Greetings from BBQ. It feels good to have one in the win column. We hope you had a good weekend and are starting off the week proudly celebrating a win.
Week two is in the books and now we take a look at how the entire team fared against the Rams. Everyone is feeling better about the team and a road win is fueling those positive vibes. It wasn't perfect, but 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 two.
Quarterbacks:
Question: Does his early season struggles continue in the coming weeks?
Answer: We just don't know. Cousins had a rough start the last two years and finished with the two finest seasons ever for a Redskins quarterback. Let's see where things stand at the bye.
Grade: C-
Running Backs:
Question: Quite a turnaround from the first game – will it continue?
Answer: It was impressive and against a defense that is highly respected. Rob Kelley, Chris Thompson, and Samaje Perine had a terrific day. It's the first time since 1957 that the Redskins have had three running backs gains more than sixty-five yards in the same game. Let's hope it continues.
Another Question: With Rob Kelley getting injured, how will Samje Perine respond?
Answer: BBQ thinks he will seize the opportunity and become a trusted starter.
Grade: A+
Wide Receivers:
Question: Is Ryan Grant now the best starter for the Redskins at wide receiver?
Answer: He is off to a good start this season and is quickly becoming very dependable – nothing more, nothing less. Josh Doctson and Terelle Pryor need to step up – and very soon.
Grade: C
Tight Ends:
Question: How much longer can Jordan Reed last?
Answer: No one knows, but Vernon Davis did a great job of blocking on Sunday and had a key first down in the second half. The coaches should try to get Jeremy Sprinkle in the mix a little more.
Grade: B-
Offensive Line:
Question: Quite a change from last week, wouldn't you say?
Answer: They went from playing like a bunch of has beens the week before to feasting on the Rams defensive line.
Grade: A
Defensive Line:
Question: What grade would you give their effort against the Rams?
Answer: Matt Ioannidis has gone from draft pick to practice squad member, then to the roster of fifty-three and budding star. Jonathan Allen was an unsung hero and did a good job in the trenches.
Grade: B
Linebackers:
Question: This was another solid game for the backers, wasn't it?
Answer: Precisely. Ryan Kerrigan continues to be in “Beast Mode 2017†and Preston Smith is bringing the heat. The Redskins need to make signing Zach Brown to a long term deal during the bye a priority. Mason Foster sealed the win with an interception.
Grade: A
Cornerbacks:
Question: Is it true – do the linebackers have more interceptions after two games than the cornerbacks?
Answer: Yes, it is true. A strange stat, but it is only two games. We can't overlook the importance of Josh Norman's ability to strip the football from an offensive player and we still can't get the picture of Todd Gurley leaping over Bashaud Breeland out of our heads.
Grade: B
Safeties:
Question: Does the defense seem to be playing better without Su'a Cravens?
Answer: It sure seems that way. The safeties had a decent day, but there were a couple of longer pass plays that eluded them. We still can't fault the overall effort.
Grade: B
Special Teams:
Question: Nearly perfect, would you say?
Answer: Dustin Hopkins and Tress Way earn high grades and we could nitpick with a long field goal miss, but both of them were solid. The returns were nothing to brag about, but there were no glaring mistakes as we saw in the previous week.
Grade: B+
Coaching:
Question: What can we say about the coaches for this second game of 2017?
Answer: Offense. The running backs were spectacular. The quarterback still needs a lot of work. It's still obvious they miss Sean McVay, but the offense proved that a rushing offense is very important.
Defense. Greg Manusky and Jim Tomsula can be proud of the effort from this unit after two games. Matt Ioannidis is a budding star. Ryan Kerrigan is off to a great start. Montae Nicholson looked very good in limited duty. Preston Smith is regaining his impactful play from two years ago. BBQ thinks this unit could get better as the season continues.
Special teams. A definite improvement over last week.
Grade: B
How would you grade each position and the coaching staff? Do you feel better about this team after the opening season loss? Does the play of the defense encourage you about how this unit will fare in 2017? Will Jordan Reed ever shake the injury bug? Is Josh Doctson a bust? Is it time to move on from Su'a Cravens and trade him for a low round pick? How will the team fare against the Raiders? On to week three. We'll see you next week with grades, evaluations, and questions.
