After a great divisional win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Redskins had a busy Monday while dealing with roster moves, injuries, and evaluating yesterday’s play.
On the game winning 90-yard touchdown drive, Gruden said he saw “poise and confidence” out of Kirk Cousins. Something that Robert Griffin III struggled with, getting through his progressions, is what Gruden credited Cousins with doing yesterday. Gruden believes that the “confidence that he’s starting to get” is leading to improved performances. Gruden also credited the offensive line and specifically now starting left guard Spencer Long for playing “great”, which can only help Cousins as he continues to develop.
Jay Gruden said that Jamison Crowder is “definitely our slot receiver right now” after showing up with 7 catches for 65 yards including a highlight grab where he soared into the air to convert a near impossible 3rd and 18. This comes after Andre Roberts, who was initially brought in to be the #2 receiver before the DeSean Jackson acquisition, was made inactive for a non-injury related reason. Gruden said Roberts “is going to be needed again” in the future but currently he is not performing at the level needed in a performance based industry.
Gruden applauded the Redskins pass rush for their five sacks of Sam Bradford yesterday afternoon after saying last week that the defense needed to do a better job getting pressure. However, yesterday the head coach did note as many would agree that the pressure disappeared in the third quarter which allowed Bradford the time in the pocket to throw the ball deep on two separate occasions. After a bit of a dismal rookie season, Trent Murphy will remain the starter over current rookie Preston Smith.
Murphy’s performance yesterday certainly helped yesterday as he had a sack and was a factor on two others. Murphy also had the game ending “interception” of a cross-field lateral after getting up field nearly 25 yards after rushing the quarterback. Although it would have been extremely beneficial for the Redskins defense to have an all pro talent in Junior Galette playing, Murphy and Smith are holding there own opposite Ryan Kerrigan.
Gruden is still unsure of some of the penalties his team was forced to live with yesterday, mainly both of the targeting personal fouls called against starting SS Trenton Robinson.
Although it seemed that Chris Culliver was beat twice on both of the Eagles deep touchdown passes, Gruden was quick to defend his starting corner back. Gruden credited Culliver for playing through the pain associated with knee inflation and said he was suppose to have help on both plays. On the first Trenton Robinson drifted over to the opposite side of the field and could not recover, while the second instance saw DaShon Goldson creep a bit too close to the line of scrimmage and letting Miles Austin get behind the defense, a cardinal sin. It will be essential that Culliver get healthy this week as he will likely draw the assignment of covering Julio Jones.
Looking ahead to the Atlanta Falcons, where former Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan holds the same position there, Jay Gruden said that there is only advantage “if Kyle decides to play”. I figure differently because he still has some of the same philosophy implemented with a new cast. Would not be surprised if defensive coordinator Joe Barry picks the mind of current offensive coordinator, and then tight ends coach under Shanahan, Sean McVay throughout the week. As Gruden put it, it will “be a great challenge” as the Redskins look to continue their pace as co-leaders of the NFC East.