The 0-5 Washington Redskins will take on the 0-4 Miami Dolphins who are coming off a bye week. Washington will look to try and rebound against a team that seems to be worse than they are. The Redskins are 2-3 in their last five meetings against the Dolphins. Washington leads the all-time series with a 9-5 record.
The Redskins have had a busy week with the Burgundy and Gold brass terminating Head Coach Jay Gruden and replacing him with offensive line coach Bill Callahan. The latter will act as the team’s interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season.
With a new coach comes a new philosophy and this new philosophy could result in a rejuvenated locker room. In fact, the change could be the spark that helps the Redskins succeed for the first time this season.
However, there are fundamentals to which the Redskins need to return if they want to attain their first win of the 2019 NFL season. To follow are three areas that, if executed well, could give the Redskins their best chance to beat the Miami Dolphins Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium:
1). Eliminate Penalties
The Redskins are the third-most penalized team in the National Football League with a staggering 45 penalties through five games. These infractions have been the team’s Achilles’ heel on both sides of the ball.
Untimely miscues have extended drives for opposing teams that eventually led to points. Washington’s offense has also put themselves in negative down-and-distance situations and/or negated big plays on third down.
Being more disciplined in their technique and attention to detail could play a significant role in their ability to secure a victory.
2). Have an Effective Ground Attack
It’s cliché but for the Redskins, the run game is truly an offensive building block for them. The rush hasn’t been an effective part of the Redskins offense so far, partly because of the timing and partly because the personnel used in some of the designed plays weren’t necessarily ideal for the call.
That said, no rushing attack will be successful if it’s being consistently run on obvious down-and-distance situations. However, a ground game allows for your offensive line to get into a rhythm by firing off the ball and imposing its will on an opponent. This can wear down the defensive front and eventually open bigger rush lanes for the running back. Having a consistent rushing attack should also improve the effectiveness of the passing game.
3). Converting on Third Down
The Redskins are second-to-last in the NFL in converting on third down (24.53 percent), converting only 13 of 53 offensive third-downs. Their inability to move the chains has been the reason for the lack of production. These inconsistencies result in minimal time taken off the clock and often produces no score points.
These constant short drives create a domino effect, leaving the defense on the field for extended periods often wearing them down. If Washington wants any shot at winning this game, the ballclub must improve in this area.
4). Getting Defensive Stops on Third down
Getting the opposing team’s offense off the field is just as crucial as creating turnovers. Stifling drives negates offensive consistency for an opponent. The Redskins haven’t done a great job of this, allowing 39 of 69 third-down conversions. Washington is the second-worst in the NFL in this category, allowing a staggering 56.62 percent of opponent’s third-down conversions.
It will be crucial for defensive coordinator Greg Manusky to put his talented players in positions to make plays, especially on third down. However, proper technique and sound fundamentals will be key in getting three-and-outs against a sluggish Dolphins offense.