Bleacher Report - Articles by Warren Montgomery

Washington Redskins' Offense: Offseason Summary of Recommendations

Warren Montgomery — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:53:57 -0500

1. Jason Campbell is the starter with much more to learn.

2. Acquire, either by free-agency or trade, a new backup QB that knows the offense.

3. Allow Todd Collins to compete with the new, aforementioned QB, or give him his early release with many, many thanks and gratitude for what he did for this franchise last year.

4. Draft and/or acquire other QBs that will be asked to compete for the third and final roster spot.

5. Require that Colt Brennan earn a roster spot amongst all of the competition above.

Running Backs

1. Draft a young RB that has the ability to become the feature back of the offense.

2. Clinton Portis will be entering his eighth year as a RB in this league. History of players at the position suggests that Portis has already reached his peak. The Redskins need to be mindful of this fact.

3. Find and acquire, via an existing player, the draft, free agency, or trade, a kick-returner to replace Rock Cartwright.

Wide Receivers

1. Release James Thrash and Antwaan Randle-El: Even if Thomas and Kelly don’t step up during the offseason and prepare for a full-time starting role, neither Thrash nor Randle-El offer enough tangible benefits to remain on the roster.

Their intangibles are excellent. In fact, I’d go so far to say, if Thrash is interested, allow him to begin his coaching career right here with the Redskins.

2. Move Santana Moss inside to the slot WR position: I believe, without fear of contradiction, that Moss would be an utter terror to opposing defenses from the slot position. His speed and quickness is still supreme.

If a defensive coordinator has brain freeze and allows Moss to match-up against a linebacker or safety...Lights out; assuming the offensive line can protect the QB.

3. Give Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly whatever support they need this offseason. At the same time, they both need to show that they want the job by working hard for it.

4. Identify and acquire a West Coast offense WR. In a perfect world, both Thomas and Kelly would both earn the starting outside WR positions. In reality, it is always best to hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.

Tight Ends

According to the reader's poll on All Hail Redskins, which asked if Chris Cooley should be traded for draft picks, nearly three-fourths of all voters chose the option to suggest that idea is just plain ignorant.

But, almost a fifth said yes, or to at least think about it. It's an interesting idea if Fred Davis is ready to step up. But, that said, Cooley is perhaps the most popular player on the team, behind Clinton Portis.

The only way a trade would make sense, again assuming Fred Davis is ready to step up, is if the Redskins could acquire a first round *and* a late-round pick. That said, what if the Detroit Lions were willing to trade their No. 20 pick, (which is their second of two first-round picks), along with a late rounder. Would the Redskins deal Cooley in that scenario?

Offensive Line

1. Release Joe Bugel with a whirlwind of gratitude and appreciation for all that he’s done for the organization.

2. Hire a new OL Coach that is well versed in the West Coast offense.

3. Offer Pete Kendall a new contract, yet one that is indicative of his diminishing abilities.

4. Get Chad Rhinehart in a position to win the starting job from Kendall through the Off-Season Training program.

5. Get Chris Samuels healthy to play, but identify and start developing his replacement now from the aforementioned top-tier options in the NFL Draft.

6. Find competition for Randy Thomas in the middle to late rounds of the NFL Draft. Make him earn his starting position for next year.

7. Release Jon Jansen. His physical abilities have diminished.

8. Assuming that Mark Tauscher can be acquired at a reasonable price, and assuming that his knee injury is not problematic, sign him from the Green Bay Packers to compete with Stephon Heyer for the starting RT position.

Special Teams

1. Acquire Oakland Raiders P Shane Lechler. Of course, this suggestion could be flushed down the toilet if the Raiders franchise their punter or re-sign him.

2. Acquire Tennessee Titans K Rob Bironas. The Redskins need to say good-bye to K Shaun Suisham and his subpar kicking and sign a kicker that a coach can count on time and time again.

