49ers vs. Redskins: Previewing Week 6 with FanSided’s Riggo’s Rag

Niner Noise heads behind enemy lines to preview the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 6 matchup with the Washington Redskins, asking five questions with FanSided’s Riggo’s Rag.

In advance of this week’s matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins, Niner Noise joined forces with fellow FanSided site Riggo’s Rag to break down what to expect in this Week 6 showdown.

The winless Niners will be seeking their first victory of 2017 against a 2-2 Redskins squad coming off a bye in Week 5.

In addition to their opponent’s added rest and preparation, it doesn’t help that the Niners are on the third week of a three-game road trip. Advantage: Washington.

San Francisco 49ers

Niner Noise asked five questions of Riggo’s Rag contributor Ian Cummings about this contest and the Redskins in general in our latest FanSided Q&A session.

Here’s what Cummings had to say:

NN: I was one of a number of people who thought the Redskins would regress this season, especially on offense after losing Sean McVay to the Rams and wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon in free agency. This hasn’t exactly been the case, though, so what’s stood out to you about Washington’s offense and how is the team adjusting to this new era?

"RR: The Redskins have certainly impressed through the first quarter of the 2017 season. I, being an unhealthy optimist, wasn’t too worried about the team this year. I thought the loss of multiple key offensive pieces would hurt, yes, but to me, Terrelle Pryor’s upside, as well as Josh Doctson’s untapped potential, was enough to soften the blow. Now four weeks in, that analysis hasn’t exactly been correct. But luckily for the Redskins, they’ve seen increased production in other areas.What’s stood out to me the most on offense thus far is a more imposing philosophy. Last year, the team failed to consistently grind out yards on the ground, too often relying on the passing game, which is evident upon taking a glance at Kirk Cousins’ 2016 stat line. Nearly 5,000 yards, but only 25 touchdowns to show for it. The team could move the football out of necessity, but they were too predictable to find the end zone on a consistent basis. This year, however, that’s changed.In 2017, we’ve seen a restored commitment to the run, with that effort spearheaded by Jay Gruden and his play calling. With the help of the Redskins’ stalwart offensive line, the team has averaged over two yards before contact, with a mark that is top five in the league in that category. The physical style allows for Cousins to be less predictable, more of a playmaker, and it adds a whole new dimension to the offense. If the team continues to foster this tough, nothing-held-back mentality, on both offense and defense, then this new era of success can be a long-lived one."

NN: There’s a lot of buzz surrounding what happens with quarterback Kirk Cousins after 2017, including the possibility of him being a big 49ers target. What are your thoughts on Cousins’ efforts this season and the prospects for his future? Would the Redskins be making a mistake letting him walk?

"RR: I’ve been a Cousins fan even before he was drafted by the Redskins in 2012. Being a Michigan State fan and native of the mitten, I’ll admit I was a bit biased. But when he was drafted, I had a feeling he’d elevate himself to serve a larger role for Washington, and now in the midst of his sixth season, he’s done that and more. In his first two seasons as the Redskins’ starter, he threw for 54 touchdowns to just 23, and also ran for nearly a dozen more. In 2017, he looks as good as he’s ever been.If you ask me, I think Cousins has done more than enough to earn a long-term contract. He’s everything you want in a franchise leader, a captain of the team. He has the mentality of a leader, and he always comes prepared. Already this season, we’ve seen him elevate the play of those around him, and at only 29 years old, he still has a lot left in the tank. Unfortunately, the Redskins may have botched his situation beyond repair with a lowball offer and an insulting statement pinning the blame on Cousins for a lack of action. Cousins took the high road, and now in the midst of an important season, all talk of Cousins’ contract has temporarily vanished. But a cloud of uncertainty yet looms.I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Redskins tag him a third time just to save themselves some more time. But the franchise tag conveyer belt doesn’t seem to be a very sustainable option, and as far as long-term contracts go, the Redskins and Kirk Cousins aren’t on the same page. I think the Redskins should do everything they can to lock down Cousins, even if it means giving him a salary that might inflate his value.But in the end, it’s Cousins’ decision. His newborn child may further influence that decision, as he’ll want to settle down somewhere that suits him, his family’s needs, and somewhere that he’s wanted and believed in as a leader of the team. If the Redskins tag him, then he’ll go with it without protest. But if they opt to let him hit free agency, then he might be heading your guys’ way next year. I don’t think they should give him a breath of fresh air. But the writing on the wall might be set in stone."

NN: The NFC East has been, perhaps, the most unpredictable of NFL divisions through five weeks. With the Redskins sitting pretty just behind the first place Philadelphia Eagles (wouldn’t have guessed that), how realistic do you think Washington’s chances to secure a playoff berth are?

