Bleacher Report - Articles by Jack Anderson

Despite Gutsy Effort, Redskins Unable To Kick Their Way Past Dallas

Jack Anderson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:35:09 -0500

Yesterday's Redskins-Cowboys game was the first since Week One that I anticipated. And for three-and-a-half periods, it appeared my excitement may have been validated.

Then Shaun Suisham happened. Suisham came into the game perfect on all 12 of his field goal attempts. He left the game having missed two and a big reason why the 'Skins found themselves on the losing end of a 7-6 score to the Cowboys.

Now, don't get me wrong, the offense wasn't exactly piling on the points, but they controlled the ball in the second half with the scrubs in the game.

Think about it: In a defensive battle, the Redskin offense had four scoring opportunities to the Cowboys' two. The 'Skins were solid punting the ball and moved it enough to keep field position balanced.

They played a sound game with the likes of Rock Cartwright handling the ball. Jason Campbell was protected by Edwin Williams, Levi Jones, and Stephon Heyer—none of them exactly starter material.

With those guys, the Redskins gave up just one sack. Sure, they couldn't protect well enough for Campbell to open it up downfield, but they gave him time to make big third-down throws as Campbell went 13-13 on his third-down attempts.

Overall, Washington went 7-15 on third-down conversions, but it was a big 3rd-and-2 with around five minutes left in the game that they wished they could have back.

Campbell lined up in the shotgun with Cartwright next to him on the Cowboy 32. He handed it to him on a draw, which was stuffed, forcing Suisham to come out for a 50-yard FG. Suisham missed, and the Cowboys scored on their ensuing possession to take the lead.

The play call was questionable, but a good kicker would have made that kick. It was indoors, and it wasn't even with the game on the line. And Suisham missed it.

Zorn was criticized by fans for not taking a shot to the end zone with 15 seconds left in the first half. He went for the 39-yarder instead of taking a chance. I liked that call, and so did Redskins Insider front man, Jason Reid, who said:

Quarterback Jason Campbell probably had one of the best performances of his career while dealing with constant pressure. He made many impressive throws on the move, but the pressure was there. Zorn simply did not want to risk Campbell being sacked, which could have knocked the Redskins out of Suisham's range. And Suisham had made his first 13 attempts.

So considering the shaky pass protection and Suisham's accuracy until Sunday (he also missed a 50-yard attempt), I didn't have a problem with Zorn's decision.

Not a banner day for the offense, but, considering the personnel on the field, I'd call it a great effort spoiled by a pair of botched kicks.

Deangelo Hall's Play is a Microcosm of Redskins' Performance as a Team

Jack Anderson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:14:50 -0500

Deangelo Hall was the only Washington Redskins player interested in fireworks, and they weren't even the right kind.

Hall got into it with his former team on their own sideline, prompting Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith to exchange words with Hall. Smith also appeared to physically pull Hall out of the scrum.

Hall accused Smith of "putting his hands on me," and, "cussing me out" following the game.

It doesn't get much more pathetic than this, but then again the 'Skins find ways to sink to new lows every week.

Hall hasn't been one of the better acquisitions the 'Skins have made this decade. Considering their horrible track record, that's saying something.

Hall is soft in coverage and lax in tackling, and this incident will undoubtedly make him a laughingstock.

A once-promising young corner who has lost his ability and is now spiraling toward the end of a disappointing career. Hall may be 25, but his shelf life is drying up with each passing game.

This scuffle doesn't help matters. Hall made this past week all about him and his emotions concerning his return to Atlanta.

The scrum wasn't even his battle, but he got into it just the same. Then to whine to the NFL because there was some pushing, shoving, and...gasp...cursing?

Now I've been to my fair share of sports events, and heard my fair share of swearing. Colorful language and sports go hand in hand. Hall is just looking for something to gripe about, but it will backfire.

Washingtonians don't want to see sensitive football players. They just want winners. Hall certainly doesn't play like a winner and his latest comments make him appear pretty damn sensitive.

Hall isn't making any new fans these days and neither is his team. Hall's play reflects the effort put in by the whole team, which isn't positive.

Coming off a bye, the 'Skins put up three points in the first half against the 31st-ranked pass defense in the NFL. They tried to make it interesting in the second half, but the defense was unable to stop Michael Turner.

The Redskins have consistently been in the top five against the run, but this season they are ranked just 25th and on Sunday, they surrendered 6.7 YPC and 181 total rushing yards.

The tackling is woeful, and the basic defensive fundamentals are lacking. The 'Skins have seemingly lost their will to play.

Don't let the No. 1 pass defense fool you. The 'Skins have faced a string of mediocre QBs, and success on the ground has made it pointless for opposing teams to throw.

And can one blame the defense for struggling? The offense has given up two defensive TDs early in the past two games, and put up just 13 first-half points in the process of those two games. That doesn't inspire aspirations of greatness.

So needless to say, things aren't pretty in DC. The team doesn't seem to have much of a core group and the coaching situation is bleak.

Dan Snyder is doing his best Darth Vader impersonation and the Redskins are well on their way to a 2-14 season. Good times in our nation's capital.

The Worst Team In the NFL?: Skins, Say It Ain't So

Jack Anderson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:21:15 -0400

As the Washington Redskins head into their bye week at a lowly 2-5, they have some heavy criticism to ponder.

Jason Smith of ESPN Radio sounded off on the Redskins following an abysmal Monday Night performance against Philly.

"The Redskins are the worst franchise in football...They have become a punchline."

Smith went on to describe how the other bottom-feeders have it better than the 'Skins.

While I believe we have the talent to regroup and be a contender in a few years (if we stick to a solid plan that relies on the draft), Smith is right about one thing.

This year, there might not be a team as bad as the Washington Redskins. Nothing goes right for them. Momentum is never sustained, they don't play well with the lead, and they don't know how to bounce back from adversity. The list is endless.

Still I look at the front seven on defense, and there is hope. This front seven is really good. They are beginning to establish a strong pass rush, they control the line of scrimmage, and they hit well.

That's something to build around. Unfortunately, that's the only bright spot, and it doesn't hide the poor play from the rest of the team.

Yet Smith might have gone overboard by proclaiming the 'Skins to be in the worst shape of any team in the NFL. The Rams and Buccaneers both lost to Washington and have looked downright awful. In fact, they have even fewer prospects than the Redskins do.

Conversely, the 'Skins have a payroll that dwarfs those of the other NFL doormats. They have signed big-name players and given fans big-time expectations in the process. The results haven't lived up to the yearly hype.

Just three playoff appearances in 10 years and only one postseason win (17-14 over Tampa, savor that 'Skins fans). That isn't exactly good.

Smith brought up a valid point. Considering the Redskins make more moves and spend more money than every team in the NFL, their 2-5 record this year (along with their horrid overall performance) might just make them the worst team in the NFL this year. If not, then they are certainly the biggest punchline.

This is a dark year for D.C. football, and finally the fans have had enough. They want blood. Not just Jim Zorn's blood, they want Vinny Cerrato's. tThey want Dan Snyder's.

Of course, Snyder is censoring the mob by banning all signs from Fedex Field for the rest of the season. I guess it makes sense. Only Snyder would spit in the face of the fans who keep him in business.

This organization is in shambles from the top down, and the fans are catching on after 10 painful seasons. Unless they get quick results in the next few years, the seats at Fedex could be pretty empty on Sundays.

Smith saw it plain as day on Monday. The Redskins were unmasked to the nation as a bunch of clueless, uncaring clowns in cleats.

Until the 'Skins shake off the stench of mediocrity, that's all they'll ever be.

The Washington Redskins First Quarter Review

Jack Anderson — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:53:50 -0400

We have made it through the first quarter of the NFL regular season, and there's quite a bit to analyze when it comes to the Washington Redskins. Little of what we've seen has been positive, much has been disappointing.

Some of the stats are misleading. The 'Skins are fourth against the pass, but they haven't been nearly that good. And they have yet to play a good QB after Eli Manning dissected them in Week One.

The offense is ranked 15th in total offense, with 325.2 yards per game, and yet when it comes to scoring points they rank 27th, with just 14 points per game.

The defense only gives up 16.8 first downs per game (only eight teams are better). However, they have surrendered first downs on 43 percent of all third down conversions (eighth worst in the NFL).

The 'Skins are also losing the time of possession battle. They allow opposing offenses to control the ball for an average of about 32 minutes per game.

The time of possession battle is a big one for the Redskins. Their offense needs the ball a ton in order to generate scoring. Without establishing a rhythm, most offenses sputter. This one is non-existent.

Two things kill momentum and rhythm more than anything else. Turnovers, and not possessing the ball. The 'Skins have struggled in both areas. They have turned the ball over seven times through four games, and Jason Campbell has fumbled the ball a total of seven times (two lost).

So to improve their fortunes, the 'Skins have to make the following adjustments:

1. Get The Defense Off The Field

The defense isn't playing up to par. They aren't aggressive enough, and they don't play with much swagger. They show a lack of discipline in zone coverage, and haven't controlled the line of scrimmage consistently.

Look no further than their 22nd ranked run defense. They have given up 512 yards at 4.3 yards per clip, well above last year's average YPC. For those of you keeping score at home that's 128 rushing yards per game.

That kind of run defense isn't going to allow you to control the football. The front seven has some work to do.

2. Protect The Ball And QB

Jason Campbell is in a shaky state right now. The coaching staff has little confidence in him, and every mistake just makes the playcalling that much more conservative.

Campbell hasn't been great with the ball in his hand this season. His seven fumbles are an NFL high, and in 2007 he had the same problem (eight fumbles lost).

Even if the 'Skins can recover the fumbles, the play is still wasted, and yards are still lost. That's unacceptable, considering the offense has enough moving the chains from ten yards away.

Part of that is due the offensive line. The line is beat up, and several players are new to the starting lineup. This leads to some issues in protection as the line has given up eight sacks on Campbell.

Still, the line isn't as bad as last year, and I see this line as a group of overachievers thus far. So the emphasis is really on Campbell to protect the ball.

If the 'Skins continue to turn the ball over, you can say goodbye to any shot at winning the time of possession battle, let alone getting into a rhythm. Things are just too uneven, and that leaves little margin for error.

3. Create Sacks And Turnovers

Coming into the year, many thought our offense was bad, but no one criticized the defense. Little did we know the 'Skins defense wasn't going to live up the hype.

Fortunately, defensive coordinator Greg Blache has 12 more games to pull it together. He has a lot of work to do.

For starters, the defense is ranked 12th (and that's only due to the inflated pass defense ranking). That might seem ok, but the defense made upgrades after finishing fourth last year. So it isn't so good.

Now I'd settle for a Top-15 defense if it meant we were flying around, creating turnovers, and generating a consistent pass rush. We aren't.

This little stat says it all. Just 7.38 percent of opposing team's pass plays end in a sack or INT. That's 20th best in the league. That's not what Dan Snyder was hoping for when he inked Deangelo Hall and Albert Haynesworth.

So that's what the 'Skins need to improve. Trust me there's more (like scoring in the red zone, establishing the run, fixing up playcalling, and scoring in general), but we've been over it quite a bit.

What about the positives you ask? Well there's a young nucleus forming on defense.

Bookends at DE. Brian Orakpo and Jeremy Jarmon both have been great the past few weeks. Orakpo has a pair of sacks while Jarmon has one and a forced fumble. If Haynesworth sticks around a full four years, that defensive line might shape up.

Also, the 'Skins have seen solid play from Chris Horton at SS. I know he has been inconsistent in pass coverage, but it's just his second year, and he's a great tackler.

Rocky McIntosh, Hall, Carlos Rogers, and Laron Landry might all turn out to be core players as well, but I really think a more aggressive approach would suit them. Landry has big play capability, but Blache's schemes limit that. I know I hate on Hall, but he gets INTs which is something the rest of the Redskins secondary doesn't do.

Justin Tryon and Kevin Barnes are two other young CBs with potential. Tryon finally had a big game last week, notching a sack at nickel corner, while Barnes is a rookie who will be a physical CB in a few years.

With the defense showing some promise, the pressure is on the offense. What is there to salvage as a positive?

Antwaan Randle El has been solid from the slot with 13 catches for 158 yards. Most of his production was from the first two weeks (ARE was held without a grab last week), but he has still shown an ability to get open and gain some yardage after the catch.

However, the lack of a true number two is plaguing Campbell. Santana Moss has stepped it up, but we all know he is an inconsistent receiver at the number one spot. Malcolm Kelly has been a big disappointment and Devin Thomas doesn't fit either.

So what about Marko Mitchell? The guy was the best player in the preseason, and he has size, speed, and toughness. With the lack of production we are seeing from Kelly, I don't see how Jim Zorn has anything to lose by playing Mitchell.

But getting back to the positives (hard to find them on this offense), Chris Cooley is yet again the only solid threat week in, and week out. And still, the coaching staff fails to pick up on this and use him often in the red zone.

Cooley, in the seam, from 15 yards out. We saw in New York and we saw it last week. It works.

Another thing I like is the 'Skins trying to establish the short to intermediate passing game to set up the run. They did it in Detroit and it worked well save for the fact they couldn't finish in the red zone, and didn't run it enough in the second half when the box was opening up. But that's a start.

If the 'Skins can control the clock in the first half through the air and keep it close, the running game will be there in the second half. That is when the box opens up and defenses wear down.

Through the first quarter of the season, the football hasn't been pretty, but somehow Washington sits at 2-2. They have a few more soft opponents and then embark on a rough journey through the NFC East and NFC South.

I'm not expecting much from the 'Skins. They haven't played well yet, and both wins were against the dregs of the league by the skin of their teeth.

Despite this gloomy outlook, I desperately want see some intensity. The team is going through the motions right now, and that reflects on the entire franchise. The coaching staff needs to find a way to be more motivational so these guys will play with some pride.

If that happens, we could end up pleasantly surprised come January.

The Redskins are 2-2, but It's Still Too Early to Consider Them Playoff Material

Jack Anderson — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:00:29 -0400

The Buccaneers came into Washington DC on Sunday, looking for their first win of the 2009 NFL season. And they damn near got it.

Tampa Bay dominated the first half en route to a 10-0 lead while the Redskins offense sat back and waited for the boo birds to come out. By halftime they were in full swing.

The ‘Skins managed to silence the boos with 16 points in the third quarter, and held on to win 16-13. However, it was anything but sweet.

The Redskins performance was uneven once again. And considering they were playing another terrible football team, it’s beginning to look like the offense might never take off.

The running game averaged under four yards a carry again (3.6) while the average yards per play wasn’t much better (4.6). Turnovers also caused problems in the first half as Jason Campbell fumbled once to go along with a pair of INTs. He threw another in the second half as well.

