Washington Redskins' 2015 Offseason To-Do List
You have to give it up to Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. While Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones consistently gets the most press for being the equivalent of an NFL hype man, it's Snyder who drives the most interest toward his team in the offseason.
It goes without saying that he's struck out on multiple occasions, but whether you point to Albert Haynesworth, Mike Shanahan, Joe Gibbs, DeSean Jackson or Robert Griffin III, it's clear Snyder will move mountains—of cash, oh, and draft picks—in order to acquire the players and coaches he targets.
If only we could take this desire to win headlines and apply it toward winning actual games. That's where we come in, though. Call it a how-to guide or a to-do list. But presented before you are the things the Redskins need to accomplish in the 2015 offseason if they're to become relevant again on the gridiron.
Hire a New Defensive Coordinator
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You can point to injuries. You can point to a sheer lack of talent. But after five seasons, the onus of the blame for Washington's porous defense falls at the feet of defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.
From points allowed to the yards his defense surrendered over his tenure, as Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch notes, there isn't much of a compelling case to extend Haslett's stay in D.C.:
"Some stats from Jim Haslett’s #Redskins tenure: pic.twitter.com/aWzzfxP1mb
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) December 29, 2014"
In a division stocked with potent aerial attacks, his secondary's penchant for blowing coverage assignments didn't do Haslett any favors either.
Question is, though, if Haslett is indeed fired, where do the Skins turn for his replacement?
A logical candidate is Rex Ryan, who, according to ESPN.com's Rich Cimini, was fired on Monday. Not only does he utilize a 3-4 defense, but, an important factor for any replacement, he's maximized the defensive talent on his roster.
You can scratch him off your wish list, though. According to the New York Post's Brian Costello, a defensive coordinator position isn't in the cards for Ryan in 2015:
"Rex told the CBS broadcasters what he has been telling friends for weeks: he will not take a defensive coordinator job next year. #nyj
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) December 28, 2014"
This brings us to the San Francisco 49ers. With Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers going their separate ways, via ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez, you have to ask, what are the futures of Vic Fangio and Jim Tomsula in San Fran?
While the defense has long been the strength of the 49ers, with the change at head coach, a staff shakeup could ensue.
Ultimately, with the front seven being the strength of the defense, it'll be important for Washington to target a defensive coordinator who specializes in getting after the quarterback.
Upgrade the Offensive Line
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Along Washington's offensive line there's Trent Williams and then four replaceable players. It really is that simple.
The Shawn Lauvao signing didn't pay direct dividends, and the array of offensive linemen the team has picked in the mid- to late rounds of the draft over the years haven't exactly panned out. Holdovers Josh LeRibeus and Tom Compton haven't inspired much confidence with their play this year that they can hold down starting jobs in 2015.
While it's far too early to proclaim that they're busts, recent draft picks Morgan Moses and Spencer Long haven't shown enough to be handed starting gigs in the near future either.
So where will the upgrades come from?
Owning a first-round pick for the first time in three years, in the top 10 no less, the draft is certainly an avenue the 'Skins could utilize to upgrade the offensive line. As things currently stand, according to CBSSports.com, six of the top 25 eligible 2015 NFL draft prospects play along the offensive line.
Then there's free agency. With Lauvao's struggles and Chris Chester's pending free agency, Washington has an opening or two at guard. Enter Mike Iupati.
One of the best guards in the NFL, Iupati already has two Pro Bowl berths and a first-team All-Pro selection back in 2012 on his resume.
With the 49ers having already secured long-term deals with Joe Staley, Anthony Davis and Alex Boone, he could very well price himself out of San Fran.
Couple these moves with some internal growth from Washington's men up front, and in due time the team could actually boast a quality offensive line.
Hire a Quarterbacks Coach
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Glancing at the quarterbacks set to be available this offseason, one thing is crystal-clear: RG3 is the Redskins' best option at quarterback in 2015.
