Redskins 2015 Preview: Complete Washington Guide for Preseason, Season
More changes than there are letters in the team name can't hide the fact the Washington Redskins enter another season once again tied to the development of quarterback Robert Griffin III.
New general manager Scot McCloughan has beefed up the trenches on both sides of the ball, revamped the secondary and added some high-profile names to the coaching staff. But all of that will count for naught if the Redskins can't get Griffin going.
For that to happen, his relationship with head coach Jay Gruden must improve. So that means the coach has to design an offense that works for this quarterback.
McCloughan, Gruden and his coaching staff are banking on the rest of the team being strong enough to carry Griffin if they need to. But that theory will be put to the test by a tough start to the schedule that will place the spotlight firmly on a refreshed offensive line.
Of course, like every other team around the NFL, Washington will hope to iron out its major creases during preseason. That process will depend on a number of new faces being up to scratch by the end of training camp.
Here's what to focus on for the Redskins during the final buildup to the 2015 regular season.
Strength of the Schedule
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For a team that's managed just seven wins in the last two years, the Redskins were handed a deceptively tough schedule. Games against the AFC East and NFC South stand out as potential pitfalls during a tricky-looking campaign.
Here's how the full schedule breaks down:
| Week | Game |
| 1 | Home vs. Miami Dolphins |
| 2 | Home vs. St. Louis Rams |
| 3 | at New York Giants |
| 4 | Home vs. Philadelphia Eagles |
| 5 | at Atlanta Falcons |
| 6 | at New York Jets |
| 7 | Home vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 8 | Bye Week |
| 9 | at New England Patriots |
| 10 | Home vs. New Orleans Saints |
| 11 | at Carolina Panthers |
| 12 | Home vs. New York Giants |
| 13 | Home vs. Dallas Cowboys |
| 14 | at Chicago Bears |
| 15 | Home vs. Buffalo Bills |
| 16 | at Philadelphia Eagles |
| 17 | at Dallas Cowboys |
There are a few intriguing characteristics to this schedule. The first is closing out yet another season with a double tilt against the NFC East foe Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Only this time, Washington will have to take to the road.
The fate of the Burgundy and Gold's season could well be determined by then. Tough-looking road trips to take on the Falcons and Jets, two teams that could surprise many in 2015, will present plenty of challenges.
But it's the three-week run against the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers that really stands out as cause for a few sleepless nights. It's a tough run for any team, let alone one rebuilding at almost every vital area of the roster.
Here's a brief snapshot of the most notable games:
Week 1 vs. Dolphins: Facing Miami pits Washington against the one thing the Redskins covet most. Namely, a quarterback from the 2012 draft class who has actually shown progress.
Ryan Tannehill still has his critics, but he threw for over 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, both career-best marks. But it's the Miami defense that will really have Gruden worried.
Specifically, the one-two punch provided by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and rush end Cameron Wake. It's a premier pairing likely to give young Washington road-graders Spencer Long and Brandon Scherff fits.
Week 5 at Atlanta Falcons: As long as quarterback Matt Ryan stays upright and fires passes to Julio Jones, the Falcons have too much talent not to be a force. What Ryan needs is better support.
The Redskins will get to see if former Washington offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan provides it. If Shanahan makes the famed zone-stretch running scheme work, Atlanta's offense will be close to unstoppable.
All the Falcons will need then is a defense. That's why former Seattle Seahawks coordinator Dan Quinn was hired as head coach. His hybrid-front system and rookie pass-rusher Vic Beasley will offer a severe examination of Washington's O-line.
Week 15 Home vs. Buffalo Bills: But no test of the Callahan-coached line is likely to be tougher than facing the Buffalo Bills. The AFC East club boasts a fearsome defensive front featuring ends Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes along with tackles Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams.
As if that awesome stable of talent weren't enough, the Bills will now benefit from the expertise of head coach Rex Ryan, one of football's sharpest defensive minds. If Griffin is still under center by Week 15—and the Redskins will hope he is—his ability to make quick, smart decisions will surely be tested by Ryan's sophisticated pressure schemes.
Speaking of a test, that's just what running back LeSean McCoy will provide for the front seven McCloughan restocked this offseason. McCoy regularly tormented Washington during his days with the Eagles. Now it's up to new play-caller Joe Barry to find a solution.
These are the games to watch—read on for the new players who can help the Redskins win them.
