Washington Redskins Week 14 Stock Report
Now that the dust has settled on the most disappointing result of the Washington Redskins' season, the Burgundy and Gold can take stock of the damage done to their playoff hopes by the Dallas Cowboys.
What they'll see is positive performances from two key figures on both sides of the ball, including a stand-in middle linebacker who is looking like a real find by general manager Scot McCloughan.
But despite a few positives, Washington head coach Jay Gruden can't ignore the dismal showing by his offensive line. A Dallas blitz scheme ruthlessly exposed the inexperience along the front and stymied Washington's one-dimensional offense.
There are steps for fixing a lacklustre running game, with the most obvious being the reintroduction of an overlooked playmaker at a forgotten position.
Read on for a full accounting of Washington's stock headed into the final quarter of the 2015 NFL season.
Stock Down: DeSean Jackson
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DeSean Jackson may have hauled in a fourth-quarter touchdown to sort of make amends, but the mistake that preceded his score was the decisive play of the game.
It came when he fumbled a punt return after stubbornly committing to the idea of trying to win the game himself. By shunning what was there, Jackson committed a cardinal sin. He took a risk in a close defensive struggle destined to dole out fatal punishment to any gamble.
Sports Illustrated NFL on Twitter described Jackson's return as "perhaps the worst punt return in NFL history." Mike Jones of the Washington Post took it a step further, chiding Jackson for making the "dumbest move" possible.
As former Redskins GM and current NFL Network analyst Charley Casserly noted, Jackson made a reckless decision. Yet, hindsight naturally informs a lot of these judgments.
What's worse is how Jackson's decision to force more than was there out of his return was clearly informed by his earlier frustrations about not getting the ball. The dynamic receiver voiced his displeasure at the team overlooking him more than once. Jones cited an example, as did Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Cousins was even asked about it after the game, according to Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.
Nobody can dispute Jackson's competitive edge. He's also far from the only demanding wideout in the league.
But when his frustrations lead to bonehead decisions and come before playing smart football for the good of the team, it's a problem. Being more of a team player should be top of Jackson's agenda against the Chicago Bears in Week 14.
Stock Up: Pierre Garcon
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While one Redskins wide receiver emerged from Week 13 with little credit, Pierre Garcon left the field knowing he'd done close to all he could do to help his team get a win. No. 88 caught five passes for 54 yards against the Cowboys.
Garcon made the most of his opportunities, hauling in all but two of the throws that targeted him, according to ESPN.com. In typical fashion, the 29-year-old was prolific over the middle.
Garcon made the tough grabs in traffic and got Cousins out of trouble more than once. That's the value he's always brought to this offense.
Garcon's qualities haven't always been emphasized enough by the coaching staff this season, but Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay can't overlook the franchise single-season receptions record holder during the final four games.
Stock Down: Offensive Line
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There's no doubt Bill Callahan's inexperienced offensive line was caught cold by the Cowboys' blitz schemes. It was a smart adjustment by Dallas defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.
He made it to target a specific weakness he'd anticipated, according to ESPN.com's Jean-Jacques Taylor: "Marinelli changed his tactics against Washington because the Cowboys needed to enhance their pass rush, and they believed Washington would have difficulty handling the blitz."
Of course, Marinelli knows Callahan well from the latter's stint in Dallas. He knew how much even the Cowboys' star-studded O-line struggled against the blitz last season.
What's equally troubling is how Washington's problems along the front aren't limited to pass protection. Blocking has also been weak in the running game.
Gruden challenged his line to do a better job clearing space for runners to exploit, per the team's official site.
Improving in any area is going to be a challenge for Callahan. After all, he's working with scant resources. Right guard Brandon Scherff is a rookie, while fellow starters Spencer Long, Josh LeRibeus and Morgan Moses share a mere 30 starts between them.
It will be a major test of Callahan's coaching chops implementing the right adjustments for blitz pressure and tweaking what's not working in the running game for a group so short on experience.
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Stock Up: Mason Foster
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Mason Foster made his first start count. He manned the middle of the defense superbly, and he has given coordinator Joe Barry an unexpected bonus playmaker.
Foster logged seven tackles against Dallas. He also forced one fumble and recovered another. It was a performance informed by detailed film study and a commendable team-first attitude, as Foster detailed, per Jake Kring-Schreifels of the team's official site:
"I felt great. I had studied hard all week. I always study hard just in case something happens. It paid off, I felt good, I was comfortable playing with Will [Compton]. He's out there getting everybody lined up telling you what you've got. I had studied hard all week and we have great coaches so I felt comfortable, but I feel like I've still got to make more plays and help this team win.
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The reward for that work is a second start in Week 14 against the Bears, according to Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post (h/t Fox Sports).
Perhaps Foster's quick success shouldn't come as a surprise. He was once highly regarded during his four-year stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's active and quick, and he has the instincts perfectly suited to Barry's zone-based defensive scheme.
Washington's inside linebacker position has been changing this season. Keenan Robinson has had injury issues and struggled to reach the heights of last season. Meanwhile, Will Compton has refined his game and pushed himself into a key role.
Astutely rescued off the league's scrapheap by McCloughan, Foster could wind up as a real gem at the heart of Washington's defense.
Stock Down: Darrel Young
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It was another dire week for Washington's anemic running game. Dire as in just 73 yards off 26 carries and a pitiful 2.8 yards per carry.
By no small coincidence, it was also another week when people overlooked fullback Darrel Young—try completely overlooked. Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Mid-Atlantic detailed how Young didn't play a single snap on offense.
The Redskins need Young leading the way to improve things on the ground. What's galling is they seem to know it. Gruden confirmed the game plan for Dallas actually included sets involving Young, but Washington junked the sets for a multiple-tight end offense, according to Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
It's time to stop ignoring Young and start putting him on the field. The I formation has to be a staple of the game plan against the Bears. It's the best way to get veteran workhorse Alfred Morris back on track.
Despite the struggles, the running game still needs to be the defining feature of Washington's offense during the season's final four weeks. Controlling the clock on the ground is how a team gets over the line during the crunch period of a campaign.
Washington found plenty of things to fix amid the wreckage of the breakdown against Dallas. Fortunately, most of the problems have a quick fix. Tweaking the rushing scheme will get the ground game going and ease the pressure on Callahan's young line.
That, and a few more aggressive wrinkles on defense, can lead to a first road win of the season.
All statistics and player information via NFL.com, unless otherwise stated.
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