Washington Redskins Week 12 Stock Report
Stock is down almost across the board for the Washington Redskins following their 44-16 drubbing at the hands of the unbeaten Carolina Panthers in Week 11.
To put how bad things were into an appropriate context, special teams were the only phase of the game where the Redskins held any sort of edge. It's the first time in years a Washington observer has been able to say that and keep a straight face.
Breakdowns were obvious at every level of the offense and defense. An inability to run the ball or protect it marred the former unit. Consistent poor tackling, a season-long woe, did for the latter.
Read on for a full accounting of the 4-6 Burgundy and Gold's stock ahead of the pivotal NFC East battle with the New York Giants.
Stock Down: Matt Jones
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Matt Jones just can't stop putting the ball on the floor. He fumbled again in Week 11, accounting for one of four spills from Washington's offense. Jones' issues with ball security have gone from a worry to a plague that threatens to not only wreck a promising rookie season, but also jeopardize his position on the team.
After the disaster in Charlotte, head coach Jay Gruden made it clear Jones won't play if he keeps coughing it up, according to Liz Clarke of the Washington Post. Gruden's not wrong to put this year's third-round pick on notice.
Yet, Ben Standig of Scout.com's Breaking Burgundy believes Jones should be given the chance to snap his fumbling problems on the field. He dubs the ex-Florida man Washington's "best option thanks to his speed/power combination."
There's no doubt Jones has added some genuine explosion to an otherwise tame rushing attack this season. When he's been on song, big plays have been aplenty on the ground. His ability to turn the corner off tackle and drag a pile for extra yards is vital while incumbent Alfred Morris continues dealing with injuries and a loss of form.
But the Redskins don't want to be in a position where every handoff is an exercise in stress management. There has to be an element of trust that Jones won't keep on giving opponents extra drives.
He has all the physical tools to become a dynamic workhorse. But those skills will count for naught if Washington can't rely upon him.
Stock Up: Special Teams
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Charting the progress made by Washington's special teams became a lot easier once Andre Roberts had trodden a 99-yard path to the end zone at Bank of America Stadium.
His score offered a handy, numerical shorthand for the improvement, one detailed by CSNMidAtlantic.com's Rich Tandler: "The Redskins went from October 23, 2006 through September 23, 2015—a span of 141 regular and postseason games or 3,257 calendar days—getting just three touchdowns on special teams. They now have three special teams touchdowns in their last eight games."
Roberts' return wasn't just about coordinator Ben Kotwica finally earning a seal of approval after a rough 2014 season. It was also a nice moment for a much-maligned player, often misused offensively, who doesn't always merit the degree of criticism he receives.
Roberts finding his stride as a returner is just one of the many positives evident in football's third phase for these Redskins. There's been scoring returns, blocked kicks and reliability in the kicking game.
All of that is a credit to Kotwica. But it's also connected to improved personnel. Kotwica has benefited from players such as place-kicker Dustin Hopkins, linebacker Mason Foster and safety Jeron Johnson.
Yet, he's also used the new pieces in creative ways. The Burgundy and Gold are making tactical strikes on weaknesses in both protection and coverage. Better strategy is the real source of the big plays.
Citing statistics from Football Outsiders, Tandler succinctly clarified the progress: "According to the all-around metric used by Football Outsiders to measure special teams effectiveness, the Redskins have improved from 29th in the league last year to 13th this year."
Consistently performing at a high level is the next step for Washington's revamped special teams. The Giants will provide a stern test with Dwayne Harris a threat in the return game. In Week 3, New York blocked a Tress Way punt when Rashad Jennings destroyed the protection schemes.
A mistake like that can't be repeated in what's sure to be a close-fought battle.
Stock Down: Chris Culliver
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He was burned for a couple of touchdowns, gave away some penalties and missed tackles in the running game during Week 11. In short, Chris Culliver was everything a high-priced free agent shouldn't be.
Culliver's struggles in Carolina are only part of what's been a generally disappointing first season with the Redskins. He hasn't solidified one half of the secondary by playing at the level he produced for the San Francisco 49ers in 2014.
Part of Culliver's problem is a coverage system that seems halfway to nowhere. D.C. Hot Read's Chris Russell detailed how Washington defensive coordinator Joe Barry is mixing up the style of coverage Culliver is employing.
