Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins: What's the Game Plan for Washington?

Following a 4-12 campaign, turnover dominated the offseason of the Washington Redskins. Now that general manager Scot McCloughan is in charge, nine new starters highlight the team's depth chart. 

There's more. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan and defensive coordinator Joe Barry stand out as two of the many new faces on head coach Jay Gruden's coaching staff. 

In light of these changes, Washington's formula to win has changed.

With our sights set specifically on their Week 1 matchup with the Miami Dolphins, let's flush out what game plan the Redskins need to execute to win their home opener. 

Offensive Game Plan

Nick Wass/Associated Press

All offseason, Washington's brass preached how it wanted to feature a physical running game. The thinking was it would take pressure of Robert Griffin III. He's no longer the starting quarterback, but in lieu of Kirk Cousins' history of poor decision-making, this still rings true. 

With the additions of Morgan Moses and Brandon Scherff up front, Callahan on the coaching staff and Matt Jones in the backfield, we saw this vision come to life in the preseason, albeit in spurts.

The Skins were second in the NFL in rushing during the preseason. Their rushing average of 3.8 yards per carry isn't impressive, but an important takeaway is the commitment they had to the run. On average, the team toted the football 36.2 times a game. 

This is a stark contrast from the team's 2014 total and more in line with the rushing attack Callahan headed up in Dallas. Whereas Washington was 21st in rushing attempts last season, with roughly 25 carries a game, the Cowboys were third in attempts at a clip of 31.8 per game.

Who are we kidding, though? In games you have no stake in, win or lose, it's easy to stick to the script. 

Facing a Miami front featuring Ndamukong Suh, Olivier Vernon, Earl Mitchell and Cameron Wake, it's easy to second-guess a run-first approach. 

But just think of the alternative. Even with the weapons (Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson) he has at his disposal, Cousins airing the ball out can't be enticing to the Redskins.

He's turned the ball over an astounding 20 times his last 11 games. To put this in perspective, according to ESPN Stats & Information (h/t ESPN's Kevin Seifert), his turnover rate per snap is the NFL's worst since 2013:

Fewest Plays Per Turnover*

QUARTERBACK	PLAYS/TO
Kirk Cousins	28.8
Matt Schaub	33.6
Christian Ponder	38.9
Jay Cutler	39.1
*Past 2 Seasons (Min. 500 offensive snaps) Source: ESPN Stats & Information

With first-year starters Moses and Scherff being the only thing standing in the way of Suh and Wake from the quarterback, Cousins' track record aside, a pass-heavy approach isn't the way to go for Washington.

For all the high-profile talent the Dolphins sport, they still finished 24th in rushing defense last season. True, Mitchell and Suh weren't a part of that team. And looking particularly at Suh, he played an integral role in the Detroit Lions sporting the NFL's best run defense in 2014.

Or so we thought. 

In allowing just 69.3 rushing yards per game, the Lions joined elite company. They became one of only 10 teams in NFL history to surrender an average fewer than 70 yards, according to Justin Rogers of MLive.com.

What Rogers also revealed, though, is that Suh, at least statistically, was the weak link:

"

The Lions ranked in the top eight defending the run from every angle, whether it was up the middle, off left guard or around the right edge. Well, every angle except one, off right guard, where dominant defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh patrolled.

The 27 times opponents ran behind their right guard, they averaged 4.37 yards, eighth-best that direction. It was Detroit's only statistical weakness.

"

Don't get it twisted now. This small sample size doesn't make Suh out to be any lesser of a player. Instead, it points out how Suh's supporting cast also played a large part in the team's success defending the run.

And last it was checked, while Detroit's defense had many defectors, Suh and backup C.J. Mosley were the only ones to land in Miami. 

With that said, the Dolphin run defense is a vulnerability Washington can exploit.

Defensive Game Plan

Michael Perez/Associated Press

On paper, the matchup between the Redskins secondary and the Miami receiving corps spells trouble.

Again, though, this is on paper.

Ryan Tannehill isn't short on weapons with rookie DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings, Jarvis Landry and Jordan Cameron at his disposal. But they mean nothing if he isn't provided time to find them. 

