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Despite a lackluster free agency period and limited draft choices, the Washington Redskins enter 2010 looking remarkably better than they did in 2009.
Choosing Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen to lead the team into the 21st Century’s second decade may have seemed a tad uninspired, but so far they have proven their worth.
They have brought a level of respectability back to this team that wasn’t even present during Joe Gibbs’ second era. Though no games have been played, this is certainly the team’s best leadership under the mercurial Dan Snyder.
While many (including this writer) considered quarterback Jason Campbell an up-and-comer, Donovan McNabb provides an instant upgrade at the position. As with the additions of Allen and Shanahan, McNabb brings immediate credibility to the team, the locker room, and within the confines of the Beltway.
The Shanahans (Mike and Kyle) will run an offense familiar to the former Pro Bowler, and there’s little doubt that if McNabb stays healthy, he will execute it as well as any elite quarterback in the NFL.
The team’s stable of running backs may have made for the ultimate dream fantasy team in 2006, but the combination of all three will give the team something it has never had.
Options.
In Clinton Portis, who will return to form in 2010 with a renewed work-ethic, the team has an all-around back and football player who is capable of doing everything well, if no longer spectacularly.
Washington’s addition of Larry Johnson and Willie Parker have no doubt driven Portis, who has always done best with someone sticking a foot up his ass.
Johnson reeled off a 4.4 yard average in Cincinnati last year. Parker, who was never an every-down back, will do well on the outer edges and on swing passes, which are staples of the McNabb-led West Coast offense.
The offensive line is perhaps the most improved position.
Washington signed Artis Hicks to play right guard, and serve as a backup at right tackle. Trent Williams replaces stalwart Chris Samuels at left tackle, and Pro Bowler Jamall Brown will anchor the right side.
Though the team made little effort to bring in depth, a late draft pick, a deposed Mike Williams (right guard) and Stephon Heyer (left/right tackle), creates some depth.
While Williams was somewhat decent at his best moments, Heyer aspired to mediocre, giving up consecutive safeties in the middle of the season.
Still, though, it’s an improvement over 2009, where these were the best the team had to offer.
While the team will have the best tight end tandem in the league in Chris Cooley and Fred Davis, the receiver corps is the biggest question mark in the league. Top-line pass catcher Santana Moss is under investigation and facing a possible suspension. Beyond him, there’s nothing but question marks.
Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas have shown potential and flashes, but that’s all. Neither have proved to be reliable. Though there were nothing but head-cases (Brandon Marshall and Terrell Owens) available in free agency, the team brought in crusty veteran Joey Galloway as an insurance policy.
While Galloway might have a bit left in the tank as a leader and occasional route runner, no one is going to mistake these players for anything special. And if the passing offense doesn’t get off the ground, the receivers will put the Redskins on the no-fly list.
Next week: The defense and special teams.
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Donovan McNabb would never admit it, but he undoubtedly cringed more than once watching tape of the Washington Redskins’ offensive line from 2009.
Watching friend and fellow QB Jason Campbell get thrown to the ground again and again, each hit more violent than the previous, McNabb had to have thought long and hard before accepting a trade to the Nation’s Capital.
Washington surrendered 46 sacks last season and that wasn’t even half of it. Campbell and backup Todd Collins (played in parts of three games in 2009) were hit an additional 48 times, and pressured 119 times on top of that.
To put those numbers into perspective, only three other offensive lines allowed more QB hits in 2009.
The offensive line was struggling to work through injuries to Chris Samuels, Randy Thomas, Chad Rinehart, Casey Rabach, and others. But even with those players on the field, no one could mistake last year’s line for a second coming of the Hogs.
Missed assignments, poor technique and bad coaching plagued the offensive line last year. The coaching staff went through upwards of six different combinations for the starting offensive line. This inconsistency led to carnage up and down the field.
New coach Mike Shanahan has brought new life to the franchise, but coming in, the consensus was that he needed to massively overhaul the offensive line.
However, from February to April, Shanahan didn’t make any drastic moves along the line. He added supersub Artis Hicks to bolster the depth. Everyone assumed that he would make some moves in the NFL draft to address the protection up front.
Shanahan did draft stud tackle Trent Williams from Oklahoma in the first round, but didn’t go back to the well until the seventh round when he picked up West Virginia’s Selvish Capers.
Though drafting Williams was a step in the right direction, Washington still had issues on the right side of the line. Things were looking so shaky at right tackle that it was widely expected Hicks would start there to begin the season.
Well that speculation can now be laid to rest.
On Saturday, the ‘Skins traded a conditional pick to the Saints for tackle Jammal Brown, giving Washington their first viable offensive line in two years.
Brown has the athleticism to play in Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme and can also shut down pass rushers from both left and right tackle.
Brown’s addition allows Hicks to move into the right guard position where he is more natural. It also gives the Redskins a pair of tackles in Williams and Brown who should both be able to match up one-on-one with the majority of pass rushers they line up against.
