Redskins First Quarter 2015… What We’ve Learned… Part 2

The NFL has just completed the first quarter of its 16-game season and in Washington, it’s been an interesting one. From the Redskins first 17-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins through this past week’s 23-20 win against NFC East division rival Philadelphia Eagles, the season has had a few bumps to this point. But things have progressed in a way that indicate that fans might not have to bear the familiar attrition as the season progresses that they have endured in seasons past. The direction of the franchise is trending up, not down.

As we head into Week 5 of the Washington Redskins 2015 regular seasons, it’s a good time to take a look at what we’ve learned about this team. In Part 1, we acknowledged that defensive coordinator Joe Barry is better defensive coordinator than some may have thought. Part 2 addresses another point:

The head coach is good at putting the right players on the field in the right spots

Throughout OTAs, minicamps and late into training camp, it appeared that quarterback Robert Griffin, III would remain the team’s starter, as was announced back at the NFL Combine by Head Coach Jay Gruden. But Griffin continued to have trouble in the pocket and then he got the concussion. The team had paid a lot for the former Rookie of the Year and many assumed the team would stick with him, especially because the word was that the edict had come down from the owner Dan Snyder and President Bruce Allen.

Apparently, Gruden does have the autonomy he claimed that he had and exercised it by naming former backup QB, Kirk Cousins as starter for 2015. While this proclamation was met with relief by some and dismay by others, it was a good one. Cousins runs Gruden’s offense well and, since being named the starter, while still making mistakes, he has proven that he can fight through them in the heat of battle. It will be hard to forget his 90-yard, 15-play drive to win the match-up against Philadelphia last week. Gruden did the right thing starting Cousins despite possible pressure to do otherwise.

The idea that a team would take their first round stud offensive tackle and end up making him a guard might have seemed ludicrous to some at first. But after a few months at right tackle, Gruden decided that offensive lineman Brandon Scherff would be better paired with second-year tackle Morgan Moses on the interior of the line even though he was fifth overall pick in the 2015 draft. That took some guts quite honestly since most experts feel using a first-round selection on a guard is not good value for the pick. But the head coach and offensive line coach Bill Callahan saw the talent that Moses had after coming back from an injury last season and realized that the line was better off with him outside regardless of where they drafted the rookie. It’s a good combination. Cousins is getting generally good protection in the pocket. And the running game, while not as dynamic against the Eagles last week as it was earlier in the season, has been productive. The Redskins currently rank No. 1 in the league in rushing yards per game with 139.5, No. 2 in rushing attempts per game and third in yards per rush attempt. The offensive line is simply better in its current configuration. In addition to the aforementioned rankings, the team’s third-down statistics — which were such a problem last season — have improved dramatically. Washington ranks No. 2 in both third downs per game and third down conversions per game. Gruden made a good decision on where Scherff should play despite conventional thinking on the subject of where to play highly-drafted offensive linemen.

When the team signed safety Jeron Johnson before this past training camp, they brought him in on a two-year, $2.5 million contract (including a $350,000 signing bonus, $350,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,250,000… in 2015, Johnson will earn a base salary of $800,000, a signing bonus of $350,000 and a roster bonus of $234,375); it was widely assumed that he would start opposite veteran Dashon Goldson (signed from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers). But Duke Ihenacho, who was already on the roster on a one-year, $660,000 contract (including an average annual salary of $660,000) won the starting job because of his performance in training camp. When Ihenacho got hurt in the Week 1 Miami Dolphins loss and was put on IR, again the assumption by many was that Johnson would get the nod. He did not. Fourth-year 2012 draft pick (by the San Francisco 49ers) Trenton Robinson — who’s actually in Washington on a one-year gig similar to Ihenacho’s but with a signing bonus — got the job. Again, Gruden used what he saw in practices,

Just this past Sunday veteran receiver Andre Roberts was made inactive to the surprise of many and rookie wide out Jamison Crowder was activated in his place. Crowder has continued to impress both coaches and fans from the beginning of training camp and Roberts, while making some brilliant catches during training camp, continues to drop passes in games. Gruden gave Crowder got the nod against the Eagles… an important game and the former Blue Devil did not disappoint. This past week he was instrumental in the win over the Eagles, making a gorgeous leaping catch in triple coverage for an important gain on third-and-13 for 22 yards and another clutch reception for a touchdown.

“I think we’ve had to make these decisions with a lot of different positions, not just at receiver,” Gruden said at his Monday press conference. “You know… offensive line and defensive line. [Chris] Baker got the nod starting for the first time this game and responded with a couple sacks. You know, you try to play the best player and I think the players understand that and they appreciate that and they understand that every day they have to earn the right to be a starter on this football team. Every game they have to perform to keep their job. That’s the only way it can be. That’s the only way it should be in pro football and I don’t think this is the only place that handles it like that. I think every football team, every baseball team; basketball team does the same thing. It’s a performance-based business. In order to keep your job, you have got to perform at a high level. That’s what we’re expecting from all our guys.”