Bye-week glance: Redskins defense
A year after improving from 31st in the NFL to 13th in total defense, Washington has regressed and now ranks 30th in the NFL in yards allowed (3,581) and gives up 397.9 yards per game on average. The biggest area of weakness is in the passing department, where Washington yields 301.7 yards per game. The Redskins also struggle to keep teams out of the end zone, on allowing 27.6 points a game (fifth-most in the league). Defending the run game, where Washington holds teams to 96.2 yards per game, and turnovers forced (16, fifth in the league) rank among the few bright spots. The unit also has scored four touchdowns (three interceptions and a fumble recovery).
Bye-week glance: Redskins’ special teams
Kai Forbath is the 17th-leading scorer among NFC kickers, with eight field goals and eight extra points for 32 points. He has eight touchbacks on kickoffs, putting him 17th in the NFC in that category as well. But he could move up, given his late start to the season after being signed to replace Billy Cundiff. Sav Rocca’s average of 43.7 yards per punt puts him 13th in the NFC; his net punting average of 37.1 yards is 14th in the conference. Brandon Banks ranks 11th in the NFC in punt return average, at 6.2 yards per return. Banks is ninth in the conference in kickoff returns at 24.6 yards per return. The Redskins rank 14th in the NFC in average starting position on kickoff returns, the 20.4-yard line, and are sixth-best in the conference in kickoff coverage, with their opponents’ average start being at the 21.3-yard line.
Redskins bye week Q&A
The biggest thing slowing the offense is a lack of playmakers. The best thing would be a healthy return of Pierre Garcon, who has the speed to stretch the field, and also can make plays in the mid-range passing game. But the chances of that happening don’t appear very strong. Josh Morgan and Logan Paulsen both have demonstrated good toughness, but neither is a game-changer.
Need to Know: Will the Redskins look at Routt? - Rich Tandler's Real Redskins
While the Chiefs gave no explanation for releasing Routt, he does have a $10 million option bonus due during the offseason and there is no way the team was going to pay that. The thinking is that they decided to move on now rather than waiting until next spring. As you can see, Routt has been very good at making money in recent years but not very good at playing football.
Why it’s too soon for Redskins to give up playoff hopes
Contrasting Shanahan and Schottenheimer after slow starts | NBC4 Washington
The '01 'Skins started 0-5 under Schottenheimer. They would just miss the playoffs that year.
Redskins need to fix penalty problem - Washington Times
Early in the season, it looked like the Washington Redskins could be special. They won at New Orleans and might have been 2-0 if not for a Joshua Morgan personal-foul penalty and some other mistakes.
Garcon injury catching up to Redskins - NFC East Blog - ESPN
"Just shooting ourselves in the foot," Trent Williams said. "We had openings that could have gone for six maybe three or four times this past week. Pittsburgh same thing."
Redskins are vowing to reduce penalties
The Redskins are the NFL’s most frequently penalized team. They have committed 75 penalties in their nine games, or 8.33 per game. The Baltimore Ravens, with 66 penalties in eight games, are the league’s next-worst offenders, with 8.25 penalties per game. The Redskins and Ravens each are averaging 72.1 penalty yards per game. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers, with 73.1 penalty yards per game, are worse in that category.
Elfin: 2012 Free Agency Class Belongs in Annals of Redskins Busts " CBS DC
After a promising 2011 free agency class, Mike Shanahan hasn't been able to recreate that success with a 2012 signing period led by Garcon and Wilson. Add the three defensive backs he signed - one of which will never see the field - and this ranks as one of the worst Redskins free agency periods of all-time.
A couple of odd film notes from the Redskins-Panthers game – Blogging the bEast
NFL to hold regional combines again - ESPN
The NFL will hold 10 regional combines and a 2013 super regional combine beginning late in January.