The Redskins were as active as any team this past offseason, adding key players on both offense and defense. They also brought in Al Saunders from Kansas City to run the offense, signing him to a 3-year contract worth more than $2 million per year. They gave Gregg Williams a 3-year, $7.8 million deal to stay as defensive coordinator. If the Redskins struggle, it would be hard to blame it on the coaching staff with Joe Gibbs running the whole show.
Al Saunder's began his coaching career as a receivers coach, and Daniel Snyder picked up some new weapons for him. The Redskins added WR Antwaan Randel El (Pittsburgh) and WR Brandon Lloyd (San Francisco). That should give Mark Brunell a lot of options to go along with Santana Moss. Moss accounted for 44.3% of the team's receiving yards last season (only Steve Smith had a higher percentage with 44.8%), but Brunell will not have to rely on him as much. Randel El would not have been effective as a #2 receiver, so the addition of Lloyd was important and it allows Randel El to fill a similar role to the one he had in Pittsburgh. Brandon Lloyd looked like a special player at times in San Francisco and now he has a quarterback that can at least get him the ball. Mark Brunell, much like Drew Bledsoe, should benefit from all of the weapons at his disposal, including Clinton Portis. If Brunell goes down, QB Todd Collins will back him up. Collins is nothing special, but he played under Saunders with Kansas City in 1998 and again from 2001-2005 and was needed with the departure of QB Patrick Ramsey (New York Jets).
It does not hurt that Washington has one of the best offensive lines in the league; arguably one of the the top five. LT Chris Samuels went to the pro bowl and RT Jon Jansen was one of the league's best at his position last year, even though he played with two broken thumbs. He missed 2004 with an Achilles injury, but he should not be considered injury-prone as he has started all 16 games in his other six NFL seasons (including last year). RG Randy Thomas is also above-average at his position. The tight end situation further bolsters the line with the addition of Christian Fauria (New England). Fauria allows Mike Sellers to move back to fullback on a permanent basis, and they still have talented H-back Chris Cooley.
The defense let LB Lavar Arrington (New York Giants) go when he bought his way out of his contract to become a free agent. Arrington was a playmaker, but Gregg Williams decided he was too much of a risk-taker and he was already being marginalized. Mark Brunell might not be too happy that he landed in the same division. LB Rocky McIntosh (Miami-FL) was an excellent pick in the early second-round (he was Washington's only pick in the first 4 rounds). The Redskins clearly targeted McIntosh and gave up a lot to trade up and get him. The Jets traded the 35th overall pick to Washington for the 53rd pick, a sixth-round pick in 2006, and the Redskins second-round pick in 2007. The Redskins also plucked LB Andre Carter from the 49ers in free agency, who will play defenisve end in the 4-3. LB Marcus Washington and DT Cornelius Griffin are good players, and DE Philip Daniels can still play.
The biggest addition on defense should be SS Adam Archuleta (St. Louis). The Redskins should have one of the best secondaries in the league with FS Sean Taylor, CB Shawn Springs, and last year's first-rounder CB Carlos Rogers. All four of the aforementioned players are in fact former first-round picks.
The Washington defense should be even better than they were last year (9th in both total and scoring defense). With the additions on offense, it is not hard to see why many people think the Redskins will go deep in the playoffs. They finished second in the NFC East last year, but were the only team to make it to the divisional round of the playoffs and might be the most improved team in the divison (along with Dallas). Washington has an easier schedule than the Giants with games against Minnesota and St. Louis, but Dallas will probably have an easier time with Detroit and Arizona. The NFC East will be the toughest division in football, but Washington has as good of a chance as anyone to win it.
Key Additions: OC Al Saunders (KC), WR Brandon Lloyd (SF), SS Adam Archuleta (STL), LB Andre Carter (SF), WR Antwaan Randel El (PIT), LB Rocky McIntosh (R), TE Christian Fauria (NE), QB Todd Collins (KC)
Key Losses: LB Lavar Arrington (NYG), QB Patrick Ramsey (NYJ)
0 comments:
Post a Comment