New Impact Players
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The most notable new impact players in Washington reside on defense. Bulky playmakers up front and heavy hitters on the back end are expected to key a significant turnaround for last season's 30th-ranked scoring unit.
But that's nothing compared to the pressure the team's top draft pick is under. He must solidify a line that surrendered 58 sacks in 2014 while switching positions.
Here are the new faces set to make the biggest impact this season:
Terrance Knighton, NT
This list could start and end with Knighton. It's almost impossible to overstate his positive influence on Washington's defense.
At a basic level, Knighton is the gap-filling, blocker-absorbing 0-technique the Redskins have needed over center since 2010. With Knighton in the middle, Washington's base 3-4 front can do what it's supposed to do.
A big part of that is having a force in the middle who can force runners sideways against a front designed to string plays toward the sideline. Knighton will make the interior a no-go area for running backs, but he'll also keep linebackers clean and free to attack the ball.
The latter is something he's already doing during camp, according to ESPN.com's John Keim: "The combination of nose tackle Terrance Knighton and the change allow them to play faster. Keenan Robinson ran a nice blitz that would have resulted in a sack of Griffin."
With Knighton in the mix, this defense can create more 3rd-and-long situations where Barry can get creative and turn pass-rushers loose.
Dashon Goldson, FS
If there's one new face with plenty on his plate, it's Dashon Goldson. The veteran safety is expected to be the stabilizing last line of a group that's been shredded often during recent seasons.
That's a big ask for a player who was once one of the premier free safeties in football before a nightmare two-year stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Goldson didn't like the Tampa 2 system, potentially a problem considering Barry has roots in that scheme.
But so far at least, Goldson is being given a little more freedom in D.C., per another report from Keim: "I'm calling out stuff, the way I move. Little things like that. I'm not a robot. [Defensive coordinator Joe Barry] lets me play. He trusts me enough to make the plays I'm calling out."
If Goldson can rediscover the Pro Bowl form he showed with the San Francisco 49ers, form that undoubtedly encouraged McCloughan to acquire him for a second time, he'll be the key to a revival in the defensive backfield.
Chris Culliver, CB
But Goldson will need some help. He'll hope to get it from Chris Culliver, another cover man who rose to prominence in the Bay Area. Culliver is coming off a career year and could spark a change in the way the Redskins cover.
He's got good size at 6'0", 199 pounds and isn't afraid to use it. Culliver is tough and scrappy, and while he occasionally takes risks, he also rarely gives receivers an easy time moving out of their breaks.
In other words, he's perfect for the type of physical, press-style coverage McCloughan encouraged in San Francisco and later saw work so effectively with the Seattle Seahawks.
Brandon Scherff, OT
While there are plenty of new faces to help the defense click, few players will have a bigger impact on the success of the offense than rookie tackle Brandon Scherff. McCloughan drafted him fifth overall to bolster a line feeble in pass protection and one also switching to a ground scheme set to include more power concepts.
Scherff is certainly ideally suited for the latter demand. The 6'5", 319-pounder won the Outland Trophy as collegiate football's best lineman in 2014 largely based on his downright nasty run blocking.
The question with Scherff concerns his pass protection. It's a question that's been exaggerated during camp, where Ryan Kerrigan has consistently schooled him, according to Keim: "Rookie tackle Brandon Scherff continues to get an education from linebacker Ryan Kerrigan in one-on-one work. Kerrigan does such a good job getting into his pads. Saw this happen to Scherff in college at times."
Issues in protection are why most scouts and draft pundits, including NFL Network's Mike Mayock (h/t NFL.com's Dan Parr), projected Scherff as a better fit at guard in the pros. But instead, the Redskins are moving Scherff to right tackle.
It's a tricky switch, one that hasn't worked out for more than one recent high draft pick at left tackle. In 2013, both Eric Fisher of the Kansas City Chiefs and Luke Joeckel of the Jacksonville Jaguars struggled mightily with the switch. Swapping sides may seem like a simple process, but not many manage it.
Hopefully, Scherff gets all of the bumps in his learning curve out of the way during his skirmishes with Kerrigan. Washington certainly needs its proposed starter at right tackle ready for Week 1 against the Dolphins.
Rich Tandler of Real Redskins believes the arranged scrimmages with the Houston Texans during camp will provide additional, hopefully valuable, education: "We will be a better indication of where they are next week when the Houston Texans come to town and the line will be facing the likes of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney (if he is off of the PUP list by then) and Vince Wilfork."
