5 Moves Washington Redskins Should Have Made This Offseason

National pundits may not be convinced, but the Washington Redskins have actually enjoyed a fairy solid offseason. The arrival of new general manager Scot McCloughan has seen a clear blueprint for rebuilding emerge on both sides of the ball.

McCloughan's fidelity to classic staples for getting better, particularly fortifying the trenches, should be commended. But that doesn't mean there aren't things the Burgundy and Gold could have done better.

There are still obvious gaps at inside linebacker and third-down running back. Perhaps more pertinent are the issues obvious on the coaching staff, issues that begin at the top.

Here are the best moves Washington should have made this offseason.

Sign an Inside Linebacker

Gail Burton/Associated Press

When you're not particularly stellar at the starter level and depth is wafer thin, it's the NFL gods way of telling you to add more talent at a position. Sadly, McCloughan and the Redskins didn't pay attention to this message when it came to the inside linebacker rotation.

There was an obvious need at both levels. Perry Riley Jr.'s disappointing 2014 season justified recruiting a new partner in the middle for budding star Keenan Robinson.

But still the Redskins stood pat. Recruiting a veteran starter would have bolstered the first-team unit, while also beefing up the team's cover.

Instead, Riley's under pressure to deliver a major rebound season. More important, Robinson needs to stay healthy.

That's something he's struggled to do through three pro seasons. He missed five games as a rookie in 2012, before sitting out the entire 2013 campaign.

Even last season, practically a breakout year for the ultra-athletic 26-year-old, Robinson spent the last three games of the season on the shelf. Such a sketchy durability record is bad news considering Robinson's importance.

He's now the leader of this defense, its signal-caller and most dynamic playmaker along the front seven.

If there's no Robinson, the Redskins will find themselves reaching into the grab bag and not finding much to be enthusiastic about. How could they when depth is so uninspiring?

Veteran Adam Hayward is only here for what he might bring as leader of the special teams. So that leaves Will Compton and fifth-round pick Martrell Spaight, McCloughan's lone addition at this position, as the next men up.

The former is something of a fan favorite, thanks to his hustle and willingness to hit. But Compton lacks the range and instincts to be a quality starter. Obviously, Spaight is unproven. If he makes the grade quickly, McCloughan will look like a genius, but not many rookies go from fifth-round picks to instant starters.

This is the most uncertain position on Washington's revamped defense. That uncertainty could have been avoided if a free agent had been brought on board.

Sign a Dedicated Pass-Rusher

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

When you only notch 36 sacks in a season, then wave goodbye to a player who twice topped double-digit quarterback takedowns in a season, you need pass-rush help. Yet Washington resisted the need to recruit a dedicated pass-rusher.

Instead, the Redskins have opted to trust in a second-year leap from Trent Murphy. The former Stanford man recorded a mere 2.5 sacks as a rookie.

That's hardly a number that inspires confidence or will give opposing quarterbacks nightmares, even though it's too soon to give up on Murphy. But it would be wise to have some insurance at the position.

McCloughan thinks he has that in the form of this year's second-round pick Preston Smith. Yet not everybody is convinced the ex-Mississippi State standout can make the grade as an outside linebacker.

Bleacher Report analyst Michael Felder believes Smith's skill set belongs on the defensive line, specifically at 5-technique end in Washington's 3-4 scheme. Of course, the Redskins are rolling the dice that Smith can transition to the edge with the minimum of fuss.

Smith was a star of Washington's rookie minicamp, where his work ethic and positional flexibility really stood out, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. But Jones also noted how Smith has spent a lot of time working with positional coaches on pass-rush drills and hands technique, the basics for creating pressure off the edge.

Smith's rush technique clearly needs work, as ESPN's John Keim noted during OTAs:

"

Rookie linebacker Preston Smith worked against tackle Takoby Cofield a few times. Smith one time got a little too upright versus tight end Chase Dixon, allowing him to take control. Almost as if Smith was doing too much looking for the ball instead of first setting the edge. Smith worked all over, rushing inside on occasion.

"

It's obvious there's a steep learning curve for the 6'5", 271-pounder. That's OK, but if neither Smith nor Murphy can generate consistent heat on the outside, the pass-rush burden will again fall on Pro Bowler Ryan Kerrigan.

He's naturally going to be a target for every team on Washington's schedule after 13.5 sacks in 2014. Kerrigan is also recovering from offseason knee surgery. He needs more help in the new season.

Drafting a player who's a questionable fit for the position, as well as relying on raw youngsters Trevardo Williams and Jackson Jeffcoat for depth, doesn't really seem enough at such an important position.

This year's free-agent market was littered with intriguing weapons. Some were expensive, like the highly versatile Pernell McPhee, who signed a five-year contract with the Chicago Bears, paying $16 million in guaranteed money.

But Washington could have scored a bargain with a versatile edge-rusher like Akeem Ayers, who helped the New England Patriots win last season's Super Bowl. Instead, the St. Louis Rams took the natural rush end on a reasonably priced two-year deal.

Even as just a situational pass-rusher, Ayers would have helped replace Brian Orakpo and boosted the potential of Washington's defense to create pressure.

Sign a True Pass-Catching Back

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Mike Shanahan couldn't find one. Jay Gruden got it wrong in 2014. The Redskins are entering another season without a natural pass-catching running back.

Sure, there are options. But none are particularly convincing. Actually, far from convincing is a more apt term for brittle incumbent Chris Thompson and rookies Matt Jones and Trey Williams.

Thompson was given the "first crack" to be a key part of the third-down offense, per Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Gruden was quick to talk up Thompson's potential earlier this offseason, according to Andrew Walker of the team's official site:

"

Obviously Chris Thompson has been battling through injuries throughout his career so far, but we have high hopes for Chris. We just have to make sure he stays healthy. That’s been his biggest issue so far. If we can keep him healthy, he’s a great option.

