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Entering his second season in Coach Jim Zorn has a lot to be excited about. The defense is sure to look much improved with the signing of Albert Haynesworth the prized free agent from Tennessee and having DeAngelo Hall in his first full off season as well.
“What I saw was a step-up from the first set of OTAs,” Zorn said. “Guys were getting into the swing of things and in even better shape than they were the last time. It’s a testament to how hard our guys have worked.”
Zorn is already considered a coach on the hot seat. With fly by his pants owner Daniel Synder is house and the names like Shanahan, Cowher and Gruden all looming on the horizon it’s now or never for Zorn to turn this ball club around.
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks: Politics aren’t the only thing a little out of control in Washington. Amidst rumors of him being traded Jason Campbell showed the maturity and proxy of a NFL starter. Campbell hasn’t wowed the Skins thus far but there attempts to improve him have failed more times than not than Jason Campbell. From Joe Gibbs to Bill Musgrave then to Al Saunders and now Sherman Smith the young QB hasn’t exactly has a stable environment around him. Another year under both head coach Jim Zorn and offensive coordinator Sherman Smith should boost the play of Campbell who enters the final year of his contract in Washington. With a 35 to 23 TD/INT ratio and a completion percentage that has only gone up since his rookie season Campbell has his arrows pointed in the right direction. Colt Brennan who enters his second season in Washington should beat out Todd Collins in camp to claim the number 2 job in the nation’s capital.
Running Backs: Clinton Porits came out of the shoot like Rachel Alexander but finished like Arazi. Over the first 8 games he rushed for 769 and a 4.4 yards per carry average while compiling 5 games with over a 120 yards rushing. The last 8 games the punishment wore down Portis as his yards per carry dropped to 3.4 a full yard and his production as well with 543 yards. Evident in those numbers is the Skins will have to rely more on LaDell Betts who is more than a capable back up. Brad Sellars from Walla Walla Community College mans the fullback position.
 Wide Receivers: Funny as it may sound it seems like the Redskins are overwhelmingly dependent on Santana Moss. Seems they go as he goes. Moss is the only proven weapon on the roster. Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly acquired in the second round last season didn’t endear themselves to many with the below rookie performances. Might sound like a over statement but the development of Thomas and Kelly are critical to Skins future not only this season but beyond. If they perform well QB Jason Campbell would benefit meaning he may get a extension. As for Antwaan Randle El and James Thrash both are solid player but neither occupies the minds of defensive coordinators.
Tight Ends: Chris Cooley is the one constant for the Redskins passing game. Being on the beaches of Maui the last two seasons after earning Pro Bowl invites Cooley should continue to be that safety pass for Campbell until and if those young receivers step up. Fred Davis from UCS who enters his second season in Washington to be able to learn under Cooley and veteran Todd Yoder so when his name is called he will be ready.
Offensive Line: The Redskins used free agency instead of the draft to build the line this season. The fresh faces at Redskin park will include Derrick Dockery who signed and 5 year deal worth over 26 million and Jeremy Bridges from Carolina. Chris Samuels enters his 10th season with Washington 6 of which ended in trips to Honolulu. Former main stay Jon Jansen was recently released and looks as if Stephen Heyer has truly won the right tackle position. Right Guard Randy Thomas and center Casey Rabach are above average players and as long as they stay on the IR give Washington a solid unit.
