Washington Redskins: Shanahan’s Predicament — Game-Planning Seattle’s Cornerbacks

Of the tough games that the Washington Redskins have played this season, the upcoming playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks might just present the biggest challenge — in at least one area. Seattle’s secondary has a couple of guys on it that will present a huge test for Washington’s offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. He will have his work cut out for him designing a game-plan to move the ball against this defense and, in particular, its secondary.

Of course, this is what the NFL playoffs are all about… the best playing the best. This wildcard game should be one for the ages.

With the Seahawks across the United States from the Redskins and in a different division, I’ve only been watching them peripherally up until this last month. The more I watched, the more concerned I became as the Redskins continued to win and the possibility of playing Seattle at some point came into focus. Into my vision swam cornerbacks Brandon Browner (6’4”, 221 lbs.) and Richard Sherman (6’3”, 195 lbs.). These two guys are BIG. And they are physical. Heck, forget about a lowly hawk… Browner has the wing-span of a bald eagle. Sherman has eight interceptions this season and two touchdowns. Browner, who will be back with the Seahawks Sunday after serving a four-game suspension, has three interceptions in his twelve games and they both have three forced fumbles.

It should be noted that, not only does Seattle have their own version of the pistol/zone-read offense that its defense has to face daily in practice, it has played other teams with offenses similar to Washington’s. Battling the Redskins’ offensive scheme will be nothing new to them. Sherman and Browner are a match-up nightmare for wide outs that aren’t big and Shanahan has to find a way to give his receivers and tight ends some sort of edge in the passing game.

The Seahawks’ two cornerbacks can cover an entire sideline by themselves. This means that the Redskins protecting the trenches will be paramount. Seattle’s defensive line (D-end Red Bryant and D-tackle Brandon Mebane come to mind) can stuff the run and collapse the pocket in its own right.  This will be even easier because of Browner and Sherman’s presence in the secondary. They are good enough at both zone and one-on-one coverage that the defensive line, the safeties and the linebackers can concentrate on playing up in the box… they rarely have to stay back to help the corners. That will affect what running back Alfred Morris and quarterback Robert Griffin, III can do in the run game. Look for Griffin to spread the ball around to keep the Seattle defense on their toes. I wouldn’t be surprised if every single player in a receiving skill position was targeted in this game but wide out Pierre Garçon will be especially important with his size and aggressiveness.

Granted, Shanahan has done a stellar job of confusing defenses throughout the season and he is going to have to get his brain cells smoking to think of ways to keep this physical Seahawk defense off-guard.

Whatever their coverage, Seattle will still have to stop RGIII and that’s a tall order. If the Redskins’ rookie QB is efficient and accurate in his passing, Washington will move the ball. But, after seeing what Seattle’s defense has done to several good teams this season, it’s clear that the Redskins’ offense will have to play perfect football with a perfect game-plan… one that will use Griffin’s talents but also keep him safe. That is also a tall order… especially in light of his knee injury.

The offensive line will have to battle Seattle’s blitzes often and keeping the pocket intact for Griffin will be important. When (no “if” here… they’ll do it at some point) any Redskins offensive player does get up the field with the ball, whether it be a pass or run; tight ends and wide receivers — or O-linemen having gotten to the second level — will have to block as well as they ever have.

Thank God for small blessings. At least the game is at home. The 12th man will have to be at the top of its game as well as the Washington Redskins’ offense, defense and special teams. If nothing else, maybe the crowd noise can help battle that aggressive Seattle defense.

Hail.

 

Diane Chesebrough is Editor-in-Chief, writer and photographer for SportsJourney Broadcast Network. Accredited media with the NFL, she has been a feature writer for several national magazines/periodicals. Follower her on Twitter: @DiChesebrough