quarterback accomplished the feat since Patrick Ramsey on Sept. 21, 2003 against the New York Giants (five).

• Griffin III posted his fifth career game of 200-plus passing yards and 75-plus rushing yards, his second in as many weeks. He is one shy of matching Randall Cunningham and Michael Vick, both of whom are each responsible for six career games with 200 passing yards and 75 rushing yards.

• Jordan Reed was targeted nine times and caught all nine passes. In records available starting in 1991, Reed is the first Redskin to be targeted at least nine times and catch every pass.

• Washington gained 499 yards offensively, the team’s most since posting 511 yards vs. San Francisco on Dec. 26, 1999, a game which went into overtime. The last time the Redskins posted at least 499 yards in a game that ended in regulation was on Nov. 10, 1991 vs. Atlanta.

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