Now what? – Redskins MASH Unit | NFL and College Football | NFL and College Football Previews, Predictions, and Recaps

Oct 27, 2011

The Washington Redskins face an uphill battle for most of the rest of their schedule, beginning with their next two games against the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. Certainly, very little that has happened since the Redskins came out of their bye week at 3-1 (and now sit at 3-3) has been positive, with a rash of injuries, awful performances, a QB benching and more taking place in that time. For sure, the team has played two stomach-punch awful games, with bouts of inept offense, poor tackling, no coverage, turnovers, more turnovers, and otherwise terrible – yet familiar – play marking most of the last two weeks.

And now what? With a series of injuries to key Redskins contributors, including several season-ending injury reserve placements the team and Head Coach Mike Shanahan travel out of the country to take on the surprisingly good and high-octane Buffalo Bills, coming to you live from Toronto.

What’s been going wrong

Turnovers: Turns out, it wasn’t just Rex Grossman’s fault as last week against Carolina fumbles certainly played their (awful) part. Bottom line is that this team is simply not talented enough to overcome turnovers.
Turnovers, redux: In addition, the defense is not forcing turnovers despite leading the league in sacks with 12 — which shows how useless that stat can be. The problem for the Redskins is that their sacks have NOT been accompanied with consistent pressure and hits on the QB. In addition, their sacks are not causing fumbles (as evidenced most clearly by Brian Orakpo coming unblocked, running over Cam Newton, and just not being able to force a fumble).
Rex Grossman / John Beck: Beck deserves to start for a while, and he might get better, but so far he has been just what he was in the preseason. While that may not be awful, it isn’t exactly world-beating either. Beck is mobile, can release the ball quickly, and doesn’t appear destined to turn the ball over like Grossman. However, his decision-making is slow or focused on only one receiver and he throws a wobbly, awful, weak ball.

What me? Worry? (you should)

At a point in the year when the Redskins defense, which not only was supposed to be the teams best hope of staying in games but actually IS the teams best hope of staying in games, is bending/breaking/playing poorly AND suffering from injuries…here come the Bills, with a great rushing attack and the ability to throw up 30 points (so far this season) with regularity. Uh oh.
Depth – The Redskins do not have much quality depth. And so, as Moss, Atogwe, Hall, Fletcher, Landry, Cooley, Hightower, Williams, Lichtensteiger and even Rex Grossman battle ailments and injuries we’ll get to see some of the teams younger players. In some cases, like at WR, it might be frustrating but ultimately good as one would hope young WRs like Hankerson, Paul, and more can learn, grow, and contribute. In others, like Offensive Line and in the secondary: it really doesn’t matter, because the backups young and old are simply not good.
The offense ran the ball like crazy but STILL couldn’t score points against Carolina: this is simple. Uh. Oh….and this should probably be a capital OH.

Let’s scrounge for hope

No injuries or poor performances here. The team could use a change of fortune.

The Bills should not enjoy much of a home field advantage in Toronto and fresh off a bye are still not fully healthy. Yes, when these are your leadoff reasons for hope you know you’re in trouble.
Beck should have shaken the rust off by now. With any luck (but not Luck, as in Andrew) he’ll be able to improve upon last week’s performance and eliminate the turnovers (and near picks). He’ll have to. While Buffalo has given up points and yards, they are also ball-hawks. Multiple interceptions will likely make this an impossible game to win.
Maybe Fred Jackson will forget his passport and not make it into Canada for the game.

Prediction

While the season need not (yet) become a black cloud on the march toward the next round of improvements to the roster in the offseason, the Redskins are certainly, in this specific week, are a team in flux. Between injuries, the QB change, and general roster uncertainty the team is struggling to turn things around — yet, even a return to the way they were playing when 3-1 will likely not be enough to beat most of the teams remaining on their schedule. The Bills will rip off at least two runs of 20+ yards by Fred Jackson, and abuse the Redskins secondary who are forced to commit to the run and blitzes for pressure. The offense will pile up some yards but continue to frustrate, especially as young WRs are unable to get separation. Bills 31 Redskins 20.

photos courtesy CSN Washington