Honey They Shrunk the Offense

Every play looked like a blitz

Takeaway drill: no way no how against that defense, they played at a different speed. With no chance to get going it going on offense the defense did the best it could, injuries, exhaustion and the better team caught up with them. Now we rest.

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Monday Tuesday walkthrough: in great fall football weather the Pittsburgh Steelers dominate the Washington Redskins 23-6, the first half looked good and it went down hill from there with the Steelers scoring 23 unanswered points, all with the backup quarterback playing. Redskins drop to 6-3 going into the bye tired and with injuries to heal and things to think about.

The Redskins won the toss and elected to take the ball to start the first quarter. The Steelers bizarrely attempted an onsides kick to start the game, reserve linebacker and special teamer Alfred Fincher picked the ball up in between three white jerseys. The Steelers defense is swarming and the Redskins cannot make the first down with two Clinton Portis runs and a Chris Cooley catch. After looking at the yardage coach Jom Zorn elects to take the field goal, Shaun Suisham nails it down the middle from 44 yards, the Redskins get on the board first 3-0. The Steelers take the ball for their first possession, after a run for nothing and an incomplete to stoner Santonio Holmes Ben Roethlisberger's pass on third and ten was deflected at the line by Andre Carter, after bouncing around Cornelius Griffin came down with it for the interception. The Redskins had a short field and Jason Campbell took a shot at Santana Moss in the end zone on first down but it was deflected. Nothing doing for the Redskins and Shaun Suisham kicks a 43 yard field goal to put the Redskins up 6-0. The Steelers get the ball for the second time, get a first down and then the boogeyman visits Big Ben as Demetric Evans nails him for a four yard sack on third and six. The Steelers punt and Washington gets the ball for the third time. Jason Campbell goes left to Santana Moss immediately for ten yards, then Clinton to the right for 22 yards. Clinton can go nowhere on the next play and Jason is tackled at the line to bring up third and eight, Jason did not like what he saw and called timeout. Jason's ball was batted at the line and the Redskins were forced to punt and it was looking like a defensive struggle. Pittsburgh got the ball for the third time and three and outed, Antwaan Randle El fielded Mitch Berger's punt in Pittsburgh territory. For their fourth drive the Redskins ran two running plays then Jason did not like what he saw and called timeout. On third and three Jason's pass for Santana Moss was incomplete and the Redskins punted. Pittsburgh's fourth drive started with a 13 yard run to the right, and ended four plays later with a punt. Washington's fifth possession started on their own 35, a five yard catch by Antwaan Randle El, a one yard loss by Clinton Portis, he was dinged and came off the field. The quarter ended there, 6-0 Redskins and no one has converted a third down. (Quarterly report: Washington Post)

The second quarter started with the Redskins on third down, Jason Campbell was sacked and the Redskins punted. The Steelers three and out and it's Redskins ball for the sixth time. Jason Campbell goes deep for Santana on first down incomplete, two plays later the Redskins are punting. Still no third down conversions in this game. Carlos Rogers commits a pass interference on a deep pass to Hines Ward that moves the ball 43 yards. At this point the Steelers are determined to score and Big Ben goes down the field twice in a row, with Carlos Rogers barely saving a touchdown to Santonio Holmes, then Pittsburgh called a timeout. After the timeout the game had its first third down conversion on a pass to Hines Ward. Three plays later the Redskins held on third down and the Steelers set up and Jeff Reed kicked a 35 yard field goal to close the Steelers down to 6-3 Redskins. The Redskins got the ball for the seventh time and went to Chris Cooley for six and Clinton Portis up the middle for seven, an incomplete to Todd Yoder, on second and ten center Casey Rabach is called for holding to put the Redskins in second and 20. Jason Campbell throws an ill advised short pass right to James Thrash into triple coverage that is almost intercepted. Washington runs a give up play on third and 20 and punts. Pittsburgh starts their seventh drive, Carlos Rogers dropped a sure pick six on first down. Two plays later and it's fourth down and the Steelers are punting. Washington's eighth drive starts with a quick in to Santana Moss. A nil run by Clinton then a five yard catch on third and five and a half to Chris Cooley and the Redskins are punting. James Farrior (Wahoowa!) pours through the line and blocks the punt, the Steelers wind up with the ball on the Redskins 13 yard line. Redskins make up something with a sack of Big Ben by HB Blades. A Willie Parker run was negated by a Pittsburgh hold and it's second and 22. Santonio Holmes catches a ten yard pass then Hines Ward catches one inside the one yard line for first and goal with 35 seconds left in the half. Both teams take a timeout and you can cut the tension with a knife. When play resumes Ben Roethlisberger sneaks the ball in for a touchdown and the Steelers take the lead 10-6. The Redskins get the ball back and foolishly try to make something happen with 27 seconds left and Jason Campbell is sacked. The half ends with the Steelers leading 10-6. (Quarterly report: Washington Post)