Key Matchups
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Here's an early look at four key matchups to keep a close eye on this season:
Terrance Knighton vs. Travis Frederick and Zack Martin
Washington doesn't face old enemy Dallas until Week 13. But when the two teams meet, controlling the Cowboys' powerful interior O-line will be vital.
DeMarco Murray may have moved on, but don't automatically assume his exit is the death knell for a ground game that topped the league charts in 2014. While Murray's a talented runner, the real success of the Dallas groundhogs was inspired by center Travis Frederick and right guard Zack Martin.
With those two knocking open holes, the Cowboys can still trample teams in 2015. But Martin and Frederick will struggle to dominate the trenches with Knighton over the ball.
"Pot Roast" is the proverbial immovable object inside. His knack for occupying double-teams and generating a significant push can detonate the Dallas rushing attack and render Joseph Randle, another gifted ball-carrier, irrelevant in both games.
Chris Culliver and DeAngelo Hall vs. Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr.
There are a lot of ifs with this one. If DeAngelo Hall makes a quick recovery from tearing the same Achilles twice in 2014, he'll partner with Culliver as Washington's starting corners. That's how they've lined up in camp, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
It's a potentially excellent partnership. But it's also one set to face stern tests in Washington's own division. The Eagles boast Riley Cooper and potential breakout star Jordan Matthews, while the Cowboys can go vertical with Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams.
But it's the Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz double act belonging to the New York Giants that could cause the most problems. Again, that's if Cruz bounces back completely from the right knee injury he suffered last season.
Cruz recently looked effective in pads, per NJ Advance Media's Jordan Raanan. That's bad news for a team that has to face Big Blue twice.
Both Cruz and Beckham, awesome as a rookie in 2014, boast legitimate game-breaking speed and excellent hands. Culliver's and Hall's ability to match up will be key to both games in Weeks 3 and 12.
They may even be smart to put Culliver and his stouter frame (6'0", 199 lbs) against big-bodied playmaking machine Beckham (5'11", 198 lbs), while Hall uses his experience to track Cruz inside.
Brandon Scherff vs. Cameron Wake and Chris Long
Talk about a baptism of fire. Washington's fans are sure to get a good indication of how well Scherff handles adversity early on in his Redskins career. In the season's first two weeks, he'll face a pair of dominant pass-rushers.
Week 1 sees Wake and the dangerous Dolphins come to town. That's the stuff of nightmares by itself. But things won't get any easier a week later when Chris Long and the St. Louis Rams visit FedEx Field.
Young stars such as 25-year-old Robert Quinn and 24-year-old Aaron Donald often get more press on the Rams' formidable D-line, but Long is a highly productive master technician. After all, he's worked his way to 51.5 career sacks in seven seasons.
How Scherff fares in those two games will determine Washington's chances of starting the season in winning fashion. But how he responds to inevitably losing a few of these battles will be more important in shaping his development as a rookie starter.
DeSean Jackson vs. Darrelle Revis
Since he publicly put the spotlight on it, DeSean Jackson's battle with New York Jets' marquee cover man, Darrelle Revis, in Week 6 rates as one of the key matchups of Washington's season.
Jackson made it clear how he feels none of the NFL's premier cornerbacks can cover him, per CSN Washington's Tarik El-Bashir: "I don’t feel no one could stop me. You could go get Darrelle Revis, Richard Sherman, whoever you want to get."
That's a bold statement, certainly one likely to inspire Revis to refute it in Week 6. While Jackson's public proclamation of his brilliance wasn't to everybody's taste—certainly not mine—his talent can't be disputed.
He's perhaps the most dangerous deep threat in football. Jackson has made more than his share of top-notch cornerbacks look silly in the past.
Of course, by the same token, Revis has made more than a few elite wideouts disappear in games. Given how much new Jets head coach Todd Bowles loves to blitz, he's likely to leave his corners on an island (pun intended).
That means Jackson will get plenty of opportunities to put his words into action against Revis.
Others to Watch: Trent Williams vs. Greg Hardy and Joe Barry vs. Kyle Shanahan
By the time the Cowboys come to town in Week 13, defensive end Greg Hardy's four-game suspension will be well and truly up. That means left tackle Trent Williams will have to deal with a dominant pass-rusher.
