Despite Injuries, Redskins Put on Show vs. Jaguars

The beautiful blue skies that welcomed in the Washington Redskins’ home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars would be a prelude for a day that saw every human emotion possible. Optimism would start the day as Redskins starting quarterback Robert Griffin, III would quickly make his mark by running to the right for a 12-yard gain from the shotgun formation.  The resulting play showed that he could still beat teams with his elusive rushing abilities.

Two plays later Griffin would find wide out DeSean Jackson on a nicely thrown deep ball, showing that he could beat teams with his arm as well.  Unfortunately, the play was ruled an incompletion.

Six plays after that, the Washington Redskins’ 2014 season became one of the biggest storylines in the NFL (outside of the negative domestic and parental violence stories that have besieged the league and front page tabloids) and took the team and its fans from that optimism to gloom and grief.

On second-and-four, Griffin scrambled to his right to avoid pressure and, as he was winding up to throw on the run, he planted his foot. His left ankle turned awkwardly and he went down.  Watching, as he laid on the FedEx Field turf, everyone in the press box knew something was not right with the third-year franchise player.  He would stay down for several minutes, eventually needing to be carted off.  RGIII has since confirmed that he dislocated his left ankle on the play. Fortunately, no surgery is required but he will not be on the field for some time.

After what the team had already gone through and with what transpired on that play, some would have folded up shop and felt sorry for themselves.

Not the Washington Redskins. Under first year head coach Jay Gruden, the squad showed a surprising resiliency. They went on to beat Jacksonville both physically on the field and in every statistical category possible. Back-up quarterback Kirk Cousins came in and ignited an offense that had been stagnant throughout both the preseason and in last week’s opener against the Houston Texans.

Two plays after Griffin’s injury — on the same drive, in fact — Cousins would find fullback Darrel Young on a 20-yard touchdown pass.

On the ensuing offensive possession, the team would find itself in yet another major development as the aforementioned Jackson — their prized free agent acquisition — went to the turf while attempting to catch a deep pass from Cousins.  The Pro Bowler would lay on the field for several minutes and eventually require assistance off of the field.  The receiver would later walk to the locker room but was ruled out for the rest of the game with a left shoulder injury.

This is where the game could have easily gotten away from the Redskins.  Washington did not dwell on things or feel self-pity about losing its two most high-profile offensive players to injury. Instead, it took out its preseason and first-game frustrations on a hapless Jaguars team that, a week before, had led the very talented Philadelphia Eagles by 17 points at halftime.

Wide outs Andre Roberts and Ryan Grant made several big plays and performed with passion all day long, combining to haul in nine catches for 114 yards.  Tight end Niles Paul, who has done a Jordan Reed[esque] job in the absence of the second-year player, continues his emergence as a player to keep your eye on.  He had his second straight break-out game, catching eight balls for 99 yards and a touchdown. Head coach Jay Gruden has noticed that Paul is becoming a factor for the team.

“Niles is one of the most improved players on this team I believe,” Gruden acknowledged, “Not just in the passing game but in the running game. He has done an outstanding job blocking and, not to mention, he is one of coach [Ben] Kotwica’s core guys on special teams. So he has really been a very active player for us; a very valuable player for us, very much improved in the passing game as far as route running, route definition. I think he is getting better and better. He can run. The most impressive thing to me is his blocking ability, both in pass protection and in the running game. He is very strong. [He] has improved strength in the weight room with [trainer] Ray Wright and it’s just impressive. He is really, really starting to come on and become a big factor for us at the tight end position.”

With everything that happened on the offense Sunday, it would have been easy to overlook what happened on the defensive side of the ball.  The unit played well all preseason as well as last week in Houston. But on this late fall-like day, it made a statement of historic proportions.

The defense completely dominated Jacksonville and players swarmed to the ball on every play. 

Over the years, the pass rush has been noticeably absent. However, it has recently become a strength with the acquisition of Jason Hatcher. The defensive lineman consistently gets a push up the middle and his play frees up the edges for linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.

Hatcher was credited with 1.5 sacks on the day and was disruptive as advertised.  Orakpo would finish the day with a sack and linebackers Perry Riley and Keenan Robinson would register 1.5 and 0.5 sacks respectfully.

But the man of the day on defense was left outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan.  Kerrigan, time-after-time, would beat whomever Jacksonville lined up in front of him.  He would have a career day, tallying four sacks.  His constant pressure enabled the Redskins’ defense to tie a team record of 10 sacks in a game.  The mark actually tied the 1977 famed “Over the Hill Gang” defense.

This win was a total team effort that the head coach was certainly excited about.

“You know, my first year coaching with my brother in 2002, the [Tampa Bay] Buccaneers had a pretty good defense with [Warren] Sapp and Simeon [Rice] and all those guys. So we saw a few of those,” Gruden responded when asked if he had ever been a part of a stellar defensive effort like the one his defense put on Sunday. “Firsthand, I mean, 10 sacks and, just the whole defense in general flying around to the football. The energy that they played with… I haven’t seen it in a long time. So, [I’m] just impressed with the whole energy in general and people talk about the sacks. But the coverage was outstanding by the defensive backs and the linebackers — Keenan [Robinson] and Perry [Riley, Jr.] — they were flying all over the joint. And they don’t get any credit as far as the stat people are concerned. But they had a lot to do with the success of the defense also. So [I’m] very impressed with the whole unit. Coach [Jim] Haslett called a great game obviously, and the defensive coaches had those guys ready to play and it showed.”

A day that started off so badly could actually be the catalyst that awakens a potentially dangerous football team… just as long as the energy and unity that they displayed on Sunday continues.