Redskins hire Jay Gruden as Head Coach

So the Washington Redskins have hired Jay Gruden as the head coach for the team for the 2014 season.  Before coming here, Jay was the OC for the Bengals.  While there, the Bengals have had a potent offense, being in the top 10 in scoring per game.  Jay's offense could and did move the ball down the field, and had plenty of deep plays, and they scored a lot.  Under Jay, the Bengals scored an average of 21.5 points per game in 2011, 24.4 ppg in 2012, and 26.9 ppg in 2013.  And each season, they moved up one spot in their division, winning it last year.  Granted, some of those number are attributed to the changes to rules for defensive players, as well as the decline in defensive strength of the other teams in their division, but the Bengals were still able to put up points and stay in games.

Those numbers look pretty good, when looking at them as a Redskins fan.  The first problem is the QB situation.  Would RG3 fit the style of offense that Jay runs?  From what has been reported, Jay wanted to get Andy Dalton instead of Collin Kaepernick, which ended up happening.  It would seem that Jay prefers to have a more traditional QB, who stands in the pocket and reads the defense and delivers the ball, and not so much a mobile, running QB.  Would he prefer to have RG3 or Kirk Cousins?  Now I'm sure the Redskins would not have hired Jay if he had said he wants to start Kirk over Robert, since they have invested their future in Robert and hopefully would not be giving up on him that quickly.  But the question will remain if Robert can learn and adapt to the style of Jay's offense.  I for one don't think there will be any problems with Robert learning the system, since he himself has said he wants to be a pocket passer and not a running QB.

Another question is how would Alfred Morris fit the system.  Morris is more of a zone-blocking type of RB, which was the system Shanahan was utilizing.  Jay's offense is more power running, and not so much zone-blocking.  Having said that, Morris is a power runner, who can break tackles and move the pile, so even though his style now might better fit a zone-blocking offense, there should be no problems with him leading a power running system.  But that brings to question the offensive line.  The current O-line, except for Trent Williams, are undersized quick linemen.  They have proven they are not able to overpower a defensive line, given how neither Robert nor Kirk had much time in the pocket against a good pass rush.  So I would think the first change would be to bring in new linemen and strengthen the O-line.  This will be the only way the Redskins can run a power running system, as well as give the QB enough time in the pocket to pass the ball.

Next down the line is the defense.  As it stands, it appears as though Jim Haslett will continue to be the Defensive Coordinator of the team.  During the season last year, most of the fans wanted him fired because of the failures of the defense.  But once Shanahan was fired, it seems as though a lot of people have either forgotten about Haslett, or are appeased enough to be ok with Haslett staying on-board.  Whatever the case, if Haslett does stay the DC, I would not be surprised if the Redskins go back to a 4-3 defense.  They do not have the proper players for a 3-4 defense, which is one of the reasons they have been aweful this past number of years.  They are not able to create enough of a pass-rush to cause the QB to make bad throws, which would turn into INT's.  The only way they have put pressure on the QB has been to blitz, which leaves the DB's shorthanded and vulnerable, unless they are damn good at covering WR's, which they are not.  So by going to a 4-3, the Redskins would be able to, in theory, bring more pressure and give the DB's a chance to make a play on bad passes.  Assuming that they have the same players, and do not make any changes, the defense would look like the following for 2014 :

Left DE - Kerrigan
Left DT - Cofield
Right DT - Bowen
Right DE - Orakpo

 

Left LB - Tapp
Middle LB - Riley JR
Right LB - Jackson

 

Left CB - Hall
FS - Meriweather
SS - Doughty
Right CB - Amerson

To me, that would be a pretty good defense.  It would put Kerrigan and Orakpo back into their natural spots they played in College, with their hands in the dirt, which would allow them to put more pressure on the QB.  The interior line would be very good at blocking the run, with Carriker and Jenkins as backups.  The three LB's are good enough at covering any receiver to be able to stay with them, and possibly make a play on the ball, and they are sure tacklers.  The CB's are both ball-hawks who are good at covering a WR and spotting the ball while in the air.  Both Safties are good tacklers, and although they aren't the best at coverage, they are able to recognize plays and not be beat on a pump fake or play-action.  That is all considering that they not only keep the players they have, but they also do not get any help from the draft or free agency.

The next problem would be the special teams.  There are no mentions of who would be heading the special teams as of now, so no telling how they will be.  However, they will have Richard Crawford back from injury, who was very good at returning punts in 2012.  I just hope that Niles Paul is not returning kicks, even if he is on the team.

The remaining question is, who is calling the shots now?  Is it Dan Snyder?  Or Bruce Allen?  I highly doubt Jay Gruden will be anything like Mike Shanahan, and want to be in total control.  So it would fall on either Bruce Allen, who is the GM, or back to Dan Snyder, the way it was before Shanahan came into town.  From the way things are looking, it appears to be Bruce Allen making the calls, since the coaching staff is now full of guys who have worked with and are friends with Allen from previous jobs.  That can be a good thing or a bad thing, only time will tell.

One thing is for sure:  No matter what happens, no matter how good or bad the Redskins are, no matter if they make great decisions or horrible decisions, if the Redskins have any Monday Night Football games, there will be plenty of talk, true or not, about how good the team is doing during the game, as well as how great the QB is performing, by the new head coach's older brother, Jon Gruden.