ES Coverage: Giants vs Redskins 

 

12/9/18

 

DEFEAT!!!

 

Giants 40 - Redskins 16

 

Greetings friends, JimmiJo here, and I am joined by my shivering partner, Spaceman Spiff. Together we will bring you this all important NFC East divisional matchup between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants.

 

When I was last with you the Redskins had command of the division and there was optimism to spare. Since, devastating injuries to quarterbacks, linemen, and cornerbacks has left this team losers in 4-of-5 contests.

 

But there is still everything to play for, and if they can manage a victory today and the Eagles to the same Washington will once again have a share of the lead.

 

I can dream can't I?

 

On paper, the future looks grim. A continued collapse will start the questions about the future of personnel and perhaps leadership. Yes, we can certainly point to injuries as the primary reason the team is struggling. But the record earlier in the year was masking some issues with the squad. No real arial threat. An inconsistent running game. And a defense that has been anything but consistent.

 

But these are questions for another time. Today, it is just two teams looking for a win.

 

See you at the half.

 

Follow along on Twitter @Skinscast 

 

Inactives

 

The Redskins declared the following players as inactive:

o   No. 12 QB Colt McCoy

o   No. 32 RB Samaje Perine

o   No. 46 RB Kapri Bibbs

o   No. 52 LB Ryan Anderson

o   No. 63 C Demetrius Rhaney

o   No. 66 G Tony Bergstrom

o   No. 99 DL Caleb Brantley

 

JimmiJo

 

I was happy to see players like Josh Johnson and Byron Marshall in the game. The marquee guys did not earn the right to play following the disastrous first half. It was historically bad.

 

Never before had the Washington Redskins trailed by as much as the 34-0 deficit they entertained today at the half.

 

I remarked to one of the writers that in 13-seasons I had never seen this team so outplayed as today. The offense led by Mark Sanchez was throw-up in mouth bad. At no point did you feel like they would or could score.

 

I tweeted before the game that it is time for Daniel Snyder to replaced head coach Jay Gruden. Yes injuries are the headline. But the offense was poor before the injuries.

 

No aerial threat and an inconsistent rushing. They only seemed to score 20-points per game.

 

What they did do well was hold on to the ball. And the defense was a takeover machine the first half of the year.

But turnovers tend to even out.

 

So I was more than glad to see those ‘backups’ play. All they did was show they should have been playing in the first half.

 

Especially Johnson. Take a look at your Redskins’ starter the rest of the way. From his first snap the offense looked different. There was energy. There was life.

 

And there was threat.

 

Johnson played with more command, accuracy and imagination than Mark Sanchez. He looked much more the accomplished quarterback.

 

A word on Josh Doctson. You are an idiot. Without the stupid penalty you are not letting the safety out-position you to make the pick with 5-minutes left.

 

Following this game, staring at the standings and considering possible scenarios for getting in the playoffs is fools’ gold. It is all about assessing who it worth keeping for next year.

 

I don’t believe head coach Jay Gruden is going to make the list. Nor should he. He has had nore than enough time to do something here. He had Kirk Cousins’ starting over 3-full seasons.

 

He had his chance.

 

I tweeted before the game team owner Daniel Snyder should let Gruden go and bring in Mike McCarthy. Washington Post writer (and friend) Rick Snider made a great counterpoint to that idea:

 

“Why would McCarthy want to come here? He has better options,” he said.

 

That sure feels like the truth. And if so, it may explain why Gruden is fast becoming one of the most tenured coaches in the league.

 

This was my last game for this season. I would like to thank Extremeskins and the team for the opportunity this year. I will see you guys next year.

 

Let me go on the record now and say I do not think Jay Gruden's position here is secure. Not with the likes of Mike McCarthy available.