Redskins vs. Colts: What Experts Are Saying About Washington

In the midst of yet another losing season, the Washington Redskins continue to find ways to make headlines. While other teams are making playoff pushes, Washington trifles with anonymous sources and quarterback controversies.

With the benching of Robert Griffin III official for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, it is nearly impossible to find straight talk about the matchup.

Drama will always win headlines, but there is still action to be had on the field. For the Redskins, this game becomes a statement game because of the turmoil going on off of the field and in the news.

Here's what experts are talking about heading into Washington's road game against Indianapolis.

Robert Griffin III Benched, Likely Done in Washington

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

Let's get it out of the way early: Robert Griffin III has been benched by head coach Jay Gruden, and Colt McCoy will get the start this Sunday. The Washington Post's Jason Reid sees it as the beginning of the end for Griffin in Washington, but also as an opportunity for Gruden to build the team he wants to coach.

"By consensus-building to make the tough call on Griffin, he’s demonstrated he’s ready to do more," Reid wrote. "It’s highly unlikely the struggling quarterback will return next season, people within the organization say."

This move is less about the immediate impact of benching Griffin in favor of McCoy and what it means for the game in Indy and more about the far-reaching impact the decision has for Gruden and the Redskins.

The decision to bench Griffin wasn't difficult to make, but difficult to implement given the personalities Gruden has to deal with at the top of the organization. Bruce Allen is a salary cap- and contract-minded general manager as opposed to a football mind.

Allen, when it comes to everything else, is a Dan Snyder guy.

He doesn't dissuade any rash decisions on players he wants, which extends back to the big trade the Redskins made to draft Griffin back in 2012.

Gruden was able to move Snyder away from the belief that Griffin was the quarterback of the future in Washington, which likely ends Griffin's tenure with the team but gives Gruden the ability to make changes that are long overdue.

Difficult though it may be to accept that Griffin isn't going to bounce back and be the guy for the Redskins, it is the best thing for Griffin, Gruden and the franchise to part ways.

Colt McCoy Is as Confident as Ever in the Starting Role

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Colt McCoy became a cult hero among Redskins fans first for his surprise performance against the Tennessee Titans and then in leading the team to an upset victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

ESPN.com's John Keim reports that McCoy hasn't allowed his return to a reserve role to dampen his confidence in being named the starter once again.

"My approach needs to be the same that it’s been since the day I got here, understanding what Jay wants within our offense, within our quarterback play and where he wants us to go with the football – being smart, being confident, being a leader," McCoy said.

For the rest of this season, or for the foreseeable future, this is McCoy's team. He is a leader, and he has shown an excellent grasp of Jay Gruden's offense and what is expected of him.

From Robert Griffin III to McCoy, the difference is night and day.

It should be said that McCoy hasn't made any mistakes as quarterback for the Redskins, so he hasn't faced the scrutiny that comes with the territory. Even so, he was under intense scrutiny in college, playing in the biggest football state for that state's college at Texas.

Being a quarterback who didn't enter the league with any hype and didn't get a fair shake with the team that drafted him, McCoy is the type of player who you wouldn't expect to be a game-changer, but everything he has shown thus far proves otherwise.

If it only lasts the rest of the season, McCoy is going to give the Redskins an excellent chance to win some games down the stretch.

Expect Jim Haslett to Bring the House Against Andrew Luck

Richard Lipski/Associated Press

Yes, there is still a game being played this weekend, and the Redskins have a tough test ahead of them in the Colts. Indianapolis is a playoff team and Washington is most certainly not at this juncture.

In his weekly review of the week's plate matchups, CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora ranks the game as a slider: "The Jags shredded them last week and I see no reason why the Skins' blitz-happy coordinator Jim Haslett doesn't bring the house this week."

When the Redskins have had success on defense, it has been when they bring a ton of pressure. Haslett has been inconsistent in doing this, but it has worked for the Redskins when he has stuck to the blitz.

Ryan Kerrigan and Trent Murphy form a relentless pass-rushing duo off of the edges, while Jason Hatcher provides versatile pressure from everywhere on the line.

The key to Washington's blitz packages has been Brandon Meriweather.

Meriweather, for all of his problems with coverage and tackling in the open field, has proven to be excellent as the eighth man in the box, coming off of the edge and shooting the gap inside.

Andrew Luck is great at getting the ball out of his hands and has excellent weapons to get the ball to. T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne are capable of making big plays, and the Redskins defense needs to limit their touches.

Pressure is the key for the Redskins defense to succeed due to the limitations and injuries in the secondary.

Quarterbacks Are in the Spotlight Even More for the Redskins

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

It is inevitable that one of the storylines for this game is going to be the Colts' success with Andrew Luck as their quarterback and the lack of success the Redskins have had with Robert Griffin III as their quarterback.

One of them is starting for a playoff contender, the other has been benched for a former third-round pick of the Cleveland Browns. John Keim puts an emphasis on McCoy's opportunity to lead the Redskins and make a case for being a reliable, if not long-term, solution to Washington's quarterback issue.

"What McCoy provides is someone who knows the offense and can execute it the way the coaches desire, getting rid of the ball on time and making the proper adjustments," Keim said. "That’s something they needed Griffin to do a better job of during his time."

At this point, Kirk Cousins is probably in the same boat as RG3. He was the previous regime's insurance policy for Griffin, and he has failed to establish himself as a viable starter in Jay Gruden's offense.

The Redskins have had a lot of problems on all sides of the ball, but Cousins was a turnover machine and McCoy is not.

McCoy is a stopgap starter. That isn't to say he isn't capable of winning games and being a starter for a period, but he is a placeholder.

Washington will see what McCoy has as a starter and probably settle with him for next season while it works out the kinks along its offensive line and fixes the secondary.

Trent Williams Eyes a Return Against the Colts

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Protecting the quarterback, whomever it may be on any given week, is arguably one of the most important tasks on the offensive side of the ball. Trent Williams sprained a knee and an ankle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Liz Clarke of The Washington Post reports that Williams is preparing to start against Indianapolis, which is good news for Colt McCoy: "The goal for Sunday isn’t for Trent Williams to be fully recovered from the sprained ankle and knee he suffered two weeks ago. It’s for Williams to be mobile enough to help Washington’s offensive line protect quarterback Colt McCoy against the pass rush of the Indianapolis Colts."

Williams is the best lineman the Redskins have. The rest of the line is, for lack of a better word, garbage.

Tyler Polumbus is a turnstile, Chris Chester and Kory Lichtensteiger have been shoved back at the snap of the ball on a regular basis and Shawn Lauvao has been underwhelming at best.

Without Williams, the offensive line is a travesty. With Williams, things aren't quite as bad.

However, if Williams is less than 100 percent, it doesn't help the Redskins offense a great deal.