Washington Redskins Week 9 Stock Report
The stock report is a little unusual for the Washington Redskins entering Week 9. A road trip to take on the undefeated Super Bowl champion New England Patriots has changed the perception of several key members of the Burgundy and Gold.
For instance, the team's oft-criticized starting quarterback is being cast in a positive light by Pats head coach Bill Belichick. A seal of approval from a four-time Super Bowl-winning sideline general is quite the endorsement.
But it's Belichick's method of suffocating an opponent's main threat that sees the stock fall for the Redskins' premier playmaker. He can expect to be a marked man all game at Gillette Stadium.
Read on for a full accounting of Washington's stock report headed into the most difficult game of the season.
Stock Down: Alfred Morris
1 of 5
It's been a rough first seven games for Alfred Morris. The team's former three-time 1,000-yard rusher has looked like a shell of his old self ever since amassing 125 yards in Week 1.
Morris has averaged just 3.3 yards per carry. Sadly, the numbers aren't even the worst part of Morris' year. His mediocre stats are not as gruesome as what's being seen on the field.
No. 46 isn't breaking many, if any tackles. He's not pressing the edge with any speed or authority on his trademark stretch runs. Nor is he making quick decisions in the backfield.
Now Morris is set to lose the means to put an end to his struggles. The Redskins plan to split carries between Morris and his rookie understudy, Matt Jones. Head coach Jay Gruden is determined to mix things up in the running game, according to ESPN.com's John Keim: “You’re going to see them both play a lot. They’re both going to get their touches.”
Whoever gets the most carries, the Redskins need their running game back on form in New England. Repelling the run is one of the few things the Patriots don't do well, as ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert points out: "Opponents have run well on the Patriots and the 4.2 yards they have allowed per carry ranks No. 21."
There won't ever be a better time for Morris to get back on track.
Stock Up: Kirk Cousins
2 of 5
The arrow has been trending skyward for Kirk Cousins ever since Week 7's comeback win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His pass-heavy and efficient performance against the Bucs earned No. 8 many plaudits and admirers.
Among them is Pats coach Bill Belichick. He was full of praise for the way Cousins executes Washington's offense, per Jim McBride of the Boston Globe:
"He does a lot of things well, seems like a really smart guy. He runs the offense well. They had some check plays and things like that he does a good job there. He’s pretty athletic.
...
He does a good job at finding and using all his receivers. Running backs, tight ends, and multiple wideouts — they play a lot of people in the passing game. He definitely spreads it around. He’s done a good job at controlling the clock and making key passes to keep drives going.
"
Belichick's reference to how Cousins spreads the ball around will prove very significant this week. While 2012's fourth-round pick has shown a mastery of the Gruden playbook, no team is more equipped to expose his core flaws than the Patriots.
New England's whole defensive philosophy emphasizes taking players out of their comfort zones. For Cousins, that will mean eliminating the shallow crossing routes over the middle that have been his go-to concept in this passing game.
Instead, the Pats are sure to make him throw long, into the areas of the field where his costly habit for interceptions most commonly shows up. Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will challenge Cousins to be patient. If he's as smart as Belichick claims, this game will surely prove it.
The other part of New England's plan will be to test Cousins' ability to look for his "other" receivers in clutch situations.
Stock Down: Jordan Reed
3 of 5
Washington's signature offensive weapon is sure to have trouble boosting his season numbers in Week 9. The Patriots are masters at shutting down an opponent's main threat.
Reed certainly qualifies as the Burgundy and Gold's most dynamic pass-catcher. He's tallied 350 receiving yards, three touchdowns and a team-leading 10 yards a catch. Reed is giving coverage defenders plenty to think about at every level of the field.
Whether he's in the slot, lined up in the backfield or split out wide, Reed is a natural mismatch in space. He's also the go-to target Cousins is always looking for whenever he gets into trouble. That's especially true in clutch situations on football's money down.
Belichick and Patricia know this. They target tendencies and will surely have a plan for making Reed a nonfactor.
It's a plan likely to involve some form of double coverage on every snap. I'd expect Belichick to utilize his versatile rush ends, players such as Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich, to chip and jam No. 86 underneath.
In sub-package situations, expect to see hybrid safety Devin McCourty match up in the slot.
Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay will need to get creative to get Reed free. Alternatively, they can be brave enough to encourage Cousins to favor his other targets.
It's an approach that will be determined by the potential returns from injury of running back Chris Thompson and wide receiver DeSean Jackson. The latter, arguably the NFL's premier deep threat, is ready to play, according to Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.
Pats cornerback Malcolm Butler fears Jackson's pure speed, according to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. Washington will need Jackson to help open the underneath zones for Reed to exploit.
Meanwhile, Thompson, who is back in practice, according to Stephen Czarda of the team's official site, is a potential matchup nightmare for New England's beefy linebackers.
If Reed is shut down, Cousins will need players like Thompson and rookie slot receiver Jamison Crowder to step up.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Stock Up: Pierre Garcon
4 of 5
It's happened very quietly, almost without anybody noticing, but Pierre Garcon has resumed his role as Washington's leading receiver. He's the Burgundy and Gold's most prolific pass-catcher with 37 grabs while being tied for the team lead with 350 receiving yards and a trio of touchdowns.
Jackson's injury woes have helped Garcon become a bigger factor in the offense. But it's equally true that a player this talented is never going to stay quiet for long.
No. 88 is still big and physical enough to win over the middle and thrive in the red zone. He also remains a force after the catch, an invaluable quality in Gruden's West Coast-style, timing-based passing game designed to target receivers in space and on the run.
Most important, Garcon still has some of the most secure hands in the NFL. He recently made the list of the league's top five midseason catches, as noted by Jake Kring-Schreifels of the team's official site.
Garcon is never intimidated by the opposition, so he won't be deterred by whatever coverage disguises the Patriots throw at him.
Stock Down: Run Defense
5 of 5
Washington defensive coordinator Joe Barry should be very worried about the state of his run defense headed into Week 9. Sure, stopping quarterback Tom Brady is going to be every coordinator's primary focus when facing the Pats, but it would be a grave mistake to overlook the quality of New England's running game, especially for a Redskins defense that's been soft on the ground.
Correcting their 30th-ranked rush defense has been a priority for the Redskins coming out of the bye week, according to Anthony Gulizia of the Washington Times. He notes how getting defensive linemen in the backfield more often to prevent blockers from getting on linebackers has been a primary focus. The fact is the Patriots pose a major problem for the team that's allowed 587 yards on the ground during its last three outings.
In typical fashion, the Patriots can gash teams on the ground in a variety of ways. That might be running sledgehammer-style back LeGarrette Blount behind well-executed power blocking and pulling guards. Alternatively, they can turn cheetah-fast micro machine Dion Lewis, a very underrated runner, loose.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe believes both Blount and Lewis will see plenty of action against the Redskins: "Expect running backs Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount to be plenty active, as I expect the Patriots to keep feeding the ball to those two until the Redskins prove they can stop the run."
That should worry Barry and his staff. Ignore New England's 30th ranking lugging the rock. It's a number borne more from recent pass-happy game plans than any ineptitude on the ground. This is a rushing attack the Redskins must be ready for.
Statistics and player information via NFL.com unless otherwise stated.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
