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The Washington Redskins play in a brutal division, where every other team has been dominant in the past decade.
The Redskins have been the weakest team in the division for a long time, but the winds of change are blowing strongly in their favor in 2010.
With wholesale changes in Washington this year, the Redskins have a chance to win the division crown. Despite the strength of their division rivals, the Skins will surprise many people by winning the NFC East and riding high into the playoffs.
The Offensive Line Is Not Only Fixed—It Is Now a Strength
After watching Jason Campbell get pummeled by pass rushers last year, the biggest weakness of the Washington Redskins was well known. The offensive line was one of the worst in the league in 2009.
Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen wasted no time in upgrading the line. Trent Williams was added via the draft, giving the Redskins a very athletic left tackle that should be solid protection on the blind side. In addition, Williams has excellent speed for a huge man, and he will open up some wide running lanes for Clinton Portis.
Artis Hicks was then added through free agency, and his experience gives the Skins reliability at guard. Jammal Brown was the most recent addition, through a trade with the Saints, and the two-time Pro Bowler will be another bookend at tackle opposite Williams.
With the starting five of Williams, Hicks, Brown, Casey Rabach, and Derrick Dockery, the Redskins now have an excellent offensive line. Donovan McNabb will be well protected this year, and he will have plenty of time to find receivers downfield. That’s bad news for the rest of the league.
The 3-4 Defense Will Create More Big Plays
The 4-3 defense was solid for the Redskins for many years, but the lack of big plays was clearly evident. Forced fumbles, interceptions, and sacks have not been good statistical categories for the Redskins defense for a while now.
Jim Haslett’s 3-4 change-up should provide a boost to the playmaking drought. Brian Orakpo is perfect for the 3-4, and he should immediately increase his sack total. DeAngelo Hall will be put in a position to make more interceptions. LaRon Landry will move predominantly into the box and give the Skins a more solid front against the run.
Regardless of what happens to Albert Haynesworth, the Redskins defense will be stout in 2010. With reliable starters like London Fletcher and Reed Doughty making solid tackles, Haslett’s creative play calling, and playmakers like Orakpo terrorizing quarterbacks, the Redskins will have a top-five defense this year.
The Redskins Finally Have a Quarterback
It has been a long time since the Redskins had a legitimate franchise quarterback. Brad Johnson from a decade ago was the last really good one, but even Johnson didn’t have the credentials of Donovan McNabb.
Donovan McNabb gives the Redskins everything they didn’t have in Jason Campbell: leadership, decisiveness, confidence, and the ability to create plays. Mike Shanahan was thrilled to pick up McNabb, and the new-look offense will be executed to cater to his strengths.
Behind a rebuilt Washington line, McNabb will quickly become acclimated to the Shanahan offense. With his playmaking abilities combined with Shanahan’s offensive genius, McNabb will be ready to put up some career-high numbers in 2010.
The Running Game Will Be Back in Full Force
There are a lot of people outside of Washington who believe Clinton Portis no longer has any gas left in the tank. The same line of thinking goes for his backup, Larry Johnson. Certainly, no one is predicting the Redskins’ running game to be a major factor in this offense.
For the same reason Jason Campbell spent most of his time last year on his back, the Washington running game was impotent. Without a good offensive line, and without a healthy Portis, the Redskins couldn’t get the ground game going in 2009.
The offensive line is now revamped. Portis is healthy, and he’s pumped up to play in Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme. Johnson is pushing Portis for playing time, and they’re both benefiting from the motivation of competition.
Clinton Portis has one more good year left in him, and he will leave it all on the field in 2010. A 1,200-plus-yard season is very possible, and McNabb will greatly benefit from having a running game that takes so much pressure off him.
The Redskins’ rushing attack in 2010 will force defenses to load the box, and McNabb will take full advantage in the passing game.
The Coaching Staff Is the Best It Has Ever Been. EVER.
I know what you’re thinking. Blasphemy, right? As good as the current coaching staff is, it can’t be better than Joe Gibbs and his assistants, can it?
