Redskins O-line Should be in a State of Emergency
Aug 20, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) prepares to throw the ball as Detroit Lions defensive end Phillip Hunt (58) chases in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Redskins offensive line got a huge wake up call in preseason game two against the Detroit Lions. Put the blame where ever you want to, on inexperience, bad technique, or faulty protection calls. But where ever the blame lies one thing is certain, pass protection has to improve, no excuses.
Sure pro bowl left tackle Trent Williams didn’t play and that was part of the problem but the fact is injuries happen. You can’t just shut down the game because of injuries. The show must go on and the next man up has to step up and kick in because that’s what the team needs to be successful.
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Willie Smith stepped in for Trent Williams at left tackle but he simply didn’t get the job done. No one’s expecting him to be Trent Williams out there but whatever he’s shown the Redskins coaches in practice to trust him out there at LT, certainly wasn’t on display against the Detroit Lions.
Rookie Brandon Scherff is in the midst of on the job training. I know he’s inexperienced and he’s learning a new position but he’s also a top five draft pick. There’s a certain amount of expectation that comes along with that and it’s up to Scherff to try to live up to it.
He will make mistakes for sure and that’s to be expected but to be physically dominated the way he was against the Lions is something the Redskins didn’t draft him for. They could have kept Chris Chester in there for that.
So like it or not the expectation on a highly drafted rookie is much higher. Granted, quarterback Robert Griffin III needs to improve on finding the open man and getting the ball out of his hands quicker but he at least needs to time set up in the pocket.
Something he didn’t have on a few occasions against the Lions. Redskins offensive line coach Bill Callahan can’t tolerate what he saw in that game again. Offensive linemen being driven into the backfield, double teams that made no sense.
The Redskins O-line should be in a state of emergency right now and there should be a zero tolerance for QB sacks.
Even if there were mistakes that RGIII made in adjusting the protections, Callahan and offensive coordinator Sean McVay needs to ensure that improves as well. There needs to be a higher sense of urgency in pass protection from the entire offensive unit.
Yes, it’s just preseason but that’s no excuse. The goal should be for the quarterback to not get hit at all. Of course in the NFL that’s not possible but it should be the goal. Whether it’s a rookie, a journeyman or a pro bowler out there, the O-line should feel disgusted any time the QB gets touched.
The Redskins O-line should be in a state of emergency right now and there should be a zero tolerance for QB sacks. You know the Baltimore Ravens will be coming after RGIII in the third preseason game. We saw what Terrell Suggs did to Sam Bradford this week.
They didn’t get the memo that it’s just preseason and the Redskins O-line needs to play like that too. With pass rushers like Suggs and Elvis Dumervil out there the Redskins O-line needs to operate at an extremely high level. That’s just the way it is.