Russell doesn't necessarily believe a permanent switch to more aggressive tactics would produce a quick fix: "Would he be better in press coverage all the time? Perhaps. Would he also commit more penalties and perhaps get burnt easier? Yes."
While Russell is right about the dangers of using more physical techniques full time, as well as the need for good mixture on the back end, there's one thing he overlooks.
Culliver is more likely to produce big plays of his own if he's rolled up on receivers more often. Pressing pass-catchers toward the sideline and reducing the throwing windows quarterbacks have to aim for help both the coverage and the pass rush.
Sure, Culliver's more hands-on approach will draw a few flags. But that's a trade-off worth making if it also generates a few game-changing moments for a defense short on impact plays this season.
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Stock Up: Pierre Garcon
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Pierre Garcon looking dangerous again was a welcome sight in Week 11. Garcon was only targeted four times in Charlotte, as noted by ESPN.com, but he made the most of his opportunities.
He turned three receptions into 43 yards and would have done more had his offense found some balance and protected the ball. More than the numbers, though, the veteran flanker looked closer to his old self again. Garcon displayed his trademark toughness over the middle and strong hands to contest catches in a crowd. The latter quality has deserted him at times this season, but the Redskins need No. 88 back on form.
Specifically, quarterback Kirk Cousins needs Garcon at his best.
This is a clutch receiver with the ability to present Cousins an easy and dependable target. Garcon has all the attributes to thrive on the quick crossers that have defined this season's Cousins-led passing game.
Garcon also hasn't lost his knack as a clutch playmaker, something evidenced by 29 of his 46 grabs this season producing first downs, according to SportingCharts.
Washington needs its franchise single-season receptions record holder to start dominating now that this campaign has reached its crunch period.
Stock Down: Offensive Line
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Just when it appeared as though Washington's new-look offensive line was set to dominate, the unit folded in horrifying fashion against the Panthers. Carolina sacked Cousins five times and hit him seven more, according to ESPN.com.
The beating came one week after the New Orleans Saints got to No. 8 for a trio of sacks. Giving away eight quarterback takedowns in two games is an alarming dip for a front five that had surrendered a mere nine sacks before Week 10.
Of course, there are mitigating factors.
One of the reasons for the improved protection has been Cousins' ability to quickly dump the ball off on plays designed to minimize a quarterback's reading time. This death-by-1,000-short-passes approach didn't work against the Panthers, though. Theirs is a defense designed to take the quick hitters away and force a quarterback to lose his patience and test his arm against two-deep coverage.
With Cousins pausing in the pocket more often than he's done this season, it became a feeding frenzy for the home team.
Another issue showed up amid all the protection breakdowns in Week 11. Specifically, center Josh LeRibeus' inability to correctly time the snap cost the Redskins more than once, according to Anthony Gulizia of the Washington Times.
He detailed a Mario Addison sack, along with one by Chandler Jones of the New England Patriots in Week 9. Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams and second-year man Morgan Moses were the respective victims of LeRibeus mistiming the count.
Gruden has taken note of his replacement center's struggles, per Gulizia:
"The snaps have been a little bit of an issue. They weren’t the downfall of our offense by any stretch. We had one that — was a very big [one] — he snapped it when he wasn’t supposed to and nobody was ready. We gave up a sack on that one, but the snaps have been getting a little bit better and Josh has continued to work on them.
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In this context, Gulizia is surprised recently acquired veteran Brian de la Puente, a player Gruden insists is merely covering for injuries, isn't starting.
Whether LeRibeus is at fault, Williams' reputation is excusing some of his own gaffes, Moses is starting to plateau or all three, line coach Bill Callahan must fix what's ailing his O-line.
The Giants don't boast a marquee pass rush, having collected just 12 sacks all season. But New York's ability to pressure the pocket will improve with premier rush end Jason Pierre-Paul back on the field. Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is also a master at confusing protection schemes with zone-blitz pressures.
If the Redskins can't keep Cousins clean in Week 12, Washington's season may be over.
It's a season where playoff hopes are still alive for a ballclub that's lost six games already. Fortifying the trenches on both sides of the ball, along with reviving the running game, can keep those hopes alive a little longer.
Statistics and player information via NFL.com unless otherwise stated.
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