Washington Redskins: Scot McCloughan showing worth

The Washington Redskins were ousted from the playoffs when the Green Bay Packers defeated them by a score of 35-18 in their wildcard matchup at FedEx Field. Although the season-ending loss is disappointing, the Redskins as a whole accomplished a lot of good things this year, and I firmly believe that the team is moving in the right direction under general manager Scot McCloughan.

The roster, riddled with injuries, managed to secure nine victories and a division title in 2015, and did so with a slew of players that McCloughan managed to locate and properly plug in. Players like Quinton Dunbar, Mason Foster, Jamison Crowder, Will Blackmon, Kyshoen Jarrett, and Pierre Thomas all played major roles in Washington’s success this season.

Perhaps what is most promising is the fact that McCloughan managed to find quality players in free agency and the draft. The fact that he’s capable of finding and signing talented players that other teams often overlook is a good sign for the Redskins moving forward.

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Like most people, I believe that successful teams are built through the draft, but, at the same time, I also realize that signing quality free agents can be equally as important. Players like Foster, Blackmon, and Thomas are perfect examples of that. All three players played key roles down the stretch, each providing veteran experience and knowledge to younger players on the roster.

The mixture of veteran leadership and young talent that McCloughan chose to load the roster with worked out well, as there was a solid mixture of youth and experience throughout the roster. Players like Dunbar, Jarrett and Bashaud Breeland certainly benefited from the knowledge of Blackmon, DeAngelo Hall, and Dashon Goldson.

While it’s obvious that Blackmon, Hall, and Goldson aren’t long-term solutions in the secondary, I believe that their presence was necessary in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. The same goes for defensive lineman Jason Hatcher, who could be retiring in the off-season.

Oct 11, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Nick Williams (15) is hit by Washington Redskins strong safety Kyshoen Jarrett (30) after a catch during the first half at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons defeated the Redskins 25-19 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

The transition period that McCloughan has elected to take should work out well for the Redskins. If I had to guess, I would say that Jarrett will take over for Hall or Goldson as a starting safety next season, or perhaps even make a permanent switch to cornerback, which would likely limit Blackmon’s time with the team.

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With young players like Jarrett, Breeland, and Dunbar in the secondary, there’s a good chance that the Washington Redskins will look into selecting a defensive lineman in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. A young, talented defensive lineman would benefit by playing along side veterans such as Terrance Knighton, Chris Baker, and Ricky Jean Francois.

Scherff and Moses benefit from Trent Williams

The same is true along the offensive line. Trent Williams is a savvy vet, while Morgan Moses and Brandon Scherff are young and loaded with potential. Williams’ veteran leadership was evident throughout the season, and it’s likely that Moses and Scherff will be better versed next year because of it. Their line would improve from the presence of another veteran player, a move that would likely allow the team to comfortably start one of their young left guards – Spencer Long or Arie Kouandjio.

I believe that having a mixture of young players and veterans on your roster is extremely important to a team’s success, so the mixture that McCloughan opted to roll with was optimal. Nearly every position contains a mixture of well-versed veterans and up and coming talents.

In addition to finding talented players in the draft and free agency, McCloughan also has the courage and backbone to make tough personnel calls. He and Jay Gruden made the decision to start Kirk Cousins over Robert Griffin III prior to the start of the season, a move that panned out for the organization.

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The 27-year-old quarterback set numerous franchise records, and managed to lead the Redskins to the playoffs in the process. His success stems from the season-long commitment that McCloughan and Gruden allotted to him. If it wasn’t for duo taking a stand, things would likely look a lot more grim right now.

The Scot McCloughan era is in full effect, and players and fans alike should be excited for what the future holds. The Washington Redskins finally have a football minded person running things, and the benefits are already beginning to show.

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