"

Yet despite Gruden's optimism, the Redskins still plucked Trey Williams off the undrafted scrapheap after selecting Matt Jones in the third round of this year's draft. It's not as if those moves didn't make sense considering Thompson's injury history.

After all, he's made just six appearances in two years after entering the pros with a record of back problems. Of course, Thompson's woes won't matter if either Williams or Jones make the grade as a versatile backfield weapon of choice.

Yet how likely is that?

Pocket-edition burner Williams has become an instant hit with many fans, even though he's yet to play a pro down. Such enthusiasm is understandable from fans of a perennially rebuilding franchise.

But it can mean overlooking obvious deficiencies in a player's game. Here's how CBSSports.com's Dane Brugler described Williams' receiving skills or lack thereof: "small hands and wasn't asked to run many routes or be a large part of the passing game—unreliable in pass protection with limited upside in this area."

Yet that damning indictment needn't put a damper on any enthusiasm for Washington's passing game. Maybe Jones can fill the pass-catching void.

He has potential as a receiver, Gruden and his coaches have possibly already noticed that this offseason, per the team's official Twitter feed: 

"

Gruden on rookie RB Matt Jones: "He has much more versatility than we thought." Can run, catch and has size to take on blitzing LBs.

— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) May 26, 2015"

But Jones' record as a pass-catcher hardly screams a dependable receiver. He caught 11 passes in 2014, five in 2013 and a mere three in 2012, per CFBStats.com.

Given the paucity of options for catching passes out of the backfield, it would have made sense for the Redskins to add a reliable veteran. Pierre Thomas, a highly versatile 30-year-old still on the market, would be perfect.

A tough and savvy runner also blessed with an excellent understanding of pass routes and great hands, Thomas would be ideal for a team with struggling quarterbacks. Consider how much easier Thomas would make things for Robert Griffin III, a signal-caller who tries to force big plays and struggles to make quick reads.

That's the value of a reliable backfield outlet. It's something the Redskins are likely to wish they had once the real action begins.

Hire a Different Defensive Coordinator

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

OK, this season's defense looks good after McCloughan's work in free agency and the draft. That is, the unit looks good everywhere except at the coaching level.

Gruden and team president Bruce Allen may know Joe Barry, but not many fans were impressed by his arrival. Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post collated some of the more fit-to-print expressions of disapproval.

Writing for the Post, Jason Reid noted how Barry had been ushered in ahead of some more high-profile candidates:

"

But Barry flopped in his first stint as a coordinator. And he was a fallback pick after Vic Fangio, whom the Redskins clearly wanted, agreed to join the Chicago Bears. Following Gruden’s rough rookie season as a head coach, he needed someone proven to lead Washington’s defense. Wade Phillips was available.

"

There's the rub. Washington chose Barry, a man whom Reid pointed out directed two defenses that ranked last in both yards and points for the Detroit Lions in 2007 and 2008, over two of the most well-regarded 3-4 minds in the league.

To make matters worse, it's not as if there wasn't genuine interest between Washington, Fangio and Phillips. Reid described how those at Redskins Park coveted 3-4 master Fangio, while B/R Insider Jason Cole explained how a deal for Phillips seemed inevitable.

Ultimately, though, Washington ended up with a hire who has a ton to prove. Barry's presence on the sideline creates more questions than answers.

Imagine play-callers with Phillips' and Fangio's track records and expertise working with new faces such as linemen Terrance Knighton and Stephen Paea, along with safety Dashon Goldson and cornerback Chris Culliver.

But instead, Mike Jones of the Washington Post is likely one of many asking whether Barry can get the most from the obvious talent at his disposal, a question he recently posed to B/R's Stephen Nelson.

If a seemingly loaded defense isn't better than last season's 30th in points and 20th in yards rankings, Barry will be the scapegoat. But a healthy amount of blame will also be sent the way of the men who approved hiring him.

Fire Jay Gruden

Nick Wass/Associated Press

This one's a little tricky to write. Booting coaches after one year isn't exactly fair. Gruden certainly inherited a few problems when he took over from Shanahan.

But it's how he handled those problems that really condemned the former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator. Specifically, how he handled the Griffin situation, the toughest needle to thread on this team.

Gruden was essentially hired to fix Griffin and salvage the major investment Washington made to draft the dual-threat quarterback in 2012. Yet Griffin's regression wasn't the only concern under Gruden. It's something that seemed impossible after the fiasco that was Shanahan's last year.

As important as on-field performances are, though they were bad, Griffin's relationship with the coaching staff actually got worse. It's as if the all-time low he hit working with the Shanahans in 2013 wasn't as bad as it could get after all, just the start of plumbing the depths.

Griffin's lack of development as a pro-style passer perturbed Gruden. His disapproval in turn irked Griffin who acted as though he hadn't received enough support from a franchise that traded away its future to get him and hired coaches based on their ability to work with him.

The whole thing got ugly and went public. Lost somewhere in the debris was another wasted season for the Redskins.

This team isn't a Super Bowl contender or even a playoff heavyweight. But it's had way too much talent to win just seven games in two years.

Griffin's the big problem, but it's one that's not going away because members of management are still believers. After all, Allen endorsed the decision to pick up Griffin's fifth-year option, a decision that still beggars belief.

Right or wrong, it's up to any coach in Washington to find a way to make it work with Griffin. Be honest, do you really see it working between Griffin and Gruden?

The Redskins haven't done a lot wrong when rebuilding their roster this offseason. But the moves on this list would have inspired even greater confidence ahead of a pivotal season.

All statistics and player information via NFL.com.