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Josh Doctson has been biggest disappointment of the first month of Redskins season

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: Wide receiver Josh Doctson
LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: Wide receiver Josh Doctson /
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LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 24: Wide receiver Josh Doctson #18 of the Washington Redskins makes a catch over cornerback David Amerson #29 of the Oakland Raiders in the third quarter at FedExField on September 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 24: Wide receiver Josh Doctson #18 of the Washington Redskins makes a catch over cornerback David Amerson #29 of the Oakland Raiders in the third quarter at FedExField on September 24, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Doctson’s key drop

Doctson legitimately cost the Redskins a win on Monday night. You could argue that the Chiefs would have had a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown had they been down, but the fact remains that Doctson let a chance to put the Redskins up literally slip out of his hands.

On the final meaningful offensive drive of the game for the Redskins, the team was facing a critical third down. Cousins elected to throw the ball downfield, something that he had been successful doing for most of the contest. Cousins had been single handedly carrying the Redskins on the drive thanks to his scrambling ability and smart situational football. He made a great choice in throwing to Doctson, theoretically.

Doctson was streaking down the field on the third and 2, and he had Phillip Gaines beat. Doctson had a size and speed advantage on Gaines, and he had space towards the left sideline to go up and make a catch over him. Cousins lofted a perfect pass that hit Doctson’s hands as he elevated to catch the pass. Gaines was turned around about a yard away, helpless to impact the path of the ball.

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But as Doctson came to the ground, he inexplicably couldn’t secure the catch. It looks like he had it in his hands, pressed up against his chest. But as he made contact with the ground, the ball just squirted out. It was a terrible play and one that an NFL quality receiver cannot be guilt of making.

Following Doctson’s drop, the Redskins kicked a game tying field goal and then proceeded to allow a drive in which the Chiefs scored the game winning field goal. The score isn’t demonstrative of how close the Redskins truly were to winning, thanks to a garbage touchdown by the Chiefs at the end of regulation.

Had Doctson secured the catch, the Redskins likely would have been up 24-20, and that would have put pressure on Andy Reid to get the touchdown quickly. Given Reid’s past troubles with clock management, this was far from a guaranteed proposition. Overall, this play was just an absolute disaster for Doctson, and it really is a microcosm of his season so far.

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