Everything seems perfect after a Redskins win. But there are always Ingredients for Improvement.
Yes, we’re nitpicking. Someone’s gotta do it.
The Washington Redskins played a great game on Sunday. For our purposes, about as close to perfect as a team can be in Week 1. Offensively and defensively, there wasn’t much to feel bad about.
On offense, the Redskins engineered a masterful siege on the game clock, using a strong rushing game and an efficient, precise passing game to keep the chains moving, and to keep the ball in their hands. The Redskins ended the game with 30 first downs to Arizona’s 14, and in the time of possession battle, the Redskins dominated with 38:08, compared to Arizona’s 21:52.
The defense was just as dominant for the Redskins, with the young secondary leading the way. The young secondary was one of the biggest causes for concern in all the offseason speculation, but they quieted doubters on Sunday, led by a monster performance from Quinton Dunbar.
There was plenty to like from the Redskins’ season opener. Jay Gruden’s play calling was spectacular. Alex Smith ran the offense very well, and it’s clear that the defense is much improved from last year. Still, even after a perfect week, there’s always a way to improve! Let’s take a look at how Washington can build on this early success.
No. 3 – Generate more pressure on passing downs
The outstanding play in coverage by the Redskins secondary on Sunday overshadowed the fact that the defensive line wasn’t nearly as disruptive as it was expected to be against an average Cardinals offensive line.
Like all games, the Redskins’ front had its moments. In run defense, performance wasn’t a problem. Led by Daron Payne and Zach Brown, the Redskins bottled up opposing backs, limiting David Johnson to 37 yards on nine carries.
Against the pass, the defensive line was less impactful. They weren’t “bad”. Matt Ioannidis and Jonathan Allen, in particular, were productive. But Sam Bradford had a clean pocket to throw from more often than not, and although the secondary locked down his targets, it’s premature to expect them to do that every week. The Redskins only notched two sacks all day. They have to get more pressure. Quick passes will negate their effect, to an extent, but there is room for improvement, nonetheless.
Luckily for the Redskins, the Colts are experiencing some issues on their offensive line. Injuries have forced less-than-stellar players into starting roles, and although Quenton Nelson is a generational offensive guard, the unit as a whole should give the Redskins’ front seven an opportunity to be disruptive next week. Against Andrew Luck, they’ll need to cause a lot of trouble.
No. 2 – Don’t be afraid to change the plan with wide receivers
The Redskins barely used their wide receivers on Sunday, because they didn’t have to.
Credit should be given to Jay Gruden; he implemented a game plan that generated success early and often against a Cardinals defense headed by head coach Steve Wilks, who got the job because of his prowess on that side of the ball in Carolina.
The game plan was centered around the Redskins’ rushing attack, a combination of Adrian Peterson’s relentless style and Chris Thompson’s electric speed and vision. The duo gave off an Ingram-Kamara vibe for much of the game; Peterson was the workhorse, while Thompson proved to be simply unguardable, both on the ground and through the air.
The game plan didn’t ask Alex Smith to take shots down the field. Instead, the veteran quarterback converted the chains through the air when he needed to, delivering crisp short-to-intermediate passes. Paul Richardson, who was brought in to spread the field, did anything but, and Josh Doctson didn’t get any chances twenty yards out. But that’s okay. Because the Redskins simply didn’t need to rely on them.
If this strategy works next week, that’s more than fine. But if the Colts are better prepared for the Redskins’ rushing attack (Their defense is young, unproven, and unpredictable), then Alex Smith will be forced to take more shots through the air. The key here is to be flexible and change with the game. Judging by Gruden’s performance against Arizona, being aggressive when he needed to be, the initial outlook on the Colts’ matchup is positive. But the Redskins need to make sure they can execute their contingency plans.
No. 1 – Don’t get complacent after a good Week 1 performance
This is perhaps the most important thing for the Redskins. They had a good week 1. They can’t rest on their laurels.
Just as important as the Redskins’ action in Week 1 is their reaction in Week 2. Will they stay the course, take it one game at a time, and press the reset button? Or will they get ahead of themselves after a big win, and get complacent? Action and reaction.
In this sense, Jay Gruden has an important job this week. On top of the usual preparatory customs, Gruden must keep his players humble and focused. The NFL is a tumultuous league; any team can dominate one week and lay an egg the next. The best teams transcend that chaos, and the Redskins have a chance to do that next week, as long as they keep working to improve.
The Redskins need to have their own Ingredients for Improvement on deck this week, but listing some here is a decent start. There’s always a way to get better, and in 2018, Washington can’t stop looking.