Washington, only a few seasons removed from an exciting playoff run and a window to a promising future, is now in the middle of an identity crisis. They don't know what to do at quarterback, their head coach might be a tragic disappointment behind a name, and their defense might just be coming off one of the worst team defensive seasons in history. The Redskins need a game plan under center before they can ever move forward.
Washington had it all together just a few years ago. Alfred Morris had a stunning rookie season and looked like a franchise running back. RGIII was the most noteworthy player in the league after a vividly entertaining and promising rookie season leading the Redskins back to the postseason. The defense, anchored by Brian Orakpo, was dominating and exciting, producing turnovers and stopping the run. Mike Shanahan was revitalizing his career in DC.
Now, Jay Gruden seems lost, RGIII is hurt and abundantly underwhelming in the pocket, Kirk Cousins wants a shot, the defense unraveled last season, and the offense once again looks like the lackluster performance on turf that it was before they drafted Griffin. The organization has a bad reputation for being cheap, incompetent and racist. The entire franchise needs an overhaul, and overhauls need to be quick in this league. Tanking doesn't work in the NFL like it does in the NBA. Neither do Native American team names.
2014 Photo Finish: 4-12, last in NFC East, 18.8 PPG (26th), 27.4 allowed PPG (29th)
Offseason Hooplah and Report Card: The Redskins hardly made any water ripple this past offseason, though most of that might have been out of their hands. Notable free agents don't exactly want to come play for an owner in disarray or for an organization that has cratered in the public eye like Washington has in the past few years. If I had to mention one move, I would go with bringing in safety Dashon Goldson who might replace Ryan Clark pretty well and add some versatility to the secondary. Otherwise, they made no important additions to a team that either underperformed and is much worse than they are on paper or a team that quit on their underwhelming head coach. Either way, the Redskins get an F on their offseason. The only thing that would have helped would have been to sign Mark Brunell so he could save himself from practically crying and throwing a tantrum like my four year-old cousin on ESPN when discussing TomGate.
Draft Grade: Though I was about as excited about the Redskins offseason as a Dom two minute presentation on Food Network Star, I was more impressed by their draft. Taking Brandon Scherff, the offensive tackle from Iowa, with the fifth pick was criticized but safe and smart. They needed to bolster an offensive line that can take much of the blame for RGIII's inability to make moves out of the pocket and the disappearance of anything resembling football from Alfred Morris. Taking the massive Scherff will do just that. Snagging Preston Smith in the second round was groovy to say the least as he should immediately step in at the outside linebacker position. Matt Jones in the third round is another guy to watch and put some pressure on Morris to show up. I'm tempted to give them an A, so I will. An A-bomb for J Grud!
Shining Sleeping Star: I'm going on the defensive side since the offensive side makes me want to sip on some Nyquil and fall asleep for three hours. Jackson Jeffcoat may not be a household name, though with a name like that it should be, but he is well known among diehard Washington fans because of the impact that he made in the final two games of the train wreck that was 2014. He snagged an interception, a sack and five tackles in limited field time, enough to make me think that with a full season under his belt he could be a real playmaker.
Help Wanted: Can I say quarterback here? Is that too soon? I need to mention their quarterback dilemma since it is imperative to their 2015 season and beyond. Robert Griffin III has faced a lot of criticism and adversity over his three year tenure in DC, and some of it is unfair. He is athletic, dynamic and exciting. However, Griffin is so uncomfortable and really just unimpressive in the pocket and that worries me long term. As a rookie, he knew his major flaw was finding open receivers and staying strong in the pocket. In college, a guy like RGIII can rule the roost. In the NFL, they plateau like the Sahara. Griffin is bottoming out and it is because he plays a dangerous game that gets him hurt, winds up in turnovers and keeps their poor defense on the field too long. Kirk Cousins is not an NFL quarterback and Colt McCoy was the most bizarre two game stretch since Charlie Batch upset the Ravens on national friggin television. If Griffin can't put it together this season, and that includes staying healthy, Washington may need to cut their losses and see if another team is desperate enough to take a chance on a loose cannon who can't be developed.
Game on your Calendar: I'm going with Week 3 at the New York Giants because a) it is a national TV game, b) it is an NFC East game which is always fun and c) RGIII will likely not be out for the year yet. Maybe.
Coach's Corner: Jay Gruden was not ready to take over as the head coach. Granted, he was handed an out of control wildfire and promoted to Chief of Staff of a firehouse with no firetrucks, he still proved that he is too overwhelmed and really incapable of controlling a clubhouse. Mike Shanahan had to go, Gruden should not have replaced him. 2015 will be vital for his career as a head coach in the NFL because if he underperforms and more importantly if his team continues to unravel and lose like a Division 3 squad, he may never lead a professional team again.
The Nugget Crystal Ball: Washington is a paper thin roster with glaring weaknesses on both sides of the ball. They lack playmakers. They have a controversial and often injured and uncoachable quarterback. They have a lame duck coaching staff. And they play in possibly the best division in football. None of those things are something to be hopeful about in the nation's capital. That being said, I see no rays of sun for this team and I have a feeling this could be the last season in the RGIII Washington debacle. At the end of the day, Washington's offense struggles to even keep with the porous pace that they had last year and outweighs the defense's slight improvements. Poor coaching decisions decide some close games and the Redskins go 4-12 or 3-13 and fire Gruden. Don't worry, the Nationals landed Jonathon Papelbon, everything will be all right!
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