Week 1: Redskins vs. Saints

Saints suspended coach, Sean Payton

The Redskins season kicked off today against the highly-talked about New Orleans Saints. A Saints team plagued with a terrible bounty scandal and without their successful head coach, Sean Payton, for the year. So needless to say, the Saints have their issues. But then again, you have Mr. Drew Brees. A quarterback who threw for 5,476 yards and 46 touchdowns last season. He's got some talent. Regardless, this was the Week 1 opponent.

Coming into Week 1, the expectations for rookie QB Robert Griffin III were high. After giving up everything but the kitchen sink to the Rams for the 2nd overall pick in this year's draft, the kid had to produce. The preseason didn't give us much to look forward to or be scared of, with RG3 only throwing 12 passes. Was this a ploy by Coach Shanahan to confuse defenses? Would RG3 actually run the ball? After the preseason, Redskins fans had no insight into how this season would play out.

Robert Griffin III

That brings us to today where our young quarterback was put in one of the toughest environments to play in, let alone open his NFL career in, the Superdome. So again. what do we expect? Well, I expected a 21-10 Saints victory with RG3 throwing 3 picks and 1 TD. I was totally prepared to find a couple positives in his game and be able to feel comfortable in the future off of that. Shows how much I know. The Redskins lost the toss and kicked off. New addition to the team, Billy "Wide Left" Cundiff, showed off his leg and booted it out of the end zone. On came the always unpredictable Redskins defense and on came the Pro Bowl QB Brees. I was a little scared for the damage that Brees and Jimmy Graham would do to that secondary. However, the first drive ended with a 3 and out, punt. Okay. RG3 took the field and automatically took command. For a rookie QB, this kid has composure and confidence in the pocket. He led the offense down the field with screen pass after screen pass, resulting in a field goal by Cundiff. Solid start. Then, as expected, Brees to Graham, touchdown. Surprise, surprise.

This is when Redskins fans everywhere gained hope. On the first play of the Redskins second drive, RG3 connected with newly acquired Pierre Garcon on an 88 yard touchdown. It was a simple slant route which drew the safety in and opened up the field for Garcon. After bringing in the high throw, Garcon did what no Redskins receiver in many years, could do. He made something happen. Garcon saw daylight and took it home. The Redskins had not had a passing play that long since 1987. That's a couple years back. No one on the roster for the past 5 years had the talent or playmaking ability to make that play. This Griffin-Garcon connection could be a start of an era. Let's not get too far ahead here, it's not Montana-Rice, or Manning-Harrison, but it's a tad better than Ramsey-Gardner or Brunell-Lloyd.

The rest of the game showed me why this kid was drafted. Turning potential 15 yard losses into just an incompletion, or even a 15 yard gain. Griffin knows what he's doing on that field. He sees the defense, he sees the options and he just gets it. The "it factor". Griffin was 19/26 passing with 320 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. Aaaaaaand, NO PICKS. The ultimate rookie mistake was not made today. Just those stats alone, gives me optimism for this team. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't perfect. But, damn, did he look good. There were some miscommunications with handoffs, there were some busted plays, but he makes it look easy out there and he knows how to make plays. The Redskins haven't had a franchise QB since Theismann, and I think we may have something here.

And how about Aldrick Robinson? A 6th-round draft pick out of SMU in 2011 who had 1 catch last year, finally got a chance to play today after Garcon left in the 2nd Quarter with a foot issue (X-rays negative, not to worry). Robinson had 4 catches for 52 yards and 1 touchdown today. But, he also drew the defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone, leading to an Alfred Morris touchdown (28 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD's). A lot of upside from the young guys today.

Now on to the negatives...

Aldrick Robinson after his first NFL touchdown.

The 4th quarter was rough. It always has been an issue for the Skins; closing out games is a tough thing to do, and they never seem to be able to do it. This one almost felt the same way. Going into the 4th up 30-17, it seemed as if the defense stepped back. It felt like a couple guys got cocky and didn't realize who had the ball on the other side. Again, Drew Brees. You can never count this guy out. Brees definitely didn't count himself out, and neither did his receivers. With a Redskins secondary featuring Josh Wilson, DeJon Gomes, and Cedric Griffin, you don't expect much. However, they delivered as much as 3 "C-List" defenders can do. I was really impressed with Griffin today. Signed this offseason, Griffin had a forced fumble and just had lock down coverage all game. A huge upside to a not so great secondary. The game was too close at the end with the final score being 40-32, but it leaves this defense a lot to work on.

Overall, I give the offense an A today and the defense a B. It's tough to play New Orleans in New Orleans, especially with a young team, but they delivered. Say what you want about the Redskins past, but something special is here and isn't going away. But, beware Redskins fans. Robert Griffin III may wear Superman socks, but he isn't Superman. He's going to struggle at some point. He is still a rookie and a young kid with a lot to learn. There are going to be interceptions, fumbles, and sacks. But, hey, we got something to look forward to now. I can proudly say "Hail to the Redskins". It's going to be an interesting season, guys.  We got the Rams next week, who actually looked pretty good against Detroit today, and for some reason the Rams always give us a fight. Celebrate tonight everyone, but there are still 15 more games left. Keep the optimism in check.

Hail.