Hardy was in on 1.5 sacks the last time he faced Washington in Week 9 of the 2012 season. Although he was only lined up over Williams on the play, that yielded the full sack during the early stages of the fourth quarter. Since then, though, Williams has developed into a Pro Bowler who is one of the league's best at his position.
If Williams controls Hardy, the Redskins will have a major edge over the Dallas defense.
One other intriguing encounter will be the battle of wits between Barry and Shanahan the younger in Week 5. The latter directed a Washington offense that took apart the San Diego Chargers defense for 500 yards and 30 points in Week 9 of the 2013 season.
Barry was part of the defensive staff for the Chargers. He'll need some answers before facing Shanahan's Atlanta attack.
These matchups will have a big say in how Washington's season plays out. Important scheme changes on both sides of the ball can boost the team's chances of winning them.
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Scheme Changes: Defense
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Both the offense and defense have undergone subtle yet significant changes in both scheme and personality. Defensively, Washington has ditched the more traditional two-gap version of the 3-4 Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett brought to town in 2010.
In its place, the Redskins are set to execute a more attack-minded, single-gap version of the front on Barry's watch. The hope is to unleash the team's playmakers along the front seven more often.
One of those playmakers set to benefit from the change is end Jason Hatcher. A disappointment in 2014 after going to a Pro Bowl the year before as a member of the Cowboys, Hatcher is anticipating returning to his best in the new scheme, per CSN Washington's Tarik El-Bashir: “The scheme has changed. I can get back to being ‘Big Daddy’, upfield making plays and not just holding up blockers."
Gruden is keen to turn players like Hatcher loose more often this term, according to Tom Schad of the Washington Times: “Not that they had [handcuffs] on last year, but the frame of mind is to be a more aggressive-style defense and let them play.”
This is a shift in philosophy that certainly suits players like Hatcher and new boys Stephen Paea and Ricky Jean Francois. The Redskins rarely possessed the core strength up front to make a two-gap 3-4 work. But getting people in the backfield more often can help wreck plays at their source rather than reacting to them in full flow.
Barry knows the scheme well having seen it in action with the Chargers. What's interesting, though, is how much his experiences in San Diego could influence his playbook.
Barry worked as linebackers coach for coordinator John Pagano, a play-caller the MMQB's Andy Benoit recently dubbed "the best defensive coach nobody talks about." Benoit particularly highlighted the unpredictability of Pagano's system: "Pagano employs a multifaceted scheme that features a breadth of different looks."
The diversity is something that caused Gruden fits in the 2013 AFC Wild Card Playoffs when Pagano's Chargers outfought and out-thought his Cincinnati Bengals offense. Using a myriad of zone-based pressures, San Diego battered and bewildered Cincy quarterback Andy Dalton to key a 27-10 road win.
It's easy to wonder how much of that organized chaos Barry has brought with him to Washington. Shortly after his arrival, Jean-Francois noted to ESPN 980 how Barry "wants his front four to get pressure. That was the biggest thing he emphasized" (h/t El-Bashir).
Every defensive coach wants to rush four and drop seven as often as he can. But within that framework there's a lot of room to get creative.
Any four rushers can attack from multiple angles in cleverly designed zone pressures. It will be fascinating to see if Barry adds any Pagano-style tweaks to his base formula in Washington.
Scheme Changes: Offense
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The notable schematic tweak on offense concerns the running game, although it may not be as big as many suppose. New line coach Callahan is tasked with reviving a ground attack that went stale in 2014, ranking 19th overall.
His remedy will involve incorporating more inside running and power plays than were common in the outside zone-stretch system Shanahan installed. But that doesn't mean Washington's familiar stretch plays can now be consigned to history.
As I detailed here, the Callahan-called ground game will still feature plenty of what Washington fans are used to. In essence, this year's scheme will mix power wrinkles within a more varied zone-style framework.
Gruden certainly wants both, per Rich Tandler of Real Redskins:
"We’re going to do both. We’re not going to abandon the outside zone. Alfred Morris is a great outside zone runner. He’s a great zone runner. I think the ability to do a little bit of both is very, very important to keep defenses off-balance. Spencer is a very powerful man and very good for the power running game, the gap-style blocking, but he also has some great movement skills.
