Ryan Kerrigan’s Five Sacks in Four Games

This is another in a series of posts using the “All-22” Coaches Film from NFL.com to help visualize certain plays and formations and analyze the situation.

Washington Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan entered the Redskins week five bye week tied for the NFC sack lead and showing signs that the third year pro bowler is transforming into a force on the defensive line. Kerrigan already has two multi-sack games this year against the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders.

The five sacks have Kerrigan on pace for his first double-digit sack total, and he is clearly the best Redskins player on the field so far this season (through four games). Below is a breakdown in pictures of just how Ryan Kerrigan has been terrorizing opposing defenses. (Click on the pictures for a larger view)

Sack #1

At the 10:16 mark in the second quarter of game one versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Ryan Kerrigan is lined up to the right side, the Eagles have right tackle Lane Johnson shifting to the right to try and protect against Kerrigan going to the outside as well as to keep an eye on London Fletcher who is lined upon Kerrigan’s left-hand side.

As the play starts to develop you can see that the inside lane that Ryan Kerrigan takes leaves Philly right tackle Lane Johnson out of position to make any move on him at all. Right guard Todd Herremans shifts just slightly to the left trying to make up for the Redskins defensive line slant movement leaving a clear path for Kerrigan to quarterback Mike Vick.

Sack #2

At the 9:54 mark in the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers Ryan Kerrigan is lined up to the left side of the defensive line and on the outside of Green Bay’s right tackle Don Barclay.

As the play starts to develop the Packers tackle pinches back and in, in response to this Kerrigan comes straight forward and to the right side of Barclay.

Once Packers running back James Starks leaves the pocket to run his route, Kerrigan has his man lined up even with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and drives Barclay backward directly into Rodgers. Once Kerrigan has driven his way into Rodgers, the sack comes with ease as Rodgers has nowhere to go and the offensive tackle has been beaten.

Sack #3

On the very next play, at the 9:15 in the first quarter, Kerrigan is this time lined up to the right side and over top Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari with linebacker Brian Orakpo lined up to the right. As the ball is hiked, Kerrigan dips and semi-shifts to the right, and then cuts directly back to the left and behind defensive tackle Barry Cofield.

The cut move to the left confuses the protection plan by the Green Bay offensive line as the guard and center both for a moment are blocking Barry Cofield. The momentary mix-up leads to Kerrigan being in position to make a play on Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Kerrigan is able to use his soon-to-be-famous hand swat and almost knock the ball out of Rodgers hands (the arrow is pointing at the ball).

As the play further develops Kerrigan regains control of the situation with his man and brings down Rodgers for his second straight sack of the game.

Sack #4

At the 2: 00-minute mark in the second quarter against the Oakland Raiders, Ryan Kerrigan lines up to the right side of the offensive line and finds himself in a position to be able to make a significant cut move inside of Raiders right tackle Tony Pashos. Which leaves him with a wide open lane pointed directly at Raiders quarterback Matt Flynn.

Flynn has nowhere to go but down, and he does.

Sack #5

At the 8:03 mark in the fourth quarter Kerrigan is again lined up over Raider tackle Tony Pashos. As the play begins to develop Kerrigan pushes forward and around Pashos and cuts back toward Raiders quarterback Matt Flynn.

Kerrigan pushes his way around Pashos and swats (soon-to-be-famous) the ball out of Flynn’s hands (the arrow is pointing at the ball getting swatted) as he gets the sack…his fifth of the season in just four games. The play was ruled a fumble, and Ryan Kerrigan was credited with not only the sack but the forced fumble as well (Redskins recovered).

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