Pittsburgh gets the ball to start the third quarter, the Steelers' ninth possession of the game with Byron Leftwich at quarteback. Two Willie Parker and one Najeh Davenport run for a first down and it's Byron long for 50 yards to Nate Washington afer an oh so near sack by Rocky McIntosh. Two plays later Byron got Mewelde Moore at the goal and on the next play Willie Parker walked in for the touchdown. Jeff Reed missed the extra point and the score is 16-6 Steelers. Washington's tenth drive started with a good runback by Rock Cartwright that was nullified by a holding call on rookie Chris Horton, putting the Redskins on their own 15. After a short run by Clinton Portis LaMarr Woodley pours over Jon Jansen for a brutal eight yard sack. After an incomplete pass Ryan Plackemeier is punting from his own end zone and the Steelers have the ball back at midfield. The Redskins defense is charged up and swarms the Steelers on three runs and Pittsburgh punts. Washington has some life, going to Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley before Clinton tips a first down pass from Jason Campbell that is intercepted by Deshea Townsend for Jason Campbell's first interception of the season. Washington challenged but the call was upheld. Pittsburgh gets the ball back and Byron Leftwich is sacked immediately. Pittsburgh moved to the Washington 40 yard line when the quarter ended with the Steelers leading 16-6. (Quarterly reports: Washington Post)

Pittsburgh continued their 11th drive into the fourth quarter with a 22 yard catch and run to Mewelde Moore. Byron took some lumps but the Steelers moved down the field and scored a touchdown from Byron Leftwich to Santonio Holmes to push the lead to 23-6 Steelers. Washington got the ball for the 12th time and even with a personal foul penalty first down the Redskins can barely move against a too quick Pittsburgh defense. Chris Cooley pulls in a key 14 yard catch on third and 12 to keep hope alive but the Redskins are forced to burn a timeout on the Steelers nine yard line. Jason Campbell throws an incomplete, Clinton Portis gains three yards to the left, and then on third and six Jason breaks the pocket for a touchdown. Pittsburgh challenged the play and Jason was called down on the one yard line. Coach Jim Zorn took his time and then called a heavy jumbo set, Jason Campbell could not get the ball on his right to Chris Cooley so he goes in the center of the end zone to tackle eligible Lorenzo Alexander who cannot pull it in, Washington turns it over on downs. The Steelers take over inside their own one yard line and the Redskins almost get a safety, twice, then an incomplete and Pittsburgh is punting from the shadow of their own end zone. The Redskins start their 13th drive on the Steelers 31 yard line, it ultimately ends with a Jason Campbell sack by linebacker Andre Frazier on fourth and eight. Pittsburgh takes over at their 26 yard line, holds the ball for a minute and punts. Washington takes over on their 30 yard line, Devin Thomas gets in on the action for six yards, suddenly the Redskins can pass the ball, catches by Clinton Portis, Antwaan Randle El, Devin again, Antwaan again and Chris Cooley. Then, on second and ten from the Steelers 17 Jason threw over the middle for James Thrash, Tyrone Carter jumped the route and intercepted the pass, Jason Campbell's second interception of the game and the season. Byron Leftwich kneeled one play and it was over, Pittsburgh wins 23-6. (Quarterly reports: Washington Post)

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Soapbox: the burgundy on burgundy uniforms? DO NOT LIKE.

Carlos Rogers, CATCH THE FUCKING BALL! he dropped a sure pick six in the second quarter.

Whereas I was happy to see left tackle Chris Samuels and receiver Santana Moss suit up and play, in retrospect maybe they just should have sat this one out. Santana managed two catches for fourteen yards and Chris was whistled for holding three times. Let us hope the bye week is good for them.

I missed the wisdom of Jim Zorn's fourth and goal play call in the fourth quarter, there were no receivers to the left and Jason Campbell's second option was a freaking tackle, Lorenzo Alexander. That was a terrible choice of plays. Oh and Chris Cooley and Clinton Portis were open.

A key to this game was Byron Leftwich, the visiting team's starting quarterback goes out of the game with a shoulder injury and the Redskins let him have a great day, it was Pittsburgh imposing their will on Washington all night.

Steelers fans really took over Redskins Stadium tonight. Serves Redskins fans right, we have no commitment to the games and the stadium is no fun to be in.

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Chattering class: Mike Wise at the Washington Post writes that the Redskins are a good team though simply not tough enough to crack the top shelf.

Les Carpenter has the obligatory front page A1 piece on the game, nestled between pieces on Barack Obama's presidential campaign at the final hours before the election and how China's economy is melting down.

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Omnibus: the Redskins took the field in burgundy jerseys with burgundy pants. First, I cannot recall a time when they wore that uniform and second I do not like it, which may be why number one. According to the team, this was in fact the first time ever and I hope the last.

