Matt Jones. I think Winston Wolf put it best. Redskins fans need to not get too excited and realize that Alfred Morris is still the starting running back, and most of Jones's yards came against the Lions' second defense. But Jones's skill set looked damn good, and the Marshawn Lynch comparisons are looking not as crazy now as when Redskins Nation let out a collective "Who?" when Jones was drafted in the third round. And how about the Redskins' Secondary? After last week having a so-so game they had a less crappy game this week with the physicality they showed in run support and pass coverage. David Amerson looked especially good in his closing speed in defending comeback routes and almost had an interception on the first plays of the game. He just needs to learn to wrap up in tackling. Kevin Hatcher had a two rushes on Matt Stafford that showed he may not have lost all the mojo from two seasons ago, Andre Roberts' punt return gave a much needed spark to the special teams, and let's hope Ricky Jean Francois gets a chance to do more of this throughout the season.
The negatives need to start with the starting offensive line. We saw Brandon Scherff get stood up and pushed back about three yards off the line again in this game (The first clip is Scherff, the second is the delayed blitz play). Last time Alfred Morris was able to compensate and gain 19 yards, but this time it was in pass protection and it resulted in Scherff's man getting a sack. Willie Smith forced Dan Snyder to buy a plastic bubble for Trent Williams to walk around in all season to ensure he does not get injured, and the assault the Robert Griffin faced all night had to do in part to the poor play of the guys up front. And if any team wants to stop the Redskins on any pass play over 2 yards, call a delayed blitz. The Browns killed the first team last week with blitzes coming once the Redskins players committed to blocking assignments, and the Lions were able to have delayed rushers come in untouched to crush Griffin and McCoy on two occasions using this tactic. Let's see if we can fix that for the upcoming season. Finally, the secondary gets a thumbs down in the "defending the pick route" category. The Browns scored on us last week using that play at the goal line, and the Lions did it again this week with the same results. It is a tricky play to defend, but it can only come through better communication an play recognition that comes from coaching. C'mon Raheem Morris. But let us finish where we began with the most glaring negative from that game. Robert Griffin.
It is clear that Robert Griffin has not acquired any skills that would intimate that he is striving to become a better pocket passer. He may think that, but the Lions game showed the same mistakes. His performance is tough to assess because of the poor play from the offensive line, but he still stares down receivers, he holds the ball for too long as seen on his last play (watch it at the end of the clip about Scherff. Griffin has people open on the check down to his left but he decides to try and extend the play on a 3rd and 16....in the preseason), he does not identify pressure pre-snap in order to adjust his read progression, and he has poor pocket awareness. These may be the most important detriments in Robert's game. Griffin's sacks may be due to the fact that he is not making the right read based on what the defense is showing, and he is not calling out a change in protection to give him more time. The drive before the one where Griffin was injured ended because he was sacked on a 3rd and 2. How long does a 3rd and 2 play need to develop? The Lions were showing blitz, but Griffin did little before the snap to adjust his reads or protection in order to give him more time or a quick read in order to avoid contact behind the line. I saw Kirk Cousins call out pre-snap adjustments in the waning parts of this game against 3rd and 4th stringers, and both McCoy and Cousins seem to have a better idea of where to look for the open receive in Jay Gruden's system. The play that before Robert was injured (also on the clip) shows him running right into the pressure and not knowing how to avoid it. I saw Colt McCoy identify a breakdown in the offensive line and scramble for 11 yards. These deficiencies leads to the final conclusion of this piece.
Robert Griffin should not be the starter this season. It is clear that the coaching staff does not have faith in Griffin's ability to run the offense based on their play calling against the Lions. All of Griffin's plays had him stand like a statue while he was under assault, while McCoy got two designed roll out calls AND A READ OPTION PLAY, and Cousins had one designed roll out in order to quell the blitz a bit. Why not move the pocket for Robert when it was obvious that the Lions were teeing off on him? Either the Redskins Coaches don't trust his legs, his decision making, his grasp of the offense, or a combination of all three. Whatever the reason, it is clear that the offense is more dynamic with either Cousins or McCoy and we will get to see what one of them can do against first teamers against the Ravens. I say start Kirk Cousins against the Ravens and for the beginning of the season. We need to know if we want to resign him before he becomes a free agent this offseason, and I think that Cousins gives The Redskins best opportunity to have a decent season this year based on what we have seen over the first two preseason games. It is clear that Robert Griffin is not ready to give up on RG3. If Griffin is named the starter, then we know that the Redskins organization is also not ready to give up on RG3. But RG3 only exists as a feeble marketing ploy that does not hold a fraction of the weight it once did in this area. Robert Griffin needs to be the player that takes the field this season in order for him to have the best opportunity to
show that he is the best quarterback in the NFL.
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