Tashard Choice Will Not Fix the Washington Redskins: The Armchair Coach

Tashard Choice isn't going to fix anything for the Washington Redskins.

I almost didn't write my article this week since I'm becoming superstitious and realized the Washington Redskins have not won since I started the Armchair Coach.

However, the reason for the meltdown of the Washington Redskins against the Buffalo Bills is readily apparent, and it isn't me. As the Redskins organization signs, cuts and moves players like Tashard Choice all over the roster, the real problems are being ignored.

This week, your Armchair Coach has a few rather obvious observations to share, along with some unconventional fixes. My apologies to Mr. Choice, but you are not one of them.

In addition, I am going to start with an indictment of the the entire Redskins nation, including me and you.

1. There Is a Disconnect Between What We Say and How We React

Let me be the first to admit that for all my talk of rebuilding, 8-8 seasons and lack of depth, I was dreaming of NFC East Championships and deep playoff runs after the Redskins sat at 3-1.

Even the power rankings of the major outlets went along with the fantasy, as the Washington team jumped from the mid-20s to 10th place on most ranking boards.

We talk the smart talk, but as fans we demand perfection. When the Redskins fall short, the doomsday talk is completely overblown and out of proportion to the event. Many fans have gone from proclaiming NFC dominance to cursing the owner in just two weeks.

The inevitable talk of new coaches has already started. Shame on you. Shame on me.

This is completely unfair to the organization. It is unfair to the coaches, and it is unfair to the players.

The Redskins have the talent, but they don't have the depth. We all knew this before the season started. We admitted it, but we never accepted it.

We are punishing our team because they are exactly what we said they were.

It is time to stop this. Stop screaming for people to be benched/released/fired. Embrace the three-year plan, and accept that next year is the earliest we can expect and demand a playoff berth of our Redskins.

2. Problem: The Offensive Line Is as Bad as We Thought

Zero Depth: That is the only way to describe our offensive line. How else can you explain the total lack of a run game and nine sacks in one outing?

Blame is spreading around to everyone this week as Kyle Shanahan, John Beck, the line and even the backs are all taking heat for the implosion of the offense as Washington was shut out by Buffalo.

But the telling fact is that the line is so shallow, the Redskins could not even replace the two injured linemen from the left side. They had to move their center to guard and in effect start three new positions.

Let me say it again, the best replacement for our left guard was our center.

Think about that for a second, and then ask yourself who is to blame for this? Only two men had the ability to prevent this—Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen.

Let me say something else. All week I've been waiting for the Redskins to pick up two or even three linemen off waivers or find them amongst the released players from other teams.

Instead we get running back Tashard Choice who will have the honor of getting tackled three yards in the backfield like Helu and Torrain do.

Seriously?

3. Solution: Lineman Depth

If you want to win a few more games this year (and we do) we need to bring on at least two or even three experienced linemen who are currently out of work.

Does this go against the "youth movement?" Only if we bring on some old men. There are plenty of younger linemen out of work right now. We got Johnathan Compas a week ago, then cut him to make room for a corner back—maddening.

The real issue is the the ability to learn the exclusively zone blocking scheme in time to be useful this year. Here's a crazy thought; every lineman knows how to pass block, so find some that are good at that.

Kyle Shanahan does not run the ball anyway. No one expects the run. Nobody respects the run. No team is worried about the run, because Shanahan doesn't use the run.

Come to think of it, maybe Shanahan should run the ball more (pause here for sarcastic snort and head shake).

In fairness, when three teams ranked among the worst in run defense are able to shut the Washington running game down, there isn't much point in letting the running backs get beat up. This is what makes the Tashard Choice acquisition so perplexing.

We need lineman, not running backs. Go get some.

4. Problem: The Defense Has Been Mapped out by the Opposition and Exposed

What happened to our defense on Sunday? How did it fall so low?

Well, it turns out our defense is pretty shallow too. We are still definitely a team in rebuilding mode. We forgot that for a while, but as minor injuries turn our superstars into average joes, there is no one to pick up the slack.

However, as regular readers know, my villain of the defense is coach Jim Haslett. He is getting outcoached and failing to adapt to his available personnel.

Our defense has the starters to be an elite defense right now. However, it requires an appropriate utilization of our strengths. Many people disagree with my assessment of Haslett's game plan, but what I see week in and week out is a defense that refuses to get aggressive on third downs and obvious passing plays.

This is ridiculous. We do not have a healthy enough or deep enough secondary to leave them alone against elite receivers, especially since Haslett's game plan doesn't allow ball hawks DeAngelo Hall and LaRon Landry to do what they do best and jump those routes.

We now have seven games of film showing opposing quarterbacks enjoying three to four seconds on 3rd-and-long to pinpoint their go-to receiver and calmly place the ball in the perfect spot for the first down.

Meanwhile the secondary is playing eight to 10 yards off the opposition.

This is no fault of the players. It is coaching. It is the defensive scheme. It is failing.

