Five Most Important Offseason Tasks For The Redskins

I told myself I'd wait until after the Super Bowl to write this, but its been awhile since I've written anything and I've got some time.

This promises to be an interesting offseason for the Redskins. Pretty much every position except tight and maybe linebacker and defensive tackle could use an upgrade. New philosophies on both sides of the ball should be implemented as well.

1. Get some offensive linemen

For the second offseason in a row, this is the most pressing issue. Our line is one year older and it's time for a major youth movement.

I was pleasantly surprised with the solid play of Derrick Dockery, and we need more players like him: solid, young, high-round talent. We need to stop trying to get successors for our aging line from late-round picks and undrafted players like Heyer and Rineheart. 

The Redskins should at least draft a tackle in the high rounds, and a guard woudn't hurt either. If the Skins get a shot at Russell Okung they should jump on it, and settling for Trent Williams woudn't be horrible either.

2. Young running back

Does Portis have a little juice left? Sure didn't seem like it last season, and we should at least have some insurance in case he struggles again.

Betts can be a solid back, but he's getting up there in years as well. The Redskins could really use a young, speedy back. As much as I love Rock Cartwright, his kick returns have been far from explosive, and if th Skins plan to start Devin Thomas next year, it would be better if he didn't have to return kicks.

Since our first round pick should be for the offensive line, Shanahan will have to use his celebrated skill of assesing running back talent. Joe McKnight, Dexter McCluster, and Joique Bell are all smart choices Shanahan could make in the later rounds.

Any of these players could both return kicks, act as a change-of-pace back, and maybe be a successor to Clinton Portis. I personally like McKnight a lot, but any of those guys would work.

3. Use Orakpo and Landry to full potential

I was not as harsh a critic of Blache as some. Even though fans were constantly complaining that he put his corners in deep zones too much (For those of you that hadn't noticed, whenever guys like Landry, Rogers, and even Hall and Doughty at times were in man-to-man coverage, they would get burned by stop-and-go and other double moves), you can't have it both ways.

As for Hanyesworth's whining, Hanyesworth has always been a player who whines when he struggles. Two legitimate complaints against Blache were his use of Orakpo and Landry.

While Orakpo was great at rushing the passer, he struggled in coverage. There was no excuse for him not to have his hand down on every third-and-five or more. Every opportunity where the Skins know a pass is coming, Orakpo has to be used.

Perhaps the greatest mystery of this team is Landry. He was considered a potential Pro Bowler coming into this season, and then tanked. He has got to be moved to strong safety or dropped. He was just plain awful.

4. Pursue a veteran free safety

The Redskins have a strange problem: They have three players who could start at strong safety, but lack a starter at free safety.

If one of the Skins current players had to move to free safety, I'd say Chris Horton would be worth a shot. He's fast, a ball-hawk, and unlike Landry, a sure tackler. That's a risk though, and it would be easier to grab a free safety going on the market this offseason.

The best free safties testing the market this offseason are probably Roman Harper, Antoine Bethea, and O.J Atogwe. One of our safties will probably have to be dropped or traded, and I think trading Landry is the smartest choice. He's not much better than Horton or Doughty and unlike them, the Skins might get a decent draft pick for Landry.

5. Decent quarterback

I would like to start by saying I think the Redskins should keep Campbell. This is a weak draft as far as quarterbacks and many teams would love to have Campbell behind center.

What I do think the Skins need is some insurance. Last season, when Campbell struggled, he was replaced with Todd Collins. Seeing Collins play made me realize that if Campbell struggles again, we need someone who can step in, and maybe even someone to threaten him in preseason.

As I said, this is a weak draft for quarterbacks and free agency would probably be the best strategy. Chad Pennington, Kellen Clemens, and maybe Charlie Batch are QBs the Redskins should pursue. They can push Campbell, and can at least not lose games if asked to replace Campbell.

These are just the biggest worries. A consistent possession receiver, depth at linebacker, and a vertical passing game would all be nice additions as well. Hopefully, whoever ends up calling the shots in Washington picks up on these needs, and addresses them before the season begins.