First, in comparison to last year’s circus clowns, the Redskins’ coaching staff is light years ahead. Mike Shanahan’s offensive mind is unparalleled in the league, and he has the Super Bowls to prove it. The naysayers claim he was nothing without John Elway, but Elway never won a Super Bowl until he had Shanahan as a head coach.
Kyle Shanahan may be the best offensive assistant in the entire league. The Houston Texans had the best passing attack in the NFL last year, thanks in large part to his brilliant game strategies. Matt Schaub also benefited greatly under Kyle’s tutelage.
Jim Haslett is vastly underrated as a defensive coordinator, and there aren’t many people who have as much knowledge on running the 3-4 defense. He’s a hard-nosed man who commands respect from his players, and he forces them to play with discipline.
The greatest change in the coaching staff from this year to last is based in leadership ability. Mike Shanahan is the unquestioned leader of this team, and players listen to him in a way that Jim Zorn would never be able to duplicate. Even Joe Gibbs (at least Part II) could not reach the level of respect Shanahan is able to achieve almost instantly.
So, yes, in play calling, experience, intelligence, and leadership, this is the greatest group of coaches ever assembled in Washington—and they’re one of the biggest reasons why the Redskins will win the NFC East this year and continue their success into the years beyond 2010.
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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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Call me crazy, but I say that if the Redskins do not make the playoffs in 2010, it has to be considered a disappointment. As a matter of fact, barring injury problems and other things beyond the control of the players and coaches, anything less than 8-8 would be considered a failure.
What about the Albert Haynesworth distraction you ask?
Well, the Redskins want Haynesworth, but don’t need him. Despite what is commonly reported, the Redskins want Haynesworth to play defensive end, not nose tackle.
The reason is that in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ version of the 3-4 that they will be running, NT is not a pass-rushing position but right-defensive end (RDE) can be if you have the right player.
The Redskins are very intrigued to see if Haynesworth is that sort of player, and create nightmares for teams who would have to block him at RDE and Brian Orakpo at left outside linebacker.
They want to try it badly enough to wait and see if Haynesworth will eventually report. If he doesn’t, the Redskins have options to plug a traditional RDE in his spot.
So call Haynesworth a bonus, but not a need.
Moving on from there, this is how I arrive at the fact that the Redskins will contend for a playoff spot. Last season, the Redskins won four games. This is not because the Redskins were absolutely dreadful of bereft of talent. Instead, the Redskins were lacking competence and leadership in key positions: head coach, offensive line and quarterback.
Now at QB, I admit to being a supporter of and apologist for Jason Campbell, and believe that he will do well for himself in Oakland, where his early reviews have been positive. But in Washington, his play and leadership just wasn’t good enough, often because he seemed to be trying to make sure that if the team lost he wouldn’t get blamed for it.
So, in critical situations he wouldn’t get rid of the ball quickly enough and wouldn’t throw down-field. He seemed content to allow the problems with the OL, WRs and play-calling suffice as excuses as opposed to trying to overcome those problems with his play.
But in Donovan McNabb, the Redskins have a legitimate Pro Bowl caliber QB who has been overcoming things like bad WRs, an even worse running game, overrated and under-performing OLs and questionable play-calling and strategy for basically his entire career.
So many people seem (or want) to forget that McNabb only had Terrell Owens for ONE of his five trips to the NFC championship game, that he only had a healthy, productive Brian Westbrook (who actually only had a couple of decent seasons actually running the football to begin with) for 3 of his 7 trips to the playoffs, or that the defense that allegedly “carried this team ” fell apart after the 2004 season.
So though I still think that Campbell will wind up being a good NFL QB, in McNabb he was replaced by a QB who already IS a six time Pro Bowler, a QB with 32,873 passing yards and 216 TDs against 100 INTs (by comparison Jay Cutler has 63 INTs already!), and who has at least 5 good years left in him.
Where Campbell needs a good team around him to be effective, McNabb made the Eagles better for his entire career, and will have the same effect on the Redskins.