Turnovers aren’t one of the usual issues as the ‘Skins take a very conservative approach in the passing game, but so far this season the Redskins have turned the ball over seven times (two fumbles and five INTs). For a team that struggles with scoring, the ‘Skins can’t afford many games like yesterday’s.

Some good news was the emergence of the defense. After sleepwalking through the first three weeks, they came to play albeit against an anemic Buccaneers offense.

The defense got off the field consistently on third downs. The Bucs converted on just 2-13 third down attempts and managed just 12 first downs.

No-namer Josh Johnson was kept in check as he threw for just 106 yards on the day. Giving up 106 yards through the air sounds good, but when you’re giving up 106 yards passing to Josh Johnson, it’s tough to tell if it means much.

The run defense again was lacking. The Bucs amassed 129 yards rushing with a 4.2 yard average. That needs to stop.

What puzzles me is that the Redskins have returned most of their defensive line along with the Albert Haynesworth upgrade and yet this is the worst they have been against the run in the past decade save for 2006. How does that work?

Further adding to the pitfalls of signing high priced free agents was the play of draft picks Jeremy Jarmon and Brian Orakpo. The two rookies made key plays yesterday. Jarmon forced a fumble on the Bucs final drive to seal the game while Orakpo notched a sack in his second straight game.

When will the front office learn that building through the draft is the correct method in building a winning franchise? You get players right out of college and are able to teach them how to play in the NFL. They don’t come with any preconceived notions. They learn how to play Redskins Football before they go anywhere else. Jarmon and Orakpo are both a testament to the importance of the draft.

Another key player was Reed Doughty who came in for Chris Horton at starting strong safety. I was surprised by the move, but I believe it was largely due to his gaffe in coverage last week against the Lions. Doughty is stronger against the pass and Horton is still valuable as a reserve. Expect to see both rotate in on defense.

Elsewhere, Santana Moss made his annual big play. Now it’s time for him to hibernate for the next month or so. He was the only WR to catch a pass yesterday. His 6-5 counterpart, Malcolm Kelly, has just six catches for 65 yards on the season.

Kelly has such size, but it all goes to waste due to his inability to get any separation from defensive backs. He doesn’t seem to realize his potential with all that size. The guy could be a redzone nightmare if he put his mind to it and discovered his tools.

Chris Cooley remains the only consistent threat on offense this year. With Portis struggling to kick it in gear, Cooley is the go-to-guy for Campbell. Jim Zorn needs remember to utilize Cooley in the redzone where Cooley has been finding the seam thus far.

Zorn desperately wants to see improvement and you can tell he is trying to shake things up, but his fear of turnovers really limits how aggressive he can be. Sure, the ‘Skins won, but the offense only showed up for a quarter of play. That won’t win you games against most teams. Especially with a suddenly porous defense.

The schedule has a few more freebies coming up, but once the ‘Skins plunge into the thick of November, tune-up time is over. It’s now or never for this team that has so far been one, big bust.

With Backs to the Wall, Jim Zorn and Washington Need to Floor It vs. Tampa Bay

Jack Anderson — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:15:30 -0400

With a veritable firestorm surrounding head coach Jim Zorn following the Redskins 19-14 loss to the Lions, it's time for him to take a long, hard look at his formula because something is obviously not clicking.

The offense has stalled at all the wrong times while the defense isn't even close to being as good as advertised. Special teams? Well at least Hunter Smith is punting.

The coaching staff hasn't been very prepared to say the least. Their psyche is anything but stable at the moment and you can see it with their conservative approach. They are so scared of blowing opportunities that they don't even create them. One thing goes wrong and the team packs up for the day.

That kind of gameplan may keep things close, but it doesn't lead to the playoffs. It leads to 8-8—or worse.

So Zorn needs to make a move and get serious. His back is against the wall, and now he knows it could be only a matter of weeks before he's shown the door.

Usually teams will rally during the toughest times, but the Redskins don't seem to fit the prototype. They remind me of a team that gets slammed through the wall.

Zorn isn't winning any popularity contests with his most important players (Jason Campbell and Clinton Portis) and that won't help the lethargic locker room. He needs to find something to jolt this team out of its coma...and fast.

His defense, expected to be the anchor, has been floundering all season. They are ranked 15th, giving up 325.7 yards per game. In addition, they can't get off the field early in games, which cause two problems.

First, it keeps the offense from establishing its gameplan early; something that happened in the Giants game. With the way this offense has struggled, the defense can't let opposing offenses sustain so many first half drives.

Secondly, it leads to a deficit in time of possession, which wears out the defense late in games. We saw this in the Lions' games as the defense couldn't come with key stops on Detroit's final two drives.

Opposing offenses have converted 51 percent of their third down opportunities against the Redskins, which is a league worst. And Washington's defense has been on the field for an average of 32:41 a game (good for seventh most in the NFL).

Individual play hasn't been much better on defense. Albert Haynesworth has freed up London Fletcher, but other than that has done very little. In fact, the entire front four has struggled to stop the run on first down.

The 'Skins are 22nd against the run, and have surrendered 100-yard rushing games to two backs in the past two games. That a huge dropoff from the top-five run defenses of the past few years.

The secondary is 11th against the past, but they have left plenty to be desired. DeAngelo Hall has been beaten routinely while aside from Chris Horton, the other defensive backs have been lackluster.

The defense has been incredibly disappointing thus far and yet I see it as being the fault of Greg Blache.

Blache's gameplan has failed to utilize the Redskins strengths. They don't blitz off the edge and they fail to shoot the gaps. Tackling is non-existent while the coverage schemes are soft.

Defense has been the Redskins' bread and butter for years. For a solid turnaround, Zorn needs the defense to play more aggressively, and Blache needs to be the one to make that happen.

Offensively, Zorn simply has to go for broke.

He is scared to let Campbell run the offense in the redzone. And it shows.

Two 4th-and-goals from inside the five. Two stretch plays? That's the worst play in the book in a short yardage situation. It takes light years to develop and the blocking must be flawless.

If you don't want Campbell to throw it, at least give the running game a chance up the middle. Better yet, throw it.

Zorn might be scared to throw because of dropped passes, but it's worse getting stuffed on 4th-and-short multiple times.

So the offense can move the ball at will, but if they can't get over the hump in the redzone, that's not much of a positive.

They have strengths. They do a good job establishing the short to intermediate passing game at some points. However, they don't utilize the running game once the passing game starts clicking.

Throughout the second half the Lions were respecting the Redskin WRs. The box was less cluttered, meaning there was running room for Clinton Portis. However, the 'Skins only handed him the ball 12 times on the game.

Portis isn't the back he once was, but with just seven in the box, he can wear down defenses while taking pressure off of Campbell. Zorn failed to realize this last Sunday.

As far as the passing game is concerned, the 'Skins have done a miserable job getting the ball consistently to Chris Cooley. He disappears in long stretches, and they never use him in the redzone (aside from that one halfback option pass...yuck).

So things aren't too hot for the 'Skins as they prepare to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. However, Zorn has caught a break as he is taking on a team with even more problems than his Redskins.

Still, he can't breathe easily, another loss will up the pressure that much more.

Time to dig deep. Time to just win.

Redskins Have Some Kinks to Work Out; Rams and Lions Will Help with Ironing

Jack Anderson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:14:52 -0400

Not much changed for the Redskins during the offseason. Sure, on paper maybe, but not on the playing field.

Play calling was a nightmare. Offensively, Jim Zorn pushed the panic button after a pair of first half gaffes by Jason Campbell. Apparently no one told him you have to be aggressive when trailing.

Zorn seemed content to play it safe and run the ball on first and second downs repeatedly. Of course, that set up a ton of third and longs, putting Campbell in more difficult passing situations than had he been throwing in on first and second.

I don't think Zorn comprehends that his job is on the line. Playing conservatively when down 10 points doesn't save head coaching jobs in the NFL.

Zorn has two weeks worth of cream puffs to get down and dirty. He can't play it close to the vest against Detroit and St. Louis. He needs to get the offense in motion, and they need to steamroll these teams.

If the offense squeaks out victories against the Lions and Rams (or worse, loses), they will have failed to gain some much-needed confidence. These two weeks can provide the shot in the arm the offense requires.

The checklist should read as follows.

1. Use the passing game to set up the run.

The 'Skins had a lot of success with this scheme last year as it kept extra defenders out of the box. By the end of the game, Clinton Portis had plenty of room to operate.

When Portis gets going, the chains move and defenses wear down. Establish the passing game and the box will open up.

2. Find a possession receiver.

Malcolm Kelly deserves another shot, but it's beginning to look like the 'Skins might have missed on all three of their second round draft picks in 2008.

Kelly has the size to be dominant, but his effort last week was lackluster. He didn't show much burst, and his route running was not up to par. He'll need to get open if he wants to put up numbers.

3. Win the time of possession battle.

The offense can do nothing if it doesn't get on the field and find its rhythm.

In the first half against the Giants, Washington controlled the ball for under 10 minutes. You can't establish your game plan if you don't touch the ball. By the time the 'Skins got a decent shot, they were down 17-0.

4. No early turnovers.

Obviously, the turnovers played a factor. Back-to-back drives early in the game ended in turnovers, and that really ruined any shot the Redskins had at establishing themselves.

Turnovers are never good, but if they occur in the opening stages of the game, they can be devastating. Zorn must stress avoiding them so the team can preserve time of possession and field position.

This two-week period will determine how far this offense can go in 2009. They sorely need a boost, and the Rams and Lions fit the bill to remedy their offensive woes.

If Zorn can get his offense going in the next 14 days, it will go a long way toward making the playoffs and saving his job.

For the Redskins' Defense, It's Time to be Aggressive

Jack Anderson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:39:46 -0400

Following an uninspiring performance from last year's No. 4 defense in a 23-17 loss to the New York Giants, it's time for Greg Blache to take a long, hard look at his scheme.

Soft coverage on third downs kept the defense on the field while the blitz schemes were anything but imaginative. Missed tackles plagued the defense along with an average performance in the trenches.

Say what you will about the offense being at fault for the large gap in time of possession, but it was the defense that failed to force a punt in the first half. It was also the defense that allowed the Giants to convert 46 percent of their third down opportunities.

This defense, so highly touted coming into the season, looked downright ordinary. But why? With all the star power it's hard to come up with excuses.

My first stone cast at DeAngelo Hall. He signed a big deal in the offseason, and played well below his potential. He gave up numerous big plays in key situations against receivers who lined up both out wide and in the slot. His interception came solely from a smart play by LaRon Landry who tipped the ball after Hall was beaten over the middle.

Speaking of Landry, he didn't play well either. Landry leaves his feet far too much going for the big hit and was step behind in coverage. Poor tackling technique from the whole secondary led to missed tackles throughout the game.

However, the biggest problem is the playcalling. Blache didn't make the most of his talent, and that must change quickly.

The 'Skins have never been an aggressive defense, but this year they are equipped to be. Instead, Blache employed a lot of soft zone coverage, which Eli Manning picked apart.

Hall is certainly a weak link in either zone or man. He is fine against the deep ball, but doesn't give much of an effort on short and intermediate routes. The 'Skins would be better suited to playing a press man coverage as it would allow Landry to play more aggressively. Playing so far back limits his playmaking skills and doesn't allow him to freelance.

Another issue is that Blache's blitz schemes consist of sending extra bodies simply for the sake of it. There's no rhyme or d reason to his blitz packages; they aren't staggered or mixed. Two or three extra defenders simply run right into the interior of the line.

That's it. No attempt to find the gaps or establish an edge rush; just an occasional dash into the center of the line. That's too straightforward for an experienced offensive line like the Giants.

Blache needs to rethink his defense. He needs to blitz more and locate weaknesses along opposing lines. He only blitzes in the most predictable situations and his defenders aren't adept at timing their rush.

Blache is a straight shooter with little creativity. That's a bad mix with the abilities of this defense. There's too much talent to play bend-but-don't-break. This defense is capable of creating turnovers and sacks at will under the right direction. However, the front four was once again ineffective in getting to Manning as he had plenty of time to throw.

Granted poor coverage by Hall certainly didn't help the defensive line's cause, but there was still little penetration. Credit is due to strong play from the Giants line and yet Washington's defense is better than their performance. They just need to the right guidance.

The Titans defensive line played well without Albert Haynesworth last week. Their scheme just works. The linemen are aware of which gaps to shoot and they play with passion. They find the weaknesses and expose them. We didn't see that from the Redskins defensive line. In my book, that’s poor coaching.

Against the run, the Redskins did not disappoint. They allowed only 3.3 yards per carry against one of the better rushing offenses in the NFL. However, they failed to consistently penetrate into the backfield the way Tennessee and other top defensive teams do.

Blache's defense is better than this; much better. It was an underwhelming performance overall, and that must be fixed if the 'Skins wish to compete against contenders. The effort was poor and if Blache wants to stick around, he'll be working plenty of overtime in the coming weeks.

Redskins Roster Review: Special Teams

Jack Anderson — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:38:48 -0400

With the roster set I can finally finish off the roster review with a look at special teams.

Things actually appear to have improved after last year’s dismal performance. Hunter Smith was added to bolster one of the worst punting units in the NFL.

Already, Smith’s impact has been noticeable. He had the third most punting yards in the preseason with 1,060 and was eighth in average yards per punt among punters with 20 attempts or more (44.2). Smith also put six punts inside the 20 yard-line.

However, the punt coverage team has been a little suspect. They allowed the fifth most punt return yards in the preseason with 173, something that could be a major problem in the field-position game.

With the inconsistent nature of the Redskin offense, the field position battle is vital. The kick coverage teams can’t afford to struggle once the games begin to count.

Keeping Marcus Mason might be a liability for the special teams. Mason, while a solid option at running back, is not one of the better special teams players on the squad.

Players like Reed Doughty, Marko Mitchell, Robert Henson, Rock Cartwright, Justin Tryon, and Kevin Barnes will have to pick up the slack on the coverage team.

Henson was a good special teams contributor while with TCU while Mitchell has shown a willingness to participate wherever needed. Doughty is already a special teams stalwart while Barnes and Tryon have the speed to play on the outside.

The coverage teams are fairly average, but the kicking game is the main concern. The competition between Dave Rayner and incumbent Shaun Suisham was non-existent as the ‘Skins' scoring opportunities were few and far between.

Suisham won the job, but he ranked last in field goal percentage last season (72 percent), and he came up short on a 52-yard field goal against New England this preseason. He did make a 48-yarder last week against Jacksonville.

Suisham doesn’t have a strong leg and has yet to show consistency as a placekicker. Rayner was a kick-off specialist, but had similar numbers kicking field goals. Suisham tied for 34th in kick-off average while Rayner was seventh in limited action with Cincinnati.

It’s sad there isn’t much of an alternative to Suisham, but there really doesn’t appear to be one. The ‘Skins must capitalize on all their scoring opportunities, and having Suisham leaves that in doubt.