"RR: The Eagles, to me, look like one of the most complete teams in the NFL. Their secondary is suspect, but everything else about that team screams contender, and Carson Wentz is leading the charge. I expect them to keep the lead in the NFC East throughout the season, but I also expect the Redskins to be right behind them for the rest of the way.The Redskins, in my mind, have a roster that rivals the Eagles. They started out slow, but now that they’ve hit their stride, they’re playing at a very high level. They leveled the Raiders 27-10 in Week 3, and in Week 4, they essentially lost 23-20 against the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium, and they had the lead for more than half of the game. That’s not easy to do.The Redskins have me convinced, and if you think I might be biased, just take a look around. I’m not the only one. These guys can go the distance if they maintain this level of play, and although consistency isn’t a luxury the Redskins have often been accustomed to, I think they have the pieces in place, both on the roster and in the coaching staff, to string together quality wins.As Kirk Cousins continues to develop chemistry with his receivers, they’ll only get better and better. And to me, there isn’t a game left on the schedule that they can’t win. The Eagles, Cowboys, Seahawks, and Broncos are all tough teams. But they all have glaring weaknesses that can be exploited. And their weaknesses play into the Redskins’ strengths.I expect the Eagles to sweep the Redskins with another close win, but other than that, the Redskins should be able to come out of the remaining 11 games with a record of 9-2. A loss against the 49ers would send all this high-and-mighty talk spiraling back to Earth. But for now, before it’s over, I think the Redskins have a very good shot at making the playoffs, and making a run in it as well."

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NN: As the 49ers visit the Redskins this weekend, which players do you think will be key X-factors for Washington in Week 6?

"RR: On offense, I think Kirk Cousins is a clear answer, but we’ve talked about him enough. To me, one of his receivers, Josh Doctson, will be very important in this matchup. Doctson was drafted in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft because he can go up and make the circus catches. In one-on-one coverage, Doctson is a serious mismatch.Although Doctson hasn’t consistently fulfilled that role this year, he has an opportunity against the 49ers to do so. Rashard Robinson hasn’t played up to his expectations this year, and newly signed cornerback Leon Hall is past his prime. The Redskins like to draw safeties astray to force one-on-one coverage with one of their bigger receivers, and against the 49ers, I expect them to do this often, with Doctson as the primary target. Their goal is to use this game to get Doctson back on track after a badly-timed drop in Week 4.I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention rookie running back Samaje Perine. With Robert Kelley’s status updated to doubtful for Sunday, Perine is on track to get the start. He’s been up and down this season, but despite that, he’s been able to keep the Redskins’ ground-and-pound mentality alive. Against a 49ers defense that’s been underwhelming to varying degrees against both the run and the pass, Perine has a chance to have his best game yet.On defense, I think the X-factor has to be in the secondary, with Josh Norman’s recent injury keeping him away from the field. To me, Bashaud Breeland is the guy who needs to show up. He’s often flagged for unnecessary penalties when covering top receivers, and in Week 6, he’ll be the Redskin No. 1 guy, with the task of locking down the physical Pierre Garçon and the speedy Marquise Goodwin. Whether he succeeds or fails will go a long way in determining whether the 49ers can move the ball or not."

NN: Describe the Redskins’ game plan for this weekend. How will Washington go about exploiting San Francisco’s weaknesses while avoiding the Niners’ biggest strengths?

"RR: Due to the 49ers lack of dominance in any one area, the Redskins should be able to carry over a variation of their usual game plan in return for some success. That being said, I believe that if the Redskins emphasize the passing game on offense, while consistently getting a rush inside on defense, they can win the game without much of a contest.The 49ers secondary, while young and promising, hasn’t hit the next level yet. And this year, they’ve been particularly underwhelming, surrendering around 250 passing yards per game, a mark that is 26th in the league. If Kirk Cousins can get the ball out quickly, and the offensive line can contain a young, energetic pass rush equipped with players such as Aaron Lynch, DeForest Buckner, and Solomon Thomas, then they’ll be able to control the game.On defense, the Redskins might have a tough time generating pressure around the edges. As good as Ryan Kerrigan, Preston Smith, and Junior Galette might be, the 49ers have one of the league’s best offensive tackle tandems in Joe Staley and Trent Brown. Fortunately for the Redskins, the interior of the 49ers line is less impressive, and that’s where they’ll look to get the most penetration, riding on the high-level, high-energy play of Jonathan Allen and Matt Ioannidis. With a push up the middle, the Redskins can force Brian Hoyer to wander out of his comfort zone and throw the play off balance. With that task achieved, the Redskins can control the play, and control the game.Capitalizing in those two areas will be a good first step, but as always, the Redskins will need to put together a complete game on Sunday. The 49ers, despite their winless record through five weeks of football, are professionals, and they’re a particularly stingy team. They play every opponent close, and the Redskins can’t take this game for granted. It’ll be a fun game throughout. The 49ers are fighters, and even in the rebuilding stages, they pose a threat as a team that can sneak up on unsuspecting victims. I expect the Redskins to win. But the 49ers won’t go down without putting in a solid effort."

As always, we’d like to thank Cummings and everyone over at Riggo’s Rag for joining in on this preview and looking at what San Francisco has on tap in Week 6.

Next: 49ers vs. Redskins: 5 reasons San Francisco wins in Week 6

Be sure to give Cummings a follow on Twitter — @ian_cummings_9 — and everyone over at Riggo’s Rag as well — @RiggosRag.