Grading Jay Gruden and the Washington Redskins Coaching

The Washington Redskins are in the midst of a very long and tumultuous season…again. There is a lot of blame to go around. For the last few weeks that blame has fallen mostly on Robert Griffin III.

Before Griffin, Kirk Cousins was taking the heat because of throwing multiple interceptions in multiple games. The defense has taken a lot of blame as well. Having blown coverages result in easy TDs series after series and game after game can focus a lot of blame on the secondary.

Looking deeper into the problem to find a solution, we must look at what the common element is in these situations. Different players have made the same mistake on different plays. That is what prompted me to post this article focusing on the coaching.

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When the Redskins had a fourth down and inches in the third quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts, I thought to myself, “This is the perfect time for a QB sneak.” Then I realized that I knew that wasn’t going to happen. It would be too perfect for the situation.

I then thought to myself, “Gruden is going to call a pass play and McCoy will be sacked and we will give the Colts great field position.” I was close as you know if you watched the game as Redskins HC, Jay Gruden, did call a pass play that called for QB, Colt McCoy, to set up and let the play develop for a few seconds.

Instead of great field position, the Colts ended up with 6 points as McCoy was indeed sacked and fumbled also as the Colts scooped up the fumble and ran for a TD.

When things make too much sense, the Redskins will often do the opposite

Nov 30, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy (16) rolls out to throw a pass against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

When facing a 4th and inches for an opponent, a defense will always line up it’s players close to the line of scrimmage in an effort to prevent the offense from gaining even an inch. The Colts of course lined up across the line of scrimmage with almost the entire defense and of course one man came in unblocked and made the play.

Now that was only one play but it became clear to me that it is part of a pattern with the Redskins this season. When things make too much sense, the Redskins will often do the opposite.

Gruden said in his post-game press conference that he initially called for a nice inside power play. Then when a time-out was called, he out-smarted himself when he saw that a CB was lined up bump & run against Desean Jackson with little safety help. He owned up and admitted his mistake, which is great, but he has been doing that way too much.

The Redskins offensive line has been a disaster for a few years now. Very little was done to improve the line during the off-season. Shawn Lauvao was added in free agency but he has not been much of an improvement.

Tom Compton has finally replaced Tyler Polumbus and Morgan Moses was drafted along with Spencer Long to be future starters along the line. All of this leaves the line not much better than it was in the 2013 season. The line has been terrible at pass protection but mostly good at run blocking.

Knowing this, what do you think Gruden should do when facing a Colts defense that has struggled some in stopping the run? Well instead of controlling the clock against the explosive Colts offense and limiting Colts QB Andrew Luck’s drives on the field, Gruden ran the ball only 16 times before the final drive and called 51 pass plays including sacks and penalties.

Not running the ball has become a confounding pattern for Gruden. He looked to be getting the advantages of the running game against the San Francisco 49ers. That game was a close loss despite the very poor performance of Griffin because Gruden relied so heavily on RB, Alfred Morris. Gruden reverted to his pass happy offense instead.

Gruden loves the passing game and will always run a pass heavy offense. That much has become clear to me. Gruden has not adapted to what works for the Redskins team he coaches or to the players strengths.

Both Griffin and Cousins have struggled more under Gruden than they did with Mike Shanahan and Kyle Shanahan. The lack of development and even regression of both of these QBs is very troubling since Gruden was hired primarily to develop Griffin. Starting Colt McCoy says to me that Gruden is admitting failure in his development of Griffin and Cousins.

On to the defense. Jim Haslett is in his fifth season as the defensive coordinator with the Redskins. Throughout that time, the defensive backfield has been mostly a disaster. The abundance of fundamental mistakes seems to rise each year.

Nov 30, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener (80) breaks a tackle and scores a touchdown against the Washington Redskins at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeated Washington 49-27. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive backs coach, Raheem Morris, and Haslett are the constants in the continuing circus of blown coverages by both young players and veterans for many years. If most of a teacher’s students keep making simple mistakes, is it the fault of the student or the teacher?

I don’t see improvement from year to year with this defense. New players come in as others leave but the mistakes remain. Haslett and Morris are the constants.

Gruden was given a five year guaranteed contract and he will surely still be coaching the Redskins in 2015. I don’t believe he has earned it but the money he has guaranteed gives him job security.

I wanted Gruden to be hired as the coach of the Redskins because I believed he would be a good coach for Griffin and develop him properly. I was very wrong about that. Now, there is talk of trading Griffin so that Gruden can find his “guy.”

If Gruden is going to be successful as the HC of the Washington Redskins, he must change and adapt quickly. He must do this from game to game as well as play to play. If not, we will be seeing someone else in the job in the very near future.

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