Washington Redskins

NFL Previews - Washington Redskins

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Washington Redskins 2007 Preview

(My Sportsbook) - Year three of the Joe Gibbs era, Mark II, was an unquestioned step back.

One year removed from delivering the Washington Redskins back to the postseason plateau, Gibbs' team reverted to its former losing ways, finishing as the 5-11 anchor of an otherwise strong NFC East.

The decision to use the inexperienced Jason Campbell was seen as a concession to the future, though ultimately, the young quarterback wasn't among the top reasons for the Skins' fall from grace.

Supposed defensive genius Gregg Williams must have sent his mastermind on vacation, as he was at the helm of a group that did basically nothing well from Week 1 through Week 17.

New offensive guru Al Saunders seemed to be grasping at straws for much of the year, succeeding only when he decided to give the football to backup running back Ladell Betts 20+ times a game. Saunders never figured out a way to get the football to his two best targets consistently, resulting in disappointing seasons for both wideout Santana Moss and tight end Chris Cooley.

Gibbs' top advisors have apparently made schematic and philosophical changes in the wake of the '06 debacle, which is handy, because the personnel is very much the same throughout the two-deep. There is little to suggest another renaissance is afoot in the nation's capital, though the Hall of Fame coach has previously quieted the naysayers during his career.

If Gibbs doesn't surprise the masses, impatient team owner Daniel Snyder could end the head coach's second era, closing what would be marked as a disappointing final chapter in the three-time Super Bowl winner's career.

The pressure is undoubtedly on Gibbs. How his charges react to that pressure will have everything to say about his future.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2007 edition of the Washington Redskins, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2006 RECORD: 5-11 (4th, NFC East)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2005, lost to Seattle, 20-10, in NFC Divisional Playoff

COACH (RECORD): Joe Gibbs (145-87 in 15 seasons with Redskins, 145-87 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Al Saunders

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Gregg Williams

OFFENSIVE STAR: Jason Campbell, QB (1297 passing yards, 10 TD, 6 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Sean Taylor, S (111 tackles, 1 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 4th rushing, 21st passing, 20th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 27th rushing, 23rd passing, 27th scoring

FIVE KEY GAMES: N.Y. Giants (9/23), at Green Bay (10/14), Philadelphia (11/11), at Dallas (11/18), Chicago (12/6)

KEY ADDITIONS: WR Corey Bradford (from Lions), T Jason Fabini (from Cowboys), OL Ross Tucker (from Browns), OL Will Whitticker (from Dolphins), MLB London Fletcher-Baker (from Bills), CB Fred Smoot (from Vikings), CB Jerametrius Butler (from Rams), CB David Macklin (from Cardinals), S LaRon Landry (1st Round, LSU), S Omar Stoutmire (from Saints)

KEY DEPARTURES: RB T.J. Duckett (to Lions, March 10), WR David Patten (to Saints), TE Christian Fauria (released), TE Brian Kozlowski (not tendered), T Jim Molinaro (to Cowboys), G Derrick Dockery (to Bills), LB Warrick Holdman (to Broncos), LB Jeff Posey (not tendered), CB Kenny Wright (to Browns), CB Troy Vincent (released), CB Mike Rumph (released), SS Adam Archuleta (to Bears), PK John Hall (released)

QB: After showing some encouraging signs in seven starts during 2006, third- year-pro Jason Campbell will be expected to help carry the Washington offense in his first full year as a starter. Campbell was just 2-5 in his seven outings, but threw at least one touchdown pass in every game and finished with a respectable 76.5 passer rating. Who will fill out the depth chart behind Campbell is an interesting summer storyline, as conventional wisdom has either 36-year-old Mark Brunell (1789 passing yards, 8 TD, 4 INT) or 35-year-old Todd Collins getting the boot. Collins, who hasn't started an NFL game since 1997, would seem the more natural choice to go. Casey Bramlet, who played well in NFL Europa this past season, could conceivably move as high as No. 2 on the depth chart. Sixth-round draft choice Jordan Palmer, the brother of Bengals QB Carson Palmer, appears headed for the practice squad.

RB: It looked bleak for the Redskins when Clinton Portis (523 rushing yards, 7 TD, 17 receptions) was lost for the year with hand and shoulder injuries in mid-November of last season, though his injury would have an effect on one of the silver linings of the team's campaign. Ladell Betts (1154 rushing yards, 53 receptions, 5 TD) played extremely well in Portis' place, churning out five consecutive 100-yard games and showing some talent in the receiving game as well. With Portis still bothered by shoulder problems early in training camp, don't bee surprised to see Betts' name atop the depth chart in Week 1. The battle for the No. 3 running back job will include holdover Rock Cartwright and Jets castoff Derrick Blaylock (44 rushing yards with the Jets). Cartwright, who has contributed on kickoff returns, would seem to have the edge there. Fullback Mike Sellers (51 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 1 TD) will be back to do the dirty work for Betts and Portis.

WR/TE: Most Washington fans were hoping that the team would address its underachieving wide receiver unit in the offseason, but for the most part, it didn't happen. Santana Moss (55 receptions, 6 TD) remains the team's No. 1 after a disappointing second season in Washington, and Gibbs is banking on somebody - be it Brandon Lloyd (23 receptions), Antwaan Randle El (32 receptions, 3 TD), James Thrash (12 receptions, 1 TD), or new acquisition Corey Bradford (14 receptions with Lions) - to step up and complement Moss. Lloyd, who did a complete disappearing act after being brought to D.C. in free agency prior to last season, is in major need of a bounce-back year. If the Skins keep six receivers, ex-Titan Jason McAddley could get a chance to contribute. The club's most reliable pass-catcher remains Chris Cooley (57 receptions, 6 TD), who shook off concerns about his adaptability in Al Saunders' offense by leading the team in receptions. Todd Yoder will appear when the team uses two-tight end sets, and the Skins are hoping that seventh- round draft choice Tyler Ecker can assist in that arena as well.

