The Redskins lost to the Colts 49-27. There are two consolations.
- The Offense put up 27 points in a losing effort.
- We were spared Andrew Luck – Robert Griffin III comparisons. No one happier about that than RGIII himself.
Three questions the Redskins community will take all week to answer:
#1. Is it the Quarterback? Colt McCoy Edition
After a slow start, Colt McCoy made a very good showing. Passer rating of 113.1. 8.3 YPA, 3 scores. But he took six sacks. The offense scored 27 points, more points than they have scored since Week 3.
Don’t get too excited by that. Only two of the ‘Skins’ nine losses would have been wins with 27 points. Two other games, Seahawks, Buccaneers, would have been tied at the end or regulation. That merely shows how widespread are the problems with this team. There are issues with defense and special teams regardless of the quarterback.
Did McCoy do better behind this O-line than RGIII would have done? It takes a veteran to run Jay Gruden’s offense behind that line. That is clear.
#2. Is it the Coaching? Jay Gruden Edition
Hey! Wait a minute. Maybe the problem is not just talent and injuries. Maybe it's COACHING. Questions must be asked. #HTTR
— Anthony Brown, The RedsCommander (@RedsCommanders) November 30, 2014
Hog Heaven is not impressed. Jay Gruden has not done a good job fixing Griffin, the prime rationale for hiring him. I do not see innovative thinking in his use of the veterans. I know there are challenges. I would feel better about Gruden’s program if the team lost more games by a touchdown or less.
Hog Heaven forced itself to wait 10 weeks before assessing Gruden for two reasons. No Redskins head coach since George Allen in 1971 posted a winning record in his first year. It’s not fair to expect better of Gruden given the circumstances. Second, we have never been impressed by the thought process, to fix Griffin, for hiring Gruden over other candidates. The Redskins are not good at hiring coaches who develop players. They select coaches to win now with veterans from other teams.
The guy who made the most imaginative use of Griffin is the offensive coordinator in Cleveland. (YOU had a hand in that, RG.) Gruden’s preference seems to be convert RG into Andy Dalton. Why do that when Colt McCoy is on the roster?
Not calling for a dismissal here. Another system reset would be bad. Coach ends the year with a job assessment of “Needs Improvement.”
#3 Is it the Coaching? Jim Haslett Edition
Wonder if #Redskins fan Wade Phillips is watching pic.twitter.com/O6w4D6T8kT
— thom loverro (@thomloverro) November 30, 2014
With sincere appreciation for what Haslett has done, it is time to move in a different direction. (You’re fired too, Raheem Morris.)
Hog Heaven cuts a lot of slack for Coach Haz for navigating a scheme change from the 4-3 to the 3-4 defensive alignment with talent-challenged players. Scheme changes takes time. Three seasons is not unheard of. Talent is an organizational failing. Haslett is part of it, but also a scapegoat for it. We knew when the season opened there were holes at Safety. The pass rush, third-down stops and turnovers are not what we need to see.
The fans keep believing, Redskins brass refuses to change approach, losses keep mounting.
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) December 1, 2014
Firing Haslett does not get at the root cause of the failing – the Redskins decision-making process for building rosters and hiring coaches. The owner is no more likely to fix that now than at any other time. Dan Snyder takes short cuts by hiring famous names. Expect it.
Signing Wade Phillips or Rex Ryan to be defensive coordinator will not, by itself, solve anything. Contain your enthusiasm when it happens.
https://twitter.com/HomerMcFanboy/status/539169818843168768
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