Need to Know: Another week of the guessing game

Here is what you need to know on this Wednesday, December 19, four days before the Redskins take on the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Get ready for another week of questions

Remember last week, when we went through daily reports on how Robert Griffin III looked after each practice warmup that was visible to the media and we got vague answers from everyone from Mike Shanahan to RG3 and Kirk Cousins to everyone else in the locker room?

Get ready to do it again.

Since Griffin did sit out Sunday and since he will be getting treatment he will be on the injury report all week. He probably will be listed as limited in practice and nobody will say how limited.

And on Friday he will be designated as questionable for Sunday’s game, meaning there is a 50-50 chance that he will play. At some point before kickoff, possibly Saturday night, word of who the starting quarterback is will get out.

We will see the same drill again because it worked. The Browns were kept guessing all week and the Redskins put up 38 points.

Good defense, bad defense

Earlier this year the Redskins were on pace to give up more passing yards than any other team in NFL history by a wide margin. They are no longer threatening the record book but they still have their issues in pass defense.

They have given up 3994 yards passing so far this year. That is the fifth-highest total ever through 14 games.

The Redskins do have company at the bottom of the all-time list. This year’s Saints have given up 4018 yards through the air and the 2012 Bucs have allowed 4349 yards, the most ever at this point in the season. When all is said and done, this could be a record year for passing.

The Washington rushing defense is better, ranked sixth in the NFL. That certainly is due at least in part to the fact that opponents don’t bother running against them because of the success that can be had going at them through the air. The Redskins defense has faced just 319 rushing attempts, the second fewest in the league.

But they can make a solid claim regarding Adrian Peterson. The Vikings running back is an MVP candidate and could break Eric Dickerson’s record for rushing yards in a season. When the Redskins faced the Vikings in Week 6 Peterson gained 79 yards on 17 carries. In eight games since then Peterson has not been held to under 100 yards in a game and has been held to fewer than 150 yards just twice.

Today’s schedule

11:30—Practice (closed to the media after first 30 minutes)

After practice (approx. 2:00)—Robert Griffin III and Mike Shanahan news conferences, open locker room

At some point today we should find out who the Redskins signed to take Jordan Black's spot on the roster. It may not be an offensive linemen since they had an extra one after they moved Tom Compton up from the practice squad to take spot of cordnerback Cedric Griffin.

In case you missed it

Jordan Black speaks out

Tarik’s grades vs. the Browns—offense, defense, special teams

Six pack: QB’s change, favorite target doesn’t

Days until: Redskins @ Eagles 4; Cowboys vs. Redskins @ FedEx Field 11; 1^st round of NFL playoffs 17; Divisional playoff round 24 

Comments

[Tony]

There is no guessing game here. Its pretty simple. No Montgomery....NO Polumbus....No Black means we need a quarterback who can scramble this week. I'm sure RG3's knee will be diagnosed by the doctor as 100% healthy!!!