- The Washington Times - Wednesday, June 12, 2019

ASHBURN — The Washington Redskins started the 2018 season with a run-first mindset. But by the end of it, decimated by injuries from quarterback to the offensive line, they were pounding the ball out of necessity.

Offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell recalled sitting in meetings last December having to explain the playbook to players who’d just been hired off the streets. Forget complicated passing game schemes. O’Connell was just focused on making sure players knew a few basic calls.

“That is not a good thing when you are talking about really attacking downfield,” O’Connell said.

Last year, the Redskins ranked as one of the most run-heavy teams in football — rushing 42.8% of the time, 11th leaguewide. Not only was that the highest run-rate in coach Jay Gruden’s tenure with the Redskins, but veteran running back Adrian Peterson also received the most carries of his career since 2015. The Redskins were impressed with Peterson, who re-signed with Washington on a two-year deal in March.

But will they rely on Peterson and the run game just as much in 2019? Washington added two receivers in the draft — Terry McLaurin and Kelvin Harmon — and are getting back a healthy Paul Richardson to be their deep threat. Throughout OTAs, the Redskins, too, had a noticeable focus on attacking downfield with intermediate and deep throws — especially when rookie Dwayne Haskins was running the offense.

Gruden said the ground game will always be the “first and foremost priority,” but the sixth-year coach wants better balance.

“That’s always the key,” Gruden said. “Whenever we were effective on offense, back when we went to the playoffs and all that stuff, we had great balance, that’s key. We stayed out of the second and longs and third and logs. We were able to convert drives.

“When we were effective last year with Alex [Smith] early in the season it’s because we were moving the football, making our third downs, mixing in the run, pass, and play action. That’s when most offenses are at their best.”

Even with Washington’s commitment to the run last season, the Redskins were far from efficient. The unit ranked 29th in offensive efficiency (31st in passing, 20th in rushing), according to Football Outsiders. Coaches will be quick to point out the team’s injuries, but Washington struggled to move the ball long before quarterback Alex Smith broke his leg.

Part of the problem can be traced back to the Redskins putting themselves in undesirable situations. Per Pro Football Reference, Washington ran 135 plays from 2nd-and-10+ — ninth highest in the NFL — and 69 plays from third-and-10+, tied for third in the league. The Redskins, too, had the third-most offensive penalties in 2018, killing chances to sustain drives.

In other instances, Smith seemed reluctant to throw downfield. The Redskins liked Smith’s capacity for avoiding turnovers, but felt the quarterback was sometimes too cautious.

“A lot of things we didn’t do in the pass game (was) just letting the ball go,” said Richardson, who played only seven games last season. ” So as long we let the ball go and guys continue to make plays on the outside, we have a good run-pass balance.”

Washington’s most talented position group on offense remains running back, where, besides Peterson returning, the team has 2018 second-rounder Derrius Guice coming back after rehabbing a torn ACL He and Peterson are expected to split carries, while Chris Thompson, when healthy, is still considered a premium pass-catching back. Gruden said he’s even been impressed with seldom-used Samaje Perine.

The Redskins have the talent to make running a priority, as Gruden would prefer.

O’Connell, meanwhile, said the goal is to try and make the quarterback’s job easier.

He also said he wants to see the Redskins have more “explosive” plays, an element missing from Washington’s offense last year.

“I think going back through the years of coach Gruden’s offense here … you guys can probably remember some of those explosive plays really started to show up,” O’Connell said, “which I know me personally would really like to get back to.”

• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.

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