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Washington Football Team Reality Checks – Week 4, 2020

By Tim Payne

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: The helmet of Keith Ismael #60 of the Washington Football Team is shown before their game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on September 13, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: The helmet of Keith Ismael #60 of the Washington Football Team is shown before their game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on September 13, 2020 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals runs with the football against free safety Troy Apke #30 and cornerback Fabian Moreau #25 of the Washington Football Team during the first half of the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Washington Football Team 30-15. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals runs with the football against free safety Troy Apke #30 and cornerback Fabian Moreau #25 of the Washington Football Team during the first half of the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Washington Football Team 30-15. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Reality Is, the defense has a unique opportunity.

Playing Lamar Jackson two weeks after struggling to contain Kyler Murray is a rare opportunity to correct mistakes in handling a very specific style of player.

Against Arizona, the Washington defensive line was way too conservative in their approach to Kyler Murray, looking to contain him, rather than to hit him. In addition, on all run-action pass plays and run-pass options, they attacked the running backs, rather than the quarterback.

That was a mistake, given the fact that Murray is, by far, the most dangerous runner in the Arizona backfield. The same is true for Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. Washington should have a totally different approach defensively this week.

My Prediction: Del Rio will have a more aggressive approach, instructing his front seven to hit Jackson at every opportunity and trust the back end of the defense to come up and make a tackle if he breaks contain or hands the ball off to a running back.

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