Moving on to the return game, the Redskins possess one of the most consistent kick-off return men in the NFL with Rock Cartwright. Cartwright ranked 11th in kick-off return average last year with a 25.6 average. He isn’t much of a threat to score, but he consistently puts the ‘Skins on the 30 yard-line.

The punt return game seems to have remained the same. Antwaan Randle El retains the job despite his struggles returning punts the past two years.

Randle El is also listed as the No. 2 wide receiver on the depth chart, meaning he is again being miscast as a split receiver. He belongs in the slot, and the added pressure of being the No. 2 WR could lead to another shaky season returning punts.

However, the only challengers to the spot were cut because they had little else to contribute. So unless someone emerges in practice, Randle El will handle the bulk of the duties.

Overall Grade: C-

The kick-off return game and Smith as punter are both major positives. Having a good punter will solve some of the field position problems.

However, the ‘Skins' offense isn’t good enough to overcome a bunch of missed field goals. Suisham is far from dependable and that will be a big concern.

Throw in average kick coverage, plus some terrible punt returning, and the ‘Skins aren’t exactly a well-oiled special teams machine.

Anyway, thanks for all those who kept through this roster review series. I spent a bunch of time on it throughout the offseason and I am thankful for the positive feedback the series received.

Next up, my predictions on how the Redskins will fare in their 2009 campaign.

Building Blocks in Place for the Washington Redskins' Offense

Jack Anderson — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:38:02 -0400

The Washington Redskins finally got the ball rolling last week against the New England Patriots. Literally.

The Redskin offense exploded for 384 yards as they came out with a much more aggressive scheme. The first-teamers took several shots down the field, scored 17 points in the first half, and put on a much more convincing show in comparison to their previous preseason efforts.

Jason Campbell was given time in the pocket, and in turn he delivered a great two-plus quarters of work going 13-22 with 209 yards with three scoring drives.

Even more impressive was that he shook off three consecutive three-and-outs to lead the 'Skins to a quick 10 points before half.

Now that Washington has their foundations established on offense, it's time to build on the success. Last year, the 'Skins ran out of steam halfway through the season. This year, offensive production must be maintained for the entirety of the season.

Inconsistency has long been the bane of offenses in DC. Coaches come and go in rapid succession, and players learn new systems seemingly every year.

This time around, the 'Skins have kept things stable as Jim Zorn's west-coast offense enters year two. The experience definitely helps, but it will go right out the window if the offense can't stay consistent.

Blame last year's struggles on whatever you want, but the cold truth is that the offense failed to perform consistently at a competitive level.

However, the fire was there in the regular season dress rehearsal on Friday night. Gone was the complacent air along with poor play. Everything the 'Skins needed to prove, they did.

Now the trick is to get them to continue in similar fashion. Easier said than done, and to achieve this nothing is more vital than the cohesion along the offensive line.

The offensive line overachieved, giving Campbell sufficient time to throw and get into a rhythm. Considering the cautious nature of Zorn when the line struggles, it is imperative they play well so Zorn can open up his playbook.

If the line can't keep Campbell upright, Zorn won't even attempt to mix things up. Poor blocking in DC quickly leads to a season-long offensive hibernation so that's something that can't happen.

Should the line hold up, Campbell will find his groove. Santana Moss and Chris Cooley are effective weapons when Campbell can get them the ball and if the 'Skins can get one more receiver to pan out, the offense becomes very dangerous.

Finding a receiver to line up opposite Moss is key as it will allow Antwaan Randle El to move into the slot. Randle El in the slot is a matchup nightmare for any defensive coordinator, and will open up the line of scrimmage for the running game.

The Redskins have potential. We've seen flashes. But to become a championship caliber team, the 'Skins have to build around the foundations of last week's success in order to gain the confidence necessary to win a title.

This offense won't become dominant overnight. It will take the whole season for the offense to assure itself it can compete. After all, seeing is believing, and the Redskins and their fans need to see so that they can believe.

Who Will Win the Washington Redskins' Third-String RB Position?

Jack Anderson — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:51:01 -0400

The roster is beginning to take shape, but some strong performances last Friday against the Patriots left the running back position hotly contested.

With Rock Cartwright out, Devin Thomas impressed at kick returner. Should the 'Skins decide they feel comfortable with Thomas, Cartwright's position on the roster could be in doubt.

Cartwright is solely a special teamer. He doesn't contribute on offense, and isn't much of a threat to score when returning kicks. He is a consistent return man, but if the Redskins can find another player who can contribute in multiple areas, Cartwright could be gone.

The 'Skins also need to sort out the running back position. Both Marcus Mason and Anthony Alridge played very well against New England while Ladell Betts remains the No. 2.

Dominique Dorsey is also in the mix as the 'Skins have used him as both a running back and punt returner, but the strong performance of Alridge hurts his chances.

Alridge rushed for 49 yards on nine carries while Mason saw plenty of time en route to 30 yards and a TD on eight carries. Mason also caught two passes for 23 yards, but suffered some badly bruised ribs late, which could hurt his chances.

Betts didn't get a carry and caught the ball once for 12 yards. He saw limited action after straining his back in the Steelers game.

The running back situation is incredibly murky. Nothing has been suggested as to whether Betts is fighting for the number two RB job, but there has been strong play behind him.

Betts is a back in the mold of Clinton Portis, meaning he isn't much of a change-of-pace back. However, the team has stuck with him despite little production and a big contract.

Mason might have the best resume as a running back among the other three, but he also runs like Portis. He doesn't play special teams well, which is a must for third-string backs and his injured ribs might not allow him to play this week for a final showing.

Alridge is a prototypical third down back. He catches well out of the backfield, is shifty with great speed, and would be a much needed home run threat for the offense. He had a fumbling problem early in training camp, and missed time with a toe injury, but he looked like he hadn't missed a beat Friday night.

Dorsey and Alridge both can return punts, giving them extra value, but Alridge was more impressive on the ground against New England. Dorsey carried the ball five times for 22 yards, marking the second straight week of solid production.

I am uncertain how the 'Skins will play this out. Cartwright might get cut as he can't contribute on the ground even though he's listed as a running back. This will open things up for the third-string RB.

Betts will most likely be locked in as the number two, and I think Alridge might play his way onto the roster. He's explosive and that's something the Redskins badly need. However, the 'Skins like to keep keep things status quo so they could very well stick with Cartwright and Betts.

Mason plays his heart out and runs hard, but since he isn't a change-of-pace and can't contribute on special teams, he has to beat out Betts to make the team.

That would be a stretch, but if anyone has earned it it's Mason. He plays relentlessly and is trying improve his special teams game. He looked good catching out of the backfield.

After the dust settles, it appears that Portis and Betts will occupy two spots while the third RB spot remains an enigma.

Prediction: Alridge because he's the ideal change-of pace back. Mason and Cartwright will be in the running as well.

The talent at running back is deep so it won't be an easy decision, but the 'Skins could really take a big step forward offensively with Alridge providing his speed.

Winners and Losers in Redskins' 17-13 Win over Steelers

Jack Anderson — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:14:01 -0400

The Redskins pulled out a close one over the Pittsburgh Steelers last Saturday and there was a lot more to be happy about in comparison to the previous week's game against the Ravens.

Winners

1. Offensive Line

The big guys up front looked much better in pass protection. They gave Jason Campbell a good pocket on several throws and surrendered two sacks on 31 dropbacks.

They were also markedly better in opening holes for the ground game (41 total carries for 167 yards, 4.1 YPC), a vast improvement from the Baltimore game.

2. Brian Orakpo

The guy is going to be an instant star. His transition has been seamless and he has terrorized just about everyone he's gone up against.

He had four tackles including a sparkling hit in the backfield on a Steelers RB. The sacks will come very soon. This is looking like the pick of Vinny Cerrato's career.

3. Marko Mitchell

It would be ludicrous to take any other WR for the fifth spot at this point. Mitchell is 6-4, fast, and is producing.

He has played very well in camp and that has translated into the games. Mitchell caught a three-yard fade from Chase Daniel, using his size to make a great grab along the side of the endzone.

Mitchell had three catches for 21 yards last week and looked impressive on two of them. He displayed sure hands and solid route running. His only mistake was his failure to get across the marker on a third down crossing route.

In addition, Mitchell has earned the respect of his teammates in camp. He jaws it up with the secondary and even started a fight last week in training camp. His chippiness is much needed as the receiving corps is a complacent bunch.

DJ Hackett has familiarity with Jim Zorn's system, but Mitchell has the tools to be a huge threat. Throw in the fact that Mitchell was just drafted by the team, and he should make the final roster.

4. Marcus Mason/Dominique Dorsey

The battle for the fourth RB spot is red hot. Both Dorsey and Mason had good games against Pittsburgh (Dorsey: 11 carries for 39 yards, Mason 11 carries for 45 yards).

Dorsey also handled some of the punt returning duties and he definitely has the edge over Mason because of his special teams prowess. Mason is a more complete back, but the fourth-string RB needs to be a solid special-teamer.

I prefer Mason, but the guy doesn't have much room for error considering his challenger.

Losers

1. Jason Campbell

He couldn't lead the team to a TD from inside the Steeler's five. That's not exactly a positive. Neither is going 1-7 for 10 yards.

He must get the ball rolling if he wants to enter the season on a positive note. The Giants won't be giving him any time to adjust.

Campbell will improve as the protection solidifies, but he has to begin to move the offense and then learn how to sustain the success over the whole season.

2. Ladell Betts

I know I hate on him constantly, but seriously, the guy isn't worth the big contract.

Betts couldn't pick up a first down on two consecutive short-yardage plays from inside the five, and had just seven yards on four carries.

I still think Mason is a better, cheaper option, but for some reason the 'Skins continue to keep Betts on the roster.

3. Colt Brennan

Chase Daniel is rapidly developing a fanbase. The Cult of Colt is reeling.

Brennan has tossed INTs in both preseason games while Daniel won the Steelers game with both game-tying and game-winning TD passes.

Ironically, the No. 3 QB spot might be the most debated position on the team. I don't believe Brennan will lose it however.

Daniel will need two more performances like last Saturday's if he wants to make it. Brennan has a year in the system and is a fan favorite.

That's not to say Daniel hasn't impressed, but the guy went undrafted for a reason. I'm not a huge Colt fan, but Daniel didn't distinguish himself in camp and one preseason performance won't get him the job.

Needless to say, despite all the hype, neither QB is going to be a franchise signalcaller.

Overall, the team improved. They went up against another well run organization and proved they have some quality depth on both sides of the ball.

The starters still need to show up before week one, and this week against New England would be a prime time for a break out.

The Patriots will be tough to move the ball against, but week three of the preseason is typically the dress rehearsal for starters. The time is now if the offense wants enter the season on a positive note.

Redskins Roundtable: Skins Vs. Steelers NFL Preseason Week Two

Jack Anderson — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:33:08 -0400

The Redskins play their home opener tomorrow against the Steelers, and the 'Skins community is here to answer the burning questions concerning the game this week and the training camp battles.

Question 1: Which roster longshots are poised to have a big game that could lead to a spot on the team come Week 1 of the regular season? (Eric Holmberg)

Answer: Some of the most interesting battles of training camp are happening on defense, where the Redskins lack the necessary depth behind their first team.

Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers will be important for everyone along the already-crowded defensive line trying to make the 53-man roster.

Phillip Daniels, who missed all of the 2008 season with reconstructive knee surgery, is still having knee problems. He’s been having his knee drained during training camp, but will play on Saturday. Daniels, 36, may play limited minutes, giving the defensive ends vying for the last couple spots on the Redskins roster extra time on the field.

Jeremy Jarmon is one guy who could be able to contribute this year, especially if Daniels or Reynaldo Wynn, 34, get injured. In last week’s game against the Ravens, Jarmon made a couple noteworthy plays.

With 11:10 left in the third quarter, Jarmon showed great speed by beating the right tackle up the field and almost getting a sack, but he forced Troy Smith to scramble out of the pocket and make a difficult play on the run.

With 11:55 left in the fourth quarter, it was Jarmon again getting pressure on the quarterback, this time it was John Beck.

Since the Redskins used a 2010 third round pick on Jarmon, via the supplemental draft, it would seem like he already has a spot on the team—which could make Alex Buzbee the odd man out.

Question 2: What should we expect from the offense this week against Pittsburgh? Will they open up the playbook and play more aggressively? (JW Nix)

Answer: If I were Zorn, I'd work on the running game a lot versus Pittsburgh with the first unit. At least three series' worth.

One reason is that it's a good barometer to gauge effectiveness versus a good defense. The other is that it saves Campbell from exposure to extra hits, as well as tipping the teams hand to plays they may run in the regular season to the scouts watching.

Run Betts often to see if he is still the guy to be Portis' backup, and ask Clinton to play at least one series...carry the ball at least twice.

After the first team sits, it's time to work the rest of the squad to see who is worth keeping. That will require a mixed assortment on the offensive attack. One battle I want to see resolved is if Brennan or Daniels is worth carrying on the roster this year.

Then, there's the offensive line. It must be sorted out.

Defensively, they need to just keep it basic and see who has what it takes.

Question 3: Saturday marks the debut of Albert Haynesworth as a Redskin. What does he bring to the Redskins' defense in 2009? Will his impact be great enough to make the Redskins a top three defense? (Travis Evans)

Answer: Well first off, Haynesworth makes both starting defensive ends better by just stepping on the field. He will command double teams and make the QB pocket smaller. I think the Redskins defense can be top dog if the linebackers step up and help make plays. Look for Carter and Orakpo to have great years. All hail!

The defense will be in the top two; I know it's bold, but it's realistic. If we had a pass rush last year, it would have completed the puzzle. The defense kept us in every game, and in '09 they will be better than ever.

I think Haynesworth plays well and should get at least eight sacks. My final prediction: number two defense only behind the Steelers.

Question 4: The special teams are a big concern right now. With all the speed and playmaking ability on the team, should the 'Skins really just hand the punt returning duties to Antwaan Randle El? Which players should be getting consideration for the job? (Mark Steven)

Answer: Not a chance.

The Redskins have a chance to field the most dynamic punt return team in the NFL.

Randle El has made noises this summer about rededicating himself to the craft and "getting upfield" again instead of the tapdancing and moonwalking he's done throughout most of his three years in Washington. If true, he remains a dangerous returner even at 30. And if not, at the very least he provides a safety net.

He's a known quantity with solid hands and solid judgment who won't hurt you with muffs or brain farts (fair catches at his own five-yard-line). That kind of veteran reliability is something many only really appreciate when it's gone. Redskins coaches won't make that mistake—you shouldn't, either.