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Callahan himself has talked up the need for Washington's offense to be more expansive with the running plays it executes, according to another report from Tandler: “I think when you have balance in you running game, whether it’s the gap scheme, the zone scheme, using your draws, using wide zones, or tight zones, or whatever that may be I think it just keeps the defense off balance and it plays to your players’ strengths.”
It behooves the Redskins to do more on the ground. Not only is Morris adept at sensing cutback lanes and attacking creases in overpursuing defenses, but rookie Matt Jones offers legitimate straight-ahead power.
A coach as experienced as Callahan can write up a call sheet that involves stretch plays, inside zones and plenty of counters and traps. He'll wisely retain elements of the zone playbook, but there'll also be plenty of pulling guards and hat-on-hat blocking, staple characteristics of power schemes.
It's the same formula that gave the Cowboys the most dominant ground-based attack in the league a year ago. The Redskins need at least close to that level of production this year.
Relegating Griffin to second-class citizen in the offense is only part of the puzzle. Turning Morris loose to consistently batter defenses will keep Washington's own unit fresh, eat the clock and make opponents predictable on both sides of the ball.
Gruden said Callahan will "devise the running game, game-plan wise," according to Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. His effectiveness figures to be one of this season's defining factors.
Veterans Under the Spotlight
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These three prominent veterans each find themselves facing pivotal seasons:
Alfred Morris, RB
Few players on the team are under as much pressure as Morris. He's entering a contract year at the same time the scheme that helped make him a star is being tweaked.
Not only that, but Gruden and his coaches are putting a lot on Morris. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport (h/t Kevin Patra of the league's official site) recently declared "the Redskins are going to want to pound it and run the ball a lot more than they ever did."
He continued: "It's still going to be Alfred Morris—but at this point what the Redskins hope is to be a tough, physical running team and make plays in the passing game just when they need to on third down and in the red zone."
In many ways, this is a welcome change. Patra noted how Washington ranked 21st in rushing attempts for 2014. Gruden's pass-favoring play-calling was one reason why Morris posted career lows in carries, yards and yards-per-carry average.
But it's also true that No. 46 lacked the burst he'd shown during his first two work-heavy seasons in the big league. He didn't power through tacklers and make defenders pay the way he did for fun as a rookie sensation in 2012.
Washington's new ground-heavy plan is the right one with Griffin under center. But it is reliant on Morris getting back to his best. It's no wonder then that Zac Boyer of the Washington Times indicated Morris' future in D.C. depends on this season.
Pierre Garcon, WR
The same could be said for Pierre Garcon. A supremely talented wide receiver, Garcon was overshadowed by Jackson last season despite still leading this team in receptions.
The only problem was Garcon's catch totals dropped from the franchise single-season record 113 he notched in 2013 to just 68. Gruden didn't want to waste Jackson's incredible speed (4.48 40-yard dash) and vertical threat. He also struggled to make the most of what Garcon does well.
That was a shame because Garcon is exactly the type of target Griffin needs. He's got exceptional hands and a flair for circus catches that have turned more than a few errant throws from RG3 into big plays.
Not only that, but Garcon is exceptional after the catch. The Redskins need Griffin to make quicker reads and throws. That means shorter pass plays.
But that formula can only work if his receivers consistently turn short-range grabs into positive yards. With his deceptive speed and fullback-style power, Garcon (6'0", 216 lbs) is a good bet to do that every time he gets the ball in his hands.
Gruden wants to spread the ball around more this season, something he believes can get Garcon's "numbers back up a little bit," per Stephen Czarda of the team's official site. The key to that plan will be a position change, moving Garcon to the right of the offensive formation, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
However it looks on the field, Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay must come up with more ways to get Garcon the "damn ball!"
Perry Riley Jr., ILB
One player who had a nightmare in 2014 was inside 'backer Perry Riley Jr. Armed with a new contract and expected to emerge from the shadow of the retired London Fletcher, Riley regressed considerably.
In fact, 2010's fourth-round pick was completely overshadowed by Keenan Robinson. Riley wasn't always helped by previous coordinator Jim Haslett putting him into positions no linebacker wants to find himself, per the MMQB's Benoit: "Washington played almost all nickel on passing downs last season and opponents feasted on inside linebacker Perry Riley, who was often forced to cover wide receivers over the middle."
Riley was a liability in coverage, but he also missed too many plays in the running game. He'll have no excuses for repeating the latter mistake this season.
