1. Here’s what I like about Jim Harbaugh: He’s winning the way Washington should be, with a strong running game, an outstanding defense and a game manager at quarterback. They have what the Redskins don’t: something to hang their hat on. And even before the injuries, the Redskins did not want to play this way. They wanted to be an explosive offense without explosive talent. In less than half a season the 49ers have an established identity. The Redskins do not; even before the injuries that wasn’t the case. They’re 24 games in… and counting. Maybe they did want their identity to be an aggressive passing team. But it just seems San Francisco plays to its strengths while the Redskins play to what they wish their strength was. Schemes are terrific, but they don’t win titles. Playmakers in good schemes win titles. Using guys to their strengths matters, too. I’m certain that Mike Shanahan knows this; he knows the talent level was low. But when you put certain guys in certain spots, it’s also on you.
2. Why does this feel like it’s year one in Shanahan’s regime? Last year now seems to have been a year-long evaluation. Yes, there’s no way the Redskins could have filled all their holes in one offseason, but, for example, when it comes to the offensive line couldn’t they – shouldn’t they? — have been further along in terms of depth? Yes, they remade the line from the Jim Zorn days and they had other holes to fill. But one injury to guard Kory Lichtensteiger got this whole thing out of whack and that shouldn’t be the case. It’s tough to develop young backups; they’ve drafted three linemen in the later rounds in the first two drafts. Joe Gibbs Part II didn’t develop any real young talent along the line either. And this group whiffed on the most important position three times, costing them two draft picks along the way. The defense is better and that’s on the coaches, too, so give them credit for that side of the ball. It’s hard to accurately judge them sometimes because they’ll keep games close but teams also don’t have to attack the Redskins a certain way in the second half. The last two games, in particular, the other team knows all it must do is not screw up to leave with a win.
3. I will give them credit for trying to attack San Francisco with screens, trying to get the ball to Roy Helu and hoping he could make guys miss. They seemed to call for more underneath throws to try and move the ball. This is where I don’t blame play-calling. And I say that partly because I saw a quarterback who didn’t always find the open receiver. Instead, I walk away seeing one coach in Year one of his system headed a certain way and another coach in Year 2 who is headed … where exactly? I had one NFL source say the Redskins needed to adopt the mentality of the Nats and the Caps and just start rebuilding. That’s fine; I believed it was necessary. Rebuilding is painful (nobody with the Redskins will use that word publicly; maybe not even privately). It’s just that there are important questions that won’t be answered – at least in a positive – when this season ends.
4. Now, time to calm down for one minute. Before the season, I thought they were headed in the right direction. I thought they had an average offensive line with depth issues; thought they’d have to take a quarterback in the first round in 2012 and that they needed a playmaking receiver. This is where I have to say: nothing has changed. And when I had those thoughts in August, my belief was they could go 7-9 if healthy. It’s why, when they were 3-1, I wasn’t sold on them being a budding contender. But I did think they would be trending upward. Now that they’ve reshuffled the offense because of injuries and ineffectiveness, should I now think they’re not going the right way? Injuries do matter and must be factored into the equation. So, yes and no. Guess I still think they’re headed the right way, but the question is: when do they get there? And Shanahan will be turning to his fourth quarterback next season. After staking his reputation on John Beck and Rex Grossman, can you be confident the next guy is The Guy? Based on what? (Yes, depends who that guy is; Andrew Luck or someone else). The hope after the last draft was that they could be far enough along as an offense that a rookie QB in 2012 would benefit by a good supporting cast. Yes, it is possible they were even worse than we realized, but they traded for Jammal Brown and he’s average at best; they signed Chris Chester and he’s average. Shanahan was responsible for eight of Sunday’s starters being on the roster (nine, if you want to include his moving Darrel Young to a new position). At least the defense is not far from being a really good one; the return of end Jarvis Jenkins will help as will the improvement of Ryan Kerrigan. There is hope on defense. Y
5. I’m not about to go back and say the Redskins should have drafted a quarterback. Before the draft, my take was: take a quarterback, but don’t force the pick. In other words, if you don’t like Blaine Gabbert, don’t take him for the sake of having a young QB. But if you don’t get one, then build up the running game and defense. They succeeded in the latter; the defense is good enough to make the playoffs. They’re just not elite. But the running game, even when all the parts were healthy, was not consistent. Maybe the line would have meshed, but I wasn’t sold on Jammal Brown last year and haven’t really been this year. I talked to him in August for a story on how his health was making a difference in his play. But I never ran the story because it didn’t