Last season the ‘Skins never had the luxury of sending backs or tight ends out for passes. They often had to remain at the line of scrimmage to chip. This year, Williams and Brown will hold their own and then some.
McNabb, acquired in a trade from Philadelphia in April, must have been relieved to see the ‘Skins bring in Brown. McNabb can make the most out of any situation, but the way the right side of the ‘Skins line was shaping up, even he had to have been concerned in regards to how effective he could be.
McNabb might be in a better situation than what he left in Philly. He has three running backs with something to prove, two of the NFL’s top tight ends, and an offensive line which is vastly improved.
Add to that list Mike Shanahan who has shown in the past that he can lead a successful offense so long as he has capable blockers up front.
Fortunately, he saw the weakness after OTAs and mini-camp, acted on his instincts and made a late offseason trade to upgrade the Redskins’ weakest area.
It isn’t groundbreaking news, but come January, this trade could be that key adjustment, which ultimately gave McNabb and the offense the time to stay on their feet.
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The NFC East, or the NFC Beast as it is commonly referred to, has been regarded as the most talented division in the NFL in recent years. Even though all of the teams have made some major changes in the offseason, do not expect that to change.
This is how each team should expect to do in the 2010 season:
Dallas Cowboys
11-5 (1st, NFC East)
Key Additions: Alex Barron, Dez Bryant
Key Departures: Ken Hamlin, Flozell Adams, Bobby Carpenter
Now that Tony Romo and the Cowboys got the playoff hump off of their back, the Cowboys can focus on winning games without as much pressure as they have had to deal with in years past.
With the addition of Dez Bryant to play along side Miles Austin and Roy Williams, the Cowboys could have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL in 2010. A healthy Marion Barber and Felix Jones, along with third string back Tashard Choice, would make the Cowboys rushing attack just as hard for defenses to defend as the pass, giving Jason Garrett a plethora of options.
Barring injury, this Cowboys team could be poised to be the first team to ever play in a Super Bowl in their own stadium.
Washington Redskins
9-7 (2nd, NFC East)
Key Additions: Donovan McNabb, Larry Johnson, Willie Parker
Key Departures: Jason Campbell, Chris Samuels, Antwaan Randle El
As usual, the Redskins had one of the busiest offseason in the entire league. Redskins fans must hope that these changes result in production and wins, unlike in years past.
Along with acquiring quite a few big name players, such as Donovan McNabb, Larry Johnson, and possibly Brian Westbrook, the Redskins also acquired one of the best coaches ever in Mike Shanahan.
The Redskins biggest weakness will likely be their offensive line. The Redskins have signed former Vikings lineman Artis Hicks to replace the retired Chris Samuels.
Expect the Redskins to be one of the best teams in the league and challenge the Cowboys for first place in the NFC East in 2010.
New York Giants
7-9 (3rd, NFC East)
Key Additions: Dion Grant, Antrel Rolle
Key Departures: Antonio Pierce, Fred Robbins, Jeff Feagles
With no major offseason changes, this is basically the same Giants team that had a mediocre 8-8 season last year. After a year of getting older and an improvement of talent in the NFC East, the Giants won’t fare any better in 2010 than they did last season.
The Giants offense will be one of the better offenses in the league, but the defense will struggle and hold the G-Men back.
Expect New York to make a playoff push late in the season but come up short and miss the playoffs with a 7-9 record.
Philadelphia Eagles
6-10 (4th, NFC East)
Key Additions: Hank Baskett, Marlin Jackson, Mike Bell, Ernie Sims
Key Departures: Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown
While Kevin Kolb is no Donovan McNabb, he will perform much better than people expect him to in 2010. In two starts last season, Kolb completed 55 of 85 passes for 718 yards.
After losing Brian Westbrook, and with him the Eagles running game, expect similar numbers from Kolb, as he will be relied on for basically all offensive production.
The Eagles will be the runt of the pack in 2010.
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For the first time in a while, the Redskins were not the most exciting team in the offseason.
Sure, they traded for a new franchise quarterback in Donovan McNabb, and that certainly was both unexpected and exciting. However McNabb is a solid fit as the team’s signal caller, and beyond that, their free agent signings were judicious and well-placed additions, rather than big names whose marketing value surpassed their football value.
All in all, the Shanahan/Allen invasion has netted some good results on paper for its first offseason. However, the team still has some significant holes to fill.
On the positive side, the new regime has finally done something to improve the abysmal offensive line. They exercised the No. 4 overall choice and nabbed Trent “Silverback” Williams, a talented boom-or-bust prospect who steps immediately into the Grand Canyon-sized shoes left by future Hall of Famer Chris Samuels.
In free agency, Washington nabbed Artis Hicks, an under-rated bargain bin signing who can play right guard or tackle. Mike Williams, a former No. 4 overall choice, was brought back to compete with Hicks and returning-starter-who-shouldn’t-be-a-starter Stephon Heyer for time, mainly at right guard.
