Washington Redskins Must Make Improving Offensive Line the Offseason Priority

You have to wonder if Robert Griffin III was truly glad to be back on the field for the Washington Redskins. Sure, entering Week 15's 24-13 loss to the New York Giants in the first quarter gave him the chance to show he can still be a credible starter in the NFL.

It was a chance to wag his finger at head coach Jay Gruden, the man who benched him. He could also show owner Dan Snyder and general manager Bruce Allen, his friends in high places, that RG3 can still be the future of the Redskins.

The problem is seizing that chance meant Griffin took an almighty beating. How could it mean anything else behind what must surely be the worst offensive line in the NFL?

Fixing that line has to be the top priority of this team in the offseason. That means even putting it before the big questions like who the coach and quarterback will be in 2015.

Without improvements up front the answers to those questions won't matter one jot.

After all, Gruden only let Griffin back under center after Colt McCoy had been left battered and bruised by the Big Blue defense. But a recurrence of McCoy's neck injury might somehow seem mild compared with the numerous hits Griffin took.

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In all, the Giants swarmed in for seven sacks. New York's rampaging defensive front, which isn't really talented enough that it should merit that adjective, also shut down an initially productive running game.

Alfred Morris was held to just 49 yards on 14 carries. Chris Thompson, Silas Redd and Darrel Young chipped in with only 16 yards from five carries, as Redskins runners struggled to find open lanes.

The offensive line was directly responsible for wrecking a unit that somehow still managed to amass 372 yards. Want to know how you gain 372 yards (419 before sack yards were subtracted) and score only 13 points? Play behind this line, and find out.

Poor protection and feeble blocking wasted a game that for the most part was expertly called by Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay.

The seven sacks surrendered meant the Redskins have now established an unwelcome record for protection ineptitude. Richmond Times-Dispatch writer Michael Phillips detailed the dire numbers:

Issues this extensive make everybody charged with protection culpable. Running backs have been particularly vulnerable in recent weeks.

Both Morris and Roy Helu Jr. missed blocks that led to sacks for the St. Louis Rams in Week 14. Against the Giants, Thompson often failed to chip on defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul and Damontre Moore.

But the real blame belongs to the five starters, along with their questionable depth, up front. Too often tackles Trent Williams and Tom Compton, guards Shawn Lauvao and Chris Chester and center Kory Lichtensteiger are beaten easily in one-on-one matchups.

Grant Paulsen, host of 106.7 The Fan, detailed one obvious example early on against the Giants:

Failures like this are directly related to this team's consistent struggles in long-yardage situations. No matter if it's Griffin, McCoy or Kirk Cousins throwing the passes, none of that trio will succeed if he doesn't have time to let longer routes develop.

The quarterbacks will also continue to struggle if top pass-rushers are allowed to run riot every week. Pierre-Paul did exactly that:

In this context, can anyone really be surprised that Washington's offense has continued falter with three different quarterbacks taking the reins?

The Redskins have to stop thinking they'll just stumble onto a competent line. That's never going to happen, especially when the franchise continues to stitch together groups comprised of uninspiring draft picks and lower-tier free agents.

That thinking led to signing Lauvao from the Cleveland Browns this offseason. He was certainly not the best or the most coveted guard on the market.

Using duct tape to patch up a position that's been a glaring weakness since 2007 led to using a pair of third-round picks on Morgan Moses and Spencer Long in this year's draft.

Neither has come close to supplanting Tyler Polumbus and Chris Chester, two bargain-basement flops signed during the Mike Shanahan era. Instead, Polumbus has been shoved aside by Tom Compton, a sixth-round selection in 2012.

The pattern is an obvious one: The Redskins don't invest in marquee players along the O-line, leaving quarterbacks and the running game to pay the price.

That harmful pattern has to be snapped this offseason. That will mean investing top dollars to secure premium linemen in free agency.

There are certainly plenty of choices. San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati is at the top of the pile with good reason.

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He's powerful and mobile, exactly the kind of combination this team needs up front. Iupati's experience in San Fran's power-blocking schemes needn't deter Washington's zone-based offense.

Under Gruden's stewardship the Redskins have displayed a greater willingness to lean on power concepts this season, per Paulsen:

More variety in the ground schemes would make room for a player like Iupati. But a guard from an already varied rushing attack could perhaps provide greater help.

Orlando Franklin had his critics when he played tackle for the Denver Broncos. But he's been a revelation since he shifted inside.

The Broncos leave no stone unturned in their running game. They run zone-stretch plays, the signature run of the Washington ground game. But Denver will also run lead draws, counters and traps.

That diversity demands different skills from the linemen, a responsibility 6'7", 320-pounder Franklin handles well.

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But Washington also has options if it simply wants better linemen to execute the same zone-blocking techniques it's relied on since 2010. That would put Seattle Seahawks starter James Carpenter in play.

The Seahawks run the same zone-based, stretch-led scheme Washington plays. Carpenter has become a key figure in the success of the league's top-ranked running game.

B/R's Chris Simms tabbed both Carpenter and Iupati as players the Redskins ought to consider this offseason:

Any one of Iupati, Franklin or Carpenter is going to be costly. But that's the level of investment this team must make in its offensive front.

That level should also be reflected in the 2015 NFL draft. During Gruden's dire first year in charge, this team's one achievement has been to play itself into a top-five pick.

The pick would be wisely used on a player like Iowa's Brandon Scherff. He's a tough and resourceful tackle who could easily switch to the right side at the pro level.

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But there are also Cedric Ogbuehi (Texas A&M) and La'el Collins (LSU). The former is an athletic marvel ideally suited to man the edge in the modern game, per CBS Sports analysts Rob Rang and Dane Brugler:

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Blessed with prototypical traits for today's tackle. Possesses broad shoulders, a trim middle and excellent first-step quickness and balance. He looks the part of a future NFL Pro Bowler with his easy knee bend and lateral agility. Ogbuehi has vines for arms and strong hands to latch and control, as well as the core flexibility to anchor.

He is light on his feet and can adjust in space when run blocking at the second level and, because of his rare combination of agility and length, is one of those few tackles capable of recovering if initially beaten off the snap.

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At this stage, the choice of prospect shouldn't be the main focus. First, this franchise must decide to make a concerted effort to stockpile marquee talent along the line. After all, the team has gone long enough without it.

It doesn't matter if Gruden is on the sidelines for the Redskins again in 2015. It doesn't matter if Griffin is just a distant memory and a new face is under center.

This team isn't going to win until it's better, much, much better, in the offensive trenches.

All statistics via NFL.com unless otherwise stated.