Washington Redskins' Offseason Considerations

Warren Montgomery — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:07:33 -0500

Here’s the deal, if the Washington Redskins can make it into the playoffs, that’s great. But, given that to be true, it still doesn’t erase, or even mitigate the need to consider an overhaul to the team. This is the first of many looks as to what considerations will and/or should take place after the season is over.

Jason Campbell

He is the starter. I am on record, more than once, as being a supporter of Campbell. That said, I’ve also stated that he still has more to learn. I believe he will continue his learning. And, I fully expect him to be even better next year.

Todd Collins

There are many in and around the league, not to mention the legions within Redskins Nation that believe Todd Collins is the best backup QB in the game. But, is he really? Last year, Collins did something that was in a word, incredible.

He took the team to the playoffs. He provided the stability and leadership the team needed at the QB position that allowed the team to rally around him and make the push.

Still, one must consider, Collins was playing in an offense that he had mastered. After spending multiple years learning the offense taught by Al Saunders, Collins was indeed the best backup QB in the game. Was.

This year, Collins had to learn a new offense, just like Campbell. If something happened to Campbell and Collins had to come into the game, it would be unreasonable to expect him to have the same kind of success he enjoyed last season.

And for that reason, I don’t believe it was the best decision to pay him as much as Redskins management did to keep him here. Moreover, I don’t believe he should have been kept as the backup QB at all.

Rather, I think the Redskins would have been much better off trading for, or picking up someone that…wait for it…already knew the Jim Zorn (or some version thereof) West Coast offense.

The inability to recognize this key competitive differentiating force of nature to have a QB that actually knows the offense as a backup was, and continues to be, the single, most disappointing decision made by Redskins management this past off-season.

Collins is under contract. But, he should be asked to compete for the No. 2 position.

Colt Brennan

See Colt throw. See Colt run. See Colt struggle to recognize the "exotic" defensive schemes that are employed today that camouflage the pressure points along the line. See Colt throw into double and triple covered receivers because he didn’t recognize the aforementioned "exotic" defensive schemes which are designed to confuse QB’s, both young and old.

I have nothing against Colt Brennan. I have never seen him play in college. And, I’ve only seen him play once during this past preseason. He had a whale of a game. But, what is one game? Nothin’.

Still, if he’s smart, he would have continued to study and prepare as if he was going to be the starting QB of this team. Thus, he would be working side-by-side Jason Campbell and Coach Zorn to see what Campbell sees on the field. Does he do this? That’s anybody’s guess.

One thing I did notice during the game against the Baltimore Ravens is that he was on the sidelines, yawning. Yawning!! The Redskins were getting the snot kicked out of them and the kid was on the sidelines acting as if the game was keeping him from getting his sleep.

Okay. So, maybe it’s really, really hard to be fully engaged as the third string, emergency QB.

NOT!

If Brennan really wanted to be taken seriously as a QB in this league, he would be up on his feet, fully engaged in the game. When Campbell takes a snap, Brennan should be going through his progressions just like Campbell.

When Campbell comes off the field, Brennan should try to capture and understand the dialog that takes place between him and Zorn after every series.

Colt Brennan may very well have a wealth of natural talents and abilities. But, until he is willing to put in the work, he’s just another body that can throw a football. My eight year-old son can throw a football.

Until Brennan can act and demonstrate that he is prepared to study the game and be a professional, well the choice of playing him in a game, or allowing my son to play, is almost the same!

Okay, so I exaggerate a little bit. But, my point is evident.

Right now, Brennan is a project. During the offseason, Brennan should compete for his job just like Todd Collins.

RECOMMENDATION

Jason Campbell is the starter with much more to learn
Acquire, either by free-agency or trade, a new back up QB that knows the offense
Allow Todd Collins to compete with the new, aforementioned QB, or give him his early release with many, many thanks and gratitude for what he did for this franchise last year
Draft and/or acquire other QBs that will be asked to compete for the third and final roster spot
Require that Colt Brennan earn a roster spot amongst all of the competition above