Redskins: Three key storylines to watch as training camp nears
By Ian Cummings
No. 2 – How much time, and leeway, does Jay Gruden have?
It was basically written in stone, after the Redskins surprisingly kept Jay Gruden after the 2018 season, that Gruden would be a lame duck head coach in 2019. If Gruden has anything to say about it, he can change that perception. But he’ll have to start early.
It’s always tough for an old dog to learn new tricks, but for Gruden’s own sake, he’ll have to do so in 2019. His offensive style is inefficient, and he has a very spotty track record when preparing his team in must-win situations. A season like this, with such trepidatious undertones, can either be a flame to ignite a fire in a coach, or a death knell.
We won’t be able to see which one it is in training camp for Gruden, but we will be able to see how Gruden is handling the pressure, and the mounting expectations. In practices, we’ll be able to see how much command he holds over the team personnel, and how much fire he’s bringing as a motivator, and in press conferences, we’ll get more insight as to what changes are being made on game day.
It’s only a snippet of Gruden’s approaching judgement period. But for Gruden, the beginning might be the most important part, because falling behind simply isn’t an option.