Post Bye Week Questions for Offense, Defense & Special Teams

Offense    

Robert Griffin needs to once again become dynamic.  Am I asking something that is impossible?

Probably but let’s just see if he can become dynamic before we write off the season.  Defenses need to fear him again even though he doesn’t have the bounce he had most of 2012.  Even in week 17 as a hobbled RG3, Dallas was afraid and Alfred Morris ran all over them for 200 plus.

Morris has been solid so far but getting behind cost him stat wise and the Redskins better chances of winning their first three games.  The offense got to points last season where they could go right down the field running at 7-8 yards a pop or going deep to guys like Robinson or Hankerson.  They need this back.  I may be asking a lot but we need to see this for this team to have any chance of winning the NFC East.  And it all starts if Griffin can flip the switch or is it the confidence the coaches have in Griffin to adjust the offense?  Could be a little of both.  We know the next few weeks Washington will need to score points and much of that will go on Griffin’s back.

Defense

Defense has to improve quickly with Dallas, Chicago and Denver coming up.  Maybe another question that is not actually possible.  It was encouraging to see Washington get seven sacks in their last game in Oakland.  Problem is it was against Matt Flynn who is now without a team.  It was good to see Brian Orakpo make a huge impact stat wise to join Ryan Kerrigan.  Orakpo hopefully is getting back to his old form, although it is not like he was a nobody out there the first 3 weeks.  I like what Barry Cofield can do upfront and getting Jarvis Jenkins back has to help him and the Skins defensive line depth.  Although I think calling him the best nose tackle in the NFL may be a stretch.     

I think we all were still skeptical of this defense after last year’s performance and their small changes they made outside of Orakpo’s injury return.  But I did understand the drafting of a guy like David Amerson who may not be the best cover corner prospect but he can go get the ball.  You can give up yards in this day and age of the NFL but turnovers change games and turnovers which turn into seven points really change games.  And that is what Amerson was able to do last Sunday in Oakland.  Was that the early season momentum changer for Washington?  Let’s hope.  I think he can get another one against Tony Romo also.

Special Teams

The return game has been a disaster.  You no longer get many chances on kickoffs but when you do you have to take advantage and Washington has not.  Myself like many are wondering why Niles Paul is not back on kickoffs like the end of last season.  Hopefully Fred Davis and Jordan Reed can return quickly and allow Paul to go back to kickoff returns.  He is a much better option right now than Chris Thompson and far better than Joshua Morgan.  If not, Shanahan and Allen need to find someone who can give them a spark.  I know the blocking hasn’t opened anything up either but maybe the bye week gives them a chance to find some glitches.

As for punt returns, it has been close to a disaster.  Thompson has looked lost out there and has nothing to show for his efforts.  I think it is best to keep going with Santana Moss for the time being as he gives me the most confidence.  Richard Crawford now seems like much more of a loss than many anticipated in the preseason.  Once again with this offense not yet clicking the return game needs to give them something so also looking outside this roster should be a priority as well.