Last season, the Dolphins offensive front surrendered 46 sacks. While Branden Albert will return from a torn ACL to headline this front, according to ESPN's James Walker, outside of center Mike Pouncey, his cohorts up front will be short on experience.

The future may be bright for Miami with the likes of Ja'Wuan James, Jamil Douglas and Dallas Thomas on the roster, but the present could be bleak. Especially in light of the moves Washington made to bolster its front seven.

Looking to improve on the 36 sacks it posted in 2014, the team acquired Terrance Knighton, Stephen Paea, Ricky Jean Francois, Junior Galette and rookie Preston Smith this offseason.

Galette is lost for the season, but with a deep defensive front, Washington has the horses to improve on last year's showing. Led by Ryan Kerrigan and Jason Hatcher, the Skins will have to dial up consistent heat on Tannehill.

With the team down Bashaud Breeland and left with DeAngelo Hall and Justin Rogers to support Chris Culliver, an absent pass rush would open the flood gates for Miami's passing attack.

Key Players and Matchups

G Brandon Scherff vs. DT Ndamukong Suh

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Talk about an NFL coronation. At his third position in a year's time, Scherff has the daunting task of blocking one of the NFL's best interior rushers.

He's sure to receive help from center Kory Lichtensteiger, but should he get pushed off the ball in the manner in which he was throughout the preseason (i.e., Week 2 against Detroit), Washington's ability to move the football will be compromised.

T Trent Williams vs. DE Olivier Vernon

With the help the Skins will have to send in the direction of Moses and Scherff, Trent Williams will find himself on an island in this one.

Nothing new, right? Evidenced by the $68 million contract he recently signed, he won't exactly be entering foreign territory. The same could be said, though, when it comes to Williams being a constant in Washington's training room:

"

#Redskins T Trent Williams seems to have tweaked a toe or something on his foot just now in practice but is back up now with helmet on.

— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewis) September 10, 2015"

Williams isn't in jeopardy of missing this contest, per 106.7 The Fan's Brian McNally. Still, it's minor injuries such of this that have hampered Williams in the past.

Going against a player the caliber of Vernon—18 sacks since 2013—Washington will need Williams at his best.

WR Pierre Garcon

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

With his time sure to be limited in the passing game, Cousins will look to get the ball out quickly. Looking at the vulnerabilities of Miami's pass defense, his sights should be set on Pierre Garcon. 

In Brent Grimes, albeit with safety help, the Dolphins have a corner to match up with Jackson. Knowing they sported Football Outsiders' fifth-best defense in 2014 when it came to limiting receptions to tight ends, Jordan Reed's impact also could be limited.

Enter Garcon.

As the No. 2 receiver, he's in a good spot against Miami. When it came to defending No. 2 wideouts last year, it was eighth in Football Outsiders' rankings. On average, it surrendered six receptions per game.

With his 113 receptions in 2013 a distant memory at this point, this is the matchup to get Garcon back on track.

And here's another thing to keep in mind. Garcon's season highs in receptions (11), targets (16) and yards (138) last year came in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles with Cousins under center.

Prediction

The Redskins now have the blueprint for victory. Question is, will they execute it?

The answer is no. More games are lost than won in the NFL—the 2015 season opener being one of them.

Looking back, this is how Washington will view this game. The talk of Cousins being a game manager sounds nice, but let's not kid ourselves into thinking he'll transform into one overnight.

He's been a turnover machine in the past, and under the duress of a relentless Miami pass rush he's bound to make mistakes in this one as well.

For all the changes Washington's made to its defense, it will see results. In addition to stuffing the Dolphins ground game, count on the front seven getting to Tannehill five times.

Lacking playmakers in the secondary, though, the defense won't force the turnovers it needs to give the offense the short field it needs. 

Hovering around 100 yards, the Skins running game will gain traction. Ultimately, with the team failing on third down and in the red zone, Washington will fall short behind a pair of Cousins turnovers.

Final Score: Dolphins 16, Redskins 10