This was a well-prepared football team? “No question about it,” Shanahan said.
Maybe Mike and his son, Kyle, Washington’s offensive coordinator, made halftime adjustments. If so, they weren’t apparent.
- Jason Reid
- Columnist
Is Washington Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan up to the challenge? After debacle vs. Buffalo Bills, we’ll find out
On offense and defense, Gailey and his staff had the Bills ready to roll. Shanahan and his guys needed to deliver creative counterpunches on offense and be rock-solid in their execution on defense. None of that happened.
Shanahan’s coaching couldn’t have overcome everything that went wrong against the Bills. But he delivered nothing. With the Redskins desperately seeking a spark — anything — the Great Innovator had no solution.
Were the Shanahans just hoping their beloved system eventually would succeed? They’ve been waiting on it since they arrived at Redskins Park.
Washington’s pass protection was awful. Often, it was nonexistent. Buffalo entered the game last in the league with four sacks. By halftime, the Bills had doubled their season total. They finished with nine.
Several key performers on Washington’s offense are injured, including two starting linemen. Injuries alone, however, do not explain the level of ineptitude on display from the Redskins for the entire game. Or what has occurred the past three.
Also, let’s be clear about this: The injured Redskins aren’t that good. They’re important to Washington’s offensive scheme. But the guys the Redskins lost weren’t headed to the Pro Bowl this season.
Washington’s offensive line was significantly better in the Week 7 loss to Carolina. Regression of this kind, in only one week, has nothing to do with the team’s talent level. This was about coaching. That’s Shanahan’s department.
“That’s a good question,” Shanahan said in response to a query about whatever it was the offensive line was attempting to do against the Bills. “It’s a disappointment.”
In his second start for Washington, quarterback John Beck had no chance. At halftime, the Redskins trailed, 13-0. Game over. It was as clear as Shanahan’s rotten judgment in picking Redskins quarterbacks. I doubt there are many quarterbacks who would have been effective Sunday behind the Redskins’ line.
Beck is trying to establish himself in bad working conditions. That’s a tough break.
During those rare moments when things went as planned, however, Beck didn’t do anything extraordinary. In his first start since the 2007 season, last week against Carolina, the inexperienced 30-year-old did some good things in the second half.
Problem is, the Redskins’ offensive line probably won’t be much better at any point this season.
Even when left tackle Trent Williams returns, the unit has major limitations. With that backdrop, it could be very difficult for the Shanahans to evaluate Beck. They can’t waste any more time tinkering with the game’s most important position.
Reality is, neither Beck nor Grossman is the short- or long-term answer at quarterback. In a perfect world, the offensive line would do its job well enough to help the Shanahans determine whether Beck could provide a bridge to Washington’s next quarterback of the future, wherever he is at the moment.
Mike and Kyle no longer have that luxury. They’ll have to ride it out with Beck for the remainder of the season (with Grossman as the other option, that’s the only smart move), and then bring in at least two new quarterbacks for next season.
In their second year under Shanahan, the Redskins shouldn’t be in such a mess. Something needs to change. Shanahan must prove he’s capable of fixing this — or step aside for someone who can.
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