Redskins Reality Checks Week 10: Where does the team stand heading to Tampa?

1. The Reality Is, the Redskins’ offense has been disappointing this season.

Ask anyone familiar with Jay Gruden, and they’d be able to tell you he’s an offensive-minded coach with a successful track record of presiding over offenses that could move the ball and put up points. In most cases with decent weapons, but rarely with elite players.

In the past three seasons, the Redskins, under Jay Gruden, have been efficient and successful offensively, while their defense has been their downfall. So, if you’d have told me over the summer that the Redskins would have a top-10 defense in almost every meaningful statistic, I would have suggested the Redskins would be a real juggernaut of a team, because I would assume that the offense would at least be consistent and efficient.

However, the offense has been underwhelming for most of the season, and downright terrible for large stretches. This week, I’ll be looking for signs of creativity and innovativeness. I’ll be looking for Gruden, Cavanaugh, O’Connell and Callahan to scheme up some ways to take pressure off the patchwork offensive line and move the chains.

While the offensive line injuries are a valid and significant hurdle this week, it’s times like these when good coaches earn their stripes.

Prediction: The offensive line holds up admirably, the Redskins run the ball effectively, and the passing attack includes a lot more boot and sweep action. I expect 400 yards of total offense relatively evenly split between the first and second half.