WR-DB is a Pivotal Match-up in Redskins, Seattle Game

The Washington Redskins (10-6) will face a unique challenge Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks (11-5) in the first round of the NFL playoffs.

Seattle packs the league’s 4th ranked defense. Not to mention, they’re the NFL’s stingiest when it comes to giving up points. During the regular season, Washington faced 5 of the top 15 defenses in the NFL – winning only two of those five. The two wins, in fact, came against one team – the Philadelphia Eagles (15th ranked in total yardage).

Washington suffered losses against the Pittsburgh Steelers (Leagues best), Cincinnati Bengals (6th ranked in total yardage), Carolina Panthers (10th ranked in  total yardage) and St. Louis Rams (14th ranked in total yardage). All of those games were before Washington’s week 10 bye and seven-game winning streak.

Of course, Redskins fans will attribute the ten or more drops Washington’s receivers had to losing against Pittsburgh. In addition to, the other three games coming down to late fourth quarter mishaps. Not to mention, Washington’s go-to receiver, Pierre Garcon wasn’t healthy. But that’s football. Bottom line, they didn’t get the job done.

The Seahawks will present a unique challenge for the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Especially in the passing game.

From film study, Seattle puts a ton of trust in each level of their defense. They run a 4-3 defensive alignment as their base, and have a great front four that allows their defense to get pressure on the QB without sending exotic blitzes. When the Seahawks dial up their nickel packages, they typically switch up to a 3-3-5 alignment, with rookie sack-master Bruce Irvin as a five technique (DEnd in a 3 man front).

However, what really makes the Seahawks’ defense unique is the length in their secondary. Here’s the wingspan of their DBs via Seahawks’ PR:

“They’ll look good, but when you get out there on the field – not in a weird way by any means,” Redskins’ QB Robert Griffin III joked of facing the taller Seahawks’ DBs. “You like how I worded that? – they’ll be tall, rangey guys. There’s some throws that you throw that maybe a normal, six-foot corner might not get to, but because these guys are so tall, they can get to those balls. You just have to be aware of that. Watch the film, see how they play. Then, after that, just go out there and try to execute.”

The Seahawks have a defense that often shows you what they’re going to do – pre snap, and simply executes it. Again, the Seahawks trust each level of their defense and they’ve done a great job at executing positional assignments . In the secondary, Seattle often plays a Cover 1 Man-free coverage. This allows Seattle’s big DBs to play a lot of press-man alignments.

The game will come down to Washington’s receivers vs Seattle’s defensive backs. It’s really a mindset and attitude that you need in order to exploit Seattle’s DBs. It’ll be a tough task. Whoever packs the bigger physical mentality and attitude on Sunday will win this match-up. Therefore, Washington’s receivers with major attitudes on the football field – Pierre Garcon, Joshua Morgan and Santana Moss has to get into the head of Seattle’s secondary.

“They have a lot of confidence  – and they get after you,” Redskins’ OC Kyle Shanahan said. The younger Shanahan also acknowledged that Seattle plays a lot of press coverage, but said he has a lot of confidence in the Redskins’ receivers.”

Seahawks’ DB and pro bowl snub Richard Sherman, however, isn’t fearing Washington’s receivers. In a interview with USA Today, Sherman was asked which Redskins’ WR worries him. Sherman’s response came as no surprise, “None of them,” he said. Then he was asked, if Redskins’ go-to receiver Pierre Garcon worries him… Sherman’s response – “I don’t think so — not that I know of.”

Pierre Garcon vs Richard Sherman will, without a doubt, be the match-up to watch. Both guys have brash attitudes on the football field.

Washington’s offensive strength does play to the main weakness of a cover 1 man-free coverage. Horizontal and inside breaking routes are very successful against that coverage. The Washington Redskins have one route that no team has stopped this season, which is the play action skinny post. Again, Seattle tends to show their hand pre-snap and often has their safeties playing far off the football. Now, the Seahawks’ safeties can cover field quickly – but when you’re playing 18 to 20 yards off the line of scrimmage, it’ll be tough to stop Washington’s “bread and butter.”

If Washington’s receivers are able to exploit Seattle’s DBs, it will be attributed to those horizontal routes and change of direction. However, the unique size and length Seattle packs, will present a new challenge to Washington’s offense.

@Manny_PPI on Twitter