Report: Redskins coaching staff dealing with “incredibly explosive” situation

For now, no dismissals have been made on the front of the Redskins coaching staff. But that could soon change.

After the embarrassing 40-16 home loss to the Giants last season, Jay Gruden’s seat was hot. After the Washington Redskins loss to the Cowboys last week, Gruden’s seat was hot. And after the debacle on Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears, Gruden’s seat was hot.

We keep hearing about dwindling job security for Gruden and Greg Manusky, but when is the final straw going to pass? The Redskins opted not to make any moves after Monday night, with a short week coming ahead of the team’s matchup with the Giants. But if things don’t improve soon, the moves we’ve been waiting for could finally materialize.

According to NBC Sports Mid-Atlantic’s J.P. Finlay, a volatile situation is brewing in the nation’s capital. Finlay had this to say about the atmosphere in Ashburn in a recent article: “Team sources in Ashburn have described an incredibly explosive situation where Gruden and Manusky‘s jobs are on the line next week in New York”.

Finlay went on to elaborate on the situations of both Gruden and Manusky. Finlay said that while Manusky has fielded a historically bad defensive unit this season, despite being supplied with a good amount of talent, firing him might be tricky. Manusky is apparently close with renowned defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, and letting go of Manusky could trigger an exodus across the board.

Manusky’s replacement is also a question, as none of the current candidates on the Redskins defensive staff have promising experience. Ray Horton and Rob Ryan both have years under their belts as coordinators, but they were uninspiring in those roles. Tomsula, meanwhile, seems best suited for the role he has now, as a more specialized teacher.

Knowledge on overall defensive strategy is lacking in Redskins Park, and for that reason, the team might trudge forward with Manusky for as long as the front office can take it. Gruden, meanwhile, has fewer lifelines. As Finlay notes, Gruden said he’d be fired if he wasn’t to make the playoffs in 2019. After an 0-3 start, the hope of a postseason bid seems ambitious, at best.

For the last two and a half games, the Redskins have put one of the worst overall products in the NFL on the field, and unsatisfactory coaching is a major factor. If this trend of incompetence continues against a third division opponent, then we might get to write about the overhaul that’s been hinted at for so long.