Redskins Ingredients for Improvement: Momentum must be maintained
By Ian Cummings
No. 3 – Don’t let Chris Thompson disappear
The Redskins offense was a well-oiled machine in the first half. Alex Smith spread the ball around, and Adrian Peterson ran the ball at will. But there was one constant throughout the tale of two halves: Chris Thompson was a virtual non-factor.
The Florida State product finished with just 17 yards on six carries, and only one reception, which went for two yards. For one of the focal points of the offense, those are rather underwhelming totals. Between the Saints, Falcons, and Giants, the Redskins play a fair amount of teams whose apparent defensive weaknesses rest in the linebacking core. Thompson, along with Jordan Reed, can exploit those weaknesses.
They survived this time, but Washington would do well to try harder to work Thompson into the game plan with zone runs and middle-of-the-field concepts that get Thompson in open field, where he can work his magic. Thompson is the lightning to Adrian Peterson’s thunder, and if all we’re getting is thunder, eventually, the storm will fade.