Scouting the Saints 2015 Opponents: Week 10 vs. Redskins

The Saints face Jay Gruden, whatever QB he will go with, and the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field on Sunday, November 15th at 1:00pm - Let’s do some breakdowns ahead of the game to see what the Saints are marching into.

Series Matchup All-Time

(Full list here, via The Football Database)

Saints 6 - Giants 16

Last 5 Games

(2012-2013)  Redskins 40 - Saints 32

(2009-2010) Saints 33 - Redskins 30

(2008-2009) Saints 24 - Redskins 29

(2006-2007) Redskins 13 - Saints 10

(2003-2004) Saints 24 - Redskins 20

The most notable win in the series in recent memory (and ever, for that matter) was the Saints improbable comeback win in Landover in 2009 to extend the undefeated season to 13-0 en route to the Super Bowl that year and which also precipitated the creation of the now legendary "Unknown Who Dat"

Also of note - Aaron Brooks has defeated the Redskins twice as many times as Brees.

2014-2015 Redskins Totals

(Saints #1 total offense, #31 total defense according to ESPN)

Total Offense #13

Passing/YPG #11

Rushing/YPG #29

Total Defense #20

Passing/YPG #20

Rushing/YPG #12

Projected Depth Charts

Key Redskins

Offense

Trent Williams (3 x Pro Bowl): TWill just got paid and is currently the highest paid tackle in history. The bright spot on an otherwise uninspiring offensive line, Williams has been voted to the Pro Bowl the last three seasons and remains one of the league's elite tackles. Coupled with rookie guard Brandon Scherff, the Redskins hope to buoy their ground attack and protect whomever is calling signals for them at this point in the season.

Alfred Morris (2 x Pro Bowl, 1 x ST All Pro): Through 3 years in the league, the Florida Atlantic standout has not missed a game and has not logged less than 1,000 yards, 265 attempts, and 7 TDs (his rookie year he beasted with 335-1,613-13). For some reason, though, Morris doesn't seem to get the respect of his contemporaries (perhaps owing to his peak 4.8 YPG in 2012). He's a solid running back and the Saints front will need to be on point to contain him, especially if Scherff helps shore up the run as expected.

Defense

Ryan Kerrigan (1 x Pro Bowl): The 5th year pro out of Purdue, Kerrigan (or as I like to refer to him, buffed Seth MacFarlane) was PFF's 5th-ranked 3-4 OLB in 2014 and was ranked 4th in pass rush behind only Justin Houston, Elvis Dumervil, and Pernell McPhee. Pairing Kerrigan with Galette would have seen a strong flanking pass rush duo, however as we know, Junior is out for the season with a torn achilles. Brees will need to be on alert for the Redskins ZBS and on the lookout for any fellow Purdue alums roaming around at the second level.

Chris Culliver: Culliver came over from the 49ers in the offseason as a hot-ticket free agent acquisition to help bolster the 'Skins secondary. Culliver, known perhaps more for a litany of off field transgressions, missed the 2013 season with an ACL tear sustained during training camp but returned in 2014 and impressed with 14 passes defensed, 4 interceptions, and a fumble forced across 14 games. I expect he'll be asked to up across Brandin Cooks, an unenviable task.

Stephen Paea: The New Zealand native and other hot ticket free agent get and former Oregon State Beaver, Paea spent his first 4 seasons with the Chicago Bears. PFF ranked Paea #11 among all DT/NTs in the NFL, and the #4 pass rusher at the position (ahead of Suh and Aaron Donald). He's pretty good. That is all.

TL;DR

The Redskins, pretty much objectively the worst team in the NFC East this season, made a few splashes in free agency between Paea and Culliver, and also in getting NT Terrance "Pot Roast" Knighton from Denver, which should help bolster an already strong run defense Their QB situation, as alluded to thrice above, is not ideal, however DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon remain respectable targets. Morris is solid and will see even more touches in the absence of Roy Helu, and if Jordan Reed can stay healthy, he's supposedly a respectable TE. Ingram will have his work cut out for him running between the tackles, so I expect a heavy dose of a hopefully healthy combo of Spiller and KRob and plenty Cooks action. We eked out a close one in 2009, but I expect a greater margin of victory in Maryland this time around.