In Santana Moss, they have as dangerous an open-field runner as there is in football. No one has a quicker first step or zero-to-sixty explosion, and no one moves better in space once he's past the first wave of tacklers.

You don't want to task him with being your regular punt returner; he's too valuable as the lead WR. He's not worth risking injury to in games that are out of hand (winning or losing), or in game situations that don't call for a home-run hitter but just a steady hand (hello, ARE).

You absolutely want to use him in certain situations with games on the line and the right circumstances. In a one-score game, with the opponent punting from his own goal line, nothing is going to put a lump in the opposing team's collective throat than seeing Santana Moss standing at midfield, pacing, hungry and ready to do his thing.

Except, of course, seeing DeAngelo Hall back there.

Hall hasn't really made his mark as a punt returner in the NFL yet (13 career returns, 123 yds., 9.5 avg.), but as anyone who had the priviledge of watching his act at Virginia Tech knows, the man is pure electricity on punt returns. In his four years at VT, Hall returned 56 punts for 839 yards (15 avg.) and five touchdowns. Like Moss, he's able to make the first man miss, accelerate, and get into the open field with the best of them. Once there, he's got the shiftiness and top-end speed to take it to the house every time he touches the ball.

The Redskins will be missing a big opportunity if they don't take full advantage of this unprecedented bounty, and force opposing teams to spend time each week preparing to face all three. Head Coach Jim Zorn should give Special Teams Coach Danny Smith the green light to send out any of the three, at any given time, given the game situation and Smith's gut feeling.

Few plays can turn a game around or put it away faster than a punt return for a touchdown. It electrifies the fans and players alike, and is as big a momentum swing as there is in football.

Redskins fans can appreciate big punt returns and dangerous return men. There haven't been that many in Redskins lore—Speedy Duncan, Eddie Brown, Mike Nelms, Darrell Green, and Brian Mitchell—but those that have graced the colors have left an indelible impression one at a time. Never have the Redskins had the means to turn every punt return opportunity over the course of an entire season into edge-of-your-seat, must-see-TV, however, like they do in 2009.

Santana Moss, DeAngelo Hall, Antwaan Randle El. Don't blink.

Washington Redskins Roster Review: Safeties

Jack Anderson — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:38:28 -0400

One can hardly mention the safety position around the Washington DC area without someone invoking the name of the late Sean Taylor.

Some people will cry, some will recall the excitement he brought, others will think about what could have been.

What could have been was a dynamite safety combo consisting of Taylor and Laron Landry. Each is/was a freak athlete and together they could have formed one of the most feared combinations of today’s NFL.

However, Taylor is gone and Landry is now teaming up with second-year man Chris Horton. Considering the loss of Taylor, things are going fairly well at the safety position.

Landry filled the free safety spot left vacant by Taylor while Horton stepped into the strong safety position.

Landry is no Taylor, but he doesn’t let anything behind him and rarely gives up a big play. Still, the playmaking skills that Taylor dazzled fans with are not yet a staple of Landry’s game.

It is important to note that the coaching staff played Landry thirty yards off the ball for much of the season. That kind of overly-conservative approach hindered Landry from making as much of an impact.

Landry proved he can be an effective safety net (no pun intended), but with his athleticism and strength, he could be making a much greater impact closer to the line of scrimmage. Last year he had just 65 tackles, 11 passes deflections, two INTs and a pair of forced fumbles. That’s below my expectations.

The addition of Albert Haynesworth and Brian Orakpo should bolster an anemic pass rush, which in turn, will allow the secondary to play more aggressively. Defensive Coordinator Greg Blache would be making a big mistake to not take full advantage of his front four and play with a little reckless abandon.

The offense needs every break it can get, and so the defense must play with more tenacity rather than it’s typical bend-but-don’t-break style. Landry could be a turnover machine if Blache lets him play up and freelance a bit.

Horton was one of the steals of the 2008 draft as he quickly made an impact at SS. He was ferocious in run support and reliable against the pass.

In 2008, Horton recorded 76 tackles to go along with three INTs, and was a critical element of the defensive chemistry. He often played in the box, but on passing downs he was far from a liability.

The depth at safety is adequate. Kareem Moore is entering his second year and will back up Landry at FS while Reed Doughty returns from an injury to back up Horton.

Moore showed he can play center field in spot duty last year. He started the final game of the year against San Francisco and played solidly. He isn’t a game-changer, but as a backup he is more than capable.

Doughty has been through some tough times. He injured his back and missed most of 2008. However, Doughty shrugged that off and is back to play some SS in 2009.

Doughty is almost totally deaf and also had to deal with a family tragedy the past few years. His son, Micah, suffered a kidney failure and needed a transplant to stay alive. Micah is not well, but it was yet another issue Doughty has had to deal with during the past few seasons.

Despite all the hardship, Doughty is tough-as-nails. His pass coverage has dramatically improved during camp, and he has always been good against the run.

Doughty will probably play special teams and fill in for Horton on some passing downs. He will be an emotional leader and rock for the whole defense so his health will be important.

Michael Grant played some CB the other night, but is listed as a safety. Either way, he won’t make the team giving up 64-yard pass plays. Grant tried to jump a route, but missed and the Ravens receiver had plenty of room to operate after that gaffe.

Lendy Holmes is the final safety on the roster. Though a longshot, he played well Thursday night against the Ravens, logging six tackles. Should the ‘Skins want a fifth safety (unlikely), Holmes will be the guy.

Overall Grade: B

This would be higher, but we have yet to see how aggressively Blache will play Landry. The secondary will go as far as Landry carries them. He certainly can’t carry them as far when he’s standing 30 yards off the ball.

Horton and Doughty will combine to form a good SS tandem. Both can play the position well.

If Landry goes down, I doubt Moore would survive for very long. The depth is decent, but unspectacular.

Redskins' Offensive Futility Remains a Concern in 23-0 Loss to Ravens

Jack Anderson — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:33:52 -0400

It's only preseason, but things aren't looking good for the Washington Redskins offense.

I wasn't expecting to see the second coming of the '99 Rams or anything, but it would have been nice to see a little progression and familiarity with the system when the first-teamers were on the field during a 23-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Instead, we were treated to the same lifeless performance that we saw throughout the second half of the 2008 season.

I've seen this movie before, and let me tell you: If it isn't an Academy Award winner, I don't want to see any reruns.

This performance was anything but Oscar-worthy.

Jason Campbell went through the motions: one-two-three and kick. At least Hunter Smith can actually punt.

The sad thing is that on the opposite side of the field, the Ravens offense (yes, the Ravens offense) played as if they had something to prove. Joe Flacco looked crisp in the pocket and threw some strikes.

The running game wasn't special, but it pushed for the extra yards—something the 'Skins didn't do.

Overall, the offenses were polar opposites. The Ravens got open, beat the Redskins off the ball, and showed they wanted to play well.

Washington simply sleepwalked through a quarter and then retreated to the bench.

I don't know if it's a lack of focus, effort, confidence, or skill. This offense just can't move the ball.

Campbell's footwork isn't much better, his release is still too long, and his reads are too slow. He takes light years to make basic reads, and his slow release doesn't afford him the kind of time he takes in the pocket.

Neither does poor blocking. The offensive line could have been worse, as they gave up three sacks on the night, but they failed to control the line of scrimmage in the rushing game.

Early on, Campbell and Todd Collins faced some pressure, but things really got bad once Colt Brennan came in.

Brennan was chased around the entire second half and had virtually no chance to make an impact. He didn't play well, yet a lot of it was due to poor pass protection.

The Redskins really couldn't open up their playbook, as they failed to get many first downs (11). They had the ball for only 24 minutes (compared to the Ravens' 35 minutes), making it difficult to get into any rhythm.

The running game was useless, as the offensive line got no push. The ground attack averaged 2.9 yards per carry, and Rock Cartwright was the leading rusher with just 24 yards.

Fred Davis fumbled twice, and Devin Thomas went back to looking lost. Thomas looked impressive in camp, but he has yet to show much ability in games. He didn't look explosive enough to be much of a threat.

The lone bright spot on offense was Malcolm Kelly. Kelly looks the part lining up out wide. He's lanky and tall, the perfect possession receiver or red zone target. Add in a dazzling fingertip grab for a first down, and it might be time to get excited about his future.

I know it's sad I'm happy about one play by a receiver who has done nothing but sit out with injuries. Laugh all you want, but let me be excited about something.

Jim Zorn called the offensive struggles a "learning experience." I call them "failure to launch." That was a pretty crappy movie—just like this offense.

Redskins Roundtable: The Beginning

Jack Anderson — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:58:27 -0400

Hey, hey, hey! Fat Albert Haynesworth and the rest of the Washington Redskins are back for the 2009 NFL season.

To commemorate the start of what we in the 'Skins community hope will be a "Super" run in 2009, we give you the Redskins Roundtable.

Every week, four writers from the Redskins community will each answer a question regarding the team, how things stand, or the upcoming match-up for the week.

The questions are prepared by yours truly so if any writer ('Skins or otherwise) wants in, feel free to shoot me a message. I am open to hearing opinions from all comers especially from writers within the division.

The first edition of Redskins Roundtable is a sort of a test run. I will be answering one of the questions. The other three will be answered by new members to RR: Dan Stalcup, Dan Yoke, and JW Nix.

So without further ado, I give you the Redskins Roundtable!

Question 1: What are the three biggest position battles that will begin in training camp? (Dan Stalcup)

1. Right tackle—Easily the most important position battle. Most believe Stephon Heyer has the inside track to the starting job, but Mike Williams is the sleeper in this race. He's lost weight, in shape, and ready to work. His first few days of training camp have been a bit disappointing, though.

2. Wide receiver—I think this is the make-or-break year for second-year players Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas. Both have great potential, particularly Devin Thomas, who I think will emerge as the No. 2 or No. 3 receiver on the team after Santana Moss and maybe Antwaan Randle-El.

3. Nickel back—Carlos Rogers and DeAngelo Hall seem pegged to be starters. Rogers is one of the better coverage corners in the league, but doesn't rack up interceptions so often gets underrated. Hall just signed a huge contract, so it'd be strange for him not to be on the field most snaps.

After that, the scenario is unclear. Who will play nickel? Veteran Fred Smoot boasts the most experience, but there are several rookies and second-year players who could make some noise: Kevin Barnes, Justin Tryon, and Byron Westbrook chief among them.

Beyond those three battles, other important ones will be defensive end and linebacker. Those are especially murky since nobody's sure how draftee Brian Orakpo will contribute to the team (Update: Orakpo has been adapting very well to the pro game at both positions).

Safety could be interesting, with Reed Doughty and overachiever Chris Horton battling for time.

Question 2: Who will be the three most important players to watch in training camp? (Dan Yoke)

There are many interesting camp battles during training camp, but I am choosing to follow the progress of three players who will make or break our team this year.
1. Stephon Heyer. Heyer is stepping in to fill the void at tackle left by Jon Jansen. I will be watching with interest to see how well he fills those shoes.

Heyer played well in relief in 2007, but was injured and benched last year. The Redskins have put their eggs in Stephon’s basket by releasing Jansen, so it’s up to him to prove that they made the right decision.
Offensive line play will go a long way to determining how well the Redskins do this year.

2. Devin Thomas. Everyone knows Santana is the man. Everyone knows that Chris Cooley is a threat. But depth at receiver is the Redskins’ major concern entering training camp.

They sought to fix that problem by drafting Thomas and Malcolm Kelly last year. So far, their contribution has been minimal. If Thomas can realize his potential, the Redskins will have a much more potent offense. Hamstring issues have been a concern so far, but there is still time for this second year receiver to make an impact.

3. Jason Campbell. I seriously considered other players for my third spot, but Campbell intrigues me the most. The offseason drama, the contract year, the make or break moment in a young QB’s career. How will he respond? I will be anxious to find out in camp.

Question 3: What are the weakest positions on the team, and how can the weaknesses be overcome? (Jack Anderson)

The entire offensive line has been battling injuries and ineffectiveness throughout camp. It's beginning to become clear that if the line can’t bring it together, the offensive will have little chance to be successful.

There are several younger players who might make an impact. Will Montgomery has impressed along the interior line while Chad Rinehart is hoping to make himself the dominating guard he was in college.

These guys and others will need to get up to speed quickly as the starters are already dealing with age and injuries.

Another weakness is the QB position. Jason Campbell has yet to impress in his career and will need to take chances in order to jumpstart this offense.

Should the offensive line fail to hold up, Campbell will have little chance to make his mark. Still, he must make the most of any situation if he wants remain a starting QB in the NFL.

His weapons are beginning to emerge. Fred Davis and the two rookie WRs are improving while the old cast of Moss, Portis, and Cooley will likely continue to provide offense.

The pieces are there; it’s just a matter of getting the ball to them. That is Campbell’s job.

Finally, we come to kicker. Shaun Suisham has left much to be desired, missing key field goals in several games last year. He finished last among regular kickers in field goal percentage last year.

His competition in camp has been Dave Rayner, but neither has a good resume.

The ‘Skins will have to pray for a miracle if they want consistent kicking this year because neither of these guys appear able to deliver on that.

Question 4: As camp opens what should the expectations be like entering the 2009 season considering how the team stacks up on paper? (JW Nix)

Expectations are mixed for a team rebuilding, yet chock full of players from the Joe Gibbs era. The veterans certainly want to win now, but there is a question as to if they fit the West Coast scheme Zorn is trying to install.

For a team built on the running game as a strength, the offensive line has yet to remain a whole unit for a full season yet. The same can be said for Clinton Portis, who is nearing his end.

The wide receivers are a mix ranging from underwhelming to underachieving. Other than Chris Cooley, there is no reliable weapon on the offense.

The defense looks strong up to ten players, but you have to field 11. It is a gamble to see if Brian Orakpo can man the SLB job, and the depth at linebacker is virtually none.

The team has the talent to go far. They have the ability to control the line of scrimmage, as well as the game clock.

Anything can happen in the NFC East, and usually the victor is beat up by season's end.

Still, the Redskins seem destined to battle to maintain a .500 record if the past issues continue to reappear.

The Toronto Experiment: Why The Bills Should Never Move To Canada

Jack Anderson — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:07:28 -0400

There has been talk in some circles concerning the possibility of relocating the Buffalo Bills across the border into Canada.

Quite frankly, the move would be a total disaster.

On the surface it sounds good. The NFL would expand its reach outside the United States, giving commissioner Roger Goodell a taste of the international flavor he so desperately craves. It would pave the way for future international expansion as Canadians would get a glimpse of professional football at the elite level.

Yet digging deeper, one can reveal plenty of pitfalls in the Toronto experiment.

Should Goodell move the Bills from Buffalo, he would be doing a great disservice to the city (an American city). Buffalo's economy is struggling, and removing one of its primary sources of revenue would surely prove costly.