Next there is the offensive line. The Redskins’ OL has suffered from neglect throughout the entire Snyder/Cerrato regime, and this removed any chance of any QB or RB that the Redskins have played during this time of having any sustained success.
You just aren’t going to succeed without time to throw the football or holes to run the ball through, and it also keeps an offensive coordinator from being able to put in or execute a realistic or effective strategy.
And last year, an already bad OL hit rock bottom due to injuries, which was no surprise as the Redskins had been trying to get by with aging or injured players for years. The Redskins’ OL has been completely remade in one season.
Though he was something of a reach at No. 4 in the draft, he was still definitely a top 10 talent, and Trent Williams will be the starting LT. The ‘Skins traded for the above average Jammal Brown to be the starting RT. And versatile free agent signee Artis Hicks will be the RG. Holdovers Casey Rabach and Derrick Dockery were pretty good at C and LG, and with better players around them will be even more effective.
Former undrafted free agent Stephon Heyer and the aforementioned Mike Williams go from being liabilities at starting LT and RT last season to being reliable subs, and the Redskins added a couple of rookie late round draft picks that are perfect for their scheme.
So, the OL has gone from being the worst in the NFL to being an adequate, almost average OL, one that is certainly about as good as McNabb played behind in some of his Philadelphia playoff runs. (By the way, the idea that McNabb played with a dominating OL in Philadelphia needs to be challenged. Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas were very good, not great at OT, and they had a revolving door at the interior OL spots.)
Then there is the WR corps. Regrettably, the Redskins were unable to upgrade this position appreciably through the draft or free agency, and this position actually took a hit when the serviceable Antwaan Randle-El returned to Pittsburgh. Also, it does not appear that Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly are responding to Shanahan’s system.
Just as before, Kelly lacks the speed, quickness and route-running to get open and Thomas has poor work habits. So, this is a position that Shanahan will address in the draft and free agency in future years. However, focusing on OL this year frees them up to concentrate on WRs going forward.
Also, let us not forget that McNabb went to three NFC title games with guys like Todd Pinkston, Freddie Mitchell, James Thrash and Charles Johnson at WR, and his final NFC title game with rookie DeSean Jackson and Hank Baskett as his top two WRs. And remember, this was generally without a running game. Santana Moss is as capable as DeSean Jackson, so either Thomas or Kelly only need to be as good as Baskett.
Further, the Redskins do have two very capable TEs in Chris Cooley and Fred Davis. The key is knowing how to utilize them, which was a major failure of both Jason Campbell and especially of Jim Zorn.
Where Campbell was determined to lean on a bunch of under-performing WRs, McNabb remembers from his early days in Philadelphia how to lean on his TEs. And as for Zorn, he was too rigid to abandon the West Coast Offense and simply play Davis and Cooley at the same time. As a matter of fact, Davis emerged as a player only because: a) play-calling was taken away from Zorn by Vinny Cerrato and b) Chris Cooley got injured.
Mike Shanahan is no Zorn, who was so bad that by the end of his tenure players like Clinton Portis were openly defying his authority. It was not all Zorn’s fault, as he was stuck with a bad roster, and he was originally hired to be the offensive coordinator/QB coach and not the head coach.
Still, similar to Jason Campbell, Zorn was content to stick with his offensive scheme and blame the players (and implicitly Cerrato and Snyder for assembling the team) when things didn’t work rather than doing his best to use the players that he had to win football games.
For instance, Zorn kept Devin Thomas and his size, speed and natural ability on the sidelines because “he didn’t know the playbook,” preferring to stick with guys who weren’t getting open in Antwaan Randle-El and Malcolm Kelly. And Zorn refused to play TEs Fred Davis and Chris Cooley at the same time, even as a response to the Redskins’ OL, WR and QB problems. Again he blamed it on Davis allegedly not knowing the playbook, but the real reason was that 2 TE formations are rarely used in the West Coast Offense.
