Redskins Halftime Takeaways: Jimmy Moreland is not of this world

It was an up and down first half for the Redskins, but there are positives to build off of in the second half.

Rest in peace, bold prediction No. 4.

The Washington Redskins had some rust to shake off, which was to be expected, after coming back to football for the first time in over half a year. With two quarters in the books in their matchup against the Browns, the Redskins trail by a score of 17-7. These are two teams in different stages of development, and that was clear so far tonight.

The highlight of the half was easily, hands down, when Jimmy Moreland initiated god-mode late in the first quarter. With the Browns on the goal line, Moreland made three straight plays on the ball, deflecting two passes in a row, then forcing a possession-changing fumble on fourth and goal. He single-handedly mounted a goal line stand against the Browns offense, strengthening his status as a preseason legend.

Aside from Moreland’s heroics, however, the Redskins defense was inconsistent. They upped their game a bit after Baker Mayfield went out, but the Browns first-team offense moved the ball without any resistance at all. Only three starters even played on defense for Washington, but the lack of consistent fortitude, especially on the defensive line, was concerning. Some players did show flashes, including Josh Harvey-Clemons and Jeremy Reaves.

The trenches didn’t give the Redskins any favors on the other side of the ball, either. The offensive line was a major concern; early on, they were called for four holding penalties in three plays, and both Case Keenum and Dwayne Haskins experienced heavy pressure. The depth of the line is a problem that requires addressing. Unfortunately, this late in the year, there’s only so much that can be done, besides staying course. It’s an issue that could severely deplete the offense’s efficiency.

Speaking of the quarterbacks, there wasn’t much individual separation there in the first half. Dwayne Haskins’ brightest moments were brighter than Keenum’s; Haskins had noticeably more velocity on his throws. He showed surprising rushing ability, and he tested coverages downfield, fitting the ball into tight windows, connecting several times with an impressive Darvin Kidsy. But he also had learning moments. One dump-off that Haskins might have considered safe was undercut and picked off for a touchdown by Browns rookie Mack Wilson, and another risky pass downfield was picked late in the half.

Keenum had a touchdown, but it was off a busted coverage. Overall, he was uninspiring, but more time should be given to the quarterbacks before substantial changes are made, especially with the offensive line woes present. The second half will provide more opportunities, but learning is the most important thing for the young players right now. Learning, as it turns out, is the only way to succeed.