Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins flashes again, but big fixes are needed
By Ian Cummings
Negatives
Haskins accuracy hit a new low on Sunday. In what was supposed to be a breakout game for the rookie, against a subpar passing defense, Haskins was largely inaccurate. He frequently missed receivers high, and he had two potential touchdowns to Terry McLaurin that sailed.
Haskins ultimately made the plays needed to win the game, but given the defense’s stellar turnover production, the game could’ve been a lot less stressful for the Redskins, had Haskins capitalized on those opportunities. Haskins inaccuracies again stemmed from mechanical issues, which were prevalent in his time at Ohio State as well.
Haskins’ accuracy issues are fixable, and as I’ve said on here before, the hope is that as he grows more comfortable with the pace of the NFL, and once he gets a solid operational foundation, his mechanical inconsistencies will start to be ironed out of his game. But it’s bad enough where it could derail his tenure in D.C., if he doesn’t accentuate that aspect of his game.
On Sunday, Haskins’ elbow was a problem again, as was his footwork. He seemed to be unable to find a rhythm with his lower body, and his elbow was tucked on some occasions, which led to throws being sailed high. The Redskins can do a better job of getting Haskins in rhythm with short-to-intermediate range throws, and they can also cut down on the early-down runs, to avoid inadvertently putting Haskins in a hole. But these mechanical issues are flaws Haskins himself can focus on fixing, and that’s what he needs to do in the coming weeks.
When Haskins’ mechanics are fluid, the improvement in results is very noticeable. Haskins is then able to get the most power on his throws with his strong arm, and when his body is aligned properly, his accuracy is at its best. We saw this in college; when Haskins is in rhythm, he has very good ball placement, especially in the short and intermediate ranges. He has the ability; it’s just a matter of filtering out inconsistencies bred by pressure and other external factors.