Zorn also refused to try to come up with game-plans that Campbell could actually execute but stuck with things that exposed his weaknesses and didn’t utilize his strengths, basically hanging a QB that was already unpopular with the fans and front office out to dry.
Campbell didn’t take off, becoming the player that the Raiders ultimately traded for and the Bills and Panthers inquired about (the Panthers would have traded for Campbell had Jimmy Clausen not fallen to them) until Zorn was stripped of his offensive coordinator duties. Upon taking the job, Mike Shannahan immediately declared Devin Thomas as the starting split end, knowing that his ability to actually get open and stretch the field makes him by far the best of a bunch of bad options to start across from Santana Moss.
And the Redskins have worked all off-season on what Zorn refused to try for two seasons, which is packages where Davis and Cooley are both on the field at the same time, including a look where Cooley—and not Malcolm Kelly—lines up at slot WR.
In addition to being a far superior game-planner and strategist whose vertical scheme fits McNabb’s talent better than did Andy Reid’s BYU-style offense ever did anyway, Shanahan will give McNabb the one thing that he never had in Philadelphia even in the Super Bowl season when he had Terrell Owens at WR and a couple of very good TEs: a real running game.
Brian Westbrook, for all his abilities catching the football, returning kicks and breaking long runs, was an oft-injured third down back. Westbrook only surpassed 620 rushing yards 4 times in his career, and one of those was a season which McNabb was injured. Oh yes, and McNabb didn’t even have Westbrook during his entire tenure in Philadelphia.
But with Clinton Portis and his various backups in addition to the Shanahan scheme, McNabb will have a running game that sets up the pass, gets tough yards inside, can convert important third and short and red zone carries, and can pick up the slack when the passing game is ineffective.
In this, McNabb will have what he hasn’t since early in his career when he was the Eagles’ best runner, what Kurt Warner had during his two Super Bowls with the Rams, what Ben Roethlisberger had with the Steelers when he won a Super Bowl with a lowest-ever 22 rating, and what Peyton and especially Eli Manning have had.
Some insist that Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson are shot; those are the ones who do their best to ignore just how bad the Eagles’ running game was at times. But no matter, even if Portis and Johnson are ineffective—which is unlikely—just place tailback as priority No. 2 on the Redskins’ off season list.
Yes, the Redskins won four games last year. But add a Pro Bowl QB to the mix, and that win total should increase by at least three. Otherwise, McNabb is not that much of an upgrade over Jason Campbell. Adding a future Hall of Fame head coach who won a Super Bowl as offensive coordinator of the 49ers and two as head coach of the Denver Broncos (making him a better coordinator AND head coach than Zorn) should increase the win total by at least three.
Otherwise, either Shanahan isn’t that good or Zorn wasn’t that much of a disaster. And adding three NFL capable players to the worst offensive line in the NFL should be worth two games.
Now I am not suggesting that the Redskins will or should go 12-4 next season. For one, the Redskins had an easy schedule last season. Their four wins last year, for instance, came against the Rams (barely), Bucs (barely), Broncos and Raiders. Oh yeah, and they lost to the Chiefs, Panthers and Lions.
Also, the teams that they played last year that they also play this season, i.e. their division rivals, will be better. Granted, they went 0-6 in the division last season, but it will be even harder to actually beat the Cowboys and particularly the Giants than it was last year. But if the improved QB, coach and OL don’t add up to 10-6, it is a disappointment, and anything below 8-8 will be a failure.
Otherwise, having a Pro Bowl QB, a Hall of Fame coach, and OTs who can actually play in the NFL aren’t worth a whole lot.
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Saturday afternoon, the Washington Redsksins completed a trade with the New Orleans Saints for former Pro Bowl left tackle, Jammal Brown.
The Redskins sent a conditional draft pick, contingent on the pick they need to send to Philadelphia in the Donovan McNabb trade.
If the Eagles gets a third rounder because McNabb plays well, the Saints get the Redskins’ fourth rounder, and vice versa if McNabb plays poorly.