Now Goodell is not obligated to act in Buffalo's best interests, but the city needs the Bills. If he wants to show support for the U.S. and its economy, then he must attempt to keep the Bills in Buffalo at all costs. It's the right thing to do.

In addition, moving the team to Toronto doesn't guarantee any increase in revenue for the NFL. In fact, it may do more harm than good.

If the team moves, many of the fans in Buffalo will not attend the games. Toronto is only a couple of hours away, but Canada now requires passports (previously U.S. citizens could simply come and go) in order to cross the border, which many fans don't have.

Passports are not cheap, so many fans most likely won't go.

Another fraction of the fans will be unhappy with the move, which could mean boycotts. This means there could be even more people from the U.S. who won't be attending games in Toronto.

Furthermore, tailgating in Canada is non-existent. Canadian citizens don't do it and Canadian officials limit it. That's about as un-American as it gets, so throw in a few more no-shows.

Think I'm crazy? Bills fans are rabid tailgaters, as Buffalo was ranked the No. 1 tailgating NFL city by Sports Illustrated. Tailgating is as big as the game to many of them. Without it, they won't show up in Toronto.

The NFL will also have to market to a new type of fan, as hockey reigns supreme in Canada while the CFL is extremely popular.

When the Bills played in Toronto last year, some Canadians boycotted the game, standing behind the CFL.

So the purists on each side of the border won't be attending.

The CFL has its own traditions and history. Canadians won't abandon it for the same reasons Americans wouldn't pay any attention if the Calgary Stampeders moved to Las Vegas to hype up the CFL.

Another issue would be the location Goodell has picked in Canada. Toronto is very corporate and white-collar, which doesn't bode well as far as attracting a fan base goes.

That kind of environment isn't one that is sports-friendly. Sporting events in Toronto are for the upper class to mingle and network. Business colleagues often go and bring prospective investors, clients, etc.

If the NFL can't connect with the everyday guy in Canada, there will be plenty of empty seats. We saw that last season when the Bills hosted the Dolphins in Toronto. The crowd was far under the capacity and the Rogers Centre only holds 54,000.

With all these problems, Goodell would be wise to ensure the Bills stay put. I know he wants to see the NFL become a world game, but will the world ever truly embrace it?

The games in Japan and London are purely gimmicks. People in Europe and Asia won't ever prefer the NFL to soccer. In fact, Asia has more baseball and basketball fans than football fans.

There's not as much money to be made internationally as Goodell thinks there is. In fact, it might turn out to be a disastrous move for the NFL. Football is an American game that outsiders will never fully understand, much like America will never fully understand soccer.

Buffalo loves their team with a passion and that can't be matched by many other fan bases. Why take the passions, history, and tradition away?

For Buffalo's sake, Roger, keep them here at home where they belong.

Washington Redskins: Five Longshots Who May Make the Final Roster

Jack Anderson — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:47:07 -0400

Every year in training camp there will always be those unknown players who pop out to the coaching staff due to their strong work ethic and consistent performance.
That has held true at Redskins Park this year as several players have emerged to contend for roster spots.

1. Will Montgomery

He is competing for a utility position along the offensive line and has a great shot at making the roster. Washington needs young, up-and-coming blockers to freshen up the offensive line.

Montgomery is just what the doctor ordered.

Coaches have raved about his strong play and his versatility. Montgomery can play center and guard and has held his own against first teamers.

With Jeremy Bridges going down today with a sprained ankle, the odds are even higher that Montgomery sticks around for the long haul.

2. Marques Hagans

Hagans was QB/WR from UVA who was a major long shot coming into camp. However, his kick returning abilities help his case. Add to that the fact Hagans has grabbed nearly everything thrown his way, and he is making a serious run.

Hagans is buried beneath four WRs (Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, Santana Moss, and Antwaan Randle El) who are all assured of spots on the roster. Marko Mitchell was taken in the seventh round and has speed. Being a draftee gives him the inside track, but Hagans has impressed.

It will most likely come down to which one will provide the best special teams performance. However, given the injuries that have plagued Moss, Thomas, and Kelly, the ‘Skins may need Hagans down the stretch.

3. Reed Doughty

So Doughty isn’t exactly a long shot as he was in position to backup Chris Horton at SS, but he was coming off a season-ending injury and there have been questions regarding his ability in coverage.

Those question are long gone as Doughty has put together a great camp. He has three picks already and Jim Zorn is liking what he sees. Enough to give him this vote of confidence:

“I see him being a real part of our special teams and I think he’s going to be in a supportive role [on defense], but he’s going to work his way onto the field. I have confidence in him when he’s out there, no question.”

There you have it. Barring an injury, Doughty will make the final roster.

4. Marcus Mason

Mason has been quiet this camp, but his real time to shine is during the preseason. Last year, he was the NFL preseason rushing leader, but still failed to make the team due to his inability to contribute on special teams.

Colt Brennan had nothing but praise for Mason who he played with last preseason.

“He’s a natural football player,” he said, “I can’t tell you how many times in the preseason last year it was so nice to have him, because he would make good plays, make good runs.

"You only get so many chances when you’re young, and you’ve got a running back like that, gaining extra yards, picking up first downs for you, doing the little things.”

This year Mason has developed his kick coverage skills and should also get some reps at RB during the preseason. The main thing working against him is the presence of five other backs on the roster in Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright, and Anthony Alridge, and Dominique Dorsey.

5. Edwin Williams

The undrafted center out of Maryland is third on the depth chart behind Casey Rabach and Will Montgomery, but Montgomery could very well be lining up at guard, leaving the No. 2 center spot up for grabs.

Williams is a smart, hard worker who was all-ACC last year with the Terps.

”Over the summer he did a great job of weightlifting and…I’ll tell you what, he’s a smart kid. He comprehends a lot between what’s good and what’s bad. I think in the long range he’s going to be a good football player,” said offensive line coach Joe Bugel.

Williams didn’t miss a game his senior year and helped pave the way for an 1,100 yard rusher. With Casey Rabach aging, Williams might be the perfect player to groom for the starting center spot.

Washington Redskins Roster Review: Cornerbacks

Jack Anderson — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:07:44 -0400

As training camp continues on, I have several more positions to cover to finish off the roster review.

Corner is shaping up to be one of the better positions on the team from top to bottom.

Carlos Rogers and and Deangelo Hall return to man the starting spots while Fred Smoot, Justin Tryon, and Kevin Barnes will provide support.

Rogers came into his own last season as a great cover corner. He drew plenty of criticism for some shaky hands as he dropped several interceptions last season, but he is still the best cover CB on the team.

Shawn Springs departed for New England, and though he was great in man coverage, he couldn’t stay healthy. Rogers brings similar coverage skills to the table and thus far has improved his hands.

Hall isn’t quite the man corner Rogers is, but makes up for it with his playmaking ability. Hall will get beat underneath as he plays soft on his receiver.

Hall’s speed protects him against the deep ball and allows him to gamble. He has a nose for the ball, and can jump routes incredibly well. He will provide the takewaways the ‘Skins lacked last year.

Smoot appears to be in control of the nickel corner position. He is a nine year vet who will fit nicely into the third CB slot.

He is physical against the run despite his poor tackling form, and is adequate in coverage. He won’t stop any elite WRs, but he should matchup well enough against receivers in the slot.

Tryon is a bit of a question mark. He entered the league last year talking a big game only to hardly see the field all season.

He was terrible last preseason, getting burned routinely, but this year appears to be much improved. His small stature (5-9, 183) is working against him, but he has the speed and athleticism to be a pesky CB.

Meanwhile Kevin Barnes was drafted in the third round this year out of Maryland. The former Terp has a reputation stemming from a big hit laid on a Cal RB last year. The hit was so hard, the RB literally lost his lunch and Barnes became a YouTube sensation.

Barnes accumulated 85 tackles, 14 passes defended, and six interceptions during his collegiate career and should transition smoothly to the pros. He has the height at 6-1, but he might need to put on a few pounds to matchup against big WRs.

Byron Westbrook is trying to make the team yet again after two straight years on the practice squad. Westbrook has athleticism, but the numbers are working against him. He will need a strong preseason to overtake Tryon or Barnes, and even that will unlikely save him as the ‘Skins will not cut draft picks.

Doug Dutch is the final CB on the roster. He’s an undrafted rookie out of Michigan who was a solid special teamer with the Wolverines.

Overall Grade: A-

It’s not often teams get two CBs that compliment each other so well. Hall and Rogers are a dynamite one-two punch and each one makes up for the other’s deficiencies.

Hall has his question marks considering he mailed it in with the Raiders last year before coming here, but he appears to have really found his niche in DC. The ‘Skins overpaid for him, but he should still be a vital part of the secondary if all goes well.

Rogers is underrated and may actually get his due this season which is his contract year while the depth is nothing to complain about. Smoot is a solid vet and the two youngsters behind him are oozing with potential.

Not much to complain about at CB.

Brian Orakpo Signs With The Redskins After Missing First Day Of Camp

Jack Anderson — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:38:40 -0400

The deal had to get done.

Brian Orakpo was signed Thursday evening, missing just a day of training camp before inking his deal with the team.

Terms of the deal are not yet disclosed.

This might very well end up being the most important move in training camp. Orakpo is expected to move from defensive end, the position he played in college, to the SAM linebacker.

The transition requires Orakpo attend training camp and familiarize himself with both his new position and the pro game.

A lengthy holdout would have hurt his ability to quickly make himself an impact player, and would have put his availability for the 2009 season in question. Now those concerns are history.

Orakpo showed some maturity signing his deal before many of the other first round picks above and below him. It's rare for a player to do that since he risks leaving money on the table, but Orakpo proved he wants to play football and play it well.

The Redskins certainly need him to be up to speed in time for the regular season. They don't have another player with Orakpo's skills at the SAM LB position so it was key to get him in camp.

At Redskins Park, the team kicked off the 2009 season with their first set of two-a-days. No injuries thus far which is the big news and things seem to be in much better order as Jim Zorn begins year two.

Redskins Roster Review: Linebackers

Jack Anderson — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:54:30 -0400

A lack of depth at linebacker last season left the Washington Redskins in a bind when starting strong side LB Marcus Washington was sidelined with an injury. HB Blades didn’t have the speed to play there and once Washington returned, he also seemed to be a step behind.

Washington had become a more of a concern rather than an answer in the starting lineup, which led the Redskins to part ways with him and his big contract this past offseason.

This time around, the ‘Skins drafted a much-needed injection of youth into the linebacking corps in the form of Nebraska’s Cody Glenn and TCU’s Robert Henson.

But first things first, London Fletcher will return to anchor the defense at middle linebacker. Fletcher hasn’t had less than 100 tackles per season since 2000, and he has shown no signs of slowing down at age 34.

Fletcher possesses all the intangibles. He is a tremendous leader, a motivator, and a vocal presence the ‘Skins sorely need. He is arguably the best run stopping MLB in the NFL and the addition of Albert Haynesworth in the middle will only make him all the better.

With Haynesworth in the middle, offensive lines will have difficulty getting out to block Fletcher, leaving him free. Ray Lewis benefited when the Ravens added Haloti Ngata and Fletcher will as well with the addition of Haynesworth. A good DT works wonders for talented MLBs.

Rocky McIntosh will start at weak side linebacker. McIntosh is entering his fourth season, his second since coming off a season-ending knee injury.

He played well coming back from the injury last year registering 87 tackles, an INT, and two sacks, but he definitely played tentatively on his reconstructed knee at times. Another year removed from the surgery, McIntosh should only improve.

He’s a solid presence against the run and sniffs it out very well. Against the pass, there is room for improvement, but overall there are no glaring shortcomings in McIntosh’s game.

The strong side linebacker position is in flux at the moment.

Brian Orakpo is penciled in as the starter, but on passing downs he will move to DE to rush the passer.

So in those situations, the Redskins have several options.

HB Blades has experience playing strong side, but he is a liability in coverage. He is smart and a great run defender, but he lacks the speed to cover backs, and the size to cover tight ends.

Chris Wilson is transitioning to LB after playing DE his first few years in Washington. He is quicker than Blades, but his coverage skills are an unknown. He could be used as a pass rusher from LB, but I don’t know if he could handle himself in coverage.

The Redskins could also use either Henson or Glenn if the two veterans fail to pan out.

Glenn entered college as a RB, but made the switch to LB for his final year at Nebraska. This makes him very raw at the position, but he has a lot of athleticism to make up for it. It will most likely take him a season to fully adjust to the pro game and the linebacker position.

Glenn also was suspended for part of the 2008 season for an undisclosed reason. He lied about his suspension, saying it was due to his scalping tickets. He later admitted he lied, and would not reveal the true reason for his suspension.

Henson has already been drawing praise from Redskins Park and might see the field at LB. Like Glenn, he will primarily play special teams and compete for time with the defense.

Henson notched 73 tackles his senior year (270 for his collegiate career), and also had two interceptions to go along with a sack. He’s 6'0, 240 and plays with good fluidity. He was a special teamer for three years before becoming a full time starter so he possesses the ability to make the team covering kicks.

Alfred Fincher made the final roster last year and played in 14 games mostly on special teams. He’s a hard worker and has good size at 6'1, 250. He should also be in the mix for time at LB.

Two other LBs are unlikely to make the team in seven year vet, Robert Thomas, and rookie Darrel Young. Thomas is an Oakland Raiders cast-off coming off a season-ending hamstring injury. He played in just two games last year.

Young is an undrafted free agent out of Villanova who posted 244 career tackles in four years there. He’s the camp long shot.

Overall Grade: B

This was a tough grade to decide on. Fletcher is one of the best MLBs in the game and McIntosh is a steady presence on the weak side.

However, the strong side is anything but stable. I think the ‘Skins may be forcing the issue when it comes to playing Orakpo there. It’s not his natural position. So if the experiment fails, will Washington look for a new LB in 2010?

Even should Orakpo pan out, there isn’t an ideal player to replace him on third downs. Blades isn’t a pass defender, Wilson is more of pass rusher, and Henson and Glenn aren’t going to be instant starters.

It’s quality depth, but those guys aren’t meant to be on the field regularly. Especially not on third downs when the defense is supposed to hold and get off the field.

I believe Blades will come in on third downs due to his experience starting on the strong side last year. He is a liability in coverage, but he can make up for that with his instincts. Wilson would be intriguing as well, and could see time there too should the ‘Skins want some pass rush off the edge.

The ‘Skins turned back the clock with the additions of Glenn and Henson. Henson, in particular, should make an immediate impact on the special teams, but don’t expect to see them much at LB.

The Redskins desperately need to have a strong side LB who can cut backs off from the edge and cover TEs. Orakpo/whoever replaces him on third downs are question marks on the strong side, and that’s what lowers this grade.

Reggie Bush: Hit Or Miss By The Saints?

