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Jay Gruden answered questions the day after the Redskins lost their home opener to the Cowboys 31-21. He says the defense has to play better, despite the numerous injuries that are piling up. Quinton Dunbar's knee injury sounds like it could keep him off the field a little longer. Jonathan Allen and Colt McCoy are expected to practice this week.
Jay Gruden Presser
Watch Live: Coach Jay Gruden speaks to the media.
Posted by Washington Redskins on Monday, September 16, 2019
Stopping the run:
Gruden at the podium. On the defense: “We’ve got to challenge them. ... Stopping the run has been our No. 1 priority. ... We’ve just got to demand more.”
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) September 16, 2019
Head coach Jay Gruden at the podium now. Says the defense needs to be more physical up front, stop the run, get more pressure and improve on third downs.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 16, 2019
"Our standards haven't changed. We just have to play better and demand more."
Gruden said with some parts of the D — missed run fits etc- “we’ve got to do a better job teaching them.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 16, 2019
Pass rush not there:
Gruden on 3rd down struggles:
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 16, 2019
Pass rush is not there. It’s really not there.
Gruden said the biggest challenge for the defensive line next week is to get pressure on the quarterback.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 16, 2019
Jay Gruden not pleased with the pass rush. #redskins pic.twitter.com/kwALdjwWf8
— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) September 16, 2019
Defense isn't playing well enough:
Jay Gruden to the podium in Ashburn.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) September 16, 2019
Says the defense clearly isn’t playing well enough. When asked about the idea of not reaching the players, he says they’re reaching them fine but they need to play harder. They need to play better.
Gruden said the coaches are reaching the players just fine. "We've just got to play better." #Redskins
— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) September 16, 2019
Vanilla coverage:
Gruden says coverages outside were "pretty vanilla" against the Cowboys. Mentioned depth was limited and the secondary wasn't able to disguise coverages like they would have liked to.
— Ryan Fowler (@FowlerRyan1) September 16, 2019
Gruden said he thought Payne played well. Ioannidis was okay.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) September 16, 2019
Points to the ends and LB’s who were not always where they were supposed to be. Also says they were vanilla in the secondary due to the youth and moving parts.
Gruden said the secondary injuries played a big role in Redskins conservative defensive game plan
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 16, 2019
Injury updates:
Gruden said Quinton Dunbar was not as close to returning as the #Redskins thought he was. Added CB Fabian Moreau may be closer to returning. Moreau's been out with an ankle injury.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 16, 2019
Gruden says Dunbar wasn’t close. Has no idea about his availability for the week. Same thing for Reed. Moreau sounds closer.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) September 16, 2019
Aaron Colvin:
"That’s thing, it depends how quickly he picks everything up. That’s another reason why we have to be a little bit more standard. We got him, signed him on Friday afternoon after practice. He had two days [and] he’s our fourth corner. [CB] Simeon [Thomas] was our fifth corner, who we just got off the Seattle practice squad. So, can’t be too exotic with those cats. Hopefully with another week of practice we’ll get all those guys ready to go, get those [other] guys healthy and we’ll do some more things.”
Morgan Moses’ performance in the first two weeks and wearing a knee brace:
“He’s a little sore, but he’s ok. I think overall Morgan [Moses] did some good things in the game. There was a couple stunts that we missed -- an inside move that he missed and a T-T-E, or nose, stunt that he didn’t come off on late. He’s playing decent football, i wouldn’t say he’s playing poorly. And I’d say [G Brandon] Scherff is playing pretty good as well except for the one holding call that he had that he kinda stumped and I don’t know if it was a holding knock or not. Those guys, we’re count on those guys to play well and hey will play a lot better. I think [G Ereck] Flowers [Jr.] again played pretty well again. And [T Donald] Penn battled his tail off and [C] Chase [Roullier] is doing a good job at center. I think just getting those guys in unison, keeping them on the field hopefully playing together will be key, critical for that unit and hopefully will help a lot in the pass game Jordan [Reed] will help a lot in the passing game as well. We gotta run the ball a little bit better as well.”
Gruden says Moses is playing “decent” football. Not poorly, but obviously room for improvement.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) September 16, 2019
Thinks Scherff was good outside the hold. Left side solid.
Gruden complimented each individual on the offensive line then said they've got to get in unison.
— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) September 16, 2019
Run game:
Gruden says Redskins run game isn’t getting enough movement from the interior
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 16, 2019
Gruden said a combination of things have contributed to the #Redskins struggles in the running game. (O-line not getting to the second level, being unsuccessful at the point of attack, etc.)
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) September 16, 2019
On the struggle of the run game through two weeks, Gruden stressed the importance of interior push that ultimately opens up holes for RB's. Says Chicago "is no picnic" but the offense will look to get Adrian Peterson going to ultimately open up the offense.
— Ryan Fowler (@FowlerRyan1) September 16, 2019
But what's wrong with the run game? "Something different all the time," Gruden said. Not getting adequate movement with interior people, not getting to the next level, not getting movement at point of attack forcing back to stop his feet. Combination of things. #Redskins https://t.co/wmEg2NAUKR
— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) September 16, 2019
Colt McCoy:
Gruden said there’s a chance Colt McCoy will take some individual work this week.
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 16, 2019
Jonathan Allen:
Jon Allen (knee) expected to participate in individual drills this week. Status from there TBD. Redskins get the extra day with MNF.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 16, 2019
Derrius Guice:
Injury notes:
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) September 16, 2019
Colt McCoy could do some individual this week. TBD. Still some time before he gets into team.
Asked Jay about when Guice got hurt in the week 1 game. He said no idea, but he was clean going in. Happened during and when the adrenaline wore off he felt it.
Optimistic:
Gruden explains why he's still optimistic: We've got good skillset in house. We're a tough physical football team, we just haven't shown it right now. I think we have the ability to do it. #Redskins
— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) September 16, 2019
Adrian Peterson:
During the Fox broadcast, there was mention that Redskins coach Jay Gruden struggled with running back Adrian Peterson in this offense because he was a north-south runner. Gruden, though, on Monday said, "It's good to have a north-south runner. It's... https://t.co/saZltmY6wV
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 16, 2019