An 0-2 record was not the start the Washington Redskins expected for 2013. They had such high hopes to return to the playoffs. In fact, Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan has said that anything less than a Super Bowl championship would be a failure for the franchise.
The hype surrounding Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has suffocated his team to the point of regression. Griffin III struggled in the passing game once again Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, throwing inaccurate passes to his receivers. Fans are beginning to wonder if RG3 has fully recovered from his torn right ACL injury. His passes don’t have much zip, considering that he needs to push off his right leg to supply the throwing power he needs.
Washington’s early struggles aren’t just on RG3. The Redskins have been outscored 50-7 in the first half of both games in 2013. That statistic exacerbates the struggles of the defense, but it also indicates the total inefficiency of the Redskins’ offense, considering that their seven points were courtesy of a defensive touchdown.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers masterfully tore apart Washington’s secondary, torching them for 480 yards. Once again, it looked like the Redskins’ secondary was running in quicksand in comparison to their competition. This issue could be tolerable if Washington’s offense was anywhere near competent. However, competency has not been exhibited by Washington in the first two games. Factor in turnovers and untimely penalties, and it’s hard to imagine the Redskins winning a game in 2013.
I won’t get carried away. Washington isn’t as bad as their record indicates. They still have some talent on both sides of the ball, which suggests that they’ll win a few games. However, they’re not an elite team yet. Hopefully, they can regroup and play with the urgency they possessed during their seven game winning streak last season. If they can, maybe they can turn things around. If not, expect another season of discontent in the nation’s capital.