Having Knighton in front of him and being asked to attack only one gap means Riley's tackle numbers should skyrocket. He needs to be making more than a few stops behind the line as well as using his above-average blitz skills to create the right kind of big plays against the pass.
Riley needs to work out because the depth isn't great. Will Compton offers little else than some toughness and enthusiasm. Meanwhile, fifth-rounder Martrell Spaight is naturally raw and unproven.
The onus is therefore firmly on Riley to rebound in a major way.
What to Watch for in Preseason
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Here's Washington's preseason schedule:
| Date | Game |
| Thursday, August 13 | at Cleveland Browns |
| Thursday, August 20 | Home vs. Detroit Lions |
| Saturday, August 29 | at Baltimore Ravens |
| Thursday, September 3 | Home vs. Jacksonville Jaguars |
Exhibition games are typically difficult to gauge and put any sort of stock in. There are just too many imponderables, such as how hard players are trying and how much coaches are willing to reveal.
Yet that doesn't mean there aren't a few pointers Redskins fans can take note of this preseason. The primary one is the efficiency of Griffin.
He's likely to be a bit-part player for most of preseason. But any chance he gets to showcase improved mechanics, such as better accuracy and a quicker release, he has to take.
A sharper, more efficient Griffin in preseason needn't be taken as the cue for a return to the playoffs. But it will be better than seeing him struggle. Continued woes from No. 10 so close to the start of the real action is a worst-case scenario for Washington.
The performances of some key rookies will also merit watching. Obviously, Scherff will garner most of the attention, but there are also second-rounder Preston Smith, third-rounder Jones and fourth-round pick Jamison Crowder to consider.
Smith's a versatile rush end who can add valuable variety to the pressure schemes as a rookie provided he's given the chance. Meanwhile, the more Jones impresses, the more likely he is to take carries away from Morris, a situation that will have a major bearing on this season and beyond.
As for Crowder, he's got the speed (4.56 40-yard dash), moves and hands to be an asset at both slot receiver and punt returner. Those just happen to be two of the more obvious holes on the current roster.
Crowder has impressed Gruden for most of this offseason, per 247Sports' Jamie Oakes:
"I’ve seen – he’s caught about 12 balls yesterday. Yeah, I’ve seen a lot. In OTAs, yesterday, he’s done a great job. He’s very smart. He went to Duke and understands the passing game, understands route concepts.
He has got good strong hands, very quick in and out of breaks. But he does have a role as a punt returner, for sure.
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Crowder could add a lot to a vital part of the offense. How many passes are sent his way during preseason may indicate how seriously Gruden is considering involving him once the games count.
The Determining Factor: Griffin's Progress
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Of course it had to come down to this. You may be getting tired of reading it, but I'd imagine you'd be hard-pressed to find any season preview that didn't boil down Washington's success or failure to how well Griffin performs.
It's a reasonable determination to make. The problem is there are so many unknowns with RG3.
First, he must stay healthy. No matter how limited he is as a pro quarterback, no player can develop unless he's on the field, playing the games.
Limiting his penchant for trying to do it all himself will help keep Griffin in one piece. So will giving him better protection up front, something even his harshest critics have to concede he hasn't always had.
The other important factor is responding well to the tutoring of new quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh. A terrific hire, Cavanaugh can encourage the emphasis on fundamentals Griffin needs while also being a vital buffer, shielding the clearly sensitive young passer from Gruden's harsh glare.
Ultimately though, Griffin still has to find a way to work in Gruden's system. Although even a Griffin critic as prolific as myself believes the coach should adapt to his player a little more, it's clear Gruden is calling the shots.
What's troubling is how Griffin has framed the current dynamic. Here's how he recently described his role in Gruden's offense, per the MMQB's Peter King:
"They are not asking me to be Superman.
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They are asking me to be basic and take the plays that are there. If that’s what Jay wants me to do, that’s what I am going to do. It doesn’t mean you take everything out of your game. When those opportunities come up to make plays out of the pocket I will do it and not think twice about it. But if they are asking me to do the ordinary, that’s what I am going to have to do.
The fact he put it that way is unsettling on more than one level. First, the implication is Griffin's felt like he had to be "Superman" in the past, and who gave him that idea?
Second, the use of the word "ordinary" doesn't sit well when talking about mastering the basics, the staple parts of your position. Doing the basics right isn't the same as being basic.
