Here we go!

Some teams have stated they’ll go for two points instead of kicking the extra point after scoring touchdowns this upcoming season. How did the 2015 Redskins’ offense perform in that regard? And given that we now have a big wide receiver (Josh Docston) with jump ball skill, solid tight ends, and can still run the zone-read option in the red zone, wouldn’t it make more sense for Jay Gruden to go for two after scores?

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– Emmett Mosley

The Redskins were just above middle of the pack in the two-point conversion success rate. They made two of their three attempts (66.7 percent), which ranked 11th in the league. The Steelers led the league with a whopping 11 two-point attempts (converting on eight of them for a 72.7 percent success rate) and the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots didn’t attempt a single two-point conversion.

Will the addition of Josh Doctson prompt the Redskins to go for two more often? It’s hard to say this early. We have to see how effective he’ll be in the red zone. The Redskins had a big target last year in Jordan Reed and only attempted three two-point plays, though, so I wouldn’t expect a dramatic increase from that this year.

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Last year the Redskins offense was among the slowest paced units in the league. Much of this had to do with the convoluted play-calling system which involved Jay Gruden picking the play type and giving it to Sean McVay or Bill Callahan depending on whether it was run or pass. The play caller du jour then relayed the play to Kirk Cousins.

Is there any initiative for the team to streamline this process and speed up the offense this year, or possibly even allow Cousins to call plays from the line from time to time?

– Eric Rodgers, Fredericksburg, Va.

That’s not exactly how it worked early in the year, but close. Conversations about the next play would begin before the first play even had finished. Something like, “Okay, if we pick up X yards on this play, and if it’s a run next, what are we going with? Pass?” and an agreement between the three was reached and McVay would radio the play in. In the second half of the season, McVay took on a larger play-calling role to speed up the process, but Gruden and Callahan still were on their headsets talking to him and discussing what was working and not working. Things ran well that way and the pace did pick up.

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Obviously, they’re always working to find ways to make the offense and play-calling process run even smoother so that way Cousins has more time to assess the defensive formations and make changes at the line, and, if necessary, run a no-huddle attack.

I believe Kirk Cousins mentioned winning as a key factor in determining his future ability to get a long-term contract. Rarely do fans/media mention this, rather it’s about stats. Cousins has generally performed well, statistically, so why is that always the focus? Doesn’t being 10-6 versus 6-10 create more leverage than duplicating 2015 stat line?

– Ryan Chase

Not sure what fan circles and media you’re referring to, but you yourself have emailed asking what kind of numbers Cousins has to put up to earn a long-term deal. But, anyway … It’s not very complicated. Cousins has to throw touchdown passes and win games. The rest will take care of itself. If he’s throwing interceptions left and right, then obviously, he’s not putting his team in position to win games. Poor accuracy and decision-making skills will land Cousins on the bench. Nobody said he has to produce identical numbers to 2015. He just has to play well. And Washington doesn’t necessarily have to go 10-6. The Redskins could very well take a step backwards this year as they work through some issues on the defensive line and at safety. They could go 8-8 or 9-7 and Cousins could still receive a long-term deal as long as he’s not the primary reason for those defeats.

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A player with a fairly high snap count last season that many pundits have on the outside looking in when the cut to 53 players is made is Deshazor Everett. He took part in 238 snaps in 2015, which put him just behind Stephen Paea and more than Rashad Ross. Most of Everett’s snaps were on special teams. In fact, the only currently rostered player with more Redskins special teams snaps last season is Trent Murphy. Everett seemed solid, one of the bright, young, unheralded 2015 Redskins, along with Houston Bates, Quinton Dunbar and Kyshoen Jarrett, shining more than even Carlos Fields and Dashaun Phillips. What’s the word on Everett, and why has his stock seemingly dropped?

– Tim Foisie, Westport, Conn.

I wouldn’t say his stock has dropped. He’s playing a different position now, and he’s still very much in the learning process, so it’s hard to gauge his standing in the organization right now. Yes, he had some promising moments when he got on the field as a cornerback, and on special teams. But he’s currently making the transition to free safety and finds himself behind DeAngelo Hall, Duke Ihenacho and Will Blackmon. But, this is an example of how important the preseason is for young guys. Although he might not get the opportunity in practice to overtake those veterans, strong play during games (both on defense and special teams) can improve his prospects of making the team.

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Hogshaven.com recently wrote an article about our returner situation and I tend to agree that we need one guy to take over both punt and kickoff return duties. I love Ross back there as a burner on kickoffs and I would like to see him take over the punt-return duties. It increases his value and gets his speed on the field more. Who do you see taking over both roles?

– Boone Hosey, Morgantown W.Va.

I don’t know that there’s a dire need for one player to take over both kick and punt return duties. If you have one player that’s better at kickoff returns and one that’s better at punt returns, then so be it. Jamison Crowder currently tops the depth chart at punt returner. He did a fair job, but the Redskins need more impact returns out of him. He was a dynamic punt returner at Duke, so the hope is that with a year of experience under his belt, and with improvement to the unit at the other 10 positions ahead of him, Crowder’s production will increase. He seems to be a bit more shifty and elusive than Ross. Ross has good straight ahead speed, but many times on kick returns, he does a lot of dancing around and gets stopped for moderate gains or for losses. He’ll have to do a better job this year as well, and he likely will receive some competition in training camp.

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(Editor’s note: If the logic is that having one player handle two jobs saves Washington a roster spot, that only matters if the players are on the roster fringe. If Jamison Crowder, and, let’s say Chris Thompson, are going to be on the roster regardless, then there is no roster-size benefit to using just one player in the return roles.)

Versatility definitely helps backups make the roster, and for a guy like Ross, who has a lot of players ahead of him at wide receiver, an ability to do more than just return kicks would be good. But it’s fine if the Redskins split these duties between two players.

E-mail a Redskins question to mike.jones@washpost.com, with the subject “Mailbag question,” and it might be answered next Tuesday.