Redskins vs. Cowboys: What Are Experts Saying About Washington?

It wasn't pretty, but for the first time in five tries, the Washington Redskins won an NFL game. On the heels of that 19-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, the team is now tasked with beating the league's hottest team, the Dallas Cowboys.

If it wasn't already difficult enough, the contest is on the road, where Washington hasn't won in more than a year. Potentially starting their third different quarterback, rivalry game or not, it's no wonder that the Redskins are a heavy underdog in this matchup.

It's the last game of the NFL's Week 8 slate; here is what the experts are saying about Washington ahead of Monday night's contest.

Neil Greenberg: Redskins Will Miss Brian Orakpo

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Designated as the team's franchise player in the offseason, Brian Orakpo has hardly had the look of one this season. Through seven games he has a half-sack and 24 tackles. And after he suffered a torn pectoral yet again, these are numbers that will stand for the remainder of the 2014 campaign.

Even with such middling numbers on his resume, The Washington Post's Neil Greenberg painted Orakpo as a player Washington's defense would miss, particularly in stopping the run: "The loss of Orakpo will be felt when the opposition opts to run the ball. Only four outside linebackers playing in 3-4 defensive scheme have stopped the run as much or more than Orakpo (11), and only inside linebacker Keenan Robinson has more run stops on the team (15)."

While Orakpo has no doubt played a role in the team having the NFL's 12th-ranked rushing defense this year, the reality is the Skins have posted comparable defenses without his services in the past.

In 2012, a season in which Orakpo played just two games, Washington was fifth in rushing yards allowed with Rob Jackson as his replacement.

Looking at the potential candidates to replace him now, rookie Trent Murphy stands out. Murphy's impact has been limited, but as the team's top pick from the 2014 NFL draft, he's a player the Redskins should want to get an extended look at sooner than later.

Considering that Orakpo was playing under a one-year, $11.45 million franchise tag, going forward, it's in the team's best interest to role with the cost certainty Murphy provides opposite Ryan Kerrigan. Boasting a shallow roster, Washington could apply the savings from Orakpo's exodus and improve its depth.

Mark Bullock: Changes May Be Coming Along Offensive Line

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A team that's 21st in rushing and has allowed 14 sacks, the Redskins' struggles along the offensive line is no secret. With head coach Jay Gruden alternating between Tyler Polumbus and Tom Compton at right tackle in the team's Week 7 victory over the Titans, those struggles were highlighted.

Analyzing the offensive line as a whole, though, The Washington Post's Mark Bullock found that Polumbus wasn't the lone weak link up front:

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But if Polumbus is benched, I wouldn’t be surprised if guard Shawn Lauvao is soon to follow. Lauvao was one of the Redskins’ first free-agent acquisitions, signed with the belief he could translate to the zone-blocking scheme well and boost the pass protection. But his play has been plagued with mistakes and failed blocks that can only be put up with for so long.

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With the weapons Washington boasts, it's hard to disagree with Bullock's assessment. The team was fifth in rushing a season ago, and Shawn Lauvao is the lone new starter on the offensive line—although Kory Lichtensteiger has moved from guard to center.

Faced with 3rd-and-long more frequently because of this plight, the team converts an NFC-worst 31.7 percent of its third downs. This team relies on the big play because of its inability to engineer long drives, which explains how Washington can be fifth in total offense but just 23rd in scoring.

In light of what the team has invested in this position group via the NFL draft, whether it's Morgan Moses, Spencer Long or Josh LeRibeus, there's little reason for Washington to be satisfied with mediocrity when the potential for improvement is just wasting away on the sidelines.

Chris Cooley: Colt McCoy Should Start vs. Cowboys

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After rescuing the Redskins from a fifth straight defeat, Colt McCoy deserves to start against the Cowboys—according to former Redskin Chris Cooley, that is.

Speaking on ESPN 980, via Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post, Cooley put his support behind McCoy as the starting quarterback: "You have no question of who you start at quarterback if you’re Jay Gruden this week. It’s definitely Colt McCoy. You prepare him as the starter, you let him get all the reps, you let him work with your team, and you say [it's] not necessarily about Colt McCoy, it’s about the playmakers."

Unlike those who rushed to dub Kirk Cousins as the team's best option at quarterback—Joe Theismann ring a bell?—Cooley's comments are tied to Robert Griffin III's recovery from a dislocated ankle.

“I wouldn’t play him this week,” Cooley said. “I watched him on the sideline, and I still don’t think he’s 100 percent. He’s not completely putting weight on that ankle, and that was exactly what he did last year in those little pregame warm-ups with his knee.

With the low probability Washington has at making playoffs, Cooley is right. What reason is there for the team to rush Griffin back? When you sport a 2-5 record, winning games becomes secondary to the long-term future of the franchise quarterback.

Looking at what Cousins and McCoy can do in relief of Griffin, McCoy wins out as the better option because he isn't as turnover-prone as Cousins. Just look at their career numbers.

In 29 games, McCoy has 20 interceptions, while Cousins has 18 picks in just 14 games!

With turnovers often being the deciding factor in who wins and loses, there's little question that McCoy should hold down the starting job until Griffin returns.

Rich Tandler: Who Will Cover Dez Bryant?

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Entering Week 8's Monday night matchup, much of the focus is on DeMarco Murray and his 100-yard rushing streak, and rightfully so. The Cowboys are no doubt a different team with him anchoring the offense.

Even with that said, in light of Washington's secondary situation, Dez Bryant could also be in for a big game. While pondering who between David Amerson and Bashaud Breeland would cover Bryant in DeAngelo Hall's absence, CSN's Rich Tandler alluded that regardless of who draws the assignment, both corners could be in for a long night: "It’s almost certain that one of them will appear in a SportsCenter highlight of Bryant making an impossible grab. Whoever isn’t on Bryant likely will get Terrence Williams, who is averaging 17.8 yards on his 19 receptions. It’s likely be a long night for the two young CBs."

After allowing Arian Foster to top 100 rushing yards in the season opener, the Redskins have held the likes of LeSean McCoy and Marshawn Lynch under the century mark. So, perhaps Dallas' passing attack should be the biggest cause of concern.

Already down Orakpo, Washington will have its issues getting to Tony Romo behind the Cowboys' vaunted offensive line. So whether it's manufacturing pressure via blitzes or disguising coverages, the focal point of defensive coordinator Jim Haslett's game plan should be stopping the pass.

John Keim: Will the Run Game Get on Track?

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Averaging 99.4 yards rushing per game, the Skins aren't sporting the rushing attack that fans have grown accustomed to seeing over the years.

Although the offensive line has been cited as one reason for the decline in production, as ESPN.com's John Keim notes, other factors are at play here as well:

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At times I wonder if the run game is more predictable; if that happens, then you better have dominant blockers. Washington does not. I'm surprised, and disappointed, by what has transpired in this area. It's on many, including the running back. Also, the Redskins have faced three teams ranked in the top 10 in yards per carry (Seattle, Arizona and Jacksonville). In the next nine games, Washington plays six games against teams that currently rank 23rd or worse in yards per carry -- and none in the top 10.

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While changes to the starting lineup are one remedy, Gruden may want to stand pat against the Cowboys. Dallas has surrendered 4.9 yards per carry this season, third-worst in the NFL. Additionally, with much of the same personnel, the Redskins tallied 361 yards and averaged more than five yards per carry in their two matchups against this opponent in 2013.

With a game manager in McCoy likely to be at quarterback, a repeat performance from last season on the ground is paramount to Washington upending the Cowboys.