Redskins Ingredients for Improvement: Momentum must be maintained
By Ian Cummings
No. 1 – Don’t be afraid to stay aggressive with a big lead
Before we go any further with this point, let’s point out that Jay Gruden had a very good game on Sunday. He pushed the ball down the field in the first half, using a balanced attack that kept the Packers’ defense guessing. Gruden’s play calling is one reason the Redskins had a 28-10 halftime lead in the first place.
That said, they scored just three points in the second half. We can do better.
Granted, sitting on the lead is fine in some scenarios. Gruden trusted his defense, and he was willing to put more on their shoulders in the second half. The end result is the same. The Redskins won. Being aggressive is just as risky as being conservative. You bite off too much, make a costly mistake, and the field is flipped.
And let’s not act like Gruden came into the second half without a plan. Gruden’s plan was to run the ball, kill the clock, and keep Aaron Rodgers off the field; a very valid plan. Unfortunately, the Packers’ defense stepped up. The running game hit a snag, and that was when Gruden’s offense fell off a bit.
At one point in the second half, there was an innate worry that the Packers would find their way back into the game, and it was clear that the Redskins’ offense needed a spark. In the future, when the Redskins have a lead, Gruden should consider doing more than just protecting it. Make it bigger. It’s not a necessity. But with as many potential playmakers as this offense has, and with a smart signal caller like Alex Smith, there’s room for creativity, excitement, and fresh ideas every week.
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Taking the whole game on Sunday into consideration, however, the Redskins left very little on the table. On offense, they engineered a solid outing, and on defense, they snuffed out an offense led by Aaron Rodgers. This game is a step in the right direction, and with these Ingredients for Improvement to work on during the bye week, the Redskins can truly make some noise down the road.