6. Anyway, back to the game because we have eight more weeks to think long range. My issue with the here and now is that John Beck looked like a beaten man after the game. I can’t blame him because this isn’t easy, but there were open receivers. “I feel like [I was] kind of open out there today,” Jabar Gaffney said. “For whatever reason John goes through his reads and a lot of times he didn’t come to me. That’s for coach to talk to John about.” OK, every receiver thinks he’s open all the time. But on fourth and 2, Gaffney broke open in the flat and was on the same side Beck threw incomplete to; he was open deep on a bootleg as well. (There was one time he threw to Gaffney, missing Fred Davis open underneath on a third and 8). The reason players support Beck is because he’s their teammate. But put yourself in their shoes: a quarterback must engender confidence. In Beck’s career he’s never won and he doesn’t make plays that make you say, ‘Wow, let’s follow this guy.’ Maybe he’s eventually that guy, but he isn’t now. He wants to be that guy; man, does he want to be that guy. You like to see hard work rewarded, but this isn’t a movie. This is a bottom-line business. After a while, it becomes a hard sell in a locker room, you know? The good thing is, Beck is playing with more younger players, especially at receiver. They have too much going on to complain about who’s at quarterback. And the coach can rightly say that there are many issues. Still, Beck has to start showing why he should be the guy. He knows it, too. He puts a lot of pressure on himself and sometimes plays that way. His face often seems to reflect it when things go bad. By the way, the safety on his interception never moved from his original spot, read his eyes perfectly and broke on the ball. Easy pick. Those types of plays are a symptom of inexperience
7. Should they go to Rex Grossman? People I respect in the game have said they need to stick with Beck for the rest of the year because you already know what you have in Grossman. But if the Redskins have another clunker performance next week, then how is this justified? It would be three in a row. Neither quarterback looks like the long-term answer so it then becomes about trying to win a little more. Heck, look at it this way; play whichever quarterback keeps you on the field more. That way guys like Leonard Hankerson and Roy Helu get more chances for work – and improvement. They’re definitely a part of the future.
8. There were definite signs of youthful indiscretions. Fumbling is not only for the young, but receiver Terrence Austin did so because he carried the ball in the wrong arm and let the linebacker have an easy pound at it; Austin learned a lesson. Niles Paul didn’t run his route well enough on a second and seven and should have drifted. He stopped. The pass – the only one thrown his way — was incomplete. Guard Maurice Hurt missed a stunt and allowed a big hit on Beck; Hurt also got shoved on his backside twice. Maybe he played well on the other plays, but I’ll have to watch the game again to see what he did. I do know that they ran the majority of the time to the right. Or, rather, they had more success running that way. Leonard Hankerson is still learning, too. What I like is that he talked about learning how to set up defenders even off a running play. Hankerson said he’ll use a move on a D-back, knowing he’s not going on a route just to see how he reacts. He’s thinking the right way. But it takes time and three of their top five receivers are all learning. That takes time. Yes, it’s reasonable to say, ‘Well, doesn’t that impact Beck too?’ Of course. But the QB has to play better; keep in mind that Austin, Paul and Helu were playing already. This wasn’t their first game.
9. Oh, Brandon Banks. It’s OK to flirt with disaster if you’re making big plays but when you’re not? A returner must realize what’s going on. Yes, it’s occasionally OK to field a punt inside the 10 if you’ve drifted far back on, say, a 60-yard punt. This one was a 48-yarder that caused him to drift inside the 5-yard line. And he muffed it, leaving a struggling offense 97 yards away. Know who you’re playing with and what they need – a touchback and ball at the 20 was a good and likely outcome. Is this just a guy trying to make a play? Sure. But it was a bad decision. Banks later dropped another punt. He’s on the roster for one reason and he’s not getting it done. Time to produce.
10. You still with me? Really? OK, last one then. The difference between this season and last is that they are using young guys who have a chance to be a part of the future. Some scouts pegged Helu as a future starter; same with Hankerson. If those guys start making plays then that will help build optimism. Ryan Kerrigan continues to play well. More optimism. But there was a resignation about today’s loss; Shanahan talked about pieces of the puzzle missing a few times. There’s no way he’ll use the word rebuild; few coaches do (if any). But after the past two weeks that’s the only thing he can think they’re doing. But the question is: Can he get them there? The players still seem sold on him as a coach and that’s always beneficial to a franchise’s long-term health. But Shanahan still needs to prove he can get it done.
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