Sunday Slop: Redskins Bye Week

A closer look at why Alfred Morris is struggling | Washington Post Redskins Blog

It's a concerning trend for Morris, whose numbers have dropped each year since his outstanding rookie season. Entering the final year of his contract, Morris would have hoped for a big year to earn a big contract from the Redskins. But he's averaging just 3.3 yards per carry with no touchdowns, and is down to just 13 carries per game.

Predicting the Redskins 2016 depth chart | CSN Washington

The starting corners are an easy call while the rest of the picture is murky. Goldson likely would have to agree to a renegotiated contract that would considerably lower his $8 million 2016 salary. If he doesn't, I don't see him staying but that leaves a hole at free safety that could perhaps be filled in the free agent market. Do things click for Jeron Johnson, allowing him to play a regular role? Does Jarrett return to safety, the position he was drafted to play? Or do they keep a good thing going and leave him in the slot? Do rookie free agents Dunbar and Deshazor Everett show enough promise that the team will bypass a late-round project in the draft?

Grading the Redskins safeties at the bye | CSN Washington

El-Bashir: It's tough to argue with Tandler's blunt assessment at this position. It's says a lot about Dashon Goldson that he was elected captain just a few months into his tenure in Washington. He's knowledgeable and he's a leader. But unless he turns things around on the field over the final nine games, the revolving door at free safety will likely spin once again this offseason. As for Trenton Robinson, he was put in a tough spot after starting strong safety Duke Ihenacho was lost for the season in Week 1. Robinson is a valuable contributor on special teams (he recovered the onside kick that turned the Tampa Bay game) but is best used as a reserve on defense.

Need to know: Cousins ratings vary wildly at the bye | CSN Washington

Kirk Cousins does not fare well in the NFL's official overall quarterback metric, passer rating, ranking 23rd in the NFL with an 85.1. He's better in ESPN's QBR; Cousins' rating there is 58.8, 17th in the NFL. But if Cousins wants to give his agent some ammunition for his upcoming contract negotiation he can point to Football Outsiders. They have Cousins performing at a very good to, dare I say it an elite level. His DYAR, their measure of his total value, is 417, sixth in the NFL. His DVOA, his value per play, is 11.8%, seventh in the league (go to the FO site for details). One thing that FO's numbers take into account that the NFL and ESPN don't is the strength of the opposing defenses. Five of the Redskins' seven games have been against defenses in the top half in FO's rankings and none of the opposing defenses have been in the bottom 10.

The Redskins options at QB this offseason might not be great | ESPN Redskins Blog

Let's take a detour for a second: The list of possible free agent quarterbacks this offseason might be topped by Sam Bradford. So that's not a legitimate option, and trading for one -- as the Redskins have discovered in the past -- usually means you're taking on a player at the most important position that his previous team does not want. So if you're wondering how Cousins might return if he's still inconsistent, it could just be that free agency offers nothing better for them.