Pierre Thomas Has Already Added Useful Skills to Washington Redskins Offense
The Washington Redskins aren't lacking for difference-makers on offense as they head into the playoffs. Wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon along with tight end Jordan Reed are all game-changers.
But the Redskins most important postseason weapon may turn out to be the 31-year-old running back signed off the league's scrap heap a few weeks ago—ostensibly to provide depth.
Pierre Thomas hasn't been at Redskins Park long, but he has already added some very useful skills to Washington's offense. Specifically, he's brought some veteran savvy and natural toughness to the running game. But his greatest value has come as a receiver who quarterback Kirk Cousins can trust and defenses struggle to cover.
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Thomas showed off all of those skills in Week 16's NFC East-sealing road win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
The ex-New Orleans Saints Super Bowl winner kept the Eagles defense off balance in both phases of the game, as Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post detailed: "In just his third game with the team, the nine-year veteran was the most productive player out of the backfield. Thomas finished with 89 total yards, averaging a little more that eight yards per touch on four carries and seven receptions."
Most of his yards came on a decisive drive that bridged the end of the third quarter and the start of the final period. Thomas got the call on five plays, three runs and two catches. His best gains brilliantly illustrated the veteran's value.
A Smart Runner
With injured rookie Matt Jones on the sidelines and Alfred Morris a pedestrian, Washington's running game was largely static in Philadelphia. The ground attack needed a spark to help control the clock and move the chains late in the game.
Fortunately Thomas provided one, thanks to his sharp decisions in the backfield. Those smarts showed up on a nine-yard gain on 1st-and-10 to start the quarter.
The Redskins planned to attack Philly with their own version of the power sweep. Wideouts Ryan Grant and Jamison Crowder were motioned close to the line. They would block down (blue arrows), while pulling linemen moved out into space off tackle:
With the receivers blocking down, center Josh LeRibeus and right tackle Morgan Moses pulled out into space. So did Tom Compton, an extra tackle who saw the field often against the Eagles:
It's become common for teams to use wide receivers this way in the running game. The Arizona Cardinals base most of their ground attack on the motion and tight alignments of wideouts who can block. It's something Washington can adopt more often.
Compton, Moses and LeRibeus began to set their blocks. The former pair sealed the edge:
Thomas now had a choice: He could press the ball into one of two cutback lanes or he could continue attacking the edge, off tackle:
Thomas dipped to fake a cut inside:
Before wisely continuing to press the edge:
He finished the play by lowering his shoulder to make a hapless defensive back pay and complete a very solid gain.
What stood out about this play was how Thomas didn't get cute with it. He let his blocks develop and set. Once they had, he trusted linemen to maintain their blocks and give him the edge. The play was designed for off-tackle running, so that's what Thomas accomplished. He did what the game asked of him.
He repeated the trick on another nine-yard scamper on the same drive. This time the Redskins were setting up their familiar zone-stretch run.
Washington deployed a three-tight-end set with Reed next to left tackle Trent Williams, while Alex Smith and Compton were stacked on the right side:
Thomas would press the play to the right and cut back toward the middle.
First, Washington set its blocks to own the line of scrimmage. The extra numbers provided by the multiple-tight-end set made it easier to put hats on second-level defenders. Both Smith and Reed quickly released to absorb the linebackers and defensive backs:
Notice also how LeRibeus and left guard Spencer Long had locked up a double-team in the middle. One of them would be able to break off to engulf a linebacker, a staple of zone-blocking schemes.
With those blocks set, Thomas planted his foot and started to make his cut:
He then cut it back behind Long who had shifted right as part of the team's stretch blocking. LeRibeus had broken away from the double-team to nullify inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks and give Thomas an open lane to exploit:
Thomas was left to lower his head and power through to finish another productive and bruising carry:
Again, Thomas did everything the play demanded of him. Specifically, he made a quick and decisive decision about when to make his cut. Speed of thought is as important as vision and acceleration in zone running. Morris hasn't always been decisive this season, but in this case Thomas was—and it led to a big gain.
Aside from the way he made smart choices and trusted his blocking, it was also noticeable how well Thomas finished his runs. There was always a thump for the first would-be tackler and a willingness to force an extra yard out of the play.
Thomas has always been a hard-nosed runner, but he's also a highly capable receiver. That skill was just as relevant on this drive.
A Natural Mismatch in Coverage
One of the best attributes a skilled pass-catching running back offers is the ability to be a mismatch against any type of coverage. Whether it's zone or man, a cerebral backfield receiver will always find a way to make a play.
