The offseason has officially started in DC. The Washington Redskins blew an opportunity to move into the playoffs for the second straight season last night, and the team has more questions than answers on both sides of the ball. Here are five moves the front office should make.
1. Figure out a plan with Kirk Cousins, and stick to it
Cousins did not play well Sunday. But that should not factor into the front office’s decision-making. We now have 33 data points over the last two years. If the organization wanted him back before the loss to New York, then they should still want him back. But if they were planning on moving on, or franchise-tagging him and trading him, then that should still be the plan. One game should not rock the boat. Whatever the plan was prior to kickoff, that should still be the plan going forward. This franchise needs stability, both on the field, and in the decision-making process. (Last Friday, I wrote about what the ‘Skins should do with Cousins here).
2. Decide between Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson
Jackson and Garcon can both walk after the season, and after the team invested a first-round pick in receiver Josh Doctson last spring, it is highly unlikely the Redskins keep both. Jackson clearly stretches the field and opens up underneath routes for his teammates. But Garcon’s ability to make tough catches in traffic and block in the running game, as well as his voice in the locker room, are crucial to this team. Garcon also should be cheaper than D-Jax, making him the likelier choice to return.
3. Fire Joe Barry
I didn’t understand the hire in the first place (he was the defensive coordinator of the winless Detroit Lions squad in 2008), and he’s been just as bad in Washington. All the players love Barry’s energy, but he just does not put his players in positions to succeed. There are some real guys out there – Ryan Kerrigan, Josh Norman, Chris Baker, Bashaud Breeland, Mason Foster, Preston Smith, Trent Murphy – but too many times this season, Barry was out-schemed by the opposing offense. This defense felt hopeless all season long, and that falls at the feet of the defensive coordinator.
4. Upgrade at middle linebacker
Mason Foster can play. Only real football minds know if he actually is in the right place, but at the very least, he flies to ball and makes plays. Just look at yesterday against the Giants – he was seemingly finishing off every play, and the box score bore that out. Foster totaled 17 tackles last night, including 15 solos. This season, Foster finished 14th in the league with 89 solo tackles.
On the other hand, Will Compton can’t be the every down starter. He is supposedly the captain of the defense, but he is late on his reads, too slow to make up ground, and a poor tackler. Over the last seven games, Compton finished with nine total tackles or less every time. In a 3-4 defense, it is the linebacker’s job to make the tackles. The defensive linemen take up the bodies up front, and the linebackers come in and wrap up the ball carrier. Linebackers should be falling into double-digit tackles. Compton has proven unable to do even that. Compton finished this season with 61 solo tackles, which ranked 60th in the league. Bashaud Breeland even finished with more tackles than that (62).
The Redskins need someone with instincts and speed to play along side Foster. Right now, Compton leaves them too exposed in the middle of the field.
5. Draft defense
While Barry didn’t set anyone up for success, the Redskins still need to find more young talent on the defensive side of the ball. Washington owns the 17th overall pick in this draft, and they can’t really go wrong position-wise. The defensive line, linebacker, and safety are all positions of need. The Redskins have plenty of talent on offense. It’s time to really invest on defense.
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