With half of the NFL regular season in the books the Washington Redskins are engaged in a second-half push to win their respective division and make the playoffs.
The Redskins have been a surprising storyline around the beltway and also nationwide. The narrative changes, however, outside of the beltway as to how good the team actually is.
Washington has exceeded most expectations by posting a current record of 6-3 and commanding two-game lead in the NFC East division. For everything positive that has happened for the team like their defense becoming a factor, a stout running game led by the resurgent Adrian Peterson and a special teams unit that is led by punter Tress Way and kicker Dustin Hopkins, the Redskins are still doubted by many.
The doubts come from an offense that has had difficulty finding the end zone, especially through the air. Quarterback Alex Smith has been as advertised with his abilities to extend plays and take care of the football. Unfortunately, the 14-year veteran has not put up the type of QB numbers accustomed in coach Jay Gruden’s offense. Smith has thrown for only 10 touchdowns on the season. If the Redskins are to go on and win their division and become a factor in the NFC playoffs, they will undoubtedly need more points on the board to keep up with the likes of the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams.
It’s no secret that the lack of points by the Redskins offense has been a key reason why most critics scoff at the team being a factor in the playoffs. Some naysayers are still not convinced the Burgundy and Gold will even qualify for the postseason despite their 6-2 success this season against the NFC Conference.
Washington ranks 27th in the NFL in points scored per game at 19.6. Their offense ranks 25th in passing yards per game at 216.2.
Everyone from coaches to players understands more points are needed.
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Gruden spoke about execution on offense to produce more points during his daily press conference from the INOVA Sports Performance Center at Redskins Park.
“Yeah, we’ve got to get more points without a doubt,” Gruden said. “I think the last couple weeks against Atlanta and Tampa Bay we had too many drives where we are wasting on penalties or dropped passes or self-inflicted wounds and that’s what we have to get rid of. Then, make the plays that present themselves. Then, eventually, we’re going to have to have some guys run out of tackles and make some more YAC… some extraordinary plays. I like the offense we have. I like the fact that we have a lot of room for improvement and we’re still 6-3. Alex [Smith] is still feeling his way through with the receivers and tight ends and all that stuff but he’s getting better and better. I really think that we’ll get better. I’ve said that for eight weeks but we will.”
Smith mentioned what he feels needs to change on offense in order to score more points.
“I think looking at the film there’s such small things that we talk about that we’re so close to – all of a sudden – it being a 28-point game very easily,” Smith said. “I think even if you count the drive before the half – the two-minute drive – I felt like on a third-and-four that we didn’t execute on easily, could have been converted into a touchdown potentially. Yeah, not very far away from scoring a lot more points. So, situational things we do talk about. But certainly, the turnover we had where we only walked away with three (field goal) – hit the ball to Vernon [Davis] – all of a sudden, I think you convert two or three of those and all of a sudden it is almost a 30-point game.”
One thing that’s for sure is the Redskins have the ingredients to become a dangerous team. With several key players coming back into the offensive fray like Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams, RB Chris Thompson and WR Jamison Crowder, Smith should have plenty of weapons and playmakers at his disposal to produce points. If that can happen, Washington could be a team to keep an eye on that’s flying under the radar.