The Washington Redskins need to move on from the Mike Shanahan era before it is too late.
After Thursday night’s 34-27 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Washington is sitting at 3-6 for the second consecutive season. Except, this time it isn’t attributed to injuries — the Washington Redskins have been out-coached, out-executed and out-disciplined all season. That’s simply inexcusable for a team in the fourth year of the Shanahan era.
Statistically, they’re one of the better offenses in the league. In reality, the running game has been good. But the passing offense has been simply inconsistent. Some of it is because of poor execution. Kyle Shanahan has been a popular target for criticism due to his lack of consistent playcalling, inability to adjust, among other things. It took eight games for Alfred Morris to have 20 or more carries. That’s utterly inexcusable, with exception of a few early season games in which Washington was playing from behind.
The defense has been an issue throughout Mike Shanahan’s entire tenure with the Washington Redskins. This year alone, the front 7 isn’t what many thought it would be. The secondary has been spotty — no surprise. But you’d expect some progress from this group in their fourth season together and it really hasn’t been much growth.
Mike Shanahan set himself up for failure day one in that regard when he hired a 4-3 defensive coordinator and gave him a 3-4 book. The 3-4 is something Shanahan wanted. And although Jim Haslett spent some time coaching a 3-4 early in his career with the Steelers, he was not a 3-4 coach through and through.
The Washington Redskins’ special teams has been, well, special this season without longtime coach Danny Smith. Coach Mike Shanahan brought in Keith Burns this year after spending six seasons with the Denver Broncos. Players have already said it’s taken a while to buy into his plan. That says it all.
So when the offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator are all under heavy criticism, who does that reflect on the most? The head football coach.
Many will point to the lack of talent due to an uncapped year in 2010, Shanahan’s first season at helm. In addition to, a $36 million cap penalty stretched between the past two seasons. It put a damper on Shanahan’s attempt to rebuild a roster through free agency, no doubt. But Mike Shanahan hasn’t been able to find guys in the draft. That’s how the best teams build.
Shanahan’s first setback came when he shipped a 2010 2nd round pick and 2011 4th round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for QB Donovan McNabb. We all know how that worked out. He went on to trade for an injury prone offensive tackle in Jammal Brown, who proved to be no different in Washington. The Redskins were already without a third and sixth round pick in 2010 due to transactions the previous regime made. So they entered the 2010 draft without a 2nd or 3rd round pick. They were able to get an All-Pro Left Tackle and a linebacker in Perry Riley who is currently a starter. The rest of the draft was a wash, although they only had two picks in the top 5 rounds.
In 2011, Washington entered the draft without a 3rd or 4th round pick, but ended up recouping those picks after trading back in the first round to draft Ryan Kerrigan. With the trade, Washington was thought to have one of their most complete drafts in years with one pick in each of the first four rounds and eight selections in the final three rounds. But revisiting that draft with those players now in their third years, the Redskins didn’t “hit” on most of those picks.
Nine of the twelve selected players are still on the roster, but only four are contributing at their respective positions. Niles Paul contributes mostly on special teams. Aldrick Robinson receives more playtime on offense than Royster, but both haven’t materialized into consistent contributors. Jarvis Jenkins hasn’t lived up to his rookie year training camp hype — for several reasons. Leonard Hankerson has looked decent as of late, but the Redskins didn’t draft him thinking he’d look decent. They thought Hankerson was a steal and a guy who would eventually become a stud. Shanahan and RB coach Bobby Turner knows how to find running backs and netted a good one in Roy Helu. However, with 12 selections in 2011, I’d consider that to be a major missed opportunity for Shanahan and staff. First round pick Ryan Kerrigan shouldn’t be the only quality starter out of all those picks.
In 2012, Shanahan redeemed himself and gave the Washington Redskins hope for years to come by trading up to get QB Robert Griffin III. Although Washington traded a 2012 second round pick and two first round picks (2013 and 2014) to net Griffin — it turned out to be Shanahan’s best trade. Plus, they still had four picks between the 3rd and 5th round, which are quality rounds to find players. The goal was to add some depth to the interior line and grab guys who could be eventual starters. Washington ended up reaching in the third round for an offensive lineman in Josh Leribeus, who has yet to contribute, for numerous reasons. Then took Adam Gettis in the 5th round. Those are generally good rounds to get interior linemen and neither seems to be close to becoming a contributor.
Other than the running back position (which Shanahan has always had success drafting), the Washington Redskins haven’t necessarily done well outside of the 1st round. He’s had a lot of late round picks, but it wasn’t because of the former regime. Washington’s hand has been forced in free agency, however, they needed to build through the draft and they haven’t.
The Washington Redskins have to do what’s in the best interest of their franchise quarterback at the end of the season. It sounds selfish, but reality is — the Redskins finally have one and they can’t afford to mess up his development. Outside of the talent, it’s inexcusable for this team to be out-coached each week. It defeats the purpose of having a big name in the business like Mike Shanahan.
The main clash seems to be with the father-son duo. It’s just not working. Kyle Shanahan is a scripted coordinator. Guys like Pierre Garcon and Robert Griffin III are not used to that. Garcon came from an Indianapolis Colts’ offense with Peyton Manning at helm where they had numerous option routes and spread the field. Griffin comes from a unique spread offense with a lot of outside the number passes. Both are used to offenses very much predicated on tempo. That’s not Kyle Shanahan’s style. He’s a good offensive coach, but he’s boxing-in these players.
I would not be surprised if the Washington Redskins move on from Mike Shanahan and go after Baylor University’s head coach Art Briles. Some people believe he wants to stay in Texas. But from everything I’ve heard, he’d be willing to take that leap to the NFL if the “right situation” presents itself. Reuniting with the quarterback who helped him put Baylor on the map would be one of those “right situations.”
Briles is putting on a coaching clinic in Texas. Many will point to the lack of a route tree and playbook at Baylor, but I’d direct you to the number of Baylor receivers who have had instant success in the NFL. With Briles comes offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery, who played a key part in the maturation process of Robert Griffin III at Baylor. Meshing them all back together in the NFL, I believe, would be a game changer for the Washington Redskins.
When it comes to deciding if Mike Shanahan should be re-signed, there will be one question at the end of the day — is he the “long term” answer? The Redskins will not bring Shanahan back on a one year deal. It’s either long term or good-bye.
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