Washington Redskins: Winners and Losers at Season's Quarter Mark

Heading into a bye week, with the afterglow of a 3-1 start settling into reality (aka Tuesday), evaluations are in order for the surprising Washington Redskins.

Maintaining their NFC East lead won’t come easy. A full slate of AFC East opponents should provide plenty of resistance, and four more division matchups ensure plenty of jockeying as the season progresses.

Of course, they still have the NFC East lead currently, a development that gives this exercise unexpected traction. Should the wins and expectations continue apace, the Redskins may turn this nice start into something far more substantial.

But before that, they’d be wise to consider the good, the bad and the Grossman contained in the following list.

Winner: Roy Helu Jr.

In 2008, Clinton Portis’ last healthy season as a Washington Redskin, the team gained 2,095 rushing yards. For those respectable results, the team paid Portis in excess of $10.4 million.

In 2011, with Tim Hightower, Ryan Torain and Roy Helu Jr. pounding turf, the Redskins are on pace for 2,028 yards—just a fraction of their 2008 total and good for sixth in the NFL. The Redskins will pay those three a combined $2 million.

Think that extra $8 million might come in handy?

Dan Snyder's Redskins aren’t used to the idea of under-paying, but they’re doing just that right now in their offensive backfield. Helu is a big reason why, rushing for 126 yards on 24 carries through the first four weeks.

The fourth-round draft pick will continue to figure prominently as a change-of-pace back this year and is the kind of cheap commodity the Redskins sorely need to continue building their team.

Loser: Tim Hightower

After a fantastic preseason and an injury to fellow running back Ryan Torain, Tim Hightower was the featured runner in waiting. Four weeks later, with a mixed bag of results to his credit, that opportunity looks long gone.

From the looks of it, Hightower will remain locked in a three-man rotation with Torain and rookie Roy Helu Jr. for the rest of the season. While that’s not all bad for the veteran, for a moment, the ceiling for his season appeared higher.

Under Mike Shanahan, running backs usually change with the calendar page (remember Selvin Young?), and Hightower is just the latest to come into and out of favor with the veteran head coach.

Winners: Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan

Move over, DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer. Step aside, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora.

Trent Cole and Jason Babin? Nuh-uh.

The best pass-rushing duo in the NFC East belongs to the Washington Redskins.

Third-year star Brian Orakpo and breakout rookie Ryan Kerrigan already have 6.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles between them, and they are a major reason why the Redskins rank seventh in pass defense. In a 3-4 defensive scheme that emphasizes edge rushers, the Redskins have two young studs worthy of their long-term plans.

In the NFL, that’s a precious commodity, and Washington’s future looks a lot brighter because of it.

Loser: Rex Grossman

If we judge a quarterback solely on his win-loss record, Rex Grossman’s been a success this year.

I just can’t let Grossman off that easy.

He’s a serviceable NFL quarterback, but any notion that Mike Shanahan could turn Grossman into a top-10 signal caller like he did Jake Plummer seems all but dead. In Week 3, a costly fumble by Grossman cost the Redskins a shot at victory, and in Week 4, his two late interceptions turned an easy win over the Rams into a nail-biter.

Just when you think Grossman’s finally turned himself into an effective game manager, he makes key mistakes. Grossman now has more turnovers this year than touchdowns.

A quick peak at Grossman’s statistics compared to the rest of the league: He’s 25th in completion percentage, 16th in yards, 12th in touchdowns, second worst in interceptions and 23rd in passer rating. By most accounts, he’s been worse than former Washington QB and current Oakland Raider Jason Campbell.

The Redskins are strong enough in other areas to cover Grossman’s deficiencies. That said, the search for a long-term solution at quarterback continues.

Winner: Mike Shanahan

Unlike quarterbacks, it is fair and sufficient to judge a head coach by his win-loss record. The Redskins sit in first place one-quarter of the way through the season, and Shanhan deserves a lot of the credit.

Shanahan cut through the locker room fog by moving malcontents like Albert Haynesworth and Devin Thomas. The team looks motivated, the organization finally showed vision and the result has team leaders like London Fletcher throwing around cliches like, “We’re a totally different team.”

That’s always a good sign.

