The Redskins lost to the Colts in a 21-9 disappointment last week. But the season is far from over.
This stat may surprise you: The Washington Redskins are tied for the lead in the NFC East at 1-1 with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
The team’s loss against the Colts was discouraging, but the NFL is a week-to-week league, and the Colts’ game is no more a precursor for the rest of the season than the Cardinals game was thought to be.
Week 3 gives the Redskins an opportunity to wipe the slate clean, but in a close NFC East, the pressure is most certainly on; while the Cowboys and Eagles draw favorable matchups against the Seahawks and Colts, respectively, Washington will be forced to go toe-to-toe with the magic man himself: Aaron Rodgers.
The Redskins will need everyone to step up from the level of play that was displayed last week, but five players in particular will be key figures in a Week 3 game that undersells its importance.
No. 5 – C Tony Bergstrom
Per Redskins reporter John Keim, Jay Gruden has stated that starting left guard Shawn Lauvao could miss some time with an apparent injury.
If Lauvao were to miss time, then starting center Chase Roullier would shift over to left guard to replace the veteran, and Roullier himself would be replaced by 32-year old utility backup Tony Bergstrom.
Lauvao did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, so a scenario in which he sits out Sunday is fairly realistic. Thus, Tony Bergstrom will get the start on the interior of the line.
Against a defensive line that features a cast of stalwarts such as Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark, and Muhammad Wilkerson, Bergstrom will have to be on top of his game. Much of the Redskins offensive issues last Sunday stemmed from inconsistency on the line; Pullers on running plays couldn’t maintain their balance, closing lanes. And in pass blocking, some of the play on the interior (particularly Lauvao) was brutally bad.
The hope is that Bergstrom can fill the gap rather seamlessly at center. He’s an experienced player who didn’t allow a sack in limited snaps last year. His impact on Sunday could be pivotal.
No. 4 – WR Jamison Crowder
Where ya been, Jamison?
In the offseason, it was thought that Jamison Crowder would become a favorite target for Alex Smith. The two reportedly found chemistry rather quickly, and with Crowder’s route running prowess, he seemed to be, in theory, a good match for Smith’s preferences.
Fast forward to Week 3 of the regular season, and Crowder has five catches for 40 yards through the first two games, on pace for his worst career season by far.
Crowder isn’t entirely at fault for his own lesser production. The Redskins have planned their passing attack around Chris Thompson and Jordan Reed so far this season (and rightfully so: Thompson and Reed are two of the NFL’s more dynamic talents). Wide receivers simply haven’t gotten looks. But if the Redskins keep playing from behind, that will have to change.
Against a young, ascending Packers’ secondary, Crowder can use his route running savvy and his experience to turn a new leaf in the 2018 season. Or better yet, put him in the slot against a linebacker and watch him get open. The Redskins need to use Crowder’s quickness when big gains through the air are needed. And Crowder needs to capitalize on the opportunities that come his way. He’s the best wide receiver on the team, and his impact thus far hasn’t reflected that.
No. 3 – S D.J. Swearinger
Is it brash to say D.J. Swearinger is the Redskins’ best player on defense?
In a normal season, you’d certainly be able to take your pick. Ryan Kerrigan has been pacing edge rushers for more than half a decade. Josh Norman is a former All-Pro with a savvy zone style and the attitude of a No. 1 cornerback. Zach Brown is a tackling machine, and although he’s a bit inconsistent, his speed makes the group better.
But so far this season, D.J. Swearinger has bested them all. And perhaps in second place behind Swearinger is Quinton Dunbar. Once thought to be the biggest weakness for the Redskins, the Flight Marshals have proven to instead be their greatest asset on defense. And with Swearinger at the helm, it’s hard to imagine that changing.
Swearinger was all over the field against the Colts. Andrew Luck threw two interceptions on the day, both of which came into Swearinger’s grasp. The veteran safety made all the right reads and served as a valuable safety blanket for a worn-down defense. As long as he remains consistent, he’ll be an asset for the defense, moving forward. Against Aaron Rodgers, Swearinger has to be on top of his game.
No. 2 – OLB Ryan Kerrigan
Where ya been, Ryan?
Getting pressure off the edge is important. Disrupting the quarterback is the most important component of any defensive game plan. On the interior, the Redskins have had some success, with players like Jonathan Allen and Matt Ioannidis, who has 2.0 sacks in the first two games.
On the edge, however, the Redskins have been virtually invisible. Preston Smith and Ryan Kerrigan, thought to be an ascending duo, have been locked up by two subpar tackle groups. Kerrigan’s lack of impact is particularly concerning; the Redskins have often relied on him as one of the defense’s blue-chip players. If he can’t uphold his production, that slack will be impossible to pick up right away.
Unfortunately for Kerrigan, the test in Week 3 will be the toughest yet on the edge. The Packers house a stout tackle duo of David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga. Neither player will be easy to move, and Kerrigan, who’s been quiet thus far in 2018, needs to find a semblance of success this weekend, or else Aaron Rodgers will tear Washington’s defense apart.
No. 1 – Alex Smith
Just like that, Alex Smith has something to prove again.
In 2017, the Chiefs lit a fire under Smith by drafting Patrick Mahomes in the first round of the NFL Draft. Smith responded to the move by amassing career-best metrics all across the board, and mounting on a borderline MVP campaign.
In the ensuing offseason, the Chiefs passed the torch to Mahomes and shipped Smith off to the nation’s capital for a third-round pick and elite cornerback Kendall Fuller. Two games into the season, Mahomes has ten touchdown passes to Smith’s two. And the Chiefs appear to be the runaway winners of that trade. The doubters are dwelling again.
Could that be enough to light a different kind of fire under Smith?
There’s no questioning that Smith needs to do more for the Redskins in 2018. He’s been a competent field general thus far, but when the team’s running game failed against the Colts, he didn’t do enough to make up the difference.
Smith hasn’t yet been asked to do anything more than keep the unit afloat. All the while, other teams are sailing by with haste. Against both a friend and an enemy in Rodgers, Smith has to take the helm with authority, and help the Redskins enter the bye week with restored hope.