That isn't to say, though, that he isn't a flawed quarterback. Not only does he remain skittish and indecisive when it comes to passing from the pocket, but his mechanics, footwork and ability to read defenses also need work.
One of the more candid responses we've received from a head coach in recent years, Jay Gruden highlighted Griffin's issues on these fronts after the team's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, via Dan Hanzus of NFL.com:
"Robert had some fundamental flaws. His footwork was below average. He took three-step drops when he should have taken five. He took a one-step drop when he should have taken three on a couple occasions and that can't happen. He stepped up when he didn't have to step up, and he stepped into pressure. He read the wrong side of the field a couple times.
So, from his basic performance just critiquing Robert, it's not even close to good enough to what we expect from the quarterback position.
"
Without a quarterbacks coach in 2014, the responsibility fell on Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay to work with the team's quarterbacks. While he didn't cite this as a reason for the team's struggles at the position, Gruden did reveal to The Washington Post's Mike Jones that he'd be open to adding a quarterbacks coach in 2015.
Knowing that 2014 was a lost season in terms of development for RG3, mostly because of injury, it'd be in the team's best interest to hire a coach whose sole focus is on coaching up Griffin and the other quarterbacks.
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Rebuild the Secondary
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Perhaps rebuild is the wrong word here—because it would give the illusion that Washington had a secondary to begin with.
Looking at the team's depth chart, there's Bashaud Breeland then a cast of players who shouldn't be starters. It may be premature to write off David Amerson. But he entered the NFL with many questioning whether he was best suited to play cornerback or safety, and two years in, that question can still be posed.
As for DeAngelo Hall, at 31 and coming off two tears to his Achilles tendon, his days as a cornerback could be over. A player who still possesses elite ball skills a la Charles Woodson, a move to safety could be in the cards for Hall.
It may be unrealistic to expect the team to fill all of its needs on the back end of the defense, but staying the course isn't a route the team can take. With that said, the team needs to move on specifically from Brandon Meriweather, Ryan Clark and Tracy Porter. For the majority of the 2014 campaign, these three did one of two things: hurt themselves or hurt the team's defense.
While their drop-off in play is in part due to their physical limitations, their diminished state had little to do with the lapses in coverage this group oversaw.
All told, in the draft and free agency, the team has to make this position group a priority. According to Rich Tandler's Real Redskins, Washington will have $18.4 million in cap space in 2015. And with some roster tweaking, that number could jump to over $30 million.
In light of that, the likes of Devin McCourty and Kareem Jackson are potential free agents worth targeting. As for the draft, alongside Cody Prewitt—if they declare—Landon Collins and Gerod Holliman stand out as prospects capable of starting in 2015.
Sign Ryan Kerrigan to a Long-Term Deal
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Entering the 2014 offseason, the Redskins had to decide on whether to sign top pass-rusher Brian Orakpo to a long-term deal. Ultimately, the team relented to Orakpo's overtures and opted to slap the franchise tag on him. Injured yet again, Orakpo's 2014 campaign all but validated the team's decision.
Faced with a similar decision, this time with Ryan Kerrigan, the choice should again be a easy one for Washington's brass. Pay Kerrigan!
He's already proved to be durable. Kerrigan hasn't missed a game in four years. Cast into a starring role this season with Jason Hatcher and Orakpo slowed by injuries, he took the next stage in his development.
One of the biggest snubs from the Pro Bowl, Kerrigan finished with a career-high 13.5 sacks and forced five fumbles this season. With the team already picking up his fifth-year option, he will make $7.03 million in 2015.
Seeing how the free-agent market tends to drive up the price for pass-rushers—see Michael Johnson and Paul Kruger—it's in the Redskins' best interest to be proactive in locking up Kerrigan to a long-term deal. Not only will it likely save the team valuable cap space in the future, but it would free up Washington to use its franchise tag.
With Williams, Alfred Morris and Griffin currently set to be free agents in 2016, according to Spotrac.com, that's not a small oversight.
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