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Washington Redskins: 5 burning questions in 2018

By Rucker Haringey

LANDOVER MD - DECEMBER 17: Washington head Jay Gruden during the Washington Redskins defeat of the Arizona Cardinals 20 - 15 in Landover MD on December 17, 2017 . (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
LANDOVER MD - DECEMBER 17: Washington head Jay Gruden during the Washington Redskins defeat of the Arizona Cardinals 20 - 15 in Landover MD on December 17, 2017 . (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) walks off the field after the Chiefs lost to the Tennessee Titans, 22-21, on January 6, 2018, during the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) walks off the field after the Chiefs lost to the Tennessee Titans, 22-21, on January 6, 2018, during the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /

1. Can Alex Smith outplay Kirk Cousins?

The Chiefs decided it was time to turn the page and hand their quarterback position to Patrick Mahomes. That left Smith without a starting job. The Redskins were more than happy to give the veteran signal caller a home.

Now the pressure is on Smith to give the Washington offense more than Kirk Cousins did last season. That’s not an easy task. Cousins threw for over 4,000 yards in 2017 and that was over 900 yards less than his career season the year before.

In fairness to Smith, he threw for over 4,000 yards in 2017 as well. Now he’s got to prove to everyone he can do it outside of Andy Reid’s offensive ecosystem. Jay Gruden has a good reputation of being an offensive guru too, but he’s not in Reid’s company as of yet.

The questions about the team’s receiving corps will also make life in Smith difficult. This is not a unit blessed with Pro Bowl talent at the skill positions. Smith is going to have to make more plays this season than he did for the Chiefs last year.

Next: Redskins need Doctson to double his production in 2018

That isn’t an ideal expectation to put on a quarterback who will be 34-years-old this season. In some ways, Smith is set up to fail. On the other hand, his outstanding accuracy makes him a great fit in any offensive system. Smith will get all the credit or blame for how far Washington is able to go in 2018. Such is the nature of playing quarterback in the NFL.

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