The Washington Redskins held the Dallas Cowboys’ offense to only 213 total yards Sunday night. That was Washington’s best defensive performance since holding the St. Louis Rams to 172 yards in Week 4 of the 2011 season. In addition, it was also the Cowboys lowest offensive yardage total since Week 9 of the 2010 season. Yet, Washington fell to Dallas 31-16, in a game most figured would depend heavily on how the Redskins’ defense would play.
Well, it didn’t. The Washington Redskins wasted an excellent defensive outing for several obvious reasons, in my mind at least:
- Special Teams: This group allowed 222 total yards — nine more yards than the defense allowed. In fact, 14 of the Dallas Cowboys’ points came courtesy of Washington’s special teams group. Cowboys’ returner David Harris had an 86 yard touchdown in the first half and a 90 yard kickoff return in the 3rd quarter that set the Cowboys up for a Terrance Williams’ touchdown. Washington’s special team coordinator was also flagged for “unsportsmanlike conduct” on Harris’ touchdown. Without those special team woes, the Cowboys would have had 17 points — one more than the Washington Redskins.
- Offense in the Redzone: The Washington Redskins were 0-3 in the red zone and had to settle for three field goals. First of all — the playcalling, I thought, was atrocious in the red zone. Let’s break that down:
First Quarter:
First question – why force the situation with Alfred Morris? He’s not your receiving back. He should have caught the football. But again, he’s not your receiving back. This playcall should have been for Roy Helu Jr. I simply don’t understand why they refuse to use their playmakers.
Second question – what happened to taking a shot in the end zone? You have two capable receiving tight ends. You have a 6ft 2 receiver. Why does Josh Morgan — a physical receiver never get red zone playtime? The Redskins aren’t equipped to score in the redzone, apparently.
Second Quarter:
It’s worth noting that earlier on the drive Washington wasted a lot of time after Jordan Reed’s three yard catch. He caught the football with 1:23 remaining in the half — the Redskins didn’t call a timeout until the 44 second mark. Why? Because that situation is the primary reason why they can’t run no-huddle offense more often — QB Robert Griffin III has to tell each player, one-by-one, the playcall. I credit him for not forcing the play and finally calling the timeout after not liking the blitz look Dallas dialed up. But the Redskins allowed them the opportunity to dial up that blitz look!
First question: Why is there so much miscommunication between Griffin and receiver Pierre Garcon? On the first pass to Garcon — he sat on the route and looked to be running a comeback. Robert took a fade shot in the end zone. Not only on that play, but there have been numerous option routes that Griffin and Garcon have read differently.
Second question: Again, where are the end zone shots?
Third question: With 9 seconds left you basically settle for a field goal by calling a QB keeper? Again, why no end zone shots?
Third Quarter:
First question: Why two straight runs?
Second question: Why did it seem like the Redskins came into this game not knowing they MUST block Sean Lee? On that Morris run, Darrel Young basically opted not to even touch Lee — he was the lead blocker on the play.
- Robert Griffin III: he didn’t play a bad game — in fact, I saw a lot of progress being made with him stepping up in the pocket and improvement with trust in his legs. But he did miss several opportunities being inaccurate at times and on other occasions — not surveying his other receiving options. I understand with Kyle Shanahan, one of his strengths is getting receivers open. So, Robert trusts that his first option will be open and often times takes the first read. Sometimes it works — like on that 26 yard throw to Santana Moss in the 4th quarter… But if Robert would have surveyed the field on that throw, it could have been a touchdown to Aldrick Robinson because of a busted coverage:
This is a non-all 22 look, so I can’t really show you how it looked right before the ball was thrown. But Robert locked in on Santana and instead of seeing Aldrick springing loose, he threw it to Santana. While it was a nice throw and catch, it could have been a TD on this play.
The Washington Redskins are now 1-4 (0-2 in the NFC East). The schedule doesn’t get easier with Chicago and Denver as the team’s next two games. But at this point, the Redskins are beating themselves. They have zero impact on special teams. The interior offensive line has struggled. Playmakers are not being used. WR2 has not stepped up and Fred Davis has been forced into a primary blocking tight end role. The offensive staff has struggled mightily. They have flashed ability to do things, but I feel like the staff is forcing a script and not adjusting to what defenses give them. The seam was open all night against Dallas, yet they didn’t attack it. These things are fixable. But they need to be fixed immediately for Washington to salvage any opportunity to turn this season around soon.
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