Jack Anderson — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:37:20 -0400

In 2006 a new star was on the horizon in the NFL.

Reggie Bush, USC's highlight reel, was taking his high-flying circus act to the professional level.

The same Bush who ran with the reckless abandon a 10-year old employs in a game of Madden, would be taking it to the likes of Ray Lewis and Brian Dawkins.

Analysts across the country agreed. Bush was declared to be the top prospect in the 2006 NFL draft, and was the can't-miss phenom who would instantly make his mark in the NFL.

Bush went number two to the New Orleans Saints and is now entering his fourth season in the league.

Thus far, some are labeling Bush a disappointment and even a bust. Looking at his rushing totals, many would agree with this assessment.

In three seasons, Bush has rushed for 1550 yards on 418 attempts. That's a meager 3.7 yards per carry to go along with just 12 rushing touchdowns.

Not exactly inspiring numbers from the so-called next Gale Sayers.

However, Bush has a lot working against him.

Entering the NFL draft in 2006, Bush had his flaws, but the media hype surrounding him clouded the perception of Bush. He had the "Youtube" highlights, the persona, and the championships. He was a hotbed for endorsements, complete with 6-pack abs and a dashing smile.

In a word, he was over-hyped. People failed to see the shortcomings in Bush's game.

First, he split carries with Lendale White. Bush had never taken the punishment of a feature back in college. White was always there to share the load.

Add to this the fact that Bush didn't possess the frame to be a between-the-tackles runner, and you have a major question mark.

Second, people failed to realize that Bush's style of running didn't fit the NFL. Defenses were too fast to give up a ton of east-west rushing yards. Bush's undisciplined style wasn't going to change the NFL; the NFL was going to change Bush's style.

Bush learned that the hard way in his rookie year as he rushed for just 565 yards with a mere 3.6 yards per catch (YPC).

Even after he tried to adapt his game, Bush couldn't cut it as a between-the-tackles runner. He improved to an extent (404 rushing yards in 2008 in just 10 games for a 3.8 YPC average), but he still has a long way to go considering expectations.

Despite this overwhelming evidence that Bush hasn't panned out in the NFL, there's another factor to consider.

Bush has developed into more of a pass catcher. In fact, he may very well be the best pass catching back in the NFL.

In 2006, Bush caught 88 passes for 742 yards and two TDs. In 2007, Bush snagged 73 balls for 417 yards and two TDs. Last year, in ten games, Bush had 52 receptions for 440 yards and four TDs.

So Bush really made his mark in the passing game. That's not what was expected when he came into the NFL, but it's definitely been a positive in his career.

In addition, Bush has returned punts since entering the league.

In his rookie season, Bush had an abysmal 7.7 yards per return and one TD. He ranked 44th that season.

In 2007, Bush didn't return punts, but in 2008 he emerged as a special-teams threat. Bush was ninth with a 13.5-yard average per return and a whopping three TDs.

Looking at Bush's stats, he was poised to have his best season in 2008 but an injury sidelined him for six games.

Here are the projected stats had Bush played in every game (actual stats in parentheses):

172 carries (106), 644 rushing yards (404), three rushing TDs (two), 82 receptions (52), 704 receiving yards (440), six receiving TDs (four).

He posted the highest average yards per carry and catch in his career. He also notched a career high in receiving TDs and would have set a career high in rushing yards.

The numbers still don't seem to merit a number two selection in the draft so what's the verdict, hit or miss?

Bush was miscast as the next Barry Sanders. The NFL world bought into the hype and failed to realize Bush was far from an every down back.

Bush was never going to win the all-time rushing title, but people certainly made him out to be that rusher.

The real Bush?

He's a great athlete who is an excellent change-of-pace back. He works well in certain situations and can line up all over the field. He returns punts and makes plays.

However, he isn't a consistent threat. He will never be a great between-the-tackles runner. That may very well lead some people to label him a bust.

Those people are the ones who expected too much out of Bush. They believe he hasn't lived up to his potential, but what they fail to see is that he never had the potential to be a feature back.

Bush's status as a hit or miss is all about perception. I expected him to do what he is doing, so I can't truly label him as a bust. He isn't a disappointment in my eyes, save for the fact he was drafted too high. He's giving exactly what I thought he would give.

Now is his style worth the high draft choice?

Not to me as I would prefer a feature back, but I'm sure I could find someone who would value his style of play more than I would.

Final analysis: Bush was drafted too high, but he still possessed first round value. His production doesn't merit the number two choice, but his impact on the field is still a positive one.

Redskins Roster Review: Defensive Tackles

Jack Anderson — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:21:31 -0400

Defensive tackle is the heart of the Washington Redskins in 2009. This is what will either make or break this team.

I’m not simply saying this because of the money poured into the position.

I’m saying it because the "DT Effect" will trickle down to the rest of the defense, which will in turn benefit the offense.

If Albert Haynesworth is as good as advertised, the 'Skins will have two DTs capable of wreaking havoc in offensive backfields. Haynesworth and Cornelius Griffin are two of the better penetrating DTs in the NFL, and they will have to live up to expectations if the ‘Skins want to contend.

If the DTs can provide consistent heat up the middle, it forces the offense to do two things: first, it disrupts the blocking scheme of opposing offensive lines and forces them to use an extra blocker on the DTs.

Secondly, the pressure from the middle prevents QBs from stepping up in the pocket, leaving them vulnerable to the speed rush off the edge from DEs.

Once the offense is focused on stopping the two tackles in the middle, it makes blitzing much more effective. Previously, the Redskins have struggled getting pressure with the blitz, but now bringing just one linebacker on the blitz may be enough considering the talent in the middle.

Haynesworth is the key. He will be the one to command double teams and cause the most problems. He was signed in the offseason as a free agent, and of course it’s been well documented that he is making $41 million in guaranteed money.

Haynesworth is criticized for his lack of durability, and the fact that he has really blossomed only in contract years. Those criticisms ring true, but—for once—the ‘Skins made a big gamble that I believe will pay off.

Haynesworth is a good athlete with plenty of gas left in the tank. Even if he doesn’t put up big numbers, he should still draw an extra man to block him. Having a player who constantly demands a double team is a luxury the ‘Skins haven’t experienced in this decade.

In addition, the ‘Skins have a veritable smorgasbord of quality depth behind him. Fresh bodies rotating in all game on the defensive line is also something Washington isn’t familiar with. It will keep Haynesworth healthy, and ensure that Griffin will be able to keep his 32-year-old legs under him.

The top two backups are Kedric Golston and Anthony Montgomery. Both are entering the prime of their careers and have starting experience.

Montgomery played in 14 games last year, registering 23 tackles (nine for a loss) and two sacks. He’s a tall DT at 6-6, but still packs a punch at 312 pounds.

Golston had 28 total tackles (eight for a loss) and two sacks as well. He has flashed some excellent play since being drafted by the ‘Skins in the sixth round out of Georgia. He penetrates well at times, and could really come into his own now that he is backing up Haynesworth and Griffin.

Montgomery and Golston have always been flipped back and forth on the depth chart, but Golston has a higher ceiling. Montgomery has been a steady presence while Golston has shown some play-making ability. Expect Golston to win out and be the third DT on the depth chart.

Lorenzo Alexander could very well be the most versatile player on the team. He has played on both the offensive and defensive lines, special teams, and a some tight end.

This makes Alexander a valuable asset to the team, but with the ‘Skins holding talented DTs in spades, things might get dicey for him. Washington currently has seven DTs on the roster, and three will most likely be gone come September. The Redskins only had four DTs entering the 2008 season, which is the norm in the NFL.

Alexander is a bit undersized to play every down on either line (6'1", 300 lbs.) However, he makes up for it with a tenacious approach and a high football IQ. His 2008 stats are actually comparable to Montgomery’s and Golston’s with 17 tackles (11 for a loss) and two sacks.

Alexander will need a monster camp to vault over Montgomery and Golston. There is a chance Alexander could still make the team due to his versatility, but this roster already has an overload at several other positions, so somebody is getting the axe.

The remaining players are longshots to make the final roster.

Vaka Manupuna was signed by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2006 from Colorado. He has been on the roster several times, but has never made it past the final cuts. Last year he played in the Arena Football League and this year, he’ll probably be playing there again.

Antonio Dixon of Miami was signed as an undrafted free agent this offseason. He recorded just 45 tackles and 2.5 sacks during his collegiate career and was considered an underachiever by scouts with good upside. Unfortunately, upside isn’t going to be enough with Albert Haynesworth and four other talented DTs ahead of you.

Overall Grade: A

How can it be any lower? Of course there are question marks, but on paper this is an impressive bunch of DTs.

Remember the "DT Effect"—they will need to play just as impressively as they appear on paper if the Redskins want to create takeaways and sacks.

If Haynesworth plays as well as he has the previous two years, this might be the best crop of DTs in the NFC East. Even if his production dips, this is still an above-average group.

Jack Anderson is a writer for bleacherreport.com and Andy Benoit's nfltouchdown.com.

Washington Redskins Roster Review: Defensive Ends

Jack Anderson — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:29:49 -0400

The Washington Redskins entered the 2009 NFL Draft in desperate need of an upgrade at defensive end. In 2008, the defensive line contributed just 20 sacks, 13 coming from the defensive end position.

They had also cut Jason Taylor and lost Demetric Evans in free agency, meaning something needed to be done.

So the ‘Skins snapped up arguably the best pass rusher in the draft with their first round selection in Brian Orakpo.

Orakpo brings speed, strength, and a nasty mean streak that should propel him to a successful NFL career. He starred at Texas, notching 21 sacks and 101 tackles during his career, but it was his senior season where he really turned heads.

Orakpo posted 11 sacks, 40 tackles and a forced fumble, enough to draw national attention and a first round draft projection. He would routinely wear down opposing blockers and often spent long stretches in offensive backfields.

Orakpo played with great determination and even when he didn’t get to the QB, he would still disrupt the play. He possesses a devastating speed rush and yet also has the strength to bull rush past blockers.

Orakpo’s athleticism will be essential on the Redskins defense and if he can become a force off the edge expect things to really open up defensively.

However, the Redskins coaching staff plans on Orakpo playing in a DE/OLB ‘tweener role. For now, it appears he will line up at OLB on non-passing downs while playing DE on third downs. This might hurt Orakpo’s progression as he’ll have to learn to play two positions while still transitioning to the professional level.

The question is: Does Washington truly believe Orakpo can play both positions at a superstar level or are they jeopardizing his development because they have no other options at OLB this year?

If they believe he can get it done, then I’m all for it. Moving around a player of Orakpo’s caliber will present matchup problems for opposing offenses. It will also protect the ‘Skins from having a weakness at OLB or DE.

But if this is simply because the Redskins are scared to play H.B. Blades at OLB, then they are making a mistake. Orakpo was drafted to play DE and that is the position he knows. Forcing him into a role he is unused to just to hide the fact that they failed to address a need at OLB is a remedy for disaster.

I tend to think the ‘Skins are making a mistake here. They are trying to get something out of a player that the player can’t necessarily give you.

To receive maximum output from Orakpo, they need to let him play at his natural position. It could turn out to be a great move, but I for one would prefer to see him line up the whole game at DE.

Phillip Daniels was resigned in the offseason despite missing the year with a knee injury. He will likely fill in at DE when Orakpo lines up at OLB.

This is where the ‘Skins may be alright with the whole Orakpo scheme. Daniels is a stout presence against the run and is in top physical shape. Due to his excellent conditioning, he should be completely healthy. So on non-passing downs it would make sense to put Daniels in as he is the best DE in terms of run defense.

To make the best use of Orakpo’s athleticism, it may be best to allow him to play on the second level away from the offensive line on rushing downs. Daniels could occupy extra blockers, giving the linebackers on the second level a chance at the ball-carrier unblocked.

Opposite Orakpo/Daniels is Andre Carter.

Carter had a 10-sack season in 2007, but struggled mightily in 2008, registering only four sacks. He is a liability against the run because he prefers the speed rush off the edge and lacks size.

However, Carter should benefit from the addition of Albert Haynesworth at defensive tackle. Carter’s speed rush forces quarterbacks to step up in the pocket, a luxury that will not be afforded this year due the extra pressure coming up the middle. Expect to see a better year from Carter.

Another small DE/LB hybrid is Chris Wilson. Wilson is solely a pass rusher, but he certainly makes a good impression when he’s on the field.

Wilson is a tough player who will scrap to get to the QB. He is a bit of a legend in DC for finishing off a tackle after being stripped of his helmet during the 2007 preseason. His production dropped from four sacks to one in 2008, but he should rebound this year with the addition along the D-line.

Like Orakpo, Wilson will play in a ‘tweener role. The coaching staff has not fleshed out the details yet, but it appears that Wilson will be used in a variety of ways. He will drop into coverage and also rush the passer from OLB and he might not be used at DE much at all. If he does at all, it will be as a situational pass rusher.

Wilson is a valuable player because he possesses an athleticism which allows him to play different positions. However, there are a lot of linebackers on this roster so strong special teams play is a must to ensure he makes the team. Odds are, he will.

Renaldo Wynn was brought back after two one-year stints with the Giants and Saints. He will provide a solid veteran presence and should provide a few sacks and some run support.

Rob Jackson was a rookie out of Kansas State last year and played in three games. He performed well in the preseason last year and should return to compete for more playing time.

Alex Buzbee is coming off a serious knee injury suffered in last year’s training camp. He will battle to make the roster with undrafted free agents JD Skolnitsky and Derek Walker.

Overall Grade: B

I know it’s an average grade, but considering the lackluster DE play over the past decade, this is feels like an A.

We know the left side will be particularly strong against the run with Daniels back, and the pass rush is much improved with Orakpo. However, it ’s the right side that scares me.

I don’t question Carter’s heart; he plays hard. But he isn’t a run defender and isn’t force as pass rusher. His success is determined by how much pressure comes up the middle. If there isn’t any heat from the DTs, he won’t contribute very much.

The depth is good with Wynn and Daniels. They have been around and know the ropes. Wilson is a versatile pass rusher who could break out this year while Jackson will provide some extra young depth.

Overall, expect to see the defensive ends have a greater impact this season. However, their success will depend heavily upon the defensive tackles who are up next…

Washington Redskins Roster Review: Offensive Line

Jack Anderson — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:43:19 -0400

If the Washington Redskins want to improve upon a mediocre 8-8 2008 campaign, they'll need to start up front with the offensive line.

Strong play in the trenches was rarely witnessed last year as the Redskins' collection of blockers proved to be too old and injury prone.

The line gave up 38 sacks, which tied for the fourth most in the NFL last season. That number must be reduced if the 'Skins want to sniff the playoffs.

As far as run blocking is concerned, the chemistry of the offensive line really makes the going easier for Clinton Portis, but the running game regressed as the 2008 season wore on partly due to breakdowns in the blocking scheme.