NOTE:  One bright spot is the always incredible London Fletcher. He is a beast week in and week out.  Please vote him into the Pro Bowl this year. 

5. Solution: The Defensive Scheme Needs Change

Bring the heat on third down—every third down. The Redskins are so impressive on the goal line and when they run aggressive stunts. Commit to the blitz on appropriate occasions.

Stop obsessing over preventing the "big play." Big plays happen. The entire NFL rule book is set up to encourage them.

Jim Haslett should be focused on making big plays rather than preventing them.

Let Landry and Hall loose on the opposing teams. Let them bump the wideout at the line and disrupt their timing. Let them take chances and close early on the middle distance routes.

Never let them sit more than four yards off of their man.

Design stunts to free up Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan. Let Barry Cofield and Adam Carriker create havoc in the backfield.

Make contact with the opposing quarterback every single play. This is basic football. Never let the quarterback throw free.

Will the defense give up big plays if they do this? Yes, they will. But they are doing that now. At least this way they'll get big plays too.

Plays on 3rd-and-22 will result in a sack or a hurried throw in the dirt rather than a four second window to pick the target. Isn't that the goal?

6. The Offense Does Not Score Points

An injury plagued offense and a "rookie" quarterback have led to Mike Shanahan's first shutout of his professional coaching career.

There is no Santana Moss. There is no Chris Cooley. There is no Tim Hightower. There is no experienced, franchise quarterback. Now, we may have lost Fred Davis to an ankle sprain this week.

There is no scoring.

This is nothing new to the Washington Redskins. They have been losing for years because they cannot score touchdowns.

They have no running game. They have no deep threat. They have no respect from the opposing defenses.

Kyle Shanahan does not seem to be very good at adjusting to the opposition. He also seems to have zero faith in his own running game. Twelve running attempts versus 33 pass plays against the Bills.

Shanahan's playbook seems to be stuck on the same five running plays and the same seven pass plays.

Does he want John Beck to succeed? Does he have a clue how to turn around his struggling squad?

7. Solution: Embrace the Backups and Call a New Game Plan

We have the better quarterback starting. He is a completely different animal than Rex Grossman.

We have quality backups at all skill positions on offense. We have Helu and Torrain as our backs.

We don't need Tashard Choice. I hope he works out and scores three touchdowns a week. If he does, I will send him a personal apology and a promise to buy his jersey. But Helu and Torrain are really good.

We have Logan Paulson and recently signed Dominique Byrd to tight end.

We have seven healthy receivers. There names are Jabbar Gaffney, Anthony Armstrong, Niles Paul, Leonard Hankerson, Brandon Banks, Terrence Austin and Donte' Stallworth. Where have they been all season? Are they really that awful?

No, they are not.

Stop trying to make these guys fit into the same failing game plan you have been running since Week 1.

Embrace their strengths and use them. Call plays that no one has seen yet this year. Open up the book a little.

Get creative. Pull a guard or something—anything. Just stop being so predictable.

Use Banks to get separation on deep routes and throw to him. Trust the experience of Gaffney and Stallworth to score from inside the red zone. Let Hankerson prove himself ready for the big time.

Put some weight on the shoulders of these guys, and let them earn a starting position. Armstrong and Austin are ready. Let them loose.

If you follow my advice and bring in some quality pass protection, Beck's feet will do the rest. Use the play-action pass, always keep a back in the backfield to keep the defense a little bit honest and don't be afraid to throw out into the flat to the running back as a relief valve.

Roll out of the pocket on a regular basis.

Run the ball on first or second down every time whether you gain big yards or not. Keep the defense honest.

8. There Is Little to Lose and Everything to Gain

The Redskins have been playing the roster shuffle for the last week, signing RB Tashard Choice, TE Dominique Byrd and OL Johnathan Compas, a needed position they then released to re-sign CB Brandyn Thompson.

What they need to do is grab some more lineman, and let the young guys play ball.

The Redskins are 3-4. They face the hard half of their schedule now and are up against the 5-1 San Francisco 49ers this Sunday.

They need to change up both their offensive and defensive play calling, allow their leaders to lead and their young guys to prove themselves.

We always knew it was a rebuilding year, so let's rebuild, have some excitement on the field and take the restraints off. Let's see who wants to be here in 2012.

The Redskins need to leave it all on the field every week—no play left untried, no player left on the bench. They need to take chances, and go for the big play once in a while. Not just a deep pass, but a big play.

There is a difference, you know. A big play could be a trick play like a fake punt or an onside kick. It could be a wildcat. It could even be a pass from a back, or a reverse, or a deep ball to little Brandon Banks, or Armstrong on a punt return.

Honestly, this game is supposed to be fun. Let the players have some. The coaches need to enjoy the game as well.

Get aggressive and have some fun. Shock some opposition and confuse the pundits. Be unpredictable and smile as we find a way to win a few more games this year.

We might just surprise everyone including ourselves.