Heading into today's game with the Buccaneers, the Redskins boast the NFL's top offense, with a rookie quarterback, rookie running back and patchwork offensive line leading the way.
While the talent has been retained or upgraded from a season ago, the results have been better early thanks to improved preparation by the coaching staff.
Even though offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has been countered with three different schemes in the first three games, the offense has made quality in-game adjustments.
"I learn every week," Shanahan told the media in his weekly address. "You don't know how teams are going to play you, and even what you see on tape. You can study it all week on tape and go into the game and they have a different plan."
So far this season, the Redskin lack classification on offense, showing a willingness to throw screen passes and deep bombs, and use Alfred Morris's steady production to set up bootlegs and play action.
With myriad options in a wide-open playbook, Shanahan's biggest challenge is figuring out the best way to attack.
"Everyone's [defending us] a little bit different, so once you see that, there's tons of things you can counter that with," he said. "It's about in-game adjustments and trying to think ahead, so they can execute it in the game."
Last week against the Bengals, the Redskins struggled to move the ball against the Cover-2 defensive looks in the first half, managing just six yards through the air, 68 total yards. After incorporating Brandon Banks out of the backfield, quarterback Robert Griffin III let loose for 215 yards in the second half.
"That's also what we did all offseason," Shanahan explained. "You study people, whether it's college or pro teams, who [run] that type of stuff."
Teams that have run successful offenses with mobile quarterbacks in recent seasons include Carolina with Cam Newton, Denver with Tim Tebow and Tennessee with Vince Young.
Shanahan said that the offense and coaching staff has used this film to brainstorm concepts on breaking down defense. So far, so good.
"You try to go back and study all that stuff," Shanahan said. "There's only so many way to defend it, but everyone has a different opinion of it.
"Everything works, it's just a matter of what can you execute against the right stuff."
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