2014 Record: 4-12-0 (4th in NFC East)
HEAD COACH: Jay Gruden
New Players in 2015 - DL Stephen Paea; CB Chris Culliver; DB Jerod Johnson; DB Dashon Goldson; DL Terrance Knighton; LB Adam Heyward; DL Ricky Jean-Francois.
OFFENSIVE RANK in 2014 - 13th in NFL (358.6 ypg)
DEFENSIVE RANK in 2014 - 20th in NFL (357 ypg)
Offense: This offense could benefit from quarterbacks Robert Griffin III and/or Kirk Cousins returning to the form they showed three seasons ago. Griffin (1,694 passing yards with four touchdown passes and six interceptions) missed time last season and saw both Cousins (1,710 passing yards with ten TD passes and nine interceptions) and Colt McCoy (1,057 pass yards with four TD and three INT) take over as the starting QB at different points in the season. RG3 should start this season but once again Cousins and McCoy will be ready when needed to do so.
The running game is a little more stable with Alfred Morris (1,074 yards, 4.1 ypc average and eight TD) as the main back. Rookie Matt Jones (Florida) and Silas Redd will be the backups.
The receiving corps has a good duo in DeSean Jackson (56 receptions for 1,169 yards, a 20.9 ypc average and six TD) and Pierre Garcon, who made 68 grabs for 752 yards and three touchdowns. Tight ends Jordan Reed (40 catches for 465 yards) and Miles Paul (39, 507, one TD) are both steady parts of the passing game. Veteran Andre Roberts (36, 453, two TD) and perhaps rookie Jamison Crowder (Duke) will also compete for backup spots.
The O-Line has center Kory Lichtensteiger, guards Chris Chester and Shawn Lauvao and tackles Trent Williams and either top rookie pick Brandon Scherff (Iowa) or Tom Compton.
Defense: The line will feature newcomer Terrance Knighton at nose tackle with Stephen Paea and Jason Hatcher (5 1/2 QB sacks) at the ends. Ricky Jean-Francois, Frank Kearse, Chris Baker and Kedric Golston will be the primary backups.
The linebacking has Perry Riley, Jr. and Keenan Robinson on the inside spots with team QB sack leader Ryan Kerrigan (13 1/2) and perhaps rookie Preston Smith (Mississippi State) replacing longtime LB Brian Orakpo, who left via free agency, on the outside.
The secondary has Bashaud Breeland (two interceptions) and Chris Culliver at the corners while Jeon Johnson and Dashon Goldson play the safety spots. Veteran DeAngelo Hall, along with David Amerson, Trenton Robinson and Duke Ihenacho will look to help solidify what was a weak secondary last year.
OUTLOOK FOR 2015 - The Redskins are just three seasons removed from the playoffs, but have a lot of work to do if they want to get back to the post-season.
Head Coach Jay Gruden wasn't hesitant to switch quarterbacks last year and will likely stick to that plan if projected starter RG3 doesn't get back to the brilliance he showed in his rookie season three years ago. The offense sputtered too often last season and Colt McCoy was able to engineer some life when he had a chance to play, but the 'Skins will start out with Griffin behind center when the season opens.
The defense ranked in the middle of the pack last year and with Orakpo, a long time fixture, now gone, it will have some impact for the team's defense, especially with a rookie filling the linebacker spot.
The defense mustered 36 sacks but only intercepted seven passes, so the secondary must do better to help the team improve upon a league worst minus-12 in the turnover category.
Simply put, there appears to be too many question marks coming into the 2015 season and the team is relying on bounce back seasons from RG3 and even leading receiver Garcon, whose numbers were down from previous seasons.
The Redskins will be hard pressed to escape the NFC East cellar and a slight improvement to 5-11 is likely as they try to turn things around this season.
2015 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 2 - vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 3 - at New York Giants
Week 4 - vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 5 - at Atlanta Falcons
Week 6 - at New York Jets
Week 7 - vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 8 - BYE WEEK
Week 9 - at New England Patriots
Week 10 - vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 11 - at Carolina Panthers
Week 12 - vs. New York Giants
Week 13 - vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 14 - at Chicago Bears
Week 15 - vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 16 - at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 17 - at Dallas Cowboys
No comments:
Post a Comment