Observational Reactions to the Washington Redskins win over the Minnesota Vikings – Week 6

• What else can you say about QB Robert Griffin III?  This man is beyond a special talent.  The more I watch him, the more confident I am in saying that the NFL has never seen a prospect like him.  The poise he has in the pocket, the intelligence to make the right reads, the arm to make every throw in the book, and, of course, the athleticism to do things only a handful of quarterbacks in NFL history have been able to do.  Robert Griffin III is redefining what it means to have ‘the total package.’  Trent Williams summed it up best after the game (via Grant Paulsen): “He’s a playmaker.  99.9% of the time, he makes the right decision.  He keeps this team going.” I couldn’t agree more.

• Robert Griffin III’s  passing numbers appear pedestrian at first glance 17/22, 182 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.  However, when you look further, Griffin actually accounted for 316 of the Redskins 361 yards on offense, as well as 3 of the Redskins’ 4 offensive touchdowns (rushing included).

• Trent Williams came into this game with the challenge of shutting down Jared Allen, the NFL’s leading sacker in 2011 (22.0 sacks).    From my count, Trent Williams did not allow a single QB hit on RGIII.  Jared Allen did get one sack in the game, but that came against Logan Paulsen.

• The Redskins came into this game 32nd in the NFL with a 23.3% third down conversion rate.  Against Minnesota, the Redskins finished significantly better by converting 50% of their third downs (6 for 12).

• The Redskins came into this week #1 in the NFL in points per play (0.476 points per play run).  The Redskins will increase their lead after week 6 by scoring 38 points on only 55 offensive plays (0.691 points per play).

• Robert Griffin III‘s 76-yard run means that the Redskins have had a touchdown play of greater than 60 yards in four out of the six games this year.  The Redskins had zero such plays in 2011.

• The Redskins were 3-for-3 in red zone situations against Minnesota.  The Vikings came into the game #5 in the NFL in defensive red zone stop percentage.

• The Redskins attempted only 22 passes while rushing the ball 32 times.  Alfred Morris had a particularly workmanlike day, carrying the ball 16 times for 47 yards (2.9 yards per carry).  However, despite Morris’ lower-than-average YPC, he did his job in forcing the Minnesota defense to commit to the run, which opened up the run/pass option plays over the top.

• Robert Griffin III spread the ball around all day long.  Nine different Redskins were targeted with passes, but none of them were targeted more than four times individually.

• Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris became the first pair of rookie teammates to ever rush for at least five touchdowns each in the first six games of the season.

• The Redskins won the turnover battle for the fifth time this season.  They have not lost the turnover battle yet in 2012.

• Remember when Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett took over in 2010 and thought so highly of Lorenzo Alexander that they started him at LOLB despite having the body of a defensive end?  That move was ambitious at the time because Alexander simply didn’t have the speed to do everything necessary for that position.  Well now that Alexander has lost 30 pounds, his athleticism isn’t an issue.  It showed today.

• In limited playing time, Lorenzo Alexander had 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 tackle for loss, and 4 QB hits.  Mike Shanahan indicated after the game that Alexander will be given more time in the future.

• The Redskins defense now has four defensive touchdowns on the season, with two additional turnovers resulting in a 1st & goal situation for the offense.

• The Redskins have scored 49 points off turnovers this season.  In all of 2011, the Redskins scored only 43 points off turnovers.

• On Deangelo Hall‘s final interception of the game, Jarvis Jenkins put a hit on Christian Ponder that affected the rushed and errant pass.

• For the first time this season, the Redskins opponent did not have a wide receiver go for 100 yards and a touchdown.  Percy Harvin had 11 receptions for 133 yards, but did not score against Washington.

• The Redskins lost the time of possession battle for the third time this season.  However, the culprit this week is not third-down conversions on offense.  Instead, the time of possession statistic can be explained by the 4th quarter comeback attempt from Minnesota.  After Robert Griffin III‘s 76-yard touchdown run (which did not burn time off the clock), the Redskins defense was content to use the clock as its ally, allowing Minnesota to eat up time as it drove down the field.

• Stephen Bowen continued to go about his strong season quietly as he totaled 3 more tackles for loss and a half of a sack.

• The Redskins’ red zone defense was particularly strong today, allowing a touchdown on only 2 of the Vikings’ 7 opportunities (28.6%).  For a season average, that percentage would be good enough for #3 in the NFL.

• I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Niles Paul’s thunderous hit in punt coverage.  This man is an athletic freak capable of playing Tight End, Wide Receiver, H-Back, and Fullback while also dominating on every special teams unit.  He’s turning into the offensive version of Lorenzo Alexander.

• Why context matters:
  • In week 5, Matt Ryan went 34/52, 345 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT (returned for a defensive touchdown).
  • In week 6, Christian Ponder went 34/52, 352 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT (returned for a defensive touchdown) before a desperation-time interception with under 30 seconds to go in the game.
  • Atlanta totaled 421 offensive yards on 81 plays in week 5.
  • Minnesota totaled 421 offensive yards on 80 plays in week 6.

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