Here is what you need to know on this Tuesday, December 12, five days before the Washington Redskins play the Cardinals at FedEx Field.
Timeline
Today’s schedule: No media availability
Days until:
—Broncos @ Redskins Christmas Eve (12/24) 12
—Redskins @ Giants (12/17) 19
—NFL Draft (4/26/18) 135
Four Downs
First down
In their last two games, both blowout losses, the Redskins have had one play that went for 30 yards or more. They are not that different from most other NFL teams in that they aren’t going to consistently grind out touchdown drives; there are too many chances for errors. “We’re not making any plays,” said Jay Gruden when asked why the team has struggled. “Offensively we made a couple of plays to get six points on the board but after that we missed throws, we didn’t target some runs right, we didn’t block at the point of attack correctly, we didn’t tackle, we didn’t make any spectacular plays, athletic plays like you are used to seeing this team make. When that happens, your offense is going to sputter.”
Second down
How hot are seats getting at Redskins Park? While it’s difficult to read the tea leaves there, I don’t think that we are looking at wholesale changes in coaches or upper management. Jay Gruden just signed an extension. Greg Manusky has only been on the job for a year. Doug Williams hasn’t even been through a draft or free agency cycle in his new personnel job. Special teams coach Ben Kotwica’s changes have played well the last two years and certainly, injuries played a key role in the struggles there this year. While it might be tempting to do some house cleaning after a disappointing season, the likely outcome is that the injuries give everyone a pass and we see what happens next year.
Third down
Bashaud Breeland didn’t exactly get benched against the Chargers but Quinton Dunbar did play more as the No. 2 cornerback. Dunbar played 47 of the 72 snaps and Breeland played 28. This could be one of the first moves we’ve seen with an eye on 2018. Breeland will be an unrestricted free agent and Dunbar will remain under team control as a restricted free agent. The conventional wisdom is that Breeland will be gone next year as he will command a contract in the $8 million to $10 million range. Dunbar has played plenty of snaps and has been in games during many key situations during his three years here so the move wasn’t that eye-opening. Putting in Dunbar was not as risky a move as putting in, say, Fabian Moreau would have been. The rookie has played just 54 defensive snaps all year.
Fourth down
Kirk Cousins’ 151 yards passing were the fewest he has had in a game that he started and finished in his NFL career. It was as unproductive a game as we’ve seen from him. After scoring a touchdown and then losing the ball on downs in Chargers territory in the second quarter, the Redskins had seven straight drives that ended with punts from their own territory. Of course, the problem wasn’t just the offense. As Dan Steinberg pointed out, this was the first game since 1978 that the Redskins allowed more than 480 yards while gaining less than 210. This team isn’t tanking to try to get a better draft pick but if they were, the Chargers game is what it would look like.
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.
Tandler on Twitter
https://twitter.com/willbarlow/status/940092998271954946I can’t speak for everyone but I think fans knew full well what those games meant. Misery here not due to playoff elimination but due to how poor the performance was. https://t.co/s0yFTw2Yw1
— Rich Tandler (@TandlerNBCS) December 11, 2017
In case you missed it
- Where would Redskins draft if the season ended after Week 14?
- Insider's Take: Questioning Redskins' Preparation
- Breaking down 5 key moments from Redskins vs. Chargers
- Blah. Blah. Blah.
- Who deserves most blame for Redskins' latest loss?