2009-2010 Redskins Outlook

Well here comes another season for a franchise that was once a power and has now been reduced to the regular champ of the offseason without translating that success to a better real season. Not that owner Daniel Synder hasn't put the money into the team that was needed but has mostly spent it on other people's best player who never seems to pan out. The Redskins have crippled their team throughout the past decade by trading away draft picks for older or big-name players that never seem to make an impact on this team excluding of course London Fletcher.

THE OFFSEASON

The big headline this offseason was the addition of Albert Haynesworth is there going to be any difference? Maybe this year the investment will pan out after all. Haynesworth is an absolute monster of a player and should help the pass-rush-less Redskins Defense get back on track and with the double and triple teams that he will face all season should free up A. Carter and, most impressively, Brian Orakpo. Of the offseason moves that the team made, none looks to be as sure of a bet as this guy. He has a non-stop motor and speed that should make him into one of the best pass-rushing defensive end/linebacker in the league. Orakpo has the potential to become our DeMarcus Ware (I hate using a Cowboy as a reference but this guy is in his own league) and create havoc for the entire NFC East.

OFFENSE

Redskins fans have been opining all offseason, and throughout the preseason, on the play of Jason Campbell. Last season, while being protected and armed with a great running game, Campbell looked like he was finally getting "it" and working himself into a decent quarterback that could carry his share of the offense. As soon as the O-line began to faulter and Portis ran out of gas, the offense collapsed. Not all of the blame of this should lie with Campbell but he does deserve a bit of the balme. He still pats the ball too much and looks hesistant to make certain throws as he does not want to make a mistake, a horrible mind set for a quarterback to play with. The offensive line seems to be holding up so far this preseason which will make or break this team's offense throughout the entire year. If Samuels, Dockery, Rabach, Thomas, and Heyer play well as a unit this team will do well. The offense has to have the mindset of teams like the Ravens or Steelers where the breakdown of importance is defense 1, running 2, and passing 3rd. As long as Campbell can manage the game, make the throws that are there, and scramble a bit more (like he did against the Pats in the 3rd preseason game) he should be fine. Portis will get his carries and should produce like we are accustomed to, a top-5 running back in the NFC. The receivers are the big question mark, can Kellly or Thomas produce to justify their draft position? I think that it's clear that Kelly is a better possesion receiver but Thomas has that explosiveness that could produce many big plays. If either of them plays OK, it should free up enough space for Moss and Cooley, still the 2 best receivers on the team, and should provide Campbell with enough targets to get it done. Watch for Marko Mitchell to become a regular in the 4-wide sets and Randle-El to be the go-to slot receiver on 3rd downs. Along with Cooley, Davis seems to be a good TE and should provide a bit of a spark when they line up with double-tight end sets, giving the offense the flexibility to going play-action iwth jumbo packages with 2 good receiving TE's as targets. There are many combinations that Zorn can use in his offense to make the attacking-style defenses in the NFC East show their weaknesses. Overall outlook would be the offense ranking around 15th or so in the league, a huge upgrade from last year.

DEFENSE

This is the heart of the team and the one that had the most done to it this offseason. It seems that the d-line, the biggest weakness this team had last year along with linebacker, is going to be the deepest and most skilled position on the team. Not only did they add Haynesworth and Orakpo, but Jarmon (the supplemental draft pick) and Chris Wilson seem to be birght spots that could significantly contribute to the team. It makes one envision a team that brings constant pressure on the quarterback while rotating Haynesworth and Griffin with Montgomery and Golston and Daniels (a huge improvement over Jason Taylor, especially against the run) and Carter can switch with Jarmon, Orakpo, Wilson, and maybe even Rob Jackson. The linebackers could be the weakest part of the team. After the starters; McIntosh, Fletcher, and Orakpo, there is not a lot of proven depth which could be a bit worrisome playing in a division with good tight ends like Jason Whitten and good slot receivers like D. Jackson of Philly. The corners are solid, I am of the opinion that D. Hall is one of the best cornerbacks in the league and Rogers is a good 2nd corner. The nickel and dime packages will probably have some issues with Smoot and, Tryon or Barnes, not exactly shut-down corners but they should be OK to get the job done. The safeties are set with a very solid Chris Horton, a good bench player like Reed Doughty and a potential beast in Laron Landry. Landry is one of the players like S. Taylor was before, a great athlete blessed with raw physical talent and a thrist to punish and destroy all those who cross his path, I see a Pro Bowl year for him, no doubt.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Definitely the biggest concern on the team. The punter is the only one who seems to be any good, the rest of the unit is suspect to say the least. The kickoff returns should be OK with Cartwright, who nevers breaks the big one but constantly gets good field position and occasionally busts a 40 or 50-yard run that puts a spark into the team. The punt return game is pitiful, Randle-El spends so much time dancing around when he gets the ball that he nevers does anything, they need to pick another player to put back there, my choice would be Devin Thomas as he shows that he has quickness and speed and could only be better than what they had before. The kicking game is amongst the worst in the NFL, not sure why they can never find a decent kicker but if neither of these bums pan out they should look for M. Anderson or another fossil to shore up this glaring deficiency.

OUTLOOK FOR THE SEASON - REDSKINS

While I'm never one to give any importance to pre-season predictions as too many things can happen that could completely change your outlook. Based on what the Redskins did this offseason, their schedule (thinking of teams in last year's context) and the anticipated progression of their younger players I would see this team going 10-6 and squeeking into the playoffs. I do think that this team could be even better if the offensive line holds up and the defense jells to the point where they are causing sacks, interceptions and hopefully some points that could make this team much, much better.

GIANTS, EAGLES, COWBOYS

I think that the Giants should be as good as they were last year, ending up winning the division or at least fighting for the top spot again even though they lost Plaxico, they have a decent group of receivers and one of the best offensive lines in all of football. The Cowboys should be a bit better without T.O. and his distractions but also seem very thin at receiver along, their traditional choking in December, a brutal schedule and an inferior coach all point to a mediocre season, probably 8-8 or 9-7 and will end up below the Redskins. The Eagles are the most difficult to predict. They look good on paper but seem to be a bad streak away from blowing up. With Vick on the sideline, the ego-fragile McNabb will probably pout and moan if he plays badly and Reid puts Vick in for a series or two, with some of their best players gone on defense and the death of their excellent coach I don't see them doing any better than 9-7. 

All of these can change, probably will change a few games into the season but as things stand right now I could easily see the final NFC East standings to be as follows:

1. Giants 11-5

2. Redskins 10-6

3. Cowboys 9-7

4. Eagles 9-7

While still being the best division in football, there are many questions surrounding each of the teams that could make this all upside down. Let's see what happens within the first few weeks of the season to get a better picture but as of right now, this is the way I see it.