Hail to the Redskins!
Week two is in the books and now we take a look at how the entire team fared against the Rams. Everyone is feeling better about the team and a road win is fueling those positive vibes. It wasn't perfect, but 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 two.
Quarterbacks:
Question: Does his early season struggles continue in the coming weeks?
Answer: We just don't know. Cousins had a rough start the last two years and finished with the two finest seasons ever for a Redskins quarterback. Let's see where things stand at the bye.
Grade: C-
Running Backs:
Question: Quite a turnaround from the first game – will it continue?
Answer: It was impressive and against a defense that is highly respected. Rob Kelley, Chris Thompson, and Samaje Perine had a terrific day. It's the first time since 1957 that the Redskins have had three running backs gains more than sixty-five yards in the same game. Let's hope it continues.
Another Question: With Rob Kelley getting injured, how will Samje Perine respond?
Answer: BBQ thinks he will seize the opportunity and become a trusted starter.
Grade: A+
Wide Receivers:
Question: Is Ryan Grant now the best starter for the Redskins at wide receiver?
Answer: He is off to a good start this season and is quickly becoming very dependable – nothing more, nothing less. Josh Doctson and Terelle Pryor need to step up – and very soon.
Grade: C
Tight Ends:
Question: How much longer can Jordan Reed last?
Answer: No one knows, but Vernon Davis did a great job of blocking on Sunday and had a key first down in the second half. The coaches should try to get Jeremy Sprinkle in the mix a little more.
Grade: B-
Offensive Line:
Question: Quite a change from last week, wouldn't you say?
Answer: They went from playing like a bunch of has beens the week before to feasting on the Rams defensive line.
Grade: A
Defensive Line:
Question: What grade would you give their effort against the Rams?
Answer: Matt Ioannidis has gone from draft pick to practice squad member, then to the roster of fifty-three and budding star. Jonathan Allen was an unsung hero and did a good job in the trenches.
Grade: B
Linebackers:
Question: This was another solid game for the backers, wasn't it?
Answer: Precisely. Ryan Kerrigan continues to be in “Beast Mode 2017†and Preston Smith is bringing the heat. The Redskins need to make signing Zach Brown to a long term deal during the bye a priority. Mason Foster sealed the win with an interception.
Grade: A
Cornerbacks:
Question: Is it true – do the linebackers have more interceptions after two games than the cornerbacks?
Answer: Yes, it is true. A strange stat, but it is only two games. We can't overlook the importance of Josh Norman's ability to strip the football from an offensive player and we still can't get the picture of Todd Gurley leaping over Bashaud Breeland out of our heads.
Grade: B
Safeties:
Question: Does the defense seem to be playing better without Su'a Cravens?
Answer: It sure seems that way. The safeties had a decent day, but there were a couple of longer pass plays that eluded them. We still can't fault the overall effort.
Grade: B
Special Teams:
Question: Nearly perfect, would you say?
Answer: Dustin Hopkins and Tress Way earn high grades and we could nitpick with a long field goal miss, but both of them were solid. The returns were nothing to brag about, but there were no glaring mistakes as we saw in the previous week.
Grade: B+
Coaching:
Question: What can we say about the coaches for this second game of 2017?
Answer: Offense. The running backs were spectacular. The quarterback still needs a lot of work. It's still obvious they miss Sean McVay, but the offense proved that a rushing offense is very important.
Defense. Greg Manusky and Jim Tomsula can be proud of the effort from this unit after two games. Matt Ioannidis is a budding star. Ryan Kerrigan is off to a great start. Montae Nicholson looked very good in limited duty. Preston Smith is regaining his impactful play from two years ago. BBQ thinks this unit could get better as the season continues.
Special teams. A definite improvement over last week.
Grade: B
How would you grade each position and the coaching staff? Do you feel better about this team after the opening season loss? Does the play of the defense encourage you about how this unit will fare in 2017? Will Jordan Reed ever shake the injury bug? Is Josh Doctson a bust? Is it time to move on from Su'a Cravens and trade him for a low round pick? How will the team fare against the Raiders? On to week three. We'll see you next week with grades, evaluations, and questions.
Hail to the Redskins!