Washington Redskins Season Preview

Sep 10, 2011

Redskins cheerleader ready for the 2011 season

Hopefully the team can do as well as the cheerleaders in 2011

Last year’s experiment known as the 2010 Washington Redskins landed with a resounding ‘thud’, with the drama surrounding Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth leading the way. The team, after years of being run (and coached) by people in over their heads, had to dig themselves out of a number of holes, and this season will be a referendum on the progress of the professionals and how far out of that hole they’ve been able to climb. Out with the amateurs (Jim Zorn, Vinny Cerrato, etc) and in with the long-established professionals (Mike Shanahan, Bruce Allen) brought a strange mix to the 2010 season. While the team made some roster turnover, they also brought in a veteran quarterback and the mix didn’t seem to work out. Along with their usual troubles on the offensive line, the team learned that their talent on defense was mediocre-to-awful. While the offense moved the ball and seemed better than in years past, neither Coach Shanahan was pleased with the results or the play of their new QB and benched him several times, culminating with an off-season trade of Donovan McNabb to the Vikings. So where does the team stand now, heading into the 2011 season opener?

The Redskins are sporting an unsettled quarterback situation, questions of depth along the offensive line, injury concerns on the defense — but a lot of optimism. After a rather shrewd off-season bringing in talent such as NT Barry Cofield, RB Tim Hightower, RB Roy Helo, LG Ryan Kerrigan, DE Stephen Bowe, FS O.J. Atogwe, and CB Josh Wilson the Redskins are poised to be an improving, younger, and emerging team in 2011…who will likely still miss the playoffs. Redskins fans would do well to remember the recent low points, and the giant hole this organization was in before the arrival of the twin-headed Allen/Shanahan monster, when evaluating where the club stands as the 2011 season progresses. The roster is clearly younger, more talented, less dramatic, more focused and on an upward trajectory. The development of young players, and the eventual attempts to answer the unsettled QB and depth situations, will determine if the 5 year plans of Shanahan and Bruce Allen bring happiness to Redskins fans, and this year is but an early step in the process.

Three Things to Like

Youth movement that fits: While the team still has it’s share of contributing veterans, the dramatic roster turnover of the last two years has left the team with better, younger, faster players across the roster. Much more significant, perhaps, is the fact that the team now has players who are better fits for their philosophies: athletic offensive linemen to run the zone-blocking scheme, linebackers with speed and athleticism who can fill multiple roles, a free safety with range and coverage skills that ideally can help pass coverage and allow strong safety LaRon Landry to shine, and perhaps best of all: actual, NFL-caliber, defensive linemen.
Defensive improvements: It’s no secret that the Redskins sported an awful defensive unit last season, one that sometimes seemed to have no shot at playing a quality 3-4 front and one that gave up way too many 3rd down conversions while causing too few turnovers. It begins with the defensive line, as NT Barry Cofield looked very capable in the pre-season of having a standout year. Watching the line of scrimmage was a shock, as the Redskins were no longer regularly collapsed backward 2-3 yards on running plans, and sported high motors in going after the QB in the passing game. The unit brought in new, NFL-caliber talent for defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and while there are still some needs, they should be able to improve greatly on last year’s 31st-ranked defensive unit.
Running game: The starters along the offensive line have shown in the pre-season that their run-blocking is going to be their strength. Multiple times linemen were downfield blocking linebackers and defensive backs, and opening up cutback lanes for runners who clearly fit this scheme such as Tim Hightower and rookie Roy Helu. The team is going to need to make conservative use of their passing game, and the running game looks capable of delivering enough body-blows to perhaps allow for the type of play-action, bootleg, misdirection passing game that will help in pass protection and in generating opportunities downfield.

