What Jordan Reed's Return Means for Washington Redskins Offense
In a season defined more by disappointment than encouragement, the Washington Redskins received a huge positive when Jordan Reed returned to the lineup in Week 13.
His return prompted nine catches for 123 yards against the Indianapolis Colts. Reed gave this offense something it's been missing. Namely, a major threat over the middle in the passing game.
Armed with that threat, head coach Jay Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay schemed ways to isolate Reed against linebackers. This maximized the big-play capability he added to the intermediate passing game.
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Reed's talent for the big play is defined by three core characteristics: Excellent hands, speed and multiple moves out of his break. When those three combine, Reed is always good for a huge gain.
He was during the third quarter in Indianapolis. The play began with Reed working as an in-line tight end. This is an unusual alignment for him, as he's often moved across formations:
His route contained three different moves. It began as an in-breaking pattern.
Reed initially slanted to the inside before making an outward cut. He then broke back over the middle before faking another outside move to elude the middle linebacker:
That last move put Reed in space on a crossing pattern over the middle:
Once he gets the ball in his hands Reed is always a major threat. He was just that here, turning upfield and hurdling over a would-be tackler to complete a 29-yard gain:
With a player this adept at separating himself from coverage and so dangerous after the catch, McVay and Gruden can create favorable matchups every time Reed is isolated against second-level defenders.
A great example came in the second quarter. The Redskins cleverly manipulated their formation to match Reed against inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman.
The start of that process involved spreading the Colts out. That meant doubling up on one side of the defense by aligning wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon together:
The Colts responded by shifting the strength of their coverage that way. Cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Darius Butler played press underneath with the free safety hovering behind them.
On the other side, running back Roy Helu Jr. was split out and drew the attention of Greg Toler. With Reed in the slot, the Colts had to put Freeman over him (yellow circle).
Reed would run a quick slant to wrong-foot Freeman:
One of the best things about this play was how quickly quarterback Colt McCoy spotted the mismatch:
That's one of the main advantages Reed provides this offense. He gives whomever plays under center an obviously favorable mathcup and a quick read to make under pressure.
Reed wasted no time breaking loose from Freeman. He made a nice catch over the middle while the linebacker was still trailing in his wake:
Then it was down to Reed to use his now-trademark sharp cuts and agility to tack on a few extra yards after making the catch. He soon completed a 16-yard gain:
Offering a quarterback a favorable matchup is not the only advantage Reed brings to Washington's passing game. He's also an excellent remedy against the blitz.
He became a hot read to exploit an Indianapolis overload pressure. The Colts sent nickelback Butler and outside linebacker Erik Walden off the same side:
Reed quickly worked behind the blitz on an out-and-up route into the voided middle:
He then made the catch and was tackled by the free safety after a 16-yard gain:
Given the struggles of Washington's offensive line maintaining adequate protection and quarterbacks holding onto the ball too long, Reed's ability to quickly get behind pressure is invaluable.
Moving personnel around helps to get Reed free against linebackers. The same thing can be achieved by concepts.
In the fourth quarter, Washington used three vertical routes to create space over the middle for Reed on a curl route:
The formation was interesting because the Redskins aligned Santana Moss and Garcon on the same side. On the other side, Andre Roberts split out wide, while Reed took up another classic, in-line position.
The Colts were showing an eight-man front and playing press underneath with a single-high free safety. The three vertical routes on the outside froze the deep safety:
That left Reed isolated against rookie Jonathan Newsome, a pass-rushing outside linebacker. That's like hitting the matchup jackpot.
As he often does, Reed used moves on top of moves to lose his covering defender. First, he took an inside break:
Then Reed suddenly switched gears to shift to the outside. This left Newsome completely turned around and wrong-footed:
With inside leverage, Reed was able to catch the pass in front of Newsome. This allowed him to receive the ball on the run:
With the ball in his hands, Reed still managed to gain extra yards even amid a trio of tacklers. The result was a 30-yard gain:
Reed's return has brought balance to the passing game. It was a passing attack previously defined by vertical strikes on the outside.
Now the Redskins have an over-the-middle dimension defenses can't ignore. That puts covering defenders, particularly safeties, in a bind.
One play after Reed's 29-yard grab in the third quarter, Jackson hauled in a 42-yard scoring pass. He was isolated on the outside because safety LaRon Landry rotated into the middle toward tight end Niles Paul. The residue of Reed's production and threat was clearly visible in Landry's actions.
Reed can take advantage of the inside space afforded by coverage schemes naturally geared to favor the outside against Jackson and Garcon. But in a symbiotic way, Reed's proficiency will also create opportunities to exploit single coverage for Washington's ultra-talented outside receivers.
Perhaps more importantly, Reed can act as a quick read for McCoy. The latter's command of the offense, evidenced by his ability to move people around and shift formations in Indianapolis, is one more reason why Gruden will feel vindicated for benching Robert Griffin III.
But McCoy still plays behind the same offensive line that routinely crumbled in front of 2012's second overall pick. He'll need a player with a knack for getting open who will allow him to get rid of the ball in a hurry.
Combine that with Reed's ability to be a mismatch against linebackers and safeties, and the young tight end is fast becoming the key figure in the Washington passing game. Now if he could only stay healthy, the Redskins would have genuine 1,000-yard potential from the position.
All screen shots courtesy of Fox Sports and NFL.com Game Pass.
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