Sacks aren’t coming during Ryan Kerrigan’s slow start, but Redskins happy with his play
|
Version 0 of 1. Ryan Kerrigan came as close to a quarterback as a linebacker could come without registering a sack during two strong rushes on the Philadelphia Eagles’ Sam Bradford in Sunday’s 23-20 Redskins victory at FedEx Field. Twice during the first three quarters of the game, Kerrigan had Bradford at arm’s length, and he actually got his hands on the quarterback on the second rush. But each time, Kerrigan failed to seal the deal. On the second miss, when Kerrigan came off the left edge unblocked, Bradford — not usually known for elusiveness — managed to slip away and fire a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide-open tight end Brent Celek to tie the score at 13. “Those are frustrating ones because you’re untouched, and you’ve got to make the layup,” Kerrigan lamented days later. “It’s like being on a fast break and then blowing it.” Those plays continued both the frustrations that Kerrigan had experienced in the first three games of the regular season and the lessons in patience that he endured during the preseason. Relatively quiet during that start, Kerrigan entered Sunday’s game against Philadelphia with just half a sack and three hits on the quarterback. The fifth-year veteran had hoped for a better opening to the season after signing a five-year, $57.5 million contract extension. [Washington’s defense among the best early in season] But team doctors held Kerrigan in check during the preseason, instructing the Redskins to hold him out for all four games to give his left knee additional time to strengthen following arthroscopic surgery in May. So while teammates used regulated snaps in those exhibition games to ready themselves for the regular season, Kerrigan had to settle for relying on practices. Kerrigan suited up for pregame warmups for the final preseason game, but that’s as close to game action as he came. Coaches, however, weren’t concerned: The body of work Kerrigan had produced in his five previous seasons and in practices gave them confidence that the linebacker would be ready by the start of the season. “Ryan’s played a ton of football. I still stand pretty firm on the decision the medical staff made on him not playing in the preseason,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said Thursday. “I don’t know how much Ryan Kerrigan’s going to get out of playing in the preseason still. I still feel good with that.” Despite his eagerness to play, Kerrigan understood that sitting out allowed him to open the season pain-free, and he has since been active for a defense that during the first quarter of the season ranked among the league leaders. The pass-rushing eruption has yet to come, but Kerrigan has reminded himself that patience and focus would be necessary. For some players, a large, freshly signed large contract could serve as an added source of pressure. Although he expressed a desire at the time of his signing to live up to every penny of the deal, Kerrigan said he hasn’t let the contract put more weight on his shoulders. “You try not to,” he said. “You don’t want to go out there thinking, ‘Oh, man. I’ve got to show them all on this play.’ It’s just the opposite if you don’t make the play. I’m just trying to block it all out and make the play.” Kerrigan also has tried to avoid pressing, playing out of control or overthinking his approaches. “You’ve just got to beat the guy across from you,” he explained. “I think at times we make it more than it is, but it’s just beating the guy across from you, getting to the quarterback and getting him down.” Aware that beating the guy across from him wasn’t the problematic part of that sequence, Kerrigan simply kept working and eventually achieved his breakthrough — at the best possible time. With Washington holding a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter and the Eagles facing third and 10 from their own 20, Kerrigan came off the right edge, blew through a chip block from tight end Zach Ertz, then dipped by the block attempt of replacement tackle Matt Tobin while turning the corner. He reached out and grabbed Bradford from behind with his right hand and yanked him to the ground. [Against Kelly, Barry’s unit looked like the one led by a genius] On the ensuing fourth and 16, a desperate Philadelphia attempted a series of laterals that culminated in the game-ending fumble and a 2-2 start. “I was happy I didn’t go in the tank after [the missed sacks] because it could’ve been easy after the second one,” Kerrigan said. Kerrigan hopes that sack helps get things rolling. Sacks come in bunches, players say. And his coaches aren’t concerned. “He hasn’t gotten the numbers that some other guys have around the league,” Coach Jay Gruden said, “but I think he’s got the disruption, and that’s half the battle as far as making the quarterback step up. . . . “I promise you that Ryan wants more, and we want more from Ryan, but to say that he’s disappointing is not the case. We’re absolutely happy with the effort that he plays with and what he brings to our football team, which is a lot.” |