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Redskins Halftime Takeaways: Defense, run game carrying team

By Jacob Camenker

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins leaps for the pylon to score a touchdown over Maurice Alexander #31 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins leaps for the pylon to score a touchdown over Maurice Alexander #31 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins leaps for the pylon to score a touchdown over Maurice Alexander #31 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Chris Thompson #25 of the Washington Redskins leaps for the pylon to score a touchdown over Maurice Alexander #31 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

The Washington Redskins are leading the Los Angeles Rams 20-10 at halftime. Their lead is largely thanks to their defense and running game.

It’s amazing how quickly things can change in the course of one offseason. During the 2016 NFL season, the Redskins were a team with an extremely strong passing game but no defense. They were a playoff contender, but didn’t quite have the personnel to matchup with other teams on defense. In 2017, it is appearing to be the opposite.

So far in the 2017 season, the team’s defense has been strong. Though they allowed 30 points to the Eagles in Week 1, the number was misleading because of a late fumble recovery touchdown that the team suffered. They really limited the team that game, and it has carried over to the second contest.

Defense

Against the Rams, things were clicking on all cylinders at the beginning. Zach Brown been the key for the team, as he has been flying all over the field. Brown has been a glue player who seems to have solidified the team’s front seven. He is helping limit the Rams run offense and Jared Goff is having some issues as a result.

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Additionally, the team’s secondary is doing a good job of shutting down the Redskins receivers. Josh Norman and Bashaud Breeland look more like a duo of No. 1 corners than they did last season. Breeland always had talent, but he just didn’t have a good 2016 season. But against the Rams, he has done a good job of helping to limit Sammy Watkins, Cooper Kupp, and Tavon Austin. If he continues to play like this, the team should have a strong performance in the second half.

The only big mistakes by the team came on play where Gerald Everett got open on a coverage bust. Mason Foster jumped a short route instead of staying with Everett, and it got the Rams deep into the red zone. They would later score. Another play like this happened on a Todd Gurley screen that saw the Redskins all flow away from the ball. It was just a well designed play that the Redskins bit on.

Unfortunately, the Redskins had a bunch of injuries that caused them to struggle defensively at the end of the half. Both Norman, Brown, and Foster were off the field at times, and without them, the team was worse off. That’s really why the Rams were able to score a couple times. The defense played well, but just a few big plays cost them.

One of the most encouraging moments for the defense came when Norman and Terrell McClain combined to force and recover a fumble nearby the Rams red zone. Norman just forced the ball out of Todd Gurley’s hands, and McClain fell on it. The team needs to be opportunistic with turnovers, and that was a great moment for them as they were able to extend their 10-0 lead by another field goal.

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