In the pregame coverage Ron Jaworski, an analyst I trust implicitly, said of the defensive pressure Pittsburgh would see from Washington, that the Redskins blitzed more than both the Eagles and Giants, the other two NFC Beast teams the Steelers have already faced, a total of 108 blitzes so far this season in eight games. I am not sure this is accurate and if it is then the Redskins are getting weak results from those blitzes with only ten sacks through eight games. I think this stat may have been backwards, actually a stat for the Steelers defense, not the Redskins.

It has been 20 years since the Steelers played in Washington, 1988. Wow.

Chris Samuels and Santana Moss came out with the starters. Cornelius Griffin also started, back from missing one game.

The Steelers defense was stifling out of the gate. They played that way all game.

Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin's interception of Ben Roethlisberger in the first quarter (op. cit.) was an inverted flashback to left guard Pete Kendall's goof in game six against the Rams. In that game the Rams' nose tackle Adam Carriker batted Jason Campbell's second quarter pass intended for James Thrash at the line. When Pete Kendall found it falling toward him, he did not knock it down but rather stood up instinctively and caught the ball. He then unwisely started to run with it and then fumbled when hit by Rams linebacker Pino Tinoisamoa, who recovered for St. Louis. In this game Redskins defensive end Andre Carter batted Ben Roethlisberger's pass intended for Santonio Holmes. When Steelers left tackle Mx Starks found the ball falling toward him, he did not knock it down nor did he try to catch it, he ducked. The ball bounced off Max's back and Cornelius grabbed it for the interception. Looks like the whole not knowing when it is appropriate to bat a tipped ball down problem is not exclusive to the Redskins.

At 5:35 left in the first quarter both teams were a combined oh for five on third down. That ohfer ran until 10:55 left in the half when Big Ben hit Hines Ward on third and ten. The Redskins were oh for eight on third down in the first half and four for eight overall (op. cit.).

Clinton Portis was hit for a loss at the end of the first quarter and limped off the field after a hit to the knee by Troy Polamalu. Clinton came back in on the next series.

At 1:53 left in the half each team had exactly 71 yards of offense.

The first half was a defensive slugfest with neither team able to make much happen.

Ben Roethlisberger did not come out to start the second half, he hit his wrist on Cornelius Griffin's arm in the first quarter. Byron Leftwich came out at quarterback for Pittsburgh though later Mike Tirico in the broadcast said it was Ben's shoulder.

Jason Campbell's first interception of the season came in thr third quarter, a pass tipped by Clinton Portis. It was Jason's first interception in 271 attempts, a franchise record (ibid. and op. cit.).

James Farrior's face to face hit on Jason Campbell in the fourth quarter cost the Steelers a personal foul and should earn James a fine.

This was the first time this season the Redskins had gotten so far down in points that the team had to abandon the run and focus on the pass to get back in the game. Clinton Portis had only 13 carries for 51 yards, ending his streak of 120+ yards or more in a game at four and his streak of 100+ yards at five games.

This game was also the second time in four games that there have been problems with the helmet radios, Jason Campbell's went dead in the fourth quarter and it cost the Redskins a timeout. I can imagine a communicator like Jim Zorn, whose offense the team runs and who prides himself on instruction through execution, freaks out when stuff like this happens.

Politics and football do not mix. Articles like this either are skipped by readers that really do not care or just piss off people that do. I am glad this thing is almost over. It does amuse me though that the streak of the Redskins final home game predicting the outcome of the election sixteen of the past seventeen times remains alive. It also frustratingly adds to George W. Bush's legacy of being misunderestimated.

There were several cars burned up in the parking lot during the game. This brief Washington Times piece indicates the cause was a grill left burning by Steelers fans was the cause. Before I believe it was an accident I want to see whose cars got torched.

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Child Zorn: Jim Zorn falls to 6-3 as head coach, 6-3 career, whatever is bottled up in that mind did not come out tonight, there were a number of lackluster or questionable play calls, notably the fourth and goal passing call in the fourth quarter. Putting the whole game on Chris Cooley and tackle eligible Lorenzo Alexander, forsaking half the field, that was a bad call. Overall Jim Zorn was outplayed by opposite number Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.

Shooter: harried, hurried and hit quarterback Jason Campbell did not have a great night. The offensive line did not block well for him, he had no time to do anything, he threw his first two interceptions of the season and was sacked seven times, Jason is definitely ready for a week off after this game (op. cit.). Going into this game, Jason had only been sacked 16 times in eight games.

Coltrolled:

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Washington Post / AP recap, box score, play by play, photos. NFL recap, box score, full play by play, Gamebook (PDF), photos.

Other recaps:


Next up, the bye week. Thank fucking christ, the Redskins have played 14 weeks in a row going back to August (op. cit.).



Brett Keisel, James Harrison and James Farrior after sacking Jason Campbell: Al Bellow / Getty Images from here. Trainer's room from here.