Washington Redskins 2007 Season Preview

Again, I'm writing Season Previews of NFL teams to increase my NFL knowledge and this is my fourth in the series.

I'm not a Redskins fan and won't pretend to be, so if there are mistakes please tell me and I'll edit my post

enjoy!




Washington Redskins

2006 Statistical Rankings:

Total Offense: 13th
Rushing: 4th
Passing: 21st
Scoring: 20th

Total Defense: 31st
Rushing: 27th
Passing: 23rd
Scoring: 27th

Third Down Offense: 16th
Third Down Defense: 26th
Turnovers: 20th
Sacks: 32nd

Key Additions:
OT Jason Fabini (DAL)
OG Ross Tucker (NE)
MLB London Fletcher (BUF)
CB Fred Smoot (MIN)
CB David Macklin (ARI)
S Omar Stoutmire (NO)

Key Losses:
RB TJ Duckett (DET)
WR David Patten (NO)
OT Jim Molinaro (DAL)
OG Derrick Dockery (BUF)
OLB Warrick Holdman (DEN)
CB Kenny Wright (CLE)
S Adam Archuleta (trade-CHI)

Draft:

1. S LaRon Landry
5. OLB Dallas Sartz
6. MLB HB Blades
6. QB Jordan Palmer
7. TE Tyler Ecker

Quarterbacks: oo
Running Backs: ooooo
Receivers: ooo
Offensive Line: oooo
Defensive Line: o
Linebackers: ooo
Defensive Backs: ooo
Special Teams: oooo
Coaching: oooo


Antwaan Randle El, Brandon Lloyd and Adam Archuleta: three players the Redskins invested heavily in to acquire last off-season, but did not play nearly as well as hoped. Coming off a playoff season with a potent offense and a solid defense, the Washington Redskins� season did not go at all as hoped. A nightmare 3-7 start resulted in veteran QB Mark Brunell being benched in favor of former first rounder Jason Campbell. Redskins� defense fell off enormously, especially against the pass, as the Redskins finished with an abysmal 5-11 record.

Archuleta played poorly in only seven games and was benched in favor of aging veteran Troy Vincent and then Vernon Fox. He was promptly traded to Chicago for a sixth round pick after only one year in Washington. Kenny Wright also left town after a poor year in which he was often asked to start for the banged up Shawn Springs. Starting WLB Warrick Holdman also signed with Denver after an unimpressive 2006 season. On offense David Patten signed with New Orleans after two terrible seasons with the Redskins and T.J. Duckett left for Detroit. The Redskins invested a third round pick in Duckett who did little to nothing in his only year in Joe Gibbs� system. Finally, OG Derrick Dockery signed a 7-year 49 million dollar contract with Buffalo, making him the third highest paid Guard in Football.

For Snyder�s standards the off-season was quiet. For every other NFL owner the off-season was relatively busy. London Fletcher-Baker, a 32 year old veteran Linebacker who has put up seven straight 100-tackle seasons was the biggest acquisition. His addition bumps Lemar Marshall out of the MLB spot. Fred Smoot was also brought back from Minnesota after not being nearly the player he was in Washington. In further moves to deepen the depth deprived secondary, David Macklin and Omar Stoutmire were picked up, while Ross Tucker and Jason Fabini provide depth and competition on an offensive line that will need to find Dockery�s replacement.

Jason Campbell�s Week 11 debut at Tampa Bay meant the end of the short-lived Brunell era in Washington. Brunell remains the backup after having a pretty decent season. Considering that Campbell was basically a rookie he played quite solidly. Campbell had some very strong games (at Tampa, versus New York) and even his weaker efforts (versus Atlanta, Philadelphia) were far from catastrophic. Campbell actually threw for a touchdown in every game he started and has the tools to be a very good QB in the NFL. Further backups are sixth round rookie Jordan Palmer and Todd Collins.

Many would have thought that Pro Bowl tailback Clinton Portis� Week 10 hand injury against Philadelphia would have spelled the end to Washington�s success on the ground. Instead, backup Ladell Betts stepped up immensely and came within a yard from finishing with 1,600 total yards. Betts is a much better receiver out of the backfield than Portis and having both healthy in the backfield should cause plenty of matchup problems for opposing defenses. Derrick Blaylock was signed after the draft and was once a promising back in Kansas City. Rock Cartwright is a speedy Return Specialist who adds additional depth in the backfield. Mike Sellers is solid at Full Back, but is not a focal point in Gibbs� system.

