Redskins: Sticking with Jay Gruden moving forward is the right call

After three years of no record improvement, some have called for the Redskins to move on from Jay Gruden. Comically enough, none of those people are part of the Redskins organization.

As fans, we can all have opinions. But perspective is a thing that experiences dictate without exception. Try as we may, but we will never see all the things that Jay Gruden brings to Washington. But from our point of view, one thing should be clear. Jay Gruden is the best man for the job.

In the last three years, Gruden has accumulated a record of 24-22-1, keeping the Redskins in consistent contention, despite all the moving pieces around him. His work this year has arguably been the most impressive, even though the Redskins will have their worst record since 2014.

Gruden’s team has been hampered, no, demolished by injuries. The Redskins have 21 players on injured reserve, the most in the league, and they have plenty more players that have battled week to week injuries all year. Gruden has literally been forced to sign players off the street, and yet, the Redskins have not only played tough, but they’ve been competitive doing it.

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Much is made of a coach’s overall performance, but too little is made of the team’s morale after they’re out of the playoff hunt. Do they keep fighting and maintain their resolve? Or do they lay down and die, waiting for next season? Jay Gruden’s squad hasn’t given up this year, and Gruden can be praised for keeping them focused and showing them the right mindset. You can see it in the press conferences. Gruden knows how to cultivate a mindset, how to maintain a culture.

Now, many say that Kirk Cousins has been the reason for Gruden’s success. But Gruden, in fact, deserves credit there as well. Gruden is well known as a quarterback developer. Andy Dalton, who is now the standard for mediocrity at quarterback, had his best seasons under Gruden. And when Gruden came to D.C., he had faith in Cousins, and the dividends over the last three years speak for themselves.

If Cousins leaves, keeping Gruden only becomes more important. The team would likely draft a young, promising signal caller in the first three rounds, and Gruden would be tasked with developing the player while Colt McCoy supposedly bridges the gap. Gruden is one of the best when it comes to getting something out of his young quarterbacks. We’ve seen that in full effect over the last three years. And it’s more than enough evidence to give Gruden another chance.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Who do the Redskins take?

The team will reportedly keep Gruden around for the 2018 campaign, and it’s the right call. One hundred percent. The team is behind their coach, even when the goings are tough, and if the team ultimately acquires a rookie quarterback in the next two years, and when they need to turn him into a starter, Gruden is the best man for that job, too.

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