The Washington Redskins start their 2012 season tonight – and presumably, a new era in Redskins football – by taking on the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium at 7:00 pm. With all of the questions surrounding the team: injuries at key positions, starting lineup battles, expensive rookie quarterbacks seeing NFL action for the first time… lots of questions will begin to be addressed to a small extent. Many won’t be answered even until the end of the preseason and even beyond. But while the questions will remain, there are at least three things that need to happen to give RedskinsNation hope for the future.
1. Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan needs to prove he can manage a rookie quarterback with such a mangled offensive line
Last season’s game against the Buffalo Bills is one most fans would like to forget. It was a shut-out that the Bills won 23-0 and it was hard to find much good to say about the team afterward. A lot of injuries plagued the team at the time but the big difference between then and now is at the quarterback position.
Quarterback John Beck led the team that day (becoming the 21st quarterback to start a game for Redskins in 19 seasons) because previously starting QB Rex Grossman had been benched by head coach Mike Shanahan. Beck was sacked 10 times in that game (franchise records for both teams) in part, because he consistently held on to the ball too long.
Maybe the younger Shanahan called the plays based on what he had seen earlier in the week during practices but, in my opinion, he should have run the ball more considering the situation… especially after it became clear that Beck was going to struggle. Shanahan called 33 pass plays – 22 of which Beck completed. Two of the QB’s passes were intercepted. On the other hand, running back Ryan Torain had only eight rushing attempts.
Granted, the offensive line was, as I said, mangled and looked nothing like the starting line that had helped the team win three out of the first four games. Sean Locklear was playing left tackle rather than Trent Williams. After guard Kory Lichtensteiger was injured, starting center Will Montgomery was moved into his position and Erik Cook replaced Montgomery at center. It was that situation that had fans and media asking, “why is he not running the ball more?”
The offensive line that will protect Griffin tonight will likely include Maurice Hurt, Adam Gettis and Tyler Polumbus. It will definitely not include Lichtensteiger and Jammal Brown or even Chris Chester. Shanahan needs to call the plays that will give his new quarterback confidence in both himself and his teammates during this – his first NFL experience – and much of that will come only if he stays upright. There’s a question at the running back position anyway… why not give Roy Helu, Evan Royster, Alfred Morris, Tristan Davis, Lennon Creer and Antwon Bailey the ball the majority of the time and keep Griffin from having to run for his life while the offensive line battles with pass protection? I am not insisting that they will but it’s clearly possible they will struggle.
That shut-out last season was not just the fault of Shanahan and his play calling. It was clear from watching game tape that there were missed opportunities on that field and execution problems. But if the OC starts with good play-calling, the likelihood of execution is certainly higher.
As a side note to this: part of managing this rookie, is letting him be himself. That doesn’t mean letting him go out and call the plays and run all over the field at will. But Griffin is a football player and if the coaches don’t let him be that, he will not be successful.
2. If the Redskins have opportunities to kick extra points and field goals, those points need to go on the board
There isn’t much worse for a football fan than having to worry about whether or not the place kicker on his/her team is going to make a chip-shot when the game is on the line. Last year’s starter, Graham Gano, has a strong leg. There’s no doubt about it. In practices, both last season and this one, he has made 60+ yard kicks. And yet in 2011, there were times that he missed field goals that he should have been able to make with his eyes closed. The collective gasp of Washington fans could be hear ‘round the world when he missed sure kicks.
Mike Shanahan has always seemed to support Gano but he obviously is unsure enough of him to bring in veteran kicker Neil Rackers to compete with the place kicker. So far, the two have both made and missed the same number of kicks in practices so game situations are going to be important in order for the coach to make a decision. Gano’s record was 31 of 41 field goals last season (75 percent) and of the 10 kicks he did miss, half of them were less than 40 yards. He also missed an extra point kick, which was hard to stomach. The Redskins have a new quarterback and a beat up offensive line. They should not have to worry about their kicker. They need to pick one of these guys and whoever they decide on, that player needs to make those kicks.
3. Most obvious/most important – Griffin needs to come away from this game healthy
No matter how much potential he has, no matter how much fans want to see him shine, Griffin needs to be around to learn and shine the next 19 games. Mike Shanahan has said he will play Griffin anywhere from 12 – 20 plays. Depending on whether or not there are many three-and-outs, 12 – 20 plays could be four series or it could be half of the first quarter. If he comes out and flashes in the first two series, if I were the head coach, I would pull him then. The rookie has plenty of time to show RedskinsNation what he can do but, if he is hurt in a meaningless game, it won’t matter how much talent he has.
Hail.