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| Redskins’ fresh start with Jay Gruden goes stale with a helping of mishaps, and a loss | Redskins’ fresh start with Jay Gruden goes stale with a helping of mishaps, and a loss |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| HOUSTON — If there is a lasting image from the Washington Redskins’ season-opening defeat, it is of quarterback Robert Griffin III firing short, low-ambition passes just milliseconds before being swarmed by Houston’s onrushing defenders. | HOUSTON — If there is a lasting image from the Washington Redskins’ season-opening defeat, it is of quarterback Robert Griffin III firing short, low-ambition passes just milliseconds before being swarmed by Houston’s onrushing defenders. |
| Three times the Texans sacked Washington’s franchise quarterback. Twice they slammed him to the ground like a celebratory spiked football. | Three times the Texans sacked Washington’s franchise quarterback. Twice they slammed him to the ground like a celebratory spiked football. |
| While Griffin’s barrage of modest passes moved the ball, nearly all those gains were undone by a series of misadventures that included two fumbles inside Houston’s 10-yard line, a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, the Redskins’ punt returner being tackled by a teammate and Griffin tripping over his center’s feet. | While Griffin’s barrage of modest passes moved the ball, nearly all those gains were undone by a series of misadventures that included two fumbles inside Houston’s 10-yard line, a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, the Redskins’ punt returner being tackled by a teammate and Griffin tripping over his center’s feet. |
| The upshot was a 17-6 loss to Houston, the most hapless team in the NFL last season, that spoiled the Redskins coaching debut of Jay Gruden. He was hired to succeed the fired Mike Shanahan primarily for his offensive prowess and record as a quarterback mentor. | The upshot was a 17-6 loss to Houston, the most hapless team in the NFL last season, that spoiled the Redskins coaching debut of Jay Gruden. He was hired to succeed the fired Mike Shanahan primarily for his offensive prowess and record as a quarterback mentor. |
| And the mistake-filled tenor of the defeat served as a sobriety check for all who believed, as Griffin insisted in the run-up to game, the Redskins had remedied their offensive struggles in the preseason. | And the mistake-filled tenor of the defeat served as a sobriety check for all who believed, as Griffin insisted in the run-up to game, the Redskins had remedied their offensive struggles in the preseason. |
| “Sick. Sick. Sick,” Gruden, 47, said when he was asked how he felt about his head coaching debut. “You only get one chance at your first time, and I failed to get it done. We failed as a team to get it done.” | “Sick. Sick. Sick,” Gruden, 47, said when he was asked how he felt about his head coaching debut. “You only get one chance at your first time, and I failed to get it done. We failed as a team to get it done.” |
| Even before the coin toss at Houston’s NRG Stadium, Griffin’s performance was the story line for Washington fans who have seen two radically different sides of the franchise quarterback since the Redskins made him the second pick of the 2012 draft. | Even before the coin toss at Houston’s NRG Stadium, Griffin’s performance was the story line for Washington fans who have seen two radically different sides of the franchise quarterback since the Redskins made him the second pick of the 2012 draft. |
| As a rookie, Griffin was as electrifying as he is charismatic, leading Washington to the NFL playoffs and earning offensive rookie of the year honors. But after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right knee to repair damage suffered in the January 2013 first-round playoff game against Seattle, Griffin returned for his sophomore season a shadow of himself, hampered by a knee brace and hesitant with his mechanics. He led the team to just three victories before being benched by Shanahan, who was fired following the 3-13 campaign. | As a rookie, Griffin was as electrifying as he is charismatic, leading Washington to the NFL playoffs and earning offensive rookie of the year honors. But after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right knee to repair damage suffered in the January 2013 first-round playoff game against Seattle, Griffin returned for his sophomore season a shadow of himself, hampered by a knee brace and hesitant with his mechanics. He led the team to just three victories before being benched by Shanahan, who was fired following the 3-13 campaign. |