DEPTH CHART
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FS |
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SS |
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CB |
LARON LANDRY |
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REED DOUGHTY |
CB |
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DEANGELO HALLS |
KAREEM MOORE |
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SLB |
MLB |
WLB |
CHRIS HORTON |
CARLOS RODGERS |
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LEIGH TORRENCE |
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ALFRED FINCHER |
LONDEN FLETCHER |
ROCKY MCINTOSH |
LENDY HOLMES |
FRED SMOOT |
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BRIAN ORAKPO |
H.B. BLADES |
KHARY CAMPBELL |
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JUSTIN TRYON |
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K |
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RONNIE PALMER |
CODY GLENN |
ROBERT HENSON |
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KEVIN BARNES |
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SHAUN SUISHAM |
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LDE |
LNT |
RNT |
RDE |
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DOUG DUTCH |
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P |
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DEMETRIC EVANS |
ALBERT HAYNESWORTH |
KEDRIC GOLSTON |
ANDRE CARTER |
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DURANT BROOKS |
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ROB JACKSON |
LORENZO ALEXANDER |
ANTHONYMONTGOMERY |
ERASMUS JAMES |
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COACH |
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RENALDO WYNN |
CORNELIUS GRIFFIN |
ANTONIO DIXON |
CHRIS WILSON |
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JIM ZORN |
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DEREK WALKER |
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WR |
LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
TE |
WR |
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SANTANA MOSS |
CHRIS SAMUELS |
PETE KENDALL |
CASEY RABACH |
RANDY THOMAS |
STEPHON HEYER |
CHRIS COOLEY |
ANTWAAN RANDLE EL |
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JAMES THRASH |
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CHAD RINEHART |
JUSTIN GEISINGER |
JASON FABINI |
BRIGHAM HARWELL |
TODD YODER |
DEVIN THOMAS |
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MALCOLM KELLY |
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DERRICK DOCKEREY |
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SCOTT BURLEY |
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FRED DAVIS |
MARKO MITCHELL |
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JASION WILLIAMS |
FB |
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QB |
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RB |
ROBERT AGNONE |
JOHN HALMAN |
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MIKE SELLARS |
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JASON CAMPBELL |
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CLINTON PORTIS |
DEVIN FRISCHKNECHT |
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EDDIE WILLIAMS |
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TODD COLLINS |
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LADELL BETTS |
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COLT BRENNAN |
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ROCK CARTWRIGHT |
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CHASE DANIEL |
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DEFENSE
 Defensive Line: Look no further past Albert Haynesworth and immediately the Redskins have dramatically change the defensive line. Haynesworth was the prize free agent signing of 2009. Funny thing is this is the first time it seems the Skins have signed a free agent who wasn’t near the end of the line. Like trading for then 33 year old Jason Taylor was yet another slam dunk in awful moves by the Skins. Does Adam Archuleta ring a bell? After finishing last in the NFC in sacks the signing of Haynesworth should attract the must needed attention to allow the player around him to excel. Rookie Brian Orakpo should line up at end and outside linebacker on certain downs. Andre Carter will line up opposite Orakpo and with the listed additions Carter should come closer to his 10.5 sacks he made in 2007 compared to his 4 in 2008. Phillip Daniels will be a fresh pair of legs for unit that aims to make a impact in ‘09’.
Linebackers: Anyone familiar with the Skins knows that if you want to find number 59 London Fletcher on the field, find the ball and you find the Redskins leading tackler. Fletcher is the constant on a defense that is short of consistent efforts by teammates. Rocky McIntosh is a perfect example of a player who looks to be the part one play then look lost the next. With the release of Marcus Washington the Skins will be counting on McIntosh to step up and become the player they thought he was when he was taken in the second round in 2006. The strong side should be open competition between Alfred Fincher and Robert Thomas as well as H.B. Blades. Haynesworth should make life easier for all the above.
Defensive Backs: Carlos Rogers the first to two number picks in 2005 has proved his worth and should attract more attention with the resigning of DeAngelo Hall to play opposite him at the corner position. Hall and Rogers give the Redskins a terrific tandem. LaRon Landry is living up the hype. It will always remain what this secondary would of looked like if the tragic death of Sean Taylor never happened. The 7th round last season produced one of the gems of the draft in Chris Horton from UCLA. Horton manned the strong safety position as a rookie like proven vet. With the release of Shawn Springs third round pick in 2009 Kevin Barnes should find plenty of playing time at the nickel position.
