Week 6: Fundamentals Keep Redskins in Games

Ashburn, Va. – In all of the Washington Redskins 2015 match ups so far, it would be difficult to find one in which a viewer would watch the offense or defense on the field for any length of time and think, “Wow… those guys are terrible.” As a matter of fact, this squad is actually pretty good. There are a lot of reasons for this but a major one is that every player on the team is concentrating on fundamentals and sound technique. Also, they are playing for each other. General Manager Scot McCloughan’s roster upgrades and attitude are having an impact on the team and the players appear to be united.

While it would be easy to downplay these types of things, they will not only keep a team in games, their presence within a ball club could help win a few of them.

Players and coaches alike talk about the focus put on carrying out assignments all the time and it has shown in several areas of the team. Rookie offensive linemen Brandon Scherff brought it up over and over again during training camp and his position coach; Bill Callahan can frequently be witnessed emphasizing it during — and after — practices. It is not at all uncommon to see the O-line still working while teammates leave the field and head to the locker room.

Outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan has mentioned sound technique and fundamentals for years now and, in that time; he has been one of the most productive players on the team. It stands to reason that, if he focuses on it and is good, then it is a good thing to focus on.

There are several free agents that, since arriving in Washington, have said they stress technique and fundamentals to the rookies and even the other veterans on the field. It is showing now in better tackling, turnovers and better blocking by guys skill position players other than offensive linemen. That’s guys playing fundamentally sound football.

“We’re going to be playing an aggressive New York Jets team and we’ve got to make sure we bring our fundamentals to this game,” defensive linemen Ricky Jean Francois said today. “They have a great quarterback and they have great receiving and a hell-of-a defense… and I’m not going to forget their special teams too. Fundamentals.”

With the injuries piling up in the defensive backfield and so many young guys having to step up, this focus on technique is going to be even more important. Neither of the Redskins veteran cornerbacks, DeAngelo Hall or Chris Culliver, was on the field last week in the loss to the Atlanta Falcons. But the guys that did play; Bashaud Breeland, Will Blackmon and Kyshoen Jarrett… did a good job. Part of that is because they are getting more reps — in practice and game-time — so the game is slowing down for the young guys and the scheme is more familiar for the free agents but, it is also because they are good football players with talent and good heads on their shoulders.

There is a real challenge coming up this week with the team taking on a New York Jets defense that ranks No. 1 in the league in certain categories. But their offense — ranked No. 7 in rushing yards (it’s No. 14 in overall yards) — will be quite a challenge for the Redskins defense as well.

“I think our biggest challenge is number one, just to nullify their running game,” Blackmon said today. “[Chris] Ivory, one of their [running] backs, does a great job in terms of getting up field and running through tackles. I think he’s leading the NFL in yards after first contact so that shows you he’s a hard runner. And they’ve got two big guys outside with [wide outs Eric] Decker and [Brandon] Marshall so, it’s important for us to be physical and compete with them too because [QB Ryan] Fitzpatrick… he’s going to throw to them whether they’re covered or not to give them a chance so… it’s important to us to do like last week. And we didn’t do anything special… we just worked on our fundamentals, we got lined up, we got the call and we all stayed on the same page. When you’re on the same page as a defense, the results show.”

One of the results of this improved football is that the national media and other football teams are noticing the Redskins, even with their losing 2-3 record. In a conference call today, Marshall was extremely complimentary of Washington’s defense and in particular, the front seven saying, “They’re probably the best in the business right now.” While we’ll never hear a player criticize an upcoming opponent outright in one of these calls, this was not your typical, ‘Yea, they’re really good,’ type of comment.

“They’re playing aggressive,” the wide out went on to say. “They’re playing with a lot of purpose and passion and it’s going to be our toughest match all year. So, you know, we want to come out and get the win and it’s going to take all of us to be flying on all cylinders.”

Sunday’s game will be tough, no doubt. But the 3-1 Jets, coming off of their bye, have played the Cleveland Browns (won 31-10), Indianapolis Colts (won 20-7), the Philadelphia Eagles (lost 24-17) and the Miami Dolphins (won 24-17). These are all NFL teams and all are capable of winning. But they are not exactly the New England Patriots. Marshall might be right… Washington may their toughest opponent of the year so far. Especially if guys like receiver DeSean Jackson and Culliver are back on the field… and if the team continues to play assignment-sound football like they have been.