UPDATE: It was reported after the writing of this article that the Redskins will also receive a conditional late round pick from the Saints. Also, if Brown plays 90 percent of the snaps or makes the Pro Bowl, the Saints receive an additional 6th round pick from the Redskins.
Initial reaction: The Redskins don’t have a third or a fourth-round pick in 2011 and Vinny Cerrato isn’t in charge?
Weird.
On a second glance, however, it looks like the Redskins are in it to win it in 2010 with a talented, but aging, Pro Bowl caliber roster including McNabb, Brown, Portis, and a bevy of other free agents—including many on defense.
These additions may not all be top tier players anymore but will certainly contribute to an overhaul from the West Coast Offense and 4-3 defense, and will provide depth on a team that has longed for it—especially on the offensive line.
Redskins’ fans may be reading this through jaded eyes because of my recent Haynesworth article , so let me be clear.
This is a good trade for Washington.
But, understand one thing.
Drew Brees got Jammal Brown to the Pro Bowl, not the other way around.
Anyone reading this article with a modicum of athletic talent could protect Drew Brees blind side.
In the time it took me to look up modicum to make sure I was using it right, Drew Brees could have thrown nearly a hundred passes. The Saints’ signal caller has a lightning quick release that Jim Zorn has naughty dreams over and decision making not seen this side of Joe Montana.
In short, he makes everyone look good.
That doesn’t mean Brown is bad.
He isn’t, and the Redskins got a steal.
Plus, the coup de grace of the Brown trade is that it improves multiple spots on the line.
Artis Hicks—who I feel is the most unheralded and underrated addition to the Redskins this season—gets to move to a RG position where he can excel, leaving Mike Williams to fight for a position and drive him that much further.
To be honest, if Mike Williams cracks the starting lineup, he could be the best Redskins’ lineman this season. Not saying it will happen, just saying that he has the raw, natural talent to make it so.
A stronger five man front is necessary to further help the development of rookie Trent Williams, who is athletic, but anything but a sure thing at left tackle—a position he only played one (mediocre) year of college ball at.
Brown becomes, in my opinion, the best run blocker on the Redskins’ offensive line and may be better than expected in the zone blocking scheme—a new system, but one he fits perfectly. His ability to block on that second level will be the difference between three yard runs and 10 yard runs for that offense.
The Redskins, as a whole, become a much better rushing team with Brown and Hicks (or Williams). Derrick Dockery and Casey Rabach are both decent linemen, but neither are the type of hog a coach can feel comfortable running behind on third-and-one.
Now, the right side of the line is further legitimized by the addition of Brown.
Furthermore, Brown’s pass protection deficiencies (which would be highlighted by McNabb’s tendency to roll away from even the slightest pressure) will be negated on the right side where he will often have Chris Cooley or Fred Davis protecting him.
In spite of all of this, a chance exists that Trent Williams—again, not a sure thing as much as a prospect with ridiculous upside—flames out in training camp.
No worries.
If that happens, the Redskins will simply flip the two and protect Williams that much more on the right side.
A great move all around.
Except for that draft pick thing.
Although these moves look like gold now, anytime big free agents splashes or trades for veterans are a core part of a rebuilding plan, things can end pretty badly (see: Antwaan Randle-El, Adam Archuleta, Jeremiah Trotter, Albert Haynesworth…)
Now, this is Bruce Allen’s first year in Washington, so the hope exists that this is just a first year overhaul and not his normal modis operandi.
Jettisoning your mid-round picks is fine once in a while when you can get top talent that fits your system like McNabb and Brown, but do it too often and your team is left right where the Redskins have been for a decade.
Afterthoughts in the NFC East.
But, rather than taking any more time to contemplate Allen’s blueprint, know this: The Redskins just acquired a solid offensive tackle in his prime who can do a lot to help the entire offensive line, and solidifies a position group that has been among the shallowest in football since the first time Jon Jansen got up holding a limb.
The Redskins are better on Saturday than they were on Friday, and in football, that means a lot.
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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.
Agree? Disagree? Post your feedback in the comments section
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