Thomas did exactly that on two crucial fourth-quarter grabs. The first was a nine-yard reception on 2nd-and-9 that showed how easily he can exploit zone coverage.
As the lone back in a shotgun set, his focus was middle linebackers Kendricks and Kiko Alonso:
Thomas would run a simple circle pattern out of the backfield to target the void between both linebackers:
As soon as Kendricks and Alonso made their zone drops, Thomas headed for the open space:
Once there, he simply sat down in the zone to give Cousins a very easy target:
With the ball in his hands, Thomas split the zone for nine yards so simply accrued that it was like stealing from the defense:
This is what smart running backs can do for a passing game. A pass-catcher as seasoned as Thomas understands coverage. He knows how to read defenses and where the weak spots will be. Those are invaluable traits that can come to the rescue of a quarterback under pressure or one who sees his primary reads covered.
Even if a defense goes with man coverage, a player like Thomas can still take advantage. He did so on a vital 14-yard catch-and-run to keep alive the drive on 2nd-and-11.
Alonso was tasked with taking the running back in man coverage if Thomas released on a pass pattern:
Thomas did and was soon past Alonso in a flash:
With Alonso unable to keep up and left hopelessly trailing, Thomas made a nice catch on the run:
Once again, Thomas showed why he's a tough assignment to tackle in the open field. A strong stiff-arm held off Alonso to help complete the 14-yard gain:
Any time a defense matches up a linebacker one-on-one against Thomas, it's a recipe for disaster for the opponent as well as a quick route to easy yards for Cousins and Co.
Thomas had already shown his chops as a mismatch on his lone contribution before the Philly game. It came on a 12-yard grab on the road against the Chicago Bears in Week 14.
The Bears had linebacker Jonathan Anderson ready to pick up Thomas if he left the backfield:
But Thomas is too quick, agile and savvy for most linebackers to adequately cover. He beat the defender with a subtle double move.
First, he faked a cut outside to get Anderson leaning the wrong way:
Next, Thomas suddenly changed direction to cut across the linebacker's face:
Now he was open to make a typically decisive grab:
Thomas' ability to get open against any type of coverage should become a bigger part of the playbook for Washington heading into the postseason. He's already struck up a rapport with Cousins, as Mike Jones of the Washington Post noted during the game against the Eagles:
Those seven grabs came off eight targets, according to ESPN.com, a sign of the efficiency of this partnership. Getting Thomas involved more often can help Cousins avoid the mistakes that have plagued him so often in the past. That will be especially relevant in playoff football when defenses are always tougher.
But the onus is on Cousins to understand what he has in Thomas and utilize him more often. His failure to do so led to some missed opportunities against the Eagles, including giving up a sack, per Jones:
Speaking of the playoffs, Thomas could prove a vital weapon if Washington draws the daunting task of hosting the Seattle Seahawks, which is still a possibility, according to ESPN.com's John Keim.
If it is the Seahawks, head coach Jay Gruden and his staff should roll the film from last season's Super Bowl and see how the New England Patriots exploited Seattle's defense with a pass-catching running back.
ESPN's Matt Bowen noted how targeting underneath receivers, including running backs in the flat, routinely undid the Seahawks:
As Bowen pointed out, premier backfield pass-catcher Shane Vereen was the chief beneficiary of the scheme:
Not much has changed for the Seattle defense, particularly in coverage, under the stewardship of first-year coordinator Kris Richard. So Thomas would be a matchup advantage in this potential encounter.
Most of all, though, Thomas has given Washington's offense a clutch performer who can be counted on in key moments. His best plays against the Eagles led to the Redskins' final touchdown, a score that iced the game and secured the division title.
He also made a 15-yard catch on 3rd-and-14 in the third quarter to set up Chris Thompson's touchdown reception. Keim described Thomas' critical play: "Good play design: Thomas sneaked out to the left flat as Reed ran a shallow crosser. That prevented Alonso from taking a better angle to the route and left Thomas open."
Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay need to come up with more designs like this.
Cousins was enamored with how Thomas delivered on football's money down, according to Tesfatsion: "Some of the plays he made were third-down catches that were crucial to keep drives alive that we turned into points."
Gruden echoed the sentiment: "It's his history, his DNA. He's made big plays throughout his career on third down and when you need him, and we're lucky to get him."
That sums it up well. Thomas has given the Redskins a very useful, multipurpose weapon they must employ more.
He can play a critical role this postseason.
All screen shots via CBS Sports, Fox Sports, NFL Network and NFL.com Game Pass.
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