The new addition to the starting offensive line is left guard Derrick Dockery. Dockery was originally a Redskin, but left for Buffalo as a free agent several years ago. He now returns after two disappointing year with the Bills.

Dockery brings a massive presence to the left side and is a great pulling guard. He fits the Redskins system well and is definitely an upgrade over Pete Kendall. The main question will be whether or not he can rebound from his performance in Buffalo.

He has played here before with many of the same guys on the line so expect him to came back strong.

Next to Dockery is Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels. Samuels is a consistent pass blocker who needs little help against most pass rushers. However, he sometimes suffers from mental lapses and does struggle when lining up against premier pass rushers.

Samuels is probably the Redskins' steadiest player on the o-line and should love seeing Dockery next to him again. Together they form a strong left side that will be the core of the unit.

Casey Rabach will anchor the line at center as he has for the past four seasons. Rabach is a smart player who has only missed one game during his tenure as a Redskin. However, in certain games, he was shaky when it came to providing a a solid push in the run game.

The Redskins struggled to win the trench battles along the interior line last year and Rabach was one of the players at fault. He lacked the leverage to keep big defensive tackles out of the backfield and it hurt the ground game badly at times.

This offseason, coaches have commented that Rabach looks very impressive and really he brings a lot to the table already. He can read defenses with best of them and is usually a solid blocker. It's just those few times a game where he is badly beaten that downgrades his overall performance.

Lining up at right guard is Randy Thomas, who was acquired from the Jets in 2003. He has arguably been the best blocker on the team when healthy, but he has suffered two major injuries since 2005 and is 33 years old.

Thomas is aging and that will be a concern, but he did start all 16 games last season and is now two years removed from the torn triceps he suffered in the 2007 campaign. If Thomas can play at 100 percent, expect the Redskins to have a strong ground game between the tackles.

Thomas is a force as a pulling guard, and when he is at full go the running game benefits. Portis loves to run behind Thomas and with Dockery in the mix, the 'Skins have a better interior line to employ a power running game on either side of the ball.

It is imperative that the Redskins see strong play from the guard positions. Should Thomas and Dockery play like they did in 2005, when it was rare to see a bad day on the ground, expect the going to be that much easier offensively.

Good performances from those two will also take some pressure off of Rabach in the middle.

The starter at right tackle is a mystery right now. Jon Jansen was cut after spending his entire career with Washington. His departure leaves three choices at RT: Stephon Heyer, Jeremy Bridges, and Mike Williams.

Heyer, an undrafted free agent out of Maryland in 2007, has played with the Redskins for two seasons. In his rookie season, Heyer stepped up to the task as he started at RT for 15 games and held his own against the likes of Jason Taylor and Michael Strahan.

Last year he won the starting job over Jansen, but lost it to injury and never got back to form.

Heyer needs work in the run game, but he really impressed in pass protection in 2007. He has reportedly improved his conditioning and his technique will improve with time.

Offensive line coach Joe Bugel often raves about Heyer, and his experience with the 'Skins puts him on the inside track for the starting RT spot.

Bridges played with Carolina last year and has experience at tackle and guard. I would doubt he earns a starting role, but he will be a valuable backup because of his versatility.

Williams is a former first-round pick from Texas, where he played with Dockery. He proved to be a bust during his first stint in the NFL in which he played for Buffalo and Jacksonville.

Injuries and weight problems contributed to his failure, but the real reason according to reports, was that Williams lacked the work ethic necessary to play professional football.

Williams was out of football when Dockery persuaded the 'Skins to give him a shot. He is working his way down to a reasonable playing weight in hopes of competing for the right tackle spot.

Heyer has the upper hand in this battle, but his biggest challenger is undoubtedly Williams. If Williams can push himself and play with some passion, he will make the team at least as a backup.

He has the size to dominate on the line and the skills are there. It's simply a matter of him preparing for the rigors of a full season.

The backup offensive linemen are a concern. Rabach, Thomas, and Samuels are all older than 30, and so a lack of quality depth means they will have to play at an extremely high level.

Chad Rinehart was drafted last year to play guard and he flopped in his rookie campaign. Despite all the injuries to the line in 2008, Rinehart didn't even dress for a single game, which coaches attributed to his inability to adapt to the professional level.

In year two, Rinehart is a work in progress and we won't see how far he has come along until the preseason begins.

Devin Clark saw some action last year late in the season after playing with the practice squad. He played some tackle, but his role is uncertain as of now.

The same can be said for D'Anthony Batiste, Rueben Riley, Will Montgomery, Scott Burley, and Edwin Williams. None of these players has seen game action with the 'Skins and both Burley and Williams are rookies.

Like Heyer, Burley and Williams went undrafted out of Maryland. Burley played both left and right tackle for the the Terps while Williams played center.

Williams might end up being quite a find for the Redskins who are in need of a backup center. Williams played in all 13 games last year for Maryland and was a first team All-ACC selection.

Overall Grade: C+

This year's edition of Bugel's "Dirtbags" is nothing to write home about. The pass protection will be a real concern on the right side and if Thomas struggles the running game will only see consistent success from the left.

The addition of Dockery was a good move as he should bring his game back to the level he played at in 2005.

Even if everyone stays healthy this won't be a great offensive line. They don't match up in the trenches against New York, Dallas, or Philly which is a big problem. The division has such talent defensively that it will be tough for the Redskins O-line to take the pounding week in and week out.

They are just too old and feature almost no quality depth.

However, the running game will see a boost. Having Dockery and Thomas pulling out in front of a back opens up the ground game. If that takes off, then 'Skins might be able to really get into a rhythm and make the most of Portis' efforts.

Next we move onto the defense...

Redskins Roster Review: Tight Ends

Jack Anderson — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:19:57 -0400

For all of the offensive futility, the Washington Redskins have struggled through, one thing they haven’t lacked the past few seasons is a quality corps of tight ends.

Chris Cooley will remain the starter coming into 2009 and with good reason. A third round draft choice out of Utah State, Cooley has become the fan favorite in DC. He posted 83 catches for 849 yards last season, and improved as a blocker as well. He is the Redskins lone threat over the middle and he moves the chains more consistently than any of Jason Campbell’s other targets.

This offseason Cooley shed 20 pounds in an effort to become more of a threat with the ball in his hands. Early indications are that this was a successful shedding. Cooley has been more explosive and has added strength according to reports.

Cooley wasn’t targeted enough in the red zone and it showed up on the stat sheet as he snagged just one TD pass last season. That marked the first time in his career that Cooley caught less than six TDs in a season.

Expect that to change as head coach Jim Zorn will better utilize him in the red zone. In addition, Zorn is hoping to see the development of his second round pick from last year, USC tight end Fred Davis.

Davis won the Mackey award in 2007, given to the nation’s top collegiate TE. However, that success hasn’t yet translated to the professional level.

Davis saw very little time last season, and some questioned his commitment to football this past year. However, Davis possesses the size and skill to be a solid compliment to Cooley.

A two TE set would be an ideal formation to work out of for Campbell. Both TEs are big with tremendous ball skills, meaning mismatches for opposing defenses. However this can’t happen if Davis doesn’t jump ahead of the curve in his second year.

Davis couldn’t even take the number two TE spot last season. That belonged to Todd Yoder. Yoder was used in a reserve role, but he did catch eight passes for 50 yards and a TD.

Yoder was more of a blocker and he filled the role well whenever he got on the field. He possesses a blue collar work ethic that endears him to the fans. Davis should watch him closely and pick up on his drive because Yoder plays beyond his abilities thanks to the work he puts in.

The final TE on the roster is undrafted Delaware product Robert Agnone. Agnone caught 71 passes for 886 yards and 11 TDs in his college career, in which he spent some time with current Ravens QB Joe Flacco. Agnone is the tallest TE on the team at 6'6", but he remains a longshot to make the final roster.

On a side note, Zorn’s second year running the west coast offense will be under heavy scrutiny. He underused Cooley last year especially in the red zone, something that can’t be repeated given the underachieving WR corps. If Davis progresses, then Zorn will have to give preference to the TEs because they give him legitimate targets over the middle.

In addition, Campbell is comfortable throwing to Cooley on third downs. Zorn did get Cooley involved on third down last year, but that was simply because the receivers struggled to gain separation. Cooley must become a primary option in the passing game and not just on third down because he is the best the Redskins have in terms of consistency.

Overall Grade: A-

You have to like what Cooley gives you every week. He shows up to play every game and is Mr. Reliable. Considering the sometimes woeful state of the Redskins’ offense, it’s refreshing to see Cooley on the field.

Yoder isn’t a gamebreaker, but his main contributions don’t often show up on the stat sheet. He won’t get any attention, but he gets the job done and is an adequate number two TE.

Of course this grade would be an A if Davis just flashed his amazing potential. Davis is like much of the rest of the Redskin offense. The potential is there, but remains untapped.

Redskins' Roster Review: Wide Receivers

Jack Anderson — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:37:38 -0400

For the amount of money and draft picks poured into the position, one would expect the Washington Redskins to have quite a productive corps of receivers.

Unfortunately, things haven’t been up to par when it comes to finding reliable targets for Jason Campbell.

Santana Moss is the lone wide out who can strike any fear into opposing defenses, but his lack of size prevents him from consistently getting open. He also has trouble with his focus and can go through stretches where he drops passes.

Despite this, Moss is the ‘Skins best offensive weapon.

He is explosive and can make plays from anywhere on the field, runs good routes, and, when he touches the ball five or more times in a game, the Redskin offense is much more dangerous.

Moss is often double-teamed and can’t ever seem to stay healthy, so he disappears at times. But when he’s rolling, it’s tough to stop him.

To be truly successful in the passing game, the Redskins need a big possession receiver to line up opposite Moss. A big second option would give Moss more opportunities to make plays, and give the ‘Skins a wide out who can consistently move the chains on third down.

Last year, Washington fizzled out on most passing downs due to their lack of a receiver who could use his strength to get position on opposing corners past the marker.

This year, they will need to improve on passing third downs if they want to wear down opposing defenses.

Hoping to fill the role of possession WR are the two second-year youngsters, Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly.

Thomas played in all 16 games last year, catching 15 balls for 120 yards. Kelly hardly saw the field and only grabbed three passes on the year.

Both receivers are well over six feet and experienced success in college. Thomas is still raw, but has improved on his routes, is more familiar with the system this year, and should improve on his rookie campaign.

Kelly dazzled early last offseason, but a bad knee ruined his 2008 season. He has the build of a terrific red zone target and could develop into the possession threat the ‘Skins want.

However, like Thomas, Kelly must prepare with more intensity and be more thorough when it comes to making the transition to the pros.

Both young receivers were overwhelmed by the NFL experience last year and admitted they expected to jump right in. This offseason, they have been reportedly making progress, something that is imperative to the success of the passing game.

If neither draft pick pans out, the Redskins will once again depend on a slot receiver to play in the No. 2 receiver role.

Antwaan Randle El is shifty and operates best out of the slot, but a lack of secondary options has forced him to play out of position for the past two years.

Randle El is small like Moss and lacks Moss’ acceleration, making it very difficult for him to break past top corners. A solid bump and run secondary will more often than not render Randle El useless.

He is better suited to the matchups he would face in the slot.

Randle El is effective in the red zone when Jim Zorn moves him around. Randle El is an effective weapon when used in the right circumstances, but the lack of a legitimate No. 2 WR leaves Washington unable to maximize Randle El’s talents.

Behind the first four targets there is little to speak of.

Roydell Williams led the Titans in receptions back in 2007 with 55, but he sat out 2008 with an injury. With his experience, Williams could end up as the Redskins’ fifth receiver on the depth chart.

Free agent pickup Trent Shelton and seventh round draft choice Marko Mitchell are both hoping to compete for the fifth receiver spot. They are the biggest challengers to Williams.

Several other WRs are roster longshots. Marques Hagans, Keith Eloi, and Jaison Williams make up the rest of the receiving corps, but come September they will be looking for work unless they vastly overachieve.

Overall Grade: D+

Sure Moss is a game breaker for the ‘Skins, but he’s their only one and not even a top ten receiver in the league.

He will have his moments and yet, if no one can help create some space for him, there’s no way Washington will become a two-dimensional offense.

The passing game is woeful because there’s no one else besides Moss who even strikes a hint of fear into opposing defenses. They gameplan to stop Moss.

Unless Kelly and/or Thomas steps into the possession receiver role, this is a very, very ordinary air attack.

Redskins Roster Review: Running Backs

Jack Anderson — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:31:07 -0400

Since 1996, the Washington Redskins have been blessed with a bevy of talented running backs. Terry Allen, Stephen Davis, and Clinton Portis have all set various franchise records. Each raised the bar for the Redskins’ single season rushing record.

Portis is the current RB for the Redskins. He already holds franchise records for most rushing yards in a single season and most 100-yard games in a season. He ranks second on the franchise all-time rushing list and rushing attempts list.

There is no question Portis is second only to John Riggins amongst the backs the Redskins have had in their franchise history. However, coming into the 2009 season, Portis has plenty to accomplish.

Despite the productive years Portis has given the team, he has yet to advance past the divisional round in post-season play. To top it off, he has struggled to stay healthy and is in danger of burning out in the next few seasons.

Portis will turn 28 in September, so according to the usual running back shelf life, he has about a year or two of solid production left. However, Portis is a feature back like none other, and his massive amount of carries prove it.

Here’s a list of Portis’ carries per season:

2004: 343

2005: 352

2006: 127 (missed time due to an injury)

2007: 325

2008: 342

That’s a total of 1,490 carries over five seasons for an average of 298 per season. Throw in his 162 catches over the past five seasons and Portis essentially makes up half of the offensive production over that time.

What’s impressive is that Portis is still good enough to produce, even though he is the only consistent offensive weapon the ‘Skins have.

He routinely faces eight defenders in the box, but that doesn’t stop him from racking up plenty of 100-yard performances.

How long can Portis’ impressive seasons continue with all the wear and tear he undergoes every season?

That will be a key question entering this 2009 season for the Redskins. Success depends on Portis playing up to par.

If the Redskins can muster some semblance of a downfield passing game, Portis, if healthy, will see less men in the box and more big gains.

No one expects the Redskins to become the ‘99 Rams. And they don’t have to be with a healthy Portis and a solid passing game.

They proved it during the first few weeks last season. Portis is capable of taking over when Jason Campbell commands even a little respect.

This year the offense appears to be past the growing stages. Players have expressed more confidence and the comfort level in the west coast offense has definitely gone up a notch.

Hopefully, this will translate to the ‘Skins balancing out their offense and adding that all-important second dimension.