SPECIAL TEAMS
As a collection this is a underachieving unit. Shaun Suisham isn’t the answer after finishing with 12/20 on kicks more than 40 yards. Look for some competition to be brought in this summer. Hunter Smith replaces released punters Dirk Johnson and Ryan Plackemeier. Antwaan Randle El was the only player in the NFL in the top 5 for returns (39) but not in the top ten in return yards. Santana Moss is a better option here but his value to the offense and risk of injury to too great for the Skins to have him play here on and regular basis.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS OFF-SEASON TRACKER
Acquisitions
RB Anthony Alridge (waivers Broncos)
WR Roydell Williams: FA; terms unknown
OT Mike Williams: FA; terms unknown
OG Jeremy Bridges: FA Panthers; terms unknown
OG Derrick Dockery: FA Bills; $26M/5 yrs, $8.2M guaranteed
DE Renaldo Wynn: UFA Giants; 1 yrs, terms unknown
DT Albert Haynesworth: UFA Titans; $100M/7 yrs, $5M SB/$41M guaranteed
LB Robert Thomas: FA; $620,000/1 yr
P Hunter Smith: UFA Colts; (1 yr, terms unknown)
Drafted
WR Marko Mitchell, Nevada
TE Eddie Williams, Idaho
DE Brian Orakpo, Texas
CB Kevin Barnes, Maryland
LB Cody Glenn, Nebraska
LB Robert Henson, TCU
Undrafted Free Agents
QB Chase Daniel, Missouri
WR Jaison Williams, Oregon
WR John Halman, Concordia
TE Robert Agnone, Delaware
TE Devin Frischknecht, Washington State
OL Scott Burley Maryland
OL Edwin Williams, Maryland
DE Derek Walker, Illinois
DT Antonio Dixon, Miami
DT Brigham Harwell, UCLA
LB Ronnie Palmer, Arizona
CB Doug Dutch, Michigan
SS Lendy Holmes, Oklahoma
Re-signed
DE Phillip Daniels: UFA; $845,000/1 yr
DT Kedric Golston: RFA; $1.545M/ 1 yr
DT Anthony Montgomery: RFA; $1.01M/1 yr
LB Alfred Fincher: UFA; $620,000/1 yr
CB DeAngelo Hall: UFA; $54M/6 yrs, $22.5M guaranteed)
SS Reed Doughty: Not tendered as RFA; $535,000/1 yr
K Shaun Suisham: RFA; $1.01M/1 yr
LS Ethan Albright: Potential UFA; terms unknown
Departures
OC Justin Geisinger: Not tendered as RFA/Panthers; terms unknown
DE Demetric Evans: UFA 49ers; $3.8M/2 yrs, guarantees
DT Ryan Boschetti: UFA Raiders; terms unknown
P Dirk Johnson (released)
P Ryan Plackemeier (released)
DE Jason Taylor (released)
LB Marcus Washington (released)
LB Matt Sinclair (released)
CB Shawn Springs (released)
Unsigned
OG Pete Kendall
OL Jason Fabini
LB Khary Campbell
DB Mike Green
LB Rian Wallace (not tendered as RFA) spent 2008 on injured reserve after being hurt in August
PROJECTION
The Skins spending money in the off-season is nothing new. But this might be the first time they have spent there money wisely. Haynesworth and Hall bring key players at key positions. If there is one conference in football that is hardest to nail it would be the NFC East. The Giants will have life without Plax and John Spagnola off to St. Louis, the Eagles looked revamped but the Westbrook is already breaking down and McNabb is only a injury waiting to happen which brings us to the T.O. less Cowboys, which I until Romo proves he can play when it counts. The Skins have as good a shot at winning this thing as the others and on the same token find themselves in the cellar. Everyone knows the NFC East is the way to the Super Bowl, heck even the Cards were in the NFC East once. In a perfect world the Skins finish 9-7.
Photo Credit: College Press Box, University of Texas Athletics, OU Athletics Department
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