Redskins vs. Titans: Five takeaways from Saturday’s loss
By Ian Cummings
No. 1 – Forging a winning culture must be a priority in 2019
When the 2018 Redskins were 5-2, much was made of their culture. How it was a team that fought for its coach, and a team that had synergy, and chemistry. That there was a healthy balance of responsibility and respect.
When the 2018 Redskins were 6-7, rumors swirled in a maelstrom, that the culture was crumbling. That there was no accountability, no responsibility for one’s actions. Players openly criticized fans, lamenting of their situation in D.C. Pining for the chance to defect to a different division.
To put it simply, there isn’t much clarity in regards to Washington’s true culture, or the outlook of that culture in 2019. At its best, we’ve seen players like Alex Smith, Josh Johnson, Jonathan Allen, and D.J. Swearinger hailed as level-headed leaders. At its worst, we’ve heard whispers of the necessary rebuild. The famous catchphrase: “Blow it all up.”
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In 2019, the Redskins need to find clarity with their culture, and they need to do whatever it takes. Part of that requires a sustained period of winning. But a winning franchise has to start somewhere. This offseason, Washington must put a foundation in place. Saying it needs to happen, of course, is the easy part. The hard part is deciding whether a full reset is needed, or whether the machine can reach the next gear with a dash of fine tuning.