The Washington Redskins came out of nowhere to win the NFC East last season. Can they duplicate that feat again in 2016? Sure but it’ll be tough with the Giants, Cowboys and Eagles improving.
Show of hands. How many of you had the Redskins winning the NFC East last season? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
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The Redskins came out of nowhere last season thanks in large part to the emergence of quarterback Kirk Cousins and a bad division.
Cousins took a major step towards becoming an elite quarterback in 2015 and the emergence of tight end Jordan certainly helped his maturation.
Now all eyes are on Cousins and the Redskins to see if they can that next step and become Super Bowl contenders. They can but a lot has to go their way in order for that to happen.
Here are five things the Redskins must do well in 2016 if they want to take the next step and contend.
1. Kirk Cousins Must Take the Next Step: Kirk Cousins played like an elite quarterback last season and now he’s getting paid like one. Cousins need to continue to develop and he needs to take the next step and lead the Redskins to the playoffs. If Cousins can do that, he’ll get paid long term next off-season.
2. Run the Ball With More Physicality: Second year running back Matt Jones is a big, physical back who runs tough inside the tackles and can push the pile. He can handle 20-25 carries a game.
The Redskins need more balance offensively. The best way to achieve that balance is to run the football more effectively on first and second down. If Jones can develop into a reliable option in the backfield, the Redskins offense could be tough to defend.
3. Stop the Run: The Redskins gave up an average of 122.6 yards per game on the ground last season, near the bottom of the league. Washington’s front seven needs to be more physical and they need to do a better job against the run. This is especially true within the division, especially against the likes of the Dallas Cowboys offensive front.
4. Play Fast Offensively: The Redskins played with a good pace last season offensively. Don’t be surprised if head coach Jay Gruden uses more no huddle this season, especially if Matt Jones and the running game struggles early on. Cousins has proven he can handle managing the offense at the line of scrimmage.
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5. Bring More Pressure Out of the 3-4: Defensive coordinator Joe Barry likes to vary his fronts and coverages but he doesn’t blitz enough. The Redskins need to bring more pressure, specifically zone pressures. Washington gets good edge pressure with outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan but they don’t get enough interior pressure from their defensive line. It’s time to blitz more!