However, it wasn’t enough.
Heyer is a backup at best, though he has started in large part for the last three seasons. If stats were kept on such things, Heyer would have the dubious distinction to be the first Redskin in history to give up two safeties in consecutive weeks from two different positions. He’s slow off the count, consistently beat to the edge and was once bull-rushed by a linebacker whom he outweighed by 100 pounds.
Williams improved every game after being resurrected by Washington after three seasons out of the game last season. He never improved beyond mediocre in his first year back and though he weighed a good deal less than he did when he was forced out of the league, still looks like he needed to drop 50 pounds.
Ideally, the more athletic Hicks would become the starter at guard with Williams backing him up and entering in goal-line situations. That leaves a gaping spot at right tackle.
The last time the Redskins went into a season without a legitimate right tackle they…well, that was last year, wasn’t it? And look how well that turned out.
Speaking of long-standing gaping holes on the Redskins’ squad, nothing has been done about the Redskins’ free safety spot since Sean Taylor passed in late 2007. Since Taylor, a litany of defensive backs have been shoved through that spot, with LaRon Landry, Chris Horton, Reed Doughty, Fred Smoot and others recording starts at the spot.
None have been able to make it.
People love to hate on Landry, given his spectacular failures at the spot. However Landry is, always has been and always will be a strong safety. He is meant to roam near the line of scrimmage and punish backs and tight ends who dare to catch the ball in the flats.
Letting him roam 30 yards off the ball as Greg Blache was prone to do was no better than, say, having Rocky MacIntosh back there.
Ditto Reed Doughty and Chris Horton. You have to love the planning of former de facto General Manager Vinny Cerrato on this one; bring in three guys with the same skill set and try to jam a square peg through a round hole.
While we have yet to see what Jim Haslett’s new 3-4 Redskin defense will look like, it doesn’t have a legitimate starter at the free safety spot. Maybe Haslett doesn’t need a true center fielder, and will play with two strong safety types. Lets hope so, given the gaping hole back there.
The team has no clear starters at a couple of other spots, notably wide receivers after Santana Moss and middle linebacker after London Fletcher, but at least they have contenders.
With some players left in free agency and trades being made every day, you wonder why the Redskins, who clearly want to contend in 2010, don’t do more to shore up these vital spots?
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With the 2010 NFL Draft in the history books, and training camps fast approaching, it’s time to look at the possibilities for the upcoming season. Each team in the NFC East has questions to answer in key areas that will determine their level of success over the next year.
Dallas Cowboys
Is Doug Free capable of filling in at left tackle?
When Dallas let go of Flozell Adams, many analysts assumed that Dallas would pursue his replacement at left tackle in the draft, or free agency. It didn’t happen (at least not yet), and Dallas looks ready to proceed with the unproven fourth-year pro Free starting at the position.
The confidence in Free seems to be Dallas’ biggest gamble heading into 2010. If Free can’t protect Romo’s blind side, it could be a long season for the Cowboys.
New York Giants
Is Phillip Dillard the solution to their void at middle linebacker?
The middle linebacker position was arguably the Giants’ biggest need heading into the draft. However, instead of reaching for a need, New York waited until the fourth round to grab Dillard.
Dillard is on the small side for playing the middle (6’1″, 245 pounds), and may have a difficult time shedding blockers. If the revamped defensive line can’t take the pressure off the Giants linebackers this year, Dillard could be exposed in the middle.
Philadelphia Eagles
Is Kevin Kolb the real deal?
The Eagles took a big gamble by trading Donovan McNabb to a division rival, and thrusting Kolb into the starting role. The future of the Philadelphia Eagles is now in his hands, and the question at quarterback dwarfs all other questions the Eagles have.
Kolb started two games last season, throwing for over 300 yards in both. Of course, one of those games was against Kansas City. In the other, versus New Orleans, he also threw three interceptions.
Philadelphia has a lot of confidence in the unproven commodity of Kolb. Will he still be able to perform at a high level when opposing defenses have enough of his film to analyze? Only time will tell, but Kolb is a definite risk to the continued success of the Eagles.
Washington Redskins
Can Trent Williams solidify the left tackle spot?
Anyone who watched the Washington Redskins in 2009 could immediately spot their biggest weakness: the offensive line. In particular, at the left tackle position. Losing long time anchor Chris Samuels was a huge blow at the most important position on the front.
So, it was no surprise that Shanahan selected a left tackle at number four overall. What was surprising to some was that he chose Williams over Russell Okung. Shanahan explained that Williams’ athleticism was a better fit for the new zone blocking scheme.
Washington’s success in 2010 rides with the offensive line, and in large part with Williams’ ability to protect McNabb’s blind side. If Williams can consistently give McNabb time to throw, the Redskins offense could flourish. If not, McNabb may be feeling the same pains that Jason Campbell experienced in 2009.
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