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Week Five Grades
Welcome to week five questions and grades as the Redskins put forth a spirited, but frustrating game against the Seahawks. The loss brought shades of hopefulness and silver linings to dedicated fans of the burgundy and gold and some agonizing moments too. Feel free to offer your own grades, opinions, suggestions, and ideas. Also, we have some questions to close out this fifth week of action.
Let’s take a look at the grades.
Quarterback:
Kirk Cousins had a much improved performance following the Thursday night debacle. He was able to elude the pass rush and passed for nearly 300 yards – all against the best defense in the league.
Grade: B
Running Backs:
The running game was porous as Alfred Morris struggled to churn out very tough yardage. Roy Helu couldn’t get going either, but Seattle was dedicated to shutting down the running attack as they would often stack eight or nine players on the line.
Grade: D
Wide Receivers:
The receivers had a great night and a poor night. Half of this unit was stellar and the other half apparently relaxed during the game in the locker room. DeSean Jackson is everything we hoped he would be and more. Andre Roberts continues to be the perfect third receiver. Where was Pierre Garcon? Silence indeed.
Grade: B-
Tight Ends:
How can you assign a grade to a unit that was all but absent during the game?
Grade: F
Offensive Line:
A much better showing than the previous game was still stymied by a poor performance in the running game. BBQ believes that Tom Compton should be starting over TyPo.
Grade: C
Defensive Line:
When a defense gives up just twenty-seven points to the best team in the league and forces them into many mental mistakes, the initial praise typically falls to the defensive line. Up front, this unit was able to pressure the opposing quarterback with regularity and had him on the run for much of the game.
Grade: B-
Linebackers:
For two weeks this group had failed in all facets of the game. On Monday night, they were only slightly improved. The linebackers looked befuddled at times and did not hold their positions in read option plays. A sack and a few quarterback hurries keep this from being a failing grade.
Grade: D
Cornerbacks:
The corners deserve a good grade this week. Why? It’s simple. While their coverage was not perfect, the opposing quarterback could not find open receivers and he frequently had to scramble while trying to run for first downs.
Grade: B+
Safeties:
The safeties did a fine job overall and didn’t allow the opposing tight end to burn them as we saw in the previous week. No long passes were given up for scores, but this unit was a bit weak in the running game.
Grade: C+
Special Teams:
Tress Way was solid on punts once again. Kai Forbath struggled on kickoffs, but did have one touchback. A failed onsides kick came at a poor time (this was more on the coaches). Forbath did well on the field goals, but Andre Roberts was a non-factor in the return game.
Grade: C+
Coaching:
Not preparing adequately for the read option falls on Jim Haslett. An attempt at an onsides kick at a poor time in the game hampered the team with poor field position for much of the second half. The running game appeared to be out of sync.
Grade: C-
Week five passes into the history books. How would you grade each position and the coaching staff? What are you looking for in the coming week against the Cardinals? Does the play of our secondary in week five leave you feeling a little more encouraged with this unit? Who would you like to see replacing Jim Haslett – assuming this happens at some juncture? Do you want the Redskins to focus on both lines in the upcoming draft and free agency? On to week six!
See you again next week.
Hail to the Redskins!