Redskins: Three takeaways from the team’s Week 2 loss to Dallas
By Ian Cummings
No. 3 – The Redskins defense isn’t as good as everyone thought
Yes, several starters were out. But the Washington Redskins defense, through two weeks, has not looked like a unit that was meant to carry the offense in order to compete.
Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott, the two opposing signal callers the Redskins have faced off against thus far, are a combined 54 for 69 for 582 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception against Washington. The secondary has been inconsistent, the defensive line hasn’t been nearly as dominant as advertised in the offseason, and the unit’s best pieces haven’t done enough to elevate the squad as a whole.
The problems are punctuated by Greg Manusky, a middling defensive coordinator who continues to try, and fail, to put his defense in a position to win. Situationally, Manusky hasn’t been sharp, and Washington’s talent hasn’t buoyed the team, either. Depth has proven to be an issue. This early, it might be time to accept that Washington’s defense just isn’t as good as some people thought it could be.
Still, the Redskins defense could inch toward its potential later in the year. But that would require all the players to get healthy, and stay healthy. It would require issues with consistency and communication to be shored up. And it would require more situational awareness from the man calling the plays. None of those things seem likely at this point.