Washington Redskins vs. Indianapolis Colts: Breaking Down Washington's Game Plan
Beating the Indianapolis Colts sans Robert Griffin III will require a brute-force game plan on offense, along with clever scheming on defense. The Washington Redskins will need both to pound a soft Indy run defense, as well as confusing star quarterback Andrew Luck.
Here's how both sides of the game plan can break down.
Power Running is the Key
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Washington has to combine power concepts with the staples of its zone-based running game. That ground attack experienced a revival last week on the road against the San Francisco 49ers.
Alfred Morris rushed for 125 yards, averaging six yards per carry. As detailed here, he gained most of those yards running the team's core zone-stretch play behind power-based looks.
The good news is the Colts are ripe to be just as generous on the ground as the 49ers were. Two weeks ago, the 17th-ranked Indy run defense was battered into submission by the New England Patriots and ex-practice squad member Jonas Gray.
He amassed 201 yards and four scores thanks largely to New England's commitment to power concepts such as overloaded lines and pulling guards. Consider this 16-yard run from the first quarter a prime example.
The play began with New England showing a seven-man front. Tight end Rob Gronkowski aligned next to the right tackle, while rookie Cameron Fleming parked his ample frame next to the left tackle as a sixth down lineman:
Guard Dan Connolly pulled to make a key block, while fullback James Develin also led the way. Their targets were inside linebackers D'Qwell Jackson (52) and Jerrell Freeman (50):
Connolly and Develin quickly got to the second level and absorbed both Jackson and Freeman. Their blocks created a lane for Gray to attack:
Both men held their blocks as Gray burst through the alley and overpowered would-be tacklers to complete a big gain:
This was classic power running. It's something the Redskins need Morris to do against the Colts. The key will be getting on Jackson and Freeman.
Last week in San Francisco, Washington had great success forcing middle 'backers Chris Borland and Michael Wilhoite sideways. They also did a great job of getting on those linebackers quickly.
Washington's linemen should be able to repeat the feat against Jackson and Freeman, both of whom struggle to escape blockers in traffic.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden can delve into his coaching archives for inspiration for this week's offensive strategy. In fact, he only needs to go as far back as Week 13 of last season.
Then, as offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, Gruden directed a running game that wore down the San Diego Chargers on the road. The Bengals ran the ball 38 times for 164 yards en route to leaving California with a 17-10 win.
The key to Gruden's scheme that day was a heavy dose of power looks and concepts. This run by BenJarvus Green-Ellis in the first quarter shows how they worked.
Cincy aligned with three tight ends, one on each end of the front and one in the backfield as a de facto fullback. Their blocks were supplemented by a pulling guard:
Tight end Tyler Eifert set the edge by neutralizing defensive back Richard Marshall (31). Meanwhile, the pulling guard took on linebacker Manti Te'o (50):
Each man made his block to create an inviting hole for Green-Ellis. The downhill runner powered through it for eight yards:
By leaning on these types of designs again, Gruden can craft a rushing attack that will batter the Colts. Success on the ground will make things easier on new starting quarterback Colt McCoy. It will also set up opportunities for the play-action passing game to produce big plays.
Perhaps more importantly, keeping things on the ground will keep Luck and his talented stable of receivers watching from the sideline.
Confuse Luck with Different Fronts and Press His Receivers
On what will hopefully be the rare occasions Luck takes to the field, Washington's defenders must channel their inner chameleon to get the better of him. Coordinator Jim Haslett's unit has to morph into different looks to keep the Colts' young and talented signal-caller guessing.
Those looks should be the framework for two key principles: Pressure up front with physical coverage behind it.
Fortunately, the Patriots provided the exact template for this style of defense two weeks ago. Let's take a look at a pair of examples from New England's box of tricks.
