Redskins Reality Checks Week 8: Giants provide different kind of check
By Tim Payne
4. Reality Is, the Redskins need to start improving in the passing game.
As ugly as the passing attack has looked the last three weeks, it’s easy to forget the first halves against Arizona, Green Bay, and Carolina. It’s also important to remember that the Redskins have been missing significant components of their passing game.
It looks like Chris Thompson and Paul Richardson will both be back in action this Sunday, giving Gruden some of his most dynamic pass-catchers to build the game plan around. It’s time for there to be some significant steps forward in the passing game and for the Redskins to regain some of the form that has gotten Gruden the reputation as one of the better passing-game minds in the NFL.
I will be curious to see if they include more quick-game, more hurry-up, and more misdirection in the passing game this week. I will also be looking to see if Thompson’s return leads to more two-back sets with both he and Peterson in the game to keep the defense guessing.
Most importantly, I am still looking for the passing game to be more consistently built around Jordan Reed, whose two catches last week need to give way to more like six or seven this week.
Prediction: Take the over on this game. Everyone is thinking this will be AP vs. Barkley in a ground and pound type of game. I think both offenses have opportunities to air it out effectively, and I think Chris Thompson makes a big TD play off of a check-down or screen.