Why Playoffs for Robert Griffin and Redskins in Rookie Season Is Ridiculous

After a disappointing 5-11 2011 campaign, hope springs anew for the Washington Redskins with the expected arrival of Heisman trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin. But fans of the team hoping that the beginning of the RG3 era in Washington will bring with it a playoff appearance this year may want to set down the red Kool-Aid for a second.

The notion of the Redskins making a push for the postseason isn't just a hopeful thought bouncing through the heads of the Hogettes either, as the Washington Post theorized recently that the club might be able to make a postseason push similar to another surprise postseason participant from a year ago.

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The Redskins’ aim in 2012 is to pull off a similar feat as the 2011 Bengals, who surrounded a rookie quarterback (Andy Dalton) with a stingy defense, effective running game and talented receivers, and posted a 9-7 campaign, which earned them a wild card playoff berth.

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While the notion of the Redskins making a playoff appearance for the first time since 2007 may be a fun thought for teams weary of three straight losing seasons, there are a number of factors working against them that make that return to the second season highly unlikely at best.

First, while the Redskins possess the sixth-easiest schedule in the National Football League in 2012 based on opponents' winning percentage, it's actually a more difficult slate than the fourth-easiest schedule that led to five wins a year ago.

A good portion of that schedule, as it is every season, is tied up in the annual dogfight that is the NFC East. Although no team in that division went better than 9-7 a season ago, the Redskins were also the only club to post a losing record. Just climbing out of the basement of the NFC East this year will be a tall order, especially given a December slate that includes three divisional matchups and a game with the Baltimore Ravens.

Also, while Dalton showed last season that a rookie quarterback can indeed lead a team into the postseason after running the spread offense in college, the learning curve that comes with making the transition from that formation to a pro-style offense can be a substantial one. That makes Dalton's success a year ago much more exception than rule.

Lastly, while the Redskins do have some talent to surround Griffin on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, it's not a squad with holes on its roster, especially along the offensive front, which isn't going to make Griffin's job any easier as a rookie.

The optimism that has taken hold in Washington in regards to the Redskins is a good thing, especially in a city that seems to inspire so little of it in any other arena. An improved Redskins club is also good for the NFL as a whole, as the league is just more fun to watch when all four NFC East teams are solid squads that spend the season beating the snot out of one another.

However, for fans of the song "Hail to the Redskins," making playoff plans for this season is something of a matter of putting the cart before the horse. Even though Washington has a good shot at getting better in 2012, it may be another year or two before Griffin and the Redskins are dishing out more of those NFC East beatings than they receive.

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