More importantly, he admitted his own titanic blunder by releasing quarterback Donovan McNabb. Shanahan personally lobbied for McNabb, and a lot of coaches would have stuck by their man in that situation, simply for fear of being wrong. The veteran Shanahan quickly realized his error, offered a mea culpa and fixed it.

That decision required conviction, something recent ‘Skins coaches have lacked. Add that to the wins, and Shanahan looks like a keeper.

Loser: Kyle Shanahan

Much as I will praise his father, son Kyle Shanahan still hasn’t earned his lot as the Redskins' offensive coordinator. Pegged as a quarterbacks guru, the passing offense has actually taken a statistical step back this year in Shanahan’s second season (from 8th to 17th in yards).

The Redskins look no closer to finding their man behind center than they were last year, and idle chatter about John Beck’s coming greatness rings hollow whilst ho-hum Rex Grossman starts in his stead.

The younger Shanahan has been saved by a resurgent run game that owes itself more to his father’s zone-blocking scheme than it does to his offensive designs.

Because quarterback play is directly within Kyle Shanahan’s purview, and because that area remains one of deep concern, I have to raise a skeptic’s eyebrow.

Winner: Jim Haslett

The “D” is back in D.C.

Let’s forget for a second defensive coordinator Jim Haslett’s decision to bring the house against the Dallas Cowboys on third-and-21, a play that resulted in a momentum-shifting conversion. One bad call shouldn’t define a quarter-season.

The second-year defensive coordinator has proved his worth, turning around a defense that ranked 31st in yards allowed last year. So far, with a lot of the same players, Haslett has his unit among the Top 10 in passing, rushing and total defense.

It’s clear Haslett has a much better handle on his defensive personnel and their various strengths than he did at this time last year. Considering the offense’s mediocrity, the success of this Redskins team centers on the defense’s ability to hold opponents under or around 20 points in a given game.

So far, they’ve done that, and Washington sits atop their division.

That’s all the acquittal Haslett needs.

Loser: Chris Cooley

Take nothing away from Chris Cooley; he’s had a spectacular career in burgundy and gold. For six seasons, Cooley has been one of the feature weapons in the Redskins offense and a model of statistical consistency.

Six years, however, is a long time by NFL standards, and the end of Cooley’s time as a vital offensive cog draws near. Coming off a knee injury, the veteran has just seven catches for 66 yards this year and clearly sits behind Fred Davis on the depth chart at tight end.

Washington’s use of Cooley at fullback isn’t a long-term solution to keeping him in the line-up and speaks more to his diminished role as a receiver. Cooley is a prototypical pass-catching tight end, at his best when he’s running routes in space.

The very fact that Washington would use him to clear lanes for Ryan Torain tells me he’s not all that valuable in his primary role anymore.

After a wonderful run, the guard is changing in Landover.

Winner: Fred Davis

Fourth-year tight end Fred Davis finally got a chance to start this year and hasn’t let the opportunity pass.

Despite a couple of down weeks against the Cowboys and Rams, the USC product still leads the team in receiving yards and ranks third in receptions. That kind of production ensures Davis’ continued place in the starting line-up and gives quarterback Rex Grossman the kind of reliable mid-range target he needs to succeed.

Because of Chris Cooley's injury, Davis entered the season with expectations of succession foisted fully upon him. So far, he’s met those lofty goals.

Winner: Jabar Gaffney

The name might not impress, but Jabar Gaffney continues to prove his worth as an NFL wideout. Gaffney has over 400 yards receiving in eight of his nine pro seasons and looks to lap that total this year.

He’s already amassed 238 yards on 17 catches and makes for a solid second option opposite Santana Moss. Against the Rams, Gaffney secured three third-down receptions to move the chains, and figures like a modified version of the New York Giants’ Steve Smith circa 2009.

Little surprises like Gaffney are what the Redskins need to overcome their tepid expectations.

Loser: The Rest of the NFC East

For the last five years, the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys have counted on their biannual matchups with the Redskins for wins and confidence. For proof, look no further than last year’s Monday Night shakedown against the Eagles, a game that launched Philly’s fortunes and saved Michael Vick’s finances.

Early this year, it’s already apparent that the Redskins won’t play the whipping boy in 2011. In two games against division opponents, the Redskins are 1-1 with a surprisingly dominant win and a tough road loss to their credit.

Teams can’t take the Redskins lightly this year, and that’s a huge step in the right direction.