Santana Moss is a top wideout, but had a disappointing 2006 campaign. Moss is one of the fastest players in the league but might not benefit as much from Campbell throwing to him, who struggles going deep. Opposite Moss is Brandon Lloyd, a talented athlete and a spectacular player, but not a consistent WR. In the slot is versatile Antwaan Randle-El who provided just as little as Lloyd his first year in Washington. James Thrash is the #4 wideout but is almost purely a return option at this point in his career. Chris Cooley has emerged as a top tier TE playing H-Back since Joe Gibbs� arrival. Cooley is an elite blocker at the TE position and is a good, versatile option in the passing game as well. Rookie seventh rounder Tyler Ecker and Zach Hilton are backups.

The offensive line was a strength last season and has been for several years but will now need to fill the hole left by Dockery�s departure. Todd Wade started in Miami and Houston before a sprained MCL during the 2005 season sidelined him until September of last year. Wade is a natural OT, but will compete with Taylor Whitley for the LG spot. Also in the mix is Mike Pucillo and recently acquired journeyman Ross Tucker, both of which spot started in Buffalo. Chris Samuels is a 4-time Pro Bowler and has started every season at LT for Washington since being drafted #3 overall in 2000. Opposite Samuels is reliable RT Jon Jansen. At Center Casey Rabach has been solid in his two seasons in Washington since coming over from nearby Baltimore. Ed Block Courage Award winner Randy Thomas returns at RG after coming back impressively from a broken leg injury last year. Jason Fabini, acquired from Dallas, adds additional depth at OT.

Defensively Greg Williams� unit dropped from one of the league�s best in 2004 to solid in 2005 to just plain awful in 2006. A lot of it was due to injuries, but finishing dead last in the NFL in sacks didn�t help either. Andre Carter was the only defensive lineman who played even close to well. He returns opposite Phillip Daniels who disappointed heavily after notching 8 sacks in 2005. Renaldo Wynn and Demetric Evans are depth guys. Inside the problems get worse. Cornelius Griffin can be a solid DT when healthy, but was relatively injury free last year and failed to produce nonetheless. Next to him Joe Salave�a, whose play tailed off in 2006, and last year�s surprise sixth round rookie Kedric Golston will battle for the starting spot. Anthony Montgomery was drafted in the fifth round of last year�s draft and could push for playing time. Many fans and analysts were screaming the name of Amobi Okoye on draft day to help the defensive line, which entering the season appears to be clearly Washington�s biggest weakness.

Washington�s Linebacking corps struggled last season, largely due to an abundance of injuries to SLB Marcus Washington. Washington sprained his PCL and underwent elbow surgery and arthroscopic surgery on his hip in the off-season. A healthy Washington should benefit the Redskins� defense heavily. The Redskins� biggest off-season acquisition was that of London Fletcher-Baker from Buffalo. Fletcher-Baker has never missed a game in his solid 9-year career and has been a playmaker in both St. Louis and Buffalo. The 32-year old Fletcher-Baker�s biggest concern is his age. At WLB the Redskins let Warrick Holdman walk in order for last year�s second round pick, Rocky McIntosh, to step in. He will be challenged by Lemar Marshall who returns to WLB, where he excelled in 2004 and 2005. Marshall is also versatile enough to play all three LB spots. Veteran Khary Campbell is a good Special Teamer who provides depth at SLB. H.B. Blades was also drafted in the fifth round out of Pittsburgh and could be one of the steals of the draft.

The Redskins� secondary last season was a mess. Injuries to Shawn Springs forced Nickel Back Kenny Wright into the starting lineup where the latter struggled mightily. Wright left for Cleveland and was replaced by veteran Fred Smoot who returns for his second stint as a Redskin. Smoot was a very solid Corner in Washington before leaving for Minnesota and will hope to return to his old form again. Springs is healthy but appears slightly disgruntled after off-season rumors circulated around him being traded to Denver in exchange for Dre� Bly. Carlos Rogers was decent in his first full year as a starter but frustrated fans by dropping several key interceptions. David Macklin was a starter in Arizona and Indianapolis and was added for further depth in the defensive backfield.

