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Greetings from BBQ. We hope the holiday season was good to you. Best wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous, and safe new year. Did you receive some nice Redskins gifts?
Week seventeen is in the books and now we take a look at how the entire team fared against the Giants. Farewell to the 2016 season and farewell to any playoff hopes. We will try to make some sense of it all as BBQ hands out grades, evaluations and questions. Feel free to offer your own grades, evaluations, questions, and opinions.
Let’s take a look at week seventeen.
Quarterbacks:
Question: Has Kirk Cousins earned a long term contract?
Answer: If you were to base it on this game only - no. If you were to base it on the entire season – absolutely. This will be an interesting few weeks upcoming.
Grade: F
Running Backs:
Question: What running game?
Answer: Only fifteen rushing attempts for the whole game is all you need to know when answering this question. It is tempting to give an incomplete grade, but there was nothing special from the backs.
Grade: F
Wide Receivers:
Question: Why have there been fewer targets for Jamison Crowder these last few weeks?
Answer: It’s a mystery as he has been open for at least four scores and open for several long completions as well as a number of intermediate routes. Pierre Garcon had another solid game, but the other receivers had minimal impact.
Grade: C+
Tight Ends:
Question: Did the Jordan Reed injury limit him in this game?
Answer: It’s likely that is the case, but he gave a determined effort and kept the Redskins in the game at the end. Vernon Davis had a solid day and contributed key receptions.
Grade: B
Offensive Line:
Question: Why did they have problems in the running game – like much of the season?
Answer: The Giants defense is very good up front and they basically shut the running game down. No adjustments were made as the backs continued to run the same plays/directions. Left guard is a huge weakness and it has been that way for several weeks.
Grade: C-
Defensive Line:
Question: What grade would you give their effort against the Giants?
Answer: After a shaky start, this group actually had a decent game. Cullen Jenkins had a timely sack, but the offense could not take advantage. Ziggy Hood made some key stops. Chris Baker and Ricky Jean Francois played above their talent levels. However, the inability to shut down the running game lowers the grade a bit.
Grade: C+
Linebackers:
Question: And what grade would you give to this group?
Answer: It is always noticeable when Ryan Kerrigan is not on the field. While Mason Foster gave an inspired and spirited performance, the same can’t be said for Will Compton or Martrell Spaight. Preston Smith needs to overcome his sophomore slump.
Grade: C-
Cornerbacks:
Question: Was this the best unit on Sunday?
Answer: Not really, but it would have been an easy decision in the affirmative if a long pass by the opposing quarterback to a little-used wide receiver didn’t cost the team late in the fourth quarter. Bashaud Breeland continued to play better.
Grade: C
Safeties:
Question: How would you grade them for the last game of the season?
Answer: While it wasn’t awe inspiring, they made no glaring mistakes other than a long pass reception late in the game..
Grade: B-
Special Teams:
Question: Do we lower the grade for another missed field goal?
Answer: No way. Expecting a fifty-seven yard attempt to sail through the middle of the goal posts is a bit much to expect. Tress Way had a superb game. The punt returns were decent.
Grade: B
Coaching:
Question: What can we say about the coaches for this final game of the 2016 season?
Answer: Offense. The offense played like it was in shambles. There was no running game. Sean McVay did a poor job as did Jay Gruden. There seemed to be no sense of urgency. It was as if they were ready for a vacation.
Defense. They gave a spirited effort, even if the talent is lacking at certain positions. This unit wanted to play another game, but the offense did them no favors.
Special teams. Overall, a pretty good game.
Once again, Jay Gruden’s tirade after the Cardinals game obviously had zero effect late in the season and this speaks to his leadership. Joe Barry, quite frankly, is not the answer as defensive coordinator – even though the defense gave a good effort on Sunday.
Grade: D
How would you grade each position and the coaching staff for the final game of 2016? Do you want a new defensive coordinator? How much of the upcoming free agency should be spent on defense? Will you watch any playoff games?
On to the offseason as we kick off 2017.
Later this week we will post the annual BBQ self-evaluation of our predictions that we made just prior to the season. On Friday we will hand out seasonal grades for the entire team and coaches. Next week we will post the first look at free agency, then the first mock of 2017.
