Redskins mailbag: Ask John

Thanks,

Trevor
Birmingham, AL

Trevor: Mo Hurt looked like a long-range project this summer; had some skills but was overmatched against better players especially in games. It would be tough to have him next to Sean Locklear, based on what we saw then. However, that’s definitely an option and it was telling that coach Mike Shanahan praised him after practice Friday. So it sounds like he could be the guy. And he’s obviously had time to improve. Before this, my thought was if Trent Williams returns, then they can squeeze a lesser talent at guard between he and Will Montgomery, who would return to center. It could be that Montgomery returns to center even if Williams can’t play. However, it would be much easier to break in a rookie between two established players such as Williams and Montgomery. It would be difficult to have a struggling Locklear and a rookie facing San Francisco’s front seven.

JK

John: If the Redskins got a trade offer (1st rounder) for Brian Orakpo, should they consider it? In the past, I’ve said the dude was untouchable, but as I watched the Chargers/Chiefs game Monday night, I couldn’t help but think “This guy Tamba Hali is a monster tonight.” Orakpo doesn’t change or affect games when it counts, and I’m wondering if he ever will. 

Thanks,

Aaron

Aaron: Depends where in the first round but I’d also only do it if I were packaging him in a trade to get the top pick for Andrew Luck. It’s tough to find good 3-4 outside linebackers and that’s what Orakpo is so far: good, but not great. He’s not as fluid as some of the elite linebackers, (based on numerous talks I’ve had with scouts etc.). But he does help, has improved against the run and I’d be reluctant to peddle him.

JK

John: What do you think the main problems are with the running game?  Few people seem to connect the Redskin passing woes to the lack of running game even though some of the better quarterbacks in the league can struggle when their team becomes one dimensional offensively.   The 49ers strength is stopping the run so I suspect this will be another game where the offense is totally on the shoulders of the quarterback.

Mike

Mike: The biggest issue I had last week was in the run blocking. If they can’t do that, they can’t do anything. The blocking was abysmal up front so Ryan Torain had no chance on almost all of his runs. Too many times there were multiple Bills defenders in the backfield – on one play there were two Bills defenders two yards deep before Torain got the handoff. That’s impossible to beat. Sean Locklear was allowing too much penetration and Torain would have to cut too early. Also, losing Chris Cooley hurts in this area; he was fine helping on the edge. So they’ve been weakened at center, left guard, left tackle and tight end. That’s a big problem.

JK

John: I appreciate your recent reporting on Josh Wilson. I was expecting him to be much better than he has been but if he’s beat up, he’s beat up. Do have any idea where Buchannan is now as far as being able to play or what is the hold up on Kareem Moore? I guess we could use all the help can get right now. Also, is there something wrong with with Rocky McIntosh? I can’t see the whole field during a game, but this year, most times I see him in the frame he looks really bad, i.e. the totally blown tackle against Fred Jackson that resulted in huge gain/first down/field goal and many other previous plays. 

Finally, The Skins are in a dire situation right now and  I wonder why the coaches don’t try to utilize Becks legs more. I know it’s not normal to expose your QB to being hit, but he got sacked 10 times last week and hit even more. Shouldn’t we be trying to win games or can the Shanahan brain trust really be thinking that Beck is “being groomed” for next year.

Thanks for the good work,

Charlie C

Charlie: Thank you. They say Josh is still learning the system; injuries are no longer an issue with him. Josh has his strong moments (Dallas) but he’s inconsistent. So he’s OK, but I just think Carlos Rogers was better. Maybe Wilson improves the longer he’s in this system. He does have good speed and that always helps. Buchanon is still working back from injuries and they won’t activate Moore until they feel he’s 100 percent. So that’s the hang-up there. I’ve thought that Rocky has played better this year, except for the Buffalo game (he hurt his ankle and returned). Before Sunday, he had missed fewer tackles and seemed to be doing a better job filling his gap. Still not a fan of his in coverage, however.

As for Beck, I was surprised we saw as many straight drop-backs as there were last week. But, yeah, the way to use his legs is with rollouts and bootlegs – though teams seem to do a good job defending that now. I think what would help more is faster decisions, not legs. I don’t think is about trying to groom Beck for next year; it’s about Grossman not being the answer and them wanting to know if Beck is. There are ramifications for next year, but it would be wrong for them to only think that way. This isn’t a 23-year-old first-round pick. If he doesn’t cut it, they’ll be using another guy next year. But he does deserve a chance to improve.

JK

John: Thanks for doing these.  I heard you on the radio today saying we might have to go back to Rex.  I know you weren’t trying to be knee-jerk, but do you really believe that?  And more importantly, do you see anything on film to believe Beck might improve?