| Enter Gruden, a former NFL offensive coordinator who was known primarily as a younger brother of Jon, the “Monday Night Football” analyst who led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl championship. | Enter Gruden, a former NFL offensive coordinator who was known primarily as a younger brother of Jon, the “Monday Night Football” analyst who led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl championship. |
| With a goal of extending Griffin’s career, Gruden worked these past nine months to convert the quarterback to more of a traditional drop-back passer rather than the wildly entertaining, high-stakes runner he was his rookie season. | With a goal of extending Griffin’s career, Gruden worked these past nine months to convert the quarterback to more of a traditional drop-back passer rather than the wildly entertaining, high-stakes runner he was his rookie season. |
| The preseason, in which Griffin failed to engineer a touchdown drive and was sacked four times, showed the transition was slow in coming. | The preseason, in which Griffin failed to engineer a touchdown drive and was sacked four times, showed the transition was slow in coming. |
| So for Sunday’s regular-season opener, Gruden devised a game plan to mask the offense’s shortcomings. The short passes, which Houston happily conceded, helped Griffin get rid of the ball quickly. That, in turn, relieved some of the pressure on Washington’s offensive line, which was sure to have its hands full with Houston’s bulked-up pass rushers. | So for Sunday’s regular-season opener, Gruden devised a game plan to mask the offense’s shortcomings. The short passes, which Houston happily conceded, helped Griffin get rid of the ball quickly. That, in turn, relieved some of the pressure on Washington’s offensive line, which was sure to have its hands full with Houston’s bulked-up pass rushers. |
| But it was undone by mistakes at every turn, turning sour an afternoon that started with the hope of a new beginning for a team that has finished last in the NFC East three of the past four years. | But it was undone by mistakes at every turn, turning sour an afternoon that started with the hope of a new beginning for a team that has finished last in the NFC East three of the past four years. |
| Shortly before kickoff, Gruden walked the Redskins’ sideline, extending fist bumps and handshakes to his players. He even got a pat on his upper arm from his youngest son, Jack. | Shortly before kickoff, Gruden walked the Redskins’ sideline, extending fist bumps and handshakes to his players. He even got a pat on his upper arm from his youngest son, Jack. |
| Houston, which won a league-low two games in 2013, devoted its offseason to bolstering its defense, using the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft on pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney and rewarding J.J. Watt, its quarterback-terrorizing defensive end, with a $100 million contract extension. | Houston, which won a league-low two games in 2013, devoted its offseason to bolstering its defense, using the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft on pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney and rewarding J.J. Watt, its quarterback-terrorizing defensive end, with a $100 million contract extension. |
| So there was no secret about the Texans’ strategy Sunday. As one Houston fan forecast via a hand-lettered poster: “Weather Report: Partly Clowney with a Chance of PAIN.” | So there was no secret about the Texans’ strategy Sunday. As one Houston fan forecast via a hand-lettered poster: “Weather Report: Partly Clowney with a Chance of PAIN.” |
| By the time the clock expired, Griffin, 24, had taken a pummeling, sacked three times and hit at least a dozen other times — with the 6-foot-5, 289-pound Watt delivering the blow five times. Starting tight end Jordan Reed also was sent to the locker room with a hamstring injury. | By the time the clock expired, Griffin, 24, had taken a pummeling, sacked three times and hit at least a dozen other times — with the 6-foot-5, 289-pound Watt delivering the blow five times. Starting tight end Jordan Reed also was sent to the locker room with a hamstring injury. |
| Griffin finished with admirable numbers, completing 29 of 37 passes for 267 yards. But he made a costly decision under fire early in the third quarter, when the game was still in reach. | Griffin finished with admirable numbers, completing 29 of 37 passes for 267 yards. But he made a costly decision under fire early in the third quarter, when the game was still in reach. |
| With the Redskins trailing 14-6, Griffin marched the offense inside the Houston 20. But on the next play, he tripped over the feet of center Kory Lichtensteiger, who was pushed into him by a defender. Rather than stem the bleeding and fall on the ball, Griffin tried to salvage matters by tossing it to running back Alfred Morris. Instead, he fumbled the ball, botching the opportunity. | With the Redskins trailing 14-6, Griffin marched the offense inside the Houston 20. But on the next play, he tripped over the feet of center Kory Lichtensteiger, who was pushed into him by a defender. Rather than stem the bleeding and fall on the ball, Griffin tried to salvage matters by tossing it to running back Alfred Morris. Instead, he fumbled the ball, botching the opportunity. |
