If you’re an eternal optimist, don’t tread beyond this sentence.
If you want reality, then here it is. The Washington Redskins are 0-2, after dropping their home opener to the Dallas Cowboys by a score of 21-31. The Redskins proclaimed their intentions to compete for a playoff bid before the year. Jay Gruden, it was speculated, needed such a thing to save his job.
But now, the Redskins have dropped two right out of the gate, and their chances at rebounding are already slim. Historically, teams that start 0-2 don’t often right the ship. Since 2007, only 12.2 percent of teams starting 0-2 have made the playoffs. 87.8 percent fell short.
Those numbers, however, deal with the future, and the future can wait for now. Because to understand the future, one needs to comprehend and analyze the present. The Washington Redskins present performance at home against Dallas was telling. Here’s what we learned.
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.
No. 2 – The Redskins offense still isn’t good enough to win modern football
Even if the defense does improve, unless it’s an elite unit of the 2018 Bears’ caliber, they’re not getting a whiff of the postseason. Why? Because the Redskins offense isn’t good enough to win modern football, either.
There was some measured hope coming into Week 2. Adrian Peterson, the team’s 1,000-yard rusher from 2018, was back in the starting lineup, and Case Keenum had put together a solid statistical outing in Week 1, albeit without substance.
Against the Cowboys defense, however, the Redskins offense showed more of its true self. A two-touchdown day distorted the inconsistent performance of Keenum; the veteran had several would-be interceptions dropped, and his touchdowns both came in essential garbage time. One was thrown when the Redskins were down 21-7. Another was thrown when the Redskins, with just over two minutes left, were down 31-14.
Teams need the pass to get ahead and stay ahead in the NFL, and if one doesn’t subscribe to that philosophy, then the running game has to be elite. The Redskins, unfortunately, only pass when they have to, and when they attempt to establish the run with their average rushing attack, they only give the opposition more opportunities. Adrian Peterson’s touchdown to move into the top five all-time was a good story, but he didn’t change a thing.
There are some bright spots on the Redskins offense. Ereck Flowers has exceeded expectations at left guard, and Terry McLaurin is a true No. 1 receiver who has ten receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns through two games. Furthermore, the jet sweep concepts used at the start of the game provided a look at rare creativity and schematic prowess that Jay Gruden has flashed in his time with Washington.
But despite those bright spots, the offense as a whole is simply not enough. And the coaches seemingly lack the desire to make necessary changes, and maintain those implemented changes with consistency, in order to save their jobs.
No. 1 – The Redskins need to be aggressive with coaching changes in 2019
Maybe not this week. Maybe not next week. But if the Redskins primary coaching staff keeps lingering in the shadow of mediocrity, then the Redskins, with a developing young core, need to be aggressive in making changes midseason, to turn the page sooner rather than later.
Before the start of the season, perhaps the Redskins and Jay Gruden had aspirations of winning. Perhaps Dan Snyder wanted to give Gruden one more chance to take Washington back to the playoffs. But now, after an 0-2 start, the Redskins are already on the outside looking in, in regards to the playoff race. As was mentioned earlier, only 12.2 percent of 0-2 teams have made the playoffs since 2007. The Redskins likely aren’t built to break that trend.
When the Redskins realize winning isn’t realistic in 2019, they need to shift focus to development, and soul-searching for the future. Whether that means firing Jay Gruden and promoting Kevin O’Connell, or relieving Greg Mansuky of his duties and resuming the search for a competent defensive coordinator, a change must be made.
The capacity of change is hard to predict, but at some point, the Redskins need to stop trying to win now, and start trying to lay a foundation for the future. Because winning now just isn’t going to happen. Yes, they started out the season with two tough matchups. But two truths can co-exist. The Redskins haven’t been lucky. And they haven’t been good, either.