Archuleta�s struggles last season were a big reason for Washington�s struggles defending the pass, and neither Vernon Fox nor Troy Vincent was much better. LaRon Landry was drafted with the #5 overall pick in the draft and was a productive Safety at LSU before wowing scouts with impressive workouts, including a 3.37 40-time. Landry should start immediately next to Pro Bowl FS Sean Taylor who was forced to do everything last season. Taylor is supremely talented but was a bit inconsistent in 2006. Omar Stoutmire was signed from New Orleans to provide depth at SS while veteran Pierson Prioleau backs up Taylor. The Redskins� secondary is talented, but is injury prone and could have problems if the line fails to create pressure.

John Hall was hurt for the third straight year in 2006 and was released after Shaun Suisham provided a solid effort in his absence. Derrick Front is the Punter, while the return game will be manned by Rock Cartwright who had a great year returning kicks and Antwaan Randle-El. Ladell Betts, James Thrash and Santana Moss are further players who can return kicks for Washington.

The Washington Redskins should be a better team in 2007 if the defense is healthy. The backfield appears lethal with two great backs in Portis and Betts. Jason Campbell will enter his second season as a starter and should improve upon a relatively solid freshman campaign. Thus, the offense should be okay. The back seven was heavily addressed in the off-season but absolutely nothing was done to fix the porous Defensive Line or to increase pressure on opposing QBs. The Linebackers, if healthy, should be better and the secondary is deep and talented. Unfortunately, the Defensive Line could be so bad that QBs could have sufficient time to beat any coverage that Greg Williams shows. This team won�t be a contender in 2007, but a weak NFC could allow the Redskins to slip into the playoffs if Campbell has a breakout season and the many cooks in the kitchen that is the Redskins� coaching staff don�t spoil the soup.


Depth Chart: (<>=elite, X=solid, o+adequate, -=below average)

QB
J. Campbell o
M. Brunell
J. Palmer
T. Collins
RB
C. Portis X
L. Betts X
R. Cartwright
D. Blaylock
FB
M. Sellers o
N. Broughton
WR
S. Moss X
WR
B. Lloyd o
WR
A. Randle-El o
J. Thrash
TE
C. Cooley X
T. Ecker
Z. Hilton
LT
C. Samuels <>
T. Wade o
LG
T. Whitley o
R. Tucker
C
C. Rabach X
M. Pucillo
RG
R. Thomas X
W. Whittiker
RT
J. Jansen X
J. Fabini


LE
A. Carter X
R. Wynn
LDT
C. Griffin o
A. Montgomery
RDT
J. Salave�a �
K. Golston �
R. Boschetti
RE
P. Daniels o
D. Evans
SLB
M. Washington X
K. Campbell
H. Blades
MLB
L. Fletcher-Baker X
WLB
R. McIntosh o
L. Marshall o
D. Sartz
A. Trucks
CB
S. Springs X
CB
C. Rogers o
NCB
F. Smoot o
D. Macklin o
A. Jimoh
FS
S. Taylor <>
R. Doughty
P. Prioleau
SS
L. Landry o
O. Stoutmire
V. Fox


K
S. Suisham o
P
D. Frost X
RS
R. Cartwright X
A. Randle-El X
L. Betts
J. Thrash
S. Moss





Notable Individual Stats:

Offense:
Jason Campbell � 53.1% - 10 TDs � 6 INTs � 76.5
Ladell Betts � 1154 � 4 TDs � 53 � 445 � 1 TD
Clinton Portis � 523 � 7 TDs
Santana Moss � 55 � 790 � 6 TDs
Chris Cooley � 57 � 734 � 6 TDs

Defense:
Sean Taylor � 114 Tackles
Lemar Marshall � 104 Tackles
London Fletcher � 146 Tackles � 5 TFLs � 4 INTs
Andre Carter � 6 Sacks � 5.5 TFLs
Carlos Rogers � 17 PDs