Time to Give Bruce Allen Credit for Washington Redskins' Turnaround

Sometimes perception isn't reality. Just ask Bruce Allen, team president of the Washington Redskins. One season after being stripped of his general manager duties, Allen is looking on as the Redskins experience a revival.

The Burgundy and Gold sit atop the NFC East standings at 7-7, already three games better than 2014's 4-12 mark and with a great chance of landing a division crown and a playoff berth.

The plaudits are going to Allen's successor, Scot McCloughan. But in reality, Washington's turnaround is being driven by players Allen drafted and signed.

You only need to look at some of the key performers in Week 15's 35-25 win over the Buffalo Bills for proof.

Allen's two biggest free-agency imports of 2014 dominated the Bills on both sides of the ball. Defensively, Jason Hatcher was in rampaging form, admittedly something of a rarity since he swapped a Dallas star for Redskins Park.

The 33-year-old was in on three tackles, two for a loss. He also registered a sack and an additional hit on Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor, according to ESPN.com.

On offense, DeSean Jackson tormented an underachieving Bills secondary with six catches for 153 yards, both season-high marks. DJax also helped himself to a touchdown. The team's official Twitter feed provided a video of his highlights:

Jackson was a controversial arrival when the Eagles cut him loose in 2014. But Allen moved quickly, taking a risk on perhaps the premier deep threat in football. It was the kind of gamble that when it pays off makes league team-builders look like maverick geniuses.

While Jackson still has his baggage, there's no doubt he's been delivering in recent games, as ESPN's John Keim noted: "He now has seven catches of 25 yards or longer in the last five games. Say what you want about him, the man scares defenses and makes big plays."

But it isn't just Allen's big-ticket veterans who are coming good. It's fair to point to members of his lone draft class as outright GM as the foundation of this season's team.

Just look at the offensive line for proof of the positive work Allen did on draft day a year ago. His two third-round selections, tackle Morgan Moses and guard Spencer Long, have stepped in to fill vital roles up front. In fact, right tackle Moses has been developing into a very useful blocker.

More than once this season, the former Virginia standout has earned positive grades and praise from Pro Football Focus. After Week 3, PFF writer Khaled Elsayed identified Moses as the best player of the week at his position.

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More praise followed after Week 7, when PFF's Elsayed stated Moses "continues to flash the kind of talent that suggests he could be the Redskins’ right tackle of the future."

Unfortunately, Moses' true impact may be best measured by how much the Redskins miss him while he's injured. He sprained an ankle in the win over the Bills, although CBS DC's Brian McNally insists the injury isn't too serious.

Moses has been one of the more pleasant surprises this season. His performances helped this year's top rookie, Brandon Scherff, move inside to guard. Together they've solidified a right side that was flatter than a pancake with Chris Chester and Tyler Polumbus in place.

While Moses has thrived, Long has been quietly steady since taking over for injured starter Shawn Lauvao at left guard. He hasn't matched Lauvao's mean streak in the running game, but Long hasn't embarrassed himself or the team. The Redskins are certainly thankful Allen rolled the dice on this versatile zone blocker.

As well as the men in the trenches have played, two defensive recruits from 2014's first-year class may be making a bigger impact.

Trent Murphy still isn't the dominant edge-rusher he was at Stanford, where he led the nation in sacks in 2013. That form convinced Allen to take him in the second round with Washington's top choice.

But Murphy has still made strides forward this season. He has 3.5 sacks, with two coming in his last three games.

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Hard work is paying off for Murphy, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post: "After weeks of working to improve his pass-rushing skills, Redskins second-year pro Trent Murphy finally appears to have found the effectiveness and consistency he had lacked."

Jones also noted how head coach Jay Gruden praised Murphy's commitment to getting stronger this offseason, while defensive coordinator Joe Barry is wowed by the sophomore pass-rusher's study habits.

Lots of times teams talk about getting so-called "high-character guys." If the barometer is based on hard work and dedication to the sport, Allen certainly found one in Murphy.

But his best find may still be fourth-round cornerback Bashaud Breeland. He's gone from potential special teams contributor to the closest thing the Redskins have to a shutdown cover man.

He's using length, tenacity and a keener understanding of the game to keep some of the NFL's top wide receivers quiet. Writing for Scout.com's Breaking Burgundy, Chris Russell detailed an example from Week 14's road win over the Chicago Bears: "In coverage, Breeland was targeted four times all against the Bears top wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and allowed ONE catch for two yards. That’s it. Period. Hard to do better than that."

Russell also detailed how Barry moved Breeland back over Jeffery late in the game, after the latter had burned Washington's secondary for two big completions against Will Blackmon and Quinton Dunbar.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

When this defense is in trouble, coaches look Breeland's way for a solution. That's the clearest sign possible of how highly regarded the ex-Clemson man has become in such a short time.

Add Breeland's name to the list of key contributors acquired by Allen and you have six players helping the Redskins close in on the NFC East title. Four of those came from the draft.

Throw in deputy wideout Ryan Grant and his unspectacular, yet useful, 16 grabs for 226 yards, and that's five players Allen drafted who have helped reshape this roster. Nice work for one draft class calling the shots.

Of course McCloughan's contributions to this year's team can't go without mention. His own rookie class has produced Scherff, running back Matt Jones, receiver Jamison Crowder, pass-rusher Preston Smith and defensive back Kyshoen Jarrett. All have had their say during Washington's turnaround in 2015.

His main free-agency class has hardly been a roaring success, although nose tackle Terrance Knighton's ability is beginning to show up more often.

But with McCloughan's ability to pluck bargains from the league's scrapheap, players such as Blackmon, middle linebacker Mason Foster and kicker Dustin Hopkins have proved crucial. They've given Washington the strength in depth the franchise has lacked for years. The kind of quality depth any playoff roster needs.

Many Redskins fans are glad McCloughan is in charge. They are understandably excited about the bright future his renowned acumen for talent acquisition seems to promise.

But those same fans should be thanking Allen for the arrival of the new darling of D.C.

Shortly after he arrived, McCloughan told CSNMid-Atlantic.com's Brian Mitchell on SportsTalk Live that his relationship with Allen was a decisive factor in joining the Redskins. 

McCloughan's arrival was hastened by Allen's now infamous "winning off the field" line. Plenty had fun with that, including ESPN's Louis Riddick:

So did 106.7 The Fan executive producer Brendan Darrzingis:

But while Allen's clumsy phrasing left him open to ridicule, he wasn't wrong. Finding the winning edge does begin off the field. It starts in recruitment, and Allen certainly did his bit to win that battle for Washington.

He went bold in free agency to add Pro Bowl-level talents like Jackson and Hatcher to a roster lacking marquee playmakers. He also drafted hard-working rookies each with their own points to prove.

Now he's given the keys to the kingdom to a football man fans believe in.

McCloughan will be the toast of the town if Washington makes the playoffs this year. But those dishing out praise should spare a few plaudits for Allen.

Statistics and player information via NFL.com, unless otherwise stated.

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