technical details
  1. is_video => false
  2. alias => "washington\/\/redskins\/after-slow-start-redskins-red-zone-efficiency-has-been-red-hot"
  3. nid => "1187171"
  4. title => "After a slow start, Redskins' red zone efficiency has been red hot"
  5. is_chrome_page => false
  6. article_body => "<p>Last year, one of the Redskins\u2019 big problems on offense was scoring touchdowns in the red zone. They were able to punch it into the end zone from inside the opponents\u2019 20 yard line just 45.9 percent of the time. That was 29th in the NFL.<\/p>\n<p>It was a much-discussed topic over the offseason and Jay Gruden and company vowed to fix it. But during the first quarter of the season, things went in the wrong direction. In their first four games, the Redskins were successful on just four of their 11 red zone opportunities, a 36.3 percent conversion rate. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE REDSKINS: <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/need-know-five-redskins-under-pressure-vs-cowboys-0\"><strong><em>BROWN AMONG 5 UNDER PRESSURE<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In their last seven games, however, they have turned it around. They have scored touchdowns on 17 of their 25 red zone trips, a 68 percent success rate. That would put them near the top of the NFL had they produced like that over the course of the entire season. As it is, they are in the top 10 in red zone efficiency, tied for eighth.<\/p>\n<p>Much of the Redskins\u2019 improvement has come through the air. In the first four games in the red zone, Kirk Cousins completed 53.8 percent of his passes for 2.5 yards per attempt with three touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 67.0. Since then, he\u2019s completed 60.6 percent for 4.5 per attempt, 10 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 110.9 rating.<\/p>\n<p>The team\u2019s rushing average actually has gone down, from 2.5 yards per carry in the first four games to 1.5 since. But they scored just one rushing touchdown in the first four games and seven in their last seven games.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>RELATED: <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/redskins\/2017-nfl-power-rankings-whos-and-whos-down-following-week-12\"><strong><em>NFL POWER RANKINGS AFTER WEEK 12<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The red zone success has resulted in the Redskins scoring more points per game but it hasn\u2019t been the great leap that one might expect. The first four games they put up 22.7 points per game; it\u2019s gone up to 23.8 since then. That\u2019s not insignificant but clearly, the Redskins would like to put more points on the board. Another red zone trip or two per game would work wonders.<\/p>\n<p>It should be noted that the Redskins were mostly healthy during the early part of the season. In fact, the injury bug really started to hit in the fifth game, right when the red zone woes started to turn around. I\u2019m not sure what that means, but it is a credit to the team that they have been able to actually improve in a key area while dealing with so many missing starters.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Stay up to date on the Redskins. Rich Tandler covers the team 365 days a year. Like his Facebook page <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TandlerNBCS\"><strong><em>Facebook.com\/TandlerNBCS<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em> and follow him on Twitter <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TandlerNBCS\"><strong><em>@TandlerNBCS<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/redskin-talk\/episodes\/2a13bf6f-c182-4e95-a153-abf1c73ae882\/embed?theme=light-blue\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n"
  7. author => "Rich Tandler"
  8. mps => {"author":"Rich Tandler","league":"","sport":"","sponsor":""}
  9. published => "1511962800"
  10. created => "1511963423"
  11. changed => "1511966343"
  12. status => "1"
  13. hero_image_credit => "USA Today Sports Images"
  14. tags => [{"tid":"1606","name":"Latest Headlines","url":"tags\/latest-headlines"},{"tid":"1471","name":"Must See","url":"tags\/must-see"},{"tid":"14916","name":"Real Redskins","url":"tags\/real-redskins"},{"tid":"1616","name":"Redskins Top Stories","url":"tags\/redskins-top-stories"},{"tid":"2356","name":"Rich Tandler","url":"tags\/rich-tandler"}]
  15. section => "Redskins"
  16. team => "Washington Redskins"
  17. chrome_data => "{\"league\":\"\",\"sport\":\"\",\"sponsor\":\"\"}"
  18. image => {"uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/washington\/2017\/11\/29\/doctson_td_vs_nyg_usat.png","alt":"doctson_td_vs_nyg_usat.png","title":"After a slow start, Redskins' red zone efficiency has been red hot"}
  19. sponsor => ""
  20. region => "washington"
  21. fb_url => "https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=1175440639277882&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fwashington%2Fredskins%2Fafter-slow-start-redskins-red-zone-efficiency-has-been-red-hot&display=popup"
  22. tw_url => "https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=After%20a%20slow%20start%2C%20Redskins%27%20red%20zone%20efficiency%20has%20been%20red%20hot&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fwashington%2Fredskins%2Fafter-slow-start-redskins-red-zone-efficiency-has-been-red-hot&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fwashington%2Fredskins%2Fafter-slow-start-redskins-red-zone-efficiency-has-been-red-hot"
  23. mailto => "mailto:?subject=After%20a%20slow%20start%2C%20Redskins%27%20red%20zone%20efficiency%20has%20been%20red%20hot&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fwashington%2Fredskins%2Fafter-slow-start-redskins-red-zone-efficiency-has-been-red-hot"
  24. tags_hide => []
  25. type => "article"
  26. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/washington\/redskins\/after-slow-start-redskins-red-zone-efficiency-has-been-red-hot.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/washington\/2017\/11\/29\/doctson_td_vs_nyg_usat.png"]}
  27. orig_image => {"uri":"public:\/\/2018\/10\/05\/doctson_td_vs_nyg_usat.png","alt":"doctson_td_vs_nyg_usat.png","title":"After a slow start, Redskins' red zone efficiency has been red hot"}
  28. article_type => "article"
Redskins

