Washington Redskins Week 11 Stock Report

These are halcyon days for Jay Gruden's Washington Redskins. Stock is up almost across the board for the team that flattened the New Orleans Saints with a 47-point outburst in Week 10.

All but seven of those points came from an offense that's taking shape nicely with quarterback Kirk Cousins at the helm. No. 8 is also benefiting from a platoon of youthful and speedy weapons, along with an offensive line that's beginning to look downright nasty.

If there's bad news it's for certain members of the Burgundy and Gold's old guard. In particular, a veteran wide receiver must start taking full advantage of every ball thrown his way.

Read on for a full accounting of Washington's stock report headed into Week 11's daunting trip to face the unbeaten Carolina Panthers.

When the Redskins took Brandon Scherff fifth overall in the 2015 NFL draft, they wanted a blocker who'd be a force in the running game. The ex-Iowa standout was precisely that against the Saints.

During a line-wide display of dominance, Mark Bullock of the Washington Post singled out Scherff for special praise, calling him: "the Redskins' best offensive lineman, particularly in the run game. He dominated the point of attack, secured blocks at the second level and drove defenders back off the line of scrimmage."

Those things formed Scherff's forte during his collegiate days when he was voted the best linemen in the nation in 2014. After a slow start to his pro career, he's beginning to show his mettle as a more-than-solid NFL guard.

Naturally, there's still room for improvement, something noted by ESPN.com's John Keim: "Scherff has improved and should be solid for a while, though I don’t yet see a future All-Pro (as you would hope from a fifth overall choice)."

Keim's article also carries quotes from fellow ESPN analyst Mel Kiper identifying Scherff's biggest challenge as being able to "show he can consistently pass protect." He'll get an acid test of those skills in Charlotte.

The Panthers boast a formidable tackle tandem in the form of Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei. Carolina's rotation is also strong, thanks to journeyman behemoth Kyle Love and veteran Dwan Edwards, a capable interior pass-rusher.

This quartet will pose Scherff his toughest test yet. But while you should expect a few rough moments for the rookie, the arrow for his progress is certainly trending in the right direction. The same is true for the rest of the offensive line. Competency from this position group has been a rarity for the Redskins for too long.

If Scherff and Co. can deliver against a defense far more stubborn than the Saints, it will be a sign things really are changing for the better up front.

Chris Thompson's Week 10 performance was all about economic destruction. He turned just three touches into 77 yards, proof of his bona fide big-play credentials.

Thompson's 54 yards from two rushing attempts boosted his season average to 8.3 yards every time he lugs the rock. He's finally providing the change of pace Washington's ground game has needed. That change of pace is all about speed.

Whenever Thompson got his hands on the ball against the Saints, FedEx Field resembled a track meet. Along with rookies Matt Jones and Jamison Crowder, he made speed the core feature of the offensive explosion that blew the NFC South outfit away.

Thompson and his fellow bolts of lightning are changing the way this offense is defined. Now it's all about leaving defenders hopelessly trailing blurs. That's great news for the Redskins and 2013's fifth-round pick. But it's bad news for a more established member of the offense.

It all must have looked depressingly familiar to Pierre Garcon. DeSean Jackson was back in the lineup and No. 88 wasn't getting the ball. Garcon caught just two passes for 10 yards against the overly generous New Orleans secondary.

Those numbers hardly formed the performance Garcon needed after his drop-fest on the road against the New England Patriots a week earlier. What should worry Garcon is how he's seen it all before.

He set a franchise record for receptions in 2013, prior to Jackson's arrival. But with DJax on board, his catch total went from 113 to 68 in 2014. Garcon's problem is an obvious one. He doesn't boast the field-stretching speed the Redskins are starting to maximize at every level of their offense.

In Jackson's case, that means attacking defenses vertically. The deep threat the temperamental flanker poses forces defenses into safety first mode. This creates extra room for both the running game and the underneath passing routes.

