The Redskins lost their first contest with the Houston Texans 17-6. Robert Griffin III took some hits that day. He wasn't running recklessly like before, but the pass protection was below average, specifically on the right side of the offensive line. To be fair, Chris Chester and Tyler Polumbus were having to deal with the $100 million dollar man, J.J. Watt, which is no easy task.
Still, if the Redskins wish to develop RG3 into a traditional NFL Quarterback, they have to protect him better. Chester and Polumbus excel at run blocking, but this offense doesn't rely as heavily on the run anymore (40-23 pass-run ratio in Week 1). As a result, the aging linemen on the right side aren't as effective as they once were during the run-heavy Shanahan era.
How long do these veterans have until their time as starters is up? Many believed that Chester would be cut from the team this past offseason, but he remains on the active roster. This is the last year of Polumbus' contract, who knows what will become of him after this season?
Luckily, the Redskins drafted Morgan Moses and Spencer Long in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. They play at Tackle and Guard, respectively. Do these rookies make their starting debut sooner than later? It is unusual for two rookies to start on the offensive line at the same time. They would be too much of a liability in pass protection. However, if Chester and Polumbus keep having trouble doing their jobs, what do the Redskins have to lose?
It isn't every day that you face a pass rush involving J.J. Watt, so the upcoming Jaguars match-up at home should be a nice breather for the veterans. If they can't keep RG3's jersey clean, though, the rookies may have to step it up.
The Jaguars are not to be taken lightly, but this is a contest the Redskins should win. Jacksonville has a below average defense and Washington should be able to take advantage of that in all aspects of their offense. We will see how Chester and Polumbus fare against this defensive pass rush. If they show weakness for the second week in a row, then more questions will be raised about their effectiveness in the offense.
