Imagine, if you will, two networks fighting over rights to cover a WFT game (with apologies to Rod Serling.) It is not a fiction show although it was unthinkable a few weeks ago. CBS had the rights to the Washington vs. Baltimore game at 1 p.m. since before the season. The 1 p.m. slot is where the networks and League place the lower-rated games. At 4 pm the higher rated games are shown to larger audiences. Lo’ and behold the Burgundy and Gold upset the script by becoming something unimaginable; relevant. NBC runs the enormously successful Sunday Night Football franchise. It wanted to get this game from CBS and “flex” it into SNF. No dice. CBS will keep it, send it’s top crew of Jim Nance, Tony Romo, and Tracy Wolfson, and present it as the featured game of the week. Washington football has arrived nationally. If that feels disorienting, that’s ok. It’s enough of a sea state change to cause confusion.
Five Short Weeks
The unlikely journey the WFT has found itself on began in Tampa with a decided thud. It wasn’t that the team looked awful. Instead it simply looked pedestrian. Not everyone bought the window dressing, however. After the game Tampa Head Coach Todd Bowles said, “I’m glad we got to play them when we did. We were in a perfect Defense down at the goal line. They beat it. I said into the headphones that in a few weeks no one will want to play these guys. I’m done with them and I’m glad.” Four wins later Bowles sounds like he was prescient.
It Starts With a Vision
Bill Belichick breaks down the season into blocks; September is extended Training Camp; From October to Thanksgiving is about setting for a playoff run; After Thanksgiving is time to chase a title. We’re moving into the meat of the season here. What better way to start than with a game against one of the very best teams in the League? When asked about the Ravens Dan Quinn didn’t mince words. Dan said that the Ravens have set a standard for consistency. It starts with a vision for an identity. Everything they do works towards that identity. Their approach never wavers from year to year. “What they do there is what we’re trying to build here.”
“Work without vision is drudgery. Vision without work is dreaming. Work plus vision-this is destiny.”
― Gordon B. Hinckley
If you get a chance to hear Dan Quinn on a radio interview, do it. He’s much more expansive than during his pressers. It’s a thing with Head football coaches. Years ago when Bill Belichick was the Defensive Coordinator for the New York Jets he would do a weekly spot with Joe Beningo on the overnight show at WFAN. For some of us that went to work at frightfully early hours it was a treat. He was funny, insightful, and very engaging. The contrast to the monotone, deadpan, and taciturn act at the podium as a Head Coach was remarkable. Quinn isn’t that extreme. But, the same dynamics are at work.
He expounds often on “Identity.” “This is who we want to be.” He wants hustle, physicality, and confidence. Football is about imparting your will onto the opposition. It’s impossible to do without a cohesive concept of the team. The Steelers and Ravens are the gold standard for this. You know what you’re getting regardless of what numbers are on the uniform. Quinn’s stated vision is for the WFT to join that group. “Scarface” in the old Dick Tracy series used to say, “You gotta’ have a plan. A man without a plan is not a man.” Dan Quinn got the memo.
Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler
Last week’s game was a lot of fun, unless you were a Cleveland fan. The late Ken Beatrice often said that the success or failure of any organization starts at the top. While not always true, it certainly holds in the vast majority of cases. For Cleveland there are good football people, with a fine roster caught in a bear trap that is the Deshaun Watson contract. In a lot of respects it is painful to watch. The Haslems face none of the turpitude issues Dan Snyder did. But, the operation and results are distressingly similar. Kevin Stefanski is an excellent coach.
If you watched the game Greg Olsen said repeatedly that the team should be running 12 personnel (1 running back and 2 tight ends) under center to establish the run and play action. Joe Flacco ran that Offense to the playoffs last year. But, no. They have Watson in shotgun or pistol because he doesn’t like to be under center. It doesn’t work. Washington’s Defense played much better last week. Watson helped the cause by missing open receivers all day.
At some point the Cleveland mess will resolve itself. Four years from now when the WFT travels to the shores of Lake Erie things will be different. Although the Browns may still be carrying damage from the salary cap hell they made for themselves.
The Blackbirds
With the Ravens in the AFC there is a certain lack of familiarity with them in the WFT fanbase. You may think of them as the Ray Lewis Defensive juggernaut that won a Super Bowl with the scarcely adequate Trent Dilfer as the QB1. It was a case of Jekyll and Hyde as the Defense won only asking the Offense not to lose. Twenty-four years later and we have a mirror image. The Ravens Offense is rated #1. On the other hand the Defense is #19 overall. But, there’s much more to that story. Baltimore’s Rushing Defense is #1 allowing only 60-yards per game. Meanwhile the Passing Defense is only one spot up from the basement at #31. They allow some 80-yards more per game than Washington’s Defense. Brian Robinson is questionable for this game. One would think the game plan would call for lots of play action passes.
Offensively the Ravens are the #1 team in the League in Total Offense. Washington is #4. In all but one statistical category the two teams are pretty close and near the top of the rankings. The Ravens win all but one: Scoring. Washington is the only team in the League AVERAGING over 30-points per game. If that made your head spin you aren’t alone. The WFT scored over 30-points 3 times all of last season. They have done that for each of the last three weeks. One big disparity is Red Zone conversions. Baltimore is second in the League at 75%. Washington is 15th at 56%. Even though they are ranked #1 and #2 in rushing Baltimore runs for 33 more yards per game. The reason for that is some guy named Derrick Henry.
Henry is averaging 114 yards per game. People mistakenly think that he’s strictly a battering ram between-the-tackles runner. Not so. He’s got plenty of speed to get around the corner. If he gets through to the second level, watch out! On his long runs it’s a common sight to see speedy Defensive Backs failing to close ground on him. On his season-long 87-yard run against Buffalo he was clocked at 21.96 mph. It’s nearly top-ten in speed for the entire League. And, it’s worth noting that was in full football armor as opposed to a tank and shorts for a 40-yard timing. Containing Henry is going to be a key. But, on any handoff he can crank out a big game-changing run.
Baltimore uses mostly the 12 personnel grouping. They have good tight ends led by Mark Andrews. But, last week they went to 13 personnel on more than one occasion. All three of them can catch. It’s an unusual setup. It may be the start of a trend, however. Last week Kansas City ran plays in 14 personnel…and threw the ball. The game is ever changing. The reaction from the Defenses is to load the “Box” with 8 or 9 players daring the Offense to throw. It’s another wrinkle for the Burgundy and Gold Defense to overcome.
The Marquee Matchup
The Quarterbacks have not been discussed here yet. The volume of talk about the QB matchup has drowned out most of the rest of the game. There’s a two-time League MVP going against a Rookie with five starts to his name. They both can run. They both can throw. There’s a difference in running styles: Lamar Jackson will lower a shoulder trying to run a defender over. Daniels tried that once. Got the wind knocked out of him. And, he hasn’t done it since. Jackson’s throwing has improved. He ranks 6th in Total Quarterback Rating while Jayden Daniels sits at 3rd. But, it says here Daniels throws a better deep ball. Don’t think of this as Apples vs Oranges. These are two gold-plated apples, just different varieties.
Washington is the featured game of Week Six. The entire League is paying attention. Not even the late, great Rod Serling could have conjured up that storyline a fortnight ago.
Sunday, October 13
Featured Game 1: Washington at Baltimore
CBS/Paramount+ 1 p.m.
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson
ESPN Radio: Steve Levy, Sal Paolantonio
