Today's TakeDown will feature the Washington Redskins and how their plans for the 2014-15 season have not really panned out so far. This blog post is dedicated to all the 'skins fans who are blind with optimism at the beginning of each season, and then make excuses for them at the end of every disappointing season.
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The Redskins (as usual), are playing terrible football and losing to teams they can and SHOULD be beating (Giants, Vikings, Buccaneers). The Redskins organization fascinates me in the sense that it has not accepted losing as the norm, and has utilized considerable resources to bring in star talent and new coaching every few seasons as needed, but it never seems to help much. This is the one reoccurring pattern that I keep seeing with the Redskins. A new big name is brought in, fans get really excited and think "this is it, the redskins will be good this season", and never seems to work out. Names like McNabb, Haynesworth, Joe Gibbs, Mike Shanahan, Pierre Garcon, RGIII, and DeSean Jackson have been among those who have brought hope to the team in recent years but have not led to any long term success.
Redskins' Brief Success
To be fair, the Redskins have had a glimmer of success in recent memory. After drafting rookie RGIII in the 2012 season, the Redskins went on to win the NFC East division game against the Dallas Cowboys to advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Washington lost against the wild card contender Seattle Seahawks at home with a score of 24-14.
With all things considered the Redskins DO have the potential to make some serious noise in their division and do have a very good roster to work with. For starters, they have some of the best RB's in the league in Alfred Morris and Roy Helu. Going back to the 2012 season for the 'skins, Morris' 1,613 yards accounted for 90% of the Redskin's total yards for that magnificent season. Kerrigan is quickly making his name for himself with 9 sacks in the season, and Jackson remains on the top 10 list for best receivers in the league. RGIII is questionable at best, and still is a source of criticism, but on certain days he does add tremendous value to the team.
Future Failure?
Who knows what the answer will be to get the Redskins to play at the level they should be at, my opinion is that the players are not to blame collectively, but perhaps coaching staff is at fault. This is still Jay Gruden's first season with the Redskins so let's give him the benefit of the doubt that he is still evaluating the team's strengths and weaknesses. The Redskins definitely have the talent to be a great team, but it is their in-game strategies, play calling, and Quarterback leadership that have to change to in order to be successful. Who knows if this will ever happen, but the Redskin's games are fun to watch regardless of what side you're on.
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