On this first play, the Colts faced 2nd-and-8 in the red zone. The Pats showed Luck a front with only one defensive lineman:
Behind this lone trench warrior, New England crowded the box with four standing linebackers and cornerback Brandon Browner. With so many defenders standing up and moving around, Luck had no clue who would rush and who would cover:
Any time a quarterback has a hard time reading the rush and coverage, the defense has a major advantage. Just ask any team that's faced Griffin and the Redskins the last two seasons.
Back to events in Indy, the Pats planned to rush all four standing linebackers. Akeem Ayers (55) and Rob Ninkovich (50) would come off the edges, while Dont'a Hightower (54) and Jamie Collins (91) would blitz through the middle:
The pressure quickly swarmed in on Luck. Collins hit his feet as he threw:
As the blitz was getting home, Luck was attempting to connect with receivers plastered in press coverage. Notice how each receiver is clamped:
With coverage this tight and pressure so fierce, it's no surprise that Luck's desperation throw to the end zone was wobbly and inaccurate, falling incomplete:
The Redskins have the personnel to replicate this organized chaos concept. Haslett has used one-lineman fronts in the past. He can put Barry Cofield as his lone down lineman and have Ryan Kerrigan, Trent Murphy, Keenan Robinson and Perry Riley Jr. hovering and rotating behind.
But that can't be the only concept Haslett shows Luck. The Patriots also mixed in a more familiar-looking pressure scheme.
They showed Luck a double A-gap blitz from a 4-2-5 nickel front. Both Collins and Hightower crowded the gaps on either side of the center:
Collins faked his blitz to draw the attention of the center. That feint gave Hightower a clear path into the backfield and forced running back Ahmad Bradshaw into pass protection, an obvious mismatch.
Hightower soon engaged Bradshaw and began to get by him. As he did, Collins started to bail to the middle of the field in zone coverage to spy any run from the deceptively mobile Luck:
The quarterback's intended receiver was Reggie Wayne. But notice how tightly Darrelle Revis (24) was clamped onto the stellar veteran.
From the overview, you can see how all of Luck's potential receivers were locked up by New England's plastering techniques. Not only that, but the Pats also had a deep safety behind the coverage, as well as Collins taking away any underneath releases in front of it:
This was the perfect coverage shell. Faced with that combination of blanket coverage and immediate, intense pressure, Luck had to hold onto the ball.
Hightower was draped all over him when he eventually tried to connect with Wayne:
Not at all surprisingly, the pass fell incomplete.
The Colts boast the top pass offense in the NFL. Much of that is due to Luck's natural instinct for deciphering coverage and making quick, accurate and decisive throws.
Slowing down his process will be key to stifling the Colts. It will take a healthy dose of deception, creativity and aggression.
That last attribute particularly applies to the coverage scheme. An already suspect secondary was hit by injuries last week.
However, the good news is that rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland, the undoubted star of this defensive backfield, has been able to practice, per Mike Jones of The Washington Post.
His inclusion will be key because Breeland ought to be used to clamp onto brilliant veteran Wayne. That may seem odd considering T.Y. Hilton is the Colts' leading receiver.
The third-year burner has 63 catches for 1,083 yards. He is averaging 17.2 yards per reception. But that sort of production is exactly why Washington needs to double-cover Hilton.
They need to show him the same press coverage, safety over the top combination the 49ers regularly showed Washington's own deep threat DeSean Jackson last week:
The Redskins have to force Luck to go away from Hilton. When he does, his next stop is usually 36-year-old Wayne, who will be covered by Washington's best cornerback.
It's vital that Luck is kept guessing and taken out of his comfort zone. That's the only way to spring what would be considered one of the season's biggest upsets:
Although McCoy replacing Griffin will dominate the headlines, this game can't about Washington's third-stringer-turned-starter. Instead, it has to be about how the Redskins confuse Luck.
More importantly, it has to be about how frustrated the Colts' high-powered offense will be watching events from the sideline. Cue another big game from Morris.
All statistics via NFL.com.
All screen shots courtesy of CBS Sports, NBC Sports and NFL.com Game Pass.
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