Three things to fear

Offensive line depth: There is very little. The Redskins have almost nothing behind their starters, and the linemen they kept coming out of camp had very rocky showings in training camp and the pre-season. Unfortunately this is the area where one injury could cause a rash of problems and lead to a revisit of 2009 and (partly) 2010 where the line couldn’t protect, run block, or do anything well consistently.
The QB situation: As everyone in the NFL knows by now, the Redskins entered training camp with a “battle” between quarterbacks that seemingly only Mike and Kyle Shanahan believed in, and with Rex Grossman emerging as the winner it will be interesting to see to what degree the coaches were right. Most likely, Rex Grossman (or John Beck) will prove to be capable of directing the offense, and capable of making plays……while also producing their share of letdowns and poor showings that explain why most of the NFL has given up on (or never gotten into bed with) the Redskins starting QB options. Grossman (or Beck) will need their teammates functioning at a high level to be successful, and if any events (injuries, inconsistency, lack of production) cause the team to have to rely solely on the QB in high pressure situations the Redskins are in trouble.
Impatience: If this is a team trying to learn, and grow, and recover from an awful talent-drain and bad management for most of a decade then the Redskins could turn in a successful 2011 looking toward the future. If, however, anyone (especially owner Dan Snyder) grows impatient the season could spiral out of control quickly. This team will have its moments, both good and bad, and the coaches and players deserve the opportunity to play it out and move forward.

I think the Redskins will show they are a better squad than last season: their talent is better, their schemes are better, the quality of their effort will be better. Generally, they should show that they are two full seasons of turnover removed from being a member of the laughingstock, and a weak schedule will help the team improve on last seasons 6-10 record. However, the roster isn’t quite there, and the OL and QB situations in particular will lead to extreme bouts of inconsistency along with a defensive unit that will be improved, but certainly not elite. The Redskins will put together some good wins, but will struggle on the road and late in the season against playoff-bound teams and finish the season with an 8-8 record and a need to improve depth, and to find a long term solution at QB.

Award Predictions

Offensive MVP: Trent Williams. The passing game could feature two different starting quarterbacks over the year, and almost certainly will see running backs Tim Hightower, Roy Helu, and Ryan Torrain all garner significant carries (and yards) through a running-back-by-committee approach. A plethora of wide receiving options will make the position better than a year ago, but will not produce a standout elite level player. After a promising rookie season that brought with it bouts of inconsistency, Trent Williams will prove to have matured and dedicated himself and become the focal point of an improved, if thin, offensive line. Williams will provide consistent pass-protection, while showing an ability in the running game that will make him the team’s 2011 Offensive MVP.
Defensive MVP: Brian Orakpo. Defensive improvement for the Redskins is going to require a lot of pieces, especially along the defensive line and secondary, turning in improved performances over 2010. NT Barry Cofield, especially, has to play well for the team to have success on the defensive side of the ball. Overall, though, improved secondary play and defensive line play that makes teams actually have to concern themselves will combine to give Orakpo the time and ability to turn in a pro bowl season. Orakpo has shown his own improvement, now in his 2nd year in the 3-4 scheme, to shed blockers and know what he’s doing in pass coverage, and he’ll use those improved skills and opportunities provided by teammates to become the team’s 2011 Defensive MVP.
Special Teams MVP: Sav Rocca. Most Redskins fans would expect Brandon Banks to be named here, and while the return man is electric and a positive influence on the team overall, he is likely to be injured and miss games at some (possible multiple) point(s). With inconsistency likely to creep up around the offense, and the defense still trying to grow and learn together, Punter Sav Rocca will prove to be the Special Teams MVP. Rocca has shown a competent and strong leg, along with consistency and the ability to pin opponents deep in their own territory. There will be stretches this year where the defense has to keep the team in games long enough for the running game and quarterbacks to get it going, and Rocca will prove a huge field position weapon.

Game 1: Giants at Redskins, Sunday September 11th

The Giants arrive at Fedex Field this weekend a beat-up and downtrodden team, after suffering through the pre-season with a rash of injuries and inconsistent play. I think the Redskins will show more of their potential against their NFC East rival than they do their warts, and with various Giants defenders out will be able to move the ball well on offense. The running game will dominate in stretches, allowing the defense to stay off the field, and Grossman and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will be aggressive on early downs in the passing game but struggle in the red zone where the Giants have less field to cover. On defense, Eli Manning will put up some yards but miss some key throws and the Redskins won’t lay down against the Giants running game as they have in years past. Redskins 26, Giants 17.

Photos courtesy of Keith Allison and Tina Taylor