Week Seven Grades/Mid-Term Grades, Evaluations, Questions, Mock Draft
Week seven is in the books and now we take a look at how the entire team fared against the Buccaneers. We will also hand out mid-term grades and offer the one and only in-season mock draft. We will try to make some sense of it all as BBQ goes the extra mile this week. Feel free to offer your own grades, evaluations, opinions, and mocks. Also, we have some questions to close out week seven.
Let’s take a look at the grades.
Quarterbacks:
The game against the Bucs was very rough in the first quarter and ten minutes. From there, it was all Kirk Cousins as he simply dominated. We won’t post the stats, but they do reflect an excellent performance. At the bye, we can certainly see the good and the bad. We also see some growth and a measured bit of positive consistency. Rough patches are still ahead, but there are positive signs as well.
Game Grade: A-
Mid-Term Grade: C+
Running Backs:
The running game was stuffed for the fourth week in a row, but was a bit better than the three previous games. Alfred Morris looked lost at times and Matt Jones did a fine job under the circumstances. The bye will give Chris Thompson the time to fully heal. He has been a bright spot on third down duty and passing situations. After some early success in the first few games, it has been a struggle for Matt Jones and even more so for Alfred Morris.
Game Grade: C
Mid-Term Grade: C
Wide Receivers:
The receivers had a great day and all of them got in on the action. Key catches at critical moments were much more the norm than the exception. Those who really stood out included Ryan Grant, Andre Roberts, and Jamison Crowder. After seven games, Crowder is now the established slot receiver and his upside in the coming years is huge. Pierre Garcon still provides the timely catch. Ryan Grant has struggled a bit and Andre Roberts needs to solve his inconsistencies. The team hopes to have DeSean Jackson back after the bye.
Game Grade: A
Mid-Term Grade: B
Tight Ends:
Jordan Reed was on fire Sunday afternoon and Derek Carrier continued to impress, albeit in a limited role. Injuries have stung the position, but this unit has been consistent under the circumstances. The Redskins should look at adding another tight-end at the bye as Anthony McCoy is not a factor.
Game Grade: A+
Mid-Term Grade: B+
Offensive Line:
The line was bolstered by the return of Trent Williams. The first twenty-five minutes was shaky, but this unit settled down and did a great job in the passing game. The run game improved a bit over previous weeks. Injuries have hit the offensive line this season, but they have soldiered on with mixed results. It is a young bunch, so the future bodes well.
Game Grade: B-
Season Grade: C+
Defensive Line:
The defensive line could use a rest after taking a beating in recent weeks. Sunday was no exception as another set of running backs carved them for nearly 180 yards. The opposing quarterback was just a few feet shy of 300 yards passing for the day. At they enter the bye the line has been good for the most part, but has had breakdowns at times. The good news is that they have avoided the injury bug and that could be a plus down the stretch.
Game Grade: D+
Mid-Term Grade: C
Linebackers:
The linebackers started off poorly and when Ryan Kerrigan went down with an injury, it felt like the football gods were simply negative on the Redskins. This unit was lackluster for much of the game, but did have a good third quarter. After seven weeks they have done a very good job overall. The weak link appears to be Perry Riley and Preston Smith looks to have a very bright future.
Game Grade: C-
Mid-Term Grade: B+
Cornerbacks:
The corners struggled for the most part, but Bashaud Breeland had the key play of the game on defense late in the fourth quarter. Will Blackmon looked confused for much of the game and Kyshoen Jarrett underperformed. It’s the same story after seven weeks that we see with other positions – injuries. Otherwise, they have done an admirable job under the circumstances. Breeland has likely nailed down a starting assignment. He’s that good.
Game Grade: C
Mid-Term Grade: B-
Safeties:
The safeties were mixed – stellar play from Dashon Goldson and struggles for Trent Robinson. Goldson had his best game of the season, but did allow a couple of long passes. For the season thus far, this unit has been mixed. Great games and poor games. An early season injury did not help. Where is Jeron Johnson?
Game Grade: C+
Mid-Term Grade: C
Special Teams:
Special teams had another great game as Tress Way and Dustin Hopkins were excellent. Kickoffs were great. Punts were great. Coverage was great. A timely onsides kick was picture perfect. There were some early season struggles, but this group has really picked it up several notches. Dustin Hopkins is the real deal.
Game Grade: A+
Mid-Term Grade: B
Coaching:
Except for the final five minutes, the first half was an absolute disaster. From there it was a masterpiece. The offense was humming along from the last five minutes of the first half to the very last play. The defense did pick it up, but still had a few question marks along the way. Special teams was simply spectacular and truly helped to win the game. After seven games it can’t be said enough – good and bad, first half and second half, good cop and bad cop, beautiful and ugly. The good news is that the team is better than last year, but they must limit the inconsistencies.
Game Grade: B
Mid-Term Grade: C+
We have the only in-season mock listed below – with comments. But first…
How would you grade each position and the coaching staff for the game? For the mid-term? What will you do this coming Sunday? Do you think we will get a lot healthier during the bye? What has happened to our vaunted defense? Will the Redskins add or drop any players during the extended vacation? What are you expecting in the game with the Patriots and will the Redskins face another harsh reality? On to game eight.
In-Season Mock Draft:
The Redskins will focus on offense for the 2016 draft, but will try to add a couple defensive gems as well. Later rounds will be devoted to special teams.
Round One: Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
Doctson is a talented receiver with the size, speed, and precision route running to get separation from corners and safeties. Solid on intermediate routes and on longer patterns.
Round Two: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis*
Suddenly appearing out of nowhere, Lynch has exploded on to the scene amongst what is considered a fairly weak class of quarterbacks. Incredible size that is built to withstand hits, a cannon for an arm, great pocket awareness, deceptive speed.
Round Three: Blake Martinez, ILB, Stanford
The nation’s leading tackler is adept in both the running and passing game. He has a deceptive quickness and is able to quickly get to the ball. Can rush the QB effectively from the ILB position.
Round Four: Trent Matthews, FS, Colorado St.
Scot McCloughan has a knack for finding great defensive back prospects in the middle rounds. Dashon Goldson’s contract will not be palatable after 2015 and he will be released. Matthews is a large free safety with great speed and superb coverage skills.
Round Five: Evan Boehm, C, Missouri
Boehm is a four year starter who is strong, well disciplined, powerful at the point of attack, solid in the running game, and excels in the passing game.
Round Six: Devon Johnson, RB/FB, Marshall
With Alfred Morris looking like an odd fit in the current system, the Redskins look to a neighboring state and add the perfect backup to Matt Jones. He is a massively sized dynamo who can gain large chunks of yardage and provide good blocking skills. He can serve at FB at times.
Round 7: Lee Hightower, CB, Houston
Hightower has played CB and FS in college. He is a bit raw and probably fits as a backup corner, but he could see plenty of time on special teams.
Round 7: Blake Frohnapfel, QB, Massachusetts
Frohnapfel is an intriguing prospect who has close to the same size and skills of Paxton Lynch. Though not as polished and experienced as the Memphis product, Frohnapfel is capable of putting up big numbers in the passing game.
* Underclassman
See you again in two weeks with grades, evaluations, and questions.
Hail to the Redskins!
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