Personally, I have no clue, but suspect in the not too distant future Beck will get the offense going.  Call me crazy, but I still think he has potential.  The Bills game was obviously bad for everybody, but looking at the early season results, the offense’s highest point output was 22 against Arizona.  Based on that, we still couldn’t have beat Carolina or Buffalo.  Based on that, how could the coaches justify another QB change?

Adam Crocker

Adam: My pleasure. The problem is, neither QB has provided a reason to give anyone confidence. The players seem to like Grossman. Does that matter? Yes and no. The coach can’t just go by what the locker room wants, but they do have to try and see what the players see. And if they keep losing and Beck is struggling – and the coaches determine it’s not just because of those around him – then I don’t know how you stick with him. But Rex is what he is and always will be. I want to see John a little more. But my point on the radio was: if they have another disaster like they did Sunday, then I’d start to wonder. Beck deserves a chance to progress and we need to see how he reacts to what happened in Toronto. They need to see what Beck can do in order to fully know where they need to go in the offseason – is he a backup only? Could he start until a rookie is ready to take over? They could justify a change if: Beck doesn’t show any improvement. My issue with him is hanging onto the ball too long. This line needs a QB to make quicker decisions.

JK

John: One thing I haven’t seen discussed about Beck’s performance in the Bills game particularly bothered me. Can he not read defenses and/or is he prohibited from calling an audible at this point? Is it just inexperience? Some blitzes by the Bills were very obvious but it seems Beck didn’t adjust blocking and stayed with a pass/bad play call (in view of the defense) which required a longer time to develop and resulted in sacks. Please let me know what you think. Thanks.

Charles Silberberg

North Tustin, CA

Charles: I think he’s trying too hard to stick with plays and hangs onto the ball. On the blitz where the corner drilled him, Beck knew what was coming. He knew he was unblocked. He just waited too long to throw the ball. There were passes designed to go short that Beck didn’t let go. I talked to one GM this spring who had scouted Beck coming out in 2007 and listed pocket instincts as a negative.

JK

John: Are the Redskins looking and playing like the Broncos did in Shanahan’s last couple of seasons, which caused him to get fired?  Also, even though Joe Gibbs second stint had its problems, what an incredible coach he is to have taken the Redskins to the playoffs twice in 4 years with the front office he had.  During the two playoff runs the Redskins were playing the best football I have seen since Joe Gibbs first stint with the team.

Jimmie

Jimmie: I didn’t see the Broncos so I don’t know a whole lot. But I know that personnel issues helped lead to his downfall (despite a couple solid drafts). Keep in mind, though, that the Redskins needed a major rebuild. He did inherit an aging roster. They knew this would not be turned around fast. Not making excuses for him, but it is a reality. Gibbs did a good job getting them to the playoffs twice, but my fear was when he left the organization would return to what it was pre-Gibbs. It did, for a short time at least. Shanahan needs another offseason, but there’d better be a huge jump next season.

JK

John: It’s been pile on Kyle Shanahan week. I’m not his biggest fan, but I don’t think a coordinator can get much production out of an offense when the line can’t run block or pass protect and the quarterback of the future does not appear to be on the roster. Not to mention your own them of 2011, which has been that the Redskins don’t have playmakers. What is your opinion of Kyle’s role in the Redskins’ woeful performance on offense?

Leon Reed

Leon: There’s no way this is all Kyle’s fault. First of all, his dad is the one in charge of personnel. So certain issues fall on him. But they definitely knew they weren’t the most talented offense around before the season. The run game is too inconsistent for them to become a good offense at this point. Maybe if everyone had stayed healthy that would have happened this year. Don’t know. And their passing game, even at the start of the season, was going to be inconsistent because of the QBs involved. But sometimes it seems like the Redskins call plays based on who they want to be vs. who they are. They want to throw downfield with QBs who were mistake-prone or unproven and with receivers who aren’t getting enough separation, for whatever reason. But I do like Kyle’s system and when there’s talent in place it’ll work well (good talent makes coaches look smart). They just have several holes to fill.

JK

John: Is it just me or is Brian Orakpo not having a very strong year? It seems like most games he gets his one sack, if that, and then disappears for the rest of the game. I don’t see him generating consistent pressure as much as he used to, and he’s not in on very many run play stops. Am I wrong? If I’m not, what’s the problem?

Steve Woods

Steve: Orakpo has been fine, but not special. He’s actually done a good job against the run, better than last year. He’s been stronger at setting the edge (did not think it was his best game last week). He’s applied some pressure (was hard last week because of how quick Buffalo threw the ball) and he does draw double teams. But Orakpo doesn’t have a lot of variety in his moves. They’ve been moving him around a little bit more lately, rushing him from the middle as well as the left side next to Ryan Kerrigan.

JK