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Last night's game was certainly a bucket of cold water over the shoulders. Not because anyone expected the Redskins to win 16 games but because when you show up fairly healthy and the other team looks like a MASH ward you should be abel to take advantage that given week.
The Redskins didn't take advantage and that is usually the difference between an average team (which the Redskins probably are going to be at 7-9 or 8-8) and a team with a vision for reaching the postseason and the confidence to carry it off.
But of all the hand wringing that has gone on and WILL gone on for the next 13 games it is time I think to separate out those things which are not really amenable to change and those things which SHOULD change and which a good coaching staff will get a team to overcome in time.
In regards to the former, forgive Rex Grossman. Grossman is a 31 year old journeyman quarterback who can keep a team in most contests with a bit of support. But he has not been nor will he ever be a player that elevates an offense and makes plays with his arm or his feet that consistently wins games.
The Redskins most glaring weakness right now at a single position where the impact is felt week to week is at quarterback.
The Redskins have enough talent on offense where an elite talent like Aaron Rodgers or an emerging Josh Freeman probably would have made the plays last night to pull this game out against a Dallas secondary that was scrambling to keep up with Moss, Davis, etc.
But without clearly superior talent surrounding him at the skill positions and the offensive line Grossman is going to struggle against a good front seven.
The other thing that is not going to change until the next offseason is the mix on the interior OL. The Redskins haven't been able to run the ball at all against the two solid fronts they have faced in NY and Dallas. At one point Hightower had 10 carries for 28 yards on the graphics board last night. That's not all on him obviously. The Redskins have some undersized OL, but the fact is they might not just be undersized but undertalented. Will Montgomery, Chris Chester and Kory Lichtensteiger were all acquired on the cheap on waivers or as street free agents. The team is going to have to make an investment here.
The Broncos are famous for having an athletic OL with players that were considered undersized for their time in the league, but let's face it the names on that line included pro bowler Dan Neal and Hall of Famer Gary Zimmerman as well as ex-Redskin Mark Schlereth.
On the other side of the fence, there are the things I expect to see change.
One of them is the improvement of the special teams. Last week there was a blocked field goal because of a missed assignment inside against a 6'7 player. This week there was a botched hold. On top of that there was Brandon Banks consistently bringing the ball out from deep and running kicks back short of the 20 yard line.
Those exta field goals last week and this week could have been game changers. Romo would have needed a touchdown instead of a FG on that last drive after the 3rd and 21 conversion and the Redskins D didn't give up a TD in 60 minutes.
I also expect the pass defense to improve with the return of Landry and of Phillip Buchanon after his suspension. Landry was miscast as a free safety but in the short and intermediate zones he can be a disruptor in the passing game. Buchanon is despite the high draft pick used on him, still a significant upgrade from Kevin Barnes.
The Redskins are still lacking a shutdown corner and seem more suited to zone. Last night, in a critical moment Haslett decided to roll the dice on that third and long knowing he had a 5'10 cornerback trying to cover a 6'4 receiver in Dez Bryant. And no one has ever confused DeAngelo Hall with Charles Woodson or Asomugha.
The other thing that is still on the come is the development of younger players who despite their contributions are still making mistakes. This includes Ryan Kerrigan who got sucked inside on the Felix Jones run in the second half.
At some point during the season one also hopes we see receivers like Paul, Hankerson, Austin active and making a contribution. The team has better receivers around Moss than last year but Gaffney, Stallworth and Armstrong are limited in what they can do and how they can challenge a defense.
But, in the end, let's not spend 16 weeks blaming Rex Grossman for the losses this team sustains because the GM, coaches and fans all knew what Rex brought to the table, good and bad before season started.
This is not the Colts, where an untimely injury to a HOF quarterback has landed them with 40 year old Kerry Collins and Curtis Painter as the signal callers.
The Redskins didn't take advantage and that is usually the difference between an average team (which the Redskins probably are going to be at 7-9 or 8-8) and a team with a vision for reaching the postseason and the confidence to carry it off.
But of all the hand wringing that has gone on and WILL gone on for the next 13 games it is time I think to separate out those things which are not really amenable to change and those things which SHOULD change and which a good coaching staff will get a team to overcome in time.
In regards to the former, forgive Rex Grossman. Grossman is a 31 year old journeyman quarterback who can keep a team in most contests with a bit of support. But he has not been nor will he ever be a player that elevates an offense and makes plays with his arm or his feet that consistently wins games.
The Redskins most glaring weakness right now at a single position where the impact is felt week to week is at quarterback.
The Redskins have enough talent on offense where an elite talent like Aaron Rodgers or an emerging Josh Freeman probably would have made the plays last night to pull this game out against a Dallas secondary that was scrambling to keep up with Moss, Davis, etc.
But without clearly superior talent surrounding him at the skill positions and the offensive line Grossman is going to struggle against a good front seven.
The other thing that is not going to change until the next offseason is the mix on the interior OL. The Redskins haven't been able to run the ball at all against the two solid fronts they have faced in NY and Dallas. At one point Hightower had 10 carries for 28 yards on the graphics board last night. That's not all on him obviously. The Redskins have some undersized OL, but the fact is they might not just be undersized but undertalented. Will Montgomery, Chris Chester and Kory Lichtensteiger were all acquired on the cheap on waivers or as street free agents. The team is going to have to make an investment here.
The Broncos are famous for having an athletic OL with players that were considered undersized for their time in the league, but let's face it the names on that line included pro bowler Dan Neal and Hall of Famer Gary Zimmerman as well as ex-Redskin Mark Schlereth.
On the other side of the fence, there are the things I expect to see change.
One of them is the improvement of the special teams. Last week there was a blocked field goal because of a missed assignment inside against a 6'7 player. This week there was a botched hold. On top of that there was Brandon Banks consistently bringing the ball out from deep and running kicks back short of the 20 yard line.
Those exta field goals last week and this week could have been game changers. Romo would have needed a touchdown instead of a FG on that last drive after the 3rd and 21 conversion and the Redskins D didn't give up a TD in 60 minutes.
I also expect the pass defense to improve with the return of Landry and of Phillip Buchanon after his suspension. Landry was miscast as a free safety but in the short and intermediate zones he can be a disruptor in the passing game. Buchanon is despite the high draft pick used on him, still a significant upgrade from Kevin Barnes.
The Redskins are still lacking a shutdown corner and seem more suited to zone. Last night, in a critical moment Haslett decided to roll the dice on that third and long knowing he had a 5'10 cornerback trying to cover a 6'4 receiver in Dez Bryant. And no one has ever confused DeAngelo Hall with Charles Woodson or Asomugha.
The other thing that is still on the come is the development of younger players who despite their contributions are still making mistakes. This includes Ryan Kerrigan who got sucked inside on the Felix Jones run in the second half.
At some point during the season one also hopes we see receivers like Paul, Hankerson, Austin active and making a contribution. The team has better receivers around Moss than last year but Gaffney, Stallworth and Armstrong are limited in what they can do and how they can challenge a defense.
But, in the end, let's not spend 16 weeks blaming Rex Grossman for the losses this team sustains because the GM, coaches and fans all knew what Rex brought to the table, good and bad before season started.
This is not the Colts, where an untimely injury to a HOF quarterback has landed them with 40 year old Kerry Collins and Curtis Painter as the signal callers.
