Redskins may not be as bad as you think

Aug 13, 2011

After a much-hyped first season that most fans would agree ended in regression (no starting Quarterback, extra helpings of drama) Head Coach Mike Shanahan has his Redskins team positioned perfectly to exceed expectations. Sounds like the crazy ramblings of a homer fan, right…maybe not.

Shanahan’s second season in Denver could be a harbinger of things to come, as the team has made some of the core moves many NFL teams (but not the Skins) have been doing for years. After surprising most of the DC area by not flying Santonio Holmes in on the Dan Snyder Express, perhaps the Redskins are showing some of the maturity and team-building prowess that will be necessary to any long term success. For instance, the team allocated the bulk of its free agency money to players under the age of 30, finally paid attention to both the offensive and defensive lines with hard-working (not Albert Haynesworth) men who have shown either a track record of success, or a hint of potential, without breaking the bank. On defense, they targeted up-and-coming players, while simultaneously weakening division rivals and the team, for once, seems to have a plan.

Here are 6 reasons the Redskins may not actually be as bad as you think:

Quality, experienced NFL coaching helps: Despite the bumbling and stumbling of the McNabb and Haynesworth dramas, it was clear throughout the organization that the adults are in charge. Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan are clearly the ones calling the shots, and for a change every move the team makes is not predicated on short-term success and marketing only.
John Beck and Rex Grossman are capable, if not spectacular options: Grossman, especially, has proven his mettle with playoff and Superbowl appearances. While it’s true that he was carried at least partially by a spectacular defense, and it is true that he’s consistently inconsistently with his head-thumping turnover-prone mistakes, the guy is no babe in the woods. Watch the tape of his starts last season: Grossman is capable, if not spectacular. As for John Beck, the Shanahans clearly have a lot of confidence in him and he has physical tools and seems to be making a determined push to earn playing time. With all due respect, while the QBs are a question mark and a weak link for this team, they are not going to be 2-14 disaster zones incapable of making even the simplest of throws (a la Matt Moore, Cardinals QBs not named Kevin Kolb, etc).
The NFC West: The Redskins will be playing against, historically, an awful division that will provide a nice break from the inner-division opponents in Dallas, Philly, and New York.
A (possibly) vastly improved secondary: Before suffering an injury late last year, LaRon Landry was serving notice that he can be a force to be reckoned with near the line of scrimmage, in an attacking style. Before the lockout, in a move that got diminished publicity, Allen and Shanahan added O.J. Atogwe from the Rams – the very definition of an experienced, ball-hawking safety. Finally, the removal of resident Bad Apple and Lack Of Hands expert Carlos Rogers and the addition of Known Good Guy and Hard Worker Josh Wilson formerly of the Baltimore Ravens and Jim Haslett’s 3-4 defense should have a secondary capable of holding its own.
The right pieces: The team targeted multiple offensive and defensive linemen, players that are known for filling their role and working hard in new nose tackle Barry Cofield, new defensive end Stephen Bowen, and offensive guard Chris Chester.
Less Drama: We’ll leave it to a future draft column to worry about the details, but the Redskins weren’t just able to get rid of the Haynesworth headache and ship off a clearly unhappy and poorly-fitting Donovan McNabb – but they even got draft picks back in return!

The team is clearly in building mode, and after everything they went through last year seems (through their comments to the medial, offseason organization, etc) to understand that they have a lot of work to do to be able to win football games. While it may not be reasonable to expect the Redskins to contend for the Superbowl, it would be a mistake to discount this team and assume that they’re going to be awful.

Photo courtesy of Keith Allison.