Washington Redskins Need Offensive Efficiency To Compete in Brutal NFC East

(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

It doesn't take a rocket scientist, or perhaps more appropriately, a sportswriter, to identify where the Washington Redskins were lacking last year. 

The opening night loss to the New York Giants, where the Redskins' offense looked borderline incompetent, may have been a tell-tale sign of where the 2008 season was  actually headed.

However, when Washington rattled off four consecutive wins following the 16-7 loss in the Meadowlands, including improbable road victories at Dallas and Philadelphia, people began to talk about them as a force to be reckoned with in the NFC East.

First year head coach Jim Zorn seemed to have all of the answers and the Redskins looked like a legitimate playoff team.  

But as ESPN's Chris Berman often quips, "Not so fast, my friend."  The lowly, winless St. Louis Rams came to FedEx Field in week six and brought Washington and its fan base back down to earth.

Long story short:  After a 6-2 start, the Redskins lost six of their last eight to finish in the cellar of the NFC East.

In my mind, one saying that rings true, year-in and year-out, is "defense wins football games."  So, when a football team finishes the season fourth in total defense, yet misses the playoffs, you have to find a place to point your finger.

In this case, it's easy: The Washington offense finished 28th in points scored, just a few behind the Detroit Lions, who you may know, didn't win a single football game last year. 

Defense can only do so much, and it just wasn't enough to overcome the absolute ineptitude of an offense that mastered the art of the three-and-out.

So, with the near-epic collapse in 2008 behind them, where are the 2009 Redskins headed? 

As a fan, I'm hopeful.  As a sportswriter, I'm cynical. 

So, here we go.

Can the Defense Be Even Better This Year?

I believe it can and will be.  People say Washington overpaid for Albert Haynesworth. Well, allow me to answer that with a question of my own.  How valuable is a dominant pass rush?

Just ask the 2007 New York Giants—the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.

We've already established that the Redskins' defense was very good last year.  Add a world-class pass rusher to the equation and we're talking  about a potentially dominant defense. Believe me, there's a huge difference between very good and dominant.

If Haynesworth plays as advertised, defensive ends Andre Carter, and an aging, hopefully healthy Phillip Daniels, will benefit greatly. 

The Redskins had only 24 sacks last year.  That number could double with the addition of Haynesworth.

Brian Orakpo, the 'Skins first-round draft pick, is a scary talent who is billed as a DE/LB hybrid.  The hope is that he will provide more play-making ability on an already stacked defense.  

The linebacker corps is highlighted by London Fletcher and his play-making ability.  He's 34-years old but flies around the football field like a rookie with something to prove.

Rocky McIntosh has been consistent, but hasn't lived up to the  high expectations of the No. 35 overall pick from the 2006 draft.  He could be geared for a breakout year.

With the departure of Marcus Washington, depth could be an issue at the LB position; thus why Orakpo may be undergoing a position change, but barring serious injuries, Fletcher and company should be solid.

The secondary now has a pass rush; that should make their job a whole lot easier, and turnovers should be a primary benefit.  Fred Smoot, Carlos Rogers, and DeAngelo Hall make up the best triumvirate of cover cornerbacks in the NFL.

LaRon Landry is one of the hardest hitting safeties in the game and has improved steadily in his young career.  Chris Horton was a seventh round steal last year.  It is scary to think how good he might be with a full season under his belt.

Washington has a playoff-caliber defense, there is no argument there.  They will keep this team in games in 2009 and may even win a few on their own; however, it takes a complete football team to make the playoffs in this league, and the Redskins need vast improvement on the other side of the ball.

Can the Offense Be Efficient and Opportunistic?

Well, if it isn't, there are two certainties:  Jim Zorn will be out of a job and Jason Campbell will be hitting the free agent highway.

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