BBQ wishes you a very Happy New Year.
Hail to the Redskins!
Week seventeen is in the books and now we take a look at how the entire team fared against the Giants. Farewell to the 2016 season and farewell to any playoff hopes. We will try to make some sense of it all as BBQ hands out grades, evaluations and questions. Feel free to offer your own grades, evaluations, questions, and opinions.
Let’s take a look at week seventeen.
Quarterbacks:
Question: Has Kirk Cousins earned a long term contract?
Answer: If you were to base it on this game only - no. If you were to base it on the entire season – absolutely. This will be an interesting few weeks upcoming.
Grade: F
Running Backs:
Question: What running game?
Answer: Only fifteen rushing attempts for the whole game is all you need to know when answering this question. It is tempting to give an incomplete grade, but there was nothing special from the backs.
Grade: F
Wide Receivers:
Question: Why have there been fewer targets for Jamison Crowder these last few weeks?
Answer: It’s a mystery as he has been open for at least four scores and open for several long completions as well as a number of intermediate routes. Pierre Garcon had another solid game, but the other receivers had minimal impact.
Grade: C+
Tight Ends:
Question: Did the Jordan Reed injury limit him in this game?
Answer: It’s likely that is the case, but he gave a determined effort and kept the Redskins in the game at the end. Vernon Davis had a solid day and contributed key receptions.
Grade: B
Offensive Line:
Question: Why did they have problems in the running game – like much of the season?
Answer: The Giants defense is very good up front and they basically shut the running game down. No adjustments were made as the backs continued to run the same plays/directions. Left guard is a huge weakness and it has been that way for several weeks.
Grade: C-
Defensive Line:
Question: What grade would you give their effort against the Giants?
Answer: After a shaky start, this group actually had a decent game. Cullen Jenkins had a timely sack, but the offense could not take advantage. Ziggy Hood made some key stops. Chris Baker and Ricky Jean Francois played above their talent levels. However, the inability to shut down the running game lowers the grade a bit.
Grade: C+
Linebackers:
Question: And what grade would you give to this group?
Answer: It is always noticeable when Ryan Kerrigan is not on the field. While Mason Foster gave an inspired and spirited performance, the same can’t be said for Will Compton or Martrell Spaight. Preston Smith needs to overcome his sophomore slump.
Grade: C-
Cornerbacks:
Question: Was this the best unit on Sunday?
Answer: Not really, but it would have been an easy decision in the affirmative if a long pass by the opposing quarterback to a little-used wide receiver didn’t cost the team late in the fourth quarter. Bashaud Breeland continued to play better.
Grade: C
Safeties:
Question: How would you grade them for the last game of the season?
Answer: While it wasn’t awe inspiring, they made no glaring mistakes other than a long pass reception late in the game..
Grade: B-
Special Teams:
Question: Do we lower the grade for another missed field goal?
Answer: No way. Expecting a fifty-seven yard attempt to sail through the middle of the goal posts is a bit much to expect. Tress Way had a superb game. The punt returns were decent.
Grade: B
Coaching:
Question: What can we say about the coaches for this final game of the 2016 season?
Answer: Offense. The offense played like it was in shambles. There was no running game. Sean McVay did a poor job as did Jay Gruden. There seemed to be no sense of urgency. It was as if they were ready for a vacation.
Defense. They gave a spirited effort, even if the talent is lacking at certain positions. This unit wanted to play another game, but the offense did them no favors.
Special teams. Overall, a pretty good game.
Once again, Jay Gruden’s tirade after the Cardinals game obviously had zero effect late in the season and this speaks to his leadership. Joe Barry, quite frankly, is not the answer as defensive coordinator – even though the defense gave a good effort on Sunday.
Grade: D
How would you grade each position and the coaching staff for the final game of 2016? Do you want a new defensive coordinator? How much of the upcoming free agency should be spent on defense? Will you watch any playoff games?
On to the offseason as we kick off 2017.
Later this week we will post the annual BBQ self-evaluation of our predictions that we made just prior to the season. On Friday we will hand out seasonal grades for the entire team and coaches. Next week we will post the first look at free agency, then the first mock of 2017.
BBQ wishes you a very Happy New Year.
Hail to the Redskins!