Portis isn’t a liability whatsoever. He blocks well, catches passes out of the backfield, and can run between the tackles with the best of them. He isn’t a home run threat anymore, but he can still move the chains.

Of course it would be ideal to have a speedster behind him. The Redskins are in desperate need of a guy who can rip off huge runs of 40 yards or more.

They haven’t had one in years, but this year they might have found one (more on him later).

Ladell Betts is the backup, but he has been disappointing following his big 2006 campaign in which he ran for 1,100 yards in Portis’ absence. He signed a big contract extension after that year and has been non-existent since.

Granted, Portis receives the bulk of the workload, but the money poured into Betts means he needs to improve his production.

Betts has rushed for just 541 yards since 2006 and has averaged only 3.5 yards per carry. He isn’t the blocker Portis is, and he has had a penchant for fumbling.

Betts really isn’t worth the money he’s being paid and the ‘Skins might have a cheaper, and perhaps more talented, alternative in Marcus Mason.

Mason rolled through last year’s pre-season, but his inability on special teams kept him from making the final roster in 2008.

This year, Mason has been working on improving on special teams and a strong pre-season might land him on the roster. There has been no talk of replacing Betts, but Mason would be the wiser choice between the two.

Mason is shifty and has incredible patience. He has great vision and always seems to hit the right holes and the right time. He isn’t a speed demon, but he runs effectively.

Rock Cartwright saw little time at running back last year and he will be fighting for a roster spot this season. Cartwright has a downhill running style that isn’t suited for the stretch runs Zorn uses often.

He is strictly a between the tackles runner and Zorn had such little faith in him that he brought in Shaun Alexander when Betts was banged up last year.

Cartwright works extremely hard and yet he will remain a Redskin solely by contributing on special teams. He covers punts and returns kickoffs, but his impact on the ground game will be as small as last year’s.

Lastly, the Redskins picked up Anthony Alridge off of waivers several months ago.

Alridge ran a 4.22 in his pro day workout in 2008 and was picked up by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent. He was placed on injured reserve and waived following the season.

Mike Shanahan advised Vinny Cerrato to sign him reportedly calling him the fastest player he’d ever seen with the ball in his hands. So Alridge might be the explosive force the ‘Skins need.

Imagine running the draw on a third and long and seeing a big 80-yard score. How about snagging a a little swing pass into the fat and seeing a glitzy 75-yard scamper?

Washington hasn’t had someone who could turn the tide like that since Brian Mitchell. Alridge might turn out to be the ‘Skins ace in the hole.

Overall Grade: B+

The Redskins have a strong starting option in Portis, but behind him they need to get things sorted out.

Mason will save cap space and do a better job supporting Portis than Betts. However, I expect to see Betts hold the No. 2 spot. And that would be a major mistake.

Alridge is an exciting prospect who could turn out to be a key component to the ‘Skins ground game. It’s not a feature back league anymore so it never hurts to have two or three guys who can contribute.

So Portis receives an A- while the confusion behind him lowers it to a solid B+. Hopefully a couple correct decisions in training camp bring up the grade.

Redskins Roster Review: Quarterbacks

Jack Anderson — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:46:50 -0400

There are two heads of state in Washington, D.C. One lives in the White House; the other resides in Landover, Md., at FedEx Field. Approval ratings are everything. If things stay positive, expect another term.

Washingtonians grill their incumbent quarterback as hard as they do their president. Success is the only option; failure is a quick ticket out of town.

For Redskins’ current starting QB Jason Campbell, “the future is now.” This year is the last in his contract, and as of yet, he has done nothing to merit a new one.

Campbell has the poise and arm strength, but he has struggled with consistency since assuming the starting position.

Each year since 2006, Campbell has failed to make significant steps forward into becoming more than an average starter in the NFL.

Last year, Campbell opened the first half of the year by throwing no interceptions. However, he threw just eight touchdown passes to match that. His inability to lead scoring drives was overlooked until the struggles began.

The second half of the season, Campbell threw five touchdowns compared to six interceptions. Washington went 2-6, largely due to the offense and its lack of ball movement.

Campbell appeared unable to sustain any type of rhythm after week eight against Detroit. His solid completion percentage of 62.3 percent was skewed by his low yards per completion (6.4).

Campbell is the type of QB who will play it safe. He isn’t comfortable in a game where he has to stretch the field often. He likes to keep things in the flats, but that unimaginative style won’t win him many games or fans.

Campbell’s big windup and slow progression through his reads also work against him. Jim Zorn’s West Coast offense demands a quick release and a swift progression through the reads.

Campbell has struggled to pick up that rhythmic approach and he must work on improving those aspects of his game.

If Campbell wants another term in DC, he will need to deliver not just wins, but post some good numbers. If he is unable to make defenses respect the air attack, then the ‘Skins will have to look to Clinton Portis and their defense to bail them out.

The ‘Skins have three other QBs on the roster. Todd Collins led Washington to the playoffs in 2007 when Campbell was sidelined with an injury, but he succeeded largely due to his familiarity with Al Saunders’ offense.

Now Zorn is running the offense and Collins appeared uncomfortable with the west coast scheme last preseason. Throw in the fact that he’s 37, and Collins has little value despite his big contract.

Expect Collins to compete for the backup role and mentor the other three quarterbacks who are all in their 20s.

Colt Brennan will be competing for the backup job this year after tearing through the 2008 preseason. Brennan is better suited to the West Coast offense with his quick release.

He showed plenty of poise and confidence last year. He knows how to sling it around from his run-and-shoot days in Hawaii, and is very mobile in the pocket.

Of course, Hawaii isn’t a pro-style offense, but Brennan certainly seemed comfortable last year in the preseason. Fans are clamoring for Brennan to start and should Campbell fail yet again, Brennan could see some time late in the year.

No one knows if Brennan can succeed against elite competition. At Hawaii he played the bottom feeders of college football and he beat up on third-stringers last preseason.

Still he possesses a certain swagger that entices many people to believe he’ll succeed wherever he goes.

Brennan is definitely the most intriguing prospect on the Redskins list of QBs, but Chase Daniel is also a captivating player.

Daniel is an undrafted free agent rookie out of Missouri, but he was certainly spectacular in college. He threw for 12,515 yards for a completion percentage of 68.0 while tossing 101 touchdowns during his career at Mizzou.

Daniel was a Heisman finalist in 2007 as well and, like Brennan, has a sort of cult following.

Both players were exciting and skilled in college, but they have been labeled system quarterbacks, too short (in Daniel’s case), and untested by elite talent (in Brennan’s case).

However, the potential each displayed in college consistently showed up every Saturday and both could be surprise candidates for a starting job down the road.

Overall QB grade: C+

It’s all potential, really. Campbell could pan out with some improved mechanics and renewed aggression, but he hasn’t looked special in his time with Washington.

Collins is nothing but an overpriced backup. There’s chance he won’t even make the roster if both Daniel and Brennan outplay him in the preseason.

Brennan and Daniel are certainly exciting options, but they both haven’t been highly touted as future stars.

The cold reality is that Brennan was a sixth round pick and Daniel was never drafted. More often than not, that’s an indicator that neither will amount to much in the NFL.

NFC East Rundown: Tough Division Does Washington Redskins No Favors

Jack Anderson — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:12:10 -0400

The NFC East has a long-standing history as the most competitive division in football. Its teams possess both tradition and championships.

After a brief hiatus in the first half of the 2000s, the NFC East has reasserted itself as the premier division in the NFL. All four teams can stake some claim to being legitimate postseason contenders, and at least two teams from the East should make it to the playoffs.

The Washington Redskins are hoping to be one of the teams in the mix come playoff time, but they must rebound from last years 8-8 record (last in the NFC East).

They made some significant upgrades especially along the defensive line, but they still lack a superstar offensive weapon that can help an anemic passing attack.

The Redskins are an average team. They play to their opponents level most Sundays and have never shaken the air of complacency that surrounds the franchise.

For the Redskins, mediocrity reigns supreme. In the rough-and-tumble NFC East, mediocrity will not suffice if Washington wants to advance to the postseason.

If the ‘Skins can get some offensive improvement in year two with Jim Zorn’s west coast offense, they might have enough to win the division. The defense should only improve on their number four ranking, leaving success up to the Jason Campbell and the offense.

As for the remaining three teams, here’s a look at the burning questions that surround them coming into the 2009 season.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys get the hype, but last year the hoopla didn’t earn Dallas a playoff spot. They stumbled to a 9-7 record, missing the playoffs courtesy of 44-6 drubbing from the Eagles in week 17.

This year, they will be without the services of WR Terrell Owens who was released in the offseason. Safety Roy Williams left after a down year in which he only played three games, but the defense still has a fearsome front seven led by sackmaster DeMarcus Ware.

Tony Romo will lead an offense complete with RB Marion Barber and WR Roy Williams. The offensive line was somewhat underwhelming last year, surrendering 31 sacks.

This year, the hype has disappeared and with good reason. The Cowboys lack a strong second option behind Williams at WR and their secondary has some serious question marks. The Cowboys will need to answer these burning questions in order to right the ship and make the playoffs in 2009.

1. Can Tony Romo exorcise his December demons and make a deep run into the playoffs?

Romo’s struggles in December have been well-documented. Though he isn’t the only one to blame for Dallas’ late-season swoons, his big game performances leave plenty to be desired.

With one less weapon available (Owens), Romo will need to step his game up even more. Roy Williams didn’t adapt quickly in Dallas last year catching just 19 passes for 198 yards. Romo didn’t even throw a TD pass to Williams as his only TD reception was caught from Brad Johnson.

This year Romo will need to target Williams more often and lean on the one-two punch of Marion Barber and Felix Jones in the ground game. Security blanket, Jason Witten, is back at tight end.

The departure of Owens may very well allow Romo to make Dallas HIS team. TO made life difficult for Romo by demanding the ball in any and every situation, but now Romo will feel no pressure in who he chooses to throw to.

Romo’s decision-making might have been made easier by letting TO go, but he still will feel the pressure to deliver in the clutch. People forget he is only entering his third year as the Cowboys starting QB because of his quick success, but this is the year where Romo will need to break his big game drought.

2. What do the Cowboys most need to be a successful franchise this year?

Believe it or not, Jason Garrett could be the key to a successful 2009.

Garrett botched several games last year with poor playcalling. He abandoned the run game often, seemingly forgetting that Marion Barber can shoulder a huge load and wear down defenses.

Again, the TO effect forced the Cowboys to keep things focused on the passing game, but Garrett’s run-pass ratio was astounding at times last year. Romo can throw it around with the best of them, but he would be that much more effective with an established run game.

Expect Garrett to reign in his desire to sling it around and look to his Barber-Jones Combo. Barber improves as the game goes on with his bruising style while Jones proved last year that his speed makes him a threat to score on any play.

New York Giants

The Giants failed to defend their Super Bowl title in 2008, losing to the Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs.

They burst out of the gate in 2008, but after losing Plaxico Burress to a gunshot wound, things ground to a halt. Eli Manning was unable to keep things rolling without his big target out wide and the Giants offense fizzled on the big stage in the postseason.

This year, New York is back with two-thirds of its ground game intact and the Giants added two big WRs in the draft. Osi Umenyiora returns from an injury, meaning the Giants will once again be a force in the trenches.

But what’s keeping the Giants from cruising to another NFC East title?

1. Will Hakeem Nicks fill in for Plaxico Burress quickly?

The Giants need Nicks to develop quickly. Nicks was a first round pick out of UNC and his size certainly fits the bill. Manning had very little to work with last year. Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, and Amani Toomer couldn’t fill the number one receiver spot last year so it will be up to Nicks to play at a high level.

If Nicks can provide 60 or so catches the remainder of the receiving corps might have just enough in them to make the Giants a solid passing team.

2. Will the loss of Derrick Ward sink the Giants running game?

Ward was arguably the biggest facet of the Giants ground attack. He was the biggest threat catching passes out of the backfield.

Brandon Jacobs will handle the majority of the carries now, but his upright, pounding running style leaves him at a huge risk for injury. Ward kept him from accumulating too many carries, but Ahmad Bradshaw isn’t a strong option between the tackles.

Bradshaw is a speedster and should provide some pop catching the football, but he only took 67 carries so it is uncertain if he can carry the ball 10 times a game to spell Jacobs.

New York drafted NC State back Andre Brown in the fourth round, and they are hoping he will be able to take some carries away from Jacobs as well. Keeping him healthy is a must for the offense to be successful.

Philadelphia Eagles

Philly overachieved last year, making the playoffs in miracle-like fashion. They went on a big run to the NFC Championship, and came up just short of making their third ever Super Bowl, losing to the Cardinals.

Weeks earlier, the Eagles appeared as if the Donovan McNabb-Andy Reid era was over. The Eagles had tied the woeful Bengals and had been decimated by Baltimore, but after McNabb came back from a mid-game benching in Baltimore, things changed.

The Eagles got several breaks and found themselves playing for a postseason berth in week 17 against Dallas. They responded well, winning 44-6. Then came the playoff run.

This year, Philly has pulled out all the stops. McNabb requested some offensive help, the Eagles brought in WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy through the draft. Then they pulled off a trade to acquire highly touted LT Jason Peters from Buffalo. He joins free agent pickup Stacey Andrews on one of the better lines in football.

Pundits have given the Eagles an early edge over their NFC East counterparts. Considering Philly has a much improved offense and Jim Johnson at the controls on defense, no one can fault the experts.

What could derail the Eagles “Super” hopes?

1. Can the Eagles run between the tackles?

In the NFC East, teams have to be able to pound the ball. The battles in the trenches are so important.

Philadelphia ranked just 22nd in the NFL in rushing and that is partly due to the ineffectiveness of Brian Westbrook.

Westbrook has trouble staying healthy and isn’t built to run the ball between the tackles. He is small and struggles to break tackles in close quarters. He fits the west coast style the Eagles play, but there are times every team has to grind out some tough yards.

The addition of McCoy gives the Eagles an opportunity to change their running style. McCoy carried the ball 308 times in 2008, proving he can take a heavy workload. Add in his 4.8 yards per carry and they have a match made in heaven.

Westbrook will be able to cut down his carries while remaining a viable pass option as McCoy will give the Eagles a presence in the running game they have lacked in years past.

2. Will the Eagles overcome the loss of Brian Dawkins?

Dawkins was the Philadelphia Eagles to many people. His game hadn’t really declined as much as some believe either.

The leadership is very difficult to replace, but the Eagles do have several talented safeties. Sean Jones and Quentin Mikell both are quietly two of the better defensive backs in the game while at corner the Eagles are set with Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel.

So while Dawkins’ presence won’t be filled, the Eagles do have the players to cover the void left by his departure.

Their blitz happy scheme is incredibly good at disguising holes and weaknesses. They have a deep defensive line that generates a bunch of pressure, and that will help the secondary in coverage.