Shanahan stressing that improvement is needed ASHBURN — The record is impressive; the reality sometimes is not. And it’s the latter part the coaches will focus on during the bye week.
Yes, the Redskins are 3-1. Yes, if they play the way they did in the fourth quarter of the 17-10 win at St. Louis, it will hurt them in future games.
“For us to be the type of team we need to be and win down the stretch, we have to get better,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “You’re hoping to do that in October, November and December. It’s nice to go into the bye 3-1, but we know to do something special this season, we’re going to have to improve in all areas.
– John Keim
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| The Redskins must decide what to do with cornerback Phillip Buchanon, who returns this week from a four-game suspension by the NFL for using a banned substance. Coach Mike Shanahan said Buchanon’s shoulder, which bothered him before the suspension, remains an issue. According to an NFL spokesman, the Redskins received a roster exemption for Buchanon until Oct. 10 to allow team doctors to examine his shoulder. Once he’s activated, the Redskins will have to cut a player. Buchanon would be the sixth cornerback, so they could opt to cut one of the other cornerbacks: Kevin Barnes, Byron Westbrook or Brandyn Thompson. Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett does not like cutting rookie draft picks such as Thompson (all the defensive draft picks made the roster). They also could cut a player from another position. They have four tight ends. |
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| Shanahan said fullback Darrel Young (hamstring) should be able to practice Monday after the bye week. But Shanahan was uncertain about receiver Anthony Armstrong (hamstring). |
“We’re not there yet.”
The Redskins have reached the bye week two games over .500 in part because the defense is ranked fifth in yards allowed and third in points allowed. They have recorded 15 sacks, with seven coming in Sunday’s win.
But the big questions surround the offense, starting with quarterback Rex Grossman. His passer rating is 78.7 after four games, and he has completed 58.0 percent of his throws with six touchdowns and five interceptions. He threw what could have been a costly interception Sunday when he failed to see a linebacker dropping into coverage for the second straight week.
“The thing about a quarterback is you have to wipe it out,” Shanahan said. “Rex is tough enough mentally to understand that you’re responsible for those interceptions. Wipe it out and get ready to play the next game.”
Grossman played well in the opening win vs. the New York Giants and had a strong second half in the win over Arizona. But the past two games have not been his best, with a 77.5 passer rating vs. Dallas and a 48.5 for the Rams win. Not that those stats matter to Shanahan. He’ll point to two dropped passes against the Rams, who also dropped two interceptions.
“Every quarterback is going to be judged if he wins or if he loses,” Shanahan said. “Everybody can see from a statistical standpoint how a player does. Sometimes it can be a little deceiving.”
One statistic that wasn’t deceiving: running back Ryan Torain’s 135 yards rushing on 19 carries. Shanahan said starting back Tim Hightower hurt his shoulder on the Redskins’ first series. Hightower is averaging 3.5 yards a carry this season. But he’s considered more of an all-around back because of his skills on third down.
Torain will continue to get opportunities — “He has big-play ability,” Shanahan said — but Hightower remains a fixture.
“It’s guys like Tim that do it in all phases that give you a chance to compete,” he said.
However, Shanahan also has the flexibility at running back to go with the so-called hot hand, whether it’s Torain or Hightower or rookie Roy Helu.
What he doesn’t want is his team to be fooled by its start. After all, 12 games remain. He’ll remind his players of this message Tuesday, their only practice this bye week.
“It’s easy to get lulled into a trap,” he said. “Don’t get lulled into a trap.”
