Redskins Weekly: Preparing for Week 1

1- I think Kirk Cousins will be OK at quarterback and play much better than his other two chances. 

Getting through this first couple weeks will be key for him but I feel he will.  Unlike Griffin I think he takes advantage of the group of skill players around him and can work through the issues still on the offensive line.  I am nervous that this organization could do something stupid as always if he slightly struggles and go back to Griffin. Then all bets are off.  And I may be done with this team.

2- The defense will still be an issue and if they improve it will be minimal. 

Starting quarterbacks in the preseason lit them up easily and wouldn’t be surprised if that continued into the regular season.  Maybe they do stop the run better but the pass defense and lack of getting pressure on the quarterback still had me scared.  Maybe Joe Barry has something up his sleeves to improve this but I am very concerned.  Even though I was against bringing in Junior Galette because of what I saw on video and how he left the Saints he would have helped on the field.  That is if he sparred a suspension to start the season.  Once again our free safety scares the living sh&t out of me in what I have seen in Dashon Goldson so far.

3- I have no clue on what to expect from the special teams because I feel like we haven’t seen much from them yet.  Meaning who is going to return kicks? 

Hopefully not Andre Roberts who was awful to watch.  I have hope for Jamison Crowder being a difference maker on punt returns but will have to wait and see.  The coverage teams were bad again and now that they lost both Niles Paul and Adam Hayward we have to be scared like we are with this defense.  They drafted a special team’s wiz in Evan Spencer but he didn’t make the team also.  It would help if Kai Forbath could increase his kickoff length but I am not counting on it.  Tress Way may be the best at his position on this team though.

4- Crazy prediction of the season if the team can get off to a decent start.  I wouldn’t be shocked if the 49ers and Vernon Davis struggle to start the season as many expect that the Redskins show interest in the local tight end. 

If Jordan Reed gives Washington the 50% appearance rate he has and the team is competitive maybe the Skins can make a move for Davis.  If the Niners struggle I bet he could be had for a late conditional pick in his final year of his current contract.  McCloughan has a past with him and could look to pull the trigger even if it would cost a second pick to San Fran for a tight end.

5- My final prediction for this season is going to be 6-10. 

It is way too tough with this organization because things can go to hell at any moment.  Griffin still being there gives it a chance to implode the whole locker room and 3-13 is very possible.  If the coach is forced to give Griffin one more chance and he plays as expected I would put this team down as the worst situation in sports.  And I would count soccer teams in Syria and Iraq as a better situation.  As you can read I have major concerns that the defense and special teams can improve.  I think the main thing for this team to find is simply to determine if Kirk Cousins can be the long term starter or if that guy is not on the roster.

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