How much have we improved player personnel?

In regards to the thread title.
I dont know right now.
Ask me right before Christmas.

Sure. I get that. We don't yet know. I sure am optimistic, though.

Sure. I get that. We don't yet know. I sure am optimistic, though.

Yea, its sure beats freaking out about what a shitty draft we had.
I'm optimistic too, but most of these guys have4nt played a down for us yet.
Having said that I still expect us to win the division again.

Last year at this time, many of us were worried about our O-line, we still had Griffin at QB, Morris as unquestioned RB (http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-redskins/post/_/id/17395/redskins-post-draft-evaluation-running-back), had Jeron Johnson or Duke Ihenacho penciled in at safety, Kai Forbath at kicker, Scherff at RT, no Junior Galette...

Point is -- things change a lot by September, we're not done yet & wouldn't get too concerned until we see what the end result is. Btw, Knighton was good, but not that mobile. Not a big loss.

Rush D is certainly a priority -- among the top 5 rush defenses last year? Denver, Carolina, Seattle, Steelers, Jets, with the Patriots and Arizona not far behind.

another way to help the run D look a lot better . . . score a bunch of points and get a good size lead . . . make the opponent one dimensional

when I look at the roster now, compared to last year.....I'm disappointed that the FO didn't try to improve the two weakest links from last year.

I really fail to see how we'll be better running the ball or stopping the run.I don't anticipate we'll be much better running the ball either. But, I don't think that will be an issue. I think the the perception will be an improved run game because 1 back, Matt Jones will get the bulk of the carries and that imo was one of the issues last year. I'm not concerned though, I think our pass game took another step forward. And I view (might be alone with this lol) Jay's focus for the offense is and will be passing oriented anyway.

Run defense:

I was saying earlier that I think the run defense has improved. I never thought the DL was the weak spot in terms of run defense. Its not what I saw with my eyes and its not what the stats suggest. And the only loss in terms of run defense along the DL was Knighton. And its questionable how much we lost based on the number of healthy snaps he actually played.

My view of the weakspots in run defense were both Safety spots and all ILBs not named Mason Foster. The bulk of the S snaps were taken by Goldson who was not good against the run. Maybe surprising or not but the best run support S last year was.................drum roll..........DeAngelo Hall. Yup.
So moving Hall to FS is a huge improvement from Dashon. Then we have the addition of David Bruton, a stud in the run game and Su'a another stud in the run game. A starting Safety tandem of Hall/Bruton/S'ua is a HUGE upgrade in run support from last year.

The other weakspot in my view from watching and from the available stats was the ILB group. It wasn't until Mason Foster entered the line-up did that an ILB graded out positively against the run. Perry Riley historically has been a solid run defender but through scheme change and injury his play dipped drastically in this area. I think there will be real competition from rookie Stephen Daniels. Daniels is a tackling machine.

TLDR: I think they addressed/improved the run D through moving D.Hall to FS and at SS w/ David Bruton/rookie Su'a Craven AND at ILB Mason Foster + healthy Riley/or rookie Stephen Daniels



Maybe training camp will change my opinion, but with a tougher schedule, I'm not sure we did enough to win more games.I'm not one for W/L predictions. And naturally we'll know more as the offseason progresses. But, I think we did address the areas that were weak spots with the run game and expect a noticeable improvement that will be reflected both on the field and statistically.

I don't anticipate we'll be much better running the ball either. But, I don't think that will be an issue. I think the the perception will be an improved run game because 1 back, Matt Jones will get the bulk of the carries and that imo was one of the issues last year. I'm not concerned though, I think our pass game took another step forward. And I view (might be alone with this lol) Jay's focus for the offense is and will be passing oriented anyway.

If we have 1 TE who can can catch passes and block then it will be a huge upgrade to the run game.

Last year we were relying on Reed and Tom Compton who were good at both aspects of the position. Carrier caught a few passes in spots but was lacking in the run game big time.

This will be the 2nd year of a new scheme with Callahan that relies on TE blocking and we will now have a TE or two who can block.

Why don't you think there will be actual rather than perceived improvement?

...Why don't you think there will be actual rather than perceived improvement?I'm sure there will be some improvement.

Stated my view on this several times already. But oh well....I think the run game takes a back seat to the passing game for Jay. And there is nothing wrong with that. An OC should run their offense the way they see fit.

I think Jays run game (barring landing a stud RB) will always play second fiddle to the pass game. From a gameplan perspective, from a planning perspective, from a HC interest/emphasis, practice time etc.

I think examples of this are in the difference in the run game from the Shanahans to Jay and the difference in Cincinnati from Jay to Hue. Here with a better OL and better skill position players the run game was less productive. In Cincinnati Jay had one of the best OL in the league but the run game took off under Hue.

From and Xs and Os stand point, how would you improve the run game next year?

After all, the HC's attitude towards the run game (which isn't reflected in the play calling stats: post #47) doesn't miss blocks or inside cuts.

From and Xs and Os stand point, how would you improve the run game next year?

After all, the HC's attitude towards the run game (which isn't reflected in the play calling stats: post #47) doesn't miss blocks or inside cuts.Lol, right. Run focused Jay, you're funny.

You know what I dont get? Why ask me questions when its obvious that you dont give 2 hoots about my response? And really have no interest in any real dialogue?

But since were old friends ill give you a broad strokess answer on how the run game could have been better last year.

1) Commit to the run.
2) Choose a RB and design a scheme based on their strengths and give them the bulk of the carries
3) Change how you block the POA on your base run game if the key personnel can't get it done
4) Be more diverse in types of runs
5) Expand and focus on nickel package run game

No comment about the rest of post huh? Figures.

What should we expect in the run game from the lol, run focused Jay Gruden?

jay isn't run focused, but his play calling was pretty balanced, even when we were only getting 2 ypc, he still called a bunch of runs.

i'm not sure where the problem is there (yes i do, outside blocking and hesitation), but here's hoping they figure it out.

1) Commit to the run.
2) Choose a RB and design a scheme based on their strengths and give them the bulk of the carries
3) Change how you block the POA on your base run game if the key personnel can't get it done
4) Be more diverse in types of runs
5) Expand and focus on nickel package run game

Did you copy and paste this from a write up of one of Phil Simms' pre-game segments?

If only Gruden, McVay, and Callahan would have done 1 through 5.

Gruden is a balanced offensive coach.