A 3-1 start lessens the urgency to make changes, but bye-week decisions still may impact the Washington Redskins’ postseason chances. Is quarterback Rex Grossman the long-term passer considering his persistent turnovers? Should running back Ryan Torain start? Are the tight ends now blockers? Will cornerback Phillip Buchanon play regularly now that his four-game suspension is over?
The NFC East co-leaders are far from a polished playoff team. Rather, they’re contenders in the making.
Grossman won’t lose his starting job and Torain probably won’t regain his when Washington returns against Philadelphia on Oct. 16. Winning delays such moves as much as losing forces them.
The preseason debate concerning Grossman and John Beck never was about who was better but about who would make fewer mistakes. Grossman has flashed “Bad Rex” too often lately. He has thrown at least one interception in three straight games and five overall compared to four touchdown passes.
“Good Rex” has made plenty of good plays, but the red zone has been a wasteland. Eight field goal attempts inside of 40 yards are two a game — that’s too many. Red zone blues cost the Redskins against Dallas. Coach Mike Shanahan’s not benching Grossman, certainly not with a 3-1 mark, but Beck was supposed to be the less risky choice. If Grossman starts turning over the ball in losses, Shanahan better have Plan B ready.
Meanwhile, running back Tim Hightower looks gassed just a month into the season. It’s a good thing Torain was ready to come off the bench or Washington might have lost to St. Louis on Sunday. Roy Helu is a nice change-of-pace back, but Washington needs Hightower or Torain to gain 100 yards regularly. Shanahan probably will let High?tower play himself out of the lineup before citing injuries, but that might not take long. He has averaged 2.9 yards over the last two games.
And what has happened to the tight ends? They used to be the second pass option more often than not. Instead, Chris Cooley and Fred Davis have 23 catches combined, but that number is misleading.
Cooley has disappeared from the stat sheet. He has seven catches a quarter of the way through the season. He’s on pace for his worst season ever — and fewer catches than in 2009, when he missed nine games. That Cooley caught 77 passes last season makes the quiet start even more amazing. Throw in the fact that he’s playing fullback and Cooley’s chances seem to have transferred to Jabar Gaffney.
Meanwhile, Davis’ 16 catches have come in spurts. Sometimes offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan remembers that tight ends do more than block, and sometimes they’re statues to him.
Buchanon’s return is welcome as long as his shoulder has healed from a preseason injury. The Redskins missed him even though they rank fifth leaguewide in yards allowed.
Surely Mike Shanahan will spend his time watching game film, trying to smooth out the wrinkles on the roster. Washington has shown it’s good enough to contend in a mediocre division, but the extra time for analysis this week only can help.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
