Washington Redskins: Three reasons the offense will improve in 2018

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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Jay Gruden head coach of the Washington Redskins before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Continuity

Some teams need change. The Los Angeles Rams needed to part ways with Jeff Fisher after an underwhelming inaugural season back in the bay. The San Francisco 49ers needed to find a young, creative offensive mind to reinvigorate their offense. And this year, teams such as the Bears and Lions needed to try something new, in attempts to nudge the playoff needles that have sat idle for so long.

There are teams that thrive on change, based on the circumstances. And there are others that suffer from it. After a disappointing, injury-riddled 7-9 season in 2017, it was initially believed that Jay Gruden would be the next in a long line of coaches to be cut loose by the Snyder regime. He ended up staying, and his retainment will be a key factor determining the team’s success in 2018. And there’s reason to believe the Washington Redskins won’t regret keeping Gruden.

Gruden doesn’t have the record that most esteemed coaches have, but he has battled immeasurable odds in all of his seasons with the Washington Redskins. In his first year, 2014, it was known that he was taking on a project roster. In 2015, those beliefs did not change, and still, Gruden found a way to lead a largely talent-defunct Redskins squad to the playoffs (albeit in a weak NFC East, but optimistic predictions had the 2015 Redskins at 6-10).

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In 2016, Gruden was one game away from making the NFC playoffs as the second wild card team in an unusually strong NFC East. And in 2017, in the wake of a wave of injuries only rivaled by two teams in the entire NFL, Gruden steered the Washington Redskins to a record of 7-9, a mark that could have easily been worse, with how banged up the Washington Redskins roster was.

Now, in 2018, Gruden finally has the circumstances lining up in his favor. He and his quarterback are on the same page. He has the necessary talent on his offense to move the ball efficiently, and he has the young talent on defense, along with a strong cast of position coaches, to surprise the NFL this season.

Gruden’s relative lack of success in Washington has attracted an unfair amount of ire from fans, but the truth of the matter is, the Washington Redskins are lucky to have Gruden. He’s a level-headed coach who players openly respect, and cohesive respect, from player to coach, is the first step to success in any league. A work environment is most effective when there’s mutual respect. The Washington Redskins have that, and more, in Gruden.

It speaks volumes that, in an era of recurring instability at head coach in D.C., Gruden has withstood the turmoil. The front office has to be confident with what he’s done in the face of adversity. He’s a very creative play caller who had the Washington Redskins among the NFL’s top offenses with DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, and made do with a mediocre, weakened cast last year (his passing offense finished at No. 12 in the NFL, and his running offense understandably suffered, largely due to personnel deficiencies).

Right now, Gruden doesn’t have any excuses. But that’s good. And that’s the way he wants it. Gruden didn’t ask for a weak roster in 2015. He didn’t ask for his roster to be decimated by injuries in 2017. It’s only logical that coaches like it when they don’t have excuses. Because then they truly have the best chance to win.

Next: Analyzing the Redskins' safety position

For the universal goal of winning, Jay Gruden’s best chance is yet to come, and 2018 looks like it’s shaping up to be the year. He finally has a defense that he can lean on in case the offense sputters, but as it stands right now, the Washington Redskins’ 2018 offense should be Gruden’s most efficient unit yet. And as long as you can efficiently and consistently move the football, and you have a defense capable of making stops, there’s nothing to hold you back from winning in the NFL.

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