Things I've Learned About the Washington Redskins - 2019

First - I've been travelling all over the place the past 2 weeks, Thanksgiving and all so I have spent next to 0 time in the internet.
But I did watch the games. Hope all had a good Holiday too.

2 Game win streak? Teams don't tank, that's really only a theory for the mock draft folks. No NFL player wants to lose 16 games, it goes on their "permanent record"
(Old folks remember that)
Miami and Cincinnati figured out how to win too.
Yes, it hurts the draft position race and creates a situation that's is very dangerous in that if they do not fire Bruce Allen as expected, the Redskins could manage to waste a draft.
Dan Snyder supposedly put everyone on notice but I doubt there's any follow through.

Obviously all eyes are on the QB spot. The untrained eye has already been writing that position off and figuring ways to draft with the first pick a new one.
But that isn't how it works.

Peyton Mannings, Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers, etc... are lightning that strikes on the occasion. (Mahomes might fit in that category but not yet)
Can't miss QBs, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Carson Wentz, etc are struggling but look like QB's we'll be dealing with for the next 10 years.
It's a crap shoot.

Haskins is managing game and not turning the ball over as we once thought.
The Positives?
- He has a heck of an arm
- He's getting smarter each game
- He's taking care of the ball
- He will fling the ball with anticipation (more on this some other time)

The Negatives?
- His reads: Sometimes I see him miss the read
- Pocket presence; A QB must have a internal clock and when the play isn't there, throw it away.
- Leadership: Though I see improvements, it's a little weak... but I think it's trending upwards.
- He's not experienced enough to take the team to score, making those critical throws, and calls.

I still don't highlight QB on my Draft Board till sometime after game 16.

Losing draft stock - RB
I have a set bar for "injury prone" players. Guice was right there, but he's proven me wrong and I have zero issue with it.
As a coach I would have told him after the second injury: 'It is unfortunate, but you are in the yellow zone bud."
Injuries happen, but you have to draw the line as injuries and players like Reed will kill your team.
Guice is certainly all he was billed to be and I am thankful for that.

Offense as a whole
Ridding themselves of injury plagued players will go a long away towards making them a much better team.
Adding a reliable TE will improve them even more. Sprinkle provides a nice option as the 2nd TE.
Trading Trent Williams is key to get a pick(s) to grab an offensive lineman - if the new GM can salvage the wreckage Allen is leaving.

Offensive Coaching - I'm not ready to anoint Kevin O'Connell as anything yet. I am a bit disappointed in some series of calls, especially redzone calls.

Defense as a whole
Was that the Washington Redskins in Carolina? They signed 2 LB's off the street and Orchard produced like a champion. This does not happen in Washington.
There's some decent building blocks on this defense.

Defensive Coaching
This Sunday does not give Greg Manusky a pass. His preparations in prior Sundays was poor, and that's generous.

Got to mention the Referee...
The hit on the Punt Return was more vicious and deliberate. That was an easy ejection and should have been.
Anderson's hit was less intentional... the TE owns some fault and Ryan took a bad angle... maybe it is an ejection but the aforementioned was most definitely an ejection.... poor officiating, very poor.

Head Coaching
No matter what, Bill Callahan deserves a hand for implementing a much better regime for practice, it shows on the field.
He's also made internal personnel decisions which I applaud as well... his hands are tied due him being appointed during the season, but he rebuilt the practice squad and has had good decisions on bringing players on.
The team looks coached.

I still don't know that I would endorse him to the job but I hate these rebuilds and they are very risky and usually don't work.
I'd much rather fire Allen and Williams and some of the others to build a more solid decision base for increasing the odds to make a rebuild work.
Presently, I have zero faith in Allen and Company.

Whatever happens comes the end of the 2019 season, there is a lot to do in the Redskins franchise.