| Gruden didn’t coddle the quarterback or hide his own frustration afterward. | Gruden didn’t coddle the quarterback or hide his own frustration afterward. |
| “Robert got his foot stepped on and tried to make a miraculous handoff,” Gruden said. “It’s inexcusable to have turnovers in the red zone. Anywhere, really.” | “Robert got his foot stepped on and tried to make a miraculous handoff,” Gruden said. “It’s inexcusable to have turnovers in the red zone. Anywhere, really.” |
| Griffin was contrite. | Griffin was contrite. |
| “I just can’t let that happen,” the quarterback conceded. “I’ve got to fall on the ball there and just eat [the lost yardage] and get on to the next play and not try to hand it off. That was my mistake there.” | “I just can’t let that happen,” the quarterback conceded. “I’ve got to fall on the ball there and just eat [the lost yardage] and get on to the next play and not try to hand it off. That was my mistake there.” |
| There was culpability all around Sunday. | There was culpability all around Sunday. |
| After a scoreless first quarter, Washington was first to score, with fullback Darrel Young capping a run-heavy drive by plowing the final yard into the end zone. Even that good feeling was short lived, with Watt extending a right mitt to block the extra point — regarded as such an automatic, easy point that NFL officials experimented with increasing the distance this preseason to inject more drama into the play. | After a scoreless first quarter, Washington was first to score, with fullback Darrel Young capping a run-heavy drive by plowing the final yard into the end zone. Even that good feeling was short lived, with Watt extending a right mitt to block the extra point — regarded as such an automatic, easy point that NFL officials experimented with increasing the distance this preseason to inject more drama into the play. |
| Washington’s 6-0 lead lasted less than two minutes. That’s how long it took before the Redskins’ next misstep, when second-year safety Bacarri Rambo whiffed on coverage of a 76-yard touchdown throw. | Washington’s 6-0 lead lasted less than two minutes. That’s how long it took before the Redskins’ next misstep, when second-year safety Bacarri Rambo whiffed on coverage of a 76-yard touchdown throw. |
| And so it went, with bone-headed plays squelching whatever momentum Washington gained. | And so it went, with bone-headed plays squelching whatever momentum Washington gained. |
| Not all of Griffin’s passes were short. He unleashed a 48-yard beauty that fell into the hands of tight end Niles Paul early in the second half. With nothing but clear field ahead, Paul streaked toward the goal line, only to let a Houston defensive back strip the ball. | Not all of Griffin’s passes were short. He unleashed a 48-yard beauty that fell into the hands of tight end Niles Paul early in the second half. With nothing but clear field ahead, Paul streaked toward the goal line, only to let a Houston defensive back strip the ball. |
| Another turnover. | Another turnover. |
| The defeat extended Washington’s losing streak to nine games. | The defeat extended Washington’s losing streak to nine games. |
| Though Gruden had a hand in only one of those losses, it seemed Sunday afternoon as if he bore the weight of them all. | Though Gruden had a hand in only one of those losses, it seemed Sunday afternoon as if he bore the weight of them all. |
| Griffin, for his part, tried shouldering his share. | Griffin, for his part, tried shouldering his share. |
| “I have to play better for us to win football games,” Griffin said. “I can speak for the team. I want to apologize for not winning his first start as head coach. We take that to heart. We wanted to do that for him.” | “I have to play better for us to win football games,” Griffin said. “I can speak for the team. I want to apologize for not winning his first start as head coach. We take that to heart. We wanted to do that for him.” |
| More Redskins and NFL coverage: | |
| Game summary: Texans 13, Redskins 7 | |
| The Takeaway: Game plan fine, execution is lacking | |
| Boswell: Mistakes have a sadly familiar look | |
| Self-inflicted damage does in Redskins in opener | |
| Special teams unit stumbles in opener | |
| Bog: Redskins-Texans best and worst | |
| Photos: Scenes from Houston | |
| Gruden not pleased with any part of game | |
| Reed and Cofield knocked out with injuries | |
| Bengals show grit with victory over Ravens |