Washington Redskins Week 17 Stock Report
Fresh from sealing only the third NFC East title since the franchise's last Super Bowl win, the Washington Redskins can count on several key performers headed into the playoffs.
On offense, quarterback Kirk Cousins and his favorite receiver, tight end Jordan Reed, will present a headache or two for any postseason defense. But the pair will be really dangerous if they are complemented by a steady running game. Unfortunately, the team's usually dependable and productive workhorse looks like anything but at the moment.
At least the defense can rely on a burgeoning playmaker off the edge. Rookie pass-rusher Preston Smith enjoyed a monster game during the Week 16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. His performance was merely the continuation of his recent rapid development.
Here's a full accounting of the NFC East champions' stock heading into the season finale against hated foe the Dallas Cowboys.
Stock Up: Jordan Reed
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Reed's fantastic 2015 season continued in earnest in Philadelphia. No. 86 helped himself to nine catches for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Those numbers turned a brilliant year into a record-breaking one for 2013's third-round pick, according to Anthony Gulizia of the Washington Times:
"The touchdowns gave Reed 11 on the season, which tied Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell’s 11 in 1962 for the fifth-most receiving touchdowns in a single season in team history. Reed also broke the Redskins' single-season receiving yardage for a tight end with 849 yards, set previously by Chris Cooley in 2008 and 2010 and Jerry Smith in 1967. What is even more impressive about Reed’s numbers is that he missed two games with a concussion earlier this season.
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A record like that isn't gained by accident. Reed has been baffling every type of coverage with a sophisticated array of moves, quickness and smarts.
An example of all three was evident on a vital early third down against the Eagles. Former Redskins tight end Chris Cooley broke down the play, commending Reed's patience in beating man coverage, per the team's official site.
Finding the answer for keeping Reed under wraps will be firmly on the minds of every one of Washington's potential playoff opponents. It's been a riddle nobody has solved this season.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay have established a myriad of ways to free Reed against any type of defense. He's gone from a promising yet fragile receiver to the go-to playmaker for this passing game.
With wideouts as good as Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson on the books, that's the biggest endorsement of Reed's talent and development.
Stock Down: Alfred Morris
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It's been a tough old season for Alfred Morris. He's been marginalized in the offense, hardly a timely development in a contract year.
Morris has seen his playing time reduced while rookie Matt Jones has sporadically impressed coaches with his explosive speed and power. Jones being sidelined with an injury in Week 16 should have been the cue for Morris to remind the team how effective he can be.
But instead, 2012's sixth-rounder still couldn't get on track. He was slow and ponderous pressing the edge and attacking the interior. Morris managed just 2.9 yards on 17 carries.
The real indicator of the downturn in Morris' career came from how many snaps he gave up to late-season arrival Pierre Thomas. He had four rushes and seven catches while Morris found himself with yet another watching brief in clutch moments. Overall, Thomas played only three less snaps than Morris, according to Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post.
Mike Jones of the Washington Post correctly interpreted the increase in Thomas' workload as a sign of the dismal confidence coaches now have in Morris. Writing for the Post, Mike Jones noted how Morris isn't "even among the top 20 in the NFL in rushing yards, yards per carry or yards per game despite ranking 17th in rushing attempts."
Morris isn't accumulating solid gains and wearing down defenses the way he used to. In current form, the Redskins would be smarter to rely on a committee of Matt Jones, Thomas and speedster Chris Thompson to carry the load in Week 17 and beyond.
Stock Up: Preston Smith
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Seven sacks and second on the team in quarterback takedowns. Not bad at all for a second-round rookie making the transition from a three-point stance to standing up.
It's been a steady march to improvement for Preston Smith. The surge in his development hit its peak against the Eagles in Week 16.
Smith took down Sam Bradford for three sacks. He gave Jason Peters, a Pro Bowl left tackle, nightmares all night. The rookie has amassed four sacks in his last two games.
Refinements in his technique have sparked Smith's jump in production. Specifically, his first-step quickness and get off are both better, according to Mark Bullock of the Washington Post: "So with a better jump off the snap and a more direct track to the quarterback, Smith is cutting out wasted steps and time."
Smith's 13 hurries and three forced fumbles, per Sporting Charts, are further signs that he has a natural flair as an edge-rusher who can wreck a passing game. That form has seen him named to B/R's 2015 All-Rookie Team, voted on by the site's lead NFL writers and analysts, per Brent Sobleski.
The Redskins have struggled to find an appropriate bookend to partner Ryan Kerrigan. But Smith's growing knack for making plays means Washington's defense may have finally found its destructive double act.
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Stock Down: Josh LeRibeus
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It was a rough week for Josh LeRibeus. Washington's stand-in center had more issues with the snap and found himself pushed around by Philly's dominant defensive tackle, Fletcher Cox.
The blame for a fumbled exchange between LeRibeus and Cousins was laid at the former's feet. At least left tackle Trent Williams seemed to think so, according to Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Things got so tough for LeRibeus, the Eagles began to target him. They moved Cox from end to 0-technique, specifically to match him up over 2012's third-round selection, according to 106.7 The Fan's Chris Russell.
Challenges along the interior of the O-line were the main reason Morris struggled to get going on the ground.
LeRibeus has done his bit to try and hold the middle of the line together amid injuries this season. But there's no doubt the Redskins would feel more confident about their prospects in the playoffs with Kory Lichtensteiger back over the ball.
Stock Up: Kirk Cousins
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Cousins' hot streak continued in the showdown for the division title. Four touchdown passes as part of 365 yards through the air proved No. 8 has come full circle since succeeding Robert Griffin III as starter.
The former Michigan State man is no longer a turnover destined to happen. Instead, he's matured into a smart and accurate starter.
Sharing the wealth between a platoon of gifted receivers has been the defining feature of his game this season. But he's added nuance to his play, the kind of subtle things that separate good quarterbacks from average ones.
ESPN.com's John Keim commended Cousins' patience and pocket presence. He also applauded the way the blossoming signal-caller consistently used his eyes to freeze and manipulate deep coverage.
There's no doubt Cousins' mechanics have improved every week. He's definitely benefited from the tutelage of a dedicated QB coach, Matt Cavanaugh.
But perhaps the most impressive thing about the way Cousins is playing is how he's producing despite weaknesses along the line and an inconsistent running game, per Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
With Cousins in this form, the Redskins have the offense to make an impact this postseason.
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