Washington Redskins Lost Guice But Backups More Than Suffice

The Washington Redskins have assembled an offense that will live or die by moving the ball slowly but steadily down the field.

First, I need to state the obvious; any team would be better with Derrius Guice in their backfield. But, his loss doesn’t signal doom for the Redskins offense. Even with Guice lining up in the backfield, most diehard Skins fans anticipated an offensive approach that relied heavily on a short passing game.

Smart coaches play to their teams strengths. Jay Gruden is a smart coach and his play calling this year will undoubtedly attempt to utilize his offensive stalwarts by asking them to do what they do best.

Alex Smith proved that he could throw the ball downfield last year. He actually led the league in deep ball completion percentage in 2017. This surprised many NFL fans as Smith’s career has been built on efficiency and, dare I say it, game managing.

KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 6: Quarterback Alex Smith #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a pass during the first quarter of the AFC Wild Card Playoff Game against the Tennessee Titans at Arrowhead Stadium on January 6, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

In Kansas City, he was unfairly criticized for checking down too often. However, it is just the sign of an intelligent quarterback to throw to the open receiver, even if it only picks up five yards. Smith blew up the stereotype of the dinker and dunker QB last year when he finally had some receivers who could get open down the field.

The Redskins go into this season with a quarterback they know can throw the deep ball and run the ball quite effectively when needed. But, this team was always going to be a short yardage, move the chains, chew up the clock kind of outfit. And they are perfectly constructed to do so.

More from NFL Hot Takes

Washington’s offensive line, one of the best in the league when healthy, has curiously always been a better pass blocking group than a run blocking force. That might have changed with Guice. But, what they have in Samaje Perine and Rob Kelley, yes they will both make the team, are two big strong power backs that will be just as valuable to the Redskins offense as pass blockers as they will running between the tackles and grinding out four yards a pop.

That’s all this offense needs to set up the play action passing game that will be Gruden’s meal ticket. Certainly, Chris Thompson and either Byron Marshall or Kapri Bibbs will play critical roles this year but this team’s offensive game plan is going to lean on Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder’s ability to catch short passes and then do something after the catch.

Mo Harris and Brian Quick also excell at getting open for short, quick throws. Paul Richardson with his blazing 4.3 speed is the true definition of a dual threat. His speed allows him to take the top of the defense. But, when watching Seattle last year Russell Wilson really loved to use Richardson’s speed to get open while flying across the field for short passes. /

Quarterbacks who can extend plays because of their athleticism and mobility generally have no greater weapon in their arsenal than a speedster that can come across the field laterally as well as stretch it vertically. While no one does this better than Wilson, Smith is not too shabby either when it comes to scrambling out of the pocket and throwing darts at a WR racing across the field.

Finally, the cherry on top of this Sunday afternoon is the trio of tight ends lining up for Washington this year. Smith’s success throwing to Vernon Davis is well documented, 30 touchdown passes, and Jordan Reed when healthy, (I know, I know), is one of the best in the game.

Throw in rising star Jeremy Sprinkle and the Redskins may have the best tandem of tight ends in the NFL. Again, whether Gruden wants to employ a single tight end or a double or triple tight end set, these guys all feast on short quick passes.

More from NFL Mocks

And, just in case you missed it, Washington finally has a defense that might not consistently be asking the offense to score 30 or 40 points in order to win a game.

I won’t pretend that I didn’t throw my lawnmower through my fence when I heard Guice was out for the season. But, that was probably an overreaction. Guice will be a star one day. Sadly, it won’t be this year. Once the shock of that news had settled in I think most of us took a few deep breaths and realized that the Redskins still have all the pieces in place to run the kind of offense they had planned on running all along.

Fat Rob and Samaje are going to get a chance to do something special this year. I expect them to take full advantage of this opportunity. Yes, we lost our home run hitter in Guice but this was never going to be that kind of big play offensive juggernaut.

Next. Keys and Predictions for the Redskins. dark

This Redskins team will be about grinding it out with short runs, short passes, and a stout defense. We’ll see Guice next year. But today the future is now. And the next men up are Fat Rob and Perine. I don’t think any of us are going to be surprised as we watch them pound the ball up the gut four and five yards at a time. That’s all this offense needs them to do.

Home/NFL Hot Takes