Redskins Halftime Takeaways: Baffling home game woes continue
By Ian Cummings
The Giants crushed the Redskins’ playoff hopes last year, and this year, even with five more losses in five less games, they’re trying to do the same.
The Giants worked well toward accomplishing that goal throughout the first half, holding the Redskins to two straight three and outs on their first two drives. Unfortunately for the big blue, their offense didn’t fare much better, only totaling one first down over that same span. It was a frustrating start for the Redskins’ offense, but their defense offset that with stellar play to kick off the night’s action. Nevertheless, the Redskins have been bad. And they’ve been bad at home all year.
Ryan Kerrigan played as a perennial Pro Bowl caliber edge rusher should against an undrafted rookie right tackle. He notched two sacks in just the first half, and the defense did well to exploit the mismatches on the Giants’ offense. Jay Gruden, however, did a poor job of utilizing the Giants’ linebacking woes against them. The offense was stagnant through the first two quarters. They were uninspired with their play calling, either going with a short pass or running straight up the middle. Both plays often ended with little to no success.
On both sides of the ball, the Redskins have been awful in short yardage situations. On offense, defenses don’t respect their play in the trenches, and they can never convert, and on defenses, offenses don’t respect the team’s ability to make a stop. The Giants converted on a fourth and one late in the half, and the conversion resulted in an eventual field goal. The Redskins’ play in the trenches has been terrible. Their defensive line, aside from Kerrigan, is getting pushed around by an offensive line arguably more beaten up by the Redskins’ unit.
The trenches are where it starts, but the Redskins’ skill players also have to start stepping up. Kirk Cousins has to play better on offense, and the play calling has to account for the Giants’ strong front four, as well as their weak linebacking core. Vernon Davis was a no-show in the first half, and that just can’t happen. When the middle presents such opportunity, it can’t be taken for granted.
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For now, the game is tied at 3-3. Washington can make the necessary adjustments at half time, but they have to understand that this Giants team won’t leave willingly without a win. New York is hungry to mess up someone’s season, and Washington is in serious danger of falling victim to that threat. Change has to be made in the second half. The Redskins will start the second half with the ball. They have to do something with it.