This article is part of our Team Previews series.
STATE OF THE FRANCHISE
The 2014 season ushered in the Jay Gruden era in Washington. With no prior NFL head coaching experience, Gruden (who oversaw the growth of Andy Dalton as offensive coordinator for the Bengals) was tasked with turning around a 3-13 squad. The team entered the campaign stocked with some promising offensive weapons, including 2013 breakout star Pierre Garcon and the always dangerous DeSean Jackson, who was cut loose by the division-rival Eagles. Behind the line of scrimmage, sturdy running back Alfred Morris was coming off a strong sophomore campaign while quarterback Robert Griffin III was another year removed from reconstructive knee surgery.Unfortunately, offseason promise didn't translate into regular season success. Griffin struggled early on before dislocating his ankle in Week 2, missing six weeks as a result. Upon his return, he continued to struggle, which led to a quarterback controversy and his eventual benching in Weeks 13 and 14. At season's end, the Washington offense ranked 13th in total yards but only 26th in scoring (18.8 points per game), with 31 turnovers tied for third-most in the league. Much of the offensive output came in garbage time, and the defense was similarly embarrassed and overpowered, en route to allowing 27.4 points per game. Only the Bears and Raiders gave up more.
On the heels of a 4-12 season, the team acted swiftly by hiring Scot McCloughan on Jan. 7 to take over GM duties. McCloughan is known as a strong talent evaluator from his scouting
STATE OF THE FRANCHISE
The 2014 season ushered in the Jay Gruden era in Washington. With no prior NFL head coaching experience, Gruden (who oversaw the growth of Andy Dalton as offensive coordinator for the Bengals) was tasked with turning around a 3-13 squad. The team entered the campaign stocked with some promising offensive weapons, including 2013 breakout star Pierre Garcon and the always dangerous DeSean Jackson, who was cut loose by the division-rival Eagles. Behind the line of scrimmage, sturdy running back Alfred Morris was coming off a strong sophomore campaign while quarterback Robert Griffin III was another year removed from reconstructive knee surgery.Unfortunately, offseason promise didn't translate into regular season success. Griffin struggled early on before dislocating his ankle in Week 2, missing six weeks as a result. Upon his return, he continued to struggle, which led to a quarterback controversy and his eventual benching in Weeks 13 and 14. At season's end, the Washington offense ranked 13th in total yards but only 26th in scoring (18.8 points per game), with 31 turnovers tied for third-most in the league. Much of the offensive output came in garbage time, and the defense was similarly embarrassed and overpowered, en route to allowing 27.4 points per game. Only the Bears and Raiders gave up more.
On the heels of a 4-12 season, the team acted swiftly by hiring Scot McCloughan on Jan. 7 to take over GM duties. McCloughan is known as a strong talent evaluator from his scouting days in Green Bay, a stint as GM in San Francisco and, most recently, for his work as a personnel executive in Seattle. He comes to Washington with a vision of building a physical and talented team via the draft, though he wasn't exactly quiet during the free-agent period. The Redskins jettisoned aging defensive linemen Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen, replacing them with capable – and more affordable – alternatives in Terrance Knighton and Stephen Paea. For the perennially troublesome secondary, McCloughan added three likely starters in cornerback Chris Culliver and safeties Dashon Goldson and Jeron Johnson.
Through the draft, Washington focused on building up front. Offensive lineman Brandon Scherff was taken with the fifth overall pick, followed by defensive end Preston Smith in the second round. To bolster the offense further, third-round pick Matt Jones was plucked to lend a do-all component at running back, while wideout Jamison Crowder could supply explosiveness out of the slot and as a returner.
After taking steps to improve the roster in all three phases, 2015 should provide an indication of whether the Redskins are one, or several, years away from playoff contention.
OFFSEASON MOVES
Key Acquisitions
Matt Jones - RB, Florida (ROUND 3, 95th Overall)A bruising runner, he'll represent a complement to top back Alfred Morris.
Jamison Crowder - WR, Duke (ROUND 4, 105th Overall)
Could contribute in both the slot and as a returner as rookie.
