The biggest key to Redskins success in 2014
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The key to the Redskins success in 2014 won’t be DeSean Jackson, Ryan Clark, or Jason Hatcher. Instead the key to the Redskins success in 2014 will be the team’s turnover margin. What was the biggest difference between the 10-6 2012 Redskins and the 3-13 2013 Redskins?
Turnover margin, the Redskins ranked 3rd in the NFL in 2012 forcing 31 takeaways while only giving the ball away 14 times (+17). In 2013 the Redskins finished 25th in the NFL turning the ball over 34 times while only forcing 26 turnovers (-8).
It is no coincidence that the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks led the NFL in this category in 2013, posting an impressive +20 margin. Taking care of the ball can hide the flaws of your football team. Having a positive turnover margin can make an average defense look good, and an average offense look great.
Turning the ball over puts your defense in a bad spot, and eliminates your offenses chance to score. This probably seems obvious, but when you stop to think about it as much as you can blame the offensive line, or RGIII’s health in 2013 taking care of the ball may be the biggest difference between 10-6 and 3-13.
Good news for Redskins fans, this should be a category the Redskins can improve on in 2014. The cap penalty that hampered the Redskins financial spending the past two seasons is over, and with new weapons on the offensive and defensive side paired with a healthy RGIII who will have a full offseason to prepare rather than rehab, the Redskins have a chance to post a turnover margin closer to their numbers from 2012 than 2013.
To be quite frank, I think the 2012 Redskins over achieved. The team didn’t have the talent on its roster to post a 10-6 record. With the free agent additions the Redskins have made, and the players the redskins look to add in a very deep 2014 NFL draft, the Redskins should put a more talented team on the field in 2014 than they did in 2012.
So what does that mean for the 2014 Redskins? It means that if they can post a positive turnover margin in 2014 like they did in 2012, the Redskins will be a very good football team. They could easily return to the playoffs and possibly win the division.
With an increased talent level, the sky is the limit for the 2014 Redskins if they can manage to take care of the ball. The Redskins offense has improved much more than the defense this offseason. Which is why keeping the ball with a dangerous offense is that much more important. DeSean Jackson, Andre Roberts, Pierre Garcon, and a healthy RGIII make no difference off the field.
Turnover margin will be the biggest factor in the Redskins attempt to return to the playoffs, and will be a statistic to watch as the season unfolds if you’re a Redskins fan.
