Alfred Morris and the Redskins have played well offensively. (Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins rank second in offense and fourth in defense, the only team in the NFL in the top five in each category.
Still, Washington is 1-2 heading into Thursday’s game against the New York Giants. That is largely because of the Redskins’ special teams, which have added too many negative plays, such as:
–A blocked punt for a touchdown and a blocked extra point in the season-opening 17-6 loss at Houston.
–A 102-yard kickoff return allowed and a missed 33-yard field goal last Sunday in a 37-34 defeat at Philadelphia.
“Being the (special teams) captain, I take it personal,” said linebacker Adam Hayward, who was signed as a free agent because of his prowess covering kicks. “We were 32nd (covering punts) last year, and they brought me here to make a difference. (But) right now, I feel like we’re a burden.
“You can’t put your team in a hole twice (after the blocked punt and the kickoff return) and expect great things to come out of it. We’re a lot better than that. Where there are issues, whether it’s me or whoever, we’ve called that person out. You can’t be sensitive around here.”
What really bothers Hayward and the rest of Washington’s special teams leaders is that the final play of the last walkthrough before the Philadelphia game was against the return on which the Eagles scored.
“We knew what was coming and we didn’t stop it,” fullback Darrel Young lamented.
The Redskins fired special teams boss Keith Burns after their dreadful 2013 season and replaced him with Ben Kotwica, but the units’ mistakes might well have turned a possible 3-0 start into a tie for the division cellar heading into the matchup with the Giants.
“Like I said last year, it’s not about the coach, it’s about guys who take pride in being on special teams,” tight end Niles Paul said. “I think we have that this year, but we’re not getting it done on Sundays.”
The Giants haven’t been good on returns thus far, and they rank last covering punts. The game could offer Redskins return man Andre Roberts, who had a 37-yard punt return in Week 2 against Jacksonville, a chance for glory as well as an opportunity for Hayward and Co. to redeem themselves against another division rival.
“This is a very important game,” said first-year Washington head coach Jay Gruden. “You fall too far behind the 8-ball this early in the season, it’s going to be tough sledding. The team that goes to 1-3, you’re not out of it by any stretch, but it’s going to be a lot harder (to make the playoffs).”
NOTES: QB Robert Griffin III had the cast removed from his dislocated left ankle, but he remains on crutches and in a walking boot. … With Pro Bowl CB DeAngelo Hall done for the year due to a torn Achilles sustained Sunday at Philadelphia, rookie Bashaud Breeland will start opposite second-year player David Amerson against the Giants. … Tracy Porter, now Washington’s senior cornerback at 28, is looking forward to playing for the first time since he aggravated his right hamstring in the Aug. 18 preseason loss at Baltimore. … G Shawn Lauvao (swollen knee) didn’t practice Tuesday. … TE Jordan Reed, who missed the past two games with an injured hamstring, didn’t practice again Tuesday. … DE Jason Hatcher, who left the Philadelphia game with a strained hamstring, was limited in Tuesday’s practice. … OLB Brian Orakpo injured his left middle finger and was limited Tuesday. … WR DeSean Jackson (shoulder) was limited Tuesday for the second consecutive day.