Chris Culliver - CB, 49ers
Started 14 games last year and is expected man the right cornerback slot for Washington.
Preston Smith – DE, Mississippi State (ROUND 2, 38th Overall)
Selected as Brian Orakpo's replacement, he'll transition to OLB.
Terrance Knighton – DT, Broncos
Set to man the nose tackle spot for Washington, replacing Barry Cofield.
Brandon Scherff - OT/G, Iowa (ROUND 1, 5th Overall)
Capable of playing guard but expected to start at right tackle.
Key Losses
Roy Helu - RB, RaidersThe change-of-pace back served primarily as a pass-catching threat in Washington.
Brian Orakpo - LB, Titans
Explosive when healthy, but logged only 24 games over the last three seasons.
TEAM NOTES
RGIII GETS ANOTHER CHANCEGiven somewhat of a pass in 2013 because he was less than a year removed from tearing his ACL, Robert Griffin entered 2014 with no excuses and a supposedly improved supporting cast. Expectations were quickly tempered when he dislocated his left ankle in Week 2, resulting in six consecutive absences. Griffin regained the starting job upon his return in Week 9, but then struggled in three straight games. Frustrated with Griffin's performance and preparation, coach Jay Gruden benched the former No. 2 overall pick in favor of journeyman backup Colt McCoy. When McCoy landed on IR in December, Griffin got to start the team's final two contests. Ultimately, he endured his worst statistical season to date, completing 68.7 percent of his passes for 1,694 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions while being sacked 33 times in nine games. Though Gruden initially declined to name Griffin as the team's 2015 starter, the coach changed his tune in February. Moreover, Washington picked up Griffin's fifth-year contract option, which allows the team to retain his rights through the 2016 campaign, though his salary for that year is only guaranteed against injury, making this a make-or-break season for the embattled signal-caller.
HOLDING THE (OFFENSIVE) LINE
Neglected for several seasons, Washington's offensive line has unsurprisingly struggled to protect the quarterback. Previous head coach Mike Shanahan built the unit around his zone-blocking scheme which focused on smaller and quicker linemen, but in 2014 the team failed to properly rebuild the line for Jay Gruden's system. Due in part to a lack of depth, the Redskins surrendered 58 sacks, more than every team besides the Jaguars. The line also failed to generate holes for the running game, which ranked 19th in rushing yards. With that in mind, the team used the fifth overall pick in the NFL draft on OT/G Brandon Scherff and later took two interior linemen for added depth up front.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
Washington's receiving corps is full of talented players who were all arguably underutilized in 2014. Pierre Garcon led the team with 68 catches, marking a huge drop-off from his career-high and NFL-leading 113 in 2013. His running mate, DeSean Jackson, led the league with 20.9 yards per reception, but he only registered 56 catches on 95 targets. Tight end Jordan Reed has demonstrated talent while on the field, but he's already missed 12 games through his first two seasons and is bouncing back from an offseason knee procedure. With a degree of instability remaining at the quarterback position, it's unclear which, if any, of the pass-catchers will reach their full potential in the upcoming campaign.
VALUE METER
Rising:DeSean Jackson, who saw his targets decrease last year, would clearly benefit from any degree of added consistency at QB.Declining:Andre Roberts must contend with 2015 fourth-round pick Jamison Crowder for snaps in the slot as the likely fourth option, at best, in the Redskins' passing attack.
Sleeper:Matt Jones will act as Alfred Morris' backup to start his career, but the rookie nevertheless boasts pass-catching prowess in addition to a bruising running style.
Supersleeper: The undersized but speedy Jamison Crowder was drafted to return kicks and work in the slot, where he could supplant Roberts.
IDP WATCH
Ryan Kerrigan - LBAfter a career-high 13.5 sacks in 2014, he's totaled 38 in four injury-free seasons.
Chris Culliver – CB
Expected to cover top receivers, he could repeat 2014's four-interception campaign.
Keenan Robinson – LB
Should have ample opportunity to build upon 109 tackles from a season ago.