OL: Four-fifths of the Redskins' solid 2006 offensive line group are back in '07, with the only casualty being guard Derrick Dockery, now with the Bills. Left tackle Chris Samuels, center Casey Rabach, right guard Randy Thomas and right tackle Jon Jansen should all be back in the fold, though there was some concern early in camp about the sprained right MCL suffered by Samuels. If he is not ready for the season, ex-Cowboy and Jet Jason Fabini could be pressed into service on the left side. Expected to fill in for the departed Dockery is Todd Wade, who didn't exactly get high marks for his previous work with the Dolphins and Texans but will have to do. Either holdover Mike Pucillo or former Packers starter Will Whitticker will be brought into the fold if Wade fails. Also contending for a backup job will be Ross Tucker, who was last a starter with the Bills in 2004.

DL: The Redskins were the worst pass-rushing team in the league last year, managing just 19 sacks in a Gregg Williams-designed defense formerly known for its attacking capabilities. Free agent pickup Andre Carter (56 tackles, 6 sacks) was the symbol of that inadequacy, posting four of his team-best six sacks in December when the team was already in the tank. Fellow end Phillip Daniels (37 tackles, 3 TD) managed just three sacks one year after leading the team with eight. Despite those problems, Carter and Daniels will continue to line up on the outside, with Renaldo Wynn (15 tackles) and Demetric Evans (16 tackles, 2 sacks) backing them for a second straight year. The interior line also struggled in 2006, with Cornelius Griffin (50 tackles, 1 sack) experiencing a down year and Kedric Golston (44 tackles) and Joe Salave'a (18 tackles) failing to make much of an impact either. That group returns intact as well, and it is hoped that what should be an improved linebacking corps will take some of the pressure off. Second-year-pro Anthony Montgomery (9 tackles) has a chance to make the club as a fourth defensive tackle.

LB: Washington's biggest offseason move was securing the services of London Fletcher-Baker (146 tackles, 4 INT, 2 sacks), who will man a middle linebacker slot that was an Achilles heel a year ago. Fletcher-Baker's presence moves 2006 starter Lemar Marshall (104 tackles, 1.5 sacks) into a backup role, with second-year-pro Rocky McIntosh (28 tackles) slated for duty on the weak side and veteran Marcus Washington (86 tackles, 2.5 sacks) the strong. In addition to Marshall, the likes of holdover Khary Campbell (21 tackles) and rookies Dallas Sartz and H.B. Blades will be vying for reserve duties.

DB: Was it the terrible pass rush that helped lead to the Redskins' league-low six interceptions? Or was it the porous secondary that left receivers open and made life difficult for the pass rush? Doesn't matter, because together they were beyond terrible. Washington did some work to find secondary playmakers in the offseason, using the No. 6 pick in the draft on LSU's LaRon Landry and adding veterans Fred Smoot (61 tackles, 1 INT with the Vikings), David Macklin (34 tackles, 1 INT with the Cardinals), and Jerametrius Butler to the cornerback group. Landry should start opposite Sean Taylor at safety, while the three new corners will push probable starters Shawn Springs (38 tackles, 1 INT) and Carlos Rogers (79 tackles, 1 INT). The 32-year-old Springs, who was limited to eight starts due to injury last season, has been the subject of prevalent trade rumors throughout the offseason. Elsewhere on the backup front, cornerback Ade Jimoh (18 tackles) and safeties Vernon Fox (52 tackles, 1 INT), Reed Doughty (13 tackles), and Omar Stoutmire (56 tackles, 2 INT with the Saints) will have to prove themselves able to handle special teams duties.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The Skins enter the 2007 season with a fairly nondescript kicking game consisting of Shaun Suisham (8-9 FG) on kickoffs and placements and Derrick Frost (42.9 avg.) at punter. Don't be shocked if the team scans the waiver wire for potential replacements at either of these positions. The long snapper will again be 13-year-vet Ethan Albright. Look for either holdover Rock Cartwright (24.1 avg., 1 TD) or newcomer Derrick Blaylock to take care of kickoff returns, with the ever-dangerous Antwaan Randle El (8.8 avg., 1 TD) fielding punts.

PROGNOSIS: If ever there was a time for Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to go on one of his patented buying binges, it was this past offseason. Washington was hopelessly inept in the areas of pass rushing, run-stopping, and secondary playmaking last year, yet added only an aging middle linebacker (Fletcher- Baker) and a rookie safety (Landry) to the defensive mix. It is doubtful that the play of that pair will cure all ills. Things are more encouraging on offense, where there is a promising young quarterback and good potential for the running game, but the lack of a bona fide No. 2 receiver remains a glaring weakness. In a division that once again figures to be among the best in football, the question "Who ya gonna beat?" once again stares Gibbs in the face. And the realistic answer comes back, "Not enough people to keep Mr. Snyder happy." The Redskins will finish no better than third in the NFC East, and are the odds-on favorite for last place.

August 3, 2007, at 03:21 PM ET

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