There’s a new head coach in the nation’s capital as Jay Gruden will take over for the departed Mike Shanahan after an abysmal 3-13 season. Gruden spent the last three years as the OC in Cincinnati. Last year the Bengals had the league’s #10 offense and #8 passing game while scoring the 6th-most points. He brings a pass-heavy attack that will be a (welcome) change from Shanahan’s running philosophy.
Consequently RGIII won’t be running as much in Gruden’s new system. The new coach has already stated he’s not a fan of the read option so expect RGIII to be in the pocket more often. There will still be designed rollouts and such but this year’s Redskins will look to stretch the field. In the last five years Griffin has tore his ACL twice, his LCL once, and had a concussion. If his O-line can keep him upright and healthy it will be interesting to see how he performs in his first season as a pocket-passer.
RB Alfred Morris has put up 2,885 yards rushing and 20 TDs over his first two NFL seasons. Gruden prefers a power-running game compliment to his pass-first offense, so gone are the days of Morris picking his spots behind a zone blocking scheme. His numbers will probably decrease due to less carries and him being asked to run downhill more often, but he’s still an elite back. Roy Helu is an excellent complement as the No. 2 RB. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry last season, and is one of the game’s premier pass-protection backs. Some thought FB Darrel Young would be cut because Gruden didn’t use a FB much in Cincy preferring the two TE set instead. Young is a fantastic lead blocker and it seems Gruden will keep him on because he’s simply too good to cut.
DeSean Jackson is the biggest addition to the Skins. He comes over from the rival Eagles coming off a great year in which he caught 82 passes for 1,332 yards and 9 TDs. He is the exact kind of deep threat that Gruden’s system requires. Pair him with Pierre Garcon – who is coming off a career-year in which he caught 113 passes for 1,346 yards and 5 scores – and the Redskins have one of the league’s best receiver tandems. They have great depth as well with the signing of Andre Roberts from Arizona, longtime vet Santana Moss, and Leonard Hankerson. Hankerson will start the year on PUP list coming back from ACL surgery but should be ready to play sooner rather than later.
Jordan Reed is a very promising TE who lots of scouts think is on the verge of a breakout year. His 2013 rookie campaign was cut to nine games due to a concussion, but he still managed 45 catches for 499 yards. Second-stringer Logan Paulsen is a good in-line blocker.
The Hogs have no shortage of backs and ends that can block, but not so much where it counts most on the O-line. They dropped center Will Montgomery who had an awful season last year, and will move Kory Lichtensteiger to the middle. He was a center in college but has played LG the last four years. RG Chris Chester is an excellent run blocker but pass protection isn’t exactly his forte. He’ll have to watch his back because if he isn’t suited for the new pass-heavy system third-round pick Spencer Long out of Nebraska will replace him. The same goes for starting RT Tyler Polumbus who is coming off a subpar year and will have another third-rounder Morgan Moses of Virginia breathing down his neck. The Skins signed free agent RG Shawn Lauvao from the Browns for 4 years and $17 million despite his average performance last year and will move him to LG hoping he’s better suited for that side. At least they have an All-Pro where it counts most with big bad Trent Williams at LT. The 6’5″ 337 pounder is one the best lineman in the NFL.
The top offseason acquisition on D was former Cowboy Jason Hatcher. The Hogs will look to improve upon their #30 ranking on defense last year and Hatcher will be expected to create a pass rush which was nonexistent from the line in D.C. last year. In 2013 Hatcher had 11 sacks, but that was a career-high as he never had more than 4.5 in his previous seven seasons. He’s coming off a knee scope and is currently on the PUP list. Stephen Bowen also will be starting camp on the PUP list as he had microfracture surgery to repair his torn PCL (which he played two games on.) He’s going to have to earn his job back as Jarvis Jenkins has looked much-improved in camp so far and Chris Baker will push for playing time as well. If Bowen and Hatcher can return to form the Redskin D-line will be significantly improved.
In the middle is where the Redskins struggle most. Perry Riley is average at best and they have no one else to speak of at ILB. Barry Cofield is a good DT who can provide an interior pass rush. In a 3-4 system like the one the Skins play his lack of run-stuffing ability makes him more suited to play DE. His best position is a DT in a 4-3 scheme as he was when he played for the Giants. Nonetheless Cofield is the best the Hogs have at NT and will be coming back from sports hernia surgery in the offseason. It doesn’t seem like the Skins will be any better at stopping the run.
Despite their problems at ILB, Washington has two great pass rushers at OLB. Brian Orakpo had 10 sacks and a pick-6 last year, and Ryan Kerrigan added 8.5 sacks while forcing 4 fumbles.
CBs DeAngelo Hall and David Amerson won’t exactly be striking fear into the hearts of opposing QBs, and new addition nickel back Tracy Porter from Oakland is recovering from shoulder surgery. If he can’t go another new addition E.J. Biggers from T.B. will – but either will just be a placeholder until fourth-round pick Bashaud Breeland is ready for the role. Not much improvement here.
At safety Ryan Clark returns to D.C. after eight years in Pittsburgh. He’ll turn 35 in October but is coming off three consecutive 100-tackle seasons and can still cover deep. Most importantly he will allow helmet-to-helmet king Brandon Meriweather to go back to his best position at SS – that is until he is inevitably suspended for a dirty hit.
VERDICT: Washington fans should be excited because they will get to see an explosive offense that attacks deep for the first time in the RGIII era. They look to have a playoff caliber offense if they can get it blocked, but a below average D will hold them back in 2014.
Article By: Anthony Schiano
