Washington Redskins no longer drowning in mediocrity

The Jay Gruden era has been one of perpetual mediocrity, but all of that is about to change. The Washington Redskins are about to win their division, or bottom out in the conference. Both options are on the table in 2019.

Which is more realistic, the Washington Redskins finishing first in the NFC East in 2019 or dropping to the worst record in the entire conference? We genuinely can’t handicap which is more likely. It appears like the front office can’t make a decision on their goals either.

Obviously no one plans on finishing last, but are the Redskins heading toward a rebuild or trying to compete right away? The roster can’t make up its mind. Jay Gruden’s tenure as Washington’s coach has been one of perpetual mediocrity, but the team is drowning no more. The problem is that swimming to the top may cause them to hit bottom.

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, debate the Washington Redskins in today’s NFL Sports Debate.

Todd Salem:

With Alex Smith injured, Washington traded for Case Keenum and re-signed Adrian Peterson. The offensive line is built for the present, and so are Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis. It is trying to win right now. But perhaps the best player on the offense is Derrius Guice, who is essentially a rookie after a lost year to injury. What is his timetable for being the linchpin of the offense? Certainly not “right now.” There are also no guys resembling starting wide receivers even for the biggest fans of Josh Doctson and Paul Richardson.

On defense, the back eight seems ready to compete now. The team added superstar safety Landon Collins to Ryan Kerrigan, Josh Norman, and company. And yet the defensive line is anchored by Da’Ron Payne and Jonathan Allen; two first-round picks from the past two drafts who haven’t matured into their complete selves yet.

I think the reason I’m concerned about Washington’s plan is because I’m not sold on the talent of the win-now players. With no game-breaking wide receivers, what is an offense led by Keenum, Peterson, Reed, and an under-performing line getting you? How good is the defense going to be with an unproven line and average veterans?

It was terrible against the run last year. Collins actually helps that more than he helps in pass defense, but there are too many holes to make me believe this team can compete for the playoffs in 2019.

The Alex Smith injury really threw a wrench into the team’s plans. Smith is solid if unspectacular. He was a leader for the foreseeable future though. Now, Keenum is a placeholder, and Washington must toe the line between competing and rebuilding. Its NFC East peer in New York tried to do just that last year, and it failed spectacularly.

Will the Redskins face a similar fate in 2019? It seems possible. Ironically, the thing that likely keeps them out of last place in the division is still New York, who has accepted a rebuild but will throw Eli Manning to the wolves for one more season.

Washington would deny it is tossing Keenum to the wolves here, but if the trenches on either side don’t get dramatically better, it will be a battle for last place.

Dan Salem:

I don’t dislike the makeup of the Washington Redskins, but making the playoffs is still a great 2019 draft away from reality. Last place is also several injuries away from a possibility, because New York isn’t the only team rebuilding in the NFC. We must not forget the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Washington is currently better than both teams, and likely several others who have yet to hit hard times.

There is nothing worse than finishing in the middle of the pack. You’re not good enough to reach the playoffs and not bad enough to obtain a high draft pick. Washington has been living this nightmare for several years in a row.

Since winning their division with a lackluster 9-7 record in 2015, only to lose in the Wild Card Round, the Redskins have been drowning in mediocrity. Their records in the subsequent three seasons were 8-7-1, followed by 7-9, followed again by 7-9 last year. Its no surprise that Washington is still stuck between competing and rebuilding.

Philadelphia and Dallas both appear formidable, but neither was head and shoulders better than Washington last season. Neither made major strides in the offseason to get significantly better, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing since both were already pretty good. All of this means that the Redskins must decide if Case Keenum can repeat his success from his time leading the Vikings two years ago. Keenum cannot be a transition player if Washington is to compete this season. I believe he has more than enough to get the job done.

I realize that three straight seasons of mediocrity (four if we’re being realistic) is a pattern which must be broken, and attempting to compete once again is unlikely to break the pattern. But there is no way that Washington can rebuild in 2019. Doing so would cost Jay Gruden his job as head coach. There are also too many talented veterans on the team to waste a season when you have a competent quarterback.

Everything comes down to the offensive and defensive lines, but Washington has the draft to add a skill position player on offense AND bolster their lines. This team is two impact rookies and a stroke of good luck away from winning the NFC East. They are another forgettable season away from hitting reset.