Redskins

Last year, one of the Redskins’ big problems on offense was scoring touchdowns in the red zone. They were able to punch it into the end zone from inside the opponents’ 20 yard line just 45.9 percent of the time. That was 29th in the NFL.

It was a much-discussed topic over the offseason and Jay Gruden and company vowed to fix it. But during the first quarter of the season, things went in the wrong direction. In their first four games, the Redskins were successful on just four of their 11 red zone opportunities, a 36.3 percent conversion rate.  

MORE REDSKINS: BROWN AMONG 5 UNDER PRESSURE

In their last seven games, however, they have turned it around. They have scored touchdowns on 17 of their 25 red zone trips, a 68 percent success rate. That would put them near the top of the NFL had they produced like that over the course of the entire season. As it is, they are in the top 10 in red zone efficiency, tied for eighth.

Much of the Redskins’ improvement has come through the air. In the first four games in the red zone, Kirk Cousins completed 53.8 percent of his passes for 2.5 yards per attempt with three touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 67.0. Since then, he’s completed 60.6 percent for 4.5 per attempt, 10 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 110.9 rating.

The team’s rushing average actually has gone down, from 2.5 yards per carry in the first four games to 1.5 since. But they scored just one rushing touchdown in the first four games and seven in their last seven games.

 

RELATED: NFL POWER RANKINGS AFTER WEEK 12

The red zone success has resulted in the Redskins scoring more points per game but it hasn’t been the great leap that one might expect. The first four games they put up 22.7 points per game; it’s gone up to 23.8 since then. That’s not insignificant but clearly, the Redskins would like to put more points on the board. Another red zone trip or two per game would work wonders.

It should be noted that the Redskins were mostly healthy during the early part of the season. In fact, the injury bug really started to hit in the fifth game, right when the red zone woes started to turn around. I’m not sure what that means, but it is a credit to the team that they have been able to actually improve in a key area while dealing with so many missing starters.

Stay up to date on the Redskins. Rich Tandler covers the team 365 days a year. Like his Facebook page Facebook.com/TandlerNBCS and follow him on Twitter @TandlerNBCS.