What Washington Redskins Can Do This Offseason to Ensure a Playoff Push in 2015

How can you fix a team with as many problems as the Washington Redskins have heading into the offseason? The first step is identifying the problems followed by taking the proper action to remedy the issue in a way that benefits everyone involved.

For the Redskins, it is possible for them to rebound from an awful 4-12 season to push for the playoffs in 2015 provided they follow several easy steps this offseason.

For some perspective, the Redskins won their division in 2012 with a roster that was largely similar to the current one. Yes, there were different coaches, some different players, but it was largely the same core that went on a seven-game winning streak to win the NFC East and clinch a playoff berth.

For the Redskins to make a playoff push, surprising and unlikely though it may be, they need to do a few things this offseason.

Promote A.J. Smith to GM

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Bruce Allen is not the right general manager for the Redskins. He does great things with the cap, but he is not a player/personnel GM, which is precisely what the Redskins need.

A.J. Smith, who is currently a senior executive with the Redskins, has experience being in charge of player/personnel decisions and should be promoted.

While it may be more of a long-term move when all is said and done, promoting Smith means the Redskins will have someone who can target the right prospects, pinpoint the right free agents and hire the right coaches to turn the dysfunctional team into a potential playoff contender.

It was just two years ago that the Redskins made the playoffs with largely the same roster. Granted they've got a new head coach, but they have pieces who can be used to keep the ship afloat for a wild-card run in 2015.

More than anything, promoting Smith puts in place a stable presence to whom everything can be traced back to. Smith is accountable for his coaches, his players, everything.

Accountability is something Allen lacks because he is ultimately not a decision-maker, and he is certainly not cut out for such a role.

Upgrade the Offensive Line with 2 Moves

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Washington needs to draft Iowa tackle Brandon Scherff to fill the right tackle position and then make a play for Mike Iupati in free agency to shore up the interior at either guard spot. Neither Shawn Lauvao nor Chris Chester impressed with his play this season, and that amplified the offensive line issues.

The first pick in the draft absolutely has to be an offensive lineman. It isn't a sexy pick, but the Redskins can't afford that right now.

As for Iupati, he is likely to be one of the marquee free-agent linemen this offseason, so he may come at a high cost. That said, he's an excellent run-blocker and a solid pass-blocker, though he could stand to improve the latter.

With Scherff having the traits of an instant starter, as well as being an absolutely relentless monster, and Iupati shoring up the interior, the offensive line becomes infinitely better.

It makes life easier for whoever ends up under center, as well as helping Alfred Morris' return to being productive on the ground.

Fix the Problem at Free Safety

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The Redskins are no longer crippled by their lack of a first-round pick. With their first pick sure to be dedicated to drafting a tackle, they can focus on fixing the secondary in the second or third rounds.

Phillip Thomas can play either safety spot and has shown enough in limited action to make strong safety Brandon Meriweather expendable. Thomas is not the liability in coverage or the poor tackler Meriweather has proved himself to be.

That means the 'Skins need to look for a free safety, someone with range and decent ball skills.

Someone like Jaquiski Tartt, who plays for Samford University, is an intriguing prospect. He can make the big hits without missing the tackle in the process.

There are flashes of Sean Taylor in his game, but he's flat-out talented and could be a steal in the draft.

If nothing else, the Redskins can move either DeAngelo Hall or David Amerson to free safety. The former is a veteran presence and is better in coverage than any of the safeties the Redskins have fielded in the past several years.

The latter has struggled as a corner and may need the freedom of being a free safety to unlock his potential.

Regardless of how they solve the problem, any of those options make the Redskins better in the secondary, which was a major issue in 2014.

Hire a New Defensive Coordinator

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The firing of their current defensive coordinator is implicit, but it should be stated clearly. The Redskins need to fire Jim Haslett.

The Redskins have finished 31st, 13th, 28th, 18th and 20th in defense in Haslett's five years as defensive coordinator.

The defense gave up 27.4 points per game this season, which means the offense was never in a position to get in a rhythm. It had to play catch up because it was always playing from behind.

Haslett has had ample opportunities to turn his unit around, but it seems like one step forward and four steps back week to week.

How can he apply heavy pressure to the 6-1 Dallas Cowboys, who were red-hot in through September and October, but follow it up with light pressure against the 3-5 Minnesota Vikings and their rookie quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater?

Without going into the myriad of reasons Haslett should be fired, the point remains—he needs to go.

Since the Redskins already run a 3-4 scheme, someone like Wade Phillips would be able to come in and whip the defense into shape. There would be no messy transition period of learning a new scheme and finding all the right personnel.

If the defense can go from atrocious to even average next season, the Redskins increase their chances of winning exponentially. 

Re-Sign Ryan Kerrigan; Do Not Re-Sign Brian Orakpo

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There was a myth floating around that Ryan Kerrigan's success was directly tied to Brian Orakpo going up against some of the best tackles in the NFL on the left side. Kerrigan has 13.5 sacks this season, seven of which came after Orakpo landed on injured reserve for the second time in three seasons.

Kerrigan is a budding star, and the Redskins drafted Trent Murphy as an insurance policy for Orakpo's departure.

This season provided ample reason to re-sign Kerrigan, who is still working on his rookie contract, and let Orakpo walk in free agency.

Some may argue that Orakpo is worth giving another shot since his injury history means his asking price can't be too steep, but he is not worth the investment. He has not progressed as a pass-rushing linebacker, nor has he lived up to his draft status.

With two relentless pass-rushers in Kerrigan and Murphy on the edges, Orakpo is too expensive of an option given his injuries and the attitude that he has nothing to prove.

No player, regardless of how much he has done in the NFL, should ever lack something to prove.

Orakpo didn't factor into the poor defensive showing this year, and he didn't do anything to improve it last season when he started 15 games.

Hire a Quarterbacks Coach

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There is no denying that the quarterback position needs to be upgraded this offseason. At this point, there are three potential starters with varying potential, each of whom needs to put in work on his mechanics and his approach to the game.

Robert Griffin III may need it more than Kirk Cousins or Colt McCoy, but a quarterbacks coach is sorely needed to sort out the situation under center.

Griffin needs someone who can improve his mechanics, get him to study film and progress as a quarterback and a professional. As it stands, Griffin doesn't look like he puts in time in the film room, and his private quarterback coach, Terry Shea, has done little to help him in any way, shape or form

This doesn't just help Griffin; it helps everyone on offense.

Jay Gruden no longer has to be the only voice in Griffin's ear telling him what he did wrong. There is a specialized coach doing that, helping Griffin understand or echoing the things Gruden and his staff are preaching.

If nothing else, a quarterbacks coach can bring the best out of Cousins, working out the kinks in his pro-ready skill set.