Those are usually routes that bring Garcon to life. No. 88 is terrific in the possession game. But the bulky 29-year-old doesn't offer the same speed and shiftiness players such as Crowder and Thompson produce with the ball in their hands.

It's going to be an interesting last seven games for Garcon. He's still an invaluable member of this team as a tough-as-nails competitor who can work underneath coverage. But his lack of rocket fuel and suddenness could wind up leaving him out in the cold as the playbook expands.

If you want to crystallize how good Cousins was against the Saints, just consider the historical perspective. Using information from the Elias Sports Bureau, ESPN's Keim did just that: "Kirk Cousins became the first Redskins quarterback to complete 80 percent of his passes and throw for 300 yards with four passing touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s only the 13th quarterback in NFL history to post these numbers."

That's staggering stuff, even if it did happen against the Saints' beyond-woeful defense. Yet, Cousins' Week 10 heroics were no isolated incident. Actually, they represented a flourish on the steady progress he's made the last three games.

Leading a fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7 was impressive. So was the way Cousins exploited the Patriots' defense in Week 9. At least it would have been had his receivers done their part.

Those numbers against the Saints are merely a continuation of the steps Cousins is taking as a starter. But as Thom Loverro of the Washington Times wisely points out, the measure of Cousins' progress isn't just numerical: "Cousins didn’t just pass for 324 yards on Sunday. He put a good amount of distance between the good Kirk and the bad Kirk, the one who, many times in the past, would have allowed the Saints to climb back into this game with poor decision making and mistakes."

Evidence of smarter decisions from the pocket is what makes the trip to Carolina so intriguing. The Panthers run a defense predicated on quarterbacks eventually making mistakes. It's a swarming, bend-don't-break unit that bets you can't put a long drive together without pushing the self-destruct button at some point.

Cousins has spent most of his career with his finger hovering dangerously over that button. If he really has changed, he'll find a way to mitigate mistakes even against a defense as opportunistic as the Panthers.

Washington's feeble run defense got lucky in Week 10. The combination of a big lead and poor play-calling form Saints head coach Sean Payton spared the Redskins the humiliation of allowing another 100-yard rusher.

Had Mark Ingram been given more chances, there's no doubt he would have joined Devonta Freeman, Chris Ivory, Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount as backs who've topped triple digits against the Burgundy and Gold this season.

Even with circumstances conspiring against their running game, the Saints still managed to rush for 158 yards on the day. But it was the big plays Washington surrendered on the ground that hurt more than the total yards.

Ingram ripped off a 70-yard run in the opening quarter to set up his team's first touchdown. A terrible tackle from safety Dashon Goldson, the so-called force player on that side of the formation, set him free.

Ingram also ploughed for 12 yards up the middle on the Saints' second scoring drive. Inside linebacker Perry Riley Jr. took a bad angle to the ball, allowing himself to be easily swallowed up in the blocking traffic. Even wideout Brandin Cooks took a handoff 11 yards.

Those plays should worry coordinator Joe Barry as he prepares to face the Panthers, owners of one of the most diverse ground attacks in football. Read-option runs from the pistol formation behind zone blocking, power plays with pulling linemen, as well as designed quarterback draws. Expect to see them all in Carolina.

Signal-caller Cam Newton's dual-threat skills will be a headache for Barry. But so will Jonathan Stewart's blend of straight-ahead power and deceptive speed off tackle. Then there's bowling ball Mike Tolbert and the nifty Fozzy Whittaker (more than just a superb name) to consider.

The key to beating the Panthers is a commitment to stopping their moving-target rushing attack. Based on how Barry's group has fared this season, things could get ugly for the Redskins in Charlotte.

Yet, even if the run defense falters again, there are enough positives elsewhere on the team to believe Washington can push the Panthers all the way. If they can at least deliver a strong performance, the way they did against the Pats, Gruden's men will increase confidence about what they can do during the rest of this season.

All statistics and player information via NFL.com.

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