In fact, excelling at the basics is what separates good quarterbacks from ones who don't make the grade. The great ones are those who master the staple stuff and consistently produce magic in the clutch.
Griffin's choice of words makes it sound as though he's looking down on vital aspects of his game. How long before he's complaining about his "basic offense?"
As Yahoo Sports' Eric Edholm noted, Griffin's way of expressing himself just seems to generate controversy:
"One is that Griffin, despite his intelligence and seemingly easygoing public persona, always seems to say just the wrong thing. We know what he meant: that there is a certain restraint needed to run this Redskins 2.0 offense. But RG3 has an uncanny knack of not being able to hold back what he's really thinking while explaining that, yes indeed, he's a good soldier with the team's interests first in mind.
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Whether he really is comfortable with what the coaches are asking him to do won't be known until he takes a few snaps against Miami's rough defense in Week 1.
In fairness, though, the initial reports about Griffin's steady development this offseason have generally been good. Robinson noted how Griffin is now scanning the field from the pocket more often, per King.
Meanwhile, Williams stated the quarterback whose blind side he's tasked with protecting is getting rid of the ball quicker, according to Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.
Finally, Keim detailed for ESPN.com how Griffin impressed in a recent two-minute drill, where he "hit big plays, he executed concepts that he would not have last year and he hung in the pocket on one play."
Good practice performances don't make a good quarterback. But in terms of progress, it's better to read glowing reviews as opposed to reports stating Griffin is still missing throws he should make and taking too many sacks.
Ultimately, he has to warm to what Gruden is asking of him this season. Doing that can set a platform for winning from which a little of the old, more explosive Griffin may even have license to surface.
But if quarterback and coach again dig their heels in or Griffin simply still doesn't get it, expect another long and painful season in Washington.
Big Question: Is the New Regime Pointing This Franchise in the Right Direction?
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If you're thinking about criticizing McCloughan these days, you'd be wise to invest in some body armor. Trust me.
But whether the McCloughan regime has this franchise pointed in the right direction is still a question worth asking. Sadly, there's no easy answer.
Stating the obvious first, this is certainly a new day in Washington. There have been major changes at the coaching staff, playing and schematic levels.
Those moves translate to a host of new starters, particularly on defense, along with a new mindset borne out by a more physical approach on both sides of the ball.
McCloughan is actively encouraging the latter, according to Andrew Walker of the team's official site: “I know this: When you play the Redskins this year, you’re going to know you played us. You’re going to feel us from the standpoint of being physical. The next morning, you’re going to be sore.”
Tough talk like that is always going to win fans over. But there has to be more to the 2015 Redskins than bravado, even though it's easy to like a lot of the moves McCloughan has made.
No one should ever criticize a GM for making the trenches the focus of his rebuilding effort the way McCloughan has in D.C. He also hasn't used half measures in addressing annually awful positions such as the O-line and secondary.
Adding two free agents, a pair of draft picks and making a trade certainly showed he was serious about retooling the secondary. In the same sense, expending the draft's fifth overall pick on Scherff, a less than glamorous choice, demonstrated the commitment to getting better the O-line has been crying out for.
But there are still ample reasons to be nervous about the fate of this team. There are signs of dysfunction evident in the way McCloughan talked up character but still signed players with excessive negative baggage, such as Culliver and outside linebacker Junior Galette.
Journalists from the Washington Post recently discussed how the latter signing not only stunted the long-term growth of young players such as Smith and Trent Murphy, but it also undermined the so-called "character" narrative.
Then there's the relationship between Gruden and Griffin. The pair are still an uneasy fit, one never really likely to work.
Sure things seem fine now when nothing's at stake. But what happens when the bad plays lead to defeats? How will coach and quarterback respond? How will a player like Jackson, who has done way too much talking already this offseason, respond? Who will players side with?
In a recent article for ESPN.com, Keim looked back at the 2000 season and noted something that will be relevant during this campaign. He referenced an answer catch-machine fullback Larry Centers gave when asked about Washington's chemistry or lack thereof that year: "His response: You don’t know what sort of chemistry you have until you get punched in the mouth. The Redskins got punched and didn’t respond."
The team McCloughan's building appears to have a solid foundation, but it's the top half that should worry him. If those at the top respond well to inevitable adversity, the Redskins can surprise a few people during 2015.
If not, another season will be lost.
All statistics, player and schedule information courtesy of NFL.com.
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