ASHBURN, Va. -- Some notes and analysis on the Washington Redskins entering Thursday's game against the New York Giants:
Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland faced Odell Beckham Jr. a few times when the teams played in New York last season. Beckham finished with 12 catches for 143 yards, though not all came against Breeland. The hidden yardage was big, too, as Breeland was called once for taunting against Beckham and twice for pass interference (totaling 40 yards). Here's what Breeland says now is the key to slowing Beckham: "Just be physical. That plays into my game and he has trouble at the line and that's something I do good at. That's what I'm focused on."
Last week the Redskins' backs braced for a variety of pressures against the St. Louis Rams that never really came. This week, they know they'll face a healthy amount of blitzes as well. The Giants have blitzed 37 times in two games, fourth most in the NFL (the Redskins are last with eight). "They send quite a bit," Redskins running back Chris Thompson said. "But they're not as confusing as the things St. Louis has done. But their linebackers are athletic guys and they love to bull rush so I've got to be prepared for that."
New York could have won its first two games, blowing double-digit leads in losses to the Dallas Cowboys and then at home to the Atlanta Falcons. So while the Giants are 0-2, the Redskins know not to feel overconfident. "They're definitely desperate," Redskins corner DeAngelo Hall said. "This team could easily be 2-0, probably should be. I got a chance to watch both games and if I hadn't known the outcome of the game, there's no way you could have told me in the fourth quarter with a couple minutes left that they wouldn't win. We're going to face a good team. This is a team that's had a lock on the division for a long time. It'll be a battle for us."
A little more on the Redskins' emphasis on the run. They continue to do it no matter the situation, running on obvious passing downs. The Redskins are averaging 4.54 yards per first-down run, which ranks 10th in the league. But they're fifth in rushing overall at 4.64 yards per run. "Anytime you run on a pass down or pass on a run down, there's an element of surprise," left tackle Trent Williams said. "But it starts with the attitude of, 'We won't be denied.'"
From the other side: Giants quarterback Eli Manning has noticed a difference in the Redskins' defense now that they're relying more on four-man pressures. The Redskins have blitzed an NFL-low eight times, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. "Their defensive front is impressive," Manning said. "Making it tough, they're playing zone coverage behind it, making you hold the ball and hit guys in second windows to get open and their defensive line's not letting quarterbacks do that. So they've been impressive."
Along those lines, the Redskins have allowed 9.64 yards per catch -- and they're tied for second in yards per catch by receivers at 8.81. Compare that to a 14.35-yard average by receivers last season and 13.92 in 2013. The Redskins face an explosive receiver in Beckham and have more tests ahead (Atlanta's Julio Jones, the Jets' Brandon Marshall, Tampa Bay's Mike Evans in the ensuing four games). But, thus far, they've done a solid job in part because they're devoting more to coverage and playing sound when they do. Thursday also represents the first time the Redskins' top three corners -- Hall, Breeland and Chris Culliver -- will play together in a game this season, including the preseason.
Here is another benefit from that emphasis on playing coverage: The Redskins rank fourth in the NFL in yards per play at 4.64. Last year, they ranked 27th at 5.85 yards per play. There's a long way to go before anyone can say the defense is at a certain level, but the start is a good one. It helps that they've played an NFL-low 101 snaps in the first two games. But it's not as if being on the field for too many snaps was an issue last year; the Redskins played 976 snaps defensively, only three teams faced fewer. Rather, it was what happened on those plays that hurt.
Former Redskins safety Brandon Meriweather, signed in August, is starting at safety for the Giants -- a fact that even Hall forgot until he was reminded earlier this week. Multiple opposing coaches have pointed out that he has played well in the first two games. Giants coach Tom Coughlin said, "He's come in here and he's done a good job. He's been a good communicator in the secondary. He's settled people down. He's got the coverage communications handled and we've got a young safety back there with him and he's done a good job with him as well."